High-definition TV debuts in Las Vegas

Friday, April 7, 2000 | 10:59 a.m.

Remote mikes

Businesses and organizations using remote microphones may find them inoperative with the introduction of KLAS Channel 8's HDTV signal Thursday.

Because the Federal Communications Commission does not assign frequencies for low-power remote microphones -- used by schools, churches and some businesses -- some may be operating at the frequency used by KLAS for its HDTV signal.

Tom Axtell, general manager of KLVX Channel 10, said some of the remote microphones used by his station were at the frequency that KLAS's HDTV signal now occupies.

"I think a few people are going to be surprised when their remote mikes don't work," Axtell said.

The next generation of television broadcast quality began Thursday for KLAS Channel 8 with the launch of a high-definition television signal.

Most people won't be able to view high-definition pictures -- it's not yet available on Cox Cable and an industry expert says there are only about 500 TVs that can receive the over-the-air signal in Southern Nevada homes. But the signal is a new standard the industry hopes to switch to by 2010.

KLAS is getting a jump on rivals by introducing the signal first. The station activated the signal at noon Thursday.

High-definition television -- HDTV -- uses a digital signal that displays a picture with nearly five times more detail than those available from existing analog signals. That means picture resolution is markedly better and images are clearer.

Up until Thursday, Las Vegans have only been able to receive such a signal from satellite broadcasts, on cable or through digital video disc players. KLAS is offering the first over-the-air signal, a standard that already exists in large markets and that the Federal Communications Commission has mandated for Las Vegas by May 2002.

"The information contained in an HDTV signal increases resolution dramatically," said Doug Kramer, assistant chief engineer for KLAS, the CBS television affiliate in Las Vegas. "When you see the real McCoy, it's impressive."

HDTV signals are most impressive with live-action sports and movies. Kramer said KLAS wanted to have the signal operating in time for this weekend's Masters golf tournament being broadcast by CBS from Augusta, Ga.

Movies, Kramer said, also are better on HDTV because the broadcasting standard displays a picture with a 16-to-9 ratio instead of a 4-to-3 ratio. That means the picture is wider than existing nearly square television screens. The 16-to-9 ratio is closer to the big-screen standard in most movie theaters.

KLAS will simulcast the HDTV signal on Channel 7 with its regular Channel 8 programming. But people with existing analog TVs won't be able to see images on Channel 7 because existing TVs can't translate the digital signal into a picture.

Televisions capable of receiving the HDTV signal are available from local electronics stores. They aren't cheap.

Current models range from 32 inches to the monstrous 80-inch screen, which Wow! Good Guys store sales associate Todd Trengove described as "like having a drive-in theater in your own living room." Like existing televisions, the size of screens displaying HDTV signals is measured on the diagonal, even though the screen is wider.

The least expensive television capable of displaying an HDTV signal is a 32-inch ProScan TV, which costs $2,000 at the store on Sahara Avenue.

Trengove said most televisions on the market are "digital ready," meaning they have the capability of displaying any digital signal, whether it comes from a DVD player, a satellite dish receiver, over the air or through cable. But most don't include a tuner, which costs an additional $1,000. Such a tuner is required only to receive the signal over the air and is not needed for cable TV customers.

(The KLAS high-definition signal is not yet available on Cox Cable because of technical issues).

In addition, Trengove said persons receiving an HDTV signal over the air will need an antenna that, installed and tuned, would cost between $100 and $250. This antenna is not needed for cable subscribers.

Some of the models on the Wow! store's floor include a 46-inch Mitsubishi for $3,000, a 55-inch Mitsubishi for $4,000, a 56-inch Panasonic for $5,000 and a 65-inch Sony for $10,000. Trengove said a 64-inch Philips television with a built-in tuner is selling for $10,000.

Trengove also said the new thin plasma TVs that can be hung on walls also are capable of receiving HDTV signals. A 42-inch plasma TV, which is 3.5 inches thick, costs between $10,000 for a Philips to $16,000 for a Sony.

Wendell Russell, a salesman at Ultimate Electronics on Rainbow Boulevard, said his sales floor has models by Mitsubishi, Samsung, Pioneer and Sony that range from $2,500 to $5,800 plus $1,000 to $2,000 for a tuner.

Kramer predicts that televisions capable of receiving an HDTV signal will come down in price like most high-end audio and video products.

"The prices were around $7,000, but now they're around $4,000," he said. "In a few years, I think you'll see them in the $1,000 range."

Trengove disagrees. He said prices have dropped slightly since the TVs' introduction, but he thinks consumers will see prices stay about the same while the quality improves and the number of special features on the TVs increases.

Producing the signal is also a costly venture for KLAS. Kramer said equipment to produce the HDTV signal cost the company about $1.4 million.

Kramer said the HDTV signal was tested at about half power in early-morning hours before Thursday's launch. The station also was directed by the FCC to contact local hospitals about the introduction of the signal as a precautionary measure.

Some consumers have been concerned that the HDTV signal could disrupt pacemakers. Kramer said that hasn't occurred in larger markets where the signal already has been introduced, but the FCC directed the station to make contact with medical authorities.

Tom Axtell, general manager of KLVX Channel 10, said it's possible for the HDTV signal to disrupt some medical monitoring devices that use low-power signals to broadcast information. He said there was some brief confusion in some markets when an HDTV signal was introduced but it was quickly resolved.

Kramer said that because the HDTV signal sends out five times more information than the traditional analog signal, receivers can get either a better picture, better sound, multiple signals or text information with the picture. He said the industry is still sorting out the best way to use the signal.

Some have proposed sending multiple-language broadcasts of the same programming over the signal. Others are including marketing information so that viewers can order goods shown on television shows as they watch. Some are transmitting statistical information with sports broadcasts.

But the most common use is the better quality picture in the wide format, like the one offered by KLAS, or producing multiple programming on one signal that has to be sorted out by special equipment on the receiving end.

Steve Schorr, a vice president for Cox Communications in Las Vegas, said the cable company already provides the clearest signal possible to its subscribers when it receives such signals from programming suppliers.

Many national networks feed digital signals to Cox via satellite, but not all local programming is offered in the digital format.

Whatever the source, Cox sends out the signal in both a digital and analog format giving most customers the common picture and those with digital receivers the higher-quality picture.

"The problem is that there is a disagreement within the industry about what is the best HDTV format," Schorr said. "We've positioned ourselves to go whichever direction that is, but right now, there's no mandate from the public as to what that is, especially since there are only 500 HDTV sets in Southern Nevada."

Schorr said Cox may soon offer some wide-format broadcasts on its movie channels.

Cox also has taken advantage of the expanded bandwidth of HDTV to offer multiple signals per channel. That's how the company is able to offer more than 200 channels to customers.

Other stations in Las Vegas also are preparing to offer HDTV.

Axtell at Channel 10 said his PBS affiliate has applied for a grant for transmission equipment that will be awarded in September. If the local affiliate receives a grant, equipment could be ordered immediately and transmission could begin within six months, or early 2001.

At KVBC Channel 3, the city's NBC affiliate, in-house digital production has begun, said engineer Tina Mata, but transmission of an HDTV signal won't start for two years. KTNV Channel 13, the local ABC affiliate, did not disclose a specific timetable, but Mary Alice Tierney, vice president of communications with the Milwaukee-based Journal Broadcast Group, said the station would meet the FCC's May 2002 deadline.

KVVU Channel 5, the Henderson-based Fox network affiliate, is in an unusual situation because its assigned HDTV frequency is on the UHF band. Jack Smith, director of engineering for KVVU, said that would require building a new transmitter and a new tower. As a result, HDTV plans are "not immediate" and he doesn't expect to be running the signal until April 2002.

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