Wisconsin, from a digital perspective...

As the digital television transition approaches, there has been a lot of buzz about the end of analog broadcasting and the need for consumers to make sure they can receive digital transmission in their homes.

A new benefit to that digital transmission is the ability for stations to offer more than one channel on their digital feed. WPT has now started to use one of the multi-cast channels to launch The Wisconsin Channel.

The channel features a collection of the finest Wisconsin-created and -produced content, including the state's history, current events and other interesting music, arts and academic programs.

The channel is available over-the-air on WPT-DT 2. But, if you don't yet have digital reception at your home, you can find The Wisconsin Channel online.

To learn more about the upcoming digital transition, visit this site.

Be more civic-minded...

As the 2008 election year ramps up and important national, statewide and local races approach, WPT and its partner Wisconsin Public Radio (WPR) have re-vamped the WisconsinVote.org Web site.

As before, the site is the best source for election news and information. Now, it also includes exciting new features that make it easy for voters to find the information they want.

Archived audio programs from WPR's talk shows offer insight and analysis into the upcoming races. An ever-growing collection of video clips provide a balanced look at the issues impacting and shaping campaigns. And, a large selection of candidate profiles paint a biographical sketch of each candidate, allowing voters to decide which candidate most deserves their vote.

As the primaries and regular elections approach, WisconsinVote.org will continue to bring the most up-to-date political news and information anywhere to the comfort of your own home computer.

Brrrr, that's cold...

Tuesday night's NOVA broadcast can help to put the cold Wisconsin winters into an interesting perspective. Airing at 7 is the first part of "Absolute Zero." The show, which will conclude next week Tuesday, explores a scientific race to reach the coldest temperatures physically possible.

People have been trying create artificial coldness since a court magician for England's King James I invented a rudimentary form of air conditioning. Now scientists aim for an even chillier goal of absolute zero -- -273 degrees Celsius.

Just how cold is that? And how does absolute zero stack up to what Wisconsin folks consider to be winter's bitterest cold? See this interactive tool to find out. And, if cold isn't quite your thing, take a look at the warmer, opposite scale.

And if the program has you intrigued to learn more about the scientists aiming to reach absolute zero, visit the project's official Web site, where you will find further information, educator's materials, and even temperature crosswords and sodoku puzzles to keep you busy.