Digital TV Answers -- Ask WPT's Director of Television

Be more Tuned In visited WPT's Director of Television James Steinbach, who fielded some viewer comments and questions about the upcoming transition to digital TV.



On Feb. 17, 2009, all broadcasters in the United States will be turning off their analog transmitters and will be broadcasting exclusively in Digital TV. Viewers who watch TV over the air with an antenna need to take action and can do so now. Viewers without a new TV will simply need a digital converter box to keep receiving over-the-air TV signals in their home. The federal government is offering coupons to offset the cost of the boxes.

For more information about digital TV, visit wpt.org or call WPT's Audience Services department at 800.422.9709.

And, if you have any questions about any of WPT's services for James to answer in future installments of Ask WPT's Director of Television, post them in the comment area below.

If you have a high-speed Internet connection and would like to view the video in higher quality, follow this link to YouTube and click Watch in High Quality" below the video player.

Covering the conventions online and over the air...

During the next two weeks, WPT will be the place to find the most comprehensive coverage of the two Presidential National Conventions. The NewsHour With Jim Lehrer will be offering the only complete over-the-air prime time, gavel-to-gavel coverage of both convention.

The Democratic Party National Convention will be broadcast from Denver starting at 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 25 -- Thursday, September 28. The Republican Party National Convention will be broadcast live from St. Paul, Minn. starting at 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 1 -- Thursday, Sept. 4.

In addition to the primetime television coverage, NewsHour reporters will be offering exclusive video reports from the convention halls and floors at the Online NewsHour. They will also be offering instant text updates on their Twitter feed and as-they-happen photo uploads on the NewsHour Flickr feed -- a combination tactic NewsHour staffers have coined as "Twickering."

As the election season unfolds, don't forget that your best source for Wisconsin-based election information is WisconsinVote.org. If you're looking for information from public television outlets around the country, you'll want to visit the PBS Vote 2008 Web site.

Sesame Street for young and old...

As Sesame Street begins its 39th broadcast season today, they have launched a new Web site that might be an even bigger story for the show's fans, both young and old. Available on-demand and 24-hours-per day, the new site is an interactive wonder.

On the colorful, video-intensive Web site, young viewers will love the fun animated games that they can play with their favorite Sesame Street characters. In fact, they probably won't even realize that they are learning important reading and math skills as they help Elmo count eggs in a barnyard or check a mailbox with Big Bird.

They can also watch new clips of their Sesame Street friends singing with Chris Brown or learning about friendship with Zoe, Abby Cadabby and Rosita.

And for older fans, the Web site offers a comprehensive archive of Sesame Street songs, clips and lessons from all of its 39 years. Taking a trip down memory lane, visitors will easily recall the series of animated pinball countdowns, the Ladybugs' Picnic, the classic moment of Grover learning to count with a young boy named John John and many more Sesame Street memories.

All of the videos can be added to customized play lists that can be revisited as often as a visitor wants -- essentially allowing each user the chance to string together their own episode of Sesame Street!

Parents will find their own section of hints, tips and resources for using the site and the show's broadcast for positive child development.