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Re: [Swprograms] Shortwave - Who Needs It
MHz delivers their "MHz Network" which is mostly equivalent to their MHz Network
1 in the DC area to public television stations in 22 markets across the US now.
They have a listing here:
http://www.mhznetworks.org/mhzworldview/carriage/
And my website has a listing here (arranged differently):
http://www.afana.com/drupal5/tvinfo (2nd bullet on page)
They aren't yet in Oklahoma City but you can lobby your local public television
station to add them. MHz entire US strategy is to get on the secondary digital
channels of other public television outlets.
--
-Rob de Santos
Columbus, OH
-----Original Message-----
From: stevec038@xxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:stevec038@xxxxxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Monday, June 22, 2009 8:10 PM
To: Shortwave programming discussion
Subject: Re: [Swprograms] Shortwave - Who Needs It
After reading the posts about the availability of the MHz network in the DC
area, I know I would love to have it hear in the Oklahoma City Area. However
even with it I would not give up shotwave.
Steve Cross
OKC,OK
-----Original Message-----
>From: Joe Buch <josephbuch@xxxxxxxxx>
>Sent: Jun 22, 2009 4:03 PM
>To: SW Programs <swprograms@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>Subject: [Swprograms] Shortwave - Who Needs It
>
>
>The following Washington Post article shows how Washinton DC now gets ten
channels of foreign TV thanks to the MHz network and the technology of digital
multiplexing. Comcast is picking up all of these channels for relay to their
customers.
>
>By Kim Hart
>Monday, June 22, 2009
>
>The switch to digital TV has caused static and headaches for thousands of
viewers in the Washington region. But for one local station, the transition has
been something of a revival.
>
>MHz Networks, based in Falls Church, has carved out a niche for international
programming over the past 15 years, showing Russian newscasts, Nigerian
documentaries and Italian mysteries, to name a few of its offerings. To build
its digital antenna and boost the signal's power, MHz shut off analog to its two
channels in September -- the first station in the country to do so -- leaving
many viewers who were not yet equipped to receive digital signals believing it
had simply disappeared. But on June 12, when viewers hooked up converter boxes
and scanned for digital stations, MHz came through at full strength.
>
>"We got calls from people all over saying, 'You're back!' " said chief
executive Frederick Thomas, who started working at the public television station
15 years ago as a programming manager.
>
>MHz Networks is owned by Richmond-based Commonwealth Public Broadcasting and,
through affiliate agreements with broadcasters and cable and satellite
companies, reaches 27 million households across the country.
>
>But viewers in the Washington region, and some in Baltimore, now get to watch
10 channels over the air free of charge. (The digital transition gave the
network eight extra channels to broadcast additional foreign content.)
>
>
>Five channels, including programs from the Middle East, China and Japan, are
aired from a 698-foot tower in Falls Church, while the remaining five channels
with programs from Vietnam, France and South Africa are aired from a tower in
Prince William County. (Viewers have to point their antennas in that direction
to receive the channels.)
>
>When Thomas arrived at the station in 1993, he said it was airing a hodgepodge
of programs on a random schedule. He saw the opportunity to cater to the growing
diversity of Washington and, starting with the showing of 10 foreign films,
slowly acquired the rights to air programs from foreign news services. He said
that with an eye on numbers from the 1990 Census, he tried to air content that
would appeal to the largest ethnic groups in the region.
>
>"I knew there was this international underbelly to the nation's capital," he
said.
>
>Now that MHz has mastered digital broadcasts, it's branching into new
territories. Starting next month, it will begin airing mobile video broadcasts
as part of a larger pilot project by the Open Mobile Video Coalition, which will
also provide video for the major network affiliates in the area, Ion Media and
Howard University's public television station. Mobile video, Thomas said, takes
advantage of a "big, open-air broadband pipe -- it's wicked cool."
>
>But there's a problem: Handsets capable of receiving the new mobile video
broadcasts aren't yet available to consumers. Broadcasters are testing the
service so it will be ready when devices become available next year.
>
>Ion Media, which is taking part in the mobile video trials and started airing
its mobile content recently, said it has also benefited from the digital
transition.
>
>The network has gained 2.4 million more viewers in the Washington region,
bringing its projected audience to nearly 7 million, according to the Federal
Communications Commission.
>
>Ion airs four stations in the region, and moved its antenna from a tower in
Fairfax to a taller tower in Northwest D.C. to boost reception, said John
Lawson, executive vice president of policy and strategic initiatives.
Headquartered in Florida, Ion has offices in Arlington and Fairfax. The network
is also in talks with BET founder Robert L. Johnson to create a channel
primarily geared toward African American audiences, called Urban TV.
>
>While Ion's mobile content is available on the airwaves now, area consumers
won't get to try it out until January, when prototype devices will be made
available for the trial. The Open Mobile Video Coalition has chosen to have its
only service trial in Washington, giving local early adopters a sneak peak.
>
>Lawson said he tested a prototype device downtown this week. "I got a strong
signal on Capitol Hill," he said. "But I had some challenges around the White
House."
>
>Kim Hart writes about Washington's technology scene every Monday. Contact her
at hartk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>
>
>
>
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