Digital TV For All

This past week we received a press release informing us that a consensus was reached among several industry groups regarding the digital TV transition. Most people are unaware of the changes taking place, however everyone who watches television, which is nearly 100% of the country will be affected by this conversion.

Consider This...

The digital television transition is the single most significant conversion in the history of broadcast television and it promises to bring important and long awaited benefits to the American public. The final transition from analog to digital television is scheduled for completion on February 17, 2009. However, KAIT will most likely terminate our analog signal in the fall of 2008.

So what does this mean to you? It means more choices... it means better quality.  Previously KAIT has only been capable of broadcasting one analog channel... channel 8. As of today KAIT is broadcasting three digital channel... 8.1, 8.2 and 8.3... and may soon add a 4^th channel in the coming months. 8.1 is our traditional local news, weather & sports, syndicated programming like Oprah and Wheel of Fortune and all ABC programming. 8.2... which we call 24/7 Weather... is 24 hours of local weather 7 days a week from your K8 StormTeam... Ryan Vaughan, Chris Castleman and Sarah Tipton. The Tube airs on 8.3... a music video channel that actually plays music videos.

We are also airing ALL of the Lincoln Financial SEC football games on 8.2 this fall and will carry the Lincoln Financial SEC Basketball package as well. And... television stations in the markets surrounding Region 8, Memphis, Little Rock, Springfield, and Cape Girardeau, are also broadcasting digital signals. In addition... the Arkansas Educational Television Network has four channels up and on the air as I speak.

Here's the great news... these channels are FREE over the air... right now. You can receive these signals by purchasing a High Definition Television set with a built in tuner and an antenna... or you can use your existing set... the one you are watching right now... by purchasing a digital receiver and antenna. I checked last week and Circuit City has digital receivers for around $229... and that price will continue to fall.

So... if you invest about $300 right now for a receiver and antenna you could receive multiple channels... for FREE. If you divide $300 over twelve months you average $25 per month... and then you're done. You get news, weather, sports, music, entertainment, educational and children's programming... FREE... right now.

I realize we are two years away from the full transition, but we want you to be informed and we want you to have the opportunity to get more for free NOW!

To find out more information about digital receivers, HD sets and antennas just go to the Consider This section of our website under the topic Digital TV and we'll provide you with links to the various informational websites.

We look forward to your feedback as we make the transition to the future... today.