KCWE flipping to digital 2 months early

I'm guessing this has something to do with the fact that old 29 is going to become new 9. Say what? Yes, as I reported earlier, KMBC got permission to grab 29 when KCWE is done with it so they don't have to be KC's only VHF digital station. You don't really want to be pulling an all-nighter on Feb. 16 to make that switcheroo, so this gives the engineers some breathing room.

KCWE Leads as First Kansas City TV Station to Switch to DTV.

(Kansas City, MO) KCWE-TV will flip the switch from analog to digital two months ahead of schedule. KCWE will cease broadcasting its analog signal on December 15th, 2008 at 9 a.m. Federal Law mandates that all full power television station in the U.S. shut down their analog transmitters on February 17th, 2009. Viewers receiving KCWE’s signal via cable or satellite will continue to do so as they currently do.

Analog-only televisions can receive KCWE’s digital channel over the air by using a digital-to-analog converter box and tuning to Channel 29-1. KCWE Engineering recommends performing an Auto Channel Scan on your digital TV or converter box to ensure you can pickup Channel 29-1. Converter boxes are available at local electronics retailers. More information is available at www.kcwe.com and www.dtv2009.gov, or by calling 1-888-DTV-2009. You may also register your comments or request information by contacting us at 6455 Winchester Ave, Kansas City, MO 64133, calling us at 816-221-2900, or e-mailing us at engineering@kmbc.com.

“KCWE is proud to lead the transition to digital television in Kansas City,” said Wayne Godsey, President and General Manager of KMBC-TV and KCWE-TV. “Our early switch to DTV on December 15th will provide local viewers with a real life test to see if they’re digital ready. We invite viewers to tune in to KCWE. If they can’t see us, they’ll know they have work to do before all TV stations complete the digital transition on February 17, 2009.”

DTV is more efficient and more flexible than the traditional broadcast technology known as analog. DTV enables TV stations to provide crystal clear pictures and CD quality sound. DTV also makes it possible for stations to broadcast in high definition or provide multiple channels of programming simultaneously (called multicasting), instead of broadcasting only one channel at a time. DTV technology can also be used to provide future interactive video and data services that are not possible with analog technology.