This is a good question.  We have just completed our Master Control HD Upgrade and we are now in the process of acquiring all new HD programs.  What happened to the old programs?  The new system uses a better format that lets us have more control over the HD programs than the old system and format...so we had to get rid of all the old programs that we have been saving since last December and start acquiring new programs...so what are you seeing on the tube?

As of Nov. 2, most of our programs come to us in a HD format (16:9).  When we have to show any of the new programs on cable Channel 10 or 90 or 443, we want to show you the entire picture, so we change the picture and shrink it down until it all fits side-to-side.  This is what we call "letter boxing", black bars on the top and bottom of the picture

When a program comes to us in a SD format (4:3), we need to change it to a HD format as much as possible without distorting the picture, so what you see on the HD channel is the whole picture but now with black bars on each side...this is called "pillar-boxed".  What we then have to do to show this on cable Channels 10, 90 and 443, is to change the converted program back to a SD format.

This is where we locally have the choice to decide how you see the program...we can either take just the middle of the picture to show you...this is called "center-cutting" or we can again display the entire HD signal and "letter-box" it...but this includes the entire video with the balck bars on the side.  When this happens (black bars on the top, bottom. left and right sides of the picture, we call it the "postage stamp" effect.

Why not just use the "center-cut" option...well, when there is information that exceeds the 4:3 center-cut boundaries, it will not show this portion and important video could be cut from your viewing...and using the letter box option leaves you watching a much smaller picture in the middle of your TV.

So what's correct?  Both!  We are working to implement a solution that can adjust the style of display to maximize the screen dimentions you have.  To do this, many things must come together including us acquiring more HD programs or one day when SD programs and analog TVs will be a thing of the past and we will only need to address this problem occasionally.

So until that time, there will be moments when the picture may not fill you screen, or parts of the picture may get cut-off.  You will see this type of thing hapenning on every channel you watch and as the TV broadcast industry struggles to implement new protocols, we will be susceptible to all the problems I mentioned above.

As you can see by the picture...

...as compared to my previous pictures...we have pictures on my screens!

We actually began to use the upgraded Master Control system late Sunday.  I apologize for all the program discrepancies throughout last week, but I believe we have cleared the last high hurdle and will be totally transitioned back to our Master Control sytem later today.

There will probably be some low hurdles to clear in the next couple of weeks and from later today we will start acquiring more and more HD programming to provide you with the best viewing experience of PBS Hawaii...stay tuned.

It has been a few days into our Master Control upgrade and we are fairing pretty well...some transitions have been a little rough, but the programs are managing to get on the air as scheduled.  There have been issues with viewers not understanding what we meant when we said there would be program changes during the week of upgrades...but it is only a temporary change until we finish the upgrade process...so hang in there...we're getting closer to returning to normal.

Here is a picture of our Master Control...as I titled this post...we're up to our knees in wires

and notice the "black" screens...nothing coming out or going in!!! 

 
It's a bit disconcerting, but I know we'll be better off once we restart the system later this week. 

When the FCC mandated digital television for the American public, there were more TV stations than channels available to make the transition to digital smoothly, so they let the "full" power stations convert first (June 12, 2009 was the end of analog broadcasts for full-power TV stations).  There were about 1750 stations to make this transition.  Now its time for the low-power stations to convert...6600+.  Though the FCC has yet to set a deadline for this transition, they have opened the door by asking for stations to begin applying for Construction Permits fort digital low power stations, which includes PBS Hawaii's translators on Kauai and Hawaii.

Our equipment to transition our over-the-air broadcasts to digital has started to arrive and once I hire a contractor to install the receive and transmit antennas, the transmission lines connecting the translator to and from the antennas and installing the translator itself...PBS Hawaii will be completely in digital...ahead of any FCC schedule and broadcasting our HD signal to the entire Hawaiian Island chain.

When do I expect to accomplish changing out 6 translators on Kauai and four more on Hawaii?  If the weather holds out, it should all be completed sometime in mid-January, 2010.  So all of you viewers with analog TV's will need to get a new digital TV or a digital-to-analog converter box to watch our over-the-air signal.  In addition, it might be a good time to check up on the health your UHF antenna and coax cable, making sure that there is a good solid, corrosion free connection at the antenna and to your TV...more to come once I start installing the translators...