WPME and WPXT get new High Definition equipment

In Portland, the MyNetwork and CW network channels, WPME and WPME respectively, recently purchased new equipment that will help them advance into the next phases of high definition broadcasting.

From Doug Finck, General Manager WPXT-TV (The CW), Station Manager WPME-TV (MyTV)

"We recently purchased two new pieces of equipment. One is a digital receiver that allows us to receive satellite signals that are being transmitted in digital and HD. The second box converts the signal from 720 to 1080 or from 1080 to 720. We have to have that converter box because we have two different transmissions systems here. WPME operates in 720P…because the My Network Television system uses that as their standard (they are a Fox Network and 720P is the official format of Fox channels). Our other station, WPXT operates in 1080i…because The CW uses that as their standard (they are owned by CBS and Warner Bros., and 1080i is the official format of CBS networks). So we have the ability to receive a signal in one format, convert to the other and broadcast it live. This equipment was purchased in order to pass through HD signals from the ACC sports network (we are carrying about 40 basketball games…12 of which will be in HD this spring, and about 20 football games…many of which are supposed to be in HD starting this fall)."

This is great news. With these developments, WPME and WPXT will be in first place in terms of HD technology in the Portland, Maine TV market. They have also purchased equipment and services that will allow them to record and playback HD programming. This is a major step considering nobody else in the Portland market (with the possible exception of Maine PBS) can do this and must rely on a satellite feed from their network (e.g. ABC, NBC, CBS) for direct relay broadcasting (meaning they can only broadcast to you High Definition programming that is coming through from the network in that format AT THAT EXACT TIME). They can't record it and play it back later.

I still have to call the other Portland affiliates on a regular basis to ask them to "flip the switch" so that HD programming from the networks in prime time is actually broadcast to me in high definition. It is that simple. The satellite feed comes to the affiliate who turn around and broadcasts it from their tower to you. If they forget to "flip the switch" the program will only come to in in standard definition. This happens quite often so I call the offending station to let them know that they are not broadcasting in HD. I've written about it several times on this site so I won't go into it here. Feel free to search this site for more info.

Congratulations to Doug, and his team at WPME and WPXT. Cutting edge technology comes with its pitfalls and learning curves but I'm sure they can handle it. I look forward to seeing how they put this new equipment to use.