May 08, 2008 04:27 pm
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WILMINGTON, N.C. – WSFX (FOX 26) is joining an early transition to all-digital broadcasting on Sept. 8, 2008. The Wilmington market has been singled out for an early change to digital-only broadcasting. WSFX is working in cooperation with other broadcast, cable and satellite providers in the market, as well as government, business and civic groups.
"We could not be more pleased that WSFX is among the industry’s leaders in making this important digital transition," said Donna Barrett, president and chief executive officer of Southeastern Media Holdings Inc., which owns WSFX.
"This change will improve our station's ability to serve its advertisers and viewers, who are the ultimate beneficiaries of an all-digital market. It also reflects an ongoing commitment at WSFX to the highest standards of quality in service to Wilmington and the Cape Fear region."
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin announced the Wilmington market’s transition today in Washington, D.C. He was joined by Barrett and WSFX Vice President and General Manager Thom Postema.
Also in attendance were Wilmington Mayor Bill Saffo, Wilmington Chamber of Commerce President Connie Majure-Rhett and other industry and government representatives.
Commercial broadcasters serving the Wilmington market – NBC, FOX, ABC and CBS – have voluntarily agreed to turn off their analog signals on Sept. 8. The commercial television stations thereafter will broadcast only digital signals to their viewers in the five North Carolina counties that comprise the television market.
The DTV transition for the rest of the country will take place Feb. 17, 2009, when all full-power television stations must turn off their analog signals and transmit only their digital signals.
WSFX Vice President and General Manager Thom Postema said, “On behalf of WSFX, Southeastern Media Holdings and the FOX Network, I am thrilled and honored with the FCC announcement that the Wilmington market will be the first in the country to launch the DTV test, beginning Sept. 8, 2008. WSFX is proud to be a part of television broadcast history and will make every effort to ensure a smooth transition for both our viewers and advertisers.”
Over-the-air viewers (those who do not subscribe to cable or satellite) should apply to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration www.ntia.doc.gov/dtv/coupon for coupons to obtain converters for their analog sets.
For more information about the transition, the public should visit the FCC’s Web site dedicated to the national DTV transition, www.dtv2009.gov, or the station’s web site at www.wsfx.com.
Southeastern Media Holdings Inc. owns four television stations in Georgia, North Carolina and Virginia. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Community Newspaper Holdings Inc., which also owns and operates 90 daily newspapers and other publications throughout the United States.
For more information contact: Thom Postema, WSFX, 322 Shipyard Blvd., Wilmington, NC 28412; (910) 791-8070; tpostema@wsfx.com.
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