KQED began broadcasting its digital signal Monday, May 15, 2000, becoming the first public broadcaster to do so in Northern California. Bay Area viewers who have high-definition television sets can receive KQED's digital broadcast signal on KQED DT30-1 from sign-on to sign-off. Viewers who have an analog sets continue to receive KQED's regular signal on TV9. Viewers of both TV9 and DT30 receive KQED's full program schedule.
KQED's transmission of a digital television signal - also referred to as DTV - is the first phase in transitioning to an all-digital broadcast and production facility. After transmitting its first digital signal, KQED will begin to change its operations and equipment from an analog format to a digital one. KQED’s DTV capability will allow the station to digitally broadcast over a variety of formats, including multicasting on up to four channels, broadcasting with enhanced or interactive television and, of course, airing programs in HDTV.
"KQED has reached a historic benchmark today with our first broadcast in the digital format,” noted Mary Bitterman, former president and CEO of KQED. "This transmission affords KQED the opportunity to harness the power of digital television and use it to further our mission of education, culture and citizenship for the Bay Area community. High-quality programs like Sahara will be doubly so on KQED DT30."
KQED is poised to introduce an unprecedented level of educational services to the people of Northern California with the transition to digital technology. By making the leap from analog to digital, KQED is establishing itself as a major Northern California production center. Under a mandate from the Federal Communications Commission, all commercial and public television stations must make the conversion to digital technology by the year 2003.
If you would like to receive monthly email updates about upcoming programs and KQED's continuing conversion, email dtv@kqed.org.
highlights
digital conversion
environmental concerns
about KQED
