Digital TV arrives in Maine

Many years ago, as a young child, I remember the excitement of the first television set coming into our home. It was tiny, black and white, and had a fuzzy screen, but it was so exciting.

This month, television is going through the biggest technological change since it first entered people’s homes. After five years of anticipation, digital television has finally arrived in Maine. On May 21, Maine PBS began digital service in Portland, Bangor and Presque Isle.

Digital television is turbo-charged television, yielding eight more times the picture resolution and clarity than standard television, making you feel like you’re in the middle of the action. With a wider width to height screen size compared to today’s nearly square format of analog television, digital television lets you see wider images.

Digital television is about consumer choice. With digital TV, Maine PBS now offers more channels because digital is more efficient and can deliver more information than the half-a-century old analog system.

The four new digital channel options on Maine PBS are delivered through a process called multicasting. Digital technology allows Maine PBS to deliver several standard definition television signals at once. The new digital Maine PBS channels are:

Maine PBS, which is the channel for locally and nationally produced programs you see today on our analog signal. Tune in on this channel for “MaineWatch,” “The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer” and “Made In Maine.”

Maine PBS Kids is the channel for our award-winning children’s programs like “Sesame Street,” “Arthur” and “Between the Lions.”

Maine PBS You is our education channel. Now you can get a GED, tune-in for distance learning or enjoy how-to programs.

Maine PBS Plus is a channel that includes all nationally produced programming such as “Mystery!,” “NOVA,” “Frontline” and “Masterpiece Theatre.”

The future looks bright for more local programs on Maine PBS’ digital service. We’re currently working on several options including adding local content to Maine PBS You, like our afternoon block of education shows called “Career and Learning Connections.” Also, we’re researching the possibilities for a state public affairs channel, more statewide basketball play-off coverage and other types of customized programs.

In the coming weeks you will see announcements on our analog TV service explaining how you can take advantage of the new digital signals.

Basically, there are two ways we recommend for you to receive our digital signals. The first is to purchase a converter box to connect to your existing analog TV. This will receive the digital signal and “translate it” into a form that can be shown on your current TV set. Maine PBS is working with major electronic equipment stores in Maine to provide demonstrations of our new service so that you can see its benefits before you buy.

The other method of receiving our new digital signals is to sign up for a digital cable service through your local cable company. In York, Cumberland and by this fall, Aroostook counties, Time Warner Cable customers will get Maine PBS on their digital tier. This is immediately available in 25,000 southern Maine homes. If you live in one of those counties and have not yet signed up for the digital package, you might want to consider the advantages not only of getting Maine PBS’ four simultaneous program offerings, but also the other channels that come in that package.

We encourage you to call Time Warner Cable to get more information about the cost and advantages of those services. If you live in other parts of Maine where cable is provided by Adelphia, Susquehanna, Cable TV of the Kennebunks or one of the other smaller cable systems, we plan to work with your local cable company to provide similar options. We are currently engaged in such conversations. Some companies may not be ready to offer the digital service quite yet, but most will be able to soon.

Digital television: it will offer better pictures and sound quality, program choice, and additional educational data through your current television set. The digital era is beginning in Maine. It is revolutionary, it is exciting, and it is loaded with benefits for Maine people statewide.

Rob Gardiner is president and general manager of the Maine Public Broadcasting Corp.