Fox moves to WEVV, HD available on low-power channel

Friday is the day: Fox programming will move from WTVW-7 to WEVV 's new Fox44.

Last Friday evening, WEVV put a new low-power digital TV station on the air — W47EE-D, channel 47.1 — that was granted special temporary authority to operate by the FCC earlier this month.

Since its initial sign-on late last week, W47EE-D has been simulcasting My44's programming (found on channel 44.2), but in 720p high definition. According to CBS44/Fox44 general manager Tim Black , the new station will air Fox44 programming in HD, as well as provide that feed to cable and satellite outlets.

"When the Fox affiliate switch was announced, we promised to provide Fox44 programming over the air in high definition," Black explained. "We are very pleased to provide the 10 percent of viewers in this market who continue to use an over-the-air antenna with that HD programming."

In using channel 47.1, Black said, "Fox44 will become the second local TV station in the Evansville market (the first was CBS44) to provide all programming (network and syndication) and local commercial content in high definition if it is produced in the HD format."

If you live within the Evansville, Henderson, Ky., or Owensboro, Ky., areas), you can rescan your TV to pick up the station, if you're using an antenna. From my home on the southwest side of Owensboro, I get a relatively good, steady signal and an excellent picture.

If you're not able to pick up channel 47.1, however, all is not lost: Fox44's standard-definition signal will replace that of My44 on channel 44.2 on Friday.

For cable customers, Fox44 will be carried on all cable outlets in the area. Contact your provider for the channel number.

Home satellite customers also will see Fox in HD, but at this point, that will will happen if you're a DirecTV subscriber. As of this writing, Dish Network has refused to carry the station.

Dish Network can be reached by calling 800-823-4929, online at http://dishnetwork.com , and also on Twitter (@DishNetwork) and Facebook.

In other TV and radio news this week:

THREE COMPANIES VYING FOR CHANCE TO BUY INSIGHT COMMUNICATIONS

In last week's column, I mentioned in passing that Time Warner Cable, which just last week announced that it would spend $260 million to buy NewWave Communications' Kentucky and Tennessee cable systems, also had expressed interest in buying Insight Communications, which serves Evansville, Henderson and several other Tri-State communities, in addition to other areas of Southern Indiana, and parts of Kentucky and Ohio.

Internet | WOW Cable, Internet Moving Into Harper Woods | RSS News

WOWInternet, Cable and Phone announced Friday that it began construction of its fiber optic cable network in Harper Woods.

Englewood, Colo.-based WOW, formerly Wide Open West, is the 15th largest cable TV provider in the country. With a Michigan headquarters inMadison Heights, the company has operated in 44 communities throughout Southeast Michigan for more thana decade.

Last fall, WOW obtained a cable franchise that paved the way for constructing its own network to serve the residents and businesses of Harper Woods. WOW is investing more than$2 million in Grosse Pointe Woods and will continue to invest in the community as its customer base grows. The company’s entry provides Harper Woods residents and businesses with more competitive choices in Internet, cable television and telephone providers.

Network construction began in two areas of the city the first week of May. The new fiber optic network will be installed on the existing utility poles located in the dedicated public easement. Crews have already surveyed all the pole lines and trimmed tree branches that encroached into the space on the poles where WOW’s network will be installed. During the construction process, WOW’s crews will need to access the dedicated public easements on several occasions in every neighborhood. Construction vehicles will be clearly identified and crews will carry company issued identification.

“We are doing everything possible to make the construction process as seamless and transparent as possible,” said Floyd Armstead, vice president of technical operations. “However, we won’t be invisible. We will keep customers informed of where we are and what we are doing throughout the process via mail and door tags.”

The construction of the WOW network is expected to take six months to complete. The network will be constructed in small geographic sections callednodes. Construction started on the northeast side of the community and will travel southwesterly. After each node is completed and certified by the company’s engineers, customers can begin to sign up for WOW service.

According to senior vice president and general manager Mark Dineen, customers who live off the first nodes to be activated should be able to choose WOW for service beginning in late June. Node activation will continue on a rolling basis. WOW plans to personally notify every resident when service is available to their specific home. More information is available at www.wowway.com/comingsoon .

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