KCTU to convert to digital

KCTU, Channel 5, is making the transition to digital late this month and adding several new channels. But none of them will be in high definition.

News and creative director R.J. Dickens says that’s because HD allows for only two channels within a frequency while digital can easily accommodate at least four, which is what KCTU plans.

“From a business standpoint, do you really give up two revenue streams so some no-life loser techno geek can count all the pores in your face?” Dickens says.

After the conversion, KCTU will be on Channel 43.

Channel 43.1 will have the station’s traditional format, which includes local programming. It will also have some new nationally syndicated programming.

Channel 43.2 will be sports related, with a lot of games from area high schools and colleges.

Channel 43.3 will be movies and international programming. Dickens says he’s talking with two or three potential providers.

And there are several options for Channel 43.4, which Dickens isn’t ready to talk about yet.

The conversion should happen by Memorial Day weekend.

  • Truthseeker

    This is great, but I hope they don’t broadcast the channels in 16:9 aspect ratio when the programs are 4:3, resulting only in horizontally stretched pictures, which KGPT-49 is doing.

  • robertdsmith

    All well and good, but unfortunately you can only receive their signal if you stand no more than a couple of blocks from their antenna!

  • mrcontroversy

    No worries. The new signal will be broadcast from atop the Epic Center.

  • Truthseeker

    I admire the staying power of KCTU’s owner, River City Broadcasters, they don’t give up, in spite of all the setbacks they’ve had through the years.

  • robertdsmith

    Despite my reservations about their signal, they really stand out with their local programming efforts.

  • mopar

    Oh! I thought this was pretty cool, until I got to the quote. I like my HD television. I enjoy my HD channels. And if R.J. thinks that makes me a ‘no-life loser techno geek’, he can take every one of his channels and pound them anally. KCTU is blocked on every one of my TV’s.

  • mrcontroversy

    If you can’t take a joke, sorry.
    The wireline cable industry uses people like you to make up the excuse that there’s no room for local television anymore.
    And it’s just that–an excuse–for pocketing profits instead of trying to keep up with technology. Which is why there will only be five cable companies left in 10 years: Verizon, AT&T, Comcast, maybe Charter and Suddenlink.
    If you think your intense desire for your precious HD is more important than thousands of local broadcast jobs across this great nation, then, likewise, I’m sure.

  • mopar

    I have a great sense of humor, but I fail to see the joke in calling everyone who enjoys HD a loser. In fact, if you read my whole post, you would have seen that I thought it was great, UNTIL. It’s not my precious HD, I didn’t invent it. I just utilize the technology as it becomes available. And I never indicated anywhere that I thought it was more important to broadcast in HD than to create jobs. So, up yours too.

  • Truthseeker

    The Epic Center certainly seems like a good location for the new signal, better than that tower on St. Francis just north of the Kellogg overpass.

  • Frank_Lingo

    @ mrcontroversy- Suddenlink? Puhleeze. The quality of signal and human service is abysmal. My mom’s city is served by them. Terrible TV, iffy internet. Suddenlink bought the system from Cox, and it was 100% when Cox gave them the keys. I just can’t imagine them prevailing at anything.

  • mrcontroversy

    Frank, I completely understand what you’re saying. That’s why I said “possibly”. Suddenlink has to get their customer service issues under control… and their chairman and CEO are aware of it. But they have better cash control than any of the other Top 10 companies in the cable industry, and that is why they have a better chance of survival. Witness the fact that Cox has tried to sell their Kansas holdings to Suddenlink on more than one occasion.
    The companies willing to invest in R&D will make it… the ones who refuse, like Cox, will have less of a chance.

  • mopar

    Keep spinning. It’s obvious you are talking out of your anal cavity.

  • livin4dios

    If these local stations want to broadcast in non-HD formats, that fine. Personally, I like HD and I’m not a “no-life loser techno geek.” It is comments like this that are unnecessary. I enjoy good programming, and there is DEFINITELY a difference between HD and non-HD television. It has little to do with profits and more to do with quality television and good programming. If a station wants to avoid moving into the newest technology, just don’t expect me to watch them, especially when they insult me as a “no life loser.”

  • pmpkncrkcrplr

    KCTU…KSCW…never heard of them. they have no presence on my HD tier, so its kinda like they don’t exsist.
    -confessions of a “no-life loser”.

  • Squid7085

    Well, seeing as I only watch HD channels, I must be a no-life techno geek. It’s a shame I have never heard of KCTU, that might be why. And with that statement I will make it a point never to watch it. Lets spin that around, at this point it is a stupid business move NOT to utilize HD broadcasting and further call anybody who does watch HD a loser. Quality of content will always win over amount of content, hopefully this “no business sense loser” will realize that soon.