Fisher Broadcasting Commits to HDTV for KOMO-TV and KATU, Warns of Spectrum Auction Threat

Hello Dale Cripps:

I am responding to your e-mail to Stan Orchard on behalf of Fisher Broadcasting Inc.

Fisher's KOMO-TV and KATU are first and foremost local broadcast stations, committed to the concept of free, over-the-air, advertiser-supported news and entertainment programming. We intend to start providing the viewers of Portland and Seattle with HDTV programming as quickly as possible. We have no immediate plans to transmit multiple standard definition signals, nor huge amounts of data. If, at some later time, there appears to be an opportunity to utilize the system's flexibility to help recoup the cost of conversion, we will take a close look at it.

As to timing, there are a number of considerations such as the six month delay in the adoption of the Grand Alliance standard, local building permit processes, and the availability of the necessary transmiission equipment, that are beyond our control. Local restrictions on antenna siting alone could cause several years delay unless some action is taken by the federal government to speed the process along.

Dropping the idea of HDTV is not an option. If it is to be successful, broadcasters must embrace the new technology wholeheartedly. We plan to be among the first to offer HDTV.

The push to auction the transitional ATV spectrum could threaten the ability of broadcasters to continue to provide free service. Some form of subscription service may be the only answer.

Don Wilkinson
VP & Director of Engineering
Fisher Broadcasting Inc.