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FALLS CHURCH, VA- With the recent change to the FCC-mandated digital transition deadline, MHz Networks has been forced to delay the broadcast launch of the remaining five of its ten channels until June 12th.

The channels in question were slated to be broadcast on MHz Networks' WNVC transmitter in Merrifield, VA, but have been put on hold pending the shut off of a nearby broadcaster whose analog signal would interfere with MHz Network's Merrifield digital transmitter’s frequency. 

The original transition date of February 17th called for all analog signals to be turned off and all remaining digital signals to be turned on at the same time.

Since MHz Networks cannot turn on its Merrifield, VA digital transmitter and broadcast its additional five channels until analog broadcaster WUTB in Baltimore, MD ceases its analog signal (which it has stated will not take place until June 12th), MHz is effectively shut out of transitioning to digital broadcasting on WNVC until that date.  

“Suffice it to say that the change in date was not a good thing for us,” says Frederick Thomas, CEO of MHz Networks.  “But regardless of the date we’re the only stations in the market trying to work out the details of ten distinct program streams in a market. It’s no small task.”

In the interim MHz’s other five channels will continue to be broadcast digitally on its other transmitter, WNVT, located in Independent Hill in Prince William County.  MHz’s WNVT was the first full-time, non-commercial digital broadcasting station in the U.S., going on air in 2003 with a digital-only signal on DT 30. 

The broadcast channel line-up on MHz’s DT 30 until June 12 is:

Broadcast Channel #         Channel
30.1                                MHz Worldview
30.2                                NHK World TV
30.3                                Metro Chinese Network (MCN)
30.4                                SABC
30.5                                RT (formerly Russia Today)

When the full slate of MHz channels are available on June 12th, the line-up will adjust and include channels 30.6 through 30.10.  The line-up will be announced in the coming months. At that point, MHz Networks will be providing the most digital broadcast channels of any single broadcast station in the Washington, D.C. market.

Cable Digital TV

For cable viewers in the D.C. metro area, the MHz channel line-up is also changing somewhat – in part as a result of the new digital broadcast transition deadline.  Comcast will begin carriage of MHz’s ten channels on April 2nd.  They had agreed to carry all of MHz’s channels prior to the announced switch in the digital transition date.  MHz Networks is working with Verizon FiOS, Cox and RCN to include the two additional MHz Networks channels and hope to complete those agreements by the June 12th deadline.  All of those cable systems carry MHz’s previous eight channel line-up. 

As a result of the switch over to digital broadcasting and the resulting changes necessary on the region’s cable systems, new channel numbers may be attached to MHz Networks channels. MHz Networks will alert viewers of this information as soon as the information is made available.

For the time being, MHz Networks channel numbers on Comcast, Cox and RCN cable, as well as Verizon FiOS remain the same.

With the confusion initiated with the digital transition being moved back, MHz Networks programming information via EPGs and listing services may experience continuity issues.

For additional information, visit the “MHz in DC” tab of www.mhznetworks.org or contact MHz Networks directly at 703-770-7100.
 
Contact:
Stephanie Misar
8101 A Lee Highway
Falls Church, VA 22042
703-770-7100
www.mhznetworks.org

MHz Networks is an independent, non-commercial television broadcaster delivering international educational and arts programming and providing diverse cultural perspectives for a globally-minded audience.

MHz Worldview, MHz Networks flagship channel, brings programming to globally-minded audiences in the US though affiliates, including cable, satellite and online. Serving the Washington, DC area’s 4.9 million residents with eight local broadcast channels, MHz Networks features programs from around the world on-air in more than 20 different languages.

A division of Commonwealth Public Broadcasting Corporation headquartered in Richmond, VA, MHz Networks is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization. MHz has studio facilities in Falls Church, VA and at Washington, DC’s Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center.

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