WAPT Temporarily Broadcasting on Low Power

WAPT will be broadcasting at reduced power and from a lower-height antenna over the next couple days while work is done to remove older analog equipment. This should not affect customers receiving WAPT via cable or satellite. However, customers who rely on the over-the-air signal may have difficulties with reception. Work is expected to be completed tomorrow, with the station returning to full power at that point in time.

WAPT transmits digitally on virtual channel 16 (physical channel 21) from a transmitter in southwest Jackson.

WAPT Adds 4:30 AM Newscast

WAPT’s local morning newscasts now begin 30 minutes earlier than before. Yesterday, WAPT became the first Jackson TV station to offer a 4:30am newscast. “Our viewers tell us they like our morning show. With people starting their days earlier and earlier, we wanted to make sure 16 WAPT News was responding to the viewer’s needs”, said WAPT News Director Bruce Barkley.

The broadcast will be named 16 WAPT News at 4:30.

ACSI Posts Subscription Television Customer Satisfaction Ratings

In a press release yesterday, the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) announced scores for the nation’s major subscription television companies. Topping the list was fiber-optic provider Verizon FIOS with a score of 73. FIOS is not currently available in the Jackson area, and there are no plans for it to be added in the near future.

The highest rated company that is available in the area is AT&T U-Verse, which came in as a close second with a rating of 72. Among other providers available in the area, Dish Network topped DirecTV for the first time since 2005 with a score of 71. The change was attributed to Dish’s new aggressive marketing campaign and recent price increases by DirecTV. Although earlier in the year Dish Network also raised prices, and a second price hike is planned for next month. DirecTV scored a 68. Comcast received the lowest score of the local subscription television providers with a 61, though this was a 3% improvement from last year’s results.

New Look Coming to Comcast Cable Box Guide

Preview of the new Scientific Atlanta on-screen guide

Comcast announced yesterday on a company blog that a new look will be coming to the on-screen program guide on the Scientific Atlanta cable boxes. The upgrades will begin across the country this year, although no specific time frame was given for upgrades in the Jackson area.

Among the enhancements promised by the United States’ largest cable provider, a “color-coded TV grid, a new On Demand menu that loads faster, more detailed program information, an improved search feature and a convenient menu of shortcuts.” Additional features promised for the updated box include “expanded parental control options, multiple favorites lists, additional channel grids, a message center, and local weather.” Most of these features are already provided as standard options from the other three local content providers.

WBMS/”WXMS” Back On the Air

As promised, WBMS and W27CH have returned to the airwaves on analog channels 10 and 27 respectively. Over-the-air broadcasts from the two stations were temporarily unavailable while repairs were being made at one of the transmitter sites.

WBMS/”WXMS” Down Temporarily

WBMS and W27CH (the station formerly known as WXMS) have apparently been off the air for multiple days. According to station management, the transmitters were powered down to allow technicians to complete extensive repairs to one of the towers.

The stations are expected to return to the air later on today.