In certain viewing areas of NJ and NY, Comcast basic cable has moved WLIW21 to its digital tier (WLIW Create and WLIW World are also available). Some viewers will need a special set-top converter box from Comcast in order to continue receiving WLIW21 with their cable service. Comcast will provide this box at no cost for 12 months. Please call 1-800-COMCAST for more information.
Under a national agreement ensuring that cable providers would carry all of public television’s digital channels, cable companies agreed to carry the primary public television channel of a viewing area in both digital and non-digital forms. However, cable companies insisted that secondary public television channels in these areas choose either digital or non-digital, but not both.
In your area, Comcast regards WLIW21 as a secondary public television channel. That is why WLIW21 is being offered to you only with digital service.
As a result, viewers who do not subscribe to Comcast digital cable service must now have a special set-top box in order to view WLIW21 on cable. Please be aware, however, that Comcast will provide this box to you at no cost for 12 months. Note: this set-top box is different than the converter box that some over-the-air customers are using to receive DTV signals. You must get it directly from Comcast. It is not available in stores. For more information, please contact 1-800-COMCAST.
The federal government has extended the deadline for the transition to digital television from February 17, 2009 to June 12, 2009.
WLIW21 and THIRTEEN will continue to broadcast both analog and digital signals until June 12, 2009.
Until June 12, 2009, WLIW21 will continue to broadcast on digital 22. On June 12, 2009, WLIW21 will broadcast on digital 21.
Learn more about the digital transition June 12, 2009 and find out if you are prepared.
Comcast is giving mixed stories. I was told that the boxes were free. No mention of 12 months.
October7, 2009 – Comcast has again moved channels in our area and all 3 WLIW programs are now gone – even on the “free” box they let us have. We will miss WLIW!
Dear Viewer:
Thank you for taking the time to write to us regarding the recent difficulties you have experienced in receiving our over the air signal. Regrettably, you are not alone. We, along with other stations in our area, have been hearing from many viewers across our viewing area who are experiencing the same problem.
Please be assured that nothing on our end has changed. The problem is believed to be an atmospheric change causing interference to our signal. The interference is created by a change in the atmosphere which allows other signals from distant sources to interfere and prevent receivers from receiving the signals.
Of course, you should make sure that you have re-scanned and repositioned your antenna and that your antenna receives both UHF and VHF signals. Also, if you are using a set-top antenna, you should look into installing a roof top antenna or connecting to your building’s antenna.
Several months ago, we attempted to obtain a waiver to increase the power for WLIW but were unable to obtain the increase for a number of reasons outside of our control. Some of these problems have now cleared and we may be in a better position to increase our power some time in the future, but we cannot be certain that this will resolve everyone’s problems.
We are truly sorry that there is not more that we can do at this time to resolve these issues. As a public television station, WLIW relies on support from our viewing public. Certainly, the ability for all viewers to receive our signal is a top priority and we will continue to work diligently with the FCC and other stations to find a solution to this ongoing problem. In the meantime, if you have access to the internet, you can view many of our programs online.
Thank you for your interest in and support of public television.
Sincerely,
Ricardo Galvez
WLIW
WLIW is on channel 3 if you are a Time Warner Cable Subscriber in Northern NJ. It took me a half hour to figure it out. I called Time Warner and they couldn’t find it either!