KFOR Drops HD Signal Every Time They Put Up A Weather Map

[dismayed]

Does anyone know why KFOR-DTV always downgrades its signal from HD to standard def every single time they decide to put a weather map up?

It seems like every time there's something on that channel I want to watch, such as Heroes, if they decide to do a school closing crawler or put up a weather map their signal turns to utter crap.

Is it a technological limitation of that station or are their programmers just asleep at the wheel?

[Thunder]

You talking about KFOR's HD channel? I don't believe it is really HD. I think it is fake. If its HD then they should've already been HD on the regular channel.

[LakeEffect]

You talking about KFOR's HD channel? I don't believe it is really HD. I think it is fake. If its HD then they should've already been HD on the regular channel.

It's not fake... I can definitely tell a difference when watching. HD won't be on the regular channel, Digital will be.

I have noticed problems with their HD signal many different times. Last night was another example. The other channels seem to be able to put weather maps and HD programs together.

[bluedogok]

I believe it is a technology issue, they may have not upgraded their equipment or software that handles that type of signal interruption to broadcast in HD. We have a mix of that here in Austin, some can handle it, some can't.

[BradR]

i noticed that too, and the sound gets really muffled sounding when they put the map up. you can tell when they go to commercial or the map goes away because the screen gets wider and sharper and the sound gets better

may just be suddenlink here though...

[dismayed]

i noticed that too, and the sound gets really muffled sounding when they put the map up. you can tell when they go to commercial or the map goes away because the screen gets wider and sharper and the sound gets better

may just be suddenlink here though...

Yes exactly. I was watching one night and clearly it was an HD signal with Dolby Digital sound, and suddenly the image went from wide screen to cropped 4:3 with black bars on the left and right and the sound went muffled at the exact moment they threw up a weather map.

If they have a technology problem I wish they would be more considerate with the maps and not let them linger for hours when nothing is going on in the state.

[OKCisOK4me]

I can't stand it when they do that. I had no interest whatsoever in watching 'Heroes' last night because it was being broadcast in SD. Both 5 & 9 have it where they can overlay their weather map on the HD broadcast. If NewsChannel 4 really is suppose to be going HD like some dufus on here suggests, then you think they'd implement half their technology when it comes to weather interruptions!!!!

I'd like to print this conversation off and mail it to them. There used to be a contact email address on their website but it's gone now. Only a mailing address. I'm figuring they must get a lot of complaints...

[brianinok]

Yes exactly. I was watching one night and clearly it was an HD signal with Dolby Digital sound, and suddenly the image went from wide screen to cropped 4:3 with black bars on the left and right and the sound went muffled at the exact moment they threw up a weather map.

If they have a technology problem I wish they would be more considerate with the maps and not let them linger for hours when nothing is going on in the state.

This is the exact problem I had while watching Chuck. Then to top it off, every few minutes they do that thing where they shrink the show down to about 1/4 the size of the screen and blow the map up huge and slowly scroll multiple times through every watch and warning for every county. It's incredibly annoying.

[brianinok]

FYI - they have a place to contact them using a form on their website. It's at About Us > Contact Us. I did just that. It's over on the far right.

Contact NewsChannel 4 with your comments and concerns - KFOR

[NikonNurse]

I just don't understand why they have to put weather maps up for tornado WATCHES and heavy thunderstorms...(which is what it was during heroes). I can understand severe warnings and tornado warnings, but watches and thunder???? Its annoying.....
The weather was worse during Leno and there was NO map!! Don't get it.

[Thunder]

To me, the HD channel for KFOR shows in standard box with black on both sides.

It is widescreen on the HD channel for KOCO.

[OKCisOK4me]

To me, the HD channel for KFOR shows in standard box with black on both sides.

The broadcast will appear SD even if the signal is HD because whatever is being broadcast was not filmed in HD. That's why the black bars are there.

It is widescreen on the HD channel for KOCO.

Now you've lost me..lol

see above

[scootinger]

Yep...I don't have a HDTV anymore, but when I did have one, KFOR's OTA signal (and maybe other channels too? I don't recall) would go to standard-definition whenever they have the weather map up. It's been like that for at least a couple years...and probably as long as they've broadcasted an HD signal.

They have that separate weather channel for a reason, don't they?

[OKCisOK4me]

Yep...I don't have a HDTV anymore, but when I did have one, KFOR's OTA signal (and maybe other channels too? I don't recall) would go to standard-definition whenever they have the weather map up. It's been like that for at least a couple years...and probably as long as they've broadcasted an HD signal.

They have that separate weather channel for a reason, don't they?

They do. But even if people have that converter box for their SD TV sets, they won't get the 4-2 or the 5-2 channels. That is only available for people that have the HD receiver built in to their television. So unfortunately for those of us that dropped the money for the HD sets, we're gonna have to, sadly, put up with Channel 4 for quite some time, I imagine.

[SPata]

it drops out of hd because they are too cheap to buy the equipment that will allow them to overlay graphics on the hd feed

[jsibelius]

I just don't understand why they have to put weather maps up for tornado WATCHES and heavy thunderstorms...(which is what it was during heroes). I can understand severe warnings and tornado warnings, but watches and thunder???? Its annoying.....
The weather was worse during Leno and there was NO map!! Don't get it.

Good thing you don't make that decision. It may have seemed worse to you during Leno, but a lot of noise isn't necessarily what makes for dangerous conditions. I'd rather know what's going on, even if it's a little annoying, even if it means missing my favorite shows (and yes, I realize that weather often drives news ratings).

Watches are important because they put you on alert. The map is good to have because they tell you where the watches are and if you know anything about how weather travels, it gives you an idea where it may be headed. And since we all know how unpredictable storms can be, having a watch in place is very important.

Thunder, on the other hand, accompanies lightning. And lightning, I hope you realize, is quite dangerous. We don't give it a lot of thought, but lightning kills and injures a lot of people every year. This is something we need to know about if it's going on. And frankly, they're not interrupting the show with the weather map, they're just throwing it up there in conjunction with it, right? Let's be grateful we have access to such good, on-the-spot information. Eventually, they'll work out the HD kinks, and probably in the not-so-distant future.

[NikonNurse]

Good thing you don't make that decision. It may have seemed worse to you during Leno, but a lot of noise isn't necessarily what makes for dangerous conditions. I'd rather know what's going on, even if it's a little annoying, even if it means missing my favorite shows (and yes, I realize that weather often drives news ratings).

Watches are important because they put you on alert. The map is good to have because they tell you where the watches are and if you know anything about how weather travels, it gives you an idea where it may be headed. And since we all know how unpredictable storms can be, having a watch in place is very important.

Thunder, on the other hand, accompanies lightning. And lightning, I hope you realize, is quite dangerous. We don't give it a lot of thought, but lightning kills and injures a lot of people every year. This is something we need to know about if it's going on. And frankly, they're not interrupting the show with the weather map, they're just throwing it up there in conjunction with it, right? Let's be grateful we have access to such good, on-the-spot information. Eventually, they'll work out the HD kinks, and probably in the not-so-distant future.

I have lived her all of the 41 years of my life. I am quite aware of how weather works here. During Leno, my weather radio showed severe storm warning...but nothing was on TV until commercial breaks...not even the state of oklahoma. You have missed the point.

[Buickcarnut]

They do. But even if people have that converter box for their SD TV sets, they won't get the 4-2 or the 5-2 channels. That is only available for people that have the HD receiver built in to their television. So unfortunately for those of us that dropped the money for the HD sets, we're gonna have to, sadly, put up with Channel 4 for quite some time, I imagine.

FYI..HD or not, the converter boxes will pick up any sub channel that is broadcast, it just won't be in a 16x9 format or in HD.

[OKCisOK4me]

FYI - they have a place to contact them using a form on their website. It's at About Us > Contact Us. I did just that. It's over on the far right.

Contact NewsChannel 4 with your comments and concerns - KFOR

They've been reorganizing their website. No email or online contact information was given last week. Just a mailing address. Glad to see they have that back up!

FYI..HD or not, the converter boxes will pick up any sub channel that is broadcast, it just won't be in a 16x9 format or in HD.

I'm sorry, I just pay attention to the high gadgetry items. I did not know that that was the case with the converter boxes.

PS...the two of you should form the FYI Club

[drum4no1]

The computer used to key the weather maps on the screen is not HD capable.

Yes the maps are annoying but to be honest if they didnt more people would complain that they are not being warned about weather. Also KFOR is on translators in NW Oklahoma and quite possibly may be the only source of WX info.

[dismayed]

If any KFOR advertisers are reading.... I have decided to stop watching Channel 4 entirely because of this. I've spent megabucks on my home setup and I just don't want to put up with their standard def weatherbug nonsense.

Fortunately, our modern world is a wonderful free market. I can easily watch any of NBC's shows without tuning into KFOR by watching the Heroes rebroadcast on G4TV and the rest I can get from Amazon Unbox, iTunes, and BluRay discs.

I'd honestly rather pay than have to put up with KFOR, so that is what I am doing.

[brianinok]

If anyone is going to make excuses for KFOR, then it is important to note that neither KWTV or KOCO have this problem.

[OKCisOK4me]

If anyone is going to make excuses for KFOR, then it is important to note that neither KWTV or KOCO have this problem.

Please read post #8.

I enjoy Channel 4 and will continue to watch their newscasts over any other station but their weather coverage is straight up retarded. Mike Morgan and the Forewarn Storm Team can kiss my...

Time to send the thread!

[Thunder]

KFOR weather coverage is exciting.

KOCO weather coverage is relaxing.

KWTV weather coverage is boring.

[drum4no1]

yes it is easy to have HD weatherbugs, dont blame the station. Blame the parent company that thinks modern technology is an unneeded expense, much like happy employees.

The situation isnt cut dry like you want to believe