[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 89 (Friday, June 28, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S6316]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    CONGRATULATING INDIANAPOLIS ON BECOMING DIGITAL TELEVISION ZONE

 Mr. BAYH. Mr. President, I rise today to congratulate the city 
of Indianapolis on its recent designation as a ``Digital Television 
Zone.'' Viewers in Indianapolis are fortunate to be served by local 
television broadcast stations that have been and continue to be leaders 
in the digital television transition. These stations are: WTHR, a 
dispatch broadcast-owned NBC affiliate; WISH-TV, a LIN television-owned 
CBS affiliate; WRTV, a dispatch broadcast-owned ABC affiliate; and 
WXIN, a tribune broadcast-owned FOX affiliate.
  As the broadcast industry undertakes its transition to digital 
television, I am proud to say that our local Indianapolis affiliates 
are already fully on the air in digital.
  For those not familiar with digital television, it is the next step 
in the evolution of television. Those of us old enough, remember the 
move from black and white to color. Now, the next exciting step in the 
process is digital. Just as the other communications mediums are moving 
from an analog to a digital world, so too is television.
  This past spring, Indianapolis' local CBS station, WISH-TV, granted 
the wish of many of my constituents. Through digital television, the 
station was able to simultaneously broadcast four NCAA basketball 
tournament games. Our local ABC affiliate, WRTV, has expanded its 
primetime digital line up. Today, Indianapolis viewers can watch 
popular programs such as ``Drew Carey,'' ``Alias,'' and ``NYPD Blue''--
all in high definition. The local NBC affiliate, WTHR, airs ``Crossing 
Jordan'' and ``The Tonight Show'' in high-definition nightly. This 
year, they broadcast the Olympics' opening ceremonies in digital. It is 
compelling programming like this that will propel the transition 
forward and encourage consumers to invest in digital technology--like 
their local broadcasters have done already.
  In January, Indianapolis earned the distinction of being named a 
``Digital TV Zone.'' As Mayor Bart Peterson said at the ribbon cutting 
ceremony, ``Our designation as a Digital TV Zone--being one of only a 
handful of cites to have all local network affiliates broadcasting in 
digital--is evidence that Indianapolis is where it needs to be to 
compete in the digital world.''
  Through the Digital TV Zone Program, Indianapolis broadcasters pooled 
their resources over the past year to educate Indianapolis consumers--
my constituents--about digital TV technology and its benefits.
  The local stations cooperated with electronics manufacturers and 
retailers to post digital sets in high traffic areas throughout the 
city. If you walked through Indianapolis International Airport, or if 
you went to Conseco field house, or the NCAA Hall of Champions over the 
last 5 months, you would have seen the local Indianapolis stations in 
digital being displayed on high-definition digital television sets.
  Clearly, Indianapolis broadcasters are doing their part to launch the 
digital television future. All of these different activities are 
designed to educate my constituents about the promise of this new 
technology.
  There will, of course, be many challenges before all consumers can 
fully benefit from digital television. Despite any outstanding issues, 
I am proud to say that Indianapolis broadcasters are leading the charge 
into the digital television future and giving local viewers the 
opportunity to experience digital television now.

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