Why on earth would you want to spend so much time and energy upgrading your TV to this new DTV format? I mean, it's just TV, right? Not anymore.

Did you know that the way we broadcast hasn’t changed in nearly half a century? Broadcasters and audiences have been using an analog signal,  old technology.
The conversion to Digital Television is like the difference between typewriters and computers.

Most noticeably, Digital Television gives WNED the ability to broadcast in High-Definition (HDTV). This new format brings stunning lifelike images directly into your home along with audio that is CD-quality.

When WNED is not broadcasting in High-Definition, we can divide the digital signal  into four separate programs, a process called multicasting. Imagine, being able to choose between an investigative Frontline report, a classic episode of Antiques Roadshow, one of PBS’ award winning kids programs, or choose to take part in a college telecourse all at the same time.

There’s even more. Digital broadcasting allows WNED to provide what’s called Interactive Television. Interactive Television lets the viewer control the programs they are watching. You can ask a question during a live talk-show, change camera angles, or even pause live television - all through the remote control on your television. It’s like each program having its own website - only faster and available right through your television.

The true power of  digital broadcasting technology is how WNED can further its mission to enlighten, inspire, entertain and educate our communities. WNED is committed to harnessing this technology for the betterment of the communities we serve.

Digital Technologies has positioned WNED and our viewing audience to be pioneers in the field by adapting digital broadcasting to actively participate in the revolution of education.

WNED is committed to developing Digital Television technology as a vital asset for students, parents, educators, and adult learners by putting a wealth of quality educational content at their fingertips both in and out of the classroom. WNED is helping to ensure Western New York has a well-educated and trained workforce that can contribute to the region’s emerging new economies.

Following an intensive evaluation, WNED has chosen to develop the ThinkBright Lifelong Learning Service to best address the needs of Western New York. This multi-platform service combines the technologies of Digital Television, the Internet, and traditional outreach to reach that goal.

WNED has identified three guiding principles for the development of the service:

• The service should support teachers and students in achieving higher academic standards.
• The service should act as a powerful delivery tool to the home – where thousands of parents and caregivers influence their children’s growth and development for both school and life.
• The service should include priorities for at-risk adults and businesses in Western New York including job readiness, communication, teamwork, productivity, customer service and innovation.

TV Programming | ThinkBright Online

WNED has also adopted a long-term strategy to become a major producer of High-Definition programming to meet the national and international demand of this high quality medium. By offering these programs to other PBS stations across the country, Western New York will be showcased as a cultural destination and a wonderful place to live, enhancing civic pride and stimulating cultural tourism throughout all of our coverage area.

WNED has already shown its ability to produce quality programming on the national landscape. The locally produced, HDTV production of Buffalo’s Houses of Worship has been broadcast several times on PBS-HD, the PBS national High Definition channel. Another WNED high-definition production, Fort Niagara: The Struggle for a Continent, was broadcast in prime-time on October 18 th, 2004 on both High-Definition and Standard Definition PBS stations across the nation.

These productions have spurred significant economic impact to Western New York by increasing the number of out-of-state travelers coming to Western New York to discover these cultural treasures. With the necessary equipment, WNED will continue to bring our region’s local cultural treasures to national audiences. WNED is currently researching and preparing to produce several new High-Definition projects highlighting other local treasures, including:

Niagara Falls – This PBS commissioned WNED production will bring this cultural phenomenon to audiences across the country, renewing its reputation as Honeymoon capital of the world.

Frank Lloyd Wright’s Buffalo – This highly anticipated national WNED production will tell the stories of one of America ’s greatest architects and the community dedicated to preserving his legacy.