TECHNICAL UPDATES

Steps for Re-Scanning your TV

Zolo Media has recently completed construction on the distribution network for KBNZ. For over-the-air viewing, we invite to re-scan your TV and/or DTV converter box and look for our newly improved signal at channel 7-1. If you need further assistance, please call 541.312.6574.

Connect your TV or DTV converter box to a good antenna. If you are using rabbit ears that you have to adjust differently for each channel, you might wish to ask a neighbor who has a good rooftop TV antenna if you can temporarily connect your DTV converter box to his antenna to do the scan (most good DTV converter boxes will "remember" the channel scan information even if you unplug the power to take it back to your house).

Use the remote control for your TV or DTV converter box to enter the "channel scan" mode. Some remote control units have a button for "CH SCAN", while for others you must enter the "MENU" mode and navigate to the "AUTO CHANNEL SCAN" or "AUTO TUNING" function. The first scan after June 12, 2009 should be a "full" auto scan, not a "channel add" scan. A "full" scan completely rescans, removing previously memorized channel frequencies (since many channels used for DTV broadcast changed on June 12, 2009).

Start the "Scan" function. The TV or DTV converter box will examine all the TV channel frequencies (2 through 69) and if it finds a DTV broadcast, it will memorize the that frequency and the call letters and DTV virtual channel number associated with it.

After the full autoscan has completed, use the "channel up/down" buttons on your DTV converter box remote control to verify that all the channels you expect to see are there. The virtual channel number appears first, then a dash (-), then subchannel numbers starting with 1. If you expect to see channel 7, for example, be sure that "7-1" is one of the channels that appears as you traverse the channels.

If not all the channels appear, follow the "tip" below regarding adding of channels using a "channel add scan" or "manual tuning" function to add channels to the list of memorized DTV channels that your converter box stores.

Manually Entering a Channel. When a channel in your viewing range is not found during a scan for channels, you may wish to manually enter the digital frequency for the missing channel. For instructions on entering channel frequencies manually, check your TV or converter box manual.

Zolo Media will begin full-time master control operations for KBNZ, independent from KOIN.

On Thursday, September 1st Zolo Media will begin full-time master control operations for KBNZ, independent from KOIN. A number of changes will be visible with the channel. KBNZ is distributed to cable subscribers on BendBroadband, Chambers Cable and Crestview Cable in LaPine. Dish Network currently offers KBNZ and the other local broadcast affiliates on their local programming options tier for a minimal monthly premium. Zolo Media also upgraded the KBNZ broadcast transmission towers and transmitters throughout 2011 in anticipation of the fall programming season. An estimated additional 15,000-18,000 ‘over the air’ only viewers now have access to KBNZ – CBS for Central Oregon. The KBNZ logo has been changed to more accurately reflect KBNZ’s commitment to serve Central Oregonian viewers.

With these technical upgrades, KBNZ can be programmed to better serve Central Oregon. Syndicated programming will change beginning on September 1st. Daytime shows ‘Are you Smarter than a 5th Grader’ and ‘Judge Alex’ will be replaced with classic television hits ‘Little House on the Prairie’ and ‘The Andy Griffith Show.’ On September 12th, ‘America’s Funniest Home Videos’ will replace the KOIN Local News at Noon. During the late afternoon news hours, we will continue to air the KOIN local news at 5p; however we will eliminate the 5:30p and 6:00p editions. The ‘CBS Evening News with Scott Pelley’ will begin airing at 5:30p on September 6th, immediately following KOIN’s local news at 5p. The news hour will then be followed immediately by ‘Access Hollywood’ at 6:00p, New Adventures of Old Christine’ at 6:30p, ‘How I Met your Mother’ at 7p and, beginning on September 21st, we will add “30 Rock” (first year in syndication!) to the 7:30p-8p time period. CBS network prime time begins at 8p and continues until 11p, when we will air the KOIN local news at 11p before transitioning once again to CBS late night programming with David Letterman and Craig Ferguson.

If you have questions regarding changes to KBNZ, please feel free to email tolson@zolomedia.com, or call 541.312.6574.

Loud Commercials

In 2009 Zolo Media purchased software which automatically balances the volume on the ads inserted on our channels so that it is consistent with the volume of programming on the channel. In so doing, Zolo Media meets the FCC’s commercial volume standards. 

While we’re doing our part, a significant number of the ads that you see on cable networks are national ads which are inserted by the Network (not by Zolo). Zolo Media is not able to control the volume on any of the ads inserted by the national Networks. We are also not able to or responsible for controlling the commercial volume on ads that are present on any of the other local broadcast stations (these are KTVZ, KOHD, CW and FOX). It is however our responsibility, as well as that of our customers, to hold the cable and broadcast networks accountable for ensuring the appropriate volume on their commercials. If you believe that the volume of commercials on a given channel is noticeably louder than the programming, please let us know. In doing so, please make note of the channel, time of day and whether the problem is a chronic or one time situation. We will review and, if we feel it is outside of FCC standards, will pass it on to the appropriate network representative.

Ch. 6 Format Change

KBNZ brings you CBS in High Definition on channel 6 and 606 on BendBroadband, channel 6561 on DISH and channel 7 over the air. We are proud to offer High Definition advertising through Zolo Media as a benefit to our local viewers and customers. As HD advertising becomes more of an industry standard, we have formatted channel 6 (the SD version of HD cable channel 606) from a cut-off 4:3 format to a full-imaged letterbox display (black bars above and below). This format more accurately portrays the commercials we receive and produce in HD. Until we completely transition advertisers’ commercials from SD to HD production, KBNZ-CBS viewers who watch the station in SD (channel 6) will occasionally, with decreasing frequency, view commercial messages that look slightly smaller on the screen.

If you are experiencing difficulty receiving CBS on channel 31

If you are experiencing difficulty receiving CBS on channel 31, it may be related to KOIN's recent decision to convert their analog CBS translator for channel 31 to digital. Viewership of KOIN's digital signal is available now as channel 6.1 off of the Powell Butte translator. Viewership requires a digital converter box per the FCC required digital conversion in 2009.

Please call 541.312.6567 for technical questions or concerns. Thank you.