KFOX-TV is proud to be the first local TV station to transmit Digital television (DTV), which you can view if you have a Digital TV receiver. Digital television allows for a significantly improved viewing experience, which includes higher resolution picture, CD quality sound and the expanded 16:9 aspect ratio screen image

KFOX-DT is broadcast on digital channels 14-1 and 14-2. Channel 14-1 is where you'll find all of the FOX Prime time and sports programming that are produced in High Definition (HDTV) 720p/60 Widescreen with Dolby 5.1 Sound. Of course you need to have a High Definition television set and receiver to experience this new and extraordinary television experience. When High Definition programming is not available, you'll find Standard Definition digital programming on 14-1. Channel 14-2 is a Standard Definition Digital TV channel - the KFOX Severe Weather Channel. A first of its kind for our viewing area, the KFOX Severe Weather Channel displays our exclusive Early Warning Storm Track Doppler. This powerful weather radar system is the Only one in El Paso and Las Cruces that gives you real-time radar images. And you'll find it 24 hours a day, along with your daily forecast from the KFOX Severe Weather Team, on channel 14-2.

KFOX-DT 14-1 can also be found on Time Warner channel 1304 and Comcast channel 183. As of February of 2005, both cable systems expected to add channel 14-2 in the near future. It may already be on your cable channel lineup.

What is digital television? The picture most of us have received up to this point is based on a 55-year-old analog transmission system. In December 1996, the FCC approved the U.S. standard for a new era of television - digital television. In a digital system, images and sounds are captured using the same digital code found in computers. The change to digital will not only significantly improve the quality of the television picture, but also make possible the over-the-air delivery of several simultaneous services to viewers. Digital television makes possible multicasting and data transmission.

Digital television allows stations to broadcast programs in twice the resolution and clarity of standard television. This is called Digital television or DTV. Viewers will be able to receive high-quality, crystal clear pictures on their televisions, which will be displayed in a wide screen format with CD-quality surround sound.

What is standard definition television? Standard Definition television or SDTV is an all-digital method of broadcasting that results in higher-quality pictures and better sound than current analog TV, but with lower resolution than HDTV.

Will consumers be able to watch DTV on their existing sets? Only if they buy a digital converter box. DTV information will require a different kind of receiver than standard television signals. Manufacturers have developed converter boxes that will allow viewers to receive DTV programs on their regular TV sets. However, the boxes will translate a digital signal to analog; they will not give viewers Digital. To experience the full benefits of digital television, including DTV, viewers will need new digital television sets.

When will the DTV transition happen? Originally, Congress set the year 2006 as the final date to turn off the existing analog television systems. However, that date will be delayed until more than 85 percent of the people have access to digital television signals. Until digital television is prevalent across the country, TV stations are required to broadcast both in digital and analog.

What are the benefits of DTV? Wider Format: DTV screens are about one-third wider than existing TV screens. They have similar dimensions to movie screens. DTV screens closely match the peripheral vision range of the human eye, making it more natural to watch.

Higher Quality Picture and Sound: DTV uses the same amount of bandwidth (six megahertz) as used in the current analog system, but DTV can transmit more than six times the information as the analog system. This translates to higher quality in picture and sound.

Higher Resolution: Currently, television pictures are made up of 525 lines that are scanned horizontally. DTV pictures are created by scanning 1,080 lines. Adding twice the amount of lines multiplies the amount of pixels (the small dots that create the picture). Current sets have about 300,000 pixels, while the DTV screen is composed of more than 2 million pixels. Having more pixels on your screen will also improve the sharpness of your pictures, allowing you to read on your television screen small text commonly found on computers.

True Surround Sound: Complimenting the lifelike pictures are 5.1 channels of CD-quality digital audio. Current stereo TV sets offer only two channels of audio. DTV delivers true surround sound: front speakers on the right, center and left, along with two back speakers and a sub-woofer.

Strong Signals Always: The days of static and ghosts on your TV set are over. The digital signal will also strengthen signal quality, meaning the signal will be just as brilliantly clear and sharp 65 miles away as it is right at our transmitter. If you can receive our digital signal at all, you will always get studio-quality video and audio.

Interactive Possibilities: Thanks to digital broadcasting, we can also broadcast data (datacasting), which will revolutionize the way you communicate, entertain yourself and live your life. We will be able to marry the convenience of television with the power and freedom of the Internet. Datacasting will make truly interactive TV possible, empowering the viewer to make television-viewing an incredible experience.

More Than One Channel (Multicasting): We can also add more than one "channel" of television or data into our digital TV channel. In special circumstances, we can choose to send a channel of high-definition TV, up to two channels of standard-definition TV (SDTV) and a channel of data at the same time. In severe weather, we can send regular programming over one channel and weather information over the other channels. During sporting events, such as the Major League Baseball Playoffs, we can broadcast more than one game at the same time, giving you the choice of which game to watch.

What about static images burning into my screen? If you play video games or watch channels that have a lot of graphics that remain stationary, there is the chance that those static graphics will "burn" themselves into rear-projection and plasma television screens if you continually leave your set on those stations. Experts advise consumers to consider DTV sets that use cathode-ray tubes, CRT, digital light processing, DLP, or liquid-crystal displays, LCD.

Will my current TV set be obsolete? You will be able to watch digital TV signals on your existing TV set with a set-top digital receiver. However, you will not be able to enjoy the crisp high-definition picture. Your analog sets can always be used with your existing video equipment, like VCRs, DVD players and video games.

What about my VCR, DVD player and camcorder? Will I be able to use them with a DTV set? DTV sets are "backward compatible," meaning all existing analog equipment (VCRs, DVD players, camcorders, video games, etc.) will work on Digital TV sets, but not in high-definition. Their video will be displayed in the maximum resolution that each product is capable of.