Federal Communications Commission
Washington, D.C. 20554		 Approved by OMB
3060-1115 (March 2008)
FOR FCC USE ONLY
 
FCC 388
DTV Quarterly Activity Station Report		 FOR COMMISSION USE ONLY
FILE NO. BDERCT-20090112AGX
Licensee
TV ALABAMA, INCORPORATED
Call Sign
WCFT-TV		 Facility Id
21258
Community of License
City State
AL TUSCALOOSA 35405 -

BIRMINGHAM (ANN TUSC)
WWW.ABC3340.COM 		Licensee Renewal Expiration Date (mm/dd/yyyy)
04/01/2013
Channel Numbers: (Check the Channel Number(s) to which this form applies.)
checkbox checked Analog 33  
checkbox checked Digital 5
Report reflects information for quarter ending: 12/31/2008
Have you opted to comply with Option One, Two, or Three (once elected, this choice may not change)?
radio button not selected Option One (A and D) radio button selected Option Two (B and D) radio button not selected Option Three (C and D)

Over the past quarter, have you fully complied with the requirements of this option? radio button selectedYes radio button not selectedNo
Simulcasting:
Are you simulcasting on your Analog channel and your primary Digital stream? radio button selectedYes radio button not selectedNo
Application Purpose:
 
radio button not selected Amendment File Number -

Section B (For broadcasters electing Option Two)

On its analog channel, and its primary digital stream, a station must run an average of 16 transition-related PSAs and 16 transition-related crawls, snipes, and/or tickers per week in each quarter, all between the hours of 5 a.m. and 1 a.m. It must also run one 30 minute DTV-related informational program once, and one 100-Day Countdown piece per day for the 100 days prior to the conclusion of the transition. Comment boxes MUST be used to describe these compliant activities (See rules for additional details).

Total Number of Eligible DTV Transition-Related PSAs and Crawls, Snipes, and/or Tickers (CSTs) Run -- Last Quarter


How many DTV PSAs and CSTs did your station run between 5:00 a.m. and 1:00 a.m. last quarter?
      322
      226

For informational purposes only, how many DTV PSAs and CSTs did your station run in the last quarter from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.?
   13
   0

For stations located in the Eastern or Pacific Time Zone, how many DTV PSAs and CSTs did your station run in the last quarter from 6:00 p.m. to 11:35 p.m. (must average at least 4 per week)?
    
    

For stations located in the Central or Mountain Time Zone, how many DTV PSAs and CSTs did your station run in the last quarter from 5:00 p.m. to 10:35 p.m.(must average at least 4 per week)?
    63
    137


30 Minute Educational Programs - Last Quarter


How many 30 minute, DTV-related informational programs did your station run during the quarter? At least one such program must be run between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 11:35 p.m., prior to June 12, 2009.
   2

ABC 33/40 AIRED A THIRTY-MINUTE DIGITAL TELEVISION PROGRAM ON THE FOLLOWING DATES:
12/27/08 - SATURDAY 1:30 - 2:00PM
12/28/08 - SUNDAY, 2:30 - 3:00PM

100-Day Countdown - Last Quarter

All stations participating in Option Two must air a minimum of one "Countdown To DTV" per day during certain periods.  Due to the delay in the DTV deadline, the revision of the countdown rules, and differing analog termination dates, not every station was required to air the "Countdown To DTV" the same number of times during the first quarter of 2009.  Below, list the actual number of days on which your station aired any eligible "Countdown to DTV," and, in the Comments field, briefly explain how this number of days was calculated.
   0
   101
   0
   0

THESE GRAPHICS ARE FOUR-COLOR ANIMATED LOWER THIRD BANNERS THAT HAVE SPECIFIC INFORMATION ON THE DTV TRANSITION, INCLUDING WEBSITE, PHONE NUMBER AND THE SPECIFIC "DAILY COUNTDOWN."

Section D (For all broadcasters)

Additional DTV On-air Initiatives - Last Quarter  
Did your station run additional on-air initiatives (such as news reports, town hall meetings, etc.) during the quarter? The comment box may be used to describe these initiatives. radio button selectedYes radio button not selectedNo

EFFECTIVE, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2008, AND EACH MONDAY THERAFTER, WE PROVIDED A LIVE VIEWER DTV PHONE BANK. VIEWERS WERE GIVEN A TOLL FREE NUMBER TO CALL TO GET INFORMATION AND ASK QUESTIONS. WE HELP TO GET THEM INFORMED ON THE DTV CHANGEOVER INCLUCING CONVERTER BOXES, COUPONS, ANTENNA'S AND OTHER BENEFICIAL VIEWER INFORMATION.

PHONE BANK: NOVEMBER 24, 2008
DECEMBER 1, 8, 15, 22, 29

NEWS STORIES:
DECEMBER 17, 2008
TOPIC: DTV TECH BITS
"IF YOU'RE USING THE OLD RABBIT EARS YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO WATCH YOUR FAVORITE PROGRAMS IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A DTV CONVERTER BOX ONCE THE SWITCH IS MADE."

"DIGITAL TV SIGNALS CAN BE A LITTLE MORE FICKLE THAN ANALOG SIGNALS- BUT LITTLE TRIAL AND ERROR CAN IMPROVE YOUR PICTURE.
MANY PEOPLE TRY SIGNAL BOOSTING DEVICES, OR NEW ANTENNE. THIS CAN WORK, BUT YOUR RESULTS MAY VARY, AND THERE'S NO ONE DEVICE THAT'S A SILVER BULLET FOR GETTING A GOOD OVER THE AIR SIGNAL. THE SINGLE BEST WAY TO IMPROVE YOUR PICTURE IS WHERE YOU LOCATE YOUR ANTENNA.
SOME PEOPLE PLACE THEIR ANTENNA INDOORS, NEAR THE TV. YOU CAN GET A GOOD SIGNAL THIS WAY, BUT OFTEN THE WALLS OF A HOME CAN BLOCK THE SIGNAL. PLACING THE ANTENNA OUTDOORS CAN PROVIDE A MUCH CLEARER SIGNAL- BUT YOU HAVE TO BE SURE THE ANTENNA IS ON THE SIDE OF THE HOUSE FACING THE TV TOWER.
THE SINGLE BEST LOCATION FOR GETTING A CLEAR SIGNAL FROM ALL SIDES IS ON THE ROOF. THAT'S PRECISELY WHY OLD-STYLE TV ANTENNA ARE UP THERE!"

DEC 17, 2008
TEST - DTV - FEATURING CHIEF ENGINEER
ABC 33/40 DID A ONE-MINUTE TEST ON DECEMBER 17TH AT 5:25PM. THE STATION ALSO BROADCAST A NEWS SEGMENT WHICH EXPLAINED WHAT WAS HAPPENING AND WHAT VIEWERS NEEDED TO KNOW SO THEY COULD GET A CONVERTER BOX OR ANTENNA IF NEEDED. ABC 33/40 DID A SPECIAL "TEST PHONE BANK" TO HELP VIEWERS WITH THEIR QUESTIONS.

DECEMBER
DTV ANTENNAS - FEATURING ROY HOBBS,ANCHOR/REPORTER. MR. HOBBS
REVIEWED IDEAS FOR ANTENNAS AND DTV CONVERTER BOXES. THE TOPIC WAS "THE NEW DIGITAL FUTURE...
WHAT YOU NEED TO GET THE SIGNAL". THIS REPORT SHOWED AND VIEWED IDEAS OF CONVERTER BOXES, AND DIFFERENT ANTENNAS THAT ATTACH TO BACK OF THE CONVERTER BOX CALLED A 'SMART' ANTENNA.
Station Website Additional Activity Related to the DTV Transition - Last Quarter  
Does your station have a Website? radio button selectedYes radio button not selectedNo
If YES, did your station provide additional DTV related information or activities on that Website? The comment box may be used to describe what was posted on the station's Website. radio button selectedYes radio button not selectedNo

ABC 33/40 HAS A DTV" LOGO ON THE FRONT OF THE FRONT PAGE OF THE WEB SITE SO VIEWERS CAN CLICK AND GET INFORMATION. UNDER THE FEATURES SECTION, NEWS STORIES ARE POSTED RELATING TO DTV TRANSITION INCLUDING:
"THE TECH BITS", W/THOMAS LOWER; "DTV DIGITAL FUTURE" W/ROY HOBBS AND "THE DTV TEST", WITH ENGINEER RON THOMAS.

THE WEB SITE ALSO HAS A SECTION OF Q&A WHICH POSTS FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS SO VIEWERS CAN CHECK OUT SPECIFIC INFORMATION.
Additional DTV Outreach Efforts -- Last Quarter  
Check all of the DTV related activities listed below that your station engaged in over the last quarter. The comment box may be used to describe this activity.  
checkbox not checked Speaking Engagements



checkbox not checked Community Events



checkbox not checked Other (describe)
This comment box may be used to include other comments or information about your station's DTV activity over the last quarter.


AN ADDITIONAL ON-AIR CONTRACT TO PROMOTE THE DTV "PHONE BANK." THESE SPOTS WERE CREATED TO HELP INFORM THE AND GUIDE THE VIEWERS TO THE LIVE WEEKLY PHONE BANK. THE PROMOTIONAL CONTRACT STARTED NOV. 24, 2008 AND IS CURRENTLY IN CONTRACT ROTATION.

 

Station Certification
I certify that the statements in this document are true, complete, and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief, and are made in good faith.
Typed or Printed Name of Person Signing
PROMOTION DIRECTOR

SHIRLEY HARDEN


WILLFUL FALSE STATEMENTS ON THIS FORM ARE PUNISHABLE BY FINE AND/OR IMPRISONMENT (U.S. CODE, TITLE 18, SECTION 1001), AND/OR REVOCATION OF ANY STATION LICENSE OR CONSTRUCTION PERMIT (U.S. CODE, TITLE 47, SECTION 312(a)(1)), AND/OR FORFEITURE (U.S. CODE, TITLE 47, SECTION 503).

FCC NOTICE REQUIRED BY THE PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT

We have estimated that each response to this collection of information will take 3 hours. Our estimate includes the time to read the instructions, look through existing records, gather and maintain required data, and actually complete and review the form or response. If you have any comments on this estimate, or on how we can improve the collection and reduce the burden it causes you, please write the Federal Communications Commission, AMD-PERM, Paperwork Reduction Project (3060-1115), Washington, D.C. 20554. We will also accept your comments via the Internet if you send them to pra@fcc.gov. Remember - you are not required to respond to a collection of information sponsored by the Federal government, and the government may not conduct or sponsor this collection, unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number or if we fail to provide you with this notice. This collection has been assigned an OMB control number of 3060-1115.

THE FOREGOING NOTICE IS REQUIRED BY THE PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT OF 1995, P.L. 104-13, OCTOBER 1, 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3507.