Ten Months After Losing Its Transmitters in the World Trade Center Disaster, Thirteen/WNET New...

Business Editors & Entertainment/Television Writers

Exactly ten months to the day after its transmitters atop the World Trade Center were destroyed, Thirteen/WNET New York has reestablished its digital signal via a low-power transmitter located on the roof of its broadcast center in

Thirteen's digital transmitter, originally launched at 8:30 a.m. on July 11, 2001, was destroyed in the attack that toppled the World Trade Center on September 11. Thirteen's analog transmitters, which had been atop Tower One for two decades, were also destroyed in the attack and Thirteen is currently operating a reduced-power analog signal from the Empire State Building.

"In addition to the terrible loss of life and property of that tragic day, September 11 also dealt Thirteen a shocking technological setback," said William F. Baker, president of Thirteen. "But through hard work and ingenuity we have ensured that the setback was only temporary. With the activation of our low-power over-the-air digital signal and the simultaneous resumption of our digital cable transmission, Thirteen has regained a foothold in the digital era, where we are once again prepared to be a leader in bringing the marvels of digital television to the New York metropolitan viewing area."

With the relaunch of its digital signal, which allows the transmission of multiple program streams simultaneously, Thirteen has introduced, Kids Thirteen, the New York metropolitan area's first 24-hour digital broadcast educational channel for children, and Thirteen HD, which will feature premiere and encore presentations of digital programming produced by Thirteen and other PBS producers nationwide. (See accompanying release for information on Kids Thirteen and Thirteen HD.)

Thirteen's digital service is now available on channel 61 to over-the-air viewers in a very limited proximity to Thirteen's broadcast center. To receive the digital broadcasts, viewers will need a digital-capable television set. Time Warner cable subscribers can receive Thirteen's digital broadcasts on Time Warner 713 (Thirteen HD) and 714 (Kids Thirteen). Cablevision will begin carrying Thirteen's digital service soon. Thirteen is also in negotiations for carriage with other cable systems as well.

Thirteen/WNET New York is one of the key program providers for public television, bringing such acclaimed series as Nature, Great Performances, American Masters, Charlie Rose, Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly, Stage on Screen, and EGG the arts show - as well as the work of Bill Moyers - to audiences nationwide. As the flagship public broadcaster in the New York, New Jersey and Connecticut metro area, Thirteen reaches millions of viewers each week, airing the best of American public television along with its own local productions such as The Ethnic Heritage Specials, The New York Walking Tours, and Reel New York - and reaching vast new audiences through its MetroArts/Thirteen cable arts programming. With educational and community outreach projects that extend the impact of its television productions, Thirteen takes television "out of the box." And as broadcast and digital media converge, Thirteen is blazing trails in the creation of Web sites, CD-ROMs, educational software, and other cutting-edge media products. More information about Thirteen can be found at: www.thirteen.org.