N.y. Tv Outlets In Recovery Mode

New York television stations are slowly recovering from the Sept. 11 World Trade Center attack, which destroyed their transmission equipment atop one of the twin towers.

On Monday night, Tribune Broadcasting's WPIX began broadcasting its signal from a transmitter in Alpine, N.J. Although that signal is somewhat weaker than WPIX's normal reach, the station is supplementing it with a low-power UHF station that gives it over-the-air access in the five boroughs.

WNBC also has resumed broadcasting, using a low-power transmitter in Alpine as it searches for other options, including use of the Empire State Building.

While these alternatives are of little help in reaching many of the suburbs, they do cover most if not all of the city.

Stations affected by the attack have relied on cable coverage — the market is about 76% cable penetrated — for getting its signal out to viewers. Last week, the stations also received help from several UHF stations that were simulcasting the local outlets.

Jim Clayton, vp and general manager of Fox Television Stations' WNYW and WWOR, said he hopes to get a signal out by week's end. He added that WNYW and WWOR have a digital antenna atop the Empire State Building, and engineers are working to reinstall the analog transmitters.

WCBS and WXTV were not affected by the disaster.