Meet Craig Harrison, WTTW’s New Vice President of Technology

Ever wonder who keeps WTTW running, so that the latest Ken Burns documentary or America’s Test Kitchen beams straight into your home? Meet Craig Harrison, who recently joined WTTW as the new Vice President, Technology. He’s an experienced leader with deep knowledge of broadcast technology and operations in Chicago and other major markets across the country. Throughout his career, Harrison has led television engineering, technical, and production operations and facilities at CBS affiliates in Philadelphia and Los Angeles, Fox Sports, Ion Media Networks, CBS Television City, and most recently at WGN. We chatted with Harrison about his experience in the industry, and how WTTW’s broadcast signal works.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Q: First of all, tell us about yourself! Where did you grow up, and what ultimately led you to Chicago?

Craig Harrison: I am originally from a small General Motors factory town – Anderson, Indiana. I took electrical engineering at Purdue and ended up in Los Angeles for a few years working at Hughes Aircraft, and then CBS. I came to Chicago for the first time to help launch CLTV, then back to LA for 20 years. Now, I’m back in Chicago for the second and final time, as my daughter now lives here as well. I love Chicago! In my spare time, I like riding my bicycle as well as astronomy and high-end motorsports such as Formula One, Indy Car, and moto Grand Prix.

Q: What was the childhood spark that led you to choose your career path?

Harrison: I always loved electronics and anything electromechanical. For some reason, I wanted to see how things worked – especially televisions – so it was a challenge for my parents and sister when so many things were taken apart in our house, and only sometimes fixed. They may have been jealous when I had my own self-built TV remote control. No more getting up to change the channels!

Q: How do you explain your job to people who might not be familiar with the ins and outs of broadcast engineering?

Harrison: I usually try to start with, “My work involves all the electronic systems and staff that bring the TV signal from the studio control room, through the TV transmitter or media company, and into your home so you can watch a show.” And, of course, we have to spend a few minutes reviewing compression encoding and why it’s important. Then they will usually bring me a pizza or something so I will stop talking about it! 

Q: How does WTTW broadcast its signal?

Harrison: It’s a multi-step process. WTTW’s live programming signal is made in Chicago, sent to Syracuse, New York, where it is compression encoded, the emergency alert signal is added, and the signal is returned to WTTW. Here it is encoded for Program and System Information Protocol (PSIP) so that we display the proper channel number 11. Our on-screen viewing guide is also added to the bit stream. It is then sent via a routing switcher, where the digital signal becomes a radio frequency signal, and is also converted to a fiber optical cable.  It is both “fibered” and “microwaved” by a dish on the roof, to Willis Tower, as well as delivered to Comcast.

Once at Willis Tower, the transmitter takes the signal and amplifies it for digital transmission on UHF Channel 25, which is 536 Mhz (but we have PSIP so it will display channel number 11 on a TV set). WTTW has two antennas on the Willis Tower, one on the east pylon and one on the west pylon. We switch which one is being used from time to time, as only one pylon antenna can be used at a time.    

Q: There are so many different ways to watch television these days. What is your preferred way?

Harrison: Well, there is nothing better than just quickly checking your favorite channel to see what is on! I don’t need to think or search in that case – just use that remote and relax. Couch potato mode!

Q: What’s your favorite thing about WTTW so far?

Harrison: I love the people I have met here, and how much they love WTTW and the pride they feel for our mission and our content. We have some of the best content I have ever been exposed to.