ATHENS — An Athens television station that antenna viewers as far as Russellville, parts of Arab and Pulaski, Tenn., were used to watching did not make the digital switch.

That does not mean ZTV-11 is no longer view-able.

Station owners Gloria and Jamie Cooper said their station did not have to make the digital conversion because it is a Class A station, which is a mid-size station.

Gloria Cooper said those with antennas who now use converter boxes for the digital switch can still get the station if they have a converter box that is analog and digital compatible.

Those who have cable had no disruption in service.

Satellite talks

Jamie Cooper said they also are in discussions with Direct TV and Dish Network to add the station to satellite.

“We hired a research company to help us with our discussions with Direct TV and Dish, and the company determined we are the largest Class A station,” Jamie Cooper said.

“We are stressing that we are local, and we have a large viewer base.”

The Coopers came to Athens in 2003 when they bought Bill Dunnavant’s station in the basement of WZYP.

Jamie Cooper is in his 35th year in television and is known for his Country Rover segments and his catch phrase, “Get Outta Here.” Highlights

During his three decades in television, he has wrestled a bear on live television, stripped naked to do a segment on a Tennessee nudist camp and let a man throw a hatchet left-handed at a cigarette hanging in his mouth.

What viewers may not realize, Jamie Cooper said, is how much he depends on newspapers to do his job and the morning show “Cooper and Company.”

He starts his morning around 3 reading The Daily and other area newspapers.

“Gloria complains because I leave ink marks on everything my fingers touch after I’ve gone through a stack of papers,” Jamie Cooper said.

“For getting news, newspapers are my best friend. Who else is going to sit through that long council meeting? Television reporters aren’t going to do it. Whether the other stations admit it or not, we all get our leads on stories from the newspapers.”

Production work

When Jamie Cooper chooses a feature to televise, he and his wife do their video shots, do their interviews, write their scripts and do the editing.

“The Athens area is a great fit for us because there is always something going on,” he said.

“There are so many characters here.”

Gloria Cooper said her husband will be happy at age 80 as long as he is doing some type of morning show.

“I’ve never gotten discouraged with this job,” Jamie Cooper said.

“Even when I was making $2.50 an hour, when I was getting my start, I’ve never wanted to quit. I’ve always thought I’ve had the best job anyone could have.”