Arizona TV Station Update - December 2015

[dhett]

Wishing everyone a happy 2016!

As always, questions, additions, comments and corrections welcome.

Programming changes

• KPHE-LD 44.x (16) Phoenix (Lotus TV of Phoenix LLC) has added LATV programming on channel 44.1, along with local programming, and has moved Telemax programming to channel 44.2. Rev'n programming on channel 44.3 has been replaced with infomercials from OnTV 4U under the label Direct Response TV. Luken has now lost all three affiliations with KPHE.
• KPDF-CA 41.x Phoenix (Northstar Phoenix License LLC) dropped LATV from channel 41.3 a week into the new year in favor of an Azteca America simulcast, then replaced that with a "For Lease" slide.
• K19FD Camp Verde (The Camp Verde TV Club) is once again on the air, broadcasting programming from The Hope Channel.
• K23FZ Camp Verde (The Camp Verde TV Club) is again on the air, broadcasting programming from Amazing Facts TV.
• K47IK Camp Verde (The Camp Verde TV Club) is silent.
• K49HP Camp Verde (The Camp Verde TV Club) has returned to air, rebroadcasting the signal of KTVK 3.1 Phoenix.
• K28CW-D 45.x Flagstaff (Fox Television Stations, LLC) is silent.
• K42IQ-D Flagstaff (EICB-TV East) is again on the air, replacing Cornerstone TV Network with The Walk TV on channel 42.1.
• K50HU-D 5.x Flagstaff (KPHO Broadcasting Corporation) has returned to air, rebroadcasting the signal of KPHO 5.x Phoenix via K40AD-D Cottonwood. The channel's broadcast quality is poor, with severe signal breakup despite 100% strength.
• KVMY 21.x (2) Las Vegas NV (Channel 33, Inc.) has launched Comet TV on channel 21.3. Meanwhile, Cozi TV on channel 21.2 has disappeared.
• KMCC 34.x (32) Laughlin NV (Cranston Acquisition LLC) has returned to the airwaves in Las Vegas with MundoMax on 34.1, and Queue Network on 34.2 and 34.3. This would be the Black Mountain transmitter above Henderson NV, as the main White Hills transmitter near Dolan Springs AZ only has the primary subchannel.
• K43FO-D Las Vegas NV (Three Angels Broadcasting Network, Inc.) has dropped Dare to Dream programming from channel 43.3; the network no longer broadcasts on satellite in favor of streaming distribution only.
• KLSV-LD 50.x Las Vegas NV (Biltmore Broadcasting Las Vegas, Inc.) has added a fourth subchannel, airing a "For Lease" slide.
• XHNON 38.x Nogales SON (Televimex) has launched full-time in digital, airing Canal Cinco programming.

Transactions

• Scripps Media is consolidating its broadcast licenses under a single entity, Scripps Broadcasting Holdings LLC, following the merger between Scripps and Journal Broadcast Corporation. The transaction is considered pro forma and should be quickly approved by the FCC. Scripps Media, Inc., stations being transferred to Scripps Broadcasting Holdings include:
  • KNXV-TV 15.x Phoenix
  • K24KS-D 15.x Flagstaff
  • K30LL-D 15.x Kingman
  • K44CN-D 15.x Cottonwood
  • K47DJ-D 15.x Prescott
• Journal Broadcast Corporation stations being transferred to Scripps Broadcasting Holdings include:
  • KGUN-TV 9.x Tucson
  • KWBA-TV 58.x (44) Sierra Vista
  • K16EO-D 9.x Oro Valley/Tucson
  • KTNV-TV 13.x Las Vegas NV
  • K44JR-D 13.x Laughlin NV
• Hubbard Broadcasting, Inc., has consummated its pro forma transfer of control. Majority control of shares has passed from Stanley S. Hubbard to the group made up of his sons and daughters. KOB-TV, LLC, is owned by Hubbard, and the following two Arizona translators of KOB are, in turn, owned by KOB-TV, LLC:
  • K43GQ-D 4.x Klagetoh
  • K49ET-D 12.x Many Farms

Construction permits and STAs granted

• Live Sports Radio, LLC, has been granted an STA to operate a low-power TV station on RF channel 4 in Glendale, presumably from University of Phoenix Stadium.

Mexican DTV Conversion

• It has been reported that, despite the December 31, 2015, deadline for Mexican TV stations to convert to digital, some stations, mostly public or rural broadcasters, are still being allowed to broadcast in analog until the end of 2016. XHSSE 12 Sasabe SON (Gobierno de Estado de Sonora) is one such station. Although slated to broadcast in digital on channel 14, it continues to broadcast in analog on channel 12 and has not yet fired up a digital signal.

Extreme Mako-vers

Although Mako has been fairly stable in Phoenix as of late, there have been other diginet changes in Arizona in the latter half of 2015.

Northern Arizona

• KNAZ-TV 2.x (22) Flagstaff
  • 2.1 NBC // KPNX 12.1 Mesa
• KMOH 6.x (19) Kingman
  • 6.1 MundoMax
• KAZT-TV 7.x Prescott
  • 7.1 Independent
  • 7.2 MeTV
  • 7.3 HSN
• KDTP 11.x Holbrook
  • 11.1 Daystar HD
• KFPH-DT 13.x Flagstaff
  • 13.1 Unimás
  • 13.2 Univisión //KTVW-DT
  • 13.3 getTV
  • 13.4 Escape
• K18DD-D Camp Verde
  • 18.1 Smart Lifestyle Arizona
  • 18.2 Amazing Facts
  • 18.3 3ABN
  • 18.4 Hope Channel
• K19IP-D Flagstaff
  • 19.1 Good News TV
  • 19.2 GNTV Latino
  • 19.3 Proclaim!
  • 19.4 Amazing Facts
• K25HD-D Bullhead City
  • silent
• K27EC-D Lake Havasu City
  • silent
• K32LO-D Prescott
  • 32.1 Good News TV
  • 32.2 GNTV Latino
  • 32.3 Proclaim!
  • 32.4 Amazing Facts
• K38LW-D Payson
  • 38.1 Good News TV
  • 38.2 GNTV Latino
  • 38.3 Proclaim!
  • 38.4 Amazing Facts
• K42IQ-D Flagstaff
  • 42.1 The Walk

Phoenix

• KTVK 3.x (24) Phoenix
  • 3.1 Independent
  • 3.2 3TV 24/7 News
  • 3.3 KPHO 5 WeatherNow
• KPHO-TV 5.x (17) Phoenix
  • 5.1 CBS
  • 5.2 Cozi TV
• KAZT-CD 7.x (36) Phoenix
  • 7.1 Independent
  • 7.2 MeTV
  • 7.3 HSN
• KAET 8.x Phoenix
  • 8.1 PBS
  • 8.2 Life
  • 8.3 World
  • 8.4 KBAQ-FM
• KSAZ 10.x Phoenix
  • 10.1 Fox TV
  • 10.3 Heroes & Icons
• KPNX 12.x Mesa
  • 12.1 NBC
  • 12.2 AccuWeather
  • 12.3 Justice Channel
• KNXV-TV 15.x Phoenix
  • 15.1 ABC
  • 15.2 Antenna TV
  • 15.3 Laff
• KPAZ-TV 21.x (20) Phoenix
  • 21.1 TBN //KTBN
  • 21.2 The Church Channel
  • 21.3 Smile of a Child (7AM-7PM), Juce (7PM-7AM)
  • 21.4 Enlace
  • 21.5 Salsa
• KTVP-LD 22.x Phoenix
  • 22.1 Good News TV
  • 22.2 GNTV Latino
  • 22.3 Sonlife Broadcasting Network
  • 22.4 Liquidation Channel
  • 22.5 AlmaVisión
  • 22.6 Jewelry Television (in glorious black & white)
• K18JL-D 25.x Phoenix
  • 25.1 Amazing Facts
• KTVW-DT 33.x Phoenix
  • 33.1 Univisión
  • 33.2 Unimás
  • 33.3 Grit
  • 33.4 Bounce TV
• KFPH-CD 35.x Phoenix
  • 35.1 Unimás
  • 35.2 Univisión
  • 35.3 getTV
  • 35.4 Escape
• K38IZ-D Phoenix
  • 38.1 Ritmo Vision
  • 38.2 Tuff TV
  • 38.3 IZ Videos
  • 38.4 Zuus Country
  • 38.5 This TV
• KTAZ 39.x Phoenix
  • 39.1 Telemundo
  • 39.2 TeleXitos
  • 39.3 Cozi TV
• KEJR 40.x Phoenix
  • 40.1 MundoMax
  • 40.2 Infomercials
• KPDF-CD 41.x Phoenix
  • 41.1 Azteca America
  • 41.2 Mision TV
  • 41.3 "For Lease" slide
  • 41.4 QVC Over The Air
• KVPA-LD 42.x Phoenix
  • 42.1 Estrella TV
• KPHE-LD 44.x (16) Phoenix
  • 44.1 LATV / Local Programming
  • 44.2 Telemax
  • 44.3 Direct Response TV (OnTV4U)
  • 44.4 Live Gospel TV
  • 44.5 Salud TV
  • 44.6 Smart Lifestyle Arizona
• KUTP 45.x (26) Phoenix
  • 10.2 Fox //KSAZ-TV
  • 45.1 My Network TV
  • 45.2 Movies!
  • 45.3 Buzzr TV
• KDTP-LD 48.x (46) Phoenix
  • 48.1 Daystar HD
  • 48.2 Daystar SD
  • 58.1 Jewelry TV
• KFPB-LD 50.x Globe
  • 50.1 TeleVida Abundante
  • 50.2 ESNE
  • 50.3 Blank
  • 50.4 Sonlife Broadcasting Network
  • 50.5 VideoZona
  • 50.6 Newsmax TV
• KPPX-TV 51.x Tolleson
  • 51.1 Ion Television
  • 51.2 qubo
  • 51.3 Ion Life
  • 51.4 Shop TV
  • 51.11 Starz (Airbox - subscription only)
  • 51.12 Encore (Airbox - subscription only)
  • 51.13 Starz Comedy (Airbox - subscription only)
  • 51.14 Starz Kids (Airbox - subscription only)
  • 51.15 Showtime (Airbox - subscription only)
  • 51.16 Movie Channel (Airbox - subscription only)
  • 51.17 Showtime 2 (Airbox - subscription only)
  • 51.18 Flix (Airbox - subscription only)
  • 51.19 ePix (Airbox - subscription only)
  • 51.20 ePix 2 (Airbox - subscription only)
  • 51.21 Airbox barker channel (subscription only)
• KASW 61.x Phoenix
  • 61.1 The CW
  • 61.2 Decades TV

Tucson

• KFTU 3.x (36) Douglas
  • 3.1 Unimás
  • 3.2 Univisión //KUVE-DT
• KVOA 4.x (23) Tucson
  • 4.1 NBC
  • 4.2 Cozi TV
• KUAT-TV 6.x (30) Tucson
  • 6.1 PBS
  • 6.2 V-Me
  • 6.3 Ready TV
• KGUN-TV 9.x Tucson
  • 9.1 ABC
  • 9.2 Laff
  • 9.3 Antenna TV
• KMSB 11.x (25) Tucson
  • 11.1 Fox
  • 11.2 Movies!
  • 11.3 Justice Channel
• KOLD-TV 13.x (32) Tucson
  • 13.1 CBS
  • 13.2 MeTV
  • 13.3 Grit
• KUDF-LD 14.x Tucson
  • 14.1 Azteca America
• KTTU 18.x (19) Tucson
  • 18.1 MyNetwork TV
  • 18.2 Estrella TV
• K21CX-D Tucson
  • 21.1 HSN
• KUAS-TV 27.x (28) Tucson
  • 27.1 PBS //KUAT-TV
  • 27.2 PBS Kids
  • 27.3 World
• KFTU-CD 34.x (18) Tucson
  • 34.1 Unimás //KFTU-DT
  • 34.2 Univisión //KUVE-DT
• KHRR 40.x Tucson
  • 40.1 Telemundo
  • 40.2 TeleXitos
  • 40.3 Ion
• KUVE-DT 46.x Green Valley
  • 46.1 Univisión
  • 46.2 Unimás //KFTU-DT
  • 46.3 getTV
  • 46.4 Escape
• KWBA-TV 58.x (44) Sierra Vista
  • 58.1 The CW
  • 58.2 This TV
  • 58.3 LATV

Yuma / El Centro CA

• KVYE 7.x (22) El Centro CA
  • 7.1 Univisión
  • 7.2 MundoMax
• KECY-TV 9.x El Centro CA
  • 9.1 Fox
  • 9.2 ABC
  • 9.3 The CW
  • 9.4 Telemundo
• KYMA-DT 11.x Yuma
  • 11.1 NBC
• KSWT 13.x Yuma
  • 13.1 CBS
  • 13.2 Estrella TV
• KYUM-LD 15.x Yuma
  • 15.1 TeleVida Abundante
  • 15.2 TVA Radio
• K17LM-D Yuma
  • Silent
• K33MD-D Yuma
  • 33.1 //XHILA 66.1 Mexicali
• K39KW-D Yuma
  • 39.1 GNTV
  • 39.2 GNTV Latino
  • 39.3 Proclaim!
  • 39.4 Amazing Facts
• KAJB 54.x (36) Calipatria CA
  • 54.1 Unimás
  • 54.2 LATV

Las Vegas NV

• KSNV 3.x (22) Las Vegas NV
  • 3.1 NBC
  • 3.2 Estrella TV
  • 3.3 getTV
• KVVU-TV 5.x (9) Henderson NV
  • 5.1 Fox
  • 5.2 Weather
  • 5.3 Escape
• KLAS-TV 8.x (7) Las Vegas NV
  • 8.1 CBS
  • 8.2 MeTV
  • 8.3 Movies!
• KLVX 10.x (11) Las Vegas NV
  • 10.1 PBS
  • 10.2 Create
  • 10.3 V-Me
• KTNV-TV 13.x Las Vegas NV
  • 13.1 ABC
  • 13.2 Laff
  • 13.3 Heroes & Icons (to be Grit)
• KINC 15.x (16) Las Vegas NV
  • 15.1 Univisión
  • 15.2 LATV
• KPVT-LD 16.x (27) Pahrump NV
  • Silent
• KEEN-CD 17.x Las Vegas NV
  • 17.1 LeSEA
• KHMP-LD 18.x Las Vegas NV
  • Silent
• KHDF-CD 19.x Las Vegas NV
  • 19.1 Azteca America
  • 19.2 "For Lease" slide
  • 19.3 "For Lease" slide
  • 19.4 "For Lease" slide
• KVMY 21.x (2) Las Vegas NV
  • 21.1 Antenna TV (to be Heroes & Icons)
  • 21.2 Blank (to be Decades TV)
  • 21.3 Comet TV
• KLVD-LD 23.x Las Vegas NV
  • 23.1 Daystar HD
  • 23.2 Daystar SD
• KELV-LD 27.x (15) Las Vegas NV
  • 27.1 Unimás
• KVPX-LD 28.x Las Vegas NV
  • 28.1 Sonlife Broadcasting Network
• KEGS-LD 30.x (24) Las Vegas NV
  • 30.1 Color bars
  • 30.2 AlmaVisión
  • 30.3 Sonlife Broadcasting Network
  • 30.4 Blank
  • 30.5 IQRA
  • 30.6 Blank
• KNBX-CD 31.x (14) Las Vegas NV
  • 31.1 Color Bars
  • 31.2 The Walk
  • 31.3 OnTV4U
  • 31.4 HOT TV
  • 31.5 Blank
• KVCW 33.x (29) Las Vegas NV
  • 33.1 The CW
  • 33.2 MyNetwork TV
  • 33.3 This TV
• KMCC 34.x (32) Laughlin NV
  • 34.1 MundoMax
  • 34.2 Queue Network
  • 34.3 Queue Network
• KBLR 39.x (40) Paradise NV
  • 39.1 Telemundo
  • 39.2 TeleXitos
  • 39.3 Ion
• K41IO-D Las Vegas NV
  • 41.1 Enlace
• K43FO-D Las Vegas NV
  • 43.1 3ABN
  • 43.2 Proclaim!
  • 43.3 Blank
  • 43.4 3ABN Latino
  • 43.5 3ABN Radio
  • 43.6 3ABN Radio Latino
  • 43.7 Radio 74
• KGNG-LD 47.x (48) Las Vegas NV
  • 47.1 HSN
  • 47.2 Buzzr TV
  • 47.3 Bounce TV
  • 47.4 Retro TV
  • 47.5 Movies+/The Works
  • 47.6 Rev'n
  • 47.7 Blank
  • 47.8 Justice Channel
• KLSV-LD 50.x Las Vegas NV
  • 50.1 Jewelry TV
  • 50.2 Revenue Frontier (Infomercials)
  • 50.3 Corner Store TV (Infomercials)
  • 50.4 "For Lease" slide

 

[Sammi Brie]

You are correct. There are 497 such exempt stations in Mexico (which get a year extension). 34 Telemax transmitters were included including XHSSE. (They managed to get the other 25 on air which is quite something!) I believe Telemax is the largest noncommercial owner of exempted analog transmitters in Mexico (Televisa accounts for 314 of the 319 commercial stations, but none are in Sonora.)

20 of the 497 stations are unique in that they lowered their power to 1 kW (VHF)/10 kW (UHF) to qualify. Among these is XHUS-8 Hermosillo. XHUS holds what essentially is a flash-cut authorization on channel 8. It would be the third VHF DTV in operation in the entire country (XHMTA-12 Matamoros, XHAMO-11 Colima).

 

[Gregg.]

I always wonder why some PBS stations run only a few subchannels. As I see in Phoenix, KAET 8 runs World on .3 and something called Life on .2. (Is that simply an alternate PBS line up? In New Hampshire, the PBS network runs something called "Explore" as its .2, but that's simply a locally programmed alternate line up of PBS and NHPTV shows.) Phoenix doesn't get Create, Kids or VMe. But it does run the audio from KBAQ-FM, an NPR Classical station, on .4. KBAQ-FM runs 13,000 watts from a tower 2200 feet above average terrain. That's pretty good coverage. I'm not sure the TV station is hitting that many more Classical fans than the FM.

In Tuscon, KUAT runs VMe on .2 and something called Ready on .3. (I wonder what Ready is? Another locally programmed alternate PBS feed?) But KUAT doesn't carry World, Create or Kids for Tuscon viewers.

In Las Vegas, KLVX only carries Create and VMe. And no local alternate subchannel as in Phoenix and Tuscon. Why would you stop at only two subchannels?

Totally missing from any of these cities is MHZ, a sort of international public TV line up. And there's a Native American subchannel. You'd think that would be big in Arizona but neither KAET or KUAT carry that one either. (Admittedly, that one is only on a handful of PBS stations.)

Maybe I'm spoiled. In both the NYC market where I live and in New Hampshire at the summer cottage, we get Create, World and Kids. NYC also has VMe and MHz (although MHz is only over-the-air, not on cable). I find I watch Create and World as much as I do the regular PBS channels. (And no fundraisers on the subchannels.)

 

[Nathan O'Dan]

As for the Life channel on KAET, it is pretty much Create showing craft and cooking shows. When KAET changed from Create to Life, I never really noticed any changes in programming. As for KUAT's Ready TV, it serves as an overflow station for programming they don't necessarily want on .1 as well as similar programming to Create/Life. In regards to KUAT/KUAS, KUAT broadcasts from Mt. Bigelow and KUAS broadcasts from Tumamoc Hill which covers the NW suburbs where KUAT's signal can't reach due to the mountains sudden drop off. 27.2 has PBS Kids and 27.3 has World. I can receive KUAT in central Phoenix with my antenna about 95% of the time.

 

[dhett]

In both the cases of KAET and KAUT, the local alternate subchannel used to be Create, but as Nathan O'Dan pointed out, there isn't much difference between the "local" programming and Create. In fact, very little of the "local" alternative stations are either local or alternative.

If one is accustomed to New York City or Boston PBS, then one is definitely spoiled. WGBH and WNET are by far the two most prosperous and prolific PBS stations in the nation, and it's no wonder - both cities have an abundance of corporate headquarters and old money - the kind that gets put into the trusts that underwrite a lot of PBS programming. Phoenix, Tucson and Las Vegas are relatively young cities - none had much of a population until the use of refrigeration (air conditioning to most) became widespread. That's only about a 70-year history. Even now, none of the cities have much for corporate headquarters and while the wealthy have vacation homes here, their bank accounts (and trust funds) are back in New York or Chicago, not here. Arizona PBS stations do benefit by being tied to the local universities - Vegas PBS is tied to the Clark County school district - but that pales in comparison to what New York or New England PBS stations have available to them in terms of funding.

 

[landtuna]

Phoenix, Tucson and Las Vegas are relatively young cities - none had much of a population until the use of refrigeration (air conditioning to most) became widespread. That's only about a 70-year history.

I would only add that the main reason Tucson and the Phoenix area exploded was the number of military men who did their training in both places during WWII. I am the offspring of a member of the Army's 7th Cavalry stationed at Papago Park and grew up in Tucson where Davis-Monthan AFB was a major training base for bombers. Born at Luke AFB near Phoenix and had many family members who served, and one killed, at Williams AFB in the East Valley. Like my father, many of those guys either met and married local girls or decided to return to the Valley (or Tucson) after the war. Tucson grew from 50,000 to over half a million during the 1950's & 60's and Phoenix metro more than that.

Refrigeration had come along in the 1930's but about the only buildings that had it were movie theaters (both here and elsewhere). Evaporative cooling made a much bigger impact since it was ideal for the once very dry desert climate and was common in both businesses and homes.

 

[KeithE4]

Phoenix & Tucson are comparatively young cities, with comparatively little money, but Phoenix & Tucson had educational/public TV before NYC did. KAET signed on January 30, 1961, while KUAT Tucson preceded it by almost 2 years, signing on March 8, 1959.

Then-WNDT New York/Newark didn't start up until September 16, 1962, taking over for commercial WNTA-TV which had signed off at the end of 1961.

 

[Ultimajock]

Phoenix & Tucson are comparatively young cities, with comparatively little money, but Phoenix & Tucson had educational/public TV before NYC did...Then-WNDT New York/Newark didn't start up until September 16, 1962, taking over for commercial WNTA-TV which had signed off at the end of 1961.

...you're forgetting WUHF/WNYC-TV, which broadcast non-commercial programming on Channel 31 from its first day on the air, 5 November 1961...

 

[K.M. Richards]

Phoenix & Tucson are comparatively young cities, with comparatively little money, but Phoenix & Tucson had educational/public TV before NYC did. KAET signed on January 30, 1961, while KUAT Tucson preceded it by almost 2 years, signing on March 8, 1959.

Then-WNDT New York/Newark didn't start up until September 16, 1962, taking over for commercial WNTA-TV which had signed off at the end of 1961.

...you're forgetting WUHF/WNYC-TV, which broadcast non-commercial programming on Channel 31 from its first day on the air, 5 November 1961...

Sorry, King, but not quite.

In doing the research for the History of UHF Television site master channel list, I read all the articles in Broadcasting regarding that station.

From my footnotes on the website ... WUHF was an 11-month FCC experiment (12/1/61-10/31/62) operated by the City of New York which retransmitted programming from the VHFs in NYC to compare off-air reception between the two bands. Outside of the test hours, there was municipal and educational programming, but the station was not, strictly speaking, non-commercial because the tests involved the carriage of commercial programs.

After the experiment, the FCC donated the antenna and RCA sold the transmitter at a discount to the city, and it continued operation, relicensed as WNYC-TV. By that time, WNDT (ex-WNTA-TV, ex-WATV) had begun operation on channel 13.

I also rechecked my other source, "Voice of the City:" The Rise and Fall of WNYC-TV and found we were both wrong on channel 31's start date. It was November 29, 1961 (although published listings appeared prematurely as early as November 12).

 

[Prescott Joe]

I'd have to agree with everyone and also add that KAET has the added expense
of operating translators through much of the state. For many like myself, who
depend on broadcast television, I'm quite pleased with KAET's offerings and
support them regularly. Compared to WNED, WXXI and WQLN, which I grew
up with, KAET appears to be pretty competitive........

 

[Gregg.]

Good point that NYC was late coming to Public Television. WNET's first day on the air was Sept. 16, 1962. LA was even later, which is why KCET (first on the air on Sept. 28, 1964) wound up on UHF. Funny that Market #1 and #2 were so late organizing public TV stations.

And I should have looked further to see Phoenix also has Channel 27, which simulcasts KUAT on the main channel, as said above, for viewers who don't get a good signal from the main transmitter. Channel 27 does have subchannels which carry World and Kids. So I wonder, does 27 cover most of the Phoenix market as KUAT does? If World and Kids are subchannels of 27, do they get seen in most of the market? In NYC, some of the PBS subchannels are on the main channel, 13. And some are on WLIW 21, with its transmitter on Long Island. But both have pretty good coverage of the market, although 13 is on VHF, which limits its coverage area. And WLIW 21 misses a good deal of New Jersey, since its transmitter is east of NYC. At least the cable systems that I know of (Time Warner and Verizon Fios) carry all the subchannels.

But again, why so few PBS subchannels in Tuscon and Las Vegas? Does whoever distributes Create, World, VMe and Kids ask for that much funding that the public stations in Tuscon and Las Vegas can't afford to carry more than a couple of them, let alone carry MHz and the Native American subchannel (First Nations Experience)? Do the engineers at these stations fear too many subchannels ruins the quality of the other channels?

 

[K.M. Richards]

LA was even later, which is why KCET (first on the air on Sept. 28, 1964) wound up on UHF. Funny that Market #1 and #2 were so late organizing public TV stations.

Actually, Los Angeles always had channel 28 as its ETV allocation, beginning with the first allocations table with UHF in 1952. New York City's original ETV allocation was channel 25 (31 was also in the table from the first, as a commercial allocation, which is how Bud Paxson was able to purchase it from the City decades later for his network). Both were "stuck" with UHF because all the technically-possible VHF channels in those two markets -- 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11 and 13 -- were already licensed before the "freeze".

San Francisco only got channel 9 for ETV by a decision by a pre-freeze applicant based on a wrong guess as to how the DuMont-Paramount ownership ruling was going to come down. (See my article on KQEC at the History of UHF Television website.)

And, of course, channel 28 in Los Angeles was licensed to the University of Southern California as KTHE for one year, one month, and one week in 1953-54 ... predating the reactivation of the allocation by KCET ten years later.

 

[dhett]

And I should have looked further to see Phoenix also has Channel 27, which simulcasts KUAT on the main channel, as said above, for viewers who don't get a good signal from the main transmitter. Channel 27 does have subchannels which carry World and Kids. So I wonder, does 27 cover most of the Phoenix market as KUAT does? If World and Kids are subchannels of 27, do they get seen in most of the market?

Actually, it's Tucson that has KUAT 6.x (30) and KUAS 27.x (28). KUAS does cover the Tucson metro area quite nicely, so most people can receive both channels. However, with KUAT being over 8000' on Mt. Bigelow (Tucson sits at about 2300'), KUAT covers much of the exurban parts of southern Arizona as well, including decent reach into the Phoenix metro area, over 100 miles away.

But again, why so few PBS subchannels in Tuscon and Las Vegas? Does whoever distributes Create, World, VMe and Kids ask for that much funding that the public stations in Tuscon and Las Vegas can't afford to carry more than a couple of them, let alone carry MHz and the Native American subchannel (First Nations Experience)? Do the engineers at these stations fear too many subchannels ruins the quality of the other channels?

Perhaps a reader is or knows a KAET exec or engineer to answer your question as to why the lack of subchannels. I'm especially surprised that KAET doesn't air V-Me, given Phoenix's position as the 9th-largest Hispanic market, with a significant Spanish-speaking population, most of whom are first-generation.

Phoenix had two NCE allocations, on channels 8 and 39, but the UHF channel went unbuilt until 2000, when Daystar received a construction permit for a station. In 2006, the FCC ruled that a second full-power Spanish-language commercial station was more beneficial to Phoenix than a second NCE station, and Daystar was allowed to swap allocations and stations with KPHZ channel 11 in Holbrook, about 200 miles NE of Phoenix. Channel 39 in Phoenix is now commercial KTAZ, an O&O Telemundo station.

There was once an allocation in Coolidge, about 50 miles SE of Phoenix, for an NCE station on channel 43, and a proposal to build a station aimed at the Indian communities in the Phoenix area, but that fell through about the time of the digital conversion. Instead, the Gila River Indian Community decided to build a network of low-power stations that would serve primarily their own reservation. Three stations went live last January - KGRF, KGRQ and KGRY - all simulcasting programming from First Nations Experience. (Yes, the communities around here actually call themselves "Indian".)

 

[VoiceofWayne]

Ironically, I receive most of the Tucson stations and none of the Phoenix stations in Fountain Hills, which is NE of downtown Phoenix. Have occasionally received KUAS, KWBA, and KHRR but everything else is solid all the time. Antenna is a Channel Master CM4228HD 8-bay bowtie with a Winegard pre-amp mounted about 25 feet off the ground. I also receive the LPTV service from the GRBC very well, transmitting FNX (First Nations Experience) programming. Other times it looks like a cable access channel for the reservation.
I remember when the North Phoenix Baptist church was using 39 for a religious channel from their campus. I had inquired many years ago why ASU didn't grab the 39 allocation for a second service, and it seems they weren't interested, unlike the UofA which licensed both 6 and 27 at that time. Same situation in Flagstaff. There is (was) an NCE allocation and NAU didn't go after it, instead they have a very good FM radio service in Northern Arizona.

 

[Prescott Joe]

I always wonder why some PBS stations run only a few subchannels. As I see in Phoenix, KAET 8 runs World on .3 and something called Life on .2.

Gregg, Unless the WNET website is incorrect, WNET offers PBS HD on .1, PBS Kids on .2 and V-Me on .3, WLIW, 21.1 offers PBS HD on .1, Create on .2 and World on .3, WNJN, 51.1 offers PBS HD and audio on .2 Those are three separate television stations with none offering more than 2 subchannels. From TV fool, it would appear that WLIW and WNJN are not receivable by broadcast in much of the NYC Metro area. Yes, there are more choices and more duplication than in many other areas........ As has already been mentioned, in the Eastern portions of Metro Phoenix, KAET and KUAT are easily receivable offering nearly the same choices/duplication as NYC Metro......