Arizona TV Station Update - January 2016

[dhett]

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

Programming changes

• KPNX 12.x Mesa (Multimedia Holdings Corporation) will retain its NBC affiliation, following a long-term affiliation agreement between NBC and Tegna Media. The affiliation was renewed for all 17 of Tegna's NBC stations.
• K38IZ-D 38.x Phoenix (Spanish Independent Broadcast Network, Inc.) has added a new subchannel, 38.6, which is the new home of Retro TV. On channel 38.4, it looks like Zuus Country has rebranded, going back to The Country Network, including use of the old TCN logo.
• KUDF-LD 14.x Tucson (LM Media Group, Inc.) has added a new subchannel, 14.2, which so far is infomercials. It is a channel for lease, according to my Tucson-area source. Perhaps Good News TV may finally succeed in getting a Tucson outlet? They've been trying to lease a channel in the Old Pueblo for several years.
• KTNV-TV 13.x Las Vegas NV (Scripps Broadcasting Holdings LLC) has begun airing Grit on channel 13.3, replacing Heroes & Icons.
• KVMY 21.x (2) Las Vegas NV (Channel 33, LLC) dropped Comet TV from channel 21.3 and replaced it with Heroes & Icons, then moved H&I to channel 21.1, moving Antenna TV to channel 21.4. Programming on channels 21.2 and 21.3 is unknown; there is no indication of any programming on those two subchannels.

Transactions

• Meredith Corporation has added a Memorandum of Understanding to its applications to transfer control of its stations to Meredith Media General Corporation, following anticipated consummation of the merger with Media General. The Memorandum states that for the purposes of the incentive auction, the successor company would use Meredith's FRN and password associated with each station as of Dec. 8, 2015, and that the FCC will not liable for any use of the shared FRN and password. The Memorandum also binds the successor company to whatever actions are taken by Meredith on behalf of each station before consummation of the merger. KTVK 3.x (24) Phoenix, KPHO 5.x (17) Phoenix and KVVU-TV 5.x (9) Henderson NV are the only auction-eligible stations involved in the merger with potential viewers in Arizona.
• Media General has terminated its merger agreement with Meredith Corporation in favor of a new merger agreement with Nexstar Broadcasting Group, Inc. As a result, KTVK and KPHO and their translators will not be part of a Meredith Media General corporation, but instead, KASW 61.x (49) Phoenix and its owned translators K34EE-D Prescott/Cottonwood and K34EF-D Kingman, will be part of Nexstar Media Group. Meanwhile, Meredith Corporation will collect $60 million as part of the termination agreement.
• Ion Media Networks has filed a new restructuring plan, with a slight change to KPPX-TV 51.x Phoenix (America 51, LP). The licensee of KPPX will remain America 51, LP, reasons unknown. All other changes occur upstream in the ownership.

Construction permits and STAs granted

• FanVision Entertainment LLC has requested and granted an STA to operate a temporary TV station on channel 44 from March 8 through March 15 at Phoenix Int'l Raceway for events surrounding the Good Sam 500, scheduled to be run on March 13.

License Renewals

• KNBX-CD 31.x (14) Las Vegas NV (Mako Communications LLC) has been granted a license renewal following a settlement with the FCC in which Mako makes a "voluntary" donation to the FCC (in lieu of a penalty) and admits to not filing required children's programming reports during 2012.

 

[VoiceofWayne]

The licensee of KPPX will remain America 51, LP, reasons unknown. All other changes occur upstream in the ownership.


Incentive auction, perhaps? I would assume KPPX and KASW would jump on that right away. Who knows, KTVK and KPHO could wind up back on RF3 and RF5 before this whole thing is over.

 

[dhett]

Perhaps, but I just learned that KPPX has petitioned the FCC to move to RF channel 31 in order to clear RF channel 51, which is adjacent to T-Mobile's block A assignment on the frequency that used to be TV channel 52. What's puzzling about that is that the FCC had already opened up channel 14 for just that purpose in 2012. Channel 31 is the home of XHNSS 7.1 in Nogales, so they would have to clear the reassignment with Mexico.

 

[Sammi Brie]

Perhaps, but I just learned that KPPX has petitioned the FCC to move to RF channel 31 in order to clear RF channel 51, which is adjacent to T-Mobile's block A assignment on the frequency that used to be TV channel 52. What's puzzling about that is that the FCC had already opened up channel 14 for just that purpose in 2012. Channel 31 is the home of XHNSS 7.1 in Nogales, so they would have to clear the reassignment with Mexico.

They probably chose 31 because they did the exact same thing in Kansas City.

 

[dhett]

Trip Ericson has informed me that the channel 31 allocation has already been cleared with Mexico for use in Phoenix.

 

[dhett]

Something new and something missed:

Programming changes

• KFPB-LD 50.x Globe (Globe LPTV, LLC) has replaced the blue screen on channel 50.3 with Newsmax TV, which is also shown on channel 50.6. However, unlike channel 50.6, which has constant audio drop-outs (as do all of the KFPB subchannels), channel 50.3 has no audio at all.
• KLSV-LD 50.x Las Vegas (Biltmore Broadcasting Las Vegas, Inc.) has added channel 50.4 with a "For Lease" slide.

 

[VoiceofWayne]

Perhaps, but I just learned that KPPX has petitioned the FCC to move to RF channel 31 in order to clear RF channel 51, which is adjacent to T-Mobile's block A assignment on the frequency that used to be TV channel 52. What's puzzling about that is that the FCC had already opened up channel 14 for just that purpose in 2012. Channel 31 is the home of XHNSS 7.1 in Nogales, so they would have to clear the reassignment with Mexico.

That is interesting. WJAR Providence moved from Ch 51 to 50 last year for the same reason, and when I saw nothing from KPPX I assumed they were going into the auction. Seems the Channel 14 reservation for land mobile has become moot, since 14 is in Globe, 15 is in Phoenix, and 16 in Tucson and maybe others are already in that band and most land mobile users migrated to 800 MHz trunking systems. 31 being cleared for Phoenix does make sense, and it is bracketed by 30 and 32 in Tucson. So, if KPPX vacates 51 for 31, can they still get incentive $$$?

Also, I wonder why they couldn't just move to 50 the way WJAR did. WJAR, like KPPX, has adjacent 49 on the same tower.

 

[KeithE4]

That is interesting. WJAR Providence moved from Ch 51 to 50 last year for the same reason, and when I saw nothing from KPPX I assumed they were going into the auction. Seems the Channel 14 reservation for land mobile has become moot, since 14 is in Globe, 15 is in Phoenix, and 16 in Tucson and maybe others are already in that band and most land mobile users migrated to 800 MHz trunking systems.

I don't believe Phoenix used that land mobile band.

31 being cleared for Phoenix does make sense, and it is bracketed by 30 and 32 in Tucson. So, if KPPX vacates 51 for 31, can they still get incentive $$$?

KSAZ used Channel 31 originally, before moving back to 10 in 2009. I believe that channel is still allocated to Phoenix. I'm not sure what the money situation would be.

Also, I wonder why they couldn't just move to 50 the way WJAR did. WJAR, like KPPX, has adjacent 49 on the same tower.

I thought everybody on 38-51 had to move below 36, with the frequencies above 600 MHz being reallocated to other services.

 

[dhett]

And now we have channel 38.7, airing Rev'n. K38IZ Digital has become the new home of Luken networks with Tuff TV on 38.2, Retro TV on 38.6 and Rev'n on 38.7. Might we see PBJ on 38.8 sometime soon? Will K38IZ Digital clean up their video quality? It's awful on several subchannels now.

 

[VoiceofWayne]

KSAZ used Channel 31 originally, before moving back to 10 in 2009. I believe that channel is still allocated to Phoenix. I'm not sure what the money situation would be.

.

I wonder then if channels 29 and 36 are still available in Phoenix, as they were used by 8 and 12 during their interim operations. A quick glance through rabbitears. info showed no users on those RF channels in Phoenix or Tucson except for some LPTVs and I'm not sure if they could be forced to move or go off-air. This would certainly reduce the paperwork with Mexico during the repacking process. So hypothetically if 51 goes to 31, 49 goes to 36, and 39 goes to 29 Phoenix would be almost done save for a handful of LPTVs.

Then we could make this more interesting and wonder if 8 would take money to move to low-vhf, or KTVK and KPHO would take money to go back to low-VHF.

As for Tucson, they need to find room for 40, 44, and 46 but that is a conversation for another thread....

 

[dhett]

That is interesting. WJAR Providence moved from Ch 51 to 50 last year for the same reason, and when I saw nothing from KPPX I assumed they were going into the auction. Seems the Channel 14 reservation for land mobile has become moot, since 14 is in Globe, 15 is in Phoenix, and 16 in Tucson and maybe others are already in that band and most land mobile users migrated to 800 MHz trunking systems.

I don't believe Phoenix used that land mobile band.

I don't believe Phoenix had any land mobile reservations - those were only in the larger cities and in more congested areas. Phoenix didn't become one of the larger cities until recently, and still isn't located in a congested area, as the nearest top-20 city is LA, nearly 400 miles away.

KSAZ used Channel 31 originally, before moving back to 10 in 2009. I believe that channel is still allocated to Phoenix.

I think you're right; I had forgotten about the pre-transition allocations. I don't know if the allocations still remain, but I believe that they are still available without having to go through Mexican coordination. KAET was on 29, KSAZ was on 31 and KPNX was on 36. The latter is now the home to KAZT-CD but that may disappear in the auction. Channel 21 is probably still available in Phoenix as well - KPAZ kept RF channel 20 - as is channel 34, the former home of KTVW 33, unless it goes away in the auction too. KUTP's old channel 45 will certainly be auctioned away - they're safe on RF channel 26.

I thought everybody on 38-51 had to move below 36, with the frequencies above 600 MHz being reallocated to other services.

The FCC wants to reallocate frequency all the way down to channel 31, although many believe that channels 32-36 will remain in the TV band, with radio astronomy's reservation on channel 37 acting as a guard band between TV and wireless services.

31 being cleared for Phoenix does make sense, and it is bracketed by 30 and 32 in Tucson. So, if KPPX vacates 51 for 31, can they still get incentive $$$?

I'm guessing that they would, which is why they would wait until now to petition for channel 51.

Also, I wonder why they couldn't just move to 50 the way WJAR did. WJAR, like KPPX, has adjacent 49 on the same tower.

Unlike WJAR, KPPX isn't in the congested northeast, so wireless didn't have an immediate need to build in the old channel 52 frequency.

 

[Sammi Brie]

...which is why they would wait until now to petition for channel 51.

T-Mobile had to buy the A Block spectrum here from another license holder. I imagine it was T-Mo that put the pressure on KPPX to move, as Ion had already done in Atlanta and Kansas City.

 

[KeithE4]

I wonder then if channels 29 and 36 are still available in Phoenix, as they were used by 8 and 12 during their interim operations. A quick glance through rabbitears. info showed no users on those RF channels in Phoenix or Tucson except for some LPTVs and I'm not sure if they could be forced to move or go off-air. This would certainly reduce the paperwork with Mexico during the repacking process. So hypothetically if 51 goes to 31, 49 goes to 36, and 39 goes to 29 Phoenix would be almost done save for a handful of LPTVs.

KAZT-CD/7.x uses 36. Since it's a Class A station, I believe it's protected. Channel 29 is still available, IIRC.

Then we could make this more interesting and wonder if 8 would take money to move to low-vhf, or KTVK and KPHO would take money to go back to low-VHF.

I'd guess that the chances of any full-powered local station occupying Channels 3 and 5 are about as good as the Suns winning the NBA Finals this year. Meredith would be idiots to move their stations off of UHF, and if ASU is that desperate for money, they might as well just shut Channel 8 down (and they won't). I still have no idea why 8, 10, and 12 moved back to their VHF channels, rather than remaining on UHF.

 

[Prescott Joe]

VHF vs UHF

I still have no idea why 8, 10, and 12 moved back to their VHF channels, rather than remaining on UHF.

In the North and Northeast portions of the valley as well as places like Wickenburg
and Fountain Hills, VHF broadcasts have a decided edge when terrain becomes
hilly or mountainous. UHF is pretty much line of sight but less susceptible to
interference. Channels 8, 10 and 12 can be viewed as far North as Spring Valley
while UHF barely makes it to Black Canyon City.

 

[KeithE4]

In the North and Northeast portions of the valley as well as places like Wickenburg
and Fountain Hills, VHF broadcasts have a decided edge when terrain becomes hilly or mountainous. UHF is pretty much line of sight but less susceptible to interference. Channels 8, 10 and 12 can be viewed as far North as Spring Valley while UHF barely makes it to Black Canyon City.

I live in far-NE Mesa, and the upper VHFs are an issue here, mostly due to the prohibition of rooftop antennas in my neighborhood (I'm in the protected zone for Falcon Field -- blame the FAA, not the HOA). I'm stuck with rabbit ears for VHF, and I'm sure I'm not the only one anywhere in the valley. I do have DirecTV, but when the rains get heavy and/or the clouds get thick, satellites are useless and I need the antenna.

 

[Prescott Joe]

As far as I know, prohibiting outdoor tv antennas is illegal per the Federal
Government and F.C.C. You mention you have Directv. Outdoor tv antennas
are covered by the same rules as 1 meter satellite dishes.... They cannot be
prohibited except in very, very rare circumstances......
You MAY have to keep the antenna close to the roof but outright prohibition
is very hard to believe............... If you are using rabbit ears for VHF, do
you have an UHF outdoor antenna??? I've placed antennas in bushes and
trees at the request of homeowners and they usually work fairly well.
Does the F.A.A. also require that ALL satellite dishes are ground mounted???
Some smart attorney would probably have a heyday if true.

 

[KeithE4]

As far as I know, prohibiting outdoor tv antennas is illegal per the Federal Government and F.C.C. You mention you have Directv. Outdoor tv antennas are covered by the same rules as 1 meter satellite dishes.... They cannot be prohibited except in very, very rare circumstances......

Tell that to the HOA board, which likely has the backing of both city and state government, in a state that doesn't exactly hold the Federal government in high esteem. I don't know of any housing development built in the last 30 years that allows outside antennas. That's about half the valley.

In my case, it's because I'm within the 2.5 mile-radius protection zone NE and SW of the airport, as well as being 100 feet higher in elevation. It's the FAA, and its restrictions are written into the Mesa city ordinances.

You MAY have to keep the antenna close to the roof but outright prohibition is very hard to believe...............

An HOA or city can prohibit antennas on the roof if the neighborhood is close enough to the antenna farm. In my case, South Mountain is 30 miles away, close enough where an indoor antenna works other than on some of the LPTVs.

If you are using rabbit ears for VHF, do you have an UHF outdoor antenna??? I've placed antennas in bushes and trees at the request of homeowners and they usually work fairly well.

I have a Terk antenna with a directional UHF, but rabbit ears for VHF. When I lived in Ahwatukee, I had to add an FM trap before the preamp to keep all those 100 kW signals from overloading it. Not an issue out here, though.

Does the F.A.A. also require that ALL satellite dishes are ground mounted???

No, but from what I understand, nothing other than the trees can be higher than the peak of the roof. Mine is on the roof, but below the peak, as are most of my neighbors' dishes. One guy has a UHF antenna, but also below the peak. I could do the same thing, with my landlord's permission of course, but it would still have to be below the roof peak, which means that it wouldn't be much better than my indoor antenna.

Some smart attorney would probably have a heyday if true.

If it were ever going to be challenged, it would have happened years ago.

 

[K.M. Richards]

IIRC, the dispute between the FAA and the FCC regarding who has jurisdiction over outside antennas was resolved over 50 years ago, and that resolution was responsible for the creation of the "protected zone" definition which Keith refers to. The current law which Joe refers to has (again, IIRC) specific references to said zones.

As he said, if there was a way to challenge it legally, 'twould have happened long ago.

 

[frankberry]

Interesting subject.
According to the FAA, the Protected Zone should, when possible, be owned by the airport (in this case, the city of Mesa).
Beyond that, the Protected Zone is not a good place to live. The reason that it is called "the protected zone" is the potential danger to the public ... not to the aircraft.
It's the area which falls within the danger zone in the event of a mishap during aircraft take-off or landing.

I found this: https://www.faa.gov/airports/planning_capacity/media/interimLandUseRPZGuidance.pdf

 

[landtuna]

I still have no idea why 8, 10, and 12 moved back to their VHF channels, rather than remaining on UHF.

Although reception on the high-VHF channels has been better than it first was following the digital conversion I have no idea why either. 10 had to simulcast its digital signal on 10.2 SD because so many OTA viewers could not get a good signal on 10.1 (myself included). I think somewhere along the line they increased power and that seems to have solved the problem for me anyway. I don't watch 8 or 12 enough to know whether their signals have improved or not.