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NBC Boston channel speculation.

That's good but for me at least, when I enter in 16 or 516 it automatically goes to 513 which is NECN. Is this intentional? I hope this is changed. And I didn't hear about it moving to 510, though it'd be nice if it did. I wonder if they'll add Cozi.
 
newsbot2 said:
And now Elizabeth Warren weighs in...
http://www.adweek.com/tvspy/sen-eli...to-concerns-over-nbc-boston-ota-signal/182771
Click to expand...

http://www.broadcastingcable.com/ne...proof-nbc-wont-shut-out-boston-viewers/161700

and an update

Elizabeth Warren has joined Edward Markey, her fellow U.S. senator from Massachusetts, in calling on Comcast for proof that the company’s new NBC O&O in Boston will cover the entire market.
In a Thursday Twitter post, Warren wrote, “Many in our communities rely on free broadcast TV. I share @SenMarkey’s concerns about NBC signal loss in MA & call on @comcast for answers.”
The senators’ concern that viewers in the country’s ninth largest market will be shut out of NBC programming comes just weeks before the new station, WBTS, officially launches Jan. 1.
On Monday, Markey expressed his interest in a letter to Comcast chairman and CEO Brian Roberts, asking for detailed information showing how the network plans to deliver the station to the entire Boston market, even though it doesn’t have as great a reach as the current NBC affiliate, Sunbeam’s WHDH. NBC station execs say they already have improved the strength of the signal with the addition of two transmitters and the purchase of a low-power TV station.
“WBTS (8.1) and WNEU (60.2) are currently operating and airing the Countdown NBC station," said Comcast in a statement. "We will be providing additional detail in our response to Senator Markey’s letter.”
WBTS’ official launch will cap NBC’s high-profile effort to establish an O&O in the lucrative Boston market—a move that WHDH owner Ed Ansin tried to stop in court. His station will become a news-heavy independent in 2017.
Click to expand...
 
RadioPatrol said:
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/ne...proof-nbc-wont-shut-out-boston-viewers/161700

and an update
Click to expand...

Politicians are very good at waiting until the past minute and pretending to be concerned. However NBC / Comcast can really just blame their signal problem on the FCC, and the freeze on new channels and other issues related to the spectrum auction. However, they could solve the problem for now, if they could make a temporary LMA arrangement with WBPX or another station - and then look at options when the spectrum auction is over.
 
raccoonradio said:
http://www.bostonherald.com/news/lo...n_links_with_hub_station_wmfp_to_boost_signal NBCBoston to link with WMFP tv 62
Click to expand...

Something they should have did at first. Which subchannel? And will it be in HD?

http://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/local-tv/nbc-finds-short-term-fix-extend-boston-reach/161743
Also, this article gets WMFP's callsign wrong and says it's owned by a religious broadcaster. It's actually owned by NRJ TV and runs programming from Jimmy Swaggart's SonLife network.
 
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mvcg66b3r said:
Something they should have did at first. Which subchannel? And will it be in HD?
Click to expand...

raccoonradio said:
62.5
Click to expand...
WMFP deleted 62.2 when they lost or dropped Cozi. Right now SonLife is on 62.1 at 720p, TheWorks is on 62.3 at 480i, and Comet is on 62.4 at 480i.

WBTS has countdown-to-NBC on 8.1 at 1080i, Telemundo on 8.2 at 1080i, Cozi on 8.3 at 480i, and TeleXo on 8.4 at 4801.

Therefore, they can add NBC on 62.2 or any subchannel and have the same picture quality.

This addition of WMFP makes the new WBTS_LD transmitter unnecessary for NBC, since WMFP's full power signal covers much further in all directions, and most viewers will therefore use WMFP. So now they have to decide how to allocate virtual channel numbers. They are promoting Ch 8 (8.1) as the new home to NBC - now will they want to change that to 62.2? They could actually move the virtual channel number 8.1 to the WMFP transmitter, keeping it also on the current WBTS transmitter, or change the current one. This would not be unlike the use of both 5.1 and 5.3 in New York on both WNYW and WWOR.
 
channel99 said:
This addition of WMFP makes the new WBTS_LD transmitter unnecessary for NBC, since WMFP's full power signal covers much further in all directions, and most viewers will therefore use WMFP.
Click to expand...

They'll still need WBTS, as that is considered the main station for ratings purposes, much like WBMA.
 
What caught my eye in the Herald article was this, "In its response to Markey, Comcast said it also plans to acquire an additional full-power television station to guarantee full coverage of the market. NBC is expected to pursue that during the first quarter of 2017, when the “quiet period” implemented by the broadcast spectrum incentive auction ends."

What station do you think it will be or is this just lip service to quiet Ed Markey?

And as of this post, unless I missed it, Charter that covers a good chunk of the central Massachusetts area has not announced where the new NBC Boston will be located on their channel lineup.
 
WBTS is similar to KNTV San Jose another NBC Owned station because Xfinity customers have KNTV on channel 703 and OTA, Dish and AT&T have KNTV on channel 11 in the Bay Area. Both stations had gotten disadvantaged signals when they took over as O&O. Note KNTV transmitter later moved to San Bruno mountains after the FCC permitted the move. WBTS on the other hand , transmitter issues are pending.
 
http://www.nbcboston.com/news/local...o-Increase-Over-the-Air-Signal-406069125.html

NBC Boston WBTS made a statement that they will appear on 60.5 also coming December 21st.

NBC Boston confirmed Monday that it has reached an agreement to increase its over-the-air capabilities ahead of the station’s official launch on Jan. 1, 2017.
The station has entered into an agreement with WMFP, another full-power Boston station, to rebroadcast the NBC Boston signal on 60.5. The signal will be up and running by Dec. 21.
This will bolster the station’s over-the-air signal, which is also available on 8.1 and 60.2.
NBC Boston is an NBC Owned Television Station serving the Greater Boston area, Southern New Hampshire and Northeastern Massachusetts.
Beginning Jan. 1, NBC Boston will provide area viewers comprehensive local news, accurate weather forecasts, as well as all of your favorite NBC programs, including NBC Nightly News, the TODAY show, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and Sunday Night Football.
Click to expand...
 
I'm pretty sure that the owners of WMFP just want to cash in on the auction. Isn't WBTS now valuable in the auction too? Can't Comcast compensate NRJ with some $ and buy WMFP and sell WBTS to them. NRJ could then get some $ in the auction for WBTS.

Anyway, if NBC Boston stays on a digital sub-channel of WMFP and Comcast pays them $ to lease it, NBC has full market coverage on 60.5 and anyone who gets channel 7 ota now should be able to get 60.5. No one has to worry. Everyone should be happy, just rescan your tv.
 
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Bill_W said:
I'm pretty sure that the owners of WMFP just want to cash in on the auction. Isn't WBTS now valuable in the auction too? Can't Comcast compensate NRJ with some $ and buy WMFP and sell WBTS to them. NRJ could then get some $ in the auction for WBTS.
Click to expand...

Except that WBTS is not auction-eligible because it's not a Class A station.
 
I've noticed that in most of Charters coverage, they still have WJAR on Channel 10. Maybe they'll finally be removing it and replacing it with WBTS.
 
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