WMFP will channel share with WWDP

[channel99]

WMFP will be channel sharing with WWDP. No info found yet on what will be moved there - SonLife, Comet, possibly WMFP?

https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/d...&id=25076ff35e13fe99015e2ec691fe1097&goBack=N
https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/api/download/attachment/25076ff35e13fe99015e2ec7afc510b2
https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/api/download/attachment/25076ff35e5429d1015e58dfcd0b0670

Also, WLWC, Providence will sign off on October 1, and will begin sharing with WPXQ, the ION station. It will no longer be a CW affiliate. The fact that ION will be sharing there, means they may do that with WBPX, Boston, also.

WLWC info:

http://www.thecwprov.com/story/36254346/the-cw-providence-channel-information
https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/d...&id=25076f915e13ff59015e392c169f28a3&goBack=N
https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/api/download/attachment/25076ff35e52a497015e530e1d38034b

 

[alg2468]

Thanks for these updates, I did not expect these changes so soon. I am surprized that WMFP will still be on the air and channel sharing, in especially with WWDP, since it is from Norwell and has a pretty weak signal. And what happens to ch. 60.5 - NBC Boston - which is on their subchannel? NBC Boston would lose quite a bit of OTA coverage without that station and be relying on WBTS-LP low power station.

As far as WLWC, I thought they would be sharing with WPRI since Nexstar bought the station. WPXQ's transmitter is in Richmond, RI, so this would significantly change their coverage area. As for the CW, where would they go - as a subchannel of ch 12, 64, or even 6?

 

[channel99]

Thanks for these updates, I did not expect these changes so soon. I am surprized that WMFP will still be on the air and channel sharing, in especially with WWDP, since it is from Norwell and has a pretty weak signal. And what happens to ch. 60.5 - NBC Boston - which is on their subchannel? NBC Boston would lose quite a bit of OTA coverage without that station and be relying on WBTS-LP low power station.

As far as WLWC, I thought they would be sharing with WPRI since Nexstar bought the station. WPXQ's transmitter is in Richmond, RI, so this would significantly change their coverage area. As for the CW, where would they go - as a subchannel of ch 12, 64, or even 6?

WWDP has a short tower and there is a lot of terrain blockage in the market. It is not a good place for WBTS. It is underutilized now though - just the same shopping channel twice in both HD and SD. SonLife could end up there and maybe Comet and Charge. Since ION is willing to share in RI, they may in Boston, too - a possible place for WBTS.

Nexstar must be planning to add the CW to 12 or 64, but not with the WLWC identity - maybe MyRITV? All that leaves for WPXQ is Decades and Movies! Too bad, Movies! can be good at times, and doesn't have an affiliate in Boston, and though WLWC covered a big portion of the Boston market, WPXQ doesn't.

It's not good that these weak rimshot stations are staying on, while some of the stations with the best signals are going off. Maybe after the repack, some might be able to move to the taller towers nearer the center of the markets.

 

[alg2468]

Great points, channel 99 (even though there unfortunately was never a channel 99 named after you, LOL). I agree you about WLWC, they will lose some of their coverage area because of WPXQ's Richmond, RI transmitter. And if WPXQ has 6 channels already because of ION, can they add additional ones?
As far as WMFP/WWDP, I saw that on the last link called enterprise filing above, it has a coverage area map for WWDP on DTV RF 43 (which is currrently WGBX), and it covers an area from Boston's North Shore to the Bourne Bridge area and west into central Rhode Island - just missing Worcester. But isn't RF 43 going away in the spectrum auction?
And it is odd that these minor stations are staying on - I never though WLWC to share with WPXQ; if WPRI or WNAC was filled, WLNE would have been another choice.

 

[channel99]

Great points, channel 99 (even though there unfortunately was never a channel 99 named after you, LOL). I agree you about WLWC, they will lose some of their coverage area because of WPXQ's Richmond, RI transmitter. And if WPXQ has 6 channels already because of ION, can they add additional ones?
As far as WMFP/WWDP, I saw that on the last link called enterprise filing above, it has a coverage area map for WWDP on DTV RF 43 (which is currrently WGBX), and it covers an area from Boston's North Shore to the Bourne Bridge area and west into central Rhode Island - just missing Worcester. But isn't RF 43 going away in the spectrum auction?
And it is odd that these minor stations are staying on - I never though WLWC to share with WPXQ; if WPRI or WNAC was filled, WLNE would have been another choice.

WWDP is actually on VHF ch. 10, and staying there in the repack. The 43 may be an unclear reference to the 43 dB signal contour. WWDP's tower is less than 500 feet, so it has a worse signal in lower areas than the map suggests, due to blocking by relatively low objects and terrain. If they could ever move to one of the Needham towers, all at least 1000 feet, coverage would improve a lot.

To fit more in, ION will either have to compress some of their 6 subchannels (counting the primary) into a blur, or give up a couple.

Being channel 99, I was available in the auction, but got no offers....

 

[channel99]

WBPX channel sharing

Found this form 399 filing by WBPX - the link actually on the FCC site to this is broken.

https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/d...raftcopy/DTV/25076ff35dbece88015dcc4fb557120d


Here's what is listed there as sharing with WBPX.

WMFP - this could be NBC Boston WMFP 60-5 or SonLife WMFP 62-1
W40BO - an analog translator of WYDN (Word of God Fellowship). WYDN sold their license in the auction.
WFXZ-CD - low power, that also sold license - this must be for TV Azteca.

So some of WMFP is going to WWDP and some to WBPX.

 

[Uncle Kaimbridge]

Lawrence ➡ Foxboro

Ah, regarding WMFPʼs reduced coverage to the north: Didnʼt anyone notice the FCC link applying for a COL change from Lawrence to Foxborough/Foxboro?

 

[channel99]

Ah, regarding WMFPʼs reduced coverage to the north: Didnʼt anyone notice the FCC link applying for a COL change from Lawrence to Foxborough/Foxboro?

The change to Foxboro would be logical for sharing with WWDP, licensed to nearby Norwell. The only visible FCC forms WMFP has filed refer to sharing with WWDP.

Yet WBPX has applied on the FCC 399 (requesting compensation for costs related to repacking) stating that WMFP will be sharing with them. It is possible, but only a guess, that what would be moving to WBPX from WMFP could be WBTS / NBC Boston 60-5, which would not be tied to WMFP if moved.

 

[channel99]

Yet WBPX has applied on the FCC 399 (requesting compensation for costs related to repacking) stating that WMFP will be sharing with them. It is possible, but only a guess, that what would be moving to WBPX from WMFP could be WBTS / NBC Boston 60-5, which would not be tied to WMFP if moved.

Actually, that WBPX 399 refers to sharing on the tower, not the channel (Thx, Trip)...

 

[Uncle Kaimbridge]

The change to Foxboro would be logical for sharing with WWDP, licensed to nearby Norwell. The only visible FCC forms WMFP has filed refer to sharing with WWDP.

I was referring to the third link in your original post. Doesnʼt that count?

 

[channel99]

I was referring to the third link in your original post. Doesnʼt that count?

The COL change is probably little more that a technicality now. WMFP is licensed to Lawrence because it began as a community station on the North Shore, with the transmitter in Georgetown. Not being very successful, they moved the transmitter to One Beacon Street, from which the signal coverage was not very good, but I guess enough to cover Lawrence. Funny story - I received the One Beacon signal on the air it's first day, found there was a number listed in the phonebook, called it, and Avi Nelson, the owner at that time, answered. He asked how the signal was... Of course, they later located their DTV transmitter in Needham, giving much better coverage.

 

[tripinva]

It's not good that these weak rimshot stations are staying on, while some of the stations with the best signals are going off. Maybe after the repack, some might be able to move to the taller towers nearer the center of the markets.

WWDP is pretty much boxed in by WMUR-9 and WENH-11. I can't see it moving much further north. Maybe increasing in power though. WPXQ can't move closer because of land mobile concerns on channel 16.

I also saw an article a week or two ago indicating that WWDP had been sold in "two transactions". I assume the WMFP channel share is one of them. Haven't seen the other yet.

Great points, channel 99 (even though there unfortunately was never a channel 99 named after you, LOL). I agree you about WLWC, they will lose some of their coverage area because of WPXQ's Richmond, RI transmitter. And if WPXQ has 6 channels already because of ION, can they add additional ones?

There are a few markets where ION is running a 7th channel with Telemundo programming on it. I think Seattle, Portland, and Atlanta are those markets, if I'm not mistaken. If you read the agreement here, it sounds like WLWC will have exactly one channel on WPXQ, which fits with that pattern.

In any case, there are stations in California running a 720p along with up to 11 additional SD channels. Encoding technology has advanced quite a bit.

As far as WMFP/WWDP, I saw that on the last link called enterprise filing above, it has a coverage area map for WWDP on DTV RF 43 (which is currrently WGBX), and it covers an area from Boston's North Shore to the Bourne Bridge area and west into central Rhode Island - just missing Worcester. But isn't RF 43 going away in the spectrum auction?

Not sure where you're seeing that. The map shows the 43 dBu contour for WWDP's channel 10 signal.

And it is odd that these minor stations are staying on - I never though WLWC to share with WPXQ; if WPRI or WNAC was filled, WLNE would have been another choice.

WLNE probably would have been more expensive than WPXQ. I assume the goal is to retain must-carry.

As far as the "odd"ness of it is concerned, WPXQ was the only station that could fit on channel 17 due to its existing placement there short-spaced to Boston land mobile on channel 16. WWDP is on VHF, so to the extent that it was not needed, the FCC didn't buy it.

- Trip

 

[channel99]

WWDP is pretty much boxed in by WMUR-9 and WENH-11. I can't see it moving much further north. Maybe increasing in power though. WPXQ can't move closer because of land mobile concerns on channel 16.

I also saw an article a week or two ago indicating that WWDP had been sold in "two transactions". I assume the WMFP channel share is one of them. Haven't seen the other yet.

There are a few markets where ION is running a 7th channel with Telemundo programming on it. I think Seattle, Portland, and Atlanta are those markets, if I'm not mistaken. If you read the agreement here, it sounds like WLWC will have exactly one channel on WPXQ, which fits with that pattern.

- Trip

The 2 part sale by Evine of WWDP was mentioned on a couple of stock market sites too, but with zero details. Maybe they won't even keep the Evine shopping channel on the station. The WWDP signal looks better on maps than it works in practice. That less than 500 foot tower doesn't help, and more power might not do much for the coverage.

If WLWC gets 1 channel on WPXQ, with 6 others, it would probably only be 480i 4:3. So they will have a limited resolution independent station to program - since they are also losing the CW affiliation. Or they could give that up and just run Movies! or Decades, and still have must-carry.