Not to be confused with Providence's NBC10.
Ch 10 on most cable systems.
Ch 10 on most cable systems.
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NBCBoston promotes self as Boston's NBC10
- Thread starter raccoonradio
- Start date
The idea is that on most cable systems including Comcast, it's on Ch 10. This confusion isn't new, but they chose the "ch 10" branding. I recall in the Burlington VT area WVNY TV 22 (ABC) was on Ch 4 on cable systems (The CBS affiliate was on Ch 3, NBC on Ch 5). They would market themselves as "Channel 22, Cable 4". Wikipedia explains exactly where NBCBoston is: "WBTS-LD, virtual channel 8 (UHF digital channel 46)" It's repeated on WNEU Merrimach NH and WYCN-CD Nashua NH; "WNEU is considered by the Federal Communications Commission as the parent license of WBTS-LD" And yes, "On cable and satellite, WBTS-LD is primarily carried on channel 10"
Seriously, "Boston's Ten"? What is that supposed to mean? The "NBC Boston" branding and logo was much nicer.
It would have made more sense to request cable carriage on channel 3, 6, or 8. Most cities and towns in Eastern MA served by Comcast have HSN on Ch. 3, NECN on Ch. 6, and a local PEG station on Ch. 8. With the number 10, you have to dial two digits on your remote control vs just one for a single digit channel number.
It would have made more sense to request cable carriage on channel 3, 6, or 8. Most cities and towns in Eastern MA served by Comcast have HSN on Ch. 3, NECN on Ch. 6, and a local PEG station on Ch. 8. With the number 10, you have to dial two digits on your remote control vs just one for a single digit channel number.
I realize that Comcast / NBC chose the channel designation "10" because that's where it can be found on most area cable systems. But...I still think it was a lousy idea to do it.
Pure speculation, but...Who knows?...Maybe Comcast / NBC still want to get their paws on Sinclair's WJAR. In the unlikely event that ever happened, then there could be just ONE unified branding for NBC in the region...spanning from Newport to Newburyport, and from Provincetown to Goffstown.
Pure speculation, but...Who knows?...Maybe Comcast / NBC still want to get their paws on Sinclair's WJAR. In the unlikely event that ever happened, then there could be just ONE unified branding for NBC in the region...spanning from Newport to Newburyport, and from Provincetown to Goffstown.
Keeping with that concept, NBC-Universal uses the NBC10 branding for its O&O in Comcast's home market of Philadelphia. So perhaps its a corporate edict that the station identify itself by NBC and the channel.
Its been NBC 10 Boston for almost a year now.
WJAR's signal covers most of the Boston market, and many of the Comcast cable systems south of Boston - Norwood, Canton, Westwood, etc. - carry WJAR, in addition to WBTS. Mass. residents have associated "Channel 10" with Rhode Island for many years. A neighbor who is a Boston firefighter commented to me one day that it's funny that "that Providence TV station shows up at fires more often than the Boston stations."
The use of 10 probably came from some clueless Comcast exec in Philadelphia.
The use of 10 probably came from some clueless Comcast exec in Philadelphia.
Sounds similar to what they do with NBC Bay Area in the San Francisco market. It's a regional station, rather than a specific city.
It's also virtual Channel 11.
I think you've hit the nail right on the head...or...in this case, the potato-head who made the decision without realizing the massive overlap of the two stations signal area, not to mention the confusion it caused.
Your firefighter neighbor is a perfect example of what I mean. Don't you just love corporate potato-heads? They're barely 1/2 step away from government potato-heads.
I think you've hit the nail right on the head...or...in this case, the potato-head who made the decision without realizing the massive overlap of the two stations signal area, not to mention the confusion it caused.
Your firefighter neighbor is a perfect example of what I mean. Don't you just love corporate potato-heads? They're barely 1/2 step away from government potato-heads.
Given the dozens of companies, and pieces of others, that make up the current Comcast, there must be an infinite source of potato-heads... NBC owned WJAR for a few years around 2000 - and they still missed the ch 10 confusion.
I see their ENG truck with the big "10" on the side several times a week - and somehow I briefly think "Providence" too...
I think the original point was that the station now uses bifurcated branding: "BOSTON'S TEN" as well as "NBC 10 Boston."
"NBC Bay Area" followed the Peacock Network's failed attempt to brand the station as "NBC 3."
I go with the common regionality theory—kind of like how “7 News” will run a report from their sister station down in Miami (also “7 News”, with exact same newsroom setup and graphics), passing it off and presenting it as if it is a Boston newsroom originating report!
I can give you a reason why the NBC3 brand failed and KNTV renamed themselves as NBC Bay Area. One of the counties (Solano County, CA) is on the border of two media markets Sacramento and San Francisco. Solano County traditionally have NBC affiliate KCRA3 Sacramento on channel 3 in that area. Also Solano County, California is the bedroom community of both Sacramento and San Francisco. Is there a spot in Massachusetts where the area just happens to be a residential community of both Boston and Providence that I have to look at??
The markets don't overlap officially, except for the significantly viewed exceptions, but the signals cover most of both markets - Rabbit Ears signal maps - (WYCN-CD, 15-1, is the full power shared channel for NBC Boston):
https://www.rabbitears.info/contour.php?appid=25076f9160e1af43016104878f2d6a41&site=1
https://www.rabbitears.info/contour.php?appid=25076f914f666e73014f6fd2b9050970&site=1
Maybe it's just me...but I fail to understand why Comcast / NBC couldn't have simply used WYCN's adopted designation of "15", or even it's old designation of "13". Either would have been unique to the market, and there would have been ZERO confusion.
But then again...What can we expect from the potato-heads?
But then again...What can we expect from the potato-heads?
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But then again...What can we expect from the potato-heads?
Eyes, perhaps?
Maybe it's just me...but I fail to understand why Comcast / NBC couldn't have simply used WYCN's adopted designation of "15", or even it's old designation of "13". Either would have been unique to the market, and there would have been ZERO confusion.
But then again...What can we expect from the potato-heads?
They worked out the WYCN deal after deciding on and using "10". Any number that would not be confused with something else would have been OK for cable purposes - or just use NBC Boston and no number. 10 doesn't even match the cable channel most viewers watch, since 10 is the SD channel.
When they move WBTS-LD to Providence, they will no longer have virtual ch 8 in the market, but when WNEU moves to Needham, they will have ch 60 to mix into the hash-browns...
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