Circle TV network on KHOU

[FairbanksTX]

KHOU TV recently added sub channel Circle TV to KHOU 11.5. I couldn't decide if it fit with the other post about KHOU buying KTBU, I wonder if they will move this sub channel, or the other three sub channels to KTBU once they start managing the station? Time will tell I guess.

 

[Mediafrog+]

Gray owned stations are supposed to be running Circle TV, but apparently not on KBTX yet. Perhaps it will appear when KBTX repacks to RF16 this spring.

 

[Mediafrog+]

Perhaps it will appear when KBTX repacks to RF16 this spring.

Updating my own post: Turns out KBTX is repacking today, February 10: https://www.kbtx.com/content/news/ATTENTION-ANTENNA-VIEWERS-Make-a-Plan-to-Rescan-567048061.html

They are moving from RF50 to RF16, over 200 MHz lower. We'll see if this makes any difference to reception in the NW part of the Houston market.

 

[BamaTX]

Updating my own post: Turns out KBTX is repacking today, February 10: https://www.kbtx.com/content/news/ATTENTION-ANTENNA-VIEWERS-Make-a-Plan-to-Rescan-567048061.html

They are moving from RF50 to RF16, over 200 MHz lower. We'll see if this makes any difference to reception in the NW part of the Houston market.

I could never receive them on Ch. 50 inside the city limits (outside of tropo). They were supposed to significantly lower their power in order to make up for the difference in channels. I haven't scanned channels in a while, so I will probably check them out sooner rather than later. I remember back in their analog days, Ch. 3 was an easy catch inside the loop.

 

[Mediafrog+]

I could never receive them on Ch. 50 inside the city limits (outside of tropo). They were supposed to significantly lower their power in order to make up for the difference in channels. I haven't scanned channels in a while, so I will probably check them out sooner rather than later. I remember back in their analog days, Ch. 3 was an easy catch inside the loop.

I tried scanning for KBTX after the move to RF16, but no luck. When they were on RF50 it was hit or miss, but I could eventually add the channel after a few tries. The new lower channel runs 685kW ERP, while the previous facility ran 1000kW, so the power drop may be enough to keep the signal out of NW Harris County. And yes, the old analog RF3 was an easy catch here. KBTX and KHOU sometimes air different CBS NFL games, so nice to have that option when it was available.

I did manage to get the shared Houston RF27 LPTV to load on my latest scan, but have been unable to decode any video. This transmitter has both KQHO and KBPX--the former uses virtual 27 and the latter virtual 46. Half dozen subchannels for each. Anyone getting video on this? Transmitter is in downtown Houston, so reception should be possible inside Loop 610.

 

[KTN Corp]

I tried scanning for KBTX after the move to RF16, but no luck. When they were on RF50 it was hit or miss, but I could eventually add the channel after a few tries. The new lower channel runs 685kW ERP, while the previous facility ran 1000kW, so the power drop may be enough to keep the signal out of NW Harris County. And yes, the old analog RF3 was an easy catch here. KBTX and KHOU sometimes air different CBS NFL games, so nice to have that option when it was available.

Texans are only on KHOU, while the rest of Texas gets the Cowboys.

But I'm surprised that Gray did not move the KBTX transmitter site to an equidistant site on the opposite side of Bryan so that the signal doesn't make it to NW Harris County. KBTX would easily cover both Waco-Temple and Bryan-College Station to provide a 3rd VHF PSIP and maybe move the ABC affiliation on 3.1 and simulcast KWTX on 3.2 for B-C/S (and do the opposite with KBTX on 10.2 for the Waco side).

 

[ThatVoice22]

Texans are only on KHOU, while the rest of Texas gets the Cowboys.

Clarification: On Sunday afternoons, the Texans are 'usually' on CBS (KHOU-11 & KBTX-3), while the Cowboys are 'usually' on Fox (KRIV-26), so the 'rest of Texas' can get both or neither depending on the day/time and matchup.
In the few cases of inter-conference games, the "Visiting Team Dictates the Network" which explains why the Texans will appear on Fox when the NFC visits here, while the Cowboys will appear on CBS when an AFC team visits Dallas.
Sooo, when the Cowboys visit here, see the game on Fox - and when the Texans travel to Dallas, see the game on CBS.
If the Texans host any other NFC team at the same time as Dallas plays, the Dallas game cannot be seen here since Fox must carry the Texans game, except for the rare event when CBS is carrying the Dallas game because an AFC team is visiting Dallas.
Occasionally, KBTX-3 will carry a different CBS game than KHOU-11, but only when that game does not involve the Texans.
A useful internet site, "506sports.com" releases US coverage maps a few days prior to the weekend games -- see the network assignments for the final games of the 2019 regular season: https://506sports.com/nfl.php?yr=2019&wk=17
This is a bit off-topic from Circle TV, so I'll make a new post of this before the next season's first NFL game.

 

[BamaTX]

When the Texans and Cowboys have the same time slot and are both assigned to CBS, both KHOU and KBTX show the Texans. Bryan/College Station is considered a Texans home market, along with Beaumont/Port Arthur.