Anlog Shutdown apparently getting dirty, FCC calling the shots.

[Poledo]

I don't know all the details here, I'm sure some important information in wrong or missing, but this post is based on a story on the WEAR TV3 news in the Mobile-Pensacola market (#60?).

If you've looked over the "Red List" posted in other threads you may have noticed that all of the TV stations in the Mobile DMA were sticking to the 2/17 shutdown date. There were 2 stations that I believe it said would be staying on in analog, but that was a mistake as those two stations have already ceased analog broadcasting. At first I thought that Mobile may be considered somewhat of a test market for the shutdown process since most markets were split with several stations choosing to stay on analog until June.

Tonight a news report with the WEAR general manager relayed the information that the FCC had stepped in and was paying special attention to the Mobile DMA because every station planned on shutting down on 2/17. The FCC decided that this was unacceptable and has denied WEAR's request to completely shutdown broadcasting the analog channel 3 on February 17th. They apparently singled out WEAR-TV and notified them that they would be required to run in Nite Lite mode broadcasting public service information on how to switch to digital on their analog channel 3. No information was given on why WEAR was the chosen station, none of the other 14 local stations are being told to stay on after February 17th by the FCC (according to the WEAR news article). The WEAR general manager stated in the news report that WEAR was not equipped to broadcast a separate educational nite-lite feed on their old analog station, therefore they had no choice but to keep the old analog signal up, simulcasting with the digital signal, until June.

The tone of the report was that WEAR was being "screwed" by the FCC. WEAR is owned by Sinclair, anyone paying attention knows that Sinclair is shutting down the analog on more than 90% of their stations next week, with the exceptions apparently still having technical issues with the new digital signals. Therefore I tend to believe that the FCC has indeed forced WEAR to stay on the air.

I wonder if the FCC will now choose another Mobile station to run in Nite Lite mode broadcasting the "educational information" on how to switch to DTV for the next six months.

Does anyone have similar stories from other markets?

 

[PTBoardOp94]

There is a similar story in Dayton. http://boards.radio-info.com/smf/index.php/topic,120132.60.html

 

[oldiesfan6479]

Every analog-going-digital TV station should notify the FCC--and copy in
their Congressional delegation--thusly:

You want us to keep the analog on until June? OK, you pay for the
unanticipated power bill and for any needed maintenance on the
analog rig, plus what it may cost to reschedule the tower work.

Yeah, if you (Congress and the Prez) can throw out billions for what
has become bonuses for sleazy executives and for failing automakers,
then we (TV broadcasters) want our piece of the bailout too!

All so the Kettles can have another four months of hand-holding to
cross into the DTV world. :

 

[dhett]

The tone of the report was that WEAR was being "screwed" by the FCC. WEAR is owned by Sinclair, anyone paying attention knows that Sinclair is shutting down the analog on more than 90% of their stations next week, with the exceptions apparently still having technical issues with the new digital signals. Therefore I tend to believe that the FCC has indeed forced WEAR to stay on the air.

Anyone paying attention knows that Sinclair is famous for their conservative Republican worldview. Coincidence?

 

[w9wi]

Tonight a news report with the WEAR general manager relayed the information that the FCC had stepped in and was paying special attention to the Mobile DMA because every station planned on shutting down on 2/17. The FCC decided that this was unacceptable and has denied WEAR's request to completely shutdown broadcasting the analog channel 3 on February 17th. They apparently singled out WEAR-TV and notified them that they would be required to run in Nite Lite mode broadcasting public service information on how to switch to digital on their analog channel 3. No information was given on why WEAR was the chosen station, none of the other 14 local stations are being told to stay on after February 17th by the FCC (according to the WEAR news article). The WEAR general manager stated in the news report that WEAR was not equipped to broadcast a separate educational nite-lite feed on their old analog station, therefore they had no choice but to keep the old analog signal up, simulcasting with the digital signal, until June.

WEAR wasn't singled out, all four major-network affiliates in Mobile/Pensacola were affected. (WEAR, WALA, WKRG, and WPMI)

See http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-09-7A2.xls.

They seem to have "tagged" stations in markets where every major-network affiliate planned to shut down on the 17th. (Dayton also qualifies)

Stations in these markets can still shutdown next month if they commit to have at least one station stay on with "nightlight" service. I suppose if they negotiate fast, it would be in the interest of all four stations to agree to split the cost of keeping one of their analogs on the air for the mandatory 60-day nightlight service...

Y'know, who's getting out like a bandit out of this deal are the stations that have already shut down their analogs. Like WBKO in Bowling Green, Kentucky that flipped to DTV on their analog channel about two weeks ago. Now, the other major-network affiliate in Bowling Green (WNKY) wants to shut down their analog on the 17th -- and since they're the only major-network affiliate left operating in the market, they're not going to be allowed to do it.

(No, Sinclair is NOT being singled out for this... they control three stations here in Nashville, all of which are shutting down on Tuesday & the FCC is doing nothing to stop them. Likewise with their two stations in Milwaukee. Or their two in Baltimore. Difference being that in those markets, some of the major-network affiliates are staying on.)

 

[Poledo]

Wow, NBC 15 in Mobile just showed to "shutting down Feb 17th scroll" 5 minutes ago. All 4 affiliates in Mobile got hit? The WEAR reporter and General Manager clearly said that they were the only station in the market that would be staying on during the 5PM newscast. This is all falling apart so fast that no one knows what the station across town is doing. If the FCC hits WSRE we'll have to wait for the new Daystar affiliate to sign on. The FCC is depriving us of yet another source of religion. That's illegal!


The only way this really affects me is that I need to buy a new antenna. The two stations I can't pick up now are supposed to increase their power or raise their DTV antennas. I don't want to plop down 100 bucks for a new antenna and wire if it turns out my existing setup will work with the new DTV facilities. I just recently tweaked my existing antenna to work best with the other DTV signals, so I can't even get the analog signals of CBS or FOX and now it's going to be several more months until I'll know if I HAVE to buy new equipment. How does this extension help me? Does it help someone else? I know why I voted against obama.

 

[Mario500]

http://www.al.com/news/press-register/metro.ssf?/base/news/1234534421228010.xml&coll=3
"FCC concerns mean some local TV stations (WKRG-TV and WEAR-TV) will leave analog on" - Mobile Press-Register

The stations still have today's deadline (5:00 PM Central time) to meet the Federal Communications Commission's criteria. Also, WEAR-TV and WALA-TV were listed among the stations to keep their analog signals going for 60 days after February 17th.

 

[w9wi]

Wow, NBC 15 in Mobile just showed to "shutting down Feb 17th scroll" 5 minutes ago. All 4 affiliates in Mobile got hit? The WEAR reporter and General Manager clearly said that they were the only station in the market that would be staying on during the 5PM newscast.

See http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-09-7A1.doc.

Stations in markets like Mobile, Dayton, and Madison (where all the major-network affiliates proposed a Feb. 17th shutdown) are required to certify compliance with eight conditions. The first one (and most relevant to this discussion) is:

Ensure that at least one station that is currently providing analog service to an area within the DMA that will no longer receive analog service after February 17, 2009 will continue broadcasting an analog signal providing, at a minimum, DTV transition and emergency information, as well as local news and public affairs programming (“enhanced nightlight” service1) for at least 60 days following February 17, 2009. The local news, public affairs, or other programming may include commercial advertising.

So if the four Mobile stations could get together and ensure one station would provide this nightlight service, the other three could still shut down on Tuesday.

I suppose all four could shut down, if they ensured another station with coverage across the area provided that service. Not that that's likely to happen, as it looks like Trinity's WMPV-21 is the only full-market signal that didn't file to silence their analog on the 17th.

 

[Mario500]

WMPV-TV intends to shut down analog operations on April 15th.

 

[Mario500]

WKRG-TV and WPMI-TV announced their decisions to delay shutting down analog operations until June 12th during their 12:00 PM newscasts. This is a sad time in the on-going troubled relationship between broadcasters and the federal government.

 

[alg2468]

DTV transition update from Providence RI as of this afternoon:

From the Providence, RI Journal

http://newsblog.projo.com/#447990

The FCC has told WNAC FOX 64 to stay on for two weeks after Feb 17th and WLNE ABC 6 for an additional two months after the 17th to broadcast DTV transitional information and local news - no other programming.
Only WJAR NBC 10 and WPRI CBS 12 will shut off the analog on the 17th. WLWC CW 28 and WSBE PBS 36 are already digital only.

This idea of staying on the air after the original transition date is a total waste of time and money in my opinion.

 

[Bongwater]

DTV transition update from Providence RI as of this afternoon:

From the Providence, RI Journal

http://newsblog.projo.com/#447990

The FCC has told WNAC FOX 64 to stay on for two weeks after Feb 17th and WLNE ABC 6 for an additional two months after the 17th to broadcast DTV transitional information and local news - no other programming.
Only WJAR NBC 10 and WPRI CBS 12 will shut off the analog on the 17th. WLWC CW 28 and WSBE PBS 36 are already digital only.

This idea of staying on the air after the original transition date is a total waste of time and money in my opinion.

Tell that to the THOUSANDS of rural area viewers in terrestrially challenged areas where even satellite is not an option. Where analog signals barely eek in with all their ghosty, snowy glory at power levels these days, but digital signals do not.

There needs to be either higher tower height/power levels for DTV or local translators put in the most troubled areas. Until those issues are addressed, it's still too early to declare a successful transistion......

 

[Darrel M]

(No, Sinclair is NOT being singled out for this... they control three stations here in Nashville, all of which are shutting down on Tuesday & the FCC is doing nothing to stop them. Likewise with their two stations in Milwaukee. Or their two in Baltimore. Difference being that in those markets, some of the major-network affiliates are staying on.)

Sinclair's FOX station here in Madison, WMSN, volunteered (in one could call it that) to be the "Enhanced Nightlight" for our market, thereby allowing the other big affiliates here in town--WISC (CBS), WMTV (NBC), and WKOW (ABC), who was originally going to be the nightlight--to sign off analog next Tuesday (when WMSN would have done so as well had they not reversed course). And according to the station manager, it was their decision and not that of upper management at Sinclair. (More info here on WMSN's decision from the Capital Times)

This idea of staying on the air after the original transition date is a total waste of time and money in my opinion.

Tell that to the THOUSANDS of rural area viewers in terrestrially challenged areas where even satellite is not an option. Where analog signals barely eek in with all their ghosty, snowy glory at power levels these days, but digital signals do not.

There needs to be either higher tower height/power levels for DTV or local translators put in the most troubled areas. Until those issues are addressed, it's still too early to declare a successful transistion......

Understandable, which could be a reason why the FCC, thanks to their ruling this week, wanted at least one "Nightlight" in every market; they are not discerning geographical terrain or the level of viewer preparedness of one market over another.

And while there certainly is an extra expense in still having to operate two signals, the "nightlight" stations in Madison, La Crosse/Eau Claire and other markets that are volunteering (again, if you want to use that word) and allowing the other stations in the market to go all-digital may get a side benefit out of this... those late adapters just might look at them in a better light for guiding them to the digital side. And it's not like all of these "nightlights" will still be airing network programming. A couple of news reports I've seen suggest that some nightlights may air nothing but a loop of conversion information while their analog signal is up (outside of the newscasts and any emergency bulletins), so those who haven't bothered to prepare will definitely take notice now (as if the sudden disappearance of the other stations in town wouldn't get their attention already).

 

[wrsg915fm]

This idea of staying on the air after the original transition date is a total waste of time and money in my opinion.
[/quote]

Tell that to the THOUSANDS of rural area viewers in terrestrially challenged areas where even satellite is not an option. Where analog signals barely eek in with all their ghosty, snowy glory at power levels these days, but digital signals do not.

There needs to be either higher tower height/power levels for DTV or local translators put in the most troubled areas. Until those issues are addressed, it's still too early to declare a successful transistion......
[/quote]

Amen! As a previous poster stated, I DO NOT want to invest several hundred dollars and a bunch of time I don't have to set up everything needed, only to either get signal or not, then have to contact local stations to get a waiver for national nets for DishNetwork

 

[radiolives]

So the one station that wants to/was picked to keep their analog on until June 12, 2009 in markets where all the major four wanted to go digital, will the FCC or government give them money. I think they should. Your telling my station to keep analog on while the other stations in this market get to turn theres off. I sure don't want to pay the extra cash while the other stations don't have to. Or all the stations in each market share the cost to keep that one analog signal on.

 

[imhomerjay]

Every analog-going-digital TV station should notify the FCC--and copy in
their Congressional delegation--thusly:

You want us to keep the analog on until June? OK, you pay for the
unanticipated power bill and for any needed maintenance on the
analog rig, plus what it may cost to reschedule the tower work.

Yeah, if you (Congress and the Prez) can throw out billions for what
has become bonuses for sleazy executives and for failing automakers,
then we (TV broadcasters) want our piece of the bailout too!

All so the Kettles can have another four months of hand-holding to
cross into the DTV world. :

Please....the broadcasters got their handout beforehand in the form of spectrum space for which they don't have to pay (not so the new entrants that were bidding on the analog space that the broadcasters also had received for free). Whining now is childish and pathetic on their part.

 

[tripinva]

Please....the broadcasters got their handout beforehand in the form of spectrum space for which they don't have to pay (not so the new entrants that were bidding on the analog space that the broadcasters also had received for free). Whining now is childish and pathetic on their part.

No, it wasn't free. The FCC forced a mandate on them to build out millions of dollars worth of new transmitters and gear, pay thousands of dollars per month of power bills, with the second transmitter bringing no added revenue.

Most stations would laugh at the very idea that they got it for free.

- Trip

 

[w9wi]

So the one station that wants to/was picked to keep their analog on until June 12, 2009 in markets where all the major four wanted to go digital, will the FCC or government give them money. I think they should. Your telling my station to keep analog on while the other stations in this market get to turn theres off. I sure don't want to pay the extra cash while the other stations don't have to. Or all the stations in each market share the cost to keep that one analog signal on.

I wonder if there's a cooperative effort going on here -- if the other licensees in Madison got together and agreed to pay Sinclair to leave WMSN on so they could sign off? I would not be totally surprised to see programming supplied by the other stations airing on WMSN as well.

Please....the broadcasters got their handout beforehand in the form of spectrum space for which they don't have to pay (not so the new entrants that were bidding on the analog space that the broadcasters also had received for free). Whining now is childish and pathetic on their part.

(sorry Trip, I don't think laughter is the emotion most station managers are feeling when they see another four months of dual power bills!)

Seriously, as Trip says, there was no giveaway here.

We start with the $4,200 application fee to file for the DTV permit. Actually, we start before that with a few tens of thousands of $$ spent with engineering firms to prepare that DTV permit application.

Now, you have the permit. Spend a few hundred thousand $$ to buy another transmitting antenna, and to hire someone to install it. (not gonna get Bob's TV & Applicance Repair to do that job...)

Oops: when we built the tower in 1960 we never thought we'd have to have *two* TV stations -- two transmitting antennas. Tower isn't strong enough. We're going to have to build another tower -- a few hundred thousand more $$. (plus whatever it takes to pay the lawyers to get the local permits past the NIMBYs)

The antenna is up. Now, we have to install that second transmitter. Another few hundred thousand $$.

OK, our DTV facility is on the air! Guess it's time to send in that $285 fee for the license-to-cover... and the $5,000 every month to the electric utility to run the second transmitter...

Well, I suppose if there's all these expenses to going digital and no extra revenue, one could just sit it out. Nobody's *forcing* stations to spend all this money to convert, are they?

As you know, somebody is forcing stations to convert to digital. Spend all this uncompensated $$ or surrender your license and go out of business.

I don't see any "free" here.

 

[kenglish]

Please....the broadcasters got their handout beforehand in the form of spectrum space for which they don't have to pay (not so the new entrants that were bidding on the analog space that the broadcasters also had received for free). Whining now is childish and pathetic on their part.
[/quote]

Broadcasters already had spectrum. The "free spectrum" we got has been nothing but a vast money-sucking pit.
The "extra" channel was for the benefit of the people who were still watching analog...the ones who STILL AREN'T READY after ten years!!

Can you show me any broadcaster who has made money off their "free spectrum"?

 

[Poledo]

On Friday 2/13, I saw a scroll on WBPG announcing the early shutdown on 2/17.
The message on WBPG must mean that Fox - WXXV in Biloxi still intends to shut down analog on 2/17.

On Saturday 2/14, I saw the same on WSRE announcing the early 2/17 shutdown of their analog signal.

I saw the early shutdown scroll on WFGX and WJTC on Friday, I think... it might have been Thursday.

I wonder if WPMI could have left WJCT on instead so that they could go ahead and move their digital signal to channel 15 and then get to work fixing the Digital transmitter to provide us with a reliable signal? It seems like a temporary simulcast of WPMI's local news on WJTC would satisfy the FCC.