Another LP DTV station in Phoenix

[dhett]

Phoenix is about to get another low-power digital station. Azteca America affiliate KPDF-CA 41 is announcing that they will convert to digital on June 3.

Until the digital transition, it had been beneficial for Spanish stations to remain analog, but once the full-power analogs were shut off, it quickly became necessary to convert to digital, as the Univision, Telemundo and Telefutura stations were now digital-only and most OTA viewers who had bought digital converter boxes had cheaper models that didn't allow for analog viewing. Delaying conversion to digital had cost KPDF both audience and advertisers.

KPDF is the last major network station in Phoenix to convert to digital. KTVP-LP 22 (Almavision), K25DM (HSN), KCOS-LP 28 (silent), K57HX (HSN) and KDTP-LP 58 (JTV) are left as the only Phoenix stations without a digital presence.

 

[dhett]

So now it's June 4 and there is KPDF, broadcasting in glorious analog.

Status: FAIL

 

[dhett]

KPDF-DT 41.1 is up and running.

 

[powergate92]

41.2 - 41.4 are now on the air with a message saying "Phoenix Area DTV Sub-Channel Available for Lease".

 

[azumanga]

41.2 - 41.4 are now on the air with a message saying "Phoenix Area DTV Sub-Channel Available for Lease".

In other words -- it's a video equivalent to a strip mall.

 

[dhett]

What's ironic is that the station's primary programming is Spanish - Azteca America - but the "For Lease" slides on the other subchannels are in English only.

 

[EricStein]

41.2 - 41.4 are now on the air with a message saying "Phoenix Area DTV Sub-Channel Available for Lease".

With K38IZ-D trying to lease out at least one subchannel, 41.2-41.4, and 50.1-50.4, there is a lot of digital LPTV real estate available. There will be more if K25DM gets its approval to go digital from South Mountain on Channel 18.

It appears that the there is more supply than there is demand for these available subchannels.