Are Cape Cod and the Islands part of the Boston and Providence TV markets?

[radiojay1]

With Boston stations 4, 5, and 7 as well as Providence stations 6, 10 , and 12 available on Comcast Cable throughout the Cape and Islands, one would think that the Cape is part of both markets. When a mojor news story breaks on the Cape and Islands, stations from both markets cover it. I noticed that in the weather forecasts the Boston stations tend to give more info for the Cape and Islands while the Providence stations tend to cover only down to New Bedford. I noticed that ABC 6 however includes other Cape cities and towns (not just Falmouth like they used to) on its current temperature map. Channel 10 now often includes the Cape and Islands in its weather forecasts on weekends. Channel 12 includes the Cape as far as current temperatures, but not in its forecast, which only reaches out to New Bedford.

 

[rch66]

Counties (cities, parishes where counties don't apply) can be in only 1 DMA. A few counties in the country are split into more than 1 DMA, but no area is part of 2 DMAs. Cape Cod and the Island are part of Boston's tv market [Boston DMA].

 

[KML0224]

To clarify, meaning one given city isn't in 2 markets at once. I think the closest county where you get a split is Herkimer County, NY, somewhere in the Utica, NY area.

 

[RobertAnthony]

With Boston stations 4, 5, and 7 as well as Providence stations 6, 10 , and 12 available on Comcast Cable throughout the Cape and Islands, one would think that the Cape is part of both markets. When a mojor news story breaks on the Cape and Islands, stations from both markets cover it. I noticed that in the weather forecasts the Boston stations tend to give more info for the Cape and Islands while the Providence stations tend to cover only down to New Bedford. I noticed that ABC 6 however includes other Cape cities and towns (not just Falmouth like they used to) on its current temperature map. Channel 10 now often includes the Cape and Islands in its weather forecasts on weekends. Channel 12 includes the Cape as far as current temperatures, but not in its forecast, which only reaches out to New Bedford.

In Falmouth, where I have some family, they have Adelphia (which could become who knows what given the troubles). These are the broadcast stations they get--actual channel number in parenthesis where applicable:

2--WGBH
4--WBZ
5--WCVB
6--WFXT (25)
7--WHDH
8--WLVI (56)
9--WSBE (36)
11--WGBX (44)
15--WJAR (10)
16--WWDP (46)
17--WSBK (38)
18--WBPX (68)
19--WMFP (62)
20--WUNI (27)
21--WUTF (66)
22--WLNE (6)

 

[RexManning]

oneida county ny is a split dma county, with utica being in the utica market, and rome in the syracuse market.

 

[BRNout]

In Falmouth, where I have some family, they have Adelphia (which could become who knows what given the troubles). These are the broadcast stations they get--actual channel number in parenthesis where applicable:

2--WGBH
4--WBZ
5--WCVB
6--WFXT (25)
7--WHDH
8--WLVI (56)
9--WSBE (36)
11--WGBX (44)
15--WJAR (10)
16--WWDP (46)
17--WSBK (38)
18--WBPX (68)
19--WMFP (62)
20--WUNI (27)
21--WUTF (66)
22--WLNE (6)

Wow, they've been cutting back on the Providence stations over the past few years. Gee, this must be Comcast!!

An old friend of mine has a place in Falmouth and we went there back around 1999 or 2000 and, at the time, all of the Providence channels were carried on cable. It was a home game weekend for the Pats and it was cool to be able to catch that 3rd game on Fox 64. Based on what you have listed here, WPRI-12, Fox 64 and UPN-28 are not on the system anymore.

Of course, being in the upper Cape, Falmouth has MUCH better OTA reception of Providence channels than they do of Boston ones. In earlier years (before they had cable), TV at my friend's place was limited to WLNE-6 (which came in clearly), WJAR-10 (came in ok) and WPRI-12 (came in fuzzy). The Boston channels were a bit too weak to watch, unless there was a bit of tropo enhancement.

 

[Kenny Atkinson]

WUTF-66, when did those calls come into play? What is channel 66 doing these days and when did they drop HSN?

 

[BRNout]

WUTF-66, when did those calls come into play? What is channel 66 doing these days and when did they drop HSN?

They are the Boston market's Telefutura affiliate. That's the number 3 spanish network, which is owned by Univision. They show entertainment, sports, and older movies (dubbed into Spanish).

 

[RobertAnthony]

In Falmouth, where I have some family, they have Adelphia (which could become who knows what given the troubles). These are the broadcast stations they get--actual channel number in parenthesis where applicable:

2--WGBH
4--WBZ
5--WCVB
6--WFXT (25)
7--WHDH
8--WLVI (56)
9--WSBE (36)
11--WGBX (44)
15--WJAR (10)
16--WWDP (46)
17--WSBK (38)
18--WBPX (68)
19--WMFP (62)
20--WUNI (27)
21--WUTF (66)
22--WLNE (6)

Wow, they've been cutting back on the Providence stations over the past few years. Gee, this must be Comcast!!

An old friend of mine has a place in Falmouth and we went there back around 1999 or 2000 and, at the time, all of the Providence channels were carried on cable. It was a home game weekend for the Pats and it was cool to be able to catch that 3rd game on Fox 64. Based on what you have listed here, WPRI-12, Fox 64 and UPN-28 are not on the system anymore.

Of course, being in the upper Cape, Falmouth has MUCH better OTA reception of Providence channels than they do of Boston ones. In earlier years (before they had cable), TV at my friend's place was limited to WLNE-6 (which came in clearly), WJAR-10 (came in ok) and WPRI-12 (came in fuzzy). The Boston channels were a bit too weak to watch, unless there was a bit of tropo enhancement.

Well, when I went to Falmouth in 2001, I bought a mini LCD TV with me--and most of the Boston/Prov. stations came in decently--The UHF ones though were more prevalent--especially 28, 36 and 64--they almost seemed to explode the reception was THAT clear! Perhaps Falmouth is a bit away from Rehoboth, where some the XMTRs are located. I even got some DXing of CT stations like WTNH, WTXX, CPTV. BTW, I checked Zap2It out and Falmouth would get the Boston stations on DIRECTV and Dish Network.

 

[chitchatjf]

i would say if it is a comcast town check to swee what channels are offered in HD.

if its 806,810,812,and 864 then it is Providence.

If 804,805,807,and 825 then Boston

 

[CrankyYankee]

An interesting post! I never thought of the islands as being part of the Boston market, the Cape, sure, but not "N" & "M-V". It makes sense though.

On a side note...I believe the Boston market also extends into Windham County, Vermont, with Brattleboro being the biggest town in it. Quite a wide-reaching area!

 

[KML0224]

Very true about Brattleboro. It's mostly due to viewing habits. Otherwise, I think they'd be in the Burlington/Plattsburgh (NY) DMA. By straighline distance however, Brattleboro is closer to Springfield, MA than Boston, but they likely don't care what's going on down in Hampden County, MA.

 

[ssetta]

This is very interesting about Windham Co., Vermont. Because it appears that DirecTV has made up this special deal for customers in Windham Co., where those people can now receive VT channels as well as Boston. I also think that people who live in the Burlington/Plattsburgh DMA who are in NH can view WMUR as well, to be fair. It does appear that Plymouth Co., the Cape and islands are all part of the Boston DMA. The only county in MA that is part of the Providence/New Bedford DMA is Bristol. Somehow I think DirecTV should do a similar deal for them, so customers in Bristol Co. should be able to view both Boston and Providence.

 

[chuckydoll]

The Cape, the Islands and their TV

WTEV-6 signed on from New Bedford in 1963. I remember reading its founders were specifically targeting New Bedford, Fall River, the Cape and the Islands. Having the ABC network ensured that nearby Providence would have all 3 networks on local signals.

When WTEV-6 became WLNE-6 and moved its main studio to Providence it lost a lot of its local identity. That explains why WLNE-6 is a distant 3rd to WJAR-10 and WPRI-12.