ARE THERE ANY TRIPPLE (ABC/CBS/NBC) OR DUO AFFILIATIONS LEFT IN 2012?

[gregg75]

These would probably be in smaller markets. If they are on sub channels we won't count them.

Are there any recent (past 20 years) stations who fit this topic? I would think the networks would
try to discourage this practice today.

 

[borderblaster]

I'm thinking most of those situations (like Lima, Ohio) use subchannels. I think WLIO has all four of the big ones on subchannels with NBC on the main one. They sued to have a dual NBC/ABC affiliation but only used ABC's College Football package

 

[cd637299]

[sorry, dual post....see below]

 

[cd637299]

The last TV station with more than dual affiliation---actually had 4 networks! In 1995 WAGM-TV 8 Presque Isle ME, a primary CBS, ran some NBC stuff in the open hours, and even a little ABC on Saturday morning. I found out that some NFL football on Sundays was via Fox! See the history here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WAGM-TV

(This is Wiki, but this was true! I called the program director at that time, & she told me indeed they had Fox for NFL. They faxed me a weekly schedule that I personally color-coded by network. Sadly I do not have it now.)

Today, the main WAGM-TV is CBS only, and Fox is on its subchannel.

The last TV station with more than 1 network was KXGN-TV 5 Glendive MT (CBS/NBC). Now that they are digital, I believe the NBC is on a sub. Somebody feel free to correct me.

**You could say that any Armed Forces (AFN) that runs OTA somewhere in the world, "cherry picks" from all the networks.**

cd

 

[KML0224]

WAGM-TV channel 8 in northern Maine even carried WWE Smackdown! and Star Trek: Enterprise for a time in the last days of UPN. I used to see that in the listings for the Maine Edition of TV Guide in 2004, just before the listings died.

Today, WAGM-TV is only CBS on 8-1, while they have FOX on WAGM-TV 8-2.

As for KXGN-TV in Glendive, MT, it does indeed say CBS on 5-1 and NBC on 5-2, according to their website:

http://www.kxgn.com/?page=tv

 

[azumanga]

As for KXGN-TV in Glendive, MT, it does indeed say CBS on 5-1 and NBC on 5-2, according to their website:

http://www.kxgn.com/?page=tv

And apparently, they have not called for any exclusitivity of the network, especially as NBC affiliate KXMV of Williston, North Dakota has a repeater in Glendive, K13GL channel 13.

 

[borderblaster]

Does anyone know how must carry and SYNDEX works with subcarriers of main broadcasters?

 

[cowboybud]

WAGM-TV channel 8 in northern Maine even carried WWE Smackdown! and Star Trek: Enterprise for a time in the last days of UPN. I used to see that in the listings for the Maine Edition of TV Guide in 2004, just before the listings died.

Today, WAGM-TV is only CBS on 8-1, while they have FOX on WAGM-TV 8-2.

As for KXGN-TV in Glendive, MT, it does indeed say CBS on 5-1 and NBC on 5-2, according to their website:

http://www.kxgn.com/?page=tv

Nice to see they've modernized their website. As recently as a few years ago, they still had a 90s-Geocities-style website. Interesting that they show CBS Prime Time from 6-9 MT, while the NBC subchannel has a 7-10 prime time.

 

[oldiesfan6479]

Interesting that they show CBS Prime Time from 6-9 MT, while the NBC subchannel has a 7-10 prime time.

NBC has a Mountain Time Zone feed, and I guess CBS still doesn't.

 

[mjlarochelle]

WWNY/7 (CBS) in Watertown, New York had a secondary affiliation with NBC as late as 1995, and FOX as late as 1998. FOX is now available through co-owned Class A station WNYF, but NBC is available only by way of WSTM/3 Syracuse.

WSEE/35 (CBS) in Erie, PA had UPN as a secondary affiliation for the entire existence of that network. WSEE now carries The CW on a subchannel.

 

[cd637299]

WWNY/7 (CBS) in Watertown, New York had a secondary affiliation with NBC as late as 1995, and FOX as late as 1998. FOX is now available through co-owned Class A station WNYF, but NBC is available only by way of WSTM/3 Syracuse.

WSEE/35 (CBS) in Erie, PA had UPN as a secondary affiliation for the entire existence of that network. WSEE now carries The CW on a subchannel.

I do recall WWNY/7 running the Big 3 in the 1970s, from a TV Guide.

Also, KTEN 10 in Okla. had 3 networks (I think ABC/NBC/Fox) into the 1990s.

cd

 

[w9wi]

It's hard to imagine much point to a multiple Big 4 affiliation on a single program stream today. The cost of launching an additional DTV program stream is low, the opportunity for additional revenue is high, and while you can't get must-carry protection for more than one program stream, there's a pretty good chance you can get the additional stream on cable/satellite through the retransmission consent process.

I'd be surprised if there are any multiple Big 4's on a single stream left, and I'd be even more surprised if anyone ever launches a new one.

 

[cd637299]

It's hard to imagine much point to a multiple Big 4 affiliation on a single program stream today. The cost of launching an additional DTV program stream is low, the opportunity for additional revenue is high, and while you can't get must-carry protection for more than one program stream, there's a pretty good chance you can get the additional stream on cable/satellite through the retransmission consent process.

I'd be surprised if there are any multiple Big 4's on a single stream left, and I'd be even more surprised if anyone ever launches a new one.

If it weren't for practically 100% cable penetration, the Key West FL market certainly would be a candidate---but then again, one of the two Spanish OTA stations there woulda done it by now.

Same goes for areas in the Mountain time zone (I'd say Alaska too, but it would be expensive off satellite for one OTA station)----cable/satellite is everywhere now.

I remember the days when Wyoming had only 3 TV stations in the 1970s, and all three were Big-3 cherrypickers.

Like I said, if you wanna count the AFN outlets....they would survive in this thread

cd

 

[newsmark]

Interesting that they show CBS Prime Time from 6-9 MT, while the NBC subchannel has a 7-10 prime time.

NBC has a Mountain Time Zone feed, and I guess CBS still doesn't.

KXGN used to take advantage of the 6-9 CBS feed and the 7-10 NBC feed back in their dual affiliation days. Every schedule I saw in old TVGuides from the 90s showed them running CBS's entire prime time lineup from 6-9 and the final hour of NBC from 9-10. Not sure how they handled a night when NBC had a 2-hour show from 8-10.

 

[newsmark]

Also, KTEN 10 in Okla. had 3 networks (I think ABC/NBC/Fox) into the 1990s.

I can confirm this. KTEN had been a longtime ABC Primary/NBC secondary. They added Fox, mainly for football. It was a very mixed schedule, but most (if not all) of their programs were carried in pattern--they didn't often record an ABC or NBC program for playback at another time.

Eventually they dropped ABC and Fox and now they're the NBC affiliate for the Ada, Oklahoma-Sherman, Texas market. They've since added CW on their -2 channel, and ABC on their -3.

 

[oldmixdj]

WABG in Greenville/Greenwood, MS has a primary ABC affliation on Channel 6 and has two subchannels with Fox (Delta Fox) and NBC (WNBT-22).

 

[anotherguyTN]

So are there any single stations that have all of the big 4 networks on their subchannels?

 

[oldiesfan6479]

KXGN used to take advantage of the 6-9 CBS feed and the 7-10 NBC feed back in their dual affiliation days.
Every schedule I saw in old TVGuides from the 90s...

Yes, NBC began their MT feed (for prime time, initially) around 1986.

 

[w9wi]

If it weren't for practically 100% cable penetration, the Key West FL market certainly would be a candidate---but then again, one of the two Spanish OTA stations there woulda done it by now.

Same goes for areas in the Mountain time zone (I'd say Alaska too, but it would be expensive off satellite for one OTA station)----cable/satellite is everywhere now.

I could certainly see one or two Key West stations splitting the Big 4 across multiple program streams. WGEN carrying ABC on 8.1 and CBS on 8.2, WSBS carrying NBC on 22.1 and Fox on 22.2, something like that. (again with the same caveat you mention, 100% cable penetration meaning it's really part of Miami)

What I don't see is something like WGEN splitting the time on 8.1 between all four networks.

 

[fybush]

So are there any single stations that have all of the big 4 networks on their subchannels?

The closest I think you're likely to find is Lima, Ohio - WLIO operates all four networks out of its facility, with NBC and Fox on WLIO itself (RF 8, virtual 8.1/8.2) and ABC and CBS on WOHL-CD (RF 35, virtual 35.1/35.2).

I suspect the affiliation contracts with the networks each call for too much bandwidth to fit them all on a single ATSC stream.