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Arizona TV Station Update - March 2017

dhett

dhett

As always, questions, additions, comments and corrections welcome.

Programming changes


  • KPPX-TV 51.x (31) Tolleson (America 51, LP) has once again added QVC Over the Air on channel 51.5. It is the same broadcast as what appears on channel 41.4.
  • KUTP 45.x (26) Phoenix (Fox Television Stations, Inc.) will be adding Light TV, according to TitanTV listings, which appear on the My45 website. The channel is not yet on the air in Phoenix.
  • K22JD Madera Peak (NW Communications of Phoenix, Inc.) is silent.
  • KHDF-CD 19.x Las Vegas NV (Northstar Las Vegas License LLC) is now simulcasting Azteca America programming on channel 19.3. Channels 19.2 and 19.4 retain the "For Lease" graphic.
  • KGNG-LD 47.x (48) Las Vegas NV (King Kong Broadcasting, Inc.) has begun airing Light TV on channel 47.5, replacing Movies+.


Transactions


  • K17LM-D Yuma (Three Angels Broadcasting Network, Inc.) is part of proposed a 71-station sale to Edge Spectrum, Inc. The proposed sale was originally to Excellence in Christian Broadcasting (EICB), headed by Randall Weiss. Weiss is Vice Chairman of Edge Spectrum. The sale is pending FCC approval.
  • The pro forma assignment of K30GL Many Farms (Lin of Colorado) to Nexstar Broadcasting Inc. has been consummated.
  • Cranston Acquisition LLC has proposed to sell KMCC 34.x (32) and K33MB-D, Laughlin NV, to Entravision, LLC, owners of Univision affiliate KINC 15.x (16) and Unimás affiliate KELV-LD 27.x (15), Las Vegas NV. If the FCC approves, could Vegas get an upgrade to a full-power Unimás affiliate?
  • The pro forma assignment of K39FY Zuni NM (Lin of New Mexico) to Nexstar Broadcasting Inc. has been consummated.


Spectrum repack

The FCC is expected to announce the results of the spectrum repack in the next couple of weeks, but the August/September 2016 version of the Arizona TV Station Update on RadioDiscussions sparked speculation on what would happen in Arizona if the auction closed at Stage 4. The conclusion was that no Arizona stations would be needed for the auction. Trip Ericson did a hand calculation of how Arizona stations could shake out in an 84 MHz clearing target - a computer model determined the actual repack results. Still, just for fun, here is how close the hand calculation came - it's looking pretty good.

The following UHF stations were not expected to move:

  • KNXV-TV 15.x Phoenix (15) co-owned KWBA reported moving; absence of report taken as confirmation that KNXV-TV is not moving
  • KPHO-TV 5.x Phoenix (17) confirmed via self-report to National Association of Broadcasters (NAB)
  • KFTU-CD 34.x Tucson (18) co-owned KUVE-DT and KUVE-CD reported moving; absence of report taken as confirmation that KFTU-CD is not moving
  • KTTU-TV 18.x Tucson (19)
  • KPAZ-TV 21.x Phoenix (20)
  • KVOA 4.x Tucson (23)
  • KTVK 3.x Phoenix (24) confirmed via self-report to NAB
  • KMSB 11.x Tucson (25)
  • KUTP 45.x Phoenix (26)
  • KTVW-CD 6.x Flagstaff (27) co-owned KUVE-DT and KUVE-CD reported moving; absence of report taken as confirmation that KTVW-CD is not moving
  • KUAT 6.x Tucson (30)
  • KOLD 13.x Tucson (32)
  • KTVW-DT 33.x Phoenix (33) co-owned KUVE-DT and KUVE-CD reported moving; absence of report taken as confirmation that KTVW-DT is not moving
  • KFPH-CD 35.x Phoenix (35) co-owned KUVE-DT and KUVE-CD reported moving; absence of report taken as confirmation that KFPH-CD is not moving
  • KAZT-CD 7.x Phoenix (36) confirmed via self-report to NAB
  • KFTU-DT 3.x Douglas (36) co-owned KUVE-DT and KUVE-CD reported moving; absence of report taken as confirmation that KFTU-DT is not moving


The following UHF stations were expected to move:

  • KUAS 27.x Tucson (28 -> 14) may not need to move
  • KHRR 40.x Tucson (40 -> 16) required to move, but assignment not announced
  • KNAZ-DT 2.x Flagstaff (22 -> 16) may not need to move
  • KWBA 58.x Sierra Vista (44 -> 21) confirmed via self-report to NAB - phase 1
  • KPPX-TV 51.x Tolleson (31 -> 22) may not need to move
  • KASW 61.x Phoenix (49 -> 27) required to move, but assignment not announced
  • KUVE-DT 46.x Green Valley (46 -> 28) moving to ch. 34 via self-report to NAB - phase 1
  • KTAZ 39.x Phoenix (39 -> 29) required to move, but assignment not announced
  • KPDF-CD 41.x Phoenix (41 -> 31) required to move, but assignment not announced
  • KUVE-CD 42.x Tucson (42 -> 34) moving to ch. 36 via self-report to NAB - phase 1


UHF LPTV stations expected to be displaced:

  • KUDF-LD 14.x Tucson not displaced if KUAS not moving
  • K16BP-D 45.x Cottonwood not displaced if KNAZ-TV not moving
  • K16EO-D 9.x Tucson not displaced if KHRR moving to different channel
  • K21CX-D Tucson confirmed via Scripps' self-report of KWBA
  • KPSN-LD 12.x (22) Payson not displaced if KPPX-TV not moving
  • KTVP-LD 22.x Phoenix not displaced if KPPX-TV not moving
  • KDOS-LD 29.x Globe/Miami not displaced if KTAZ moving to different channel
  • KGRQ-LD 29.x Gila River Indian Community not displaced if KTAZ moving to different channel
  • K38IZ-D 38.x Phoenix confirmed - out of band
  • KEJR-LD 40.x Phoenix confirmed - out of band
  • KVPA-LD 42.x Phoenix confirmed - out of band
  • KDPH-LD 48.x (46) Phoenix confirmed - out of band
  • KFPB-LD 50.x Phoenix confirmed - out of band
 
Could that be because KUAT has the largest signal from Mt. Bigelow?

KAET on 8, KGUN on 9 and KSAZ on 10 are OK; KTTU on 19 and KPAZ on 20 is OK; KVOA on 23, KTVK on 24, KMSB on 25 and KUTP on 26 are OK. KUAT on 30 and KPPX on 31 is not. Makes one wonder why KPPX was allowed to go on ch 31 in the first place.
 
Remember that stations are protected in the repack in both directions, so KPPX can't step on KUAT and KUAT can't step on KPPX. But when filing an application, there's nothing stopping KPPX from accepting more interference if they want to. If they're willing to be stepped on by KUAT, that's allowed.

- Trip
 
So then it's a function of the ERP and pattern of the two stations. Whereas the other adjacent-channel full-power stations can coexist, these two cannot. Well, I hope the wireless carrier got their money's worth from clear use of the 700 MHz A-block spectrum since October. Seems a shame we have to pay to move KPPX again, but everyone knew going in that it was a possibility.
 
KPPX could come back and reapply for channel 31 if they want and nobody else is assigned to that channel. They just have to reaccept the interference they accepted previously, if that makes any sense at all.

- Trip
 
Habemus repacking...

KPPX -> 14
KPDF-CA -> 22
KASW -> 27
KTAZ -> 29

No other protected stations moved in Phoenix. Only one of the four channels was occupied by an LPTV (KTVP on 22).

In Tucson, only one new move to report: KHRR -> 16
 
The FCC has published the repack assignments and Trip Ericson has posted them in an easy-to-use format on his RabbitEars website.

What does it mean for stations viewable in Arizona? Very little.

Here are the stations moving in Phoenix:
  • KTAZ 39.x is assigned to move to channel 29 in phase 1
  • KPDF-CD 41.x is assigned to move to channel 22 in phase 1
  • KPPX-TV 51.x (31) is assigned to move to channel 14 in phase 10
  • KASW 61.x (49) is assigned to move to channel 27 in phase 1

Here are the stations moving in Tucson:
  • KHRR 40.x is assigned to move to channel 16 in phase 1
  • KUVE-CD 42.x is assigned to move to channel 36 in phase 1
  • KUVE-CD 46.x is assigned to move to channel 34 in phase1
  • KWBA 58.x (44) is assigned to move to channel 21 in phase 1

Here are the stations moving in Las Vegas:
  • KBLR 39.x (40) is assigned to move to channel 20 in phase 1
  • K43FO-D 43.x is assigned to move to channel 36 in phase 1

And that's it.

The following low-power stations that are displaced by full-power and class A stations will need to find new channels fast or go off the air for a time:
  • K16EO-D Oro Valley/Tucson
  • K21CX-D Tucson
  • KTVP-LD 22.x Phoenix
  • K27KS-D 5.x Globe-Miami
  • KDOS-LD 29.x Globe-Miami
  • KGRQ-LD 29.x Gila River Indian Community

KPPX was originally offered RF channel 14 before the auction began but chose to stay on RF 51 until the wireless carrier offered enough of a benefit to move. Their current location on RF channel 31 actually receives interference from adjacent-channel KUAT in excess of allowable standards set by the FCC, but Ion Media chooses to tolerate it. Since ch. 31 remains free in both Phoenix and Tucson, KPPX could request to stay on RF 31 and just accept the interference. I'm sure K14NA-D in Globe/Miami and KUDF-LD 14.x in Tucson won't mind.
 
The short answer is that the owners will need to do engineering studies and find a suitable in-band channel, all at their own expense. Rural stations shouldn't have a hard time of it, but the urban low-power stations will, especially in Phoenix, where spectrum is scarce. The FCC is planning to open a filing window in early 2018, but for the four channels being displaced, they will barely have six months to purchase the equipment, get it installed, tested and running, as the phase 1 stations will be testing by mid-September. Again, all of that will be at their own expense. We could see a few shutting down or electing to channel share. The out-of band stations will have a somewhat easier time, as they can continue broadcasting on their old channels until notified by the wireless company that they intend to commence operations on the repurposed spectrum, but again, in the cities, that should be sooner, rather than later. There should be less demand to put to use the rural spectrum immediately.
 
Some remaining questions, if you will. There are about 15 stations that will either need to move,
channel share or shut down. If a station on RF 28 for example, has 15Kw erp, and they allow
another station to share RF 28 that operates currently at 5 Kw erp, how does that work?
For example, would .1, .2, operate at 15Kw and .3, and .4 operate at 5Kw? What about
stations that are directional??? Will some of the subchannels be directional and others on
the same RF not be?? Would full power RF 22 be able to channel share with a low power
or translator??? How will tv tuners handle this???
 
The only difference between channel sharing and subchannels is that in a channel sharing scenario, programming is provided by multiple licensees. That's it. There is only one transmission -let's say for sale of argument, it's 500 kW non-directional. In that case, just as with subchannels, all data packets are sent out at 500 kW non-directional. If the station being allowed to share is low power, then bonus! - their signal goes out at 500 kW non-directional.
 
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