Arizona TV Update - January 2009

[dhett]

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

New licenses

• K53IJ Prescott (Gerald Benevides) has been granted a license to cover relocation of its transmitter to Towers Mountain south of Prescott. It is still not broadcasting a watchable signal, and most likely never will, as they are moving again (see Applications section).
• K25HU Kingman (Gerald Benevides) has been granted a license to cover relocation of its transmitter to a mountain southeast of Chloride. Most likely there is no watchable signal from that station either, as they are also on the move (see Applications section).
• K42IQ-D Flagstaff (EICB-TV East LLC) applied for and was granted a license to cover the construction of their new LPDTV station. Programming is unknown.

New programming

• KFPH-TV 13 (RF27) Flagstaff (Telefutura Partnership of Flagstaff [Univision]) has added a Univision feed on channel 13.2. It identifies as KTVW-CA, and is a simulcast of the analog signal on channel 6, which is, in turn, a simulcast of KTVW-TV 33 Phoenix.
• K38IZ-D Phoenix (Spanish Independent Broadcast Network) has added English-language programming on channel 38.2 and unknown programming on channel 38.3. The two channels feature the same low-budget commercials found on 38.1. 38.2 bills itself as IZ Classics and features old shows likely in the public domain, such as Bonanza and Beverly Hillbillies. 38.3 is supposedly billed as IZ Videos, but has technical difficulties and is frozen on one of its infamous commercials.

Call sign changes

• K30ES Globe (Globe LPTV) has changed its call sign to KFPB-LP. The call letters had most recently belonged to an FM radio station in Chino Valley. Although the station is licensed to Globe, it actually serves east Mesa from its Usery Mountain location, and has an application to move to the South Mountain antenna farm.

Transactions

• The FCC has approved the sale of K63HJ Laughlin NV from 9th Island Broadcasting to Roger Mills. In lieu of a purchase price, Mills will move the license to the Las Vegas market, incurring all costs, and once accomplished, will sell the station. Upon Mills selling the station, 9th Island will receive 25% of the net funds of the sale.

Construction permits

• KPNX 12 Phoenix (Multimedia Holdings [Gannett]) has amended its maximization application and has been granted permission to maximize power at 39 kW. The station had been seeking 43 kW to match the largest coverage in the market, but Mexican concurrence had only been received for 40 kW.
• KAJB 53 (RF36) Calipatria CA (Calipatria Broadcasting Company) has been granted a six-month extension of its construction permit to build digital facilities. Due to Mexican coordination issues, the station did not receive a construction permit to build digital facilities until nine years after applying. The delay meant that they would have to wait for equipment to be delivered, and were not expected to be ready by February 17.
• The FCC has issued a construction permit allowing KVMY-DT 21 (RF22) Las Vegas NV to maximize its facilities at 1000 kW.

Applications

• K23BY Scottsdale (Londen Group) has filed for digital flash cut authorization. The station intends to relocate its transmitter from the Scottsdale Airpark to Usery Mountain in east Mesa and plans to use the antenna currently being used by K57HX, which Londen also owns. Could K57HX be going away soon? One concern raised by this application is possible interference from KVOA-DT 4 Tucson, which also operates on RF channel 23, and will continue to do so post-transition. Two other Usery Mountain stations have cited interference from Tucson digital stations: KPHE-LP which moved from channel 19 to channel 44 and relocated to South Mountain, and K30ES (now KFPB-LP), which is in the process of moving from channel 30 to channel 50 and is also relocating to South Mountain.
• The FCC has announced that it is prepared to grant a construction permit to Trinity Broadcasting of Arizona to build a low power digital television station on UHF channel 29 to serve Cottonwood. The station will be a digital companion channel to K51HV and is expected to carry TBN's five-subchannel lineup.
• The FCC has announced that it is prepared to grant a construction permit to Community Television Educators (Daystar) to build a low power digital television station on UHF channel 9 to serve Phoenix. The station was originally designated a digital companion channel to KDTP-LP 58 Phoenix. There is an allowance for filing opposition and KM Communications may do so, as they have a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on file to change KCFG's DTV channel from 32 to 9, relocating its transmitter to the Mogollon Rim near Strawberry in order to put a rimshot signal into Phoenix. Even if KM doesn't file opposition, should the FCC grant the rulemaking, KCFG will have priority over Daystar's LP station.
• The FCC has announced that it is prepared to grant a construction permit to Mako Communications to build a low power digital television station on UHF channel 50 to serve Phoenix. The station will be a digital companion channel to K25DM Phoenix. There is an allowance for filing opposition and Globe LPTV may do so, as they have construction permit to move KFPB-LP to channel 50, relocating its transmitter to South Mountain. It is unusual that the FCC would grant a construction permit on the same channel as another station in the market. I wouldn't be surprised if K25DM changes their permit to a flash cut, either on channel 25 or on channel 6, to where they already hold a construction permit to move the analog channel.
• K53IJ Prescott (Gerald Benevides) has applied for a flash cut to digital on UHF channel 32 and a city of license change to Sun City, claiming displacement due to an out-of-core channel. If approved, I'm guessing that there will be one more move to South Mountain, thus moving a Prescott station to Phoenix.
• K25HU Kingman (Gerald Benevides) has applied for a flash cut to digital on UHF channel 14 and a transmitter location change to Dolan Springs, claiming displacement due to being close to KAZT-DT channel 25, in spite of the fact that KAZT-DT will abandon channel 25 in about two weeks. I'm guessing that the real goal here is one or two more moves, relocating the station from Kingman to Las Vegas NV.

Special Temporary Authorizations

• KVPA-LP 42 Phoenix (Liberman Broadcasting) has been granted a six-month extension of its Silent STA. The station's new owners hope to resume programming this spring with Estrella TV.
• KQBN-LP 28 Prescott (Una Vez Mas) has been granted a six-month extension of its Silent STA, as it continues to search for a new transmitter location.

Analog termination

• 
  The following stations have filed notice that they will permanently cease analog broadcasts on February 17, 2009, regardless of whether or not Congress decides to delay analog shutoff:
  • KPPX 51 Phoenix (America 51 LP [ION Media Networks])
  • KVVU 5 Las Vegas NV (KVVU Broadcasting Corporation [Meredith Corporation])
  • KVCW 33 Las Vegas NV (Channel 33 Inc. [Sinclair Broadcast Group])

 

[tripinva]

I'd be surprised to see the five subs on the TBN translator. TBN's two latest expansions (WSFJ and W51CW-D) both continue to air only the primary TBN feed. The latter doesn't even has PSIP and thus shows as 51-3 on many receivers.

- Trip

 

[powergate92]

• K38IZ-D Phoenix (Spanish Independent Broadcast Network) has added English-language programming on channel 38.2 and unknown programming on channel 38.3. The two channels feature the same low-budget commercials found on 38.1. 38.2 bills itself as IZ Classics and features old shows likely in the public domain, such as Bonanza and Beverly Hillbillies. 38.3 is supposedly billed as IZ Videos, but has technical difficulties and is frozen on one of its infamous commercials.

IZ Videos shows classics music videos and infomercials. They been frozen since last night at 6:00pm.

 

[EricStein]

• K38IZ-D Phoenix (Spanish Independent Broadcast Network) has added English-language programming on channel 38.2 and unknown programming on channel 38.3. The two channels feature the same low-budget commercials found on 38.1. 38.2 bills itself as IZ Classics and features old shows likely in the public domain, such as Bonanza and Beverly Hillbillies. 38.3 is supposedly billed as IZ Videos, but has technical difficulties and is frozen on one of its infamous commercials.

IZ Videos shows classics music videos and infomercials. They been frozen since last night at 6:00pm.

Make that only a handful of classic music videos right now. It seems like they're playing the following in a loop:

The Plimsouls - "A Million Miles Away"
Bananarama - "Cruel Summer"
INXS - "New Sensation"
Smokey Robinson - "Being With You"
The Carpenters - "Hurting Each Other"
The Buggles - "Video Killed the Radio Star"

We'll wait and see if they add any more videos to their playlist soon.

 

[powergate92]

• K38IZ-D Phoenix (Spanish Independent Broadcast Network) has added English-language programming on channel 38.2 and unknown programming on channel 38.3. The two channels feature the same low-budget commercials found on 38.1. 38.2 bills itself as IZ Classics and features old shows likely in the public domain, such as Bonanza and Beverly Hillbillies. 38.3 is supposedly billed as IZ Videos, but has technical difficulties and is frozen on one of its infamous commercials.

IZ Videos shows classics music videos and infomercials. They been frozen since last night at 6:00pm.

Make that only a handful of classic music videos right now. It seems like they're playing the following in a loop:

The Plimsouls - "A Million Miles Away"
Bananarama - "Cruel Summer"
INXS - "New Sensation"
Smokey Robinson - "Being With You"
The Carpenters - "Hurting Each Other"
The Buggles - "Video Killed the Radio Star"

We'll wait and see if they add any more videos to their playlist soon.

They showed more music videos on monday. They been airing in a loop since last night at 4:00pm.

 

[dhett]

Yeah, there's more. I've seen "Hungry Like the Wolf" by Duran Duran twice while just flipping by. Seems kinda like an 80s extravaganza of cheap videos.

As for IZ Classics, it seems like "Almost all Bonanza, almost all the time". Gotta admit, though, I'd never seen the pilot episode of "The Beverly Hillbillies" before the other night. Now that I have, I'm disallusioned - the ballad and opening sequence that they played before each show never happened in the pilot.

UHF TV just the way it used to be!!

 

[formeraa]

I don't know if I'll ever recover from dhett's news about the Beverly Hillbillies pilot!

I'm still disillusioned over watching the first week of The New Price Is Right on youtube, where they had the 4 contestants "STAND UP!" in the opening. They didn't tell them to "COME ON DOWN!" until all 4 had stood up!!!

 

[EricStein]

Yeah, there's more. I've seen "Hungry Like the Wolf" by Duran Duran twice while just flipping by. Seems kinda like an 80s extravaganza of cheap videos.

As for IZ Classics, it seems like "Almost all Bonanza, almost all the time". Gotta admit, though, I'd never seen the pilot episode of "The Beverly Hillbillies" before the other night. Now that I have, I'm disallusioned - the ballad and opening sequence that they played before each show never happened in the pilot.

UHF TV just the way it used to be!!

As for "IZ Videos," its as if they had summoned the ghost of K61CA 25 years ago to program the channel! Someone at the station must have been watching them back in the day ... or, at least, visited the tribute website.

 

[dhett]

Missed several analog terminations that filed by letter rather than by request for STA. Here is the updated list:

Analog termination

• 
  The following stations have filed notice that they will permanently cease analog broadcasts on February 17, 2009, regardless of whether or not Congress decides to delay analog shutoff:
  • KTVK 3 Phoenix (Belo)
  • KAET 8 Phoenix (Arizona State University) - reduced power by 50% on 1/20.
  • KGUN 9 Tucson (Journal Broadcast Corporation) - reducing power by 50% on 2/8.
  • KMSB 11 Tucson (Belo)
  • KTTU 18 Tucson (Belo) - analog transmitter failed 1/22 due to earlier fire, so analog is already silent.
  • KPPX 51 Phoenix (America 51 LP [ION Media Networks])
  • KASW 61 Phoenix (Belo)
  • KVVU 5 Las Vegas NV (KVVU Broadcasting Corporation [Meredith Corporation])
  • KVCW 33 Las Vegas NV (Channel 33 Inc. [Sinclair Broadcast Group])

 

[dhett]

Missed several analog terminations that filed by letter rather than by request for STA. Here is the updated full list for the last time:

Analog termination

The following stations have filed notice that they will permanently cease analog broadcasts on February 17, 2009, regardless of whether or not Congress decides to delay analog shutoff:

• KTVK 3 Phoenix (Belo)
• KAET 8 Phoenix (Arizona State University) - reduced power by 50% on 1/20.
• KGUN 9 Tucson (Journal Broadcast Corporation) - reducing power by 50% on 2/8.
• KMSB 11 Tucson (Belo)
• KTTU 18 Tucson (Belo) - analog transmitter failed 1/22 due to earlier fire, so analog is already silent.
• KPPX 51 Phoenix (America 51 LP [ION Media Networks])
• KASW 61 Phoenix (Belo)
• KVVU 5 Las Vegas NV (KVVU Broadcasting Corporation [Meredith Corporation])
• KLAS 8 Las Vegas NV (KLAS Inc. [Landmark Communications])
• KTNV 13 Las Vegas NV (Journal Broadcast Corporation) - reducing power by 35% on 2/7.
• KVCW 33 Las Vegas NV (Channel 33 Inc. [Sinclair Broadcast Group])

 

[oldiesfan6479]

Even though I wouldn't have been displaced, since my analog TV
has Cox (analog) cable, I decided to use my DTV coupon so that
I could see all the .2, .3, etc. stations.

I hooked up the DTV converter and a basic $9.00 indoor antenna
a couple of days ago and was pleasantly and nominally surprised
by two results. (Location is in the 'Tuke.)

The "pleasantly" is that I am getting KAZT 7.1/7.2 Prescott.
RTN on 7.2 is a bit like TV Land was when it started.

"Nominally" is getting KTTU-DT 18 Tucson. Not sure why, but
I'll take it. Of course this makes me wonder how come I can't
get 4, 9, 11 or 13? Will any of these be boosting power after
their analog shutoff/channel flips? 11 and 13 would be nice for
next fall when Tucson gets three NFL games on the Sundays
where the Cardinals happen to be home on the "wrong" network
and Phoenix only gets two.

BTW, the converter (from a big stack-o-them at Best Buy) has
a nice feature--in addition to the RF out feed, there are also
audio/video out jacks and cable (yellow/white/red), so I'm able
to have both DTV and cable "hot" by bringing the box into one of
the aux inputs while keeping the cable into the RF input.

 

[dhett]

It's the oddest thing. I'm only a couple of miles from you, in west Chandler. On a DTV in a bedroom, I get 4, 6, 9 and 18 (but not 11 or 13). On the DTV in my living room, I get nothing. The bedroom is on an eastern wall, while the living room is in the center of the house. Both use cheap rabbit ears. This week, I experimented with putting the rabbit ears in the attic, using an old CATV connection to feed the living room. I could nominally get 18, but nothing else. TV Fool indicates that we should be able to pick up all Tucson stations except 27 and 58, but would probably need a rooftop antenna to get them.

TV Fool is a great resource for predicting signal coverage.

 

[landtuna]

dhett,

I'm near McClintock & Warner in Fashionable South Tempe but have never been able to receive any Tucson station (with the very occasional fuzzy analog signal from KVOA) and I do have a (gigantic) rooftop antenna (although it isn't on a rotor and I'm usually too lazy to go turn it by hand). May have to give that a try and see what I can get from Mt. Bigelow. I doubt the stations transmitting from the Tucson Mountains would make it here.

 

[oldiesfan6479]

...and see what I can get from Mt. Bigelow. I doubt the stations transmitting from the Tucson Mountains would make it here.

All the Tucson DT biggies (4/6/9/11/13/18) are on Bigelow, according to
info on the FCC TV Query.

As for analog, the coverage plots for 4/6/9/13 get up to the far southeast
valley here, with 13 on Tower Peak, the others Bigelow. 11 analog is the
original KZAZ-TV Nogales site to the south (Mt. Wrightson, IIRC) and 18
(Tower Peak) as noted has already been shut down.

 

[dhett]

dhett,

I'm near McClintock & Warner in Fashionable South Tempe but have never been able to receive any Tucson station (with the very occasional fuzzy analog signal from KVOA) and I do have a (gigantic) rooftop antenna (although it isn't on a rotor and I'm usually too lazy to go turn it by hand). May have to give that a try and see what I can get from Mt. Bigelow. I doubt the stations transmitting from the Tucson Mountains would make it here.

You probably won't get any Mt. Bigelow signals, as you're shielded by the San Tan Mountains that are south of Queen Creek, according to TV Fool.

Between Ray & Chandler, and 56th & Kyrene, I'm just outside the shadow area and I get the stations with cheap rabbit ears. Ahwatukee has even a better shot than I do.

TV Fool maps:
KVOA-DT
KUAT-DT
KGUN-DT (pre-transition)
KMSB-DT
KOLD-DT
KTTU-DT

Color key:
White/Red/Orange/Yellow/Green - good enough for rabbit ears
Cyan - move antenna up to 2nd floor or attic
Blue - probably need a roof antenna
Violet - good luck
No color - fuggedaboudit

 

[dhett]

...and see what I can get from Mt. Bigelow. I doubt the stations transmitting from the Tucson Mountains would make it here.

All the Tucson DT biggies (4/6/9/11/13/18) are on Bigelow, according to
info on the FCC TV Query.

As for analog, the coverage plots for 4/6/9/13 get up to the far southeast
valley here, with 13 on Tower Peak, the others Bigelow. 11 analog is the
original KZAZ-TV Nogales site to the south (Mt. Wrightson, IIRC) and 18
(Tower Peak) as noted has already been shut down.

At one time or another, I've picked up all the analogs except KUAS 27 on Tumamoc Hill and KWBA 58 in the Santa Ritas. I've even picked up KMSB 11 from Mt. Hopkins.

You're correct that all the full-service DTs are on Mt. Bigelow, with the exception of, again, KUAS and KWBA.

 

[dhett]

Also occurring in January 2009:

New programming

• KMCC 34 Laughlin NV (Cranston Acquisition LLC) has changed affiliation from Multimedios to MEGA-TV, a new Spanish-language broadcasting network from Spanish Broadcasting System, whose flagship station is WSBS 22 Key West FL. Article: http://www.kmcc.tv/English/updates/?p=8 With the affiliation switch is a new website for the station and new branding. Station website (English): http://www.kmcc.tv/English

 

[powergate92]

KTAZ channel 39 will flash cut on February 17.
http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws...xt=25&appn=101294825&formid=387&fac_num=81458

 

[landtuna]

You probably won't get any Mt. Bigelow signals, as you're shielded by the San Tan Mountains that are south of Queen Creek, according to TV Fool.

Yup. Went up this past weekend and moved the antenna off the porch roof up to the crown of the roof and pointed it towards Mt. Lemmon (Bigelow)......nada. I didn't try the analog side but nothing comes through on the digital side. TV Fool is correct.

 

[tripinva]

dhett:

Update for next month, KGNG-LD in Vegas is on the air.

- Trip