Cable Systems where some Local OTA stations are carried on pricier Non-Basic packages

[Tim from Springfield IL]

Other than those cable systems that still offer analog TV, and thus usually have local subchannels/netlets on their digital cable lineups, do you know of any instances where certain cable systems are carrying some local OTA channels (including xx.1 channels) on higher-priced cable packages? (Basically anything higher than "Limited Basic").

Or has this happened in your cable system or market before?

I know of only two instances on my Comcast headend (Springfield/Decatur, IL) where this example MIGHT apply:

1. Around 2007 Insight (prior to being taken over locally by Comcast) finally began offering the Springfield/Decatur/Champaign DMA's third PBS station, WEIU-51 Charleston, IL. In the analog era this was a weaker signal with limited coverage, and other than tropo was unlikely to be received in Springfield (maybe parts of Decatur). However, Insight only carried the channel on digital cable, Channel 189 (where its SD signal remains today under Comcast--while it's offered on HD on channels 915 and 1051). So you needed digital cable to get WEIU (plus all local subchannels at the time).

2. In spring 2009, IIRC, Comcast (who took over our headend the previous year from Insight) made our local Springfield-area PBS station, WSEC-14 Jacksonville, IL, digital-only, but its SD channel assignment remained on Channel 8. Its analog signal was dropped, making WILL-12 Urbana, IL the primary PBS station for our market as far as Comcast was concerned.

In those cases you had to get a "higher-priced cable package" (aka Digital Cable) to get two of your market's PBS stations. That situation is moot since we've been all digital and encrypted since 2012 locally on Comcast.

Any other instances?

 

[Mr Tony]

until the beginning of the year Sjoberg's cable (northern MN) had FOX outside of lifeline. I posted it in the "channel oddities" thread

Sjoberg's cable in Northern MN has cable stations within the 2-13 area....and interestingly enough they sell a package that is just 3-13 (2 is HBO in their markets)

Baudette
CH 2 HBO
CH 3 Weather and Announcements
CH 4 CBS (Fargo/Valley City KXJB)
CH 5 CBWT
CH 6 ABC Family Channel
CH 7 USA – New York
CH 8 ABC (Devils Lake/Grand Forks WDAZ)
CH 9 KAWE – Education - Bemidji
CH 10 TBS
CH 11 NBC (Fargo/Grand Forks KVLY)
CH 12 CNN 24 Hour News
CH 13 ESPN 24 Hour Sports
Interesting that FOX and My are on 17 & 27 and are NOT part of "lifeline"

Warroad
CH 2 HBO
CH 3 Weather and Announcements
CH 4 CBS (Fargo/Valley City KXJB)
CH 5 CBWT -Winnipeg
CH 6 WTBS
CH 7 CKY
CH 8 ABC (Devils Lake/Grand Forks WDAZ)
CH 9 KAWE – Education - Bemidji
CH 10 CNN – Cable News Network
CH 11 NBC (Fargo/Grand Forks KVLY)
CH 12 ESPN – 24 Hour Sports
CH 13 KCPM – My Network TV

Again FOX is on 17

Roseau
CH 2 HBO
CH 3 Local Origination
CH 4 CBS (Fargo/Valley City KXJB)
CH 5 KCPM – My Network TV
CH 6 CBWT - Winnipeg
CH 7 CKY - Winnipeg
CH 8 ABC (Devils Lake/Grand Forks WDAZ)
CH 9 KAWE – Education - Bemidji
CH 10 CNN – 24 Hour News
CH 11 NBC (Fargo/Grand Forks KVLY)
CH 12 WTBS – Atlanta, Georgia
CH 13 ESPN – 24 Hour Sports
Fox is...you guessed it...17

They have since moved FOX into basic.

But since lifeline is just 3-13 there yes they do miss out. As example in the locations above to get KRDK Fargo, which is a Cozi affiliate (4-1) with local sports added you need basic cable (think regular cable for $70+ a month). Also to get all the subs you need basic.
CH 500 PBS World
CH 501 PPB4
CH 502 KWCM MN Channel
CH 506 Justice Network
CH 508 WDAZ - Weather
CH 509 KAWE
CH 510 Antenna TV
CH 511 ME TV
CH 524 Cozi
CH 525 Bek Sports
CH 526 Comet
CH 528 Bounce
CH 529 Grit
CH 530 Escape
CH 531 Laff
CH 532 KXJB3
CH 533 Buzzr

 

[Tim from Springfield IL]

until the beginning of the year Sjoberg's cable (northern MN) had FOX outside of lifeline. I posted it in the "channel oddities" thread

They have since moved FOX into basic.

But since lifeline is just 3-13 there yes they do miss out. As example in the locations above to get KRDK Fargo, which is a Cozi affiliate (4-1) with local sports added you need basic cable (think regular cable for $70+ a month). Also to get all the subs you need basic.
CH 500 PBS World
CH 501 PPB4
CH 502 KWCM MN Channel
CH 506 Justice Network
CH 508 WDAZ - Weather
CH 509 KAWE
CH 510 Antenna TV
CH 511 ME TV
CH 524 Cozi
CH 525 Bek Sports
CH 526 Comet
CH 528 Bounce
CH 529 Grit
CH 530 Escape
CH 531 Laff
CH 532 KXJB3
CH 533 Buzzr

until the beginning of the year Sjoberg's cable (northern MN) had FOX outside of lifeline. I posted it in the "channel oddities" thread

They have since moved FOX into basic.

But since lifeline is just 3-13 there yes they do miss out. As example in the locations above to get KRDK Fargo, which is a Cozi affiliate (4-1) with local sports added you need basic cable (think regular cable for $70+ a month). Also to get all the subs you need basic.
CH 500 PBS World
CH 501 PPB4
CH 502 KWCM MN Channel
CH 506 Justice Network
CH 508 WDAZ - Weather
CH 509 KAWE
CH 510 Antenna TV
CH 511 ME TV
CH 524 Cozi
CH 525 Bek Sports
CH 526 Comet
CH 528 Bounce
CH 529 Grit
CH 530 Escape
CH 531 Laff
CH 532 KXJB3
CH 533 Buzzr

Without getting this thread off topic or risking it getting merged with another cable lineup thread, we have a similar deal in the Springfield area with one of our local stations on Comcast--even though the channel 2-13 situation of being "lifeline" cable on older TVs is moot now that we've had all-digital since 2012 and with how the cable packages are set up. IMO in small markets with less than 10 legacy stations there is NO reason why all the legacy "xx.1" can't all be somewhere on cable channels 2-13 (no matter what HSN and QVC and the ilk want).

Here's the lineup situation with 2-13 and our market's remaining OTA stations in the Springfield/Decatur headend on Comcast locally:

2--ABC 20.1 (WICS Springfield) (HD 908 & 1020)
3--CBS 3.1 (WCIA Champaign--also received OTA on 49.2 in Springfield) (HD 912 & 1003)
4--"Access 4" (public access) (SD only on channels 4 & 1096)
5--Local Advertising/Cable Marketplace (more like "National Infomercials") (SD only on channels 5, 244, and 1081)
6--CW 23.1 (WBUI Decatur) (HD 914 & 1023)
7--Fox 55.1 (WRSP Springfield) (HD 910 & 1055)
8--PBS 14.1 (WSEC Jacksonville/Springfield--our secondary PBS) (HD 916 & 1014)
9--(Vacant, formerly WGN America until late 2014. Now only on SD 115 plus HD 913 & 1420)
10--NBC 17.1 (WAND Decatur) (HD 906 & 1017)
11--HSN (SD on 11 & 241; HD on 627 & 1015)
12--PBS 12.1 (WILL Urbana) (HD 917 & 1012)
13--QVC (SD on 13 & 240; HD on 626 & 1037)
[. . . ]
19--My 49.1 (WCIX Springfield) (HD 918 & 1049) (also OTA 3.2 with WCIA)
[. . .]
189--PBS 51.1 (WEIU Charleston--about 80 miles from Springfield, our market's 3rd tier PBS) (HD 915 & 1051)

IMO no reason why WCIX (My) and even WEIU (semi-local PBS) can't be on channels 2-13. And it could be done easily without upending HSN and QVC--one of the stations can go on channel 9 (WGN's old spot) and the other can easily replace "Local Advertising" on channel 5.

And as a bonus, in Springfield city limits, the other two Public Access channels are on channels 18 (government; also on 1095) and 22 (education; also on 1097).

Meanwhile, the subchannels:

219--WSEC-14.3 Create (also channel 1180)
220--WILL-12.3 Create/World (also channel 1192)
230--WBUI-23.3 Stadium (channel 230 only)
231--WRSP 55.2 MeTV (also channel 1168)
232--WBUI 23.2 This TV (also channel 1195)
233--ION (national feed, also aired on WAND-17.3)
416--WILL 12.2 Kids (also channel 1191)
417--WSEC 14.2 World (also channel 1179)
418--WEIU 51.2 MHz Worldview (also channel 1155)
420--WICS 20.3 TBD (its dreck also available on channel 1186)
421--WICS 20.2 Comet (also channel 1187)
423--WCIA 3.3 Bounce (also channel 1196)
424--WCIA 3.4 Grit (also channel 1197)
425--WCIX 49.3 Escape (also channel 1198)
426--WCIX 49.4 LaffTV (also channel 1199)
434--WRSP 55.3 Antenna TV (also channel 1169)
907--WAND 17.2 Cozi ("HD" only; also on channel 1190; frequently interrupted for WAND's radar and weather radio loops during signficant severe weather in the area).

WICS also has Charge! on OTA 20.4, but Comcast has yet to pick that up (it could easily be plopped onto channels 422 and 1185).

No reason why all the subs locally can't go on channels 73-99 either. Since TV Land is the last "legacy" analog channel on 72, other than for National Geographic on 82, HSN2 on 85, EVINE on 89, and another public access channel (but almost all test pattern) on channel 98.

 

[ftballfan]

Charter Northern Michigan has the CW (via WFQX-DT2) on channel 61, which is not in the lowest level AFAIK. CW on 61 dates all the way back to the WB100+ days, while QVC and HSN were moved out of 2-13 (but I think are still lowest level and their HD feeds are still next to the locals in the 780-789 range)

 

[Mr Tony]

Without getting this thread off topic or risking it getting merged with another cable lineup thread, we have a similar deal in the Springfield area with one of our local stations on Comcast--even though the channel 2-13 situation of being "lifeline" cable on older TVs is moot now that we've had all-digital since 2012 and with how the cable packages are set up. IMO in small markets with less than 10 legacy stations there is NO reason why all the legacy "xx.1" can't all be somewhere on cable channels 2-13 (no matter what HSN and QVC and the ilk want).

The only reason I mentioned it is because Sjoberg's has a lifeline that is 3-13 that they mention on their brochure
https://1zxiyq1n10o32qed4q48yz16-wp...tent/uploads/2018/01/Warroad-Salol-1-2018.pdf

But with most systems being digital its really a moot point where the channel numbers are as the box is programmed for your programming package. As for sub location I know Mediacom puts the subs starting at 101