COMCAST CC AND S PHILLY

[RockIntern]

A few months back Comcast added TV-One to the analog lineup Channel 21 I believe, TV-One has been on their digital 173 for a few years. They added CMT and GAC, two country networks, CMT has been on most cable systems since their launch. What puzzels me is, they added WHYY on Channel 97 and PCN already on analog, to digital 185, this puts two of the same channels on different positions. Some new additions are Indie and Retro which duplicate Plex, other additions are Oh, Logo and Lifetime Movies. THERE STILL IS NO GAME SHOW NETWORK, which every other Comcast area carries, also Fuse which plays mostly Rock videos is not available. I noticed when in New Jersey and parts of PA outside the CC/SP areas you can split the signal to other cable ready televisions and receive all the analog channels in the same postion, in fact, they advise you to do this. Not in my politically controlled area, the CC/SP area, same company. You need a box to view all the channels, reason being, the crooked politicians make a good percentage tax on all extra boxes, so why give you anything free. When you look at franchise tax its 6.00 in this area and 42 cents in New Jersey, go figure. Last but not least, if WMCN, WFMZ, WBPH, WTVE, WLVT, WWSI and WUVP are out of area channels on the system, why not WMGM Channel 40?

 

[rch66]

When you look at franchise tax its 6.00 in this area and 42 cents in New Jersey, go figure. Last but not least, if WMCN, WFMZ, WBPH, WTVE, WLVT, WWSI and WUVP are out of area channels on the system, why not WMGM Channel 40?

WMGM is a duplicative NBC station, with programming rights only for Cumberland, Cape May and Atlantic Counties. You can read WMGM's news on their website: www.nbc40.net

 

[RockIntern]

MUST CARRY

I thought there was a must carry rule. MGM is the same contour as the distant signals I mentioned. Why do certain cable systems in the Central NJ area carry all Philly and NYC local channels, thus duplicating PBS, NBC, ABC, CBS, WB, FOX AND UPN.

 

[rch66]

Re: MUST CARRY

I thought there was a must carry rule. MGM is the same contour as the distant signals I mentioned. Why do certain cable systems in the Central NJ area carry all Philly and NYC local channels, thus duplicating PBS, NBC, ABC, CBS, WB, FOX AND UPN.

But it won't apply if:a. the station cannot/will not deliver a quality signal to the headend or point of presence of the provider.b. a station is deemed duplicative c. not a full power licensed station.d. Out of DMA, unless a market modification petition is requested/granted or has significantly viewed status, or cable operator and station mutually agree on carriage(however, local blackouts may apply if a local station has and exerts them).e. station simply doesn't elect must-carry (paperwork)f. e and station asks for compensation (retransmission) for signal.In case of WMGM, a and b and e apply. WMGM is deemed duplicative to WCAU 10 (NBC)/Philadelphia. The newcasts and the syndication is different, but according to the FCC rules, it would be deemed duplicative as they are of the same network affiliation.In Atlantic City and Wildwood, of course, NBC 10 is carriedthere, Ch.10 would be deemed duplicative. The more distant station is considered the duplicative one. However, CH.10 is owned by NBC, who has an expansive agreement with Comcast, for many markets guaranteeing carriage throughout the DMA, the HD signal, some cable networks (MSNBC, etc.) and On Demand programs - and such is available throughout any of the NBC O&O Nielsen markets.In Cape May County, NBC 10 doesn't come in over-the-air. I presume NBC's contract with WMGM doesn't grant them exclusivity as they are a secondary affiliation. Thus, NBC 10's duplicative programming isn't blacked out.In Trenton, WNBC 4 is carried even though its duplicative, however, Comcast and NBC have an agreement for its continued carriage. The NY stations have been carried since the cable system started, are significantly viewed, and there would be too much resistance from customers or the local franchise, I suppose, to drop the NYC signals. As long as Comcast doesn't fight for their removal, or the network O&Os don't want their neighboring market signals dropped, they won't be dropped.I'm sure Comcast would save bandwith by dropping NYC signals in Trenton, but there would be the outcry, esp. as there is different sports coverage. Maybe WNBC could be dropped, but that one channel wouldn't make a huge difference. Right now, Comcast has just dropped west coast feeds from their digital tier to create more space. In Cherry Hill, 2 stations come to mind that maybe able to exert must-carry, WTVE 51/Reading and WBPH/Bethlehem.WTVE 51 has a better shot - given that they are already on DirecTV, Dish Network, and have cable carriage further east in Atlantic County. I don't know how aggressive or assertive they are, however, to get the few thousand HH in Camden/Burlington/Gloucester counties. Back in the late 90s, they failed to win must-carry, however, their signal is better now.I can't get their digital signal, and their analog is fuzzy. So, likely, they'd have to run a fiber optic or ask Comcast to continue their signal. I'm sure they have some setup already with Comcast, to get coverage in Atlantic County. WTVE is a lousy station however, and not worth the bandwith.WMCN-DT submitted a market modification petition to gain carriage in Ocean County (NY DMA).If WMGM went independent and followed WFMZ's business model, they could attract more HH coverage. However, I don't think the owner would want to take the risk, even if it could make them more money.

 

[fred flintstone]

Then why are mutiple PBS stations carried (12, 23, 35 and 39)?For NBC10 and NBC4, it does not hurt that both have the same owner. Same for 2/3, 6/7, and 5/29.

 

[rch66]

Then why are mutiple PBS stations carried (12, 23, 35 and 39)?For NBC10 and NBC4, it does not hurt that both have the same owner. Same for 2/3, 6/7, and 5/29.

Non commercial education (NCE) stations follow different rules. Cable carriage seems to mirror more on over-the-air signal coverage. I also suspect the PBS member stations have arrangements amongst each others, which areas they will cover, etc.In Allentown, WHYY 12 and NJN isn't carried on the cable system, even though one can get 12 and WNJT 52(NJN) over the air. They only get WLVT 39(PBS) on cable. With Dish Net., they'd get 12, NJN and WYBE but not WLVT.

 

[wprt949]

A few months back Comcast added TV-One to the analog lineup Channel 21 I believe, TV-One has been on their digital 173 for a few years. They added CMT and GAC, two country networks, CMT has been on most cable systems since their launch. What puzzels me is, they added WHYY on Channel 97 and PCN already on analog, to digital 185, this puts two of the same channels on different positions. Some new additions are Indie and Retro which duplicate Plex, other additions are Oh, Logo and Lifetime Movies. THERE STILL IS NO GAME SHOW NETWORK, which every other Comcast area carries, also Fuse which plays mostly Rock videos is not available. I noticed when in New Jersey and parts of PA outside the CC/SP areas you can split the signal to other cable ready televisions and receive all the analog channels in the same postion, in fact, they advise you to do this. Not in my politically controlled area, the CC/SP area, same company. You need a box to view all the channels, reason being, the crooked politicians make a good percentage tax on all extra boxes, so why give you anything free. When you look at franchise tax its 6.00 in this area and 42 cents in New Jersey, go figure. Last but not least, if WMCN, WFMZ, WBPH, WTVE, WLVT, WWSI and WUVP are out of area channels on the system, why not WMGM Channel 40?

Comcast in the northeast has so many more channel choices south philly comcast sucks

 

[RockIntern]

I agree, Comcast SP/CC is the worst of all the Comcast franchises. You would think that because they serve the elite Center City area they would have a better selection, but they are poor. You have to thank Councilman James Kenney for this, he is behind the whole scheme, he also lobbied for the analog channels to be scrambled so you need a converter box for each additional set, more boxes more money per household means more money in the tax box for the SP Democrats. When I lived in Cherry Hill the franchise tax was under 50 cents, in South Philly its over 5.00 check out your bill.

 

[fred flintstone]

Cable companies have a long history of buying politicians.Some of you say Comcast should be free from government interference to run their business (and screw the public). No, they want government interference - just government interference in their favor. Business only complains about government interference that benefits the customer - and they spend big bucks to keep that from happening.KK, Don't live in Philly. You should know better. And get satellite.