I don't know if this was covered here or not but I have been wondering if local TV Stations had their pick of the digital channel they were to move to (not the PSIP virtual channel). For example, 2 local Sacramento Stations, KXTV Channel 10 & KTXL Channel 40 was able to move back to their original channel as their old analog station was after 2009 digital conversion but stations such as KOVR Channel 13, KMAX Channel 31 & KUVS Channel 19 were assigned new digital channels. Was it the TV Station owners that were able to pick the new digital channel or was it the FCC? Thanks!
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Did TV Stations have their choice of Digital TV Channel assignment?
- Thread starter Madmansam
- Start date
I believe for the final assignments, TV stations that were in the "core" channels, 2-51, had the option of returning to their analog channel after the conversion. Those with digital assignments 52 and above, as was the case with WTVD (52), WRAL (53), WNCN (55), WLFL (57) and WUNC (59) here in the Raleigh-Durham market, had to move either to their old analog channels (WTVD and WNCN) or to a channel below 52 (WRAL, WLFL and WUNC). In the case of WLFL, they moved from 57 to 27, which was the temporary digital channel for sister station WRDC until they moved to their old analog home at channel 28.
I know originally the FCC said, that if a station stayed on it's digital channel it was protected. Meaning that other stations would have to conform to its signal. But if they elected to return to their analog channel then they would have to conform to any interference from another station who was assigned that as a digital channel.
This is one reason why stations opted to stay on their digital channel.
This is one reason why stations opted to stay on their digital channel.
Both "...Daze" and "Mark" have it right.
Stations which had both an analog channel and interim digital channel "inside core" (channels 2-51) had the right to choose between the two for their permanent digital channel. Those which opted to move their permanent digital facility to their previous analog channel were required to protect other existing stations from interference.
Stations whose analog or interim digital channel was "outside core" (above channel 51) had no choice. They could however petition the FCC to assign a third channel.
Stations which had both an analog channel and interim digital channel "inside core" (channels 2-51) had the right to choose between the two for their permanent digital channel. Those which opted to move their permanent digital facility to their previous analog channel were required to protect other existing stations from interference.
Stations whose analog or interim digital channel was "outside core" (above channel 51) had no choice. They could however petition the FCC to assign a third channel.
ansky212 said:
They probably didn't.
- There hadn't been a full-scale test, with all the analog interference gone and everyone operating at full digital power.
- Nobody realized just how many absolute crap antennas were going to be sold.
I don't know that WABC and WPIX had any choice. I know WPIX's interim UHF frequency ended up in the hands of channel 3 in Hartford, Conn. WABC's is now occupied by Hartford's channel 24, although I seem to recall some kind of rulemaking proceeding there and am not sure 45 was always WEDH's assignment.
C
cd637299
Guest
Not being on the techie end of this, I wonder what percentage of the few remaining TV stations using chs 2-6 for RF digital are actually pleased to be there.....Has there been a survey about it? They certainly don't exist on 2-6 just to get E-skip DX reports!*
Oh yeah....and what do they tell their viewers about an antenna to purchase?
[*although the DXer in me is pleased that they are still around....!]
cd
Oh yeah....and what do they tell their viewers about an antenna to purchase?
[*although the DXer in me is pleased that they are still around....!]
cd
K
kenglish
Guest
I hear that the FCC today put a freeze on all changes to Digital TV channels, in advance of "re-packing" the TV bands to make room for more internet.
Guess many of us will be moving again soon.
Guess many of us will be moving again soon.
And how many stations disregarded the PSIP Virtual Channel and changed their on air channel to their digital channel. Example, KCRA Channel 3 in Sacramento id's as Channel on air even though their digital channel is 35. However, in Fresno, KAIL Channel 53' digital channel is VHF Channel 7 and now KAIL (A My Network TV affiliate) switched its id from "My 53" to "My 7.1"
WYIN Gary Indiana initially had a choice on whether to stay on 17, or go back to 56 (before only 60 - 69 was beling eliminated, but sometime after the initial ruling on the channel lineup, 52-59 were added as well). Even if WYIN could have gone back to 56, they wanted 17, because most cable systems have them on 17 instead of 56. The only problem is that their coverage is a bit smaller than their analog coverage was, due to the nulls still in place that protected WNDU when they were on analog 16 to the east, WXMI Grand Rapids, MI when they were on analog 17, & WLFI when they were on analog 18. So far, WYIN hasn't decided to put in a Application to have the nulls removed, since these stations that they protected stayed on their pre-transitional channels.
WLS-TV was on 52, & had no choice, but to return to 7. Since WOOD-TV Grand Rapids, MI also was assigned 7 for their pre-transitional digital, & stayed on channel 7, WLS-TV could not get a power increase that would allow their signal to penetrate Chicago better (other than an experimental STA to increase from 4.75kw to 9.5kw @515m), while WOOD-TV was granted a power increase. So WLS-TV petitioned for channel 44, & knocked WCHU-LD off the air (WCHU-LD has since signed on channel 33), since WWAZ Fon Du Lac, WI decided to change their digital channel to channel 5 (this station is still off the air, & I believe they never went digital).
WBBM-TV was given channel 3 for their pre-transitional digital, & most people didn't have the correct antenna to receive this channel. It doesn't work so well with rabbit ears. I was one of the lucky few who got them on channel 3 with few problems (I was using an older all channel antenna I bought in 2002, when Chicago still had 5 VHF stations). They really didn't want to keep channel 3, & definitely didn't want to return to 2, since most people complained they couldn't get 2 in analog (I got analog 2 better than analog 5). They worked out a deal with WTTW that they stay on channel 47, & WBBM would take channel 11, but they changed their minds after they learned that because WGVU Grand Rapids, MI & WLFI Lafayette Indiana were also on channel 11 for pre-transitional digital, & they were staying on 11, that WBBM-TV would have had a smaller coverage area than if they stayed on 3. That was because the power for channel 11 digital would have been about 1.8kw vs. the 2.8kw they had on channel 3. Had they stayed on 3, they would have gone up to 4.4kw & have most of the nulls knocked out. They asked for channel 12, & that was granted. Since it would have costed WBBM lots of money to rebuild their facilities on the John Hancock, they went the cheaper route by reusing WTTW's antenna for channel 11 for channel 12. Since WTTW is on the Sears Tower (I still call it that), WBBM-TV was the only station that changed transmission sites on June 12th, as they were on the John Hancock, & had planned to stay there for post-transitional digital. They would have stayed on 3 if their requests for 11 or 12 had been denied.
WJYS was the 3rd station that didn't have a choice on their channel number, as their analog was on 62. They were assigned 36, but originally had a sharp null to the north to protect WMVT Milwaukee until June 12th. It was several months after the transitional date before they could afford to upgrade their facilities to boost their signal, & knock out most of the null toward Milwaukee, since WMVT decided to stay on their pre-transitional channel 35.
WXFT 60 (digital 59) & WGBO 66 (digital 53) were the only 2 that had to get new channel numbers, since both their channels were out of core. WXFT petitioned for 50, but would settle for 38 if 50 wasn't approved. WPWR-TV was on 51 & stayed on 51. WXFT was given 50. WGBO petitioned for 38, but if 38 went to sister station WXFT, then they would have tried for 12 (the channel that WBBM-TV was trying for, & got). WXFT & WGBO had priority since they were losing both their analog & pre-transitional digital channels. WCPX was on 38 for analog & 43 for digital, & stayed on 43.
Nearly everyone else in the Chicago market had a choice, & they stayed on their pre-transitional digital channels. WBBM-TV & WWTO were the only stations in the Chicago market given VHF channels for pre-transitional digital. Since WNIT South Bend Indiana & WMVT Milwaukee both stayed on channel 35 for post-transitional digital, it was unlikely they would have been allowed to go back to 35 (their coverage was terrible in analog). Plus the station is nearly 80 miles from Chicago, & can't locate in Chicago, due to the COL being LaSalle. While part of the Chicago market, they're actually closer to the Peoria market. So they stayed on channel 10.
For the Indianapolis market, I learned that WIPB Muncie Indiana was forced to change channels. They were on analog 49, & was out of core for digital on 52. For some reason, they weren't allowed to return to 49, & ended up on channel 23 for post-transitional digital.
WLS-TV was on 52, & had no choice, but to return to 7. Since WOOD-TV Grand Rapids, MI also was assigned 7 for their pre-transitional digital, & stayed on channel 7, WLS-TV could not get a power increase that would allow their signal to penetrate Chicago better (other than an experimental STA to increase from 4.75kw to 9.5kw @515m), while WOOD-TV was granted a power increase. So WLS-TV petitioned for channel 44, & knocked WCHU-LD off the air (WCHU-LD has since signed on channel 33), since WWAZ Fon Du Lac, WI decided to change their digital channel to channel 5 (this station is still off the air, & I believe they never went digital).
WBBM-TV was given channel 3 for their pre-transitional digital, & most people didn't have the correct antenna to receive this channel. It doesn't work so well with rabbit ears. I was one of the lucky few who got them on channel 3 with few problems (I was using an older all channel antenna I bought in 2002, when Chicago still had 5 VHF stations). They really didn't want to keep channel 3, & definitely didn't want to return to 2, since most people complained they couldn't get 2 in analog (I got analog 2 better than analog 5). They worked out a deal with WTTW that they stay on channel 47, & WBBM would take channel 11, but they changed their minds after they learned that because WGVU Grand Rapids, MI & WLFI Lafayette Indiana were also on channel 11 for pre-transitional digital, & they were staying on 11, that WBBM-TV would have had a smaller coverage area than if they stayed on 3. That was because the power for channel 11 digital would have been about 1.8kw vs. the 2.8kw they had on channel 3. Had they stayed on 3, they would have gone up to 4.4kw & have most of the nulls knocked out. They asked for channel 12, & that was granted. Since it would have costed WBBM lots of money to rebuild their facilities on the John Hancock, they went the cheaper route by reusing WTTW's antenna for channel 11 for channel 12. Since WTTW is on the Sears Tower (I still call it that), WBBM-TV was the only station that changed transmission sites on June 12th, as they were on the John Hancock, & had planned to stay there for post-transitional digital. They would have stayed on 3 if their requests for 11 or 12 had been denied.
WJYS was the 3rd station that didn't have a choice on their channel number, as their analog was on 62. They were assigned 36, but originally had a sharp null to the north to protect WMVT Milwaukee until June 12th. It was several months after the transitional date before they could afford to upgrade their facilities to boost their signal, & knock out most of the null toward Milwaukee, since WMVT decided to stay on their pre-transitional channel 35.
WXFT 60 (digital 59) & WGBO 66 (digital 53) were the only 2 that had to get new channel numbers, since both their channels were out of core. WXFT petitioned for 50, but would settle for 38 if 50 wasn't approved. WPWR-TV was on 51 & stayed on 51. WXFT was given 50. WGBO petitioned for 38, but if 38 went to sister station WXFT, then they would have tried for 12 (the channel that WBBM-TV was trying for, & got). WXFT & WGBO had priority since they were losing both their analog & pre-transitional digital channels. WCPX was on 38 for analog & 43 for digital, & stayed on 43.
Nearly everyone else in the Chicago market had a choice, & they stayed on their pre-transitional digital channels. WBBM-TV & WWTO were the only stations in the Chicago market given VHF channels for pre-transitional digital. Since WNIT South Bend Indiana & WMVT Milwaukee both stayed on channel 35 for post-transitional digital, it was unlikely they would have been allowed to go back to 35 (their coverage was terrible in analog). Plus the station is nearly 80 miles from Chicago, & can't locate in Chicago, due to the COL being LaSalle. While part of the Chicago market, they're actually closer to the Peoria market. So they stayed on channel 10.
For the Indianapolis market, I learned that WIPB Muncie Indiana was forced to change channels. They were on analog 49, & was out of core for digital on 52. For some reason, they weren't allowed to return to 49, & ended up on channel 23 for post-transitional digital.
WTTV and WIPB are separated by 62 miles.
I did some digging and found that WDRB-49 is only 123 miles away. Probably wanted to avoid that signal. May also have been constrained by WDTN-50 at 65 miles.
Remember, just because an allotment may have fit there doesn't mean they could have run as much power as they wanted on that allotment.
- Trip
I did some digging and found that WDRB-49 is only 123 miles away. Probably wanted to avoid that signal. May also have been constrained by WDTN-50 at 65 miles.
Remember, just because an allotment may have fit there doesn't mean they could have run as much power as they wanted on that allotment.
- Trip
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