Do Any Stations Turn Off Their Subchannels When Airing The Superbowl?

[Markxxx]

I was reading on a blog that FOX requires affiliates to "turn off" their subchannels when the Superbowl is aired so it won't hurt the quality of the game any.

I find this hard to believe, I reckon the blogger confused the FOX O&O mandate of no subchannels with something else.

So any truth to this? Do any stations turn off their subchannels when they air the Superbowl

 

[KML0224]

Wouldn't FOX telling stations it doesn't own to do that be illegal?

 

[landtuna]

I thought Phox was already running 720 so their "action" sports wouldn't be hurt by "too much" quality?

 

[OhioMediaWatch]

Not only that, the Fox "splicer" system already accounts for room for one subchannel, even if the station doesn't have one.

Local TV-former-Fox-O&O WJW/8 here had no subchannels at all until the launch of "Antenna TV" last month, and I'm sure the bandwidth for 8.1 is the same as it was before January 1st.

As noted, the lower bandwidth requirements of 720p make that possible.

 

[azumanga]

It won't be an issue among its O&Os -- other than WNYW, Fox O&Os don't have subchannels.

 

[oldiesfan6479]

Fox O&O KSAZ-TV (PSIP 10, RF 10) Phoenix has a subchannel...sort of.

10.1 is KSAZ in HD, 10.2 is its SD version, however PSIP 10.2 is really RF 26.2. Huh?

Sister station KUTP (PSIP 45) Phoenix is actually RF 26.1/26.2 and for some reason it airs
KSAZ-TV 10 in SD on 26.2. This may be due to ongoing problems in the market receiving
the three VHF-hi stations (8/10/12) and their new, improved, error-free digital signals! :

8/10/12 are South Mountain tower farm sticks, as is 45 (26).

 

[landtuna]

Yep....KSAZ's VHF signal is lousy - at least for those of us to the east of the towers.

But.....would 10.2 be considered a sub of 10 or 45?

I told them it would get confusing! ;D

 

[cd637299]

In south FL, WSVN 7 has one sub, Estrella TV. WFLX 29 has a sub, but it's nothing but a still of their logo (with time clock running), no audio. WFLX could afford the shutoff, IMO.

cd

 

[mnradiofan]

It won't be an issue among its O&Os -- other than WNYW, Fox O&Os don't have subchannels.

Not true, most Fox O&O's broadcast an SD feed of the signal on their .2's. As noted above, sometimes they do this to improve coverage of another signal, which is the case here. 29.2 broadcasts 9.2 and vice versa here.

 

[tripinva]

Not true, most Fox O&O's broadcast an SD feed of the signal on their .2's. As noted above, sometimes they do this to improve coverage of another signal, which is the case here. 29.2 broadcasts 9.2 and vice versa here.

WNYW and KMSP are the exception, not the rule, for Fox O&O stations that air Fox. (I'm not counting My Network TV affiliates since it's irrelevant to the discussion, but it is also true there for the most part.)

With an extra sub:
WNYW
KMSP

Without:
KTTV
WFLD
WTXF
KDFW
WFXT
KRIV
WAGA
WJBK
WTTG
WTVT
KSAZ
WOFL
WHBQ
KTBC
WOGX

- Trip

 

[OhioMediaWatch]

And as I noted (and Trip will confirm, I assume), Fox's splicer means the bandwidth for .1 is the same, sub or no sub - so any Fox affiliate "turning off the sub" tomorrow won't mean anything.

 

[mnradiofan]

Not true, most Fox O&O's broadcast an SD feed of the signal on their .2's. As noted above, sometimes they do this to improve coverage of another signal, which is the case here. 29.2 broadcasts 9.2 and vice versa here.

WNYW and KMSP are the exception, not the rule, for Fox O&O stations that air Fox. (I'm not counting My Network TV affiliates since it's irrelevant to the discussion, but it is also true there for the most part.)

With an extra sub:
WNYW
KMSP

Without:
KTTV
WFLD
WTXF
KDFW
WFXT
KRIV
WAGA
WJBK
WTTG
WTVT
KSAZ
WOFL
WHBQ
KTBC
WOGX

- Trip

Oh, OK, my bad. I didn't realize this wasn't standard practice.

 

[purpledevil]

KRIV and KTXH, here in Houston, are also FOX O&O and without any subchannels. As a matter of fact, they are the only two major affiliates in Houston without at least one subchannel.

 

[w9wi]

But.....would 10.2 be considered a sub of 10 or 45?

45. So it wouldn't require the removal of any bandwidth from the Super Bowl.

I'm getting a bit beyond my remit but I'm pretty sure the guy who commented a Fox mandate that non-O&O affiliates shut down subchannels would be illegal is right. The FCC requires the licensee have full control over which programs their station air; they *must* retain the right to choose to air (or not air) a given program if they feel it would better serve the public* interest.

* yes, I recognize that in practice the station would make the decision to serve their own interest...

 

[KML0224]

That guy was me actually. Tribune owns our FOX affiliate, WTIC-TV channel 61 of Hartford. Their subchannel is Antenna TV, which started on New Year's Day.

 

[JeeperOne]

This will pose a problem for KDVR 31 here in Denver as not only are they an Antenna TV affiliate with 31.2 but it's also carried on Digital Cable on Comcast Channel 253.

If Fox is THAT worried about the quality of the broadcast, then they shouldn't be in the business of broadcasting big events like the Super Bowl because most affiliates won't bow down & kiss the Fox Butt. That's why they're AFFILIATES

Just my opinion.....

Cheers

 

[OhioMediaWatch]

OK, Trip, Doug, someone, help me here.

I've said more than once on this thread that Fox's "Splicer" means that the presence, or lackthereof, of a subchannel on a Fox affiliate makes no difference in bandwidth.

For example, Local TV's WJW/8 here (an ex-Fox O&O) has the same bandwidth now on 8.1 that it had before Antenna TV started up 1/1.

So, due to the Splicer, Fox affiliates in general WILL NOT HAVE TO SHUT OFF SUBCHANNELS to get better HD bandwidth on .1.

Am I incorrect in this assumption, or are people just ignoring me on this thread?

Now, I don't know about special cases, like WKBN/27.2 "Fox Youngstown", which operates their Fox affiliate at 720p on a subchannel (27.1 is the station's CBS feed, downconverted to 720p).

But as far as I know, "primary" Fox affiliates with a single subchannel, the subchannel does not "sap" bandwidth from .1, because the splicer is set up to send the full 720p bandwidth with room for one subchannel whether it's there or not.

 

[Iowan]

Well, if it really IS true that Fox stations are 'required' to turn off subchannels, KLJB can easily afford to. It's only subchannel is sister station KGCW which has it's own channel anyway (although some viewers to the north won't be able to see The CW for a while)

 

[tripinva]

OK, Trip, Doug, someone, help me here.

I've said more than once on this thread that Fox's "Splicer" means that the presence, or lackthereof, of a subchannel on a Fox affiliate makes no difference in bandwidth.

For example, Local TV's WJW/8 here (an ex-Fox O&O) has the same bandwidth now on 8.1 that it had before Antenna TV started up 1/1.

So, due to the Splicer, Fox affiliates in general WILL NOT HAVE TO SHUT OFF SUBCHANNELS to get better HD bandwidth on .1.

Am I incorrect in this assumption, or are people just ignoring me on this thread?

People are just ignoring you and the facts you provide; you are correct. This phenomenon nothing new to Radio-Info.

Now, I don't know about special cases, like WKBN/27.2 "Fox Youngstown", which operates their Fox affiliate at 720p on a subchannel (27.1 is the station's CBS feed, downconverted to 720p).

But as far as I know, "primary" Fox affiliates with a single subchannel, the subchannel does not "sap" bandwidth from .1, because the splicer is set up to send the full 720p bandwidth with room for one subchannel whether it's there or not.

From what I understand, the Fox affiliation agreement is supposed to prohibit situations like that of WKBN. In WKBN's case, they've actually bypassed the splicer to provide Fox in "HD" at reduced bandwidth levels. That said, it looks like 27-1 is in SD for the day to make 27-2 look as sharp as possible.

- Trip

 

[Studio20]

Fox/Tampa Bay has no subchannel, but when Bill O'Reilly* came on to spar with the President, I couldn't find the remote control fast enough.


* feel free to substitute any other "journalist" who slants right OR left. This tripe has absolutely no business during even this most hyped sporting event. Perhaps during one of the "news" shows, I ll call in with a sports question.