DTV Experience

[tripinva]

The short answer is spacing rules. Plus now with the digital transition, there's no benefit in being on VHF anymore other than power savings.

I'm sure if there was a way to get another VHF in the area, there'd be one. (And 12 isn't "wide open" since CKWS is right there next to it)

- Trip

 

[cnymike]

Just wondering... why can't WWTI get a VHF signal?
Channel 2 - Utica
Channel 3 - Syracuse
Channel 4 - OPEN
Channel 5 - Syracuse
Channel 6 - OPEN
Channel 7 - Watertown
Channel 8 - Rochester
Channel 9 - Syracuse
Channel 10 - Rochester
Channel 11 - CKWS
Channel 12 - OPEN
Channel 13 - Rochester

You could argue that Channel 4 is no good because of CBOT/Ottawa and Channel 6 is no good because of CJOH/Deseronto. But that still leaves channel 12 wide open.

Heck, I'd even argue that Rochester's a bit of a stretch from Watertown. With the proper set-up, a Watertown station should be able to use channel 8, 10 or 13 without causing a problem... especially pointing southeast towards Lewis County.

Thing is with the upcoming digital transition, UHF is the new VHF, it's the signal everyone wants! All the Syracuse stations will be UHF, Utica to. I'm not sure about the current situation in Watertown, but I think they're currently all UHF. I do know that WWNY is petitioning the FCC saying "they checked the wrong box on the confusing paperwork" to get channel 7 back, claiming that it'll help them serve the north country better.

I think WWTI should be able to cover Lewis county without much clearance issues anyway, seeming the tower is in Copenhagen, just south of the county border.

Also of note for channel 6, WRGB in Albany is having a fit because the FCC is licensing something else in that band. Channel 6 is especially favorable due to the fact hat FM recievers are able to pick it up, allowing for in-car listening. (Works great with CNN on XM) Thing is after February, I don't believe you'll be able to listen to channel 6 in car.

 

[tvlurker]

(And 12 isn't "wide open" since CKWS is right there next to it)

- Trip

Adjacent channel is proablby OK, but Watertown would be short spaced to Peterborough on 12.
As for 8, WROC is not reverting, but Watertown is short-spaced to Cornwall CJOH-TV-8 and CIII-DT-2 on ch 8 in Bancroft (Denbigh).

Neither is impossible, but crossborder negociations take longer. I'm sure the delay for WWNY to maximize on 7 had something to do with CHRO-DT on channel 7.

Given that WWTI was not even interested in maximizing their signal on DT 21, I don't see why they would spend any money on new transmitter or antenna equipment.