National TV Board discussion of DTS: http://www.radio-info.com/smf/index.php/topic,113231.0.html
FCC Report and Order: http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-08-256A1.pdf
This could be great for OTA in Arizona, or it could mean nothing at all. It depends on the broadcasters. But here are potential winners from these new standards:
KMOH: Mohave County is perfectly suited for a DTS operation, with three major population centers -- Lake Havasu City, Bullhead City, and Kingman -- and a possible fourth population center being built in the Golden Valley area. Mountains separate all three areas. KMOH currently has its transmitter on Black Mountain, near Oatman, and reaches Bullhead City, the Mohave Valley, and old Kingman, its city of license, but does not reach the newer section of Kingman toward the northeast, or any of Lake Havasu City. A DTS transmitter on Hualapai Peak could take care of the rest of Kingman, while use of Crossman Peak would serve Lake Havasu City.
KCFG: If its Petition for Rulemaking is approved, allowing KCFG to locate their main transmitter above Strawberry, serving Flagstaff with a rimshot into Phoenix, DTS could be a bonanza. The proposed service area includes northern and central Phoenix and northern suburbs. DTS would ensure quality service throughout its coverage area in Phoenix.
KAZT: Yavapai County is also perfectly suited for DTS. KAZT's current Mingus Mtn. location gives it great coverage throughout the Verde Valley, Prescott Valley and Chino Valley, but is spotty in areas of Prescott, its city of license, due to terrain. A transmitter in the area SW of Tucson where most of its LPTV translators originate would fill in the coverage. While its service area includes Flagstaff, the city itself does not get the station, but instead relies on a translator for coverage. They could continue to do that, but now also have the option of DTS, giving them coverage of Flagstaff with primary service rights.
KNAZ and KFPH: For the same reason as KAZT, these two could use DTS to fill in service to Prescott and Prescott Valley, which are within their theoretical service area, but blocked by terrain.
Tucson stations: One problem with Mt. Bigelow is that, while broadcasting from there provides phenomenal coverage, even reaching parts of Phoenix, the high-growth areas NW of Tucson are shielded by Mt. Lemmon. The stations already serve those areas with LPTV translators, but DTS would reduce spectrum usage and give primary service rights. They could also take advantage of the electronics site on Mount Hopkins (where KMSB has its analog transmitter) to cover Nogales and the 42K residents of Santa Cruz County, if they should be so inclined.
FCC Report and Order: http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-08-256A1.pdf
This could be great for OTA in Arizona, or it could mean nothing at all. It depends on the broadcasters. But here are potential winners from these new standards:
KMOH: Mohave County is perfectly suited for a DTS operation, with three major population centers -- Lake Havasu City, Bullhead City, and Kingman -- and a possible fourth population center being built in the Golden Valley area. Mountains separate all three areas. KMOH currently has its transmitter on Black Mountain, near Oatman, and reaches Bullhead City, the Mohave Valley, and old Kingman, its city of license, but does not reach the newer section of Kingman toward the northeast, or any of Lake Havasu City. A DTS transmitter on Hualapai Peak could take care of the rest of Kingman, while use of Crossman Peak would serve Lake Havasu City.
KCFG: If its Petition for Rulemaking is approved, allowing KCFG to locate their main transmitter above Strawberry, serving Flagstaff with a rimshot into Phoenix, DTS could be a bonanza. The proposed service area includes northern and central Phoenix and northern suburbs. DTS would ensure quality service throughout its coverage area in Phoenix.
KAZT: Yavapai County is also perfectly suited for DTS. KAZT's current Mingus Mtn. location gives it great coverage throughout the Verde Valley, Prescott Valley and Chino Valley, but is spotty in areas of Prescott, its city of license, due to terrain. A transmitter in the area SW of Tucson where most of its LPTV translators originate would fill in the coverage. While its service area includes Flagstaff, the city itself does not get the station, but instead relies on a translator for coverage. They could continue to do that, but now also have the option of DTS, giving them coverage of Flagstaff with primary service rights.
KNAZ and KFPH: For the same reason as KAZT, these two could use DTS to fill in service to Prescott and Prescott Valley, which are within their theoretical service area, but blocked by terrain.
Tucson stations: One problem with Mt. Bigelow is that, while broadcasting from there provides phenomenal coverage, even reaching parts of Phoenix, the high-growth areas NW of Tucson are shielded by Mt. Lemmon. The stations already serve those areas with LPTV translators, but DTS would reduce spectrum usage and give primary service rights. They could also take advantage of the electronics site on Mount Hopkins (where KMSB has its analog transmitter) to cover Nogales and the 42K residents of Santa Cruz County, if they should be so inclined.
