It surprised me a bit, but Friday the FCC granted DFW LPTVs KHPK/28 and KHFD/51 construction permits to move to VHF channels 10 and 13, respectively.
KHFD, stuck on RF 51, needed it worse. They already have a CP to move to RF 26, but to avoid interference with KTEN in Oklahoma, that would have only been at 4.5 kW; pretty low power for UHF, which would have reduced their coverage area quite a bit. The RF 13 permit is for 3 kW but given the larger typical aperture of VHF antennas, it should cover about the same area as their current RF 51 signal.
It's less clear why KHPK/28 wants to move to RF 10. Their current UHF signal is fine, and I don't think they're any better positioned to survive the FCC's upcoming "repacking" on RF 10 than on RF 28. Maybe someone with better knowledge of the FCC's rules than I can explain.
KHFD, stuck on RF 51, needed it worse. They already have a CP to move to RF 26, but to avoid interference with KTEN in Oklahoma, that would have only been at 4.5 kW; pretty low power for UHF, which would have reduced their coverage area quite a bit. The RF 13 permit is for 3 kW but given the larger typical aperture of VHF antennas, it should cover about the same area as their current RF 51 signal.
It's less clear why KHPK/28 wants to move to RF 10. Their current UHF signal is fine, and I don't think they're any better positioned to survive the FCC's upcoming "repacking" on RF 10 than on RF 28. Maybe someone with better knowledge of the FCC's rules than I can explain.