FCC Commish: Reallocate Channels 5 and 6 To LPFMers

[druidhillsradio]

I would like to see 5 & 6 used for both unlicensed broadcasting & LPFM
150w 100ft antenna for unlicensed broadcasting this would stop pirates on the commerical band & FCC could use the money they spent fight pirates for other things
250w 150ft antenna for LPFM


And don't forget Part 15 AM ground lead violators! ;D

 

[stormy01]

I don't think most broadcasters would consider swapping their TV license for a FM license.

Agreed. In a given area, there are fewer TV stations than Radio stations, so the percentage of potential advertising revenue is divided among fewer TV than Radio stations. We know that TV stations generally charge more for commercial time, or selling airtime for programming. TV is obviously a different "animal" than Radio, one would expect it to be very rare that a TV broadcaster would want to give up such a valuable portion of spectrum "real estate" in exchange for Radio (Even though stations don't own the airwaves - the public does - the spectrum is "on loan" from the government as a privilege, though the broadcasters would like us to think that they are an "institition", they have to earn and justify their continued use of that spectrum) Add to that, with DTV, there is a way to broadcast Radio channels, though broadcasters have barely explored its potential yet, and even fewer individuals are aware of that. So an incumbent DTV broadcaster can have "both" TV and Radio, even though at the present time there are no mobile or portable TV receivers - no screen, just a tuner (that I know of) that can decode the radio broadcasts "riding" on a DTV stations carrier.

 

[Carmine5]

I don't think most broadcasters would consider swapping their TV license for a FM license.

Agreed. In a given area, there are fewer TV stations than Radio stations, so the percentage of potential advertising revenue is divided among fewer TV than Radio stations. We know that TV stations generally charge more for commercial time, or selling airtime for programming. TV is obviously a different "animal" than Radio, one would expect it to be very rare that a TV broadcaster would want to give up such a valuable portion of spectrum "real estate" in exchange for Radio (Even though stations don't own the airwaves - the public does - the spectrum is "on loan" from the government as a privilege, though the broadcasters would like us to think that they are an "institition", they have to earn and justify their continued use of that spectrum) Add to that, with DTV, there is a way to broadcast Radio channels, though broadcasters have barely explored its potential yet, and even fewer individuals are aware of that. So an incumbent DTV broadcaster can have "both" TV and Radio, even though at the present time there are no mobile or portable TV receivers - no screen, just a tuner (that I know of) that can decode the radio broadcasts "riding" on a DTV stations carrier.

Nearly all of the full power and Class A stations on channels 5 & 6 have migrated to the better propagating pastures of UHF (while retaining their virtual channels). That leaves the LPTV stations. Most of those are still broadcasting analog and of those that are on channel 6 many have become so-called "Franken FM"s and are pretending to be radio stations anyway.

Given the propagation and multipath problems associated with lower VHF and DTV (and forget mobile DTV on VHF) and that the audience for analog is rapidly disappearing, I think you'll find many LPTV stations that will jump at the FM license exchange provided they can't relocate up the band. There really isn't much of a future for channels 5 & 6 for television.

c5