FOX Springfield On the Air

[smaug07]

I don't know if it's been reported on the board yet, but FOX Springfield is officially on the air. I was flipping around my digital television stations via my antenna and found on WGGB, channel 40's digital subchannel 40-2, that FOX Springfield is indeed up and running with regular programming. Last week I noticed it was showing promotions for FOX programming but no actual programs. They are branding it as "FOX 6", which I guess is because WTIC, channel 61, the FOX affiliate in Hartford, was on cable channel 6 in the Springfield area and FOX Springfield will replace channel 61, much in the way CBS 3 (WSHM, low power channel 67) replaced WFSB, channel 3, the CBS affiliate in Hartford on the Springfield cable systems.

 

[KML0224]

I think they should simply call it "FOX Springfield". End of discussion.

 

[oldschooltv]

I think they should simply call it "FOX Springfield". End of discussion.

Yea man, this is getting too weird. When is the copying going to end?

We have Hartford-New Haven stations (WCTX-59) trying to be like the New York City stations (WWOR-9), which means MyTV9 twice.

Then there's the Springfield stations trying to be like the Hartford-New Haven stations, first copying off channel 3, and now 61.

WFSB should be called "CBS3" and not that channel 67 in Springfield. But at least they're both owned by Meredith.

This Springfield FOX station... it's not even owned by the same company as FOX61 in Hartford. But they're capitalizing on the number 6, and it's cable channel position, which all results from FOX61's presence in Springfield.

Seems like every market is trying to capitalize on its bigger and better neighbor. It's all whacky if you ask me.

ps A found the new FOX6 logo online: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/4b/Wggb_dt2.png

 

[BRNout]

The least they could do is to use the newer Fox-style logo like Fox 5 in New York! Yeah, I'm also not a big fan of using the cable channel number for a positioner. And, being an area with a lot of UHF signals, southern New England seems to have more of this than most markets (San Diego being a big exception). However, in this case the OTA channel is a digital sub, so it actually does makes the most sense. Unlike "My 9" which is very confusing when the adjacent market has the same channel number and ID.

This is unfortunate for most people in western MA though (in my view). They lose a slicker, larger market signal that continues to have a strong OTA signal in the area, in favor of a small-time yokel operation. That's at least the case on cable - and probably it'll happen soon on dish too. Much like what happened with Sham-3, er WSHM. Only it was the owner of the station being ripped-off who pulled that one off. Even with all of its improvements, Sham-3 is still pretty pale when compared with WFSB.

 

[MarcB]

I've seen reports WTIC-TV will still be on cable, it's just being moved to the Digital Tier, where WGGB-DT2 was before when it was "THE TUBE".

By the way anyone have a program schedule for "FOX 6"? I have yet to see one online. The schedule on WGGB's website from Titan TV says To Be Announced Programming information unavailable - to be announced for WGGB-DT2. And none of the other Online listing Providers - ZAP2IT.COM, TVGUIDE.COM,or TV.YAHOO.COM have the listings for "FOX 6".

 

[smaug07]

I took a brief look at FOX6's lineup Monday afternoon and it consisted of mainly "Judge" shows in the afternoon, along with Maury Povich at 4PM, followed by an hour of The Simpsons from 5-6, an hour of Family Guy from 6-7, and an hour of Everybody Loves Raymond from 7 to 8, before the prime time FOX shows start. I do not know what is on after 10PM.

 

[KML0224]

Anybody find it strange that Springfield, MA and Hartford, CT are separate TV markets, despite the fact that Springfield is closer to Hartford than New Haven is? I can only think of one reason why they're separate markets: HINTA large city about 90 miles to the east on I-90.

 

[FRM-Yankey]

I took a brief look at FOX6's lineup Monday afternoon and it consisted of mainly "Judge" shows in the afternoon, along with Maury Povich at 4PM, followed by an hour of The Simpsons from 5-6, an hour of Family Guy from 6-7, and an hour of Everybody Loves Raymond from 7 to 8, before the prime time FOX shows start. I do not know what is on after 10PM.

This is almost the same schedule that the local Fox station has in the Roanoke valley VA. They will probably import a local news program produce by a another station in that market for the 10.00 time slot?

 

[BRNout]

This is almost the same schedule that the local Fox station has in the Roanoke valley VA. They will probably import a local news program produce by a another station in that market for the 10.00 time slot?

Of course, from their "parent" station, WGGB. I can see it now: "ABC 40 News at 10 on 6."

 

[PaulRAnderson]

How does it help non-cable viewers to identify channel 40.2 as "6"? Or will 40.2 somehow show up as "6" on digital tuners?

I agree the numbering thing is ridiculous. "Fox Springfield" would be a much better name, and if they're going to be on cable channel 6 on many systems, they already have an audience. Using "Springfield" instead of "6" would at least identify the station as a local one.

WCTX using "9" is the most ridiculous of all. How does anyone keep channel 9 from NJ and 59 from CT straight when even their logos are similar? Doesn't that screw up the ratings? Or does WCTX hope to get higher ratings as many WWOR viewers in Connecticut would put "My 9" in their diaries?

Paul

 

[BRNout]

How does it help non-cable viewers to identify channel 40.2 as "6"? Or will 40.2 somehow show up as "6" on digital tuners?

Because the vast majority of their viewers in western MA will receive them via Comcast Cable. And on Comcast systems in the western MA region (basically Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin Counties - not Berkshire which is in the Albany market), they are on channel 6 - the former location of WTIC-TV. That's why.

Could 40.2 map to 6? That I don't know.

 

[DToTheJ]

WCTX using "9" is the most ridiculous of all. How does anyone keep channel 9 from NJ and 59 from CT straight when even their logos are similar? Doesn't that screw up the ratings? Or does WCTX hope to get higher ratings as many WWOR viewers in Connecticut would put "My 9" in their diaries?

Much like WGGB-DT is employing the "Fox 6" name in conjunction with their placement on cable systems, WCTX also incorcporated the "My TV 9" name because they are on channel 9 on most cable systems.

 

[BRNout]

Much like WGGB-DT is employing the "Fox 6" name in conjunction with their placement on cable systems, WCTX also incorcporated the "My TV 9" name because they are on channel 9 on most cable systems.

That one is more of a dicey idea because there already was a station with the same branding just 60 miles down the road from WCTX's tx site near New Haven. And, that one actually is on channel 9 and it's also carried on a decent percentage of the same cable systems that carry WCTX. So, a lot of people in Connecticut actually end up getting two My 9's! And, being WWOR, the original "My 9" is well known to people in much of CT.

So, either they are trying to piggyback on the more well-known "real" My 9 or they are completely tone deaf when it comes to the potential confusion that such branding can cause in southern and western CT. My honest guess is that it's the first one. Which comes off as an attempt to insult our intelligence.

I suppose that's why it's different. The CT version of "My 9" seen by some as an impostor. A somewhat unique situation.

 

[oldschooltv]

That one is more of a dicey idea because there already was a station with the same branding just 60 miles down the road from WCTX's tx site near New Haven. And, that one actually is on channel 9 and it's also carried on a decent percentage of the same cable systems that carry WCTX. So, a lot of people in Connecticut actually end up getting two My 9's! And, being WWOR, the original "My 9" is well known to people in much of CT.

Dicey indeed. My biggest problem is that "Channel 9" was always available in a good part of Connecticut over-the-air since the 1950s. Until we had cable, people tuned into WOR-9. Even after we got cable in the 80s, Channel 9 was on our system. It still is to this day. Except for 8, 20, and 43, the New York City stations dominated Connecticut south and west of Hartford! (Remember 30, was weaker then; we got NBC on 4 and 20).

Then in 1994, they turned on WTVU-59 in New Haven. After a series of name and affiliation changes, they finally became "UPN9" in 2005, just like WWOR. Later both stations became MyTV9 or My9.

So you take a station available to Connecticut residents for over 50 years, and you try to replace it with something somewhat artificial. It just doesn't jive with me, but maybe the average viewer doesn't notice it like we do? It's still sneaky in my view.

 

[mequetrefe413]

I know there was someone asking what would be on the schedule after the 10pm news. It consists of all of MY TV Network primetime programming (which also fills a void in Western Massachusetts, and would be the new home of WWE Smackdown on Friday nights) and informercials.

 

[ansky212]

How is channel 40's digital signal in the Hartford area? Can it be picked up? I can get the analog signal fairly well in northwest Farmington.

 

[KML0224]

I've never received a trace of any Springfield station on digital here in New Britain's south end.

 

[DJKraze]

Hmm, let me see, I'm in Middletown as many of you know, and for me, I get WGGB-DT about 90% of the time. I just turned on Fox 6...
program ID shows Jerry Springer show. Meter shows 59-60% signal strength, it's in the yellow, not quite green, but I've seen no blocking at the moment.

Just had a Lasix add followed by a promo for the Simpsons at 5 & 5:30, and oops! It's 11:56, Jerry is over (early????) and Maury just started, topic:

"I slept with 5 men... is one my baby's father?" (Ugh! who watches this crap)

dropped down to 40-1 (55-1) ABC 40 and The View is finishing? (it's now 11:58)

I watched ABC 40 for a few moments, audio keeps clipping out (I'm sure due to signal strength)

12:02, I tuned back to Fox6, wait a minute, now Jerry Springer IS on, and the topic is "Trannie Triangle" (Ugh! again)

Seems like some kind of programming issues somewhere along the line (and I don't just mean the crappy content of the shows)

 

[chuckydoll]

It's Fox 6 for a reason

"Fox Springfield" sounds too generic. The Fox network also has stations in Springfield IL (WRSP-55) and Springfield MO (KDEB-27). "Simpsons" reference or not, you don't want to confuse viewers.

This new Fox is on Ch. 6 on Comcast and Ch. 10 on Charter in the Western Mass DMA. Comcast in the Pioneer Valley continues to offer WTIC-TV on a digital tier.

(2nd paragraph per NERW)

 

[dhett]

Re: It's Fox 6 for a reason

"Fox Springfield" sounds too generic. The Fox network also has stations in Springfield IL (WRSP-55) and Springfield MO (KDEB-27). "Simpsons" reference or not, you don't want to confuse viewers.

Actually, the MO station has been KSFX since Jan 2005.