• Get involved.
    We want your input!
    Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.

    After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
    If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.

    After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
    https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/

    Thanks in advance and have fun!
    RadioDiscussions Administrators

KCWK, KBTZ, KMMF, KLMN

E

e-dawg

Since these stations recently deleted by the FCC because they haven't sign on the digital signal.

Can they be back on air again?
 
e-dawg said:
Since these stations recently deleted by the FCC because they haven't sign on the digital signal.

Can they be back on air again?
Click to expand...

I'm not entirely sure what's up here.

The three Montana stations are listed in CDBS as having DTV permits valid until December 12th, and KCWK's DTV permit is valid until August 18th. At least KLMN's Wikipedia page says they remained on the air in analog until June 12th, so they shouldn't have lost their license for being off too long.

On the other hand, they're listed with a "D" before their callsigns which indeed usually indicates their licenses are gone. I suppose it could be they voluntarily surrendered their permits for cancellation.
 
w9wi said:
On the other hand, they're listed with a "D" before their callsigns which indeed usually indicates their licenses are gone. I suppose it could be they voluntarily surrendered their permits for cancellation.
Click to expand...

That was my assumption. I know Pappas had shut down KCWK, and I think that station has been off for 12 months. The Montana trio, IIRC, had financial problems.

e-dawg said:
Since these stations recently deleted by the FCC because they haven't sign on the digital signal.

Can they be back on air again?
Click to expand...

Even if they could, I don't see that happening, given Montana's sparse population, and in the case of these three stations, mountainous terrain that really limits the signal. I've been to Missoula, and I'm pretty sure an LPTV station could just as easily cover the population there.
 
The three Montana stations (KBTZ, KMMF, KLMN) are all in bankruptcy. At least two of the three (KBTZ, KMMF) were owned by Equity Broadcasting, and the third one may be as well. KBTZ and KMMF were the Fox affiliates for their respective markets (Butte and Missoula), and Fox is being picked up by the Max Media owned ABC stations in both of these markets as a digital subchannel. Max Media has also made a bid to pick up these stations in bankruptcy auction from Equity, but common ownership of two stations in either of these markets would violate the FCC's duopoly rules -- so it may be that they're just interested in picking up the programming from these stations and moving it to a subchannel, or it may be that they're seeking a waiver from the FCC with the digital subchannel as a backup.
 
The Montana stations turned in their licenses. Fox is now a subchannel on Max Media stations across the state. Not sure if they're doing dual 720p or not.

- Trip
 
tripinva said:
The Montana stations turned in their licenses. Fox is now a subchannel on Max Media stations across the state.
Click to expand...

Or rather, the western part of the state -- KHMT in Billings is owned by Mission Broadcasting and controlled by Nexstar.
 
Good point, Azumanga. Forgot that one. :)

Actually, I'd forgotten that Max Media owned KULR. I always associate Max Media with ABC.

- Trip
 
TexasTom said:
The three Montana stations (KBTZ, KMMF, KLMN) are all in bankruptcy. At least two of the three (KBTZ, KMMF) were owned by Equity Broadcasting, and the third one may be as well. KBTZ and KMMF were the Fox affiliates for their respective markets (Butte and Missoula), and Fox is being picked up by the Max Media owned ABC stations in both of these markets as a digital subchannel. Max Media has also made a bid to pick up these stations in bankruptcy auction from Equity, but common ownership of two stations in either of these markets would violate the FCC's duopoly rules -- so it may be that they're just interested in picking up the programming from these stations and moving it to a subchannel, or it may be that they're seeking a waiver from the FCC with the digital subchannel as a backup.
Click to expand...

Yeah, all three were Equity stations, and all were Fox affiliates for their respective cities. I'd be surprised to see their licenses restored, given that the Fox programming can run on a second subchannel of an existing station. Pre-DTV, I think the FCC would have made an exception to the duopoly rules to keep a community from losing access to a big 4 network.
 
When the FCC cancels a license and deletes a call sign, as has been done with KCWK, that's generally final. I don't think it's coming back.
 
Status
This thread has been closed due to inactivity. You can create a new thread to discuss this topic.


Back
Top Bottom