KPFW 18-2 (D/FW) NEW PROGRAMMING

[Bob E. Nelson]

I caught a reference to this URL tonight while scanning past KPFW 18-2 announcing new programming in just a few weeks on this low power digital facility:

http://urbansuperstation.com/

 

[dhett]

Exactly the kind of programming for which the LPTV service was introduced. From the FCC website:

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) created the Low Power Television (LPTV) service in 1982 to provide opportunities for locally-oriented television service in small communities. These communities may be in rural areas or may be individual communities within larger urban areas.

I hope they provide a quality product to their intended audience.

You can also count the plethora of Spanish-language and religious programming that DFW has as consistent with the LPTV mission. In the case of the religious programming - we have Daystar and PromiseLand on LPTV outlets here in Phoenix - I wish the quality were better.

 

[eskipper411]

A historical event? Wow! For a station that gets barely any viewers, looks like they are going for a bold move. Put it on KTXA or any other full power in DFW. The best stations always go to the low power. I-I-I just don't get it.

 

[arnoldevns]

I give them credit for trying something local. I just wonder what this will really be when it hits the air.

 

[JHBrandt]

A historical event? Wow! For a station that gets barely any viewers, looks like they are going for a bold move. Put it on KTXA or any other full power in DFW. The best stations always go to the low power. I-I-I just don't get it.

I think this could work, if they advertise that they're out there! KPFW's transmitter is in downtown Dallas vs. Cedar Hill, which should make it easier for their target audience to receive than most LPTVs (i.e., no big fat hairy rooftop antenna needed). They'll probably get some "accidental" viewers if/when the channel swap with KTXA goes through (folks tune to 21 and one day, 18 pops up instead), but most folks won't know they're there unless there's some advertising.

Maybe they could do some joint advertising with the 31.3/31.4 folks about all the channels available only via antenna now 8)

 

[salemjedi54]

Maybe I need to find my treatment/paper on a black owned TV station that I wrote when I was at SHSU. I hope it works as well.

 

[Bob E. Nelson]

Maybe I need to find my treatment/paper on a black owned TV station that I wrote when I was at SHSU. I hope it works as well.

When the Urban Superstation launches, the non-directional contour from KPFW will look like this:

http://www.rabbitears.info/contour.php?appid=1360272

...but when KPFW eventually changes its underlying real channel (as part of the KTVT/KTXA modifications), its revised directional pattern will be as follows (which loses a large part of South Dallas):

http://www.rabbitears.info/contour.php?appid=1336796

 

[JHBrandt]

When the Urban Superstation launches, the non-directional contour from KPFW will look like this:

http://www.rabbitears.info/contour.php?appid=1360272

...but when KPFW eventually changes its underlying real channel (as part of the KTVT/KTXA modifications), its revised directional pattern will be as follows (which loses a large part of South Dallas):

http://www.rabbitears.info/contour.php?appid=1336796

Ouch. Looks like KPFW had to cut a big chunk out of their channel 29 pattern to avoid excess interference to KHPK/28. So the Urban Superstation will lose much of its intended audience because Spamavision has priority.

Hopefully the Urban Superstation can find a better partner before the KTXA/KPFW swap happens. Heck, maybe they can even partner with KHPK!

 

[JHBrandt]

When the Urban Superstation launches, the non-directional contour from KPFW will look like this:

http://www.rabbitears.info/contour.php?appid=1360272

...but when KPFW eventually changes its underlying real channel (as part of the KTVT/KTXA modifications), its revised directional pattern will be as follows (which loses a large part of South Dallas):

http://www.rabbitears.info/contour.php?appid=1336796

Ouch. Looks like KPFW had to cut a big chunk out of their channel 29 pattern to avoid excess interference to KHPK/28. So the Urban Superstation will lose much of its intended audience because Spamavision has priority....

Oops ... just realized I got that exactly backwards :-[ The present omnidirectional pattern is for RF 29; the new directional pattern is for RF 18. The concern must be interference with KTVT on RF 19, which is a bit more understandable.

 

[Bob E. Nelson]

Oops ... just realized I got that exactly backwards :-[ The present omnidirectional pattern is for RF 29; the new directional pattern is for RF 18. The concern must be interference with KTVT on RF 19, which is a bit more understandable.

There's also a co-channel concern when KGSW in Keene builds its CP:

http://maps.google.com/?q=http://ww...SW-LP&freq=0.0&contour=51&city=KEENE&state=TX

I guess that this Keene facilty probably precludes KPFW from ever moving to Cedar Hill.

 

[JHBrandt]

There's also a co-channel concern when KGSW in Keene builds its CP:

http://maps.google.com/?q=http://ww...SW-LP&freq=0.0&contour=51&city=KEENE&state=TX

I guess that this Keene facilty probably precludes KPFW from ever moving to Cedar Hill.

I agree. Hmm... I wonder if the Urban Superstation could lease 18.2 on KGSW as well as KPFW? It wouldn't help with south Dallas, but at least it'd cover south Ft. Worth that way.

I don't know if there's a large African-American community in south Ft. Worth (I haven't lived in DFW that long), so I can't tell whether it'd be worth the trouble. Probably still best to find a new post-switch partner, but it's an alternative worth considering.

 

[JHBrandt]

They missed their go-live date of Saturday; as of today the "coming soon" presentation is still running (and still says Jan. 15).