KWBU Becomes KDYW

[tripinva]

I guess we now know what will happen to the license of KWBU in Waco. KDYW is probably K DaYstar Waco.

- Trip

 

[DToTheJ]

Yep:
http://transition.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/t...t2=&mlat2=&slat2=&dlon2=&mlon2=&slon2=&size=9

Licensee is still listed as "Brazos Valley Public Broadcasting Foundation," however.

 

[captex]

nothing on the daystar site, its probably will be daystar, nothing on the fcc site about transfer of sale and the license is still listed as brazos valley broadcasting foundation.

 

[arnoldevns]

Very surprised this is happening. I can't imagine they'll make money on that.

 

[Mediafrog+]

Very surprised this is happening. I can't imagine they'll make money on that.

Daystar, like TBN, usually pops up on non-comm allocations.

Pretty rare these days for a full power station to stay dark. There's always someone willing to cough up the money and take a shot at a successful operation.

 

[Bob E. Nelson]

I guess we now know what will happen to the license of KWBU in Waco. KDYW is probably K DaYstar Waco.

RF-20 from Waco was always the first to pop in during tropo with a STRONG signal. When it fires back up, it ought to play havoc with co-channel LPTV KBOP and the 3 viewers of the latter.

At my place, the order of Waco stations appearing during tropo events was predictable, just like clockwork: KWBU...KCEN...KWTX...KXXV.

 

[gbranch]

I am kind of surprised that North Texas Public Broadcasting did not go after this allocation to use as a satellite for KERA. I guess that there is enough uncertainty in the public broadcasting world with regards to future government funding.

 

[Mr. Mike]

Very surprised this is happening. I can't imagine they'll make money on that.

Daystar, like TBN, usually pops up on non-comm allocations.

Pretty rare these days for a full power station to stay dark. There's always someone willing to cough up the money and take a shot at a successful operation.

I wouldn't bet on Daystar holding on KDYW long term. Anything can change in the span of a few short years.

 

[azumanga]

I am kind of surprised that North Texas Public Broadcasting did not go after this allocation to use as a satellite for KERA. I guess that there is enough uncertainty in the public broadcasting world with regards to future government funding.

I wouldn't bet on Daystar holding on KDYW long term. Anything can change in the span of a few short years.

But then again, maybe KDYW will be a repeater of KERA, or an all-new PBS station -- remember when The CW started up in 2006 and many stations grabbed up call letters with "CW" in them, with no intent on affiliating with the network?

Since we have nothing right now other than the fact the calls have changed, it still could be anything.

 

[fredcantu]

I am kind of surprised that North Texas Public Broadcasting did not go after this allocation to use as a satellite for KERA. I guess that there is enough uncertainty in the public broadcasting world with regards to future government funding.

Waco still has a PBS station-- KNCT licensed to Killeen. In fact IIRC Waco cable just upgraded KNCT into KWBU's channel slot when KWBU went dark. The market is way too small to support two PBS stations.

 

[azumanga]

Waco still has a PBS station-- KNCT licensed to Killeen. In fact IIRC Waco cable just upgraded KNCT into KWBU's channel slot when KWBU went dark.

That being said, you probably need cable in Waco to get the channel, as KNCT's aerial signal is not powerful enough to reach Waco.

The market is way too small to support two PBS stations.

Yet many cable viewers have access to two PBS stations in any part of the market -- Waco viewers get KNCT and Dallas' KERA; Bryan and College Station viewers get KAMU and Houston's KUHT; those in between Waco and BCS probably get both KNCT and KAMU; and those in the southern reaches of the market may also get KLRU from Austin.

While the market may be too small for two local PBS outlets, the audience is there.

 

[Sammi Brie]

I am kind of surprised that North Texas Public Broadcasting did not go after this allocation to use as a satellite for KERA. I guess that there is enough uncertainty in the public broadcasting world with regards to future government funding.

I wouldn't bet on Daystar holding on KDYW long term. Anything can change in the span of a few short years.

But then again, maybe KDYW will be a repeater of KERA, or an all-new PBS station -- remember when The CW started up in 2006 and many stations grabbed up call letters with "CW" in them, with no intent on affiliating with the network?

Since we have nothing right now other than the fact the calls have changed, it still could be anything.

The only stations that did that IIRC were the KMTR repeaters in Eugene, OR (then Clear Channel). One became KTCW and one became KUCW (moved to their Utah CW station; that one's now KMCB).

 

[azumanga]

But then again, maybe KDYW will be a repeater of KERA, or an all-new PBS station -- remember when The CW started up in 2006 and many stations grabbed up call letters with "CW" in them, with no intent on affiliating with the network?

The only stations that did that IIRC were the KMTR repeaters in Eugene, OR (then Clear Channel). One became KTCW and one became KUCW (moved to their Utah CW station; that one's now KMCB).

There was also WCWF in Plattsburgh, New York, which chose the calls as part of a futile attempt snag the CW affiliation for Champlain Valley (it went to a subchannel of WFFF instead); today, it's WNMN, the MyNet/RTV station for the region.

I thought there were a few other examples.

 

[tripinva]

KOCW Hoisington, KS.

- Trip

 

[JHBrandt]

The [Waco/Killeen] market is way too small to support two PBS stations.

Apparently even the DFW market is way too small to support two PBS stations! Channel 2 went to Daystar waay back in the analog era - in fact it's been Daystar since I moved here in 2000. I'm surprised Waco held on as long as they did.

Fortunately the digital era gave KERA the chance to bring a 2nd PBS station back to DFW, which they eventually did (sort of) in the form of 13-2. But I understand KNCT has two subchannels, so Waco's PBS offerings are still ahead of DFW

 

[Bob E. Nelson]

Apparently even the DFW market is way too small to support two PBS stations! Channel 2 went to Daystar waay back in the analog era - in fact it's been Daystar since I moved here in 2000. I'm surprised Waco held on as long as they did.

Actually KDTN remained PBS through 2004. They were branded as "KERA 2" during their final days until Daystar moved from KMPX to KDTN.

It appears that KDYW may have fired up the transmitter in the wee hours of this morning. Normally KBOP/20 is here 24/7 but this morning, when KCEN obliterated KFWD (both on RF-9), KBOP was also a goner. That seems to indicate tropo from points south and Waco QRM.

Is KDYW running a test pattern now in anticipation of lighting up?

 

[jd]

The KDYW-TV call letters went into effect May 31st, but there's still nothing on the FCC site about a sale to Daystar. Why the delay?

 

[arnoldevns]

This station has apparently signed on. Can anyone confirm it's running Daystar?

 

[jd]

Well, is it on the air or not? tripinva's Rabbit Ears.com site shows that it's off the air, there's no record on the FCC site about a change in ownership, and like I mentioned earlier, the new call letters took effect at the end of May. This is a really strange situation.

 

[AlanB]

Confirmed as Daystar

I received an email today from the Business Administrator at Daystar who confirmed that the network has signed a contract to purchase KDYW and is forming the local board that is required to govern the non-commercial station. He expected that the station would be on the air in about 60 days.