• 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

KXAM to KBVO Call Letter Change (Llano/Austin)

K

KMRD

Following up on an observation from captex in another thread regarding KXAM-Llano's call letter change to KBVO to match that of the low power KBVO-CA 51 Austin, it got me wondering if LIN might move the MyNetworkTV affiliation from KNVA to KBVO 14 Llano / KNVO-CA 51 Austin. Here's the rationale for my thought:

1. KNVA 54 (CW) is starting a nightly local newscast at 9pm later this month, when MyNet's nightly programming normally begins
2. KBVO-CA 51 currently simulcasts KNVA, but it's not really necessary since KNVA provides a full power signal while KBVO 51 does not
3. KBVO 14 (Llano) provides great coverage of the Hill Country, while the digital permit for KBVO 51 Austin provides a strong signal over Austin proper (the two stations combined would cover a vast area of the Hill Country and all of Austin)

It may not happen this way, but the KXAM to KBVO call letter change strongly implies some sort of shake up is in the offering.
 
KMRD said:
Following up on an observation from captex in another thread regarding KXAM-Llano's call letter change to KBVO to match that of the low power KBVO-CA 51 Austin, it got me wondering if LIN might move the MyNetworkTV affiliation from KNVA to KBVO 14 Llano / KNVO-CA 51 Austin. Here's the rationale for my thought:

1. KNVA 54 (CW) is starting a nightly local newscast at 9pm later this month, when MyNet's nightly programming normally begins
2. KBVO-CA 51 currently simulcasts KNVA, but it's not really necessary since KNVA provides a full power signal while KBVO 51 does not
3. KBVO 14 (Llano) provides great coverage of the Hill Country, while the digital permit for KBVO 51 Austin provides a strong signal over Austin proper (the two stations combined would cover a vast area of the Hill Country and all of Austin)

It may not happen this way, but the KXAM to KBVO call letter change strongly implies some sort of shake up is in the offering.
Click to expand...

You make some good points, but does KXAN Ch. 36 cover the areas around Llano that KXAM/KBVO Ch. 14 did? If LIN does change affiliations for Ch. 14 and Ch. 51 (which we doubt, but anything is possible) will 36 upgrade the signal cover that area as an NBC affiliate or one of the networks end up on a sub channel?
 
I imagine they'd do a subchannel sort of thing:

36-1 NBC-HD
36-2 My-SD

14-1 My-SD
14-2 NBC-HD

And perhaps My-HD on 51-1 when they flash-cut it.

Plenty of satellite stations have arrangements like that now to get must-carry. WCIA/WCFN do it, UNC's various stations do it, WWCW does something similar but not identical, see also WBUP/WBKP, etc.

- Trip
 
I'd say anything is plausible. I've also wondered if they might consider putting MyNet on 54.2. On a sidebar note, I checked Network Solutions last night and noticed that www.myaustintv.com was registered to LIN TV - Austin back on 7/23.
 
KMRD said:
I'd say anything is plausible. I've also wondered if they might consider putting MyNet on 54.2. On a sidebar note, I checked Network Solutions last night and noticed that www.myaustintv.com was registered to LIN TV - Austin back on 7/23.
Click to expand...

Ahhh....Interesting. Or another sernario is that LIN may keep NBC on 14.1 and have My TV on 14.2 as well as KXAN on 36.1 and 36.2. I would imagine even when 51 flash cuts to digital they'll simulcast it on 54.2. I wonder if this happens will they have general entertainment programming and syndicated shows with an addition to My TV programming? I think this should've been done when My TV first came out but hopefully this change happens.
 
If they do it, they'll put the My programming on 14-1 and NBC on 14-2. If NBC is on 14-1, then the My stuff doesn't get must-carry.

- Trip
 
I don't live in Austin so I can only assume a few things about the way this situation works.

As it is now, 14 is just a repeater of 36. If you get 36 on cable, you don't get 14. (and vice versa)
LIN programs KNVA through an LNA and has it on cable across the market.

Clearly, LIN would be wise to make 14 into something different from 36 or 54 that could be must-carried across the market. My Network TV would fit that bill nicely. That would give them 3 different stations to program in the market and wouldn't really hurt 36's viewership too much. (anyone have any idea what the ratings are like for 14?)

From what I can tell, 14's over the air digital signal gets into Austin pretty well. 36's over the air digital signal makes it to Llano too. Seems like that's a lot of overlap for a repeater service.
 
IIRC the Llano station was originally planned as a rimshot TV for Austin licensed to Round Mountain. Lin may have bought the license and launched it as a repeater as a cheap way to keep another full power station from entering the Austin market.

It could be they see an opportunity to return to plan A.
 
There's something else going on, but I don't know how significant it is. KCWX Fredericksburg has an application for a power increase on channel 5. Although it really wouldn't extend their coverage that much, they also recently filed a couple of applications for "fill-in" translators, both on channel 8:
www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=LD1326249.html (Austin)
www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=LD1328399.html (San Antonio)

Since KCWX is officially the CW affiliate for San Antonio there's no problem there but what about the potential conflict in Austin with KNVA?
 
I could pickup KCWX at home in South Austin. But since all the other SA stations are at Elmendorf I'd rather aim my antenna there instead of the lone signal to the Southwest.
 
jd said:
There's something else going on, but I don't know how significant it is. KCWX Fredericksburg has an application for a power increase on channel 5. Although it really wouldn't extend their coverage that much, they also recently filed a couple of applications for "fill-in" translators, both on channel 8:
www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=LD1326249.html (Austin)
www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=LD1328399.html (San Antonio)
Click to expand...

Well, it won't increase their coverage on paper by much. However, I understand KCWX currently doesn't have good coverage within its primary signal contour. If I remember correctly, they're applying to raise their power to almost double the maximum for a DT on channel 5.

Since KCWX is officially the CW affiliate for San Antonio there's no problem there but what about the potential conflict in Austin with KNVA?
Click to expand...

I can't imagine there would be any real issue since the Austin translator will lie totally within the primary signal contour for KCWX. KNVA may not be comfortable with it, but they don't have much say in the matter.
 
While it may be true that KXAN is cooking something up for 14, it should be pointed out that they air news updates from their Hill Country bureau (staffed by a one-man-band reporter based in Llano) throughout the day on that channel, as well as commercials from businesses in that neck of the woods. So while they air the same network and syndicated shows on 14 and 36, there are some subtle-ish differences between the 2.
 
this morning, i read in the public notices section in the statesman about kbvo hd being added to time warners cable lineup 1525 (mytv), rtn keye hd 2 is being dropped from 1532 and one other channel being added or dropped i believe the jewerly channel ( i not much on home shoping channels) there was no date on the changes.
 
The change will probably get the SD signals (possibly HD) on satellite and HD on cable (as mentioned...). More eyes, more ad $$$...
 
As a devoted over-the-air viewer I've discovered digital is much less forgiving than analog. I can pickup San Antonio and Austin because I have two antennas pointed squarely at their respective transmitter sites. I could get Fredericksburg if I swing the south antenna in their direction but then I lose the SA stations. For the same reason I will not be watching the Llano station if and when its signal reaches me in far south Austin.
 
Good point, Fred. I believe that KBVO-CA (51) will help resolve issues with Austin coverage. I believe LIN is going to resurrect the old HPN translator network (plus KBVO Llano) and make it MyNet. That's just my guess... I have no inside knowledge. MyNet begins their fall season on 9/28, so one would think such a change (if that's the plan) would happen by that date.

Fred: Good luck on the new Telemundo newscasts. They made a wise choice with you - adds instant credibility.
 
captex said:
i wondering this station will also have different programs that are not on kxan or knva.
Click to expand...

I was wondering that myself. Hopefully they will have different programming seperate from KXAN and KNVA.
 
There's a lot of syndicated stuff that's not seen in Austin right now, so they def. have options. But I suspect the bulk of their lineup will be double runs of KXAN and KNVA shows. And infomercials. Lots of infomercials. Prove me wrong, LIN.
 
Status
This thread has been closed due to inactivity. You can create a new thread to discuss this topic.


Back
Top Bottom