More Comcast mischief--this time involving local PBS stations

[Tim from Springfield IL]

Controversy has recently erupted here in Springfield, IL over Comcast's decision to designate the city's PBS station, WSEC-14/8 (which has translators WQEC-27 in Quincy and WMEC-22 in Macomb) digital-only on the local system (but still remaining on cable channel 8 ONLY with a digital box). WILL-12 Urbana was selected instead as the primary PBS affiliate for Comcast customers in the Springfield/Decatur/Champaign market.

An article on this matter appeared in today's Springfield State Journal-Register at:

http://www.sj-r.com/entertainment/x1194163714/WSEC-wont-return-to-analog-cable-Comcast-says

Have there been other cases of Comcast (or other cable companies) moving secondary PBS stations to digital-only (in markets with more than one PBS station, or on systems that have offered out-of-market PBS stations). Has it even also occurred with other non-PBS OTA channels (other than LPTV's and Class A's--even those broadcasting within the system's home market?).

 

[KML0224]

Here in New Britain, CT, Comcast carries WEDH-TV (PBS) channel 24 analog of Hartford on cable channel 7. WEDH-DT channel 24-1 is on the digital tier somewhere. Comcast carries WGBY-DT (PBS) of Springfield, MA on cable channel 12. The story with WGBY on cable channel 12 is a strange one because the picture is all snowy and grainy, as if they were picking up a weak signal of their old analog channel 57 signal (now off the air).

 

[MarcB]

Here in New Britain, CT, Comcast carries WEDH-TV (PBS) channel 24 analog of Hartford on cable channel 7. WEDH-DT channel 24-1 is on the digital tier somewhere. Comcast carries WGBY-DT (PBS) of Springfield, MA on cable channel 12. The story with WGBY on cable channel 12 is a strange one because the picture is all snowy and grainy, as if they were picking up a weak signal of their old analog channel 57 signal (now off the air).

Kevin, here in Bristol, CT on COMCAST, WGBY is crystal clear on cable Channel 12. And WEDH is also on Digital only Channel 97.

 

[w9wi]

Controversy has recently erupted here in Springfield, IL over Comcast's decision to designate the city's PBS station, WSEC-14/8 (which has translators WQEC-27 in Quincy and WMEC-22 in Macomb) digital-only on the local system (but still remaining on cable channel 8 ONLY with a digital box). WILL-12 Urbana was selected instead as the primary PBS affiliate for Comcast customers in the Springfield/Decatur/Champaign market.

An article on this matter appeared in today's Springfield State Journal-Register at:

http://www.sj-r.com/entertainment/x1194163714/WSEC-wont-return-to-analog-cable-Comcast-says

Have there been other cases of Comcast (or other cable companies) moving secondary PBS stations to digital-only (in markets with more than one PBS station, or on systems that have offered out-of-market PBS stations). Has it even also occurred with other non-PBS OTA channels (other than LPTV's and Class A's--even those broadcasting within the system's home market?).

Time-Warner in the Milwaukee area used to carry Madison's PBS station WHA in analog; they no longer do so, but it's my understanding WHA is still on digital cable. (not 100% certain as my relatives all have only analog cable...)

It was my understanding that cable operators are required to deliver *in analog format* all "must-carry" stations. This would include *all* non-commercial stations that deliver an adequate signal to the cable head-end. That said, WSEC is a relatively wimpy signal -- and since many of the Springfield-market stations transmit from well east of Springfield, maybe the head-end is well to the east of the city -- and thus WSEC isn't strong enough to qualify?

 

[tripinva]

I was under the impression that this was a nationwide deal the cable operators made with PBS. I'd have to look for some links to it again, but the terms of the deal as I recall were that a primary PBS in the area would be chosen and that PBS would be carried on both analog and digital. Any others would be secondary and get the choice between analog carriage of just the primary feed or digital carriage with all subchannels.

I'm not 100% certain on this, so don't take my word for it. It's something I remember reading and I'd have to dig up links on it and I'm currently pressed for time (Mother's Day lunch soon) so I can't do it now.

- Trip

 

[Tim from Springfield IL]

Controversy has recently erupted here in Springfield, IL over Comcast's decision to designate the city's PBS station, WSEC-14/8 (which has translators WQEC-27 in Quincy and WMEC-22 in Macomb) digital-only on the local system (but still remaining on cable channel 8 ONLY with a digital box). WILL-12 Urbana was selected instead as the primary PBS affiliate for Comcast customers in the Springfield/Decatur/Champaign market.

An article on this matter appeared in today's Springfield State Journal-Register at:

http://www.sj-r.com/entertainment/x1194163714/WSEC-wont-return-to-analog-cable-Comcast-says

Have there been other cases of Comcast (or other cable companies) moving secondary PBS stations to digital-only (in markets with more than one PBS station, or on systems that have offered out-of-market PBS stations). Has it even also occurred with other non-PBS OTA channels (other than LPTV's and Class A's--even those broadcasting within the system's home market?).

Time-Warner in the Milwaukee area used to carry Madison's PBS station WHA in analog; they no longer do so, but it's my understanding WHA is still on digital cable. (not 100% certain as my relatives all have only analog cable...)

It was my understanding that cable operators are required to deliver *in analog format* all "must-carry" stations. This would include *all* non-commercial stations that deliver an adequate signal to the cable head-end. That said, WSEC is a relatively wimpy signal -- and since many of the Springfield-market stations transmit from well east of Springfield, maybe the head-end is well to the east of the city -- and thus WSEC isn't strong enough to qualify?

WSEC is based out of Springfield (the suburb of Chatham, that is) and its only immediate Springfield signal is a translator on channel 8, but the station is actually licensed to Jacksonville (with its tower near the southeastern Morgan County town of Franklin, about 25 miles southwest of Springfield).

Here's the link to the projected coverage maps (post-transition) of all stations in the Champaign/Decatur/Springfield market (including WSEC and WILL--note the huge coverage increase for WSEC to as far south as Alton, IL):

http://www.fcc.gov/dtv/markets/maps_report1/Champaign-Springfield-Decatur_IL.pdf

 

[WPPCProductions]

Hi all,I guess it's happening everywhere. heres my thread in the New England tv section talking about the bolony they are pulling in my area.

http://boards.radio-info.com/smf/index.php/topic,124932.0.html

 

[Markxxx]

Well Springfield / Champaign is a dumb market anyway

I mean ABC, CBS, and FOX have to have two full power stations to cover the markets, so why not make it two markets? Or like NBC and the CW just put their transmitter in Decatur half way between the cities and cover the entire market. (I guess the transmitters won't cover the home stations or something)

But anyway...

Is Comcast scrambling the Springfield PBS, 'cause new TVs can get digital cable as well as analog cable as long as the digital signals aren't scrambled.

 

[OhioMediaWatch]

From the linked article:

Moving WSEC to digital-only comes in the wake of a complicated agreement between the Association of Public Television Stations and the National Cable & Telecommunications Association. In cities with more than one PBS station, cable providers could designate one station as the “primary” and other stations as “secondary.”

For the primary station, cable providers must carry both the analog and digital signals. But for secondary stations, cable operators can require a choice: They’ll carry either one analog station with no digital, or multiple digital stations with no analog.

Interesting. I wonder if that affects Western Reserve PBS here (WNEO/45 Alliance OH-WEAO/49 Akron).

Time Warner Cable, when it took over the Cleveland-based Adelphia system, had put WEAO's digital signal in the revised HDTV lineups...but that channel, which would now be 415, never showed up. WEAO-DT does show up in TWC's Akron/Canton systems, but the Cleveland-based ex-Adelphia system only carries Cleveland's WVIZ-DT (411). And the merger was some time ago.

The folks at 45/49 don't see to know why. Maybe I'll run this past 'em.

WEAO/49 is, and always has been, available on the basic analog lineup on all area systems, including the ex-Adelphia TWC systems out of Cleveland.

And of course, Akron/Canton is part of the Cleveland market.

 

[OhioMediaWatch]

I almost forgot to mention: This may be behind the struggles Erie PA-based WQLN/54 is having on the TWC system in extreme Northeast Ohio (Ashtabula, etc.).

TWC bounced WQLN out of the analog lineup there, and now offers it (only after some local protest) on digital cable. Presumably, TWC can do that since WVIZ/25 is the "primary" PBSer in the area. Ashtabula is still in the Cleveland market, though as the crow flies, it's closer to Erie.

 

[Bill_W]

In Philly, only WHYY is left on analog. NJN, in NJ and WLVT from Allentown, PA are both on digital only. They also retained their "analog" positions also but, they can only be seen with a digital box.

 

[ding12]

I think in Philly (SE PA) and Delaware, it's clear and easy for Comcast to do that as WLVT is Lehigh Valley Television, and areas that are not Lehigh Valley won't give WLVT any primary status over WHYY, and NJN is New Jersey tax payer funded, and oriented, so areas that are not NJ wont give NJN any primary status over WHYY.

But on the Jersey side, I can't see NJN conceding off analog cable and accepting secondary status. They only have one digital subchannel and Comcast carries it.

NJN and WHYY will likely be treated equal (keep analog cable spots, while having digital cable representation) in Southern NJ, and NJN and WNET in Northern (NY market). Perhaps Comcast bother WHYY with an ultimatum (choose analog or digital only) in Atlantic and Cape May Counties, areas that are not Delaware Valley and WHYY's signal is weak, but that's the only case.

I could be wrong but I can't see stations be dropped off analog in areas where 2 stations are both equal: MPT and DC's WETA and WHUT in Montgomery County MD, MD's largest county, WETA and WHUT in general where they overlap within DC's market, or in LA or SF that have multiple PBS stations, licensed to cities close to each other, but neither are more primary over the other per se.

 

[nathannah]

Time-Warner in the Milwaukee area used to carry Madison's PBS station WHA in analog; they no longer do so, but it's my understanding WHA is still on digital cable. (not 100% certain as my relatives all have only analog cable...)

Nope, they dropped in January under the half-assed excuse that it 'duplicates the programming of Milwaukee Public Television'. Of course, knowing that Time Warner has a VOD deal with MPTV on their Wisconsin systems and the ability to provide all of their subchannels (yet Charter cannot) says something else entirely. At least here where I am, I can still get WPT (via WPNE Green Bay) and MPTV since Sheboygan has 'most viewed' status for both stations. But you would think because it's PBS, it's required to carry them, even if the pesky religious stations and two-bit informercial channels get their way on must-carry.

 

[azumanga]

Apparently, this is not just Comcast -- yesterday (5/12), Bright House in Tampa Bay annonced that WUSF, Tampa Bay's secondary PBS, will be available in digital only on 6/12, when the digital switchover for aerial stations occurs. They originally scheduled this for 2/17, until the deadline was pushed over. No doubt Bright House will also be doing this in other markets with secondary PBS's (such as Orlando, with WBSC and WBCC).

 

[Stitch]

Same thing seems to have happened with Comcast in west-central Indiana. The city of Sullivan was offered WVUT-TV/Vincennes and WTIU/Bloomington. As of a couple of weeks ago, no analog WVUT. Assuming it's still offered on digital, though I'm still stuck with analog service.

 

[jegrant]

Here in Kokomo, IN's Comcast system, we're getting WFYI 20 as our primary/analog PBS, and WIPB 49, formerly offered in analog on cable 21, is now only available in digital. However, Comcast offers 20.1 (primary/HD), 20.2 (V-Me), and 20.3 (WFYI+ (Create during the day; Indiana produced programming in primetime), as well as 49.1 (primary/HD). I wish we also got 49.2 (Create 24/7) but under the APTS/NCTA agreement, Comcast doesn't have to carry it because it is too duplicative when compared to 20.3.

(Hint to WFYI: If 20.3 would drop one or two hours of Create, that'd push it just under the programming duplication rule, which IIRC is 12 hours per day of substantially similar programming. Instead of carrying Create from 6 am to 7 pm, how about carrying it from 7 am to 6 pm. Rerun Newshour, or show a BBC World News & Worldfocus block at 6 am & 6:30 am.)

WFYI has hinted that eventually they plan to move the overnight repeats of the basic PBS schedule to 20.3, but it's not clear what might replace them on 20.1. Perhaps some sort of HD-only selection of repeats?

However - Comcast viewers in Lafayette, IN have lucked out with the digital switch, as their primary analog PBS is still WFYI 20, but the secondary is WTTW Chicago. As such, the Lafayette system carries 20.1, 20.2, and 20.3, along with 11.1 (HD), 11.2 (WTTW Prime), 11.3 (Create), and 11.4 (V-Me)!

 

[BRNout]

So far here in the Chicago area, I haven't seen Comcast pull any shenanigans with PBS and our lineup has remained unchanged with primary WTTW 11, secondary WYCC "Wise TV" 20 and tertiary WYIN "Lakeshore PBS" from Gary, IN.

I do wonder if anything has happened with the Comcast system that serves the northern half of Lake County (Waukegan/Libertyville) which has always offered the main PBS affiliate from Milwaukee in addition to WTTW and WYCC.

It's amazing that none of these local programming "changes" ever seems to result in the consumer getting MORE over the air channels on basic cable. Always a cutback or downgrade of some sort. Very frustrating to many viewers, yet nothing is ever done to prevent it.

 

[jegrant]

At least here in Kokomo, we are getting more local OTA stations on basic cable, it's just that we're getting fewer in analog, and the new ones are all in digital.

 

[BRNout]

Well, I noticed last night that WYCC (Chicago's secondary PBS) showed up in HD and with their HD-2 on the digital tier. However, they are still on analog - at least for now.