Paxson Shuffles Off DTV in Buffalo

[Markxxx]

WPXJ is voluntarily turning in its digital channel asignment (53)--it was not yet broadcasting a DTV signal, according to the FCC--and will continue to broadcast in analog on its current channel (51), agreeing to "flash-cut" to digital on that channel by the end of the transition.

For full story <a target="_blank" href=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA631244.html?display=Breaking+News&referral=SUPP>Click Here</a><P ID="signature">______________
Once I figured out the meaning of life....Then I forgot to write it down.</P>

 

[formerGRfan]

Stupid network makes rare smart move...

Virtually all of PAX's viewership in the Buffalo market is via cable, so the switch will be "transparent" to most viewers there. The channel 51 analog signal in the Buffalo market is actually an inferior "rimshot" operation from a tower halfway between Buffalo and Rochester that has to beam away from the direction of Buffalo due to CHCH's channel 51 transmitter near London, Ontario. The PAX 51 signal into metro Buffalo is anemic and barely meets "must carry" status. That's pretty much like the whole PAX broadcasting philosophy, isn't it?

 

[MCNDRWS]

Re: Stupid network makes rare smart move...

... The PAX 51 signal into metro Buffalo is anemic and barely meets

"must carry" status. That's pretty much like the whole PAX broadcasting

philosophy, isn't it?



The PAX Station In Wilkes-Barre/Scranton,PA (WQPX-64) Is The Best Signal

In The Market.... It's A Shame It's Full Of Crap!<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by MCNDRWS on 08/02/05 12:55 PM.</FONT></P>

 

[Mark_Ericson]

Eight Additional Requests?

I expected this sort of thing anyway. CITY-DT in Toronto is also on channel 53 and between that and the Canadian authorities, WPXJ-DT 53 wasn't getting on the air any time soon anyway.

My question is, which are the eight other stations that want to do this? They're not big four stations, and they have digital assignments out-of-core with analogs in-core. More than likely they're not on the air yet or are at very low power.

I have a few ideas...

WWDP-46/52 Norwell/Boston? (337 kW Licensed, 1000 kW CP)
KPPX-51/52 Tolleston/Phoenix? (200 kW Licensed)
KUVI-45/55 Bakersfield? (250 kW Licensed)
WIPB-49/52 Muncie/Indianapolis? (2 kW STA)
WCLJ-42/56 Bloomington/Indianapolis? (7.1 kW STA)
WVPX-23/59 Akron/Cleveland? (630 kW CP)
WACY-32/59 Appleton/Green Bay? (4.14 kW STA)
KTNC-42/63 Concord/San Francisco/Sacramento? (24.1 kW STA)

Or maybe they're including those PAX stations like WWPX in Martinsburg, WV that wants to do analog on channel 12 (even though the digital is already on the air at full power on that frequency). I say that because the first three on that list are highly unlikely what with them having already-licensed facilities.

If it IS those PAX stations, then I say let them go digital-only, but not analog on their digital assignments. In many places those assignments will work for digital but maybe not so well for analog.

For the record, these stations are:

WWPX-60/12 Martinsburg/Hagerstown
WPXQ-69/17 Block Island/Providence
WBPX-68/32 Boston
WQPX-64/32 Scranton
WXPX-66/42 Bradenton/Tampa
KPXD-68/42 Arlington/Dallas
WPXW-66/43 Manassas/Washington
KPXE-62/50 Kansas City

WJEB-59/44 Jacksonville (Religious)
WHSG-63/44 Monroe/Atlanta (TBN)

There are eight PAX stations there...

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[ultravox]

> WPXJ is voluntarily turning in its digital channel asignment
> (53)--it was not yet broadcasting a DTV signal, according to
> the FCC--and will continue to broadcast in analog on its
> current channel (51), agreeing to "flash-cut" to digital on
> that channel by the end of the transition.
>
> For full story Click Here
>

Who cares .. do you really want to see informercials in HD? the network and stations sucks. nobody would miss it if it totaly went dark.

 

[OldAkronite]

Re: Eight Additional Requests?

> My question is, which are the eight other stations that want
> to do this? They're not big four stations, and they have
> digital assignments out-of-core with analogs in-core. More
> than likely they're not on the air yet or are at very low
> power.

The B&C article doesn't say there are eight Paxson-owned stations requesting flash cut, though I don't think your list was all PAX/i stations, either.

WVPX here would certainly be a candidate. It can't get FCC approval of its DT 59 due to Canadian technical issues, and that's out of core, anyway.

-OA<P ID="signature">______________
Ohio Media Watch - <a target="_blank" href=http://ohiomedia.blogspot.com>http://ohiomedia.blogspot.com</a></P>

 

[HughMorris]

Re: Stupid network makes rare smart move...

> Virtually all of PAX's viewership in the Buffalo market is
> via cable, so the switch will be "transparent" to most
> viewers there. The channel 51 analog signal in the Buffalo
> market is actually an inferior "rimshot" operation from a
> tower halfway between Buffalo and Rochester that has to beam
> away from the direction of Buffalo due to CHCH's channel 51
> transmitter near London, Ontario. The PAX 51 signal into
> metro Buffalo is anemic and barely meets "must carry"
> status. That's pretty much like the whole PAX broadcasting
> philosophy, isn't it?
>

Thanks fGRf - wondered what had happened to you.

That would account for the inconsistent nature of their signal - some what like WNGS.