• 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

PBS National

D

dave73

How many PBS stations use the national feed of PBS instead of programming their own schedule for their stations? I was surprised to learn that WYIN TV is doing just that with PSIP 56.3 & 56.4 (56.4 being a simulcast of 56.3). They were simulcasting the main channel on 56.2-56.4, but recently started airing the national PBS service on 56.3 & 56.4 part of the day. I don't know when they started doing this, but noticed it yesterday. They do program their own station on 56.1 (also simulcasting 56.1 on 56.2, at least for now), but I don't exactly know why they're carrying the national PBS along side their own programming. I would think that maybe they might add PBS World since WTTW took a pass on that to program WTTW Prime (WTTW's 24 hour Primetime program channel). WYIN used to carry Create, but that eventually went to WTTW. I wonder if WYIN is airing the national PBS to simply add another part of the PBS service to their subchannels. I will say that they don't have the bandwidth to handle this extra channel. It wasn't an issue when all 4 channels were airing the same thing, but is a problem now. 56.1 & 56.2 are fine, but 56.3 & 56.4 when airing the national PBS freeze up at times. Supposedly, WYIN is running 2 channels at 720p each.
 
In addition to the "Prime" and "Create" channels you mention above, "V-Me" rounds out WTTW's four HD channels.

I think WTTW had a "Kids" subchannel on HD but may have dropped it. Perhaps WYIN can operate a "Kids" channel on one of their HD subchannels to fill the void in the market?
 
Re: PBS National (PBS-HD)

DToTheJ said:
In addition to the "Prime" and "Create" channels you mention above, "V-Me" rounds out WTTW's four HD channels.

I think WTTW had a "Kids" subchannel on HD but may have dropped it. Perhaps WYIN can operate a "Kids" channel on one of their HD subchannels to fill the void in the market?
Click to expand...

If they do that, then they would have to program it at the local level, as PBS discontinued PBS Kids for digital subchannels. PBS Kids Sprout is an on demand service thru Comcast, and not available thru other PBS outlets. I could be wrong, but PBS partnered with Comcast for the service so they could devote more bandwidth for HD programming. I now learned after I posted this that the national PBS service is PBS-HD. BTW, WTTW 11.1 is the only HD channel at 720p, while 11.2 - 11.4 are 4801i, but do air widescreen programming, if it was filmed in widescreen.
 
Interesting, since both WNET and WLIW both operate "Kids" channels - and both of them are in the same DMA!
 
DToTheJ said:
Interesting, since both WNET and WLIW both operate "Kids" channels - and both of them are in the same DMA!
Click to expand...

...and under the same ownership. WNET's parent company bought WLIW in 2003; however, the PBS Kids subchannel is now only on WNET's feed (13.2)
 
Re: PBS National (PBS-HD)

Dave said:
PBS Kids Sprout is an on demand service thru Comcast, and not available thru other PBS outlets. I could be wrong, but PBS partnered with Comcast for the service so they could devote more bandwidth for HD programming.[/color]
Click to expand...
More than just an on-demand service, it's a full-time channel that does have an on demand companion service.
 
Status
This thread has been closed due to inactivity. You can create a new thread to discuss this topic.


Back
Top Bottom