Rim Shot Stations Affliated with a "Big Four" Network

[Markxxx]

Just wondering what markets (if any) have a Big Four (ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC) station, in a rim shot location to the central city.

I was thinking KNTV but since San Jose is part of the Three Market area San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, it doesn't count.

Are there any? I was looking for something that has a transmitter in a rim shot rather than just a city. For instance if the license read Gary/Chicago, but the transmitter was on the Sears Tower in Chicago, for all purposes it's a Chicago Location.

 

[KML0224]

WMTW-TV (ABC) channel 8 in the Portland, ME market is licensed to Poland Spring, ME, which is 26 miles north-northwest of Portland. That's not so radical. However, for many years, their transmitter was atop Mount Washington, NH. Nearby Gorham, NH is 70 miles from Portland, to give you some idea. While living in Old Orchard Beach, ME (York County), about a mile from the ocean, I used to get a signal that was between slightly snowy and perfectly watchable. Despite the transmitter of WGME-TV (CBS) channel 13 of Portland being much closer in Raymond, ME, I used to have problems with them once in a while. I rarely had a problem with WCSH-TV (NBC) channel 6 of Portland, with their transmitter (then and now) being on the east side of Lake Sebago.

Today, WMTW-TV and WMTW-DT (analog 8/digital 46) have their transmitters in Baldwin, ME, which is essentially the western area of Lake Sebago.

 

[KeithE4]

Nothing unusual for Big 4 affiliates in rural midwestern markets being spread over cities separated by over 50 miles while still considered the same market.

One example is WJFW-TV 12 Rhinelander, WI is the NBC affiliate for Wausau despite being about 70 miles NE of that city. They have a translator on Channel 27 to serve the Wausau area.

La Crosse/Eau Claire, WI is another with network affiliates in two cities separated by 50 miles or more. CBS is in La Crosse, NBC is in Eau Claire, while Fox & ABC are based in La Crosse with full-powered satellites in Eau Claire. Rochester (NBC & Fox) & Austin MN (ABC), plus Mason City IA (CBS) is another similar market. Actually, some parts of that market get CBS from La Crosse or Mankato.

And the Fox affiliate for Portland ME is licensed to Waterville, about 70 miles away.

Is the NBC station in Atlantic City/Wildwood NJ considered to be that network's affiliate for Salisbury MD since it doesn't have NBC? It looks like it's fairly close-by.

 

[Charles1]

The ABC affiliates for Birmingham are licensed to Tuscaloosa (50 miles to the west) and Anniston (55 miles to the east). WCFT-33's tower is located north of Tuscaloosa, and the tower for WJSU is located about 30 miles east of Birmingham. The two stations simulcast each other and brand themselves as ABC 33/40.

www.abc3340.com

 

[KML0224]

And the Fox affiliate for Portland ME is licensed to Waterville, about 70 miles away.

Is the NBC station in Atlantic City/Wildwood NJ considered to be that network's affiliate for Salisbury MD since it doesn't have NBC? It looks like it's fairly close-by.

WMGM-TV (NBC) channel 40 of Wildwood, NJ doesn't reach Salisbury, MD. As for Maine, WPFO-TV (FOX) channel 23 may be licensed to Waterville, but it has its transmitter in Litchfield, ME. That's a bit south of Augusta, putting them closer to Auburn, Lewiston and, most importantly, Portland.

 

[rch66]

WMGM 40 reaches parts of Sussex County, DE which is in Salisbury DMA. Areas such as Rehoboth Beach, DE. If you have a pocket TV you can probably pick it up there. WMGM's analog signal reaches at most 40 miles (from Swainton NJ), while Rehoboth is slightly just under that. In NJ, the farthest north they are in is Vineland (to the Northwest), Hammonton (Northwest) or Tuckerton (North) - and that's right ~ 40 mile radius. It's weak at 40 miles as well.

I'm not sure how far their digital signal is reaching - if anybody knows, chime in on that.

Cable doesn't carry them in DE or MD.

Comcast in Sussex County receives NBC 10 - Philadelphia, and NBC 11-Baltimore on cable.

The MD part of the Salisbury DMA (the other half) receives NBC 4 - DC and NBC 11-Baltimore. Ch.4 and Ch.10 are NBC owned, while Ch.11 is Hearst owned.

Now, I wonder which one DirecTV and Dish would put into a Salisbury package, once they launch local services there. I'm sure Hearst (WBAL) would want the claim for that market, though their syndicated programming including Oprah, clashes more with what the local stations there carry. Note: Comcast carries WBAL in the digital tier, as well as WBOC and WMDT. (The NBC owned WCAU or WRC weren't placed there).

For distant network services, satellite TV customers in Rehoboth Beach may need a waiver from WMGM, for distant NBC services from NY, LA. Now, Back on the original post - WMGM doesn't exactly qualify as it's in Philadelphia DMA, which has a primary NBC affiliate that broadcasts with the other 3 of the 4. Though not qualifying as a big 4 - Philadelphia does have a rimshot Telemundo station, however - one that's not easily receivable over the air.

 

[radioboss]

NBC doesn't care to have a station in the Salisbury, MD market.

They say that they have enough coverage from Baltimore and Philadelphia. Then, there is the Accomack, VA station (WAVY) that comes in from the southern most parts of the market.

 

[toby]

Re: Rim Shot Stations Affliated with a \"Big Four\" Network

I seem to recall reading somewhere that one of the Salsbury, Maryland stations was also a secondary NBC affiliate at one time.

 

[rch66]

NBC doesn't care to have a station in the Salisbury, MD market.

They say that they have enough coverage from Baltimore and Philadelphia. Then, there is the Accomack, VA station (WAVY) that comes in from the southern most parts of the market.

It's a small market, which is why NBC doesn't care, but there is no NBC affiliate, or Fox affiliate, within 80 miles for the
most part. WBAL doesn't claim the market, like how the Hartford CBS and Fox affiliates have a claim in Springfield, MA. The Springfield ABC and NBC stations can't get Oprah, b/c the Hartford CBS has the right for it.

Yet there are 2 full powered PBS stations- the WHYY transmitter in Seaford DE- WDPB, and the Maryland Public Television signal WCPB in the Salisbury area. The WDPB license should be a commercial one. Delaware has 2 noncommercial licenses (CH.12 and WCPB 64), and 1 commercial (Pax/i 61))...not to mention 12 and 61 serve Philly primarily over DE, the ratio of noncommercial to commercial doesn't make much sense, but anyways Delaware is like the forgotten armpit of the east coast.

 

[ShawnHill1]

The ABC affiliates for Birmingham are licensed to Tuscaloosa (50 miles to the west) and Anniston (55 miles to the east). WCFT-33's tower is located north of Tuscaloosa, and the tower for WJSU is located about 30 miles east of Birmingham. The two stations simulcast each other and brand themselves as ABC 33/40.

www.abc3340.com

They also have a low-powered satellite (WBMA 58) which covers the immediate Birmingham area.

 

[KML0224]

NBC doesn't care to have a station in the Salisbury, MD market.

They say that they have enough coverage from Baltimore and Philadelphia. Then, there is the Accomack, VA station (WAVY) that comes in from the southern most parts of the market.

It's a small market, which is why NBC doesn't care, but there is no NBC affiliate, or Fox affiliate, within 80 miles for the
most part.WBAL doesn't claim the market, like how the Hartford CBS and Fox affiliates have a claim in Springfield, MA. The Springfield ABC and NBC stations can't get Oprah, b/c the Hartford CBS has the right for it.

WAVY-TV (NBC) channel 10 is licensed to Portsmouth, VA. As for Springfield, MA, Oprah's show does air in their market at a separate time. WFSB-TV (CBS) channel 3 of Hartford operates "CBS 3", a low-powered CBS service with it's own local newscast and programming. It's available over the air in the Springfield/Holyoke area on channel 67 and is officially called WSHM-LP. It's also available on WFSB-DT channel 33-2, a.k.a. "3-2". WTIC-TV (FOX) channel 61 of Hartford can claim a good portion of Springfield/Holyoke since their 5 million watt signal from the west of Hartford reaches most of that market over-the-air (their DMA is Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin County, MA).

 

[rch66]

NBC doesn't care to have a station in the Salisbury, MD market.

They say that they have enough coverage from Baltimore and Philadelphia. Then, there is the Accomack, VA station (WAVY) that comes in from the southern most parts of the market.

It's a small market, which is why NBC doesn't care, but there is no NBC affiliate, or Fox affiliate, within 80 miles for the
most part.WBAL doesn't claim the market, like how the Hartford CBS and Fox affiliates have a claim in Springfield, MA. The Springfield ABC and NBC stations can't get Oprah, b/c the Hartford CBS has the right for it.

WAVY-TV (NBC) channel 10 is licensed to Portsmouth, VA. As for Springfield, MA, Oprah's show does air in their market at a separate time. WFSB-TV (CBS) channel 3 of Hartford operates "CBS 3", a low-powered CBS service with it's own local newscast and programming. It's available over the air in the Springfield/Holyoke area on channel 67 and is officially called WSHM-LP. It's also available on WFSB-DT channel 33-2, a.k.a. "3-2". WTIC-TV (FOX) channel 61 of Hartford can claim a good portion of Springfield/Holyoke since their 5 million watt signal from the west of Hartford reaches most of that market over-the-air (their DMA is Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin County, MA).

Portsmouth, VA is 113 miles away from Salisbury, MD. I'm well aware of the low powered CBS station in Springfield, one that started up less than 5 yrs. ago, as the CBS from Hartford, had the claim for the Springfield market's CBS affiliation. By FCC rules, the cable operators have to carry the closest network affiliate. Result - WFSB claims the Springfield market, as it was the closest CBS. That was my point in the contrast. Salisbury is quite different. No NBC station is "significantly viewed", and Baltimore and D.C. tie in about 80 miles from the MD side, while Philadelphia is 100 miles the same from the DE side. While 40 miles from one part of the market, WMGM has no ability to fiber their signal into Rehoboth Beach or the Sussex County, DE area, thus, no real claim into the area either. I presume Hearst could start a low powered NBC station for the area, with permission from the NBC network, but it would have different syndication from WBAL. NBC would probably want CH.10 still available in Sussex County, and possibly their CH.4 in the MD side, but that would basically eliminate any interest to start the low power channel if it couldn't claim exclusivity.

 

[SweetT8201]

WRAL (CBS)/Capitol Broadcasting also did something similar to what WFSB/Meredith did for Springfield, MA and started a low-powered CBS affiliate for Wilmington, NC, in 2000. Actually, they bought an existing LPTV, WSSN-LP 10, a UPN affiliate, and turned it into WILM-LP CBS10 while keeping a secondary UPN affiliation.

The Salisbury, MD, station in question that had a secondary NBC affiliation was WMDT 47 (ABC). (At least in the '80s and early '90s)

Back to the original topic... in the Greenville/New Bern/Washington, NC market, there is WFXI Fox 8, licensed to Morehead City. It has a satellite in Greenville, WYDO Fox 14.

 

[chuckydoll]

Not Quite "Rimshot"

WXOW-19 is ABC for La Crosse; WQOW-18 is ABC for Eau Claire. Each has its own news department and produces its own newscasts, so those 2 stations are not considered satellites. Both stations do carry the same ABC schedule.

In fact, Scott Fybush featured Eau Claire and La Crosse on his Site of the Week earlier this year.

As for Salisbury: WMGM-40 doesn't reach the Delmarva Peninsula. Salisbury gets its NBC from Baltimore and D.C.

 

[rch66]

Re: Not Quite "Rimshot"

As for Salisbury: WMGM-40 doesn't reach the Delmarva Peninsula. Salisbury gets its NBC from Baltimore and D.C.

WMGM reaches the Delaware's beach resort area in Sussex County, DE, part of Salisbury DMA / Delmarva.

Half of the TV HH of Salisbury DMA is Sussex Delaware, which receives Philadephia's NBC 10 on cable, along with WBAL.

The Baltimore stations don't do DE news and have somewhat weak claim into DE, even though Baltimore is closer than Philly in the southern portion (Baltimore at 75, Philadephia at 90 or so miles). Dover is actually closer to Baltimore than Philadephia, but no Baltimore stations are carried in central DE. Salisbury's stations, that do DE news, are carried in Kent County, which is within Philadelphia DMA.

WMAR 2 (ABC) was dropped off cable from Sussex County, as it didn't muster a significantly viewed status. NBC has only distant stations covering Salisbury, no local one. A local resident there would need to install a large directional antenna to pick up a NBC station 75 miles away to actually get WBAL. The network model is outmoded, atleast for small markets like Salisbury. NBC could just point out they have Hagerstown and Wildwood stations, where ABC and CBS have no station. WMGM should be eliminated, in favor of a Dover, DE based station, broadcasting in the center of DE, with just DE news (like WMUR that's just NH, but the station should provide over-the-air NBC service as far as 50 miles into Salisbury as well).

 

[Markxxx]

When I lived in Southern Maryland on the west side, LaPlata to be exact, I never had trouble pulling in Channel 12 (NBC) from Richmond, but it had to be dark outside. And that was with rabbit ears.

That could be why NBC doesn't care about Salisbury. From that location I could pick up all DC, Baltimore, and the Philly UHFs.

 

[bpatrick]

In Myrtle Beach there's WECT/6 Wilmington, NC;
and WIS/10 Columbia, SC, both NBC. WIS covers
the western end of the Florence/Myrtle Beach market
OTA, and WECT does the same thing on the eastern
end. Both are available on cable, but perhaps not
for long, since Florence/Myrtle Beach is due to get
its own NBC affiliate, WMBF/32.

And what about Panama City, FL, which gets its
CBS programs from WTVY/4 Dothan, AL?

I don't know if they are "rim shot" stations, but
WNEG/32 Toccoa, GA carries most of WSPA/7
Spartanburg, SC's programming (both CBS affiliates);
likewise WYMT/57 Hazard, KY carries most of WKYT/27
Lexington's (again, both CBS), although (I believe)
WKYT is on cable in Hazard. (Two important differences:
WKYT carries Wheel Of Fortune and Jeopardy!, WYMT
does not; WYMT carries Young And The Restless at 12:30,
WKYT is a day behind at 9 AM.)