Say Goodbye to KWBU-TV/Waco, Texas!

[arnoldevns]

What's the cable/dish penetration in Waco?

cable about 55%
sat about 35%

 

[dave73]

What I wouldn't want to happen with the KWBU license is for it to get in the hands of the big name religious broadcasters (Daystar or TBN as examples). It's bad enough that they hold many commercial licenses for their satellite formats. I find it worse if they hold a non-commercial license, since that keeps it from being used for PBS (unless a market can't supporta PBS station or more than 1). If anything, have it be a simulcast of one of the PBS stations in a nearby market if it can't be supported as a local PBS station.

 

[arnoldevns]

Once Baylor gives up the license, the frequency will be fair game for anyone.
I am really surprised Baylor didn't find a way to sell the station and get something out of it.
Perhaps they did and no one bit on the offer. Who knows.

I still hope KNCT or KERA steps in to take that frequency.

 

[FreddyE1977]

Once Baylor gives up the license, the frequency will be fair game for anyone.
I am really surprised Baylor didn't find a way to sell the station and get something out of it.
Perhaps they did and no one bit on the offer. Who knows.

I still hope KNCT or KERA steps in to take that frequency.

We had a big brou-ha-ha here in Pittsburgh about 10 yrs. back, where QED Communications owned two
full-power public stations, WQED-13 and WQEX-16. Due to some mismanagement and over-extensions
(opening a west-coast production facility to produce NatGeo specials, etc.) they went deep in the red
and had to raise cash. Problem was that both stations held non-commercial licenses (Channel 16 converting
to that status after taking over from the bankrupt WENS-TV in the 1950's). They wanted to sell Channel 16
to a commercial entity (the foreunner of ION, I believe) but could not get over this hurdle.

QED came up with this brilliant idea to swap frequencies with WPCB-TV 40, the local Christian broadcaster.
Since Channel 40 was designated as Commercial, and WPCB did not care about being noncommercial, this
would have allowed QED to turn around and sell Channel 40 to ION at a profit. The FCC scotched the deal by
putting restrictions on the amount of Christian content that WPCB could program on Channel 16. Although
these were minimal (sort of like the several hours of I/E requirements), WPCB was scared-off by the fact
that the government could increase those restrictions in the future, severely affecting their ability to
deliver a Christian message. ION then also got cold feet and backed out of the deal.

Eventually QED got a waiver which allowed them to lease nearly all of their broadcast time on 16 for Home Shopping.
They are deriving some income from that, but it is a true waste of a full-power allotment in a decent sized market.
Based on what happened here, I think there is little likelihood that KWBU will end up in the hands of a religious broadcaster.
They will likely have the same concerns that WPCB had about taking over Noncommercial channel 16.

 

[e-dawg]

WHAT ABOUT KAMU (Texas A&M University) from College Station TX? NOBODY HAS TALK ABOUT KAMU-TV FROM COLLEGE STATION TX? SINCE KAMU IS IN THE SAME DMA AS WACO.

 

[azumanga]

WHAT ABOUT KAMU (Texas A&M University) from College Station TX? NOBODY HAS TALK ABOUT KAMU-TV FROM COLLEGE STATION TX? SINCE KAMU IS IN THE SAME DMA AS WACO.

Of course, how popular are the Aggies in the Waco area?

 

[arnoldevns]

WHAT ABOUT KAMU (Texas A&M University) from College Station TX? NOBODY HAS TALK ABOUT KAMU-TV FROM COLLEGE STATION TX? SINCE KAMU IS IN THE SAME DMA AS WACO.

I believe I did mention the station. As I said, there are 3 PBS stations in the Waco/Temple/Killeen/Bryan/College Station market. Although, for all practical purposes, Bryan/College Station is its own market.

KAMU has a monopoly on PBS in that area and should do just fine.

KWBU had too much competition from KNCT and KERA to make it.

What exactly about KAMU did you want someone to mention?

 

[acrunlimited]

You'd think there'd be a way to keep the station on the air, if only a repeater of KERA-TV, the Dallas PBS station, or KLRU-TV, the Austin PBS station. Maybe local programming and origination will have to cease, but do they actually have to turn off the transmitter?

This would be a good idea for KERA, if the timing weren't so short. Ch.13 already has a translator in Wichita Falls and is applying to the FCC for one in Tyler. It would probably be a while before KERA could come up with the extra $$ for the Waco facility and conversion process.

I am sincerely sad for this. I am a disabled stay at home dad. My wife works , my oldest going into high school, and my two year old and I watch this channel and online pbs website. I have re awoken to to the magic of being a kid again with joyous programs to which some were around when i was a kid (ill be 38 this year, all hail sesame street). My child and I are learning together off this station. She is 2 and knows many ABC's and 123's. Clifford is her favorite dog, Sid rocks the science, and with Super Y and Word world its all good!

I beg of you folks, please find away. i do not care if we have to get a temporary channel feed (repeater) from Austin (which may be a better fit then Dallas since its still classified Central) or some other place.....but please please please......dont do this...

Wait....maybe you can make programming available via the website as streaming media....the point is....we in rural America are sorry we cant afford bigger contributions in a down sized economy and many of us live here because of that same fact. But this channel has become a backbone for early childhood development for those of us who choose the educational path to a better future for our kids....Please find a way =)

Andrew C Ramirez
[email protected]

 

[arnoldevns]

It looks like there is some clarity about what people in Waco will get when this station finally dies. (which has apparently been pushed back a bit) KNCT is the big winner in all this.

http://www.wacotrib.com/news/Some-KWBU-TV-programming-will-disappear-Tuesday.html