spectrum speculator will they buy in Cleveland?

[mavtv]

With all of the interest in reclaiming spectrum for wireless, could any of these stations be up for grabs as right now there are no Ohio stations interested?

Also with these stations, what is the status of these stations?

WAKN-lp11 Akron silent license valid until Oct 2013

http://transition.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/tvq?call=WAKN

WRAP-lp 32 Cleveland Construction permit for ch 32

http://transition.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/tvq?call=WRAP-LP

WOHZ-lp 41 Mansfield Analog

http://transition.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/tvq?call=WOHZ-CA


WMFD-TV 68 Mansfield

http://transition.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/tvq?call=WMFD

WGGN-TV 52 Sandusky

http://transition.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/tvq?call=WGGN

repeater w33bw 33 Ashland

http://transition.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/tvq?call=W33BW

W41AP 41 Sandusky

http://transition.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/tvq?call=W41AP


WAOH-LP 29 and W35AX 35

http://transition.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/tvq?call=WAOH-LP

http://transition.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/tvq?call=W35AX

WCDN-LD 53

http://transition.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/tvq?call=WCDN

and

WLFM-LP 6

http://transition.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/tvq?call=WLFM

The other major low power is the chain of RTV stations in Canton WIVM and from what it looks like they are committed to local broadcasting.

 

[w9wi]

With all of the interest in reclaiming spectrum for wireless, could any of these stations be up for grabs as right now there are no Ohio stations interested?

Also with these stations, what is the status of these stations?

LPTV stations are not eligible for the planned buyouts. They may however end up losing their channels without compensation. Class A and full-power stations are eligible. Whether any will choose to do so I couldn't say. Looking at the specific stations:

WAKN-LP 11 Akron:
Listed as licensed in analog, no digital permit yet.
LPTV, not eligible for buyout.

WRAP-LP 32 Cleveland:
Listed as licensed in analog and with a permit to convert to digital on the same channel.
LPTV, not eligible for buyout.

WOHZ-LP 41 Mansfield:
Listed as licensed in analog and with a permit to convert to digital on the same channel.
Class A station, eligible for buyout.

WMFD-TV 68 Mansfield:
Listed as licensed in digital.
Full-power station, eligible for buyout. (but on RF channel 12; it is unlikely anyone will be interested in buying this channel.)

WGGN-TV 52 Sandusky:
Listed as licensed in digital.
Full-power station, eligible for buyout.

W33BW 33 Ashland:
W41AP 41 Sandusky:
Listed as licensed in analog, no digital permit.
LPTV stations, not eligible for buyout.

WAOH-LP 29 Akron:
W35AX 35 Cleveland:
Listed as licensed in analog with permit to convert to digital on same channel (WAOH) or on channel 16. (W35AX)
Class A stations, eligible for buyout.

WCDN-LD 53 Cleveland:
Listed as licensed in digital.
LPTV station, not eligible for buyout.

WLFM-LP 6 Cleveland:
Listed as licensed in analog, with application on file to convert to digital on channel 44.
LPTV station, not eligible for buyout.

WIVM-LD 39 Canton:
WIVD-LD 22 Newcomerstown:
WIVN-LD 29 Newcomerstown:
WIVX-LD 65 Loudonville:
Listed as licensed in digital.
LPTV stations, not eligible for buyout.

 

[CleveFan]

May I ask, is this a company that specializes in cellular coverage? What would they do with the stations once they buy it?

I would love to see a television company purchase WMFD or WAX/WAOH. There is a need for a true independent station in Cleveland, and currently all the big commercial channels are network affiliates (or in the case of WQHS, owned by a network).

I've seen on other threads the questioning of whether the CW or MyNetworkTV would remain on the air. If one of them goes off the air, that could free up WUAB or WBNX to not be tied to a network. WUAB is already known as "The Block," not really highlighting their My affiliation that much anymore as they used to when MNTV went on the air.

For 43 or 55, I could see more syndicated programming cleared that is not seen in Cleveland (i.e. Family Feud, Baggage, American Dad, etc.). I would love to also see WBNX revert back to their "TV 55" identity as they used to call themselves before they became affiliated with The WB.

Some of the CW affiliates owned by Tribune are not even using the network name in their identity name. 55 can use something else other than "WBNX - The CW" for a change.

 

[w9wi]

May I ask, is this a company that specializes in cellular coverage? What would they do with the stations once they buy it?

No one company is involved but I think you're probably right that the spectrum would be used for cell phones. (either for voice or, more likely, data)

The way I read it, technically it's the FCC that would be buying the spectrum. But they'll be using money obtained from the cellular companies, and how much the Commission will pay will depend on how much the cell companies are willing to repurchase the spectrum for.

The stations would simply go dark. It's not really the stations that are being bought, it's their channels.