The End of the Ch. 5 & 6 Debate to Expand FM?

[Kelly A]

I realize that we're very much off-topic but I'll add my two-cents worth.
Back in 1999, my former employer, WTVT Television, added HD to their facility.
They built a new tower because the old tower (which held the analog antenna) wasn't rated to handle the additional loading of another antenna system.
The new tower cost the company about $2.5 million. Additionally, they purchased new transmission line, transmitters (parallel configuration), air conditioning, emergency power generator, electrical distribution and switching gear.
It was a huge expense which added absolutely nothing to the station's billing. Zero ... Zilch!
I can understand how the forced conversion to digital could easily push smaller groups into bankruptcy.
We should probably bring this thread back on-topic.

I believe the relevance to the original topic, went to the history of a government-mandated transition to digital, or whatever flavor or broadcasting. The DTV migration is a good example, albeit controversial depending on your slant, to what could happen with radio during a digital transition. As you did Frank, I wanted to dispel the assumption that somehow TV broadcasters benefited financially, even perhaps on the backs of their viewers or advertisers through the transition, or that they lobbied the government to force the transition. That would the the furthest from the truth. I don't recall the DTV transition specifically bankrupting any groups, but it sure didn't help. Now a forced transition for radio to either an FM channel or all-digital operation? I can think of several mom-and-pop stations that would absolutely go under.

 

[KB1OKL]

I believe the relevance to the original topic, went to the history of a government-mandated transition to digital, or whatever flavor or broadcasting. The DTV migration is a good example, albeit controversial depending on your slant, to what could happen with radio during a digital transition. As you did Frank, I wanted to dispel the assumption that somehow TV broadcasters benefited financially, even perhaps on the backs of their viewers or advertisers through the transition, or that they lobbied the government to force the transition. That would the the furthest from the truth. I don't recall the DTV transition specifically bankrupting any groups, but it sure didn't help. Now a forced transition for radio to either an FM channel or all-digital operation? I can think of several mom-and-pop stations that would absolutely go under.

Several? Try hundreds. Try maybe even ghost town.

 

[1L6E6VHF]

Several groups went bankrupt because of DTV conversion. Freedom Broadcasting and Young Broadcasting were too examples...KFDM-6, owned by Freedom, had their UHF 21 DTV moved to the top of the tower in Sept 2009 and new 4inch rigid feedline installed to the top of the tower...but the 3 inch Heliax used in temporary 21 side mount was removed and chopped up..what a waste of money..they did not recover any money in scrap value what they paid for that line...immediately after that move was done, Freedom filed for Chapter 11 (KFDM was the last in their chain to finish the site)...when they came out of Chapter 11 and KFDM was moved to RF 25 because of issues on 21, everyone demanded cash up front.

Yes, some stations, especially in small markets, took it on the chin when making the digital transition. WPBN-TV in Traverse city lost their channel of about 50 years to a Grand Rapids station that wanted to keep the channel (7) permanently after the transition, and uses TWO stations (RF channel 50 from the original site and channel 47 from a site further north) to cover the area. KFDM took a hit with the double switches, but some of their woes could also be from the general decline of the Beaumont/Port Arthur market.

As for Young Broadcasting - they paid $ 700,000,000 for a single major market, network affiliate station, assuming they would be keeping the network affiliation, only to see the network buy another station for their own, leaving them with a $700m debt and an independent station. They has also been on a buying spree (in general) at the time.