WBBM-TV DTV RF.12

[e-dawg]

Since there are lots of complaints regarding CBS 2 using RF. Ch 12. Is there anyway for WBBM-DT to relocate from DT RF-12 to the UHF frequency? Since WLS-TV is using DTV RF-44 from RF-7.

 

[Markxxx]

I believe there is an application for a fill in translator on WCIU's old channel 26 frequency.

 

[dave73]

I wonder if 23 is available as a full power allocation. Most other channels, except for maybe 49 are too close to Chicago to allow full power allocations. If 23 is available, I wonder if Weigel Broadcasting would be willing to give up the allocation for WBBM-TV to take. For all we know, if 23 were available as a full power allocation, Weigel could use that for MeTV & MeToo instead. That's only a theory if 23 could go full power.

Otherwise, a translator is WBBM-TV's only option to fill in Downtown Chicago and the neighborhoods near Downtown. I'm not aware of it being on the air. But then again, I don't get any low power digital channels at theis time with my DTV box.

 

[Prais]

Daave queried, "I wonder if Weigel Broadcasting would be willing to give up the allocation for WBBM-TV to take."

WHY woud they be so cooperative on behalf of their competition??Maybe for a nice fee?

 

[tripinva]

23 may work, though spacing to WVCY-22 would worry me.

- Trip

 

[w9wi]

23 may work, though spacing to WVCY-22 would worry me.

Don't have my copy of the rules handy to check on that, but...

WWME is a Class A station. To my knowledge, WBBM can't bump them from 23. HOWEVER... WWME also has a Digital Companion Channel operation on 39. Presuming they stay on 39 after analog LPTV operation is ended, 23 would be freed up.

 

[tripinva]

Yes, 23 cannot be bumped and would be opened up if Weigel filed for a displacement from 23 analog to 39 digital. 39 could be bumped at present, though, and in Chicago a 300 kW signal on 39 would cause 6% interference to WPXE-40. Thus my worry about WVCY-22.

- Trip

 

[Prais]

I thought Rockford has a station on 39, it's Fox, right?

 

[Markxxx]

It's actually on channel 42 with a virtual channel of 39

 

[w9wi]

Yes, 23 cannot be bumped and would be opened up if Weigel filed for a displacement from 23 analog to 39 digital. 39 could be bumped at present, though, and in Chicago a 300 kW signal on 39 would cause 6% interference to WPXE-40. Thus my worry about WVCY-22.

- Trip

WVCY is a much wimpier station (a tad less than 200kw, vs. about 800 for WPXE) so I'd think there'd be less than 6% interference -- but enough less to make 23 workable? Don't know.

Weigel already has the digital 39 facility on the air. It's a DCC instead of a displacement, so it can operate simultaneously with analog 23. Of course, analog 23 will have to go away someday & at that time WBBM could potentially go there. Again, subject to the potential WVCY issues you mention.

 

[dave73]

I'm well aware that channel 23 is a Class A station, and can't be bumped out, nor does Weigel have to give it up yet. What I was thinking if 23 could be made a stronger signal than it is now, that they could try to acquire the channel from Weigel for a fee. Since the channel 23 in Rockford moved to channel 16, the null toward Rockford can be eliminated. WVCY & WSBT are issues. If that could be worked out, it wouldn't be an issue with WSBT since WYCC doesn't seem to be interfering with WSBT. If 23 only went as far as Kenosha, I don't believe there would be any issues with WVCY. But would anyone be willing to make 23 a full power allocation? If anyone can, I'd really like to see Weigel make it a full power channel, and move MeTV & MeToo to it (like they did when they bought WJJA Racine Wisconsin, changed the calls to WBME, & make it MeTV Milwaukee). Only an actual engineer would be able to determine if any channel allocation would interfere with any channel in a nearby market.

 

[w9wi]

I'm well aware that channel 23 is a Class A station, and can't be bumped out, nor does Weigel have to give it up yet. What I was thinking if 23 could be made a stronger signal than it is now, that they could try to acquire the channel from Weigel for a fee. Since the channel 23 in Rockford moved to channel 16, the null toward Rockford can be eliminated. WVCY & WSBT are issues. If that could be worked out, it wouldn't be an issue with WSBT since WYCC doesn't seem to be interfering with WSBT. If 23 only went as far as Kenosha, I don't believe there would be any issues with WVCY. But would anyone be willing to make 23 a full power allocation? If anyone can, I'd really like to see Weigel make it a full power channel, and move MeTV & MeToo to it (like they did when they bought WJJA Racine Wisconsin, changed the calls to WBME, & make it MeTV Milwaukee). Only an actual engineer would be able to determine if any channel allocation would interfere with any channel in a nearby market.

MeTV and MeToo are already on full-power signals, on WCIU 26.2 and 26.3.

Weigel won't be able to convert 23 to a full-power allotment anytime soon. The FCC isn't accepting petitions to add new channels to the full-power allocation table. My gut feeling is 3-5 years *at least* until that happens, and that's assuming they *ever* offer new channels again. That's also assuming any new channels are *possible* in Chicago.

If new allotments *are* possible someday, they will be handed out via auction. There is no guarantee Weigel will win any such auction.

I suppose it would be possible for WBBM to get their *existing* channel 12 allotment amended to 23. (just as they got their existing channel 3 allotment amended to 12) They'd have to find a new home for WWME first -- they can't force WWME off channel 23, but if they can get Weigel to agree to move somewhere else I would suppose they could ask for WWME's old home. Or maybe, they could offer Weigel some amount of cash to shut down WWME's analog signal?