WFSB-DT and the NFL...Split Coverage?

[KML0224]

I noticed this while adjusting the antenna on a HDTV set at my place of work in Newington, CT on Sunday:

1- WFSB-DT channel 33-1 (a.k.a. "3-1") was airing the Chiefs Vs Cowboys game.
2- WFSB-DT channel 33-2 (a.k.a. "3-2") was airing the Dolphins Vs Chargers game.

As most of us know, WFSB-DT channel 33-2 is Merideth's "CBS 3" service that's meant for the Springfield, MA area. My question is how were they allowed to air a different game compared to what Hartford/New Haven was airing? (Granted, I liked the fact that the Dolphins game was airing, since I'm a Dolphins fan!)

Has this happened at any other time this season? I ended up making this discovery by accident, really.

BTW, WTIC-DT channel 31-1 (a.k.a. "61-1") hasn't been on in ages. It would be nice to see the NFL on FOX in HD once again!

 

[MCarney]

> I noticed this while adjusting the antenna on a HDTV set at
> my place of work in Newington, CT on Sunday:
>
> 1- WFSB-DT channel 33-1 (a.k.a. "3-1") was airing the Chiefs
> Vs Cowboys game.
> 2- WFSB-DT channel 33-2 (a.k.a. "3-2") was airing the
> Dolphins Vs Chargers game.
>
Did they air the Chiefs vs. Cowboys game in HD? I know the Dolphins game was not in HD. I think they split because the game on 33-1 was of more interest to Giants fans in the Hartford area and 33-2 was of interest to Pats fans closer to Boston. I haven't seen a split on either WBZ-DT or WFXT-DT this year, only switching issues on WBZ-DT. (Several times if the Pats had a 4p game it would go to the right feed at the right time on 4, but not on the digital channel.)

 

[shadowman]

> > I noticed this while adjusting the antenna on a HDTV set
> at
> > my place of work in Newington, CT on Sunday:
> >
> > 1- WFSB-DT channel 33-1 (a.k.a. "3-1") was airing the
> Chiefs
> > Vs Cowboys game.
> > 2- WFSB-DT channel 33-2 (a.k.a. "3-2") was airing the
> > Dolphins Vs Chargers game.
> >
> Did they air the Chiefs vs. Cowboys game in HD? I know the
> Dolphins game was not in HD. I think they split because the
> game on 33-1 was of more interest to Giants fans in the
> Hartford area and 33-2 was of interest to Pats fans closer
> to Boston. I haven't seen a split on either WBZ-DT or
> WFXT-DT this year, only switching issues on WBZ-DT. (Several
> times if the Pats had a 4p game it would go to the right
> feed at the right time on 4, but not on the digital
> channel.)
>

WFSB DT 33-2 is actually "WSHM LP 67 aka CBS 3 Springfield"

 

[Joseph_Gallant]

WBZ-4 in Boston originally was supposed to carry Kansas City at Dallas, but the network changed it's mind and fed Miami at San Diego to WBZ's analog channel instead.

 

[wxctintern]

Um, yeah Kevin mentioned that in his original post.

 

[TXengineer]

There's no 33-1, 33-2 or 31-1...

> 1- WFSB-DT channel 33-1 (a.k.a. "3-1") was airing the Chiefs
> Vs Cowboys game.
> 2- WFSB-DT channel 33-2 (a.k.a. "3-2") was airing the
> Dolphins Vs Chargers game.
>
> BTW, WTIC-DT channel 31-1 (a.k.a. "61-1") hasn't been on in
> ages. It would be nice to see the NFL on FOX in HD once
> again!


I think I should clarify something for you here, so you can be correct in your future posts about this. There is no "33-1" or "33-2". WFSB transmits an 8VSB digital mulitplexed signal. It takes about 6mHz of bandwidth, and is using the frequencies occupied by analog channel 33. The ONLY location that 33 means anything is in the licensing phase of the digital channel. That is it. Within this digital multiplexed signal are two sub-signals. Each sub signal contains a program number (in this case PGM 1 is WFSB HD, and PGM 2 is WSHM-LP). Within the big multiplexed signal is a PAT and PMT (Program Allocation Table and Program Map Table) which contains a VCT (Virtual Channel Table). The VCT tells your receiver the "fake" channel number and your receiver uses that come up with the program list. So WFSB's VCT is programmed for Channel 3. (Per FCC rules by the way) Your receiver sees Program 1 and Program 2, and will display it as 3-1, 3-2. The only way 33-1 or 33-2 would ever exist is if WFSB where to program it into their digital signal, and that would be against the law. If WFSB was analog on 33, then 33-1 and 33-2 would be correct. But in your example it isn't...

 

[KML0224]

My Digital TV Experience At Work

Thanks for the technical info, I guess. I know for certain that I hit "33-1" on the remote to tune in WFSB-DT or "33-2" for WSHM-LP ("CBS 3"). It's an RCA 51" TV with DLP Technology, yet the picture always looks dull and grayish, no matter what the settings are on the TV, even when an HD show is on (especially on WFSB-DT). The TV to its left is HD-capable but we only have the in-house Wal-Mart TV Network crap hooked to it with a regular coaxial cable. The HD set with the antenna is lined up with the aisle and is easier to see for most people anyway. To this day, we have yet to receive anything in HD from ABC, whether it's from WTNH-DT channel 10 or WGGB-DT channel 55. A fellow employee has his own HD-ready set and said that he's never received either station at his home. (Too bad, since ABC has Super Bowl XL and he doesn't want to bother with Comcast Digital Cable.) He also says the HD looks much better on his TV than ours does.

Anyways, I discovered the split football coverage by accident. I doubt it'll happen this week since the Patriots are playing on FOX this Saturday and the Giants are on CBS (also on Saturday). It's obvious that we'll be seeing the Jets vs. Dolphins at 1 PM in Hartford/New Haven and "Springfield" (sorry, I don't like the idea of "CBS 3"). It would've been nice if WTIC-DT was working when the Patriots and Giants were on FOX at the same time a few weeks ago. Maybe they could have did something like that.