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What should WJLP do with the subchannels that will be vacated by Katz Networks?

S

stationless listener

Currently this station still has duplicates of Laff, Grit and Court TV Mystery on three of its subchannels. Court TV used to be on another subchannel but that was vacated and replaced with Heartland. I don't know when it'll happen but it's an eventually that the other three will leave that station as well.

If I'm WJLP I would refrain from doing more business with any of the Scripps/Katz, Nexstar, Sinclair, Tegna or any other major station group, who would rather do business with the ABC, NBC, CBS and Fox station groups. I have never understood the decision-making by that station to air material that you can also find on Channels 7, 11 and, now, 31.

They have a unique opportunity to do something different. If someone could buy Qubo then that would be something they can look into getting. Maybe also look into getting beINSportsExtra, Circle, Rev'n or another network that isn't already covered by the other station groups.

And no more shopping channels and infomercial driven channels that show Emeril and Cindy Crawford constantly!
 
I'm sure they will air whoever writes them the largest check.

- Trip
 
stationless listener said:
Anyway, I want to ask when the site will update the market list, considering that the census of last year was concluded, but there's still legal wrangling over who were supposed to be counted?
Click to expand...
This site uses Nielsen's market ranks. Nielsen radio MSAs are Metro Survey Areas while the government uses OMB/Census Metropolitan Statistical Areas which, in many markets, is quite different. They have the same initials, but are not the same.

Nielsen does not just uses the decennial census data...they use an independent data source that uses census data, the annual Census Bureau estimates and other consumer-based indicators to reach population size and characteristic estimates.

Nielsen updates markets every year in the Fall. The site updated after that data was released, so the market ranks are current.

Nielsen markets are determined by usage of radio stations in the surrounding counties. The Census Bureau uses different economic indicators. So that is why the areas can have the same name, but be quite different in population.

You can see the complete Nielsen data at https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Arbitron/Red-Blue-Books/RedFall2020.pdf
 
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stationless listener said:
Anyway, I want to ask when the site will update the market list, considering that the census of last year was concluded, but there's still legal wrangling over who were supposed to be counted?
Click to expand...
If you're referring to RabbitEars, the Census data has yet to be released. Until it is released, it's impossible to do anything with it.

- Trip
 
I'm thinking that either Doozy or Defy, whichever is unable to be placed on WPXN, will end up being on a subchannel of WJLP. It's also possible that either would replace Court TV on 11.3, as Scripps has had a relationship with Nexstar for some time.
 
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OK. WJLP and WNWT are being sold to Weigel Broadcasting, which also just purchased WZME. That's technically three stations in the NY Tri-State area.

Draft Copy « License Modernization « FCC

Licensing and Management System
enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov

I don't know whether that satisfies compliance with the FCC, so I'll leave that to the experts.

With that said, look for tons of migration of digital channels with this move. At the very least, Heroes & Icons, MeTV+ and other Weigel networks should find themselves on the WJLP signal or at least the WNWT signal. I think it's safe to say that Laff and Grit will leave that channel, as Weigel won't want to promote a competitor on their channel. Them having the CW in Chicago is a special circumstance. Grit should finally wind itself at the WPXN signal soon enough.

I also think that NewsMax and NewsNet will also leave eventually.

So what happens then with WZME? With Weigel getting an actual city signal and two more local channels WZME might become a redundant channel. Another possibility is that networks like Heartland and RetroTV move to the WNWT channel and the Weigel networks occupy both WJLP and WZME.
 
WZME is airing ME-TV's second network ME-TV plus. As of September 27 WZME is also blocked on my cable system in Southington, CT. Until they were taken over by Weigel WZME was always available on COX Cable in my area. Side note: COX Cable airs the national feed on ME-TV rather than WHCT-LD Channel 35 the Weigel owned LPTV in Hartford that airs ME-TV and all associated sub channels - H&I, Start, Movies!, Decades, and ME-TV Plus..
 
According to Rabbitears.info WEDW/WZME have made a new application for a higher antenna at the Empire State Building, raising the height from 1024' to 1440'. They also want to turn their Ct. signal into a directional, away from Stamford.

The purchase of WJLP hasn't closed yet but they're staying on the 4 Times Square antenna. Once Weigel takes over WJLP I doubt those PMCM radio stations would stay on that signal. That should clear up some space. The Scripps-Howard networks like Laff and Court TV Mystery should clear out as well.
 
Not sure what happened to WJLP's proposed move to 1WTC. Perhaps they did not get what they wanted out of that facility or there were some interference issues.

The WEDW/WZME thing is a part of a multipoint transmission system that they're trying to build. There would be a node at ESB and another in Stamford. WMBC-TV has a similar setup (their other node is on the old NJN tower in Montclair). It allows the rimshot station to legally cover its city of license and also put a more servicable signal over the core of the metro -- while not having to increase power to a point where the facility would not be able to get licensed.
 
luperm said:
Not sure what happened to WJLP's proposed move to 1WTC. Perhaps they did not get what they wanted out of that facility or there were some interference issues.

The WEDW/WZME thing is a part of a multipoint transmission system that they're trying to build. There would be a node at ESB and another in Stamford. WMBC-TV has a similar setup (their other node is on the old NJN tower in Montclair). It allows the rimshot station to legally cover its city of license and also put a more servicable signal over the core of the metro -- while not having to increase power to a point where the facility would not be able to get licensed.
Click to expand...
Perhaps WJLP would have to reduce their power at WTC due to the height and being on RF3, the lower power would affect an already challenged signal.

Couldn’t WJLP take the UHF frequency from WZME and get them off RF3? Digital VHF is difficult enough to receive and being on VHF-Low has to be such a handicap.
 
djl said:
Perhaps WJLP would have to reduce their power at WTC due to the height and being on RF3, the lower power would affect an already challenged signal.

Couldn’t WJLP take the UHF frequency from WZME and get them off RF3? Digital VHF is difficult enough to receive and being on VHF-Low has to be such a handicap.
Click to expand...

The RF21 signal does not belong to WZME. That one is being held by the Connecticut PBS station, WEDW. WZME is sharing the signal after the previous ownership sold the UHF signal they had to the FCC during the last spectrum auction.

It's possible that Weigel could just shift Me-TV to the WZME station once the ESB node is fired up and use WJLP for Heroes & Icons, Start TV, etc..
 
What RF channel is WZME on? Does anyone think there is a possibility WJLP can get away from Channel 3?
 
WZME once used RF42. I don't remember when they gave up that signal. However, I read that they sold their allotted digital signal during an auction in 2017. Currently, WZME shares RF21 with WEDW in Connecticut. They've just put in a new application that would have a node of RF21 broadcasting from the Empire State Building. We shall see if they're successful.

I very much doubt that WJLP would be able to get off RF3. The old ownership used a loophole in communications law to move two stations from Nevada and Wyoming into New Jersey/New York and Delaware/Philly, respectively, after first being denied the approval to do so but then reversed in an appeals court ruling.

The New York and Philly markets are basically crowded. Plus the government forced TV stations to give up RF signals above UHF36. That's why VHF-lo signals like RF2, RF3, RF4 and RF6 are being used between those two markets right now.
 
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I know VHF3 is used by WJLP for NYC and RF6 is used by WPVI Philadelphia. Other than some low power stations, who else in the NYC area is using Low VHF?
 
djl said:
I know VHF3 is used by WJLP for NYC and RF6 is used by WPVI Philadelphia. Other than some low power stations, who else in the NYC area is using Low VHF?
Click to expand...

WJLP is the only full power NYC station using VHF-lo.

In other interesting news, Larry Mendte announced on Jersey Matters that the show will end on WJLP after this week.

https://www.newjerseynewsnetwork.com/clip/15286872/jersey-matters-january-1st-2022 - Go to 39:10 for the relevant part.

If that's the case (and I don't doubt his reporting) then it's also possible that Weigel will drop anything related to PMCM. So the audio channels will have to go as well. I don't know what this means for NewsNet, though. Mendte mentioned in the end that Weigel committed to having a public affairs and news catered to New Jersey, plus a presence in the state.

NTD America should go to Channel 63, since the owners of that station seem to like that type of programming. And maybe Weigel can finally remove Laff, Grit and Court TV Mystery and bring in MeTV+.
 
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stationless listener said:
WJLP is the only full power NYC station using VHF-lo.

In other interesting news, Larry Mendte announced on Jersey Matters that the show will end on WJLP after this week.

https://www.newjerseynewsnetwork.com/clip/15286872/jersey-matters-january-1st-2022 - Go to 39:10 for the relevant part.

If that's the case (and I don't doubt his reporting) then it's also possible that Weigel will drop anything related to PMCM. So the audio channels will have to go as well. I don't know what this means for NewsNet, though. Mendte mentioned in the end that Weigel committed to having a public affairs and news catered to New Jersey, plus a presence in the state.

NTD America should go to Channel 63, since the owners of that station seem to like that type of programming. And maybe Weigel can finally remove Laff, Grit and Court TV Mystery and bring in MeTV+.
Click to expand...

Interesting that the link I provided was taken down (as well as another link of just the commentary) at that site. All other videos are still up. Maybe there's been a change of mind at the corporate level? Or are they giving people who watch that show false hopes?
 
Purchase officially closed on WJLP and changes immediately made on that channel, dropping NTD America, Newsmax2, NJ NewsNet, Marine Weather and the Press Communications radio stations.

Draft Copy « Licensing and Management System « FCC

Licensing and Management System
enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov

Now Weigel has channels 33, 37 and 43 in the Tri-State area.

Checking the new WJLP webpage. Contact Us

Also, checking the main Me-TV page, it seems that they've dropped "Jersey Matters" but added "New Jersey Politics" in the 6:00 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. slots on Saturdays; and "Your New Jersey" in the 8:00 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. slots on Sundays.
 
stationless listener said:
Also, checking the main Me-TV page, it seems that they've dropped "Jersey Matters" but added "New Jersey Politics" in the 6:00 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. slots on Saturdays; and "Your New Jersey" in the 8:00 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. slots on Sundays.
Click to expand...
Actually, WJLP's public affairs programming schedule is as follows:

Saturday: 6:00 am - "Your New Jersey"; 6:30 am - "New Jersey Politics"

Sunday: 8:00 am - "Your New Jersey" (R); 8:30 am - "New Jersey Politics" (R)
 
stationless listener said:
Currently this station still has duplicates of Laff, Grit and Court TV Mystery on three of its subchannels. Court TV used to be on another subchannel but that was vacated and replaced with Heartland. I don't know when it'll happen but it's an eventually that the other three will leave that station as well.

If I'm WJLP I would refrain from doing more business with any of the Scripps/Katz, Nexstar, Sinclair, Tegna or any other major station group, who would rather do business with the ABC, NBC, CBS and Fox station groups. I have never understood the decision-making by that station to air material that you can also find on Channels 7, 11 and, now, 31.

They have a unique opportunity to do something different. If someone could buy Qubo then that would be something they can look into getting. Maybe also look into getting beINSportsExtra, Circle, Rev'n or another network that isn't already covered by the other station groups.

And no more shopping channels and infomercial driven channels that show Emeril and Cindy Crawford constantly!
Click to expand...
I do believe that those networks paid the station to air their content. How would getting Circle be different as it is already over the air in NYC?
 
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