WHYY-DT QUESTION

[trolleyk]

Why is WHYY TV 12 still broadcasting their DT signal in low power? Their signal is the only Philadelphia area TV station to do so. It currently can't be received with a converter box in Lower Bucks County. All other stations can.

 

[fybush]

Thank the helpful folks in Congress who changed the transition date at the absolute last possible second back in February.

WHYY's permanent DTV channel is 12 - and of course it can't broadcast digitally on channel 12 until analog channel 12 is gone. Nor can it increase power on its temporary DTV channel, 50, because it's wedged in tightly to analog channel 50 in Montclair NJ.

I don't think anyone in Congress considered situations like this when they pushed through the delay.

 

[NeilRattigan]

This is what happens when public officials get involved with private enterprise.

 

[tripinva]

WHYY-DT has been at low power for years, and it's not Congress's fault in any way, shape, or form.

WHYY-DT was originally assigned channel 55. They operated that for a while, but then Qualcomm bought that channel nationwide and wanted to launch their MediaFLO service before the digital transition. They paid WHYY to abandon channel 55 early and relocate to channel 50. This happened a couple of years ago.

So blame Qualcomm.

- Trip

 

[fybush]

WHYY-DT has been at low power for years, and it's not Congress's fault in any way, shape, or form.

WHYY-DT was originally assigned channel 55. They operated that for a while, but then Qualcomm bought that channel nationwide and wanted to launch their MediaFLO service before the digital transition. They paid WHYY to abandon channel 55 early and relocate to channel 50. This happened a couple of years ago.

So blame Qualcomm.

- Trip

That WHYY was at low power until Feb. 17 is not Congress' fault.

That it's still at low power now absolutely is.

 

[tripinva]

WHYY had the option of terminating the analog "early." The FCC has been very helpful in letting PBS stations sign off prior to June 12, and many already have or will in the next few days (WHTJ here goes digital-only tomorrow). WHYY chose not to.

- Trip

 

[fybush]

WHYY had the option of terminating the analog "early." The FCC has been very helpful in letting PBS stations sign off prior to June 12, and many already have or will in the next few days (WHTJ here goes digital-only tomorrow). WHYY chose not to.

- Trip

Do not underestimate the very considerable political pressure that was brought to bear on stations in large markets to go along with the delay. How many PBS stations in top-10 markets went early?

 

[tripinva]

Do not underestimate the very considerable political pressure that was brought to bear on stations in large markets to go along with the delay. How many PBS stations in top-10 markets went early?

Market 1 - WEDW went in January
Market 2 - None
Market 3 - WYCC goes in April
Market 4 - WLVT went in January
Market 5 - None
Market 6 - KCSM doesn't count
Market 7 - WENH/WEKW went on time, WGBX goes in April
Market 8 - WGTV went on time
Market 9 - WFPT goes in April
Market 10 - None
Market 11 - WTVS goes in April

Of course, many of them don't have the crippling signal problem that WHYY has, either. WNET does, certainly, but how many others are waiting to kill analog to boost digital?

- Trip

 

[dhett]

Uh, careful there, Trip. If Nielsen gets wind that you're using markets, they'll shut this site down.

 

[fybush]

Do not underestimate the very considerable political pressure that was brought to bear on stations in large markets to go along with the delay. How many PBS stations in top-10 markets went early?

Market 1 - WEDW went in January
Market 2 - None
Market 3 - WYCC goes in April
Market 4 - WLVT went in January
Market 5 - None
Market 6 - KCSM doesn't count
Market 7 - WENH/WEKW went on time, WGBX goes in April
Market 8 - WGTV went on time
Market 9 - WFPT goes in April
Market 10 - None
Market 11 - WTVS goes in April

Of course, many of them don't have the crippling signal problem that WHYY has, either. WNET does, certainly, but how many others are waiting to kill analog to boost digital?

- Trip

And did you notice something? Not one of the top-10 market stations you listed is the primary PBS outlet for its market. You could make a case, maybe, for WGTV - but I suspect more Atlantans are watching WPBA, especially since WGTV-DT doesn't seem to have a viewable signal within most of the Perimeter.

It's not coincidental that all the big-market primary PBS stations kept analog running. For all the talk of permissive early shutdown, there was tremendous political pressure being applied behind the scenes to keep those analog transmitters on until the bitter end, and when that pressure's coming from the same people voting on funding for CPB, station managers tend to grit their teeth and listen.

It's not just WNET and WHYY that end up delaying better digital service as a result. In Chicago, for instance, WBBM-DT can't move from 3 to 12 until WTTW is off 11. If you think WTTW, left to its own devices without political pressure, wouldn't have gladly vacated analog 11 on 2/17, I've got a bridge across Lake Michigan I'd be happy to sell you...

 

[tripinva]

Hehe, don't worry, dhett, I listed 11 of them because Detroit is in my top 10.

WBBM also can't move until WISN shuts off, so there was no reason for WTTW to shut off early. Outside of WNET and WHYY, none of them are waiting on analog to go away to improve their digital signals. Why shut off the analog if you don't absolutely have to?

1: WNET has already been discussed; WNYE and NJN gain nothing; WLIW moves but sees very minor improvement, if even that.
2: KCET has to move but there's no telling whether or not it will improve their signal. KVCR, KOCE, KLCS gain nothing.
3: WTTW gains nothing.
4: WHYY has already been discussed; NJN gains nothing.
5: KERA gains nothing.
6: KQED, KTEH, KRCB all gain nothing.
7: WGBH gains nothing.
8: WPBA gains nothing.
9: WETA, WHUT, WMPT all gain nothing.
10: KUHT gets a significant signal boost, the first one outside of WNET and WHYY to do so, but still on that crippling directional pattern (according to their last STA), so they get ~6 dB but still not in the places where the signal is worst off.

I'm talking as far as signal goes, not as far as saving money, which would obviously come out of such an action.

WHYY could have easily argued that killing the analog and flash-cutting was more in the public interest, since people would be more reluctant to hook up their boxes if WHYY wasn't available to them there. I sincerely doubt the FCC would have said no had they asked to silence on February 17.

- Trip

 

[fybush]

WHYY could have easily argued that killing the analog and flash-cutting was more in the public interest, since people would be more reluctant to hook up their boxes if WHYY wasn't available to them there. I sincerely doubt the FCC would have said no had they asked to silence on February 17.

Yes, they could have, but they didn't - and neither did WNET or KCET or KERA or WGBH or KQED or WETA or any of the other biggies. The issue wasn't the FCC, which probably would have said yes, but rather pressure from Congress, and in several of those cases specific reps or senators with a lot of influence over the situation.

When the people holding the strings to your pocketbook tell you to jump, the correct answer - at least in today's Washington - is generally "how high?," not "why should I?"

 

[tripinva]

You're missing my point I think. I'm saying that KCET and KERA and WGBH and KQED and WETA would have gained nothing from killing analog earlier (excepting power bills). No increase in coverage on any front.

WHYY would have gained... their entire coverage area. WNET even, despite their weak signal, isn't in the same position as WHYY since DT-61 is omni directional and at the top of ESB with everyone else. I locked it with my Silver Sensor last time I was in NJ along with everything else (surprisingly, WPXN was my problem station).

I don't disagree with your point, I just think their unique circumstances might have netted them an easier result than the others.

By the way, not to drag this off subject, but did you get my last e-mail? I've since gone through and taken your advice about New Hampshire; go check it out. I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on it now; e-mail me if you want.

- Trip

 

[softmachine]

This is what happens when public officials get involved with private enterprise.

DTV is what happens when private enterprise leans on federal agencies and officials.