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WMFE-TV
- Thread starter Ai4i
- Start date
Oooo this is serious. The FCC put the WMFE-TV transfer on a docket. This means the feds are already getting some heat.
http://www.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2011/db0428/DA-11-755A1.pdf
Tx
http://www.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2011/db0428/DA-11-755A1.pdf
Tx
We compared the FCC coverage areas from best to worst:
WMFE(actual UHF channel 23) has the highest ERP, the lowest antenna, is closest to Orlando, and goes the farthest west/inland.
WDSC(actual UHF channel 33) has north-south coverage equal to WMFE, but transmits from further east.
WBCC(actual UHF channel 30) operates from the same height and on the same tower as WDSC but with a lower ERP and is weaker in all directions.
WMFE(actual UHF channel 23) has the highest ERP, the lowest antenna, is closest to Orlando, and goes the farthest west/inland.
WDSC(actual UHF channel 33) has north-south coverage equal to WMFE, but transmits from further east.
WBCC(actual UHF channel 30) operates from the same height and on the same tower as WDSC but with a lower ERP and is weaker in all directions.
BIG APE said:Mr. Mike said:
Ha! Ya gotta be kidding.. What are you a college professor? Welcome to Real Radio and TV..We gotta make money! Website will not do "Jack"...Believe me"! :
If in case you're interested, it was just a suggestion of mine. Just the same, the proposed sale has caused something of a uproar in the Orlando area, given that Channel 24 is the only one of the three PBS stations to cover the whole Orlando market. As for your comment, I think you went a little over the top.
I think what ai4i is saying is, if WDSC got the FCC's permission to increase its power, it would have virtually the same coverage as WMFE. WDSC's tower is only two miles away from the former WMFE, now Daystar, tower. It's actually higher than WMFE but WDSC's coverage is inferior to WMFE because it doesn't have enough juice.
As ai4i tells us, all three PBS stations are within two miles of each other, even though their cities of license are many miles away. Both WDSC and WBCC operate from Channel 6's tower and no one disputes Channel 6's coverage (now DT 26 WKMG) of the full Orlando market. The difference is WDSC and WBCC operate with considerably lower power. If no other Central Florida is on their same digital channel, 15 or 68, either station or both stations could boost their power and cover the market as well or better than WMFE.
In addition to its regular PBS programming, WMFE was also broadcasting V Me, the PBS Spanish language service, on one of its subchannels. I notice none of the three Orlando-area PBS stations broadcasts PBS World, PBS Create or PBS Kids on any of their subchannels.
So WDSC and/or WBCC should increase power and add subchannels with V Me, Create, Kids and World, becomming the prmiary PBS outlet(s).
Gregg
[email protected]
As ai4i tells us, all three PBS stations are within two miles of each other, even though their cities of license are many miles away. Both WDSC and WBCC operate from Channel 6's tower and no one disputes Channel 6's coverage (now DT 26 WKMG) of the full Orlando market. The difference is WDSC and WBCC operate with considerably lower power. If no other Central Florida is on their same digital channel, 15 or 68, either station or both stations could boost their power and cover the market as well or better than WMFE.
In addition to its regular PBS programming, WMFE was also broadcasting V Me, the PBS Spanish language service, on one of its subchannels. I notice none of the three Orlando-area PBS stations broadcasts PBS World, PBS Create or PBS Kids on any of their subchannels.
So WDSC and/or WBCC should increase power and add subchannels with V Me, Create, Kids and World, becomming the prmiary PBS outlet(s).
Gregg
[email protected]
Re: WMFE-TV wanna file a complaint?
There's an article in the Orlando Sentinel about the complaints to the FCC about the sale of WMFE-TV. It also has a link to file a complaint to the FCC about it. If enough people complain perhaps the government will do something right for a change and not allow the sale to go through. http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/en...ampaign=Feed:+entertainment/tv/tvguy+(TV+Guy)
Here's a direct link to the proceeding for this.
http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/proceeding/view?z=dzgn&name=11-75
There's an article in the Orlando Sentinel about the complaints to the FCC about the sale of WMFE-TV. It also has a link to file a complaint to the FCC about it. If enough people complain perhaps the government will do something right for a change and not allow the sale to go through. http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/en...ampaign=Feed:+entertainment/tv/tvguy+(TV+Guy)
Here's a direct link to the proceeding for this.
http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/proceeding/view?z=dzgn&name=11-75
It is possible that Daystar Television may agree to program PBS programming with limited religious programming as a condition of meeting FCC license transfer approval if the FCC deems it to be in the public interest to impose such a condition in order to preserve Orlando and Central Florida's only public televison station. Remember, a licensee does not legally own a broadcast station license, but, is rather granted permission to operate the licensed facilities in the public interest as a public trustee.
I cannot see that happening. The missions and worldviews of the two entities are completely at odds. PBS seeks to educate, and expand cultural horizons; Daystar seeks to indoctrinate, and to shield viewers from culture at odds with a conservative Christian mindset. I think many Daystar viewers would be offended by such an alliance. Sure, there are probably a handful of PBS shows that would be "benign" enough to the Christian right to pass muster, but why bother? Daystar would be better off converting their LPTV to digital, and seeking a spot on one of the Bithlo sticks to maximize coverage.
Of course, with DTV multicasting, there is another similar option that could work. WMFE needs money to survive; Daystar wants to increase their reach and viewership. What if WMFE allowed Daystar a 24/7 subchannel in exchange for an annual fee that would shore up their bottom line? Just a 480i subchannel would do; most religious broadcasters like Daystar aren't really into HD anyway -- it adds nothing to their message. That would separate the two programming streams on separate "channels" rather than try to intermix them. They could even not use the WMFE calls in the PSIP for Daystar, highlighting the division -- to viewers, it would just be another channel that their TV scans in that they can view, ignore, or block as they see fit. WMFE's viewers would be happy with such an arrangement, I believe, if the only alternative is the station going dark.
Of course, with DTV multicasting, there is another similar option that could work. WMFE needs money to survive; Daystar wants to increase their reach and viewership. What if WMFE allowed Daystar a 24/7 subchannel in exchange for an annual fee that would shore up their bottom line? Just a 480i subchannel would do; most religious broadcasters like Daystar aren't really into HD anyway -- it adds nothing to their message. That would separate the two programming streams on separate "channels" rather than try to intermix them. They could even not use the WMFE calls in the PSIP for Daystar, highlighting the division -- to viewers, it would just be another channel that their TV scans in that they can view, ignore, or block as they see fit. WMFE's viewers would be happy with such an arrangement, I believe, if the only alternative is the station going dark.
Maryland PTV might have two channels in the Baltimore area.Stanislav said:
One comes up as 30.1, 30.2, 30.3, and 30.4 while the second comes up as 30.5, 30.6, 30.7, and 30.8.
My CATV system assigns all the Music Choice channels 120*, where *=several hundred.
Can things be divided up the opposite way where one channel would come up as 24.1, 24.2, 24.3 and 25.1, 25.2, 25.3?
Yes, Daystar programing appears on on a subchannel of KOCE-TV in Huntington Beach CA---ironically now the primary PBS affiliate in the LA market. KOCE was previously owned and operated by a small college in Orange County CA and had always been a PBS affiliate. The college wanted out of the TV biz and was looking to sell to another community organization. They refused to sell the channel to Daystar. Daystar filed several lawsuits and FCC complaints against KOCE--finally KOCE agreed to put the Daystar programming on a subchannel if Daystar would stop their foolishness. The station was then sold to a community based organization who continues to operate the channel as a PBS affil. I am not a resident of the Orlando market, but am horrified of Daystar picking up yet another PBS station.
There is really no way of knowing for sure what actions the FCC will take in this matter; However, if enough individuals in the community file enough complaints with the Commission opposing the sale on the grounds of potentially losing Orlando's only public television station, the FCC may impose certain stipulations upon Daystar that the FCC has determined to be consistent with serving the public interest before the Commission agrees to approve a license transfer.
While I haven't kept up with all the local media articles about this situation, what I've seen doesn't tend to mention Daystar by name or mission, only indicating that the station is being sold, and that it will no longer be PBS. As incensed as many already are in principle about losing WMFE-TV, is the general public really even aware of who and what Daystar is, and that the station will be yet another 24/7 preaching and gospel music channel (like the three we already have) once sold? Seems to me that would add fuel to the fire, and it's like the media is either silent by choice or just ignorant of the details. Have they perhaps been taken in by the fact that the transfer request is in an obfuscating "d/b/a" name ("Community Educators of Orlando, Inc.," perhaps intended to be deliberately similar to the current owners, "Community Communications, Inc.") and doesn't mention Daystar by name?
This really is an interesting discussion. It says quite a bit about how people view what they perceive to be free.
It is clear that WMFE is out of money. The downhill spiral has been happening for quite some time, from what I have read. The Board that controls the license has, apparently, concluded the financial situation is hopeless and they wish to cease operations to avoid further liability. To do otherwise would not just be financially irresponsible; it might incur personal liability upon the Board members. Thus, the station was sold at a “fire sale” price to stop the bleeding and net a few dollars to retire debt.
Those who are opposing the transfer befuddle me. What do they suppose will happen should the transfer be denied? This won’t force the station to remain on the air. It won’t force WMFE to continue to feather Big Bird’s nest. It will simply force the station to go dark and will leave creditors of WMFE with emptier pockets. Everybody loses.
Those who are so incensed about the demise of WMFE are a bit late to the party. Perhaps they should have written a check during pledge drive. Maybe they could have formed a 501(c)(3) and made a bid for the station themselves. But, it’s easier simply to complain, expect the penniless government to ride to the rescue, and shake their fists because the new station owners will offer programming that offends their sensibilities.
It’s a head-scratcher, especially since Bert, Ernie, Tavis Smiley, and Mark Walberg will still be available in Central Florida.
DE
It is clear that WMFE is out of money. The downhill spiral has been happening for quite some time, from what I have read. The Board that controls the license has, apparently, concluded the financial situation is hopeless and they wish to cease operations to avoid further liability. To do otherwise would not just be financially irresponsible; it might incur personal liability upon the Board members. Thus, the station was sold at a “fire sale” price to stop the bleeding and net a few dollars to retire debt.
Those who are opposing the transfer befuddle me. What do they suppose will happen should the transfer be denied? This won’t force the station to remain on the air. It won’t force WMFE to continue to feather Big Bird’s nest. It will simply force the station to go dark and will leave creditors of WMFE with emptier pockets. Everybody loses.
Those who are so incensed about the demise of WMFE are a bit late to the party. Perhaps they should have written a check during pledge drive. Maybe they could have formed a 501(c)(3) and made a bid for the station themselves. But, it’s easier simply to complain, expect the penniless government to ride to the rescue, and shake their fists because the new station owners will offer programming that offends their sensibilities.
It’s a head-scratcher, especially since Bert, Ernie, Tavis Smiley, and Mark Walberg will still be available in Central Florida.
DE
Valid points, but I also wonder how much of the problem has been lack of viewer contributions and how much is poor management of what they do take in. I don't see WDSC or WBCC crying poverty, and they are considerably smaller operations with, until recently (thanks to cable carriage and, more recently, DTV and the move to Bithlo leveling the OTA playing field) considerably smaller audiences. OK, WBCC is clearly a second-tier operation, but WDSC has done quite well and is popular in its Volusia/Flagler target area. They carry a lot of top-notch PBS programs, and manage to run a 24/7 OTA schedule, as opposed to WMFE signing off for several hours every night. Yes, WMFE runs higher power than WDSC, so their power bill is somewhat larger, but that can't be the only critical factor, can it?
I'd really like to see a comparison between the two stations as regards budget, salaries, viewer contributions, other sources of income, operating and programming costs, etc., related to the size of their respective viewing audiences. It could be that WDSC somehow gets more bang for the buck than WMFE does. Are PBS viewers in the core of the market (Orange/Seminole) just more apathetic and less generous with their checkbooks than those in Volusia/Flagler (WDSC) or Brevard (WBCC)? Does the fact that the latter two stations are owned and operated by colleges factor in? (I.e., are those institutions better able to "prop up" the budget and make up for any shortcomings?)
Or, for that matter, is the existence of WDSC and WBCC enough to siphon off a significant proportion of what would be WMFE's financial support if they were the only PBS member in the market? Perhaps it's cutting the pie too thinly to support three public stations in the market, but one would think if any of the three would survive, it would be the station with the largest audience, biggest stick, and longest established history. That's why I question whether it's a matter of not enough dough filling the coffers, or one of not using what does come in wisely.
I'd really like to see a comparison between the two stations as regards budget, salaries, viewer contributions, other sources of income, operating and programming costs, etc., related to the size of their respective viewing audiences. It could be that WDSC somehow gets more bang for the buck than WMFE does. Are PBS viewers in the core of the market (Orange/Seminole) just more apathetic and less generous with their checkbooks than those in Volusia/Flagler (WDSC) or Brevard (WBCC)? Does the fact that the latter two stations are owned and operated by colleges factor in? (I.e., are those institutions better able to "prop up" the budget and make up for any shortcomings?)
Or, for that matter, is the existence of WDSC and WBCC enough to siphon off a significant proportion of what would be WMFE's financial support if they were the only PBS member in the market? Perhaps it's cutting the pie too thinly to support three public stations in the market, but one would think if any of the three would survive, it would be the station with the largest audience, biggest stick, and longest established history. That's why I question whether it's a matter of not enough dough filling the coffers, or one of not using what does come in wisely.
A few quick facts...
--Can a religious organization run a PBS station? Yes. Brigham Young University, owned by the Mormon church, owns Channel 11 KBYU-TV Provo-Salt Lake City. It is one of two PBS stations in the SLC market. Most of the day it runs typical PBS programs but a few hours of the day it runs Mormon religious programs. Channel 7 in SLC is a secular PBS station, the primary PBS affiliate.
--If WMFE was struggling financially, maybe it could have entered into an agreement with the other regional PBS stations? WNET-13 is NYC's primary PBS station. But it has an agreement with secondary PBS affiliate WLIW 21, based on Long Island. They're not co-owned but they coordiate their fund drives, they cross-promote each other's schedules and never run the same show at the same time. WNET has tried to buy WLIW but WLIW isn't willing. So this is their arrangement.
--Perhaps one of the existing PBS stations could have bought WMFE, funding the sale by selling off the old channel to Daystar. While the call letters could have remained WMFE, on air identification could have been both WMFE and WDSC, or maybe one subchannel could have been called WMFE and the other WDSC. Then one channel would run children's programs while the other runs adult shows. One runs Nova while the other runs This Old House. I'm sure two channlels could be run aalmost as cheaply as one, yet have the donor loyalty of two stations.
Gregg
[email protected]
--Can a religious organization run a PBS station? Yes. Brigham Young University, owned by the Mormon church, owns Channel 11 KBYU-TV Provo-Salt Lake City. It is one of two PBS stations in the SLC market. Most of the day it runs typical PBS programs but a few hours of the day it runs Mormon religious programs. Channel 7 in SLC is a secular PBS station, the primary PBS affiliate.
--If WMFE was struggling financially, maybe it could have entered into an agreement with the other regional PBS stations? WNET-13 is NYC's primary PBS station. But it has an agreement with secondary PBS affiliate WLIW 21, based on Long Island. They're not co-owned but they coordiate their fund drives, they cross-promote each other's schedules and never run the same show at the same time. WNET has tried to buy WLIW but WLIW isn't willing. So this is their arrangement.
--Perhaps one of the existing PBS stations could have bought WMFE, funding the sale by selling off the old channel to Daystar. While the call letters could have remained WMFE, on air identification could have been both WMFE and WDSC, or maybe one subchannel could have been called WMFE and the other WDSC. Then one channel would run children's programs while the other runs adult shows. One runs Nova while the other runs This Old House. I'm sure two channlels could be run aalmost as cheaply as one, yet have the donor loyalty of two stations.
Gregg
[email protected]
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