Worst Stations and Markets for Local TV

[mvcg66b3r]

From CleCakYngMfd on the AVS Forum:

WGGN TV52 (RF42) Update:

Got a reply back from Pastor/GM/PD Rusty Yost.

They lost the 'Power Tube' in the main transmitter.
(Again! How often do 'tubes' go out with TV broadcasters? No spare on hand?)

WGGN is on low power.

Rusty said the manufacturer of the tube can't deliver until December!

I figured it couldn't be due to the missing leaves from the trees.

http://www.avsforum.com/forum/45-lo...39546-cleveland-oh-hdtv-212.html#post38849585

WGGN has been on low power for over two weeks! Hate to say it, but this station is done for.

 

[mvcg66b3r]

From the Arizona TV forum:

Class A station KLHU-CD channel 45 in Lake Havasu City, surrendered its license to the FCC last Thursday, marking the end of local television in Lake Havasu City. The station had been on the air since 1984. The station's website, http://www.klhu.tv, is still up, and they posted the last edition of the station's local newcast, which was a farewell retrospective. Not sure what the reason was for shuttering the station, other than owner Jolene Jensen's remark about retiring, but I would imagine that finances have something to do with it as well. As a Class A station, TV 45 was required to be operating in digital by September 1, 2015, and operating on RF channel 45, they would have been required to go through the expense of switching to another RF channel during the repacking process. The spectrum was not needed by the FCC for the incentive auction, so there was no help there.

Sorry to see any locally-operated station shut down, but the station came about due to an FCC policy change in the early 1980s, allowing low power stations to originate programming, and now the station may have fallen victim to another FCC policy change favoring wireless telecommunications at the expense of broadcast television.

 

[mvcg66b3r]

This Canadian station may be on the verge of falling from grace (again?):

CHCH TV suspends newscasts as company declares bankruptcy
No word on layoffs or programming but local news to resume on Monday, Channel Zero chair says

http://www.thespec.com/news-story/6...nds-newscasts-as-company-declares-bankruptcy/

More on this thread:
http://www.radiodiscussions.com/showthread.php?691442-CHCH-in-trouble&goto=newpost

 

[johnnya2k6]

Back here in the States, we have another brand new entry: WFXT Fox 25 Boston!

For years, they were one of the highest-rated Fox affiliates in the country with lead anchor Maria Stephanos one of the most popular TV personalities in New England...but that was when it was a Fox O&O. The fall from grace began when Fox traded WFXT and WHBQ (Memphis) to Atlanta-based Cox Media Group in exchange for KTVU (San Francisco), and Stephanos wasn't happy with the ownership change. She turned in her resignation papers after 18 years, and to rub salt in the wound even further, it was out with the old and in with the new...newer, uglier logo that looks more small market than large market!

As a result, ratings for all of Fox 25's newscasts have dropped in the recent November ratings, while all of Boston is waiting for Stephanos's next move (there are hot rumors that WBZ may be her next TV home).

 

[LKellerIII]

Back here in the States, we have another brand new entry: WFXT Fox 25 Boston!

For years, they were one of the highest-rated Fox affiliates in the country with lead anchor Maria Stephanos one of the most popular TV personalities in New England...but that was when it was a Fox O&O. The fall from grace began when Fox traded WFXT and WHBQ (Memphis) to Atlanta-based Cox Media Group in exchange for KTVU (San Francisco), and Stephanos wasn't happy with the ownership change. She turned in her resignation papers after 18 years, and to rub salt in the wound even further, it was out with the old and in with the new...newer, uglier logo that looks more small market than large market!

As a result, ratings for all of Fox 25's newscasts have dropped in the recent November ratings, while all of Boston is waiting for Stephanos's next move (there are hot rumors that WBZ may be her next TV home).

I live in the Bay Area. Thankfully, since Fox swallowed KTVU up as an O&O, they have changed virtually nothing - with the exception of changing the branding of the "KTVU Channel 2 News" to "KTVU Fox 2 News." They haven't even changed the station logo from the decades' old circle 2 logo to the more generic (and unattractive IMO) Fox channel numbers.

I guess this falls into the category of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it."

 

[frankberry]

As a former (retired) FOX TV employee .... I can predict that the KTVU logo will change. The circle 2 will probably remain ... below the word FOX.
FOX O&Os have good track records.

 

[mvcg66b3r]

From Jokinjer1 on the AVS Forum, with some glimmers of hope for Peoria:

It was Sinclair, owners of WHOI, who announced they would be cutting ties with WEEK within 9 months of Quincy's takeover. Their decision came early in 2014, soon after Granite's sale was announced, and, I think just before the FCC rules changed.

I've said it several times that Sinclair has a TON of financial backing unlike any of WHOI's previous owners. They also have a conservative slant to their newscasts and they love having their voices heard. Yet Peoria is the only TV market where there's a Sinclair presence without a newscast directly produced by Sinclair.

I'm thinking Sinclair may very well want to resurrect the HOI news studios once again. Or pipe it in from WICS at the very least, or a mixture of both.

I believe all of the Quincy Newspapers stations were in HD before they bought the Granite Stations. Quincy has a reputation for above-average news productions. That being said, I'm sure they are already working on an HD upgrade at the studios, though I can't confirm it.

The weather graphics upgrade is the first sign of major investment I've seen from the new owners, and it came pretty fast. Though I could swear it was weather central, but I am beginning to have a hard time telling the 2 apart. They both merged and they are the leaders in the industry.

This comes as Accu Weather is partnering with Baron Services for use of their VIPIR radar, which may finally move Accu Weather up close to WSI & Weather Central. Perhaps we'll see that new product on HOI News HD and compare.

There's no doubt we will see HD newscasts on all 3 Peoria stations by Summer. I'm thinking possibly as quick as February sweeps, thought that may be a little tricky as things take time.

The big question will be whether HOI news will be local, and if so, how local. And will WMBD & WHOI be broadcasting syndicated programming in HD? Sinclair has to make the changes. And I keep hoping WMBD's stretch-0-vision is a short-lived transition to HD syndicated programming. It makes Vanna White look like she has gained a little weight. If a year goes by, I guess we could send a copy of WMBD's Wheel broadcast to Vanna in hopes she will complain to the right people.

P.S. Going from Accu Weather Galilio to WSI MAX is probably like whiplash for WHOI fans. I bet a few jaws dropped!

http://www.avsforum.com/forum/45-lo...on/412347-peoria-il-hdtv-76.html#post40042314

 

[Poledo]

Besides Peoria and Tallahassee, in what other markets does Sincliar own big 4 affiliates with no local news department?

Besides Mobile, in what other markets does Sinclair maintain 2 (or more?) separate news departments for big 4 affiliates?

 

[mvcg66b3r]

WMNT-CD Toledo not in the public interest?

A man posted a rant on another forum (I won't link it here), saying that WMNT-CD Toledo wasn't in the public interest. He says there are no closed captions on any of its four subchannels, commercials that are too loud, and shows being cut off near the end. He also says the station isn't adhering to its Class A requirements. He says the station only has interest in itself. Who really runs WMNT, and how do we hold them accountable?

Cross-posted to Ohio TV board

 

[mvcg66b3r]

Another KMCT update:

On October 13, 2014, an EF2 tornado felled KMCT’s tower and knocked the station off the air. Since that date, First Assembly has worked diligently to first bring the station back on the air from temporary authorized facilities on September 24, 2015 and now to build permanent new facilities for the station. In the last six months, First Assembly has completed construction of the unmanned transmitter building at the permanent site including the antenna, coax line, etc. The new transmitter for the building is being delivered this week. Once the transmitter is installed, work will begin on installing microwave dishes for studio to transmitter links. Additionally, construction continues on the new master control facility.

Despite this progress, First Assembly out of an abundance of caution hereby requests an extension of special temporary authority to continue to allow KMCT to operate from the previously authorized temporary facilities to allow it to continue to have time to complete the facilities.

https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/api/download/attachment/25076f9152a8c1510152ebf6842c1f6c

 

[seatownmedia]

KSTW Seattle/Tacoma (VHF Channel 11) was a strong tv station going back to the 50's, and was a CBS affiliate twice, but was blocked out by KIRO circa 1960. They became a CBS affiliate again in the 90's. But in between it became a strong independent and offered the first 10:00 news in the Seattle market in the mid 70's into the 80's. The CBS affiliation in the mid-90's didn't last long, but they provided a strong local news presence. When CBS went back to KIRO they continued for a few years with local news, but today are CW and have no local news, and have not had for many years.

 

[mvcg66b3r]

And there’s WNMN, which airs MyNetworkTV on its third subchannel! (RetroTV is on 40.1) Its transmitter is in COL Saranac Lake, so its signal doesn’t reach Plattsburgh or Burlington. It has four translators, all analog-only. This was rumored to be the market’s CW affiliate, but was passed over in favor of WFFF (and later WPTZ).

WNMN has changed its calls to WYCI. Three of its translators lost their licenses in 2015, a fourth in New Hampshire flash-cut to digital and was sold.

The FCC canceled the licenses of WGMU-LP and repeaters W19BR and WBVT-LP on March 12, 2015 for failure to broadcast for a year; WGMU-LP and W19BR had gone off the air on November 18, 2013, while WBVT shut down four days later. WGMU's former Claremont repeater, WVMA-CD, remains licensed as of March 2015; that station (formerly W17CI) had been sold to Sound Communications in 2013 and transferred to Novia Communications (a company partially co-owned with Sound) a year later. WVMA-CD is Novia Communications' only media holding outside of its usual territory of upstate New York.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WGMU-LP

 

[JeeperOne]

In Denver, I would add KWGN 2 to this list

Once THE ONLY Indie station in town with a STRONG (For an Indie) news operation, has now become a shell of its former self as competition from KDVR 31 (Who is now the Fox affiliate & KWGN's sister station) & later KTVD 20 (Now owned by Tegna & the MyNet affiliate in town) coupled with the self-inflicted wound of not picking up the Fox affiliation itself back in the 1980s, have all but killed the station

In fact, dare I say had it not been for the WB (And later The CW) & Tribune's merger with Local TV, KWGN might be put out to pasture by now as I'm afraid (Strangely enough) Indie KCDO 3 (As low-budgeted & cheaply run as it is) might've been the one to drive the final nail in the coffin

Cheers & 73

 

[hamster]

In Denver, I would add KWGN 2 to this list

Once THE ONLY Indie station in town with a STRONG (For an Indie) news operation, has now become a shell of its former self as competition from KDVR 31 (Who is now the Fox affiliate & KWGN's sister station) & later KTVD 20 (Now owned by Tegna & the MyNet affiliate in town) coupled with the self-inflicted wound of not picking up the Fox affiliation itself back in the 1980s, have all but killed the station

In fact, dare I say had it not been for the WB (And later The CW) & Tribune's merger with Local TV, KWGN might be put out to pasture by now as I'm afraid (Strangely enough) Indie KCDO 3 (As low-budgeted & cheaply run as it is) might've been the one to drive the final nail in the coffin

Cheers & 73

Yes I agree abut KWGN. Actually they were for a time a regional superstation that was seen way beyond Denver. Heck I can remember seeing them at a bar in West Virginia back in the early 90s.

As far as the news goes what really hurt KWGN over the years was the loss of their main anchor Ernie Bjorkman which as I can recall took place not long before KDVR took over and when KWGN for a time was calling themselves The Deuce didn't help either. Some of their news stories during their Deuce days left a lot to be desired such as when they did a story on Denver's The Front Range Bears for example. Why did KWGN feel the need to do a story about overweight, tattooed, hairy gay men smoking cigars and drinking beer I will never know.

 

[JeeperOne]

Ernie Bjorkman left KWGN on more than one occasion (Both times for KMGH 7) & KWGN didn't fall apart THEN so I'm not buying the excuse of Ernie Bjorkman leaving KWGN as part of its downfall. In fact, I hink it had ZERO effect on that IMO

Cheers & 73

 

[mvcg66b3r]

From the "Worst Markets" thread:



Just today, WNMN entered into a consent decree, agreeing to pay a $30,000 fine for "numerous potential violations of the Commission’s Public File Rules", as well as building its analog transmitter at the wrong location.
http://transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2015/db1104/DA-15-1244A1.pdf

Three of WNMN's four translators are now off the air, never having converted to digital. A fourth (which has made the switch) has been sold to another company.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WNMN#Repeaters

And here's WNMN's schedule:
http://tvschedule.zap2it.com/tvlistings/ZCSGrid.do?stnNum=66255&channel=80&aid=tvschedule

Oddly enough, it's carried on Comcast Burlington and Charter Plattsburgh, but not on Time Warner Cable in city of license Saranac Lake!

WNMN has since changed its callsign to WYCI, but it's the same old story.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WYCI

 

[mvcg66b3r]

Maybe WHTX just might have a chance after all.

WHTX is back, having signed on last September.

[WUVN] largely simulcasts Boston's Univision affiliate, WUNI, and operates a semi-satellite in Springfield, Massachusetts, WHTX-LD, virtual and UHF digital channel 43, which is also seen on WUVN's second digital subchannel (this service is also carried by Springfield-area cable systems). Both stations occasionally jointly refer to themselves as Univision Nueva Inglaterra or Univision New England.

The WHTX-LD signal was licensed on September 29, 2015.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WUVN

Application Search Details (WHTX-LD)
https://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/app_det.pl?Application_id=2001868

 

[LKellerIII]

Since this thread has lasted for 42 "pages," it may have been said already, but it bears repeating - KRON 4 in San Francisco. For those who don't know the story - it was owned since its first day on the air by the Chronicle Corporation, owner of the San Francisco Chronicle, and was a top notch NBC affiliate. Around 2000, the family-owned company decided to liquidate all assets. The Chronicle went to Hearst, and the publishing arm was sold to other publishers. NBC showed interest in buying KRON for an O&O. But the Young Corporation decided it wanted KRON, and out-bid NBC. Young paid WAAAY too much money for the station - around $750 million, but they figured NBC would back down, and buy the station from them. NBC said "F-off" to Young, and purchased KNTV in San Jose for an O&O for less than a third of that $750 million.

So Young was stuck with a white elephant. To service the debt, they had to gut KRON's award-winning news department, and pick up the few low-tier syndicated programs they could afford. After limping along for about 10 years, Young had to go into bankruptcy due to the KRON debacle. The station was sold to Media General, and though it's still an independent station, it is now much improved from the Young era.

 

[mvcg66b3r]

WSJV Elkhart IN, the FOX affiliate for the South Bend DMA, is what I call a "semi-cursed" station. When it switched from ABC in 1995, it canceled its 5, 6 and 11pm newscasts and now only has news weekdays from 6-9 and nightly at 10 (an hour on weeknights, half-hour on weekends). Its only first-run syndicated offerings are Dr. Oz, Arsenio Hall and some of those lesser-known shows mentioned on other threads. And it has infomercials left and right, especially on weekends. This has to be one of Quincy's weakest stations. It even makes WBND-LD "uncursed" by comparison. I sure wish either WNDU or WSBT buy this station's non-license assets and put it on a subchannel. BTW, right now South Bend is DMA #96, but it could easily go below 100 in a few years.

Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WSJV
Schedule: http://tvschedule.zap2it.com/tvlistings/ZCSGrid.do?stnNum=11843&channel=9&aid=tvschedule&type=print

According to FTVLive, WSJV may be about to sell to Sinclair, which already owns WSBT. More on this thread: http://www.radiodiscussions.com/sho...ve-Sinclair-buying-WSJV&p=6102103#post6102103

 

[mvcg66b3r]

More on Yakima/Tri-Cities from another thread:

Yakima/Tri-Cities:
It's practically a UHF island. KNDO-23, KIMA-29, KAPP-35, KCYU-LD 41, KYVE-47. 2 1/2 of the Big 3 stations share news from a Tri-Cities studio. KAPP actually comes from KVEW-42, KNDO actually comes from KNDU-25, and KIMA-29 (mornings/weekends only) comes from KEPR-19. It's a sad situation in general. KAPP has one reporter. KNDO has one reporter. KIMA has about 4 reporters, one anchor and a sports director. No local meteorologist...Mike McCabe, who does wx on KIMA, is prerecorded from KEPR-19, because he's doing live WX at the same time for KEPR's Action News broadcast.
15-20 years ago, everything here was local. KNDO and KAPP had dueling studios at S 24th Ave. Those are gone. KNDO/KAPP would actually feed some of their newscasts to KNDU/KVEW...but it's the exact opposite now.
KIMA is also one of the last stations owned by Sinclair that is not using their current news graphics package. KIMA is using late 2000's era Fisher graphics. The studio is old and tired. Small desk with a bare blue wall and two HDTVs displaying the "KIMA Action News" logo. KNDU upgraded to a nicer set, with an NBC peacock behind the anchors. KAPP/KVEW also upgraded a bit with a nighttime view of the Tri-Cities behind the anchor (Mike Gonzalez). But they use the worst opening announcer ever - David Lee, known for his deep voice used for Westwood One NFL broadcasts and at countless rock stations around the country. Yes, that guy introduces news on a small ABC station in eastern Washington...

As for other notes, we have no My Network TV affiliate in this market. Our PBS station is a satellite of KCTS now. KYVE has no local Yakima programming anymore.
Satellite is mixed with affiliates. Dish Network gets KVEW ABC and KNDU NBC. No KNDO/KAPP. They also get KIMA AND KEPR for CBS. Fox comes from KCYU...not KFFX-11 Tri-Cities. Dish also provides both PBS stations in the market (KYVE-47, and KTNW-31 Tri-Cities).
DirecTV provides KNDO for NBC. I think they get KFFX for Fox, but I can't remember off the top of my head right now.