WTVE on channel 1-1

[ajc_trw]

Twice I've tuned in WTVE on my Zenith DTT-901 and have gotten a virtual channel number of 1-1. Am I alone? Yesterday it also came in on 51-1 in addition to 1-1 so I'm wondering if it's just a fluke thing down here in Dover, DE.

P.S.: I checked to see what 51-1 was and it was physical channel 25. But when I re-examined 25 the virtual number went back to 1-1. :-\

With physical channel 29 being used by Telemundo maybe FOX 37 would work. Especially if the X files comes back.

 

[otaguy]

I've seen this too. Apparently WTVE needs to fix its PSIP info.

 

[ding12]

Just an fyi

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WTVE

Digitally, WTVE is one of the first stations in the US to transmit using a distributed transmission system,[5] having received special temporary authority from the FCC to operate WTVE-DT via eight (mostly low-powered) transmitters scattered across its coverage area rather than relying on one large signal.[6]

The station transmits from sites in or near:

* WTVE-DTS1 Reading, PA (225m 0.76kW DA)
* WTVE-DTS2 Bethlehem, PA (155m 2.8kW DA)
* WTVE-DTS3 North East, MD (87m 0.11kW DA)
* WTVE-DTS4 Quarryville, PA (193m 1.0kW DA)
* WTVE-DTS5 Myerstown, PA (63m 1.15kW DA)
* WTVE-DTS6 Lambertville, NJ (95m 0.6kW DA)
* WTVE-DTS7 Philadelphia, PA (378m 126kW DA)
* WTVE-DTS8 Brockton, PA (138m 4.25kW DA)

North East MD is interesting, I know its for DE viewers, but they probably have spillover all the way to Harford County, MD?
With WMCN running almost all day infomercials, and WTVE running almost all day infomercials, it'd be interesting if Comcast argued one was duplicative of each other in order to drop one for must-carry status.

WTVE's strategy:
WTVE still doesn't have cable carriage on Comcast Garden State, biggest system outside of Philly, and unlikely won't. I bet Comcast is requesting/offering to give WTVE full market carriage if WTVE accepts a digital cable only position everywhere, and WTVE doesn't want to lose analog on more than half of the systems they already have carriage - because it'd be less people maybe viewing their infomercials. For WBPH, however, it'd be a good idea to deal with Comcast, following KFTY 50.

 

[azumanga]

I thought stations could only use their analog channel numbers for virtual channels, per FCC regulations? WCIU in Chicago tried using "1" as its PSIP about a year or so ago, until the FCC told them they couldn't do that. Also, TBN originally planned on giving all its stations a PSIP of "75" -- the FCC said no to that as well.

 

[w9wi]

I thought stations could only use their analog channel numbers for virtual channels, per FCC regulations? WCIU in Chicago tried using "1" as its PSIP about a year or so ago, until the FCC told them they couldn't do that. Also, TBN originally planned on giving all its stations a PSIP of "75" -- the FCC said no to that as well.

True.

The ATSC standard calls for DTV stations that once had an analog license to use their analog channel number as their primary virtual channel. This standard is incorporated by reference in the FCC regulations.

There is a mechanism for assignment of alternate primary virtual channels, with the appointment of a central registry to ensure they're unique within a given coverage area. My recollection is that Tribune and the now-defunct USDTV were the only two entities to register alternate virtual channels - 75 and 99 respectively.

All this said, violations of this standard (and by extension, of FCC regulations) are not unheard-of.