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WZMY TV SHUTTING DOWN 12-31-2010
- Thread starter teevee
- Start date
Prime time movies were the staple of independent stations years ago and is a logical thought for filing in the 8-10PM time period. With Comcast having such a large subscription base and offering 10,000 movies on demand, I'm not sure that we would be able to to compete given the number of movies available to us. There are quite a few cable channels that also offer movies each night (both basic and premium channels). Add to that the increasing number of people connecting their TVs to Netflex and the other movie suppliers and I worry that movies would not set us apart as a program alternative.
It's interesting to see that WSBK has not set the world on fire with the news at 9PM, which is a great alternative to traditional programming and an idea that I thought would be a big success.
If you look at all the alternatives, viewers seem to be most comfortable with the programs they already know...which is why launching new first-run programming is so hard!
It's interesting to see that WSBK has not set the world on fire with the news at 9PM, which is a great alternative to traditional programming and an idea that I thought would be a big success.
If you look at all the alternatives, viewers seem to be most comfortable with the programs they already know...which is why launching new first-run programming is so hard!
Doug,
You are correct as to the movie plan.
In the Boston market you have to find a nitch that a majority of the viewers like. As a couple of decades ago, the network station had their programing, the successful independent had each a nitch, 38 sports & three stoges, 50, 56, movies 68 old reruns Dalles etc. actually xpo & nds had this type programing also.
Now as the baby bomers are getting into retirement this could be idea?
I believe you have a good idea as to sport programing, take a look at the so call super stations Wgn, kwgn,wtbs, all reach their success with this format along with faithfull re-runs. but it is expensive, if you can find a somone to partner with in this idea it could be a win win situation for all.
Just my two cents. Good luck in your endevors. great idea in getting input from viewers.
Justin D.
You are correct as to the movie plan.
In the Boston market you have to find a nitch that a majority of the viewers like. As a couple of decades ago, the network station had their programing, the successful independent had each a nitch, 38 sports & three stoges, 50, 56, movies 68 old reruns Dalles etc. actually xpo & nds had this type programing also.
Now as the baby bomers are getting into retirement this could be idea?
I believe you have a good idea as to sport programing, take a look at the so call super stations Wgn, kwgn,wtbs, all reach their success with this format along with faithfull re-runs. but it is expensive, if you can find a somone to partner with in this idea it could be a win win situation for all.
Just my two cents. Good luck in your endevors. great idea in getting input from viewers.
Justin D.
NHRadio said:
The problem with any sort of movies in prime time for WZMY is that Boston is the most heavily cabled market in the country -- which means that the market for movies is pretty well saturated for 98+ % of WZMY's viewers. I'd be more inclined to try prime time movies in a market like Milwaukee (77% cable/satellite penetration) than in a Boston.
WZMY is rumored to being purchased by Bill Binnie for his New Hampshire 1 Network set to launch in April.
http://nhjournal.com/2011/02/16/source-binnie-network-to-hit-the-air-in-april/
http://nhjournal.com/2011/02/16/source-binnie-network-to-hit-the-air-in-april/
NHRadio said:
Cable isn't required to carry LPTV's although some are carried if they're co-owned with another major affiliate
Rumor has it Bill Binnie, failed candidate Congress, is going to buy Channel 50
WNDS? Channel 50 has been WZMY since 2005.
...and another thing about WZMY...
I'm an OTA (over the air via antenna) viewer on a hilltop about 15 miles south of Milford, NH. Back when WNDS 50 was analog, there were many reception complaints, but not from me. Analog RF 50 reception was nearly as strong for me as the closest station, WUNI 27 Worcester.
Now WZMY on RF 35 --- forget it! When it's there, it's marginal: watchable for a few minutes at a time before going to scrambled pixels. Usually, it's "off the cliff" = no signal, according to the converter box. An outside antenna MIGHT solve this, but the amplified rabbit ears indoors on a high shelf work fine for almost all the other stations: 26 in all, counting subchannels.
Maybe the new signal gets into Boston better, or covers NH better, but I wouldn't know.
Any hope on the horizon for the reception-impaired, Mr. Finke?
I'm an OTA (over the air via antenna) viewer on a hilltop about 15 miles south of Milford, NH. Back when WNDS 50 was analog, there were many reception complaints, but not from me. Analog RF 50 reception was nearly as strong for me as the closest station, WUNI 27 Worcester.
Now WZMY on RF 35 --- forget it! When it's there, it's marginal: watchable for a few minutes at a time before going to scrambled pixels. Usually, it's "off the cliff" = no signal, according to the converter box. An outside antenna MIGHT solve this, but the amplified rabbit ears indoors on a high shelf work fine for almost all the other stations: 26 in all, counting subchannels.
Maybe the new signal gets into Boston better, or covers NH better, but I wouldn't know.
Any hope on the horizon for the reception-impaired, Mr. Finke?
I hope this guy has a lots of MONEY to invest in this project as this could take years to get a return (profit) from this venture..Wbzfm2010 said:
Schuyler,
In the conversion from analog to digital, WZMY elected to replicate the existing analog coverage. On a theoretical basis, the signal is the same. In reality, due to the cliff-effect that you mentioned, there are places where the analog signal was watchable but where the digital signal needs a much better antenna. When calculating the digital coverage, the computer models use an outside antenna, mounted 30 feet above the ground (presumably on the roof of a house). To be honest, that is probably not the most common set-up, with most people having antennas in the home.
A couple of thoughts. WZMY's actual frequency is channel 35. Therefore you'd want a UHF antenna. Reception is very directional. Depending upon where you live you may need to use multiple antennas or a rotor to allow you to aim your antenna at WZMY's antenna in Hudson, NH. Obviously the higher up you can get the antenna, the better. Roof mounting is best, attic mount is next. Remember, rabbit ears are designed for VHF reception, not UHF reception. Interior walls reduce the signal level. Splitters cut the signal in half at each split.
All of that said, increasing the power for WZMY would take an application to the FCC and would have some issues regarding interference (there is a channel 35 in Lewiston, Maine that needs to be protected). It would probably require a directional antenna or a different frequency, neither of which are quick/easy/inexpensive solutions. The station's transmitter has plenty of headroom for increasing the power...the license doesn't allow it as it is currently authorized.
Sorry,
Doug Finck
In the conversion from analog to digital, WZMY elected to replicate the existing analog coverage. On a theoretical basis, the signal is the same. In reality, due to the cliff-effect that you mentioned, there are places where the analog signal was watchable but where the digital signal needs a much better antenna. When calculating the digital coverage, the computer models use an outside antenna, mounted 30 feet above the ground (presumably on the roof of a house). To be honest, that is probably not the most common set-up, with most people having antennas in the home.
A couple of thoughts. WZMY's actual frequency is channel 35. Therefore you'd want a UHF antenna. Reception is very directional. Depending upon where you live you may need to use multiple antennas or a rotor to allow you to aim your antenna at WZMY's antenna in Hudson, NH. Obviously the higher up you can get the antenna, the better. Roof mounting is best, attic mount is next. Remember, rabbit ears are designed for VHF reception, not UHF reception. Interior walls reduce the signal level. Splitters cut the signal in half at each split.
All of that said, increasing the power for WZMY would take an application to the FCC and would have some issues regarding interference (there is a channel 35 in Lewiston, Maine that needs to be protected). It would probably require a directional antenna or a different frequency, neither of which are quick/easy/inexpensive solutions. The station's transmitter has plenty of headroom for increasing the power...the license doesn't allow it as it is currently authorized.
Sorry,
Doug Finck
DougFinck said:
Unfortunately, the current WZMY digital coverage on Channel 35 hardly replicates the original analog signal on Channel 50. Going from 5 million watts ERP analog to less than 8,000 watts ERP digital, I'm no big wiz on the math but WZMY's digital coverage hardly makes it to the border. However, WZMY's cable coverage is its' strength. Thanks to must-carry and some very good decision making over the years, WZMY enjoys excellent cable coverage. I'm sure they use some effective means to get the signal to the cable headends such as fiber and terrestrial microwave. Being Boston's MY TV affiliate doesn't hurt either. I used to get Channel 50 quite well over the years in both Massachusetts and in New Hampshire. But on digital Channel 35, in Manchester (15 miles to the north), the signal doesn't exist. I've always wondered why WZMY did not try to do a flash cut to Channel 50 using the same antenna and to operate "full power". In theory, a station that ran 5 million watts analog would be able to replicate the same coverage by using 1 million watts digital. Admittedly, most front-ends of DTV sets leave a lot to be desired. They're pretty numb. Doug is correct, placement on a receive antenna is crucial. With UHF, it's very directional. In the analog world, it was a little more forgiving. In the digital world, you either have it or you don't.
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