Changes to some Locals for 1/1/09

[jcrandall]

There will be some changes to some local channels tomorrow due to stations declining Must Carry or opting in for Must Carry.

This means a handful of stations will be removed on January 1, 2009. It also means a handful of stations have elected Must Carry and will be added to various markets.

In almost all cases, these are independent stations with the exception of one PBS channel in Charleston, WV.


DMAs Adding stations tomorrow

Lexington, KY (WLJC)
Miami, FL (WBEC)
Louisville, KY (WBNA)
Philadelphia, PA (WMCN)

DMAs Losing a station tomorrow

Tampa, FL (WCLF) (use channel 376 for CTN national feed instead)
West Palm Beach, FL (WFGC) (use channel 376 for CTN national feed instead)
San Francisco, CA (KMTP)
Norfolk, VA (WSKY)
Albuquerque, NM (KRPV)
Mobile, AL (WPAN)
Fairbanks, AK (KJNP)
Dallas, TX (KLDT)
El Paso, TX (KSCE)
Charleston, WV (WKAS)
Harrisburg, PA (WGCB)
Odessa, TX (KMLM)

 

[vurbano]

Looks like they are running out of bandwidth again

 

[sundude90]

Will these stations be added back at a later date?

 

[charper1]

Looks like they are running out of bandwidth again

Not that I know one way or the other, BUT I don't get that specifically out of that post.

 

[Hemi 6.1]

Not that I know one way or the other, BUT I don't get that specifically out of that post.

Why else would they remove what they already have then? I don't see the hurt in keeping a channel thats there,and just adding another , Unless Bandwidth is an issue.

 

[charper1]

We never know until told exactly if a channel is worth it or not; so why carry a channel just to have it. Plus it could easily be reasons other that bandwidth. So I never see any reason to jump to that conclusion without knowing. Seems like the negatives are always what users want to jump to and have every one else hear before really know and all it does is foster confusion and misinformation.


What Does "Must Carry" Mean?


The FCC implemented a rule as directed by Congress essentially saying that if a DBS Carrier (Dish or DirecTV) carry one channel in a certain city (Designated Marketing Area or DMA), they must carry all the stations in that city. But there are lots of rules that apply to the stations as well. So not all the channels in a DMA qualify for Must Carry status.

In order for a station to qualify for must carry the following conditions must be met:

1. The station has to ASK for must carry status within the designated election period as established by the FCC. If a station does not ask to be included in the local package within the designated time period, the DBS provider is under no obligation to carry the station, though they still may chose to do so.
2. The station MUST be an FCC licensed full-power station to the DMA in question. Licensed low power channels and Class A Stations DO NOT qualify for must carry status. Stations licensed to foreign countries (Canada - "c" stations and Mexico "x" stations) DO NOT qualify for must carry status.
3. The station may NOT ask for any consideration or compensation in return for allowing the satellite company to carry the channel. If a station asks for ANYTHING it waves its right for must carry status until the next election period (usually 3 years)
4. The station may NOT be a repeater or substantially duplicate another channel's programming within the same DMA unless they are in different states. This means that if there are two channels in the same DMA that mostly show the same programming at the same time and are both in the same state, ONLY ONE has to be carried under the must carry rules. But if the two stations are in two different states, BOTH have to be carried under the rules if they ask.
5. The station MUST provide a "good quality" signal to the satellite company's local point of presence (POP). "Good Quality" is subjective and the FCC has been involved in a few disputes, but if a station's over the air signal is not satisfactory, the TV station must provide their signal via fiber or other conveyance at THEIR expense.
6. Non-commercial/Educational stations (PBS and EDU) have different but similar rules

Any stations that do not qualify for, or waive must carry status or elect retransmission consent COULD be carried by retransmission consent between the station and the DBS Carrier, but the stations that do not qualify for must carry cannot force the DBS company to carry the station.


What is Retransmission Consent?

Retransmission consent is nothing more than a mutual agreement between the satellite or cable carrier and the broadcast station allowing the carrier to offer the channel to subscribers. In agreements such as these, anything goes. It is up to the two parties. The "Big" stations in any market usually elect to ask the carriers for retransmission consent and force the carriers to pay the station for the privilege to redistribute the signal to the stations market. Stations that elect retransmission consent cannot force the satellite carriers to carry the channel until the next election cycle rolls around, and, if the station feels it's in its best interest, ask for must carry status.

 

[Hemi 6.1]

Must carry all your local. Thats the only right answer IMO.

 

[charper1]

IMHO many locals are a total waste to begin with let alone to be retransmitted; people wanting those should just get an OTA.

 

[Hemi 6.1]

Seems like the negatives are always what users want to jump to and have every one else hear before really know and all it does is foster confusion and misinformation..

Its not a Negative, Its the only reason anyone could really see. I'm sure cable carries all of the same channels ,and I bet they aren't dropping any. What about E* in these citys, do they have to do the same thing?

 

[Hemi 6.1]

IMHO many locals are a total waste to begin with let alone to be retransmitted; people wanting those should just get an OTA.

OTA is Nice if you live near a City. But OTA isn't an option for many.

 

[charper1]

Its not a Negative, Its the only reason anyone could really see. I'm sure cable carries all of the same channels ,and I bet they aren't dropping any. What about E* in these citys, do they have to do the same thing?

Let them do whatever they think is in their best financial interest; they are in it to make money and while providing the best channels (not just any and all of them) along with other exclusive packages and services.

I would prefer that some channels just go away because they are total garbage and really do not have great viewership; I know some may disagree, but the fact is many have fought to get on and some pay to get online. There is no perfect scenario and you can't please every viewer, so I would prefer my DBS company be smart about what they carry.

 

[piercy67]

is Wilkes Barre, PA DMA gonna be affected by this?

 

[myrad42]

what will happen to my locals that directv supose to launchfor me in jan 2009. that is the geenville,washington,new bern area in north carolina

 

[charper1]

let the confusion and panic begin.

 

[Hemi 6.1]

You could ALL start by reading the first page instead just the Thread Title

 

[Hemi 6.1]

DMAs Losing a station tomorrow

Tampa, FL (WCLF) (use channel 376 for CTN national feed instead)
West Palm Beach, FL (WFGC) (use channel 376 for CTN national feed instead)
San Francisco, CA (KMTP)
Norfolk, VA (WSKY)
Albuquerque, NM (KRPV)
Mobile, AL (WPAN)
Fairbanks, AK (KJNP)
Dallas, TX (KLDT)
El Paso, TX (KSCE)
Charleston, WV (WKAS)
Harrisburg, PA (WGCB)
Odessa, TX (KMLM)

Does this say Scranton Wilkes/Barre on there. NOPE!

 

[Mr Tony]

Tampa, FL (WCLF) (use channel 376 for CTN national feed instead)
West Palm Beach, FL (WFGC) (use channel 376 for CTN national feed instead)
San Francisco, CA (KMTP)
Norfolk, VA (WSKY)
Albuquerque, NM (KRPV)
Mobile, AL (WPAN)
Fairbanks, AK (KJNP)
Dallas, TX (KLDT)
El Paso, TX (KSCE)
Charleston, WV (WKAS)
Harrisburg, PA (WGCB)
Odessa, TX (KMLM)

most of these are religious broadcasters that transmit most of what is already out there

example is KJNP in North Pole (fairbanks), AK...they are a TBN rebroadcaster...so most of these channels are just duplicates

But it does seem odd considering must carry...

 

[dfergie]

I can honestly say I've never watched KRPV from Directv (get Nationals instead (grandfathered)) and checking the guide from Dish probably never seen anything on it unless it was by mistake... Tony hit the nail on the head for this channel

 

[Mr Tony]

quick wiki shows the following afiliations

WCLF-CTN (Religious)
WFGC-CTN (Religious)
KMTP-Ethnic type channel
WSKY-Independent..there is another thread on it
KRPV-God's Learning
WPAN-Jewelry TV
KJNP-TBN
KLDT-Daystar
KSCE-Religious
WKAS-PBS
WGCB-Religious
KMLM-God's Learning

 

[DodgerKing]

most of these are religious broadcasters that transmit most of what is already out there

example is KJNP in North Pole (fairbanks), AK...they are a TBN rebroadcaster...so most of these channels are just duplicates

But it does seem odd considering must carry...

Just like the local channel 30 here in LA is carried by Direct and cable, as well as OTA of course. It has the same exact programming every hour as ION. Why should Direct waste bandwidth to duplicate a channel that shows EXACTLY the same program hour to hour as channel 305 on DirecTV