Local channel technical question.

[tsduke]

What method is used to retransmit the locals? Do they take the signal off air and send it up?

 

[Barry Erick]

Here is how they do it in our market (Wilkes-Barre/Scranton). All of Dish's receivers are at WNEP-TV (ABC). There, WNEP sends their signal directly from the tech area to DISH. THe other stations are picked up with off air antennas, with the option to fiber the signal to the plant. There the output is combined and sent on fiber to an uplink site, which I believe is in NJ. DirecTV is similar, except the receivers are at WVIA (PBS)

 

[Tower Guy]

What method is used to retransmit the locals? Do they take the signal off air and send it up?

In Albany, NY the equipment is at WRGB. WRGB, WCWN, and WNYA are fed directly. WNYT, WMHT, and WTEN are received off air. The signal is multiplexed and sent via fiber to both DirecTV and Echostar. One system serves both.