RabbitEars Blog - News2024-03-20T13:20:53-04:00urn:md5:182a148bd8e2c40bd0e9dd950d7b934cDotclearEntrepreneur Turns to Kickstarter To Launch No-Nonsense News Channelurn:md5:9d89c321889adf8783ee8ba50b9893952017-09-29T04:52:00-04:002017-09-29T04:52:00-04:00Trip EricsonNews<p>Friend of the site Eric Wotila is attempting to launch a 24/7 hybrid local-national news subchannel network, based out of his WMNN-LD 24/7 local news station in Cadillac, MI. He’s using the crowdfunding site Kickstarter to get the network off the ground, and is looking for backers to contribute a few dollars each toward making the project a reality. Funding is all-or-nothing, so if he doesn’t reach his fund-raising goal, no backers will be charged for their pledges. Along side this press release, he separately sent me an e-mail about it. I've received his permission to publish a few choice quotes:</p>
<p>"My goal is to launch a 24/7 national news channel that gets back to the headlines. No opinion. No shouting heads. Just a good, old-fashioned news wheel format: Give us 15 minutes, we’ll tell you what’s going on around the world, not analyze or voice our opinions. I’ve heard more and more over the past year or two that people are sick and tired of their existing options for 24-hour news, and I truly hope to provide a news broadcast that informs, rather than agitates.</p>
<p>"LNN will be the only 24/7 news channel without opinion-based talk shows, and it will also be the only such channel available both for free on antenna and via internet platforms such as mobile apps, Roku and Apple TV. In addition, the network is designed from the ground up with localization in mind, allowing many stations that currently lack the resources for local news to add local programming as well as national news to their lineup."</p>
<p>While I feel uncomfortable endorsing his project, given my position, I did want to republish his press release here. I feel comfortable doing this much, as it will appear in many other locations as well.</p>
<p>See the full press release by clicking "Read more" below.</p> <p>Cadillac, MI (September 28, 2017) – First, they launched a 24/7 local news channel covering northern Michigan. Then, they were hired to help build another news network airing on 5 TV stations in Nebraska. Now, the team behind northern Michigan’s MI News 26 hopes to take their model national with the launch of LNN – billed as a 24/7 news channel without pundits, panels or shout shows. They’ve taken to crowdsourcing site Kickstarter to do so.
“In recent years, we’ve heard more and more complaints about existing 24/7 national news channels,” explained Eric Wotila, Owner of MI News 26 and the driving force behind LNN, “At the same time, we’ve received constant compliments about the straight-to the-facts, no-nonsense and commentary-free local news coverage we provide on MI News 26. So, we thought, ‘Why not take this model national?’”</p>
<p>For the MI News 26 team, the answer to that question was funding. Launching a national network isn’t cheap, but the team hopes a successful crowdfunding campaign will allow the launch of LNN – or the “Local News Network” – from their existing facilities.</p>
<p>“We have a studio in place, and a local team already producing news from our studio,” explained Wotila, “but we need to raise funding to handle the cost of national distribution and the additional staff that will be needed to handle the workload of a national news channel.”</p>
<p>That campaign aims to raise $100,000 – but there’s less than 50 days to do so, and funding is all-or-nothing. If the team behind the new startup doesn’t reach their fundraising goal by mid-November, no pledges will be collected, but the network won’t launch, either.</p>
<p>“It’s a no-risk way for people who support the idea of a news channel free of commentary and opinion to bring the idea to life,” explained Wotila.</p>
<p>Anybody contributing to the crowdfunding campaign for the startup will receive one of several rewards, ranging from their name in the national networks’ credits for several months to their name in the title of a show – but, in the eyes of LNN’s founder, the true reward is access to straight, opinion-free news.
“If people support this project – we truly believe we can bring credibility back to 24-hour national news.”</p>
<p>To support the LNN Kickstarter campaign, you can visit <a href="http://www.YourLNN.com" title="http://www.YourLNN.com">http://www.YourLNN.com</a> or <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ericwotila/lnn-a-news-channel-without-pundits-panels-or-shout" title="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ericwotila/lnn-a-news-channel-without-pundits-panels-or-shout">https://www.kickstarter.com/project...</a></p>What We Know - Incentive Auction Resultsurn:md5:d83eae7e83ea5d6f9e87bf226aa74acc2017-02-09T17:30:00-05:002017-04-03T21:13:15-04:00Trip EricsonNews<p>With the quiet period for broadcasters lifted, we now know more about what some stations did in the auction. Below, I will attempt to track their public statements. I intend to update this post on a rolling basis with newest information at the top.</p> <p>WHTV Lansing, MI - Going off the air:<br />
<a href="http://my18.tv/" title="http://my18.tv/">http://my18.tv/</a></p>
<p>WOTH-CD Cincinnati, OH - Sold; WOUB to 32, WOUC to 6:<br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/tony.suarez.568/posts/1474981085865800?pnref=story" title="https://www.facebook.com/tony.suarez.568/posts/1474981085865800?pnref=story">https://www.facebook.com/tony.suare...</a></p>
<p>WNVC/WNVT Northern Virginia - Sold:<br />
<a href="http://ideastations.org/spectrumauction" title="http://ideastations.org/spectrumauction">http://ideastations.org/spectrumauc...</a></p>
<p>WEIU Charleston, IL - Will be repacked:<br />
<a href="http://jg-tc.com/news/local/weiu-not-sold-in-auction-still-future-uncertain/article_aa8c1a04-7e8e-5fa6-8e4a-782a47776b2d.html" title="http://jg-tc.com/news/local/weiu-not-sold-in-auction-still-future-uncertain/article_aa8c1a04-7e8e-5fa6-8e4a-782a47776b2d.html">http://jg-tc.com/news/local/weiu-no...</a></p>
<p>Hundreds of stations - NAB Clearinghouse:<br />
<a href="http://www.nab.org/repacking/clearinghouse.asp" title="http://www.nab.org/repacking/clearinghouse.asp">http://www.nab.org/repacking/cleari...</a></p>
<p>Lots of channels in Ohio/Michigan/Indiana:<br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/wtfda/permalink/887268408079654/" title="https://www.facebook.com/groups/wtfda/permalink/887268408079654/">https://www.facebook.com/groups/wtf...</a></p>
<p>WEWS Cleveland, OH - Stating on channel 15:<br />
<a href="http://www.avsforum.com/forum/45-local-hdtv-info-reception/1139546-cleveland-oh-hdtv-165.html#post51382065" title="http://www.avsforum.com/forum/45-local-hdtv-info-reception/1139546-cleveland-oh-hdtv-165.html#post51382065">http://www.avsforum.com/forum/45-lo...</a></p>
<p>WKYC Cleveland, OH - Moving to channel 19; WVIZ Cleveland, OH - Moving to channel 35:<br />
<a href="http://www.avsforum.com/forum/45-local-hdtv-info-reception/1139546-cleveland-oh-hdtv-165.html#post51347321" title="http://www.avsforum.com/forum/45-local-hdtv-info-reception/1139546-cleveland-oh-hdtv-165.html#post51347321">http://www.avsforum.com/forum/45-lo...</a></p>
<p>WMFD Mansfield, OH - Staying on channel 12:<br />
<a href="http://www.avsforum.com/forum/45-local-hdtv-info-reception/1139546-cleveland-oh-hdtv-165.html#post51337569" title="http://www.avsforum.com/forum/45-local-hdtv-info-reception/1139546-cleveland-oh-hdtv-165.html#post51337569">http://www.avsforum.com/forum/45-lo...</a></p>
<p>WTVS Detroit, MI - Repacked to channel 20:<br />
<a href="http://www.avsforum.com/forum/45-local-hdtv-info-reception/453486-detroit-mi-hdtv-250.html#post51321849" title="http://www.avsforum.com/forum/45-local-hdtv-info-reception/453486-detroit-mi-hdtv-250.html#post51321849">http://www.avsforum.com/forum/45-lo...</a></p>
<p>WTVP Peoria, IL - Repacked to channel 35:<br />
<a href="http://www.pjstar.com/news/20170303/wtvp-tv-gets-new-channel-assignment-will-go-from-47-to-35" title="http://www.pjstar.com/news/20170303/wtvp-tv-gets-new-channel-assignment-will-go-from-47-to-35">http://www.pjstar.com/news/20170303...</a></p>
<p>WPBO Portsmouth, OH - Sold for $8.8 million:<br />
<a href="http://wosu.org/the-ohio-state-university-announces-sale-of-wpbo-tv-broadcast-license-in-fcc-auction/" title="http://wosu.org/the-ohio-state-university-announces-sale-of-wpbo-tv-broadcast-license-in-fcc-auction/">http://wosu.org/the-ohio-state-univ...</a></p>
<p>Raycom - 22 stations repacked, including at least one station moving from channel 12 to 8:<br />
<a href="http://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/washington/nab-repack-time-money-insufficient/163759" title="http://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/washington/nab-repack-time-money-insufficient/163759">http://www.broadcastingcable.com/ne...</a></p>
<p>Entravision - Made $264 million:<br />
<a href="http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/101994/entravision-rev-up-gets-264m-in-auction" title="http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/101994/entravision-rev-up-gets-264m-in-auction">http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/...</a></p>
<p>WLJC Beattyville, KY - Remaining on channel 7:<br />
<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/rkJ427eOYhlt9loKvX_r1ID0QvR3mk1ymDIpmFD7YW1m3VGf1N4qYX0WluYzz4M_7w2l7j_9fXEVrt8=w1280-h873" title="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/rkJ427eOYhlt9loKvX_r1ID0QvR3mk1ymDIpmFD7YW1m3VGf1N4qYX0WluYzz4M_7w2l7j_9fXEVrt8=w1280-h873">https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/r...</a></p>
<p>WQLN Erie, OH - Repacked to channel 27:<br />
<a href="http://www.avsforum.com/forum/45-local-hdtv-info-reception/1139546-cleveland-oh-hdtv-163.html#post51125401" title="http://www.avsforum.com/forum/45-local-hdtv-info-reception/1139546-cleveland-oh-hdtv-163.html#post51125401">http://www.avsforum.com/forum/45-lo...</a></p>
<p>Media-General - Made $479 million; Nexstar - Sold no stations; 90 stations repacked across both groups of stations:<br />
<a href="http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/101870/nexstar-4q-revenue-up-23-to-310-million" title="http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/101870/nexstar-4q-revenue-up-23-to-310-million">http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/...</a><br />
<a href="http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/101885/nexstar-thinking-ahead-to-its-next-deal/page/2" title="http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/101885/nexstar-thinking-ahead-to-its-next-deal/page/2">http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/...</a></p>
<p>KVCR San Bernardino, CA - Made $157 million; moving to low-VHF:<br />
<a href="http://kvcr.org/pressrelease" title="http://kvcr.org/pressrelease">http://kvcr.org/pressrelease</a> <br />
<a href="http://kvcr.org/faq" title="http://kvcr.org/faq">http://kvcr.org/faq</a></p>
<p>WGTE Toledo, OH - Not repacked:<br />
<a href="http://thecourier.com/local-news/2017/02/11/wbgu-tv-staying-on-uhf-spectrum/" title="http://thecourier.com/local-news/2017/02/11/wbgu-tv-staying-on-uhf-spectrum/">http://thecourier.com/local-news/20...</a></p>
<p>WDWO-CD Detroit, MI - Probably not sold; why would someone spend $2 million on a license that's going off the air in a few months?<br />
<a href="http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/101770/wdwocd-detroit-sells-for-2-million" title="http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/101770/wdwocd-detroit-sells-for-2-million">http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/...</a></p>
<p>WTLW Lima, OH - Made $7.7 million; Moving to channel 2:<br />
<a href="http://limaohio.com/news/231520/lima-based-christian-tv-station-gets-7-7-million-in-fcc-auction-to-launch-foundation" title="http://limaohio.com/news/231520/lima-based-christian-tv-station-gets-7-7-million-in-fcc-auction-to-launch-foundation">http://limaohio.com/news/231520/lim...</a><br />
<a href="http://www.avsforum.com/forum/25-hdtv-technical/1216722-avs-official-topic-fcc-broadcast-spectrum-80.html#post50999649" title="http://www.avsforum.com/forum/25-hdtv-technical/1216722-avs-official-topic-fcc-broadcast-spectrum-80.html#post50999649">http://www.avsforum.com/forum/25-hd...</a></p>
<p>Sinclair - 93 of 173 stations repacked; 3 of 173 sold:<br />
<a href="http://finance.yahoo.com/news/edited-transcript-sbgi-earnings-conference-015439583.html" title="http://finance.yahoo.com/news/edited-transcript-sbgi-earnings-conference-015439583.html">http://finance.yahoo.com/news/edite...</a></p>
<p>WEAO Akron, OH - Repacked to channel 24; WNEO Alliance, OH - Repacked to channel 29:<br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/WesternReservePublicMedia/posts/10154978132687114?comment_id=10154978448832114&comment_tracking=%7B%22tn%22%3A%22R2%22%7D" title="https://www.facebook.com/WesternReservePublicMedia/posts/10154978132687114?comment_id=10154978448832114&comment_tracking=%7B%22tn%22%3A%22R2%22%7D">https://www.facebook.com/WesternRes...</a></p>
<p>WUPV Richmond, VA - Moving to VHF:<br />
<a href="http://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/washington/wupv-richmond-will-be-moving/163443" title="http://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/washington/wupv-richmond-will-be-moving/163443">http://www.broadcastingcable.com/ne...</a></p>
<p>WHUT Washington, DC - Not being sold:<br />
<a href="http://current.org/2017/02/howard-university-decides-it-wont-sell-whut-in-spectrum-auction/" title="http://current.org/2017/02/howard-university-decides-it-wont-sell-whut-in-spectrum-auction/">http://current.org/2017/02/howard-u...</a></p>
<p>WVTA Windsor, VT - Made $56 million:<br />
<a href="http://current.org/2017/02/vermont-pbs-gains-56m-from-sale-in-spectrum-auction/" title="http://current.org/2017/02/vermont-pbs-gains-56m-from-sale-in-spectrum-auction/">http://current.org/2017/02/vermont-...</a></p>
<p>WBIN Derry, NH - Made $68.1 million:<br />
<a href="http://www.nh1.com/news/wbin-tv-sold-in-fcc-auction-nh1-news-to-invest-in-new-digital-platforms/" title="http://www.nh1.com/news/wbin-tv-sold-in-fcc-auction-nh1-news-to-invest-in-new-digital-platforms/">http://www.nh1.com/news/wbin-tv-sol...</a></p>
<p>WUAB Cleveland, OH - Will channel share on sister WOIO's signal:<br />
<a href="https://www.cleveland.com/tv-blog/index.ssf/2017/02/channel_43_will_remain_on_the_air_only_its_transmitter_was_sold.html" title="https://www.cleveland.com/tv-blog/index.ssf/2017/02/channel_43_will_remain_on_the_air_only_its_transmitter_was_sold.html">https://www.cleveland.com/tv-blog/i...</a></p>
<p>Univision - Made $376 million:<br />
<a href="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/univision-reports-higher-quarterly-earnings-sees-376m-fcc-spectrum-auction-proceeds-976353" title="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/univision-reports-higher-quarterly-earnings-sees-376m-fcc-spectrum-auction-proceeds-976353">http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/ne...</a></p>
<p>CBS - Didn't sell any "full power" stations:<br />
<a href="https://www.rabbitears.info/blog/index.php?post/2017/02/09/www.tvnewscheck.com/article/101574/cbs-comes-up-small-in-spectrum-auction" title="www.tvnewscheck.com/article/101574/cbs-comes-up-small-in-spectrum-auction">www.tvnewscheck.com/article/101574/...</a></p>
<p>WLVI Cambridge, MA - Will channel share on WHDH:<br />
<a href="http://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2017/02/15/ansin-sells-wlvi-airwaves-but-will-keep-station/UgmAQ4jRWH4mwNcmlpeIVN/story.html" title="http://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2017/02/15/ansin-sells-wlvi-airwaves-but-will-keep-station/UgmAQ4jRWH4mwNcmlpeIVN/story.html">http://www.bostonglobe.com/business...</a></p>
<p>Various PBS stations noted in a spreadsheet: (Linked on Current.org)<br />
<a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1aguZjdAo2On8B2cUUtyroLjBwXvKVjvJre-XdH4yaZo/edit#gid=0" title="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1aguZjdAo2On8B2cUUtyroLjBwXvKVjvJre-XdH4yaZo/edit#gid=0">https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet...</a></p>
<p>KKPM-CD Chico, CA - Staying on 28; KRDT-CD Redding, CA - Staying on 23:<br />
<a href="http://www.avsforum.com/forum/45-local-hdtv-info-reception/369015-san-francisco-ca-ota-365.html#post50748889" title="http://www.avsforum.com/forum/45-local-hdtv-info-reception/369015-san-francisco-ca-ota-365.html#post50748889">http://www.avsforum.com/forum/45-lo...</a></p>
<p>Kentucky Educational Television - Did not participate in the auction:<br />
<a href="https://twitter.com/LexTVandRadio/status/831159261761769473" title="https://twitter.com/LexTVandRadio/status/831159261761769473">https://twitter.com/LexTVandRadio/s...</a></p>
<p>WRNN Kingston, NY - Made $212 million:<br />
<a href="http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/101497/wrnn-new-york-cops-212m-in-fcc-auction" title="http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/101497/wrnn-new-york-cops-212m-in-fcc-auction">http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/...</a></p>
<p>WIPB Muncie, IN - Repacked to channel 19:<br />
<a href="http://indianapublicradio.org/news/2017/02/ball-state-university-will-continue-to-broadcast-wipb/" title="http://indianapublicradio.org/news/2017/02/ball-state-university-will-continue-to-broadcast-wipb/">http://indianapublicradio.org/news/...</a></p>
<p>KRCB Cotati, CA - Made $72 million:<br />
<a href="http://www.sonomawest.com/sonoma_west_times_and_news/news/krcb-reaps-million-windfall/article_260a205c-f24b-11e6-9b06-bf815dd61b65.html" title="http://www.sonomawest.com/sonoma_west_times_and_news/news/krcb-reaps-million-windfall/article_260a205c-f24b-11e6-9b06-bf815dd61b65.html">http://www.sonomawest.com/sonoma_we...</a></p>
<p>KOVR Sacramento, CA - Staying on 25; KMAX Sacramento, CA - Repacked to channel 24:<br />
<a href="http://www.avsforum.com/forum/45-local-hdtv-info-reception/369015-san-francisco-ca-ota-365.html#post50725681" title="http://www.avsforum.com/forum/45-local-hdtv-info-reception/369015-san-francisco-ca-ota-365.html#post50725681">http://www.avsforum.com/forum/45-lo...</a></p>
<p>WBGU Bowling Green, OH - Repacked to channel 22:<br />
<a href="http://www.sent-trib.com/news/wbgu-tv-to-move-to-new-channel-following-fcc-spectrum/article_d89a0680-efc9-11e6-81af-af3a172520d8.html" title="http://www.sent-trib.com/news/wbgu-tv-to-move-to-new-channel-following-fcc-spectrum/article_d89a0680-efc9-11e6-81af-af3a172520d8.html">http://www.sent-trib.com/news/wbgu-...</a></p>
<p>WVIA Scranton, PA - Channel sharing on WNEP's signal:<br />
<a href="http://www.wvia.org/about/presidents-message/" title="http://www.wvia.org/about/presidents-message/">http://www.wvia.org/about/president...</a></p>
<p>Scripps - Made no money:<br />
<a href="http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/101461/no-auction-money-for-scripps" title="http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/101461/no-auction-money-for-scripps">http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/...</a></p>
<p>WITF Harrisburg, PA - Channel sharing host:<br />
<a href="http://www.witf.org/about/pressroom/2017/02/witf-to-focus-on-new-efforts-to-expand-its-journalistic-and-educational-mission-in-central-pa.php" title="http://www.witf.org/about/pressroom/2017/02/witf-to-focus-on-new-efforts-to-expand-its-journalistic-and-educational-mission-in-central-pa.php">http://www.witf.org/about/pressroom...</a><br />
<a href="http://www.witf.org/about/pressroom/2017/02/channel-sharing-and-spectrum-auction-faq.php" title="http://www.witf.org/about/pressroom/2017/02/channel-sharing-and-spectrum-auction-faq.php">http://www.witf.org/about/pressroom...</a></p>
<p>WQED Pittsburgh, PA - Moving to low-VHF:<br />
<a href="http://www.post-gazette.com/ae/tv-radio/2017/02/10/WQED-reaps-9-9-million-in-FCC-frequency-auction/stories/201702100128" title="http://www.post-gazette.com/ae/tv-radio/2017/02/10/WQED-reaps-9-9-million-in-FCC-frequency-auction/stories/201702100128">http://www.post-gazette.com/ae/tv-r...</a></p>
<p>Sinclair - Made $313 million:<br />
<a href="http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/101411/sinclairs-auction-take-313-million" title="http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/101411/sinclairs-auction-take-313-million">http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/...</a></p>
<p>WUSF Tampa, FL - Going off the air:<br />
<a href="http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/auction-nets-usf-188m-but-spells-end-to-wusf-tv/2312582" title="http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/auction-nets-usf-188m-but-spells-end-to-wusf-tv/2312582">http://www.tampabay.com/news/busine...</a></p>
<p>WCMZ Flint, MI - Going off the air: (There are a several mistakes in this article.)<br />
<a href="http://www.cm-life.com/article/2017/02/fcc-spectrum-auction-ends" title="http://www.cm-life.com/article/2017/02/fcc-spectrum-auction-ends">http://www.cm-life.com/article/2017...</a></p>
<p>Fox - Made $350 million:<br />
<a href="http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/101374/fox-stations-getting-350m-from-auction" title="http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/101374/fox-stations-getting-350m-from-auction">http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/...</a></p>
<p>Tribune - Made $190 million:<br />
<a href="http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/101386/tribune-media-to-get-190m-from-auction" title="http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/101386/tribune-media-to-get-190m-from-auction">http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/...</a></p>
<p>Gray - Made $90.8 million:<br />
<a href="http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/101326/gray-to-get-908m-from-spectrum-auction" title="http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/101326/gray-to-get-908m-from-spectrum-auction">http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/...</a></p>What We Know About the Incentive Auctionurn:md5:d923fe9ebf714be1635fe03b78d507982016-01-28T17:30:00-05:002016-03-25T19:05:37-04:00Trip EricsonNews<p>(Updated 2/8/16 with an article about Chattanooga.)<br />
(Updated 2/24/16 with more on Puerto Rico.)<br />
(Updated 3/25/16 with WNYE.)</p>
<p>As many of you know, the FCC's Incentive Auction application window <a href="https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-15-1296A1.pdf">closed on Tuesday, January 12</a>. This means that stations are now under a "quiet period" during which they cannot discuss bids or bidding strategy. This also means that almost any information that is going to be made public before the process is complete is probably already public now. As a service to those who are interested, I've attempted to compile as much information as I can find about who is in and who is out.</p>
<p>Please note that while I am officially an FCC employee, I have no access to any inside information on this subject, and even if I did, I could not share it. All data below was compiled entirely in my personal time and capacity, is in no way intended to reflect the views of the FCC or any of its Commissioners. It is either based on public information which is linked, or is strictly my own speculation based on years of industry-watching.</p>
<p>Now, to the educational part.</p> <p>First, we have a collection of PBS networks covering multiple markets announcing they will not be participating in the auction.</p>
<p>UNC-TV: <a href="http://www.heraldsun.com/news/unc-tv-avoids-spectrum-rights-auction/article_6bcafe2a-b4b9-11e5-9bac-1343632ba851.html" title="http://www.heraldsun.com/news/unc-tv-avoids-spectrum-rights-auction/article_6bcafe2a-b4b9-11e5-9bac-1343632ba851.html">http://www.heraldsun.com/news/unc-t...</a><br />
NET: <a href="http://www.1011now.com/home/headlines/Nebraska-Public-TV-Network-Wont-be-Sold-in-National-Auction-360588981.html" title="http://www.1011now.com/home/headlines/Nebraska-Public-TV-Network-Wont-be-Sold-in-National-Auction-360588981.html">http://www.1011now.com/home/headlin...</a><br />
OETA: <a href="http://www.enidnews.com/news/state/bandwidth-auction-could-impact-tv-station-availability/article_98971c94-01af-5dcd-a16e-e17c6ceb53a8.html" title="http://www.enidnews.com/news/state/bandwidth-auction-could-impact-tv-station-availability/article_98971c94-01af-5dcd-a16e-e17c6ceb53a8.html">http://www.enidnews.com/news/state/...</a></p>
<p>Next, the networks.</p>
<p>CBS in: <a href="http://seekingalpha.com/news/2969726-moonves-broadcast-still-strong-cbs-may-sell-into-fcc-auction" title="http://seekingalpha.com/news/2969726-moonves-broadcast-still-strong-cbs-may-sell-into-fcc-auction">http://seekingalpha.com/news/296972...</a><br />
NBC in: <a href="http://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/washington/comcasts-roberts-nbc-likely-fcc-auction-participant/145337" title="http://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/washington/comcasts-roberts-nbc-likely-fcc-auction-participant/145337">http://www.broadcastingcable.com/ne...</a><br />
Fox in: <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-09-09/fox-to-join-u-s-auction-of-airwaves-next-year-fcc-chief-says" title="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-09-09/fox-to-join-u-s-auction-of-airwaves-next-year-fcc-chief-says">http://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...</a></p>
<p>I suspect that what you're going to see here are places where CBS, NBC, or Fox own two stations, one will go in. NBC, in particular, seems to have tested things out in San Francisco, where they're already running dual HD on both signals. It's very easy to picture them selling WWSI, for instance, and putting 62-1 onto the WCAU signal which will be much better than the WWSI signal could have ever been.</p>
<p>Tribune/Univision/ION/Fox: <a href="http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/82850/fox-other-groups-join-proauction-ranks" title="http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/82850/fox-other-groups-join-proauction-ranks">http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/...</a><br />
And again later: <a href="http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/87655/tribune-talking-ch-sharing-to-other-groups" title="http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/87655/tribune-talking-ch-sharing-to-other-groups">http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/...</a></p>
<p>This is interesting. For those who have been paying attention, you've probably already noticed that Univision has dual HD up on most or all of its signals in duopoly markets. I would guess that was done in anticipation of the auction. But it's also possible to imagine other channel sharing arrangements. Looking at this group, one could imagine Fox keeping its station in Detroit, for example, since it is on VHF, and instead looking to share with some of the UHF stations which will be more in demand. In other markets, stations owned by someone other than Fox might have the more ideal signal to keep versus selling.</p>
<p>Here's an article talking about many of the companies involved:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.investors.com/news/technology/broadcast-tv-spectrum-auction-comcast-seen-in-disney-out/" title="http://www.investors.com/news/technology/broadcast-tv-spectrum-auction-comcast-seen-in-disney-out/">http://www.investors.com/news/techn...</a></p>
<p>Now, the station owners.</p>
<p>Sinclair in, limited: <a href="http://www.fiercewireless.com/story/sinclair-cbs-gray-voice-support-fccs-600-mhz-incentive-auction-other-tv-bro/2015-11-05" title="http://www.fiercewireless.com/story/sinclair-cbs-gray-voice-support-fccs-600-mhz-incentive-auction-other-tv-bro/2015-11-05">http://www.fiercewireless.com/story...</a><br />
Sinclair again: <a href="http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/87442/sinclair-puts-a-value-on-its-spectrum" title="http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/87442/sinclair-puts-a-value-on-its-spectrum">http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/...</a><br />
Media-General in: <a href="http://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/washington/media-general-confirms-incentive-auction-participation/146751" title="http://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/washington/media-general-confirms-incentive-auction-participation/146751">http://www.broadcastingcable.com/ne...</a><br />
Nexstar out?: <a href="http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/87483/nexstar-holding-onto-its-spectrum" title="http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/87483/nexstar-holding-onto-its-spectrum">http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/...</a><br />
Scripps out?: <a href="http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/87518/scripps-likes-spectrum-postauction-outlook" title="http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/87518/scripps-likes-spectrum-postauction-outlook">http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/...</a></p>
<p>What you're seeing here is probably limited participation. For example, Media-General is probably looking carefully at its duopolies in very valuable markets like Hartford or Buffalo. It will also probably look at selling off the pile of Class A licenses it holds. Sinclair, in some cases, runs more than two stations, or Nexstar has two but no other subchannels. I suspect they won't participate heavily, but will do so in strategic locations, where prices are high enough.</p>
<p>Then, there are the speculators. (Titan, OTA, LocusPoint, LocalMedia TV, etc.)</p>
<p>OTA: <a href="http://www.nasdaq.com/article/computer-mogul-dell-stands-to-reap-billions-from-fcc-auction-20160113-00012" title="http://www.nasdaq.com/article/computer-mogul-dell-stands-to-reap-billions-from-fcc-auction-20160113-00012">http://www.nasdaq.com/article/compu...</a></p>
<p>I only include the one article, but I'm sure others could be found. Don't think the stations owned by speculators are guaranteed to go off the air either. There are likely to be cases where the station owned by a speculator is less valuable than some other station in the market, and that station may sell in the auction to channel share on the speculator's facility.</p>
<p>Now, let's go market by market. If there's nothing to say, I will include no commentary. Please note that unless there's something specific to a station owned by a speculator, I have not included it here. This list could quickly grow out of hand if I included every station owned by a speculator.</p>
<p><em>I am not certain that I have everything here. If you have a link to an article I don't have, please let me know and I will add it.</em></p>
<p>1) New York<br />
WEDW in: <a href="http://current.org/2014/08/conn-network-strikes-deal-with-locuspoint-on-proceeds-from-spectrum-auction/" title="http://current.org/2014/08/conn-network-strikes-deal-with-locuspoint-on-proceeds-from-spectrum-auction/">http://current.org/2014/08/conn-net...</a><br />
NJN in: <a href="http://www.newsworks.org/index.php/arts-culture/item/90034-new-jersey-could-earn-over-2-billion-from-sale-of-public-tv-airwaves" title="http://www.newsworks.org/index.php/arts-culture/item/90034-new-jersey-could-earn-over-2-billion-from-sale-of-public-tv-airwaves">http://www.newsworks.org/index.php/...</a><br />
WNYE out: <a href="http://www.tvnewscheck.com/link/93413/nyc-wont-be-selling-its-tv-station-in-auction/" title="http://www.tvnewscheck.com/link/93413/nyc-wont-be-selling-its-tv-station-in-auction/">http://www.tvnewscheck.com/link/934...</a></p>
<p>I don't think there's much to comment on here. The article about WEDW is pretty clear, I think, while NJTV uses four transmitters to serve a state that could probably be covered with just two (WNJB, properly relocated, and WNJS).</p>
<p>2) Los Angeles<br />
KCET/KLCS share: <a href="http://www.kcet.org/about/pressroom/kcet-press-releases/kcetlink-and-klcs-announce-channel-sharing-partnership.html" title="http://www.kcet.org/about/pressroom/kcet-press-releases/kcetlink-and-klcs-announce-channel-sharing-partnership.html">http://www.kcet.org/about/pressroom...</a><br />
KVCR in: <a href="http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-spectrum-auction-20160111-story.html" title="http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-spectrum-auction-20160111-story.html">http://www.latimes.com/entertainmen...</a><br />
KDOC share: <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2015/05/05/does-the-fcc-spectrum-auction-make-sense/why-i-will-participate-in-the-spectrum-auction" title="http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2015/05/05/does-the-fcc-spectrum-auction-make-sense/why-i-will-participate-in-the-spectrum-auction">http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebat...</a></p>
<p>The KDOC article is interesting, using the phrase "major network affiliate." Given NBC, Fox, and CBS all have duopolies, and VHF like KABC probably won't be too valuable to the auction, my guess would be Tribune or one of the other PBS stations (KOCE or KVCR). KVCR, in particular, could move itself to Mount Wilson or Mount Harvard by channel sharing with someone who's already there, while collecting a chunk of change as the most valuable station in Los Angeles due to its odd location, relatively speaking. But we simply don't know.</p>
<p>3) Chicago<br />
<del>WYCC out: <a href="http://www.robertfeder.com/2015/11/06/no-deal-mayor-rules-out-wycc-sale/" title="http://www.robertfeder.com/2015/11/06/no-deal-mayor-rules-out-wycc-sale/">http://www.robertfeder.com/2015/11/...</a></del>
WYCC in, after all: <a href="http://www.robertfeder.com/2016/03/04/on-second-thought-city-colleges-puts-wycc-up-for-sale/" title="http://www.robertfeder.com/2016/03/04/on-second-thought-city-colleges-puts-wycc-up-for-sale/">http://www.robertfeder.com/2016/03/...</a></p>
<p>4) Philadelphia<br />
WYBE considering: <a href="http://www.mindtv.org/2014/help-determine-our-future/" title="http://www.mindtv.org/2014/help-determine-our-future/">http://www.mindtv.org/2014/help-det...</a><br />
WFMZ sharing with KJWP: <a href="http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/prefill_and_display.pl?Application_id=1717133&Service=DT&Form_id=314&Facility_id=1283" title="http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/prefill_and_display.pl?Application_id=1717133&Service=DT&Form_id=314&Facility_id=1283">http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws...</a></p>
<p>WYBE's article just says they're looking into it. No information is available.</p>
<p>The sale agreement for KJWP is far more interesting. I've seen several people who noticed the sale but nobody, apparently, read the agreement. This is not a simple case of WFMZ seeking a duopoly, and certainly not for only $25,000. It spells out that WFMZ will go into the auction to go off the air, and KJWP will not, and KJWP's current owner will get a piece. The size of that piece is redacted, but definitely a piece. I would guess that the end result will be a channel share, but with WFMZ having two must-carry feeds instead of one.</p>
<p>6) Houston<br />
KTBU/WSBS-CD in: <a href="http://www.tvnewscheck.com/playout/2016/01/spanish-broadcasting-system-to-participate-in-tv-auction/" title="http://www.tvnewscheck.com/playout/2016/01/spanish-broadcasting-system-to-participate-in-tv-auction/">http://www.tvnewscheck.com/playout/...</a></p>
<p>7) San Francisco<br />
KCSM in: <a href="http://archives.smdailyjournal.com/article_preview.php?id=1771004" title="http://archives.smdailyjournal.com/article_preview.php?id=1771004">http://archives.smdailyjournal.com/...</a></p>
<p>9) Boston<br />
WLVI in: <a href="https://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2016/01/10/local-broadcasters-could-make-hundreds-millions-fcc-auction/xKkgnHeNiHwZHTjwtlGGPN/story.html" title="https://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2016/01/10/local-broadcasters-could-make-hundreds-millions-fcc-auction/xKkgnHeNiHwZHTjwtlGGPN/story.html">https://www.bostonglobe.com/busines...</a></p>
<p>10) Washington<br />
WHUT in: <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/14/business/media/howard-university-takes-step-toward-sale-of-spectrum-rights.html?ref=media&_r=0" title="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/14/business/media/howard-university-takes-step-toward-sale-of-spectrum-rights.html?ref=media&_r=0">http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/14/b...</a></p>
<p>11) Sacramento<br />
K20JX-D in: <a href="http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/prefill_and_display.pl?Application_id=1717381&Service=DC&Form_id=314&Facility_id=334" title="http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/prefill_and_display.pl?Application_id=1717381&Service=DC&Form_id=314&Facility_id=334">http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws...</a></p>
<p>12) Detroit<br />
WADL in: <a href="http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20150206/NEWS/150209808/wadl-may-command-even-larger-auction-price-than-expected-up-to-380m" title="http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20150206/NEWS/150209808/wadl-may-command-even-larger-auction-price-than-expected-up-to-380m">http://www.crainsdetroit.com/articl...</a><br />
W33BY-D/WBNF-CD/WMJF-CD in: <a href="http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/prefill_and_display.pl?Application_id=1717003&Service=DC&Form_id=314&Facility_id=25722" title="http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/prefill_and_display.pl?Application_id=1717003&Service=DC&Form_id=314&Facility_id=25722">http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws...</a></p>
<p>14) Minneapolis<br />
Pioneer out: <a href="http://www.pioneer.org/news/pioneers-response-to-questions-about-the-fcc-spectrum-auction" title="http://www.pioneer.org/news/pioneers-response-to-questions-about-the-fcc-spectrum-auction">http://www.pioneer.org/news/pioneer...</a></p>
<p>16) Tampa<br />
WUSF considering: <a href="http://www.tbo.com/news/education/jurys-out-on-wusf-tvs-future-as-college-weighs-selling-airwaves-20160102/" title="http://www.tbo.com/news/education/jurys-out-on-wusf-tvs-future-as-college-weighs-selling-airwaves-20160102/">http://www.tbo.com/news/education/j...</a></p>
<p>17) Miami<br />
See KTBU Houston<br />
WJAN-CD/PR4 in: <a href="http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/prefill_and_display.pl?Application_id=1713937&Service=DT&Form_id=315&Facility_id=58342" title="http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/prefill_and_display.pl?Application_id=1713937&Service=DT&Form_id=315&Facility_id=58342">http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws...</a></p>
<p>18) Puerto Rico<br />
WTCV/WVEO/WVOZ in: <a href="http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/globenewswire/6116625.htm" title="http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/globenewswire/6116625.htm">http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds...</a><br />
WIPR/WIPM in: <a href="http://www.network54.com/Forum/43187/message/1455101386/%5BPR%5D---+WIPR+decide+participar+en+subasta+de+la+FCC" title="http://www.network54.com/Forum/43187/message/1455101386/%5BPR%5D---+WIPR+decide+participar+en+subasta+de+la+FCC">http://www.network54.com/Forum/4318...</a>/<a href="http://www.network54.com/Forum/43187/message/1455237575/WIPR+decide+participar+en+subasta+de+la+FCC" title="http://www.network54.com/Forum/43187/message/1455237575/WIPR+decide+participar+en+subasta+de+la+FCC">http://www.network54.com/Forum/4318...</a><br />
WQHA maybe in? <a href="http://www.network54.com/Forum/43187/message/1455418073/Re-+%C2%BFOgian%2C+WQHA+%28OptimaVisi%C3%B3n%29+esta+participando+de+la+subasta+de+la+FCC-" title="http://www.network54.com/Forum/43187/message/1455418073/Re-+%C2%BFOgian%2C+WQHA+%28OptimaVisi%C3%B3n%29+esta+participando+de+la+subasta+de+la+FCC-">http://www.network54.com/Forum/4318...</a><br />
WMEI/WOST maybe in? <a href="http://www.network54.com/Forum/43187/message/1454625835/segun+Wikipedia%2CWMEI-WOST+participaran+en+la+subasta+de+espectro+radioifonico+convocada..." title="http://www.network54.com/Forum/43187/message/1454625835/segun+Wikipedia%2CWMEI-WOST+participaran+en+la+subasta+de+espectro+radioifonico+convocada...">http://www.network54.com/Forum/4318...</a><br />
See WJAN Miami</p>
<p>Truth be told, I think Puerto Rico is going to have a lot of takers. Outside of Telemundo, Univision, and WAPA, I'm not sure too many of the stations in Puerto Rico make much money. For any owner of a station that has lost money since coming on, the auction must be tempting.</p>
<p>20) Orlando<br />
WEFS in/share on WDSC: <a href="http://m.news-journalonline.com/article/20151120/NEWS/151129949?Title=Daytona-State-trustees-approve-TV-channel-sharing-agreement" title="http://m.news-journalonline.com/article/20151120/NEWS/151129949?Title=Daytona-State-trustees-approve-TV-channel-sharing-agreement">http://m.news-journalonline.com/art...</a></p>
<p>This one sort of slipped through the cracks. I had missed it when it came out in November 2015 and tripped over it by accident while researching for this article. WEFS will sell in the auction and share on WDSC. Given that both air Florida Channel right now, and Classic Arts Showcase is just a handful of hours per week on a continuous loop, my guess is that they'll use some auction money for a high-dollar encoder and keep most of the valuable programming they have now (main feeds in HD, plus MHz, Florida Channel, and maybe NASA).</p>
<p>22) San Diego<br />
KSKT-CD in: <a href="http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/prefill_and_display.pl?Application_id=1683739&Service=DC&Form_id=314&Facility_id=58927" title="http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/prefill_and_display.pl?Application_id=1683739&Service=DC&Form_id=314&Facility_id=58927">http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws...</a></p>
<p>25) Indianapolis<br />
WIPB in: <a href="http://www.thestarpress.com/story/news/local/2016/01/12/bsu-keeps-wipb-airwaves-auction/78691506/" title="http://www.thestarpress.com/story/news/local/2016/01/12/bsu-keeps-wipb-airwaves-auction/78691506/">http://www.thestarpress.com/story/n...</a><br />
WFYI not sharing: <a href="http://www.ibj.com/articles/56192-tv-stations-could-make-millions-by-pulling-the-plug" title="http://www.ibj.com/articles/56192-tv-stations-could-make-millions-by-pulling-the-plug">http://www.ibj.com/articles/56192-t...</a></p>
<p>During the DTV transition, WIPB's fallback, had channel 23 been denied, was to use channel 7. Not that I think it's necessarily relevant, just interesting.</p>
<p>29) Baltimore<br />
See W33BY-D Detroit</p>
<p>WMJF-CD is the station here.</p>
<p>34) Nashville<br />
WJFB in: <a href="http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/prefill_and_display.pl?Application_id=1678293&Service=DT&Form_id=314&Facility_id=7651" title="http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/prefill_and_display.pl?Application_id=1678293&Service=DT&Form_id=314&Facility_id=7651">http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws...</a></p>
<p>44) Grand Rapids<br />
WGVU/WGVK out and WZZM out: <a href="http://mibiz.com/item/23226-fcc-auction-presents-potential-windfall-for-tv-broadcasters" title="http://mibiz.com/item/23226-fcc-auction-presents-potential-windfall-for-tv-broadcasters">http://mibiz.com/item/23226-fcc-auc...</a></p>
<p>VHF broadcasters are only needed if someone wants to move from UHF to VHF, so it's not entirely surprising that the three VHF stations noted here are not in the auction.</p>
<p>48) Austin<br />
KXLK-CD in: <a href="http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/prefill_and_display.pl?Application_id=1680949&Service=DC&Form_id=314&Facility_id=48836" title="http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/prefill_and_display.pl?Application_id=1680949&Service=DC&Form_id=314&Facility_id=48836">http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws...</a></p>
<p>54) Buffalo<br />
See W33BY-D Detroit</p>
<p>WBNF-CD is the station here. I'll be very interested to see if it sells at any price given its proximity to CHCH-DT.</p>
<p>55) Scranton<br />
WVIA in (VHF): <a href="http://www.wsj.com/articles/fcc-auction-promises-bonanza-for-small-tv-broadcasters-1452046575" title="http://www.wsj.com/articles/fcc-auction-promises-bonanza-for-small-tv-broadcasters-1452046575">http://www.wsj.com/articles/fcc-auc...</a></p>
<p>66) Flint<br />
WDCQ out: <a href="http://www.mlive.com/news/bay-city/index.ssf/2016/01/q-tv_staying_on_the_air_after.html" title="http://www.mlive.com/news/bay-city/index.ssf/2016/01/q-tv_staying_on_the_air_after.html">http://www.mlive.com/news/bay-city/...</a><br />
WCMU in: <a href="https://www.cmich.edu/news/article/Pages/CMU-reviews-options-in-FCC-spectrum-auction.aspx" title="https://www.cmich.edu/news/article/Pages/CMU-reviews-options-in-FCC-spectrum-auction.aspx">https://www.cmich.edu/news/article/...</a></p>
<p>76) Des Moines<br />
KDMI in: <a href="http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/prefill_and_display.pl?Application_id=1716530&Service=DT&Form_id=314&Facility_id=78915" title="http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/prefill_and_display.pl?Application_id=1716530&Service=DT&Form_id=314&Facility_id=78915">http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws...</a></p>
<p>77) Chattanooga<br />
WRCB out/WTCI in: <a href="http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/business/aroundregion/story/2016/feb/07/we-now-interrupt-your-regular-programming-fcc/348548/" title="http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/business/aroundregion/story/2016/feb/07/we-now-interrupt-your-regular-programming-fcc/348548/">http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/...</a></p>
<p>78) Toledo<br />
WGTE in: <a href="http://www.toledoblade.com/TV-Radio/2015/12/28/WGTE-looks-for-heck-of-a-payday.html" title="http://www.toledoblade.com/TV-Radio/2015/12/28/WGTE-looks-for-heck-of-a-payday.html">http://www.toledoblade.com/TV-Radio...</a></p>
<p>83) Springfield<br />
KSPR in: <a href="http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/prefill_and_display.pl?Application_id=1713300&Service=DT&Form_id=314&Facility_id=35630" title="http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/prefill_and_display.pl?Application_id=1713300&Service=DT&Form_id=314&Facility_id=35630">http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws...</a></p>
<p>This is a station in an agreement with Schurz, and Schurz is being bought by Gray. While the participation is interesting and there's much speculation about what would happen to ABC and CW, I note that KSPR is in a pretty rural area. I wonder if the station will even ultimately be bought and, if it is not, what would happen to it. Would Gray turn the license in or try to sell it?</p>
<p>89) Champaign<br />
WEIU in: <a href="http://www.dailyeasternnews.com/2016/01/24/bot-gives-glassman-authority-in-fcc-auction-approves-housing-rates/" title="http://www.dailyeasternnews.com/2016/01/24/bot-gives-glassman-authority-in-fcc-auction-approves-housing-rates/">http://www.dailyeasternnews.com/201...</a></p>
<p>111) Lansing<br />
WKAR out: <a href="http://msutoday.msu.edu/news/2016/msu-dptv-announce-collaboration-to-launch-24-7-children-programming/" title="http://msutoday.msu.edu/news/2016/msu-dptv-announce-collaboration-to-launch-24-7-children-programming/">http://msutoday.msu.edu/news/2016/m...</a></p>
<p>114) Augusta<br />
WAGT in: <a href="http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/prefill_and_display.pl?Application_id=1697073&Service=DT&Form_id=314&Facility_id=70699" title="http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/prefill_and_display.pl?Application_id=1697073&Service=DT&Form_id=314&Facility_id=70699">http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws...</a></p>
<p>The other station involved in the Schurz purchase. This station will likely be turned in if it is not sold. Gray also bought WBEK-CD here and has filed an STA to run it on WAGT's channel at 15 kW. Presumably, that is where NBC and CW will end up. This will look a lot like the Wausau WFXS sale.</p>
<p>127) Columbus<br />
WLGA in: <a href="http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/prefill_and_display.pl?Application_id=1717230&Service=DT&Form_id=314&Facility_id=11113" title="http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/prefill_and_display.pl?Application_id=1717230&Service=DT&Form_id=314&Facility_id=11113">http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws...</a></p>
<p>135) Monroe<br />
KMYA in: <a href="http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/prefill_and_display.pl?Application_id=1717293&Service=DT&Form_id=314&Facility_id=86534" title="http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/prefill_and_display.pl?Application_id=1717293&Service=DT&Form_id=314&Facility_id=86534">http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws...</a></p>
<p>136) Palm Springs<br />
KMIR agreement: <a href="http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/prefill_and_display.pl?Application_id=1576915&Service=DT&Form_id=314&Facility_id=16749" title="http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/prefill_and_display.pl?Application_id=1576915&Service=DT&Form_id=314&Facility_id=16749">http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws...</a></p>
<p>Most of the Palm Springs stations have little value due to the fact that they're already co-channel with Los Angeles stations. KMIR here is the exception, and was sold to OTA quite some time ago now. It was one of the first stations to have an auction contingency clause in the sale agreement. My guess is that this station will go off the air and NBC will move to KPSE-LD, then OTA will resell the station to someone else.</p>
<p>181) Lima<br />
Block in maybe: <a href="http://www.wsj.com/articles/fcc-auction-promises-bonanza-for-small-tv-broadcasters-1452046575" title="http://www.wsj.com/articles/fcc-auction-promises-bonanza-for-small-tv-broadcasters-1452046575">http://www.wsj.com/articles/fcc-auc...</a><br />
WBGU in: <a href="http://www.bgnews.com/campus/board-of-trustees-approves-fcc-auction-wbgu-to-remain-on/article_c1518f2e-5e80-11e5-9bdf-a3c30b4ba45b.html" title="http://www.bgnews.com/campus/board-of-trustees-approves-fcc-auction-wbgu-to-remain-on/article_c1518f2e-5e80-11e5-9bdf-a3c30b4ba45b.html">http://www.bgnews.com/campus/board-...</a><br />
WTLW in: <a href="https://limaohio.com/news/160232/wtlw-to-participate-in-fcc-spectrum-auction" title="https://limaohio.com/news/160232/wtlw-to-participate-in-fcc-spectrum-auction">https://limaohio.com/news/160232/wt...</a></p>
<p>It's interesting that Lima has enough articles to cover all of its eligible TV stations.</p>
<p>184) Grand Island<br />
KHGI/KWNB/KHGI-CD not in: <a href="http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/prefill_and_display.pl?Application_id=1696152&Service=DT&Form_id=314&Facility_id=21160" title="http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/prefill_and_display.pl?Application_id=1696152&Service=DT&Form_id=314&Facility_id=21160">http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws...</a></p>
<p>Sinclair's buying these stations, and they're not in high demand areas, either.</p>
<p>193) Marquette<br />
WNMU in: <a href="http://www.miningjournal.net/page/content.detail/id/632938/WNMU-to-participate-in-FCC-spectrum-auction.html?nav=5006" title="http://www.miningjournal.net/page/content.detail/id/632938/WNMU-to-participate-in-FCC-spectrum-auction.html?nav=5006">http://www.miningjournal.net/page/c...</a></p>
<p>207) Watertown<br />
WPBS/WNPI out: <a href="http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/news03/to-safeguard-airwaves-wpbs-passes-up-enrolling-in-fcc-auction-20160116" title="http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/news03/to-safeguard-airwaves-wpbs-passes-up-enrolling-in-fcc-auction-20160116">http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/...</a></p>
<p>Again, if you have a link to a public article about a station or stations that I have not included here, I would love a link so I can include it.</p>Comet TV Launch Marketsurn:md5:82e341137b96a763e09e2d63023afb352015-10-16T07:00:00-04:002015-10-16T11:16:09-04:00Trip EricsonNews<p>Last night, the Comet TV website was updated with affiliate information for launch. Unfortunately, there were a number of issues with the dataset, not least of which is that the zip codes do not line up with the affiliates in question. I spent a long time last night picking through it, and have come up with a table that seems to make sense of it, but there are still some lingering questions. Particularly, is Tribune also launching Comet TV, and in places where the new affiliate seems to be replacing Retro, This, Grit, or Get, is that actually happening, and if so, when?</p> <p>1: New York, NY. The list provides no affiliate information, but WZME has already announced via Facebook that it will be carrying Comet TV.</p>
<p>2: Los Angeles, CA. The list provides no affiliate information, but given sister WZME's announcement, I am assuming KDOC 56-8, newly added, will be carrying Comet TV.</p>
<p>3: Chicago, IL. The list provides no affiliate information, but given sister WZME's announcement, I am assuming WOCH-CD 41-2, previously tested, will be carrying Comet TV.</p>
<p>4: Philadelphia, PA. The list provides no affiliate information, but given sister WZME's announcement, I am assuming WTVE 51-3, which previously carried VieTV, will be carrying Comet TV.</p>
<p>6: San Francisco, CA. The list provides no affiliate information, but given sister WZME's announcement, I am assuming KCNS 38-4, currently blank according to last information, will be carrying Comet TV.</p>
<p>7: Washington, DC. WJLA 7-3 will be the affiliate. It currently is the last non-ABC O&O station carrying Live Well.</p>
<p>8: Boston, MA. The list provides no affiliate information, but given sister WZME's announcement, I am assuming WMFP 62-5, previously tested, will be carrying Comet TV.</p>
<p>9: Atlanta, GA. The list provides no affiliate information, however, WANN-CD carries both of MGM's other networks, This TV and The Works. It could also be another one-off deal with a local station. In any case, it does not fit with either Sinclair, NRJ/Titan, nor Tribune.</p>
<p>10: Houston, TX. The list provides no affiliate information, but given sister WZME's announcement, I am assuming KUBE will add a 57-6 to carry Comet TV. (Or replace an existing channel.)</p>
<p>14: Seattle, WA. The list indicates KUNS-3, channel 4-2, will be the affiliate. Obviously both cannot be right. I'm guessing (based on how Grit was added in Portland) that it will be on 51-3 rather than 4-2, but we'll see.</p>
<p>17: Denver, CO. The list provides no affiliate information, but this market matches three other unidentified affiliates in having Tribune-owned stations. (KWGN or KDVR, which could add it on 2-3 or 31-3, respectively.) Tribune does jointly own This TV with MGM, making it at least possible.</p>
<p>21: St. Louis, MO. The list provides no affiliate information. Sinclair and Tribune both own here, and Sinclair is currently full with Get and Grit but Tribune has space on both KTVI (for 2-3) and KPLR (for 11-3). I think we will just have to wait and see.</p>
<p>23: Pittsburgh, PA. WPNT will be the affiliate. It says WPNT 22-3, specifically, but there is no 22-2 at this time.</p>
<p>24: Portland, OR. The list says 23-3 with no call sign, but there is no 23-x in Portland. Similarly, Portland, ME has 2-3 listed and there is no 2-x there, suggesting someone flipped Portland, ME and Portland, OR. This would displace/replace Get TV and has no launch date, so I want to wait and see.</p>
<p>25: Raleigh, NC. WRDC 28-3 will be the affiliate.</p>
<p>26: Baltimore, MD. WNUV 54-3 will be the affiliate.</p>
<p>27: Indianapolis, IN. The list provides no affiliate information, but this market matches three other unidentified affiliates in having Tribune-owned stations. (WTTV/WTTK, could add it on 4-3/29-3.) Tribune does jointly own This TV with MGM, making it at least possible.</p>
<p>29: Nashville, TN. WUXP 30-3 will be the affiliate.</p>
<p>30: Hartford, CT. The list provides no affiliate information, but this market matches three other unidentified affiliates in having Tribune-owned stations. (WCCT or WTIC, which could add it on 20-3 or 61-3, respectively.) Tribune does jointly own This TV with MGM, making it at least possible.</p>
<p>31: Columbus, OH. WWHO 53-3 will be the affiliate.</p>
<p>32: San Antonio, TX. KABB 29-2 will be the affiliate, replacing ZUUS Country.</p>
<p>35: Milwaukee, WI. WCGV 24-2 will be the affiliate, replacing ZUUS Country.</p>
<p>36: Cincinnati, OH. WSTR 64-3 will be the affiliate.</p>
<p>37: Greenville, SC. WMYA will be the affiliate. The list says 40-2, which would displace/replace Get TV. I want to play wait-and-see here.</p>
<p>38: West Palm Beach, FL. WPEC 12-2 will be the affiliate, displacing/replacing WeatherNation. WPEC previously ran weather on 12-3, meaning WeatherNation could be bumped there.</p>
<p>40: Las Vegas, NV. KVMY 21-3 will be the affiliate.</p>
<p>41: Grand Rapids, MI. WWMT 3-3 will be the affiliate.</p>
<p>42: Norfolk, VA. The list says 33-3 with no call sign and no launch date, which suggests it will replace Grit on WTVZ when the contract expires.</p>
<p>43: Oklahoma City, OK. KOCB 34-3 will be the affiliate.</p>
<p>44: Harrisburg, PA. WLYH 15-3 will be the affiliate.</p>
<p>45: Birmingham, AL: WTTO 21-3 will be the affiliate.</p>
<p>46: Greensboro, NC: WMYV 48-3 will be the affiliate.</p>
<p>51: New Orleans, LA: The list provides no affiliate information, but this market matches three other unidentified affiliates in having Tribune-owned stations. (WGNO or WNOL, which could add it on 26-3 or 38-3, respectively.) Tribune does jointly own This TV with MGM, making it at least possible.</p>
<p>52: Providence, RI: WJAR 10-3 will be the affiliate.</p>
<p>53: Buffalo, NY: WNYO 49-3 will be the affiliate.</p>
<p>54: Fresno, CA: The list says KMPH 26-3 will be the affiliate, but I know equipment already exists at KFRE for a 59-3. They may move the equipment around, I suppose, but I'm going to wait and see.</p>
<p>55: Scranton, PA: WSWB 38-3 will be the affiliate.</p>
<p>56: Richmond, VA: WRLH 35-3 will be the affiliate.</p>
<p>57: Little Rock, AR. KATV will be the affiliate. The list says 7-2, which would displace Retro, but this would be one of only two markets in which this is happening, so I want to wait and see.</p>
<p>58: Mobile, AL: WFGX 35-3 will be the affiliate.</p>
<p>59: Albany, NY: WRGB 6-3 will be the affiliate. (Sorry, those of you with signal problems.)</p>
<p>60: Tulsa, OK. KTUL 8-2 will be the affiliate, displacing/replacing the weather feed.</p>
<p>63: Lexington, KY. The list says WDKY 56-2, which suggests it will displace/replace Get TV. I'm playing wait and see.</p>
<p>64: Dayton, OH. WRGT 45-3 will be the affiliate.</p>
<p>65: Wichita, KS. KSAS 24-3 will be the affiliate.</p>
<p>66: Honolulu, HI. The list provides no affiliate information, but given sister WZME's announcement, I am assuming KIKU will add a 20-3 to carry Comet TV.</p>
<p>67: Huntinton, WV. WVAH 11-3 will be the affiliate.</p>
<p>68: Green Bay, WI. WCWF 14-2 will be the affiliate.</p>
<p>69: Roanoke, VA. WSET 13-3 will be the affiliate, displacing/replacing WeatherNation.</p>
<p>71: Flint, MI. WSMH 66-3 will be the affiliate, replacing ZUUS Country.</p>
<p>72: Des Moines, IA. The list says KDSM 17-2, which suggests it will displace/replace Get TV. I'm playing wait and see.</p>
<p>73: Spokane, WA. KLEW 3-3 will be the affiliate. (Though KLEW does not reach the entire market, as far as I know.)</p>
<p>74: Omaha, NE. The list says KPTM 42-3, which would displace/replace Estrella, but it currently simulcasts 15-2 and 42-2, so I'm guessing it will actually land on one of those two spots unless they shuffle things around further.</p>
<p>76: Rochester, NY. WUHF 31-3 will be the affiliate.</p>
<p>77: Toledo, OH. WNWO 24-3 will be the affiliate.</p>
<p>78: Columbia, SC. The list says WACH-3 on 13-2, which indicates they flipped Columbia, SC with Columbia, MO. 57-3, presumably, will be the affiliate.</p>
<p>80: Portland, ME. The other half of the Portland, OR flip. WPFO 23-3 will be the affiliate.</p>
<p>81: Madison, WI. The list says WMSN 17-2, which suggests it will displace/replace Get. I'm playing wait and see.</p>
<p>82: Cape Girardeau, MO. KBSI 23-3 will be the affiliate.</p>
<p>84: Syracuse, NY. WSTM 3-3 will be the affiliate, replacing the weather feed.</p>
<p>85: Champaign/Springfield, IL. WICD/WICS 15-2/20-2 will be the affiliates.</p>
<p>86: Harlingen, TX. KGBT 4-3 will be the affiliate.</p>
<p>90: Cedar Rapids, IA. KGAN 2-3 will be the affiliate.</p>
<p>91: Savannah, GA. WTGS 28-2 will be the affiliate.</p>
<p>92: El Paso, TX. The list says KFOX 14-2, which would displace Retro, but this would be one of only two markets in which this is happening, so I want to wait and see. Sinclair also holds KDBC in the market.</p>
<p>94: Charleston, SC. The list says WMMP-2 without listing a channel number. WMMP no longer exists, so I have no idea if this is supposed to be WCIV, WGWG, or WTAT. It also has no launch date, adding more confusion. Waiting and seeing.</p>
<p>102: Florence, SC. WPDE 15-3 will be the affiliate.</p>
<p>104: Altoona, PA. The list says 6-3 with no call sign and no launch date, which suggests it will replace Grit on WJAC when the contract expires.</p>
<p>106: Reno, NV. KAME 21-3 will be the affiliate.</p>
<p>107: Boise, ID. KYUU-LD 35-3 will be the affiliate.</p>
<p>108: Tallahassee, FL. WTLF 24-2 will be the affiliate. No word whether it may simulcast on WTLH 49-3, which would give it a signal people can actually receive.</p>
<p>117: Peoria, IL. The list says WHOI 19-3, but Sinclair also has space on WYZZ 43-2 that it may use.</p>
<p>119: Medford, OR. KMTR 16-3 will be the affiliate.</p>
<p>120: Macon, GA. WGXA 24-3 will be the affiliate.</p>
<p>123: Yakima, WA. KUNW-CD 2-2 and KVVK 15-2 will be the affiliates.</p>
<p>126: Bakersfield, CA. KBFX-CD 58-3 will be the affiliate.</p>
<p>131: Amarillo, TX. The list says 7-3 with no call sign and no launch date, which suggests it will replace Grit on KVII when the contract expires.</p>
<p>138: Columbia, MO. The other half of the Columbia, SC flip. The list says KRCG-2 57-3, which suggests it will displace/replace GetTV on 13-2. I'm playing wait-and-see.</p>
<p>140: Medford, OR. The list says 10-3 with no call sign and no launch date, which suggests it will replace Grit on KTVL when the contract expires.</p>
<p>142: Beaumont, TX. KBTV 4-3 will be the affiliate.</p>
<p>149: Sioux City, IA. KMEG 14-3 will be the affiliate.</p>
<p>152: Albany, GA. The list says 31-3 with no call sign and no launch date, which suggests it will replace Grit on WFXL when the contract expires.</p>
<p>162: Gainesville, FL. WNBW 9-3 will be the affiliate.</p>
<p>170: Quincy, IL. The list says 7-3 with no call sign and no launch date, which suggests replace Grit on KHQA when the contract expires.</p>
<p>180: Marquette, MI. The list says 6-3 with no call sign and no launch date, which suggests it will replace Grit on WLUC when the contract expires.</p>
<p>200: Kirksville, MO. KTVO 3-3 will be the affiliate.</p>Live Well Network Goes Away in Januaryurn:md5:54bcdf9f61b8951ed2caf3e574d9d63a2014-06-09T13:40:00-04:002014-06-09T13:40:00-04:00Trip EricsonNews <p>I won't miss it, personally. <a href="http://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/local-tv/abc-discontinue-live-well-network/131646">ABC to Discontinue Live Well Network</a>.</p>Incentive Auction FAQurn:md5:002b5284b5c4fa576285bae3a1bb9e672014-06-02T16:30:00-04:002014-06-02T16:33:33-04:00Trip EricsonNews<p>I've read a number of posts and comments on message boards and mailing lists over the past several months, and I continue to read a lot of misinformation about what the incentive auction is and how it works. In the interest of educating those who don't know the facts of how this process will work, I've written an FAQ which attempts to be as unbiased as possible, which you can read by clicking the link below.</p> <p><ins><em>Opinions contained in the following FAQ represent my personal opinions and readings of the various documents, and are not necessarily reflective of the opinions of my employer. Also, even if the very long question about OET Bulletin 69 does not interest you, please note there is a final FAQ question below it at the bottom.</em></ins></p>
<p><ins><strong>Where did the TV Incentive Auction come from?</strong></ins><br />
The TV Incentive Auction was proposed in 2010 in the FCC's <a href="http://www.broadband.gov/plan/5-spectrum/#r5-8-5">National Broadband Plan</a> and legislation mandating such an auction was passed by Congress and signed by the President as a part of the <a href="http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/PLAW-112publ96/pdf/PLAW-112publ96.pdf">Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012</a>. The FCC issued a <a href="http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-12-118A1.pdf">Notice of Proposed Rulemaking</a> in Fall of 2012 about how to implement the auction, which was adopted in the May 15, 2014 Report and Order. Here is a <a href="http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-327099A1.pdf">high level summary of the Report and Order</a>.</p>
<p><ins><strong>What is the TV Incentive Auction?</strong></ins><br />
The TV Incentive Auction is designed to be a market-based approach to spectrum reassignment. UHF and high-VHF TV stations can volunteer to participate in a process known as the “reverse auction” by agreeing to channel share, move to high-VHF or low-VHF, or go off the air, for a price. Wireless companies bid on the resulting freed spectrum in a more traditional "forward auction." From the proceeds, the FCC will pay to relocate the remaining stations to other channels (called "repacking," not "repackaging" as I keep reading) and thus clear contiguous spectrum from channel 51 down. Additional proceeds go to paying the FCC's costs, paying for a first responder network ("<a href="http://www.firstnet.gov/">FirstNet</a>") and paying down the national debt.</p>
<p><ins><strong>Can stations be forced to channel share, move to VHF, or go off the air?</strong></ins><br />
No, they cannot. Stations cannot be required to do any of those things. The auction is strictly voluntary. Stations cannot be required to channel share, and they cannot be required to go off the air. They cannot be required to move from UHF to VHF, nor from high-VHF to low-VHF.</p>
<p><ins><strong>Which stations are protected?</strong></ins><br />
All full-service and Class A stations are protected and subject to being compensated for repacking costs. LPTV and translator stations are not.</p>
<p><ins><strong>Will stations below the channels that are cleared be moved as well?</strong></ins><br />
Almost certainly. Any full-service or Class A station is eligible to participate in the auction. TV stations that remain on the air after the reverse auction on channels below the cleared band could be repacked to allow all of the non-participating stations outside the shrunken UHF TV band to find homes. Sophisticated software, powered in part by the TVStudy software I work on at my day job, will optimize the channels assigned to every remaining station while preserving the current interference-free service areas of those stations.</p>
<p>As a simplified example, WPXN in New York, WPPX in Wilmington/Philadelphia, and WTIC in Hartford are all on channel 31. WNBC, currently on channel 28, does not have co-channel interference from stations in Philadelphia or Hartford. As such, if WPXN were to be sold in the reverse auction, while WPPX and WTIC were to not sell, WNBC could not be placed onto channel 31 because its current interference-free service area would be reduced by such interfering stations. The <a href="http://www.rabbitears.info/blog/index.php?post/2013/11/06/New-Feature-Repacking-Analysis">Repack Check</a> tool I wrote last year uses example FCC data to show these relationships, and given changes that were adopted in the Report and Order, an update to the FCC data is anticipated.</p>
<p><ins><strong>What happens if not enough stations participate in the entire country?</strong></ins><br />
There is a minimum amount of money the auction must make in order to "close," and thus complete. It must pay for the costs of repacking incurred by non-participating broadcasters, pay the cost of the spectrum purchased from participants in the reverse auction, pay the FCC's costs, and fulfill the remaining part $7 billion requirement to fund FirstNet. (The <a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/greatspeculations/2014/03/05/dish-network-sweeps-h-block-spectrum-auction-for-1-56-billion/">H-block auction</a> earlier this year raised about $1.56 billion toward the FirstNet requirement.) There is also a minimum spectrum requirement, to be determined, as it would make no sense to expend billions of dollars to free up only 12 MHz of spectrum. Essentially, if nobody volunteers, nothing happens.</p>
<p><ins><strong>What happens if not enough stations participate in a particular area, such as near the borders?</strong></ins><br />
The goal is to have a single 600 MHz wireless band nationwide based on what the majority of the population could use, but it could be slightly smaller in a few select places where the full 600 MHz band cannot exist due to the number of TV stations. If a large percentage of the country's population has channels 14-36 for UHF TV, as an example, that would be the nationwide plan, with some additional TV channels above 36 where necessary to accommodate those few markets where that amount is not reached. What will not happen is the reclamation of additional spectrum in rural areas beyond that which is available to a majority of the nation's population. For example, Glendive, MT has no UHF full-service or Class A stations, but if the UHF TV band were to be channels 14-36 in most of the country, that would also be the UHF TV band in Glendive.</p>
<p>The Report and Order postponed a decision on how to avoid interference between wireless and TV stations in these areas. Earlier this year, the <a href="http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-14-98A1.pdf">FCC proposed standards for evaluating inter-service interference</a> (ISIX), which could come into effect in the event that a certain portion of the country has less available spectrum than the rest of the country.</p>
<p><ins><strong>What changes does TVStudy make to the "methodology described in OET Bulletin 69"?</strong></ins><br />
<em><ins>Disclaimer:</ins> I work on TVStudy as my day job. Please read my response through that lens, and feel free to use as many grains of salt as you wish.</em></p>
<p>None. OET-69 is a <a href="http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Engineering_Technology/Documents/bulletins/oet69/oet69.pdf">paper bulletin</a> which describes how a piece of software can be written to evaluate TV station coverage and interference. However, it does not describe all of the parameters that are required for such an implementation, and in a <a href="http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-13-138A1.pdf">public notice</a> sought comment on adjusting some of the unspecified parameters from how they were implemented in previous software implementations. The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) has repeatedly argued in its various comments and public statements that OET-69 is also a piece of software, in addition to a paper bulletin; however, the FCC has at least <a href="http://transition.fcc.gov/oet/dtv/dtv_apps.html">three different implementations</a>: FLR, tv_process, and dlptv_study. Each has different settings and parameter choices made, and thus each can give a different set of results. In addition, there are even certain areas where the settings vary from the parameters strictly laid out in the paper bulletin in all three implementations.</p>
<p>So just what adjustments to the non-specified parameters are being made? Here is a brief description of the adjustments stated in the Report and Order, along with one that was proposed but not adopted.</p>
<ol>
<li>The old implementations all used 3-second terrain, compiled from seemingly different sources, which the USGS no longer provides nor supports. These data sets had known errors, including an inability to handle negative elevations such as in the Imperial Valley of California, and one implementation which had no terrain data at all for Alaska. TVStudy will use 1-second terrain, which is fully supported and updated by USGS.</li>
<li>The old implementations used 1990 or 2000 Census data for population analysis. TVStudy will use 2010 Census data, the most current available.</li>
<li>The old implementations did not attempt to correct obvious errors in the FCC database. In addition to recent efforts to clean up the database, which I was personally involved in, TVStudy has the ability to fix obvious errors that slip through the cracks, such as fixing negative beam tilts which would aim most of the power toward the sky instead of toward viewers on the ground.</li>
<li>The old implementations assumed all stations had an electrical beam tilt of 0.75°. TVStudy will use the actual value found in CDBS, which is presumed to have been selected to maximize service.</li>
<li>The old implementations did not properly calculate the angle from the transmitting antenna to the receive point on the ground. TVStudy fixes this error.</li>
<li>The old implementations rounded the coordinates of Census data points to the nearest second, presumably due to memory limitations of the computer used when the old implementations were first written in the late 1990s. TVStudy will not round these values.</li>
<li>The old implementations established signal evaluation points based on an independent "local grid" unique to each station. TVStudy will use the same set of evaluation points in a "global grid" for all stations, thus allowing apples-to-apples comparisons of coverage and interference, and allowing such calculations to be cached and recycled in order to significantly improve performance.</li>
<li>The old implementations replicated stations to different channels by creating a directional antenna which matched the old contour at a specific power level. This often made omni stations directional and produced antennas that were impossible to build. TVStudy will instead hold the antenna pattern constant while increasing or decreasing power to match the area inside the old contour.</li>
<li>The one proposal which was not accepted in the Report and Order was to change the treatment of Longley-Rice warnings. The Longley-Rice model is based, in part, on a multitude of actual real-world measurements, but as one might expect, not all possible signal paths were tested, such as those where the first terrain obstruction occurred at an angle of greater than 200 milliradians (11.46°). In those cases, the model extrapolates based on the data it does have to calculate a result, but it also throws "kwx=3" warning which means the result may be "dubious or unreliable." Comparing these calculated values against later measurements has shown that the two seem to generally agree, but the FCC has historically thrown away the calculated value and assumed service in the cell, even if an interfering signal does not throw "kwx=3" and would otherwise cause interference. Though the public notice proposed to accept the result, the FCC declined to change this behavior and decided to continue assuming service and completely ignoring any interference in these cells.</li>
</ol>
<p>The FCC has an obligation to use the best and most up-to-date available inputs and software, and these adjustments are how the FCC will meet that obligation while staying within the confines of OET Bulletin 69.</p>
<p><ins><em>The following is strictly my personal opinion, and not necessarily reflective of the opinions of the FCC.</em></ins> If not for the confines of OET Bulletin 69, there are a number of changes I would have personally liked to have made to more accurately reflect station coverage, such as:</p>
<ol>
<li>To avoid some "kwx=3" warnings, after determining the evaluation point for a given grid cell, if it contains population, moving the evaluation point to the nearest point which has population. This would prevent an evaluation point from being placed at the bottom of a lake or river, for example.</li>
<li>An urban noise adjustment for VHF, to reflect the reduced signal strengths that VHF stations experience in those areas.</li>
<li>Decreasing the cell grid size from 2 km on a side to 1 km on a side.</li>
<li>Using mechanical beam tilt for stations which have accurate horizontal and vertical patterns in the database, and encouraging stations with mechanical beam tilt to file those patterns to have as many of them on-file as possible.</li>
<li>Using actual elevation patterns for any stations which have them, and encouraging stations to file those patterns to have as many of them on-file as possible.</li>
<li>Mirroring the generic vertical pattern to reflect that antennas do not radiate at full power toward the sky.</li>
<li>Decreasing the receive antenna height from 10 meters to 9 meters for a better match of the assumption of a "30 foot high" receive antenna.</li>
<li>Increasing the number of terrain points used for Longley-Rice calculations from 1 point per kilometer to 10 points per kilometer.</li>
<li>Increasing the number of terrain radials used to calculate contours from 8 to 36, 72, or 360. (The RabbitEars contour maps use 360 radials, and the old implementations actually use 72 despite OET Bulletin 69 specifically saying 8.)</li>
<li>Changing the method of calculating contours from the present "F Curves" method to a Longley-Rice based method that incorporates actual terrain roughness and path loss calculations.</li>
</ol>
<p><ins><strong>Have a question I didn't answer?</strong></ins><br />
Post it in the comment. If it's general enough to belong in the FAQ, I'll add it in. If not, I'll try to answer it in the comments.</p>HDHomeRun 4 Series Devices on Woot! Today for 40% Offurn:md5:771883b4de24231c4a7764753a9a59d82014-06-02T06:25:00-04:002014-06-02T06:26:09-04:00Trip EricsonNews <p>The HDHomeRun 4 series devices, including the new model which transcodes to MPEG-4 and another model I was unfamiliar with that will record to a hard drive, are today's item of the day over on Woot! Check it out <a href="http://www.woot.com/offers/your-choice-silicondust-streaming-boxes">here</a>.</p>GetTV Getting Ready to Gourn:md5:5bc1ac25457d6017213a75df052a0c202014-01-27T21:18:00-05:002014-01-31T11:53:02-05:00Trip EricsonNews <p>I'm hearing that GetTV is starting to appear in more markets. I just spotted PSIP for it on WFDC here in Washington, on 14-3 rather than 14-2. I'm hearing it's up in some form or another on 68-3 in New York, 61-3 in Cleveland, 43-2 or 43-3 in Orlando, and 49-2 or 49-3 in Dallas. Anyone else seeing anything?</p>ION in 720i?urn:md5:7f7b68e1b839bcab367fc7a0caa5b46a2014-01-16T21:53:00-05:002014-01-16T22:55:02-05:00Trip EricsonNews <p>I got an e-mail from Jason at SiliconDust asking if my local ION station was broadcasting in 720i, as opposed to 720p. I've seen erroneous read-outs say 720i before from others, but never first-hand. Well, I checked both here in Alexandria and at my parents' house and, sure enough, ION was showing up as being in 720i on both WPXW and WPXR--but only during programming. When I looked again during commercials, it reported 720p.</p>
<p>Is anyone else seeing this on your local ION station?</p>
<p>Full disclaimer: SiliconDust is advertises their excellent products on RabbitEars.Info.</p>More on QVC and IONurn:md5:44657960d4e90726c35d88333d28232c2013-08-09T08:27:00-04:002013-08-28T06:02:02-04:00Trip EricsonNews<p><strong>Updated 8/28/13 to reflect additional confirmations.</strong></p>
<p>A few short notes about QVC and ION.</p>
<p>1. Yesterday afternoon, we got a comment in the earlier blog post on the subject from an engineer at QVC about their ION feed. He's seeking comments on the feed. Feel free to leave your comments in this post or the earlier one.</p>
<p>2. I've managed to confirm the presence of QVC on some ION stations, its non-presence on others, and there are then a bunch where I have no information at all. I should be able to independently verify WWPX, WLPX, WUPX, and WIPX during a road trip planned for late September, but I still have a long list, which can be seen below. If you can confirm any of the unconfirmed markets, please let me know.</p> <p>Confirmed not airing:</p>
<ul>
<li>San Francisco</li>
<li>Houston (KPXB)</li>
<li>DC</li>
<li>Denver</li>
<li>Pittsburgh</li>
</ul>
<p>Confirmed airing:</p>
<ul>
<li>New York (both stations)</li>
<li>Los Angeles</li>
<li>Chicago</li>
<li>Philadelphia</li>
<li>Dallas</li>
<li>Houston (KBPX-LD)</li>
<li>Atlanta</li>
<li>Boston (WBPX)</li>
<li>Detroit</li>
<li>Minneapolis</li>
<li>Phoenix</li>
<li>Orlando</li>
<li>Cleveland</li>
<li>Portland, OR</li>
<li>Hartford</li>
<li>Salt Lake City</li>
<li>Raleigh (both stations)</li>
<li>Kansas City</li>
<li>Nashville</li>
<li>Providence</li>
<li>Norfolk</li>
<li>Oklahoma City</li>
<li>Greensboro</li>
<li>Buffalo</li>
<li>Scranton</li>
<li>Tulsa</li>
<li>Knoxville</li>
<li>Roanoke</li>
<li>Cedar Rapids</li>
<li>Greenville, NC (both stations)</li>
<li>Boston (WDPX)</li>
<li>Tampa</li>
<li>Sacramento</li>
<li>Jacksonville</li>
<li>Milwaukee</li>
<li>Des Moines</li>
</ul>
<p>Leaving these as unconfirmed:</p>
<ul>
<li>Boston (WPXG)</li>
<li>Seattle</li>
<li>Miami</li>
<li>Indianapolis</li>
<li>San Antonio</li>
<li>West Palm Beach</li>
<li>Grand Rapids</li>
<li>Albany, NY</li>
<li>Birmingham</li>
<li>Memphis</li>
<li>New Orleans</li>
<li>Honolulu</li>
<li>Spokane</li>
<li>Syracuse</li>
<li>Huntington</li>
<li>Lexington</li>
<li>Wausau</li>
</ul>
<p>Unconfirmed, but believed to not be airing:</p>
<ul>
<li>Hagerstown</li>
</ul>
<p>Confirmed airing on non-ION stations:</p>
<ul>
<li>San Francisco (KAXT-CD)</li>
<li>DC (WWTD-LD)</li>
<li>Pittsburgh (WBGN-CD)</li>
<li>Las Vegas (KEEN-CD)</li>
<li>Albuquerque (KYNM-LD)</li>
</ul>
<p>Unconfirmed airing on non-ION stations:</p>
<ul>
<li>Albany (WYBN-LD)</li>
<li>Rochester, NY (WBGT-CD)</li>
</ul>