A link to a Seattle Times story.
http://seattletimes.com/html/businesstechnology/2024742721_sundaybuzz12xml.html
http://seattletimes.com/html/businesstechnology/2024742721_sundaybuzz12xml.html
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Playing Hardball at KCPQ
- Thread starter Roddybob
- Start date
Wow. If Q13 doesn't sell, they will go down the drain. But if the Fox-owned station can't be picked up in Seattle, where will the Seahawks be broadcast? They have be able to be seen in the Seattle metro area.
Seems this is just the latest in heavy-handed "WE DESERVE MORE MONEY" tactics that media companies are doing. We have some great people in this town at KCPQ...and I don't want THEM to get hurt. But I can't give a crap about whether Tribute or Rupert "I'm a jerk" Murdoch wins this corporate pi$$ing match because I have no respect for either company any more. But it's hardly different than how Gannett has diluted most of the special flavor from KING...and on down the line.
Fox couldn't care less about their OTA viewers. The only reason the transmitter is on is because the FCC says so. Otherwise they'd shut that thing down and sell off the spectrum faster than you can say "KBCB".
Besides, this is Rupert Murdoch. Free TV is Socialism to him anyway...
Actually in order to be considered a "must carry" via cable in the market, one must have an over the air signal in the market. The signal doesn't have to cover the market, just be in it. Since Bellingham is considered in the Seattle/Tacoma Market, even the existing KBCB signal would qualify.
There's that too, but regardless, an OTA TV signal isn't a priority to Fox and if they could get away with it, they would yank it off the air
So here's the real problem. If KCPQ goes indie, like what Fox is planning on doing in January 2015, KCPQ will probably keep Maury, Steve Wilkos and the sitcoms. Which leaves KBCB with NOTHING good, that is syndicated outside Fox programming! What will they air - Byron Allen filler, Cosby Show and infomercials until 8:00?
-crainbebo
-crainbebo
Well I wouldn't exactly say that KCPQ is good ALL of the time; they show a lot of crapolla as well. There are so many great programmes out there, I can't help but feel a little disappointed in what ends up being shown. I do like KJZO; Tribune has done a great job of putting an entertaining lineup of shows like Everybody Loves Raymond, South Park, Friends, etc. Sure, i'm sure there are plenty of people who don't care for those shows, but it's better than rerunning the same exact programming that aired a few hours ago on your sister station...
this is more of a technical question for some of those versed n that sort of thing on this board. and it's question that appllies to radio and tv so its relevant. now that everything is digital does 'frequency' or dial position even matter? I was looking up KBCB and they are on 'virtual 24' but there HD signal now the only signal is actually on 19. How does this work? In the old days if there was a tv station on channel 12 in bellingham and one on 12 in portland they could only get so close. what does this 'virtual' stuff mean? Im talking over the air signals not the position on the cable box. Part of why I am asking is that there is ALSO a channel 24 in Renton it's low powered spanish station so if they are on the same frequency would this prevent the b-ham signal from coming into the market? or alternatively if they also bought the LP Renton station then would they be on the same channel now in Seattle by being in both place? or do they just change the pointers to channel 19 can they even do that?
Back when the feds decided all stations needed to transition to Digital transmission (DTV), most stations were given a transition channel, usually on an available UHF channel in the market. In order to not confuse viewers who watched the DTV channel on another actual frequency, a "virtual" channel assignment was assumed of the primary station on the transition DTV channel. Unlike analog TV tuners which look for an actual radio signal on that channel, DTV receivers look for a portion of the DTV data stream which contains, among other things, identification information for the digital channel (virtual channel). This portion of the DTV data stream is called PSIP, Program and System Information Protocol. Along with the embedded virtual channel information, PSIP contains the program schedule for the station, High, or Standard Definition video and audio parameters and other information required for a DTV receiver to decode the channel. Some stations chose to shut down their analog channels at the transition, while a few chose to "flash cut" analog to digital with no transition channel. I believe in the case of Seattle, none flash-cut, but shut down their UHF transition channel and put digital on their VHF channel. Even after the transition, most stations chose to retain the channel number they were known for of the analog station, primarily for marketing purposes and familiarity for viewers. For example, the KOMO TV transition channel was 48, but the PSIP data showed it as channel 4. At the DTV transition, the channel 4 analog transmitter was shut down and later, the channel 4 analog antenna was removed and replaced by a top-mounted DTV channel 48 antenna.
Assuming FOX is able to move the KBCB transmission site South, the channel 24 LPTV would be displaced, as LPTV stations are offered no protection by full power DTV stations.
Kelly thank you for your wonderful explanation which I mostly actually understood. Where I was going on this was two places. One, does there being another station on channel 24 the LP Renton station and further south a Portland station, technically limit KBCB from moving south- and as you've explained it the answers appears to be no. If I understood you correctly since KBCB is actually on channel 19 and the renton station is on channel 24 then if I have this right then it doenst matter if they had that particular channel or not. they could find translators or some other solution potentially. where I am going is that even 5 or 6% of the viewers not on cable is still approaching 100,000 households so its worth chasing and so how hard technically would it be for KBCB to do that. It sounds like from what you say, TECHNICALLY not that hard. Then of course you have politics and legal issues alloctions FCC filings, etc, but that's just money and muscle.
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Speaking of a voiceover for the new station, I wonder if they will hire (What's his name?) for the station, that used to be the voiceover for KSTW and KIRO? He's the voiceover for most of the FOX O&Os. (EDITED: Actually, looks like they are using a different voiceover guy now for their stations).
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You're welcome! I haven't looked at what options there may be to move a channel 19 DTV station further south, but with deep enough pockets, a creative consulting engineer, antenna pattern, location, and enough lawyers, FOX may be able to squeeze a station into the line up in the Seattle area. Heck, they may even apply for another channel if needed since they're essentially starting from scratch. The FCC may be receptive (pardon the pun) to some creative negotiations, given the interest in recovering UHF TV channels for auction to wireless/PCS companies. Just as an example, let's say FOX decided to give up their UHF channel 19 and apply to do DTV from a Seattle location on the old channel 7, calling it (virtually) channel 19? The channel 7 DTV coverage wouldn't be great, as the allowed power for VHF-DTV is much less than UHF-DTV stations. But, as mentioned here, there isn't any real pressure on FOX to move a OTA site into the Seattle area. You're right it will be interesting to see whether FOX wants to chase 10% of the market that watches TV via OTA. Provided they have any form of signal in the market, including Bellingham, means they get carried on the local cable systems in Seattle and Tacoma.
This just in from TVNewsCheck.com: TRIBUNE TO KEEP KCPQ AND FOX AFFILIATION
Tribune remains owner of Seattle's Fox affiliate after Tribune agrees “to pay additional programming fees to Fox for the primetime and sports content provided by the network.” The new extension of KCPQ’s affiliation runs through July 2018."
I guess the speculation can end, at least until the next renewal.
Tribune remains owner of Seattle's Fox affiliate after Tribune agrees “to pay additional programming fees to Fox for the primetime and sports content provided by the network.” The new extension of KCPQ’s affiliation runs through July 2018."
I guess the speculation can end, at least until the next renewal.
yep! here's the press release.
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-rele...affiliate-agreement-in-seattle-279554472.html
so then what becomes of KBCB?
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-rele...affiliate-agreement-in-seattle-279554472.html
so then what becomes of KBCB?
No way to predict, although no doubt they have some plan in place. Who knows? FOX may go ahead with the purchase and give up the sought-after channel 19 UHF as an option for auction. Sort of what Michael Dell is hoping to do with KVOS-DT. FOX pays 10M, and say it auctions for 12M. FOX makes money on the KCPQ-DT renewal and an extra couple million by flipping KBCB. Time will tell!
Well then - that's great! No more deep speculation about a little tiny ShopNBC station called KBCB turning into Fox. KCPQ can keep its heritage!
I know KBCB used to be "World Television" and it aired a LOT of Asian programming. I think it might have relayed the "International Channel" back in the days pre-AZN. I remember I believe it aired "Pilipinas, Game KNB?" around 2001 when it was pretty much Philippine's version of Millionaire. I also remember "TV Patrol" as well, also an ABS-CBN Philippines show. But what was it back in the early 1990s in the KEGA days?
-crainbebo
I know KBCB used to be "World Television" and it aired a LOT of Asian programming. I think it might have relayed the "International Channel" back in the days pre-AZN. I remember I believe it aired "Pilipinas, Game KNB?" around 2001 when it was pretty much Philippine's version of Millionaire. I also remember "TV Patrol" as well, also an ABS-CBN Philippines show. But what was it back in the early 1990s in the KEGA days?
-crainbebo
If channel 24 has to stay on RF channel 19, it can't move farther south -- KCKA in Centralia (Virtual 15, RF 19) is the full power digital rebroadcaster for KBTC for Southwest Washington and broadcasts at 187kw.
That said, the cool thing about virtual channels is that either KBCB or KCKA could move their RF channels to a frequency that would work better for both of them and not have to change their virtual numbers from 24 and 15 respectively -- although the stations involved will have to promote the change: depending on the TV set, it will automatically trigger a scan when it hits the virtual channel and doesn't find the signal it was expecting and will re-lock when it finds the new frequency (which will take a minute or two when the channel is tuned for the first time), or will require a manual re-scan which will require viewers to run the scan once the change is made -- but things will go back to exactly the way they were once this is complete (providing the new RF channel still comes in). KCKA could either find a new frequency allowing KBCB to move south, or KBCB could find a better one that works.
In addition, although I don't think this has been done yet, the virtual channels allow a "network" to keep the same channel number (not sure if the FCC has rules on this) the same way they do in Europe: KBTC is on 28 -- so if they wanted to, they could put KCKA and all their other translators on Virtual 28, keeping the same channel number regardless. The translator network would also be on the same channel number -- as far as the viewer is concerned, channel 28 just comes in better in more places. For that matter, stations that promote their cable channel numbers (such as KONG, which promotes itself as 6/16) could technically change their virtual channel number to 6, and keep the same branding, and stay right next to KING 5, even over the air... I'd be curious what the rules are on this. If there are 2 virtual channels that are the same, and both come in on a set (say, some weird area with great reception where you got both KOIN 6 out of Portland and KONG if it was on 6 as well), the set would display as 6-1 and 6-2... but these areas are pretty rare...
That said, FOX has agreed to keep the affiliation with KCPQ through 2018 (when the rest of the Tribune Fox stations renew) so who knows that they will do with KBCB now...
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Bellingham could have their own FOX station up there, but KCPQ would probably complain. Kinda like when KVOS was a CBS affiliate back in the day and KIRO complained. Whatcom and San Juan County should really be it's own market though.
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If that were to ever happen, you would have to include Skagit County. But even with all these areas combined (roughly 340,000), would it be enough to constitute a distinct and seperate TV market from Seattle?
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