The end of ota hdtv?

[Skynet74]

This won't happen. The public outcry would be way to much. Don't even worry about it. TV stations wern't just fitted with all new equipment for nothing. The FCC didn't just assign all new frequencies for nothing. Billions of dollars haven't just been invested from all sides for nothing. This won't even happen in our lifetime. 

[dhett]

Adjacent channels don't even need to be 20 miles apart, actually they can be on the same tower.
In Sacramento KVIE DT 9 (6.1) and KXTV DT 10 (10.1) are broadcasting on the same super tower in Walnut Grove, same with most other stations in the Sacramento/Stockton/Modesto market..

You misunderstood - I said as long as they were within 20 miles, but that was incorrect - it's 20 km, or 12 miles.  Co-located adjacent channels are OK, and they can be separated by as many as 12 miles.  Adjacent channels are not allowed if separated by greater than 12 miles apart and less than about 68 miles (20 km - 110 km).  Greater than 68 miles is OK again.  Source: FCC regs sect. 73.623.

[M.J.]

NBC was an honest oversight in my original post. Stick that one where I put "secondary PBS".

As for all other services, they can exist as subchannels of other channels, particularly CW and MNTV. That's the way it already is in many markets including Rochester.

As for which channels will stay and which ones will go, there will be no need for government intervention. I foresee some networks may migrate to cable-only, especially some of the religious ones. The major longtime networks will keep OTA but I think some of the smaller ones might not.

[tripinva]

Now as for WBBM-TV on 12.1, they haven't shown any interest to go to UHF yet.

Yes they have.  They applied for a fill-in translator on channel 26 some months ago.

- Trip

[avtosalon]

However, WCPX 43.1 & WJYS 36.1 air mostly infomercials.  These 2 stations aren't worth having on the air.  WCPX would be alright if it was just Ion Life, and not Ion TV, as Ion Life has TV programs, while Ion TV has mostly infomercials.   I thought once WJYS put their digital signal in Chicago, and was able to remove the null toward Milwaukee, that they would air more programming.

The digital signal of WJYS Hammond, Indiana/Chicago is still directional to the south.  Even after moving their transmitter from Tinley Park, Illinois to Sears Tower, WJYS does not reach the north suburbs at all, and the station can not be received on the north side of Chicago with rabbit ears.  WJYS broadcasts on Channel 36 (Displays as 62-1 and 62-2) which was the same channel as a full-power analog signal from Milwaukee, but now the Milwaukee station has vacated the channel.  WJYS has applied to the FCC to remove the south-directional signal but so far that has not happened.

Also, co-owned low-power analog Channel 34 WEDE-CA Arlington Heights, Illinois (which is simulcast on digital 62-2) does not reach it's city of license.  The station broadcasts from Sears Tower with a directional signal to the southwest, but Arlington Heights is a northwest suburb.  Fans (in the north suburbs) of the music show 'JBTV', which airs on WEDE-CA and WJYS 62-2, are screwed.  Cable systems in the north suburbs air the main channel of WJYS but not the sub-channel.

         

[vchimpanzee]

I am a fairly astute reader of things electronic but have not seen the articles the first poster talks about; the demise of OTA TV.  Certain blogs have advanced this possibility but it seems in the realm of pure speculation at this time.

I watch for articles on the digital transition in Broadcasting & Cable online to keep the related Wikipedia articles updated, and most of what I see these days is about either mobile DTV, the next big thing, or this plan to end broadcast TV, or at least broadcast TV as we know it. Go to the references section of this article:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wireless_broadband

Click on any article title if John Eggerton is the author.

[Dave]

However, WCPX 43.1 & WJYS 36.1 air mostly infomercials.  These 2 stations aren't worth having on the air.  WCPX would be alright if it was just Ion Life, and not Ion TV, as Ion Life has TV programs, while Ion TV has mostly infomercials.   I thought once WJYS put their digital signal in Chicago, and was able to remove the null toward Milwaukee, that they would air more programming.

The digital signal of WJYS Hammond, Indiana/Chicago is still directional to the south.  Even after moving their transmitter from Tinley Park, Illinois to Sears Tower, WJYS does not reach the north suburbs at all, and the station can not be received on the north side of Chicago with rabbit ears.  WJYS broadcasts on Channel 36 (Displays as 62-1 and 62-2) which was the same channel as a full-power analog signal from Milwaukee, but now the Milwaukee station has vacated the channel.  WJYS has applied to the FCC to remove the south-directional signal but so far that has not happened.

Also, co-owned low-power analog Channel 34 WEDE-CA Arlington Heights, Illinois (which is simulcast on digital 62-2) does not reach it's city of license.  The station broadcasts from Sears Tower with a directional signal to the southwest, but Arlington Heights is a northwest suburb.  Fans (in the north suburbs) of the music show 'JBTV', which airs on WEDE-CA and WJYS 62-2, are screwed.  Cable systems in the north suburbs air the main channel of WJYS but not the sub-channel.

WEDE-CA used to reach its COL until WISN turned on their digital signal for channel 34.  When WISN transmitted in digital, WEDE-CA was forced to redirect their signal away from Milwaukee.  I believe that happened when they were still a translator.  Unfortunately, translators, low power, & Class A stations aren't even required to cover their COL's.  If WEDE-CA really wants to cover their COL, then they should look at getting another channel (channel 32 is available now that WLS-TV decided to abandon adding a translator for 32, and went with 44 for a full power station, unless someone else put in for it).  As it stands, WEDE-CA isn't required to be added to cable systems, since they're not eligible for must carry on cable & satellite systems.  Cable systems have to decide if they want to add it themselves.

As for WJYS-DT, I'm surprised that they haven't removed their null toward Milwaukee yet.  They do have a CP to cover the northern suburbs, and increase their power.  They have a CP for 145kw at 510m.  It also calls for locating on the east tower, while the current antenna is on the west tower, transmitting 50kw at 455m.  Originally, WJYS had to put the null toward Milwaukee due to WMVT was on 36A/35DT, but has stayed on 35 on June 12th.  Now for WJYS-DT being on cable; cable systems are required to add the station, as long as the station requests it as part of the must carry rulling years ago.  Subchannels aren't eligible for must carry at this time.  If the rule gets changed in the future, then their simulcast of WEDE-CA might be added later on.

Now as for WBBM-TV on 12.1, they haven't shown any interest to go to UHF yet.

Yes they have.  They applied for a fill-in translator on channel 26 some months ago.
- Trip

They haven't used it yet.  If they were using it, then I would be able to receive the signal.  If the translator is for any of their viewers, I believe it's mainly for those in the city, close to downtown.  As for what I said that they haven't shown interest in going to UHF; I should have been clear on that.  I actually meant that they haven't shown any interest in moving their full power signal to the UHF, or they would have asked for a UHF channel before June.  For some reason, they wanted to stay on the VHF.  WBBM-TV was the only station in Chicago that never had their digital station on the UHF, like everyone else has.