Rim Shot Stations Affliated with a "Big Four" Network

[Mark]

Just wondering what markets (if any) have a Big Four (ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC) station, in a rim shot location to the central city.

I was thinking KNTV but since San Jose is part of the Three Market area San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, it doesn't count.

Are there any? I was looking for something that has a transmitter in a rim shot rather than just a city. For instance if the license read Gary/Chicago, but the transmitter was on the Sears Tower in Chicago, for all purposes it's a Chicago Location.

[KML0224]

WMTW-TV (ABC) channel 8 in the Portland, ME market is licensed to Poland Spring, ME, which is 26 miles north-northwest of Portland. That's not so radical. However, for many years, their transmitter was atop Mount Washington, NH. Nearby Gorham, NH is 70 miles from Portland, to give you some idea. While living in Old Orchard Beach, ME (York County), about a mile from the ocean, I used to get a signal that was between slightly snowy and perfectly watchable. Despite the transmitter of WGME-TV (CBS) channel 13 of Portland being much closer in Raymond, ME, I used to have problems with them once in a while. I rarely had a problem with WCSH-TV (NBC) channel 6 of Portland, with their transmitter (then and now) being on the east side of Lake Sebago.

Today, WMTW-TV and WMTW-DT (analog 8/digital 46) have their transmitters in Baldwin, ME, which is essentially the western area of Lake Sebago.

[KeithE4]

Nothing unusual for Big 4 affiliates in rural midwestern markets being spread over cities separated by over 50 miles while still considered the same market. 

One example is WJFW-TV 12 Rhinelander, WI is the NBC affiliate for Wausau despite being about 70 miles NE of that city.  They have a translator on Channel 27 to serve the Wausau area.

La Crosse/Eau Claire, WI is another with network affiliates in two cities separated by 50 miles or more.  CBS is in La Crosse, NBC is in Eau Claire, while Fox & ABC are based in La Crosse with full-powered satellites in Eau Claire.  Rochester (NBC & Fox) & Austin MN (ABC), plus Mason City IA (CBS) is another similar market.  Actually, some parts of that market get CBS from La Crosse or Mankato.

And the Fox affiliate for Portland ME is licensed to Waterville, about 70 miles away. 

Is the NBC station in Atlantic City/Wildwood NJ considered to be that network's affiliate for Salisbury MD since it doesn't have NBC?  It looks like it's fairly close-by.

[Charles1]

The ABC affiliates for Birmingham are licensed to Tuscaloosa (50 miles to the west) and Anniston (55 miles to the east).  WCFT-33's tower is located north of Tuscaloosa, and the tower for WJSU is located about 30 miles east of Birmingham.  The two stations simulcast each other and brand themselves as ABC 33/40.

www.abc3340.com

[KML0224]

And the Fox affiliate for Portland ME is licensed to Waterville, about 70 miles away. 

Is the NBC station in Atlantic City/Wildwood NJ considered to be that network's affiliate for Salisbury MD since it doesn't have NBC?  It looks like it's fairly close-by.

WMGM-TV (NBC) channel 40 of Wildwood, NJ doesn't reach Salisbury, MD. As for Maine, WPFO-TV (FOX) channel 23 may be licensed to Waterville, but it has its transmitter in Litchfield, ME. That's a bit south of Augusta, putting them closer to Auburn, Lewiston and, most importantly, Portland.

[rch66]

WMGM 40 reaches parts of Sussex County, DE which is in Salisbury DMA.    Areas such as Rehoboth Beach, DE.   If you have a pocket TV you can probably pick it up there.    WMGM's analog signal reaches at most 40 miles (from Swainton NJ), while Rehoboth is slightly just under that.   In NJ, the farthest north they are in is Vineland (to the Northwest), Hammonton (Northwest) or Tuckerton (North) - and that's right ~ 40 mile radius.   It's weak at 40 miles as well.

I'm not sure how far their digital signal is reaching - if anybody knows, chime in on that.

Cable doesn't carry them in DE or MD.

Comcast in Sussex County receives NBC 10 - Philadelphia, and NBC 11-Baltimore on cable.

The MD part of the Salisbury DMA (the other half) receives NBC 4 - DC and NBC 11-Baltimore.   Ch.4 and Ch.10 are NBC owned, while Ch.11 is Hearst owned.

Now, I wonder which one DirecTV and Dish would put into a Salisbury package, once they launch local services there.    I'm sure Hearst (WBAL) would want the claim for that market, though their syndicated programming including Oprah, clashes more with what the local stations there carry.    Note:   Comcast carries WBAL in the digital tier, as well as WBOC and WMDT.    (The NBC owned WCAU or WRC weren't placed there).

For distant network services, satellite TV customers in Rehoboth Beach may need a waiver from WMGM, for distant NBC services from NY, LA.   Now, Back on the original post - WMGM doesn't exactly qualify as it's in Philadelphia DMA, which has a primary NBC affiliate that broadcasts with the other 3 of the 4.   Though not qualifying as a big 4 - Philadelphia does have a rimshot Telemundo station, however - one that's not easily receivable over the air.     

[radioboss]

NBC doesn't care to have a station in the Salisbury, MD market.

They say that they have enough coverage from Baltimore and Philadelphia. Then, there is the Accomack, VA station (WAVY) that comes in from the southern most parts of the market.

[toby]

I seem to recall reading somewhere that one of the Salsbury, Maryland stations was also a secondary NBC affiliate at one time.

[rch66]

NBC doesn't care to have a station in the Salisbury, MD market.

They say that they have enough coverage from Baltimore and Philadelphia. Then, there is the Accomack, VA station (WAVY) that comes in from the southern most parts of the market.

It's a small market, which is why NBC doesn't care, but there is no NBC affiliate, or Fox affiliate, within 80 miles for the
most part.     WBAL doesn't claim the market, like how the Hartford CBS and Fox affiliates have a claim in Springfield, MA.    The Springfield ABC and NBC stations can't get Oprah, b/c the Hartford CBS has the right for it.

Yet there are 2 full powered PBS stations- the WHYY transmitter in Seaford DE- WDPB, and the Maryland Public Television signal WCPB in the Salisbury area.    The WDPB license should be a commercial one.   Delaware has 2 noncommercial licenses (CH.12 and WCPB 64), and 1 commercial (Pax/i 61))...not to mention 12 and 61 serve Philly primarily over DE, the ratio of noncommercial to commercial doesn't make much sense, but anyways Delaware is like the forgotten armpit of the east coast.

[ShawnHill1]

The ABC affiliates for Birmingham are licensed to Tuscaloosa (50 miles to the west) and Anniston (55 miles to the east).  WCFT-33's tower is located north of Tuscaloosa, and the tower for WJSU is located about 30 miles east of Birmingham.  The two stations simulcast each other and brand themselves as ABC 33/40.

www.abc3340.com

They also have a low-powered satellite (WBMA 58) which covers the immediate Birmingham area.