Watching TV in Worcester MA?

[Bill1820]

Channel 30's Waterbury translator was on Channel 20's tower when 20 was still an ABC affiliate.  Channel 30 did a newspaper and bumper sticker campaign in the summer of 1964 promoting the availability of NBC programming to Waterbury viewers on Channel 79.  As an ABC affiliate, Channel 20 lifted Channels 7’s and 40’s signals off of two regular TVs (I saw that at the transmitter site).  The engineer told me taking from 8 was a last resort because 8 pre-empted a lot of network shows and displayed their station logo instead of ABC's at end of network promos and shows.  Channel 20 was able to carry Les Crane's late night show only when a signal from 7 or 40 was good, because 8 did not carry the show.  Else, 20 would sign off early with a message saying something like, “Due to technical difficulties we are unable to present our regularly scheduled program.”  Channel 20 switched to NBC in 1966.

In the late 60s’s the FCC denied Channel 20’s request to move its transmitter site closer to New Haven.

[vibe]

I'm just curious how a station in Waterbury could have pulled off a seemingly clear picture OTA from NYC 9ch 7) or Holyoke, MA (ch 40)?  Did they use any equipment not available to the typical residential consumer?  Thanks, vibe

[Peter Q. George (K1XRB)]

Channel 30's Waterbury translator was on Channel 20's tower when 20 was still an ABC affiliate.  Channel 30 did a newspaper and bumper sticker campaign in the summer of 1964 promoting the availability of NBC programming to Waterbury viewers on Channel 79.  As an ABC affiliate, Channel 20 lifted Channels 7’s and 40’s signals off of two regular TVs (I saw that at the transmitter site).  The engineer told me taking from 8 was a last resort because 8 pre-empted a lot of network shows and displayed their station logo instead of ABC's at end of network promos and shows.  Channel 20 was able to carry Les Crane's late night show only when a signal from 7 or 40 was good, because 8 did not carry the show.  Else, 20 would sign off early with a message saying something like, “Due to technical difficulties we are unable to present our regularly scheduled program.”  Channel 20 switched to NBC in 1966.

In the late 60s’s the FCC denied Channel 20’s request to move its transmitter site closer to New Haven.

Now it all adds up.  I've been working on an updated exhibit regarding that Channel 79 translator on the UHF Morgue.  I was curious as why did WATR move from the mountaintop in Meriden with practically statewide coverage on Channel 53 to a lesser facility on Channel 20, that barely covered its' own backyard?  WEDN/53 could have been reassigned to another channel before its' airdate.  I guess Channel 8 (WNHC) had a nasty practice of pre-empting ABC programming on a regular basis at the time.  Once WATR moved over to NBC in 1966, WHNB probably moved Channel 79 translator (W79AA) to Torrington where it stayed for the rest of its' life until 1986.  I've been told that when the move to NBC occurred,  NBC made some financial investment to Channel 20 so they could actually air NBC programming in color.  Channel 20 would not go local color until the early 1970's. 

I'm curious. Was WATR able to air some of the various ABC color presentations in color via the OTA feed from WABC/7 or WHYN/40 during their time as an ABC affiliate such as The Hollywood Palace and The Flintstones?  All indications would indicate, probably not. Any idea?

[Bill1820]

Channel 20 never aired ABC shows in color.  The TVs that I saw at the transmitter in 1965 were B&W ones.

I got 20 better than 53 at my home on the west side of Waterbury.  Hills and valleys were a problem for TV reception in western CT before cable.  A radio announcer at WATR told our YMCA group on a tour in the early 60s that 53 would be moving to 20 because stations get out further on the lower part of the UHF band (I'm not an engineer so I don't know if that's accurate). I am assuming 20 couldn't be on West Peak, Meriden because of its closeness to Hartford's 18.

[ssetta]

What is this?! I thought this was supposed to be a thread about watching OTA TV in WORCESTER, MA! And now, someone turned it into a thread about CT!!!

[BRNout]

Strange how these things happen.  I think they call it "hijacking" the thread! 

No matter, it's all very interesting to me.....

[Peter Q. George (K1XRB)]

What is this?! I thought this was supposed to be a thread about watching OTA TV in WORCESTER, MA! And now, someone turned it into a thread about CT!!!

No hijacking a thread intended, I assure you.  Go back a few pages and you'll see how the subject of Worcester's Channel 20 CP eventually morphed into Waterbury's Channel 20.  Long story, but very interesting.  I probably should have made a different thread for WATR/WTXX.  I'm a dye-in-the-wool broadcast historian and sometimes, I get really into it.  Oh, well.  73.

[BRNout]

Nah, it's a good discussion.  The channel placement is regional anyhow so the allottments in Massachusetts did impact those in CT and RI as well.  And, vice versa.

[Garrett]

What is this?! I thought this was supposed to be a thread about watching OTA TV in WORCESTER, MA! And now, someone turned it into a thread about CT!!!

Yeah, I was just about to ask the same thing, and I'm the one who started the thread!

[vibe]

Worcester IS the geographical center of New England and if the thread is about watching TV in Worcester that should encompass areas about 75 mi in all directions since it is possible to get stations from all 6 New England states. We even used to watch WCBS-2 from Rutland, MA on a regular basis after the local Ch 2 Boston went off the air at nite. Ch 20 was very watchable.  Good antenna and 1000' above sea level helps.