What channels and When!

[Gregg Lengling]

It was questioned just recently about what the channel allotments will be after the analog shut down date.  The FCC is reclaiming the 700mHz band for other purposes other than Television after the analog shutdown.  At this time already there are some commercial wireless services active on the upper 700 band already in lesser populated areas that have no real channels above channel 61.  

However upon the completion of changing to DTV all channels from 52 and above will no longer be available for TV services.  Those analog stations must shut down and any digital assignment in that band must be relinquished and the user must switch to their lower frequency (if they have one) or apply for a channel below 52.  Those with assignments between 2 and 51 will have a choice to retain their DTV assignment or move operations to their analog assignment (below ch 52).

There has been some talk about the lower VHF, however there are no FCC rules about returning those channels.  However engineering and building penetration issues may cause stations to not locate there.  For instance channel 4 in Milwaukee may just abandon that channel and opt to keep their DTV (ch 28) assignment if engineering shows they can get better coverage.  However there is a trade-off as the UHF channels do require more expense.  Transmitters and amplifiers are more expensive, and the higher in frequency the more costly the Feedline (coaxial cable) for the antenna system.

Stayed tuned and we'll see in a couple years (or more) how this all shakes out.

[John L]

I guess it is official that channel 51 and above will be auctioned off in 2006.  

I assume that means WVTV will move DTV operations to ch. 18.
WDJT DTV will remain at ch. 46.
WPXE-DT will remain at ch. 40

Don't remember any other signals above 51 right now.

Should the FCC also decide to auction off the lower VHF band then that means....

WTMJ-DT will have the option of moving to ch. 10 or remain at 28.
Same with WITI-DT, it either has to stay at 33 or opt to move to ch. 10

That all depends if WMVS-DT remains at ch. 8. But if WMVS-DT rather move to ch. 10, then I'm sure WTMJ-DT and WITI-DT can battle for ch. 8.

Naturally WISN will want to move DTV operations to ch. 12.

-John L.

[Gregg Lengling]

John you are making assumptions on where the stations will go without the proper information.  It will take a detailed Propogation Analysis at the different frequencies with different power levels and antennas to provide the stations with coverage results.  This is addition to cost factors and operating costs will drive the stations to make their choice between UHF and VHF.  There was a detailed engineering analysis in Digital Televsion magazine for a hypothetical California Station, and there are a lot of things to consider.  In the end the author stated that the station management/owners would have to make the final determination resulting from the plusses and minuses on either plan.