WISN-TV to Lose Signal in Illinois

[John L]

Sometime soon, perhaps in a month, viewers at the Illinois border line will find that WISN-TV, Ch. 12 will become very difficult to receive.

Its all because the FCC has approve for WBBM-DT to move from Ch. 3 to Ch. 12 with a power increase of 8 kW.

-John L.

[Irish]

I thought that wouldn't be taking place until next year, when analog shuts down?

Right now, there's no way the FCC will allow another full-power Ch. 12 so close to WISN. Remember, WLS-7 raised a fit when a LPTV station in Milwaukee moved to Ch. 7.

Currently, WBBM's DT allocation is Ch. 3, but they later found out that DTV on the lower VHF tier (2-6) isn't very good, so they filed to move to 12. A few other stations are doing likewise.

[Jimboy]

Channel 12 is WBBM-DT's Post-Transition channel. Local WISN's analog will be off the air at that time.

[John L]

Channel 12 is WBBM-DT's Post-Transition channel. Local WISN's analog will be off the air at that time.

I wasn't sure when this will take affect. It did not say from the info I got. I would hope for the sake of the folks at WISN-TV that it will be next Feb.

[AA9VI]

I wasn't sure when this will take affect. It did not say from the info I got. I would hope for the sake of the folks at WISN-TV that it will be next Feb.

Feb '09 it takes effect.  So, at that time WBBM will be on Ch 12, WISN will be on Ch. 34.  No worries.