New Over the Air Channel Coming to Milwaukee in October

[SRW1000]

Saw a link to this Broadcasting and Cable article on the AVS forum.

Stations are getting another option for the post-digital switchover world as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer is rolling out "This TV," a new ad-supported around-the-clock linear digital channel designed for broadcast stations' digital spectrum.

The new network, a partnership with Chicago-based Weigel Broadcasting, will launch this fall. It gets immediate carriage with Weigel stations in Chicago, Milwaukee and South Bend, Ind.

The idea is for MGM is to leverage its library of more than 4,100 films and 10,000 hours of television programming, but also to give stations the chance to localize the look.

This TV will offer stations programming all day every day, but stations signing on have the right to a certain number of pre-emptions so that they can localize the channel with sports, news and weather if they want.

The lineup will be film-heavy, with possible titles including 12 Angry Men and Class, starring Rob Lowe. It also will have classic television shows ranging from The Addams Family to Thirtysomething.

I love the idea of getting another channel of OTA programming for the area.  That's great news.

On the other hand, I really, really, really, hope that this isn't going to be broadcast on a sub-channel of 58.  The broadcast quality of the existing programming already ranges from passable to horrible.  Adding yet another stream will probably make it unwatchable whenever they're showing CBS HD programming.

When it's football time, a lot of us will may be reminded of the old Atari 2600 football game, with pixelated characters moving across the screen.

Now, if WMLW, Me TV, and This TV are all grouped on a new channel, things would be just peachy.

Scott

[Bluto]

It sounds like they are going about it the wrong way.  From Tim C's column today:

"ANOTHER SUB-CHANNEL COMING: Chicago-based Weigel Broadcasting, which owns Channel 58, has signed a deal with MGM to create a new digital sub-channel called “This TV,” airing mostly movies and old TV shows from MGM’s library.

"It’s expected to launch Oct. 1 on digital Channel 58.3, now occupied by the Me-TV channel of old TV shows.

"By then, the digital signal of Channel 49, the main outlet for Me-TV, should be up and running, opening up that digital slot.

"Most of this won’t make any sense to you unless you’re watching digital TV over the air on a new television set or with a digital converter box."

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=777160

If they wanted to make efficient use of their two(?) digital channels, shouldn't Weigel group these SD digital channels (and WMLW) on 49?  ie, 49.1, 49.2 and 49.3?  Then use 58's digital channel exclusively for 58 (and its HD programming)?  Kind of like how 10 (multiple SD channels) and 36 (one HD channel) are used today.

[SRW1000]

If they wanted to make efficient use of their two(?) digital channels, shouldn't Weigel group these SD digital channels (and WMLW) on 49?  ie, 49.1, 49.2 and 49.3?  Then use 58's digital channel exclusively for 58 (and its HD programming)?  Kind of like how 10 (multiple SD channels) and 36 (one HD channel) are used today.

Yes.  That would be the proper way to do it.

The current method just sucks bandwidth away from their main HD channel.

Scott

[Jack 1000]

I wonder if TWC will put "This TV" (the new station name) on Channel 201 for digital subscribers?  As most of you know, TWC channel 19/201 both have the same transmission right now, ME-TV.

Jack

[jjallou]

So it is really true. There is nothing new on Broadcast TV.

How many channels devoted to old programming do we really need?

[John L]

I have noticed that WBME-DT 49.1 has been off the air lately, but the analog is still on. Perhaps they are in the process of moving the DTV transmitter and antenna onto the WDJT-TV tower?  Because they filed to move WBME-DT to the WDJT-TV tower. However they will leave the old analog set up in Oak Creek since that will be going down next February anyways. No sense in putting any money on that.

By moving the DTV transmitter on the WDJT tower will mean height increase big-time, therefore it should increase WBME-DT's coverage.

-John L.
Muskego, WI.