FCC Reverse Auction; Are we going to lose our over the air TV stations?

[JRHawk2003]

I have a hard time grasping this. Does this mean if Channel 9 decides to do this they will only be able to be picked up if you have Satellite or Cable?

This could really suck for cord cutters if I am understanding this correctly.

https://www.bostonglobe.com/busines...fcc-auction/xKkgnHeNiHwZHTjwtlGGPN/story.html

 

[dgordo]

You are misunderstanding, these stations would sell their frequencies and cease to exist or use another frequency.

 

[CeMar_Clone]

I have a hard time grasping this. Does this mean if Channel 9 decides to do this they will only be able to be picked up if you have Satellite or Cable?

This could really suck for cord cutters if I am understanding this correctly.

https://www.bostonglobe.com/busines...fcc-auction/xKkgnHeNiHwZHTjwtlGGPN/story.html

Question for those using the over air signals, is the signal 1080p or 720? Been thinking about cord cutting as well.

 

[JRHawk2003]

You are misunderstanding, these stations would sell their frequencies and cease to exist or use another frequency.

So, in theory they could just cease to exist over the air but still be on cable or satellite? That isn't clear to me. If Channel 9 wants to sell I would no longer be able to get ABC? I suspect channels 2 and 28 would be the most likely in our area if that is the case, but who knows?

In answer to CeMar's question; The main channels 2,7,9,Publc, and Fox are in 1080. Their secondary channels are generally not HD.

 

[herecomethehawkeyes]

Question for those using the over air signals, is the signal 1080p or 720? Been thinking about cord cutting as well.

i am not sure. I just know my picture is a lot clearer and more crisp with the channels that my antenna is able to pick up than they were when I had Directv

 

[dgordo]

So, in theory they could just cease to exist over the air but still be on cable or satellite? That isn't clear to me. If Channel 9 wants to sell I would no longer be able to get ABC? I suspect channels 2 and 28 would be the most likely in our area if that is the case, but who knows?

In answer to CeMar's question; The main channels 2,7,9,Publc, and Fox are in 1080. Their secondary channels are generally not HD.

No, they can't decide to give up ota and only go cable. If they sell their spectrum they either have to find other spectrum to use or the station goes away completely.

 

[JRHawk2003]

No, they can't decide to give up ota and only go cable. If they sell their spectrum they either have to find other spectrum to use or the station goes away completely.

So its possible some markets won't have local network affiliates anymore?

I must admit that I am confused and bothered by all of this. Didn't they need the old TV bands for wireless stuff? and now just 6 years later that isn't enough.

 

[dgordo]

So its possible some markets won't have local network affiliates anymore?

I must admit that I am confused and bothered by all of this. Didn't they need the old TV bands for wireless stuff? and now just 6 years later that isn't enough.

Extremely unlikely an affiliate would chose to go away. They likely cant by contract and if they did the networks would replace them.

 

[JRHawk2003]

If anyone in our market would do it, its Sinclair Broadcasting. I will be interested to see what happens to Channels 2 & 28.

Is it possible they could sell 28, but move Fox to say Channel 2.4?

 

[THE_DEVIL]

All I got to say on this subject is...

 

[JRHawk2003]

This isn't getting much news coverage really. I will be interested to see what actually happens.

Why are these frequencies needed now?

 

[dgordo]

This isn't getting much news coverage really. I will be interested to see what actually happens.

Why are these frequencies needed now?

Its not getting much coverage because it will have little effect.

Wireless data, we use a ton of it and cell phone companies want to make it faster.

 

[JRHawk2003]

Its not getting much coverage because it will have little effect.

Wireless data, we use a ton of it and cell phone companies want to make it faster.

I dont see how it will have little effect if some stations just go off the air. Some markets will lose network affiliates...at least temporarily

 

[dgordo]

I dont see how it will have little effect if some stations just go off the air. Some markets will lose network affiliates...at least temporarily

extremely unlikely, contractually they probably cant go off the air. the stations lost will be lower power stations that few watch.

 

[JRHawk2003]

extremely unlikely, contractually they probably cant go off the air. the stations lost will be lower power stations that few watch.

Do you mean the secondary channels like 9.2 or 9.3?

 

[dgordo]

No i mean channels like WPVN https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WPVN-CD
or WJYS https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WJYS

 

[JRHawk2003]

Oh Ok...we don't have any like that really in Eastern Iowa. Maybe Ion TV Channel 48. I will be interested to see if there are any changes.

 

[dgordo]

It is certainly possible that a KGAN could decide to take the money and lease spectrum from KWWL of vice versa, etc. but they cant go off the air.

 

[Titanhawk2]

The frequency ranges provided the stations when they planned to go digital 15 years ago figured an over the air HD signal would take up more space than it actually does now. Many stations, like channel 9 have additional channels (9.2, 9.3) to go with their HD signal and still don't use all the space. Many don't have extra channels. So there is a lot of extra space. There may be towers/transmitters who double up so that one existing frequency can be sold.