CircleSeven

And At last, At last At Last!! After more than 16 months since filing the petition, WMC's proposed move from VHF 5 to UHF 30 has finally advanced to Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. This is only the comment phase of the rulemaking process, but barring any objections, this is poised to get full approval (R&O). And in the not-to-distant future, OTA viewers in Shelby County wouldn't have to rely on watching Channel 3 anymore because they can't get Channel 5. It's been a longtime coming. They tried to move off of RF 5 after the digital transition (RF 17), but it was never acted on. They even applied for a fill-in repeater on RF 14 (and asked for a waiver on the freeze on new DRTs). That app has been stalled. But with today's action, this is just a couple of steps closer to getting off that VHF hell-hole. ____________________________________________ This is likely the final follow up regarding KSNB/KOLN. Because of the launch of KSNB's powerful UHF signal (RF 24) last month, KOLN announced that it will eliminate the NBC & MeTV (4.1 & 4.2) simulcasts on KOLN's spectrum tomorrow (4/6). They kept the duplicative streams going as a grace period. So the final channel lineup (based on the guides and previous releases) are as follows: KSNB: 4.1 NBC, 4.2 MeTV/MyN, 4.3 Ion KOLN: 10.1 CBS, 10.4 H&I, 10.5 Circle, 10.6 True Crime KCWH: 18.1 CW, 18.3 CBS KNHL: 5.1 CW, 5.4 Ion KGIN: 11.1 CBS, 11.2 NBC, 11.3 MeTV/MyN, 11.4 H&I, 11.5 Circle, 11.6 True Crime

Three R&Os today. WNYT (12 > 21) KTVQ (10 > 20) NCE RF 4 Vernon, AL

A couple of things. A new petition. Augusta, Maine PBS outlet WCBB filed to move the station from VHF 10 to UHF 20. Remember when Ramar sold its Lubbock TV empire to Gray in late 2020? Well, I was kind of surprised when I saw this app that Ramar is going to acquire this "New" LP-permit (could become K26PJ-D) from Mako Communications for $30K. Ramar still own the Lubbock radio station. It'll be interesting to see what Ramar is going to use this LP for.

New M&A. Tegna is acquiring Yorktown, VA LP station WYSJ-CD from Jacobs Broadcasting System for $1.15M. But buried in the transaction discription (p.2 on PDF) was that WVEC is planning to file a petition to move from VHF 11 to UHF 35. EDIT 4/1: Here's the PRM (WVEC 11 > 35)

Looking at contours two LPs, plus WALA & WLOX, I don't think Gray wants to shut down WGUD. If anything, should that W31FB new app gets approved, plus the WGUD deal, I wouldn't be all that shocked if Gray move WGUD toward the west; either from WLOX tower, or a nearby tower so Biloxi & Gulfport viewers can see the signal. We'll see what happens. I almost forgot to mention that they also bought an LP in Huntsville (WMJN-LD), so they have now bought LPs in the four major markets in the state. ___________________________________ Gray has completed the transaction of 24 LPs formerly owned by Lowcountry Media on Tuesday (3/22). The deal was approved on Monday (3/21). The WKTB deal was also approved on Monday, but it has yet to close.

New M&A for Weigel. They're getting an LP in Cleveland. They're acquiring W27EA-D from Media-Com Television, Inc. for $2.2M. Don't know why Weigel doesn't want to break the bank and try to snag WBNX. They run most of their diginets on that channel (WOIO carries MeTV).

Regarding Birmingham, Gray just bought an LP near Tuscaloosa earlier this month (WJMY-CD). Looking at the contours of all three (WBRC, WBXA & WJMY), if they're contemplating using it for a WBRC repeater, it would be wise to move the new LP towards the east, near Anniston & Gadsden. Channel 6's main signal reaches Anniston, but its in the extreme eastern fringe.

New LP for Gray. They're fetching Pascagoula, MS WGUD-LD from Scranton Broadcasting for $400K. I should also mention that Gray is in the process of moving nearby Eastabuchie's LP W31FB-D to WALA's tower. This is while they're waiting for the greenlight to acquire the LP from Lowcountry Media. EDIT 2:30pm/EDT: Gray is getting four more LPs from L4 Media, LLC for $1.25M.

Follow up regarding KSNB. The station filed a license to cover on its updated facility today. Now the station hasn't made any announcements, but when a station files a license to cover, that usually indicates construction has been completed and the new facility is now in operation. If that is the case, this will be the very first time OTA viewers in Lincoln can receive an "in-market" NBC affiliate on its primary DT1 signal.

I'll always remember her distinctive voice in those station promos/movie opens back in the day. May she rest in peace.

Gray is fetching another LP. This time it's in the Valley of the Sun. They're getting KPHE-LD from Lotus Communications. for $1.75M. Lotus owns several radio stations in the West Coast. It'll be interesting to see what Gray would use this LP for, given that they have that full power duopoly in KTVK & KPHO.......

And nearly one year after filing the petiition, it has now advanced to NPRM. They had to amend the original petition to provide further analysis that some of the lost coverage areas (after the move to UHF; mostly in the far-fringe areas) would be served by other CBS affiliates in the region (KDKA, WIYE, WOWK & WTRF) and also WDTV's signal would be simulcasted on subchannel of WVFX (which operates on VHF RF 13). Also, the six Scripps Montana stations have advanced to NPRM. KTVQ (10 > 20) KPAX (7 > 25) KRTV (7 > 22) KBZK (13 > 27) KTVH (12 > 31) KXLF (5 > 15) And one more petition posted late Thursday (3/10) Milwaukee station WIWN (owned by CNZ Communications) wants to vacate VHF-low 5 for VHF-high 7. Most folks know that RF 7 use to be occipied by Chicago's WLS, but they bolted to UHF post DTV transition (first to 44, then to 22 after the repack). But a low-power station in the city have now occups that allotment. And that's Venture Technologies' WCHU-LD. And should WIWN gets approval in the channel switch, then WCHU would have to either greatly-reduce its contour or be displaced to a new allotment since LPs don't get protection.

And to no surprise, two major cable industry groups filed their objections to this deal. The ATVA filed an informal objection, while the NCTA filed a petition to deny.

New M&A. Legacy Broadcasting, owners of Monroe, LA's MeTV affil KMLU (formerly KAQY), is acquiring Grenada, MS LP W13CS-D from Whitfield Media, LLC for $85K. It'll be interesting to see what they'll do with this station.

Can finally watch the live stream again. Thank the Lord!

Gray has been on the ball with acquiring these LPs. They're getting another one. And its in a college town. They're getting Tuscaloosa, AL's WJMY-LD from TTI, Inc. for $225K. ___________________________ I should also mention regarding Memphis, that WYMP-LD deal was completed last week. The question now is whether Gray will keep that signal at its current spot near the TN-MS border, or move the signal closer to Shelby County. That is going to be something to watch out for. But I feel something needs to be done in regards to WMC's signal woes. Your core viewers should be able to receive Channel 5 over the air. I know Gray is still pursuing to switch the full power signal to UHF. But I would file a new app to move that new LP to Shelby, and once its gets the greenlight, get that signal lit up quickly.

Looks like we have another hold up regarding one of the petitions. This is pretty much similar to what is occuring in Medford where the LP doesn't want to move away from their allotment. King Kong Broadcasting, which owns KGNG-LD (which operates on RF 26) filed comments opposing of Scripps' channel move of KTNV from VHF 13 to UHF 26. King Kong states that the KTNV's move "would eviscerate the outstanding broadcast offerings of" KGNG, since the station carries subchannels that are geared towards minority & underserved viewers. And yes, (just like what happened in Medford), King Kong has placed a "counter-proposal" to have a new full power signal on RF 26. On the reply comments (p.5), Scripps made an offer to King Kong to donate its old VHF 13 equipment and let King Kong temporary operate KGNG's signal from KTNV's downtown studio (at the expense of Scripps), while they build a brand new permanent facility. King Kong turned down that offer and filed that opposition. This placing a "counter-proposal" is nothing more than a "tactic" to delay KTNV's process to move to that allotment. Filing a new allotment petition (similar to what Gray did in Freeport last year) normally take years to do. And when it does get approved, they still have to wait until FCC start a new auction. That process could also be lenghty. But in the end, like I stated in the Medford situation, King Kong don't have any standing. KGNG-LD is a regular low power station (not a Class A). And LP don't have protection in their allotments. And if KTNV wants to move to that allotment, it can. KGNG just doesn't want to move again, after leaving RF 47 during the spectrum repack. It'll probably be lenghty, but I believe the FCC is going to greenlight KTNV's petition and throw that "counter-proposal" in the cellar.

Scripps has renamed one of its diginets again.... First known as Escape, then renamed Court TV Mystery. It is now named Ion Mystery.

Two PRMs have advanced to NPRMs. KSCW (12 > 28) KTVQ (10 > 20) Just a bit of history regarding KSCW. RF 12 was the allotment used by sister station, KWCH. After the DTV transition, folks complained they couldn't receive KWCH's signal. So former owner Schurz decided to switch facilities. KWCH moved to 19, and KSCW move to 12. Fast forward twelve years later, Gray wants the other station off of VHF.

Seems that the amended changes have passed muster. The FCC issued an R&O, effectively greenlights WLMB's channel switch from 5 to 35.

Okay. The Tegna Standard Media deal talk is in this thread.

New M&A. Weigel is expanding its footprint to Arkansas. They're buying this unbuilt LP, K31PZ-D Clarksville, from Lowcountry Media for $68,500.

New M&A. Gray is getting another LP. They're getting KTEV-LD in Texarkana, AR from Buna Group, Inc. for $25K. And I look at the contour and see how small it is. It doesn't even serve all of the city of Texarkana. Like central part of the city and areas north of it. Should they get the greenlight, I wouldn't be surprised if Gray replaces the antenna and have it at a greater reach in that vicinity.

A big departure in West Central Florida. Longtime WTVT anchor Kelly Ring is retiring on May 25, after 37 years at the station.

Okay a couple of follow ups... KRIS 6 lit up UHF 26 earlier this week. It'll keep VHF 13 rolling for a brief period. Also..... FCC has announced the date of the auction. June 7, 2022. Also, there's a noticable change. It appears they've lowered the starting bidding prices of the allotments. For example, the Syracuse allotment (the biggest prize in this auction), the starting bidding price for that allotment last fall was $1M. They've knocked it down to $750K. And the majority of the other allotments, the start price for those were $200K. It's now $150K.