WBTS - Home of NBC Boston?

[The Frog 435]

A TVSpy emailer tipped us off to a Bizapedia page that gives some intriguing details about what could be NBC’s new station in the Boston market.

 

The Bizapedia page lists WBTS Television LLC as a Massachusetts company formed on July 13, 2016. The two principals listed are both Comcast executives based in New York, while the LLC’s principal address is in Universal City, CA, NBCU’s West Coast HQ.

 

While WBTS may be the call letters (or simply what NBCU is calling this LLC), what’s still not known is where Boston viewers can find NBC programming starting in less than four months.

 

http://www.adweek.com/tvspy/is-wbts-the-new-nbc-boston/178120

[tyrannical bastard 4084]

I'll believe it when the call letters are filed with the FCC...

[effseesee 101]

A LP in NY state already has the call sign. Guess they can pay them for it.

[NewsMaster 226]

It could also just be a working title for the project. That would not be considered unusual.

 

Quite possibly. Tbh the call letters aren't going to matter a whole lot considering that "NBC Boston" and "NBC Boston News" will be the main identification of the new station, much like how nobody except news nerds like us refers to Fox 25 as WFXT.

[William1111 41]

NBCU doesn't seem to be hiring master control/engineering right now, which you would think there would be a ton of if they're planning on starting a new license seperate from WNEU. They also wouldn't need to change the licensee name for a station they already own (WNEU)

 

Interesting...

[Weeters 1981]

I was under the impression that the FCC still isn't granting new licenses since the spectrum auction/repacking is still ongoing. Changing the calls of WNEU is possible I think, but that's about all they can do.

 

A LP in NY state already has the call sign. Guess they can pay them for it.

 

It's a low power FM station to be specific.They're not "supposed to" but I could see the FCC granting NBC the "WBTS-TV" calls without making WBTS-LP change.

 

It looks like WBTS-LP is owned by a non-profit artists collective (*coughhippiescough*) called "Better Arts" and it's unlikely they'd be able to put up much of a fight. Someone could probably raid the sound closet at 30 Rock and "convince" them to change their calls.

[Samantha 2906]

It could also just be a working title for the project. That would not be considered unusual.

 

It might also be a slogan... We're Boston's Television Station, anyone?

[ABC 7 Denver 1741]

WBTS - 'Boston Television Station'. Oh my God! Such hallmark branding! **facepalm**

[Eat News 4745]

WBTS - 'Boston Television Station'. Oh my God! Such hallmark branding! **facepalm**

 

WBiTeS

 

"We Bite"

[channel2 982]

If that's a callsign then it's not a particularly inventive one, but honestly, how many better ideas are there? "WNBH" (NBC for the Hub of the Universe) is the only remotely clever thing I could see them coming up with.

[TSSZNews 1053]

I was under the impression that the FCC still isn't granting new licenses since the spectrum auction/repacking is still ongoing. Changing the calls of WNEU is possible I think, but that's about all they can do.

 

That's probably all this is--a, frankly, unnecessary call sign change.

[nathannah 2536]

I didn't really have a place to put this, but it looks like NBC reeled back on their plan to put Harry on WNEU (at least until wherever and whenever NBC Boston launches); it launched only on WBIN to be ignored by everyone at 9pm and WNEU continues to carry the 'best-of' Caso Cerrado at 3pm.

[ABC 7 Denver 1741]

I didn't really have a place to put this, but it looks like NBC reeled back on their plan to put Harry on WNEU (at least until wherever and whenever NBC Boston launches); it launched only on WBIN to be ignored by everyone at 9pm and WNEU continues to carry the 'best-of' Caso Cerrado at 3pm.

 

Isn't that kind of poignant though? A show that aired at 9 pm was in the W-BIN. If that isn't analogous of what a show in a bin would be, I don't know what is.

[rkolsen 1697]

I wonder when they are going to do the soft launch? They could start airing with newscasts branded. NECN on X using the staff they hired for NBC Boston to get people to know the station exists. Maybe they'd start transferring the syndicated shows back to the station or fill time with Cozi .

[Rusty Muck 4426]

If there hadn't been any conversation with the operators of WBTS-LP to purchase the call sign, that would be stunning. Those types of deals have been going on for decades.

It might also be a slogan... We're Boston's Television Station, anyone?

A perfect misnomer if ever there was one.

[Rusty Muck 4426]

That's probably all this is--a, frankly, unnecessary call sign change.

The station is going to be called NBC Boston. Unnecessary is the best word to describe this nothingburger.

[Eat News 4745]

It looks like WBTS-LP is owned by a non-profit artists collective (*coughhippiescough*) called "Better Arts" and it's unlikely they'd be able to put up much of a fight. Someone could probably raid the sound closet at 30 Rock and "convince" them to change their calls.

 

A "collective"...".non-profit"....

Holy crap that's code for hippies on a board of directors...

That means they will NEVER decide on anything...not even on how to extort NBC correctly.

[WestleyWolf 123]

It might also be a slogan... We're Boston's Television Station, anyone?

 

Almost sounds like WJZ's "Maryland's News Station".

[Kyle 4]

I doubt that they will change the call letters - they just don't matter anymore. Someone in another forum posted that WNEU's digital repeater station on WTMU is up and running. I think it's true because I can suddenly get WNEU without adjusting my antenna.

 

I now believe that WNEU will be the affiliate, at least to start. Perhaps NBC will continue to pursue a stronger signal.

[Rusty Muck 4426]

Almost sounds like WJZ's "Maryland's News Station".

Because. It's where you live. It's WJZ.

[Rusty Muck 4426]

I doubt that they will change the call letters - they just don't matter anymore. Someone in another forum posted that WNEU's digital repeater station on WTMU is up and running. I think it's true because I can suddenly get WNEU without adjusting my antenna.

 

I now believe that WNEU will be the affiliate, at least to start. Perhaps NBC will continue to pursue a stronger signal.

Or they could pursue a suburban station to the south/southwest of Boston and try a ABC 33/40-style setup, with WTMU playing the role of WBMA.

 

Is WTMU channel mapping as 60 or its analog position of 46?

[broadcastfan9751 140]

Or they could pursue a suburban station to the south/southwest of Boston and try a ABC 33/40-style setup, with WTMU playing the role of WBMA.

 

Is WTMU channel mapping as 60 or its analog position of 46?

 

It is apparently mapping to 60, according to the RadioInsight forums.

[CircleSeven 1963]

It doesn't excuse the fact that they should've acquired a full-power signal that would fill the entire market, before announcing their O&O plans.

 

The in-city LP won't reach the areas like Plymouth & Worcester, which would likely lose its NBC signal come the first of the year. Sadly, it's the best thing they can do right now since they're still on that "quiet period". And it'll likely go past '17. if the auction doesn't end.

 

Like I've stated previously, until they find a full signal, this "NBC Boston" experiment is doomed to fail.

[Rusty Muck 4426]

It doesn't excuse the fact that they should've acquired a full-power signal that would fill the entire market, before announcing their O&O plans.

 

The in-city LP won't reach the areas like Plymouth & Worcester, which would likely lose its NBC signal come the first of the year. Sadly, it's the best thing they can do right now since they're still on that "quiet period". And it'll likely last go past '17. if the auction doesn't end.

 

Like I've stated previously, until they find a full signal, this "NBC Boston" experiment is doomed to fail.

As many of us had been saying on the now-permalocked "NBC Boston" thread, Comcast blew multiple attempts to win the PR battle. Even if they were consigned to WNEU, JUST SAY IT. Instead they kept things under wraps for too long, and for what purpose?

 

This translator - while helping to an extent - is still a Band-Aid for what Comcast would call a mere flesh wound.

 

[Kyle 4]

It's ultimately Comcast's decision what type of signal they will go with to launch the new station. They don't need to make "excuses" to anyone. NBC Boston will not fail simply because Comcast won't let it, even though it will likely take years to become successful. See KNTV San Francisco for a similar story. Comcast and NBC will put their resources behind it and will likely eventually find a stronger signal for that small percentage of the market that receives it OTA. And WHDH will become greatly marginalized, just like KRON was.

 

I don't think there is any PR battle to win or lose, because most people just don't care. They get their signal over cable, or they don't watch NBC to begin with. This isn't 30 years ago. The TV world has greatly changed since then.

 

BTW, WTMU is indeed mapping to Ch. 60.