NYC Media frequencies

[Chauffeur6]

Here's a submission I got the other day. I'm hoping we can get some local ears on them so we can get a bit more info for each, such as any PL/DPL in use, more specific usage, etc.

450.8500 Chopper Channel 5 Fox
450.8125 WABC 7 Chopper
450.1875 Fox Channel 5
455.1625 WABC Channel 7
455.3125 WCBS Channel 2
455.7000 WCBS Channel 2
450.0875
455.5125 WABC News 7
450.0500
450.6125

While we're on the topic, maybe we can verify the existing frequencies on the NYC page:

Businesses Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference

[newsnick175]

Right now CBS2 uses: 450.2875/107.2 for IFB to the chopper. A voice repeater is on 450.3500/107.2. Both are located on the GM building at 59 & 5th. In the future the WLNY-55 tower in Ridge, LI will also be an IFB and voice transmitt site. With the soon to be lost Nextel Direct Connect, the "450" radio system is comming back.

NBC network EJ tech's use 450.5375/82.5.
NBC network IFB in NYC: 450.7500
NBC4's IFB: 450.3875
FOX-5 News:450.850/179.9
FOX-5 IFB: 455.1125/179.9
ABC7 uses: 455.050/156.7 & 455.6125/156.7
WOR-9 uses: 450.4875/156.7 & 450.3125/156.7
PIX-11 uses: 455.1500/127.3
CNN/NYC uses: 450.675 & .775/both114.8
CBS-AM uses: 450.0875/94.8 for the chopper reports & 450.5125/94.8 for IFB

[Skooter92]

Thanks for the info, newsnick. I had to look IFB up on Wikipedia....had no idea but very interesting. Link is here for anyone unfamiliar as I am: Interruptible foldback - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Astrosaber]

Chauffeur,


I think the Skyfox chopper for channel 5 is still doing the work for MY 9 and NBC.Skyfox does operate on the listed stations repeaters/IFB's when doing so. You can here them get dipatched to the other stations on there own repeater, the 450.850. Newsnick might be able to confirm this?

[newsnick175]

A couple of things have been going on with New York TV stations that the general public might not know about.

The first is "LNS" or Local News Service. All of the New York stations with the exception of ABC7, have a pool arrangment where each participating station assigns two of their camera crews to cover scheduled events like press confrences or post game locker room interviews, that the stations will share. These events are agreed to as being of no competitve value.

Second, again not including ABC7, the New York stations share news helicopters. So when one station's newscast is not on the air, the chopper is used by an other. Same reporter, same helicopter. It saves everyone lots of money.

Also, yes there's more, there are what is known as "Duopopies". That's when one company owns two TV stations in the same market area. WOR9 and FOX5 are owned by News Corp. [Murdock] and CBS2 and LNY55 are owned by CBS Corp. NBC Universal owns NBC4 and Telemondo [47?]. So you will see some of the same news reporters and anchor people on both stations. Why, you ask? You know, to save money! ABC, being the viewer ratings leader, doesn't seam to have the same money issues as the others.

So, to answer the question, the chopper has all the IFB and assignment desk frequencies of the stations sharing it.

[EJM]

Was listening to 161.67 for WNBC, and heard someone transmitting to someone else about a stabbing.I did'nt hear where, when i put on channel 4 at noon, the top story was about the stabbing. It was near Central Park. According to Scanner Master, this is the Network / Local Assignment Desk NYC / Melville frequency. 161.67 DCS 331 and heard chatter on 450.4125 82.5 also.

[Chauffeur6]

Originally Posted by EJM

Was listening to 161.67 for WNBC, and heard someone transmitting to someone else about a stabbing.I did'nt hear where, when i put on channel 4 at noon, the top story was about the stabbing. It was near Central Park. According to Scanner Master, this is the Network / Local Assignment Desk NYC / Melville frequency. 161.67 DCS 311 and heard chatter on 450.4125 82.5 also.

161.670 is already in the database for WNBC's Assignment Desk. Are you sure about that 311 DPL? It's in the database as 331 DPL.

[Chauffeur6]

Originally Posted by EJM

Was listening to 161.67 for WNBC, and heard someone transmitting to someone else about a stabbing.I did'nt hear where, when i put on channel 4 at noon, the top story was about the stabbing. It was near Central Park. According to Scanner Master, this is the Network / Local Assignment Desk NYC / Melville frequency. 161.67 DCS 311 and heard chatter on 450.4125 82.5 also.

Originally Posted by Chauffeur6

161.670 is already in the database for WNBC's Assignment Desk. Are you sure about that 311 DPL? It's in the database as 331 DPL.

I see you edited your post shortly after reading my post. I confirmed 331 DPL myself this morning, for anyone else reading and wondering. The database is correct.

[newsnick175]

The Melville connection to NBC4's 161.67 freq. is that for a time in the 1980's and 90's they had a base station on that freq.in their Long Island news bureau in an office building on Rt.110 off the LIE. Back in the 60's and 70's they shared that frequency with the then Metro Media Ch.5. It was all CSQ in those days so they both had different "codes" when they talked to their crews and reporters. CBS2 used 161.73 until 1975 when the 450 band was utilized by the new ENG operation.

[DaveNF2G]

The news helicopters in NYC seem to be registered to only one or two entities, not to the stations. The sharing system described above makes sense. Does anyone know which stations use whose helicopters?

[KC2zZe]

Disregard.

[newsnick175]

Heli Inc owns or maintains all the choppers used by the nyc broadcasters. As of now only CBS2 and FOX5 share a chopper.