TV channel assignment changes

[ScannerSK]

I just found out most over the air TV stations across the country will be changing frequencies to UHF assignments late this year into next year in time for digital. Here are a few of the new channel assignments for the Denver area per FCC records:

Current: ........ New:
CH 2 ----------- CH 34
CH 4 ----------- CH 35
CH 6 ----------- CH 18
CH 7 ----------- CH 17
CH 9 ----------- CH 16
CH 12 --------- CH 38
CH 20 --------- CH 19
CH 31 --------- CH 32
CH 59 --------- CH 43

Shawn

 

[cstockmyer]

I just found out most over the air TV stations across the country will be changing frequencies to UHF assignments late this year into next year in time for digital. Here are a few of the new channel assignments for the Denver area per FCC records:

Current: ........ New:
CH 2 ----------- CH 34
CH 4 ----------- CH 35
CH 6 ----------- CH 18
CH 7 ----------- CH 17
CH 9 ----------- CH 16
CH 12 --------- CH 38
CH 20 --------- CH 19
CH 31 --------- CH 32
CH 59 --------- CH 43

Shawn

So does this mean that Channel 9 will now referred to as channel 16 news? And so on? Or will they still keep the single digit names?

 

[scanlist]

This has been going on for a few years guys. Best part is it's all UHF and I will receive all of them on good old rabbit ears way up here in Greeley. No Cable or Satellite required.

Currently 2, 5 (Cheyenne) 6, 12, 14, 22, 31 and 40 have full power digital transmitters in operation. Later this spring 4, 7, 9 and 20 will begin full power transmissions off of the new lookout tower (The one the asshat's in Golden/Jeffco have held up for over 10 years).

DTV allows aliasing data along with a program guide in the transmissions so 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 12, 14, 20, 25, 31 will display as 2.1, 4.1, 6.1, 12.1, 14.1, 20.1, 25.1, 31.1 even though they are actually on different physical channels.

CURRENTLY:

2.1 is the High Def Feed of KWGN Channel 2
5.1 is the High Def Feed of KGWN Channel 5 Cheyenne
5.2 is a Standard def Feed of KGWN Channel 5 Cheyenne
6.1 is a seperate feed of PBS HD and the Create channel during the day.
6.2 Is V-me a public TV network in spanish
12.1 Is a Standard Def Feed of KBDI Channel 12
12.2 Is a Standard Def Feed of the Documentary Channel
12.3 Is a Standard Def Feed of WorldView MHz
14.1 Is a Standard Def Feed of KTFD Channel 14
22.1 Is a High Def Feed of KFTC (KDVR simulcast) Channel 22
25.1 Is a Standard Def Feed of KDEN Channel 25
31.1 Is a High Def Feed of KDVR Channel 31

Confusing? You BET! :lol:

Phil.

 

[kc0kp]

Hi Phil,
When they go to high power, you will see in addition, 9.1 9News Hi Def, and 9.2 the 24 hour weather channel.
7.1 is 7's Hi Def. Interestingly, their 24 hour news channel is only available on the cable. I imagine they probablly will put it on 7.2 eventually.
And of course 4.1
Channel 2 used to have a music video channel on 2.2 but the provider went broke.

 

[kc0kp]

So does this mean that Channel 9 will now referred to as channel 16 news? And so on? Or will they still keep the single digit names?

No. Even though their frequency and channels changed, they will be known as 9.1 as Phil's post above explains. The old VHF channels have too much brand identity tied to the them. The FCC accommodated that by digitally naming the channels with the old analog number. When you tune an HD TV set, they are all in the same old order based on their former lineup.
Next year, the FCC has mandated the VHF channels go dark so they can auction off the spectrum. They have already indicated the frequencies above the UHF public safety bands will become an temporary experimental band. Could be exciting to see what applications show up there since most scanners can tune the frequencies as public safety communications are allowed in several markets (Boston comes to mind).

 

[dougjgray]

I got a digital converter box with $40 coupons and the signal is great. there is even a channel 40 with like 17 channels (only 1 had any picture and no sound religous) with it ,I wonder if the others will have the capability of that many channels. Maybe the broadcast channels like 9 7 4 will carry cable channels.

 

[scanlist]

Actually there will be VHF digital. A combination of broadcasters complaining about UHF coverage and the big gorillas (ATT, Verizon) not being found of VHF. For example KDEV-DT out of Cheyenne is on 11.1 digital.

Now for channel 40 digital. Whoever set that station up needs to be fired. If it were truly split up into 17 sub channels you would be looking at 17:1 compression. Something is obviously mis configured on their transmitter.

Phil.

 

[gmclam]

Denver TV stations

I'm not sure if all bases were covered in the posts, here is a recap.

All stations have been given a TEMPORARY "2nd channel" to broadcast a digital (ATSC) signal on. Data is transmitted on the digital channel which identifies it to the user. The FCC mandated that stations are to be numbered (via this data) by their existing analog (NTSC) channel, NOW and AFTER analog broadcasting ends (2/17/2009). This way most people will not see a numeric change; (for example) a station they've watched as channel 7 (analog) will be 7.1 in digital (regardless of physical channel).

What is actually happening is that when analog broadcasts are turned off, many stations will be moving their physical digital broadcast to their analog channel. In one case (KBDI) the digital signal will move to an entirely different channel. KBDI channel 12, known as 12.1 digital, currently physically on channel 38 will be physically on channel 13 (but still known as 12.1) after 2/17/2009. Yes it can be confusing.

Where people might get tripped up is when they install a "VHF ONLY" antenna, and try to receive a station idenfitied as VHF (4.1 for example) which is actually UHF. Or install a UHF only antenna note realizing the physical broadcast in on a VHF frequency.

After 2/17/2009 no stations will be allowed to broadcast on current channels 52 to 69, as those frequencies will be "given back" to the government to make the new 700 MHz band.

Here is what I show for the Denver stations, analog channel, current physical digital channel and final physical digital channel.
CALL -- NTSC -- ATSC -- FINAL
KWGN -- -02- -- -34- -- -34-
KCNC -- -04- -- -35- -- -35-
KRMA -- -06- -- -18- -- -18-
KMGH -- -07- -- -17- -- -07-
KUSA -- -09- -- -16- -- -09-
KBDI -- -12- -- -38- -- -13-
KTVD -- -20- -- -19- -- -19-
KDVR -- -31- -- -32- -- -32-
KRMT -- -41- -- -40- -- -40-
KCEC -- -50- -- -51- -- -51-
KPXC -- -59- -- -43- -- -43-

 

[dougjgray]

Thats probably why there was no sound lol