Cedar Rapids, IA - HDTV

[Flooper]

Can anyone give me some advice or help on this. For the last couple of years, I got KWWL HD and KGAN HD, plus KCRG HD OTA just great. Now, for the last 4 or 5 months, I still get KCRG HD OTA great, but can rarely get KWWL and KGAN. I can still get the analog signals, but even they are fuzzy and not very good. I dont' understand it...my roof antenna hasn't been moved or anything...any ideas what's going on? Have KWWL and KGAN lowered their signal power or something. I'm about halfway between CR and Iowa City. Thanks!

[tvguy01]

Starting Wednesday, my customers also began complaining that KWWL 7-1 became erratic for them. I don't know if it's related or not, but the CFU site:

cfu.net/CyberNet/HD/index.php

also showed a change on 7-1 on Wednesday.

Ian

[4lids]

Originally Posted by tvguy01

Starting Wednesday, my customers also began complaining that KWWL 7-1 became erratic for them. I don't know if it's related or not, but the CFU site:

cfu.net/CyberNet/HD/index.php

also showed a change on 7-1 on Wednesday.

Ian

What is odd about that, is that we heard the same thing... I checked out at the transmitter and nothing was any different. No carrier leakage issues and we were at full power. Additionally, we were not seeing any issues at the studio (on Insingia and RCA boxes in our shop) or at my place in Cedar Falls where I'm just using an indoor antenna behind my TV. It is barely on the rigth side of the "cliff" and I'd see issues there pretty quickly I'd imagine. We are still monitoring it, but nothing seems amiss here at KWWL.
-Jarrett

[flyingvee]

Jarrett - your signal was just about useless during the rain last nite - probably 7-8:30pm. Is that something that will get better after the switchover? (I hope)

and Ian - fwiw, the signal via CFU is still flaky - works at my house, but not at my folk's just down the road...I suppose the flood derailed the plans to give us fiber this summer.

Tho Jarrett - last nite CFU was more stable than the OTA...is this part of a nefarious plot on your part? Make the signal so unstable that we're happy to even get it, instead of complaining about the quality of the NBC feed?

[scott72]

Originally Posted by glrush

Is there anything new on KCRG and DirecTV reaching a retrans agreement for HD ? I'd sure like to have that for football season (although I get it on antenna fine)

Yes I would like an answer to this as well. I'm really growing tired of watching ABC in SD when the other locals have been HD for a long time now. I'm more than ready to just quit watching KCRG all together until they reach an agreement. Given that the other locals have reached agreements a long time ago, I don't buy the argument that this is D*'s fault.

[eth377]

Originally Posted by scott72

Yes I would like an answer to this as well. I'm really growing tired of watching ABC in SD when the other locals have been HD for a long time now. I'm more than ready to just quit watching KCRG all together until they reach an agreement. Given that the other locals have reached agreements a long time ago, I don't buy the argument that this is D*'s fault.

I agree with you 100%. I find it very hard to believe this is D*'s fault when all the other local have been up and running for awhile now. I wonder what kind of an answer I would get if I emailed KCRG.........

[eth377]

Originally Posted by eth377

I agree with you 100%. I find it very hard to believe this is D*'s fault when all the other local have been up and running for awhile now. I wonder what kind of an answer I would get if I emailed KCRG.........

Well, I sent an email to KCRG's general manager. Here's his reply:

No progress to report on. Frankly, the ball is in their court. What we have asked them for is the same financial consideration that they are giving to many other broadcasters, no more no less. KCRG will not accept anything less.


I would encourage you to contact someone at DirecTV and ask them why they don’t carry our signal and I would love to know what their response is.



Please let me know if you have any other questions.



Regards,

John Phelan


Maybe I'll try contacting Directv next..........

[scott72]

Originally Posted by eth377

Well, I sent an email to KCRG's general manager. Here's his reply:

No progress to report on. Frankly, the ball is in their court. What we have asked them for is the same financial consideration that they are giving to many other broadcasters, no more no less. KCRG will not accept anything less.


I would encourage you to contact someone at DirecTV and ask them why they don’t carry our signal and I would love to know what their response is.



Please let me know if you have any other questions.



Regards,

John Phelan


Maybe I'll try contacting Directv next..........

Obviously that's total BS. Why would D* demand to pay them less than they pay the other locals? KCRG is demanding more is what the REAL problem is. Starting tonight I'm done with them until this is resolved.

[j lehner]

Originally Posted by scott72

Obviously that's total BS. Why would D* demand to pay them less than they pay the other locals? KCRG is demanding more is what the REAL problem is. Starting tonight I'm done with them until this is resolved.

How about this, KCRG is a single small market station. The other 3 stations are all members of a large group of stations - Sinclair KGAN/KFXA and Quincy or whatever it is KWWL. Why wouldn't DirecTV the large national corporation try and save a few pennies and stick it to the small local station??? So they don't have an agreement with one station in one market. That sure isn't going to hurt them as much as not having an agreement with Sinclair or Quincy and not being able to carry their 50, 60 or whatever stations in that many markets.

I have emailed Directv several times about this and they basically don't even bother to answer the question, just give back some crap about satellite capacity. If you are not present at the discussions that may or may not be taking place, you cannot have a clue as to who is telling the truth.

[scott72]

Originally Posted by j lehner

How about this, KCRG is a single small market station. The other 3 stations are all members of a large group of stations - Sinclair KGAN/KFXA and Quincy or whatever it is KWWL. Why wouldn't DirecTV the large national corporation try and save a few pennies and stick it to the small local station??? So they don't have an agreement with one station in one market. That sure isn't going to hurt them as much as not having an agreement with Sinclair or Quincy and not being able to carry their 50, 60 or whatever stations in that many markets.

I have emailed Directv several times about this and they basically don't even bother to answer the question, just give back some crap about satellite capacity. If you are not present at the discussions that may or may not be taking place, you cannot have a clue as to who is telling the truth.

Does D* have a several other markets where they don't have agreements with one local smaller station? I don't really know, but I'd be more willing to accept that as the possible truth if there were several markets out there where this same situation presents itself. Clearly capacity is not an issue for D* now, so that excuse won't hold water. Maybe I'll fire off an email and see what they have to say.

[j lehner]

Yes, from what I have read there are many markets with 1 or 2 stations missing. dbstalk and satelliteguys.us are good places to see this info. DirecTV and Dish Network would much rather have agreements with the large station group owners as this covers more of their cities. If they are missing a station here or there it doesn't really seem to bother them.

Even if they have agreements it sometimes takes forever to see the station. DirecTV announced last fall that they would be carrying local PBS stations, yet they still don't.

[scott72]

Originally Posted by j lehner

Yes, from what I have read there are many markets with 1 or 2 stations missing. dbstalk and satelliteguys.us are good places to see this info. DirecTV and Dish Network would much rather have agreements with the large station group owners as this covers more of their cities. If they are missing a station here or there it doesn't really seem to bother them.

Even if they have agreements it sometimes takes forever to see the station. DirecTV announced last fall that they would be carrying local PBS stations, yet they still don't.

True. I think I'm able to get the distant HD ABC feed since KCRG isn't available in HD. I'm going to try anyway.

[tsduke]

Originally Posted by scott72

True. I think I'm able to get the distant HD ABC feed since KCRG isn't available in HD. I'm going to try anyway.

I highly doubt you can. KCRG would have to sign the waiver for you. Not gonna happen.

[dline]

TRANSITION UPDATE: KWWL

The FCC has granted KWWL's request for a construction permit which will let them use up to 30 kW on Channel 7. The commission had approved them for 21.8 kW. (This actually happened Wednesday according to online records, but I had other things to do and didn't get around to checking.)

A similar application from KCRG remains "accepted for filing," as does that fairly sizable boost request from KYOU in Ottumwa.

[scott72]

Originally Posted by tsduke

I highly doubt you can. KCRG would have to sign the waiver for you. Not gonna happen.

I'm seeing over at DBStalk a couple guys that were allowed to have it along with the SD version of their local since their local wasn't in HD. It's worth a shot playing CSR roulette and seeing what happens.

[4lids]

Originally Posted by dline

TRANSITION UPDATE: KWWL

The FCC has granted KWWL's request for a construction permit which will let them use up to 30 kW on Channel 7. The commission had approved them for 21.8 kW. (This actually happened Wednesday according to online records, but I had other things to do and didn't get around to checking.)

A similar application from KCRG remains "accepted for filing," as does that fairly sizable boost request from KYOU in Ottumwa.

I just got that notice emailed to me this morning... very good news. We still need to get the transmitter for this 30 KW ERP grant, but will hopefully have that in and installed within a month or two after the analog cutoff. We have the 3.2 KW rig in place for now, which was our initial grant. I'd love to have it in earlier, but there is a serious backlog with installation across the country with everyone trying to get done before Feb 17, 2009. We may get the new rig in time, but I figure it will be March or April before we officially maximize on channel 7. I'll keep you all posted!
-Jarrett

[darkscream]

Originally Posted by tsduke

I highly doubt you can. KCRG would have to sign the waiver for you. Not gonna happen.

Can and does and did happen.

And I did not even need a waiver - living in Dubuque means I get no OTA coverage of any channel whatsoever - so D* has a blanket waiver - got the NY HD ABC as soon as I called - no problems whatsoever. And still get KCRG in SD as well.

[scott72]

Originally Posted by darkscream

Can and does and did happen.

And I did not even need a waiver - living in Dubuque means I get no OTA coverage of any channel whatsoever - so D* has a blanket waiver - got the NY HD ABC as soon as I called - no problems whatsoever. And still get KCRG in SD as well.

Fantastic. This is exactly my situation living in a valley so hoping for the same result.

[dline]

Originally Posted by darkscream

Can and does and did happen.

And I did not even need a waiver - living in Dubuque means I get no OTA coverage of any channel whatsoever - so D* has a blanket waiver - got the NY HD ABC as soon as I called - no problems whatsoever. And still get KCRG in SD as well.

The "blanket waiver" may not apply after local-into-local is introduced in the Cedar Rapids market, which claims Dubuque. From the FCC SHVERA fact sheet:

"In general, the SHVERA statute prevents a satellite carrier from offering distant digital signals if it makes local-into-local digital signals available to you unless you were receiving distant digital signals as of December 8, 2004."

They could bring in stations from the "significantly-viewed" list, of course, but that list only includes Cedar Rapids-Waterloo stations plus KFXB for Dubuque County.

[scott72]

In general, if a satellite carrier offers local-into-local digital signals in your area, it is not allowed to offer you distant digital signals, unless you were receiving distant digital signals as of December 8, 2004. At this time, local into local digital signals are offered in a limited number of areas.

Subscribers who are "unserved" with respect to analog service are eligible for distant digital signals. Satellite companies are not required to offer distant digital signals.

http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/shvera.html

[dline]

Originally Posted by scott72

In general, if a satellite carrier offers local-into-local digital signals in your area, it is not allowed to offer you distant digital signals, unless you were receiving distant digital signals as of December 8, 2004. At this time, local into local digital signals are offered in a limited number of areas.

Subscribers who are "unserved" with respect to analog service are eligible for distant digital signals. Satellite companies are not required to offer distant digital signals.

http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/shvera.html

... but if it offers local digital signals, it cannot offer distant digital ones, according to the same sheet. The way I read it, it doesn't seem to matter if you're unserved on the analog side.

[darkscream]

Originally Posted by dline

The "blanket waiver" may not apply after local-into-local is introduced in the Cedar Rapids market, which claims Dubuque. From the FCC SHVERA fact sheet:

"In general, the SHVERA statute prevents a satellite carrier from offering distant digital signals if it makes local-into-local digital signals available to you unless you were receiving distant digital signals as of December 8, 2004."

They could bring in stations from the "significantly-viewed" list, of course, but that list only includes Cedar Rapids-Waterloo stations plus KFXB for Dubuque County.

Understood.

However I got the waiver (Blanket) well after locals were offered in HD from Cedar Rapids.

Now - I am sure this is because living where I do in Dubuque is considered an unserved area ( No possible way to get OTA signals) therefore I got the waiver - no questions asked. And as of this post I still have the ABC feed from NY and I expect to keep it right up til when KCRG begins offering a HD signal on dIRECTV.

[brajo]

Hey all, I don't have anything to add to the current discussion, but thought I would report some new digital recepition info.

My Dish 622 receiver updated last night, and woke up to a loss of local channels (not the first time for this, thanks Dish). I get my local HD OTA. I did a rescan and fortunately got all of them back. I live in Waterloo, and so I was surprised to see that a few new (for me) channels showed up. I got both KLJB and KWQC and their subchannels out of the quad cities. I did a little looking and saw that their digital tower is in Orion, IL vs. Bettendorf where the analog tower is. Just wondering if anyone else in the Waterloo/Cedar Falls area has seen them, too. I use an old school UHF/VHF rooftop antenna.

[scott72]

Originally Posted by tsduke

I highly doubt you can. KCRG would have to sign the waiver for you. Not gonna happen.

Just got off the phone with D* and I'm eligible for both distant ABC HD channels since I can't get KCRG via OTA. Great news. Should have both channels in 24 hrs.

[dline]

A couple of notes from Iowa newspapers:

Gazette Online reports Mediacom has reached a deal with the Big Ten Network, though the story so far is only a brief piece with few specifics and is based on unnamed sources.

Also, the Des Moines Register reports that Sens. Chuck Grassley and Tom Harkin are asking the National Telecommunications Information Administration to let flood victims have a second crack at DTV converter box coupons. Each household is currently entitled to only two coupons, but the senators say some flood victims may have lost either coupons or converters in the rubble.

[iowahawkeye]

Is it me or does KCRG fall asleep every other morning and forget to flip the HD switch when GMA starts at 7am?

[DLPDA]

Originally Posted by iowahawkeye

Is it me or does KCRG fall asleep every other morning and forget to flip the HD switch when GMA starts at 7am?

Noticed that this morning too.

As I understand it, it's usually an ABC Television Network issue. Evidently ABC doesn't have the ability to make last minute edits and then broadcast the edited content in HD. While sometimes there is a technical issue locally it's quite often an issue nationally. I read where they are re-doing their control rooms (World News Tonight and other news programming will soon be in HD all the time (except for upconverted footage from the field). Hopefully the edited HD issue goes away with the upgrades...

[dline]

MORE BIG TEN NET INFO:

Obviously there's been no "official" announcement yet on BTN/Mediacom, but Cedar Rapids Gazette sportswriter Scott Dochterman still thinks we'll get it by the Maine game, according to his blog on www.gazetteonline.com.

[iowahawkeye]

BTN Mediacom http://www.woi-tv.com/Global/story.a...12439&nav=1LFX

ADDED: It's official http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6591173.html

[dline]

And here's the press release from Mediacom:

http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix....808&highlight=

According to Mediacom's announcement, the channel will launch in phases, and will ultimately include the HD version and on-demand content. Whether the HD will launch in time for Iowa's season opener against Maine this weekend is unclear. "Mediacom customers will be notified when the network becomes available in their community," the company says in its press release.

But Gazette Online's homepage suggests -- at least in eastern Iowa -- that this weekend's game will air on the Connections Channel, which as far as I know has no HD equivalent. The Des Moines Register's website doesn't really say anything as far as placement.