Topeka, KS - HDTV - Page 43

I can't believe I'm the first one to post that KTKA IS BROADCASTING IN 720P!!!!

Good Morning America was in HD this morning!

I first noticed the pillar boxing during the news last night.

Thank you, Lordmoose! What a wonderful Friday/13th present!

I didn't have much to do with it. This was all in the planning/purchasing stages before I started.

How do you keep a 55,000-watt secret????

If they're broadcasting, isn't that the opposite of a secret? KTKA didn't WANT us to notice the 720 lines of resolution that they've worked for all along, and we've been waiting for? Is it not permanent?

Yes it's no secret now but please keep in mind we are testing and adjusting the HD feed so plans are to keep it on unless we have problems with the feed. Thanks everyone for your patience and enjoy ABC in HD! Also note the CC is not working at this point and we are aware of the problem. PSIP info is now working as of this afternoon

Jb
KTKA-TV

Again, congrats, ktkadude and all those at 49! You know, I regularly record all 3 local newscasts, and I think 49 shows the most promise. I also really enjoy The Drive. You guys are really hitting stride... if you produced the news in HD you might be able to pry away some eyeballs from the other two.

Wow! Yes, I noticed KTKA's 720p broadcast as well. Thanks to everyone at KTKA for making it happen this soon.

Just one quick question. Will the British Open next week be in HD? I understand it is on foreign soil, so ABC doesn't have complete control over its broadcast. But, it would be really nice if it is in HD...

The short answer is no. However, the picture on their HD feed will be in 16x9 widescreen, just in standard definition, similar to an anamorphic DVD.

Ok, I'm getting HD this week, and I just noticed that Cox doesn't carry HDNet. Is there any logical explanation as to why a major cable provider does not offer the original and most watched high definition channel? I understand that Topeka is a miniscule bumpkin market, but, no HDNet??

I'm just looking for a reason as to why its not carried. I've got an e-mail out to Cox, waiting for a response as well.

All in all, the HD offerings in Topeka are scattered and atrocious. The satellites don't offer local HD's. No Fox in HD period (which means 50% less NFL HD, and 0% BCS Games), no HDnet on cable. Antenna isn't an option, being in an apartment, unfortunatley. Just ranting.

Rumor has it that some COX systems in the country will be adding up to 10 HD channels in August. Maybe we will be lucky and COX Kansas will add HDNET.

Since COX no longer has an exclusive on ABC-HD, maybe they will pickup FOX HD. They should have no problem picking up WDAF-DT out of Kansas City.

They won't add WDAF-DT because FOX 43 will scream bloody murder.

A&E HD should be added in August.

L.A. group buys KSNT-TV
By James Carlson
The Capital-Journal
Published Wednesday, July 25, 2007

Local NBC affiliate KSNT-TV is part of a $330 million deal to sell four television stations to Los Angeles-based New Vision Television, New Vision chief financial officer Eric Simontis said Tuesday evening.

The transaction is subject to regulatory approval and is expected to happen later this year.

"All of these stations are incredibly strong and very essential to their respective markets," said New Vision chief executive officer Jason Elkin.

The Topeka station and three others in Wichita (KSN), Portland, Ore., and Honolulu were bought by Montecito Broadcast Group in 2005 for $259 million.

In the deal announced Tuesday, New Vision will acquire the assets and outstanding stock of Montecito.

Simontis said viewers probably wouldn't notice too much change in their news but should expect a better product.

"After we took over other stations, they have seen awards come in," he said.

The deal also includes five satellite stations in Hawaii, Kansas and Nebraska.

Card.
I live in the New Orleans area, and I can tell you that Cox doesn't carry HDNET in this market, either. I hadn't heard the rumor about them possibly adding 10 new HD chanels in August. I hope it's true. As to A&E HD, we got that one last year, when out local NBC affiliate got crosswise with Cox and the HD feed was dropped. We also don't get Fox HD on the cable. To make matters worse, the NBC-HD affiliate has been off the air since Hurricaine Katrina.

Don H.
A former Topekan.

FOX 43 has said they are now broadcasting FOX HD. However, COX and KTMJ have not reached an agreement. I'm assuming because COX is being buttheads. (Trust me, I wanted to put a whole other word there.) Thanks, COX. On ONE good side of COX, I've noticed they're adding on to their existing building on Wanamaker. A recent press release said COX nationwide is trying to be "capable" of transmitting up to 50 HD channels by 2008. Perhaps this has something to do with it?

Can anyone confirm this? I think I believe Lindsay Lohan's innocence more than I believe this. I don't have my OTA equipment hooked up anymore so I can't easily check.

I second it! What digital channel are they on? I did a new channel scan today after reading the message about FOX HD, and there is no channel to be found. I am in Manhattan, so my Channel Master 4228, which faces Topeka, should be able to pick it up (if it is really there). I can pick up all the others including the new 49.2 weather channel.

If anyone has any info on KTMJ HD OTA, please share it with us here. Thanks!

We did a scan here at the store and could not find FOX-HD OTA. Our antenna is on the top of a four story building so we can pickup most anything in the area.

My understanding is that low power stations can't broadcast two signals yet. So if a tree falls in the woods and no one is there to hear it, does it make a sound?

I dunno, according to an e-mail to FOX 43 a couple weeks ago when I asked him why they were having problems with COX (since COX was the first to inform me they were having problems with FOX 43 contracts to carry and what have you) and he informed me the HD signal was ready to go and being broadcast but COX was being *greedy (*my word) and KTMJ did not want to sign with them so they were having a "contract dispute". As far as I was aware, it was available, just not with COX. I don't use OTA at all so I have no clue if it is being broadcast OTA or not. I put another e-mail in with KTMJ to ask if it was available OTA or if it would only be available with COX. I'll post it when I get a response. Oh, and don't shoot the messenger.

The big hang up for a while was that FOX 43 is secondary for this market and WDAF out of Kansas City is the primary. As best I know, the contractual issue was - and may still be - that KTMJ wanted Cox to help them become the primary so that they can then force Cox to black out WDAF as they do with the other Kansas City affiliates. Were it not for this issue I believe we would have had FOX-HD several years ago.

I thought KTMJ was the FOX affiliate for the Topeka DMA.

http://radiostationworld.com/locatio...tion.asp?m=top

I wish I knew enough about FCC regs to document what I said, but I don't. The only practical proof I can offer is the fact that WDAF is the only KC affiliate not blacked out pursuant to FCC regulations (and local station request) during prime time.

I think that Radiostationworld website is just listing the stations based in the DMA. You're absolutely right that KTMJ is the Fox affiliate for Topeka but in the grand scheme of FCC regulation WDAF is the primary. I think the main reason for it is that KTMJ is still designated as a low-power station.

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Color codes: broadcaster, analog broadcaster, digital new broadcaster
low powered broadcaster translator station

I think the primary stations, (ADI--area of dominant influence) are those affiliates listed in a DMA unless there is more than two or more of the same network sin the same DMA.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Topeka_TV

I wish COX would start broadcasting this.

This link from the FCC website lists primary stations. You'll notice KTKA, WIBW and KSNT for Topeka. No KTMJ. That means it's not the primary.
http://www.fcc.gov/fees/2003_TV_Primaries.pdf

The FCC link is from 2003. At that time wasn't KTMJ still based in Manhattan? I can't remember what year they began broadcasting out of Topeka.

If you can show me something that shows KTMJ became the primary, I will gladly look at it. KTMJ is a Class A station so that's strike one against them.