[BC] Class A TV's being downgraded to LP TV

[Alan Kline]

I certainly disagree that *full-power* OTA TV is fading away. I haven't 
seen anything that indicates that any of the major group owners have 
shown any sign of taking part in the spectrum auctions. For that matter, 
I haven't seen anything from the smaller groups. Speculation I've seen 
is that the only stations which will take part are marginal stations 
recently bought by speculators who just want to try to flip the property 
for a windfall in the auction.

The LPTV's and Class A's are another matter entirely. IMHO, the business 
case for most of them has always been pretty weak, and now that we 
finally have the public educated to think digital, most of those LPTV's 
and CA's are just talking to themselves...

That said, the PF failures on some of these soon-to-be-former class A's 
date back well before anyone came up with the auction concept. Sounds 
like some of these owners are finally realizing that this isn't a game, 
it's a business.

ak

On 2/28/2012 12:22 PM, Barry Mishkind wrote:
> At 10:36 AM 2/28/2012, wpio-fm wrote:
>> Today's FCC daily digest lists several Class A TV call signs, that
>> didn't file their Children's Programming reports.  The FCC is lowering
>> their class of service.
>>
>> I'm curious if this is a real blow to these licensees, or is it more
>> that they are losing interest and are letting the chips fall where they may.
>
>          I'm thinking more that with the majority of the
>          digital changes having been made, and the way OTA tv is
>          fading away, they may not care as much as for the
>          protection from full power TV as they did.
>
>          With the potential for spectrum auctions, it is
>          a bit puzzling as to whether they are giving
>          up at the wrong time - but then again the
>          reasons given for the downgrade are failure
>          to do anything since 2005 or so....   I have
>          no specific information, but wonder if this
>          is just "notice" of what was already "accepted."