Bonten Media said the FCC freeze on channel...
Bonten Media said the FCC freeze on channel change petitions and upheaval in the broadcast equipment manufacturing industry could drive one of its stations out of business (http://bit.ly/12gFbzV). Bonten said it filed a petition for a UHF channel for its…
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low VHF station WCYB Bristol, Va., ahead of the FCC’s freeze, but the petition hasn’t been granted. Bonten’s Wednesday filing said it has learned that none of the country’s main transmitter and antenna manufacturers still make low VHF transmitters that could replace the station’s 21-year-old model. “In the case of low VHF transmitters used by stations such as WCYB, the problem is not simply a short supply of essential equipment but a complete lack of its everyday commercial manufacture,” said Bonten. The station has the same issue with its 40-year-old antenna, manufactured by Dielectric. That company recently said it’s leaving the TV business (CD May 7 p4). “With a transmitter that already is over two decades old, WCYB may be facing the prospect of going dark, indefinitely, if and when the transmitter fails,” said Bonten. “Problems with the station’s antenna or mask filter also could cause the station to go off the air.” Bonten said WCYB has more than a million viewers. By granting Bonten’s channel reallotment petition “the Commission will enable WCYB to provide a much-improved, free, reliable, digital television signal,” the company said.