RTV and other OTA subchannels

Tim58hsv · 09-08-2009, 08:41 PM

Interesting write up on the possible future of OTA television via RTV owner Henry Luken.

http://businesstn.com/content/200909/back-basic

Quote:

On the day of the digital switch, (Henry) Luken re-launched RTN as RTV, with more than 80% of the country under contract. Then he turned his attention to three more planned networks: sports-focused TUFF TV; PBJ, for children; and an RTV2. He says he'll run them on broadcast channels, which he predicts will pull budget-minded viewers away from paid programming options.

It's a given that people don't want to pay for television service. The only question is will the ota broadcasters go for the alternative of adding subchannels, knowing it will hurt the revenue stream of the pay tv services in their area?

Aaron62 · 09-08-2009, 08:55 PM

OTA has a major investor again.

What exactly is RTV2 anyway?

NYCLA* · 09-08-2009, 09:52 PM

Do we need another kids channel? I think Qubo is enough.

JakesDTVBlog · 09-08-2009, 11:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NYCLA*

Do we need another kids channel? I think Qubo is enough.

Qubo isn't available everywhere just yet, unless you count what's on NBC, I guess.

My only wish was that when WTSN [36] went digital here in the Evansville, Indiana market, that they'd have gone with Ion.

But no.

They went with America One instead, and now we have two LD channels within 50 miles of each other affiliated with the same network; the other is WJTS [27] up in Jasper, Ind.

bicker · 09-09-2009, 05:05 AM

The thing that gets me is that CW's MRC approach didn't work, and that had far more exposure because it was on a primary signal. Wouldn't city-by-city distribution of second-hand programming have even a higher cost overhead, and broadcast on secondary signals, have an ever lower revenue potential?

TVTom51 · 09-09-2009, 12:03 PM

Quote:

In the process, he refined RTN's format, using a strategy based on a combination of expedience and gut instinct.

Glad it's not my money.

Eureka · 09-09-2009, 12:15 PM

We have 2 RTV affiliates (broadcast on primary "-1" channels), but I've never seen Qubo...

NYCLA* · 09-09-2009, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eureka

We have 2 RTV affiliates (broadcast on primary "-1" channels), but I've never seen Qubo...

Do you have ION? It's an ION sub-channel. ION x.1, Qubo x.2 and IONLife on x.3.

Piggie · 09-09-2009, 07:29 PM

I am still waiting for reliable NBC............. Here they are tying up about all the available channels with translators for channels I can't receive that I could analog but also putting the translators just out of range, including CBS, NBC, ABC. But at least I have a local CBS and ABC with a good signal from the adjacent DMA.