Franklin County Broadcasting KIFI Channel 8

Franklin County has begun broadcasting KIFI Channel 8 from their translators. Channel 8 is an ABC affiliate from Pocatello and Idaho Falls, Idaho.

Channel 8.1 is KIFI-TV, ABC HD720p; channel 8.2 is Telemundo SD480i; channel 8.3 is CW SD480i(NOT the same as CW30 from Salt Lake City); and channel 8.4 is a 24 hour KIFI news loop in SD480i.

Channel 8 will present a problem for some Cache Valley viewers, since Logan's own low power station, KUTA-LP, also occupies channel 8 (America One), along with 8.2 (Telemundo) and 8.3 (CacheValley). Since the channels occupy the same PSIP, the way they appear in your channel lineup will depend on how your TV or converter box deals with them. Most TV and converters will display 8.1, 8.1; 8.2, 8.2; 8.3, 8.3; and 8.4. However, my DTVpal converter box is totally confused by this, and displays KUTA 8.1-8.3 together along with 8.4 (KIFI news), and throws the first three Idaho channel 8's to the high channels - above channel 39, KJDN-LD.

Franklin County really needs to get its act together. They need to get a minimux (or similar device) to change the mapping on the overlapping 8s, or KUTA-LD needs to map to a different channel, but I don't see that happening anytime soon, since KUTA_LD was in the valley first, and they can't even get their own PSIP ID and EPG working properly. By the way, the PSIP ID and EPG on KIFI-TV and it's subchannels are functional. Telemundo on 8.2also has working Spanish Closed Captioning, unlike the Telemundo 8.2 subchannel from KUTA-LP in Logan.

Franklin County and Cache County should really start talking to each other and working together, instead of doing whatever they want regardless of what the other county want or needs. Most importantly, the wants and needs of ALL Cache Valley residents - from both Idaho and Utah - should be taken into account.

CW30, TCN, and KBYU Cache County off air.

A few weeks ago, I reported that Cache county had started broadcasting CW30.1 and TCN30.2, and KBYU 11.1 thru 11.3. However, for the last week both channels have been off-air. I will contact the county this week if the signals don't come back soon.

I will report when these stations are back on air. In the meantime, your options for CW30 are to tune in digital subchannel 4.30 for the SD 4:3 format simulcast of CW30, and for those able to do so, you may be able to receive KBYU channel 11 from Franklin County's translator. My speculation is that the county probably lit up the 11 and 30 translators long enough to get them licensed and are then going to relocate them to be with the other translators on Mt Pisgah, as they have applied to do.

UPDATE, 11/7/2011: They're back!

KJDN-LD on air, awaiting programming

KJDN, Logan, UT

KJDN-LD channel 39 hit the airwaves in Cache Valley this week, currently broadcasting on four 480i subchannels, with a loop of video on 39.1, and test patterns on 39.2-39.4.

(Click here to view Rabbitears.info data for KJDN-LD)

KJDN is low-power TV station, locally owned and operated by Larry Soule of Soule Productions, who reports to Cache Free TV that he plans to broadcast MyFamilyTV network programming, along with a mix of local programming on the primary channel 39.1 in 720p HD, and there will be two subchannels broadcasting SD 480i, with as yet undetermined programming. It would become Cache Valley's first and only locally-based HD channel.

Congratulations to Mr. Soule and KJDN on the completion of the long and difficult process of FCC licensing and completion of construction. I, for one, am expecting good things from KJDN.

Utah TV Stations KUTV 2.1 and KMYU 2.2 To Be Sold To Sinclair Broadcasting

 Via The Associated Press:

SALT LAKE CITY -- The top-rated Utah television station has been sold. Salt Lake City-based KUTV, its sister station KMYU and five other stations have been sold to the Sinclair Broadcast Group. 

Sinclair has agreed to pay $200 million for the seven stations that comprise the Four Points Media group. The other stations in the Four Points group are in Texas, Florida and Rhode Island. KUTV Vice President and General Manager Steve Carlston confirmed the sale to The Associated Press.
The deal is subject to approval by the Federal Communications Commission. Carlston says the sale should close in early 2012. 

A CBS affiliate, KUTV has held the top spot in the Utah market for nearly one year despite having a smaller staff than some other stations.

(MORE)

CW 30 and BYU 11 Update

After trying to get CW 30 and KBYU 11 on my portable Eviant TV using its built in rod antenna, and failing miserably, I did a Google search that confirmed my suspicion that both transmitters are NOT located on Mt Pisgah! Nope, they're on Clarkston Ridge to the West!

KBYU11 arrives in Cache County

KBYU (11.1),  BYU-TV (11.2), and Create (11.3) have been available to Cache county resident for some time - IF you're able to pick it up from the Franklin County translators to the North. This has left a whole bunch of people - notably, those East of Main ST (Rt 91 / Rt 165), especially those on the east bench without their BYU "fix". Not to fear, Cache County has come to the rescue! KBYU (PBS, 720p), BYU TV (BYU, 720P), and CREATE (PBS, 480i) are now available for your viewing pleasure. If you aren't currently getting channel 11.1-11.3, please select "re-scan" or "add new channels" from your TV or converter's menu.

For those of you unfamiliar with KBYU 11, it is operated by Brigham Young University in Provo, UT. It is a PBS affiliate (on 11.1) and LDS religious channel (on 11.2), along with PBS Create (on 11.3)

ENJOY!

CW30 and TCN arrive in Cache Valley

CW30.1 and TCN 30.2

A few months back, I posted that CW30 was available in Cache county - and Franklin county, also - as channel 4.30. Unfortunately, 4.30 is an SD subchannel of channel 4, and NOT in wide screen. This makes watching Saturday Night Live on CW30 rather annoying, especially during Weekend Update, since the right and left side of the screen are cut off. (Click "Read More" below to see photo) For those of you that are thinking, "Wait, isn't SNL on NBC?", why yes it is! But here in Utah, our local NBC affiliate, channel 5 KSL, is owned by the LDS church. And the LDS church has made the decision for all Utah residents that SNL is inappropriate - because, you know, you can't make that decision for yourself, as your TV set is not equipped with a channel selector or "off" button. (Yes, that's sarcasm!)

Save Money at Walmart on Clearance Electronics

Walmart announced last month that they are reducing the size of their electronics departments by an average 2000 square feet per store. Wal-Mart will also resume sales of fabric and crafts products. The retailer said it was also restoring 8,500 products to store shelves and kicking off an ad campaign in a bid to lift sales.

What does this mean for you, the savvy shopper?

The Country Network comes to Salt Lake City's CW30.2

The Country Network On CW30.2

As an update to my post about The Cool TV coming to KTVX 4.2, Trip at www.rabbitears.info has informed me that CW30 is now broadcasting The Country Network on CW30's 30.2 subchannel.

The Country Network, or TCN, is a Nashville, Tennessee-based country music broadcast television network. It began life as the Artists & Fans Network (AFN) on January 7, 2009, airing the Kid Rock video "All Summer Long" as its inaugural broadcast. On June 15, 2010, the company was renamed "The Country Network".

KTVX Channel 4 ROCKS Utah! "The Cool TV" is coming to 4.2

You're So Cool, Channel 4!

UPDATE: KTVX 4.2 Became The Cool TV on 4/15/2011

In my last post, I told you that Channel 4, KTVX, had added CW30 as a subchannel at 4.30, allowing all of us in areas that don't have a dedicated translator station to watch the CW. Now, they are poised to become one of the coolest channels in Utah.

My sources at Rabbitears and TVnewscheck have confirmed that Newport Television, the owners of KTVX 4, have agreed to carry TheCoolTV multicast network in 10 of its 22 markets.

The 10 markets: Harrisburg, Pa.; Seattle-Tacoma; Albany-Schenectady-Troy, N.Y.; Jackson, Tenn.; Jacksonville, Fla.; Little Rock-Pine Bluff, Ark.; Salt Lake City, UT; Tulsa, Okla.; Wichita-Hutchison, Kan.; and Memphis, Tenn.

CW30 On Air in Cache Valley as KTVX Subchannel 4.30 - Permanent, or only Temporary (update: PERMANENT!)

When I turned on my DTVpal converter box Friday, March 11th to look at the program guide, I was surprised to find a new channel popped up on the guide at channel 4.30. Showing as KUCW-SD on the EPG with no programming info, it's CW-30 from Salt Lake City. What? Could it be that Cache County has decided to finally put CW30 on air, perhaps as a subchannel of KTVX until Cache Valley's translator for CW30 is built?

A little digging turned up that Franklin County's KTVX translator is also showing CW30 on 4.30. And it appears as though KUCW in Salt Lake has added an SD copy of KTVX on their channel, at 30-4, also. One thing you should know about CW30 and KTVX-4 is that they are "Sister Stations" - that is, they are owned by the same company. In the past, Channel 4 carried CW30 as a subchannel until CW got their own digital transmitter up and running. I wonder if this is a "backup" for their transmitters, or is it due to people who say "there's one channel I just can't get"?

I've contacted engineering at KTVX-4 about the situation, and am waiting for a reply. I'll post a response when - and IF - I get one.

So for now, at least, we can watch CW in Cache Valley. And I won't have to waste valuable internet bandwidth for my daughter to watch "Vampire Diaries".  And I also won't have to wait a day to watch "Saturday Night Live". I can watch it LIVE on CW30! So up yours, NBC-KSL 5! How dare you decide for me what programs I can watch! Who made you the moral judge for NBC in Utah?

UPDATE 3/12/2011: KTVX has confirmed they intend to continue broadcasting CW30 (in SD) on channel 4.30! And CW30 will simulcast KTVX (SD) on 30.4 for the foreseeable future.

Guide to Internet Streaming Devices - The Pros and Cons of Internet Streaming Devices

The Pros and Cons of Internet Streaming Devices
by EscapeVelocity (originally published March 6, 2011 on DTVUSAforum)

Internet streaming of video has gone mainstream, and you want to get in on the action, but with so many devices out there to choose from which one is right for you? This guide seeks to bring you information to help make good decisions.