WBKB adds NBC

[mtburb]

As of yesterday, WBKB's 11.2 subchannel switched from Fox/MNTV to NBC, with Fox/MNTV moving to a newly-created 11.4 subchannel. Not only does this give Alpena a complete set of network affiliates, but this also gives NBC the distinction of being the first network in television history to gain affiliates in literally every DMA in America.

[rugratsonline]

Per WBKB's Facebook page, I will say it does appear some viewers are upset that local satellite and cable providers have already discontinued or possibly will soon discontinue carrying out of market NBC affiliates, in particular WEYI, or from WPBN in Traverse City. Some viewers liked having access to additional newscast options.

Considering that all networks and TV news will come from a single source is also a concern -- a few years back, you got your entertainment and information from various sources throughout northern and Mid-Michigan. Now in Alpena, WBKB is it.

Surprised they haven't made any orchestrations to steal PBS from WCML, considering that they wanted to monopolize all TV in Alpena.

[SBaxley]

I had some time on my hands and thought, WBKB needed a bit of a little refresh in the logo, so ..what do you think? i know its a bit rough on the edges,but its something

[organman95]

How does that not break FCC rules about local companies owning multiple affiliates in small markets? Or is it only number of channels?

[Bull Shannon]

How does that not break FCC rules about local companies owning multiple affiliates in small markets? Or is it only number of channels?

I believe the FCC rules refer to ownership of multiple physical stations/licenses, not network affiliations.

[rugratsonline]

How does that not break FCC rules about local companies owning multiple affiliates in small markets? Or is it only number of channels?

I believe the FCC rules refer to ownership of multiple physical stations/licenses, not network affiliations.

While it may seem to be a "monopoly" on the outside, they're all subchannels sharing the same station. Technically, it's one station split up into four "stations".

Many smaller markets also have two -- or even three -- of the big four shared as subchannels on a single station. Though I believe WBKB is the first example in which they have all four as subchannels.

[organman95]

While it may seem to be a "monopoly" on the outside, they're all subchannels sharing the same station. Technically, it's one station split up into four "stations"

Wouldn't that be similar to "shell companies" and LMA agreements that are used to get around the ownership limit?

[Ben Zonia]

WBKB Identifies as serving the Alpena Oscoda Tawas Area. It also covers the Tip of the Thumb/Caseville/Port Austin/Bay Port Vacation Areas. Tawas gets decent signals from Flint Saginaw Bay City also.

[rugratsonline]

WBKB Identifies as serving the Alpena Oscoda Tawas Area. It also covers the Tip of the Thumb/Caseville/Port Austin/Bay Port Vacation Areas. Tawas gets decent signals from Flint Saginaw Bay City also.

Iosco County, which includes Tawas and Oscoda, is part of the Flint / Saginaw market.

[Ben Zonia]

If you put Tawas City and 30 feet into a TV Fool search, you'll see that WBKB is Line of Sight into Tawas City, and is the strongest TV signal there. Since every TV is not connected to cable, it's pretty easy to have an antenna which gets WBKB 11, and thus all major networks.

https://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrap ... 4847bb5d7d

[Deleted User 15062]

Per WBKB's Facebook page, I will say it does appear some viewers are upset that local satellite and cable providers have already discontinued or possibly will soon discontinue carrying out of market NBC affiliates, in particular WEYI, or from WPBN in Traverse City. Some viewers liked having access to additional newscast options.

Considering that all networks and TV news will come from a single source is also a concern -- a few years back, you got your entertainment and information from various sources throughout northern and Mid-Michigan. Now in Alpena, WBKB is it.

Surprised they haven't made any orchestrations to steal PBS from WCML, considering that they wanted to monopolize all TV in Alpena.

Block Communications (Buckeye Cable in Ohio, Toledo Blade) has Lima, Ohio doing "Your News Now" on all 4 of it's networks too. Not sure if the Findlay station does it too on Channel 19 (BCSN, also a Block Communications/Holdings station) 25 miles from Lima.

[Deleted User 15062]

Looks to me like 11 is following the money trail. News makes a premium on spots and sponsor slots. Expect to see allot of newscasts coming up everywhere, like what I just noticed WTVG in Toiletto (13abc) doing, in a non-news city.

Also, NextGen will also allow 11 to add more potential sellable content on future diginets, beyond what they have now. Total goldmine for being the only commercial TV outlet,