Cable Only Channels on Satellite?

[Inundated]

A message on the Roanoke/Lynchburg Locals thread brought this to mind.

It appears, if a list posted there is correct, that the Roanoke/Lynchburg, VA locals package will include not only the over-air broadcast network channels, but also a channel known locally in that area as "WBVA, WB5". It's at this point mostly a cable-only channel, a WB Network affiliate run by the folks who own Fox 21/27 (WJPR/WFXR). It is on most area cable systems on cable channel 5. The only over-air broadcast of "WB5" is on the digital signal of one of the two Fox 21/27 signals, WJPR-DT/Lynchburg, VA (DT 20).

Is there a precedent for this? Are there other cable-only channels up on the DirecTV bird(s)? I know in Cincinnati, they carry the LPTV UPN affiliate, WBCQ-CA 25. But I'm unaware of any non-broadcast local cable channels being carried on satellite. And I wonder if the status of "WB5" being the primary digital signal of one of the broadcast transmitters has anything to do with this...

Just wondering!

[Inundated]

er...WBQC-CA 25 there. WBCQ is a shortwave station. ;)

[TNGTony]

WBQC is a local TV station too. :) I've been trying to get Dish to carry it for two years now!!!! Dish is the ONLY Multi-Channel carrier in the city that doesn't carry this channel in one form or another. Even DirecTV carries this channel!

Come on Dish!

See ya
Tony

[JAMHRR]

I know that in Buffalo, NY, Adelphia cable's Empire Sports Network is a Cable channel only station, but it's on channel 626 on Directv. Adelphia doesn't care who carries their station as long as they are compensated. They want viewers to watch their sports channel.

[Brett]

If its on a digital signal over the air, it isnt cable-only.

[dishrich]

Originally posted by JAMHRR
I know that in Buffalo, NY, Adelphia cable's Empire Sports Network is a Cable channel only station, but it's on channel 626 on Directv.

It's also on DISH. It was also on C-band analog for several years, that even consumers could buy, before it went digital. It's here, right now:
http://www.lyngsat.com/amc5.shtml

So I'm not sure I'd classify this as a cable-only station... ;) ;)

[Inundated]

Originally posted by Brett
If its on a digital signal over the air, it isnt cable-only.

No, you folks don't understand what started this thread.

I'm not talking about cable sports channels like Empire Sports or any of the Fox Sports Net stations.

I'm talking about a local "broadcast network affiliate" that is primarily distributed via cable in the market. WBVA "WB5" in Roanoke does not have an ANALOG over-air signal. It CAN be now seen on one of the subchannels of WJPR-DT 20 Lynchburg, VA, the Lynchburg digital half of "Fox 21/27". When it launched, "WB5" was the only signal on DT 20, but they've apparently started upconverting the Fox analog signal.

"WB5" is "basically" a cable channel that uses a digital signal... primarily for purposes of transmitting it to outlying cable systems. DirecTV has apparently picked up their preferred "5" channel designation, which is only used on cable.

I'm willing to bet that "WBVA/WB5" is the first of its kind on either DirecTV or Dish. It'll be interesting to see if DirecTV, when/if it gets around to putting local channels in the Tri-Cities, TN/VA (Bristol/Kingsport/Johnson City) market, puts up their equivalent... "CYB.wb".

[Brett]

If it was truly cable-only by contract exclusivity, it would not be also seen on a digital station over the air.

Since its over the air, the cable company doesnt have an exclusive deal for the network. DirecTV has access to get carriage for the station.

[Inundated]

OK, let's try this again.

When *I* call "WBVA/WB5" "cable-only" it's only ME calling it that. It's basically a local cable channel that a handful of folks with DT equipment can now pick up (considering the likely low penetration of digital equipment in the Roanoke/Lynchburg market).

My question has nothing to do with "exclusive deals" or "access". Rather, it's the general observation that DirecTV (and Dish, too) usually only pick up over-air broadcast stations, i.e. the regular analog channels that carry ABC, CBS, etc. (even WB, if they're over-air).

I'm willing to bet that "WBVA/WB5" is the first channel of its type carried by either major satellite provider...no matter if you call it "cable-only" or what. Heck, only ONE "low power" TV station is carried... WBQC-CA 25 (UPN) in Cincinnati. And THAT is what I'm talking about.