Question regarding the Future Lafayette, LA locals

[thebigjp]

We have all heard about markets with no UPN or no WB (we have a UPN and our WB is the cable-only WB). But what is likely to happen here with the NBC affiliate? There is none licensed to this market, yet depending on where you live in the market, your "official" NBC affiliate is KPLC (Lake Charles), KALB (Alexandria), or WVLA (Baton Rouge), so as you can see in this complicated world of Satellite TV locals, what is likely to happen when locals come around? I have figured it will be either of the following:
A: No NBC affiliate will be carried for the market
B: They will take the NBC affiliate that carries the most weight in the market, and carry that one
C: Other (please explain)

[Greg Bimson]

The only "network" parallel I can draw currently is the Jackson, MS, locals. There isn't a FOX affiliate at this time, so both DirecTV and Dish Network are providing a feed of FOX New York.

The other parallel I can draw is for KBEJ, the UPN station in San Antonio. It is also available in the Austin locals package on DirecTV.

I can assume (and I know what that does) that if any of the NBC stations surrounding Lafayette actually contract with content providers to claim the Lafayette area, then that will be the affiliate that is used. Right now, my odds on favorite would be Baton Rouge, since it is the only one of the three affiliates you mention where DirecTV claims they will be carrying locals.

[gor88]

Greg,

Actually, E* is providing the FOX affiliate from Atlanta (WAGA) as the default FOX for the market in Jackson for $1, in addition to the reduced $4.99 price. However, since a waiver is not needed for FOX in most of the market (Natchez area has FOX affiliate), subscribers can get any of the distant net FOX stations(LA, NY, Chicago, and Denver -- last time I checked) for $1.50 if they want.

In all likelihood, D* would probably pull a nearby NBC affiliate if they are already uplinked to the satellite. My bet would be that they pull WVLA from Baton Rouge, since Baton Rouge is larger and more likely to be released first.

[thebigjp]

Just to supplement my first posting, these NBC affiliates "claim" the following Parishes: (Listed by Parish)

Allen:KALB and KPLC
Jefferson Davis: KPLC
Vermilion: WVLA and KPLC
Iberia: WVLA
St. Martin (Upper and Lower): WVLA
St. Landry: KALB
Lafayette: KPLC
Acadia: KPLC
Evangeline: KALB and KPLC

Notes:
1. If I skipped a Parish, let me know.
2. In most of Lafayette Parish, while WVLA does not claim the parish, most people in the parish (that don't have cable, and on a side note, if wired cable was better than satellite it would be availible everywhere!) can catch WVLA 10 times more clearly than KPLC
3. If you don't know what a Parish is here's an explanation:
In the state of Louisiana: it is the EXACT same thing as a county.

[Karl Foster]

That is all so confusing! :)

Here's how it is here, all of Utah, and small portions of Nevada, Idaho, and Wyoming are in the Salt Lake DMA, which has every network and a few independent locals as well. Makes it pretty simple, and everyone in the state gets locals via satellite, either E* or D* (through Pegasus).

Don't know how that contributes to the thread, but it is sure a lot easier to figure out.

[thebigjp]

Here's another interesting thing... In the Lake Charles and Alexandria markets (both in the 170's) whenever they get added, their official CBS in both Markets will be KLFY (Lafayette).

As far as ABC goes, in the Alexandria market, they have their own ABC Station, and all of the Lake Charles market is in the Beaumont ABC territory.

Both markets have their own Fox affiliate (even though in Alexandria, their Fox affiliate is WNTZ of Natchez, MS)

Both markets WB is the WB National Feed.

Alexandria has their own UPN (KCLA), Lake Charles does not.

Also, how does DirecTV treat PAX affiliates, do they get added too, because if they do we here in Lafayette have one of those. (It is based out of Opelousas with a Translator station in Lafayette )?

[Brett]

The only "network" parallel I can draw currently is the Jackson, MS, locals. There isn't a FOX affiliate at this time, so both DirecTV and Dish Network are providing a feed of FOX New York.

The other parallel I can draw is for KBEJ, the UPN station in San Antonio. It is also available in the Austin locals package on DirecTV.

I can assume (and I know what that does) that if any of the NBC stations surrounding Lafayette actually contract with content providers to claim the Lafayette area, then that will be the affiliate that is used. Right now, my odds on favorite would be Baton Rouge, since it is the only one of the three affiliates you mention where DirecTV claims they will be carrying locals.

Jackson, MS isnt a parallel because most of that market is unserved for Fox (as there is none by Grade B standards). They used to have Fox, but the Pegasus owned station WDBD flipped from Fox to WB.

The area in Lafayette, LA is served by the NBC Network, from different NBC stations that deliver atleast a Grade B, but from nearby adjacent DMAs. Gainesville, FL is considered served by Hearst Argyle's WESH 2 from Daytona Beach (Orlando DMA).

WGFL 53 couldnt pick up NBC affiliation because the Daytona Beach affiliate already covers that area. They picked up CBS affiliation just last year along with WTEV, after WJXT 4 (CBS) from Jacksonville dropped it. WJXT 4 used to be the defacto CBS in Gainesville.

As for KBEJ, you insisted UPN isnt a "network" (or didnt exist when SHVA was originally written), so the whole portion of SHVIA regarding unserved/served HH for the networks, makes KBEJ not a valid parallel.

Just to supplement my first posting, these NBC affiliates "claim" the following Parishes: (Listed by Parish)

Allen:KALB and KPLC
Jefferson Davis: KPLC
Vermilion: WVLA and KPLC
Iberia: WVLA
St. Martin (Upper and Lower): WVLA
St. Landry: KALB
Lafayette: KPLC
Acadia: KPLC
Evangeline: KALB and KPLC

Notes:
1. If I skipped a Parish, let me know.
2. In most of Lafayette Parish, while WVLA does not claim the parish, most people in the parish (that don't have cable, and on a side note, if wired cable was better than satellite it would be availible everywhere!) can catch WVLA 10 times more clearly than KPLC
3. If you don't know what a Parish is here's an explanation:
In the state of Louisiana: it is the EXACT same thing as a county.


Cable companies are required to carry the most closest network affiliate by distance (regardless of DMA) that provides a quality signal to the headend. If the same was true with satellite, DirecTV should be able to sign deal with an NBC affiliate, and that affiliate's coverage area would be counties (or parishes) where that is the closest network affiliate of that network (say NBC). Duplicating stations dont even need to be carried, by FCC regulations. The local Cable franchising authority may insist cable systems carry 2 NBCs, or such. (Comcast in Ocean County tried dropping WPHL 17 (WB)-out of DMA saying it was duplicative to WPIX 11, but there was so many complaints that Comcast had to restore it back).

For the commercial network affiliates coverage area, It doesnt make sense why SHVIA was written using Nielsen DMAs, than closest network affiliates. I suppose because most markets (like the major markets) and the counties within those markets arent an anomoly, and using DMAs makes better sense for mustcarry purposes for independent stations.

Under SHVIA, DirecTV is mostly barred from offering any NBC station there because of

-Overlapping Grade B contours from NBC affiliates making little to no homes "unserved". ***

*** Unless all nearby NBC stations grant blanket waivers for all viewers in that DMA (highly unlikely).

This is unlike Jackson MS where Echostar and DirecTV can offer distant FOX because that area is unserved for FOX.

Because of complexity in this market, DirecTV may just not offer an NBC and credit a $1 back (like what Dish does when they lack a major network affiliate in a locals package). Despite Olympics, NBC doesnt offer a robust offering of sports, which signals possible lack of interest in DirecTV's part.

[Brett]

Also, how does DirecTV treat PAX affiliates, do they get added too, because if they do we here in Lafayette have one of those. (It is based out of Opelousas with a Translator station in Lafayette )?

Pax stations are being offered by mustcarry. The Pax affiliate must deliver a quality signal to the LRF, be licensed as a full power station, and be licensed within in the DMA DirecTV is servicing before DirecTV will add it.

[thebigjp]

As of this point in the postings, I have figured that this is how our locals line up may look like.

KATC (ABC) -carried
KLFY (CBS)- carried
KADN (Fox)- carried
xxxx (NBC) - probably WVLA or not carried
KLAF, etc. (UPN) - not carried, is a chain of 5 low power stations
(WB) - not carried, no station in market
KDCG/KLFT (PAX) - not carried, is 2 low power stations
KLPB (PBS) - carried (but could be WLPB's signal.)

[Brett]

WVLA is still a distant NBC station in that market, since its not licensed in that DMA. Distant network stations can only be sold to unserved HH (unless an RV acct or waiver is in presence).

SHVIA considers local stations only full power television stations in the DMA. DirecTV could add the low powered UPN station, along with a national WB feed without much difficulty in Lafayette, however, DirecTV would have problems adding an NBC affiliate.

Part of SHVIA says local qualification based on the 1999 Nielsen DMA listing or future publications**

If Echostar and DirecTV simply acquired Nielsen Media, then redrew the DMAs, they could cut local-into-local costs, by having to carry fewer markets, but offering NBC CBS Fox and ABC in more markets.

[thebigjp]

any new opinion/observations since this post was last visited?

[thebigjp]

also does anybody think the UPN will be carried? What is the history of LPTV stations on DirecTV?

[Greg Bimson]

DirecTV does carry low-power and cable only affiliates. Therefore, there is probably a good likelyhood that the UPN affiliate will be included in the Lafayette locals package.

[SouthernSky]

At least you're getting locals in Lafayette though I'm not to sure about the 170's. Lake Charles and Monroe will likely get locals before Alexandria does.
Don't be surprised if you get KALB for NBC and we get KLFY for CBS whenever (if ever) we get locals. Just a hunch though.

ABC is low power here. NBC is the dominant one. No UPN or WB except on cable. Fox is good along major highways (open areas) but is still terrestrial.
LPB comes in clear. Only KALB is VHF. CBS is the only one we can get distant networks for because it is in Lafayette with no repeeaters up here.

[thebigjp]

I would think that the Alexandria (LA) locals would come before the Lake Charles Locals why:
KLAX-ABC: owned by an "independent"
KLFY-CBS: will be included w/ the Lafayette Locals
WNTZ, et al.-Fox: owned by the people who own KADN/KLAF
KALB-NBC: owned by Media General
WB: will probably be up s*** creek like the rest of us
UPN: is there a UPN in Alexandria?
KLPA-LPB-PBS: probably a repeater of WLPB in BR
I see no red flags for carriage, yet Lake Charles is more dependent on the Beaumont/Golden Triangle, TX DMA

[thebigjp]

since the locals launch has been delayed once again, we have another chance to revisit this thread, so any new opinions....

[thebigjp]

Update Several unconfirmed sources say that effective very soon the official NBC for the Lafayette DMA will be KLFT-LP Channel 21. more details as I know it.