KABY ABC (Aberdeen, SD) off the air

[Mr Tony]

ABC affiliate KABY/9 (Aberdeen), a satellite of KSFY/13 (Sioux Falls), has gone off the air due to unexpected tower problems. According to a notification of suspension of operations filed with the FCC, KABY went off the air Jan. 11 because its tower did not pass a recent inspection and had to be deconstructed. A notice posted on KSFY's website says, "We are assessing our options to determine when, if and how it may be possible to transmit the KABY signal in the future." The station has a long history in the area, having started in 1958 as NBC/ABC affiliate KXAB-TV before becoming a satellite of KSOO-TV, now KSFY. KABY continues to provide a feed to cable systems, while satellite TV viewers in the Aberdeen area receive KSFY

http://www.ksfy.com/news/headlines/Having-trouble-receiving-KABY--Please-click-here-288085461.html

 

[twhy08]

Is this further indication that KABY is not going to return to the air? Or are they going to start covering with low power tv?

 

[comfortably_numb]

I read that to mean that KABY’s license is revoked and goes back onto the pile

 

[twhy08]

Wonder if this had something to do with KABY staying off the air and could look into broadcasting from KDLT's Translators.

"Gray Television on Tuesday agreed to purchase NBC affiliate KDLT Sioux Falls, S.D. (DMA 110) from Red River Broadcasting Co. for $32.5 million in cash. The deal gives Gray a duopoly since it already owns KSFY, the market’s ABC and CW affiliate.

Gray said this transaction “continues Gray’s investment in South Dakota. In the fall of 2016, KSFY-TV moved into a new, technologically advanced facility in downtown Sioux Falls that includes additional space to operate a second television station’s local news and sales operations. This spring, Gray inaugurated a remodeled and expanded building at the foot of the Black Hills in Rapid City to bring new state of the art technology to its ABC and Fox affiliates in that market, KOTA-TV and KEVN-LP.”


The acquisition of KDLT is subject to FCC and other approvals. Gray said it anticipates that the acquisition will be immediately free cash flow accretive and will close in the second or third quarter of 2018. Gray plans to finance the transaction with cash on hand."

 

[harshness]

Wonder if this had something to do with KABY staying off the air and could look into broadcasting from KDLT's Translators.

It seems more likely that they couldn't make a business case for KABY versus importing KSFY.

From a technical standpoint, I'm not sure mixing a 1080i feed, a 720p feed and an SD feed has been a proven formula for success.

 

[twhy08]

From northpine to pass along

Gray owns ABC affiliate KSFY/13.1 and is seeking to buy NBC affiliate KDLT-TV/46.1 from Red River Broadcast Corp. The $32.5 million deal also includes KDLT satellite KDLV/5.1 (Mitchell) and a network of translators. Unlike "virtual duopolies" using shared service agreements or subchannel/low-power TV combinations, which have become commonplace in small markets over the past decade, this deal would result in full ownership of two full-power, core-city licenses.

Gray's filing also says it is considering the creation of a state capitol news bureau to serve its stations in Sioux Falls and Rapid City, upgrades KSFY's weather computer system and other equipment, and expanding coverage of local sports and events. It says it may add NBC to existing KSFY satellite KPRY (Pierre) and ABC to KDLV and the existing KDLT translators. The latter move would restore ABC broadcast coverage of northeastern South Dakota, which was lost when Gray returned the license of KABY/9 (Aberdeen).