Question about Boston DMA ion affiliates

[ejb1980]

I noticed tonight that rabbitears lists different primary signals for the Concord and Cape Cod affiliates for ion. Is that correct? I would assume so. Since these are all full power channels, why isn't WPXG 21-1 Concord, NH (qubo) and WDPX 58-1 Vineyard Haven (ion-life) on Directv? Wouldn't they qualify as must-carry?

I know that UNC-TV in NC does that with DMAs with more than one transmitter - swaps the primary and secondary on one to get both on satellite. I am surprised more PBS affiliates don't do that.

 

[Trip]

Moved into the general TV forum, since this isn't really a website-specific question and I don't know the answer.

- Trip

 

[TNGTony]

Yes. The stations qualify as must carry. But remember that the stations have to ask to be carried on cable and satellite. It doesn't happen automatically. In this case, I think it has to do with a national carriage deal for ION. I think both those stations are company-owned.

 

[ejb1980]

Moved into the general TV forum, since this isn't really a website-specific question and I don't know the answer.

- Trip

I only asked there because it was originally a question about the site showing the ionlife and qubo on the primaries but it morphed into more. Wasn't really sure where to put it.... Do you know how long it has been this way?

Yes. The stations qualify as must carry. But remember that the stations have to ask to be carried on cable and satellite. It doesn't happen automatically. In this case, I think it has to do with a national carriage deal for ION. I think both those stations are company-owned.

But the national carriage doesn't include ionlife and qubo, which is the primary on 2 of the 3 Boston-DMA affiliates...

 

[TNGTony]

But the national carriage doesn't include ionlife and qubo, which is the primary on 2 of the 3 Boston-DMA affiliates...

I'm not privy to the contractual agreements between companies. I'm guessing it could be a concession by Ion in order to be carried nationally.

 

[Trip]

I only asked there because it was originally a question about the site showing the ionlife and qubo on the primaries but it morphed into more. Wasn't really sure where to put it.... Do you know how long it has been this way?

Years and years. At least as long as I can remember, which would be 2009, maybe?

- Trip

 

[ejb1980]

Years and years. At least as long as I can remember, which would be 2009, maybe?

- Trip

Very interesting, I have looked through the list Boston channels a million times but assumed WPXG and WDPX were like other ion stations. On cable way up here in NW VT, WPXG is listed in the guide, but it's regular ion. Ion Life and Qubo are also carried, but are not in the broadcast TV package. I have seen the WPXG-WBPX-WDPX ID (like what I see on Directv's 68) in the past on cable, but haven't looked recently. Little things like this interest me. Thank you for maintaining the rabbitears site, it is a very valuable resource, especially when the user opens all the tabs....