USDTV Inks TBN Carriage Pact

[cablewithaview]

Wireless-TV service U.S. Digital Television Inc. will distribute five digital Christian networks from Trinity Broadcasting Network in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, officials said Friday.

“We are pleased to enable Dallas-Fort Worth subscribers to receive all of TBN’s channels, along with our family-friendly package of leading cable networks and local channels,” USDTV CEO Steve Lindsley said in a prepared statement.

USDTV offers a limited package of roughly 30 broadcast stations and cable networks for $19.95 per month over the air via a special digital set-top and antenna.

The five TBN networks USDTV will add to its lineup in Dallas are: TBN’s flagship network; JCTV, which is geared toward teens and young adults; TBN Enlace USA, a Spanish-language faith network; The Church Channel, which offers church services from Protestant and Catholic congregations; and Smile of a Child TV, faith-based programming for kids.

http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6299235.html

 

[jegrant]

Is USDTV actually transmitting TBN's multiplex of digital networks on one of their leased DTV stations, or merely adding existing TBN digital channels (from a TBN O&O) to the USDTV channel map?

 

[dlsnyder]

I was wondering the same thing. Here in the LA area, their flagship station KTBN already carries all of those subchannels. Does USDTV block certain channels to their subscribers if they don't have a carriage agreement with a particular channel? Most of the channels they show in their lineup are free OTA and not affiliated with USDTV in any way AFAIK.

 

[dodge]

USdtv to carry tbn

More worthless propaganda on the airwaves......

We need like Espn hd or Food network in HDTV free ota.....

 

[jegrant]

I thought that USDTV always put anything free OTA DTV in their channel map, simply to boost channel count. (Presumably, users could rescan anyway to get anything not preprogrammed, IIRC.)

 

[ChrisPC]

"We are pleased to enable Dallas-Fort Worth subscribers to receive all of TBN’s channels, along with our family-friendly package of leading cable networks and local channels,”

They're not adding anything (or taking bandwidth away). Most TBN digital stations already broadcast these five channels anyway! They're on the air here in Nashville, also in Memphis, etc.

 

[dlsnyder]

So I guess this is just a marketing agreement, with TBN permitting USDTV to officially include them in their channel lineups. It seems strange that it would even be necessary...?

 

[cablewithaview]

So I guess this is just a marketing agreement, with TBN permitting USDTV to officially include them in their channel lineups. It seems strange that it would even be necessary...?

USDTV prides themselves on offering something for the whole family to watch. USDTV cannot just add a channel, free or not, without a carriage agreement in place.

 

[jegrant]

Well, surely they can preprogram receivers with all the available OTA channels in a market; I don't think that is anything that a normal DTV tuner dealer wouldn't do.

But having the agreement allows USDTV to include TBN and its 5-channel multiplex in their official lineup, marketing materials, channel count, etc.

 

[Jim5506]

Might it be that USD-TV is using TBN's transmitters to add its programming to. Opening a market with existing facilities, no major investment.

 

[dlsnyder]

No way, with all of the subchannels TBN offers. They can only carry 5 channels of SD video max and TBN uses all of that capacity (as do PAX stations if there is one in your area). USDTV must be putting their subscription channels somewhere else.