Thoughts After the DTV Transition (Aug 30, 2008)

On February 18, KCBS, KNBC, and KTLA will cease broadcasting in analog on channels 2, 4, and 5 respectively, thereby, freeing up the channels for other uses such as whatever the FCC could mandate.

Meanwhile in Mexico, those three channels can come to good use and could help out nearby Mexicali to boot.

For instance, channel 2 could be the new home of XHUAA channel 57 in Tijuana. The U.S. band from channels 52-69 are going for other uses then, and Mexico could be allowed to move their channels in that band to go down below channel 52. XHUAA happens to be a relay of Televisa 2, a Mexican network, and by golly, they can really be a channel 2 on channel 2!

XHTJB channel 3 in Tijuana, however, could move to channel 4. This could help out XHBC channel 3 in Mexicali and allow them to boost their power westward since they no longer need to protect Tijuana on channel 3.

XETV, the new home of the CW, could move from 6 to 5. Since KSDS on 88.3 boosted their power to over 20,000 watts, reception of XETV has been bad in Kearny Mesa, so bad that it probably was a factor in Fox pulling their network off of XETV and moving it to KSWB, now called Fox 5. The funny part is that if XETV moves to channel 5, CW will be back on channel 5, but this time, also over the airwaves. To prevent co-channel interference on cable channel 5, KSWB would be moved to channel 6 and would call themselves Fox 6, what XETV used to call itself until August.

In Mexicali, XHAQ channel 5 could move to channel 6 to avoid co-channel interference with XETV.

As for the digital channel of XHDTV-DT, which is currently set for channel 53, that could move downward below channel 52, but on a channel slot is currently unknown at this time, but there is no known mandate for Mexico to reallocate channels 52-69 for other uses in the near future.

The Wires (Aug 30, 2008)

TV Tech: Majority of Stations Ready for Feb. 18 DTV Rollout. Although some may see the 44 percent of stations that haven’t fully constructed their post-transition DTV facilities as a potential “transition train wreck,” it is important to remember that many are moving to their (or another station’s) analog channel and cannot put their post transition facility on the air until the analog transmitter is shut down.

ZD Net: Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware is a utility that monitors your system and thoroughly removes even the most advanced malware.

Obama Gives 70s TV Show Exposure (August 29, 2008)

Read the entire story at CNN on why Obama declares "Eight is Enough!"

So it looks like the unofficial Obama campaign will have a tagline "Eight is Enough." What about the McCain campaign? "90210?"

If Obama wants the eightisenough.com website, he's out of luck. I own the registration of that domain for the TV show Eight is Enough and has nothing to do with Obama or McCain or any presidential election.

The Wires (Aug 29, 2008)

Dino Costa: Traditional radio is walking a death march that will provide it with a ceiling that will only go so high under its current arrangement. It'll work for Rush, and Sean, and for Savage, for Imus, for Mr. Bill, and for Dr. Laura, and any other syndicated personality that counts upon a system behind their product that seeks to mass distribute their programs across the country (for free mostly). But for the local talkers, and for the local stations who seek to serve their local audience's with substantive news, commentary, and information, the days of this kind of radio are dying a quick death

Universal Sports on KNSD-DT3 (Aug 28, 2008)

You need an digital TV receiver to receive the digital subchannels. KNSD-DT2 broadcast Weather Plus. KPBS-DT1 broadcasts the KPBS-HD channel, but its program schedule is different than that KPBS-TV analog channel. KPBS-DT2 has the V-Me Spanish language network.

The Wires (Aug 28, 2008)

Inside Music Media: The labels can blame radio (for not paying performance rights taxes) and consumers (for wanting to access music from bit torrent sites), but the real enemy is within – the artists and their handlers. Hey, the labels are what they are. We can’t make them Mother Teresa – they never were anything more than businessmen who manufactured things. First vinyl. Then plastic. No wonder the digital world is so alien to them. But the music industry has no future without lots of new music being released from more genres and exposed in all kinds of places

The Wires (Aug 27, 2008)

FMQB: Could HD Radio Still Be Part Of New Satellite Receivers?

FMQB: Robert Scorpio named OM/PD at WPGC-FM & AM. (editor: I didn't know that the Australian WSB agent from General Hospital was working in radio.)

The Wires (Aug 26, 2008)

Sosd.com: Many in S.D. not ready for switch to digital TV.

Sosd.com: 'Fox 5': First the bad news and now the good news?

NY Times: Hrysler Starts Selling In-Car Wi-Fi Today: Chrysler will start selling cars with the UConnect Wi-Fi hi-speed Internet service today, allowing in-car streaming of webcasts. The feature itself costs $499, $35-$50 to install, and $58 in monthly subscription and service charges. While Chrysler only condones passenger use of the in-car Internet, The New York Times sees the service as a potential safety hazard. Read the full article at the link.

Motley Fool: Benefits Of In-Car Internet Outweigh Potential Safety Hazards: Retorting The New York Times’ article on how dangerous Chrysler’s in-car Wi-Fi service may be is Rick Aristotle Munarriz at Motley Fool, who argues that the benefits of in-car Internet (primarily Internet radio) outweigh potential accidents cause by distracted driving

Business Standard: Have you ever wondered why there is so little variety on radio? A quick surf between half a dozen stations will invariably throw up the same popular chartbusters. Radio operators argue that three things - the prohibition on broadcasting news, the ban on having more than one station in a city and rising royalty costs - has impacted the variety of programming, ability to localise and profitability. That is somewhat misleading

Happy Hare: Last week I asked you to write me an exciting adventure. in your radio career, or the career of someone you admire. Everyone has a favorite story. My aim is to collect some of those rich stories, and share them with all of you. My thanks to the seven intrepids who sent me fascinating stories this week. More! More! Here’s one of my most kickass adventures ever, condensed from three prior chapters titled “Mad as Hell”

Latest Shoutcast Listenership (Aug 25, 2008)

Radio Nigel: 136 out of 1960 ports.
X1FM: 21 out of 5000 ports.

If anyone has time to monitor these stations 24 hours a day for listener peaks and averages, please e-mail me the results.

Top 5 Headlines Of The Week (Aug 18-24, 2008)

4. The Olympics were on, yet the author didn't have time to watch even a minute of it.

3. Dumb Donald is so dumb...in the ad, instead of "Shift Your Ride", he ____ is ride!

2. Bob and Tom Join WGN.

1. David Tanny's CD "Yes Parking Anytime" is now available for purchase at amazon.com