WTAE dropping all-weather on 4.2 for movie channel
Pittsburgh: Rob Owen, in his Tuned-In Journal, has announced that WTAE-TV (4; D 51) will drop the all-weather format on Channel 4.2 in favor of "This TV-Pittsburgh". WTAE owner Hearst signed the contract earlier this year. "This TV" plays movies by MGM, United Artists and Orion production companies. Owen has heard more interest and appreciation for WPXI's (11; D48) RTN channel gets more viewers than any other digital subchannel in the market and that an all movie channel for WTAE might be a better way to go.Readers’ Forum
This news means nothing to me, since I still cannot even receive WTAE’s digital signal.
I was disappointed when WPXI took off their 24 hour weather channel from one of their 3 subchannels. They are now only using 2 subs including RTV, which IS nice to have, but I liked having the weather available too.
Troy - July 31, 2009 at 08:09 am
We have people from WPXI coming in to work all the time. They told me that they are considering relaunching it on 11.3 with a partership with the Weather Channel. (NBC just bought TWC last year.) WPXI didn’t have a choice, NBC Weather Plus shut down last year and at the time they had no other options available. I would like to see Untamed Sports come to Pittsburgh, they have a lot of outdoor-related programming that would appeal well here. Sinclair should consider it for either WPGH or WPMY’s second subchannel, why they simulcast each other is beyond me.
Joe Gerard (URL) - July 31, 2009 at 4:13 pm
I don’t understand the need for multiple 24/7 weather networks. It’s nice if you want to flip on a channel and quickly see the weather, but you can also do that by looking outside.
Dave - August 03, 2009 at 12:15 pm
We could all do with more channels! RTN is pretty nice, and I’m enjoying WBGN again now that they are broadcasting in digital. I’m still wondering what WBGN thinks they’re doing with their extra channels, which seem to not have any useful programming. Otherwise, bring on the movies.
Drew from Zhrodague (URL) - August 04, 2009 at 1:14 pm
Dave . . . what multiple weather networks?
Right now there is only one on broadcast TV and that is the one that they are turning into a movie channel.
And if you are like me, and can’t receive WTAE’s signal, then you get ZERO weather channels.
Looking out the window is fine, but that doesn’t give you a five day forecast or let you see the current weather radar. Good thing for the internet, or I would have no 24 hour radar available to me.
Troy - August 04, 2009 at 3:15 pm
I can advise you as to which television antenna and system you need to receive WTAE from anywhere in their service area.
I live outside their service area and I can watch their channels with no issues.
I would not believe that WPGH or WPMY would try to launch any new channels at this time, due to the fact that they are in bankrupcy court.
Receiving a UHF signal depends on line of sight transmission. If you put up the right outdoor antenna at the right height and use the right wire and put the antenna in the right place, you will get a signal as long as your are not down in a valley or behind a 4 story building or living in a grove of trees.
Jerry - August 04, 2009 at 8:34 pm
Don’t understand who can’t get digital broadcasts, I live on a ranch outaide Punxsutawney (100 miles+ distant)and get pittsburgh digital channels just fine with an outdoor antenna and converter box.
While I get weather radar on the Web it was nice to have it on TV although the radar was badly delayed compared to the Web feed.
siliconsamurai (URL) - August 05, 2009 at 08:37 am
Would appreciate a weather channel on OTA. Sometimes that was the best thing that was on TV. Can’t get DSL in Lower Burrell where we live, so do not bother with weather on the internet as Internet weather takes way too long to load.
Digital transition was interesting.
2 is ok
3 NOW periodically get WPSU State College (uhf 15), but never could get their analog signal -just snow
4 is generally ok, but lose signals, esp. if windy
6 -lost they beam their signal to north, east and south, nil to the west.
8 -received during transition time period when broadcast on UHF freq at high power, but lost when they went back to vhf and cut power
11 -ok
13 -ok
16 -ok sometimes lose
19 -ok sometimes lose
22 -ok sometimes lose
24 no longer get (Morgantown WVA PBS now on ?33?)
40 -ok sometimes lose
53 -ok
59 -ok, but sometimes lose
AUBrick - August 23, 2009 at 8:23 pm