Dielectric Expansion Accelerates
RF Vendors Prepare For TV Spectrum Repack
This summer, Phil Kurz, TVNewsCheck’s technology editor, hit the road to visit the manufacturing facilities of Dielectric, Electronics Research Inc. (ERI) and GatesAir (above) to see how each is preparing for the expected spike in demand for antennas, transmitters and other RF components as a result of the TV spectrum repack. This is what he learned.
At most, broadcasters have 39 months to complete their move to a new channel assignment if and when the incentive auction is complete. That’s not much time. To expedite antenna replacement, many are advocating a two-step tango on TV towers where crews install an auxiliary, broadband side-mount antenna first to keep a station on air. Then later, when the smoke clears, design, build and install a permanent antenna that replicates as closely as possible today’s coverage contour.
WJHG Panama City Adds New UHF Antenna
Antenna and RF component manufacturer Electronics Research Inc. is on track to increase its antenna production capacity by 800% before the end of the year after entering into an agreement with wireless provider T-Mobile to facilitate the expansion. Above, an aerial view of ERI’s Chandler, Ind., antenna manufacturing facility. The company plans to add three new buildings and more than 100 employees by year’s end. (ERI photo)
The FCC can take several more steps to expedite the TV spectrum repack and increase the likelihood of achieving its aggressive timeline, including authorizing the use of temporary side-mount antennas, says Dan Fallon, senior RF engineer at antenna vendor Dielectric.
Electronics Research Inc. | Booth C2324 | Website: www.eriinc.com Electronics Research Inc. is debuting a new family of broadband high band VHF panel antennas. The Electronics Research ETV Series high […]
Flexibility Key To New Transmitters, Antennas
The latest broadcast transmitter and antenna technology is built to see broadcasters through the upcoming repack and beyond by offering new flexibility and efficiency. New UHF transmitters are able to achieve power efficiencies of up to 50% for high-power operation. The broadband antennas will be able to handle many flash cut scenarios during the repack. For a resources guide to the companies mentioned in this story, click here. Read all the 2016 NAB Hot Topics stories here.
The Wall Street Journal reports several broadcasters in the nation’s top market, including WCBS and WNBC, have agreed to move their primary broadcast antennas from the Empire State Building to the the new 1,776-foot World Trade Center. “The broadcasters have signed up for all long-term leases,” says Robert Becker, a Durst VP who handled the lease negotiations. “They and [we] are comfortable there is a world of TV broadcasting.” Journal subscribers may read the story here.
Modern TV antennas don’t look much like the rabbit ears you might remember. But the TV antenna is making a comeback. The number of homes in the U.S. that get network TV over the air and don’t have cable or satellite service has gone up about 17% in the last five years, according to Nielsen.
What Stations Can Do To Prepare For Repack
While waiting for the FCC to repack the band and hand out new channel assignments, TV stations should not be idle. Here is a list of things they can start doing now to head off trouble later.
Bendov was the inventor of and prime mover behind the television industry’s transition to circularly polarized TV antennas, a technology that was recognized with an Emmy Technical Achievement Award in 1984.
The maker of indoor TV antennas wants to get into the over-the-top business and plans to release a new device early next year that includes a built-in antenna for over-the-air signals and software to access over-the-top content from services like Netflix and Hulu. “Cord-cutters watch over-the-air broadcasts, but most people want more than just that,” says Mohu CEO Mark Buff. “You need over-the-air coupled with a Netflix, Hulu or Amazon.”
When it comes to retransmission consent disputes, over-the-air antennas may not be the perfect solution, but they have gotten better. Here’s a look at the digital TV transition and maps of DTV reception in major cities affected by the CBS-TWC dispute.
The long-running saga of the damaged broadcast antenna used by three Richmond television stations could be drawing to a close. “Repairs are expected to be done in October,” says Victoria Regan, general manager of WRIC. Also affected are WRLH and WCVW.
Football fans in Wisconsin aren’t letting the blackout of Journal Broadcasting stations on Time Warner Cable systems get in the way of watching the year’s first preseason Packers game against the Arizona Cardinals on Friday. Many have been shopping for antennas and, if people have older TVs, digital TV converter boxes, so they can watch NBC affiliate WTMJ Milwaukee over the air.
Cord-Cutting Tool Recommends Antenna
Broadcast Interactive Media and Channel Master have teamed up on a Web-based tool called Antenna Choice that, after consumers plug in their address, determines which antenna is right for them. After trying out the new tool, however, I was advised to buy one of the most expensive antennas, when a basic, more affordable model would have worked just as well.
Figuring Out Life After Dielectric
The TV antenna manufacturer’s many clients are wondering who will service their existing RF systems and who will emerge to sell them new ones. Demand could shoot up greatly if the FCC OKs band repacking following a spectrum auction. Possible solutions could be current U.S. competitors to Dielectric as well as a number of foreign firms.
KRBK Creates Single Frequency Network
Power Problems For 3 Richmond Stations
ABC affiliate WRIC, Fox affil WRLH and noncommercial WCVW have had their broadcast signal power reduced by problems with the antenna they share. “We’re hoping to have this rectified posthaste,” said WRIC GM Victoria Regan. However, she said, full repairs “may not happen right away.”
Promoting OTA Gain Without The Pain
Stations may not be promoting the advantages of replacing cable and satellite with a rooftop antenna for a couple of reasons: fear of losing retrans revenue and not wanting to alienate cable systems that advertise on their air. But one stations thinks it’s found a solution: convincing a local antenna installer to advertise. I’m guessing the station can generate more in revenue each month from antenna installers than the company will lose in retrans revenue. And even if it doesn’t, the station will benefit in ways harder to calculate: from strengthening broadcasting as a local advertising medium, weakening rival cable and sending the message to Washington that broadcasting is here to stay.
Why TV Antennas Are Sexy Again
The owner of Antennas Direct turned a hobby into a $10 million-a-year business supplying TV antennas to the steadily increasing number of consumers who are dropping cable for free over-the-air TV. He’s bullish on OTA and can’t understand why the FCC now wants “to kill it in the crib.”