Re: Alternate Site Backups

[dan.strassberg@att.net]

Unless it got taken down in a collapse of the big tower, 
the little tower would enable the station to say it was 
still on the air. I think, though, that today, the 
backup site for all TV stations is cable (and satellite 
systems that carry local stations). With approximately 
70% cable and satellite coverage nationwide, you can 
make a strong case that TV stations don't need 
terrestrial over-the-air backup sites.

Now, cable and satellite don't help me; I have neither 
one, but I'm part of a small (and shrinking) minority.

I gather that the New York metro, or at least the five 
boroughs, are (or were) atypical as well. If the claim I 
heard that only 1/3 of New Yorkers have cable is true 
(is it?), I would think that the WTC collapse would turn 
into a bonanza for the NYC cable systems. Nobody has 
said what kind of power 4, 5, 7, and 13 will be running 
from Alpine, but even if it's the maximum, a lot of 
people (especially in Brooklyn) are likely to have 
serious reception problems with the over-the-air 
signals. Nearly all of these people are likely to order 
cable.

(I know that 2 is on the ESB, so nearly everyone will be 
able to receive CBS over the air. And don't 9, 11, and a 
lot of the UHF stations plan to operate from sites other 
than Alpine? Still, it's hard to imagine that, from any 
site other than ESB, a station can really cover the New 
York metro without help from cable and satellite.)
--
dan.strassberg@att.net
617-558-4205
eFax 707-215-6367
> <<On Mon, 24 Sep 2001 15:18:30 -0400, Larry Weil <kc1ih@mediaone.net> said:
> 
> > I can definitely say that we do not have an alternate site for Channel 7, 
> > and as far as I know none of the Boston stations do either.
> 
> Channel 4 has a short backup tower (perhaps 100 feet) at Cedar St.
> Probably not far-enough away to do any good should something happen to
> the big tower.
> 
> -GAWollman
>