An analysis of data from the FCC of the DTV channel election process by BIA Financial Network shows that 246 U.S. TV stations have not received a tentative post-transition DTV channel.
As part of the DTV Channel Election Process, television stations have the opportunity to apply to use their current analog channel as their DTV channel after the transition to digital ends in 2006.
On June 8, the FCC announced it had sent conflict letters to stations whose use of NTSC channels for DTV transmission would result in impermissible interference.
The BIA Financial analysis of the FCC post-transition channel assignment list showed:
- At least 167 television stations that filed a first round election ballet should have received a conflict letter.
- Ten additional stations that applied for a channel other than their current analog channel were rejected.
- In total, 177 stations have 60 days to account for how they will resolve the interference conflict.
Sixty-nine stations were orphaned, according to BIA Financial. Those stations could not, or did not, elect a post-transition channel, and were not assigned a tentative channel allotment in the first round.
Of this group:
- Thirty-nine are in the top 10 television markets;
- Twenty-four stations elected to use their analog channel;
- Two stations elected a station other than their analog channel;
- Thirteen stations could or did not elect a post transition channel.
In the top 50 television markets, there are 116 unassigned stations. Seventy-seven elected to use their analog channel; five stations chose to use something other than their analog channel; and 34 stations could not or did not elect a post transition channel.
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