KHQ-TV in Spokane, Wash., is launching a hyperlocal diginet dubbed “SWX, Sports and Weather Right Now.” KHQ, owned by Cowles Publishing in Spokane, already covers “Gonzaga Basketball” and “Spokane Shock Arena Football,” the station said. SWX will extend that sports coverage to more high schools, colleges and other professional sporting events the station has secured broadcast rights for. It will also produce live in-studio shows from a new studio in the nearby Northern Quest Casino, an enterprise of the Kalispel Tribe.
The 24/7 diginet will be assigned to KHQ’s digital channel at 6.2, and on sister stations KNDU-TV in Richmond at 25.3, and KNDO-TV in Yakima at 23.3. Charter, Comcast and Time Warner will also carry SWX, though KHQ has gone to some trouble to let viewers know how to find it over the air. The station outfitted an RV last June with its logos and deployed it throughout the region to promote digital television. KHQ’s “Mobile Classroom” was created with the cooperation of a local RV dealership and TV retailer. KHQ folks drive it around showing people how to use rabbit ears and converter boxes, like “Linda,” who wrote the station Jan. 12:
“Hi....I have a converter box for my small TV and when I went to hook it up (thinking it was going to be a cinch ) I realized it came programmed in Spanish. Since I don’t speak Spanish I had an interesting time trying to get it into English. I just hadn’t heard of this before. Am I the only lucky one?”
We don’t know but we’d like to find out. Tell us about your converter comments and experiences by e-mailing dmcadams@nbmedia.com.
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