[RTC List] KEET-WORLD

[Ronald Schoenherr]

As the Executive Director of KEET-TV I feel that I should respond to this email to help clarify a few issues you raise in your email:  
1. Suddenlink does NOT pay KEET for any of its programming. We receive NO money from Suddenlink of any of the other cable services in our broadcast area.
2. Suddenlink is only required to carry KEET's primary channel 13.  KEETWorld is our second multicast channel and Suddenlink does have the option to place it anywhere they want.
3. Suddenlink cannot insert commercials into any local channels, although they do insert some spots on some of the commercial satellite channels.

Ron

Ron Schoenherr
Executive Director
KEET-TV
P.O. Box 13
Eureka, CA 95502-0013
7246 Humboldt Hill Road (zip 95503)
Phone 707-445-0813
Fax 707-445-8977

Public Television for the North Coast
Support KEET with your membership today!
www.keet.org

----- Original Message -----
From: "William Van Hefner" <vantek at humboldtonline.com>
To: list at redwoodtech.org
Sent: Tuesday, October 6, 2009 3:39:00 PM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific
Subject: Re: [RTC List] KEET-WORLD

It's pretty simple. Not only does Suddenlink not make any money from KEET
programming (they can't insert their own commercials during programming,
because PBS has no commercial slots), but Suddenlink actually has to pay
KEET for their programming content, due to a deal struck between the
networks, FCC and the National Association of Broadcasters. It's pretty
crazy when you think about it. Anyone with an outside antenna can get the
signal for free, but cable companies (and cable TV subscribers) have to
pay the local TV stations programming fees to receive programming. That's
yet another reason why transmitter coverage is so crappy around here. TV
stations would rather have you get your signal from cable than
over-the-air, because they make more money that way. Even PBS.

In any event, cable companies would rather put programming on the lower
channels (which are watched much more than higher numbered channels) that
help generate revenue for them. They are allowed to insert local ads on
most of the channels you will find on basic cable, which makes them a lot
of extra money. Channels that COST them money are moved as far away as
possible from the lower channels. The FCC does not require cable companies
to carry secondary DTV channels on "basic cable" (or carry them at all,
for that matter). So, the cable companies can stick the programming
anywhere they want.

As for why you are not getting reception, it could be a number of things.
Make sure that you are using the TV configuration for cable channels and
not over-the-air channels first. Also, because line loss can be worse at
higher frequencies, the signal may be too weak for your scanner to detect.
Try tuning the channel manually to see if that works. If all else fails,
try contacting repair at the cable company.


-- 
William Van Hefner - President
Vantek Communications, Inc.
e-mail: vantek at humboldtonline.com








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