If you thought the buildup to the digital TV switch was mind-numbing, just check out what’s next.
Even for folks who want to keep things simple when it comes to the idiot box, those who’ve forsworn cable and satellite and who cling to rabbit ears — even for them, the choices are proliferating.
Broadcasters are offering a vale of tiers.
A tangle of digital subchannels is putting down roots, as stations make use of the extra spectrum space acquired when some stations went from analog to digital last week.
The listings will be more confusing than ever as the offerings become more plentiful. Not that more is necessarily better.
For now, the potential is greater than the reality, but someday, somewhere, in the wee hours of the night, an insomniac may find something to watch on a digital subchannel.
Enter the land of Channel 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, etc.
While some stations are filling the extra space with weather reports, movies and reruns of old TV shows, the potential for fresh content exists on new digital subchannels.
PBS deserves credit for leading the way when it comes to multiple tiers.
In many markets, the traditional PBS channel will be joined by the Spanish-language V-me, another tier devoted to home/garden/travel, another for kids or one dedicated to documentaries. Eventually data for educational and distance-learning programs will also have a PBS subchannel. (On Rocky Mountain PBS, the spectrum is split among four channels: PBS, V-me, lifestyle programming on Create TV and kids programming on Sprout.)
Channel numbers vary depending on where you live and how you get your programming — cable, satellite or with an antenna.
NBC stations are also embracing the subchannels in a big way, with network programming on one tier, all-weather on another and all-sports on a third. For instance, KUSA has “9News Weather Plus” on its second tier, 9.2 or “KUSADT2” (there’s a mouthful), and Universal Sports replaying Olympics events on its third subchannel, 9.3 or “KUSADT3.”
More networks you haven’t heard of:
The Ion group (formerly Paxson) has been quick to develop its own cluster of subchannels. In many markets (including Denver’s KPXC- Channel 59), the first tier is the Ion network, a general entertainment/old movie channel; the second is QUBO, a kids’ channel; the third is Ion Life, devoted to health and fitness; and the fourth, 59.4, is religious.
Although each station is allowed up to six subchannels, they aren’t required to put anything on their subchannels. There’s little advertising money to be made in these subchannels as the audiences will be minimal compared with the main channels, and, so far, the whole subject is more techno-geek talking point than audience destination.
But that could change as the number of viewers getting digital channels increases.
The CBS stations, including Denver’s KCNC-Channel 4, have no plans to fill digital subchannels at this time. Ditto the combined KDVR-31 and KWGN-2. Similarly, according to KTVD-Channel 20 general manager Mark Cornetta, that station’s future is being reserved for Mobile Television (of the cellphone kind).
Hyper-local content
Observers suggest hyper-local content will be one wave of the future: local TV newsrooms are expensive to operate, so why not maximize what they’re already doing by broadcasting extremely localized information on a new tier (little league scores and neighborhood traffic updates, anyone?)
There’s more to come. The Los Angeles-based LATV, a bilingual music/entertainment network targeting young Hispanics, is growing quickly, turning up on subchannels nationally, and not just in heavily Hispanic markets.
Retro reruns and weather maps. There’s no end to the mediocrity available. The array of choices gets more dizzying as the niches into which we separate ourselves are more finely sliced.
The government’s giveaway of valuable spectrum space, formerly known as “the public airwaves,” continues. In exchange the public gets . . . confused.
And Springsteen’s “57 channels and nothin’ on” seems so last century.
Joanne Ostrow: 303-954-1830 or jostrow@denverpost.com
