Tegna NBC affiliate KARE 11 (Minneapolis) has requested a rulemaking from the FCC that would allow it to change to a UHF broadcast frequency, matching facilities used by its competitors and reaching more viewers with indoor antennas.
Currently, KARE transmits on RF channel 11 and is the only full-power TV operation in the Twin Cities with a fully-VHF facility. (FOX affiliate KMSP also broadcasts on VHF but simulcasts its programming on the UHF transmitter of sister station WFTC.)
The FCC has previously noted difficulties with reception of stations transmitting digitally on VHF, and, in fact, paid some stations in other states to move to the less-desirable VHF frequencies as part of the spectrum auction. Most indoor antennas are designed primarily for UHF reception since VHF signals still require longer antennas that take up more space.
In its petition for rulemaking, KARE noted the FCC’s previous statements on the issue and said it has received a “steady stream” of complaints since beginning VHF digital broadcasts 11 years ago, submitting dozens of viewer comments as evidence.
“I live in Anoka. I no longer have cable, but use an indoor antennae. I get about 24 channels, but not KARE 11. Your station is spotty as best. The programming is so poor, that the station doesn’t even stay in the line up. I have to keep rescanning for the schedule. Do you have ideas for me to try to get KARE 11 to come in consistently? “
“For the past couple of weeks we have intermittent problems receiving Kare11 and some of FOX9 air broadcasts. Tonight at aprox.6:35 pm it happened again. I quit trying off & on for a half hour. I’m not sure what time it came back. We have rescanned our TV. numerous times.”
“This is another day that I am NOT receiving the Ch 11 signal. I get over 20 channels right now and the “no signal” message shows up on channel 11! What is the deal? I am missing “Days of Our Lives!!”
KARE proposes moving to channel 31 with 1,000kW at 454m above average terrain. It would be able to continue remapping to virtual channel 11.
Theoretically, the change would slightly shrink KARE’s coverage area, affecting viewers who live about 60 miles away from the Shoreview antenna farm. However, a rooftop antenna would currently be required to receive the signal at this distance, and KARE says its analysis indicates there are only 587 total potential viewers who would lose their only theoretical broadcast TV reception as a result of the change, and that does not account for cable or satellite use.
The proposal would require a waiver because the FCC currently has a freeze on channel-substitution petitions, but KARE argues that the freeze is no longer needed since the national spectrum auction repack is now complete.
KARE had transmitted digitally on UHF channel 35 during the transition period in the 2000’s but chose to move digital broadcasts to channel 11 when the transition concluded in 2009.
The petition was filed with the FCC on June 22 and remains pending.
A move by KARE to channel 31 would force Daystar’s WDMI-LD/62.1 (Minneapolis), which broadcasts on 31, to find a new frequency.
Several factors cause reception confusion for viewers
Besides the fact that many stations which appear on virtual channels 2 to 13 actually originate on UHF (channels 14+), the situation is more confusing in the Twin Cities because several stations use two different transmitters to feed the same virtual channels. Here are the virtual and actual broadcast channels for full-power TV stations in the Twin Cities:
| Virtual channel | Actual channel |
| 2.1 (PBS), 2.4, 2.5, 2.6 | 34 KTCA |
| 2.2, 2.3 (PBS) | 23 KTCI |
| 4.1 (CBS), 4.2, 4.3 | 32 WCCO |
| 5.1 (ABC), 5.5, 5.7 | 35 KSTP |
| 5.2 (Ind.), 5.3, 5.4, 5.6 | 30 KSTC |
| 9.1 (FOX), 9.2 (MNT), 9.3 | 29 WFTC |
| 9.4, 9.5, 9.9 (FOX) | 9 KMSP |
| 11.1 (NBC), 11.2, 11.3, 11.4, 11.5 | 11 KARE |
| 23.1 (CW), 23.2, 23.3, 23.4 | 22 WUCW |
| 41.1 (Ion), 41.2, 41.3, 41.4, 41.5, 41.6 | 16 KPXM |
Further confusing viewers is the fact that former analog UHF stations 17 (KTCI), 29 (WFTC), and 45 (KSTC) no longer use those over-the-air channel numbers, though KSTC continues to identify as “45TV” on channel 5.2. A low-power station now uses channel 17.1. KTCI’s primary channel is now “TPT Life” 2.3 and even though it transmits on RF channel 23, it’s actually WUCW that appears on virtual channel 23. WFTC’s primary channel is “FOX 9+” 9.2.
3 thoughts on “KARE Seeks Move to UHF Frequency, Matching Competitors”
Comments are closed.