I Want My MeTv (What channels will you get)

What channels will I get?

I'll start right now by informing you that you won't get ESPN.  Sorry.  That's the most expensive channel on basic cable.

Major Networks
You will get the major networks.  These are HD in most markets.

• ABC
• CBS
• Fox
• NBC
• PBS

These are the common channels you would get even back in the analog days.

Introducing Subchannels
There is a big benefit of an over-the-air (OTA) antenna, though.  The digital broadcast conversion brought us the subchannel.  Stations are no longer limited to what we would call one channel.

For example, NBC in Cleveland is on channel 3.  With the digital conversion, it shows on your TV as 3-1.  They also have a channel 3-2.  This is their weather subchannel.

Another example is channel 5 in the Cleveland market.  Channel 5-1 is the local ABC affiliate.  Channel 5-2 is the Live Well Network which broadcasts entirely different shows.

If you currently have cable you probably receive these.  If you are a satellite subscriber, these stations will be foreign to you.

Adjacent Markets
Another advantage of the OTA antenna is the ability to pick up other local markets.  At my home I pick up the Youngstown stations.  Of course they duplicate the major networks.  While it appears redundant, they do have unique programming out of prime time hours.

As an example, the Cleveland NBC station shows selected Cleveland Indians games.  If you aren't interested, but still wanted to watch NBC programming, pick the Youngstown station.  Likewise, Youngstown State games are shown on the Youngstown feed.  Sometime Fox baseball will have different games shown in Cleveland versus Youngstown.  The same goes for the NFL.

Syndicated programming can very widely.  I can watch Seinfeld on three different stations at three different times if I chose.

My Channel List in North Canton, OH
In the analog days I was able to get 2 stations with a perfect picture.

Now I get about 50 channels.

Here is the current list:

1. 3-1: NBC HD
2. 3-2: WKYC Weather
3. 5-1: ABC HD
4. 5-2: Live Well Network
5. 8-1: Fox HD
6. 8-2: Antenna TV
7. 17-1 thru 17-5: TBN networks (TBN, Smile of a Child, JCTV, Enlace)
8. 19-1: CBS HD
9. 19-2: MeTV
10. 21-1: NBC HD
11. 21-2: UPN
12. 23-1: Ion HD
13. 23-2: Qubo
14. 23-3: Ion Life
15. 23-4: Shop
16. 23-5: QVC
17. 23-6: HSN (Home Shopping Network)
18. 25-1: PBS (HD)
19. 25-2: PBS Ohio
20. 25-3: PBS World
21. 25-4: PBS Create
22. 25-5: Local NPR feed
23. 27-1: CBS HD
24. 27-2: Fox
25. 33-1: ABC HD
26. 33-2: UPN
27. 33-3: Bounce
28. 39-1: Retro TV
29. 39-2: Tuff TV
30. 39-3: PB&J
31. 39-4: Christian Radio Station
32. 43-1: UPN HD
33. 43-2: Bounce
34. 45-1: PBS HD
35. 45-2: Fusion
36. 45-3: MHz
37. 45-4: V-Me
38. 47-1 thru 47-5: local Christian station
39. 49-1: PBS HD
40. 49-2: Fusion
41. 49-3: MHz
42. 49-4: V-Me
43. 55-1: UPN HD
44. 55-2: WKBN secondary feed
45. 55-3: This TV
46. 61-1: Univison HD
47. 61-3: Get-TV

My TV lists 19-1 and 19-2 twice.  Why?  Many could not receive the station very well, so they added a repeater in Akron.

What Channels Will You Get At Your House?
Use this website to determine the stations near your location.

http://www.antennaweb.org/Address.aspx

It will display a map showing where the stations are in relation to you.  It also lists stations with a color coded key to indicate signal strength.

Your mileage will vary.  Even the weakest stations I can get with a perfect picture......most of the time.

There is another factor, too.  Weather and the sun affect signal strength.  From my experience I get the worst signal strength during the summer months!

Program Variety
My channel list is heavy in subchannels.  Below is a basic description of some.

Classic reruns: Retro TV, Antenna TV, MeTV, and PB&J
Movies: Get-TV, Bounce
Home improvement and travel: PBS Create
Kids: Qubo (24/7 children's programming - mostly Canadian shows), Smile of a Child

That's All Folks!
Coming soon: choosing an antenna, connecting multiple TVs, using a DVR, and Internet streaming!

Stay tuned!