When CBS News offered affiliates live coverage of Pope John Paul II's April 8 funeral, WCTV Tallahassee, Fla., didn't want to miss out. Rather than sacrifice WCTV's popular early-morning newscast, President/GM Nick Waller gave the funeral feed to its new sister UPN station. Such sharing is standard when stations have a common parent. But Waller's duopoly is different: His UPN station in Tallahassee is broadcast on one of WCTV's secondary digital channels. WCTV is just one of dozens of stations that are already using their government-mandated digital capabilities to cut costs and build profits, however slim. TV stations have spent millions upgrading their facilities to phase out analog equipment in order to deliver digital television. The new digital spectrum can handle up to four standard-definition channels, creating new revenue and programming opportunities for stations.
展开▼
