The owner of low-power MyNetworkTV affiliate and its Cozi TV-affiliated low-power sibling has received a provisional grant from the FCC’s Media Bureau for carriage on Cable One systems in a small market in the Deep South.
But, there’s no guarantee the stations will end up on the MVPD’s channel lineup. That’s because it has been granted about 2 1/2 weeks to provide “conclusive evidence” based on good engineering practices that it is unable to receive a quality broadcast signal needed for the channels’ addition to Cable One’s local lineup.
In dual Memorandum Opinion and Order releases made by the FCC’s Media Bureau, Ellington Broadcasting received the provisional green-light for coverage on Cable One systems in Cleveland, Miss., for its WHCQ-LD at Channel 8, the MyNetworkTV stations serving the market, and for WPRQ-LD at Channel 12, the Cozi TV station in Cleveland, Miss.
At issue is Cable One’s signal quality testing, which led the Media Bureau to question its methods and seek clarification of “certain facts.” This should please Ellington, which filed a complaint with the Commission following the MVPDs refusal to add the stations to its local channel lineup.
That’s not to say Cable One is not in the right. It filed a clarification letter with the FCC, and Ellington replied. The Media Bureau still wasn’t convinced that Cable One’s signal tests were done in accordance with best practices, and it’s been given one more chance to state its case.
If the FCC sides with Cable One following the submission of evidence based on “good engineering practices,” Ellington will be shut out.
After reviewing the pleadings from Cable One and Ellington, the Media Bureau determined that Cable One’s signal testing for WPRQ and WHCQ in both Cleveland and Clarksdale, Miss., had created “substantial confusion” as to where and why signal tests were conducted in a municipality incorrectly determined as a “headend” by Cable One.
The crux of the Media Bureau’s determination is that, “Even after a request for clarification, Cable One still appears to fail to comply with the Commission’s standards for good engineering.”
A final determination is expected by late August.
