Washington Post 2008 Annual Report Download - page 29

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The following table sets forth certain information with respect to each of the Company’s television stations:
Station Location and
Year Commercial
Operation
Commenced
National
Market
Ranking (a) Network
Affiliation
Expiration
Date of FCC
License
Expiration
Date of
Network
Agreement
Total Commercial
Stations in DMA (b)
Allocated Operating
KPRC
Houston, TX
1949
10th NBC Aug. 1,
2014
Dec. 31,
2016
VHF-3
UHF-11
VHF-3
UHF-11
WDIV
Detroit, MI
1947
11th NBC Oct. 1,
2013
Dec. 31,
2016
VHF-3
UHF-5
VHF-3
UHF-5
WPLG
Miami, FL
1961
16th ABC Feb. 1,
2013
Dec. 31,
2009
VHF-5
UHF-8
VHF-5
UHF-8
WKMG
Orlando, FL
1954
19th CBS Feb. 1,
2013
Apr. 6,
2015
VHF-3
UHF-10
VHF-3
UHF-10
KSAT
San Antonio, TX
1957
37th ABC Aug. 1,
2014
Dec. 31,
2009
VHF-4
UHF-6
VHF-4
UHF-6
WJXT
Jacksonville, FL
1947
47th None Feb. 1,
2013
— VHF-2
UHF-5
VHF-2
UHF-5
(a) Source: 2008/2009 DMA Market Rankings, Nielsen Media Research, Fall 2008, based on television homes in DMA (see note (b) below).
(b) Designated Market Area (“DMA”) is a market designation of A.C. Nielsen that defines each television market exclusive of another, based on
measured viewing patterns. References to stations that are operating in each market are to stations that are broadcasting analog signals. However,
most of the stations in these markets are also engaged in digital broadcasting using the FCC-assigned channels for DTV operations.
The Company’s Detroit, Houston and Miami stations each began digital television (“DTV”) broadcast operations in 1999,
while the Company’s Orlando station began such operations in 2001. The Company’s two other stations (San Antonio
and Jacksonville) began DTV broadcast operations in 2002.
All of the Company’s television stations either are or in 2009 will be engaged in some form of DTV multicasting. In
2009, all of the Company’s television stations except WDIV will multicast LATV, an entertainment and lifestyle network
targeting bilingual Latino youth; and KPRC and WDIV will multicast ThisTV, a general entertainment network.
Regulation of Broadcasting and Related Matters
The Company’s television broadcasting operations are subject to the jurisdiction of the FCC under the Communications
Act of 1934, as amended. The FCC, among other things, assigns frequency bands for broadcast and other uses; issues,
revokes, modifies and renews broadcasting licenses for particular frequencies; determines the location and power of
stations and establishes areas to be served; regulates equipment used by stations and adopts and implements various
regulations and policies that directly or indirectly affect the ownership, operations and profitability of broadcasting
stations.
Each of the Company’s television stations holds an FCC license that is renewable upon application for an eight-year
period.
Digital Television (“DTV”). The FCC formally approved DTV technical standards in 1996. DTV is a flexible system that
permits broadcasters to utilize a single digital signal in various ways, including providing at least one channel of high-
definition television (“HDTV”) programming with greatly enhanced image and sound quality and one or more channels of
standard-definition television programming (“multicasting”), and that also is capable of accommodating subscription video
and data services known as “ancillary and supplementary” services. Broadcasters may offer a combination of services as
long as they transmit at least one stream of free video programming on the DTV channel. Broadcasters that offer ancillary
and supplementary services must pay a fee to the FCC of 5% of the gross revenues generated from such services. No
Company station currently offers ancillary and supplementary services.
While most full-power television stations (including each station owned by the Company) are currently using two
broadcast channels to operate both analog and DTV services, Congress previously required broadcasters to terminate
analog service by February 17, 2009. Congress recently acted to extend the deadline for the conversion to June 12,
2009. The FCC has issued a public notice outlining procedures applicable to stations that desire to terminate analog
service prior to the new deadline.
2008 FORM 10-K 17