Over-The-Air TV: Neither Cable TV nor Satellite nor Streaming
City dwellers are accustomed to Cable TV, which is the distribution of television services over a coaxial wire. The late 2010's saw the rise of streaming services via the internet.
This article is about neither of those. This article is about terrain broadcast television, aka over-the-air television, aka free TV.
This article is about neither of those. This article is about terrain broadcast television, aka over-the-air television, aka free TV.
History of Over-The-Air Television
The first television stations were launched in the late 1920's. They provided free channels to every television set within range. As of the 2000's, channels available locally included TPT/PBS, WCCO/CBS, KSTP/ABC, KCCO/CBS, KMSP/Fox, KARE/NBC, WCMN, KTCI/weather, K19BG/TBN, WUCW/CW, WFTC/My, KPXM/Pax, KSAX/ABC, and KSTC/45TV.
Not much changed until 2009 when the United States government directed most over-the-air television stations to convert their signal from analog to digital (aka ATSC 1.0). To ease the transition, the government provided coupons so that all households could buy the new digital tuners.
Over-the-air television is changing again as of the 2020's, switching from ATSC 1.0 to ATSC 3.0, nicknamed NextGenTV. Again, all television sets will require new tuners to receive over-the-air channels, though the government will not subsidize this transition. Many of Twin Cities over-the-air stations will begin the multi-year transition in August 2023.
Not much changed until 2009 when the United States government directed most over-the-air television stations to convert their signal from analog to digital (aka ATSC 1.0). To ease the transition, the government provided coupons so that all households could buy the new digital tuners.
Over-the-air television is changing again as of the 2020's, switching from ATSC 1.0 to ATSC 3.0, nicknamed NextGenTV. Again, all television sets will require new tuners to receive over-the-air channels, though the government will not subsidize this transition. Many of Twin Cities over-the-air stations will begin the multi-year transition in August 2023.
Over-The -Air Reception in Saint CloudSaint Cloud is geographically positioned such that over-the-air broadcast channels are weak, as most broadcast towers are located 60 miles away in Shoreview (northern Twin Cities). Thus, reception of over-the-air channels is impractical with small or indoor antennas. Decent reception requires:
At right: This 2014 map of ABC's over-the-air stations demonstrates Saint Cloud as being near the outer contours. As of early 2022, the following over-the-air channels are theoretically available. The antenna would need aimed toward the desired station's tower. Thus, most antennas are aimed towards the Twin Cities due to its larger selection of channels. |
Twin Cities channels:
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Saint Cloud & Anoka channels:
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Alexandria & Westport & Avon channels:
Brainerd channels (distant signal):
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A technologically detailed list is available at RabbitEars.info.
Photography and graphic ©2024 Northside-Hester Park Neighborhood