Random memory I had today:
Growing up, I remember that the leftmost station on our FM dial was the audio feed from local ABC station in Philly (WPVI, represent!). Not just the news or the TV shows, but all of the commercials as well. It was a straight audio feed. I listened to it more often than you might think.
Two questions:
1. Was/Is this common anywhere else in the US?
2. For anyone in Philly, does WPVI still do this?
Posted in Television, Movies, and Music
COD October 29, 2008, 3:22 pm
I don’t remember picking up TV audio on the FM band, but I did have a portable radio that had a TV band where I could pick up the audio from the network stations.
jk October 29, 2008, 10:30 pm
I don’t think they do, but I am a KYW 1060 addict.
Ryan October 29, 2008, 10:38 pm
Actually, my Mom e-mailed to confirm that they do, indeed, still broadcast WPVI on the radio! She said she thinks it’s 87.7. (Wikipedia confirms it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WPVI-TV )
Ryan October 29, 2008, 10:39 pm
But, oh no!:
“WPVI can be heard at 87.7 FM, though at a slightly lower volume than other FM stations. This is because the 87.75 MHz frequency is the audio frequency used for channel 6 in System M. *This will not work after the DTV transition in 2009.*”
I wrote this Ping JUST IN TIME.
Steve A October 30, 2008, 12:38 am
Ryan had the answer about it being Channel 6. I remember when I was a kid in San Diego (county), CA I could pick up 6 on the FM.
Ciao,
jk October 30, 2008, 1:26 am
Stoopid DTV transition. I am probably too far away anyway (60 miles).
God rest Jim O’Brien.
Dave Walls November 1, 2008, 12:29 pm
Sorry I missed this one a few days ago.
Everything above is true, WPVI (for now) is at 87.7. Jeopardy! and Who Wants To Be A Millionaire (when it was on ABC) are/were great game shows to listen over the radio.
And yes, God rest Jim O’Brien, indeed.