WTMO-Telemundo goes Digital

Starting February 1, WTMO-Telemundo will be transmitted in a digital-only format but will remain on channel 62. That means Telemundo will only be available with a Digital SmartBox.

For customers in Brevard County, this transition means that you will now receive the local feed of Telemundo, WTMO, on channel 62. Be sure to check channel listings for current programming information.

WTMO-Telemundo Background Information 

Bright House Networks recently made several changes to its channel lineup including WTMO-Telemundo which is now offered on our Basic service. Here is information regarding WTMO-Telemundo.

• Bright House Networks moved WTMO-Telemundo from Standard service ($52.99 per month) to Basic Service ($19.99 per month) in Digital format vs. Analog format. WTMO-Telemundo remains available on channel 62. Digital customers are not affected by this change. This was done to lower the price for customers wanting to see WTMO-Telemundo and to enable Bright House Networks to free up analog space on its network to add more High Definition programming in an increasingly competitive video marketplace. On February 1, Bright House Networks added five new High Definition channels and two new Digital channels to its lineup with more to come.

• At the same time Bright House Networks moved WTMO-Telemundo from the Standard service level to the Basic level, it expanded carriage of the WTMO-Telemundo signal to Brevard County which WTMO-Telemundo has been seeking for some time. Bright House Networks did this in a good faith effort to serve the Hispanic Community despite the fact that WTMO-Telemundo is a Low Power Television Station (LPTV) with no carriage rights.

• Bright House Networks has made digital converter boxes available to affected customers for $1 per month. Under FCC rate regulations, Bright House Networks is allowed to charge $7.40 for that box. Bright House Networks normally leases the box at a retail rate of $6.95 but is providing it at a deep discount at $1 to better facilitate access to WTMO-Telemundo. Bright House Networks has no current plans to change that rate. Bright House Networks is allowing two of these deeply discounted converter boxes per home, with requests for more handled on a case-by-case basis. Customers who have Digital service, or have purchased a new television set with a digital tuner (most of them have the digital tuner included) will not need a converter box to view WTMO-Telemundo.

• Contrary to some public assertions, the cost to access WTMO-Telemundo on Bright House Networks has gone down substantially, from $52.99 to $20.99 ($19.99 + $1.00 box). As another option, customers may choose the “Mi Plan Latino” which includes: Basic Service, the Digital SmartBox, the Remote control, Nuestros Canales (24 Hispanic Services), Music Choice (42 Music channels) and the Navigator Guide service for $29.99.

• Also, Bright House Networks offers a digital package of 24 Hispanic services called Nuestros Canales. This package includes five Hispanic digital audio services.

• WTMO-Telemundo is a Low Power TV station (LPTV). As an LPTV they do not have carriage rights on cable systems per FCC regulations. There are 20 LPTVs in the Central Florida market, Bright House Networks carries, one…WTMO-Telemundo. Bright House Networks was not required to do so but did in a proactive effort to serve the Hispanic Community.

• The other two Hispanic Broadcast stations carried by Bright House Networks are full power stations which have must carry rights under FCC regulations. ZSG Communications, which owns WTMO-Telemundo, made the conscious decision to own a Low Power station (much less expense to own and operate) vs. a Full Power station, yet ZGS expects the same status afforded Full Power stations.

• WTMO-Telemundo is not locally owned. ZSG Communications is based in Alexandria, VA.

• Bright House Networks is a strong supporter of the Hispanic Community including major sponsorship of Calle Orange, Fiesta Medina, The Don Quixote Awards, The Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, The Hispanic Summit, The Latin Arts & Music Festival, Alianza de Mujeres Activas (Alliance for Women), The Volusia County Hispanic Association, Feria de la Familia y Saluda, and much, much more. In addition, Bright House Networks created and operates a 24-hour local Spanish language news and weather channel News 13 Espanola. Any claims that Bright House Networks is discriminating against WTMO-Telemundo or the Hispanic community are absolutely untrue.

• It should also be noted that local, state or Federal government entities cannot, by Federal law make programming decisions of this nature for Cable operators. This situation is between two business entities in which government does not have any authority.