Dear Action Line,
Why does NBC from Albuquerque channel 12 have such horrible sound on all sports and TV shows like “Chicago Med,” “Chicago Fire” and “Chicago P.D.”? These shows come in good on 15 from Denver but that channel only comes in part time on Spectrum? It has been that way for years! Why can't we get Denver all the time?
– Still Hanging by a Cable
Dear Action Line,
So I work in the tech world and AI. Something interesting happened in the last few days with things like YouTubeTV and other streaming services. They switched the location verification settings – now they use your IP address as well as mobile device GPS so Durango residents are no longer able to get local Denver channels, only the playback area of Santa Fe and Albuquerque. This is going to be an issue to anyone who uses YouTubeTV. It is crazy that we live in Colorado but are forced to watch New Mexico local news and local programming. If I remember correctly, The Durango Herald awhile back touted how we could now get local Denver programming but unfortunately that doesn’t seem to be the case anymore.
– Streamer
Dear Cable and Streamer,
I thought we had solved the Denver TV in Durango conundrum as well, but I guess not, and it’s ever changing and confusing (a previous Mr. Action Line last tackled this 18 months ago). La Plata County petitioned the FCC to allow Denver TV here in 2017 (we are part of the Albuquerque market), which the agency granted in 2019. But only Dish Network and DirecTV initially added all the network affiliates, and just for a few years during COVID-19 to provide state health information. And while mostly Albuquerque now, it sounds like Dish still gets a couple. Spectrum cable added Denver news to channel 15, even though most of the time it’s “Inside Durango Television,” which is really just infomercials with interspersed Denver 9 News. Denver PBS is on cable too. Over-the-air watchers with digital bunny ears used to get Denver 9 news, but no longer, although they may be able to get Broncos games sometimes on the Albuquerque feed if there is no Cowboys game the same day. I think.
As for as why YouTubeTV and other streamers insist on providing the Albuquerque feeds, I would guess it has to do with advertising agreements or something, making sure the whole Albuquerque market (which includes us) gets included. Telling them you live in Silverton has worked in the past, but it sounds like that is changing? Providing Albuquerque feeds has not been a legal requirement since 2019, so you might have to try to get in touch with whoever makes these decisions at YouTubeTV- is that even possible? You would know better than I, Streamer.
As to bad reception on cable channel 12 (NBC), I couldn’t get an answer from Spectrum – maybe it’s just your setup. It’s fine for us except that channel when recorded on DVR is pixilated sometimes. And wait Cable Watcher, you get shows on channel 15 besides news sometimes, not just “Inside Durango Television” like me? I went to the Spectrum shop, which now seems more like an Apple store than the old one that had cable boxes stacked high behind an old desk. They thought maybe I needed to upgrade my cable box, so you could be ahead of the game if you get Denver-based shows, even sometimes!
Email questions and suggestions to actionline@durangoherald.com or mail them to Action Line, The Durango Herald, 1275 Main Ave., Durango, CO 81301. Today’s Fun Fact: The first U.S. TV commercial aired in 1941, for the Bulova Watch Co., before a baseball game between the Brooklyn Dodgers and the Phillies, featuring the tagline “America runs on Bulova time.”
