In North America, channel 1 is a former broadcast (over-the-air) television channel. When the U.S. Federal Communications Commission first allocated broadcast television frequencies, channel 1 was logically the first channel. Some television stations originally broadcasting on channel 1:
- WNBT (today's WNBC-TV), now on channel 4;
- KTSL (today's KCBS-TV), now on channel 2.
However, it was later decided that too much of the VHF radio spectrum was given to television, and the band used by channel 1 (between 44 and 50 MHz) was instead reassigned to amateur radios (the six-meter band). Rather than renumber, it was far easier just to leave it off permanently. (Cable TV does have a channel 1, though this may not be the same, as its use is rare and its frequency assignment is sometimes inconsistent.)
TV was not the first use for that band either. Originally, it was part of the FM broadcast band, until it was later moved in the RCA scandal . Channel 1 is also not the only "missing" channel. There are no stations assigned to UHF channel 37 (608 to 614MHz), which is kept silent for use in radio astronomy. Since that channel is in the middle instead of at either end, it remains on all TV sets and other tuners.
Other channels have been removed and reassigned as well, but only from the upper UHF bands. Channels 14 to 83 (sans 37), from about 450 to 900MHz, were originally added for the rapidly-expanding TV service. In the 1980s, the channels from 70 on up (from about 800 to 900MHz) were removed for AMPS mobile phone services (leading to one side of some conversations being heard on older TV sets).
In the 1990s, it was decided that digital television would be limited to the channels below 52, so that another 18 channels (from about 700 to 800MHz) could be auctioned and given to emergency services such as police radios . Although not officially removed, channel 6 (from 82 to 88MHz) is not being assigned to digital stations either, and will at least temporarily remain as a guard band with the FM broadcast band (from 88 to 108MHz). Renumbering in this case is moot, as virtual channels maintain the original TV station brand number, despite actually transmitting on another channel.
In Europe, other recently-abandoned TV channels are being used for DAB digital radio.
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Last updated: 05-29-2005 07:07:48
