TV stations of the 70's

[kcguy]

[I don’t feel like I ever contribute real content, so here’s some content, however weird it may be.]

When I was growing up, we had 5 TV stations—the local affiliates for ABC, CBS, NBC, and PBS, plus an independent station.  When I went to different cities, I noticed that the stations were different.  I’ve been fascinated ever since.

When I was in college, I found a report of “significantly viewed television stations” from May 1972 for most of the counties in the US.  The report was only for commercial stations.  Below is a list of those stations watched in various cities.


I feel like I should list some thoughts and caveats:

1.   In places where the main TV station has satellite stations, sometimes the main station is listed and sometimes the satellite station.  (In some cases, there are also boosters.  For example, when I lived in Salem VA in the 1990’s, I could pick up the ABC affiliate on Channel 13 out of Lynchburg, but I could often pick up a stronger signal from the booster on Channel 5, which didn’t officially exist.)

2.   Stations come and go, or they change their network affiliations.  The original report didn’t list network affiliations, so I’ve had to guess from other sources.  (Hopefully, I got them right.)  In Kansas City, for example, Channel 50 disappeared sometime after the report was made.  It came back years later as a religious station.  Channel 4 was an NBC affiliate, until it was bought in the early 90's by the corporation that also owned FOX.

3.   I had never realized it before I did this project, but the same VHF numbers tend to cluster together.  In general, a city will either have stations 2-4-5-7-9-11-13 or stations 3-6-8-10-12.

4.   It’s interesting how people will prefer a VHF station to a UHF one, even if the VHF one is further away.

[kcguy]

MASSACHUSETTS
PITTSFIELD:  ABC:  10 (Albany, NY).  CBS:  3 (Hartford, CT), 13 (Albany, NY).  NBC:  6 (Schenectady, NY).
NORTHAMPTON.  ABC:  40 (Springfield, MA).  CBS:  3 (Hartford, CT).  NBC:  22 (Springfield, MA).
SPRINGFIELD.  ABC:  8 (New Haven, CT), 40 (Springfield, MA).  CBS:  3 (Hartford, CT).  NBC:  22 (Springfield, MA), 30 (New Britain, CT).
GREENFIELD.  ABC:  5 (Boston, MA), 40 (Springfield, MA).  CBS:  3 (Hartford, CT).  NBC:  4 (Boston, MA), 22 (Springfield, MA).
BOSTON.  ABC:  5 (Boston, MA).  CBS:  7 (Boston, MA).  NBC:  4 (Boston, MA).  IND:  38 (Boston, MA), 56 (Cambridge, MA).
WORCESTER.  ABC:  5 (Boston, MA), 12 (Providence, RI).  CBS:  7 (Boston, MA).  NBC:  4 (Boston, MA), 10 (Providence, RI).  IND:  27 (Worcester, MA), 38 (Boston, MA), 56 (Cambridge, MA).
NEW BEDFORD.  ABC:  5 (Boston, MA), 12 (Providence, RI).  CBS:  6 (Providence, RI), 7 (Boston, MA).  NBC:  4 (Boston, MA), 10 (Providence, RI).  IND:  38 (Boston, MA), 56 (Cambridge, MA).

[kcguy]

RHODE ISLAND
NEWPORT.  ABC:  12 (Providence, RI).  CBS:  6 (Providence, RI), 7 (Boston, MA).  NBC:  10 (Providence, RI).  IND:  38 (Boston, MA), 56 (Cambridge, MA).
WARWICK.  ABC:  5 (Boston, MA), 12 (Providence, RI).  CBS:  6 (Providence, RI), 7 (Boston, MA).  NBC:  10 (Providence, RI).  IND:  38 (Boston, MA).
PROVIDENCE.  ABC:  5 (Boston, MA), 12 (Providence, RI).  CBS:  6 (Providence, RI), 7 (Boston, MA).  NBC:  4 (Boston, MA), 10 (Providence, RI).  IND:  38 (Boston, MA), 56 (Cambridge, MA).

[kcguy]

NEW HAMPSHIRE
MANCHESTER and PORTSMOUTH.  ABC:  5 (Boston, MA), 9 (Manchester, NH).  CBS:  7 (Boston, MA).  NBC:  4 (Boston, MA).  IND:  38 (Boston, MA), 56 (Cambridge, MA).
CONCORD.  ABC:  5 (Boston, MA), 8 (Poland Spring, ME), 9 (Manchester, NH).  CBS:  7 (Boston, MA).  NBC:  4 (Boston, MA), 6 (Portland, ME).
ROCHESTER.  ABC:  5 (Boston, MA), 8 (Poland Spring, ME), 9 (Manchester, NH).  CBS:  7 (Boston, MA), 13 (Portland, ME).  NBC:  4 (Boston, MA), 6 (Portland, ME).
LACONIA.  ABC:  5 (Boston, MA), 8 (Poland Spring, ME), 9 (Manchester, NH).  CBS:  13 (Portland, ME).  NBC:  4 (Boston, MA), 6 (Portland, ME).
KEENE.  ABC:  5 (Boston, MA), 9 (Manchester, NH).  CBS:  3 (Hartford, CT), 7 (Boston, MA).  NBC:  4 (Boston, MA), 22 (Springfield, MA).
CLAREMONT.  ABC:  5 (Boston, MA), 9 (Manchester, NH).  CBS:  3 (Burlington, VT).  NBC:  4 (Boston, MA), 22 (Springfield, MA).
LEBANON.  ABC:  8 (Poland Spring, ME).  CBS:  3 (Burlington, VT).

[kcguy]

MAINE
LEWISTON and PORTLAND.  ABC:  8 (Poland Spring, ME).  CBS:  13 (Portland, ME).  NBC:  6 (Portland, ME).
WATERVILLE.  ABC:  8 (Poland Spring, ME).  CBS:  5 (Bangor, ME), 13 (Portland, ME).  NBC:  2 (Bangor, ME), 6 (Portland, ME).
BANGOR.  ABC:  7 (Bangor, ME).  CBS:  5 (Bangor, ME).  NBC:  2 (Bangor, ME).
PRESQUE ISLE.  CBS:  8 (Presque Isle, ME).  IND:  4 (Saint John, Canada).

[cinyc]

1.   In places where the main TV station has satellite stations, sometimes the main station is listed and sometimes the satellite station.  (In some cases, there are also boosters.  For example, when I lived in Salem VA in the 1990’s, I could pick up the ABC affiliate on Channel 13 out of Lynchburg, but I could often pick up a stronger signal from the booster on Channel 5, which didn’t officially exist.)

While there is less of a need for them due to cable and satellite penetration, there are still some translator stations today, especially in sparsely populated western markets.  Some directly mirror the main station's content and commercials.  Others insert some local commercials or offer local programming, especially news.  I think they're generally treated as one station for ratings purposes, but I'm not sure.

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Which makes sense, especially in heavily populated areas of the country like the Northeast where there is a greater chance of interference.  For example, New York has the 2-4-5-7-9-11-13 stations while Philadelphia has the 3-6-8-10-12 configuration.  Hartford and Providence shared the 3-6-8-10-12 stations, meaning some of their network stations had to be UHF.

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VHF stations generally had a stronger signal.  Plus, older TVs and antennas didn't necessarily have a UHF tuner or element.  So VHF stations were at a great advantage in the days before cable.
 
Ironically, VHF stations are out of favor today because VHF digital signals are harder to pick up with indoor antennas and, especially in the channel 2-6 range, subject to more interference.  Most network stations picked a UHF channel after the digital transition.  You rarely see a network  Channel 2 on Channel 2 these days - it's actually broadcasting on channel 33 or 46 or something like that because of the signal degradation. 

[kcguy]

VERMONT
BENNINGTON.  ABC:  10 (Albany, NY).  CBS:  13 (Albany, NY).  NBC:  6 (Schenectady, NY).
RUTLAND.  ABC:  10 (Albany, NY).  CBS:  3 (Burlington, VT), 13 (Albany, NY).  NBC:  5 (Plattsburgh, NY), 6 (Schenectady, NY).
BURLINGTON.  ABC:  22 (Burlington, VT).  CBS:  3 (Burlington, VT).  NBC:  5 (Plattsburgh, NY).  IND:  12 (Montreal, Canada).
BARRE.  ABC:  8 (Poland Spring, ME).  CBS:  3 (Burlington, VT).  NBC:  5 (Plattsburgh, NY).

[kcguy]

While there is less of a need for them due to cable and satellite penetration, there are still some translator stations today, especially in sparsely populated western markets.  Some directly mirror the main station's content and commercials.  Others insert some local commercials or offer local programming, especially news.  I think they're generally treated as one station for ratings purposes, but I'm not sure.

In particular, I was thinking of South Dakota when I said this.  All the stations seemed to be assigned either to Sioux Falls or Rapid City.

When I was in Virginia, I think the reason for the booster was the Blue Ridge Mountains, which sat between me and Lynchburg.

[kcguy]

CONNECTICUT
HARTFORD.  ABC:  8 (New Haven, CT).  CBS:  3 (Hartford, CT).  NBC:  30 (New Britain, CT).  IND:  18 (Hartford, CT).
NEW LONDON.  ABC:  5 (Boston, MA), 8 (New Haven, CT), 12 (Providence, RI).  CBS:  3 (Hartford, CT), 6 (Providence, RI).  NBC:  10 (Providence, RI).
NEW HAVEN.  ABC:  7 (New York, NY), 8 (New Haven, CT).  CBS:  2 (New York, NY), 3 (Hartford, CT).  NBC:  4 (New York, NY).  IND:  5 (New York, NY), 9 (New York, NY), 11 (New York, NY).
TORRINGTON.  ABC:  8 (New Haven, CT).  CBS:  2 (New York, NY), 3 (Hartford, CT).  NBC:  4 (New York, NY), 30 (New Britain, CT).  IND:  5 (New York, NY), 11 (New York, NY).
BRIDGEPORT.  ABC:  7 (New York, NY), 8 (New Haven, CT).  CBS:  2 (New York, NY).  NBC:  4 (New York, NY).  IND:  5 (New York, NY), 9 (New York, NY), 11 (New York, NY).

[kcguy]

NEW JERSEY
NEWARK.  ABC:  7 (New York, NY).  CBS:  2 (New York, NY).  NBC:  4 (New York, NY).  IND:  5 (New York, NY), 9 (New York, NY), 11 (New York, NY).
TRENTON.  ABC:  6 (Philadelphia, PA), 7 (New York, NY).  CBS:  2 (New York, NY), 10 (Philadelphia, PA).  NBC:  3 (Philadelphia, PA), 4 (New York, NY).  IND:  5 (New York, NY), 9 (New York, NY), 11 (New York, NY), 17 (Philadelphia, PA), 48 (Burlington, NJ).
ATLANTIC CITY and VINELAND.  ABC:  6 (Philadelphia, PA).  CBS:  10 (Philadelphia, PA).  NBC:  3 (Philadelphia, PA).  IND:  17 (Philadelphia, PA), 29 (Philadelphia, PA), 48 (Burlington, NJ).

[cinyc]

In particular, I was thinking of South Dakota when I said this.  All the stations seemed to be assigned either to Sioux Falls or Rapid City.

When I was in Virginia, I think the reason for the booster was the Blue Ridge Mountains, which sat between me and Lynchburg.

South Dakota's current TV markets are a bit weird.  I can only imagine how it was in the 70s when there were fewer TV stations.

All but three counties in the state are either in the Sioux Falls-Mitchell DMA or the Rapid City DMA.  (Two counties on the North Dakota border are in the Bismarck-Minot-Dickinson, ND DMA, while Union County in the state's southeastern corner is in the Sioux City, IA DMA).  The Sioux Falls stations tend to have satellite stations or translators throughout the East River part of the state.  One station, current CBS affiliate KELO, even has a satellite station in Rapid City that serves as Rapid City's CBS affiliate.  Since Sioux Falls is in the Central Time Zone and Rapid City is in the Mountain Time Zone, you get some strange TV listings in Rapid City - like Letterman being on at 9:35 Mountain time while Fallon is on at 10:35.  CBS prime time starts as 6PM weekdays there, while ABC, NBC and Fox start at 7:00PM.  Some of the Rapid City stations have satellite stations and translators in parts of Wyoming and even western Nebraska, while others just have a translator for the Black Hills an/or in-town Rapid City.  Rapid City is one of the smaller TV markets in the country - 173rd of 210.

[kcguy]

NEW YORK
NEW YORK.  ABC:  7 (New York, NY).  CBS:  2 (New York, NY).  NBC:  4 (New York, NY).  IND:  5 (New York, NY), 9 (New York, NY), 11 (New York, NY).
NEWBURGH.  ABC:  7 (New York, NY).  CBS:  2 (New York, NY).  NBC:  4 (New York, NY).  IND:  5 (New York, NY), 9 (New York, NY), 11 (New York, NY).
POUGHKEEPSIE.  ABC:  7 (New York, NY), 10 (Albany, NY).  CBS:  2 (New York, NY).  NBC:  4 (New York, NY).  IND:  5 (New York, NY), 9 (New York, NY), 11 (New York, NY).
KINGSTON.  ABC:  7 (New York, NY), 10 (Albany, NY).  CBS:  2 (New York, NY).  NBC:  4 (New York, NY), 6 (Schenectady, NY).  IND:  5 (New York, NY), 9 (New York, NY), 11 (New York, NY).
ALBANY, GLENS FALLS, GLOVERSVILLE, SCHENECTADY, and TROY.  ABC:  10 (Albany, NY).  CBS:  13 (Albany, NY).  NBC:  6 (Schenectady, NY).
PLATTSBURGH.  ABC:  22 (Burlington, VT).  CBS:  3 (Burlington, VT).  NBC:  5 (Plattsburgh, NY).  IND:  6 (Montreal, Canada), 12 (Montreal, Canada).
WATERTOWN.  CBS:  5 (Syracuse, NY), 7 (Carthage, NY).  NBC:  3 (Syracuse, NY).  IND:  11 (Kingston, Canada).
UTICA.  ABC:  9 (Syracuse, NY), 20 (Utica, NY).  CBS:  5 (Syracuse, NY).  NBC:  2 (Utica, NY), 3 (Syracuse, NY).
ONEONTA.  ABC:  9 (Syracuse, NY).  CBS:  5 (Syracuse, NY), 12 (Binghamton, NY).  NBC:  2 (Utica, NY), 6 (Schenectady, NY).
ITHACA.  ABC:  9 (Syracuse, NY).  CBS:  5 (Syracuse, NY), 12 (Binghamton, NY).  NBC:  3 (Syracuse, NY).
BINGHAMTON.  ABC:  34 (Binghamton, NY).  CBS:  12 (Binghamton, NY).  NBC:  40 (Binghamton, NY).
CORTLAND, OSWEGO, and SYRACUSE.  ABC:  9 (Syracuse, NY).  CBS:  5 (Syracuse, NY).  NBC:  3 (Syracuse, NY).
AUBURN.  ABC:  9 (Syracuse, NY), 13 (Rochester, NY).  CBS:  5 (Syracuse, NY), 10 (Rochester, NY).  NBC:  3 (Syracuse, NY).
GENEVA.  ABC:  9 (Syracuse, NY), 13 (Rochester, NY).  CBS:  5 (Syracuse, NY), 10 (Rochester, NY).  NBC:  3 (Syracuse, NY), 8 (Rochester, NY).
ROCHESTER.  ABC:  13 (Rochester, NY).  CBS:  10 (Rochester, NY).  NBC:  8 (Rochester, NY).
BATAVIA.  ABC:  7 (Buffalo, NY), 13 (Rochester, NY).  CBS:  4 (Buffalo, NY), 10 (Rochester, NY).  NBC:  2 (Buffalo, NY), 8 (Rochester, NY).
BUFFALO.  ABC:  7 (Buffalo, NY).  CBS:  4 (Buffalo, NY).  NBC:  2 (Buffalo, NY).  IND:  29 (Buffalo, NY).
JAMESTOWN and OLEAN.  ABC:  7 (Buffalo, NY).  CBS:  4 (Buffalo, NY).  NBC:  2 (Buffalo, NY).
NIAGARA FALLS.  ABC:  7 (Buffalo, NY).  CBS:  4 (Buffalo, NY).  NBC:  2 (Buffalo, NY).  IND:  6 (Toronto, Canada), 29 (Buffalo, NY).
HORNELL.  ABC:  7 (Buffalo, NY), 9 (Syracuse, NY).  CBS:  4 (Buffalo, NY), 5 (Syracuse, NY), 12 (Binghamton, NY).  NBC:  3 (Syracuse, NY), 18 (Elmira, NY).
ELMIRA.  ABC:  36 (Elmira, NY).  CBS:  12 (Binghamton, NY).  NBC:  18 (Elmira, NY).  IND:  5 (New York, NY).

[kcguy]

PENNSYLVANIA
PITTSBURGH.  ABC:  4 (Pittsburgh, PA).  CBS:  2 (Pittsburgh, PA).  NBC:  11 (Pittsburgh, PA).  IND:  53 (Pittsburgh, PA).
UNIONTOWN.  ABC:  4 (Pittsburgh, PA).  CBS:  2 (Pittsburgh, PA).  NBC:  11 (Pittsburgh, PA).
WASHINGTON.  ABC:  4 (Pittsburgh, PA).  CBS:  2 (Pittsburgh, PA), 9 (Steubenville, OH).  NBC:  7 (Wheeling, WV), 11 (Pittsburgh, PA).  IND:  53 (Pittsburgh, PA).
NEW CASTLE.  ABC:  4 (Pittsburgh, PA), 33 (Youngstown, OH).  CBS:  2 (Pittsburgh, PA), 27 (Youngstown, OH).  NBC:  11 (Pittsburgh, PA), 21 (Youngstown, PA).
SHARON.  ABC:  33 (Youngstown, OH).  CBS:  2 (Pittsburgh, PA), 27 (Youngstown, OH).  NBC:  11 (Pittsburgh, PA), 21 (Youngstown, PA).
ERIE and MEADVILLE.  ABC:  24 (Erie, PA).  CBS:  35 (Erie, PA).  NBC:  12 (Erie, PA).
WARREN.  ABC:  7 (Buffalo, NY).  CBS:  4 (Buffalo, NY).  NBC:  2 (Buffalo, NY), 12 (Erie, PA).
BRADFORD.  ABC:  7 (Buffalo, NY).  CBS:  4 (Buffalo, NY).  NBC:  2 (Buffalo, NY).
OIL CITY.  ABC:  4 (Pittsburgh, PA).  CBS:  2 (Pittsburgh, PA).  NBC:  6 (Johnstown, PA), 11 (Pittsburgh, PA), 12 (Erie, PA).
BUTLER and LATROBE.  ABC:  4 (Pittsburgh, PA).  CBS:  2 (Pittsburgh, PA).  NBC:  6 (Johnstown, PA), 11 (Pittsburgh, PA).  IND:  53 (Pittsburgh, PA).
INDIANA.  ABC:  4 (Pittsburgh, PA).  CBS:  2 (Pittsburgh, PA), 10 (Altoona, PA).  NBC:  6 (Johnstown, PA), 11 (Pittsburgh, PA).
JOHNSTOWN.  ABC:  4 (Pittsburgh, PA).  CBS:  2 (Pittsburgh, PA), 10 (Altoona, PA).  NBC:  6 (Johnstown, PA).
ALTOONA, DU BOIS, and STATE COLLEGE.  CBS:  10 (Altoona, PA).  NBC:  6 (Johnstown, PA).
LOCK HAVEN.  CBS:  10 (Altoona, PA).
LEWISTOWN.  CBS:  10 (Altoona, PA).  NBC:  6 (Johnstown, PA), 8 (Lancaster, PA).
CARLISLE and HARRISBURG.  ABC:  27 (Harrisburg, PA).  CBS:  21 (Harrisburg, PA).  NBC:  8 (Lancaster, PA).
LEBANON.  ABC:  27 (Harrisburg, PA).  CBS:  15 (Lebanon, PA), 21 (Harrisburg, PA).  NBC:  8 (Lancaster, PA).
YORK.  ABC:  13 (Baltimore, MD), 27 (Harrisburg, PA).  CBS:  2 (Baltimore, MD), 43 (York, PA).  NBC:  8 (Lancaster, PA), 11 (Baltimore, MD).
CHAMBERSBURG.  ABC:  7 (Washington, DC), 13 (Baltimore, MD).  CBS:  2 (Baltimore, MD), 9 (Washington, DC).  NBC:  4 (Washington, DC), 8 (Lancaster, PA), 11 (Baltimore, MD).  IND:  5 (Washington, DC).
LANCASTER.  ABC:  6 (Philadelphia, PA), 27 (Harrisburg, PA).  CBS:  10 (Philadelphia, PA), 15 (Lebanon, PA).  NBC:  3 (Philadelphia, PA), 8 (Lancaster, PA).  IND:  17 (Philadelphia, PA).
READING.  ABC:  6 (Philadelphia, PA).  CBS:  10 (Philadelphia, PA).  NBC:  3 (Philadelphia, PA), 8 (Lancaster, PA).  IND:  17 (Philadelphia, PA), 48 (Burlington, NJ).
POTTSVILLE.  ABC:  6 (Philadelphia, PA).  CBS:  10 (Philadelphia, PA).  NBC:  3 (Philadelphia, PA), 8 (Lancaster, PA).
PHILADELPHIA and POTTSTOWN.  ABC:  6 (Philadelphia, PA).  CBS:  10 (Philadelphia, PA).  NBC:  3 (Philadelphia, PA).  IND:  17 (Philadelphia, PA), 29 (Philadelphia, PA), 48 (Burlington, NJ).
ALLENTOWN.  ABC:  6 (Philadelphia, PA).  CBS:  10 (Philadelphia, PA).  NBC:  3 (Philadelphia, PA).  IND:  17 (Philadelphia, PA).
BETHLEHEM.  ABC:  6 (Philadelphia, PA).  CBS: 10 (Philadelphia, PA).  NBC:  3 (Philadelphia, PA).  IND:  5 (New York, NY), 9 (New York, NY), 11 (New York, NY).
STROUDSBURG.  ABC:  6 (Philadelphia, PA).  CBS:  2 (New York, NY), 10 (Philadelphia, PA).  NBC:  3 (Philadelphia, PA), 4 (New York, NY).  IND:  5 (New York, NY).
SUNBURY.  ABC:  16 (Scranton, PA), 27 (Harrisburg, PA).  CBS:  21 (Harrisburg, PA).  NBC:  8 (Lancaster, PA), 28 (Wilkes-Barre, PA).
WILLIAMSPORT.  ABC:  16 (Scranton, PA).  CBS:  10 (Altoona, PA), 22 (Scranton, PA).  NBC:  28 (Wilkes-Barre, PA).
BLOOMSBURG, SCRANTON, and WILKES-BARRE.  ABC:  16 (Scranton, PA).  CBS:  22 (Scranton, PA).  NBC:  28 (Wilkes-Barre, PA).

[kcguy]

DELAWARE
WILMINGTON.  ABC:  6 (Philadelphia, PA).  CBS:  10 (Philadelphia, PA).  NBC:  3 (Philadelphia, PA).  IND:  17 (Philadelphia, PA), 29 (Philadelphia, PA), 48 (Burlington, NJ).
DOVER.  ABC:  6 (Philadelphia, PA).  CBS:  2 (Baltimore, MD), 10 (Philadelphia, PA).  NBC:  3 (Philadelphia, PA), 11 (Baltimore, MD).  IND:  17 (Philadelphia, PA).



DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
WASHINGTON.  ABC:  7 (Washington, DC).  CBS:  9 (Washington, DC).  NBC:  4 (Washington, DC).  IND:  5 (Washington, DC), 20 (Washington, DC).

[kcguy]

MARYLAND
BALTIMORE.  ABC:  13 (Baltimore, MD).  CBS:  2 (Baltimore, MD).  NBC:  11 (Baltimore, MD).  IND:  5 (Washington, DC).
SALISBURY.  ABC:  13 (Baltimore, MD).  CBS:  2 (Baltimore, MD), 16 (Salisbury, MD).  NBC:  11 (Baltimore, MD).  IND:  5 (Washington, DC).
ANNAPOLIS.  ABC:  7 (Washington, DC), 13 (Baltimore, MD).  CBS:  2 (Baltimore, MD), 9 (Washington, DC).  NBC:  4 (Washington, DC), 11 (Baltimore, MD).  IND:  5 (Washington, DC), 20 (Washington, DC).
EASTON and FREDERICK.  ABC:  7 (Washington, DC), 13 (Baltimore, MD).  CBS:  2 (Baltimore, MD), 9 (Washington, DC).  NBC:  4 (Washington, DC), 11 (Baltimore, MD).  IND:  5 (Washington, DC).
HAGERSTOWN.  ABC:  7 (Washington, DC).  CBS:  2 (Baltimore, MD), 9 (Washington, DC).  NBC:  4 (Washington, DC), 25 (Hagerstown, MD).  IND:  5 (Washington, DC).
CUMBERLAND.  ABC:  7 (Washington, DC).  CBS:  9 (Washington, DC).  NBC:  6 (Johnstown, PA).  IND:  5 (Washington, DC).

[Bandit3 the Worker]

I grew up in Highland Heights KY in the '70s and '80s, and most of our TV stations were in Cincinnati, unfortunately. I remember having 5 stations that usually came in clearly - NBC, CBS, ABC, PBS, and an independent. Then we got another PBS and later another independent.

The Cincinnati stations were so loaded with preemptions that we often had to pull in a snowy signal on a Dayton station.

[Bandit3 the Worker]

I remember Channel 5 preempting 'Diff'rent Strokes' for 'The Billy Graham Crusade'. Also, there was a long period when Channel 12 wouldn't show 'New Year's Rockin' Eve' because it was considered too daring for Cincinnati. Instead they showed the local New Year's "party" that consisted of about 3 people standing on Fountain Square drinking Diet Coke.

[kcguy]

I grew up in Highland Heights KY in the '70s and '80s, and most of our TV stations were in Cincinnati, unfortunately. I remember having 5 stations that usually came in clearly - NBC, CBS, ABC, PBS, and an independent. Then we got another PBS and later another independent.

The Cincinnati stations were so loaded with preemptions that we often had to pull in a snowy signal on a Dayton station.

We didn't have many alternate choices growing up in Kansas City.  On a good day, we might pick up a weak signal from the ABC affiliate in Saint Joseph, but Topeka was too far away to ever get a signal.

I hope to get back to this thread in a couple days.  I wish I could come up with a format to make this more interesting.  Fortunately, I seem to remember that the markets get more clearly demarcated the further west we go.  Hopefully, that will help.

[Bandit3 the Worker]

One of my big interests was radio. There's always been a real lack of data about what stations are heard in rural counties.

[kcguy]

One of my big interests was radio. There's always been a real lack of data about what stations are heard in rural counties.

Now that I think about it, when I was little, we listened to the radio to learn about school snow days.  It probably wouldn't be very accurate, but it might have been possible, once upon a time, to determine a radio station's reach based on which school superintendents called in to them.

[kcguy]

VIRGINIA
WINCHESTER.  ABC:  7 (Washington, DC).  CBS:  9 (Washington, DC).  NBC:  4 (Washington, DC).  IND:  5 (Washington, DC).
FREDERICKSBURG.  ABC:  7 (Washington, DC).  CBS:  6 (Richmond, VA), 9 (Washington, DC).  NBC:  4 (Washington, DC).  IND:  5 (Washington, DC).
HARRISONBURG and STAUNTON.  ABC:  3 (Harrisonburg, VA).  CBS:  6 (Richmond, VA).  NBC:  12 (Richmond, VA).  IND:  5 (Washington, DC).
CHARLOTTESVILLE.  ABC:  3 (Harrisonburg, VA), 8 (Petersburg, VA).  CBS:  6 (Richmond, VA).  NBC:  12 (Richmond, VA).
PETERSBURG and RICHMOND.  ABC:  8 (Petersburg, VA).  CBS:  6 (Richmond, VA).  NBC:  12 (Richmond, VA).
HAMPTON, NORFOLK, and VIRGINIA BEACH.  ABC:  13 (Hampton, VA).  CBS:  3 (Norfolk, VA).  NBC:  10 (Portsmouth, VA).
ROANOKE.  ABC:  13 (Lynchburg, VA).  CBS:  7 (Roanoke, VA).  NBC:  10 (Roanoke, VA).  IND:  27 (Roanoke, VA).
LYNCHBURG.  ABC:  13 (Lynchburg, VA).  CBS:  7 (Roanoke, VA).  NBC:  10 (Roanoke, VA).
DANVILLE.  ABC:  8 (High Point, NC), 13 (Lynchburg, VA).  CBS:  2 (Greensboro, NC), 7 (Roanoke, VA).  NBC:  10 (Roanoke, VA), 12 (Winston-Salem, NC).
MARTINSVILLE.  ABC:  8 (High Point, NC).  CBS:  2 (Greensboro, NC), 7 (Roanoke, VA).  NBC:  10 (Roanoke, VA), 12 (Winston-Salem, NC).
BRISTOL.  ABC:  19 (Kingsport, TN).  CBS:  11 (Johnson City, TN).  NBC:  5 (Bristol, VA).

[kcguy]

WEST VIRGINIA
BLUEFIELD.  ABC:  4 (Oak Hill, WV).  CBS:  7 (Roanoke, VA).  NBC:  6 (Bluefield, WV), 10 (Roanoke, VA).
BECKLEY and OAK HILL.  ABC:  4 (Oak Hill, WV), 13 (Huntington, WV).  CBS:  8 (Charleston, WV).  NBC:  3 (Huntington, WV), 6 (Bluefield, WV).
WILLIAMSON.  ABC:  13 (Huntington, WV).  CBS:  8 (Charleston, WV).  NBC:  3 (Huntington, WV), 6 (Bluefield, WV).
CHARLESTON, HUNTINGTON, and LOGAN.  ABC:  13 (Huntington, WV).  CBS:  8 (Charleston, WV).  NBC:  3 (Huntington, WV).
PARKERSBURG.  ABC:  13 (Huntington, WV).  CBS:  8 (Charleston, WV).  NBC:  3 (Huntington, WV), 15 (Parkersburg, WV).
ELKINS.  ABC:  12 (Clarksburg, WV).  CBS:  5 (Weston, WV), 8 (Charleston, WV).
WESTON.  ABC:  12 (Clarksburg, WV).  CBS:  5 (Weston, WV).
CLARKSBURG.  ABC:  4 (Pittsburgh, PA), 12 (Clarksburg, WV).  CBS:  5 (Weston, WV).
FAIRMONT.  ABC:  4 (Pittsburgh, PA), 12 (Clarksburg, WV).  CBS:  2 (Pittsburgh, PA), 5 (Weston, WV), 9 (Steubenville, OH).  NBC:  7 (Wheeling, WV).
MORGANTOWN.  ABC:  4 (Pittsburgh, PA), 12 (Clarksburg, WV).  CBS:  2 (Pittsburgh, PA).  NBC:  7 (Wheeling, WV), 11 (Pittsburgh, PA).
WEIRTON and WHEELING.  ABC:  4 (Pittsburgh, PA).  CBS:  2 (Pittsburgh, PA), 9 (Steubenville, OH).  NBC:  7 (Wheeling, WV), 11 (Pittsburgh, PA).
MARTINSBURG.  ABC:  7 (Washington, DC).  CBS:  2 (Baltimore, MD), 9 (Washington, DC).  NBC:  4 (Washington, DC).  IND:  5 (Washington, DC).

[cinyc]

VIRGINIA
CHARLOTTESVILLE.  ABC:  3 (Harrisonburg, VA), 8 (Petersburg, VA).  CBS:  6 (Richmond, VA).  NBC:  12 (Richmond, VA).

It looks like Charlottesville didn't have its own TV stations back in the 1970s.  It is in its own TV market today.  I wonder whether it was considered part of the Harrisonburg or Richmond DMA for ratings purposes back then.

[kcguy]

NORTH CAROLINA
ASHEVILLE and HENDERSONVILLE.  ABC:  13 (Asheville, NC).  CBS:  7 (Spartanburg, SC).  NBC:  4 (Greenville, SC).
FOREST CITY, LENOIR, MORGANTON, and SHELBY.  ABC:  9 (Charlotte, NC), 13 (Asheville, NC).  CBS:  3 (Charlotte, NC), 7 (Spartanburg, SC).  NBC:  4 (Greenville, SC).
HICKORY.  ABC:  9 (Charlotte, NC), 13 (Asheville, NC).  CBS:  3 (Charlotte, NC), 7 (Spartanburg, SC).  IND:  18 (Charlotte, NC).
GASTONIA.  ABC:  9 (Charlotte, NC), 13 (Asheville, NC).  CBS:  3 (Charlotte, NC).  NBC:  36 (Charlotte, NC).  IND:  18 (Charlotte, NC).
CHARLOTTE and KANNAPOLIS.  ABC:  9 (Charlotte, NC).  CBS:  3 (Charlotte, NC).  NBC:  36 (Charlotte, NC).  IND:  18 (Charlotte, NC).
ROCKINGHAM.  ABC:  8 (High Point, NC), 9 (Charlotte, NC).  CBS:  3 (Charlotte, NC), 13 (Florence, SC).
STATESVILLE.  ABC:   8 (High Point, NC), 9 (Charlotte, NC).  CBS:  3 (Charlotte, NC).  NBC:  12 (Winston-Salem, NC), 36 (Charlotte, NC).  IND:  18 (Charlotte, NC).
SALISBURY.  ABC:  8 (High Point, NC), 9 (Charlotte, NC).  CBS:  2 (Greensboro, NC), 3 (Charlotte, NC).  NBC:  12 (Winston-Salem, NC), 36 (Charlotte, NC).  IND:  18 (Charlotte, NC).
LEXINGTON.  ABC:  8 (High Point, NC), 9 (Charlotte, NC).  CBS:  2 (Greensboro, NC), 3 (Charlotte, NC).  NBC:  12 (Winston-Salem, NC).
ASHEBORO, GREENSBORO, MOUNT AIRY, and WINSTON-SALEM.  ABC:  8 (High Point, NC).  CBS:  2 (Greensboro, NC).  NBC:  12 (Winston-Salem, NC).
EDEN.  ABC:  8 (High Point, NC).  CBS:  2 (Greensboro, NC), 7 (Roanoke, VA).  NBC:  10 (Roanoke, VA), 12 (Winston-Salem, NC).
BURLINGTON.  ABC:  5 (Raleigh, NC), 8 (High Point, NC).  CBS:  2 (Greensboro, NC), 11 (Durham, NC).  NBC:  12 (Winston-Salem, NC).
CHAPEL HILL and SANFORD.  ABC:  5 (Raleigh, NC), 8 (High Point, NC).  CBS:  2 (Greensboro, NC), 11 (Durham, NC).  NBC:  28 (Durham, NC).
DURHAM.  ABC:  5 (Raleigh, NC).  CBS:  2 (Greensboro, NC), 11 (Durham, NC).  NBC:  28 (Durham, NC).
HENDERSON and RALEIGH.  ABC:  5 (Raleigh, NC).  CBS:  11 (Durham, NC).
DUNN and FAYETTEVILLE.  ABC:  5 (Raleigh, NC).  CBS:  11 (Durham, NC).  NBC:  6 (Wilmington, NC).
LUMBERTON.  ABC:  3 (Wilmington, NC), 5 (Raleigh, NC).  CBS:  11 (Durham, NC), 13 (Florence, SC).  NBC:  6 (Wilmington, NC).
CLINTON.  ABC:  3 (Wilmington, NC), 5 (Raleigh, NC).  CBS:  9 (Greenville, NC), 11 (Durham, NC).  NBC:  6 (Wilmington, NC), 7 (Washington, NC).
GOLDSBORO, ROANOKE RAPIDS, ROCKY MOUNT, and WILSON.  ABC:  5 (Raleigh, NC).  CBS:  9 (Greenville, NC), 11 (Durham, NC).  NBC:  7 (Washington, NC).
GREENVILLE and KINSTON.  ABC:  5 (Raleigh, NC), 12 (New Bern, NC).  CBS:  9 (Greenville, NC).  NBC:  7 (Washington, NC).
NEW BERN and WASHINGTON.  ABC:  12 (New Bern, NC).  CBS:  9 (Greenville, NC).  NBC:  7 (Washington, NC).
JACKSONVILLE.  ABC:  3 (Wilmington, NC), 12 (New Bern, NC).  CBS:  9 (Greenville, NC).  NBC:  6 (Wilmington, NC), 7 (Washington, NC).
WILMINGTON.  ABC:  3 (Wilmington, NC).  NBC:  6 (Wilmington, NC).
ELIZABETH CITY.  ABC:  13 (Hampton, VA).  CBS:  3 (Norfolk, VA).  NBC:  10 (Portsmouth, VA).  IND:  27 (Portsmouth, VA).

[kcguy]

VIRGINIA
CHARLOTTESVILLE.  ABC:  3 (Harrisonburg, VA), 8 (Petersburg, VA).  CBS:  6 (Richmond, VA).  NBC:  12 (Richmond, VA).

It looks like Charlottesville didn't have its own TV stations back in the 1970s.  It is in its own TV market today.  I wonder whether it was considered part of the Harrisonburg or Richmond DMA for ratings purposes back then.

I have some maps from the late 1980's.  Charlottesville was its own market by then, but Staunton was considered to be part of the Richmond DMA.  So, I'm guessing Charlottesville started out as part of the Richmond DMA.