The channels that disappeared last summer from Boulder TV have finally been restored.
The digital channels in the 6.x range – programming from NBC – vanished unexpectedly from local televisions last summer, during broadcasts of the 2024 Olympics. Boulder TV’s Rick Haasakker explained at the time that the relay of the signal originating from Missoula had been lost, and that he was looking at other methods to deliver the stations.
Those stations were successfully brought back in early March. “We worked with Blackfoot Communications, and they set up a dedicated circuit between Missoula and Boulder,” Haasakker said. The new circuit, he added, provides 30 megabytes of uninterrupted, dedicated traffic to Boulder TV’s transmission tower, meeting the demand of television broadcasts for greater network bandwidth.
But then, Boulder TV hit another snag. It previously had used an analog, over-the-air signal that originated in Missoula and then relayed from Butte to Boulder. That analog signal was lost last year, as the station in Missoula upgraded to digital technology. That required the purchase of about $6,000 in new equipment in order to convert the new digital signal.
Haasakker’s partner in privately owned Boulder TV, Corey Badgley, handled the technical elements of setting up the digital receiver, working with station engineers in Missoula to fine tune the signal. That work was largely completed by Mar. 1, but Haasakker said it took several days for Badgley and the engineers to fine-tune the settings. The stations have been reliably available since then.
Haasakker noted that, in May or June of this year, channels in Boulder TV’s 4.x range, which originate from Bozeman and provide programming from CBS, will also need a digital solution. Haasakker said he is already working with Blackfoot Communications on a dedicated circuit from Bozeman to Boulder to accommodate the change. Another $6,000 will be needed for signal conversion equipment, in addition to $175 per month to operate each circuit.
Haasakker is attempting to work out a deal with Blackfoot to consolidate some of the fees and taxes, since the current $8 per year tax residents pay for the previous analog service does not meet expenses in the digital world. “We have to solve that [the 4.x channel] problem first, then we can start thinking about [fees],” Haasakker said.
Haasakker advises Boulder TV customers to rescan channels now that the 6.x range is available. “If you didn’t do a re-scan last summer when they weren’t there, they will just be back up now. If anyone needs to reacquire them please do a re-scan on your TV,” he said.
