Grand Rapids OTA Channel Change!

So, I was flipping through the channels today and came across a broadcast scene that’s juicier than a Thanksgiving turkey! Channel 43.7 has given the ol’ heave-ho to the Jewelry Channel this week (bye-bye, 24/7 sparkly temptations) and rolled out the shiny new carpet for GetTV.

But wait, hold those remotes! This marks the second shake-up in the ION lineup in just a few weeks. If your memory isn’t pixelated, you might recall that ION recently booted Scripps News to make room for ION Plus. Now, here’s where things get as convoluted as a multi-season TV drama: over on the FOX 17 lineup, also part of the Grand Rapids OTA market, 17.4 is already home to ION Plus, while 17.5 has been happily broadcasting GetTV.

So, why the duplication?

It’s like airing the same episode of your favorite show on two different channels—why would they do that? The key lies in the fact that both FOX 17 and ION are owned by Scripps, the corporate parent orchestrating this little channel ballet. From my experience (and trust me, I’ve seen plenty of antenna hijinks), when channels start duplicating like rabbits, it’s a telltale sign that change is coming.

What kind of change? Well, I’d wager my favorite rabbit-ear antenna that Scripps is making room for a new network or two on these duplicate channels. Think of it like clearing out your garage: you shuffle stuff around so you can fit something shiny and new.

What Could Be Coming?

There’s been no official announcement yet (I checked the web, called my sources, and even bribed a deer hanging out near the tower), but we can speculate. Scripps might introduce new subchannels to the Fox 17 lineup, like one dedicated to classic movies, lifestyle programming, or even another sports network. It’s difficult to say for sure at this time, but if my crystal ball is correct, changes are coming.

In the meantime, here’s what you, dear viewer, need to know:

1. Keep an Eye on FOX 17’s Lineup

   Pay close attention to 17.4 and 17.5. Any sudden outages or strange test screens might mean something big is on the way. (They usually switchover at midnight during changeovers.)

2. Rescan Your TV (Only if Needed)

   As channels shuffle around, they usually take place automatically on most TVs. However, if you own a DVR like a Tablo, HDHomerun, or a digital tuner box, you’ll want to make sure your TV picks up all the changes by running an auto scan. Give it a good rescan every couple of weeks to keep up. And if you manually filtered out the Jewelry Channel in the past, now is a good time to uncheck that box (if you like GetTV, classic show channel)

3. Don’t Panic Over the Duplication

   Having the same channel in two places might feel redundant, but it’s likely a temporary situation as the masterminds at Scripps prepare their next move.

Final Thoughts

It’s exciting to see the evolution of the Grand Rapids OTA market, but also a little confusing at times. One day it’s Scripps News, the next it’s GetTV on two different channels, and who knows what’s next? Maybe they’ll launch a network called All Antennas, All the Time! Just remember, 5 years ago, we had half the free Over-the-Air channels we have today. Antenna TV is the gift that keeps on giving. Ultimately, you’ll have more, without the monthly bill. 

So, for now, sit back, review your channels, and enjoy the show—both on your screen and behind the scenes! After all, in the world of broadcast TV, change is the only constant.