Channel 1 (North American TV)

This article is about the non-existent United States TV channel. For alternate uses, see Channel One.

In North America, channel 1 is a former broadcast (over-the-air) television channel (44-50 MHz, with visual at 45.250 and aural at 49.75). 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;
• KARO, Riverside, California, no current VHF allocation;
• WSBE, South Bend, Indiana, no current VHF allocation.

In 1945, the FCC decided to reserve channel 1 for low-power community television stations, and moved existing channel 1 stations to higher frequencies. Channel 1 locations, which were all community stations:

• Bridgeport CT
• Canton OH
• Fall River/New Bedford MA
• Manchester NH
• Racine/Kenosha WI
• Scranton/Wilkes-Barre PA
• South Bend IN
• Springfield/Holyoke MA
• Springfield OH
• Trenton NJ
• York PA

During this time televison stations shared these allocations with the fixed and mobile service. By 1948 the FCC decided that a primary (not shared) allocation of the VHF radio spectrum was needed for television, and the band used by channel 1 (between 44 and 50 MHz) was then reassigned for usage by the fixed and mobile service (44 - 50 MHz) and the amateur radio service (50 - 54 MHz: Six-meter band). Rather than renumber, it was far easier just to leave it off permanently. (Cable television does have a channel 1, though this may not be the same, as its use is rare and its frequency assignment is sometimes inconsistent.)

However, Cable television in North America also uses other frequencies between Channel 6 (82-88 MHz) and Channel 7 (174 MHz), and between Channel 13 (216 MHz) and Channel 14 (470 MHz) for additional standard 6 MHz channels. These channels overlap assorted other uses, including FM, aeronautical and police bands.

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, but not for ATSC tuners.

Other channels have been removed and reassigned as well, but only from the upper UHF bands. Channels 14 to 83 (sans 37), from 470 to 890 MHz, were originally added for the rapidly expanding (1950s, 1960s) TV service. In the 1980s, the channels from 70 on up (from 806 to 890 MHz) 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 698 to 806 MHz) could be auctioned and given to emergency services such as police radios. Although not officially removed, channel 6 (from 82 to 88 MHz) 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 108 MHz). Renumbering in this case is not relevant, 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.

Channel One in popular culture

In one of the final episodes of Mork and Mindy, Kalnik of Neptune asks Mindy, employed in the broadcasting industry, why there is no Channel 1. Mindy is not familiar with this aspect of television history, and stumbles through remarks about the government administering television.

External Reference

• What ever happened to Channel 1?
• What became of Channel 1?