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Delaware 59-TV, WRDE, a low-powered television station its developers say would be the first of its kind in the state, could be on the air by late this year.
Meyer Gottesman, station president, on Monday, Oct. 9, said money shortages have pushed back the start date and kept the station from purchasing its most critical piece of equipment – a $14,500 transmitter.
“Progress has not been good, but we’re plodding along and we still plan to get on air,” said Gottesman.
This summer, Sam Jordan, station sales manager and program director, said they planned to have the station broadcasting regular programming in September.
Gottesman said the station’s antenna has been purchased and the antenna tower has been leased at Nassau Valley Vineyards. The station has also leased office and studio space at Nassau Commons, near the vineyard and less than a mile from the intersection of Route 1 and Route 9 near Five Points.
WRDE’s 20,500-watt signal would be aimed at viewers in Lewes, Rehoboth Beach, and Dewey Beach, and could reach as far south as Fenwick Island and west to Georgetown.
Jordan said the station plans to acquire satellite programming from 10 syndicated providers including Disney, NBC Universal, King World and others.
Gottesman said still unresolved is whether the station would be carried by local cable television franchises. If the station were unable to negotiate a deal with a cable provider, viewers would only be able to receive it using television set-top “rabbit ears.”
Gottesman said WRDE’s Federal Communication Commission construction permit expires in May. Under FCC rules the station has until then to broadcast programming or risk forfeiture of its license.
Gottesman said he’s still continuing efforts to obtain a license to operate digital Channel-31, which would be capable of transmitting a high-definition television picture. He said Channel-31 would be received as far north as Dover, east to Ocean City-Wildwood, N.J., south to Rehoboth Beach and Ocean City, Md., and west as far as Seaford.
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