A Missouri-based ABC affiliate was knocked off the air over the weekend after a lightning bolt struck the station’s building.
On Monday, KQTV (Channel 2) of St. Joseph said the incident left it unable to broadcast on its main over-the-air station, 2.1, and prevented it from distributing its programming to cable and satellite operators.
The station says it needs to replace some equipment in order to restore its signal to full capacity. In the meantime, KQTV said broadcast customers can watch ABC programming on its digital sub-channel, 2.2, which normally carries Antenna TV.
The relocation of KQTV’s signal seems to indicate the problem is with transmission equipment inside the station and not on its transmitter, which is co-located with its studios on Faraon Street.
Cable customers have access to ABC programming through KMBC (Channel 9), which is based in Kansas City. Customers of Dish Network and DirecTV will have to install an antenna in order to watch KQTV on digital sub-channel 2.2 until the station can restore its main channel.
KQTV’s newscasts will stream on apps for Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV and Google TV and via the station’s website.
KQTV is owned by Atlanta-based Heartland Media.
