Repeaters
Like other stations in the area, WBRE must rely on repeaters to serve its coverage area. The market is one of the largest (in square miles) east of the Mississippi River and is very mountainous. In addition, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre was a "UHF island" before the digital transition because it is too close to Philadelphia and New York City for VHF analog service. During March 2010, in a cost-cutting move, all owned and operated translators were shut down after Nexstar determined that its VHF signal for WBRE is adequate enough to reach the Wilkes-Barre viewing market. According to nepahdtv.com, this move was met with some dismay from viewers in areas where reception of signals from Penobscot Knob is difficult if not impossible, leaving many people in rural areas without their signal. Despite this, no effort from Nexstar has been made to bring back any of the repeaters.
A digital channel 28 translator in Waymart remains operating, as the facility is owned and operated by NextEra Energy Resources. Windmills run by the company in the area surrounding Waymart interfere with the transmission of full-power television signals.
Read more about this topic: WBRE-TV