Why are television networks differently numbered in different states?

Question

Why are television networks differently numbered in different states?

In: 1

Answer 1

Adding to the other answer, TV channel numbers were a simplified way of saying which frequency they had, similar to radio frequencies. So, instead of saying that KCTV was at 76 to 82 MHz, they defined that frequency as “channel 5”, and televisors were made to “translate” the channel number to the actual frequency.

[FM radios have a similar system](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FM_broadcasting_in_the_United_States#FM_radio_channel_assignments_in_the_U.S.), but nobody say, for instance, that KABG (98.5 MHz) in Albuquerque is at Channel 253.