WZRA-CD: Difference between revisions

WZRA-CD
Oldsmar–Clearwater–; St. Petersburg–Tampa, Florida; ; United States;
City	Oldsmar, Florida
Channels	Digital: 15 (UHF); Virtual: 48;
Branding	TV-48
Programming
Affiliations	ERT World / YTA TV / NTV / RAI
Ownership
Owner	Angelatos Broadcasting; (Amka Broadcast Network, Inc.);
History
Founded	late 1990s
Former call signs	W48AY (to early 2000s)
Former channel number(s)	Analog: 48 (late 1990s–2015)
Former affiliations	America One, RT
Technical information
Licensing authority	FCC
Facility ID	2130
Class	LD
ERP	12.1 kW
HAAT	88.6 m (291 ft)
Transmitter coordinates	28°15′33″N 82°43′45.4″W / 28.25917°N 82.729278°W
Links
Public license information	Public file; LMS;
Website	wzra48.com

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WZRA-CD (channel 48) is a low-power, Class A television station licensed to Oldsmar, Florida, United States, serving ethnic groups in the Tampa Bay area. The station carries a variety of mostly news-oriented programming from broadcasters outside the United States, in several languages.

In Pinellas County, WZRA-CD is available on WOW! cable TV channel 122 and on Spectrum digital channel 948. WZRA is also on channel 24 on Verizon FiOS throughout the market, as far south as Sarasota County. The station also offers a live feed of its programming on the Internet.

History

When the station signed on the late-1990s, channel 48 went by the translator-style call sign W48AY, and used the moniker "Bay TV". When the station became a Class A station in the early 2000s, the call sign changed to WZRA-CA, though at present, it is unknown for what the call sign meant, or if they were randomly chosen by the FCC.

WZRA originally had its transmitter in Oldsmar, broadcasting at 41.7 kW. They since relocated to a 150 kW transmitter, broadcasting from facilities near the corner of US 19 and Palmetto Road in Port Richey, increasing coverage in west Pasco and southwestern Hernando counties, but reducing coverage in Hillsborough County and central Pinellas County. They have since filed a construction permit to flash cut channel 48 to a digital signal, still broadcasting from Port Richey, but at 15 kW. On July 8, 2015, this construction permit was granted.

As of April 2017, WZRA-CD only broadcast programming on channel 48.3.^[2]

Programming

Most of WZRA's programming is in Greek, aimed for the Greek audience in Tarpon Springs, but the channel also offers programming in other languages, such as Italian and English.

WZRA also presents daily newscasts from Greece (from ERT), which (reflecting the station's Greek ownership) makes up the majority of the station's evening, overnight and Sunday programming. The station carries programs from the national broadcasters in Russia (RT) and Italy (RAI) as well as local news from Newfoundland's NTV, aimed at Canadian "snowbirds." WZRA carried newscasts from the CTV Television Network in the early 21st century; they also carried Dini Petty's CTV talk show, via NTV, until CTV canceled the series' repeats in the early 2000s. The station carries general entertainment programs from YTA TV during the morning hours between Monday and Saturday.

Bright House dispute in Tarpon Springs

Until mid-February 2006, WZRA was seen on Bright House channel 15 in the Tarpon Springs area. But on that date, WZRA was unceremoniously replaced with Tarpon Springs' local government channel, which, at its debut, was mainly a promo loop for an upcoming municipal election, plus live City Commission meetings.

Prior to December 2007 (when all local public service channels moved to the digital tier), Bright House allocated channel 15 for local government-access television in Pinellas County, and had given that slot to WZRA on an interim basis, until Tarpon Springs started their own channel. And with WZRA being a low-power station, Bright House is not obligated to carry the channel.

Since being dropped, WZRA received thousands of calls in support of the station, especially from the Greek community. Support was so huge, WZRA's station manager Angelos Angelatos urged their viewers to call Bright House, as well as call its vice president, Mike Robertson, direct.

Angelatos and his brother, talk show host Sam Angelatos, said that Bright House's discontinuation of WZRA was a form of discrimination, favoring the Hispanic community with four Spanish channels, while ignoring and mistreating other ethnic groups.^[3]

In July 2006, Bright House gave WZRA a permanent home, on digital channel 948 in northern Pinellas County. WZRA was slated to be dropped from Bright House by the end of April 2011;^[4] however, as of March 2014, the station is still part of the Bright House line-up. But despite the transmitter relocation to Port Richey, in Pasco County, WZRA is still only carried on Spectrum cable in northern Pinellas County.^[5]

References

^ "Facility Technical Data for WZRA-CD". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
^ egrabow440 (April 27, 2017). "Local TV Bandscan for Tampa, Florida (2017) Metro". Archived from the original on December 21, 2021 – via YouTube.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
^ "Company unplugs Greek TV", St. Petersburg Times, March 2, 2006
^ Bright House Networks ad in St. Petersburg Times, March 31, 2011.
^ Per Zap2it, ZIP codes 34652 (New Port Richey) and 33756 (Clearwater).

External links

Official website

[1] "Facility Technical Data for WZRA-CD". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.

[2] rabow440 (April 27, 2017). "Local TV Bandscan for Tampa, Florida (2017) Metro". Archived from the original on December 21, 2021 – via YouTube.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)

[3] "Company unplugs Greek TV", St. Petersburg Times, March 2, 2006

[4] Bright House Networks ad in St. Petersburg Times, March 31, 2011.

[5] Per Zap2it, ZIP codes 34652 (New Port Richey) and 33756 (Clearwater).

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+{{Multiple issues|
-{{more citations needed|date=January 2013}}
+{{Update|date=April 2024}}
+{{Copy edit|date=April 2024}}
+{{More citations needed|date=January 2013}}
+}}
+{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
 {{Infobox television station
 | callsign               = WZRA-CD
+| city                   = Oldsmar, Florida
-| logo                   = <!--  Commented out because image was deleted: [[Image:Wzra.jpg|thumb|{{deletable image-caption|1=Friday, 10 August 2007}}]] -->
-| slogan                 = "International Television Channel"
+| logo                   =
 | branding               = TV-48
 | analog                 =
-| digital                = 15 ([[ultra high frequency|UHF]])
+| digital                = 15 ([[UHF]])
+| virtual                = 48
-| affiliations           = [[ERT World]] / [[Youtoo America]] / [[CJON-DT|NTV]] / [[RT America|RT]] / [[Rai Italia|RAI]]
-| founded                = late-1990s
+| affiliations           = [[ERT World]] / [[YTA TV]] / [[CJON-DT|NTV]] / [[Rai Italia|RAI]]
-| location               = [[Oldsmar, Florida]]
+| founded                = late 1990s
+| location               = {{ubl|[[Oldsmar]]–[[Clearwater, Florida|Clearwater]]–|[[St. Petersburg, Florida|St. Petersburg]]–[[Tampa, Florida]]}}
-| country                = [[United States]]
-| callsign_meaning       =
+| country                = United States
-| former_callsigns       = W48AY (to early-2000s)
+| callsign_meaning       =
+| former_callsigns       = W48AY (to early 2000s)
-| former_channel_numbers = [[Analog television|Analog]]: 48 (to July 8, 2015)
+| former_channel_numbers = '''Analog:''' 48 (late 1990s–2015)
-| owner                  = Angelatos Broadcasting <br> ''(Amka Broadcast Network)''
+| owner                  = Angelatos Broadcasting
+| licensee               = Amka Broadcast Network, Inc.
-| former_affiliations    = [[America One]]
+| former_affiliations    = [[America One]], [[RT America|RT]]
-| erp                    = 15 kW
+| erp                    = 12.1 kW
+| haat                   = {{Convert|88.6|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
 | facility_id            = 2130
-| website                = http://www.wzra48.com
+| class                  = [[low-power broadcasting#Television|LD]]
+| coordinates            = {{coord|28|15|33|N|82|43|45.4|W|type:landmark_scale:2000|display=inline, title}}
+| licensing_authority    = [[FCC]]
+| website                = {{URL|http://wzra48.com}}
 }}
-'''WZRA-CD''' is a low-power television channel in the [[Tampa Bay]] area, reaching to ethnic groups in [[Pinellas County, Florida|Pinellas]], southwestern [[Pasco County, Florida|Pasco]] and northwestern [[Hillsborough County, Florida|Hillsborough]] counties. The station carries a variety of mostly news-oriented programming from broadcasters outside the United States, in several languages.
+'''WZRA-CD''' (channel 48) is a [[Low-power broadcasting#Television|low-power]], [[Class A television station]] licensed to [[Oldsmar, Florida]], United States, serving ethnic groups in the [[Tampa Bay]] area. The station carries a variety of mostly news-oriented programming from broadcasters outside the United States, in several languages.
-In Pinellas County, WZRA is available on [[WideOpenWest|WOW!]] [[cable TV]] channel 122 and on [[Spectrum (cable service)|Spectrum]] digital channel 948. WZRA is also on channel 24 on [[Verizon FiOS]] throughout the market, as far south as [[Sarasota County, Florida|Sarasota County]]. The station also offers a live feed of its programming on the Internet.
+In [[Pinellas County]], WZRA-CD is available on [[WOW!]] [[cable TV]] channel 122 and on [[Spectrum (cable service)|Spectrum]] digital channel 948. WZRA is also on channel 24 on [[Verizon FiOS]] throughout the market, as far south as [[Sarasota County]]. The station also offers a live feed of its programming on the Internet.
-==Programming==
+==History==
+When the station signed on the late-1990s, channel 48 went by the translator-style [[call sign]] W48AY, and used the moniker "Bay TV". When the station became a Class A station in the early 2000s, the call sign changed to WZRA-CA, though at present, it is unknown for what the call sign meant, or if they were randomly chosen by the FCC.
+WZRA originally had its transmitter in Oldsmar, broadcasting at 41.7&nbsp;kW. They since relocated to a 150&nbsp;kW transmitter, broadcasting from facilities near the corner of [[U.S. Route 19 in Florida|US 19]] and Palmetto Road in [[Port Richey]], increasing coverage in west [[Pasco County, Florida|Pasco]] and southwestern [[Hernando County, Florida|Hernando]] counties, but reducing coverage in [[Hillsborough County, Florida|Hillsborough County]] and central Pinellas County. They have since filed a construction permit to [[flash cut]] channel 48 to a digital signal, still broadcasting from Port Richey, but at 15&nbsp;kW. On July 8, 2015, this construction permit was granted.
-Most of WZRA's programming is [[Greek language|Greek]], aimed for the Greek audience in [[Tarpon Springs, Florida|Tarpon Springs]], but the channel also offers programming in other languages, such as [[Italian language|Italian]] and [[English language|English]].
+As of April 2017, WZRA-CD only broadcast programming on channel 48.3.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0qe3h5u8x4 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/y0qe3h5u8x4 |archive-date=December 21, 2021 |url-status=live|title=Local TV Bandscan for Tampa, Florida (2017) Metro|author=egrabow440|date=April 27, 2017|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
-WZRA also presents daily newscasts from [[Greece]] (from [[ERT World|ERT]]), which (reflecting the station's Greek ownership) makes up the majority of the station's evening, overnight and Sunday programming. The station carries programs from the national broadcasters in [[Russia]] ([[RT America|RT]]) and [[Italy]] ([[Rai Italia|RAI]]) as well as local news from [[Newfoundland and Labrador|Newfoundland]]'s [[CJON-DT|NTV]], aimed at Canadian "[[snowbird (people)|snowbirds]]." WZRA carried [[CTV Television Network]] newscasts in the early 21st century; they also carried [[Dini Petty]]'s CTV talk show, via NTV, until CTV cancelled the series' repeats in the early-2000s. The station carries general entertainment programs from [[Youtoo America]] during the morning hours between Monday and Saturday.
+==Programming==
-When the station signed on the late-1990s, channel 48 went by the translator-style [[call sign]] "W48AY", and used the moniker "Bay TV". When the station became a [[class A television service]] in the early 2000s, the call sign changed to "WZRA-CA", though at present, it is unknown for what the call sign meant, or if they were randomly chosen by the FCC.
+Most of WZRA's programming is in [[Greek language|Greek]], aimed for the Greek audience in [[Tarpon Springs]], but the channel also offers programming in other languages, such as [[Italian language|Italian]] and [[English language|English]].
-WZRA originally had its transmitter in Oldsmar, broadcasting at 41.7&nbsp;kW. They since relocated to a 150&nbsp;kW transmitter, broadcasting from facilities near the corner of [[U.S. Route 19 in Florida|US 19]] and Palmetto Road in [[Port Richey, Florida|Port Richey]], increasing coverage in west [[Pasco County, Florida|Pasco]] and southwestern [[Hernando County, Florida|Hernando]] counties, but reducing coverage in Hillsborough and central Pinellas. They have since filed a construction permit to [[flash cut]] channel 48 to a digital signal, still broadcasting from Port Richey, but at 15&nbsp;kW.  On July 8, 2015, this construction permit was granted.
+WZRA also presents daily newscasts from [[Greece]] (from [[ERT World|ERT]]), which (reflecting the station's Greek ownership) makes up the majority of the station's evening, overnight and Sunday programming. The station carries programs from the national broadcasters in [[Russia]] ([[RT America|RT]]) and [[Italy]] ([[Rai Italia|RAI]]) as well as local news from [[Newfoundland]]'s [[CJON-DT|NTV]], aimed at Canadian "[[snowbird (people)|snowbirds]]." WZRA carried newscasts from the [[CTV Television Network]] in the early 21st century; they also carried [[Dini Petty]]'s CTV talk show, via NTV, until CTV canceled the series' repeats in the early 2000s. The station carries general entertainment programs from [[YTA TV]] during the morning hours between Monday and Saturday.
-As of April 2017, WZRA-CD only broadcast programming on Channel 48-3.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0qe3h5u8x4|title=Local TV Bandscan for Tampa, Florida (2017) Metro|first=|last=egrabow440|date=27 April 2017|publisher=|via=YouTube}}</ref>
 ==Bright House dispute in Tarpon Springs==
 Until mid-February 2006, WZRA was seen on [[Bright House Networks|Bright House]] channel 15 in the Tarpon Springs area. But on that date, WZRA was unceremoniously replaced with Tarpon Springs' local government channel, which, at its debut, was mainly a promo loop for an upcoming municipal election, plus live City Commission meetings.
-Prior to December 2007 (when all local public service channels moved to the digital tier), Bright House allocated channel 15 for local [[Government-access television]] in Pinellas County, and had given that slot to WZRA on an interim basis, until Tarpon Springs started their own channel. And with WZRA being a low-powered station, Bright House is [[Must-carry#Exceptions|not obligated]] to carry the channel.
+Prior to December 2007 (when all local public service channels moved to the digital tier), Bright House allocated channel 15 for local [[government-access television]] in Pinellas County, and had given that slot to WZRA on an interim basis, until Tarpon Springs started their own channel. And with WZRA being a low-power station, Bright House is [[Must-carry#Exceptions|not obligated]] to carry the channel.
-Since being dropped, WZRA received thousands of calls in support of the station, especially from the Greek community. Support was so huge, WZRA's station manager Angelos Angelatos urged their viewers to call Bright House, as well as call its Vice-President, Mike Robertson, direct.
+Since being dropped, WZRA received thousands of calls in support of the station, especially from the Greek community. Support was so huge, WZRA's station manager Angelos Angelatos urged their viewers to call Bright House, as well as call its vice president, Mike Robertson, direct.
-Angelatos and his brother, talk show host Sam Angelatos, said that Bright House's discontinuation of WZRA was a form of discrimination, favoring the Hispanic community with four Spanish channels, while ignoring and mistreating other ethnic groups.<ref>"Company unplugs Greek TV", [http://www.tampabay.com St. Petersburg Times], March 2, 2006</ref>
+Angelatos and his brother, talk show host Sam Angelatos, said that Bright House's discontinuation of WZRA was a form of discrimination, favoring the Hispanic community with four Spanish channels, while ignoring and mistreating other ethnic groups.<ref>"Company unplugs Greek TV", [https://www.tampabay.com St. Petersburg Times], March 2, 2006</ref>
-In July 2006, Bright House gave WZRA a permanent home, on digital channel 948 in Northern Pinellas County. WZRA was slated to be dropped from Bright House by the end of April 2011;<ref>Bright House Networks ad in ''[[Tampa Bay Times|St. Petersburg Times]]'', March 31, 2011.</ref> however, as of March 2014, the station is still part of the Bright House line-up. But despite the transmitter relocation to Port Richey, in Pasco County, WZRA is still available only to Bright House subscribers in Northern Pinellas.<ref>Per [http://www.zap2it.com/ Zap2it], zip codes 34652 (New Port Richey) and 33756 (Clearwater).</ref>
+In July 2006, Bright House gave WZRA a permanent home, on digital channel 948 in northern Pinellas County. WZRA was slated to be dropped from Bright House by the end of April 2011;<ref>Bright House Networks ad in ''[[St. Petersburg Times]]'', March 31, 2011.</ref> however, as of March 2014, the station is still part of the Bright House line-up. But despite the transmitter relocation to Port Richey, in Pasco County, WZRA is still only carried on Spectrum cable in northern Pinellas County.<ref>Per [http://www.zap2it.com/ Zap2it], [[ZIP code]]s 34652 ([[New Port Richey]]) and 33756 ([[Clearwater, Florida|Clearwater]]).</ref>
 ==See also==
@@ Line 55: / Line 66: @@
 ==External links==
+*{{Official website|http://wzra48.com}}
-*{{TVQ|WZRA}}
-* [http://www.wpso.com Greek Voice]
 {{Tampa Bay TV}}
 {{Other Florida Stations}}
+[[Category:1990s establishments in Florida]]
 [[Category:CTV Television Network stations]]
-[[Category:Non-English-language television stations in Florida]]
+[[Category:Foreign-language television stations in the United States]]
-[[Category:Greek-American culture in Florida]]
-[[Category:Greek-language television stations]]
 [[Category:German-American culture in Florida]]
 [[Category:German-language television stations]]
+[[Category:Greek-American culture in Florida]]
+[[Category:Greek-language television stations]]
 [[Category:Italian-American culture in Florida]]
 [[Category:Italian-language television stations]]
-[[Category:Television stations in the Tampa Bay Area|ZRA-CD]]
+[[Category:Low-power television stations in Florida|ZRA]]
-[[Category:Foreign-language television stations in the United States]]
+[[Category:Non-English-language television stations in Florida]]
-[[Category:1990s establishments in Florida]]
+[[Category:Television stations in the Tampa Bay area|ZRA-CD]]

v t e Other television stations licensed to and serving the state of Florida
Miami–Fort Lauderdale	WBFS-TV 33 (Ind., Miami) WCAY-CD 36 (Tourist, Key West) WBEC-TV 63 (Edu., Fort Lauderdale)
Tampa–St. Petersburg	WPDS-LD 14 (Edu., Largo) WARP-CD 20 (Ads, Tampa) WTAM-LD 30 (FAM, Tampa) WMOR-TV 32_{ATSC 3.0} (Ind., Lakeland) W16DQ-D 43 (HSN, Lealman) WYKE-CD 47 (YTA, Inglis–Yankeetown) WZRA-CD 48 (Ethnic/A1/NTV/CTV Canada, Oldsmar)
Fort Myers–Naples	WGPS-LD 22 (Cozi, Fort Myers)
Jacksonville	WJXT 4 (Ind., Jacksonville) WQXT-CD 22 (A1, St. Augustine) WBXJ-CD 43 (BizTV, Jacksonville)
Tallahassee–Thomasville	WTLH 49 (H&I, Bainbridge, GA)
Orlando–Daytona Beach–Melbourne	W07BP-D 7 (Edu., Ocala) WDSC-TV 15 (Edu., Daytona Beach) WOTF-TV 26 (Grit, Daytona Beach) WRDQ 27 (Ind., Orlando) WEFS 68 (Edu., Cocoa)
Gainesville	WNFT-LD 8 (Bounce, Gainesville) WRUF-LD 10 (Weather, Gainesville) WYME-CD 45 (MeTV, Gainesville)
West Palm Beach–Fort Pierce	WHDT 9 (Ind., Stuart) WWCI-CD 10 (Ind., Vero Beach) WBEC-TV 63 (Edu., Boca Raton)
Panama City	WPCT 46 (Tourist, Panama City Beach)
Pensacola–Mobile	WBQP-CD 12 (Buzzr, Pensacola) WJTC 44_{ATSC 3.0} (Ind., Pensacola) WFBD 48 (A1, Destin) WPAN 53 (JTV, Fort Walton Beach) WAWD 58 (Tourist, Fort Walton Beach)
Defunct	WBXG-LD 33 (MTV2, Gainesville)
See also ABC CBS CW Fox Ion MyNetworkTV NBC PBS Other stations in Florida See also Religious and Spanish TV stations