Jump to content

WWCW: Difference between revisions

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
No edit summary
send the pilot sailing away. Jefferson-Pilot had no involvement. WJPR was for James PRice, the permittee. major, major rewrite up to the early 1990s. More to come.
Line 38: Line 38:


==History==
==History==
⚫
===Early years===
Channel 21 at Lynchburg picked up no interest until communications consultant James E. Price of [[Chattanooga, Tennessee]], applied for the channel in 1982 under the name Lynchburg Television Associates.<ref name="Roan820506">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119471731/application-filed-for-tv-station-in/|date=May 6, 1982|page=B-5|agency=Associated Press|title=Application filed for TV station in Lynchburg|newspaper=Roanoke Times and World-News|location=Roanoke, Virginia|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 22, 2023}}</ref><!-- Thu --><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1982/BC-1982-05-24.pdf|date=May 24, 1982|work=Broadcasting|page=66|title=For the Record}}</ref> The [[construction permit]] was awarded in November 1982, took the call sign WJPR, and then was sold to a new investor group led by Price.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1983/BC-1983-08-01.pdf|work=Broadcasting|date=August 1, 1983|page=62|title=Ownership changes}}</ref> The permit changed hands two more times before the station was launched, first to Carney Communications of Virginia—owned by Thomas Carney of [[Bal Harbour, Florida]]—and then to a partnership led by Carney known as Lynchburg–Roanoke Television Partners.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1985/BC-1985-11-04.pdf|date=November 4, 1985|page=77|title=Ownership Changes|work=Broadcasting}}</ref> One of the partners in the firm was [[Ralph Renick]], a longtime television news anchor in [[Miami]].{{r|Roan881115}}<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1986-04-06-8601210188-story.html|work=[[South Florida Sun-Sentinel]]|date=April 5, 1986|title=The man who used to be king|first=Scott|last=Eyman}}</ref>


Construction began in October 1985 at the Thaxton Mountain tower after approval came from Bedford County officials, and the station announced its existence as the first independent in the market.<ref name="Roan851023">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119471832/new-lynchburg-tv-station-to-go-on-air/|date=October 23, 1985|page=B4|first=Terence|last=Samuel|title=New Lynchburg TV station to go on air in December|newspaper=Roanoke Times and World-News|location=Roanoke, Virginia|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 22, 2023}}</ref><!-- Wed --> It stated it would launch by the end of 1985, but that date was missed.<ref name="Roan851218">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118731539/two-new-tv-stations-ready-to-go-on-air/|date=December 18, 1985|page=B10|first=Jeff|last=DeBell|title=Two new TV stations ready to go on air; third licensed|newspaper=Roanoke Times and World-News|location=Roanoke, Virginia|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 22, 2023}}</ref><!-- Wed --> So too was a target date of February 10,<ref name="Roan860130">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118731436/channel-21-to-offer-mix-of-movies-and/|date=January 30, 1986|page=C1|first=Jeff|last=DeBell|title=Channel 21 to offer mix of movies and reruns|newspaper=Roanoke Times and World-News|location=Roanoke, Virginia|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 22, 2023}}</ref><!-- Thu --> with winter weather being the culprit.{{r|Roan860727}}
⚫
===Early history===
The UHF channel 21 allocation in Lynchburg was originally slated to be used to launch an [[Independent station (North America)|independent station]] in 1984, which was slated to sign on with a general entertainment format. But due to financial and engineering issues, the original owner of the channel 21 license, Carney Communications, was not able to sign the station on the air. Jefferson-Pilot Communications (later [[Lincoln Financial Media]]) subsequently purchased the station's [[broadcast license]] in September 1985. After resolving the difficulties, Jefferson-Pilot signed on '''WJPR''' (for "Jefferson Pilot Radio") as the area's first entertainment-based independent on March 23, 1986. The station's initial schedule consisted of [[animated cartoon|cartoons]], off-network programs, [[feature film|movies]], and some [[Religious broadcasting|religious programming]]. On October 9, 1986, WJPR became a charter affiliate of the [[Fox Broadcasting Company]] at that network's inception.


WJPR debuted on March 23, 1986, giving the market a general-entertainment [[independent station (North America)|independent station]] and being the second of three new station launches that year in western Virginia (the others being Christian station [[WPXR-TV|WEFC]] on channel 38, which started January 3,<ref name="Roan860103">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119477684/going-on-air/|date=January 3, 1986|page=B6|title=Going on air|newspaper=Roanoke Times and World-News|location=|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 22, 2023}}</ref><!-- Fri --> and [[Family Group Broadcasting]]-owned independent WVFT on channel 27 in November 1986<ref name="Roan861113">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118731483/problems-solved-channel-27-goes-on-air/|date=November 13, 1986|page=B12|first=Melinda J.|last=Payne|title=Problems solved, Channel 27 goes on air at last|newspaper=Roanoke Times and World-News|location=Roanoke, Virginia|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 22, 2023}}</ref><!-- Thu -->).<ref name="Roan860328">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119471926/channel-10-will-begin-broadcasting-in/|date=March 28, 1986|page=B4|first=Jeff|last=DeBell|title=Channel 10 will begin broadcasting in stereo|newspaper=Roanoke Times and World-News|location=Roanoke, Virginia|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 22, 2023}}</ref><!-- Fri --> Programming was a typical mix of sitcoms, children's shows, and sports, including [[Baltimore Orioles]] baseball. It broadcast from studios and offices in a converted [[Kroger]] grocery store in Lynchburg's Forest Hills Shopping Center.{{r|Roan860130}} To this mix was added the [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] network when it launched that October,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1986/BC-1986-08-04.pdf|date=August 4, 1986|pages=44–45|title=Fox network begins to take shape|work=Broadcasting}}</ref> as well as local high school football telecasts.<ref name="Roan870708">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119472354/wsls-fuller-headed-for-north-carolina-j/|date=July 8, 1987|page=C1|first=Jack|last=Bogaczyk|title=WSLS' Fuller headed for North Carolina job|newspaper=Roanoke Times and World-News|location=|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 22, 2023}}</ref><!-- Wed -->
One month after WJPR signed on the air, WVFT (channel 27) launched as a religious-based independent station. That station eventually began adding more general entertainment programming in the fall, and had become a full-fledged conventional independent by 1987.


WJPR and WVFT gave the Roanoke–Lynchburg market two independent stations in a short amount of time. Channel 21 had a slow start; some cable systems, notably in Lynchburg itself, balked at carrying the new station, and there were few immediate local advertisers.<ref name="Roan860727">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118731455/were-here-to-stay-ch-21-folks-say/|date=July 27, 1986|page=F5, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118731465/channel-21/ F7]|first=Jeff|last=DeBell|title='We're here to stay', Ch. 21 folks say|newspaper=Roanoke Times and World-News|location=Roanoke, Virginia|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 22, 2023}}</ref><!-- Sun --> In November 1988, three months after [[Paramount Pictures]] sued the station for a debt of $950,000, Lynchburg–Roanoke Television Partners filed for [[Chapter 11]] bankruptcy reorganization.<ref name="Roan881115">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119436101/wjpr-seeks-chapter-11-protection/|date=November 15, 1988|page=B1|first=George|last=Kegley|title=WJPR seeks Chapter 11 protection|newspaper=Roanoke Times and World-News|location=Roanoke, Virginia|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 22, 2023}}</ref><!-- Tue --> It was joined in Chapter 11 status by WVFT in April 1989.<ref name="Tamp890414">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119020132/family-group-seeks-protection-from-credi/|date=April 14, 1989|page=7-D|first=Frank|last=Ruiz|title=Family Group seeks protection from creditors|newspaper=The Tampa Tribune|location=|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 22, 2023}}</ref><!-- Fri -->
⚫
===Merger with WFXR===
The Roanoke–Lynchburg market was too small to support what were essentially two independent stations. Fox would not air a full week's worth of programming until September 1993, so like most early Fox affiliates, WJPR was still programmed as an independent. Both stations suffered from the tight and increasingly fierce competition. However, by 1990, WVFT's financial problems were more pronounced; the station suffered from declining viewership and was unable to pay for the rights to acquire stronger syndicated programming.


⚫
===Merger with WVFT===
Meanwhile, WJPR was hampered by signal issues in the western portion of the market. Although its 4.1 million watt analog signal easily covered Roanoke, its signal left much to be desired in the New River Valley. Areas such as [[Blacksburg, Virginia|Blacksburg]] got only a [[broadcast range|Grade B]] signal, and it could not be seen at all in much of the Valley. Some areas of the Valley region, along with other rural portions of the market, were among the few regions of the country where cable television service was still not readily available. To solve both stations' problems, in 1991, Jefferson-Pilot presented a proposal to merge WVFT's stronger programming inventory onto WJPR's schedule and turn WVFT into a full-time [[broadcast relay station#satellite station|satellite station]] of WJPR. Family Group readily accepted the offer, and WJPR and WVFT began their joint simulcast later that year, at which time the stations began collectively branding as "Fox 21/27". The two stations provided a strong combined signal with 60% overlap, providing a clear picture for Fox programming throughout the market.
On September 13 and 15, 1989, bankruptcy courts in Lynchburg and [[Tampa, Florida]], gave NewSouth Broadcasting, a company owned by Timothy Brumlik, permission to purchase WJPR and WVFT with the intention of consolidating their programming. The deal began to fall apart on the 15th, however, when Brumlik was arrested on charges of laundering up to $12 million in Colombian drug money.<ref name="Roan890923">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119472738/stations-sales-put-in-doubt-indictment/|date=September 23, 1989|page=A3, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119472838/tv/ A6]|first=George|last=Kegley|last2=Milteer|first2=Chuck|title=Stations' sales put in doubt: Indictment may foil 2 TV deals|newspaper=Roanoke Times and World-News|location=|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 22, 2023}}</ref><!-- Sat --> Officials alleged that Brumlik's ownership of [[WLII-DT|TeleOnce]] in [[Puerto Rico]] was a front for two important Latin American media men: [[Remigio Ángel González]], reported to be a business partner with [[Manuel Noriega]] in a Panamanian television station, and Julio Vera Gutiérrez, a Peruvian citizen.<ref name="Knox890919">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89733220/prospective-wkch-buyer-linked-to/|date=September 19, 1989|page=A1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89733230/station-wkch/ A2]|first=Richard|last=Powelson|title=Prospective WKCH buyer linked to alleged partner of Gen. Noriega|newspaper=The Knoxville News-Sentinel|location=Knoxville, Tennessee|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 29, 2021|archive-date=November 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211130031230/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89733220/prospective-wkch-buyer-linked-to/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Tue -->


The indictment scrambled the picture for the stations Brumlik sought to buy. At the time of his arrest, he had been approved by bankruptcy courts or the FCC to buy WJPR and WVFT; [[WKCH-TV]] in [[Knoxville, Tennessee]]; and the then-unbuilt [[WGNM]] in [[Macon, Georgia]].{{r|Roan890923|Knox890919}}<ref name="Maco890921">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119480670/religious-group-almost-sold-license-to/|date=September 21, 1989|page=1A, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119480739/license/ 4A]|title=Religious group almost sold license to man accused of money-laundering|newspaper=The Macon Telegraph|location=Macon, Georgia|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 22, 2023}}</ref><!-- Thu --> With regard to WJPR and WVFT, his arrest and indictment caused him to be unable to fulfill commitments required by the bankruptcy courts. Instead, Henry A. Ash, a Tampa life insurance broker, bid on both stations with the same goal: to combine them.<ref name="Roan891018">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119481586/tv-stations-get-new-bid/|date=October 18, 1989|page=B7|first=Chuck|last=Milteer|title=TV stations get new bid|newspaper=Roanoke Times and World-News|location=|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 22, 2023}}</ref><!-- Wed --> Ash's Roanoke–Lynchburg TV Acquisition Corporation—with Carney as a stockholder—received court approval to buy both stations, paying $2.95 million for WJPR and $1.25 million for WVFT, in February 1990. It then filed with the FCC for a waiver of its rule that prohibited ownership of stations with overlapping signal coverage areas, believing that the market could bear one independent station but not two.<ref name="Roan900201">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119436040/2-stations-may-be-merged/|date=February 1, 1990|page=C6|first=Chuck|last=Milteer|title=2 stations may be merged|newspaper=Roanoke Times and World-News|location=Roanoke, Virginia|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 22, 2023}}</ref><!-- Thu -->
⚫
On September 15, 1993, WVFT and WJPR were purchased by the [[Grant Broadcasting|Grant Broadcasting System]], owned by UHF television pioneer Milton Grant. The simulcast between the two stations continued, although WVFT began serving as the main station. In October 1993, WVFT had its call letters changed to '''WFXR-TV'''. It was also announced at that time that the simulcast between WFXR and WJPR would eventually end, with one station being converted into an independent station; however, this plan never materialized during the remainder of the history of the two stations' analog broadcasts.


On August 20, 1990, with the purchases pending at the FCC, WVFT began simulcasting WJPR, expanding Fox network coverage to the market's western portions for the first time.<ref name="Roan900805">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119435981/wvft-27-to-broadcast-channel-21-programs/|date=August 5, 1990|page=C6|first=Chuck|last=Milteer|title=WVFT-27 to broadcast Channel 21 programs|newspaper=Roanoke Times and World-News|location=Roanoke, Virginia|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 22, 2023}}</ref><!-- Sun --> FCC approval followed the next month.<ref name="Roan900911">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119435957/sale-of-tv-stations-wins-fcc-approval/|date=September 11, 1990|page=A5|title=Sale of TV stations wins FCC approval|newspaper=Roanoke Times and World-News|location=Roanoke, Virginia|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 22, 2023}}</ref><!-- Tue -->
⚫
In January 1995, WFXR/WJPR acquired a secondary affiliation with the newly launched United Paramount Network ([[UPN]]), running the network's programs on weekends and in some late-night time periods on weeknights. In the spring of 1997, the market's UPN affiliation moved to [[Danville, Virginia|Danville]]-based WDRG-TV (channel 24, now [[MyNetworkTV]] affiliate [[WZBJ]]), at which time WFXR/WJPR picked up a secondary affiliation with [[The WB]]. This paved the way for WFXR and WJPR to start the area's cable-only WB affiliate on September 21, 1998, as a member of The WeB (subsequently renamed [[The WB 100+ Station Group]]) known by the fictional calls '''"WBVA-TV"''' and branded on-air as "WB 5", in reference to its cable position on Cox Communications channel 5.

⚫
On September 15, 1993, WVFT and WJPR were purchased by the [[Grant Broadcasting|Grant Broadcasting System]], owned by UHF television pioneer Milton Grant. The simulcast between the two stations continued, although WVFT began serving as the main station. In October 1993, WVFT had its call letters changed to WFXR-TV.<ref name="Roan931025">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119482917/roanokes-channel-27-is-now-wfxr/|date=October 25, 1993|page=Extra 2|first=Melanie|last=Hatter|title=Roanoke's Channel 27 is now WFXR|newspaper=Roanoke Times and World-News|location=|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 22, 2023}}</ref><!-- Mon --> It was also announced at that time that the simulcast between WFXR and WJPR would eventually end, with one station being converted into an independent station; however, this plan never materialized during the remainder of the history of the two stations' analog broadcasts.

⚫
In the spring of 1997, the market's UPN affiliation moved to [[Danville, Virginia|Danville]]-based WDRG-TV (channel 24, now [[MyNetworkTV]] affiliate [[WZBJ]]), at which time WFXR/WJPR picked up a secondary affiliation with [[The WB]]. This paved the way for WFXR and WJPR to start the area's cable-only WB affiliate on September 21, 1998, as a member of The WeB (subsequently renamed [[The WB 100+ Station Group]]) known by the fictional calls '''"WBVA-TV"''' and branded on-air as "WB 5", in reference to its cable position on Cox Communications channel 5.


Plans were still underway by this time to separate WFXR and WJPR's programming schedules, with the intent to move the "WB 5" intellectual unit and WBVA-TV call letters to WJPR in October 2001, leaving WFXR as a sole Fox affiliate. The two stations would have still shared some syndicated programming. However, the separation plan was aborted due to concerns about reception issues in areas totaling about 40% of the market that were only received over-the-air reception of only one of the two stations. Many of these areas still did not have access to cable, and neither [[DirecTV]] nor [[Dish Network]] had much subscriber penetration in the market at the time.
Plans were still underway by this time to separate WFXR and WJPR's programming schedules, with the intent to move the "WB 5" intellectual unit and WBVA-TV call letters to WJPR in October 2001, leaving WFXR as a sole Fox affiliate. The two stations would have still shared some syndicated programming. However, the separation plan was aborted due to concerns about reception issues in areas totaling about 40% of the market that were only received over-the-air reception of only one of the two stations. Many of these areas still did not have access to cable, and neither [[DirecTV]] nor [[Dish Network]] had much subscriber penetration in the market at the time.

Revision as of 22:24, 22 February 2023

WWCW
CityLynchburg, Virginia
Channels
BrandingCW 5
WFXR News (newscasts) (on DT2)
Programming
Affiliations
Ownership
Owner
WFXR
History
FoundedNovember 19, 1982
First air date
March 23, 1986 (38 years ago) (1986-03-23)
Former call signs
WJPR (1986–2006)
Former channel number(s)
  • Analog:
  • 21 (UHF, 1986–2009)
  • Digital:
  • 20 (UHF, 2002–2019)
  • Primary:
  • Independent (March–October 1986)
  • Fox (1986–2009)
  • Secondary:
  • UPN (1995–1997)
  • The WB (1997–1998)
Call sign meaning
"We're The CW"
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID24812
ERP938 kW
HAAT503.1 m (1,651 ft)
Transmitter coordinates37°19′15″N 79°37′57″W / 37.32083°N 79.63250°W / 37.32083; -79.63250
Translator(s)WFXR-DT 27.2 (17.4 UHF) Roanoke
Links
Public license information

WWCW (channel 21) is a television station licensed to Lynchburg, Virginia, United States, serving the Roanoke–Lynchburg market with programming from The CW. It is owned and operated by network majority owner Nexstar Media Group alongside Roanoke-licensed Fox affiliate WFXR (channel 27). Both stations share studios at the Valleypointe office park on Valleypoint Parkway in Hollins (with a Roanoke mailing address); WWCW operates an advertising sales office on Airport Road, along Lynchburg's southwestern border with Campbell County (though with a Lynchburg address). The station's transmitter is located on Thaxton Mountain in unincorporated central Bedford County.

Even though WWCW has a digital signal of its own, the signal's full-powered broadcasting radius does not cover much of the western portion of the market, including the New River Valley. Therefore, the station is simulcast in high definition over WFXR's second digital subchannel in order to reach the entire market. This signal can be seen on channel 27.2 from a transmitter on Poor Mountain in unincorporated southwestern Roanoke County. WWCW is carried on channel 5 on most cable systems in the market, as well as DirecTV (which its on-air branding, CW 5, is derived from).

History

Early years

Channel 21 at Lynchburg picked up no interest until communications consultant James E. Price of Chattanooga, Tennessee, applied for the channel in 1982 under the name Lynchburg Television Associates.[2][3] The construction permit was awarded in November 1982, took the call sign WJPR, and then was sold to a new investor group led by Price.[4] The permit changed hands two more times before the station was launched, first to Carney Communications of Virginia—owned by Thomas Carney of Bal Harbour, Florida—and then to a partnership led by Carney known as Lynchburg–Roanoke Television Partners.[5] One of the partners in the firm was Ralph Renick, a longtime television news anchor in Miami.[6][7]

Construction began in October 1985 at the Thaxton Mountain tower after approval came from Bedford County officials, and the station announced its existence as the first independent in the market.[8] It stated it would launch by the end of 1985, but that date was missed.[9] So too was a target date of February 10,[10] with winter weather being the culprit.[11]

WJPR debuted on March 23, 1986, giving the market a general-entertainment independent station and being the second of three new station launches that year in western Virginia (the others being Christian station WEFC on channel 38, which started January 3,[12] and Family Group Broadcasting-owned independent WVFT on channel 27 in November 1986[13]).[14] Programming was a typical mix of sitcoms, children's shows, and sports, including Baltimore Orioles baseball. It broadcast from studios and offices in a converted Kroger grocery store in Lynchburg's Forest Hills Shopping Center.[10] To this mix was added the Fox network when it launched that October,[15] as well as local high school football telecasts.[16]

WJPR and WVFT gave the Roanoke–Lynchburg market two independent stations in a short amount of time. Channel 21 had a slow start; some cable systems, notably in Lynchburg itself, balked at carrying the new station, and there were few immediate local advertisers.[11] In November 1988, three months after Paramount Pictures sued the station for a debt of $950,000, Lynchburg–Roanoke Television Partners filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization.[6] It was joined in Chapter 11 status by WVFT in April 1989.[17]

Merger with WVFT

On September 13 and 15, 1989, bankruptcy courts in Lynchburg and Tampa, Florida, gave NewSouth Broadcasting, a company owned by Timothy Brumlik, permission to purchase WJPR and WVFT with the intention of consolidating their programming. The deal began to fall apart on the 15th, however, when Brumlik was arrested on charges of laundering up to $12 million in Colombian drug money.[18] Officials alleged that Brumlik's ownership of TeleOnce in Puerto Rico was a front for two important Latin American media men: Remigio Ángel González, reported to be a business partner with Manuel Noriega in a Panamanian television station, and Julio Vera Gutiérrez, a Peruvian citizen.[19]

The indictment scrambled the picture for the stations Brumlik sought to buy. At the time of his arrest, he had been approved by bankruptcy courts or the FCC to buy WJPR and WVFT; WKCH-TV in Knoxville, Tennessee; and the then-unbuilt WGNM in Macon, Georgia.[18][19][20] With regard to WJPR and WVFT, his arrest and indictment caused him to be unable to fulfill commitments required by the bankruptcy courts. Instead, Henry A. Ash, a Tampa life insurance broker, bid on both stations with the same goal: to combine them.[21] Ash's Roanoke–Lynchburg TV Acquisition Corporation—with Carney as a stockholder—received court approval to buy both stations, paying $2.95 million for WJPR and $1.25 million for WVFT, in February 1990. It then filed with the FCC for a waiver of its rule that prohibited ownership of stations with overlapping signal coverage areas, believing that the market could bear one independent station but not two.[22]

On August 20, 1990, with the purchases pending at the FCC, WVFT began simulcasting WJPR, expanding Fox network coverage to the market's western portions for the first time.[23] FCC approval followed the next month.[24]

On September 15, 1993, WVFT and WJPR were purchased by the Grant Broadcasting System, owned by UHF television pioneer Milton Grant. The simulcast between the two stations continued, although WVFT began serving as the main station. In October 1993, WVFT had its call letters changed to WFXR-TV.[25] It was also announced at that time that the simulcast between WFXR and WJPR would eventually end, with one station being converted into an independent station; however, this plan never materialized during the remainder of the history of the two stations' analog broadcasts.

In the spring of 1997, the market's UPN affiliation moved to Danville-based WDRG-TV (channel 24, now MyNetworkTV affiliate WZBJ), at which time WFXR/WJPR picked up a secondary affiliation with The WB. This paved the way for WFXR and WJPR to start the area's cable-only WB affiliate on September 21, 1998, as a member of The WeB (subsequently renamed The WB 100+ Station Group) known by the fictional calls "WBVA-TV" and branded on-air as "WB 5", in reference to its cable position on Cox Communications channel 5.

Plans were still underway by this time to separate WFXR and WJPR's programming schedules, with the intent to move the "WB 5" intellectual unit and WBVA-TV call letters to WJPR in October 2001, leaving WFXR as a sole Fox affiliate. The two stations would have still shared some syndicated programming. However, the separation plan was aborted due to concerns about reception issues in areas totaling about 40% of the market that were only received over-the-air reception of only one of the two stations. Many of these areas still did not have access to cable, and neither DirecTV nor Dish Network had much subscriber penetration in the market at the time.

When WJPR signed on its digital signal in April 2002, that station only carried programming from "WBVA" on its sole main channel. Fox programming was added to the digital signal in January 2003, with "WBVA" being relegated to a new secondary digital subchannel on virtual channel 21.3 (the WB affiliate was also available locally on DirecTV and Dish Network). When WFXR began transmitting its own digital signal began in December of that same year, it carried Fox network and syndicated programming seen on the station's analog signal as well as "WBVA"'s programming in the same arrangement as WJPR.

On January 24, 2006, the Warner Bros. Entertainment unit of Time Warner and CBS Corporation announced that the two companies would shut down The WB and UPN and combine the networks' respective programming to create a new "fifth" network called The CW.[26][27] On March 28, 2006, it was announced that WBVA would become the market's CW affiliate. To reflect this, the fictional WBVA calls were changed to "WCW5-TV" in June 2006. The CW formally launched on September 18, 2006, at which time, the cable-only station concurrently changed its on-air branding to "CW 5".

On June 30, 2006, WJPR changed its call letters to WWCW, to reflect the station's pending affiliation with The CW, which was carried on the second digital subchannels of both stations. This immediately led to speculation that channel 21 would split off from WFXR and become the area's CW affiliate; however, Fox programming continued to air on the analog and digital signals of both WFXR and WWCW until the analog signals ceased operations upon the digital television transition in June 2009. At that point, the two stations were effectively (though not entirely) separated, with WWCW's primary digital channel now airing CW programming in high definition, with Fox programming airing in HD on WWCW's 21.2 subchannel. Conversely, WFXR carries Fox programming in HD on its primary signal, with CW programming airing in HD on WFXR's subchannel on 27.2. This is common practice for many duopolies in which the signal of one of the two stations is weaker in some portions of their home market. WWCW's digital transmitter emits a similarly strong radiated power as its analog transmitter, operating at 916,000 watts (which is equivalent to 4.5 million watts for an analog broadcast signal); however, its signal continues to provide marginal coverage in the western portion of the market.

Acquisition by the Nexstar Broadcasting Group

On November 6, 2013, Irving, Texas–based Nexstar Broadcasting Group announced that it would purchase the Grant stations, including WWCW and WFXR, for $87.5 million. The sale was approved by the FCC on November 3, 2014, and was finalized one month later on December 1.[28][29][30][31]

In March 2015, Joseph McNamara—who was appointed as vice president for the stations three months earlier in December 2014—announced that Nexstar planned to move WFXR/WWCW's operations and staff into a new, larger 14,830-square-foot (1,000 m2) studio facility at the Valleypointe office park in northeastern Roanoke County, near Roanoke–Blacksburg Regional Airport.[32] WWCW and WFXR migrated their operations into the new facility—which cost $3 million to build—during the week of September 14, 2015.[33][34]

On January 27, 2016, Nexstar announced it would acquire Media General for $4.6 billion. Since Media General already owns NBC affiliate WSLS-TV, and since the Roanoke-Lynchburg market is too small to allow duopolies in any case, in order to comply with FCC ownership rules as well as planned changes to rules regarding same-market television stations which would prohibit future joint sales agreements, the company was required to sell either WSLS or WFXR/WWCW to another company.[35][36] Despite WSLS' higher ratings, on May 27, 2016, Nexstar announced that it would keep WFXR and WWCW and sell WSLS to Graham Media Group for $120 million, along with WCWJ in Jacksonville, Florida. The sale was finalized January 17, 2017.[37]

Newscasts

In November 2013, following the acquisition by Nexstar, WWCW began airing a rebroadcast of WFXR's 10:00 p.m. newscast at 2:00 a.m. on Tuesday through Saturday mornings. The program was originally produced by NBC affiliate WSLS-TV (channel 10) until September 30, 2015, with WFXR taking over production of the newscast the day after (on October 1), following the launch of its in-house news department.[33][34][38]

Technical information

Subchannels

The station's digital signal is multiplexed:

Subchannels of WWCW[39]
Channel Video Aspect Short name Programming
21.1 720p 16:9 WWCW-HD Main WWCW programming / The CW
21.2 WFXR-HD Simulcast of WFXR / Fox
21.3 480i Rewind Rewind TV
21.4 Grit Grit
24.2 480i 16:9 Cozi Cozi TV (WZBJ-CD)
24.3 Decades Decades (WZBJ-CD)
  Simulcast of subchannels of another station
  Broadcast on behalf of another station

WWCW broadcasts high definition programming content on its main channel in 720p, rather than The CW's native 1080i format.

Analog-to-digital conversion

WWCW discontinued regular programming on its analog signal, over UHF channel 21, on June 12, 2009, the official date in which full-power television stations in the United States transitioned from analog to digital broadcasts under federal mandate. The station's digital signal remained on its pre-transition UHF channel 20,[40] using PSIP to display the station's virtual channel as its former UHF analog channel 21.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Facility Technical Data for WWCW". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ^ "Application filed for TV station in Lynchburg". Roanoke Times and World-News. Roanoke, Virginia. Associated Press. May 6, 1982. p. B-5. Retrieved February 22, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "For the Record" (PDF). Broadcasting. May 24, 1982. p. 66.
  4. ^ "Ownership changes" (PDF). Broadcasting. August 1, 1983. p. 62.
  5. ^ "Ownership Changes" (PDF). Broadcasting. November 4, 1985. p. 77.
  6. ^ a b Kegley, George (November 15, 1988). "WJPR seeks Chapter 11 protection". Roanoke Times and World-News. Roanoke, Virginia. p. B1. Retrieved February 22, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ Eyman, Scott (April 5, 1986). "The man who used to be king". South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
  8. ^ Samuel, Terence (October 23, 1985). "New Lynchburg TV station to go on air in December". Roanoke Times and World-News. Roanoke, Virginia. p. B4. Retrieved February 22, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ DeBell, Jeff (December 18, 1985). "Two new TV stations ready to go on air; third licensed". Roanoke Times and World-News. Roanoke, Virginia. p. B10. Retrieved February 22, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ a b DeBell, Jeff (January 30, 1986). "Channel 21 to offer mix of movies and reruns". Roanoke Times and World-News. Roanoke, Virginia. p. C1. Retrieved February 22, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ a b DeBell, Jeff (July 27, 1986). "'We're here to stay', Ch. 21 folks say". Roanoke Times and World-News. Roanoke, Virginia. p. F5, F7. Retrieved February 22, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Going on air". Roanoke Times and World-News. January 3, 1986. p. B6. Retrieved February 22, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ Payne, Melinda J. (November 13, 1986). "Problems solved, Channel 27 goes on air at last". Roanoke Times and World-News. Roanoke, Virginia. p. B12. Retrieved February 22, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ DeBell, Jeff (March 28, 1986). "Channel 10 will begin broadcasting in stereo". Roanoke Times and World-News. Roanoke, Virginia. p. B4. Retrieved February 22, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "Fox network begins to take shape" (PDF). Broadcasting. August 4, 1986. pp. 44–45.
  16. ^ Bogaczyk, Jack (July 8, 1987). "WSLS' Fuller headed for North Carolina job". Roanoke Times and World-News. p. C1. Retrieved February 22, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ Ruiz, Frank (April 14, 1989). "Family Group seeks protection from creditors". The Tampa Tribune. p. 7-D. Retrieved February 22, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ a b Kegley, George; Milteer, Chuck (September 23, 1989). "Stations' sales put in doubt: Indictment may foil 2 TV deals". Roanoke Times and World-News. p. A3, A6. Retrieved February 22, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ a b Powelson, Richard (September 19, 1989). "Prospective WKCH buyer linked to alleged partner of Gen. Noriega". The Knoxville News-Sentinel. Knoxville, Tennessee. p. A1, A2. Archived from the original on November 30, 2021. Retrieved November 29, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ "Religious group almost sold license to man accused of money-laundering". The Macon Telegraph. Macon, Georgia. September 21, 1989. p. 1A, 4A. Retrieved February 22, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ Milteer, Chuck (October 18, 1989). "TV stations get new bid". Roanoke Times and World-News. p. B7. Retrieved February 22, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ^ Milteer, Chuck (February 1, 1990). "2 stations may be merged". Roanoke Times and World-News. Roanoke, Virginia. p. C6. Retrieved February 22, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ^ Milteer, Chuck (August 5, 1990). "WVFT-27 to broadcast Channel 21 programs". Roanoke Times and World-News. Roanoke, Virginia. p. C6. Retrieved February 22, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. ^ "Sale of TV stations wins FCC approval". Roanoke Times and World-News. Roanoke, Virginia. September 11, 1990. p. A5. Retrieved February 22, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. ^ Hatter, Melanie (October 25, 1993). "Roanoke's Channel 27 is now WFXR". Roanoke Times and World-News. p. Extra 2. Retrieved February 22, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  26. ^ Jessica Seid (January 24, 2006). "'Gilmore Girls' meet 'Smackdown'; CW Network to combine WB, UPN in CBS-Warner venture beginning in September". CNNMoney.com.
  27. ^ Bill Carter (January 24, 2006). "UPN and WB to Combine, Forming New TV Network". The New York Times.
  28. ^ Michael Malone (November 6, 2013). "Nexstar to Acquire Seven Grant Stations For $87.5 Million". Broadcasting & Cable. Retrieved November 6, 2013.
  29. ^ "Nexstar To Pay $87.5M For 7 Grant Stations". TVNewsCheck. November 6, 2013. Retrieved September 23, 2015.
  30. ^ "At Last, FCC OKs Nexstar Buy Of Grant TVs". TVNewsCheck. November 3, 2014. Retrieved September 23, 2015.
  31. ^ "Consummation Notice". CDBS Public Access. U.S. Federal Communications Commission. December 1, 2014. Retrieved December 3, 2014.
  32. ^ Ralph Berrier Jr. (March 12, 2015). "Roanoke's Fox 21/27 plans big changes". The Roanoke Times. Retrieved March 13, 2015.
  33. ^ a b Ralph Berrier Jr. (September 17, 2015). "Fox 21/27 moves into new studio, plans more news programs". The Roanoke Times. Retrieved September 18, 2015.
  34. ^ a b "Nexstar Completes New Facility In Roanoke". TVNewsCheck. September 17, 2015. Retrieved September 18, 2015.
  35. ^ "Nexstar-Media General: It's A Done Deal". TVNewsCheck. Retrieved 27 January 2016.
  36. ^ Picker, Leslie (2016-01-27). "Nexstar Clinches Deal to Acquire Media General". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2016-01-27.
  37. ^ Miller, Mark K. (May 27, 2016). "Nexstar Selling Five Stations in Four Markets". TVNewsCheck. Retrieved May 27, 2016.
  38. ^ "WFXR's commitment to local news". WFXR. Nexstar Broadcasting Group. October 1, 2015.
  39. ^ "RabbitEars TV Query for WWCW". RabbitEars. Retrieved September 18, 2015.
  40. ^ "DTV Tentative Channel Designations for the First and the Second Rounds" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-08-29. Retrieved 2012-03-24.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=WWCW&oldid=1141010039"