WFDC-TV
Encyclopedia
WFDC-DT is a full-powered Univision
affiliate licensed to Arlington, Virginia in the Washington, D.C.
market. Located on virtual channel 14 (digital channel 15) the station's transmitter is located on WRC-TV
's tower.
, which featured big-name acts such as James Brown and Marvin Gaye
. In 1969, the station changed its call letters, to WFAN-TV. The WFAN
call letters are now used on the radio station in New York City on the 660 kHz AM frequency (formerly WNBC-AM).
From 1968-1972, channel 14 was the sister station to WMET
channel 24 in Baltimore, MD. Both stations were owned by United Broadcasting.
On February 12, 1972, channel 14 went dark after accumulating financial difficulties. Throughout the late 1970s and 1980s, channel 14 was used to relay public channel 53 WNVT to the Washington, DC market, and occasionally served as a low-power Univision
affiliate.
A new station on channel 14 signed on as WTMW on August 3, 1993; the call letters came from the initials of the owner Theodore M. White. From 1997 to May 1999, WTMW aired programming from America's Store
, a discount shopping channel from Home Shopping Network
.
In May 1999, WTMW began airing the new Military Channel (not related to the subsequent channel of the same name
owned by Discovery). After the Military Channel stopped broadcasting one month later, channel 14 aired programming from the Panda Shopping Network. Channel 14 became an affiliate of the American Independent Network
in December 1999, which primarily broadcast reruns of old sitcoms and infomercials. The channel flipped again in January 2001 when it became an affiliate of the Renaissance Network.
None of these formats were financially viable and in November 2001, Theodore M. White sold the station to Univision Communications
and the call letters were changed to WFDC. Univision already had a Washington affiliate on channel 47 (WMDO; that station's owner, Entravision Communications
, would take over WFDC through a local marketing agreement
) so WFDC Channel 14 became one of the first flagship stations of their new network TeleFutura
. The network was created to directly compete with Telemundo
for the Latin-American demographic, since Univision is more Mexican-oriented. Telefutura first broadcast on January 14, 2002 and channel 14 has done better financially since then.
On January 1, 2006, WFDC and WMDO swapped networks: WFDC began broadcasting Univision and WMDO began broadcasting Telefutura
.
WFDC is now broadcasting on channel 14.1, however, viewers in large portions of Howard County
and Anne Arundel County
, Maryland
now report the inability to view WFDC's broadcasts, as opposed to when WFDC had its analog signal. Additionally, it is unknown why WFDC's management refuses to broadcast its sister station's signal WMDO Telefutura on channel 14.2. WMDO-CA did start transmitting a digital signal on VHF-8 in the summer of 2009, however, the signal is also barely viewable within the Washington, DC city limits, and not viewable in the outer suburbs.
Like all of the DC-area Mobile DTV broadcasters, WFDC-DT commenced ATSC-M/H
broadcasting on February 27, 2011. WFDC-DT also has a Mobile DTV feed of subchannel 14.1, labelled "Univision", with two encrypted video feeds of E!
(14.2) and the Food Network
(14.3), broadcasting at 5.5 Mbit/s. This is tied with WDCA-TV for the highest bit rate of any DC-area television station mobile feed.
Univision
Univision is a Spanish-language television network in the United States. It has the largest audience of Spanish language television viewers according to Nielsen ratings. Randy Falco, COO, has been in charge of the company since the departure of Univision Communications president and CEO Joe Uva...
affiliate licensed to Arlington, Virginia in the Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
market. Located on virtual channel 14 (digital channel 15) the station's transmitter is located on WRC-TV
WRC-TV
WRC-TV, channel 4, is an owned and operated television station of the NBC television network, located in the American capital city of Washington, D.C...
's tower.
History
Channel 14 first signed on as WOOK on March 6, 1963 as the first station in the country aimed at the African-American demographic. WOOK's claim to fame was their teen-oriented dance show called TeenaramaTeenarama
Teenarama was a 1960's television dance show for African-American teenagers broadcast by WOOK in Washington, DC.-External links:* http://www.dancepartytheteenaramastory.com/...
, which featured big-name acts such as James Brown and Marvin Gaye
Marvin Gaye
Marvin Pentz Gay, Jr. , better known by his stage name Marvin Gaye, was an American singer-songwriter and musician with a three-octave vocal range....
. In 1969, the station changed its call letters, to WFAN-TV. The WFAN
WFAN
WFAN , also known as "Sports Radio 66" or "The FAN", is a radio station in New York City. The station broadcasts on a clear channel and is owned by CBS Radio...
call letters are now used on the radio station in New York City on the 660 kHz AM frequency (formerly WNBC-AM).
From 1968-1972, channel 14 was the sister station to WMET
WUTB
WUTB, digital channel 41, is the MyNetworkTV owned-and-operated television station for Baltimore, Maryland. Its transmitter is located near Gilson Park in Catonsville. The station has studios on Seton Drive in Baltimore near the city and county line...
channel 24 in Baltimore, MD. Both stations were owned by United Broadcasting.
On February 12, 1972, channel 14 went dark after accumulating financial difficulties. Throughout the late 1970s and 1980s, channel 14 was used to relay public channel 53 WNVT to the Washington, DC market, and occasionally served as a low-power Univision
Univision
Univision is a Spanish-language television network in the United States. It has the largest audience of Spanish language television viewers according to Nielsen ratings. Randy Falco, COO, has been in charge of the company since the departure of Univision Communications president and CEO Joe Uva...
affiliate.
A new station on channel 14 signed on as WTMW on August 3, 1993; the call letters came from the initials of the owner Theodore M. White. From 1997 to May 1999, WTMW aired programming from America's Store
America's Store
America's Store was a US shopping television network. It was the spin-off channel to the Home Shopping Network . On April 3, 2007, America's Store ceased broadcasting permanently....
, a discount shopping channel from Home Shopping Network
Home Shopping Network
Home Shopping Network or HSN began in 1977 as a 24-hour/7 day a week home shopping television network televised via cable, satellite, and some terrestrial channels in the Philippines. HSN can also be shopped online at hsn.com...
.
In May 1999, WTMW began airing the new Military Channel (not related to the subsequent channel of the same name
Military Channel
The Military Channel is a cable and satellite television network which broadcasts television programming related to the military, warfare and military history. It is part of the group of networks owned by Discovery Communications within the United States and Canada...
owned by Discovery). After the Military Channel stopped broadcasting one month later, channel 14 aired programming from the Panda Shopping Network. Channel 14 became an affiliate of the American Independent Network
American Independent Network
The American Independent Network was one of the first major attempts at building a television network, consisting of low-powered television stations. Started by Don Shelton, Randy Moseley, and Lynn Synder, it was similar to the older Channel America , and was the foundation for Urban America TV...
in December 1999, which primarily broadcast reruns of old sitcoms and infomercials. The channel flipped again in January 2001 when it became an affiliate of the Renaissance Network.
None of these formats were financially viable and in November 2001, Theodore M. White sold the station to Univision Communications
Univision Communications
Univision Communications is an American Spanish language media company in the United States. Its headquarters are in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. Prior to 2007, the headquarters were in Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA.- History :...
and the call letters were changed to WFDC. Univision already had a Washington affiliate on channel 47 (WMDO; that station's owner, Entravision Communications
Entravision Communications
Entravision Communications Corporation is a media company based in Santa Monica, California. Entravision primarily caters to the Spanish-speaking Hispanic community and owns television and radio stations and outdoor media, in several of the top Hispanic markets. They are the largest affiliate...
, would take over WFDC through a local marketing agreement
Local marketing agreement
In U.S. and Canadian broadcasting, a local marketing agreement is an agreement in which one company agrees to operate a radio or television station owned by another licensee...
) so WFDC Channel 14 became one of the first flagship stations of their new network TeleFutura
TeleFutura
TeleFutura is a U.S. Spanish-language broadcast television network owned by Univision with headquarters in Miami, Florida.-Overview:TeleFutura Is America’s #2 Spanish-Language Network in prime time...
. The network was created to directly compete with Telemundo
Telemundo
Telemundo is an American television network that broadcasts in Spanish. The network is the second-largest Spanish-language content producer in the world, and the second-largest Spanish-language network in the United States, behind Univision....
for the Latin-American demographic, since Univision is more Mexican-oriented. Telefutura first broadcast on January 14, 2002 and channel 14 has done better financially since then.
On January 1, 2006, WFDC and WMDO swapped networks: WFDC began broadcasting Univision and WMDO began broadcasting Telefutura
TeleFutura
TeleFutura is a U.S. Spanish-language broadcast television network owned by Univision with headquarters in Miami, Florida.-Overview:TeleFutura Is America’s #2 Spanish-Language Network in prime time...
.
WFDC is now broadcasting on channel 14.1, however, viewers in large portions of Howard County
Howard County, Maryland
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*62.2% White*17.5% Black*0.3% Native American*14.4% Asian*0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*3.6% Two or more races*2.0% Other races*5.8% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
and Anne Arundel County
Anne Arundel County, Maryland
Anne Arundel County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland. It is named for Anne Arundell , a member of the ancient family of Arundells in Cornwall, England and the wife of Cæcilius Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore. Its county seat is Annapolis, which is also the capital of the state...
, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
now report the inability to view WFDC's broadcasts, as opposed to when WFDC had its analog signal. Additionally, it is unknown why WFDC's management refuses to broadcast its sister station's signal WMDO Telefutura on channel 14.2. WMDO-CA did start transmitting a digital signal on VHF-8 in the summer of 2009, however, the signal is also barely viewable within the Washington, DC city limits, and not viewable in the outer suburbs.
Like all of the DC-area Mobile DTV broadcasters, WFDC-DT commenced ATSC-M/H
ATSC-M/H
ATSC-M/H is a standard in the USA for mobile digital TV, that allows TV broadcasts to be received by mobile devices.....
broadcasting on February 27, 2011. WFDC-DT also has a Mobile DTV feed of subchannel 14.1, labelled "Univision", with two encrypted video feeds of E!
E!
E! Entertainment Television is an American basic cable and satellite television network, owned by NBCUniversal. It features entertainment-related programming, reality television, feature films and occasionally series and specials unrelated to the entertainment industry.E! has an audience reach of...
(14.2) and the Food Network
Food Network
Food Network is a television specialty channel that airs both one-time and recurring programs about food and cooking. Scripps Networks Interactive owns 70 percent of the network, with Tribune Company controlling the remaining 30 percent....
(14.3), broadcasting at 5.5 Mbit/s. This is tied with WDCA-TV for the highest bit rate of any DC-area television station mobile feed.