WHKY-TV
Encyclopedia
WHKY-TV is an independent television station
in Hickory, North Carolina
that serves the northwestern corner of the Charlotte
media market
locally referred to as "The Unifour."
Owned and operated by Long Communications, LLC (which also owns Hickory radio station WHKY-AM), WHKY-TV broadcasts on UHF digital channel 40 (virtual channel
14).
WHKY-TV commenced broadcasting on February 14, 1968, and is now North Carolina's oldest independent TV station. The station's current schedule consists primarily of locally-produced religious and entertainment shows; paid programming
and content from Jewelry Television
; and a twice-nightly local newscast, Unifour Tonight, which is hosted by Jim Karas.
During the 1980s, channel 14 aired Cincinnati Reds
baseball.
. As a result, the station was added to Time Warner Cable's
Charlotte/Mecklenburg system under must-carry
rules. The station also began identifying as "Hickory/Charlotte" in its on-air legal identification
.
In 2004, WHKY-TV was able to increase its analog power to 2 million watts. On February 14, 2009, the station converted to digital-only broadcasting.
Today, WHKY-TV's digital signal now operates at 600,000 watts, roughly equivalent to 1.2 million watts for an analog transmitter. However, even in digital it only provides rimshot coverage of Mecklenburg County and doesn't cover Charlotte at all. The station currently has a construction permit to boost its power to 950,000 watts, which will give it at least grade B coverage of Charlotte and most of the inner-ring Charlotte suburbs. Even though it has expired, viewers have reported that the transmitter has been turned on and that they are seeing WHKY.
WHKY-TV's signal also airs on Charter Communications
cable channel 7 (in the Hickory area) and Time Warner Cable
channel 18 (in the Charlotte area). In June 2006, the station's signal first appeared on Dish Network
and DirecTV's
Charlotte feeds, expanding the station’s reach to cover 2 million people in North and South Carolina.
Television station
A television station is a business, organisation or other such as an amateur television operator that transmits content over terrestrial television. A television transmission can be by analog television signals or, more recently, by digital television. Broadcast television systems standards are...
in Hickory, North Carolina
Hickory, North Carolina
Hickory is a city in Catawba County, North Carolina. Hickory has the 162nd largest urban area in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 341,851, making it the 4th largest metropolitan area in North Carolina. The city's population was 37,222...
that serves the northwestern corner of the Charlotte
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
media market
Media market
A media market, broadcast market, media region, designated market area , Television Market Area , or simply market is a region where the population can receive the same television and radio station offerings, and may also include other types of media including newspapers and Internet content...
locally referred to as "The Unifour."
The Unifour
The Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton Metropolitan Statistical Area or The Unifor, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of four counties in the Catawba Valley region of western North Carolina...
Owned and operated by Long Communications, LLC (which also owns Hickory radio station WHKY-AM), WHKY-TV broadcasts on UHF digital channel 40 (virtual channel
Virtual channel
In telecommunications, a logical channel number , also known as virtual channel, is a channel designation which differs from that of the actual radio channel on which the signal travels....
14).
WHKY-TV commenced broadcasting on February 14, 1968, and is now North Carolina's oldest independent TV station. The station's current schedule consists primarily of locally-produced religious and entertainment shows; paid programming
Infomercial
Infomercials are direct response television commercials which generally include a phone number or website. There are long-form infomercials, which are typically between 15 and 30 minutes in length, and short-form infomercials, which are typically 30 seconds to 120 seconds in length. Infomercials...
and content from Jewelry Television
Jewelry Television
Jewelry Television is an American television network, similar to the Home Shopping Network. It was formerly called "America's Collectibles Network" . The privately-held company was founded in 1993 and broadcasts high definition programming 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to over 80 million unique...
; and a twice-nightly local newscast, Unifour Tonight, which is hosted by Jim Karas.
During the 1980s, channel 14 aired Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
baseball.
Broadcast/Cable/Satellite History
In 2002, WHKY-TV installed two new antennas, installing not only one for digital programming but another to replace its older NTSC analog antenna. The latter antenna helped WHKY-TV's analog signal cover the far northern corner of Mecklenburg County, North CarolinaMecklenburg County, North Carolina
-Air:The county's primary commercial aviation airport is Charlotte Douglas International Airport in Charlotte.- Intercity rail :With twenty-five freight trains a day, Mecklenburg is a freight railroad transportation center, largely due to its place on the NS main line between Washington and Atlanta...
. As a result, the station was added to Time Warner Cable's
Time Warner Cable
Time Warner Cable is an American cable television company that operates in 28 states and has 31 operating divisions...
Charlotte/Mecklenburg system under must-carry
Must-carry
In cable television, governments apply a must-carry regulation stating that locally-licensed television stations must be carried on a cable provider's system.- Canada :...
rules. The station also began identifying as "Hickory/Charlotte" in its on-air legal identification
Station identification
Station identification is the practice of radio or television stations or networks identifying themselves on air, typically by means of a call sign or brand name...
.
In 2004, WHKY-TV was able to increase its analog power to 2 million watts. On February 14, 2009, the station converted to digital-only broadcasting.
Today, WHKY-TV's digital signal now operates at 600,000 watts, roughly equivalent to 1.2 million watts for an analog transmitter. However, even in digital it only provides rimshot coverage of Mecklenburg County and doesn't cover Charlotte at all. The station currently has a construction permit to boost its power to 950,000 watts, which will give it at least grade B coverage of Charlotte and most of the inner-ring Charlotte suburbs. Even though it has expired, viewers have reported that the transmitter has been turned on and that they are seeing WHKY.
WHKY-TV's signal also airs on Charter Communications
Charter Communications
Charter Communications is an American company providing cable television, high-speed Internet, and telephone services to more than 4.7 million customers in 25 states. By revenues, it is the fourth-largest cable operator in the United States, behind Comcast, Time Warner Cable, and Cox Communications...
cable channel 7 (in the Hickory area) and Time Warner Cable
Time Warner Cable
Time Warner Cable is an American cable television company that operates in 28 states and has 31 operating divisions...
channel 18 (in the Charlotte area). In June 2006, the station's signal first appeared on Dish Network
Dish Network
Dish Network Corporation is the second largest pay TV provider in the United States, providing direct broadcast satellite service—including satellite television, audio programming, and interactive television services—to 14.337 million commercial and residential customers in the United States. Dish...
and DirecTV's
DirecTV
DirecTV is an American direct broadcast satellite service provider and broadcaster based in El Segundo, California. Its satellite service, launched on June 17, 1994, transmits digital satellite television and audio to households in the United States, Latin America, and the Anglophone Caribbean. ...
Charlotte feeds, expanding the station’s reach to cover 2 million people in North and South Carolina.
Digital Television
| Channel | Programming |
|---|---|
| 14.1 | Main WHKY-TV programming |
| 14.2 | Retro Television Network Retro Television Network The Retro Television Network is a system of television stations that airs classic television shows as well as more recently produced programs... |
| 14.3 | Tuff TV Tuff TV TUFF TV is a digital broadcast network geared to men created by Lou Seals of Seals Entertainment Company LLC in a joint venture with Henry Luken of Luken Communications, the company that owns and operates RTV. Besides broadcast and cable distribution, TUFF TV Media Group, LLC plans to distribute... |
| 14.4 | My Family TV My Family TV My Family TV is a United States general entertainment television network jointly owned by ValCom and Luken Communications, and based in Chattanooga, Tennessee.-History:... |