WMBQ-CA
Encyclopedia
WMBQ-CA is a Class A low-power television
station located in New York City
. It is owned by Renard Communications Corp., and broadcasts on UHF
channel 46. WMBQ-CA is an affiliate of Cornerstone Television
, a Christian network based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
.
The station was previously an affiliate of The Box until that network's acquisition by Viacom in 2001; the station then carried MTV2
like many other former Box stations. During that time, the station's call letters were WLBX-LP; the callsign was changed to WMBQ-CA in 2004. The station operated on channel 22 until 2006. WMBQ is the fourth religious station behind WTBY-TV
, WFME-TV
, and WEBR to air conerstone television in mid January 2006.
The current Federal Communications Commission
license for WMBQ-CA provides for its analog signal to be channel 46 in New York City (listed as Manhattan
), and a digital television
station (WMBQ-LD) on channel 10.
On August 17, 2007, Renard Communications announced that would sell its three stations to Equity Media Holdings for $8 million. However, the transaction had a closing deadline set for June 1, 2008, and either party could cancel the sale if it were not completed by then. As of this revision, the sale has not been consummated and, as of December 8, 2008, Equity Media Holdings is in chapter 11 bankruptcy
.
On January 3, 2008, WMBQ-CA went dark
, reportedly as a result of moving to a new transmitter site. For a period of over two months, the station broadcast an aerial view of New York City and audio from NOAA weather radio
. WMBQ resumed broadcasting Cornerstone TeleVision in early March 2008. WMBQ-CA is one the last two UHF and VHF stations in New York City to broadcast in analog; the other is WNYZ-LP, which broadcasts primarily to radios.
Class A television service
The class A television service is a system for regulating some low-power television stations in the United States. Class A stations are denoted by the broadcast callsign suffix "-CA" or "-CD" , although very many analog -CA stations have a digital companion channel that was assigned the -LD...
station located in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. It is owned by Renard Communications Corp., and broadcasts on UHF
Ultra high frequency
Ultra-High Frequency designates the ITU Radio frequency range of electromagnetic waves between 300 MHz and 3 GHz , also known as the decimetre band or decimetre wave as the wavelengths range from one to ten decimetres...
channel 46. WMBQ-CA is an affiliate of Cornerstone Television
Cornerstone Television
The Cornerstone TeleVision Network is a non-commercial Christian broadcast and satellite television network based in Wall, Pennsylvania, United States. Its founder and CEO is Russ Bixler...
, a Christian network based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
.
The station was previously an affiliate of The Box until that network's acquisition by Viacom in 2001; the station then carried MTV2
MTV2
MTV2 is a cable network that is widely available in the United States on digital cable and satellite television, and is progressively being added to analogue cable lineups across the nation...
like many other former Box stations. During that time, the station's call letters were WLBX-LP; the callsign was changed to WMBQ-CA in 2004. The station operated on channel 22 until 2006. WMBQ is the fourth religious station behind WTBY-TV
WTBY-TV
WTBY-TV is the TBN owned and operated station in Poughkeepsie, New York. It broadcasts on UHF channel 27, with a digital signal. However, through PSIP, digital sets display WTBY's channel as its old analog number, UHF channel 54....
, WFME-TV
WFME-TV
WFME-TV is a religious television station in West Milford, New Jersey, broadcasting ethnic and religious programming locally on digital channel 29 . The station is owned by Family Radio, a Christian broadcast ministry based in Oakland, California...
, and WEBR to air conerstone television in mid January 2006.
The current Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
license for WMBQ-CA provides for its analog signal to be channel 46 in New York City (listed as Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
), and a digital television
Digital television
Digital television is the transmission of audio and video by digital signals, in contrast to the analog signals used by analog TV...
station (WMBQ-LD) on channel 10.
On August 17, 2007, Renard Communications announced that would sell its three stations to Equity Media Holdings for $8 million. However, the transaction had a closing deadline set for June 1, 2008, and either party could cancel the sale if it were not completed by then. As of this revision, the sale has not been consummated and, as of December 8, 2008, Equity Media Holdings is in chapter 11 bankruptcy
Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy is a legal status of an insolvent person or an organisation, that is, one that cannot repay the debts owed to creditors. In most jurisdictions bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor....
.
On January 3, 2008, WMBQ-CA went dark
Dark (broadcasting)
In the broadcasting industry, dark is a term used to describe a radio station or television station that has gone off-the-air for an indefinite period of time, or as defined by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission , a "silent" station...
, reportedly as a result of moving to a new transmitter site. For a period of over two months, the station broadcast an aerial view of New York City and audio from NOAA weather radio
NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards
NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards is a network of radio stations broadcasting continuous weather information directly from a nearby National Weather Service office. It is operated by the NWS, an agency of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration within the United States Department of...
. WMBQ resumed broadcasting Cornerstone TeleVision in early March 2008. WMBQ-CA is one the last two UHF and VHF stations in New York City to broadcast in analog; the other is WNYZ-LP, which broadcasts primarily to radios.