WOGX
Encyclopedia
WOGX is the Fox
owned-and-operated
(O&O) television station
for North Central Florida
that is licensed to Ocala
. It broadcasts a high definition
digital signal on UHF channel 31 from a transmitter along CR 316 west of I-75
/FL 93 and the Heijahs Town section of Reddick. WOGX has studios on Southwest 37th Avenue in Ocala along I-75/FL 93 and operates sales offices on Northwest 43rd Street in Gainesville
.
Although considered a separate station in its own right, this channel is a semi-satellite of WOFL
in Orlando
. It airs most of that station's syndicated programming though sometimes at different times. There are also programs that only air on WOGX while some are only seen on WOFL. Syndicated programming exclusive to this station include: Live with Kelly, My Name is Earl
, The Big Bang Theory
, Access Hollywood
, Grey's Anatomy
, The Unit
, The Closer
, and Weekend Movies among others simulcasted from WOFL. This channel also airs separate commercials, paid advertisements for shopping, religious and Thoroughbred Week with John Henderson, which is produced by Lexington, Kentucky-based NBC affiliated station WLEX-TV
, which airs on Saturday Mornings at 6:30 a.m. and station identifications. Master control of WOGX is located at the WOFL and WRBW
studios on Skyline Drive along I-4
in Lake Mary
. It is the smallest station in the country that is a O&O of any major network.
in 1986 who changed the call letters to the current WOGX in 1987. The previous calls now belong to a repeater of WUVF-CA
, Southwest Florida
's Univision
affiliate. On May 30, 1991, the station became a Fox affiliate. Prior to this, Gainesville did not have a Fox affiliate of its own with the local Cox
system not carrying any of the nearest Fox affiliates (WOFL, Tampa Bay
's WTOG
(through 1988 when Fox moved to WFTS-TV
), or Jacksonville
's WAWS
). Marion County
had received Fox through WOFL and WTOG (until 1988). Citrus County
(which is assigned to the Tampa Bay market but is considered by WOGX to be within its viewing area) received Fox from W49AI (now WYKE-LP
). At the time, this was a repeater of WOFL (except for late-night programming as W49AI signed-off at midnight). W49AI was forced to discontinue Fox and WOFL programming upon WOGX's affiliation.
In 1996, WOGX was sold to the Meredith Corporation
and had its operations moved to WOFL's studios. In 2002, Meredith sold WOFL and WOGX to Fox Television Stations in a deal that also saw Meredith obtain KPTV
in Portland, Oregon
. This made WOFL and WOGX Fox owned-and-operated stations as well as sister to WRBW (then a UPN
affiliate). WOGX began simulcasting WOFL's newscasts when they launched in March 1998. It airs all news programs from that station except weekday mornings from 9 to 10 and weeknights at 6 and 11. There is no separate news open seen on WOGX or local news inserts targeted to the Gainesville/Ocala area, although there's an separate weather forecast is aired during the newscasts targeted to the area as prepared by WOFL's Meteorologists. Sometime in late-2009, this channel redesigned its website to match other Fox-owned stations (including WOFL) although it still does not use a "My Fox" style web address. The station has been using a logo which is similar to those of the other Fox O&O stations for the past two years.
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
owned-and-operated
Owned-and-operated station
In the broadcasting industry , an owned-and-operated station usually refers to a television station or radio station that is owned by the network with which it is associated...
(O&O) television station
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...
for North Central Florida
North Central Florida
North Central Florida is a region of the U.S. state of Florida which comprises the north-central part of the state and encompasses the Gainesville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area , Bradford, Columbia, Hamilton, Lafayette, Madison, Marion, Putnam, Suwannee and Union counties...
that is licensed to Ocala
Ocala, Florida
Ocala is a city in Marion County, Florida. As of 2007, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau was 53,491. It is the county seat of Marion County, and the principal city of the Ocala, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had an estimated 2007 population of 324,857.-History:Ocala...
. It broadcasts a high definition
High-definition television
High-definition television is video that has resolution substantially higher than that of traditional television systems . HDTV has one or two million pixels per frame, roughly five times that of SD...
digital signal on UHF channel 31 from a transmitter along CR 316 west of I-75
Interstate 75 in Florida
Interstate 75 is a part of the Interstate Highway System and runs from Hialeah, Florida, a few miles northwest of Miami to Sault Ste. Marie in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan...
/FL 93 and the Heijahs Town section of Reddick. WOGX has studios on Southwest 37th Avenue in Ocala along I-75/FL 93 and operates sales offices on Northwest 43rd Street in Gainesville
Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Alachua County, Florida, United States as well as the principal city of the Gainesville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area . The preliminary 2010 Census population count for Gainesville is 124,354. Gainesville is home to the sixth...
.
Although considered a separate station in its own right, this channel is a semi-satellite of WOFL
WOFL
WOFL, channel 35, is the Fox owned-and-operated television station serving the Orlando, Florida metropolitan area. It is licensed to Orlando, with studios located in Lake Mary. It broadcasts its digital signal on UHF channel 22. On cable, WOFL-TV is currently seen on channel 3 for subscribers of...
in Orlando
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
. It airs most of that station's syndicated programming though sometimes at different times. There are also programs that only air on WOGX while some are only seen on WOFL. Syndicated programming exclusive to this station include: Live with Kelly, My Name is Earl
My Name Is Earl
My Name Is Earl is an American television comedy series created by Greg Garcia that was originally broadcast on the NBC television network from September 20, 2005, to May 14, 2009, in the United States...
, The Big Bang Theory
The Big Bang Theory
The Big Bang Theory is an American sitcom created by Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady, both of whom serve as executive producers on the show, along with Steven Molaro. All three also serve as head writers...
, Access Hollywood
Access Hollywood
Access Hollywood is a weekday television entertainment news program covering events and celebrities in the entertainment industry. It was created by former Entertainment Tonight executive producer Jim Van Messel, and is currently directed by Robert Silverstein. In previous years, Doug Dougherty and...
, Grey's Anatomy
Grey's Anatomy
Grey's Anatomy is an American medical drama television series created by Shonda Rhimes. The series premiered on March 27, 2005 on ABC; since then, seven seasons have aired. The series follows the lives of interns, residents and their mentors in the fictional Seattle Grace Mercy West Hospital in...
, The Unit
The Unit
The Unit is an American action-drama television series that focuses on a top-secret military unit modeled after the real-life U.S. Army special operations unit commonly known as Delta Force...
, The Closer
The Closer
The Closer is an American crime drama, starring Kyra Sedgwick as Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson, a Georgia police detective who often closes her cases using sometimes-questionable methods...
, and Weekend Movies among others simulcasted from WOFL. This channel also airs separate commercials, paid advertisements for shopping, religious and Thoroughbred Week with John Henderson, which is produced by Lexington, Kentucky-based NBC affiliated station WLEX-TV
WLEX-TV
WLEX-TV, channel 18, is the NBC-affiliated television station for Lexington, Kentucky and the East-Central Kentucky region. Its transmitter is located in Southern Lexington near Hamburg Pavilion on WTVQ-DT's tower. WLEX-TV's studio is on Russell Cave Road in northern Fayette County.-Digital...
, which airs on Saturday Mornings at 6:30 a.m. and station identifications. Master control of WOGX is located at the WOFL and WRBW
WRBW
WRBW is the MyNetworkTV owned and operated station serving the Orlando/Daytona Beach/Melbourne, Florida television market. It is owned by the Fox Television Stations Group, along with Fox station WOFL Channel 35. Known on-air as "My65", the station offers sitcoms, cartoons, court shows, and...
studios on Skyline Drive along I-4
Interstate 4
Interstate 4 is a intrastate Highway located entirely within the state of Florida, United States. It goes from Interstate 275 in Tampa, Florida to Interstate 95 at Daytona Beach, Florida . It also has the Florida Department of Transportation designation of State Road 400, but only a small...
in Lake Mary
Lake Mary, Florida
Lake Mary is a city in Seminole County, Florida, United States. The population was 11,456 at the 2000 census. As of 2009, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 15,230...
. It is the smallest station in the country that is a O&O of any major network.
History
The station began as independent WBSP-TV on November 1, 1983. The original owners, Big Sun Television, sold WBSP to Wabash Valley Broadcasting of Terre Haute, IndianaTerre Haute, Indiana
Terre Haute is a city and the county seat of Vigo County, Indiana, United States, near the state's western border with Illinois. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 60,785 and its metropolitan area had a population of 170,943. The city is the county seat of Vigo County and...
in 1986 who changed the call letters to the current WOGX in 1987. The previous calls now belong to a repeater of WUVF-CA
WUVF-CA
WUVF-LP is the Univisión affiliate for the Fort Myers-Naples, Florida television market. It is licensed in Naples, owned by Silver Point Capital, and operates on VHF channel 2, with no digital signal. WUVF's programming can also be seen on WLZE-LP, channel 51, in Fort Myers...
, Southwest Florida
Southwest Florida
Southwest Florida is a region of Florida , United States located along its gulf coast, south of the Tampa Bay area, west of Lake Okeechobee and mostly north of the Everglades...
's 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. On May 30, 1991, the station became a Fox affiliate. Prior to this, Gainesville did not have a Fox affiliate of its own with the local Cox
Cox Communications
Cox Communications is a privately owned subsidiary of Cox Enterprises providing digital cable television, telecommunications and wireless services in the United States...
system not carrying any of the nearest Fox affiliates (WOFL, Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay is a large natural harbor and estuary along the Gulf of Mexico on the west central coast of Florida, comprising Hillsborough Bay, Old Tampa Bay, Middle Tampa Bay, and Lower Tampa Bay."Tampa Bay" is not the name of any municipality...
's WTOG
WTOG
WTOG, channel 44, is a television station in St. Petersburg, Florida. Owned by the CBS Corporation, WTOG serves as the Tampa Bay Area station for the co-owned The CW Television Network. Its transmitter is located in Riverview, Florida.-Early years:...
(through 1988 when Fox moved to WFTS-TV
WFTS-TV
WFTS, virtual channel 28, is the ABC affiliate television station for the Tampa-St. Petersburg, Florida market, owned by The E.W. Scripps Company. It broadcasts its digital signal on UHF channel 29. Its transmitter is located in Riverview, Florida.-History:...
), or Jacksonville
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
's WAWS
WAWS
WAWS is the Fox-affiliated television station for Florida's First Coast licensed to Jacksonville. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 32 from a transmitter on Hogan Road in the city's Southside section. The station can also be seen on Comcast channel 10 and in high...
). Marion County
Marion County, Florida
Marion County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. The U.S. Census Bureau 2006 estimate for the county is 316,183. Its county seat is Ocala....
had received Fox through WOFL and WTOG (until 1988). Citrus County
Citrus County, Florida
Citrus County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 118,085. The U.S. Census Bureau 2008 estimate for the county was 141,416 . Its county seat is Inverness, Florida...
(which is assigned to the Tampa Bay market but is considered by WOGX to be within its viewing area) received Fox from W49AI (now WYKE-LP
WYKE-LP
WYKE-CD channel 47 is a digital low-powered station serving Citrus County, Florida with a mixture of general and religious programming. It is owned by the Citrus County Association for Retarded Citizens, a not-for-profit organization that assists handicapped and disabled people in Citrus County.The...
). At the time, this was a repeater of WOFL (except for late-night programming as W49AI signed-off at midnight). W49AI was forced to discontinue Fox and WOFL programming upon WOGX's affiliation.
In 1996, WOGX was sold to the Meredith Corporation
Meredith Corporation
The Meredith Corporation is a media conglomerate based in Des Moines, Iowa, USA. The company has two divisions, National Media and Local Media.-History:...
and had its operations moved to WOFL's studios. In 2002, Meredith sold WOFL and WOGX to Fox Television Stations in a deal that also saw Meredith obtain KPTV
KPTV
KPTV is the Fox-affiliated television station serving the Portland, Oregon market, which includes most of the state of Oregon and portions of Southwest Washington. KPTV is owned by the Meredith Corporation in a duopoly with MyNetworkTV affiliate KPDX , with its studios located in Beaverton and...
in Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
. This made WOFL and WOGX Fox owned-and-operated stations as well as sister to WRBW (then a UPN
UPN
United Paramount Network was a television network that was broadcast in over 200 markets in the United States from 1995 to 2006. UPN was originally owned by Viacom/Paramount and Chris-Craft Industries, the former of which, through the Paramount Television Group, produced most of the network's...
affiliate). WOGX began simulcasting WOFL's newscasts when they launched in March 1998. It airs all news programs from that station except weekday mornings from 9 to 10 and weeknights at 6 and 11. There is no separate news open seen on WOGX or local news inserts targeted to the Gainesville/Ocala area, although there's an separate weather forecast is aired during the newscasts targeted to the area as prepared by WOFL's Meteorologists. Sometime in late-2009, this channel redesigned its website to match other Fox-owned stations (including WOFL) although it still does not use a "My Fox" style web address. The station has been using a logo which is similar to those of the other Fox O&O stations for the past two years.