WRCX-LP
Encyclopedia
WRCX-LP is a low power television station
in Dayton, Ohio
, broadcasting locally on channel 40. Founded August 24, 1987 as WUCT, the station is owned by Ross Communications, Ltd.
in 1999, in part due to management trouble. WBDT's then-ownership group (ACME Communications
) was run by Jamie Kellner
, the founding president of the WB.
Ross Communications, owned by Dayton
resident Glenn "Skip" Ross, purchased the station from Higher Calling Enterprises. At one point, the Higher Calling group was locked out of the building due to unpaid rent. The station's lone master control operator at the time, broke into the building to bring the station back on the air.
Upon taking the station over, Ross began programming to appeal to the area's minority community, and offered programming unavailable on other stations.
During the time of transition of ownership, the previous group was barred from going onto the property, while the legal battles over the license continued.
, the local PBS station. The building serviced as studios, offices, and the transmitter facility for WRCX, WUCT and WPTD.
Ross replaced Program Director Walter Briggs, a local sports personality, with Michael Crook, who had been a master control operator at various television stations. Ross also employed the services of Fran Robinson, who at the time was an on-air personality at local station WDTN
, although she was mostly on the production side, rarely appearing on-air. She mostly did voiceovers for commercials that the company did for the local Ross automobile dealerships, owned by Ross' cousin.
When the September 11, 2001 attacks occurred, the station aired around the clock news coverage, thanks in large part to agreements with World Harvest Television, America One
, and a special arrangement with CNN. WRCX was also one of the many stations nationwide who aired a live concert as a benefit for the victims' families.
For a time, the station aired Music and the Spoken Word
, a program produced by the LDS Church, and aired by WRCX through an agreement with the church that was negotiated by Crook. This program was added upon Ross' learning that Gladys Knight
is a member of the church. Another religious show, Singsations, which aired from Chicago. That show was removed from the lineup in 2001, due to a lack of new shows being produced.
Around this time, Ross was searching for a network that would provide programming and resources for WRCX. Ross wanted UPN
, which was on a cable channel operated by WHIO
. They did not get the affiliation. Another Pax, but that idea was dropped when it was learned the network wanted a ten-year deal. The station eventually became an affiliate of Black Family Channel
, then known as MBC, a network that caters to black families.
Also added during this time was an agreement with the Cleveland Cavaliers
. To this day, the station continues to broadcast their games.
In the Spring of 2002, fellow Dayton station WKEF
officially took over the Channel 51 slot for its digital allocation, leaving WRCX without an over-the-air signal for a time, though it remained on Channel 22 for much of the area's Time Warner Cable
subscribers.
On April 24, 2007, BFC
announced that they would cease as a cable channel, effective April 30, 2007, as part of a deal in which BFC's programming and subscriber base would be sold to the Gospel Music Channel
. http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6436052.html. It was announced on June 3, 2008 that the station would become the newest affiliate of Ion Television, as announced on the home page of their website http://www.wrcxtv40.com/. However, as of June 25, 2008, the station does not appear in the station listings for Ion's website, and the deal was not announced until July 24 http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6581479.html?rssid=193. This returned Ion service to southwestern Ohio for the first time since the early 2000's, after the Ion network itself (then Paxson Communications) sold off Channel 26 to ACME Communications
to become the area's WB/CW affiliate as WBDT-TV.
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 Dayton, Ohio
Dayton, Ohio
Dayton is the 6th largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County, the fifth most populous county in the state. The population was 141,527 at the 2010 census. The Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 841,502 in the 2010 census...
, broadcasting locally on channel 40. Founded August 24, 1987 as WUCT, the station is owned by Ross Communications, Ltd.
History
WRCX originally signed on in the mid-1990s as WUCT-LP channel 51; the station was, at one point, a charter affiliate of The WB network. However, they lost the affiliation to WBDTWBDT
WBDT is the CW-affiliated television station for Ohio's Miami Valley. Licensed to Springfield, the station broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 26 from a transmitter in the Frytown section of Dayton. The station can also be seen on Time Warner Cable channel 13 and in high...
in 1999, in part due to management trouble. WBDT's then-ownership group (ACME Communications
ACME Communications
ACME Communications is a United States-based television broadcasting company. The company was co-founded by current Chairman and former CEO Jamie Kellner, who previously served as a Fox Television Network executive and was founding CEO of The WB Television Network. Kellner used the name Acme as a...
) was run by Jamie Kellner
Jamie Kellner
Jamie Kellner is an American television executive. He was chairman and chief executive officer of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a division of Time Warner which includes TBS, TNT, and Cartoon Network. Kellner took over the post in 2001 and handed over the company to Philip Kent in 2003...
, the founding president of the WB.
Ross Communications, owned by Dayton
Dayton, Ohio
Dayton is the 6th largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County, the fifth most populous county in the state. The population was 141,527 at the 2010 census. The Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 841,502 in the 2010 census...
resident Glenn "Skip" Ross, purchased the station from Higher Calling Enterprises. At one point, the Higher Calling group was locked out of the building due to unpaid rent. The station's lone master control operator at the time, broke into the building to bring the station back on the air.
Upon taking the station over, Ross began programming to appeal to the area's minority community, and offered programming unavailable on other stations.
During the time of transition of ownership, the previous group was barred from going onto the property, while the legal battles over the license continued.
New ownership and staff
Although the company's offices are located on Hillcrest Avenue in Dayton, the station continued to physically broadcast from WUCT's studios on Gettysburg Avenue, which housed the transmitter and was owned by WPTDWPTD
WPTD is a television station in Dayton, Ohio that is a member of the Public Broadcasting Service. It broadcasts in digital on channel 16, and is relayed by W32DS-D in Maplewood, Ohio....
, the local PBS station. The building serviced as studios, offices, and the transmitter facility for WRCX, WUCT and WPTD.
Ross replaced Program Director Walter Briggs, a local sports personality, with Michael Crook, who had been a master control operator at various television stations. Ross also employed the services of Fran Robinson, who at the time was an on-air personality at local station WDTN
WDTN
WDTN, virtual channel 2, is the NBC-affiliated television station for Ohio's Miami Valley. Licensed to Dayton, it broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 50 from a transmitter in the Frytown section of the city. The station can also be seen on Time Warner Cable channel 2 and in...
, although she was mostly on the production side, rarely appearing on-air. She mostly did voiceovers for commercials that the company did for the local Ross automobile dealerships, owned by Ross' cousin.
Programming
With supervision from Ross, Crook ensured that new programming was added constantly, including children's programming, such as Zebby's Zoo, and Blinky Bill. During this time of transition, sports programming was added, which consisted mostly of live coverage of black teams. The station added numerous musical specials.When the September 11, 2001 attacks occurred, the station aired around the clock news coverage, thanks in large part to agreements with World Harvest Television, America One
America One
America One is an over-the-air television network in the United States. The network serves over 170 LPTV, Class A, Full Power, Cable and Satellite affiliate stations...
, and a special arrangement with CNN. WRCX was also one of the many stations nationwide who aired a live concert as a benefit for the victims' families.
For a time, the station aired Music and the Spoken Word
Music and the Spoken Word
Music and the Spoken Word is a weekly 30-minute radio and television program of inspiring messages and music produced by Bonneville Communications with music performed by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir .The radio program is distributed by the CBS Radio Network and its broadcast center is KSL...
, a program produced by the LDS Church, and aired by WRCX through an agreement with the church that was negotiated by Crook. This program was added upon Ross' learning that Gladys Knight
Gladys Knight
Gladys Maria Knight , known as the "Empress of Soul", is an American singer-songwriter, actress, businesswoman, humanitarian, and author...
is a member of the church. Another religious show, Singsations, which aired from Chicago. That show was removed from the lineup in 2001, due to a lack of new shows being produced.
Around this time, Ross was searching for a network that would provide programming and resources for WRCX. Ross wanted 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...
, which was on a cable channel operated by WHIO
WHIO-TV
WHIO-TV, virtual channel 7, is the CBS-affiliated television station licensed to Dayton, Ohio, serving that state's Miami Valley area. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 41 from its transmitter on Germantown Street in western Dayton....
. They did not get the affiliation. Another Pax, but that idea was dropped when it was learned the network wanted a ten-year deal. The station eventually became an affiliate of Black Family Channel
Black Family Channel
Black Family Channel was a network for African American families and the only black-owned and operated cable television network...
, then known as MBC, a network that caters to black families.
Also added during this time was an agreement with the Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers are a professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They began playing in the National Basketball Association in 1970 as an expansion team...
. To this day, the station continues to broadcast their games.
Losing Channel 51
The station began to transition to facilities at the Hillcrest location, in preparation for the loss of their Channel 51 signal. WRCX began sending a signal directly to the cable company to ensure that they would remain available to most of their viewers while arrangements were made to broadcast on Channel 40.In the Spring of 2002, fellow Dayton station WKEF
WKEF
WKEF, virtual channel 22, is the ABC-affiliated television station for the Miami Valley area of Ohio, which is licensed to Dayton. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 51 from a transmitter at their Broadcast Plaza studios near the New Chicago section of the city...
officially took over the Channel 51 slot for its digital allocation, leaving WRCX without an over-the-air signal for a time, though it remained on Channel 22 for much of the area's 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...
subscribers.
WRCX today
WRCX gained approval to broadcast on Channel 40, and now that the license and ownership has been officially transferred to Ross Communications after years of appeals and battles with one of WUCT's former members, the station continues to broadcast original and syndicated programming to the Dayton area. WRCX TV-40 has become the #1 leader in High School Sports coverage in the Dayton/Miami Valley and an innovator in creating local shows for the market.Black Family Channel and Ion
Black Family Channel
Black Family Channel was a network for African American families and the only black-owned and operated cable television network...
announced that they would cease as a cable channel, effective April 30, 2007, as part of a deal in which BFC's programming and subscriber base would be sold to the Gospel Music Channel
Gospel Music Channel
gmc is an American satellite and cable television channel, known from its 2004 launch until February 1, 2010 as Gospel Music Channel. It is also available in high-definition as a separate channel called gmcHD ....
. http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6436052.html. It was announced on June 3, 2008 that the station would become the newest affiliate of Ion Television, as announced on the home page of their website http://www.wrcxtv40.com/. However, as of June 25, 2008, the station does not appear in the station listings for Ion's website, and the deal was not announced until July 24 http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6581479.html?rssid=193. This returned Ion service to southwestern Ohio for the first time since the early 2000's, after the Ion network itself (then Paxson Communications) sold off Channel 26 to ACME Communications
ACME Communications
ACME Communications is a United States-based television broadcasting company. The company was co-founded by current Chairman and former CEO Jamie Kellner, who previously served as a Fox Television Network executive and was founding CEO of The WB Television Network. Kellner used the name Acme as a...
to become the area's WB/CW affiliate as WBDT-TV.