WWBI-LP
Encyclopedia
WWBI-LP was a low-power
television station
in Plattsburgh, New York. The station was owned and operated by SMC Communications.
The station was licensed as Class A
, even though the calls
list it as an "-LP"; this was the case with many other stations licensed prior to 1999, when the FCC began to assign the "-CA" suffix for Low Power-Class A licenses.
The station was translated on W14CK Newport, Vermont
, which transmitted at 11.6 kW from Jay Peak
, which was added in 1997. It was seen on Comcast
Burlington digital channel 142 and Charter
Plattsburgh channel 10.
Since mid 2007, WWBI's signal had been off the air. Its licence expired on June 1st, 2007 and hasn't been renewed.
format. The station originally had plans to become the Fox
affiliate for Burlington, Vermont
and Montreal
, but negotiations failed and the station adopted the UPN
affiliation in the mid-1990s. However, affiliation changes in 1999 meant that the station lost UPN to WBVT
, and the station initially went independent before switching to Ion (then known as PAX).
The station was sold to the "Word of God Religious Fellowship" in the fall of 2005, and began running Daystar programming as an LMA by the end of the year. There was originally word that the station would run Daystar programming part time while keeping some ION programming as part of the schedule, however, by at least as of January 2006, it changed over to full-time Daystar (religious) programming. Following this WWBI was replaced by the Ion satellite feed on local cable systems, who were never obligated to carry WWBI in the first place since it is a low power station.
In October 2006, however, WWBI's sale to Daystar had fallen through; as a result, the station once again returned to programming from the Ion network and returned to local cable systems by mid November 2006.
On the Vidéotron
cable system in Montreal, WWBI was "seen" on its Illico digital service between January 2004 and July 2005, but, citing "technical difficulties", was the national Pax satellite feed instead. These problems were never corrected, and WWBI was withdrawn from the service by orders from the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission.
region, although this is mainly farmland and backcountry).
, was destroyed in a fire. The Hotel Holland was used for WWBI's studios back in the days when they were an independent station and UPN affiliate, and, when the fire occurred, was used as storage for broadcasting equipment after relocating their studios.
WWBI's cable slots have been replaced with the national Ion feed.
Low-power broadcasting
Low-power broadcasting is electronic broadcasting at very low power and low cost, to a small community area.The terms "low-power broadcasting" and "micropower broadcasting" should not be used interchangeably, because the markets are not the same...
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...
in Plattsburgh, New York. The station was owned and operated by SMC Communications.
The station was licensed as Class A
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...
, even though the calls
Call sign
In broadcasting and radio communications, a call sign is a unique designation for a transmitting station. In North America they are used as names for broadcasting stations...
list it as an "-LP"; this was the case with many other stations licensed prior to 1999, when the FCC began to assign the "-CA" suffix for Low Power-Class A licenses.
The station was translated on W14CK Newport, Vermont
Newport (city), Vermont
Newport is a city in and the shire town of Orleans County, Vermont, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 5,005. The city contains the largest population of any government in the county, yet encompasses the smallest area....
, which transmitted at 11.6 kW from Jay Peak
Jay Peak (Vermont)
Jay Peak is a mountain located about 5 mi. south of the United States-Canada border, in Jay and Westfield, Orleans County, Vermont, of which it is the highest point.Most of the mountain is in Jay Peak State Forest....
, which was added in 1997. It was seen on Comcast
Comcast
Comcast Corporation is the largest cable operator, home Internet service provider, and fourth largest home telephone service provider in the United States, providing cable television, broadband Internet, and telephone service to both residential and commercial customers in 39 states and the...
Burlington digital channel 142 and Charter
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...
Plattsburgh channel 10.
Since mid 2007, WWBI's signal had been off the air. Its licence expired on June 1st, 2007 and hasn't been renewed.
History
WWBI signed on in 1992 with an independentIndependent station
An independent station is in the category of television terminology used to describe a television station broadcasting in the United States or Canada that is not affiliated with any television network....
format. The station originally had plans to become the Fox
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...
affiliate for Burlington, Vermont
Burlington, Vermont
Burlington is the largest city in the U.S. state of Vermont and the shire town of Chittenden County. Burlington lies south of the U.S.-Canadian border and some south of Montreal....
and Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, but negotiations failed and the station adopted the 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...
affiliation in the mid-1990s. However, affiliation changes in 1999 meant that the station lost UPN to WBVT
WGMU-CA
WGMU-CA is a Class A television station that is licensed to Burlington. It broadcasts an analog signal on UHF channel 39 from a transmitter in Charlotte. The station can also be seen on Burlington Telecom digital channel 14, Charter channel 18, and Comcast channel 80. Locally owned by CEC Media...
, and the station initially went independent before switching to Ion (then known as PAX).
The station was sold to the "Word of God Religious Fellowship" in the fall of 2005, and began running Daystar programming as an LMA by the end of the year. There was originally word that the station would run Daystar programming part time while keeping some ION programming as part of the schedule, however, by at least as of January 2006, it changed over to full-time Daystar (religious) programming. Following this WWBI was replaced by the Ion satellite feed on local cable systems, who were never obligated to carry WWBI in the first place since it is a low power station.
In October 2006, however, WWBI's sale to Daystar had fallen through; as a result, the station once again returned to programming from the Ion network and returned to local cable systems by mid November 2006.
On the Vidéotron
Vidéotron
Vidéotron GP is a Canadian integrated telecommunications company active in cable television, interactive multimedia development, video on demand, cable telephony, wireless communication and Internet access services. Currently, the company primarily serves Quebec, as well as the francophone...
cable system in Montreal, WWBI was "seen" on its Illico digital service between January 2004 and July 2005, but, citing "technical difficulties", was the national Pax satellite feed instead. These problems were never corrected, and WWBI was withdrawn from the service by orders from the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission.
Viewership in Quebec
Usually, the main WWBI signal only reached the international border, though many in the Montreal area have managed to pull the signal in, with varying results. (Its W14CK translator extended into Quebec's EstrieEstrie
The Estrie is an administrative region of Quebec that overlaps mostly the Eastern Townships. Estrie, a French neologism, was coined as a derivative of est, "east."...
region, although this is mainly farmland and backcountry).
WWBI's former home destroyed
On June 6, 2006, WWBI's former studio, the Hotel Holland in Rouses Point, New YorkRouses Point, New York
Rouses Point is a village in Clinton County, New York, United States, along the 45th parallel. The population was 2,209 at the 2010 census. The village is named after Jacques Rouse, an early settler....
, was destroyed in a fire. The Hotel Holland was used for WWBI's studios back in the days when they were an independent station and UPN affiliate, and, when the fire occurred, was used as storage for broadcasting equipment after relocating their studios.
WWBI's License Cancelled and Callsign Deleted
As of March 29th, 2011, WWBI's license has been cancelled and call sign has been deleted by the Federal Communications Commission. The license for W14CK remains active, though it was not known if it was broadcasting, either another station or its own programming.WWBI's cable slots have been replaced with the national Ion feed.