WECP-LD
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|---|---|
| Channels | |
| Branding | WECP-TV; My 7 (LD2) |
| Programming | |
| Affiliations |
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| Ownership | |
| Owner |
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| WJHG-TV | |
| History | |
| Founded | February 25, 2010 |
First air date | September 24, 2012 |
Former call signs | W18DR-D (2010–2012) |
Former channel number(s) |
|
Call signmeaning | "ECP" isIATA codefor Panama Cityairport |
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 182840 |
| Class | LD |
| ERP | 15kW |
| HAAT | 330 m (1,083 ft) |
| Transmitter coordinates | 30°21′8″N85°23′28″W/ 30.35222°N 85.39111°W |
| Translator(s) | WJHG-TV7.3 Panama City |
| Links | |
Public license information | LMS |
WECP-LD(channel 21) is alow-power television stationinPanama City, Florida,United States, affiliated withCBS,MyNetworkTV,andTelemundo.It is owned byGray TelevisionalongsideNBCaffiliateWJHG-TV(channel 7). The two stations share studios on Front Beach Road/SR 30inPanama City Beach;WECP-LD's transmitter is located onSR 20inunincorporatedYoungstown, Florida.
Due to its low-power status, WECP'sbroadcast rangeis effectively limited to Panama City and surrounding areas inBay County.In order to expand its off-air broadcasting reach, it issimulcastin16:9widescreenstandard definitionon WJHG-TV's thirddigital subchannel(7.3) from the same transmitter site.
History
[edit]On April 20, 2012, then owner MIK LLC announced it was selling theconstruction permitfor the station (which initially held thecall signW18DR-D) to Gray Television. Under the transfer, MIK would receive $4,000 and would turn over the permit toDTV America Corporationwhich would, in turn, transfer the permit to Gray.[2]Gray exercised a purchase option that was part of the deal to acquire the station outright on May 11, 2012.[3]Gray changed the calls to WECP-LD on June 4, 2012.[4]
On July 17, 2012, Gray Television signed an affiliation agreement with CBS for WECP-LD and two other low-powered stationsWSVF-LDinHarrisonburg, Virginia,andWIYE-LPinParkersburg, West Virginia.[5]As a result, WECP-LD became the CBS affiliate for the Panama City area when the station took to the air on September 24, 2012.[6]
It is the second CBS affiliate that is licensed to the immediate Panama City market. WJHG had previously carried a secondary affiliation with the network from its December 1953 sign-on until 1961. Since then, sister stationWTVYinDothan, Alabama,had served as the default CBS affiliate for Panama City; in fact, WTVY's tower is located inBethlehem, Florida,in the Panama City market. In October 2012, WTVY was officially removed fromcablesystems in themarketwith WECP taking its place.[6]
On January 7, 2014, WECP applied to theFederal Communications Commission(FCC) to move from channel 18 to channel 29. The reasoning is WJHG had a construction permit to relocate to channel 18.[7]The application was approved on November 14, 2014, giving WECP its construction permit. The switch of WECP to channel 29 (retaining 18 as virtual) and WJHG to channel 18 (virtual 7) took place on May 21, 2015, with the FCC issuing the station's license on June 5, 2015. WECP moved to RF channel 35 on August 21, 2019, as a result of the spectrum auction and to offset interference issues with adjacent stations.
On March 2, 2021, WECP transferred from channel 18 to channel 21.[8]
News operation
[edit]WJHG presently produces an hour of locally produced newscasts each weekday (at noon and 5:30 p.m.) for WECP-LD. As a result, the station airs theCBS Evening Newsvia an additional live feed at 6 p.m. unlike most CBS outlets in theCentral Time Zone.WECP-LD does not air newscasts on weekends, opting forsyndicatedprogramming. It has a dedicated anchor andmeteorologistfor the two programs but the personalities can also contribute to WJHG.
Subchannels
[edit]The station's signal ismultiplexed:
| Channel | Res. | Aspect | Short name | Programming |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21.1 | 1080i | 16:9 | WECP-DT | CBS |
| 21.2 | 480i | 4:3 | MyNetworkTV | |
| 21.3 | 16:9 | Outlaw | ||
| 21.4 | 4:3 | Heroes & Icons | ||
| 21.5 | Telemundo |
References
[edit]- ^"Facility Technical Data for WECP-LD".Licensing and Management System.Federal Communications Commission.
- ^Seyler, Dave (April 20, 2012)."Gray files for LPTV in 3rd market".Television Business Report.RetrievedSeptember 7,2012.
- ^Seyler, Dave (May 11, 2012)."Gray strikes again in the low power zone".Television Business Report.RetrievedSeptember 7,2012.
- ^"Call Sign History".Federal Communications Commission.RetrievedSeptember 7,2012.
- ^"CBS SIGNS AFFILIATION AGREEMENTS WITH GRAY TELEVISION, INC. FOR STATIONS IN PANAMA CITY, FLA.; HARRISONBURG, VA.; AND PARKERSBURG, W.VA".CBS Corporation.July 17, 2012.RetrievedJanuary 8,2019.
- ^ab"New CBS station on air Monday".Panama City News-Herald.September 22, 2012.RetrievedJanuary 9,2019.
- ^Application_id=1610752&Service=LD&Form_id=346&Facility_id=182840 Application For Authority To Construct Or Make Changes In A Low Power TV, TV Translator Or TV Booster Station,CDBS Public Access,Federal Communications Commission,Retrieved January 7, 2014
- ^"Channel 18 moving to 21".Panama City Beach, Florida:WJHG-TV.March 1, 2021.RetrievedMarch 3,2021.
- ^RabbitEars TV Query for WECP-LD