WBPN-LP
{{Short description|Television station in Binghamton, New York}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox television station
| callsign = WBPN-LP
| city =
| logo = My8 Binghamton Logo 20070522.png
| logo_size = 200px
| branding = My 8
| analog = 10 (VHF)
| digital = 28 (UHF, never built)
| subchannels =
| translators = WICZ-TV 40.2 Binghamton
| affiliations = {{ubl|Independent (1996–2000)|UPN (2000–2006)|MyNetworkTV (2006–2021)}}
| network =
| owner = Cox Media Group
| licensee = Stainless Broadcasting, L.P.
| location = Binghamton, New York
| country = United States
| founded = March 28, 1980
| airdate = {{start date|1996|05|17}}
| last_airdate = {{ubl|{{end date|2021|6|15}}|({{age in years and days|1996|5|17|2021|6|15}})|(license canceled)}}
| callsign_meaning = We're Binghamton's UPN (refers to former affiliation)
| sister_stations = WICZ-TV
| former_callsigns = {{ubl|W04BG (1996–1999)|W10CO (1999–2000)}}
| former_channel_numbers = Analog: 4 (VHF, 1996–1999)
| former_affiliations =
| erp = 0.004 kW
| haat = {{convert|263|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
| class = TX
| facility_id = 74020
| coordinates = {{coord|42|3|22|N|75|56|38|W|type:landmark_scale:2000}}
| licensing_authority = FCC
| website =
}}
WBPN-LP (channel 10) was a low-power television station in Binghamton, New York, United States, which operated from 1996 to 2021. In its later years, it was owned by Cox Media Group as an affiliate of MyNetworkTV; it had common ownership with Fox affiliate WICZ-TV (channel 40). WBPN-LP's operations were last housed at WICZ-TV's studios on Vestal Parkway East (NY 434) in Vestal; its transmitter was located on Ingraham Hill Road in the town of Binghamton.
WBPN-LP did not transmit a digital signal of its own, and there were never any plans to convert the station's signal to digital. In addition, due to its analog signal transmitting at an extremely low power, the station's broadcast range only included the immediate areas south of the Susquehanna River North Branch and did not even reach most of the city of Binghamton. However, in order to reach the entire market, WBPN-LP was simulcast on WICZ-TV's second digital subchannel (40.2), which eventually became its permanent over-the-air conduit. Ever since its inception, the WICZ-DT2 simulcast of WBPN-LP had been presented in 480i standard definition, with most programs (including the MyNetworkTV prime time schedule) airing in letterboxed 4:3; however, with improvements to WICZ-TV's multiplexer, it had been upgraded into 720p high definition.
Cox surrendered WBPN-LP's broadcast license to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for cancellation on June 15, 2021,{{Cite web|date=June 15, 2021|title=Cancellation Application For WBPN-LP|url=https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/public/tv/draftCopy.html?displayType=html&appKey=25076ff379a94d1e0179aa258c750b32&id=25076ff379a94d1e0179aa258c750b32&goBack=N|website=FCC.gov}} ahead of the FCC-mandated July 13 shutdown of analog LPTV stations.{{Cite web|date=July 13, 2020|title=MEDIA BUREAU REMINDS LOW POWER TELEVISION AND TELEVISION TRANSLATOR STATIONS OF JULY 13, 2021, DIGITAL TRANSITION DATE|url=https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-20-724A1.pdf|website=FCC.gov}} The former WBPN-LP continues under WICZ-TV's license as "My 8" (referring to its channel position on most cable systems in the market).
History
The station, as translator W10CO, was purchased by Northwest Broadcasting in 2000. At this point, the call sign became WBPN-LP after it upgraded to low-powered status. The channel assumed the market's UPN affiliation from WICZ which had been previously aired the network in a secondary manner since the late-1990s.{{cite web|title=UPN Affiliate Stations (New York)|url=http://www.upn.com/affiliates/hmaffny.htm|website=UPN.com|access-date=December 20, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990508052248/http://www.upn.com/affiliates/hmaffny.htm|archive-date=May 8, 1999}}{{cite news|last1=Kucinski|first1=Carla|title=New Tier TV station bulks up with pro wrestling|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/440458566|access-date=December 20, 2015|work=Press & Sun-Bulletin|date=August 17, 2000|page=B8}} (preview of subscription content)
On September 16, 2013, it was announced Mission Broadcasting would acquire WBPN and WICZ from Northwest Broadcasting. Upon the deal's completion, the stations' operations would have been taken over by Nexstar Broadcasting Group making them sister stations to WIVT and WBGH-CD.{{cite news|last=Malone|first=Michael|title=Nexstar to Acquire Citadel's Iowa Stations for $88 Million|url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/495521-Nexstar_to_Acquire_Citadel_s_Iowa_Stations_for_88_Million.php|access-date=September 16, 2013|newspaper=Broadcasting & Cable|date=September 16, 2013}} Northwest withdrew the license assignment application on March 18, 2015, following the deal's cancellation.{{cite web|last1=Corbett|first1=Dennis P.|title=Re: Withdrawal of File Nos. BALCDT-20130927A11G, BALTVL-20130927AHH, and BAPDTL-20130927AH1|url=https://cdbs.recnet.com/corres/?doc=57176|website=CDBS Public Access|publisher=Federal Communications Commission|access-date=March 24, 2015|format=PDF|date=March 18, 2015}}
The station had a pending application to air a low-power digital signal of its own on UHF channel 28 under the call sign WBPN-LD.{{cite web|url=https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/public/tv/draftCopy.html?displayType=html&appKey=25076ff36a044719016a04bf58a301b9&id=25076ff36a044719016a04bf58a301b9&goBack=N|title=Displacement for LPTV Station Construction Permit Application|work=Licensing and Management System|publisher=Federal Communications Commission|date=April 18, 2019|access-date=June 5, 2019}} This signal would not sign on, however. As stated above, WICZ-DT2 had served as WBPN-LP's digital signal since it did not operate one of its own. Ultimately, Cox Media Group would surrender WBPN-LP's license to the FCC on June 15, 2021, less than a month before the long-anticipated shutdown date for analog LPTV stations.