WBTS-CD

{{Short description|Television station in Nashua, New Hampshire}}

{{About|the television station currently known as WBTS-CD|the low-power station that formerly held the WBTS call letters|WYCN-LD}}

{{Infobox television station

| callsign = WBTS-CD

| logo = WBTS-CD 2023.svg

| logo_alt = The NBC peacock in the lower left overlapping on top of a serif numeral 10 with the word "BOSTON" underneath in a wide sans serif

| logo_size = 200px

| location = {{ubl|Nashua, New Hampshire|Boston, Massachusetts}}

| country = United States

| city = Nashua, New Hampshire

| branding = NBC10 Boston

| analog =

| digital = 32 (UHF), shared with WGBX-TV

| virtual = 15

| translators =

| subchannels =

| affiliations = {{ubl|15.1: NBC|15.2: Cozi TV}}

| owner = NBC Owned Television Stations

| operator =

| licensee = NBC Telemundo License LLC

| airdate = {{Start date and age|1988|1|29|p=y}}

| former_names = NBC Boston (2017–2018)

| sister_stations = {{hlist|WNEU|NECN|NBC Sports Boston}}

| former_callsigns = {{ubl|W13BG (1985–1996)|WYCN-LP (1996–2014)|WYCN-CD (2014–2019)}}

| former_channel_numbers = {{ubl|Analog: 13 (VHF, 1988–2014)|Digital: 36 (UHF, 2014–2018), 43 (UHF, 2018–2019)|Virtual: 13 (2014–2018)}}

| former_affiliations = {{ubl|Community programming (1988–2018)|FamilyNet ({{circa|2000}}–2012)|The Family Channel (2012–2014)|TouchVision (2014–March 2015)|TheCoolTV (March–December 9, 2015)|Queue Network (December 9–12, 2015)|Heroes & Icons (December 12, 2015–2018)}}

| erp = 922 kW

| haat = {{Convert|388.3|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}

| class = CD

| facility_id = 9766

| coordinates = {{coord|42|18|37|N|71|14|12|W|region:US-MA_type:landmark_scale:2000|display=inline, title|name=WBTS-CD}}

| licensing_authority = FCC

| website = {{URL|www.nbcboston.com}}

}}

WBTS-CD (channel 15), branded as NBC10 Boston, is a Class A television station licensed to Nashua, New Hampshire, United States, serving as the NBC outlet for the Boston area. It is owned and operated by the network's NBC Owned Television Stations division alongside Merrimack, New Hampshire–licensed Telemundo station WNEU (channel 60); it is also sister to regional cable news channel New England Cable News (NECN) and regional sports network NBC Sports Boston. The four outlets share studios at the NBCU Boston Media Center on B Street in Needham, Massachusetts. WBTS-CD is broadcast by full-power WGBX-TV (channel 44) from its transmitter site on Cedar Street, also in Needham, giving it full coverage of the Boston television market. It is branded as channel 10 owing to its primary cable channel position.{{cite web|title=NBC's New Boston O&O, WBTS, Sets Lineup|url=http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/98933/nbcs-new-boston-oo-wbts-sets-lineup|website=TVNewsCheck|date=November 2016 |access-date=November 2, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170924141834/http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/98933/nbcs-new-boston-oo-wbts-sets-lineup|archive-date=September 24, 2017|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2016/tv/news/nbc-boston-affiliate-switch-1201950263/|first=Cynthia|last=Littleton|title=NBCUniversal Gambles in Beantown With NBC Boston Launch|work=Variety|date=December 30, 2016|access-date=December 30, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161231005636/http://variety.com/2016/tv/news/nbc-boston-affiliate-switch-1201950263/|archive-date=December 31, 2016|url-status=live}}

The license started in Nashua on January 29, 1988, as W13BG "TV13 Nashua", a low-power community television station which later changed its call sign to WYCN-LP in 1996. Its programming consisted of local-service programming for the Nashua area and content already aired by local cable systems as well as, later on, FamilyNet. WYCN-LP and associated translators were sold to New Hampshire 1 Network, a company controlled by William H. Binnie, in 2010. Three years later, Binnie sold WYCN-LP to OTA Broadcasting, which removed remaining local content and converted the station to digital broadcasting.

OTA Broadcasting sold the spectrum underlying WYCN-CD in the FCC's 2017 incentive auction. Without a transmitter, the station arranged to share the transmitter of WGBX-TV, giving it full-power coverage in the Boston market. OTA Broadcasting then sold WYCN-CD to NBC, whose NBC Boston service had launched at the start of 2017 on several transmitters but lacked a single primary signal. The station changed call signs to WBTS-CD in 2019 in anticipation of the relocation of the former WBTS-LD license, now WYCN-LD, to serve the Providence, Rhode Island, area.

TV13 Nashua

=Early history=

The station came to the air at 8{{nbsp}}p.m. on January 29, 1988, as W13BG on VHF channel 13 in Nashua;{{cite news |last1=Welych |first1=Maria T. |title=New TV station hits air today |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=FuslAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ZfwFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3389%2C8447523 |access-date=September 22, 2023 |work=The Telegraph |date=January 29, 1988}} its license was granted on July 29.{{cite web|title=Application Search Details|url=http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/app_det.pl?Application_id=109233|website=CDBS Public Access|publisher=Federal Communications Commission|access-date=December 22, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171223045455/http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/app_det.pl?Application_id=109233|archive-date=December 23, 2017|url-status=live}} Founded by Robert Rines{{cite news |title=Sept. 3 slated as date Comcast will drop Nashua channel WYCN TV-13 |url=https://www.nashuatelegraph.com/news/local-news/2013/08/16/sept-3-slated-as-date-comcast-will-drop-nashua-channel-wycn-tv-13/ |access-date=September 23, 2023 |work=Nashua Telegraph |date=August 16, 2013}} and owned by Center Broadcasting Corporation of New Hampshire, a non-profit partnership between the Concord–based Franklin Pierce Law Center and the Boston–based Academy of Law Sciences, the station aired local community programming for the Nashua area, along with programming that was already being sold to cable stations though the Yankee Communications Network. Channel 13 changed its callsign to WYCN-LP on April 8, 1996.{{cite web|title=Call Sign History (WYCN-CD)|url=http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/call_hist.pl?Facility_id=9766&Callsign=WYCN-CD|website=CDBS Public Access|publisher=Federal Communications Commission|access-date=December 22, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171223052817/http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/call_hist.pl?Facility_id=9766&Callsign=WYCN-CD|archive-date=December 23, 2017|url-status=live}} Its tower in the analog era of television was on the campus of Rivier University, between two above-ground reservoirs and Brassard Hall, with studios in Memorial Hall on the same campus.{{cite web|url=https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1Kh2nrnHVmDmALOzRe2FYToxgD6A&hl=en_US&ll=42.737606240841586%2C-71.45465471556327&z=19|title=WYCN tv13 Nashua Studio (Google Maps pinpoint provided by former ownership)|publisher=Google Maps|access-date=January 25, 2018}}

WYCN-LP was nearly dropped by Harron Cable on its Nashua-area systems in October 1999 to accommodate a must-carry request by WMFP (channel 62),{{cite news|last=Milbouer|first=Stacy|title=Local station is losing out to shopping channel|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/boston/access/44178424.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Aug+22%2C+1999&author=Stacy+Milbouer%2C+Globe+Correspondent&pub=Boston+Globe&desc=Local+station+is+losing+out+to+shopping+channel&pqatl=google|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130731104006/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/boston/access/44178424.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Aug+22,+1999&author=Stacy+Milbouer,+Globe+Correspondent&pub=Boston+Globe&desc=Local+station+is+losing+out+to+shopping+channel&pqatl=google|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 31, 2013|access-date=July 31, 2013|newspaper=The Boston Globe|date=August 22, 1999}} a move that could have led to the closure of channel 13{{cite news|last=Spiller|first=Karen|title=Operators of station may shut down business|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=NTGB&p_theme=ntgb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_text_search-0=WYCN&s_dispstring=WYCN%20AND%20date%2807/31/2000%20to%2001/01/1999%29&p_field_date-0=YMD_date&p_params_date-0=date:B,E&p_text_date-0=07/31/2000%20to%2001/01/1999%29&xcal_numdocs=20&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:A&xcal_useweights=no|access-date=July 31, 2013|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=August 17, 1999|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129174717/http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=NTGB&p_theme=ntgb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_text_search-0=WYCN&s_dispstring=WYCN%20AND%20date%2807%2F31%2F2000%20to%2001%2F01%2F1999%29&p_field_date-0=YMD_date&p_params_date-0=date%3AB%2CE&p_text_date-0=07%2F31%2F2000%20to%2001%2F01%2F1999%29&xcal_numdocs=20&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date%3AA&xcal_useweights=no|archive-date=November 29, 2014|url-status=live}} even though its carriage on MediaOne in Nashua itself was not affected. Its carriage was ultimately continued by Adelphia Communications following its purchase of Harron,{{cite news|last=Spiller|first=Karen|title=Company plans channel shuffle to preserve local station|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=NTGB&p_theme=ntgb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_text_search-0=WYCN&s_dispstring=WYCN%20AND%20date%2807/31/2000%20to%2001/01/1999%29&p_field_date-0=YMD_date&p_params_date-0=date:B,E&p_text_date-0=07/31/2000%20to%2001/01/1999%29&xcal_numdocs=20&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:A&xcal_useweights=no|access-date=July 31, 2013|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=October 30, 1999|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129174717/http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=NTGB&p_theme=ntgb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_text_search-0=WYCN&s_dispstring=WYCN%20AND%20date%2807%2F31%2F2000%20to%2001%2F01%2F1999%29&p_field_date-0=YMD_date&p_params_date-0=date%3AB%2CE&p_text_date-0=07%2F31%2F2000%20to%2001%2F01%2F1999%29&xcal_numdocs=20&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date%3AA&xcal_useweights=no|archive-date=November 29, 2014|url-status=live}} though the station was dropped for a time in 2000 after an additional must-carry request, from WYDN (channel 48), while Adelphia rebuilt the systems.{{cite news|last=Spiller|first=Karen|title=Cable carrier to shut off service to most towns outside of Nashua as of July 1|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=NTGB&p_theme=ntgb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_text_search-0=WYCN&s_dispstring=WYCN%20AND%20date%2807/31/2000%20to%2001/01/1999%29&p_field_date-0=YMD_date&p_params_date-0=date:B,E&p_text_date-0=07/31/2000%20to%2001/01/1999%29&xcal_numdocs=20&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:A&xcal_useweights=no|access-date=July 31, 2013|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=March 21, 2000|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129174717/http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=NTGB&p_theme=ntgb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_text_search-0=WYCN&s_dispstring=WYCN%20AND%20date%2807%2F31%2F2000%20to%2001%2F01%2F1999%29&p_field_date-0=YMD_date&p_params_date-0=date%3AB%2CE&p_text_date-0=07%2F31%2F2000%20to%2001%2F01%2F1999%29&xcal_numdocs=20&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date%3AA&xcal_useweights=no|archive-date=November 29, 2014|url-status=live}} By August 11, 2000, WYCN-LP had been authorized to carry programming from FamilyNet.{{cite web |title=Family Net Additional Systems List |url=https://www.liberty.edu/media/1912/football/Family%20Net%20-%20Additional%20Systems%20List%20as%20of%207-14-10.pdf |access-date=September 22, 2023 |date=July 14, 2010}}

WYCN-LP, along with three co-owned translators in Nashua, Manchester, and Concord, was sold by Center Broadcasting Corporation of New Hampshire to New Hampshire 1 Network, a company controlled by William H. Binnie, in 2010;{{cite news|title=Binnie buy to lead to something bigger for the Granite State?|url=http://www.rbr.com/tv-cable/binnie-buy-to-lead-to-something-bigger-for-the-granite-state.html|access-date=January 18, 2011|newspaper=Television Business Report|date=December 28, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101231150952/http://www.rbr.com/tv-cable/binnie-buy-to-lead-to-something-bigger-for-the-granite-state.html|archive-date=December 31, 2010|url-status=live}} by this point, control of the stations had passed to longtime WYCN staffers Gordon Jackson and Carolyn Choate following the death of Robert Rines.{{cite news |title=Nashua's TV-13 hopes public support will convince Comcast to keep it the cable lineup |url=https://www.nashuatelegraph.com/news/local-news/2013/07/28/nashua-8217s-tv-13-hopes-public-support-will-convince-comcast-to-keep-it-the-cable-lineup/ |access-date=September 23, 2023 |work=Nashua Telegraph |date=July 28, 2013}} The deal was completed January 3, 2012;{{cite web|last=Jackson|first=Gordon T.|title=Extension of Consummation|url=http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/prefill_and_display.pl?Application_id=1432794&Service=CA&Form_id=905&Facility_id=9766|date=July 5, 2011|work=CDBS Public Access|publisher=Federal Communications Commission|access-date=July 6, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026074251/http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/prefill_and_display.pl?Application_id=1432794&Service=CA&Form_id=905&Facility_id=9766|archive-date=October 26, 2012|url-status=live}} in the meantime, Binnie would also acquire WBIN-TV (channel 50, now WWJE-DT) in Derry. As a result of the sale, much of WYCN's community programming, including aldermatic debates, was discontinued.{{cite news|last=McKeon|first=Albert|title=Nashua...From the inside|url=http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/news/938308-196/nashua-mayors-building-fund-upsets-some-aldermen.html|access-date=December 25, 2011|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=October 30, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304051733/http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/news/938308-196/nashua-mayors-building-fund-upsets-some-aldermen.html|archive-date=March 4, 2016|url-status=live}} In December 2012, the station's studios moved from Rivier University to a location shared with sister station WFNQ (106.3 FM).{{cite web|title=Re: WYCN-LP...|url=https://stations.fcc.gov//collect/files/9766/Applications/STA-Related%20Documents/wycnStudioReloc20121203%20(13576599345875)_.pdf|publisher=Federal Communications Commission|access-date=January 15, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304102942/https://stations.fcc.gov//collect/files/9766/Applications/STA-Related%20Documents/wycnStudioReloc20121203%20(13576599345875)_.pdf|archive-date=March 4, 2016|url-status=live}}

=OTA Broadcasting ownership and conversion to digital=

New Hampshire 1 Network filed to sell WYCN-LP to OTA Broadcasting, a company controlled by Michael Dell's MSD Capital, on January 14, 2013; the three translators were not included in the deal,{{cite web|title=Application for Consent to Assignment of Broadcast Station Construction Permit or License|url=http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/prefill_and_display.pl?Application_id=1536488&Service=CA&Form_id=314&Facility_id=9766|work=CDBS Public Access|publisher=Federal Communications Commission|access-date=January 15, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171223052611/http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/prefill_and_display.pl?Application_id=1536488&Service=CA&Form_id=314&Facility_id=9766|archive-date=December 23, 2017|url-status=live}} and began to simulcast WBIN-TV. Operation of WYCN continued to be handled by New Hampshire 1.{{cite news|title=TV-13 Nashua sale announced|url=http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130116/GJBUSINESS_01/130119402/-1/FOSBUSINESS|access-date=January 16, 2013|newspaper=Foster's Daily Democrat|date=January 16, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171223043110/http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20130116%2FGJBUSINESS_01%2F130119402%2F-1%2FFOSBUSINESS|archive-date=December 23, 2017|url-status=live}} At the time of the sale, WYCN was affiliated with My Family TV.{{cite news|last1=Malone|first1=Michael|title=OTA Broadcasting Grabs WYCN in Boston Market|url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/local-tv/ota-broadcasting-grabs-wycn-boston-market/43854|access-date=December 22, 2017|work=Broadcasting & Cable|date=January 17, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171223043542/http://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/local-tv/ota-broadcasting-grabs-wycn-boston-market/43854|archive-date=December 23, 2017|url-status=live}} The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved the sale on March 22,{{cite web |title=Broadcast Actions |url=https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-319774A1.pdf |publisher=Federal Communications Commission |access-date=September 1, 2024 |date=March 27, 2013}} and it was completed on May 20.{{cite web|title=Consummation Notice|url=http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/prefill_and_display.pl?Application_id=1555781&Service=CA&Form_id=905&Facility_id=9766|date=May 20, 2013|work=CDBS Public Access|publisher=Federal Communications Commission|access-date=May 26, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304091241/http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/prefill_and_display.pl?Application_id=1555781&Service=CA&Form_id=905&Facility_id=9766|archive-date=March 4, 2016|url-status=live}}

WYCN-LP resumed producing local programming soon after the sale to OTA Broadcasting, rehiring Gordon Jackson and Carolyn Choate as station managers; however, in June 2013, Comcast (successor to both Harron/Adelphia and MediaOne) informed the station that it would be dropped from its lineup as of August 15 due to the earlier cessation of local programming, as well as its limited broadcast reach and continued analog broadcasting, even though WYCN had a construction permit to convert to digital operations and increase its broadcast range.{{cite news|last=Solomon|first=Dave|title=Nashua TV station WYCN fights to remain on Comcast|url=http://www.unionleader.com/article/20130702/NEWS02/130709932|access-date=July 30, 2013|newspaper=New Hampshire Union-Leader|date=July 2, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129092356/http://www.unionleader.com/article/20130702/NEWS02/130709932|archive-date=November 29, 2014|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last=Allen|first=Samantha|title=Channel 13 WYCN's future still unknown as Comcast eyes closure in Nashua|url=http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/news/1009721-469/channel-13-wycns-future-still-unknown-as.html|access-date=July 3, 2013|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=July 30, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129030254/http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/news/1009721-469/channel-13-wycns-future-still-unknown-as.html|archive-date=November 29, 2014|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last=Shaoup|first=Dean|title=Channel 13 in Nashua adds online petition to its push to stay on Comcast|url=http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/news/1011374-469/channel-13-in-nashua-adds-online-petition.html|access-date=July 30, 2013|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=July 20, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129030257/http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/news/1011374-469/channel-13-in-nashua-adds-online-petition.html|archive-date=November 29, 2014|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last=Taormina|first=Barbara|title=Comcast's plan to drop TV 13 Nashua draws ire|url=http://www.unionleader.com/article/20130728/NEWS02/130729301|access-date=July 30, 2013|newspaper=New Hampshire Union-Leader|date=July 27, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129090847/http://www.unionleader.com/article/20130728/NEWS02/130729301|archive-date=November 29, 2014|url-status=live}} Comcast subsequently pushed back the date of the removal to September 3, despite protests from viewers, politicians, and Nashua's public access station.{{cite news|last=Taorima|first=Barbara|title=Comcast to pull plug on WYCN Channel 13 in Nashua on Sept. 3 despite outcry|url=http://www.unionleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130815/NEWS02/130819593&source=RSS|access-date=August 25, 2013|newspaper=New Hampshire Union-Leader|date=August 15, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129085338/http://www.unionleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20130815%2FNEWS02%2F130819593&source=RSS|archive-date=November 29, 2014|url-status=live}}

Due to its low power, WYCN's analog signal reached only portions of Nashua, its city of license. In contrast, its digital signal was expected to reach Manchester and Boston. The digital facility was planned to sign on by December 2013;{{cite news|last=Brooks|first=David|title=TV-13 digital transmitter gets federal OK, will be running by Christmas|url=http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/news/1017462-469/tv-13-digital-transmitter-gets-federal-ok-will.html|access-date=October 4, 2013|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=October 2, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141102185420/http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/news/1017462-469/tv-13-digital-transmitter-gets-federal-ok-will.html|archive-date=November 2, 2014|url-status=live}} construction was held up by the need to use a helicopter to remove a former antenna for WNDS (now WWJE-DT) from the tower on Merrill Hill in Hudson that WYCN planned to use, an operation that was delayed to May 2014 by winter weather.{{cite news |title=Helicopter removes old antenna as Nashua's Channel 13 moves closer to digital broadcasting |url=https://www.nashuatelegraph.com/news/local-news/2014/05/10/helicopter-removes-old-antenna-as-nashua-8217s-channel-13-moves-closer-to-digital-broadcasting/ |access-date=January 26, 2022 |work=The Telegraph |date=May 10, 2014}} The conversion to digital was licensed by the FCC on October 23, 2014; concurrent with the launch of the digital signal, the analog channel 13 signal was shut down.

Until January 2018, WYCN-CD's original digital transmitter was {{convert|625|ft|km}} off Trigate Road in rural Hudson, southeast of Nashua. The station's pre-auction digital signal broadcast on UHF channel 36, using virtual channel 13.

NBC10 Boston

{{for|full history on NBC10 Boston since its 2017 launch|NBC10 Boston}}

WYCN-CD sold its frequency rights as part of the FCC's spectrum auction for $80.4 million. OTA Broadcasting entered into a channel sharing agreement with WGBX-TV (channel 44) for the station; NBC agreed to purchase the channel share agreement{{cite news |last1=Jacobson |first1=Adam |title=NBC Boston Scores A Channel-Sharing Agreement |url=https://www.rbr.com/nbc-boston-scores-a-channel-sharing-agreement/ |access-date=February 13, 2020 |work=Radio and Television Business Report |date=October 30, 2017}} and the WYCN-CD license in October 2017.{{cite news |title=Station Trading Roundup: 5 Deals, $25.9M |url=https://tvnewscheck.com/article/108526/station-trading-roundup-5-deals-25-9m/ |access-date=February 13, 2020 |work=TV News Check |date=October 31, 2017 |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200213205816/https://tvnewscheck.com/article/108526/station-trading-roundup-5-deals-25-9m/ |archive-date=February 13, 2020}} In December 2017, the station announced on its website that it would "cease broadcasting on its current frequency on January 16, 2018 and begin broadcasting NBC Boston on a new frequency".{{cite web|title=HomeWYCN|url=http://www.tv13nashua.com/|website=tv13nashua.com|access-date=December 17, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171223102115/http://www.tv13nashua.com/|archive-date=December 23, 2017|url-status=live}} As WYCN's signal overlaps with WGME-TV in Portland, Maine, which also uses virtual channel 13, WYCN began using virtual channel 15 following the commencement of channel sharing, as WGME's post-auction physical channel is 15 (WGME's pre-auction channel, 38, was not available to WYCN as virtual channel 38 is assigned to WSBK-TV).{{cite web|last1=Tobey|first1=Margaret L.|title=Re: Assignment of Virtual Channel 15 WYCN-CD, Nashua, New Hampshire (FIN 9766)|url=https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/api/download/attachment/25076ff3604b50a80160555d59d800cd|website=Licensing and Management System|publisher=Federal Communications Commission|access-date=December 22, 2017|format=PDF|date=December 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171223051417/https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/api/download/attachment/25076ff3604b50a80160555d59d800cd|archive-date=December 23, 2017|url-status=live}}

The sale to NBC was completed on January 18, 2018;{{cite web|title=Consummation Notice|url=http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/prefill_and_display.pl?Application_id=1776300&Service=DC&Form_id=905&Facility_id=9766|website=CDBS Public Access|publisher=Federal Communications Commission|access-date=January 19, 2018|date=January 18, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180119123503/http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/prefill_and_display.pl?Application_id=1776300&Service=DC&Form_id=905&Facility_id=9766|archive-date=January 19, 2018|url-status=live}} the station began channel sharing with WGBX the same day. Before this transition, WYCN-CD was affiliated with Heroes & Icons (H&I), which also maintained a full-market affiliation on the second subchannel of WSBK-TV.

On August 8, 2019, WBTS-LD (channel 8) and WYCN-CD swapped call signs, with channel 8 becoming WYCN-LD and channel 15 changing to WBTS-CD.{{Cite web|url=https://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/call_hist.pl?Facility_id=9766&Callsign=WBTS-CD|title=Call Sign History|website=licensing.fcc.gov}}{{Cite web|url=https://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/call_hist.pl?Facility_id=64996&Callsign=WYCN-LD|title=Call Sign History|website=licensing.fcc.gov}} On August 31, 2019, WYCN-LD left the air in advance of its October 2019 transmitter move to Norton, Massachusetts, and city of license change to Providence, Rhode Island;{{cite web |title=Request for Special Temporary Authority to Remain Silent (WYCN-LD) |url=https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/api/download/attachment/25076f916d896d4c016d939e5c6a468f |website=Licensing and Management System |publisher=Federal Communications Commission |access-date=January 9, 2020 |format=PDF |date=October 3, 2019}} WYCN-LD now serves as a Telemundo station for Providence, leaving WBTS-CD as the sole NBC station for the Boston area.

News operation

Subchannels

class="wikitable" \|+Subchannels of WBTS-CD on the WGBX-TV multiplex{{cite web\|url=http://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=WBTS-CD#station\|work=RabbitEars\|title=WBTS-CD\|access-date=August 16, 2019\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190816183018/https://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=WBTS-CD#station\|archive-date=August 16, 2019\|url-status=live}} ! scope = "col" \| Channel ! scope = "col" \| Res. ! scope = "col" \| Aspect ! scope = "col" \| Short name ! scope = "col" \| Programming
scope = "row" \| 15.1 \| 1080i \|\| rowspan="2"\|16:9 \|\| WBTS-CD \|\| NBC
scope = "row" \| 15.2 \| 480i \|\| Cozi \|\| Cozi TV

class="wikitable"

|+Subchannels of WBTS-CD on the WGBX-TV multiplex{{cite web|url=http://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=WBTS-CD#station|work=RabbitEars|title=WBTS-CD|access-date=August 16, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190816183018/https://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=WBTS-CD#station|archive-date=August 16, 2019|url-status=live}}

! scope = "col" | Channel

! scope = "col" | Res.

! scope = "col" | Aspect

! scope = "col" | Short name

! scope = "col" | Programming

scope = "row" | 15.1

| 1080i || rowspan="2"|16:9 || WBTS-CD || NBC

scope = "row" | 15.2

| 480i || Cozi || Cozi TV

The NBC subchannel is offered in ATSC 3.0 (NextGen TV) format from the transmitter of WUNI.{{cite web|title=Digital TV Market Listing for WUNI|url=https://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=WUNI#station|website=RabbitEars|access-date=January 18, 2025}}

Notes

References

External links

{{Official website|www.nbcboston.com}}
[http://www.mass.gov/ocabr/government/oca-agencies/dtc-lp/nbc-boston-channel-realignment-information.html FAQ on NBC Boston], Government of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Category:1988 establishments in New Hampshire

Category:Companies based in Norfolk County, Massachusetts

Category:Cozi TV affiliates

BTS-CD

Category:Nashua, New Hampshire

Category:NBC affiliates

Category:NBC Owned Television Stations

Category:Television channels and stations established in 1988

Television stations in Boston