WPGH-TV#News operation
{{Short description|Television station in Pittsburgh}}
{{good article}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox television station
| callsign = WPGH-TV
| logo = WPGH Fox 53 2020.svg
| logo_alt = In a rounded rectangle, from top left: The Fox logo in white. A gold rectangle with a condensed sans serif 53. At the bottom in white, the words "W P G H - T V Pittsburgh".
| logo_size = 220px
| branding = Pittsburgh's Fox 53
| digital = 20 (UHF)
| virtual = 53
| affiliations = {{ubl|53.1: Fox|for others, see {{section link||Subchannels}}}}
| airdate = {{Start date and age|1953|8|1|p=y|br=y}}{{efn|First test pattern on air July 14, 1953. Commercial programming began August 1, 1953, as WKJF-TV and ended on July 2, 1954. The station resumed broadcasting as WPGH-TV on February 1, 1969, and again left the air on August 16, 1971. It returned on January 14, 1974.}}
| location = Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| country = United States
| callsign_meaning = Pittsburgh
| former_callsigns = {{ubl|WKJF-TV (1953–1961)|WAND-TV (1961–1965)|WECO-TV (1965–1968)}}
| former_channel_numbers = {{ubl|Analog: 53 (UHF, 1953–2009)|Digital: 43 (UHF, 2002–2020)}}
| owner = Sinclair Broadcast Group
| licensee = WPGH Licensee, LLC
| sister_stations = WPNT
| former_affiliations = {{ubl|Independent (1953–1954, 1969–1971, 1974–1986)|NBC (secondary, 1953–1954)|Dark (1954–1969, 1971–1974)}}
| erp = 800 kW
| haat = {{convert|302.8|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
| facility_id = 73875
| coordinates = {{coord|40|29|43|N|80|0|16|W|type:landmark_scale:2000}}
| licensing_authority = FCC
| website = {{url|http://wpgh53.com/}}
}}
WPGH-TV (channel 53) is a television station in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States, affiliated with the Fox network. It is owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group alongside dual CW and MyNetworkTV affiliate WPNT (channel 22). The two stations share studios on Ivory Avenue in the city's Summer Hill neighborhood, where WPGH-TV's transmitter is also located.
Channel 53 was the second TV channel to be activated in Pittsburgh, but the history of this station is discontinuous. It first emerged as WKJF-TV with commercial programming beginning on August 1, 1953. Owned by Agnes Jane Reeves Greer, it had second-choice rights to NBC programming and operated from a site shared with sister FM station WKJF-FM. Like many other ultra high frequency (UHF) TV stations, it struggled economically because not all homes could receive it and its signal was comparatively weak. It left the air on July 2, 1954, but the permit remained alive; the call sign was changed to WAND-TV in 1961, and the antenna was not dismantled until 1962. After federal authorities pushed holders of inactive UHF TV permits to build them, sell them, or forfeit them, Daniel H. Overmyer acquired the station in 1965 as part of a projected independent station group. He was unable to build what he called WECO-TV because of unexpected problems in transmitter site construction and financing difficulties. The independent stations were sold to U.S. Communications, a unit of American Viscose Corporation, which completed construction and put WPGH-TV on the air on February 1, 1969. U.S. Communications struggled with all of Overmyer's permits amid a soft advertising market; WPGH-TV was the third to leave the air on August 16, 1971, and was placed into bankruptcy.
Leon Crosby of San Francisco led an investor consortium named Pittsburgh Telecasting, which bought WPGH-TV out of bankruptcy and returned it to the air, this time for good, on January 14, 1974. Under Crosby and the successive ownerships of the Meredith Corporation, Lorimar-Telepictures, and Renaissance Broadcasting, WPGH-TV endured as Pittsburgh's leading independent outlet. In 1986, it affiliated with Fox at the new network's launch; the Fox affiliation improved the station's ratings and advertising sales.
Sinclair Broadcast Group acquired WPGH-TV in 1991, selling the underperforming channel 22 (then WPTT) to Edwin Edwards in a move that in reality created a local marketing agreement. WPGH-TV started a 10 p.m. newscast, the Fox 53 Ten O'Clock News, in January 1997. It was the first such newscast on a broadcast station in the Pittsburgh market, but it was a ratings underperformer relative to similar newscasts in similarly sized markets. In 2003, Sinclair converted it to its News Central hybrid format, which led to declining ratings. The standalone news department was dissolved in January 2006, and WPGH-TV began airing newscasts produced by Pittsburgh NBC affiliate WPXI (channel 11).
WKJF-TV
When the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) opened up applications for new TV stations after a years-long freeze, in 1952, it allocated three commercial ultra high frequency (UHF) TV channels to the city. The only applicant for channel 53 was Agnes Jane Reeves Greer, owner of WKJF-FM, the city's only standalone FM radio station.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-sun-telegraph-seven-file-for/145356992/|date=October 31, 1952|page=31|title=Seven File For 4 TV Spots Here|first=Wilbur D.|last=Clark|newspaper=Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 16, 2024|archive-date=April 19, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240419050457/https://www.newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-sun-telegraph-seven-file-for/145356992/|url-status=live}} The FCC awarded permits for the other two UHF channels, 16 and 47, in December 1952; it deferred action on the channel 53 application until Reeves supplied "further information",{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-sun-telegraph-two-new-tv-stat/145357033/|date=December 24, 1952|page=3|title=Two New TV Stations For City in 1953|newspaper=Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 16, 2024|archive-date=April 19, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240419050422/https://www.newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-sun-telegraph-two-new-tv-stat/145357033/|url-status=live}} granting it on January 8, 1953. Two executives from Pittsburgh's only operating TV station, WDTV, left to take up posts with the new WKJF-TV.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-press-new-tv-station-to-g/145357130/|date=January 8, 1953|pages=1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-press-new-tv-station-due/145357161/ 10]|title=New TV Station to Go on Air Soon: UHF Channel Programs Start in Spring|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 16, 2024|archive-date=April 19, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240419050445/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-press-new-tv-station-to-g/145357130/|url-status=live}} Officials expected to be on the air within months based on a prior equipment order.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-sun-telegraph-citys-3d-uf-s/145357108/|date=January 8, 1953|page=1|title=City's 3d UF [sic] TV Station To Go on Air in Spring|newspaper=Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 16, 2024|archive-date=April 19, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240419050609/https://www.newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-sun-telegraph-citys-3d-uf-s/145357108/|url-status=live}} The planned spring date was scrapped when a strike at General Electric delayed fabrication of the antenna, to be fastened to WKJF's tower on Mount Washington.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-sun-telegraph-new-tv-transmit/145357367/|date=May 24, 1953|page=5:4|first=Wilbur D.|last=Clark|title=New TV Transmitting Antennas to Arrive Soon: Two More Stations Making Debut Plans|newspaper=Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 16, 2024|archive-date=April 19, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240419050556/https://www.newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-sun-telegraph-new-tv-transmit/145357367/|url-status=live}} It arrived in July,{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-press-broadcasting-on-cha/145357470/|date=July 2, 1953|page=2|title=Broadcasting on Channel 53: City's New TV Station Set To Go on Air Within Week|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 16, 2024|archive-date=April 19, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240419050451/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-press-broadcasting-on-cha/145357470/|url-status=live}} but a dispute over union jurisdiction held up completion of the job.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-press-labor-pains-keep-wk/145357535/|date=July 7, 1953|page=5|title=Labor Pains Keep WKJF-TV Off Air: Rival Unions Fight Over Antenna Job|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 16, 2024|archive-date=April 19, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240419050441/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-press-labor-pains-keep-wk/145357535/|url-status=live}}
On July 11, 1953, WKJF-TV put out its first test picture; it was on the air for five minutes and still elicited a call from a viewer.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-sun-telegraph-uhf-station-tes/145357572/|date=July 12, 1953|page=1|title=UHF Station Test on Air|newspaper=Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 16, 2024}} A regular schedule of test patterns followed starting on July 14.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-new-tv-station-s/145357616/|date=July 15, 1953|page=15|title=New TV Station Starts Career|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 16, 2024|archive-date=April 19, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240419051003/https://www.newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-new-tv-station-s/145357616/|url-status=live}} Days before launching, the station finally secured network programming in the form of a secondary affiliation with NBC. WDTV continued to enjoy right of first refusal to telecast NBC programs in Pittsburgh, so WKJF-TV would only get those programs not aired on channel 2.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-wkjf-tv-to-get-s/145357771/|date=July 28, 1953|page=13|title=WKJF-TV To Get Some NBC Shows: New Ultra High Frequency Station Completing Testing|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 16, 2024|archive-date=April 19, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240419051112/https://www.newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-wkjf-tv-to-get-s/145357771/|url-status=live}} On July 28, the station initiated its first test programs beyond a pattern.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-sun-telegraph-wkjf-tv-to-sign/145357741/|date=July 28, 1953|page=23|title=WKJF-TV To Sign With NBC|first=Wilbur D.|last=Clark|newspaper=Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 16, 2024|archive-date=April 19, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240419051113/https://www.newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-sun-telegraph-wkjf-tv-to-sign/145357741/|url-status=live}} From studios on Grandview Avenue,{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-press-block-of-mount-wash/145357224/|date=March 10, 1953|page=39|title=Block of Mount Washington Property Included: New Television Station to Buy KQV Tower|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 16, 2024|archive-date=April 19, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240419050916/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-press-block-of-mount-wash/145357224/|url-status=live}} WKJF-TV began airing regular programming on August 1, 1953. At the end of August, after an AT&T network loop was completed to the Mount Washington facility, the first NBC shows appeared on the station.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-sun-telegraph-tv-channel-53-d/145373495/|date=August 1, 1953|page=9|title=TV Channel 53 Debut Tonight|newspaper=Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 16, 2024|archive-date=April 18, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240418011318/https://www.newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-sun-telegraph-tv-channel-53-d/145373495/|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-press-picture-on-channel/145357810/|date=August 2, 1953|page=4:14|title=Picture on Channel 53: 2nd Pittsburgh TV Station Begins Regular Programs|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 16, 2024|archive-date=April 19, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240419051004/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-press-picture-on-channel/145357810/|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-sun-telegraph-wens-signal-to/145358154/|date=August 31, 1953|page=23|title=WENS Signal to Improve|newspaper=Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 16, 2024|archive-date=April 19, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240419050919/https://www.newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-sun-telegraph-wens-signal-to/145358154/|url-status=live}} In at least one instance, the station also carried a DuMont Television Network program; WDTV passed over DuMont's Boxing from Eastern Parkway Arena to carry Studio One, so WKJF-TV picked it up.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-sun-telegraph-wkjf-tv-picks-u/145358282/|date=October 19, 1953|first=Wilbur D.|last=Clark|page=23|title=WKJF-TV Picks Up Boxing|newspaper=Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 16, 2024|archive-date=April 19, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240419050950/https://www.newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-sun-telegraph-wkjf-tv-picks-u/145358282/|url-status=live}}
WKJF-TV was one of two UHF stations to start in Pittsburgh in 1953, the other being WENS on channel 16, which operated at much higher power.{{r|PittST530831}}{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-what-is-the-pres/145357906/|date=January 23, 1954|page= 19|title=What is the present power of WENS and WKJF-TV?|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 16, 2024}} UHF stations' signals performed poorly in rougher terrain.{{cite magazine|title=UHF in Portland—How is it Doing?|magazine=RCA Broadcast News|date=September 1952|pages=16–33|first=John P.|last=Taylor|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/ARCHIVE-RCA/RCA-Broadcast-News/RCA-71.pdf}} Though Pittsburgh had only one pre-freeze{{discuss}} and very high frequency station, WDTV on channel 2, much of the city could receive a second VHF station, WJAC-TV on channel 6 from Johnstown. These stations could be received by any set, unlike WENS and WKJF-TV, which required converters to view on many VHF-only sets.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-press-pittsburgh-tv-scene/145358002/|date=August 31, 1953|page=31|first=Si|last=Steinhauser|title=Pittsburgh TV Scene Is Greatly Changed: Converter Trade Boom Reported|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 16, 2024|archive-date=April 19, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240419051548/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-press-pittsburgh-tv-scene/145358002/|url-status=live}} On July 2, 1954, the station left the air indefinitely, expressing hope of returning if Congress did something to alleviate the plight of UHF stations;{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-wkjf-tv-station/145358085/|date=June 22, 1954|page=1|title=WKJF-TV Station To Close July 2: Will Reopen In Fall If Senators Act|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 16, 2024|archive-date=April 19, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240419051505/https://www.newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-wkjf-tv-station/145358085/|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-station-wkjf-tv/145357930/|date=July 3, 1954|page=8|title=Station WKJF-TV Goes Off the Air|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 16, 2024|archive-date=April 19, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240419051506/https://www.newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-station-wkjf-tv/145357930/|url-status=live}} it lost $1 million in its operational history.{{Cite news|work=Broadcasting|pages=72, 74|title=Dark UHF's down but not out|date=May 17, 1965|id={{ProQuest|1014503370}} }} WENS remained on air but struggled to get sponsors despite carrying popular network shows.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-sun-telegraph-expense-for-uhf/70855003/|date=December 19, 1954|page=3:9|first=Wilbur D.|last=Clark|title=Expense for UHF Means Little Here|newspaper=Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 16, 2024|archive-date=April 19, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240419051701/https://www.newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-sun-telegraph-expense-for-uhf/70855003/|url-status=live}}
A Cleveland mail-order distributor expressed interest in buying WKJF-TV in 1955; he would have renamed the station WDAV and run it for the benefit of disabled veterans.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-press-would-go-on-air-abo/145361965/|date=January 15, 1955|pages=1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-press-sale-of-wkjf-tv-rep/145361991/ 3]|first=Fred|last=Remington|title=Would Go on Air About March 15: Cleveland Man Offers $500,000 for WKJF-TV|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 16, 2024|archive-date=April 18, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240418011317/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-press-would-go-on-air-abo/145361965/|url-status=live}} The deal never came to fruition as the owners waited for the UHF situation to change.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-sun-telegraph-wens-orders-new/70858356/|date=March 28, 1955|page=23|first=Wilbur D.|last=Clark|title=WENS Orders New Tower|newspaper=Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 16, 2024|archive-date=April 19, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240419051712/https://www.newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-sun-telegraph-wens-orders-new/70858356/|url-status=live}} Rumors circulated that the group putting together Pittsburgh's new VHF station on channel 11 was interested in the property.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-press-channel-11-operator/145362057/|date=June 26, 1955|page=5:11|first=Fred|last=Remington|title=Channel 11 Operators Deny They're Seeking WKJF Site|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 16, 2024|archive-date=April 18, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240418011316/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-press-channel-11-operator/145362057/|url-status=live}} The call sign on the channel 53 permit was changed from WKJF-TV to WAND-TV on March 13, 1961;{{Cite web|url=https://cdbs.recnet.com/corres/?doc=86780|title=FCC History Cards for WAND-TV|publisher=Federal Communications Commission|access-date=April 16, 2024|archive-date=May 22, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230522214211/https://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/getimportletter_exh.cgi?import_letter_id=86780|url-status=live}} the WAND letters had belonged to a Reeves-owned station in Canton, Ohio.{{r|Pitt650217}} The antenna was dismantled in 1962 and replaced with a new FM antenna for the co-located radio station;{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-changes/140219799/|date=January 18, 1962|page=37|title=Changes|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 16, 2024|archive-date=April 19, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240419051705/https://www.newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-changes/140219799/|url-status=live}} the former television facility was leased to another tenant.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-press-on-17th-anniversary/140219815/|date=October 2, 1964|page=46|first=Vince|last=Leonard|title=On 17th Anniversary: WKJF Moves With The Mount|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 16, 2024|archive-date=April 19, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240419051705/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-press-on-17th-anniversary/140219815/|url-status=live}}
Overmyer–U.S. Communications era
=A construction project undermined=
In November 1964, the FCC told 29 permittees of inactive UHF stations, including WAND-TV, that they faced losing their permits unless action was taken to put them back into service.{{Cite news|pages=64–65|title=Get on air or give up channel|work=Broadcasting|id={{ProQuest|1014491257}}|date=November 9, 1964}} Faced with the pressing FCC action, in February 1965, Reeves Greer agreed to sell to the New York–based Overmyer Communications Corporation, owned by Daniel H. Overmyer. The purchase presented a complication for Overmyer, as it was the eighth station he was attempting to acquire and the ownership limit was seven stations.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-press-another-tv-station/140219852/|date=February 17, 1965|page=2|first=Vince|last=Leonard|title=Another TV Station Possible Here: Sale Of WKFJ [sic] (UHF) For '66 Broadcasting Awaits FCC Approval|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 16, 2024|archive-date=April 19, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240419052106/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-press-another-tv-station/140219852/|url-status=live}} The $28,000 transaction did not include any physical facilities.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-local-uhf-channe/140219878/|date=February 18, 1965|page=25|first=Herbert G.|last=Stein|title=Local UHF Channel Purchased: New TV Station May Be on Air In 18 Months|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 16, 2024|archive-date=April 19, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240419052141/https://www.newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-local-uhf-channe/140219878/|url-status=live}} Overmyer, as well as a group attempting to reactivate WENS, were encouraged not only by the FCC's action but by the All-Channel Receiver Act making all new sets UHF-compatible.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-maybe-within-yea/140219901/|date=February 25, 1965|page=39|first=Win|last=Fanning|title=Maybe Within Year's Time: UHF Is Slated For Second Chance Here|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 16, 2024|archive-date=April 19, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240419052206/https://www.newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-maybe-within-yea/140219901/|url-status=live}} The FCC denied Overmyer's petition to waive the ownership rule and returned the original filing as unacceptable.{{Cite news|date=April 28, 1965|page=46|title=Reject Application For Being One Over The Limit on UHF Stations|work=Variety|id={{ProQuest|1017129593}} }} It was refiled and approved by the FCC in July.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-press-city-to-get-uhf-cha/140219936/|date=July 29, 1965|page=2|title=City To Get UHF Channels: FM Radio Channel Refused Glenshaw|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 16, 2024|archive-date=April 19, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240419052108/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-press-city-to-get-uhf-cha/140219936/|url-status=live}}
On November 30, 1965, WAND-TV became WECO-TV, one of four stations named for Daniel Overmyer's children—in this case, Elizabeth C. Overmyer.{{r|hc}}{{cite magazine |date=May 30, 1966 |title=He's hitched his wagon to a UHF star |magazine=Broadcasting |page=93 |volume=70 |issue=22 |id={{ProQuest|1014499462}}}} Overmyer had opted not to lease any facilities from WKJF.{{r|Pitt650729}} By March 1966, Overmyer was preparing to put the station on the air for the fall television season as Pittsburgh's first independent station, with a mix of syndicated shows and network programs preempted by the local affiliates. Even before signing on, the station acquired mobile video tape recording equipment.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-a-non-network-uh/140219972/|date=March 10, 1966|page=39|first=Win|last=Fanning|title=A Non-Network UHF Outlet: WECO-TV to Start Operating This Fall|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 16, 2024|archive-date=April 19, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240419052107/https://www.newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-a-non-network-uh/140219972/|url-status=live}} Overmyer was still promising this in May, along with a series of 22 new warehouses to be located in the Pittsburgh area.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-warehouse-boom/140220020/|date=May 26, 1966|pages=1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-warehouses-tv-s/140220027/ 4]|title=Warehouse Boom, TV Slot Due: New UHF Station, $12 Million Set For New Buildings|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 16, 2024|archive-date=April 19, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240419052142/https://www.newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-warehouse-boom/140220020/|url-status=live}}
Soon after, Overmyer's quest to build WECO-TV hit a series of snags. The station was on target to launch in September when crews erecting its tower found that the anchor points for two of its three guy wires were over abandoned mine shafts, and a third such tunnel was also found.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-cbs-looks-at-ra/140220049/|date=July 28, 1966|page=36|first=Win|last=Fanning|title=CBS Looks at 'Rat Run' Tour: Mines Beneath Site Delay WECO-TV|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 16, 2024|archive-date=April 19, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240419052213/https://www.newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-cbs-looks-at-ra/140220049/|url-status=live}} This forced a change of site for the tower and delayed the prospective launch date to June 1967.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-channel-53-to-se/140220067/|date=December 6, 1966|page= 27|title=Channel 53 to Send From North Hills: WECO-TV Hits Tower Snag, Opening Postponed Till June|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 16, 2024}} The delay prevented WECO-TV from being part of its owner's planned Overmyer Network, which went on the air as the United Network on May 1, 1967. Its lone offering, The Las Vegas Show, aired on WIIC-TV.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-press-negotiations-underw/140220091/|date=April 25, 1967|page=62|first=Vince|last=Leonard|title=Negotiations Underway: Las Vegas Show May Air Monday|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 16, 2024|archive-date=March 26, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240326144710/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-press-negotiations-underw/140220091/|url-status=live}}
=Sale to AVC=
Needing financing to finish construction of WPGH-TV and the other station permits he held nationwide, Overmyer agreed on March 28, 1967, to sell 80-percent majority control of his construction permits to the American Viscose Corporation (AVC).{{sfn|Trafficking in Broadcast Station Licenses, Part 2|1969|page=440}}{{Cite news |date=April 20, 1967 |title=WSCO-TV Sold |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94071790/wsco-tv-sold/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220203041602/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94071790/wsco-tv-sold/ |archive-date=February 3, 2022 |access-date=February 3, 2022 |newspaper=The Cincinnati Enquirer |page=12 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{cite magazine |date=April 3, 1967 |title=Overmyer selling control of outlets |magazine=Broadcasting |page=80 |volume=72 |issue=14|id={{ProQuest|1014520519}}}} One partner in the investment firm facilitating the sale with Overmyer was a stockholder in WPHL-TV, an existing UHF station in Philadelphia; another partner was appointed to the AVC board of directors after the sale.{{cite news |date=September 26, 1969 |title=SEC Urged to Probe A.V.C. |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35554105/the_philadelphia_inquirer/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190903040159/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35554105/the_philadelphia_inquirer/ |archive-date=September 3, 2019 |access-date=September 3, 2019 |website=The Philadelphia Inquirer |page=29 |via=Newspapers.com |agency=United Press International}} AVC arranged to merge the Overmyer permits with WPHL's parent company to form U.S. Communications Corporation on June 8, 1967, giving the combined company six television stations in the top 50 markets.{{cite news |date=June 13, 1967 |title=TV Roundup: WPHL to Head New Six-Station Group |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/20565017/the_philadelphia_inquirer/ |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |page=15 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=August 29, 2018 |archive-date=August 29, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180829175536/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/20565017/the_philadelphia_inquirer/ |url-status=live }}{{Efn|In 1967, the American Research Bureau (ARB) ranked the size of the TV viewing audience for the six cities using net weekly circulation: Philadelphia, 4; San Francisco, 7; Pittsburgh, 9; Cincinnati, 16; Atlanta, 19; and Houston, 25.{{Cite book |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1967-TV-Factbook/1967-TV-Factbook-II.pdf |title=Television Factbook 1967 |date=1967 |publisher=Television Digest, Inc. |edition=37 |volume=Services |location=Washington, D. C. |pages=33-a–36-a |chapter=Television Market Rankings: Listing 223 markets according to ARB Net Weekly Circulation |lccn=67-118025 |access-date=April 18, 2024 }}}} The FCC approved the sale on December 8, 1967,{{cite magazine |date=December 11, 1967 |title=Closed Circuit: Squeaky vote |magazine=Broadcasting |page=5 |volume=73 |issue=24|id={{ProQuest|1016841498}}}}{{r|Broad680122p37}}{{cite magazine |date=December 18, 1967 |title=Top-50 policy set for burial |magazine=Broadcasting |pages=64–65 |volume=73 |issue=25 |id={{ProQuest|1014509454}}}} waiving a proposed rule in place since 1965{{cite magazine |date=June 28, 1965 |title=FCC issues its ban on bigness |magazine=Broadcasting |pages=50–52 |volume=68 |issue=26|id={{ProQuest|1014492673}}}} that sought to limit television station ownership within the top 50 markets,{{unbulleted list citebundle|{{cite magazine |date=November 13, 1967 |title=Closed Circuit: Once again |magazine=Broadcasting |page=5 |volume=73 |issue=20|id={{ProQuest|1016841033}}}}|{{cite magazine |date=November 20, 1967 |title=Closed Circuit: Second looks |website=Broadcasting |page=5 |volume=73 |issue=21|id={{ProQuest|1014510315}}}}|{{cite magazine |date=November 27, 1967 |title=Closed Circuit: Overmyer stalled |magazine=Broadcasting |page=5 |volume=73 |issue=22|id={{ProQuest|1014508384}}}}}} a practice the FCC had employed before in similar transactions.{{cite magazine |date=February 12, 1968 |title=Brakes eased on group growth |magazine=Broadcasting |pages=40–42 |volume=74 |issue=7}}
Days after the deal was approved, Rep. Harley O. Staggers, chairman of the House Investigations Subcommittee, summoned all FCC members to testify over the decision not to hold hearings.{{unbulleted list citebundle|{{cite magazine |date=December 18, 1967 |title=At Deadline: FCC under fire on Overmyer approval|id={{ProQuest|1014509892}} |magazine=Broadcasting |page=9 |volume=73 |issue=25}}|{{cite magazine |date=December 18, 1967 |title=A sudden review of Overmyer case on the hill |magazine=Broadcasting |page=65 |volume=73 |issue=25|id={{ProQuest|1014509513}}}}}}{{r|Broad671218p64}} FCC chairman Rosel H. Hyde testified that if a hearing had been ordered, the sale would have been abandoned. Hyde stated, "I believe that the possibility of refinancing the UHF stations would have failed had we designated the matter for hearing"{{sfn|Trafficking in Broadcast Station Licenses, Part 1|1969|page=11}} and that any hearing "...might very well have defeated this effort to salvage a sinking enterprise".{{sfn|Trafficking in Broadcast Station Licenses, Part 1|1969|page=23}} Hyde concluded Overmyer's application was sufficient for approval{{sfn|Trafficking in Broadcast Station Licenses, Part 1|1969|page=29}} and agreed with commissioner Kenneth A. Cox that the true nature of the transaction was to raise funds to save the warehouse business.{{sfn|Trafficking in Broadcast Station Licenses, Part 1|1969|pages=16–17}} Cox criticized the submission of out-of-pocket expenses and the loan and option agreement in the transaction, claiming it violated an FCC policy by providing a profit.{{sfn|Trafficking in Broadcast Station Licenses, Part 1|1969|pages=20, 28, 266–268}}
When the deal closed on January 15, 1968, Overmyer received the second $1.5 million portion of the total $3 million agreed to in the loan contract.{{r|Broad680122p37}} AVC was an investment company with no experience in television broadcasting and thus only provided financing for U.S. Communications, while WPHL was used for leadership: two WPHL executives became part of U.S.'s management team.{{cite magazine |date=June 19, 1967 |title=U.S. Communications plans UHF group |id={{ProQuest|1014493487}}|magazine=Broadcasting |page=63 |volume=72 |issue=25}}{{cite news |date=June 13, 1967 |title=WPHL to Head New Six-Station Group |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/20565017/the_philadelphia_inquirer/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180829175536/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/20565017/the_philadelphia_inquirer/ |archive-date=August 29, 2018 |access-date=August 29, 2018 |newspaper=The Philadelphia Inquirer |page=15}}{{cite news |date=May 15, 1967 |title=7-Station UHF Net Planned |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/20564963/the_philadelphia_inquirer/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180829175518/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/20564963/the_philadelphia_inquirer/ |archive-date=August 29, 2018 |access-date=August 29, 2018 |newspaper=The Philadelphia Inquirer |page=8}} Overmyer's role was limited to only his 20-percent stock in the Atlanta, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, and Houston permits, with no managerial oversight; U.S. also included a provision that could compel Overmyer to divest his 20-percent interest{{cite magazine |date=January 22, 1968 |title=Overmyer sale papers are signed |magazine=Broadcasting |pages=37–38 |volume=74 |issue=4|id={{ProQuest|1014510329}}}} and an option to purchase it between January 16, 1971, and January 15, 1972.{{sfn|Trafficking in Broadcast Station Licenses, Final Report|1969|page=4}} The contract limited the highest purchase price to $3 million, the same amount AVC had loaned to Overmyer; the loan was secured by second mortgages on twenty-three of Overmyer's warehouse properties and his 20 percent interest in the TV stations.{{sfn|Trafficking in Broadcast Station Licenses, Part 2|1969|pages=891, 898}} U.S. never executed its option to buy the stock,{{cite book |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WKkMOfL8DJIC&pg=PA24 |title=Federal Communications Commission Reports: Decisions and Reports of the Federal Communications Commission of the United States: Volumes 79, Second Series, August 22 to September 26, 1980 |publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office |year=1982 |location=Washington, D.C. |pages=24–27 |chapter=FCC 80–391, Memorandum Opinion and Order |access-date=March 28, 2024 |archive-date=March 28, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240328210244/https://books.google.com/books?id=WKkMOfL8DJIC&pg=PA24 |url-status=live }} and Overmyer repaid the $3 million loan.{{Cite book |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rlc6AAAAMAAJ&pg=PA1079 |title=Federal Communications Commission Reports: Decisions and Reports of the Federal Communications Commission of the United States: Volume 54, Second Series, July 25 to September 5, 1975 |publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office |year=1976 |location=Washington, D.C. |pages=1079–1128 |chapter=FCC 73D–23, Initial Decision of Administrative Law Judge Herbert Sharfman |access-date=March 28, 2024 |archive-date=March 29, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240329121748/https://books.google.com/books?id=rlc6AAAAMAAJ&pg=PA1079#v=onepage&q&f=false |url-status=live }}
=Second on-air stint (1969–1971)=
After the sale to AVC, planning moved forward in Pittsburgh. By July 1968, the firm was still scouting a site for channel 53, which would have a far more powerful signal than the old WKJF-TV.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-with-4-million-w/140220153/|date=July 3, 1968|page= 25|first=Win|last=Fanning|title=With 4 Million Watts Power: UHF Channel 53 Due in Late Fall|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 16, 2024}} The station set up its studios, offices, and transmitter at 750 Ivory Avenue in the North Hills area;{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-press-uhf-on-the-horizon/140220221/|date=November 8, 1968|page= 50|first=Vince|last=Leonard|title=UHF On The Horizon: City's Sixth Station: '53'|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 16, 2024}}{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-charles-owen-ric/70862017/|date=December 6, 1968|page=39|first=Win|last=Fanning|title=Charles Owen Rice Special for Ch. 13|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 16, 2024|archive-date=April 19, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240419052804/https://www.newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-charles-owen-ric/70862017/|url-status=live}} the Ivory facility had previously belonged to WENS.{{r|Pitt730726}} The Pittsburgh Ad Club held a contest to select new call letters to replace WECO-TV,{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-press-on-lombardi-packer/140220188/|date=August 30, 1968|page=48|first=Vince|last=Leonard|title=On Lombardi-Packer Special: Narrator Wayne Grounded|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 16, 2024|archive-date=April 19, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240419052805/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-press-on-lombardi-packer/140220188/|url-status=live}} taking the call sign WPGH on December 7.{{r|hc}}
WPGH-TV made its on-air debut on February 1, 1969—the first broadcast from channel 53 in nearly 15 years.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-press-wpgh-comes-to-pitts/140220368/|date=February 4, 1969|page=48|first=Vince|last=Leonard|title=WPGH Comes To Pittsburgh|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 16, 2024|archive-date=April 19, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240419052758/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-press-wpgh-comes-to-pitts/140220368/|url-status=live}} Programs included a local version of Bozo the Clown; Dark Shadows and the CBS Sunday Night News, which the local affiliates did not or were about to cease airing;{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-silent-song-fi/140220326/|date=January 28, 1969|page=29|first=Win|last=Fanning|title='Silent Song' Fine Drama: Ch. 53 to Present Children's 'Fun-In'|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 16, 2024|archive-date=April 19, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240419052739/https://www.newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-silent-song-fi/140220326/|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-starts-at-1130/145362726/|date=February 13, 1969|page=31|title=Starts at 11:30 A.M.: Ch. 53 Fare Includes 'Soaps,' Daily Films|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 16, 2024|archive-date=April 18, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240418011317/https://www.newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-starts-at-1130/145362726/|url-status=live}} syndicated sports heretofore unavailable in Pittsburgh;{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-press-wpgh-mirrors-mod-o/140220390/|date=February 11, 1969|page=30|title=WPGH Mirrors Mod, Old: '53' Reflects The New 'U'|first=Vince|last=Leonard|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 16, 2024|archive-date=April 19, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240419052818/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-press-wpgh-mirrors-mod-o/140220390/|url-status=live}} and daily movies.{{r|Pitt690213}} Local programming included Duquesne Dukes men's basketball;{{r|Pitt690211}} Pittsburgh Penguins hockey;{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-press-cardille-to-intervi/145374144/|date=August 12, 1970|page=82|first=Edward L.|last=Blank|title=Cardille To Interview Communicasters: WNUF-FM Slates Live, Weekly Band Broadcasts|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 16, 2024|archive-date=April 18, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240418011317/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-press-cardille-to-intervi/145374144/|url-status=live}} and an interview show, Pittsburgh Now.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-summer-re-runs-f/140220503/|date=March 27, 1970|page=25|first=Win|last=Fanning|title=Summer Re-Runs for 'Sesame'|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 16, 2024|archive-date=April 19, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240419052757/https://www.newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-summer-re-runs-f/140220503/|url-status=live}}
U.S. Communications struggled with the station permits it had acquired from Overmyer and built out. In July 1970, WPGH-TV cut back its broadcasting day to start at noon on weekdays, 3 p.m. on Saturdays, and 1 p.m. on Sundays.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-happy-birthday-t/140220517/|date=July 17, 1970|page=27|first=Win|last=Fanning|title=Happy Birthday to WKJF; Channel 53 Cuts Back Schedule|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 16, 2024|archive-date=April 19, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240419052819/https://www.newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-happy-birthday-t/140220517/|url-status=live}} The company's woes became more acutely felt in 1971. On March 31, due to financial problems, the firm shut down its stations in San Francisco (KEMO-TV) and Atlanta (WATL).{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-cincinnati-enquirer-helpful-to-19/45359291/|date=March 26, 1971|page=51|first=Steve|last=Hoffman|title=Helpful To '19'?|newspaper=The Cincinnati Enquirer|location=Cincinnati, Ohio|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 16, 2024}} On August 5, 1971, The Wall Street Journal reported that U.S. Communications had asked the FCC for permission to take WPGH-TV and WXIX-TV in Cincinnati off the air.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94077019/19-chief-says-wsj-blackout-story-untru/|date=August 6, 1971|page=8|title='19' Chief Says WSJ Blackout Story Untrue|newspaper=The Cincinnati Enquirer|location=Cincinnati, Ohio|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 3, 2022|archive-date=February 4, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220204055508/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94077019/19-chief-says-wsj-blackout-story/|url-status=live}} The two stations, however, got a reprieve because they had instead attracted potential buyers.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94077390/five-buyers-in-field-channel-19-blackou/|date=August 7, 1971|page=1|first=Steve|last=Hoffman|title=Five Buyers In Field: Channel 19 Blackout Canceled|newspaper=The Cincinnati Enquirer|location=Cincinnati, Ohio|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 3, 2022|archive-date=February 4, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220204055508/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94077390/five-buyers-in-field-channel-19/|url-status=live}} In the case of WPGH-TV, the reprieve was short-lived. On the afternoon of August 16, 1971, U.S. Communications informed the 48 employees of channel 53 that the station would cease broadcasting at 6 p.m., with the entire staff being laid off.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-times-leader-lack-of-funds-closes-pi/145454682/|date=August 17, 1971|page=7|agency=Associated Press|title=Lack of Funds Closes Pittsburgh WPGH-TV|newspaper=The Times Leader|location=Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 16, 2024}}
Crosby and Meredith ownership
AVC began liquidating the U.S. Communications stations. With the February 1972 sale of WPHL-TV, the only station never threatened with closure, WPGH-TV became the last unsold station.{{Cite news|work=Broadcasting|date=February 14, 1972|pages=40–41|title=AVC bails out of U in Philadelphia|id={{ProQuest|1505656462}} }} It was instead assigned to a liquidating receiver.{{r|hc}} A Black-led group, Aquarius Broadcasting, investigated the purchase,{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-blacks-firm-eye/140220640/|date=August 29, 1972|page=13|title=Blacks' Firm Eyes TV Station Purchase|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 16, 2024|archive-date=April 19, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240419053302/https://www.newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-blacks-firm-eye/140220640/|url-status=live}} but Leon Crosby emerged the winner in a November 1972 bankruptcy court hearing. Crosby, who also bought KEMO-TV in San Francisco from AVC,{{r|BC720214}} promised to program WPGH-TV as an independent station with a mix of movies, reruns, children's shows, and sports, as well as local program concepts that had been successful in San Francisco such as a Black variety show.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-wpgh-tv-ch-53/140220653/|date=November 28, 1972|page=33|first=Win|last=Fanning|title=WPGH-TV, Ch. 53, Due Back On Air Within Six Months|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 16, 2024|archive-date=April 19, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240419053144/https://www.newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-wpgh-tv-ch-53/140220653/|url-status=live}} Crosby and his company, Pittsburgh Telecasting, spent most of 1973 awaiting FCC approval; during that time, a tilt in the antenna was identified as a possible cause of signal reception issues in some areas.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-ch-53-fcc-okay/145446800/|date=July 26, 1973|page=25|first=Win|last=Fanning|title=Ch. 53 FCC Okay Due Soon, October Start Is Possible|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 16, 2024|archive-date=April 19, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240419053138/https://www.newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-ch-53-fcc-okay/145446800/|url-status=live}} The commission granted the purchase on December 12, 1973.{{r|hc}} To get the station back into operating condition, rotting carpets had to be removed from the studio.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-ch-53-plans-jan/145446893/|date=January 1, 1974|first=Win|last=Fanning|page=51|title=Ch. 53 Plans Jan. 14 Start|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 16, 2024|archive-date=April 19, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240419053144/https://www.newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-ch-53-plans-jan/145446893/|url-status=live}} WPGH-TV returned to the air on January 14, 1974. Like its prior incarnation, it picked up preempted network programs; this time, it added some morning programming from the Christian Broadcasting Network.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-ch-53-meets-air/145446947/|date=January 15, 1974|page=25|first=Win|last=Fanning|title=Ch. 53 Meets Air Deadline; Will Air 'Glass Menagerie'|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 16, 2024|archive-date=April 19, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240419053203/https://www.newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-ch-53-meets-air/145446947/|url-status=live}}
The Meredith Corporation purchased WPGH-TV for $12.2 million{{efn|$11.7 million plus a $500,000 closing bonus if the sale closed prior to December 31, 1978,{{r|BC781002}} which it did.{{Cite news|page=25|work=The Hollywood Reporter|title=Meredith buys 5th TV station|date=November 3, 1978|id={{ProQuest|2598156353}} }}}} in 1978.{{Cite news|work=Broadcasting|page=49|title=Changing Hands|date=October 2, 1978|id={{ProQuest|1014691084}} }} It was the company's first UHF independent station and second total after KPHO-TV in Phoenix.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-press-wpgh-sold-broadcas/145459471/|date=April 20, 1978|page=C-6|first=Barbara|last=Holsopple|title=WPGH Sold: Broadcasters Await FCC Nod, WYEP at Crossroads|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 17, 2024|archive-date=April 17, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240417185025/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-press-wpgh-sold-broadcas/145459471/|url-status=live}} That same year, Pittsburgh gained a second independent in the form of WPTT-TV (channel 22), started by the Baltimore-based Commercial Radio Institute (predecessor to Sinclair Broadcast Group). Though the new UHF outlet initially eroded WPGH-TV's ratings,{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-press-wtae-hires-steigerw/145545000/|date=December 14, 1978|page=D-18|title=WTAE Hires Steigerwald: Local Ratings Show No Growth For UHF-TV Stations|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 17, 2024|archive-date=April 17, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240417194447/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-press-wtae-hires-steigerw/145545000/|url-status=live}} channel 53 easily beat the comparatively neglected WPTT-TV in the ratings, and when David D. Smith became its general manager in 1984, he readily conceded that even a revived WPTT would be "the fifth station in this market".{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-press-suzanne-pleshette-t/145544855/|date=March 2, 1984|page=C8|first=Barbara|last=Holsopple|title=Suzanne Pleshette tops grand cast in 'Maggie Briggs'|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 17, 2024|archive-date=April 17, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240417194446/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-press-suzanne-pleshette-t/145544855/|url-status=live}} WPGH-TV responded by becoming an aggressive buyer of programming including shows and movies, pushing costs up.{{Cite news|first=Larry|last=O'Reilly|title=Program Blitz: WPGH's Costly Pitch for Viewers, Sponsors|work=Pittsburgh Business Times|id={{ProQuest|198431052}}|date=January 28, 1985}} In Meredith's final months of ownership, the station agreed to join the new Fox network when it started providing programming in October 1986.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-press-lorimars-wpgh-deal/145545927/|date=July 17, 1986|page=D14|first=Robert|last=Bianco|title=Lorimar's WPGH deal may cause waves|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 18, 2024|archive-date=April 18, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240418062559/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-press-lorimars-wpgh-deal/145545927/|url-status=live}} By this time, it was well-regarded in the industry.{{r|Pitt860722}}
Lorimar-Telepictures and Renaissance Broadcasting ownership
{{Quote box
| quote = They [Meredith] recognized an opportunity to move on and we recognized an opportunity to move in. We just met at an intersection called Pittsburgh.
| author = Alan Bell
| source = senior vice president, Lorimar-Telepictures{{r|Pitt860722}}
| align = right
| width = 250px
| salign = right
}}
In July 1986, the Meredith Corporation agreed to sell WPGH-TV to Lorimar-Telepictures for $35 million. At the time, Lorimar—a production powerhouse responsible for shows like Dallas, The People's Court, and The Waltons—was breaking rapidly into station ownership with three stations owned and in the process of buying WPGH and eight other stations, including WTTV, an independent station serving the Indianapolis market.{{r|Pitt860717}} Meredith did not have WPGH-TV on the market, but the deal made sense; Pittsburgh was not the kind of growth market Meredith was seeking, while Lorimar found in the city an area that was undervalued nationally.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-wpgh-fits-into-l/145454710/|date=July 22, 1986|pages=9, [https://newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-wpgh-fits-into-l/145545945/ 10]|first=Ron|last=Weiskind|title=WPGH fits into Lorimar strategy|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 18, 2024|archive-date=April 18, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240418062558/https://www.newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-wpgh-fits-into-l/145454710/|url-status=live}} In the months following the purchase's announcement, the independent TV station market soured; a number of stations sought bankruptcy protection, including WTTV,{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-independent-tv-out/73913005/|date=January 12, 1987|pages=IV:1, [https://newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-stations-bargain/73912976/ 3]|title=Independent TV Outlets Alluring to Bargain Hunters|newspaper=The Los Angeles Times|location=Los Angeles, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 18, 2024|archive-date=April 18, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240418062705/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-independent-tv-out/73913005/|url-status=live}} which Lorimar stopped pursuing.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star-lorimar-out/145582471/|date=February 24, 1987|page=21|title=Lorimar out|newspaper=The Indianapolis Star|location=Indianapolis, Indiana|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 18, 2024|archive-date=April 19, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240419053203/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star-lorimar-out/145582471/|url-status=live}} The purchase price was cut to $21.25 million by the time the deal closed in January 1987.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-wpgh-purchase-pr/145546065/|date=January 9, 1987|page=11|title=WPGH purchase price dropped|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 18, 2024|archive-date=April 18, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240418062605/https://www.newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-wpgh-purchase-pr/145546065/|url-status=live}} Less than six months later, Lorimar-Telepictures decided to reorganize as a production company solely and divest all its television stations. The small-market holdings were spun off in a management buyout, while Lorimar gave itself 24 months to sell WPGH-TV.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-press-lorimar-hangs-a-for/143481622/|date=June 25, 1987|page=D11|title=Lorimar hangs a for-sale sign at WPGH|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 18, 2024|archive-date=April 18, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240418062705/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-press-lorimar-hangs-a-for/143481622/|url-status=live}}
Renaissance Broadcasting, a company formed by Michael Finkelstein, agreed to purchase WPGH-TV in August 1988 for $30 million.{{r|Pitt880830}} Finkelstein was a stakeholder in Odyssey Partners and transferred its two independent stations—WDZL in Miami and WTXX in Connecticut—to the new business.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-lorimar-to-sell/145546235/|date=August 27, 1988|page=21|first=Ron|last=Weiskind|title=Lorimar to sell WPGH|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 18, 2024|archive-date=April 18, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240418062604/https://www.newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-lorimar-to-sell/145546235/|url-status=live}} WDZL and WTXX had similar programming philosophies.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-press-few-changes-expecte/145449886/|date=August 30, 1988|page=B12|first=Robert|last=Bianco|title=Few changes expected in WPGH sale|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 18, 2024|archive-date=April 18, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240418062606/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-press-few-changes-expecte/145449886/|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-buyer-to-pay-30/145449812/|date=August 31, 1988|page=27|first=Ron|last=Weiskind|title=Buyer to pay $30 million for WPGH|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 18, 2024|archive-date=April 18, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240418062657/https://www.newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-buyer-to-pay-30/145449812/|url-status=live}} The new owners took control in January 1989.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-press-wpgh-sale-complete/145546331/|date=January 11, 1989|page=B8|first=Bernie|last=Kohn|title=WPGH sale complete; station exec ousted|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 18, 2024|archive-date=April 18, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240418062700/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-press-wpgh-sale-complete/145546331/|url-status=live}} During Renaissance ownership, the station benefited from Fox's surging fortunes as a network and from a far more aggressive approach than that taken under former owners. The station rebranded as "Fox 53" and increased its spending on advertising, rebuilt its afternoon lineup to serve the unserved children's market, and earned notice as an increasing competitor to the traditional network affiliates.{{cite news|work=Pittsburgh Business Times|first1=Pat|last1=Berti|first2=Karen|last2=Zapf|title=WPGH rides Fox success|date=March 25, 1991|id={{Gale|A10892911}} }}
Sinclair ownership
=A controversial purchase and sale=
In January 1991, Sinclair Broadcast Group announced it would purchase WPGH-TV from Renaissance for $55 million. Sinclair already owned WPTT-TV, which it had to put up for sale. Speculation swirled that WPTT would switch to the Home Shopping Network (HSN).{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-wptt-fate-uncert/145547155/|date=January 16, 1991|page=27|title=WPTT fate uncertain as owner buys WPGH|first=Barbara|last=Vancheri|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 18, 2024|archive-date=April 18, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240418065406/https://www.newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-wptt-fate-uncert/145547155/|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-no-losers-on-hor/145449749/|date=May 30, 1991|page=19|first=Chet|last=Wade|title=No losers on horizon in Edwards' deal for Ch. 22, consultants say|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 18, 2024|archive-date=April 18, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240418065424/https://www.newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-no-losers-on-hor/145449749/|url-status=live}} The buyer for channel 22 was Edwin Edwards, WPTT's station manager and a Black man.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-press-wptts-manager-to-p/145547170/|date=January 17, 1991|page=B11|first=Peter B.|last=King|title=WPTT's manager to purchase station|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 18, 2024|archive-date=April 18, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240418065402/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-press-wptts-manager-to-p/145547170/|url-status=live}} For Sinclair, the deal was a trade-up. WPTT-TV had never been a ratings success, and WPGH-TV was closer to Sinclair's cluster of Fox affiliates that included stations WBFF-TV in Baltimore and WTTE in Columbus, Ohio.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-bottom-line-top/145547464/|date=February 18, 1991|pages=9, [https://newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-bottom-line-is-t/145547496/ 13]|first=Ron|last=Weiskind|title=Bottom line top priority for Edwards at WPTT|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 18, 2024|archive-date=April 18, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240418065402/https://www.newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-bottom-line-top/145547464/|url-status=live}} There was a marked difference in financial performance between first-tier and second-tier independent stations, and cost-cutting was seen as useful to WPTT-TV, which had lost $26 million in its 14-year history.{{r|Pitt910530-horizon}}
Under the deal, Commercial Radio Institute, the Sinclair subsidiary that had owned WPTT-TV, held $1 million in Edwards's debt as a convertible debenture and received a tax certificate for selling the station to a minority.{{r|Pitt910218}} The deal as originally structured permitted Sinclair to convert that debenture into an 80-percent ownership interest.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-a-puzzling-sale/145547675/|date=May 30, 1991|pages=15, [https://newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-probing-the-puzz/145547704/ 19]|title=A Puzzling Sale of Two Stations|first1=Ron|last1=Weiskind|first2=Barbara|last2=Vancheri|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 18, 2024|archive-date=April 18, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240418065402/https://www.newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-a-puzzling-sale/145547675/|url-status=live}} Mark I. Baseman, a Pittsburgh attorney, filed an objection to the two deals in March, believing the sales gave Sinclair too much influence over WPTT-TV and represented an impermissible duopoly. Baseman also objected to the switch of WPTT-TV to home shopping, which eliminated competition for WPGH-TV.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-fcc-asked-to-den/145547556/|date=March 18, 1991|page=25|first=Ron|last=Weiskind|title=FCC asked to deny sales of TV stations|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 18, 2024|archive-date=April 18, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240418065421/https://www.newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-fcc-asked-to-den/145547556/|url-status=live}} Baseman later disclosed the objection was filed on behalf of a client,{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-city-scenes-kd/145547633/|date=April 20, 1991|page=9|title=City Scenes: KD's face lift|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 18, 2024|archive-date=April 18, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240418065417/https://www.newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-city-scenes-kd/145547633/|url-status=live}} which was only revealed in January 1992 as ABRY Communications. ABRY owned WNUV in Baltimore, a competitor to Sinclair's WBFF-TV, and fretted that Sinclair was using its buying power in Pittsburgh to force syndicators to place their shows on WBFF-TV in Baltimore lest they be shut out altogether in Pittsburgh.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-foe-of-tv-sale-r/145548320/|date=January 11, 1992|pages=1, [https://newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-tv-sale-objector/145548355/ 5]|first=Barbara|last=Vancheri|title=Foe of TV sale revealed|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 18, 2024|archive-date=April 18, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240418065425/https://www.newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-foe-of-tv-sale-r/145548320/|url-status=live}}
The FCC approved the WPGH-TV and WPTT-TV sales in June 1991,{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-wptt-wpgh-sales/145547752/|date=June 25, 1991|page=25|title=WPTT, WPGH sales cleared|first=Ron|last=Weiskind|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 18, 2024|archive-date=April 18, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240418065400/https://www.newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-wptt-wpgh-sales/145547752/|url-status=live}} and when they closed, on August 30, WPTT switched to HSN on a full-time basis.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-sales-of-tv-stat/145548056/|date=September 2, 1991|pages=1, [https://newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-sales-of-tv-stat/145548023/ 7]|first=Ron|last=Weiskind|title=Sales of TV stations WPTT, WPGH closed|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 18, 2024|archive-date=April 18, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240418065403/https://www.newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-sales-of-tv-stat/145548056/|url-status=live}} Threatened by cable systems seeking to drop the all-HSN WPTT, WPGH and Sinclair agreed to purchase and program nine hours a day of airtime.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-wptt-to-air-wpgh/108529589/|date=September 27, 1991|pages=1, [https://newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-wpgh-to-buy-wptt/108529582/ 6]|first=Ron|last=Weiskind|title=WPTT to air WPGH programming 9 hours a day|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 18, 2024|archive-date=April 18, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240418065417/https://www.newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-wptt-to-air-wpgh/108529589/|url-status=live}} The operating arrangement attracted FCC scrutiny,{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-wptt-wpgh-under/145548419/|date=January 30, 1992|page=15, [https://newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-fcc-will-examine/145548400/ 17]|first=Ron|last=Weiskind|title=WPTT, WPGH under scrutiny by FCC|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 18, 2024|archive-date=April 18, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240418065401/https://www.newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-wptt-wpgh-under/145548419/|url-status=live}} and litigation resulted from the double transaction.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-tv-lawsuit-reins/145548508/|date=January 25, 1994|page=D-5|title=TV lawsuit reinstated: Appellate court says judge erred|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 18, 2024|archive-date=April 18, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240418065414/https://www.newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-tv-lawsuit-reins/145548508/|url-status=live}} After the 1999 legalization of duopolies, Sinclair acquired channel 22—by this point WCWB and an affiliate of The WB—from Edwin Edwards.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-cashing-it-in-e/168167734/|date=November 18, 1999|pages=F-1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-edwards-sells-wc/168167702/ F-8]|first1=Teresa F.|last=Lindeman|first2=Rob|last2=Owen|first3=Barbara|last3=Vancheri|title=Cashing it in: Eddie Edwards sells WCWB back to prior owner for $16.8 million|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 17, 2025}}
=Starting a news operation=
Sinclair began planning in early 1996 to launch a 10 p.m. newscast for WPGH the next year.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-will-patti-stay/145607821/|date=February 1, 1996|page=D-4|first=Barbara|last=Vancheri|title=Will Patti stay on-air in Pittsburgh or leave when her contract is up?|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 19, 2024|archive-date=April 19, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240419053202/https://www.newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-will-patti-stay/145607821/|url-status=live}} Pittsburgh, compared to some markets, had little history of 10 p.m. local news. When WTAE-TV signed on in 1958, it offered a newscast at 10:30 p.m., which was short-lived.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-press-its-a-first-for-th/145544582/|date=August 20, 1980|page=C-10|first=Barbara|last=Holsopple|title=It's A First For The District: WPGH-TV To Air National Newscast Weeknights At 10|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 19, 2024}} Through the 1980s, WPGH-TV aired the Independent Network News with local cut-ins.{{r|Pitt960201}} In 1990, when Sinclair still owned WPTT-TV and was setting up news operations for its Baltimore and Columbus stations, it proposed launching a 10 p.m. newscast for which production would have been outsourced to a third party.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-wptt-to-air-new/145548172/|date=September 13, 1990|page= 23|first=Ron|last=Weiskind|title=WPTT to air 'News at Ten'|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 19, 2024}} In 1994, WPXI-TV started the Pittsburgh Cable News Channel (PCNC), a local cable service which offered a live 10 p.m. newscast.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-wpxi-tci-news-ve/145634041/|date=January 11, 1994|page=B-7|first=Barbara|last=Vancheri|title=WPXI-TCI news venture has opening night glitches|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 19, 2024}} The news director, David Janecek, came from Sinclair's WLFL in Raleigh, North Carolina, a Fox affiliate with a 10 p.m. newscast. Janecek hired Carolyn Clifford, with whom he had worked in Raleigh, and John Huck, a former Headline News anchor.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-wpgh-hires-news/145607907/|date=November 28, 1996|page=B-7|first=Barbara|last=Vancheri|title=WPGH hires news anchors|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 19, 2024}} Most of the news team came from outside the market, with the notable exception of sports anchor Alby Oxenreiter, who joined from WTAE.{{r|Pitt970828}} On weekends, Olympic gold medalist Kurt Angle presented the sports. To accommodate the news department, the Ivory Avenue facility was extensively remodeled with the addition of a new three-story building to help house the 40 full-time and 10 part-time employees added in the expansion—a total investment of $3 million.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-a-news-kid-on-th/145634586/|date=January 26, 1997|pages=H-1, [https://newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-the-making-of-a/145634367/H-8], [https://newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-this-just-in-fro/145634292/ H-11]|first=Barbara|last=Vancheri|title=A news kid on the block: Will WPGH's new 10 p.m. newscast challenge the big boys?|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 19, 2024|archive-date=April 19, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240419053629/https://www.newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-a-news-kid-on-th/145634586/|url-status=live}} The station needed to mesh the younger target viewer profile of Fox network programming with the older demographic of Pittsburgh TV viewers.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/news-record-the-new-show-in-town-10-pm/145608003/|date=January 25, 1997|pages=A1, [https://newspapers.com/article/news-record-news-wpgh-to-target-younger/145608047/ A5]|first=William|last=Loeffler|title=The new show in town: 10 p.m. start targets early-to-bed commuters|newspaper=News Record|location=North Hills, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 19, 2024|archive-date=April 19, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240419053842/https://www.newspapers.com/article/news-record-the-new-show-in-town-10-pm/145608003/|url-status=live}}
The Fox 53 Ten O'Clock News debuted on January 26, 1997, after Fox's presentation of Super Bowl XXXI. The program had a slow start; though it quickly put behind technical glitches that pockmarked its first showing, the newscast was seen as a ratings underperformer with a share of just 3 percent in the 10 p.m. hour.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-looking-for-resp/145608265/|date=August 28, 1997|pages=C-1, [https://newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-wpghs-newscast/145608327/ C-8]|title=Looking for respect—and viewers: WPGH's 10 p.m. newscast has fixed the glitches but is still struggling for market share|first=Barbara|last=Vancheri|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 19, 2024|archive-date=April 19, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240419053701/https://www.newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-looking-for-resp/145608265/|url-status=live}} In the November 1997 sweeps, it attracted fewer viewers than the episodes of Coach the station had been airing prior to launching the newscast.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-on-the-home-fron/145608557/|date=December 4, 1997|pages=E-1, [https://newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-kdka-tops-news-r/145608462/ E-8]|title=On the home front, KDKA once again dominates local news ratings race|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 19, 2024|archive-date=April 19, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240419053648/https://www.newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-on-the-home-fron/145608557/|url-status=live}}
Sinclair installed a new regional manager, Stu Powell, to oversee WPGH, WPTT, and other stations in November 1997. Powell had been the general manager at WXIX-TV in Cincinnati when it launched 10 p.m. news in 1993, finding ratings success.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-alan-frank-out/145608397/|date=November 25, 1997|page=D-8|first=Barbara|last=Vancheri|title=Alan Frank out, Powell in as WPGH/WPTT director|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 19, 2024|archive-date=April 19, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240419053648/https://www.newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-alan-frank-out/145608397/|url-status=live}} The next year, Clifford was replaced with Sheila Hyland, previously of WTAE. The quality of the newscast was seen to have improved,{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-despite-rough-ed/145608610/|date=October 1, 1998|page=F-4|first=Rob|last=Owen|title=Despite rough edge, WPGH's news at 10 shows marked improvement|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 19, 2024|archive-date=April 19, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240419053651/https://www.newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-despite-rough-ed/145608610/|url-status=live}} and it extended to an hour in November 1998.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-local-news-ratin/145636420/|date=December 1, 1998|page=D-8|first=Rob|last=Owen|title=Local news ratings hold few surprises|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 19, 2024|archive-date=April 19, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240419053634/https://www.newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-local-news-ratin/145636420/|url-status=live}} The expanded newscast brought with it several new reporters.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-wpgh-news-to-exp/145636589/|date=November 4, 1998|page=D-4|first=Rob|last=Owen|title=WPGH news to expand to an hour|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 19, 2024|archive-date=April 19, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240419054127/https://www.newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-wpgh-news-to-exp/145636589/|url-status=live}} In 2001, the market gained a third 10 p.m. newscast on UPN affiliate WNPA, produced by KDKA-TV. However, Pittsburgh's appetite for news in that time slot continued to trail the national average. Ratings stalled, and while WPGH-TV led the pack at 5 percent, the total market share of WPGH and its competition was 9 percent where the leading early local newscasts in Sacramento, St. Louis, and Portland, Oregon—all similarly-sized TV markets—attracted that many viewers or more. News director John Poister believed an additional newscast would bolster the station's reputation, but Sinclair had no expansion plans.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-prime-time-probl/145636780/|date=July 11, 2002|pages=D-1, [https://newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-ratings-for-10-p/145636831/ D-3]|first=Rob|last=Owen|title=Prime-time problem: In a market well-suited to a 10 p.m. newscast, the ratings here trail national averages|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 19, 2024|archive-date=April 19, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240419054134/https://www.newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-prime-time-probl/145636780/|url-status=live}}
=News Central=
Starting May 28, 2003, Sinclair converted WPGH-TV's news department into a hybrid operation utilizing the services of News Central, the company's national news and weather service operating from its headquarters in Hunt Valley, Maryland. The 10 p.m. newscast now combined local news segments, reported locally and presented by Hyland from Pittsburgh, with national and international news segments from News Central. Ten employees were fired, including weeknight meteorologist Matt Morano, and a new set was introduced to match the News Central set.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-wpgh-fires-10-in/145641023/|date=April 22, 2003|page=B-4|first=Rob|last=Owen|title=WPGH fires 10 in Sinclair shake-up|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 19, 2024|archive-date=April 19, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240419054347/https://www.newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-wpgh-fires-10-in/145641023/|url-status=live}} The national weather center had already been supplying weekend weather reports to WPGH-TV since January.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-weekend-weather/145637002/|date=January 22, 2003|page=E-6|first=Rob|last=Owen|title=Weekend weather forecasts won't originate from WPGH|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 19, 2024|archive-date=April 19, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240419054315/https://www.newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-weekend-weather/145637002/|url-status=live}}
Where WPGH's 10 p.m. newscast had commanded 7 percent of the viewership at that time in February 2003, the station's share declined to 4 percent a year later, while WNPA posted viewership gains. Station staff were frustrated because the same local reporting and sports staff, producing the same reporting, was being weighed down by the change in news format.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-news-central-sin/145641385/|date=June 24, 2004|page=D-6|first=Rob|last=Owen|title=News Central sinks ratings at WPGH|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 19, 2024|archive-date=April 19, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240419054215/https://www.newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-news-central-sin/145641385/|url-status=live}} The news director was fired and replaced.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-wpgh-manager-pla/145641552/|date=August 19, 2004|page=D-4|title=WPGH manager plans few changes|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 19, 2024|archive-date=April 19, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240419054129/https://www.newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-wpgh-manager-pla/145641552/|url-status=live}} Ratings began to improve after the time devoted to segments from News Central was cut back in August 2005, with WPGH regaining its lead over WNPA,{{r|Pitt060112}} but by the end of the year, rumors were running hot that Sinclair was about to dismantle the operation altogether and have WPXI produce news for WPGH.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-koppel-nightli/145641712/|date=January 5, 2006|pages=W-24, [https://newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-tv-notes/145641669/ W-25]|first=Rob|last=Owen|title=Koppel, 'Nightline' staffers join Discovery|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 19, 2024|archive-date=April 19, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240419054212/https://www.newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-koppel-nightli/145641712/|url-status=live}}
=Newscasts from WPXI=
{{see|WPXI#Newscasts}}
The rumors turned into reality on January 11, 2006, when Sinclair announced that WPGH would produce its last newscast on January 27, with WPXI taking over production on January 30 from its studios. Alby Oxenreiter was hired by WPXI to work in its sports department, but most other staff were laid off by Sinclair.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-fox-to-end-news/145642046/|date=January 12, 2006|pages=B-1, [https://newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-fox-tv-to-end-10/145642023/ B-2]|title=Fox to end news at 10 and get it from WPXI|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 19, 2024|archive-date=April 19, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240419054848/https://www.newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-fox-to-end-news/145642046/|url-status=live}} The PCNC newscast, which WPXI had continued producing, moved to 7 p.m.; the new 10 p.m. news on channel 53 was anchored on weeknights by WPXI's evening anchor team of David Johnson and Darieth Chisolm.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-johnson-chisolm/145641907/|date=January 25, 2006|page=C-6|first1=Rob|last1=Owen|first2=John|last2=Hayes|title=Johnson, Chisolm to helm WPXI news on WPGH|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 19, 2024|archive-date=April 19, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240419054716/https://www.newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-johnson-chisolm/145641907/|url-status=live}} In 2013, former CNN anchor Lisa Sylvester replaced Chisolm as the 6, 10 and 11 p.m. news anchor for WPXI.{{Cite news|first=Rob|last=Owen|date=August 30, 2013|title=Tuned In: WPXI hires Lisa Sylvester to anchor at 6 and 11 p.m., replacing the departed Darieth Chisolm|url=https://www.post-gazette.com/ae/tv-radio/2013/08/30/Tuned-In-WPXI-hires-Lisa-Sylvester-to-anchor-at-6-and-11-p-m-replacing-the-departed-Darieth-Chisolm/stories/201308300202|access-date=April 19, 2024|work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|language=en|archive-date=November 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211101050705/https://www.post-gazette.com/ae/tv-radio/2013/08/30/Tuned-In-WPXI-hires-Lisa-Sylvester-to-anchor-at-6-and-11-p-m-replacing-the-departed-Darieth-Chisolm/stories/201308300202|url-status=live}}
For the first time since WPGH began airing local news in 1997, the news offering expanded beyond 10 p.m. on March 14, 2022, with the debut of Channel 11 News on Fox 53 at 6:30, replacing a second half-hour of You Bet Your Life with Jay Leno.{{cite web|url=https://triblive.com/aande/movies-tv/tv-talk-wpgh-adding-an-evening-newscast-produced-by-wpxi/|title=TV Talk: WPGH to add evening newscast produced by WPXI|date=March 1, 2022|first=Rob|last=Owen|work=TribLive|access-date=March 2, 2023|archive-date=March 2, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230302161937/https://triblive.com/aande/movies-tv/tv-talk-wpgh-adding-an-evening-newscast-produced-by-wpxi/|url-status=live}} On January 8, 2024, Channel 11 Morning News on Fox 53 debuted at 7 a.m. as an extension of WPXI's existing morning newscast.{{Cite news|first=Joshua|last=Axelrod|title=WPXI-TV morning news team to lead new 7 a.m. show on Fox 53|url=https://www.post-gazette.com/ae/tv-radio/2024/01/02/wpxi-tv-new-fox-53-show-pittman-loesch-amenta-harbaugh/stories/202401020058|access-date=April 19, 2024|work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|language=en|date=January 3, 2024|archive-date=April 17, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240417202101/https://www.post-gazette.com/ae/tv-radio/2024/01/02/wpxi-tv-new-fox-53-show-pittman-loesch-amenta-harbaugh/stories/202401020058|url-status=live}}
On January 18, 2021, WPGH-TV began airing the Sinclair-produced The National Desk from 7 to 9 a.m.{{cite web|url=https://triblive.com/aande/movies-tv/tv-talk-pittsburghs-wpgh-adds-national-morning-newscast/|title=TV Talk: Pittsburgh's WPGH adds national morning newscast|date=January 14, 2021|first=Rob|last=Owen|work=TribLive|access-date=January 22, 2021|archive-date=January 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210114150305/https://triblive.com/aande/movies-tv/tv-talk-pittsburghs-wpgh-adds-national-morning-newscast/|url-status=live}} With the 2024 morning news launch, the station instead began airing TND at 6 and 8 a.m.{{r|Pitt240103}}
Notable former on-air staff
- Tamsen Fadal – reporter, 1997{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-wpxi-manager-bac/145608223/|date=July 31, 1997|page=C-4|first=Barbara|last=Vancheri|title=WPXI manager backs NBC ratings snub, warns of censorship|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 19, 2024|archive-date=April 19, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240419054632/https://www.newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-wpxi-manager-bac/145608223/|url-status=live}}
- Jay Harris – reporter, weekend anchor, weeknight anchor (1997–2003){{r|Pitt970731}}{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-harris-moves-int/145644990/|date=December 29, 1999|page=F-5|first=Barbara|last=Vancheri|title=Harris moves into WPGH weeknight co-anchor slot|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 19, 2024}}{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-wpgh-anchor-says/145644969/|date=January 23, 2003|page=D-6|first=Rob|last=Owen|title=WPGH anchor says move wasn't planned|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 19, 2024}}
- Eleanor Schano – host of Good Day Pittsburgh and Pittsburgh Women '79 in the 1970s{{Cite news |last=Owen |first=Rob |date=November 10, 2020 |title=TV Talk: Eleanor Schano pioneered roles for women in Pittsburgh TV news |url=https://triblive.com/news/top-stories/tv-talk-eleanor-schano-pioneered-roles-for-women-in-pittsburgh-tv-news/ |access-date=April 19, 2024 |website=TribLive |language=en-US |archive-date=November 10, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201110234534/https://triblive.com/news/top-stories/tv-talk-eleanor-schano-pioneered-roles-for-women-in-pittsburgh-tv-news/ |url-status=live }}
Technical information
=Subchannels=
The station's signal is multiplexed:
| class="wikitable"
|+Subchannels of WPGH-TV{{Cite web|url=https://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=WPGH|title=RabbitEars TV Query for WPGH|website=RabbitEars.info|access-date=February 12, 2024|archive-date=May 31, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230531010339/https://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=WPGH|url-status=live}} ! scope = "col" | Channel ! scope = "col" | Res. ! scope = "col" | Aspect ! scope = "col" | Short name ! scope = "col" | Programming | |||
| scope = "row" | 53.1 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| scope = "row" | 53.2
| rowspan=2|480i || Antenna || Antenna TV | |||
| scope = "row" | 53.3
| Charge! || Charge! | |||
| style="background-color:#DFEBF6; border-top: 2px solid #003399;"
! scope="row" | 22.1 | 720p | 16:9 | WPNT CW | The CW/MyNetworkTV (WPNT) |
{{legend|#DFEBF6|Broadcast on behalf of another station}}
WPGH-TV began broadcasting a digital signal on channel 43 on April 1, 2002.{{Cite book|title=Television and Cable Factbook|date=2006|chapter=WPGH-DT|page=A-1927}} The analog signal on channel 53 was shut down on February 17, 2009, which had been the original digital television transition date.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna29245267|agency=Associated Press|title=List of TV stations ending analog broadcasts|date=February 17, 2009|work=NBC News|access-date=March 20, 2023|archive-date=January 6, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230106052115/https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna29245267|url-status=live}} The station's digital signal continued to broadcast on channel 43.{{Cite web |date=May 23, 2006 |title=DTV Tentative Channel Designations for the First and Second Rounds |url=http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1082A2.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130829004251/http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1082A2.pdf |archive-date=August 29, 2013 |access-date=August 29, 2021 |publisher=Federal Communications Commission}} WPGH relocated its signal from channel 43 to channel 20 on December 6, 2019, as a result of the 2016 United States wireless spectrum auction.{{Cite web|url=http://data.fcc.gov/download/incentive-auctions/Transition_Files/Phase_Assignment_Closing_PN.csv|title=FCC TV Spectrum Phase Assignment Table|format=CSV|website=Federal Communications Commission|date=April 13, 2017|access-date=April 17, 2017|archive-date=April 17, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170417160749/http://data.fcc.gov/download/incentive-auctions/Transition_Files/Phase_Assignment_Closing_PN.csv|url-status=live}}{{Cite web |date=December 3, 2019 |title=Pittsburgh's FOX 53, 22 The Point making antenna upgrades |url=https://wpgh53.com/entertainment/video-pittsburghs-fox-53-22-the-point-make-tower-upgrades |access-date=April 19, 2024 |website=WPGH |language=en |archive-date=October 23, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221023023120/https://wpgh53.com/entertainment/video-pittsburghs-fox-53-22-the-point-make-tower-upgrades |url-status=live }}
In June 2020, WPNT converted to ATSC 3.0 (NextGen TV) operation, with its main channel broadcast in ATSC 1.0 format on WPGH-TV.{{Cite news |last=Balderston |first=Michael |date=June 17, 2020 |title=NextGen TV Goes Live on Three Pittsburgh Stations |url=https://www.tvtechnology.com/news/nextgen-tv-goes-live-on-three-pittsburgh-stations |access-date=April 19, 2024 |work=TVTechnology |language=en |archive-date=November 30, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221130050932/https://www.tvtechnology.com/news/nextgen-tv-goes-live-on-three-pittsburgh-stations |url-status=live }}
Notes
{{notelist}}
References
{{Reflist}}
= Bibliography =
{{Refbegin}}
- {{Cite book |date=1969 |title=Trafficking in Broadcast Station Licenses and Construction Permits—Hearings Before the Special Subcommittee on Investigation of the House Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce. 90th Cong., 1st and 2d Sess., serial 90-50, pt. 1 (December 15, 1967) |publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office |location=Washington, D.C. |ref={{harvid|Trafficking in Broadcast Station Licenses, Part 1|1969}} |access-date=March 29, 2024 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=su9zxwEACAAJ |archive-date=March 28, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240328175217/https://books.google.com/books?id=su9zxwEACAAJ |url-status=live }}
- {{Cite book |date=1969 |title=Trafficking in Broadcast Station Licenses and Construction Permits—Hearings Before the Special Subcommittee on Investigation of the House Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce. 90th Cong., 1st and 2d Sess., serial 90-51, pt. 2 (July 16, 17, 19, 31 and August 1, 1968) |publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office |location=Washington, D.C. |ref={{harvid|Trafficking in Broadcast Station Licenses, Part 2|1969}} |access-date=March 28, 2024 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=su9zxwEACAAJ&pg=PA291 |archive-date=March 28, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240328175216/https://books.google.com/books?id=su9zxwEACAAJ&pg=PA291 |url-status=live }}
- {{Cite report |date=May 19, 1969 |title=Trafficking in Broadcast Station Licenses and Construction Permits—Acquisition and Transfer of Five Overmyer Television Construction Permits: Report of the Special Committee on Investigations of the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, Report 91-256 |publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office |location=Washington, D.C. |ref={{harvid|Trafficking in Broadcast Station Licenses, Final Report|1969}} |url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015087620236&view=1up&seq=611 |access-date=March 22, 2024 |archive-date=March 29, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240329122148/https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015087620236&view=1up&seq=611 |url-status=live }}
{{Refend}}
External links
- {{Official website|http://wpgh53.com/}}
{{Pittsburgh TV}}
{{Fox Pennsylvania}}
{{West Virginia TV}}
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Category:1953 establishments in Pennsylvania
Category:Antenna TV affiliates
Category:Charge! (TV network) affiliates
Category:Fox Broadcasting Company affiliates
Category:Sinclair Broadcast Group
Category:Television channels and stations established in 1953