WPXW-TV
{{Short description|Television station in Manassas, Virginia}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2024}}
{{Infobox television station
| callsign = WPXW-TV
| city = Manassas, Virginia
| logo =
| digital = 35 (UHF)
| virtual = 66
| repeaters = WWPX-TV 60 Martinsburg, WV
| affiliations = {{ubl|66.1: Ion Television|for others, see {{section link||Subchannels}}}}
| airdate = {{start date and age|1978|4|2|p=y}}
| location = {{ubl|Manassas, Virginia|Washington, D.C.}}
| country = United States
| callsign_meaning = Pax Washington, D.C.
| former_callsigns = {{ubl|WTKK (1978–1994)|WVVI (1994–1998)}}
| former_channel_numbers = {{ubl|Analog: 66 (UHF, 1978–2009)|Digital: 43 (UHF, 2001–2009), 34 (UHF, 2009–2020)}}
| owner = Ion Media
| licensee = Ion Television License, LLC
| sister_stations = WWPX-TV, WMAR-TV
| former_affiliations = {{ubl|Religious Ind. (1978–1994)|ValueVision (1994–1997)|inTV (1997–1998)}}
| erp = 949 kW
| haat = {{convert|234.1|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
| facility_id = 74091
| coordinates = {{coord|38|57|49.9|N|77|6|17.2|W|type:landmark_scale:2000}}
| licensing_authority = FCC
| website = {{URL|https://iontelevision.com/}}
}}
WPXW-TV (channel 66) is a television station licensed to Manassas, Virginia, United States, broadcasting the Ion Television network to the Washington, D.C., area. The station is owned by the Ion Media subsidiary of the E. W. Scripps Company, and maintains business offices in Fairfax Station, Virginia; its transmitter is located on River Road in Bethesda, Maryland. The Ion network is also broadcast in the region from WWPX-TV (channel 60) in Martinsburg, West Virginia, which shares the same subchannels as WPXW-TV, and on the fifth subchannel of Scripps-owned ABC affiliate WMAR-TV (channel 2) in Baltimore (a market that before the Scripps sale had no Ion station of its own, with cable systems generally declining to carry WPXW in that market).
Channel 66 went on the air April 2, 1978, as WTKK ("Witnessing the King of Kings"), a Christian station owned by Manassas-based National Capital Christian Broadcasting. The station's programming consisted of local and national religious shows, though in the 1980s it broadened its format to include some classic TV series. National Capital Christian Broadcasting sold channel 66 to home shopping network ValueVision in 1994, though the seller would continue to be investigated for fraud and misrepresentations to investors. The station had the call sign WVVI under ValueVision. Paxson Communications Corporation, forerunner to Ion Media, acquired WVVI-TV and incorporated it into its Infomall TV network, broadcasting infomercials and paid programs, in 1997; these stations formed the core of the Pax network, predecessor to Ion, in 1998.
History
=National Capital Christian Broadcasting ownership=
In 1974, National Capital Christian Broadcasting (NCCB) began organizing to build a Christian- and family-oriented television station in Manassas, which would serve greater Washington. This required petitioning the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to allot channel 66 to Manassas.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/potomac-news-family-viewing-aim-of-stati/134881129/|date=February 6, 1974|page=C-10|first=Lynne|last=Grandstaff|title=Family viewing aim of station|newspaper=Potomac News|location=Woodbridge, Virginia|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 9, 2023}}
Activity accelerated in 1977, when NCCB applied for the construction permit after having channel 66 approved to operate in Manassas. Raker bought a former school and church and converted it into a television studio.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/potomac-news-christian-station-nears/134881161/|date=April 15, 1977|page=A-6|title=Christian station nears|newspaper=Potomac News|location=Woodbridge, Virginia|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 9, 2023}} The FCC granted the permit on October 3, 1977,{{Cite web|url=https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/api/download/attachment/3f41ea26-5bb3-49bb-34e8-d40160965410|title=History Cards for WTKK|publisher=Federal Communications Commission}} and WTKK ("Witnessing the King of Kings"{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/culpeper-star-exponent-pastors-appear-on/134881258/|date=March 24, 1979|page=5|first=C. Mason|last=Gardner|title=Pastors appear on program|newspaper=Culpeper Star-Exponent|location=Culpeper, Virginia|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 9, 2023}}) began broadcasting on April 2, 1978—Easter Sunday.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/potomac-news-new-television-station-oper/134881228/|date=April 4, 1978|page=A-2|first=Nancy|last=Breeden|title=New television station operating in Manassas|newspaper=Potomac News|location=Woodbridge, Virginia|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 9, 2023}} The fledgling station's finances were unsteady: within a year, it was described by program host Ken Connolly as "in a fight for life".{{r|Culp790324}} Connolly's program marked the bulk of WTKK's local programming in 1979, alongside a children's show known as Beyond the Blue and a newscast. Raker—described financially by the head of the National Association of Religious Broadcasters as a "loner" compared to other similar ventures—was able to beg for equipment and money, including a used set and studio lights belonging to Good Morning America and a lease of the abandoned Baptist church, complete with an organ and stained glass windows.{{Cite news|title=Religious TV Finds a Niche in Manassas|pages=B1, B4|newspaper=The Washington Post|first=Jean|last=Peters|date=September 25, 1979|id={{ProQuest|147038892}} }} In 1982, the station increased its power to a full five million watts and moved its transmitter from Independent Hill to a new site in Fairfax Station;{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/potomac-news-manassas-tv-station-expands/134881540/|date=March 26, 1982|page=A1|first=Dean|last=Owen|title=Manassas TV station expands its range|newspaper=Potomac News|location=Woodbridge, Virginia|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 9, 2023}}{{r|WaPo840812}} it was off the air for three months to make the move.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/potomac-news-gomer-hillbillies-va/134881577/|date=March 24, 1983|pages=A1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/potomac-news-wtkk/134881581/ A5]|first=Michael|last=Lewis|title='Gomer,' 'Hillbillies,' 'Van Dyke,' to rerun on WTKK, Christian TV|newspaper=Potomac News|location=Woodbridge, Virginia|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 9, 2023}}
In 1983, channel 66 began to experiment with an increased secular programming schedule, as its all-religious lineup failed to attract viewers. With the addition of shows like The Lone Ranger, Green Acres, and Mister Ed, WTKK's ratings soared 1,000 percent from a 0.2 share to a 2.5 share in the span of a year. The station also had to hire advertising sales representatives to handle its increasing business.{{Cite news|newspaper=The Washington Post|pages=C1, C4|first=Lee|last=Hockstader|title=Secular Reruns Prove Bonanza For WTKK-TV's Low Ratings: All-Religious Programming No Match for 'Lone Ranger'|id={{ProQuest|138392525}}|date=April 12, 1984}} In November 1984, National Capital Christian Broadcasting expanded by starting WTLL (channel 63, "Witnessing the Lord of Lords") in Richmond; it was able to borrow money to start the Richmond station because of a land donation made by real estate developer Cecil D. Hylton.{{r|WaPo840812}} WTKK and WTLL shared some programming that was produced in Manassas, including the religious talk show Capital Life and an exercise program, Beverly Exercise.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/richmond-times-dispatch-new-station-had/122296084/|date=November 24, 1984|page=B-6|first=Douglas|last=Durden|title=New station had start in the '70s|newspaper=Richmond Times-Dispatch|location=Richmond, Virginia|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 9, 2023}} However, with continued money losses among independent TV stations, NCCB sold the Richmond station to Sudbrink Broadcasting in 1986.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/richmond-times-dispatch-wtll-being-sold/122295958/|date=January 15, 1986|page=C-5|first=Douglas|last=Durden|title=WTLL being sold; Channel 65 planned|newspaper=Richmond Times-Dispatch|location=Richmond, Virginia|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 9, 2023}}
=ValueVision and Pax/Ion ownership=
In 1994, WTKK was purchased by a subsidiary of ValueVision, a home shopping network, for $5.4 million.{{Cite news|work=Broadcasting & Cable|title=Changing Hands|page=86|id={{ProQuest|1016942842}}|date=November 29, 1993}} ValueVision at the same time acquired two other stations: WTWS-TV in New London, Connecticut, and KRTW in Baytown, Texas.{{Cite news|work=Broadcasting & Cable|title=In Brief|page=65|id={{ProQuest|1016948278}}|date=October 25, 1993}} On June 6, 1994, the call letters were changed to WVVI; it was one of as many as four company-owned stations.{{Cite news|id={{ProQuest|1014761480}}|pages=44–45|date=September 11, 1995|work=Broadcasting|title=ValueVision builds war chest|first=Rich|last=Brown}} After National Capital Christian Broadcasting sold channel 66, it came under state government scrutiny for its methods of attracting investors. The Commonwealth's Attorney for Prince William County solicited a Virginia State Police investigation of NCCB in November 1996 after more than a dozen investors sued the company seeking the return of their investments over misrepresentations.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/news-and-messenger-state-attorney-to-inv/134881654/|date=November 23, 1996|page=1|first=Dennis|last=Fisher|title=State Attorney to investigate Manassas broadcaster|newspaper=Journal Messenger|location=Woodbridge, Virginia|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 9, 2023}} The company filed for bankruptcy with assets of $430,000 and liabilities exceeding $9 million. Many of these investors had provided funds for expansions that never were undertaken. By 1998, a Virginia State Police agent had written in court filings that "as of this date, this investigator doesn't know how the ValueVision [sale] proceeds finally were used".{{Cite news|id={{ProQuest|408402548}}|first=Leef|last=Smith|title=Fraud Investigation of Religious Broadcasting Firm Moves Forward|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=September 23, 1998}}
Paxson Communications agreed to acquire WVVI in 1996; the deal was for a $30 million purchase price plus another $10 million if the Supreme Court of the United States upheld must carry regulations that required Washington's cable systems to air the station in their lineups.{{Cite news|id={{ProQuest|1014771169}}|title=In Brief|work=Broadcasting & Cable|page=88|date=November 25, 1996}} Paxson closed on the deal on August 1, 1997, and replaced ValueVision's home shopping programming with its inTV infomercial service.{{cite press release|id={{ProQuest|447008252}}|title=Paxson Communications acquires Washington D.C. TV station and completes sale of two Florida network affiliated TV stations|publisher=Paxson Communications Corporation|via=Business Wire|date=August 1, 1997}} On January 13, 1998, the call letters were changed to the current WPXW in advance of the launch of the Pax network later that year.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-palm-beach-post-pax-net-stations-ren/134882099/|date=January 9, 1998|page=7D|first=Julie|last=Waresh|title=Pax Net stations renamed|newspaper=The Palm Beach Post|location=West Palm Beach, Florida|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 9, 2023}} The station aired Baltimore Orioles games in 2005, the first year that they shared the market with the Washington Nationals.{{cite news|first=Eric|last=Fisher|title=TV ratings remain low for Nationals|work=The Washington Times|date=April 12, 2005}} After changing its name to i: Independent Television in 2005, the network became known as Ion Television in 2007.{{cite news|work=Multichannel News|url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/i-now-ion-television-131692|title=i Is Now ION Television|date=January 24, 2007|access-date=August 1, 2022|archive-date=August 1, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220801202538/https://www.nexttv.com/news/i-now-ion-television-131692|url-status=live}}
Technical information
=Subchannels=
=Analog-to-digital conversion=
WPXW-TV shut down its analog signal, over UHF channel 66, on June 12, 2009, the official date on which full-power television stations in the United States transitioned from analog to digital broadcasts under federal mandate. The station's digital signal moved from its pre-transition UHF channel 43 to channel 34, using virtual channel 66.{{cite web|url=http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1082A2.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130829004251/http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1082A2.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 29, 2013 |title=DTV Tentative Channel Designations for the First and the Second Rounds |access-date=March 24, 2012}} WPXW-TV relocated its signal from channel 34 to channel 35 on August 2, 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}}
References
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}
External links
- {{Official website|https://iontelevision.com/}}
{{Washington TV}}
{{Baltimore TV}}
{{Maryland TV}}
{{Virginia TV}}
{{EWS CORP}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wpxw-Tv}}
Category:1978 establishments in Virginia
Category:E. W. Scripps Company television stations
Category:Ion Mystery affiliates
Category:Ion Television affiliates
Category:Laff (TV network) affiliates
Category:Television channels and stations established in 1978