WUBC
{{Short description|Television station in Greensboro, North Carolina (1967–1970)}}
{{Use American English|date=November 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox television station
| name = WUBC
| location = Greensboro, North Carolina
| country = United States
| analog = 48 (UHF)
| affiliations = Independent
| owner = WEAL, Inc.
| airdate = {{Start date|1967|11|6}}
| last_airdate = {{ubl|{{End date|1970|7|25}}|({{age in years and days|1967|11|6|1970|7|25}})}}
| haat = {{cvt|1267|ft|m|0|abbr=on|order=flip}}
| coordinates = {{Coord|36|13|00|N|79|54|28|W}}
}}
WUBC (channel 48) was an independent television station in Greensboro, North Carolina, United States, which broadcast from 1967 to 1970. Originally owned by Piedmont Triad TV and later by WEAL, Inc., owner of radio station WEAL (1510 AM), it operated from studios at 1013 Warehouse Street and a transmitter at Summerfield, North Carolina. WUBC was ultimately a financial failure that forced WEAL into bankruptcy and led to an auction of that station five years later.
History
Piedmont Triad TV—a company controlled by Ralph C. Price, a former president of the Jefferson Standard Life Insurance Company—applied to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in 1966 for a new television station on Greensboro's ultra high frequency (UHF) channel 48.{{cite news|url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings//rrtvwizsmabucxpjxisjmxpbsbhwcsnr_wma-gateway010_1668581852558|first=Joseph|last=Knox|work=Greensboro Daily News|page=B1|title=New Television Station In City Sought By Price|date=June 15, 1966|access-date=November 19, 2022|archive-date=November 19, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221119094239/https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/newspapers/image/v2:11EA68DA9EC1533C@GB3NEWS-14A98FCCCE32DC54@2439292-14A989D6E5A65B33@14-14A989D6E5A65B33?clipid=rrtvwizsmabucxpjxisjmxpbsbhwcsnr_wma-gateway010_1668581852558|url-status=live}} The construction permit for the station was granted on March 8, 1967.{{Cite news|url=https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/newspapers/image/v2%3A11EA68DA9EC1533C%40GB3NEWS-14A9E6148AD55AE8%402439559-14A9DFD50B063B5A%4037-14A9DFD50B063B5A?clipid=wdcrkuaajkwkborldovyazmbjntboxpc_wma-gateway020_1668882866941|pages=D1, [https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/newspapers/image/v2%3A11EA68DA9EC1533C%40GB3NEWS-14A9E6148AD55AE8%402439559-14A1065F5655EE1A%4038?clipid=dvuefhnbgikekujjgdqkeladlitxqnic_wma-gateway002_1668882941371 D2]|work=Greensboro Daily News|date=March 9, 1967|title=FCC Grants TV Station Permit Here|access-date=November 19, 2022|archive-date=November 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221120021616/https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/newspapers/image/v2:11EA68DA9EC1533C@GB3NEWS-14A9E6148AD55AE8@2439559-14A9DFD50B063B5A@37-14A9DFD50B063B5A?clipid=wdcrkuaajkwkborldovyazmbjntboxpc_wma-gateway020_1668882866941|url-status=live}}
After several delays, some caused by rains affecting construction of the tower,{{cite news|date=September 29, 1967|work=Greensboro Daily News|page=B11|url=https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/newspapers/image/v2%3A11EA68DA9EC1533C%40GB3NEWS-14A837B13254EB1C%402439763-14A836BDDA5636D8%4022-14A836BDDA5636D8?clipid=yjgymhsczpgwoljmlyhrbngeqhptnxwu_wma-gateway020_1668587709929|title=New Station Goes On Air October 15|access-date=November 19, 2022|archive-date=November 19, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221119164356/https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/newspapers/image/v2:11EA68DA9EC1533C@GB3NEWS-14A837B13254EB1C@2439763-14A836BDDA5636D8@22-14A836BDDA5636D8?clipid=yjgymhsczpgwoljmlyhrbngeqhptnxwu_wma-gateway020_1668587709929|url-status=live}} WUBC began broadcasting on November 6, 1967.{{cite news|page=A1|work=The Greensboro Record|date=November 8, 1967|url=https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/newspapers/image/v2%3A11EA68CD17067F8E%40GB3NEWS-13FB187CD475A989%402439803-13FADE68A0D58640%400-13FADE68A0D58640?clipid=nojvpaifjygxrbwqfvipcybfnzdwlksy_wma-gateway015_1668587827518|title=On The Air|access-date=November 19, 2022|archive-date=November 19, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221119112755/https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/newspapers/image/v2:11EA68CD17067F8E@GB3NEWS-13FB187CD475A989@2439803-13FADE68A0D58640@0-13FADE68A0D58640?clipid=nojvpaifjygxrbwqfvipcybfnzdwlksy_wma-gateway015_1668587827518|url-status=live}} Programs at launch included a late night local talk show, Triad Tonight, as well as movies and syndicated shows.{{cite news|url=https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/newspapers/image/v2%3A11EA68DA9EC1533C%40GB3NEWS-14A8379A72D96232%402439744-14A82E000B929CA4%4054-14A82E000B929CA4?clipid=gavvvlaehpdiexzggjuttqyftucmomam_wma-gateway013_1668587684137|title=TV Station Will Have Gypsy: Oct. 5 Is Tentative Opening Date For Channel 48|page=D9|first=Jim|last=McAllister|work=Greensboro Daily News|date=September 29, 1967|access-date=November 19, 2022|archive-date=November 19, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221119081218/https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/newspapers/image/v2:11EA68DA9EC1533C@GB3NEWS-14A8379A72D96232@2439744-14A82E000B929CA4@54-14A82E000B929CA4?clipid=gavvvlaehpdiexzggjuttqyftucmomam_wma-gateway013_1668587684137|url-status=live}} WEAL and WPET personality Tommy Parker also hosted a show.{{cite news|url=https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/newspapers/image/v2%3A11EA68DA9EC1533C%40GB3NEWS-1446EE86A364CF0A%402440661-1446EA012B0BB4BD%4026-1446EA012B0BB4BD?clipid=crcmldcyatcsrlnxmceyjgmkcmylrgli_wma-gateway016_1668587572821|first=Jack|last=Holmes|page=Alamance-3|date=March 15, 1970|title=Paralyzed TV Personality Displaying Zest For Life|work=Greensboro Daily News|access-date=November 19, 2022|archive-date=November 19, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221119115832/https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/newspapers/image/v2:11EA68DA9EC1533C@GB3NEWS-1446EE86A364CF0A@2440661-1446EA012B0BB4BD@26-1446EA012B0BB4BD?clipid=crcmldcyatcsrlnxmceyjgmkcmylrgli_wma-gateway016_1668587572821|url-status=live}}
The television station was transferred from Piedmont Triad TV to WEAL, Inc., in 1969; Price and Carroll G. Ogle were the only principals in both companies.{{cite news|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1969/1969-07-21-BC.pdf|work=Broadcasting|page=76|title=For the Record|date=July 21, 1969|access-date=November 19, 2022|archive-date=March 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308025921/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1969/1969-07-21-BC.pdf|url-status=live}} In November of that year, WUBC filed an application with the FCC challenging the license of WGHP in High Point, in an effort to move to the more desirable very high frequency (VHF) channel.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/31811279/second-station-seeks-channel-8-license/|date=November 8, 1969|page=2|title=Second Station Seeks Channel 8 License|newspaper=The High Point Enterprise|location=High Point, North Carolina|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 19, 2022|archive-date=November 19, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221119074712/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/31811279/second-station-seeks-channel-8-license/|url-status=live}}
In June 1970, plans were presented to refocus WUBC as a "local news and sports station" alongside the appointment of a new sales manager.{{cite news|url=https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/newspapers/image/v2%3A11EA68CD17067F8E%40GB3NEWS-13FC6E7093D8695D%402440756-13FC6BFA7A0358C3%4047-13FC6BFA7A0358C3%40?h=445&fname=&lname=&fullname=&kwinc=%22WUBC%22&kwexc=&rgfromDate=1970&rgtoDate=1970&formDate=&formDateFlex=exact&dateType=range&processingtime=&addedFrom=&addedTo=&sort=old&page=29&sid=lozdxgxznyssoytbplrqupuuhkczqsww_wma-gateway003_1668620178404|date=June 18, 1970|work=The Greensboro Record|page=D3|title=Blue Bell Expands Its Foreign Trade|access-date=November 19, 2022|archive-date=January 10, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230110072646/https://www.genealogybank.com/sign-up?pq=1&destination=doc/newspapers/image/v2%3A11EA68CD17067F8E%40GB3NEWS-13FC6E7093D8695D%402440756-13FC6BFA7A0358C3%4047-13FC6BFA7A0358C3%40%3Fh%3D445%26fname%3D%26lname%3D%26fullname%3D%26kwinc%3D%2522WUBC%2522%26kwexc%3D%26rgfromDate%3D1970%26rgtoDate%3D1970%26formDate%3D%26formDateFlex%3Dexact%26dateType%3Drange%26processingtime%3D%26addedFrom%3D%26addedTo%3D%26sort%3Dold%26page%3D29%26sid%3Dlozdxgxznyssoytbplrqupuuhkczqsww_wma-gateway003_1668620178404&docref=image/v2%3A11EA68CD17067F8E%40GB3NEWS-13FC6E7093D8695D%402440756-13FC6BFA7A0358C3%4047-13FC6BFA7A0358C3%40|url-status=live}} On July 23, WEAL, Inc., presented a petition for bankruptcy with $71,000 in assets against $342,000 in liabilities.{{cite news|url=https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/newspapers/image/v2%3A11EA68DA9EC1533C%40GB3NEWS-14494B5927BF7596%402440792-1449448E07329C63%4022-1449448E07329C63?clipid=ffechehmzgrlgnzahikyqkvvrmpciulr_wma-gateway002_1668587887611|page=A23|work=Greensboro Daily News|date=July 24, 1970|title=Bankruptcy Petition: Radio-TV Operator Asks For Trustee|access-date=November 19, 2022|archive-date=January 10, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230110072646/https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/newspapers/image/v2%3A11EA68DA9EC1533C%40GB3NEWS-14494B5927BF7596%402440792-1449448E07329C63%4022-1449448E07329C63?clipid=ffechehmzgrlgnzahikyqkvvrmpciulr_wma-gateway002_1668587887611|url-status=live}} The station left the air after July 25 for what was described initially as a temporary pause due to financial and technical issues.{{cite news|pages=B1, [https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/newspapers/image/v2%3A11EA68DA9EC1533C%40GB3NEWS-14494B5C300C5B9A%402440796-1449456D233E113C%4022?clipid=zxeytqnctuzcqjagdfgyndppfbtxgrxv_wma-gateway009_1668845570156 B5]|work=Greensboro Daily News|date=July 28, 1970|title=Channel 48 Temporarily Off The Air|url=https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/newspapers/image/v2%3A11EA68DA9EC1533C%40GB3NEWS-14494B5C300C5B9A%402440796-14494567DC36EED3%4018-14494567DC36EED3?clipid=ldtddsfgtgjwpoizjqogqjihuicysaur_wma-gateway008_1668845491490|access-date=November 19, 2022|archive-date=November 19, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221119104302/https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/newspapers/image/v2:11EA68DA9EC1533C@GB3NEWS-14494B5C300C5B9A@2440796-14494567DC36EED3@18-14494567DC36EED3?clipid=ldtddsfgtgjwpoizjqogqjihuicysaur_wma-gateway008_1668845491490|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/newspapers/image/v2%3A11EA68CD17067F8E%40GB3NEWS-13FCCEB59BEE4EF3%402440796-13FA822C494F2753%4021-13FA822C494F2753?clipid=gqmyzjcthoytxljnupgbwnnhilxcufxb_wma-gateway002_1668622078603|page=B6|title=Southern Bell: Rast Elected Head|date=July 28, 1970|work=The Greensboro Record|access-date=November 19, 2022|archive-date=November 19, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221119095744/https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/newspapers/image/v2:11EA68CD17067F8E@GB3NEWS-13FCCEB59BEE4EF3@2440796-13FA822C494F2753@21-13FA822C494F2753?clipid=gqmyzjcthoytxljnupgbwnnhilxcufxb_wma-gateway002_1668622078603|url-status=live}} At least one provider of syndicated programming sued for non-payment.{{cite news|url=https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/newspapers/image/v2%3A11EA68CD17067F8E%40GB3NEWS-13FB6DFA91B9D532%402440812-13F8F0E2CBDC3D68%4041-13F8F0E2CBDC3D68?clipid=rgwkohxpfcpcmygkoysjxmaodtxfyqto_wma-gateway009_1668587927578|title=Accused Sues Helms Motors|page=D2|work=The Greensboro Record|date=August 13, 1970|access-date=November 19, 2022|archive-date=November 19, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221119081221/https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/newspapers/image/v2:11EA68CD17067F8E@GB3NEWS-13FB6DFA91B9D532@2440812-13F8F0E2CBDC3D68@41-13F8F0E2CBDC3D68?clipid=rgwkohxpfcpcmygkoysjxmaodtxfyqto_wma-gateway009_1668587927578|url-status=live}} In early 1971, Piedmont Triad TV joined WEAL in bankruptcy; it had no assets and more than $700,000 in debt.{{cite news|title=Reshaping Of WUBC Continues|pages=B1, [https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/newspapers/image/v2%3A11EA68DA9EC1533C%40GB3NEWS-1449900EF3EB7838%402440991-1448E398B3A57AC9%4023?clipid=tbnyxkgiwjgrfrgaqdypepdriulsyydn_wma-gateway019_1668587437965 B12]|work=Greensboro Daily News|url=https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/newspapers/image/v2%3A11EA68DA9EC1533C%40GB3NEWS-1449900EF3EB7838%402440991-1449527B731C6ED0%4012-1449527B731C6ED0?clipid=jesurydpflhbzneprzcgbisgmsuwgysu_wma-gateway006_1668587232378|date=February 8, 1971|access-date=November 19, 2022|archive-date=November 19, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221119094235/https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/newspapers/image/v2:11EA68DA9EC1533C@GB3NEWS-1449900EF3EB7838@2440991-1449527B731C6ED0@12-1449527B731C6ED0?clipid=jesurydpflhbzneprzcgbisgmsuwgysu_wma-gateway006_1668587232378|url-status=live}}
WEAL briefly analyzed returning the station to operation by September 1970, but no resumption of broadcasting took place.{{cite news|url=https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/newspapers/image/v2%3A11EA68CD17067F8E%40GB3NEWS-13FB1F76998C9311%402440839-13FB1A1916313F75%4017-13FB1A1916313F75?clipid=kglrctxlzwsdruafqleewzepqhdpmjok_wma-gateway013_1668620145992|page=B1|work=The Greensboro Record|date=September 9, 1970|title=Channel 48 Remains Idle|access-date=November 19, 2022|archive-date=November 19, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221119122840/https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/newspapers/image/v2:11EA68CD17067F8E@GB3NEWS-13FB1F76998C9311@2440839-13FB1A1916313F75@17-13FB1A1916313F75?clipid=kglrctxlzwsdruafqleewzepqhdpmjok_wma-gateway013_1668620145992|url-status=live}} In December, trustee William Zuckerman declared that the panorama for WUBC potentially returning to the air was "very dark"; not only were there engineering problems, but even in 1970, six years after the All-Channel Receiver Act came into effect, there were still too many VHF-only television sets in the region for channel 48 to be financially viable.{{cite news|url=https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/newspapers/image/v2%3A11EA68CD17067F8E%40GB3NEWS-13FB2B84DB4D8CBC%402440944-13F8F0D1AF26335E%4027-13F8F0D1AF26335E?clipid=mvpsgqusnctedyzfmdnwwrrenynzlcue_wma-gateway001_1668587464509|title=WUBC-TV Return Appears Doubtful|work=The Greensboro Record|page=B12|date=December 23, 1970|first=Dorothy|last=Benjamin|access-date=November 19, 2022|archive-date=January 10, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230110072646/https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/newspapers/image/v2%3A11EA68CD17067F8E%40GB3NEWS-13FB2B84DB4D8CBC%402440944-13F8F0D1AF26335E%4027-13F8F0D1AF26335E?clipid=mvpsgqusnctedyzfmdnwwrrenynzlcue_wma-gateway001_1668587464509|url-status=live}} Meanwhile, a WUBC objection to a transmitter site change and facility improvement for WBTV in Charlotte was successful; an FCC hearing examiner found that letting WBTV move to a new site in Denver, North Carolina, would have an adverse effect on WUBC and "impair, if not totally frustrate" the development of UHF television in the Triad.{{cite news|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1971/1971-08-09-BC.pdf|work=Broadcasting|date=August 9, 1971|title=VHF facilities decision gives N.C. UHF a break|page=28|access-date=November 19, 2022|archive-date=December 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221207135356/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1971/1971-08-09-BC.pdf|url-status=live}}
The debt incurred in the WUBC venture carried WEAL, an otherwise profitable radio station, to the auction block. In 1974, WEAL was auctioned, as were two lots consisting of the tower site and tower for WUBC.{{cite news|url=https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/newspapers/image/v2%3A11EA68CD17067F8E%40GB3NEWS-13FCCE43626DAB4C%402442149-13FC6B4078D09EEB%4039-13FC6B4078D09EEB?clipid=ceoiterhduvmlgmgtbxoofwplppvkekp_wma-gateway007_1668620111811|work=The Greensboro Record|page=C8|date=April 11, 1974|title=WUBC-TV site bid $22,500|access-date=November 19, 2022|archive-date=November 19, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221119115813/https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/newspapers/image/v2:11EA68CD17067F8E@GB3NEWS-13FCCE43626DAB4C@2442149-13FC6B4078D09EEB@39-13FC6B4078D09EEB?clipid=ceoiterhduvmlgmgtbxoofwplppvkekp_wma-gateway007_1668620111811|url-status=live}} The winning bidder for the radio station never paid, and a second auction was held in 1975 to dispose of the radio station.{{cite news|pages=B1, [https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/newspapers/image/v2%3A11EA68CD17067F8E%40GB3NEWS-13FEBB82773EE797%402442538-13FC6C3EE9FBEA28%4017?clipid=bxqybyyngsthlyppxkruoggwackjuhix_wma-gateway002_1668587498527 B2]|first=Glenn|last=Brank|url=https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/newspapers/image/v2%3A11EA68CD17067F8E%40GB3NEWS-13FEBB82773EE797%402442538-13FDC361874FE982%4016-13FDC361874FE982?clipid=lnnboqrrcuvxqbidryzkdvyrfpifblug_wma-gateway005_1668587305832|work=The Greensboro Record|title=Poags: WEAL keeps same format|date=May 5, 1975|access-date=November 19, 2022|archive-date=November 19, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221119164358/https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/newspapers/image/v2:11EA68CD17067F8E@GB3NEWS-13FEBB82773EE797@2442538-13FDC361874FE982@16-13FDC361874FE982?clipid=lnnboqrrcuvxqbidryzkdvyrfpifblug_wma-gateway005_1668587305832|url-status=live}} Channel 48 in Greensboro would later be used by a new and unrelated station, WGGT, in May 1981.{{cite news|page=A12|title=Channel 48 Takes Air On Friday|work=Greensboro Daily News|first=Jim|last=Jenkins|date=May 6, 1981|url=https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/newspapers/image/v2%3A11EA68DA9EC1533C%40GB3NEWS-1449F583517EC22A%402444731-14494E6DEEBACFED%4011-14494E6DEEBACFED?clipid=mnskvlbzrjsihtklvsdxweolltjmstno_wma-gateway005_1668843682707|access-date=November 19, 2022|archive-date=November 19, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221119101250/https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/newspapers/image/v2:11EA68DA9EC1533C@GB3NEWS-1449F583517EC22A@2444731-14494E6DEEBACFED@11-14494E6DEEBACFED?clipid=mnskvlbzrjsihtklvsdxweolltjmstno_wma-gateway005_1668843682707|url-status=live}}