WWCW

{{Infobox television station

| callsign = WWCW

| city = Lynchburg, Virginia

| logo = WWCW 2024 2.svg

| logo_size = 200px

| logo_alt = The CW network logo in red-orange below the word "Virginia", with the call sign WWCW in small print beneath.

| branding = The CW Virginia

| digital = 21 (UHF)

| virtual = 21

| subchannels =

| repeaters = WFXR 27.2 Roanoke

| affiliations = {{ubl|21.1: The CW|21.2: Fox|for others, see {{section link||Subchannels}}}}

| owner = Nexstar Media Group

| licensee = Nexstar Media Inc.

| location = Lynchburg–Roanoke, Virginia

| country = United States

| airdate = {{Start date and age|1986|3|23|p=y}}

| last_airdate =

| callsign_meaning = Went with brand of CW cable channel as "WCW5"

| sister_stations = WFXR

| former_callsigns = WJPR (1986–2006)

| former_channel_numbers = {{ubl|Analog: 21 (UHF, 1986–2009)|Digital: 20 (UHF, 2002–2019)}}

| former_affiliations = {{ubl|Independent (March–October 1986)|Fox (1986–2009)|The WB (secondary, 1999–2001 and 2002–2006){{efn|The WB was aired on the main channel from 1999 to 2001, when local cable channel "WBVA" was launched. This was then added as a subchannel to both stations beginning in 2002.}}}}

| erp = 938 kW

| haat = {{convert|503.1|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}

| facility_id = 24812

| coordinates = {{coord|37|19|15|N|79|37|57|W|type:landmark_scale:2000}}

| licensing_authority = FCC

| website =

}}

WWCW (channel 21) is a television station licensed to Lynchburg, Virginia, United States, serving as the CW outlet for the Roanoke–Lynchburg market. It is owned and operated by network majority owner Nexstar Media Group alongside Roanoke-licensed Fox affiliate WFXR (channel 27). The two stations share studios at the Valleypointe office park on Valleypointe Parkway in northeastern Roanoke County; WWCW operates an advertising sales office on Airport Road, along Lynchburg's southwestern border with Campbell County. The station's transmitter is located on Thaxton Mountain in unincorporated central Bedford County. WFXR broadcasts WWCW's CW programming from its transmitter on Poor Mountain in Roanoke County as one of its subchannels and vice versa.

The construction permit for channel 21 in Lynchburg was awarded to communications consultant James E. Price in 1982, but Price sold the station to several different investor groups before Lynchburg–Roanoke Television Partners, led by Thomas F. Carney, built the station. WJPR began broadcasting on March 23, 1986, as an independent station, adding affiliation with Fox in October 1986. The market proved unable to bear both WJPR and Roanoke's WVFT (channel 27), which had gone on the air later that year, due to insufficient advertising revenue and signal issues; in November 1988, WJPR filed for bankruptcy protection. In 1990, Henry A. Ash of Tampa, Florida, acquired both stations out of bankruptcy, receiving a federal waiver to own the combination. On August 20, 1990, they began simulcasting as "Fox 21/27", the Fox affiliate for the market; WJPR had been airing Fox programming since October 1986.

WVFT and WJPR were acquired in 1993 by Grant Communications, and WVFT changed its call sign to WFXR-TV. Under Grant, the stations began airing a local newscast produced by WSLS-TV and also acquired The WB and later The CW affiliation in the market, which was initially aired in overnight hours and then on a local cable channel. With the conversion to digital broadcasting, the Fox and CW services were broadcast as subchannels in both Roanoke and Lynchburg, with channel 21 recognized as the originating station for The CW. Nexstar acquired WFXR and WWCW in 2013 and moved them into new, larger studios two years later, allowing them to begin producing their own news programming.

History

=Early years=

Channel 21 at Lynchburg picked up no interest until communications consultant James E. Price of Chattanooga, Tennessee, applied for the channel in 1982 under the name Lynchburg Television Associates.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119471731/application-filed-for-tv-station-in/|date=May 6, 1982|page=B-5|agency=Associated Press|title=Application filed for TV station in Lynchburg|newspaper=Roanoke Times and World-News|location=Roanoke, Virginia|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 22, 2023|archive-date=February 22, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230222222457/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119471731/application-filed-for-tv-station-in/|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1982/BC-1982-05-24.pdf|date=May 24, 1982|work=Broadcasting|page=66|title=For the Record|id={{ProQuest|962730732}}|access-date=February 22, 2023|archive-date=January 31, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230131025404/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1982/BC-1982-05-24.pdf|url-status=live}} The construction permit was awarded in November 1982, took the call sign WJPR, and then was sold to a new investor group led by Price.{{cite news|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1983/BC-1983-08-01.pdf|work=Broadcasting|date=August 1, 1983|page=62|title=Ownership changes|id={{ProQuest|1014704107}}|access-date=February 22, 2023|archive-date=February 24, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230224050901/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1983/BC-1983-08-01.pdf|url-status=live}} The permit changed hands two more times before the station was launched, first to Carney Communications of Virginia—owned by Thomas F. Carney of Bal Harbour, Florida—and then to a partnership led by Carney known as Lynchburg–Roanoke Television Partners.{{Cite news|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1985/BC-1985-11-04.pdf|date=November 4, 1985|page=77|title=Ownership Changes|work=Broadcasting|access-date=February 22, 2023|id={{ProQuest|1014716979}}|archive-date=January 31, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230131031309/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1985/BC-1985-11-04.pdf|url-status=live}} One of the partners in the firm was Ralph Renick, a longtime television news anchor in Miami.{{r|Roan881115}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1986-04-06-8601210188-story.html|work=South Florida Sun-Sentinel|date=April 5, 1986|title=The man who used to be king|first=Scott|last=Eyman|access-date=February 22, 2023|archive-date=February 22, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230222222459/https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1986-04-06-8601210188-story.html|url-status=live}}

Construction began in October 1985 at the Thaxton Mountain tower after approval came from Bedford County officials, and the station announced its existence as the first independent in the market.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119471832/new-lynchburg-tv-station-to-go-on-air/|date=October 23, 1985|page=B4|first=Terence|last=Samuel|title=New Lynchburg TV station to go on air in December|newspaper=Roanoke Times and World-News|location=Roanoke, Virginia|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 22, 2023|archive-date=February 22, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230222222500/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119471832/new-lynchburg-tv-station-to-go-on-air/|url-status=live}} It stated it would launch by the end of 1985, but that date was missed.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118731539/two-new-tv-stations-ready-to-go-on-air/|date=December 18, 1985|page=B10|first=Jeff|last=DeBell|title=Two new TV stations ready to go on air; third licensed|newspaper=Roanoke Times and World-News|location=Roanoke, Virginia|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 22, 2023|archive-date=February 22, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230222222509/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118731539/two-new-tv-stations-ready-to-go-on-air/|url-status=live}} So too was a target date of February 10,{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118731436/channel-21-to-offer-mix-of-movies-and/|date=January 30, 1986|page=C1|first=Jeff|last=DeBell|title=Channel 21 to offer mix of movies and reruns|newspaper=Roanoke Times and World-News|location=Roanoke, Virginia|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 22, 2023|archive-date=February 22, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230222222514/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118731436/channel-21-to-offer-mix-of-movies-and/|url-status=live}} with winter weather being the culprit.{{r|Roan860727}}

WJPR debuted on March 23, 1986, giving the market a general-entertainment independent station and being the second of three new station launches that year in western Virginia (the others being Christian station WEFC on channel 38, which started January 3,{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119477684/going-on-air/|date=January 3, 1986|page=B6|title=Going on air|newspaper=Roanoke Times and World-News|location=|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 22, 2023|archive-date=February 22, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230222222456/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119477684/going-on-air/|url-status=live}} and Family Group Broadcasting-owned independent WVFT on channel 27 in November 1986{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118731483/problems-solved-channel-27-goes-on-air/|date=November 13, 1986|page=B12|first=Melinda J.|last=Payne|title=Problems solved, Channel 27 goes on air at last|newspaper=Roanoke Times and World-News|location=Roanoke, Virginia|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 22, 2023|archive-date=February 22, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230222222458/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118731483/problems-solved-channel-27-goes-on-air/|url-status=live}}).{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119471926/channel-10-will-begin-broadcasting-in/|date=March 28, 1986|page=B4|first=Jeff|last=DeBell|title=Channel 10 will begin broadcasting in stereo|newspaper=Roanoke Times and World-News|location=Roanoke, Virginia|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 22, 2023|archive-date=February 22, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230222222501/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119471926/channel-10-will-begin-broadcasting-in/|url-status=live}} Programming was a typical mix of sitcoms, children's shows, and sports, including Baltimore Orioles baseball. It broadcast from studios and offices in a converted Kroger grocery store in Lynchburg's Forest Hills Shopping Center.{{r|Roan860130}} The Fox network was added to the station's lineup when it launched that October,{{cite news|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1986/BC-1986-08-04.pdf|date=August 4, 1986|id={{ProQuest|963254490}}|pages=44–45|title=Fox network begins to take shape|work=Broadcasting|access-date=February 22, 2023|archive-date=January 27, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220127014659/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1986/BC-1986-08-04.pdf|url-status=live}} as well as local high school football telecasts.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119472354/wsls-fuller-headed-for-north-carolina-j/|date=July 8, 1987|page=C1|first=Jack|last=Bogaczyk|title=WSLS' Fuller headed for North Carolina job|newspaper=Roanoke Times and World-News|location=|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 22, 2023|archive-date=February 24, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230224050954/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119472354/wsls-fuller-headed-for-north-carolina/|url-status=live}}

WJPR and WVFT gave the Roanoke–Lynchburg market two independent stations in a short amount of time. Channel 21 had a slow start; some cable systems, notably in Lynchburg itself, balked at carrying the new station, and there were few immediate local advertisers.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118731455/were-here-to-stay-ch-21-folks-say/|date=July 27, 1986|page=F5, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118731465/channel-21/ F7]|first=Jeff|last=DeBell|title='We're here to stay', Ch. 21 folks say|newspaper=Roanoke Times and World-News|location=Roanoke, Virginia|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 22, 2023|archive-date=February 22, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230222222508/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118731455/were-here-to-stay-ch-21-folks-say/|url-status=live}} Neither station was able to find sufficient advertising revenue, and it became clear that the Roanoke-Lynchburg market was not large enough to sustain what were essentially two independent stations. Like most early Fox affiliates, WJPR was still programmed largely as an independent.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119513527/double-vision-despite-financial-concern/|date=January 28, 1989|pages=Extra 1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119513566/vision/ 8]|first=Melinda J.|last=Payne|title=Double vision: Despite financial concerns, independents say they're going to stick it out until the end|newspaper=Roanoke Times and World-News|location=|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 23, 2023|archive-date=February 24, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230224041601/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119513527/double-vision-despite-financial/|url-status=live}} In November 1988, three months after Paramount Pictures sued the station for a debt of $950,000, Lynchburg–Roanoke Television Partners filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119436101/wjpr-seeks-chapter-11-protection/|date=November 15, 1988|page=B1|first=George|last=Kegley|title=WJPR seeks Chapter 11 protection|newspaper=Roanoke Times and World-News|location=Roanoke, Virginia|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 22, 2023|archive-date=February 22, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230222222500/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119436101/wjpr-seeks-chapter-11-protection/|url-status=live}} It was joined in Chapter 11 status by WVFT in April 1989.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119020132/family-group-seeks-protection-from-credi/|date=April 14, 1989|page=7-D|first=Frank|last=Ruiz|title=Family Group seeks protection from creditors|newspaper=The Tampa Tribune|location=|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 22, 2023|archive-date=February 24, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230224051011/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119020132/family-group-seeks-protection-from/|url-status=live}}

=Merger with WVFT=

Newscasts

WJPR and WFXR began airing a local newscast produced by produced by WSLS-TV in 1996.{{cite news|date=September 9, 1996|title=WDBJ inaugurates 10 p.m. newscast|page=Extra 2|first=Cody|last=Lowe|work=The Roanoke Times}} The newscast continued on the Fox subchannel until October 1, 2015, when news production was taken in-house with the move to the Valleypointe studios.{{cite news|title=WFXR's commitment to local news|url=http://www.virginiafirst.com/news/local-news/wfxrs-commitment-to-local-news|website=WFXR|publisher=Nexstar Broadcasting Group|date=October 1, 2015|access-date=October 1, 2015|archive-date=October 3, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151003183512/http://www.virginiafirst.com/news/local-news/wfxrs-commitment-to-local-news|url-status=live}}

Technical information

=Subchannels=

WWCW and WFXR broadcast two shared channels (The CW on 21.1 and 27.2 and Fox on 21.2 and 27.1) and two unique diginets each. Also broadcast on the WWCW multiplex are two subchannels of WZBJ-CD as part of the market's ATSC 3.0 (NextGen TV) hosting arrangement.

class="wikitable" \|+Subchannels of WWCW{{cite web\|title=RabbitEars TV Query for WWCW\|url=http://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=WWCW#station\|website=RabbitEars\|access-date=September 18, 2015\|archive-date=September 24, 2015\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924141035/http://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=WWCW#station\|url-status=live}} ! scope = "col" \| Channel ! scope = "col" \| Res. ! scope = "col" \| Aspect ! scope = "col" \| Short name ! scope = "col" \| Programming
scope = "row" \| 21.1 \| rowspan="2"\|720p \|\| rowspan="4" \|16:9 \|\| WWCW-HD \|\| The CW
style="background-color: #E6FFF7;" ! scope = "row" \| 21.2 \| WFXR-HD	Fox (WFXR)
scope = "row" \| 21.3 \| rowspan=2\| 480i \|\| Rewind \|\| Rewind TV
scope = "row" \| 21.4 \| Grit \|\| Grit
style="background-color:#DFEBF6; border-top: 2px solid #003399;" ! scope = "row" \| 24.2 \| rowspan=2\|480i	rowspan=2\|16:9	Cozi	Cozi TV (WZBJ-CD)
style="background-color:#DFEBF6;" ! scope = "row" \| 24.3 \| Decades	Catchy Comedy (WZBJ-CD)

class="wikitable"

|+Subchannels of WWCW{{cite web|title=RabbitEars TV Query for WWCW|url=http://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=WWCW#station|website=RabbitEars|access-date=September 18, 2015|archive-date=September 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924141035/http://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=WWCW#station|url-status=live}}

! scope = "col" | Channel

! scope = "col" | Res.

! scope = "col" | Aspect

! scope = "col" | Short name

! scope = "col" | Programming

scope = "row" | 21.1

| rowspan="2"|720p || rowspan="4" |16:9 || WWCW-HD || The CW

style="background-color: #E6FFF7;"

! scope = "row" | 21.2

| WFXR-HD

Fox (WFXR)

scope = "row" | 21.3

| rowspan=2| 480i || Rewind || Rewind TV

scope = "row" | 21.4

| Grit || Grit

style="background-color:#DFEBF6; border-top: 2px solid #003399;"

! scope = "row" | 24.2

| rowspan=2|480i

rowspan=2|16:9

Cozi

Cozi TV (WZBJ-CD)

style="background-color:#DFEBF6;"

! scope = "row" | 24.3

| Decades

Catchy Comedy (WZBJ-CD)

=Analog-to-digital conversion=

WWCW ended regular programming on its analog signal, over UHF channel 21, 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 remained on its pre-transition UHF channel 20, using virtual channel 21.{{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}}

Notes

References

Category:1986 establishments in Virginia

Category:The CW affiliates

Category:Grit (TV network) affiliates

Category:Laff (TV network) affiliates

Category:Lynchburg, Virginia

Category:Nexstar Media Group

Category:Roanoke County, Virginia

Category:Television channels and stations established in 1986

WCW