WVTX-CD
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| Bridgeport, Ohio / Wheeling, West Virginia United States | |
|---|---|
| Channels |
Digital: 28 (UHF) Virtual: 28 Virtual: 28.1 WTRF-D2 MNTV {HD} 28.2 WTRF-D3 ABC {HD} |
| Owner | OTA Broadcasting, LLC |
| Founded | December 15th, 1998 |
| Call letters' meaning | West Virginia Transmitter (TX) |
| Former callsigns |
W28AS (1989-2004) WDBW-CA (2004) WVTX-CA (2004-2013) |
| Former affiliations | UPN, LWN (DT4), WTRF-DT2 (MNTV (DT1), WTRF-DT3 (ABC) (DT3) |
| Transmitter power | 150 kW(analog) |
| Class | Class-A |
| Facility ID | 68408 |
| Website | Home Page |
WVTX-CD is a Class-A television station that retransmits into 720p 16:9 HD WTRF-DT2 and WTRF-DT3 as affiliates of MyNetworkTV and ABC. The station serves the Wheeling, West Virginia area, and is officially licensed to the nearby city of Bridgeport, Ohio. WVTX-CD, along with its transmission facilities, are owned by OTA Broadcasting, LLC, a corporation owned by Michael Dell's MSD Capital, which also owns eleven other Class A television stations.
Digital channels
| Channel | PSIP short name | Video | Aspect | Programming [1] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28.1 | WTRF-DT2 | 720p | 16:9 | HD Simulcast of WTRF-DT2 ("My Ohio Valley") |
| 28.2 | WTRF-DT3 | HD Simulcast of WTRF-DT3 ("ABC Ohio Valley") |
History
WVTX-CD was originally a satellite station for independent Pittsburgh station WBGN-CD with the W28AS call sign. The station's call sign was later changed to WDBW-CA, and again to WVTX-CA on February 17, 2004.
Under a Local Marketing Agreement that began in late 2004, Bruno-Goodworth Network retained ownership of WVTX-CA, the station increased power, ceased transmitting WBGN programming, and started its own newscast, produced locally by WVTX Inc, which also shared ownership with cable-only WBWO-18.
WVTX-CA became the only UPN affiliate serving West Virginia viewers, and produced programming such as a daily 5:30 pm newscast and coverage of local church services. WVTX-CA also enjoyed carriage on several area cable systems including Comcast, which carried the station on channel 3.
After a failed attempt at running the station, WVTX Inc. returned WVTX-CA to The Bruno Goodworth Network in September 2006. The station soon began broadcasting digitally, and assumed its current call sign of WVTX-CD on May 2, 2013. As Wheeling's only independent television station, WVTX-CD aired a mix of local programs and first run syndicated programming. The station is no longer carried on the Comcast system, but remains available over the air. In 2014, Michael Dell purchased the Bruno-Goodworth Network and its eleven television stations, changing the call-letters of its flagship/originating station in Pittsburgh from WBGN-CD to WEPA-CD.
On June 17, 2015, WVTX-CD changed programming again, this time to a simulcast of WTRF-TV's two 480i 4:3 SD subchannels, simulcasting (into 720p 16:9 HD) MyNetworkTV programming from WTRF-DT2 ("My Ohio Valley") over onto WVTX-CD1 and also simulcasting (into 720p 16:9 HD) ABC programming from WTRF-DT3 ("ABC Ohio Valley") over onto WVTX-CD2.[2]
Network affiliation
WVTX was affiliated UPN from December, 2004 to September, 2006. When UPN and the WB merged to form The CW Television Network in on September 16, 2006, WVTX lost its network affiliation and became independent. The CW affiliation was granted to WBWO, a cable only channel in the Wheeling-Steubenville area.