W47CK
W47CK, UHF analog channel 47, was a low-powered MyNetworkTV-affiliated television station serving Wilmington, North Carolina, United States that was licensed to Shallotte. The station was owned by Timothy McIver. W47CK's transmitter was located on Royal Oak Road in Lockwoods Folly Township, northwest of Supply.
Shallotte/Wilmington, North Carolina United States | |
---|---|
City | Shallotte, North Carolina |
Channels | Analog: 47 (UHF) |
Branding | WMYW My 47 |
Programming | |
Affiliations | Defunct |
Ownership | |
Owner | WBHQ Columbia, LLC (Timothy McIver) |
WKTC | |
History | |
Founded | April 15, 1994 |
First air date | September 5, 2006 |
Last air date | December 11, 2020 (14 years, 97 days) (license canceled) |
MyNetworkTV (2006–2020) | |
Call sign meaning | False marketing callsign standing for MYNetworkTV Wilmington; W47CK was randomly assigned |
Technical information | |
Facility ID | 9069 |
Class | LP |
ERP | 13 kW |
HAAT | 150 m (492 ft) |
Transmitter coordinates | 34°02′36″N 78°19′55″W |
Background
W47CK used the fictional callsign "WMYW" in its branding, which was unrecognized by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). It was one of two television stations in Wilmington which continued to operate analog signals after the market's voluntary digital switchover on September 8, 2008, and has continued to broadcast in the same format since the June 12, 2009 national transition date.
W47CK did not apply for digital facilities nor to perform a "flash-cut" to digital with the FCC. Low-power television stations like W47CK were not initially required to switch to digital in the United States though two other low-power outlets (then-CBS affiliate and now independent station WILM-LD and former Trinity Broadcasting Network station W51CW) did make an early switch in Wilmington on the voluntary date. Low-power television stations must convert to digital on or before July 13, 2021.
For a period of time, WITN-DT2 from Washington, North Carolina could be seen on Time Warner Cable digital channel 931 in the greater Wilmington area since W47CK was technically ineligible for mandatory carriage on cable providers due to its low-power status. As a result, the clearance allowed WITN-DT2 to unofficially serve as Wilmington's MeTV outlet since, at that time, the network had no affiliate in the area. Eventually, Time Warner Cable (now Charter Spectrum) would pick up W47CK on its digital tier and subsequently dropped WITN-DT2 from the lineup. WILM-LD in Wilmington eventually launched MeTV on their second digital subchannel.
On December 11, 2020, the FCC canceled W47CK's license for failing to submit a license renewal application on time.[1]
Programming
Syndicated programming on W47CK included Access Hollywood, Family Feud (now airing on WSFX-TV), and Jerry Springer (now airing on WWAY-DT3).
References
- "W47CK Cancellation Notice". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission. December 11, 2020. Retrieved December 15, 2020.