WECP-LD
WECP-LD, virtual channel 18 (UHF digital channel 35), is a low-powered dual CBS/MyNetworkTV-affiliated television station licensed to Panama City, Florida, United States. Owned by Gray Television, it is a sister station to NBC affiliate WJHG-TV (channel 7). The two stations share studios on Front Beach Road/SR 30 in Panama City Beach; WECP-LD's transmitter is located on SR 20 in unincorporated Youngstown, Florida.
 | |
| Panama City, Florida United States | |
|---|---|
| Channels | Digital: 35 (UHF) Virtual: 18 (PSIP) |
| Branding | WECP-TV (general) Local 18 News (news) My 7 (on LD2) |
| Programming | |
| Affiliations | 18.1: CBS 18.2: MyNetworkTV/JTV (overnights) 18.3: Circle (O&O) 18.4: Heroes & Icons |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Gray Television (Gray Television Licensee, LLC) |
| WJHG-TV | |
| History | |
| Founded | February 25, 2010 |
First air date | September 24, 2012 |
Former call signs | W18DR-D (2010–2012) |
Former channel number(s) | Digital: 18 (UHF, 2012–2015) 29 (UHF, 2015–2019) |
Call sign meaning | ECP is IATA code for Panama City airport |
| Technical information | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 182840 |
| Class | LD |
| ERP | 15 kW |
| HAAT | 330 m (1,083 ft) |
| Transmitter coordinates | 30°21′8″N 85°23′28″W |
| Translator(s) | WJHG-DT 7.3 (16.3 UHF) Panama City |
| Links | |
Public license information | Profile LMS |
Due to its low-power status, WECP's broadcast range is effectively limited to Panama City and surrounding areas in Bay County. In order to expand its off-air broadcasting reach, it is simulcast in 16:9 widescreen standard definition on WJHG-TV's third digital subchannel (UHF channel 16.3 or virtual channel 7.3 via PSIP) from the same transmitter site. There is no separate website for WECP-LD; instead, it is integrated with that of sister station WJHG-TV.
History
On April 20, 2012, then owner MIK LLC announced it was selling the construction permit for the station (which initially held the call sign W18DR-D) to Gray Television. Under the transfer, MIK would receive $4,000 and would turn over the permit to DTV America Corporation which would, in turn, transfer the permit to Gray.[1] Gray exercised a purchase option that was part of the deal to acquire the station outright on May 11, 2012.[2] Gray changed the calls to WECP-LD on June 4, 2012.[3]
On July 17, 2012, Gray Television signed an affiliation agreement with CBS for WECP-LD and two other low-powered stations WSVF-LD in Harrisonburg, Virginia, and WIYE-LP in Parkersburg, West Virginia.[4] As a result, WECP-LD became the CBS affiliate for the Panama City area when the station took to the air on September 24, 2012.[5]
It is the second CBS affiliate that is licensed to the immediate Panama City market. Sister station WJHG had previously carried a secondary affiliation with the network from its December 1953 sign-on until 1961. Since then, Dothan, Alabama sister station WTVY had served as the default CBS affiliate for Panama City; in fact, WTVY's tower is located in Bethlehem, Florida, in the Panama City market. In October 2012, WTVY was officially removed from cable systems in the market with WECP taking its place.[5]
On January 7, 2014, WECP applied to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to move from channel 18 to channel 29. The reasoning is WJHG had a construction permit to relocate to channel 18.[6] The application was approved on November 14, 2014 giving WECP its construction permit. The switch of WECP to channel 29 (retaining 18 as virtual) and WJHG to channel 18 (virtual 7) took place on May 21, 2015, with the FCC issuing the station's license on June 5, 2015. WECP moved to RF channel 35 on August 21, 2019 as a result of the spectrum auction and to offset interference issues with adjacent stations.
Digital channels
The station's digital signal is multiplexed:
| Channel | Video | Aspect | PSIP Short Name | Programming[7] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18.1 | 1080i | 16:9 | WECP-DT | Main WECP-LD programming / CBS |
| 18.2 | 480i | 4:3 | MyNetworkTV/Jewelry Television (during overnights) | |
| 18.3 | 16:9 | Circle | ||
| 18.4 | 4:3 | Heroes & Icons |
News operation
WJHG presently produces an hour of locally produced newscasts each weekday (at noon and 5:30 p.m.) for WECP-LD. As a result, the station airs the CBS Evening News via an additional live feed at 6 p.m. unlike most CBS outlets in the Central Time Zone. WECP-LD does not air newscasts on weekends, opting for syndicated programming. It has a dedicated anchor and meteorologist for the two programs but the personalities can also contribute to WJHG. WECP does not simulcast any newscasts from WJHG.
References
- Seyler, Dave (April 20, 2012). "Gray files for LPTV in 3rd market". Television Business Report. Retrieved September 7, 2012.
- Seyler, Dave (May 11, 2012). "Gray strikes again in the low power zone". Television Business Report. Retrieved September 7, 2012.
- "Call Sign History". Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved September 7, 2012.
- "CBS SIGNS AFFILIATION AGREEMENTS WITH GRAY TELEVISION, INC. FOR STATIONS IN PANAMA CITY, FLA.; HARRISONBURG, VA.; AND PARKERSBURG, W.VA". CBS Corporation. July 17, 2012. Retrieved January 8, 2019.
- "New CBS station on air Monday". Panama City News-Herald. September 22, 2012. Retrieved January 9, 2019.
- Application_id=1610752&Service=LD&Form_id=346&Facility_id=182840 Application For Authority To Construct Or Make Changes In A Low Power TV, TV Translator Or TV Booster Station , CDBS Public Access, Federal Communications Commission, Retrieved 7 January 2014
- RabbitEars TV Query for WECP-LD