WHIZ-TV

WHIZ-TV, virtual channel 18 (UHF digital channel 30), is an NBC-affiliated television station licensed to Zanesville, Ohio, United States. Locally owned by the Southeastern Ohio Broadcasting System, which often does business as the WHIZ Media Group, it is sister to three radio stations: WHIZ (1240 AM), WHIZ-FM (92.7), and WZVL (103.7 FM); the WHIZ Media Group also owns WWLG (102.5 FM), which is operated by the Radio One subsidiary of Urban One under a local marketing agreement (LMA). The WHIZ stations and WZVL share studios on Downard Road in Zanesville, where WHIZ-TV's transmitter is also located.

WHIZ-TV
Zanesville, Ohio
United States
ChannelsDigital: 30 (UHF)
Virtual: 18 (PSIP)
BrandingWHIZ-TV (general)
WHIZ-TV News (newscasts)
SloganOur Focus is On You!
Programming
Affiliations18.1: NBC
18.2: Cozi TV
Ownership
OwnerSoutheastern Ohio Broadcasting System, Inc. (d/b/a WHIZ Media Group)
(Southeastern Ohio Television System)
WHIZ (AM), WHIZ-FM, WZVL
History
FoundedMay 23, 1953 (1953-05-23)
Former channel number(s)
Analog:
50 (UHF, 1953–1955)
18 (UHF, 1955–2008)
Digital:
40 (UHF, 2002–2020)
All secondary:
CBS/ABC (1953–1966)
DuMont (1953–1955)
Call sign meaning
We're
Here
In
Zanesville
Technical information
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID61216
ClassDT
ERP500 kW
HAAT169 m (554 ft)
Transmitter coordinates39°55′42″N 81°59′6″W
Links
Public license information
Profile
LMS
Websitewww.whiznews.com

Although this station is somewhat overshadowed by network affiliates in the nearby Columbus market such as fellow NBC affiliate WCMH-TV, WHIZ-TV provides local news to its limited local area. In addition, the station provides local sports programming, including local high school basketball games on Fridays. It is the only major commercial television station in Zanesville, with the other local stations being PBS member station WOUC-TV (Ohio University at Athens) and a TBN repeater (WOOH-LP).

History
WHIZ-TV's 50th Anniversary logo

Construction on WHIZ-TV began in 1952 at the Downard Road site for Zanesville's first television station. On May 23, 1953, WHIZ-TV began broadcasting on channel 50, with just enough power to reach the 500 or so television sets in the Zanesville area. A year and a half later, WHIZ-TV moved to channel 18, and increased its power output to 186 kW in addition to operating broadcast translators on channel 71 (W71AB) in Coshocton and channel 80 (W80AA) in Cambridge. In 1986, channel 18 increased power output to 589 kW with a new antenna, and introduced stereo sound.

WHIZ-TV has been a primary NBC affiliate since the station began, but until 1966 cherry-picked programming from CBS and ABC as well. It also aired some DuMont programming in the 1950s. As WHIZ is the only commercial station in the market, Charter Spectrum's Zanesville system supplements the area with the Columbus stations.

In 2003, WHIZ-TV began broadcasting in digital on channel 40.

On July 25, 2008, WHIZ was knocked off the air when its power combiner failed. While the station was able to restore its digital signal, it was determined that there was no way to restore the analog signal until early 2009. Since this meant the analog signal would have only been back online for two months before shutdown of analog signals for all full-service stations, WHIZ decided to permanently cease analog broadcasting.[1]

WHIZ is seen on cable systems in several adjacent counties, including Coshocton, Guernsey, Hocking, Licking, Morgan and Perry. It is shown on cable as far south as Nelsonville, Ohio and used to be on cable systems as far west as Lancaster, Ohio but has not been carried on cable any farther west than Perry County, the Buckeye Lake region and Granville, Ohio in several years.

Digital channels

The station's digital signal is multiplexed:

Channel Video Aspect PSIP Short Name Programming[2]
18.11080i16:9WHIZ-TVMain WHIZ-TV programming / NBC
18.2480i4:3Cozi TV

Programming

Syndicated programming on WHIZ-TV includes The Kelly Clarkson Show, Access Hollywood, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and Family Feud.

Other stations
Studios on Downard Road, Zanesville, Ohio

The WHIZ Media Group also owns and operates radio stations WHIZ AM, WHIZ-FM ("Z-92"), and WZVL ("Highway 103"). Formerly the company operated WCVZ ("Highway 102") prior to its replacement by what is now WWLG ("La Grande 102.5"); it continues to hold WWLG's license, even though that station moved from Zanesville to the Columbus market in 2009 and is operated by Urban One through a local marketing agreement. WHIZ stands for "We're Here In Zanesville".

Until early 2008, WHIZ also operated CW Plus stations in Zanesville (WBZV) and Parkersburg, West Virginia (WBPB). After their closure, it was replaced on cable lineups by WWHO in Zanesville and WQCW in Parkersburg. The CW Plus has since been reinstated on Zanesville cable lineups, now operated directly by the various cable providers serving the market.

References
  1. "DTV TRANSITION STATUS REPORT". CDBS Public Access. Federal Communications Commission. 2008-10-16. Retrieved 2008-10-26.
  2. RabbitEars TV Query for WHIZ
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