WSST-TV

WSST-TV, virtual channel 55 (UHF digital channel 34), is a MyNetworkTV-affiliated television station licensed to Cordele, Georgia, United States. The station is owned by Marquee Broadcasting, as part of a duopoly with Valdosta-licensed CBS affiliate WSWG (channel 44). WSST-TV's studios (which also house master control and some internal operations for WSWG) are located on 7th Street and 11th Avenue in downtown Cordele, and its transmitter is located in rural southwestern Crisp County.

WSST-TV
Cordele/Albany, Georgia
United States
CityCordele, Georgia
ChannelsDigital: 34 (UHF)
Virtual: 55 (PSIP)
BrandingWSST Channel 55
South Georgia Television
South Georgia News (newscasts)
SloganBecause Local Matters
Programming
Affiliations
Ownership
OwnerMarquee Broadcasting
(Marquee Broadcasting Georgia, Inc.)
WSWG
History
First air date
May 22, 1989 (1989-05-22)
Former channel number(s)
  • Analog:
  • 55 (UHF, 1989–2009)
  • Digital:
  • 51 (UHF, 2003–2017)
  • 22 (UHF, 2017–2018)
  • Virtual:
  • 51 (PSIP, 2009–2017)
  • 22 (PSIP, 2017–2019)
  • 34 (PSIP, 2019)
Call sign meaning
Sunbelt-
South
Telecommunications
(previous owner)
Technical information
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID63867
ERP66.2 kW
HAAT111 m (364 ft)
Transmitter coordinates31°53′36″N 83°48′18″W
Translator(s)WSWG-DT 44.3 (31 UHF) Valdosta
Links
Public license information
Profile
LMS
Websitewww.southgatv.com

The station's digital signal extends only about 50 miles (80 km) from Cordele; however, the station is carried on many cable providers in the region, including in Albany and Perry. Since April 22, 2019, in order to increase its over-the-air reach, WSST-TV's primary channel has been simulcast on WSWG's third digital subchannel.[1]

History
Former logo for WSST-TV

WSST-TV signed on May 22, 1989 as an independent station owned by Sunbelt-South Telecommunications Ltd.[2] The station grew out of a cable-only station for Cordele and Vienna that had started in 1981.[3] Though primarily independent, at various points WSST's schedule has included programming from Channel America,[4] America One, and Youtoo America. WSST was originally jointly owned by William B. Goodson and Phillip A. Streetman; Goodson died in 2006,[3] and Streetman assumed full control in 2007.[5]

Former logo for WSST-TV during early 2019

On June 18, 2018, Marquee Broadcasting agreed to purchase WSST from Sunbelt-South Telecommunications.[6][7] The sale was completed on September 3, 2018.[8] Marquee subsequently acquired CBS affiliate WSWG from Gray Television, making it a sister station to WSST.[9] In May 2019, WSST-TV affiliated with MyNetworkTV; the affiliation was transferred from a WSWG subchannel.

Digital television

Digital channels

The station's digital signal is multiplexed:

Channel Video Aspect PSIP Short Name Programming[10]
55.1480i4:3WSST DTMain WSST-TV programming / MyNetworkTV
55.216:9WSST-D2Simulcast of WSWG-DT2 / MeTV
55.3WSST-D3Heroes & Icons
55.4WSST-D4Grit
55.5WSST-D5Court TV Mystery
55.6WSST-D6Laff

Analog-to-digital conversion

WSST-TV began broadcasting a digital signal in 2003.[3] Its digital transmitter facilities operated at low power for several years, due to Sunbelt-South Telecommunications, Ltd. being involved in bankruptcy proceedings.[11] The station discontinued regular programming on its analog signal, over UHF channel 55, on April 15, 2009. WSST's digital signal broadcast on its pre-transition UHF channel 51.[12][13] The station moved to channel 22 in early 2017,[14] and to channel 34 in late 2018.[15]

Programming

Syndicated programs broadcast on WSST-TV include various Entertainment Studios programs, Hot Bench, Celebrity Page, Extra and The People's Court.

WSST produces South Georgia Sunrise, a two-hour morning news and talk program, and Midday, a half-hour talk and lifestyle program. WSST also airs a rebroadcast of sister station WSWG's early evening newscast and a primetime newscast, which launched on May 6, 2019;[16] prior to then, WSST produced its own evening newscast.

References
  1. "WSWG VALDOSTA, GA". www.rabbitears.info.
  2. Television & Cable Factbook 1991 Edition (PDF). 1991. p. A-303. Retrieved May 14, 2019.
  3. "Georgia Obituary and Death Notice Collection - Various Counties - 481". GenealogyBuff.com. Retrieved May 14, 2019.
  4. "Low power television gets high-powered investor" (PDF). Broadcasting. November 26, 1990. p. 55. Retrieved May 14, 2019.
  5. Television & Cable Factbook 2008 (PDF). 2008. p. A-656. Retrieved May 14, 2019.
  6. Lane, Brian J. (June 12, 2018). "Application for Consent to Assignment of Broadcast Station Construction Permit or License". CDBS Public Access. Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved June 14, 2018.
  7. "Marquee Broadcasting acquires WSST". Cordele Dispatch. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
  8. "Consummation Notice". CDBS Public Access. Federal Communications Commission. September 3, 2018. Retrieved September 5, 2018.
  9. Mandel, Eric (August 16, 2018). "Gray Television sells Albany CBS affiliate WSWG alongside $3.6B Raycom purchase". Atlanta Business Chronicle. Retrieved May 14, 2019.
  10. RabbitEars TV Query for WSST
  11. http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-07-90A1.pdf
  12. "DTV Tentative Channel Designations for the First and Second Rounds" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-08-29. Retrieved 2012-03-24.
  13. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on April 9, 2010. Retrieved May 1, 2010.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  14. "Channel 22 License to cover".
  15. "License To Cover for DTV Application". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission. December 11, 2018. Retrieved May 14, 2019.
  16. "New Changes to CBS 44". SouthGATV. April 26, 2019. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
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