WSTY-LP
WSTY-LP, UHF analog channel 23, is a low-powered Family Channel-affiliated television station licensed to Hammond, Louisiana, United States. The station is owned by Pontchartrain Investors, LLC. It serves portions of the Baton Rouge and New Orleans television markets. On cable, the station is seen on Spectrum channel 22. Its transmitter is located off US Highway 51 just south of Natalbany, Louisiana and north of Hammond.
| Hammond, Louisiana | |
|---|---|
| City | Hammond, Louisiana |
| Channels | Analog: 23 (UHF) Digital: 38 (UHF, CP) |
| Branding | WSTY TV |
| Slogan | Your Community Television Station for Tangipahoa, Livingston, Washington, St. Tammany, and St. Helena Parishes. |
| Programming | |
| Affiliations | TFC (2005–present) |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Pontchartrain Investors, LLC |
| History | |
First air date | 1988 (as translator of WBTR) December 16, 1998 (as a separate station) |
Former call signs | W61AY (1986-1988) W39AW (1988-1996) K23ER (1996-1999) |
Former channel number(s) | Analog: 39 (UHF, 1988-1996) |
| Independent (1988-1995) UPN (January 1995–1998) America One (1998–20??) America's Voice (secondary, 1998–2000) | |
Call sign meaning | W STrawberrY (reference to strawberries grown in the area) |
| Technical information | |
| Class | LP |
| ERP | 24.3 kW |
| Links | |
| Website | |
History
The channel began as a translator for independent station WBTR (then known as WKG-TV) in 1988. As original station owner Woody Jenkins and Great Oaks Broadcasting had problems garnering cable coverage in the Greater Baton Rouge area, he set up translator stations, including W39AW, to broaden the station's cable coverage. W39AW also brought UPN programming to the region when the network began operations. In 1996, the station changed its channel to 23.
By the mid 1990s, Jenkins succeeded in gaining enough cable coverage for WBTR that he began to sell off his former translators or adapt them to bring localized programming to the communities served. In late 1998, Jenkins began different test formats for a TV station to cover the Florida Parishes (Tangipahoa, St. Helena, Livingston, and St. Tammany Parishes) with the station signing on by the end of December.[1] On December 16, 1998, the station signed on with localized programming to the Hammond-Ponchatoula region as well as with a primary affiliation with America One and a secondary affiliation with America's Voice.
Like with WBTR, Woody Jenkins struggled to get WSTY on the local cable provider, Charter Communications, given the limited number of channels available at the time. Exercising the right of must-carry, he filed a complaint with the FCC against Charter asking for cable coverage and reparations.[2] By August 1, 1999, Charter began carrying WSTY on its lineup.[3]
In 2005, Jenkins and Great Oaks Broadcasting sold the station to Veritas Broadcasting Company, and the station soon fell into the hands of Pontchartrain Investors, LLC. Today, WSTY is affiliated with The Family Channel (previously My Family TV). It is unknown as to when the station dropped its America One affiliation.
Station owners Pontchartrain Investors also have a construction permit to convert WSTY's signal from analog to digital on channel 38.
Programming
Current local programming for WSTY includes: The Great Outdoorsmen, Louisiana's Bayou Country Outdoors, and Spiritual Outdoor Adventures.
References
- http://www.hammondstar.com/wsty-tv-will-hit-air-waves-next-week/article_63b6afcf-ac87-5939-85b7-ce5d96da8702.html
- http://www.hammondstar.com/wsty-tv-files-complaint-against-charter-with-fcc/article_c9a7d186-cf72-5c30-9f51-d90a952633b5.html
- http://www.hammondstar.com/charter-to-begin-carrying-wsty-saturday/article_229b49d6-7ce8-5cb5-be6e-cbbc2f178dcb.html