WTCV
WTCV, virtual channel 18 (UHF digital channel 21), is a Mega TV owned-and-operated television station licensed to San Juan, Puerto Rico. Owned by Spanish Broadcasting System, it is sister to radio stations WZNT (93.7 FM), WZMT (93.3 FM), WODA (94.7 FM), WNOD (94.1 FM), WRXD (96.5 FM), WIOB (97.5 FM), WMEG (106.9 FM) and WEGM (95.1 FM). WTCV shares studios with independent station WJPX (channel 24, owned by América-CV Station Group) at the Amelia Industrial Park in Guaynabo; the two stations share transmitter facilities at Barrio Cubuy in Canovanas.
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San Juan, Puerto Rico | |
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Channels | Digital: 21 (UHF) (shared with WJPX) Virtual: 18 (PSIP) |
Branding | Mega TV Puerto Rico (general) Informe 79 (newscasts) |
Slogan | La Mega Se Pega |
Programming | |
Affiliations | 18.1: Mega TV (2014–present) |
Ownership | |
Owner | Spanish Broadcasting System (Spanish Broadcasting System Holding Company, Inc.) |
WZNT/WZMT/WIOB WODA/WNOD WRXD WMEG/WEGM | |
History | |
First air date | October 1, 1964 (original incarnation) July 29, 1984 (current incarnation) |
Former call signs | WTSJ-TV (1964–1972) WSJU (1984–1997) WTCV (1997–2001) WAVB-TV (2001–2002) |
Former channel number(s) | Analog: 18 (UHF, 1964–1972, 1984–2009) Digital: 32 (UHF, 2005–2017) Virtual: 32 (PSIP, 2009-2019) |
NBC (1964–1972, 1984–1991) Silent (1972–1984) Independent (1991–2014) HSN (2001–2002) Destino TV (2013) | |
Call sign meaning | Tu Canal de Videos |
Technical information | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
Facility ID | 28954 |
ERP | 1000 kW |
HAAT | 564 m (1,850 ft) |
Transmitter coordinates | 18°16′38″N 65°51′13″W |
Translator(s) | (see table) |
Links | |
Public license information | Profile LMS |
Website | mega |
WTCV operates two satellite stations: WVEO (virtual channel 18, UHF digital channel 17) in Aguadilla, with transmitter on Cerro Canto Gallo in Aguada, and WVOZ-TV (virtual channel 18, UHF digital channel 36) in Ponce, with transmitter on Sec Servo Paso in Peñuelas.
History
During the 1980s and early 1990s, WTCV was known as WSJU (for San Juan) and was an NBC affiliate, one of three commercial English-language network affiliates broadcasting in Puerto Rico (the others being WPRV-TV and WUJA) during the 80s. Around 1990, the station also carried the Home Shopping Network programming during most of the late-morning and afternoon hours.[1] There are now four commercial English-language network affiliates in Puerto Rico, all of which broadcast from San Juan and Mayagüez.
On September 11, 2014, WTCV became a Mega TV owned-and-operated station, following the sale of Spanish Broadcasting System through its License Management Agreement for $1.9 million, leaving its status as an Independent station, while its former owner, International Broadcasting Corporation continues to be its Licensee, until SBS will transfer WIOA (99.9 FM), WIOC (105.1 FM) and WZET (92.1 FM) to IBC's TV operations. Beginning in March 2015, WTCV's local programming will be produced by SBS Puerto Rico, which owns Z-93, La Nueva 94, Estereotempo (now Play 96.5) and La Mega. The sale of WTCV with SBS was completed on September 1, 2015.
On January 12, 2018, WTCV announced that Conectao's por la Cocina, ¿Y Cual es su Opinion? and Descarao por la Noche had been canceled due to economic loss, as well as expiring contracts with local talent and production staff.
On September 24, 2019, WTCV and its satellite stations switched their virtual channel to 18.1 across all Puerto Rico.
Local programs produced by WTCV
- Los HP
- Estos Dos
- La Movida
- Los Vecinos
- En Arroz y Habichuelas
- A Fuego con Saudy
- Informe 79
- El Circo
- Nación Z
- Nación Z Nacional
- Nación Z Primetime
- Mega Noche con Héctor Marcano
- Cocina Atrevida
- D'Party Live TV
- Proyecto TV
- Frente a la Realidad
- Show de Mercy
- Siempre Salsa
- La Videoteca del Día Nacional de la Salsa
- Cuéntame
National programming
- Ahora con Oscar Haza
- Bayly
- Mega News
- Cala
- Bebeto TV
- Destinos Misticos
- Escandalos
Notable current on-air staff
- Jorge Suárez Cáceres - Nación Z
- Luis Davila Colon - Nación Z Nacional
- Antonio Sanchez "El Gangster" - El Circo
- Luisito Vigoreaux - Vigorizante TV and En Arroz y Habichuelas
- Ramón Enrique Torres - anchor Informe 79
- Roque Gallart - co-host of Los HP
- Héctor Marcano - Mega Noche
- Braulio Castillo - co-host of La Movida
- Marisol Calero - co-host of La Movida
- Michael Stuart - host of Siempre Salsa
- Johnny Lozada - co-host of Cuéntame
Satellite stations
WTCV can be seen across Puerto Rico on the following stations:
Station | City of license | Channels (Digital/ Virtual) |
First air date | ERP | HAAT | Facility ID | Transmitter coordinates |
Public license information |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
WVEO1 | Aguadilla | 17 (UHF) (shared with WIRS) 18 (PSIP) |
October 7, 1974 | 42 kW | 372 m (1,220 ft) | 61573 | 18°18′59″N 67°10′41″W | Profile CDBS |
WVOZ-TV2 | Ponce | 36 (UHF) (shared with WKPV) 18 (PSIP) |
June 1986 | 23.5 kW | 250 m (820 ft) | 29000 | 18°4′42.8″N 66°44′48.6″W | Profile CDBS |
Notes:
Digital television
Channel | Video | Aspect | PSIP Short Name | Programming[2] |
---|---|---|---|---|
18.1 | 1080i | 16:9 | MEGA HD | Main WTCV programming / Mega TV |
On February 17, 2009, WTCV signed off its analog signal and completed its move to digital.
Spectrum reallocation
On August 7, 2017, it was revealed that WTCV's over-the-air spectrum had been sold in the FCC's spectrum reallocation auction, fetching $4,737,874. WTCV would not sign off, but it would later share broadcast spectrum with WJPX, affiliated with América Tevé in Puerto Rico that covers the entire metropolitan area.
References
External links
- Mega TV
- WTCV in the FCC's TV station database
- WVEO in the FCC's TV station database
- WVOZ-TV in the FCC's TV station database
- BIAfn's Media Web Database -- Information on WTCV-TV
- BIAfn's Media Web Database -- Information on WVEO-TV
- BIAfn's Media Web Database -- Information on WVOZ-TV