WNBW-DT
WNBW-DT, virtual channel 9 (VHF digital channel 8), is an NBC-affiliated television station licensed to Gainesville, Florida, United States. Owned by MPS Media, it is operated under a local marketing agreement (LMA) by New Age Media, making it sister to High Springs-licensed dual CBS/MyNetworkTV affiliate WGFL (channel 28) and Gainesville-licensed low-powered, Class A Antenna TV affiliate WYME-CD (channel 45). All three stations, in turn, are operated under a master service agreement by the Sinclair Broadcast Group. The stations share studios on Northwest 80th Boulevard (along I-75/SR 93) in Gainesville and transmitter facilities on Southwest 30th Avenue near Newberry. There is no separate website for WNBW; instead, it is integrated with that of sister station WGFL.
 | |
| Gainesville, Florida United States | |
|---|---|
| Branding | NBC 9 (general) CBS 4 News on NBC 9 (newscasts) Antenna TV Gainesville (on DT4) |
| Slogan | Working for You |
| Channels | Digital: 8 (VHF) Virtual: 9 (PSIP) |
| Affiliations | 9.1: NBC 9.2: Charge! 9.3: Comet 9.4: Antenna TV |
| Owner | MPS Media, LLC |
| Licensee | MPS Media of Gainesville License, LLC |
| Operator | New Age Media, LLC (via LMA; certain services provided by Sinclair Broadcast Group) |
| Founded | September 20, 1996 |
| First air date | December 31, 2008 |
| Call sign meaning | NBC in Western Florida |
| Sister station(s) | broadcast: WGFL, WGFL-DT2, WYME-CD cable: Fox Sports Florida, Fox Sports Sun[1] |
| Former channel number(s) | Digital: 9 (VHF, 2008–2020) |
| Transmitter power | 65 kW |
| Height | 260 m (853 ft) |
| Class | DT |
| Facility ID | 83965 |
| Transmitter coordinates | 29°37′47.7″N 82°34′24″W |
| Licensing authority | FCC |
| Public license information | Profile CDBS |
| Website | mycbs4 |
On cable, WNBW is available on Cox channel 9 in Gainesville and Altitude Communications channel 9 in High Springs. There is a high definition feed offered on Cox digital channel 1009.
The Gainesville market is located between several other Florida DMAs. In these areas, local cable systems opt instead for the affiliate for their home market instead of WNBW. This includes Charter Spectrum and Cox in Ocala (part of the Orlando market) that both offer WESH (in Cox's case the system only offers WESH in Ocala). In Lake City (part of the Jacksonville DMA), Comcast Xfinity provides WTLV.
History
In June 2008, WGFL announced it would be launching a new digital-only television station on September 8. Originally known since 1996 by its construction permit number, 960920WR, the station received the WNBW-DT calls on August 18. Its signal was activated for testing on September 4.[2] New Age Media officially launched the station on December 31, 2008 at 11:59 p.m. through an LMA with MPS Media.[3] On that date, WNBW began regular programming bringing local NBC service back to Gainesville since WCJB-TV switched its affiliation from the network to ABC in 1973.[3] It holds rights to enforce blackouts on out-of-market stations carrying NBC and syndicated programming such as WESH in Orlando which originally served Gainesville and Ocala as the de facto affiliate.[4] Cox began offering WNBW on channel 9 beginning January 16.[5] However, WESH's analog and digital feeds remain on the system.
The station had a construction permit for airing an analog signal on UHF channel 29. However, this was not activated before the analog shutdown on June 12, 2009.[3] Originally, WNBW indicated it would eventually air some local programming including local newscasts by the start of 2010.[3][6] This is required to maintain its NBC affiliation. Due to the low wattage of its transmitter, any usable signal is not received for the majority of Gainesville residents. Ironically, WYME broadcasts a higher-powered analog signal even though it is a Class A station. That station, which had been serving as a repeater of WMYG, became a separate outlet and joined MeTV. The service is a network specifically designed for digital subchannels offering classic television sitcoms, dramas, and classic commercials from the 1950s through 1980s. WNBW launched a second digital subchannel to offer WYME a digital signal.[7]
On September 25, 2013, New Age Media announced that it would sell most of its stations, including WGFL and WMYG-LP, to the Sinclair Broadcast Group. Concurrently, MPS Media planned to sell WNBW-DT to Cunningham Broadcasting; the station would have continued to be operated by WGFL.[8][9] On October 31, 2014, MPS Media requested the dismissal of its application to sell WNBW-DT;[10] the next day, Sinclair purchased the non-license assets of the stations it planned to buy from New Age Media and began operating them through a master service agreement.[11][12]
Digital television
Digital channels
The station's digital signal is multiplexed:
| Channel | Video | Aspect | PSIP Short Name | Programming[13] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9.1 | 1080i | 16:9 | WNBW-DT | Main WNBW-DT programming / NBC |
| 9.2 | 480i | 4:3 | Charge! | Charge! |
| 9.3 | Comet | Comet | ||
| 9.4 | Antenna | Simulcast of WYME-CD / Antenna TV |
Until June 3, 2015, WYME-CD did not air a digital signal, as with the case of many Class A stations. A digital simulcast is provided on WNBW-DT4 currently for that purpose.
As part of the repacking process following the 2016–2017 FCC incentive auction, WNBW will plan to move its VHF channel allocation number from 9 to 8 on May 1, 2020.
Programming
Syndicated programming on WNBW as of September 2019 includes Mike & Molly, Family Feud, The Dr. Oz Show, The Kelly Clarkson Show, and Daily Mail TV among others.
Newscasts
WNBW simulcasts CBS 4 News with WGFL at 6:00 and 11:00 p.m.; the 11:00 p.m. newscast can be delayed on either station due to network obligations. WGFL and WNBW also simulcast local news and weather cut-ins on weekday mornings during their national network shows. Despite WNBW's affiliation with NBC, the CBS 4 News name is used on all its associated stations. CBS 4 News was previously known as GTN News prior to April 2016.
See also
References
- Miller, Mark K. (August 23, 2019). "Sinclair Closes $10.6B Disney RSN Purchase". TVNewsCheck. NewsCheckMedia. Retrieved August 23, 2019.
- http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=a4f3e0f8f3134e35b4824d9a12e52b0b&p=14590401#post14590401
- Clark, Anthony (2008-09-16). "Local NBC affiliate set to join airwaves". The Gainesville Sun. Retrieved 2008-09-17.
- http://www.gainesville.com/article/20080605/NEWS/806050333
- http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=505862&page=68
- http://www.tvnewsday.com/articles/2008/09/17/daily.4/
- http://www.mygtn.tv/Global/story.asp?S=14299595
- Haber, Gary (September 25, 2013). "Sinclair Broadcast Group to pay $90M for eight New Age Media TV stations". Baltimore Business Journal. Retrieved September 25, 2013.
- "Sinclair To Buy 8 New Age Stations for $90M". TVNewsCheck. September 25, 2013. Retrieved September 25, 2013.
- Kirkpatrick, Daniel A. (October 31, 2014). "Re: MPS Media of Gainesville License, LLC…" (PDF). CDBS Public Access. Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved November 15, 2014.
- "Sinclair Reports Third Quarter 2014 Financial Results" (PDF) (Press release). Baltimore: Sinclair Broadcast Group. November 5, 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 29, 2014. Retrieved November 15, 2014.
- "Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. Form 10-Q". sbgi.edgarpro.com. November 10, 2014. Archived from the original on January 7, 2016. Retrieved November 15, 2014.
- RabbitEars TV Query for WNBW
External links
- MyCBS4.com - Official website
- MeTV.com - Official MeTV website
- Query the FCC's TV station database for WNBW-DT
- BIAfn's Media Web Database -- Information on WNBW-DT