Channel 56 Unveiled
An In-Depth Exploration of Northeastern Pennsylvania's Premier Fox Affiliate.
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Station Overview
Licensing & Location
WOLF-TV, designated by channel 56, is a television station licensed to Hazleton, Pennsylvania. It serves the broader Northeastern Pennsylvania region, acting as the primary Fox network affiliate for this significant market.[1]
Signal & Transmission
The station's transmitter is strategically located at Penobscot Knob near Mountain Top, a key broadcast hub for the area. Its digital broadcast utilizes UHF channel 22, with a virtual channel mapping to 56.[2] The effective radiated power (ERP) is 220 kW, with a height above average terrain (HAAT) of 510 meters (1,673 feet).[2]
Network Affiliations
WOLF-TV is the flagship property of New Age Media, LLC. It proudly carries the programming of the Fox Broadcasting Company on its primary digital subchannel (56.1). Additionally, it carries The CW on 56.2 and MyNetworkTV on 56.3, often simulcasting these from sister stations.[1]
Station History
Early Development
The journey of WOLF-TV began with an FCC construction permit granted on September 30, 1982, for Hazleton's first full-service television station, initially assigned the call letters WERF.[3] Early plans to locate the transmitter at Penobscot Knob were initially denied.[6]
Call Sign Changes & Affiliations
The station's call sign changed to WWLF-TV in 1984. After several ownership changes, the station was completed and began broadcasting on June 6, 1985, initially as a satellite of the Scranton-based WOLF-TV (channel 38). It became a charter affiliate of the Fox network on October 9, 1986.[8]
Ownership Evolution
Throughout its history, WOLF-TV has seen several ownership transitions, including Pegasus Television, CP Media, LLC, and ultimately New Age Media. In 2014, Sinclair Broadcast Group began operating the station under a master service agreement, a relationship that continues to shape its operations.[18][21]
News Operations
Outsourced News
Due to facility limitations, WOLF-TV initially entered a news share agreement with ABC affiliate WNEP-TV in 1991, producing one of the nation's first prime time newscasts at 10 p.m. This arrangement continued when WOLF-TV became the sole Fox outlet in 1998.[26]
Transition to In-House
In 2009, production shifted to NBC affiliate WBRE-TV, which expanded the newscast to an hour and retitled it Fox 56 News First at 10. This partnership concluded on December 31, 2016. Subsequently, WOLF-TV began building its own in-house news department, hiring staff and launching its local news production on January 1, 2017.[26]
Remote Anchoring
Since January 2017, the station's 10 p.m. newscasts have been anchored from secondary sets located at Sinclair-owned facilities, initially in Toledo, Ohio, and later in South Bend, Indiana. This model allows for centralized production while maintaining local reporting.[27]
Technical Specifications
Transmitter Details
WOLF-TV operates under FCC license, with Facility ID 73375. Its transmitter boasts an Effective Radiated Power (ERP) of 220 kW and maintains a Height Above Average Terrain (HAAT) of 510 meters (1,673 feet). The precise transmitter coordinates are 41ยฐ10โฒ58.2โณN 75ยฐ52โฒ11.5โณW.[2]
Digital Transition
WOLF-TV ceased analog broadcasts on UHF channel 56 on January 19, 2009. Its digital signal continues to broadcast on UHF channel 45, utilizing the virtual channel 56.[29][30]
Translator Services
To overcome geographical challenges in its mountainous service area, WOLF-TV employs digital translators. W24DB-D on UHF channel 24 serves the Scranton area, while WOLF-TV (DRT) on UHF channel 27 operates in Waymart to mitigate interference from wind turbines.[28]
Digital Subchannels
Channel Lineup
WOLF-TV multiplexes its signal to offer multiple programming streams:
| Channel | Res. | Aspect | Short Name | Programming |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 56.1 | 720p | 16:9 | FOX | Fox |
| 56.2 | 480i | 16:9 | CW | The CW (WSWB) in SD |
| 56.3 | 720p | 16:9 | MyTV | MyNetworkTV (WQMY) in HD |
| 56.4 | 480i | 16:9 | Charge! | Charge! |
| 56.5 | 480i | 16:9 | ROAR | Roar |
Note: Subchannels 56.2 and 56.3 are simulcasts of sister stations WSWB and WQMY respectively.
Ownership & Operations
Primary Ownership
WOLF-TV is the flagship station of New Age Media, LLC, a locally based entity. It operates in close coordination with sister stations WQMY (MyNetworkTV) and WSWB (The CW), the latter under a local marketing agreement (LMA) with MPS Media.[1]
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Disclaimer
Important Notice
This page was generated by an Artificial Intelligence and is intended for informational and educational purposes only. The content is based on a snapshot of publicly available data from Wikipedia and may not be entirely accurate, complete, or up-to-date.
This is not professional advice. The information provided on this website is not a substitute for professional broadcast engineering, media management, or legal consultation. Always refer to official documentation and consult with qualified professionals for specific needs.
The creators of this page are not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for any actions taken based on the information provided herein.