WQMY: A Broadcast Odyssey

🗓️ Genesis as a WOLF Satellite (1988-1998)

WQMY commenced its broadcasting operations on December 30, 1988, initially as an analog signal on UHF channel 53. At its inception, it functioned as the second full-time satellite station for the Fox affiliate WOLF-TV, which at the time broadcast on analog UHF channel 38. Owned by Scranton TV Partners, the station was originally designated with the call letters WDZA, which were subsequently changed to WILF in 1990. The strategic intent behind WILF's establishment was to enhance the coverage of its parent station, WOLF-TV, particularly across the northern and western sectors of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre market. Additionally, it aimed to serve areas within the Pennsylvania portions of the adjacent Binghamton and Elmira markets, which would not receive their own local Fox affiliates until 1996 and 1997, respectively.

🔄 Network Realignment and Ownership Transition (1998-2006)

A significant shift occurred on November 1, 1998, when Pegasus Television, the then-owner, rebranded channel 38 with the new call letters WSWB, transforming it into the region's second WB affiliate. Concurrently, Fox programming was relocated to WWLF in Hazleton, which then adopted the WOLF-TV call letters. WILF, in turn, became a repeater for the newly configured WSWB. During this period, WSWB/WILF also incorporated UPN as a secondary affiliation, airing selected programming on Saturday evenings. The ownership landscape changed dramatically in June 2004 when Pegasus declared bankruptcy. This led to the sale of the Pegasus station group in August 2006 to CP Media, LLC, a private investment firm based in Wilkes-Barre, for $55.5 million. CP Media subsequently established New Age Media, marking the first time WSWB was not directly co-owned with WOLF-TV, though a local marketing agreement (LMA) ensured continued common operation.

🚀 Emergence as MyNetworkTV and Corporate Evolution (2006-Present)

The broadcast landscape underwent further transformation with the announcement on January 24, 2006, of the dissolution of UPN and The WB to form The CW Television Network. Following this, on February 22, 2006, News Corporation unveiled MyNetworkTV, designed to serve stations not selected by The CW. On May 1, 2006, New Age Media declared WILF as MyNetworkTV's charter affiliate for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre market. This move entailed WILF ceasing its simulcast of WSWB to become an independently programmed entity, while WSWB was designated as the market's charter CW affiliate. Recognizing WILF's limited signal penetration in the core market, its programming was also slated for simulcast on a new third digital subchannel of WOLF-TV. On July 7, WILF officially adopted its current call letters, WQMY, ahead of its launch as a MyNetworkTV charter affiliate on September 5, 2006. WSWB followed suit as a CW charter affiliate on September 18. Notably, WQMY began re-broadcasting live Philadelphia Union MLS telecasts from ABC affiliate WPVI-TV on May 8, 2010. In a significant corporate development, New Age Media announced on September 25, 2013, its intent to sell most of its stations, including WQMY and WOLF-TV, to the Sinclair Broadcast Group. Although New Age Media requested the dismissal of WQMY's sale application on October 31, 2014, Sinclair proceeded to acquire the non-license assets of the stations and commenced their operation under a master service agreement the following day. A subsequent attempt by Sinclair in May 2017 to acquire Tribune Media (WNEP-TV), which would have involved selling WOLF/WQMY/WSWB to Standard Media Group, ultimately did not materialize due to regulatory challenges and Tribune's termination of the deal in August 2018.

📶 Digital Transmission Parameters

WQMY operates with specific technical parameters that define its broadcast signal and reach. These specifications are regulated by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and are crucial for ensuring reliable transmission across its designated market area.

• Licensing Authority: Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
• Facility ID: 52075
• Effective Radiated Power (ERP): 50 kW, indicating the station's broadcast strength.
• Height Above Average Terrain (HAAT): 243 meters (797 feet), a key factor in determining signal coverage.
• Transmitter Coordinates: 41°12′1.2″N 77°7′11.8″W, precisely locating the broadcast origin.
• Digital Channel: 29 (UHF), with a virtual channel of 53, maintaining continuity for viewers.

🔀 Subchannel Multiplexing

WQMY employs digital multiplexing to efficiently broadcast multiple programming streams over its single digital signal. This allows the station to carry not only its primary MyNetworkTV content but also high-definition and standard-definition feeds of its sister stations, WOLF-TV and WSWB, particularly for the Lycoming County area. This strategy maximizes spectrum utilization and expands content availability.

Transition Analog-to-Digital Conversion

WQMY was an early participant in the nationwide transition from analog to digital broadcasting. The station ceased its analog signal transmission over UHF channel 53 on February 17, 2009. This date was the original federal deadline for full-power television stations in the United States to make the complete switch to digital broadcasts, though the official national deadline was later extended to June 12, 2009. Following the analog shutdown, WQMY's digital signal continued to operate on its pre-transition UHF channel 29, while retaining the virtual channel 53 to provide continuity and ease of access for its viewers.

📜 References