WFXQ-CA
Encyclopedia
WFXQ-CD is a Class A
television station
for the Pioneer Valley
of Western Massachusetts
that is licensed to Springfield
. It broadcasts a digital signal on UHF channel 28 from a transmitter at the top of the old Mount Tom Ski Area
in Holyoke
. Owned by the LIN TV Corporation, WFXQ is sister to NBC
affiliate WWLP
and the two share studios at Broadcast Center in the Sandy Hill section of Chicopee
next to the I-391
/MA 116
interchange. It serves as a full-time repeater
of WWLP.
transmitter site of Connecticut
's Fox affiliate WTIC-TV
. The station was an Independent that aired local shows to a senior retirement community
in Farmington, Connecticut
. It used a live skycam weather forecast which consisted of a character generator
and a home video camera with shots of the window from the transmitter building.
The owner of the station was the Chase family who also owned WTIC. In 2004 when LIN TV bought W11BJ, there was a construction permit
approved to broadcast this station on UHF channel 28 from a new transmitter on Mount Tom in Holyoke. During the building of this transmitter, WWLP temporarily put on a simulcast of sister station and UPN
affiliate WCTX
via an off-air pickup.
In early-2006, W28CT signed-on from the top of Mount Tom and the W11BJ transmitter was shut down. Right from the start, the station began to simulcast WWLP full-time. LIN TV had initially changed the call sign to WXCW-CA in reference to The CW in anticipation of it becoming an affiliate of that network. This affiliation eventually went to cable-only WB affiliate "WBQT
". As a result, this channel's call sign was changed again to WFXQ-CA referring to a possible Fox affiliation.
This caused rumors on several television industry message boards that it would become an affiliate of that network or even simulcast Boston's WFXT
. Speculation also existed that WFXQ might affiliate with Fox's new sister network, MyNetworkTV
. At the time, cable television viewers in the Springfield/Holyoke market
received Fox from WTIC and WFXT as well as MyNetworkTV from WCTX.
On November 16, 2007, the Springfield Republican
reported that ABC
affiliate WGGB-TV
would be launching a Fox affiliate on a new second
digital subchannel which was expected to launch at the end of that year. This was ultimately delayed until the end of March 2008 when the subchannel took on a primary Fox and secondary MyNetworkTV affiliation. Up to that time, Springfield held the distinction of being the largest television market without a Fox affiliate of its own. LIN TV was unsuccessful at obtaining the affiliation because of poor negotiating skills with the network.
Until December 9, 2008, WFXQ's analog signal transmitted on the same frequency as CW affiliate WLWC
in East Freetown, Massachusetts
. On February 4, 2009 after the Federal Communications Commission
(FCC) approved a construction permit, the station moved its transmitter next to WWLP on Provin Mountain
in the Feeding Hills
section of Agawam
. Another construction permit from the FCC allowed the station to "flash-cut
" to digital sometime after June 12, 2009 although at the time the station was still assigned a "-CA" suffix.
Eventually, the FCC updated its listing and this channel began using the WFXQ-CD calls. During several previous NFL seasons, there had been an instance when this channel was not repeating WWLP. On Saturday nights at 6:30, it aired Totally Patriots
. At this point, the future is uncertain for the station. The only network currently not offered over-the-air in Springfield is The CW. Although this is seen right now on cable-only
"WBQT", WFXQ could assume the affiliation in order to provide access to the network for non-cable subscribers.
Class A television service
The class A television service is a system for regulating some low-power television stations in the United States. Class A stations are denoted by the broadcast callsign suffix "-CA" or "-CD" , although very many analog -CA stations have a digital companion channel that was assigned the -LD...
television station
Television station
A television station is a business, organisation or other such as an amateur television operator that transmits content over terrestrial television. A television transmission can be by analog television signals or, more recently, by digital television. Broadcast television systems standards are...
for the Pioneer Valley
Pioneer Valley
The Pioneer Valley is the colloquial name for the U.S. Commonwealth of Massachusetts's portion of the Connecticut River Valley. The Pioneer Valley consists of three counties in Massachusetts which collectively feature much of New England's most fertile farmland...
of Western Massachusetts
Western Massachusetts
Western Massachusetts is a loosely defined geographical region of the U.S. state of Massachusetts which contains the Berkshires, the Pioneer Valley, and some or all of the Swift River Valley. The region is always considered to include Berkshire, Franklin, Hampshire, and Hampden counties, and the...
that is licensed to Springfield
Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield is the most populous city in Western New England, and the seat of Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. Springfield sits on the eastern bank of the Connecticut River near its confluence with three rivers; the western Westfield River, the eastern Chicopee River, and the eastern...
. It broadcasts a digital signal on UHF channel 28 from a transmitter at the top of the old Mount Tom Ski Area
Mount Tom Ski Area
Mount Tom Ski Area was a ski resort in Holyoke, Massachusetts, in the Mount Tom Range in the western part of Massachusetts about 10 miles north of Springfield. It opened in 1962 and closed in 1998. Mt Tom was located off Rt. 5 on the North side of Holyoke Massachusetts and was just up the road from...
in Holyoke
Holyoke, Massachusetts
Holyoke is a city in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States, between the western bank of the Connecticut River and the Mount Tom Range of mountains. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a population of 39,880...
. Owned by the LIN TV Corporation, WFXQ is sister to NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
affiliate WWLP
WWLP
WWLP is the NBC-affiliated television station for the Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts that is licensed to Springfield. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on VHF channel 11 from a transmitter on Provin Mountain in the Feeding Hills section of Agawam. The station can also be seen...
and the two share studios at Broadcast Center in the Sandy Hill section of Chicopee
Chicopee, Massachusetts
Chicopee is a city located on the Connecticut River in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States of America. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 55,298, making it the second largest city in...
next to the I-391
Interstate 391
Interstate 391 is an Auxiliary Interstate Highway located entirely within the U.S. State of Massachusetts. It runs from the I-91/I-391 interchange in Chicopee to the center of Holyoke, a distance of about . It runs near the Connecticut River throughout its journey in Chicopee, and crosses into...
/MA 116
Massachusetts Route 116
Route 116 is a south–north state highway in Massachusetts. The route runs from Springfield through mill towns, college towns and rural towns, crossing the Connecticut River three times before finally ending in Adams.-Route description:...
interchange. It serves as a full-time repeater
Broadcast relay station
A broadcast relay station, relay transmitter, broadcast translator , rebroadcaster , or repeater is a broadcast transmitter which relays, repeats, or reflects the signal of another radio station or television station, usually to an area not covered by the signal of the originating station...
of WWLP.
History
The station first went on-the-air May 6, 1987 on VHF channel 11. Using the calls W11BJ, it originally aired an analog signal from the Rattlesnake MountainRattlesnake Mountain (Connecticut)
Rattlesnake Mountain is a traprock mountain, above sea level, located southwest of Hartford, Connecticut in the town of Farmington. It is part of the narrow, linear Metacomet Ridge that extends from Long Island Sound near New Haven, Connecticut, north through the Connecticut River Valley of...
transmitter site of Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
's Fox affiliate WTIC-TV
WTIC-TV
WTIC-TV, channel 61, is a television station in Hartford, Connecticut. Owned by the Tribune Company, WTIC-TV is a charter affiliate of the Fox Broadcasting Company...
. The station was an Independent that aired local shows to a senior retirement community
Retirement community
A retirement community, or active adult community, is a very broad, generic term that covers many varieties of housing for retirees and seniors - especially designed or geared for people who no longer work, or restricted to those over a certain age . It differs from a retirement home which is a...
in Farmington, Connecticut
Farmington, Connecticut
Farmington is a town located in Hartford County in the Farmington Valley area of central Connecticut in the United States. The population was 25,340 at the 2010 census. It is home to the world headquarters of several large corporations including Carrier Corporation, Otis Elevator Company, and Carvel...
. It used a live skycam weather forecast which consisted of a character generator
Character generator
A character generator, often abbreviated as CG, is a device or software that produces static or animated text for keying into a video stream. Modern character generators are computer-based, and can generate graphics as well as text...
and a home video camera with shots of the window from the transmitter building.
The owner of the station was the Chase family who also owned WTIC. In 2004 when LIN TV bought W11BJ, there was a construction permit
Construction permit
A construction permit or building permit is a permit required in most jurisdictions for new construction, or adding on to pre-existing structures, and in some cases for major renovations. Generally, the new construction must be inspected during construction and after completion to ensure compliance...
approved to broadcast this station on UHF channel 28 from a new transmitter on Mount Tom in Holyoke. During the building of this transmitter, WWLP temporarily put on a simulcast of sister station and UPN
UPN
United Paramount Network was a television network that was broadcast in over 200 markets in the United States from 1995 to 2006. UPN was originally owned by Viacom/Paramount and Chris-Craft Industries, the former of which, through the Paramount Television Group, produced most of the network's...
affiliate WCTX
WCTX
WCTX is the MyNetworkTV-affiliated television station for the state of Connecticut that is licensed to New Haven. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 39 from a transmitter in Hamden. Owned by the LIN TV Corporation, the station is sister to ABC affiliate WTNH and the two...
via an off-air pickup.
In early-2006, W28CT signed-on from the top of Mount Tom and the W11BJ transmitter was shut down. Right from the start, the station began to simulcast WWLP full-time. LIN TV had initially changed the call sign to WXCW-CA in reference to The CW in anticipation of it becoming an affiliate of that network. This affiliation eventually went to cable-only WB affiliate "WBQT
WBQT
"WBQT" is the CW-affiliated television station for the Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts. The call letters are fictional since it is a cable-exclusive station and part of The CW Plus which is a special CW feed airing on cable and/or over-the-air on a digital signal...
". As a result, this channel's call sign was changed again to WFXQ-CA referring to a possible Fox affiliation.
This caused rumors on several television industry message boards that it would become an affiliate of that network or even simulcast Boston's WFXT
WFXT
WFXT is a television station owned and operated by the News Corporation-owned Fox Broadcasting Company, located in Boston, Massachusetts. The station's studio and office facility is in Dedham, Massachusetts, and its transmitter is located in Needham, Massachusetts...
. Speculation also existed that WFXQ might affiliate with Fox's new sister network, MyNetworkTV
MyNetworkTV
MyNetworkTV is a television broadcast syndication service in the United States, owned by the Fox Entertainment Group, a division of News Corporation...
. At the time, cable television viewers in the Springfield/Holyoke market
Media market
A media market, broadcast market, media region, designated market area , Television Market Area , or simply market is a region where the population can receive the same television and radio station offerings, and may also include other types of media including newspapers and Internet content...
received Fox from WTIC and WFXT as well as MyNetworkTV from WCTX.
On November 16, 2007, the Springfield Republican
Springfield Republican
The Republican is a newspaper based in Springfield, Massachusetts. It is owned by Newhouse Newspapers, a division of Advance Publications. It played important roles in the United States Republican Party's founding, Charles Dow's career, and the invention of the pronoun "Ms."-Beginning:Established...
reported that ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
affiliate WGGB-TV
WGGB-TV
WGGB-TV is the ABC-affiliated television station for the Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts licensed to Springfield. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 40 from a transmitter on Mount Tom in Holyoke. The station can also be seen on Charter and Comcast channel 4...
would be launching a Fox affiliate on a new second
WGGB-DT2
WGGB-DT2 is the primary Fox and secondary MyNetworkTV-affiliated television station for Western Massachusetts' Pioneer Valley. The station is a second digital subchannel of ABC affiliate WGGB-TV owned by Gormally Broadcasting. Over-the-air, it broadcasts a standard definition digital signal on UHF...
digital subchannel which was expected to launch at the end of that year. This was ultimately delayed until the end of March 2008 when the subchannel took on a primary Fox and secondary MyNetworkTV affiliation. Up to that time, Springfield held the distinction of being the largest television market without a Fox affiliate of its own. LIN TV was unsuccessful at obtaining the affiliation because of poor negotiating skills with the network.
Until December 9, 2008, WFXQ's analog signal transmitted on the same frequency as CW affiliate WLWC
WLWC
WLWC is the CW-affiliated television station licensed to New Bedford but which operates out of Providence and acts largely as a Rhode Island station despite its licensing. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 22 from a transmitter in the Ashley Heights section of East...
in East Freetown, Massachusetts
East Freetown, Massachusetts
East Freetown is one of two villages in the town of Freetown, Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. Added to the town in 1747, East Freetown was originally an outpost settlement of Tiverton, Rhode Island, then a part of Massachusetts. It rests on the shore of Long Pond.- History :East...
. On February 4, 2009 after the Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
(FCC) approved a construction permit, the station moved its transmitter next to WWLP on Provin Mountain
Provin Mountain
Provin Mountain is a very narrow traprock mountain ridge located in the Connecticut River Valley of Massachusetts. It is part of the Metacomet Ridge which extends from Long Island Sound near New Haven, Connecticut, north through the Connecticut River Valley of Massachusetts to the Vermont border...
in the Feeding Hills
Feeding Hills, Agawam, Massachusetts
Feeding Hills is a subsection of the town of Agawam, Massachusetts with its own zip code and post office. Line Street in Agawam is generally accepted by residents as being the pseudo-border. In the early- to mid-19th century, a ditch was dug here to separate the two sections...
section of Agawam
Agawam, Massachusetts
The Town of Agawam is a city in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 28,438 at the 2010 census. Agawam sits on the western side of the Connecticut River, directly across from the City of Springfield, Massachusetts...
. Another construction permit from the FCC allowed the station to "flash-cut
Flash-cut
A flash-cut, also called flash-cutover, is an immediate change in a complex system, with no phase-in period.Some telephone area codes were split immediately, rather than being phased in with a permissive dialing period. An example is telephone area code 213, which was split into 213 and 714 all at...
" to digital sometime after June 12, 2009 although at the time the station was still assigned a "-CA" suffix.
Eventually, the FCC updated its listing and this channel began using the WFXQ-CD calls. During several previous NFL seasons, there had been an instance when this channel was not repeating WWLP. On Saturday nights at 6:30, it aired Totally Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
. At this point, the future is uncertain for the station. The only network currently not offered over-the-air in Springfield is The CW. Although this is seen right now on cable-only
The CW Plus
The CW Plus is a group of primarily digital sub-channels, analog, and non-broadcast cable television outlets for the CW Television Network, for markets below the top 99 television media markets in the United States....
"WBQT", WFXQ could assume the affiliation in order to provide access to the network for non-cable subscribers.