WGSF (TV)
Encyclopedia
WGSF-TV was an educational television
station in Newark, Ohio
, which operated from 1963 to 1976. The station was founded by The Licking County Fund for Public Giving, on behalf of the Newark City School District. Studios were originated at Newark High School
.
In the early years of the station, WGSF broadcast on UHF
channel 28, programming a mix of local programming, with additional programs from National Educational Television
(via film and videotape), and from WOSU-TV
in Columbus
(via an off-air pickup). Equipment and cameras were lent to WGSF by WCET
, Cincinnati
's educational station. In 1966, WCET took back the cameras, when WGSF was unable to buy them; soon after this, Cleveland
CBS
affiliate WJW-TV donated two cameras to WGSF.
The station broadcast on channel 28 until 1970, when the Ohio ETV Network Commission, The Ohio State University
(owners of WOSU), and Nationwide Broadcasting
requested that the station move to channel 31, with Nationwide providing funds for the move. In 1970 WGSF became a member station of PBS
, and was soon connected to the national feed, ending reliance of WOSU for networked programming.
WGSF signed off on June 30, 1976, not only due to aging equipment, but due to opportunities for Newark City Schools to operate a channel on cable TV (due to laws mandating cable systems to devote a channel for educational television use), as well as opportunities for Ohio's PBS affiliates to expand to underserved communities. The following day after the station's closedown, WOSU opened W31AA, a low-powered repeater operating on the former WGSF's channel. Newark City School's cable channel would open in 1977, after the local cable franchise provided a cable link to Newark High.
The channel 28 frequency would be reallocated to Columbus as a commercial frequency; this channel would be reactivated when WTTE
signed on in 1984.
Educational television
Educational television is the use of television programs in the field of distance education. It may be in the form of individual television programs or dedicated specialty channels that is often associated with cable television in the United States as Public, educational, and government access ...
station in Newark, Ohio
Newark, Ohio
In addition, the remains of a road leading south from the Octagon have been documented and explored. It was first surveyed in the 19th century, when its walls were more apparent. Called the Great Hopewell Road, it may extend to the Hopewell complex at Chillicothe, Ohio...
, which operated from 1963 to 1976. The station was founded by The Licking County Fund for Public Giving, on behalf of the Newark City School District. Studios were originated at Newark High School
Newark High School (Ohio)
Newark High School is a public high school in Newark, Ohio. It houses a little more than 2,000 students. It is the only high school in the Newark City Schools district. Newark High School previously featured a college campus that is now under construction...
.
In the early years of the station, WGSF broadcast on UHF
Ultra high frequency
Ultra-High Frequency designates the ITU Radio frequency range of electromagnetic waves between 300 MHz and 3 GHz , also known as the decimetre band or decimetre wave as the wavelengths range from one to ten decimetres...
channel 28, programming a mix of local programming, with additional programs from National Educational Television
National Educational Television
National Educational Television was an American non-commercial educational public television network in the United States from May 16, 1954 to October 4, 1970...
(via film and videotape), and from WOSU-TV
WOSU-TV
WOSU-TV is an American public television station located in Columbus, Ohio, affiliated with the Public Broadcasting Service and is a service of WOSU Public Media. The station's signal covers most of central Ohio. It is owned by Ohio State University, and operates full-time satellite WPBO-TV in...
in Columbus
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
(via an off-air pickup). Equipment and cameras were lent to WGSF by WCET
WCET (TV)
WCET is the PBS member public television station serving Cincinnati, Ohio. It broadcasts digitally on channel 34 but is displayed on-screen as channel 48, its former analog and present virtual channel, via the PSIP protocol. Its signal is multiplexed, broadcasting one high-definition channel, CET...
, Cincinnati
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
's educational station. In 1966, WCET took back the cameras, when WGSF was unable to buy them; soon after this, Cleveland
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
affiliate WJW-TV donated two cameras to WGSF.
The station broadcast on channel 28 until 1970, when the Ohio ETV Network Commission, The Ohio State University
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
(owners of WOSU), and Nationwide Broadcasting
Nationwide Communications
Nationwide Communications Inc. was a media subsidiary of the Nationwide Insurance Company, which operated from 1946 until 1997. Based in Columbus, Ohio, Nationwide Communications owned and operated a variety of radio and television stations across the United States until it sold off all its radio...
requested that the station move to channel 31, with Nationwide providing funds for the move. In 1970 WGSF became a member station of PBS
Public Broadcasting Service
The Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
, and was soon connected to the national feed, ending reliance of WOSU for networked programming.
WGSF signed off on June 30, 1976, not only due to aging equipment, but due to opportunities for Newark City Schools to operate a channel on cable TV (due to laws mandating cable systems to devote a channel for educational television use), as well as opportunities for Ohio's PBS affiliates to expand to underserved communities. The following day after the station's closedown, WOSU opened W31AA, a low-powered repeater operating on the former WGSF's channel. Newark City School's cable channel would open in 1977, after the local cable franchise provided a cable link to Newark High.
The channel 28 frequency would be reallocated to Columbus as a commercial frequency; this channel would be reactivated when WTTE
WTTE
WTTE is the Fox-affiliated television station for Columbus, Ohio. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 36 from a transmitter on Stimmel Road. The station can be seen on Insight, Time Warner, and WOW! channel 8. For high definition digital cable, it is offered on Insight...
signed on in 1984.