WGSR-LP
Encyclopedia
WGSR-LD is a low-power independent
television station serving Reidsville, North Carolina
, the Piedmont Triad
market in North Carolina
, and parts of Southside Virginia
. The station broadcasts digitally on channel 47, with PSIP also on channel 47. One High-Definition (720p) subchannel and two Standard-Definition (480i) subchannels are active and transmitting programming 24 hours a day. WGSR is owned by the Star News Corporation. The station's analog signal on Channel 39 was discontinued in 2009
station on what was then Alert Cable in Reidsville. On March 7, 1988, the FCC
granted an original construction permit to then-station manager Robert Tudor to broadcast on UHF
channel 14 under the call letters W14AU. Over-the-air programming was largely supplied by satellite networks, but the station produced its own nightly newscast. W14AU also began a weekly call-in program, Monday Night Live.
In August 1996, the FCC approved the sale of the station to Carolina Blue Communications, owned by Daniel Falinski. Under his leadership, the station expanded to a more regional focus. Following an established custom of TV stations in the Greensboro
market, the station acquired Roman-numeral call letters WXIV-LP, and changed its branding to "The Boob Tube". Second-run situation comedies dominated the broadcast schedule during this period, with overnight programming brokered to a home-shopping network.
Digital channel conversion of the area's full-power broadcasters resulted in channel 14 being assigned as the digital channel for WGPX-TV of Burlington
, and WXIV-LP was forced to seek a new channel on which to broadcast in order to remain on the air. Engineering studies determined that channel 39 was the only possibility for the station to continue broadcasting, and in April 2004, the station moved to channel 39.
At the time of the channel switch, Carolina Blue Communications was in the process of selling the station to Star News Corporation, owner of Martinsville-based NewsChannel 18, a cable-only news outlet. Since WXIV-LP was moving from channel 14 to channel 39, its old call letters no longer held any meaning, so the station changed call letters again, this time to WGSR-LP, reflecting the station's new Star-39 brand.
Full-time digital transmission commenced on channel 47 on June 4, 2009, and the current call letters of WGSR-LD became official. Subchannels were added on August 17, 2009. Subchannel 47.1 was upgraded to High-Definition (720p) on February 23, 2011.
area, and has developed "Star News", a news-talk program which airs daily on the station from 5 to 8 pm. Due to WFMY
having the ACC Basketball rights, some sporting events produced by CBS air on the station, and until October 2006, the station broadcast Baltimore Orioles
baseball games. On May 31, 2008, WGSR-LP aired EliteXC: Primetime
through its secondary affiliation with CBS
, after primary affiliate WFMY chose to pass on airing it.
WGSR-LP began organizing the annual Reidsville Downtown Christmas Parade in late 2006, and now puts the event on annually, broadcast live. Every spring and summer, WGSR co-sponsors and broadcasts monthly "Cruise-In Weekends" in Downtown Reidsville.
Star News has gained a reputation for tackling controversial subjects not approached by the region's full-power broadcasters, as well as giving extensive coverage to the news of the "Dan River Region". The station has come under fire for exposing several scandals, including crime, that have involved governmental officials and other public figures in the local area.
Independent station
An independent station is in the category of television terminology used to describe a television station broadcasting in the United States or Canada that is not affiliated with any television network....
television station serving Reidsville, North Carolina
Reidsville, North Carolina
Reidsville is a city located in Rockingham County, North Carolina. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 14,485.Originally established in the early 19th century as an outpost and stop on the stage line that ran between Salisbury, NC and Danville, VA called Wrights Crossroads,...
, the Piedmont Triad
Piedmont Triad
The Piedmont Triad, or Triad, is a north-central region of the U.S. state of North Carolina that consists of the area within and surrounding the three major cities of Greensboro, Winston-Salem, and High Point. This close group or "triad" of cities lies in the Piedmont geographical region of the...
market in North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, and parts of Southside Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. The station broadcasts digitally on channel 47, with PSIP also on channel 47. One High-Definition (720p) subchannel and two Standard-Definition (480i) subchannels are active and transmitting programming 24 hours a day. WGSR is owned by the Star News Corporation. The station's analog signal on Channel 39 was discontinued in 2009
History
The station began in 1982 as "WCTV-3," a Public-access televisionPublic-access television
Public-access television is a form of non-commercial mass media where ordinary people can create content television programming which is cablecast through cable TV specialty channels...
station on what was then Alert Cable in Reidsville. On March 7, 1988, the FCC
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...
granted an original construction permit to then-station manager Robert Tudor to 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 14 under the call letters W14AU. Over-the-air programming was largely supplied by satellite networks, but the station produced its own nightly newscast. W14AU also began a weekly call-in program, Monday Night Live.
In August 1996, the FCC approved the sale of the station to Carolina Blue Communications, owned by Daniel Falinski. Under his leadership, the station expanded to a more regional focus. Following an established custom of TV stations in the Greensboro
Greensboro, North Carolina
Greensboro is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the third-largest city by population in North Carolina and the largest city in Guilford County and the surrounding Piedmont Triad metropolitan region. According to the 2010 U.S...
market, the station acquired Roman-numeral call letters WXIV-LP, and changed its branding to "The Boob Tube". Second-run situation comedies dominated the broadcast schedule during this period, with overnight programming brokered to a home-shopping network.
Digital channel conversion of the area's full-power broadcasters resulted in channel 14 being assigned as the digital channel for WGPX-TV of Burlington
Burlington, North Carolina
Burlington is a city in Alamance and Guilford counties in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the principal city of the Burlington, North Carolina Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Alamance County, in which most of the city is located. The population was 49,963 at the 2010...
, and WXIV-LP was forced to seek a new channel on which to broadcast in order to remain on the air. Engineering studies determined that channel 39 was the only possibility for the station to continue broadcasting, and in April 2004, the station moved to channel 39.
At the time of the channel switch, Carolina Blue Communications was in the process of selling the station to Star News Corporation, owner of Martinsville-based NewsChannel 18, a cable-only news outlet. Since WXIV-LP was moving from channel 14 to channel 39, its old call letters no longer held any meaning, so the station changed call letters again, this time to WGSR-LP, reflecting the station's new Star-39 brand.
Full-time digital transmission commenced on channel 47 on June 4, 2009, and the current call letters of WGSR-LD became official. Subchannels were added on August 17, 2009. Subchannel 47.1 was upgraded to High-Definition (720p) on February 23, 2011.
Programming
WGSR-LP has expanded its local coverage of the Reidsville NC-Martinsville-Danville VADanville, Virginia
Danville is an independent city in Virginia, United States, bounded by Pittsylvania County, Virginia and Caswell County, North Carolina. It was the last capital of the Confederate States of America. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the city of Danville with Pittsylvania county for...
area, and has developed "Star News", a news-talk program which airs daily on the station from 5 to 8 pm. Due to WFMY
WFMY-TV
WFMY-TV is a television station in Greensboro, North Carolina. Owned by the Gannett Company, WFMYis the CBS affiliate for the Greensboro/High Point/Winston-Salem area...
having the ACC Basketball rights, some sporting events produced by CBS air on the station, and until October 2006, the station broadcast Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
baseball games. On May 31, 2008, WGSR-LP aired EliteXC: Primetime
EliteXC: Primetime
EliteXC: Primetime was a mixed martial arts event promoted by Elite Xtreme Combat taking place on May 31, 2008 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. The main card aired live on CBS, marking the first time a MMA event aired in primetime on major American network television...
through its secondary affiliation with 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...
, after primary affiliate WFMY chose to pass on airing it.
WGSR-LP began organizing the annual Reidsville Downtown Christmas Parade in late 2006, and now puts the event on annually, broadcast live. Every spring and summer, WGSR co-sponsors and broadcasts monthly "Cruise-In Weekends" in Downtown Reidsville.
Star News has gained a reputation for tackling controversial subjects not approached by the region's full-power broadcasters, as well as giving extensive coverage to the news of the "Dan River Region". The station has come under fire for exposing several scandals, including crime, that have involved governmental officials and other public figures in the local area.