WHIZ-TV
Encyclopedia
WHIZ-TV is the NBC
affiliate in Zanesville, Ohio
and its media market
. Although this station is somewhat overshadowed by network affiliates in the nearby Columbus, Ohio
market such as WCMH-TV
, WHIZ-TV provides local news to its limited local area. In addition, WHIZ-TV provides local sports programming, including local basketball
games on Friday. It is the only major commercial television station in Zanesville, with the other local stations being PBS
member station WOUC-TV
(Ohio University
at Athens
) and a TBN
repeater (W16BT
).
Construction on WHIZ-TV began in 1952 at the Downard Road site for Zanesville's first television station. On May 23, 1953, WHIZ-TV began broadcasting on channel 50, with just enough power to reach the 500 or so television sets in the Zanesville area. A year and a half later, WHIZ-TV moved to channel 18, and increased its power output to 186 kW in addition to operating broadcast translators on channel 71 (W71AB) in Coshocton
and channel 80 (W80AA) in Cambridge
. In 1986, channel 18 increased power output to 589 kW with a new antenna, and introduced stereo sound.
WHIZ-TV has been a primary NBC affiliate since the station began, but did not become a full-time NBC
affiliate until 1966. It has since lost many of its western counties to the Columbus market and WCMH-TV
, the NBC affiliate there. It originally aired a mixture of ABC
, CBS
and NBC
programming, as well as DuMont
programming for a short period.
In 2003, WHIZ-TV began broadcasting in digital on channel 40.
On July 25, 2008, WHIZ's analog signal ceased broadcasting after the station's power combiner failed. While the station was able to restore its digital signal, it was determined that there was no way to restore the analog signal until early 2009. As such an analog signal could only operate for two months before the shutdown of analog signals
for all full-service stations, WHIZ decided to permanently cease analog broadcasting.
AM and WHIZ-FM ("Z-92"). Formerly the company operated WCVZ-FM
("Highway 102") prior to its replacement by WWCD ("CD101 @ 102.5"); WWCD owner Fun With Radio, LLC. now operates the station via WHIZ Media Group through a local marketing agreement
(technically, WHIZ Media Group still owns the station). WHIZ stands for "We're here in Zanesville".
Until early 2008, WHIZ also operated CW Plus stations in Zanesville, WBZV; and Parkersburg, West Virginia
, WBPB. After their closure, it was replaced on cable lineups by WWHO
in Zanesville, and WQCW
in Parkersburg. The CW Plus has since been reinstated on Zanesville cable lineups, now operated directly by the various cable providers serving the market.
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 in Zanesville, Ohio
Zanesville, Ohio
Zanesville is a city in and the county seat of Muskingum County, Ohio, United States. The population was 25,586 at the 2000 census.Zanesville was named after Ebenezer Zane, who had constructed Zane's Trace, a pioneer road through present-day Ohio...
and its media 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...
. Although this station is somewhat overshadowed by network affiliates in the nearby Columbus, Ohio
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...
market such as WCMH-TV
WCMH-TV
WCMH-TV, channel 4, is a television station in Columbus, Ohio, affiliated with the NBC television network and owned by Media General. The station's studios and transmitter are located in Columbus. NBC-4 broadcasts from its studio and office complex near the Ohio State University on Olentangy River...
, WHIZ-TV provides local news to its limited local area. In addition, WHIZ-TV provides local sports programming, including local basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
games on Friday. It is the only major commercial television station in Zanesville, with the other local stations being 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....
member station WOUC-TV
WOUB-TV
WOUB-TV channel 20 is a Public Broadcasting Service member Public television station at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. WOUB-TV's programming can be seen in southeastern Ohio on digital channel 27...
(Ohio University
Ohio University
Ohio University is a public university located in the Midwestern United States in Athens, Ohio, situated on an campus...
at Athens
Athens, Ohio
Athens is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Athens County, Ohio, United States. It is located along the Hocking River in the southeastern part of Ohio. A historic college town, Athens is home to Ohio University and is the principal city of the Athens, Ohio Micropolitan Statistical Area. ...
) and a TBN
Trinity Broadcasting Network
The Trinity Broadcasting Network is a major American Christian television network. TBN is based in Costa Mesa, California, with auxiliary studio facilities in Irving, Texas; Hendersonville, Tennessee; Gadsden, Alabama; Decatur, Georgia; Miami, Florida; Tulsa, Oklahoma; Orlando, Florida; and New...
repeater (W16BT
W16BT
W16BT is a low-power television station licensed to Zanesville, Ohio. It was most recently a repeater that broadcasts programming from the Trinity Broadcasting Network, via satellite....
).
History
Coshocton, Ohio
Coshocton is a city in and the county seat of Coshocton County, Ohio, United States. The population of the city was 11,682 at the 2000 census. The Walhonding River and the Tuscarawas River meet in Coshocton to form the Muskingum River....
and channel 80 (W80AA) in Cambridge
Cambridge, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 11,520 people, 4,924 households, and 2,954 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,055.1 people per square mile . There were 5,585 housing units of an average density of 996.3 per square mile...
. In 1986, channel 18 increased power output to 589 kW with a new antenna, and introduced stereo sound.
WHIZ-TV has been a primary NBC affiliate since the station began, but did not become a full-time 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 until 1966. It has since lost many of its western counties to the Columbus market and WCMH-TV
WCMH-TV
WCMH-TV, channel 4, is a television station in Columbus, Ohio, affiliated with the NBC television network and owned by Media General. The station's studios and transmitter are located in Columbus. NBC-4 broadcasts from its studio and office complex near the Ohio State University on Olentangy River...
, the NBC affiliate there. It originally aired a mixture of 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...
, 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...
and 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...
programming, as well as DuMont
DuMont Television Network
The DuMont Television Network, also known as the DuMont Network, DuMont, Du Mont, or Dumont was one of the world's pioneer commercial television networks, rivalling NBC for the distinction of being first overall. It began operation in the United States in 1946. It was owned by DuMont...
programming for a short period.
In 2003, WHIZ-TV began broadcasting in digital on channel 40.
On July 25, 2008, WHIZ's analog signal ceased broadcasting after the station's power combiner failed. While the station was able to restore its digital signal, it was determined that there was no way to restore the analog signal until early 2009. As such an analog signal could only operate for two months before the shutdown of analog signals
DTV transition in the United States
The DTV transition in the United States was the switchover from analog to exclusively digital broadcasting of free over-the-air television programming...
for all full-service stations, WHIZ decided to permanently cease analog broadcasting.
Station slogans
- WHIZ-TV is There (late 1990s-2002)
- WHIZ-TV, Closer to Home (2002–2010)
- Our Focus is on You! (2010-present)
Other stations
The WHIZ Media Group also owns and operates radio stations WHIZWHIZ (AM)
WHIZ is a radio station broadcasting a Variety format. Licensed to Zanesville, Ohio, USA. The station is currently owned by Southeastern Ohio Broadcasting System, Inc. and features programing from ABC Radio , ESPN Radio and Westwood One.-History:...
AM and WHIZ-FM ("Z-92"). Formerly the company operated WCVZ-FM
WWCD
WWCD —currently branded CD101 @ 102.5—is a commercial modern rock radio station licensed to Baltimore, Ohio and serving the Columbus metro area....
("Highway 102") prior to its replacement by WWCD ("CD101 @ 102.5"); WWCD owner Fun With Radio, LLC. now operates the station via WHIZ Media Group through a local marketing agreement
Local marketing agreement
In U.S. and Canadian broadcasting, a local marketing agreement is an agreement in which one company agrees to operate a radio or television station owned by another licensee...
(technically, WHIZ Media Group still owns the station). WHIZ stands for "We're here in Zanesville".
Until early 2008, WHIZ also operated CW Plus stations in Zanesville, WBZV; and Parkersburg, West Virginia
Parkersburg, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 33,099 people, 14,467 households, and 8,767 families residing in the city. In 2006 the U.S. Census Bureau estimated that Parkersburg's population had decreased 4.4% to 31,755. The population density was 2,800.5 people per square mile . There were 16,100 housing...
, WBPB. After their closure, it was replaced on cable lineups by WWHO
WWHO
WWHO is the Columbus, Ohio television affiliate for The CW Television Network. The station is licensed to Chillicothe, though it operates out of a facility in Columbus with its transmitter located in Williamsport, halfway between Columbus and Chillicothe...
in Zanesville, and WQCW
WQCW
WQCW is the CW affiliate for the Huntington/Charleston, West Virginia television market. It is licensed to Portsmouth, Ohio and is the one of two commercial stations in the market licensed outside of West Virginia. Its transmitter is located in West Portsmouth, Ohio...
in Parkersburg. The CW Plus has since been reinstated on Zanesville cable lineups, now operated directly by the various cable providers serving the market.