WJZB-TV
Encyclopedia
WJZB-TV was a television station
in Worcester, Massachusetts
, which existed on UHF channel 14 from 1953 to 1969.
The station signed on in December 1953 as WWOR-TV (no relation to the current New York City station
), the second independent station
in the Boston
area. The transmitter was located on Asnebumskit Hill in Paxton, Massachusetts
. It was a secondary affiliate of ABC
and DuMont
, and also cleared whatever NBC
programs that WBZ-TV
didn't air. Unfortunately, WWOR had signed on just after the Federal Communications Commission
(FCC) opened the UHF band, and television manufacturers were not required to include UHF tuning capability. Even with an expensive converter, WWOR's signal was marginal at best. No one was willing to advertise on a station that was barely viewable, and channel 14 went dark in 1955.
In 1958, WWOR's owners, Salisbury Broadcasting, merged with Springfield Television
Corporation, owner of WWLP-TV in Springfield
. The station returned to the air as a satellite of WWLP. It was only on the air for six hours a day to protect WBZ-TV. After six years, Springfield Television decided to turn channel 14 into the second independent station in the Boston area, under new call letters, WJZB (for John Z. Buckley, a WWLP staffer). In the 1960's, it began airing Boston Bruins
and Boston Celtics
games (from WHDH-TV
Boston), and also aired old movies, syndicated sports programs, travelogues and other standard independent fare. It also retained a part-time NBC affiliation. With a terrestrial footprint that covered Boston, Providence
and eastern Connecticut
, the station appeared to be on strong footing.
However, the channel 14 transmitter
was not capable of broadcasting in color. The station's fate was sealed in 1966, when Storer Broadcasting
bought struggling independent WIHS-TV (channel 38) and changed the calls to WSBK-TV
. WJZB limped along for another year, until Springfield Television cut the station's operations back to 90 minutes a day, the minimum to retain the license. The station signed on at 6 pm and signed off at 7:30 pm, its sole programs being WWLP's evening newscasts and The Huntley-Brinkley Report.
In 1969, Springfield Television sold WJZB to Buckley and his new corporation, Evans Broadcasting. Buckley planned significant upgrades, including a new color transmitter capable of 1 million watts of power. However, the studio and transmitter were destroyed by fire in the spring of 1969. The station never returned to the air, and Buckley returned the license to the FCC, which deleted it in 1971.
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...
in Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester is a city and the county seat of Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Named after Worcester, England, as of the 2010 Census the city's population is 181,045, making it the second largest city in New England after Boston....
, which existed on UHF channel 14 from 1953 to 1969.
The station signed on in December 1953 as WWOR-TV (no relation to the current New York City station
WWOR-TV
WWOR-TV, virtual channel 9 , is the flagship station of the MyNetworkTV programming service, licensed to Secaucus, New Jersey and serving the Tri-State metropolitan area. WWOR is owned by Fox Television Stations, a division of the News Corporation, and is a sister station to Fox network flagship...
), the second independent station
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....
in the Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
area. The transmitter was located on Asnebumskit Hill in Paxton, Massachusetts
Paxton, Massachusetts
Paxton is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 4,806 at the 2010 census.-History:Paxton was first settled in 1749 and was officially incorporated in 1765....
. It was a secondary affiliate 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...
and 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...
, and also cleared whatever 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...
programs that WBZ-TV
WBZ-TV
WBZ-TV, virtual channel 4, is a CBS owned-and-operated television station, located in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. WBZ-TV's studios and office facilities, shared with sister station WSBK-TV , are located in the Allston-Brighton section of Boston, and its transmitter is located in Needham,...
didn't air. Unfortunately, WWOR had signed on just 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) opened the UHF band, and television manufacturers were not required to include UHF tuning capability. Even with an expensive converter, WWOR's signal was marginal at best. No one was willing to advertise on a station that was barely viewable, and channel 14 went dark in 1955.
In 1958, WWOR's owners, Salisbury Broadcasting, merged with Springfield Television
Springfield Television
Springfield Television Corporation was a group owner of television stations based in Springfield, Massachusetts. The company was founded by William Lowell Putnam, III, who launched the company's first television station, WWLP, on March 17, 1953. Springfield Television Corporation was a group owner...
Corporation, owner of WWLP-TV in 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...
. The station returned to the air as a satellite of WWLP. It was only on the air for six hours a day to protect WBZ-TV. After six years, Springfield Television decided to turn channel 14 into the second independent station in the Boston area, under new call letters, WJZB (for John Z. Buckley, a WWLP staffer). In the 1960's, it began airing Boston Bruins
Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...
and Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
games (from WHDH-TV
WHDH-TV (defunct)
WHDH-TV was the callsign of the first station to use channel 5 in Boston. The station ceased operations March 18, 1972, after the station lost its license. The channel, but not the license, was taken over by WCVB-TV the following morning: March 19, 1972. It is of no relation to either WCVB or...
Boston), and also aired old movies, syndicated sports programs, travelogues and other standard independent fare. It also retained a part-time NBC affiliation. With a terrestrial footprint that covered Boston, Providence
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
and eastern 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...
, the station appeared to be on strong footing.
However, the channel 14 transmitter
Transmitter
In electronics and telecommunications a transmitter or radio transmitter is an electronic device which, with the aid of an antenna, produces radio waves. The transmitter itself generates a radio frequency alternating current, which is applied to the antenna. When excited by this alternating...
was not capable of broadcasting in color. The station's fate was sealed in 1966, when Storer Broadcasting
Storer Broadcasting
Storer Broadcasting, Inc. was an American company which owned several television and radio stations in the northeast United States. It was incorporated in Ohio in 1927, and sold its broadcasting properties in 1983.-1920s—1940s:...
bought struggling independent WIHS-TV (channel 38) and changed the calls to WSBK-TV
WSBK-TV
WSBK-TV is a MyNetworkTV television station for eastern Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire that is licensed to Boston. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 39 from a transmitter along the Needham and Wellesley town line southwest of the MA 9 and I-95 / MA 128...
. WJZB limped along for another year, until Springfield Television cut the station's operations back to 90 minutes a day, the minimum to retain the license. The station signed on at 6 pm and signed off at 7:30 pm, its sole programs being WWLP's evening newscasts and The Huntley-Brinkley Report.
In 1969, Springfield Television sold WJZB to Buckley and his new corporation, Evans Broadcasting. Buckley planned significant upgrades, including a new color transmitter capable of 1 million watts of power. However, the studio and transmitter were destroyed by fire in the spring of 1969. The station never returned to the air, and Buckley returned the license to the FCC, which deleted it in 1971.