WUTF-TV
Encyclopedia
WUTF-DT is a television station
in the Boston market. Owned by the Univision Broadcast Group
and managed locally by Entravision, the station is an affiliate of the Telefutura
network. As such, they have an advertising relationship with Univision affiliate WUNI
.
WUTF-DT signed on for the first time on February 12, 1985 as WVJV-TV ("V-66, the Beat of Boston"), playing music videos at a time when they were a major part of the American culture
(this was just four years after MTV
signed on). At that time, the owners were long-time New England radio men John Garabedian
(current host of the nationally syndicated radio show Open House Party
) and Arnie "Woo-Woo" Ginsburg
. Garabedian also owned WGTR (1060 AM, now WQOM); both WVJV and WGTR operated from studios in Natick
. The music format combined progressive rock
(WBCN) and pop contemporary
(Kiss 108
). Irrespective of the must-carry
rule requiring cable systems to carry the station, many cable systems freely chose to carry WVJV as opposed to VH1
. WVJV was also the first station in the Boston area to transmit in stereo
.
Garabedian had hoped to launch a national over-the-air
music video network, competing against MTV, if WVJV had succeeded. However, although channel 66 received a sizable amount of viewers, the station struggled to retain them for long periods of time, and by mid-1986 the station's advertising sales were insufficient to ensure the station's long-term viability; additionally, attempts to broaden the station's programming to include shows on sports and other topics proved unsuccessful. Consequently, WVJV was sold to the Home Shopping Network
later that year, with the station transitioning to HSN's shopping programs soon afterwards; a callsign change to WHSH followed the next year. For the next thirteen years, WHSH continued to run HSN's shopping programs, with some local feature segments in-between. A documentary film on WVJV, tentatively titled Life on the V, is currently being produced by Christian de Rezendes and Eric Green.
In the late 1990s, Barry Diller
, who was the owner of HSN and their broadcast television arm (USA Broadcasting
, formerly Silver King Television), began plans to turn his stations into true independents. On August 1, 2000, this format was implemented on channel 66 as WHUB-TV (from Boston's nickname "The Hub"), using the branding "Hub 66", airing primarily syndicated programs
(both reruns, including Cheers
, Taxi
, and Star Trek: The Next Generation
, and first-run programs); the station also obtained the rights to Boston University
ice hockey
games (previously held by WABU/WBPX), as well as the annual Beanpot
tournament. However due to financial troubles in early 2001, USA Broadcasting was preparing to sell its stations. Disney
/ABC
was to be the owner of WHUB (which would've created a partnership for Hearst Television-owned ABC affiliate WCVB-TV
) but Univision Communications
outbid them in a close race. Plans were immediately announced to make the station an affiliate of what would become Telefutura
(at that time referred to as Univision Duo); in the meantime, WHUB reverted to HSN programming on January 31, 2001 in an attempt by USA to cut costs. AT&T Broadband
then obtained some of WHUB's programming for its AT&T 3 channel (including the 2001 Beanpot, which WHUB never telecast due to returning to HSN; the tournament has since moved to NESN
). (AT&T 3 would be replaced by CN8 New England in 2003, which itself would close in January 2009.)
To reflect the coming Telefutura affiliation, channel 66 changed its call letters to WFUB, likely for "TeleFUtura Boston", in November 2001. However, for unknown reasons, the station changed the callsign again just one month later, to WUTF -- both changes occurred while still running HSN programming. It wasn't until January 14, 2002 that channel 66 finally became a charter Telefutura affiliate, offering a general entertainment format with Spanish movies, serials, sports and children's shows.
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 the Boston market. Owned by the Univision Broadcast Group
Univision
Univision is a Spanish-language television network in the United States. It has the largest audience of Spanish language television viewers according to Nielsen ratings. Randy Falco, COO, has been in charge of the company since the departure of Univision Communications president and CEO Joe Uva...
and managed locally by Entravision, the station is an affiliate of the Telefutura
TeleFutura
TeleFutura is a U.S. Spanish-language broadcast television network owned by Univision with headquarters in Miami, Florida.-Overview:TeleFutura Is America’s #2 Spanish-Language Network in prime time...
network. As such, they have an advertising relationship with Univision affiliate WUNI
WUNI
WUNI, digital channel 29, is the Univision television affiliate for the Greater Boston market. Licensed to Worcester, Massachusetts, the station runs general Spanish entertainment programs as well as news and information programming...
.
History
Culture
Culture is a term that has many different inter-related meanings. For example, in 1952, Alfred Kroeber and Clyde Kluckhohn compiled a list of 164 definitions of "culture" in Culture: A Critical Review of Concepts and Definitions...
(this was just four years after MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
signed on). At that time, the owners were long-time New England radio men John Garabedian
John Garabedian
John H. Garabedian is an American radio personality and disc jockey, known as the host of Open House Party. He has been involved in Massachusetts radio and television stations for around fifty years. John lives in Southborough, Massachusetts....
(current host of the nationally syndicated radio show Open House Party
Open House Party
Open House Party is an American radio show hosted on Saturday nights by John Garabedian that promotes itself as "the biggest party on the planet". It focuses on playing contemporary hit radio music, also known as Top 40. The show differentiates itself from most Top 40 stations because it plays a...
) and Arnie "Woo-Woo" Ginsburg
Arnie Ginsburg
Arnie Ginsburg was a well-known American disc jockey in the Boston radio market from the mid-1950s to the 1970s. Following this period, he became involved in the business side of radio as a business manager, president and owner of WVJV-TV , and later as an executive with Pyramid Broadcasting and...
. Garabedian also owned WGTR (1060 AM, now WQOM); both WVJV and WGTR operated from studios in Natick
Natick, Massachusetts
Natick is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. Natick is located near the center of the MetroWest region of Massachusetts, with a population of 33,006 at the 2010 census. Only west from Boston, Natick is considered part of the Greater Boston area...
. The music format combined progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
(WBCN) and pop contemporary
Contemporary hit radio
Contemporary hit radio is a radio format that is common in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia that focuses on playing current and recurrent popular music as determined by the Top 40 music charts...
(Kiss 108
WXKS-FM
WXKS-FM, better known as Kiss 108, is a radio station in Boston, Massachusetts, licensed to nearby Medford broadcasting a Top 40 format...
). Irrespective of the must-carry
Must-carry
In cable television, governments apply a must-carry regulation stating that locally-licensed television stations must be carried on a cable provider's system.- Canada :...
rule requiring cable systems to carry the station, many cable systems freely chose to carry WVJV as opposed to VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
. WVJV was also the first station in the Boston area to transmit in stereo
STEREO
STEREO is a solar observation mission. Two nearly identical spacecraft were launched into orbits that cause them to respectively pull farther ahead of and fall gradually behind the Earth...
.
Garabedian had hoped to launch a national over-the-air
Terrestrial television
Terrestrial television is a mode of television broadcasting which does not involve satellite transmission or cables — typically using radio waves through transmitting and receiving antennas or television antenna aerials...
music video network, competing against MTV, if WVJV had succeeded. However, although channel 66 received a sizable amount of viewers, the station struggled to retain them for long periods of time, and by mid-1986 the station's advertising sales were insufficient to ensure the station's long-term viability; additionally, attempts to broaden the station's programming to include shows on sports and other topics proved unsuccessful. Consequently, WVJV was sold to the Home Shopping Network
Home Shopping Network
Home Shopping Network or HSN began in 1977 as a 24-hour/7 day a week home shopping television network televised via cable, satellite, and some terrestrial channels in the Philippines. HSN can also be shopped online at hsn.com...
later that year, with the station transitioning to HSN's shopping programs soon afterwards; a callsign change to WHSH followed the next year. For the next thirteen years, WHSH continued to run HSN's shopping programs, with some local feature segments in-between. A documentary film on WVJV, tentatively titled Life on the V, is currently being produced by Christian de Rezendes and Eric Green.
Barry Diller
Barry Charles Diller is the Chairman and Senior Executive of IAC/InterActiveCorp and the media executive responsible for the creation of Fox Broadcasting Company and USA Broadcasting.-Early life:...
, who was the owner of HSN and their broadcast television arm (USA Broadcasting
USA Broadcasting
USA Broadcasting was an American media company owned by veteran entertainment industry executive Barry Diller. This network was the over-the-air broadcasting arm of USA Network....
, formerly Silver King Television), began plans to turn his stations into true independents. On August 1, 2000, this format was implemented on channel 66 as WHUB-TV (from Boston's nickname "The Hub"), using the branding "Hub 66", airing primarily syndicated programs
Television syndication
In broadcasting, syndication is the sale of the right to broadcast radio shows and television shows by multiple radio stations and television stations, without going through a broadcast network, though the process of syndication may conjure up structures like those of a network itself, by its very...
(both reruns, including Cheers
Cheers
Cheers is an American situation comedy television series that ran for 11 seasons from 1982 to 1993. It was produced by Charles/Burrows/Charles Productions, in association with Paramount Network Television for NBC, and was created by the team of James Burrows, Glen Charles, and Les Charles...
, Taxi
Taxi (TV series)
Taxi was an American sitcom that originally aired from 1978 to 1982 on ABC and from 1982 to 1983 on NBC. The series, which won 18 Emmy Awards, including three for "Outstanding Comedy Series", focuses on the everyday lives of a handful of New York City taxi drivers and their abusive dispatcher...
, and Star Trek: The Next Generation
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Star Trek: The Next Generation is an American science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry as part of the Star Trek franchise. Roddenberry, Rick Berman, and Michael Piller served as executive producers at different times throughout the production...
, and first-run programs); the station also obtained the rights to Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
games (previously held by WABU/WBPX), as well as the annual Beanpot
Beanpot
The Beanpot refers primarily to a men's ice hockey tournament among the four major college hockey schools of the Boston, Massachusetts area, held annually since the 1952-53 season. The tournament gives the winner bragging rights over its cross-town rivals, and the quest for this highly sought-after...
tournament. However due to financial troubles in early 2001, USA Broadcasting was preparing to sell its stations. Disney
The Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company is the largest media conglomerate in the world in terms of revenue. Founded on October 16, 1923, by Walt and Roy Disney as the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio, Walt Disney Productions established itself as a leader in the American animation industry before diversifying into...
/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...
was to be the owner of WHUB (which would've created a partnership for Hearst Television-owned ABC affiliate WCVB-TV
WCVB-TV
WCVB-TV, channel 5, is a television station located in Boston, Massachusetts, owned by Hearst Television and affiliated with the ABC Television Network. WCVB-TV's studios and transmitter are co-located in Needham, Massachusetts. WCVB is also one of six Boston television stations seen in Canada by...
) but Univision Communications
Univision Communications
Univision Communications is an American Spanish language media company in the United States. Its headquarters are in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. Prior to 2007, the headquarters were in Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA.- History :...
outbid them in a close race. Plans were immediately announced to make the station an affiliate of what would become Telefutura
TeleFutura
TeleFutura is a U.S. Spanish-language broadcast television network owned by Univision with headquarters in Miami, Florida.-Overview:TeleFutura Is America’s #2 Spanish-Language Network in prime time...
(at that time referred to as Univision Duo); in the meantime, WHUB reverted to HSN programming on January 31, 2001 in an attempt by USA to cut costs. AT&T Broadband
AT&T Broadband
AT&T Broadband was the name of AT&T's cable operations, which were composed of the assets of TCI and MediaOne, Prime Cable, as well as two Comcast cable systems AT&T acquired later in a system swap. Formed in 1999, AT&T Broadband was the largest provider of cable television services...
then obtained some of WHUB's programming for its AT&T 3 channel (including the 2001 Beanpot, which WHUB never telecast due to returning to HSN; the tournament has since moved to NESN
New England Sports Network
The New England Sports Network, or NESN [NESS-en], is a regional cable television network that covers the six New England states except Fairfield County, Connecticut and Southbury, Connecticut, a town in New Haven County, Connecticut which is covered by New York City sports networks...
). (AT&T 3 would be replaced by CN8 New England in 2003, which itself would close in January 2009.)
To reflect the coming Telefutura affiliation, channel 66 changed its call letters to WFUB, likely for "TeleFUtura Boston", in November 2001. However, for unknown reasons, the station changed the callsign again just one month later, to WUTF -- both changes occurred while still running HSN programming. It wasn't until January 14, 2002 that channel 66 finally became a charter Telefutura affiliate, offering a general entertainment format with Spanish movies, serials, sports and children's shows.