WXPX
Encyclopedia
WXPX-TV is a television station licensed to Bradenton, Florida
. Operating on channel 66 (digital 42), it is an Ion Television affiliate, owned and operated by ION Media Networks
(formerly Paxson Communications), which has owned the station since its founding in 1994.
Current programming on WXPX is virtually the same as other ION affiliates -- infomercials throughout the day and during the overnights, plus ION programming in the evenings.
The only local programming on WXPX is the public affairs program i on Tampa. The station once aired Miccosukee
Magazine along with WPXM
Miami and WPXP
West Palm Beach, but no longer airs the program. WOPX
in Orlando has picked up the show.
WXPX started in 1994 as WFCT, which featured infomercials at all hours under the "InTV" brand, plus "The Worship Network
" religious programming in late-night. It also presented minor-league hockey featuring the now-defunct Atlanta Knights, which was affiliated with the Tampa Bay Lightning
.
Before the launch of Pax, Paxson also owned a chain of radio stations in Florida. Paxson's Tampa Bay area stations regularly got infomercial time on WFCT. This, of course, ended when Paxson sold off his radio and billboard businesses to fund Pax.
The station became WXPX in 1998, shortly before the launch of Pax, when it started using the moniker "Pax 66". It offered a variety of family-friendly programming throughout the day, plus "The Worship Network
" at night. Later on, it started carrying newscasts from WFLA
, dubbed News Channel 8 on PAX, on but unlike the other Pax stations (which used taped repeats of earlier newscasts), Pax 66's newscasts were live from WFLA, at 7PM and 10PM. In 2002, due to poor ratings of the live newscasts, Pax 66 switched to taped repeats at 7PM and 11:30PM. It would be another five years before WFLA attempted another 10PM newscast, this time on WTTA
, in October 2007.
In July 2005, WFLA's newscasts on Pax 66 ended when Paxson dissolved its relationship with its partners nationwide (mostly NBC affiliates, like WFLA). In July 2005, when "i" was launched, Pax 66 simply became "i". The network again rebranded to Ion Television on January 29, 2007.
From 2004
to 2008
, the Tampa Bay Rays
(Devil Rays) aired a number of games on WXPX. It was also an affiliate of the Orlando Magic
Television Network. WXPX no longer airs live sports events, as both teams have moved exclusively to Fox Sports Florida and Sun Sports
.
Bradenton, Florida
Bradenton is a city in Manatee County, Florida, United States. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated the city's 2007 population to be 53,471. Bradenton is the largest Principal City of the Bradenton-Sarasota-Venice, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had a 2007 estimated population of 682,833...
. Operating on channel 66 (digital 42), it is an Ion Television affiliate, owned and operated by ION Media Networks
ION Media Networks
ION Media Networks is an American television broadcasting company that owns and operates over 60 television stations in most major American markets. It is now a privately owned company.-History:...
(formerly Paxson Communications), which has owned the station since its founding in 1994.
Current programming on WXPX is virtually the same as other ION affiliates -- infomercials throughout the day and during the overnights, plus ION programming in the evenings.
The only local programming on WXPX is the public affairs program i on Tampa. The station once aired Miccosukee
Miccosukee
The Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida are a federally recognized Native American tribe in the U.S. state of Florida. They were part of the Seminole nation until the mid-20th century, when they organized as an independent tribe, receiving federal recognition in 1962...
Magazine along with WPXM
WPXM
WPXM-TV 35, is the local affiliate for the Ion Television network in the South Florida area . Formerly known as Pax TV and i, Ion is the smallest of the seven national commercial TV networks in the United States....
Miami and WPXP
WPXP
WPXP-TV is the Ion Television affiliate for West Palm Beach, Florida, licensed to nearby Lake Worth. The station is owned and operated by West Palm Beach-based ION Media Networks, and operates a digital TV signal on channel 36...
West Palm Beach, but no longer airs the program. WOPX
WOPX
WOPX-TV is a television station based in Orlando, Florida, USA. An affiliate of the Ion Television network, it transmits its digital signal on UHF channel 48, from a transmitter located near Holopaw...
in Orlando has picked up the show.
WXPX started in 1994 as WFCT, which featured infomercials at all hours under the "InTV" brand, plus "The Worship Network
The Worship Network
The Worship Network, or Worship, is a broadcast television service that provides alternative Christian worship-themed programming 24 hours a day, seven days a week...
" religious programming in late-night. It also presented minor-league hockey featuring the now-defunct Atlanta Knights, which was affiliated with the Tampa Bay Lightning
Tampa Bay Lightning
The Tampa Bay Lightning are a professional ice hockey team based in Tampa, Florida. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They have one Stanley Cup championship in their history, in 2003–04. They are often referred to as the...
.
Before the launch of Pax, Paxson also owned a chain of radio stations in Florida. Paxson's Tampa Bay area stations regularly got infomercial time on WFCT. This, of course, ended when Paxson sold off his radio and billboard businesses to fund Pax.
The station became WXPX in 1998, shortly before the launch of Pax, when it started using the moniker "Pax 66". It offered a variety of family-friendly programming throughout the day, plus "The Worship Network
The Worship Network
The Worship Network, or Worship, is a broadcast television service that provides alternative Christian worship-themed programming 24 hours a day, seven days a week...
" at night. Later on, it started carrying newscasts from WFLA
WFLA-TV
WFLA-TV, virtual channel 8, is the NBC-affiliated television station in Tampa/St. Petersburg, Florida. The station is the flagship station of its owner and operator, Media General. Its transmitter is located in Riverview, Hillsborough County, Florida. WFLA is the only station in the market to be...
, dubbed News Channel 8 on PAX, on but unlike the other Pax stations (which used taped repeats of earlier newscasts), Pax 66's newscasts were live from WFLA, at 7PM and 10PM. In 2002, due to poor ratings of the live newscasts, Pax 66 switched to taped repeats at 7PM and 11:30PM. It would be another five years before WFLA attempted another 10PM newscast, this time on WTTA
WTTA
WTTA is the MyNetworkTV-affiliated television station for the Tampa Bay Area of Florida that is licensed to St. Petersburg. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 32 from a transmitter in Riverview. Owned by Bay Television, the station is operated by the Sinclair Broadcast...
, in October 2007.
In July 2005, WFLA's newscasts on Pax 66 ended when Paxson dissolved its relationship with its partners nationwide (mostly NBC affiliates, like WFLA). In July 2005, when "i" was launched, Pax 66 simply became "i". The network again rebranded to Ion Television on January 29, 2007.
From 2004
2004 Major League Baseball season
* Playoff MVPs** Manny Ramírez ** David Ortiz ** Albert Pujols * All-Star Game, July 13 at Minute Maid Park: American League, 9-4; Alfonso Soriano, MVP-References:* *...
to 2008
2008 Major League Baseball season
The 2008 Major League Baseball season began on March 25, 2008 in Tokyo, Japan with the 2007 World Series champion Boston Red Sox defeating the Oakland Athletics at the Tokyo Dome 6–5 in the first game of a two-game series, and ended on September 30 with the host Chicago White Sox defeating the...
, the Tampa Bay Rays
Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are a Major League Baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in , the club has played at Tropicana Field...
(Devil Rays) aired a number of games on WXPX. It was also an affiliate of the Orlando Magic
Orlando Magic
The Orlando Magic is a professional basketball team based in Orlando, Florida. They play in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association and are currently coached by Stan Van Gundy...
Television Network. WXPX no longer airs live sports events, as both teams have moved exclusively to Fox Sports Florida and Sun Sports
Sun Sports
Sun Sports is a Florida sports broadcasting network, with its headquarters in Orlando. Launched in 1988 as Sunshine Network, the station is now affiliated with virtually every cable company throughout the state of Florida and can be picked up by some satellite providers around the United...
.