Jump to content

WVBT: Difference between revisions

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
 
(30 intermediate revisions by 19 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{short description|Fox affiliate in Virginia Beach, Virginia}}
{{short description|Fox/CW affiliate in Virginia Beach, Virginia}}
{{distinguish|WBTV|Vermont PBS{{!}}WVTB}}
{{distinguish|WBTV|Vermont PBS{{!}}WVTB}}
{{Cleanup bare URLs|date=September 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2024}}
{{Infobox television station
{{Infobox television station
| callsign = WVBT
| callsign = WVBT
| city =
| city = Virginia Beach, Virginia
| logo = WVBTlogo Jan08.png
| logo = WVBTlogo Jan08.png
| logo_size = 205px
| logo_size = 205px
| image = WVBT-DT2 2024.svg
| branding = Fox 43
| image_size = 130px
| digital = 21 ([[ultra high frequency|UHF]])
| branding = {{ubl|Fox 43|The CW Hampton Roads (on DT2)}}
| virtual = 43
| digital = 21 ([[UHF]])
| subchannels =
| virtual = 43
| translators = ''36 WPMC-CD [[Mappsville, Virginia|Mappsville]]<br />14 WNLO-CD [[Norfolk, Virginia|Norfolk]]''
| subchannels =
| affiliations = '''43.1:''' [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] (1998–present)<br />'''43.2:''' [[Cozi TV]]<br />'''43.3:''' [[Rewind TV]]
| translators = 36 WPMC-CD [[Mappsville]]
| network =
| affiliations = {{ubl|'''43.1:''' [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]]|'''43.2:''' [[The CW]]{{r|cw-b&c}}|''for others, see {{Section link||Subchannels}}''}}
| country = United States
| network =
| founded = June 13, 1985
| country = United States
| airdate = {{start date and age|1993|3|22|p=y}}
| founded = June 13, 1985
| last_airdate =
| airdate = {{start date and age|1993|3|22|p=y}}
| location = [[Virginia Beach, Virginia]]
| last_airdate =
| callsign_meaning = Virginia Beach Television
| location = [[Virginia Beach]]–[[Norfolk, Virginia|Norfolk]]–[[Hampton, Virginia]]
| former_callsigns =
| callsign_meaning = Virginia Beach Television
| former_channel_numbers = '''Analog:'''<br />43 (UHF, 1993–2009)<br />'''Digital:'''<br />29 (UHF, 2001–2020)
| former_callsigns =
| atsc3 =
| former_channel_numbers = {{ubl|'''Analog:''' 43 (UHF, 1993–2009)|'''Digital:''' 29 (UHF, 2001–2020)}}
| owner = [[Nexstar Media Group]]
| licensee = Nexstar Media Inc.
| owner = [[Nexstar Media Group]]
| licensee = Nexstar Media Inc.
| sister_stations = WAVY-TV
| sister_stations = WAVY-TV
| former_affiliations = [[Independent station (North America)|Independent]] (1993–1995)<br />[[The WB]] (1995–1998)
| former_affiliations = {{ubl|[[Independent station|Independent]] (1993–1995)|[[The WB]] (1995–1998)}}
| erp = 850 kW
| erp = 850 kW
| haat = {{convert|300|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| haat = {{convert|300|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| class = [[digital terrestrial television|DT]]
| class =
| facility_id = 65387
| facility_id = 65387
| coordinates = {{nowrap|{{coord|36|49|15|N|76|30|40|W|type:landmark_scale:2000}}}}
| coordinates = {{coord|36|49|15|N|76|30|40|W|type:landmark_scale:2000}}
| licensing_authority = [[Federal Communications Commission|FCC]]
| licensing_authority = [[FCC]]
| website = {{url|https://www.wavy.com/fox43-tv}}
| website = {{url|https://www.wavy.com/fox43-tv}}
}}
}}


'''WVBT''' (channel 43) is a [[television station]] licensed to [[Virginia Beach, Virginia]], United States, serving the [[Hampton Roads]] area as an affiliate of the [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] network. It is owned by [[Nexstar Media Group]] alongside [[Portsmouth, Virginia|Portsmouth]]-licensed [[NBC]] affiliate [[WAVY-TV]] (channel 10). Both stations share studios on Wavy Street in downtown Portsmouth, while WVBT's transmitter is located in [[Suffolk, Virginia]].
'''WVBT''' (channel 43) is a [[television station]] licensed to [[Virginia Beach, Virginia]], United States, serving the [[Hampton Roads]] area as an affiliate of the [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] network. Its second [[digital subchannel]] serves as an [[owned-and-operated station]] of [[The CW]]. WVBT is owned by [[Nexstar Media Group]] alongside [[Portsmouth, Virginia|Portsmouth]]-licensed [[NBC]] affiliate [[WAVY-TV]] (channel 10). The two stations share studios on Wavy Street in downtown Portsmouth; WVBT's transmitter is located in [[Suffolk, Virginia]].


WVBT's programming is also seen on [[Class A television service|Class A]] [[Broadcast relay station|repeaters]] '''WNLO-CD''' (channel 14) in [[Norfolk, Virginia|Norfolk]] and '''WPMC-CD''' (channel 36) in [[Mappsville, Virginia|Mappsville]].
WVBT's programming is also seen on [[Class A television service|Class A]] [[Broadcast relay station|repeater]] '''WPMC-CD''' (channel 36) in [[Mappsville]], serving the northern [[Eastern Shore of Virginia]].


==History==
==History==
WVBT began operation on March 22, 1993, with [[HSN|Home Shopping Network]] programming along with [[infomercial]]s and [[religious broadcasting|religious shows]]. It became a charter affiliate of [[The WB]] starting on January 11, 1995. Shortly thereafter, the station's original local owners signed a [[local marketing agreement]] (LMA) with LIN TV. Under that agreement, WAVY took over the station's operations, and WVBT moved to WAVY's studios in Portsmouth. In May 1996, WVBT began broadcasting from a new transmitter, giving it a coverage area comparable to the other major Hampton Roads stations. Before then, its over-the-air signal was effectively limited to Virginia Beach and parts of Norfolk.
WVBT began operation on March 22, 1993, with [[Home Shopping Network]] programming along with [[infomercial]]s and [[religious broadcasting|religious shows]]. It became a charter affiliate of [[The WB]] starting on January 11, 1995. Shortly thereafter, the station's original local owners signed a [[local marketing agreement]] (LMA) with LIN TV. Under that agreement, WAVY took over the station's operations, and WVBT moved to WAVY's studios in Portsmouth. In May 1996, WVBT began broadcasting from a new transmitter, giving it a coverage area comparable to the other major Hampton Roads stations. Before then, its over-the-air signal was effectively limited to Virginia Beach and parts of Norfolk.


LIN TV reached an affiliation agreement with Fox in November 1995, and outright purchased the station in 2002. Due to an affiliation deal between The WB and [[WTVZ]]'s (channel 33) owner, [[Sinclair Broadcast Group]], WTVZ swapped affiliations with WVBT in August 1998.<ref>[http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/VA-news/VA-Pilot/issues/1995/vp951130/11300414.htm FOX TO CHANGE AFFILIATION IN SEPTEMBER 1998, FOX PLANS TO MOVE FROM WTVZ IN NORFOLK TO WVBT IN VIRGINIA BEACH<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>[http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/VA-news/VA-Pilot/issues/1995/vp951206/12060042.htm Locals Still Buzzing About Fox Switch<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> The final WB program to air on WVBT was a repeat episode of ''[[The Steve Harvey Show]]'', "Fool and the Gang" on July 29, 1998; almost three days later, the first Fox program to air on WVBT was ''[[Fox News Sunday]]''.{{citation needed|date=May 2021}}
LIN TV reached an affiliation agreement with Fox in November 1995, and outright purchased the station in 2002. Due to an affiliation deal between The WB and [[WTVZ]]'s (channel 33) owner, [[Sinclair Broadcast Group]], WTVZ swapped affiliations with WVBT in August 1998.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bonko |first1=Larry |title=Fox to Change Affiliation in September 1998, Fox Plans to Move Fron WTVZ in Norfolk to WVBT in Virginia Beach |journal=[[The Virginian-Pilot]] |date=November 30, 1995 |page=D1 |url=https://scholar.lib.vt.edu/VA-news/VA-Pilot/issues/1995/vp951130/11300414.htm}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Bonko |first1=Larry |title=Locals Still Buzzing About Fox Switch |journal=[[The Virginian-Pilot]] |date=December 6, 1995 |page=E2 |url=http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/VA-news/VA-Pilot/issues/1995/vp951206/12060042.htm}}</ref>


Until January 2007, WAVY operated a 24-hour local weather channel called "WAVY Weather Station" on WVBT's second [[digital subchannel]] taking advantage of its [[720p]] signal to present the service without interfering with video quality on either WAVY or WVBT. It was made cable-only in 2007 for unknown reasons, and eventually went dark in 2011. It was seen on [[Mediacom]] channel 9, [[Charter Spectrum|Charter]] channel 22, and [[Cox Communications|Cox]] digital channel 227.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://blogs.wavy.com/2011/05/16/scattered/ |title=Archived copy |access-date=2014-09-04 |archive-date=2014-10-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006092849/http://blogs.wavy.com/2011/05/16/scattered/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> There were live current conditions, updated forecasts, and a live feed of "Super Doppler 10".
Until January 2007, WAVY operated a 24-hour local weather channel called "WAVY Weather Station" on WVBT's second [[digital subchannel]] taking advantage of its [[720p]] signal to present the service without interfering with video quality on either WAVY or WVBT. It was made cable-only in 2007 for unknown reasons, and eventually went dark in 2011. It was seen on [[Mediacom]] channel 9, [[Charter Spectrum|Charter]] channel 22, and [[Cox Communications|Cox]] digital channel 227.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://blogs.wavy.com/2011/05/16/scattered/ |title=Scattered…. &#124; WAVY.com Blogs |access-date=September 4, 2014 |archive-date=October 6, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006092849/http://blogs.wavy.com/2011/05/16/scattered/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> There were live current conditions, updated forecasts, and a live feed of "Super Doppler 10".


On March 21, 2014, [[Richmond, Virginia|Richmond]]-based [[Media General]] announced that it would buy LIN Media for $1.6 billion in cash and stock.<ref>{{cite web|title=Media General to buy LIN Media for $1.6 billion|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-linmedia-offer-idUSBREA2K0S720140321|first=Sruthi|last=Ramakrishnan|work=[[Reuters]]|date=March 21, 2014|access-date=March 21, 2014}}</ref> The merger was completed on December 19, at which point WAVY and WVBT came under common ownership with ABC affiliate [[WRIC-TV]] in [[Petersburg, Virginia|Petersburg]] (serving the Richmond market).<ref>{{cite press release|title=Media General Completes Merger With LIN Media|url=http://www.mediageneral.com/press/2014/dec19_14_merger.html|website=[[Media General]]|date=December 19, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141219194453/http://www.mediageneral.com/press/2014/dec19_14_merger.html|archive-date=December 19, 2014}}</ref>
<!-- Commented out because image was deleted: [[Image:WVBT old.jpg|thumb|left|130px|Logo from 1998 until 2008.]] -->
On March 21, 2014, [[Richmond, Virginia|Richmond]]-based [[Media General]] announced that it would buy LIN Media for $1.6 billion in cash and stock.<ref>{{cite web|title=Media General to buy LIN Media for $1.6 billion|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-linmedia-offer-idUSBREA2K0S720140321|author=Sruthi Ramakrishnan|work=[[Reuters]]|date=March 21, 2014|access-date=March 21, 2014}}</ref> The merger was completed on December 19, at which point WAVY and WVBT came under common ownership with ABC affiliate [[WRIC-TV]] in [[Petersburg, Virginia|Petersburg]] (serving the Richmond market).<ref>{{cite press release|title=Media General Completes Merger With LIN Media|url=http://www.mediageneral.com/press/2014/dec19_14_merger.html|website=[[Media General]]|date=December 19, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141219194453/http://www.mediageneral.com/press/2014/dec19_14_merger.html|archive-date=December 19, 2014}}</ref>


On January 27, 2016, Media General signed an agreement to have its assets acquired by [[Irving, Texas]]-based [[Nexstar Media Group|Nexstar Broadcasting Group]] for $4.6 billion, plus the assumption of $2.3 billion in Media General-held debt. The agreement followed Media General's termination of an earlier sale agreement with [[Des Moines, Iowa|Des Moines]]–based [[Meredith Corporation]], which received the [[right of first refusal]] to acquire any broadcast or digital properties that may be divested (a clause that Meredith did not exercise) in exchange for terminating its agreement with Media General for $60 million.<ref name=tvnc-mgnexstar>{{cite web|title=Nexstar-Media General: It's A Done Deal|url=http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/91865/nexstarmedia-general-its-a-done-deal|website=TVNewsCheck|publisher=NewsCheck Media|date=January 27, 2016|access-date=March 4, 2016}}</ref><ref name=nyt-mgnex>{{cite news|title=Nexstar Clinches Deal to Acquire Media General|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/28/business/dealbook/nexstar-clinches-deal-to-acquire-media-general.html?_r=0|author=Leslie Picker|newspaper=The New York Times|date=January 27, 2016|access-date=January 27, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release|title=NEXSTAR BROADCASTING GROUP ENTERS INTO DEFINITIVE AGREEMENT TO ACQUIRE MEDIA GENERAL FOR $4.6 BILLION IN ACCRETIVE CASH AND STOCK TRANSACTION|url=http://www.mediageneral.com/press/2016/jan27_2016nexs.html|website=[[Media General]]|date=January 27, 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160130083411/http://www.mediageneral.com/press/2016/jan27_2016nexs.html|archive-date=January 30, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Prather Buys 5 TVs From Nexstar-Media Gen.|url=http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/95456/prather-buys-5-tvs-from-nexstarmedia-gen|website=TVNewsCheck|publisher=NewsCheck Media|date=June 13, 2016|access-date=March 14, 2017}}</ref> The transaction was approved by the FCC on January 11, 2017; the sale was completed on January 17, at which point the existing Nexstar stations and the former Media General outlets that neither group had to sell in order to rectify ownership conflicts in certain markets became part of the renamed Nexstar Media Group; this brought WAVY-TV and WVBT under common ownership with the [[Roanoke, Virginia|Roanoke]] duopoly of Fox affiliate [[WFXR]] and CW affiliate [[WWCW]] (which necessitated Media General to sell its NBC-affiliated station in that market, [[WSLS-TV]], to [[Graham Media Group]] in order to alleviate said ownership conflict with the two existing Nexstar-owned stations).<ref>{{cite press release|title=Nexstar Broadcasting Group Completes Acquisition of Media General Creating Nexstar Media Group, The Nation's Second Largest Television Broadcaster|url=http://www.nexstar.tv/nexstar-broadcasting-group-completes-acquisition-of-media-general-creating-nexstar-media-group-the-nations-second-largest-television-broadcaster/|website=[[Nexstar Media Group]]|date=January 17, 2017|access-date=March 14, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=FCC OKs $4.6B Nexstar-Media General Merger|url=http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/100621/fcc-oks-46b-nexstarmedia-general-merger|author=Harry A. Jessell|website=TVNewsCheck|publisher=NewsCheck Media|date=January 11, 2017|access-date=March 14, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Nexstar Closes On Media General Purchase|url=http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/100762/nexstar-closes-on-media-general-purchase|author=Harry A. Jessell|website=TVNewsCheck|publisher=NewsCheck Media|date=January 17, 2017|access-date=March 14, 2017}}</ref>
On January 27, 2016, Media General signed an agreement to have its assets acquired by [[Irving, Texas]]–based [[Nexstar Broadcasting Group]] for $4.6 billion, plus the assumption of $2.3 billion in Media General-held debt. The agreement followed Media General's termination of an earlier sale agreement with [[Des Moines]]–based [[Meredith Corporation]], which received the [[right of first refusal]] to acquire any broadcast or digital properties that may be divested (a clause that Meredith did not exercise) in exchange for terminating its agreement with Media General for $60 million.<ref name=tvnc-mgnexstar>{{cite web|title=Nexstar-Media General: It's A Done Deal|url=http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/91865/nexstarmedia-general-its-a-done-deal|website=TVNewsCheck|publisher=NewsCheck Media|date=January 27, 2016|access-date=March 4, 2016}}</ref><ref name=nyt-mgnex>{{cite news|title=Nexstar Clinches Deal to Acquire Media General|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/28/business/dealbook/nexstar-clinches-deal-to-acquire-media-general.html?_r=0|first=Leslie|last=Picker|newspaper=The New York Times|date=January 27, 2016|access-date=January 27, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release|title=NEXSTAR BROADCASTING GROUP ENTERS INTO DEFINITIVE AGREEMENT TO ACQUIRE MEDIA GENERAL FOR $4.6 BILLION IN ACCRETIVE CASH AND STOCK TRANSACTION|url=http://www.mediageneral.com/press/2016/jan27_2016nexs.html|website=[[Media General]]|date=January 27, 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160130083411/http://www.mediageneral.com/press/2016/jan27_2016nexs.html|archive-date=January 30, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Prather Buys 5 TVs From Nexstar-Media Gen.|url=http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/95456/prather-buys-5-tvs-from-nexstarmedia-gen|website=TVNewsCheck|publisher=NewsCheck Media|date=June 13, 2016|access-date=March 14, 2017}}</ref> The transaction was approved by the FCC on January 11, 2017; the sale was completed on January 17, at which point the existing Nexstar stations and the former Media General outlets that neither group had to sell in order to rectify ownership conflicts in certain markets became part of the renamed Nexstar Media Group; this brought WAVY-TV and WVBT under common ownership with the [[Roanoke, Virginia|Roanoke]] duopoly of Fox affiliate [[WFXR]] and CW affiliate [[WWCW]] (which necessitated Media General to sell its NBC-affiliated station in that market, [[WSLS-TV]], to [[Graham Media Group]] in order to alleviate said ownership conflict with the two existing Nexstar-owned stations).<ref>{{cite press release|title=Nexstar Broadcasting Group Completes Acquisition of Media General Creating Nexstar Media Group, The Nation's Second Largest Television Broadcaster|url=http://www.nexstar.tv/nexstar-broadcasting-group-completes-acquisition-of-media-general-creating-nexstar-media-group-the-nations-second-largest-television-broadcaster/|website=[[Nexstar Media Group]]|date=January 17, 2017|access-date=March 14, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=FCC OKs $4.6B Nexstar-Media General Merger|url=http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/100621/fcc-oks-46b-nexstarmedia-general-merger|first=Harry A.|last=Jessell|website=TVNewsCheck|publisher=NewsCheck Media|date=January 11, 2017|access-date=March 14, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Nexstar Closes On Media General Purchase|url=http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/100762/nexstar-closes-on-media-general-purchase|first=Harry A.|last=Jessell|website=TVNewsCheck|publisher=NewsCheck Media|date=January 17, 2017|access-date=March 14, 2017}}</ref>


On December 3, 2018, Nexstar announced it would acquire the assets of Chicago-based [[Tribune Media]]—which has operated [[CBS]] affiliate [[WTKR]] (channel 3) and [[The CW|CW]] affiliate [[WGNT]] (channel 27) through a [[shared services]] agreement with partner company Dreamcatcher Broadcasting since December 2013—for $6.4 billion in cash and debt. Nexstar was precluded from acquiring WTKR/WGNT directly or indirectly while owning WAVY/WVBT, as FCC regulations prohibit common ownership of more than two stations in the same media market, or two or more of the four highest-rated stations in the market. (WAVY and WTKR consistently rank among the top four in terms of total-day viewership in the Norfolk–Virginia Beach–Hampton Roads market, while WVBT and WGNT have occasionally rotated between fourth and fifth place, a situation that allowed for Media General and, later, Nexstar to acquire WVBT directly in their respective group acquisitions involving the WAVY/WVBT duopoly. Furthermore, any attempt by Nexstar to assume the operations of WTKR/WGNT through local marketing or shared services agreements would have been subject to regulatory hurdles that could have delayed completion of the FCC and Justice Department's review and approval process for the acquisition.) As such, on January 31, 2019, Nexstar announced it would retain the WAVY/WVBT duopoly and sell WTKR and WGNT to a different buyer; it was announced on March 20, 2019, that the WTKR/WGNT duopoly would be sold to the [[E. W. Scripps Company]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/nexstar-plans-to-sell-wnep-tv-1.2439902|title=Nexstar plans to sell WNEP-TV|last=Allabaugh|first=Denise|website=www.citizensvoice.com|language=en-US|access-date=2019-02-01}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Acquisition of Tribune Media Company|url=https://www.nexstar.tv/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Nexstar-Tribune-Investor-Presentation-FINAL-12-3-18.pdf|website=[[Nexstar Media Group]]|date=December 3, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Nexstar Buying Tribune Media For $6.4 Billion|url=https://tvnewscheck.com/article/top-news/226264/nexstar-buying-tribune-media-6-4-billion/|author=Mark K. Miller|website=TVNewsCheck|publisher=NewsCheck Media|date=December 3, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Nexstar Confirms $4.1B Tribune Media Acquisition To Become Leading Local TV Station Owner|url=https://deadline.com/2018/12/nexstar-tribune-media-acquisition-1202512653/|author=Peter White|author2=Dade Hayes|website=Deadline Hollywood|publisher=Penske Media Corporation|date=December 3, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Nexstar to buy WGN owner Tribune Media for $4.1 billion|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-nexstar-tribune-media-20181202-story.html|author=Gerry Smith|author2=Nabila Ahmed|author3=Eric Newcomer|agency=[[Bloomberg L.P.|Bloomberg News]]|newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]]|publisher=[[Tribune Publishing]]|date=December 3, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Nexstar to buy Tribune Media for $4.1 billion|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-tribune-media-m-a-nexstar-media/nexstar-to-buy-tribune-media-for-4-1-billion-idUSKBN1O217Z|author=Arjun Panchadar|author2=Sonam Rai|work=[[Reuters]]|date=December 3, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Nexstar Announces Deal to Buy Tribune for $6.4B|url=https://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/nexstar-announces-deal-to-buy-tribune-for-6-4b|author=Jon Lafayette|periodical=Broadcasting & Cable|publisher=NewBay Media|date=December 3, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=It's Official: Nexstar Takes Tribune In Billion-Dollar Stock Deal|url=https://www.rbr.com/reuters-nexstar-gets-tribune-in-4-1b-deal/|author=Adam Jacobson|website=Radio-Television Business Report|publisher=Streamline-RBR, Inc.|date=December 3, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Nexstar To Spin Off $1B In Stations|url=https://tvnewscheck.com/article/top-news/226264/nexstar-buying-tribune-media-6-4-billion/|author=Harry A. Jessell|author2=Mark K. Miller|website=TVNewsCheck|publisher=NewsCheck Media|date=December 3, 2018}}</ref><ref name="nxsttrco1">{{cite web|url=https://www.nexstar.tv/nexstar_agrees_to_acquire_tribune/|title=Nexstar Media Group Enters into Definitive Agreement to Acquire Tribune Media Company for $6.4 Billion in Accretive Transaction Creating the Nation's Largest Local Television Broadcaster and Local Media Company|publisher=[[Nexstar Media Group]]|date=December 3, 2018|access-date=December 3, 2018}}</ref><ref name="nxsttrco2">{{cite web|url=http://www.tribunemedia.com/nexstar-media-group-enters-into-definitive-agreement-to-acquire-tribune-media-company/|title=Nexstar Media Group Enters Into Definitive Agreement To Acquire Tribune Media Company|publisher=[[Tribune Media]]|date=December 3, 2018|access-date=December 3, 2018}}</ref><ref name="tvnc-nexstarspinoffs">{{cite web|url=https://tvnewscheck.com/article/top-news/232391/nexstar-selling-19-tvs-in-15-markets-for-1-32b/|title=Nexstar Selling 19 TVs In 15 Markets For $1.32B|work=TVNewsCheck|publisher=NewsCheckMedia|date=March 20, 2019|access-date=March 20, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Nexstar to Sell Stations to Tegna, Scripps for $1.32 Billion|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-03-20/nexstar-to-sell-19-stations-to-tegna-scripps-for-1-32-billion|author=Nabila Ahmed|author2=Anousha Sakoui|website=Bloomberg News|publisher=[[Bloomberg, L.P.]]|date=March 20, 2019}}</ref>
On December 3, 2018, Nexstar announced it would acquire the assets of Chicago-based [[Tribune Media]]—which has operated [[CBS]] affiliate [[WTKR]] (channel 3) and [[The CW|CW]] affiliate [[WGNT]] (channel 27) through a [[shared services]] agreement with partner company Dreamcatcher Broadcasting since December 2013—for $6.4 billion in cash and debt. Nexstar was precluded from acquiring WTKR/WGNT directly or indirectly while owning WAVY/WVBT, as FCC regulations prohibit common ownership of more than two stations in the same media market, or two or more of the four highest-rated stations in the market. (WAVY and WTKR consistently rank among the top four in terms of total-day viewership in the Norfolk–Virginia Beach–Hampton Roads market, while WVBT and WGNT have occasionally rotated between fourth and fifth place, a situation that allowed for Media General and, later, Nexstar to acquire WVBT directly in their respective group acquisitions involving the WAVY/WVBT duopoly. Furthermore, any attempt by Nexstar to assume the operations of WTKR/WGNT through local marketing or shared services agreements would have been subject to regulatory hurdles that could have delayed completion of the FCC and Justice Department's review and approval process for the acquisition.) As such, on January 31, 2019, Nexstar announced it would retain the WAVY/WVBT duopoly and sell WTKR and WGNT to a different buyer; it was announced on March 20, 2019, that the WTKR/WGNT duopoly would be sold to the [[E. W. Scripps Company]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/nexstar-plans-to-sell-wnep-tv-1.2439902|title=Nexstar plans to sell WNEP-TV|last=Allabaugh|first=Denise|website=www.citizensvoice.com|language=en-US|access-date=February 1, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Acquisition of Tribune Media Company|url=https://www.nexstar.tv/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Nexstar-Tribune-Investor-Presentation-FINAL-12-3-18.pdf|website=[[Nexstar Media Group]]|date=December 3, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Nexstar Buying Tribune Media For $6.4 Billion|url=https://tvnewscheck.com/article/top-news/226264/nexstar-buying-tribune-media-6-4-billion/|first=Mark K.|last=Miller|website=TVNewsCheck|publisher=NewsCheck Media|date=December 3, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Nexstar Confirms $4.1B Tribune Media Acquisition To Become Leading Local TV Station Owner|url=https://deadline.com/2018/12/nexstar-tribune-media-acquisition-1202512653/|first=Peter|last=White|first2=Dade|last2=Hayes|website=Deadline Hollywood|publisher=Penske Media Corporation|date=December 3, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Nexstar to buy WGN owner Tribune Media for $4.1 billion|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-nexstar-tribune-media-20181202-story.html|first=Gerry|last=Smith|first2=Nabila|last2=Ahmed|first3=Eric|last3=Newcomer|agency=[[Bloomberg L.P.|Bloomberg News]]|newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]]|publisher=[[Tribune Publishing]]|date=December 3, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Nexstar to buy Tribune Media for $4.1 billion|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-tribune-media-m-a-nexstar-media/nexstar-to-buy-tribune-media-for-4-1-billion-idUSKBN1O217Z|first=Arjun|last=Panchadar|first2=Sonam|last2=Rai|website=[[Reuters]]|date=December 3, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Nexstar Announces Deal to Buy Tribune for $6.4B|url=https://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/nexstar-announces-deal-to-buy-tribune-for-6-4b|first=Jon|last=Lafayette|periodical=Broadcasting & Cable|publisher=NewBay Media|date=December 3, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=It's Official: Nexstar Takes Tribune In Billion-Dollar Stock Deal|url=https://www.rbr.com/reuters-nexstar-gets-tribune-in-4-1b-deal/|first=Adam|last=Jacobson|website=Radio-Television Business Report|publisher=Streamline-RBR, Inc.|date=December 3, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Nexstar To Spin Off $1B In Stations|url=https://tvnewscheck.com/article/top-news/226264/nexstar-buying-tribune-media-6-4-billion/|first=Harry A.|last=Jessell|first2=Mark K.|last2=Miller|website=TVNewsCheck|publisher=NewsCheck Media|date=December 3, 2018}}</ref><ref name="nxsttrco1">{{cite web|url=https://www.nexstar.tv/nexstar_agrees_to_acquire_tribune/|title=Nexstar Media Group Enters into Definitive Agreement to Acquire Tribune Media Company for $6.4 Billion in Accretive Transaction Creating the Nation's Largest Local Television Broadcaster and Local Media Company|publisher=[[Nexstar Media Group]]|date=December 3, 2018|access-date=December 3, 2018}}</ref><ref name="nxsttrco2">{{cite web|url=http://www.tribunemedia.com/nexstar-media-group-enters-into-definitive-agreement-to-acquire-tribune-media-company/|title=Nexstar Media Group Enters Into Definitive Agreement To Acquire Tribune Media Company|publisher=[[Tribune Media]]|date=December 3, 2018|access-date=December 3, 2018}}</ref><ref name="tvnc-nexstarspinoffs">{{cite web|url=https://tvnewscheck.com/article/top-news/232391/nexstar-selling-19-tvs-in-15-markets-for-1-32b/|title=Nexstar Selling 19 TVs In 15 Markets For $1.32B|work=TVNewsCheck|publisher=NewsCheckMedia|date=March 20, 2019|access-date=March 20, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Nexstar to Sell Stations to Tegna, Scripps for $1.32 Billion|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-03-20/nexstar-to-sell-19-stations-to-tegna-scripps-for-1-32-billion|first=Nabila|last=Ahmed|first2=Anousha|last2=Sakoui|website=Bloomberg News|publisher=[[Bloomberg, L.P.]]|date=March 20, 2019}}</ref>


On May 1, 2024, it was announced that WVBT-DT2 would join [[The CW]] in September; [[Cozi TV]] moved to subchannel 43.4.<ref name="cw-b&c">{{cite web|url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/nexstar-moving-cw-affiliation-to-wgn-in-chicago|title=Nexstar Will Move The CW Affiliation to WGN Chicago|first=Jon|last=Lafayette|website=[[Broadcasting & Cable]]|date=May 1, 2024|accessdate=May 1, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Nexstar Stations In Chicago, Norfolk, Lafayette, La., To Become CW Affils |url=https://tvnewscheck.com/business/article/nexstar-stations-in-chicago-norfolk-lafayette-la-to-become-cw-affils/ |website=TVNewsCheck Home |access-date=May 1, 2024}}</ref>
==Newscasts==
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:Wvbt news open 2009.png|thumb|right|WAVY News 10 at 7am on Fox 43 news open.{{ffdc|1=Wvbt news open 2009.png|log=2016 February 12}}]] -->


==Newscasts==
{{see|WAVY-TV#News operation}}
When WVBT made the switch to Fox in 1998, WAVY started producing a nightly prime time newscast on this station called ''Fox 43 News at 10''. It was not the market's first broadcast in the time slot as WTKR produced a short-lived show on WGNT from 1995 until 1997.<ref>[http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/VA-news/VA-Pilot/issues/1995/vp950921/09210058.htm Same Stuff On Wtkr News And Wgnt<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] affiliate [[WVEC-TV]] aired its own prime time broadcast on low-powered [[WPEN-LP]] from 1995 until it started cable-only [[Local News on Cable|LNC 4]] (eventually renamed LNC 5) in 1997.<ref>[http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/VA-news/VA-Pilot/issues/1995/vp951014/10140278.htm Wvec, Wpen Team Up On Prime-Time Programming<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> WVEC continued to produce a 10 o'clock show on the cable channel until January 30, 2009.
When WVBT made the switch to Fox in 1998, WAVY started producing a nightly prime time newscast on this station called ''Fox 43 News at 10''. It was not the market's first broadcast in the time slot as WTKR produced a short-lived show on WGNT from 1995 until 1997.<ref>[http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/VA-news/VA-Pilot/issues/1995/vp950921/09210058.htm Same Stuff On Wtkr News And Wgnt<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] affiliate [[WVEC-TV]] aired its own prime time broadcast on low-powered [[WPEN-LP]] from 1995 until it started cable-only [[Local News on Cable|LNC 4]] (eventually renamed LNC 5) in 1997.<ref>[http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/VA-news/VA-Pilot/issues/1995/vp951014/10140278.htm Wvec, Wpen Team Up On Prime-Time Programming<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> WVEC continued to produce a 10 o'clock show on the cable channel until January 30, 2009.


WVBT's news has been very successful over the years with consistent viewership and [[Nielsen ratings|ratings]] and is the only offering of late, local news an hour earlier. The nightly 45 minute broadcast is followed by the ''Fox 43 Sports Wrap'' that airs for fifteen minutes featuring sports news and highlights. It is similar in format to a highlight program currently seen weeknights on sister station [[WNAC-TV]]. On July 21, 2008, the station's newscast and sports show started to be produced in high definition after WAVY made the upgrade.
WVBT's news has been very successful over the years with consistent viewership and [[Nielsen ratings|ratings]] and is the only offering of late, local news an hour earlier. The nightly 45 minute broadcast is followed by the ''Fox 43 Sports Wrap'' that airs for fifteen minutes featuring sports news and highlights. It is similar in format to a highlight program currently seen weeknights on sister station [[WNAC-TV]]. On July 21, 2008, the station's newscast and sports show started to be produced in high definition after WAVY made the upgrade.


On February 2, 2009, WVBT added ''Fox 43 News at 7'' on weekday mornings with local news, weather, and traffic updates along with various entertainment/lifestyle features. This morning show (which was essentially an hour-long extension of WAVY's morning broadcast) ended January 8, 2010. The program was then replaced by ''The Hampton Roads Show'' which launched January 18, 2010 from a new secondary set complete with a fully functional kitchen.<ref>http://www.fox43tv.com/dpp/entertainment/fox-says-goodbye</ref> ''The Hampton Roads Show'' moved to WAVY at 11 in the morning on September 12, 2011.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://hamptonroads.com/2011/09/hampton-roads-show-moves-wavytv-10|title=Arts & Entertainment News - the Virginian-Pilot}}</ref> It is a similar broadcast to one currently seen on sister station [[WPRI-TV]] called ''The Rhode Show''.
On February 2, 2009, WVBT added ''Fox 43 News at 7'' on weekday mornings with local news, weather, and traffic updates along with various entertainment/lifestyle features. This morning show (which was essentially an hour-long extension of WAVY's morning broadcast) ended January 8, 2010. The program was then replaced by ''The Hampton Roads Show'' which launched January 18, 2010, from a new secondary set complete with a fully functional kitchen.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.fox43tv.com/dpp/entertainment/fox-says-goodbye |title=FOX43 News at 7am says 'goodbye' &#124; fox43tv.com &#124; Portsmouth |access-date=January 8, 2010 |archive-date=January 12, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100112063558/http://www.fox43tv.com/dpp/entertainment/fox-says-goodbye |url-status=dead }}</ref> ''The Hampton Roads Show'' moved to WAVY at 11 in the morning on September 12, 2011.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://hamptonroads.com/2011/09/hampton-roads-show-moves-wavytv-10|title=Arts & Entertainment News - the Virginian-Pilot}}</ref> It is a similar broadcast to one currently seen on sister station [[WPRI-TV]] called ''The Rhode Show''.


In 2012, WVBT aired ''[[The Daily Buzz]]'' on weekdays from 6:00-7:00 and again from 8:00-9:00&nbsp;a.m. Sandwiched in between those 2 hours, is the revised program of ''WAVY News 10 at 7:00 on FOX 43'', which was originally cancelled back in 2010. As of 2013, ''The Daily Buzz'' no longer airs on WVBT and the morning newscast became a two-hour show. On October 28, 2013, WVBT's 10:00 newscast was renamed ''WAVY News 10 at 10 on FOX 43.''<ref>{{cite tweet |author=Robert Corbin VARTV |user=VARTV |number=395132380895137793 |date=October 29, 2013 |title=Last night, LIN Media renamed "FOX 43 News at 10" on WVBT to "WAVY News 10 at 10 on FOX 43," similar to the 7-9 newscast on 43. #hrva #VARTV |language=en |access-date=January 7, 2021}}</ref>
In 2012, WVBT aired ''[[The Daily Buzz]]'' on weekdays from 6 to 7 a.m. and again from 8 to 9&nbsp;a.m. Sandwiched in between those two hours is the revised program of ''WAVY News 10 at 7:00 on Fox 43'', which was originally canceled back in 2010. As of 2013, ''The Daily Buzz'' no longer airs on WVBT and the morning newscast became a two-hour show. On October 28, 2013, WVBT's 10 p.m. newscast was renamed ''WAVY News 10 at 10 on Fox 43''.<ref>{{cite tweet |first=Robert|last=Corbin |user=VARTV |number=395132380895137793 |date=October 29, 2013 |title=Last night, LIN Media renamed "FOX 43 News at 10" on WVBT to "WAVY News 10 at 10 on FOX 43," similar to the 7–9 newscast on 43. #hrva #VARTV |language=en |access-date=January 7, 2021}}</ref>


==Technical information==
==Technical information==
===Subchannels===
===Subchannels===
The station's digital signal is [[multiplex (TV)|multiplexed]]:
The station's signal is [[multiplex (TV)|multiplexed]]:
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|+Subchannels of WVBT<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=WVBT#station|title=RabbitEars TV Query for WVBT|website=[[RabbitEars.info]]|accessdate=August 28, 2024}}</ref>
|-
! [[Digital subchannel#United States|Channel]]
! [[Digital subchannel#United States|Channel]]
! [[Display resolution|Video]]
! [[Display resolution|Res.]]
! [[Aspect ratio (image)|Aspect]]
! [[Aspect ratio (image)|Aspect]]
! Short name
! Short name
! Programming
! Programming<ref>[http://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=WVBT#station RabbitEars TV Query for WVBT]</ref>
|-
|-
! scope = "row" | 43.1
| 43.1 || [[720p]] || [[16:9]] || WVBT || Main WVBT programming / [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]]
| rowspan=2|[[720p]] || rowspan=4|[[16:9]] || WVBT || [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]]
|-
|-
! scope = "row" | 43.2
| 43.2 || rowspan=2| [[480i]] || [[4:3]] || COZI || [[Cozi TV]]
| CW || [[The CW]]{{r|cw-b&c}}
|-
|-
! scope = "row" | 43.3
| 43.3 || [[16:9]] || Rewind || [[Rewind TV]]
| rowspan=2|[[480i]] || Rewind || [[Rewind TV]]
|-
! scope = "row" | 43.4
| COZI || Cozi TV
|}
|}


On March 5, 2018, WVBT added [[Cozi TV]] on digital subchannel 43.2. Previously, WVBT was the only station in Hampton Roads that did not have a digital subchannel.
On January 25, 2018, WVBT added [[Cozi TV]] on digital subchannel 43.2. Previously, WVBT was the only station in Hampton Roads that did not have a digital subchannel.


===Analog-to-digital conversion===
===Analog-to-digital conversion===
WVBT discontinued regular programming on its analog signal, over [[Ultra high frequency|UHF]] channel 43, at 9 a.m. on June 12, 2009, as part of the [[Digital television transition in the United States|federally mandated transition from analog to digital television]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.wavy.com/dpp/news/dtv_wavy_analog_signal_to_continue_20090208 |title=WAVY/FOX 43 to continue analog signal |access-date=2009-02-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101004013359/http://www.wavy.com/dpp/news/dtv_wavy_analog_signal_to_continue_20090208 |archive-date=2010-10-04 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="Analog to Digital">[https://web.archive.org/web/20130829004251/http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1082A2.pdf List of Digital Full-Power Stations]</ref> The station's digital signal remained on its pre-transition UHF channel 29, using [[Program and System Information Protocol|PSIP]] to display WVBT's [[virtual channel]] as 43 on digital television receivers.
WVBT discontinued regular programming on its analog signal, over [[UHF]] channel 43, at 9 a.m. on June 12, 2009, as part of the [[Digital television transition in the United States|federally mandated transition from analog to digital television]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.wavy.com/dpp/news/dtv_wavy_analog_signal_to_continue_20090208 |title=WAVY/FOX 43 to continue analog signal |access-date=February 10, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101004013359/http://www.wavy.com/dpp/news/dtv_wavy_analog_signal_to_continue_20090208 |archive-date=October 4, 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="Analog to Digital">[https://web.archive.org/web/20130829004251/http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1082A2.pdf List of Digital Full-Power Stations]</ref> The station's digital signal remained on its pre-transition UHF channel 29, using [[virtual channel]] 43.


What is now WNLO-CD began as '''W45BG''' (call sign assigned November 1993) becoming '''WNLO-LP''' in November 2000 and '''WNLO-CA''' in January 2002. It went all-digital in January 2005 making it one of the first [[LPTV|low-power]] stations in the country to begin digital broadcasting. Its calls became the current '''WNLO-CD''' ("CD" for "Class A Digital") in July 2009. This should not be confused with its CW [[WNLO (TV)|sister station]] in [[Buffalo, New York]] that uses the same call letters in full-power form. The station could have used the calls WVBT-CA for the repeater (as most of these situations in other [[media market|markets]] do) but likely decided against it to avert any confusion to viewers, due to the mere two-channel separation between channels 43 and 45. The confusion was made moot in the digital age when the [[PSIP]] standard allowed WNLO-CD to utilize WVBT's virtual channel 43 instead, and WNLO-CD moved to physical channel 14 at the same time WVBT moved their physical channel in 2020 as part of the FCC's spectrum re-allocation.
What is now WNLO-CD began as W45BG (call sign assigned November 1993) becoming WNLO-LP in November 2000 and WNLO-CA in January 2002. It went all-digital in January 2005 making it one of the first [[LPTV|low-power]] stations in the country to begin digital broadcasting. Its calls became the current WNLO-CD ("CD" for "Class A Digital") in July 2009. This should not be confused with its CW [[WNLO (TV)|sister station]] in [[Buffalo, New York]], that uses the same call letters in full-power form. The station could have used the calls WVBT-CA for the repeater (as most of these situations in other [[media market|markets]] do) but likely decided against it to avert any confusion to viewers, due to the mere two-channel separation between channels 43 and 45. The confusion was made moot in the digital age when the [[PSIP]] standard allowed WNLO-CD to utilize WVBT's virtual channel 43 instead, and WNLO-CD moved to physical channel 14 at the same time WVBT moved their physical channel in 2020 as part of the FCC's spectrum re-allocation.


===ATSC 3.0 lighthouse===
===ATSC 3.0 lighthouse===
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|+Subchannels of WNLO-CD (ATSC 3.0)<ref>{{cite web|title=RabbitEars TV Query for WNLO-CD|url=http://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=WNLO-CD#station|website=RabbitEars|access-date=December 22, 2020}}</ref>
! style="background-color: #bdbdff" scope="col" | [[Digital subchannel#United States|Channel]]
! style="background-color: #bdbdff" scope="col" | [[Display resolution|Res.]]
! style="background-color: #bdbdff" scope="col" | [[Aspect ratio (image)|Aspect]]
! style="background-color: #bdbdff" scope="col" | Short name
! style="background-color: #bdbdff" scope="col" | Programming
|-
|-
! scope="row" | [[WAVY-TV|10.1]]
! [[Digital subchannel#United States|Channel]]
| [[1080p]] || rowspan=4| [[16:9]] || WAVY || [[NBC]] ([[WAVY-TV]])
! [[Display resolution|Video]]
! [[Aspect ratio (image)|Aspect]]
! Short name
! Programming<ref>{{cite web|title=RabbitEars TV Query for WNLO-CD|url=http://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=WNLO-CD#station|website=RabbitEars|access-date=December 22, 2020}}</ref>
|-
|-
! scope="row" | [[WTVZ-TV|33.1]]
| 10.1 || [[1080p]] || rowspan=4| [[16:9]] || WAVY || ATSC 3.0 simulcast of WAVY / [[NBC]]
| rowspan=3| [[720p]] || WTVZ || [[MyNetworkTV]] ([[WTVZ-TV]])
|-
|-
! scope="row" | 43.1
| 33.1 || rowspan=3| [[720p]] || WTVZ || ATSC 3.0 simulcast of WTVZ / [[MyNetworkTV|MNTV]]
| WVBT || rowspan=2| [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] (WVBT)
|-
| 43.1 || WVBT || rowspan=2| ATSC 3.0 simulcast of WVBT / [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]]
|-
| 45.1 || WNLO-CD
|-
|-
! scope="row" | 45.1
| WNLO-CD
|}
|}


On November 20, 2020, WNLO-CD switched over to ATSC 3.0, simulcasts from WAVY, WTVZ and WVBT.
On November 20, 2020, WNLO-CD switched over to ATSC 3.0, simulcasts from WAVY, WTVZ and WVBT.


===Translators===
===Translator===
WVBT is rebroadcast on two low-powered class A translators.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=WPMC-CD#station|title = RabbitEars.Info}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://easternshore.vartv.com/ |title=Archived copy |access-date=2011-09-26 |archive-date=2008-05-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517125641/http://easternshore.vartv.com/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=WNLO-CD#station|title = RabbitEars.Info}}</ref><ref>http://hamptonroads.vartv.com/</ref> While one translator (WNLO-CD) is licensed in Norfolk with its digital transmitter located in [[Driver, Virginia]] the other one (WPMC-CD) is licensed in [[Mappsville, Virginia|Mappsville]] with its transmitter located in [[Bloxom, Virginia]] in [[Accomack County, Virginia|Accomack County]], which is in the [[Eastern Shore of Virginia]]. Both class A translators are owned and operated by Nexstar.
To serve the northern part of [[Accomack County, Virginia]] that is too distant to receive signals from Norfolk, WVBT's main subchannel is rebroadcast on low-powered class A translator '''WPMC-CD''', licensed to [[Mappsville, Virginia|Mappsville]] with a transmitter site near [[Bloxom, Virginia|Bloxom]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=WPMC-CD#station|title = RabbitEars.Info}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://easternshore.vartv.com/ |title=VARTV.com &#124; Virginia's Eastern Shore |access-date=September 26, 2011 |archive-date=May 17, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517125641/http://easternshore.vartv.com/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=WNLO-CD#station|title = RabbitEars.Info}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://hamptonroads.vartv.com/|title=Hampton Roads|website=vartv.com|access-date=September 11, 2023}}</ref>



* '''[http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/tvq?call=WPMC-CD WPMC-CD]''' Channel 36 [[Mappsville, Virginia|Mappsville]]
{| class="wikitable"
* '''[http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/tvq?call=WNLO-CD WNLO-CD]''' Channel 14 [[Norfolk, Virginia|Norfolk]]
|+Subchannels of WPMC-CD<ref>[http://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=WPMC-CD#station RabbitEars TV Query for WPMC-CD]</ref>
! [[Digital subchannel#United States|Channel]]
! [[Display resolution|Res.]]
! [[Aspect ratio (image)|Aspect]]
! Short name
! Programming
|-
! scope = "row" | 36.1
| [[480i]] || [[16:9]] || WPMC-CD || [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]]
|-
|}


==References==
==References==
Line 126: Line 147:
{{Hampton Roads TV}}
{{Hampton Roads TV}}
{{Fox Virginia}}
{{Fox Virginia}}
{{CW Virginia}}
{{North Carolina TV}}
{{NXST TV}}
{{NXST TV}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Wvbt}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wvbt}}
[[Category:Television stations in Hampton Roads|VBT]]
[[Category:1993 establishments in Virginia]]
[[Category:Fox network affiliates]]
[[Category:Cozi TV affiliates]]
[[Category:Cozi TV affiliates]]
[[Category:The CW affiliates]]
[[Category:Fox Broadcasting Company affiliates]]
[[Category:Mass media in Virginia Beach, Virginia]]
[[Category:Nexstar Media Group]]
[[Category:Rewind TV affiliates]]
[[Category:Rewind TV affiliates]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations established in 1993]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations established in 1993]]
[[Category:1993 establishments in Virginia]]
[[Category:Television stations in Hampton Roads|VBT]]
[[Category:Nexstar Media Group]]
[[Category:Mass media in Virginia Beach, Virginia]]

Latest revision as of 20:44, 1 September 2024

Not to be confused with WBTV or WVTB.

WVBT
CityVirginia Beach, Virginia
Channels
Branding
  • Fox 43
  • The CW Hampton Roads (on DT2)
Programming
Affiliations
Ownership
Owner
WAVY-TV
History
FoundedJune 13, 1985
First air date
March 22, 1993 (31 years ago) (1993-03-22)
Former channel number(s)
  • Analog: 43 (UHF, 1993–2009)
  • Digital: 29 (UHF, 2001–2020)
Call sign meaning
Virginia Beach Television
Technical information[2]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID65387
ERP850 kW
HAAT300 m (980 ft)
Transmitter coordinates36°49′15″N 76°30′40″W / 36.82083°N 76.51111°W / 36.82083; -76.51111
Translator(s)36 WPMC-CD Mappsville
Links
Public license information
Websitewww.wavy.com/fox43-tv

WVBT (channel 43) is a television station licensed to Virginia Beach, Virginia, United States, serving the Hampton Roads area as an affiliate of the Fox network. Its second digital subchannel serves as an owned-and-operated station of The CW. WVBT is owned by Nexstar Media Group alongside Portsmouth-licensed NBC affiliate WAVY-TV (channel 10). The two stations share studios on Wavy Street in downtown Portsmouth; WVBT's transmitter is located in Suffolk, Virginia.

WVBT's programming is also seen on Class A repeater WPMC-CD (channel 36) in Mappsville, serving the northern Eastern Shore of Virginia.

History

[edit]

WVBT began operation on March 22, 1993, with Home Shopping Network programming along with infomercials and religious shows. It became a charter affiliate of The WB starting on January 11, 1995. Shortly thereafter, the station's original local owners signed a local marketing agreement (LMA) with LIN TV. Under that agreement, WAVY took over the station's operations, and WVBT moved to WAVY's studios in Portsmouth. In May 1996, WVBT began broadcasting from a new transmitter, giving it a coverage area comparable to the other major Hampton Roads stations. Before then, its over-the-air signal was effectively limited to Virginia Beach and parts of Norfolk.

LIN TV reached an affiliation agreement with Fox in November 1995, and outright purchased the station in 2002. Due to an affiliation deal between The WB and WTVZ's (channel 33) owner, Sinclair Broadcast Group, WTVZ swapped affiliations with WVBT in August 1998.[3][4]

Until January 2007, WAVY operated a 24-hour local weather channel called "WAVY Weather Station" on WVBT's second digital subchannel taking advantage of its 720p signal to present the service without interfering with video quality on either WAVY or WVBT. It was made cable-only in 2007 for unknown reasons, and eventually went dark in 2011. It was seen on Mediacom channel 9, Charter channel 22, and Cox digital channel 227.[5] There were live current conditions, updated forecasts, and a live feed of "Super Doppler 10".

On March 21, 2014, Richmond-based Media General announced that it would buy LIN Media for $1.6 billion in cash and stock.[6] The merger was completed on December 19, at which point WAVY and WVBT came under common ownership with ABC affiliate WRIC-TV in Petersburg (serving the Richmond market).[7]

On January 27, 2016, Media General signed an agreement to have its assets acquired by Irving, Texas–based Nexstar Broadcasting Group for $4.6 billion, plus the assumption of $2.3 billion in Media General-held debt. The agreement followed Media General's termination of an earlier sale agreement with Des Moines–based Meredith Corporation, which received the right of first refusal to acquire any broadcast or digital properties that may be divested (a clause that Meredith did not exercise) in exchange for terminating its agreement with Media General for $60 million.[8][9][10][11] The transaction was approved by the FCC on January 11, 2017; the sale was completed on January 17, at which point the existing Nexstar stations and the former Media General outlets that neither group had to sell in order to rectify ownership conflicts in certain markets became part of the renamed Nexstar Media Group; this brought WAVY-TV and WVBT under common ownership with the Roanoke duopoly of Fox affiliate WFXR and CW affiliate WWCW (which necessitated Media General to sell its NBC-affiliated station in that market, WSLS-TV, to Graham Media Group in order to alleviate said ownership conflict with the two existing Nexstar-owned stations).[12][13][14]

On December 3, 2018, Nexstar announced it would acquire the assets of Chicago-based Tribune Media—which has operated CBS affiliate WTKR (channel 3) and CW affiliate WGNT (channel 27) through a shared services agreement with partner company Dreamcatcher Broadcasting since December 2013—for $6.4 billion in cash and debt. Nexstar was precluded from acquiring WTKR/WGNT directly or indirectly while owning WAVY/WVBT, as FCC regulations prohibit common ownership of more than two stations in the same media market, or two or more of the four highest-rated stations in the market. (WAVY and WTKR consistently rank among the top four in terms of total-day viewership in the Norfolk–Virginia Beach–Hampton Roads market, while WVBT and WGNT have occasionally rotated between fourth and fifth place, a situation that allowed for Media General and, later, Nexstar to acquire WVBT directly in their respective group acquisitions involving the WAVY/WVBT duopoly. Furthermore, any attempt by Nexstar to assume the operations of WTKR/WGNT through local marketing or shared services agreements would have been subject to regulatory hurdles that could have delayed completion of the FCC and Justice Department's review and approval process for the acquisition.) As such, on January 31, 2019, Nexstar announced it would retain the WAVY/WVBT duopoly and sell WTKR and WGNT to a different buyer; it was announced on March 20, 2019, that the WTKR/WGNT duopoly would be sold to the E. W. Scripps Company.[15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27]

On May 1, 2024, it was announced that WVBT-DT2 would join The CW in September; Cozi TV moved to subchannel 43.4.[1][28]

Newscasts

[edit]
Further information: WAVY-TV § News operation

When WVBT made the switch to Fox in 1998, WAVY started producing a nightly prime time newscast on this station called Fox 43 News at 10. It was not the market's first broadcast in the time slot as WTKR produced a short-lived show on WGNT from 1995 until 1997.[29] ABC affiliate WVEC-TV aired its own prime time broadcast on low-powered WPEN-LP from 1995 until it started cable-only LNC 4 (eventually renamed LNC 5) in 1997.[30] WVEC continued to produce a 10 o'clock show on the cable channel until January 30, 2009.

WVBT's news has been very successful over the years with consistent viewership and ratings and is the only offering of late, local news an hour earlier. The nightly 45 minute broadcast is followed by the Fox 43 Sports Wrap that airs for fifteen minutes featuring sports news and highlights. It is similar in format to a highlight program currently seen weeknights on sister station WNAC-TV. On July 21, 2008, the station's newscast and sports show started to be produced in high definition after WAVY made the upgrade.

On February 2, 2009, WVBT added Fox 43 News at 7 on weekday mornings with local news, weather, and traffic updates along with various entertainment/lifestyle features. This morning show (which was essentially an hour-long extension of WAVY's morning broadcast) ended January 8, 2010. The program was then replaced by The Hampton Roads Show which launched January 18, 2010, from a new secondary set complete with a fully functional kitchen.[31] The Hampton Roads Show moved to WAVY at 11 in the morning on September 12, 2011.[32] It is a similar broadcast to one currently seen on sister station WPRI-TV called The Rhode Show.

In 2012, WVBT aired The Daily Buzz on weekdays from 6 to 7 a.m. and again from 8 to 9 a.m. Sandwiched in between those two hours is the revised program of WAVY News 10 at 7:00 on Fox 43, which was originally canceled back in 2010. As of 2013, The Daily Buzz no longer airs on WVBT and the morning newscast became a two-hour show. On October 28, 2013, WVBT's 10 p.m. newscast was renamed WAVY News 10 at 10 on Fox 43.[33]

Technical information

[edit]

Subchannels

[edit]

The station's signal is multiplexed:

Subchannels of WVBT[34]
Channel Res. Aspect Short name Programming
43.1 720p 16:9 WVBT Fox
43.2 CW The CW[1]
43.3 480i Rewind Rewind TV
43.4 COZI Cozi TV

On January 25, 2018, WVBT added Cozi TV on digital subchannel 43.2. Previously, WVBT was the only station in Hampton Roads that did not have a digital subchannel.

Analog-to-digital conversion

[edit]

WVBT discontinued regular programming on its analog signal, over UHF channel 43, at 9 a.m. on June 12, 2009, as part of the federally mandated transition from analog to digital television.[35][36] The station's digital signal remained on its pre-transition UHF channel 29, using virtual channel 43.

What is now WNLO-CD began as W45BG (call sign assigned November 1993) becoming WNLO-LP in November 2000 and WNLO-CA in January 2002. It went all-digital in January 2005 making it one of the first low-power stations in the country to begin digital broadcasting. Its calls became the current WNLO-CD ("CD" for "Class A Digital") in July 2009. This should not be confused with its CW sister station in Buffalo, New York, that uses the same call letters in full-power form. The station could have used the calls WVBT-CA for the repeater (as most of these situations in other markets do) but likely decided against it to avert any confusion to viewers, due to the mere two-channel separation between channels 43 and 45. The confusion was made moot in the digital age when the PSIP standard allowed WNLO-CD to utilize WVBT's virtual channel 43 instead, and WNLO-CD moved to physical channel 14 at the same time WVBT moved their physical channel in 2020 as part of the FCC's spectrum re-allocation.

ATSC 3.0 lighthouse

[edit]
Subchannels of WNLO-CD (ATSC 3.0)[37]
Channel Res. Aspect Short name Programming
10.1 1080p 16:9 WAVY NBC (WAVY-TV)
33.1 720p WTVZ MyNetworkTV (WTVZ-TV)
43.1 WVBT Fox (WVBT)
45.1 WNLO-CD

On November 20, 2020, WNLO-CD switched over to ATSC 3.0, simulcasts from WAVY, WTVZ and WVBT.

Translator

[edit]

To serve the northern part of Accomack County, Virginia that is too distant to receive signals from Norfolk, WVBT's main subchannel is rebroadcast on low-powered class A translator WPMC-CD, licensed to Mappsville with a transmitter site near Bloxom.[38][39][40][41]


Subchannels of WPMC-CD[42]
Channel Res. Aspect Short name Programming
36.1 480i 16:9 WPMC-CD Fox

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c Lafayette, Jon (May 1, 2024). "Nexstar Will Move The CW Affiliation to WGN Chicago". Broadcasting & Cable. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  2. ^ "Facility Technical Data for WVBT". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  3. ^ Bonko, Larry (November 30, 1995). "Fox to Change Affiliation in September 1998, Fox Plans to Move Fron WTVZ in Norfolk to WVBT in Virginia Beach". The Virginian-Pilot. p. D1.
  4. ^ Bonko, Larry (December 6, 1995). "Locals Still Buzzing About Fox Switch". The Virginian-Pilot. p. E2.
  5. ^ "Scattered…. | WAVY.com Blogs". Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved September 4, 2014.
  6. ^ Ramakrishnan, Sruthi (March 21, 2014). "Media General to buy LIN Media for $1.6 billion". Reuters. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
  7. ^ "Media General Completes Merger With LIN Media". Media General (Press release). December 19, 2014. Archived from the original on December 19, 2014.
  8. ^ "Nexstar-Media General: It's A Done Deal". TVNewsCheck. NewsCheck Media. January 27, 2016. Retrieved March 4, 2016.
  9. ^ Picker, Leslie (January 27, 2016). "Nexstar Clinches Deal to Acquire Media General". The New York Times. Retrieved January 27, 2016.
  10. ^ "NEXSTAR BROADCASTING GROUP ENTERS INTO DEFINITIVE AGREEMENT TO ACQUIRE MEDIA GENERAL FOR $4.6 BILLION IN ACCRETIVE CASH AND STOCK TRANSACTION". Media General (Press release). January 27, 2016. Archived from the original on January 30, 2016.
  11. ^ "Prather Buys 5 TVs From Nexstar-Media Gen". TVNewsCheck. NewsCheck Media. June 13, 2016. Retrieved March 14, 2017.
  12. ^ "Nexstar Broadcasting Group Completes Acquisition of Media General Creating Nexstar Media Group, The Nation's Second Largest Television Broadcaster". Nexstar Media Group (Press release). January 17, 2017. Retrieved March 14, 2017.
  13. ^ Jessell, Harry A. (January 11, 2017). "FCC OKs $4.6B Nexstar-Media General Merger". TVNewsCheck. NewsCheck Media. Retrieved March 14, 2017.
  14. ^ Jessell, Harry A. (January 17, 2017). "Nexstar Closes On Media General Purchase". TVNewsCheck. NewsCheck Media. Retrieved March 14, 2017.
  15. ^ Allabaugh, Denise. "Nexstar plans to sell WNEP-TV". www.citizensvoice.com. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  16. ^ "Acquisition of Tribune Media Company" (PDF). Nexstar Media Group. December 3, 2018.
  17. ^ Miller, Mark K. (December 3, 2018). "Nexstar Buying Tribune Media For $6.4 Billion". TVNewsCheck. NewsCheck Media.
  18. ^ White, Peter; Hayes, Dade (December 3, 2018). "Nexstar Confirms $4.1B Tribune Media Acquisition To Become Leading Local TV Station Owner". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Media Corporation.
  19. ^ Smith, Gerry; Ahmed, Nabila; Newcomer, Eric (December 3, 2018). "Nexstar to buy WGN owner Tribune Media for $4.1 billion". Chicago Tribune. Tribune Publishing. Bloomberg News.
  20. ^ Panchadar, Arjun; Rai, Sonam (December 3, 2018). "Nexstar to buy Tribune Media for $4.1 billion". Reuters.
  21. ^ Lafayette, Jon (December 3, 2018). "Nexstar Announces Deal to Buy Tribune for $6.4B". Broadcasting & Cable. NewBay Media.
  22. ^ Jacobson, Adam (December 3, 2018). "It's Official: Nexstar Takes Tribune In Billion-Dollar Stock Deal". Radio-Television Business Report. Streamline-RBR, Inc.
  23. ^ Jessell, Harry A.; Miller, Mark K. (December 3, 2018). "Nexstar To Spin Off $1B In Stations". TVNewsCheck. NewsCheck Media.
  24. ^ "Nexstar Media Group Enters into Definitive Agreement to Acquire Tribune Media Company for $6.4 Billion in Accretive Transaction Creating the Nation's Largest Local Television Broadcaster and Local Media Company". Nexstar Media Group. December 3, 2018. Retrieved December 3, 2018.
  25. ^ "Nexstar Media Group Enters Into Definitive Agreement To Acquire Tribune Media Company". Tribune Media. December 3, 2018. Retrieved December 3, 2018.
  26. ^ "Nexstar Selling 19 TVs In 15 Markets For $1.32B". TVNewsCheck. NewsCheckMedia. March 20, 2019. Retrieved March 20, 2019.
  27. ^ Ahmed, Nabila; Sakoui, Anousha (March 20, 2019). "Nexstar to Sell Stations to Tegna, Scripps for $1.32 Billion". Bloomberg News. Bloomberg, L.P.
  28. ^ "Nexstar Stations In Chicago, Norfolk, Lafayette, La., To Become CW Affils". TVNewsCheck Home. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  29. ^ Same Stuff On Wtkr News And Wgnt
  30. ^ Wvec, Wpen Team Up On Prime-Time Programming
  31. ^ "FOX43 News at 7am says 'goodbye' | fox43tv.com | Portsmouth". Archived from the original on January 12, 2010. Retrieved January 8, 2010.
  32. ^ "Arts & Entertainment News - the Virginian-Pilot".
  33. ^ Corbin, Robert [@VARTV] (October 29, 2013). "Last night, LIN Media renamed "FOX 43 News at 10" on WVBT to "WAVY News 10 at 10 on FOX 43," similar to the 7–9 newscast on 43. #hrva #VARTV" (Tweet). Retrieved January 7, 2021 – via Twitter.
  34. ^ "RabbitEars TV Query for WVBT". RabbitEars.info. Retrieved August 28, 2024.
  35. ^ "WAVY/FOX 43 to continue analog signal". Archived from the original on October 4, 2010. Retrieved February 10, 2009.
  36. ^ List of Digital Full-Power Stations
  37. ^ "RabbitEars TV Query for WNLO-CD". RabbitEars. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
  38. ^ "RabbitEars.Info".
  39. ^ "VARTV.com | Virginia's Eastern Shore". Archived from the original on May 17, 2008. Retrieved September 26, 2011.
  40. ^ "RabbitEars.Info".
  41. ^ "Hampton Roads". vartv.com. Retrieved September 11, 2023.
  42. ^ RabbitEars TV Query for WPMC-CD
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=WVBT&oldid=1243500176"