WBGT-CD
WBGT-CD is a low-powered, Class A MyNetworkTV-affiliated television station licensed to Rochester, New York, United States. It broadcasts a standard definition digital signal on UHF channel 29 (or virtual channel 46 via PSIP) from a transmitter in the city's Northwest Quadrant. The station can also be seen on Charter Spectrum channel 18 (hence the "My 18" on-air branding). Owned by Vision Communications, WBGT-CD has studios on Buffalo Road (NY 33) in the town of Gates (with a Rochester address).
 | |
| Rochester, New York United States | |
|---|---|
| Channels | Digital: 29 (UHF) Virtual: 46 (PSIP) |
| Branding | My 18 |
| Programming | |
| Subchannels | 46.1 MyNetworkTV 46.2 Independent 46.3 Tuff TV 46.4 Heroes & Icons 46.5 Decades 46.6 QVC 46.7 Movies! |
| Affiliations | MyNetworkTV (2006–present) |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Vision Communications (Stellar Television, LLC) |
| History | |
| First air date | February 2, 1998 |
| Former call signs | W40AG (1987–1996) WBGT-LP (1996–2006) WBGT-CA (2006–2012) |
| Former affiliations | Independent (February–November 1998) UPN (November 1998–2006) |
| Call sign meaning | We're BiG TeleVision |
| Technical information | |
| Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 10318 |
| Class | Class A |
| ERP | 10 kW |
| HAAT | 161 m |
| Transmitter coordinates | 43°10′14.0″N 77°40′23.0″W |
| Links | |
| Public license information | Profile LMS |
| Website | www.visioncommunications.tv/ |
WBGT-CD was formerly also seen over-the-air on analog repeater W26BZ channel 26 in Victor, which is no longer licensed. This broadcast from a transmitter south of Perinton's Egypt hamlet along the Monroe and Ontario County line. This translator was replaced with another, WGCE-CD, some time before 2018; WGCE was spun off to HC2 Holdings in August 2018.[1]
History
WBGT-CD began operations as WBGT-LP on February 2, 1998. For its first ten months on-air, it was an independent station before it became an UPN affiliate in November of that year. The Victor translator was added in 1999, and in 2001, Time Warner Cable added WBGT-LP to its lineup. On January 24, 2006, The WB and UPN announced that the networks would end broadcasting and merge to form The CW, which signed with cable-only WB affiliate WRWB (the forerunner of WHAM-DT2). Several weeks later, MyNetworkTV was announced by Fox as an alternative for UPN or WB affiliates not chosen by the CW. WBGT-LP quickly signed an affiliation deal with MyNetworkTV, and joined the network at its launch on September 5, 2006. Around this time, the suffix was changed from -LP to -CA.
The station has never been added to DirecTV; the station has no must-carry powers as a low-power operation. Eventually, when it signed on its digital facilities, the station's calls were changed to WBGT-CD.
Digital television
Digital channels
The station's digital signal is multiplexed:
| Channel | Video | Aspect | PSIP short name | Programming[2] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 46.1 | 480i | 4:3 | WBGT-MY | Main WBGT-CD programming / MyNetworkTV |
| 46.2 | MYROC | Independent (My Rochester TV) | ||
| 46.3 | TUFF TV | The Action Channel | ||
| 46.4 | H&I | Dabl | ||
| 46.5 | DECADES | Decades | ||
| 46.6 | QVC | QVC | ||
| 46.7 | Movies! | Movies! |