WZAW-LD

Last updated

WZAW-LD
WZAW logo.png
Channels
BrandingFox WZAW
Programming
Affiliations
Ownership
Owner
WSAW-TV
History
FoundedMay 27, 2015 (2015-05-27)[ citation needed ]
First air date
July 1, 2015(9 years ago) (2015-07-01)
Former channel number(s)
  • Digital: 31 (UHF, 2015−2016)
  • Virtual: 55 (2015−2016)
Call sign meaning
disambiguation of WSAW ("Z" added in honor of former news director Mark Zelich[ citation needed ])
Technical information [1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID 183262
Class LD
ERP 15 kW
HAAT 313 m (1,027 ft)
Transmitter coordinates 45°3′22″N89°27′54″W / 45.05611°N 89.46500°W / 45.05611; -89.46500
Translator(s)
Links
Public license information
LMS

WZAW-LD (channel 33) is a low-power television station in Wausau, Wisconsin, United States, affiliated with the Fox network. It is owned by Gray Television alongside CBS affiliate WSAW-TV (channel 7). The two stations share studios on Grand Avenue/US 51 in Wausau; WZAW-LD's transmitter is located northeast of Nutterville in unincorporated Marathon County.

Contents

Overview

Since WZAW transmits at low-power, its signal does not reach Rhinelander or other areas to the north and east (such as Eagle River and Crandon), which would have caused complications, especially for Fox's broadcasts of NFL games, including games of the Green Bay Packers. Therefore, the station is simulcast on WSAW's third digital subchannel in 720p high definition to increase its over-the-air broadcasting radius. This signal broadcasts on channel 7.3 from a transmitter on Rib Mountain. It is also seen on WSAW's Sayner translator, W21DS-D3, which also maps to channel 7.3.

History

On July 1, 2015, Gray bought the non-license assets of the market's previous Fox affiliate WFXS-DT (owned by Davis Television, LLC). Due to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) ownership restrictions, Gray established this new low-power station to become the new Fox affiliate. All of WFXS' program streams including its existing virtual channel numbering was then moved to WZAW. Subsequently, WFXS ceased broadcasting after nearly sixteen years on-the-air and its studios on North 3rd Street in Wausau were shut down. [2] [3]

In consenting to the interference that would be caused by WZAW operating under special temporary authority on channel 31 (the same RF channel as WFXS) rather than its licensed channel 33, Davis Television stated that it would return the WFXS license to the FCC for cancellation following the sale. [4] In August 2015, WSAW launched a prime time newscast on this Fox outlet known as WZAW News at 9. The half-hour broadcast offers direct competition to WAOW's thirty-minute, weeknight-only news airing at the same time on its Decades (formerly CW) digital subchannel.

In September 2016, WZAW moved from virtual channel 55 and RF channel 31 to RF and virtual channel 33. In 2017, its simulcast on WSAW-DT3 was upgraded to high definition to provide full-market access to Fox programming in HD.

On September 13, 2024, WZAW began operating translator station W31EV-D from a tower in Vesper, Wisconsin. The translator provides improved over-the-air coverage to Stevens Point, Plover, Wisconsin Rapids, Marshfield and surrounding areas. [5]

Subchannels

The station's signal is multiplexed:

Subchannels of WZAW-LD [6]
Channel Res. Aspect Short nameProgramming
33.1 720p 16:9 WZAW-HD Fox
33.2 480i MeTV MeTV
33.3MOVIES Movies!
33.4 Heroes & Icons
33.5 Start TV
34.10720pCW CW+

Nearby channel WRJT-LD, which also broadcasts on subchannels of 34, is not affiliated with WZAW or Gray Television.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WAOW</span> ABC affiliate in Wausau, Wisconsin

WAOW is a television station in Wausau, Wisconsin, United States, affiliated with ABC and owned by Allen Media Group. The station's studios are located on Grand Avenue/US 51 in Wausau, and its transmitter is located on Rib Mountain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WIFR-LD</span> CBS affiliate in Rockford, Illinois

WIFR-LD is a low-power television station in Rockford, Illinois, United States, affiliated with CBS and The CW Plus. The station is owned by Gray Television, and maintains studios and transmitter facilities on North Meridian Road in Rockford.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WEAU</span> NBC affiliate in Eau Claire, Wisconsin

WEAU is a television station licensed to Eau Claire, Wisconsin, United States, serving the La Crosse–Eau Claire market as an affiliate of NBC and The CW Plus. The station is owned by Gray Television, and maintains studios on South Hastings Way / US 53 Business in Altoona ; its transmitter is located north of Fairchild, near the Eau Claire–Clark county line.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WSAW-TV</span> CBS/MyNetworkTV affiliate in Wausau, Wisconsin

WSAW-TV is a television station in Wausau, Wisconsin, United States, affiliated with CBS and The CW Plus. It is owned by Gray Television alongside low-power Fox affiliate WZAW-LD. The two stations share studios on Grand Avenue/US 51 in Wausau; WSAW-TV's transmitter is located on Rib Mountain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KOTA-TV</span> ABC affiliate in Rapid City, South Dakota

KOTA-TV is a television station in Rapid City, South Dakota, United States, affiliated with ABC. It is owned by Gray Television alongside MeTV affiliate KHME and low-power Fox affiliate KEVN-LD. The stations share studios on Skyline Drive in Rapid City, where KOTA-TV's transmitter is also located.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KBJR-TV</span> NBC/CBS/MyNetworkTV affiliate in Superior, Wisconsin–Duluth, Minnesota

KBJR-TV is a television station licensed to Superior, Wisconsin, United States, serving the Duluth, Minnesota, area as an affiliate of NBC and CBS. It is owned by Gray Television alongside CW+ affiliate KDLH. The two stations share studios on South Lake Avenue in Canal Park, downtown Duluth; KBJR-TV's transmitter is located west of downtown in Hilltop Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WVIR-CD</span> WVIR-TV translator in Charlottesville, Virginia

WVIR-CD is a low-power, Class A television station in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States. It is a translator of dual NBC/CW+ affiliate WVIR-TV which is owned by Gray Television. WVIR-CD's transmitter is located on Carters Mountain south of Charlottesville; its parent station maintains studios on East Market Street in downtown.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KXDF-CD</span> CBS affiliate in Fairbanks, Alaska

KXDF-CD, virtual and VHF digital channel 13, is a low-power, Class A CBS-affiliated television station licensed to Fairbanks, Alaska, United States. Owned by Atlanta-based Gray Television, it is a sister station to NBC affiliate KTVF and primary MeTV and secondary MyNetworkTV affiliate KFXF-LD. The stations share studios on Braddock Street in downtown Fairbanks, while KXDF-CD's transmitter is located northeast of the city on Cranberry Ridge.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KMOH-TV</span> MeTV station in Kingman, Arizona

KMOH-TV is a television station in Kingman, Arizona, United States, airing programming from MeTV. Owned and operated by Weigel Broadcasting, the station has studios on Kingman Avenue in Kingman, and its transmitter is located atop Oatman Mountain, near Oatman, Arizona.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WHDT</span> Independent TV station in Stuart, Florida

WHDT is an independent television station licensed to Stuart, Florida, United States, serving the West Palm Beach area. It is owned by the E. W. Scripps Company alongside NBC affiliate WPTV-TV ; Scripps also provides certain services to Fox affiliate WFLX under a shared services agreement (SSA) with Gray Television. The stations share studios on South Australian Avenue in downtown West Palm Beach ; WHDT's transmitter is located near Wellington west of US 441/SR 7.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WRID-LD</span> Television station in Virginia, United States

WRID-LD is a low-power television station in Richmond, Virginia, United States. Owned by Gray Television, it serves as a translating repeater of the main channels of its two sister stations—NBC affiliate WWBT and Ashland-licensed CW affiliate WUPV. WRID-LD's transmitter is located behind Gray's Richmond studio on Midlothian Turnpike in Richmond, sharing the same tower with WWBT.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WMOW</span> ABC affiliate in Crandon, Wisconsin

WMOW is a television station licensed to Crandon, Wisconsin, United States, affiliated with ABC. It is a full-time satellite of Wausau-licensed WAOW which is owned by Allen Media Group. WMOW's transmitter is located just east of downtown Crandon; its parent station maintains studios on Grand Avenue/US 51 in Wausau. Besides the transmitter, WMOW does not maintain any physical presence locally in Crandon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WAGT-CD</span> NBC/CW affiliate in Augusta, Georgia

WAGT-CD is a low-power, Class A television station in Augusta, Georgia, United States, affiliated with NBC and The CW Plus. It is owned by Gray Television alongside dual CBS/MyNetworkTV affiliate WRDW-TV and low-power Telemundo affiliate WGAT-LD. The three stations share studios at The Village at Riverwatch development in Augusta; WAGT-CD's transmitter is located in Beech Island, South Carolina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WSVF-CD</span> Fox/CBS affiliate in Harrisonburg, Virginia

WSVF-CD is a low-power, Class A television station in Harrisonburg, Virginia, United States, affiliated with Fox and CBS. It is owned by Gray Television alongside ABC affiliate WHSV-TV and low-powered dual NBC/CW+ affiliate WSVW-LD. The three stations share studios on North Main Street/US 11 in downtown Harrisonburg, and operate a newsroom in Fishersville, serving Staunton, Waynesboro, and Augusta County. WSVF-CD's transmitter is located atop Massanutten Mountain. There is no separate website for WSVF-CD; instead, it is integrated with that of sister station WHSV-TV.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WFXS-DT</span> TV station in Wittenberg, Wisconsin

WFXS-DT was a television station licensed to Wittenberg, Wisconsin, United States, which served north-central Wisconsin, including Wausau and Rhinelander. Owned by Davis Television, LLC, it was most recently affiliated with the Fox network. WFXS-DT's studios were located on North 3rd Street in Wausau, and its transmitter was located northeast of Nutterville in unincorporated Marathon County.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KNDB</span> TV station in Bismarck, North Dakota, U.S.

KNDB is a television station in Bismarck, North Dakota, United States. Owned by BEK Sports Network, Inc., a subsidiary of BEK Communications Cooperative, it is affiliated with multiple networks on various digital subchannels, with Heroes & Icons and BEK Prime on its main channel. KNDB's studios are located on East Interstate Avenue in Bismarck, and its transmitter is located near St. Anthony, North Dakota.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WECP-LD</span> CBS/MyNetworkTV/Telemundo affiliate in Panama City, Florida

WECP-LD is a low-power television station in Panama City, Florida, United States, affiliated with CBS, MyNetworkTV, and Telemundo. It is owned by Gray Television alongside NBC affiliate WJHG-TV. The two stations share studios on Front Beach Road/SR 30 in Panama City Beach; WECP-LD's transmitter is located on SR 20 in unincorporated Youngstown, Florida.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WBGS-LD</span> Telemundo-affiliated LPTV station in Bowling Green, Kentucky

WBGS-LD is a low-power television station in Bowling Green, Kentucky, United States, affiliated with the Spanish-language network Telemundo. Owned by Gray Television alongside ABC/Fox/CW+ affiliate WBKO, it also functions as a translator for the main subchannel of its full-power sister station. The two stations share studios on Russellville Road near Interstate 165 in Bowling Green, and both stations' transmitting facilities and shared tower space is located on KY 185 in unincorporated northern Warren County.

KEVN-LD is a low-power television station in Rapid City, South Dakota, United States, affiliated with the Fox network. It is owned by Gray Television alongside ABC affiliate KOTA-TV and MeTV affiliate KHME. The stations share studios on Skyline Drive in Rapid City, where KEVN-LD's transmitter is also located.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WSVW-LD</span> NBC/CW affiliate in Harrisonburg, Virginia

WSVW-LD is a low-power television station in Harrisonburg, Virginia, United States, affiliated with NBC and The CW Plus. It is owned by Gray Television alongside ABC affiliate WHSV-TV and Class A dual Fox/CBS affiliate WSVF-CD. The three stations share studios on North Main Street in downtown Harrisonburg, and operate a newsroom in Fishersville, serving Staunton, Waynesboro, and Augusta County. WSVW-LD's transmitter is located atop Massanutten Mountain. There is no separate website for WSVW-LD; instead, it is integrated with that of sister station WHSV-TV.

References

  1. "Facility Technical Data for WZAW-LD". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. "Gray in 4 New Deals, Closes 3 Earlier Ones". TVNewsCheck. July 1, 2015. Retrieved July 1, 2015.
  3. "Gray Television Acquires Local FOX Affiliation". Archived from the original on January 15, 2019. Retrieved July 1, 2015.
  4. Raff, Robert (June 9, 2015). "Interference Consent" (PDF). CDBS Public Access. Federal Communications Commission . Retrieved July 3, 2015.
  5. "Improved over-the-air signal, more channels available in central Wisconsin". WSAW.com. September 13, 2024. Retrieved September 14, 2024.
  6. "RabbitEars TV Query for WZAW". RabbitEars.info.
  1. https://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=776263#station