WFVX-LD: Difference between revisions

{{Short description|Fox affiliate television station in Bangor, Maine}}

| callsign = WFVX-LD

| branding = Fox 22<br>ABC 7 ''(on LD2)''

| analog =

| digital = 7 ([[very high frequency|VHF]])<br>''(shared with [[WVII-TV]]{{r|wfvxshare}})''

| virtual = 22

| subchannels =

| translators =

| affiliations = '''22.1:''' [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] / [[MyNetworkTV]]

| owner = Rockfleet Broadcasting

| founded =

| airdate = {{start date and age|2003|4|13|p=y}}<ref name=bdn-wfvxstart>{{cite news|last=Neff|first=Andrew|title=Bangor's Fox station will be sports-heavy|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-11738122.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313055157/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-11738122.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 13, 2016|access-date=August 26, 2012|newspaper=Bangor Daily News|date=April 25, 2003}} (preview of subscription content; [https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/bangor/access/328104021.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Apr+25%2C+2003&author=Andrew+Neff%3BOF+THE+NEWS+STAFF&pub=Bangor+Daily+News&edition=&startpage=1&desc=Bangor%27s+Fox+station+will+be+sports-heavy++WFVX+seeking+younger+demographic additional link])</ref>

| last_airdate =

| callsign_meaning = Fox for [[Vanderbilt, Michigan]] (calls transferred from former sister station [[WFQX-TV|WFUP]])

| sister_stations = [[WVII-TV]]

| former_channel_numbers = '''Analog:''' 22 (UHF, 2003–2012)<br>'''Digital:''' 22 (UHF, 2012–2023)

| former_affiliations =

| erp = 14kW{{r|wfvxshare}}

| haat = {{convert|229|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}{{r|wfvxshare}}

| coordinates = {{nowrap|{{Coord|44|45|35.2|N|68|33|59.1|W|type:landmark_scale:2000|name=WFVX-LP}}}}{{r|wfvxshare}}

| website = {{URL|http://www.foxbangor.com/}}

'''WFVX-LD''' (channel 22) is a [[television station]] in [[Bangor, Maine]], United States, affiliated with the [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] network. It is owned by Rockfleet Broadcasting alongside [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] affiliate [[WVII-TV]] (channel 7). The two stations share studios on Target Industrial Circle in West Bangor and a transmitter on [[Black Cap Mountain]] along the [[Penobscot County, Maine|Penobscot]] and [[Hancock County, Maine|Hancock]] county line.

In addition to Fox programming, WFVX-LD is a secondary affiliate of [[MyNetworkTV]], and airs [[Jewelry Television]] overnight. Despite WFVX-LD legally holding a [[Low-power broadcasting#Television|low-power]] license, it transmits using WVII-TV's full-power spectrum. This ensures complete reception across the Bangor [[media market#Television|television market]].<ref name="wfvxshare">{{cite web|url=https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/public/tv/draftCopy.html?displayType=html&appKey=25076f9186f2897201870b5b8a7d1121&id=25076f9186f2897201870b5b8a7d1121|title=Modification of a Licensed Facility for LPTV Station Application|work=Licensing and Management System|publisher=[[Federal Communications Commission]]|date=March 30, 2023|accessdate=March 30, 2023}}</ref>

A [[construction permit]] for a low-power station on channel 22 in Bangor was granted on January 12, 1995,<ref name=fcc-w22bugranted>{{cite web|title=Application Search Details (1)|url=http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/app_det.pl?Application_id=198259|work=CDBS Public Access|publisher=[[Federal Communications Commission]]|access-date=August 27, 2012}}</ref> and was assigned the call letters '''W22BU'''.<ref name=fcc-callsigns>{{cite web|title=Call Sign History|url=http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/call_hist.pl?Facility_id=15287&Callsign=WFVX-LP|work=CDBS Public Access|publisher=Federal Communications Commission|access-date=August 27, 2012}}</ref> Following the death of original owner Dale Buschow in 1998,<ref name=fcc-buschowdead>{{cite web|title=APPLICATION FOR CONSENT TO ASSIGN BROADCAST STATION CONSTRUCTION PERMIT OR LICENSE OR TO TRANSFER CONTROL OF ENTITY HOLDING BROADCAST STATION CONSTRUCTION PERMIT OR LICENSE|url=http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/prefill_and_display.pl?Application_id=502207&Service=TX&Form_id=316&Facility_id=15287|date=June 14, 2000|work=CDBS Public Access|publisher=Federal Communications Commission|access-date=August 27, 2012}}</ref> the station was acquired by [[MS Communications]] on January 3, 2001;<ref name=fcc-saletoms>{{cite web|title=Application Search Details (2)|url=http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/app_det.pl?Application_id=527025|work=CDBS Public Access|publisher=Federal Communications Commission|access-date=August 27, 2012}}</ref> its license to cover was issued on March 1.<ref name=fcc-w22bulicensed>{{cite web|title=Application Search Details (3)|url=http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/app_det.pl?Application_id=540613|work=CDBS Public Access|publisher=Federal Communications Commission|access-date=August 27, 2012}}</ref> MS Communications had plans to establish wireless cable networks, but never broadcast anything other than [[test pattern]]s on its stations.<ref name=cpi-msnoprograms>{{cite news|last=Morlino|first=Robert|title=Two hundred channels and nothing on – literally|url=http://www.publicintegrity.org/2005/02/24/6599/two-hundred-channels-and-nothing-literally|access-date=August 27, 2012|newspaper=[[Center for Public Integrity]]|date=February 24, 2005}}</ref> MS sold W22BU to Rockfleet Broadcasting, owner of WVII-TV, in 2003.<ref name=fcc-saletorockfleet>{{cite web|title=Application Search Details (4)|url=http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/app_det.pl?Application_id=657578|work=CDBS Public Access|publisher=Federal Communications Commission|access-date=August 27, 2012}}</ref> Rockfleet put the station on the air as a Fox affiliate on April 13, 2003;<ref name=bdn-wfvxstart/> the following day, the call letters were changed to '''WFVX-LP'''.<ref name=fcc-callsigns/> The WFVX call letters were transferred from what is now WFUP, the [[Vanderbilt, Michigan]], satellite of then-sister station and fellow Fox affiliate [[WFQX-TV]] in [[Cadillac, Michigan]].

Before WFVX went on the air, Fox programming was seen on cable via [[WPXT]] in [[Portland, Maine|Portland]],<ref name=bdn-wpxtcable>{{cite news|title=Broadcasters scramble to provide Fox coverage|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=eaBjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Qw0NAAAAIBAJ&pg=2609%2C2254185|page=B6|access-date=August 27, 2012|newspaper=Bangor Daily News|date=September 8–9, 2001}}</ref> then from [[Foxnet]] after WPXT switched to [[The WB]] in the fall of 2001.<ref name=bdn-adelphiafoxnet>{{cite news|last=Neff|first=Andrew|title=Adelphia cable axes WCKD from lineup|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=gaRJAAAAIBAJ&sjid=fw0NAAAAIBAJ&pg=4253%2C2398974|pages=C4–7|access-date=August 27, 2012|newspaper=Bangor Daily News|date=October 9, 2001}}</ref> [[Fox Sports (United States)|Fox Sports]] programming was also available in Bangor at various points via [[WABI-TV]] (channel 5),<ref name=bdn-wabifoxsports>{{cite news|last=Neff|first=Andrew|title=NFL games returning to Channel 5|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=lSpfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Ek8NAAAAIBAJ&pg=6297%2C788570|pages=C6–8|access-date=August 27, 2012|newspaper=Bangor Daily News|date=September 19, 1996}}</ref> [[WBGR-LD|WBGR-LP]] (channel 33),<ref name=bdn-wbgrfoxsports>{{cite news|last=Neff|first=Andrew|title=WBGR to air more sports|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ogFgAAAAIBAJ&sjid=oA0NAAAAIBAJ&pg=1878%2C3494370|pages=C6–8|access-date=August 27, 2012|newspaper=Bangor Daily News|date=August 13, 1998}}</ref> and [[WCKD-LP]] (channel 30).<ref name=bdn-wckdstart-1>{{cite news|last=Turcotte Seavey|first=Deborah|title=WVII to launch second TV station|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=PKNJAAAAIBAJ&sjid=bQ0NAAAAIBAJ&pg=1602%2C2680448|page=A5|access-date=August 27, 2012|newspaper=Bangor Daily News|date=October 24, 2000}}</ref><ref name=bdn-wckdstart-2>{{cite news|last=Neff|first=Andrew|title=New Bangor TV station to air plenty of sports|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=F6lJAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Pg4NAAAAIBAJ&pg=5385%2C2555781|pages=C4–8|access-date=August 27, 2012|newspaper=Bangor Daily News|date=January 25, 2001}}</ref> WCKD was WVII's first venture into low-power broadcasting in Bangor; it signed a [[local marketing agreement]] with James McLeod, owner of channel 30 (then known as W30BF, the former Bangor transmitter for [[Maine Public Broadcasting Network|Maine Public Television Plus]]) and WBGR, in 2000,<ref name=bdn-wckdstart-1/> and relaunched it as a [[UPN]] affiliate in 2001.<ref name=bdn-wckdstart-2/> WCKD had tried to become a full Fox affiliate that October to coincide with WPXT's affiliation change, but was blocked from doing so by UPN;<ref name=bdn-wckdvsupn>{{cite news|last=Neff|first=Andrew|title=WCKD may lose baseball playoffs|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=hqVJAAAAIBAJ&sjid=nA0NAAAAIBAJ&pg=1438%2C2680466|page=C7|access-date=August 25, 2012|newspaper=Bangor Daily News|date=September 25, 2001}}</ref> this did not stop the station from continuing its existing relationship with Fox Sports.<ref name=bdn-adelphiafoxnet/> After WFVX's sign on, Rockfleet moved all of WCKD's syndicated and local programming (including a 10 p.m. newscast from WVII and the morning talk show ''So Goes the Nation''), but not the UPN affiliation, to channel 22.<ref name=bdn-wfvxstart/>

As a low-power station, WFVX was exempt from the [[Digital television transition in the United States|digital transition on June 12, 2009]]; however, on February 17, WVII added a new second digital subchannel to carry WFVX's programming.<ref name=bdn-wfvxonwviidt>{{cite news|last=Russell|first=Eric|title=Bangor's WVII-TV goes digital|url=http://bangordailynews.com/2009/02/17/news/bangor/bangorrsquos-wviitv-goes-digital/?ref=relatedBox|access-date=August 27, 2012|newspaper=Bangor Daily News|date=February 17, 2009}}</ref> WFVX has a construction permit to perform a "[[flash-cut]]" from analog to digital on the channel 22. On January 23, 2013, the station's call letters was changed to '''WFVX-LD''' ("LD" stands for low-powered digital).

On February 28, 2022, WFVX and WVII temporarily changed their logos to blue and yellow, the colors of the [[Flag of Ukraine|Ukrainian flag]], in support of Ukraine after the [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine|2022 Russian invasion]].<ref>{{ cite news | url = https://www.foxbangor.com/news/item/we-support-the-people-of-ukraine/ | title = We support the people of Ukraine | publisher = WVII/WFVX | date = February 28, 2022 | access-date = May 26, 2022 | url-status = live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220228162310/https://www.foxbangor.com/news/item/we-support-the-people-of-ukraine/ | archive-date = February 28, 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{ cite news | url = https://www.ftvlive.com/sqsp-test/2022/3/3/supporting-ukraine | title = Supporting Ukraine | publisher = FTVLive | last = Jones | first = Scott | date = March 3, 2022 | access-date = May 26, 2022 | url-status = live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220526171411/https://www.ftvlive.com/sqsp-test/2022/3/3/supporting-ukraine | archive-date = May 26, 2022 }}</ref>

In June 2013, WFVX and WVII reached a deal to carry [[Husson University]] sports.<ref name=bdn-wviihusson>{{cite news|last=Mahoney|first=Larry|title=Husson University enters two-year agreement to televise five sports games|url=http://bangordailynews.com/2013/06/14/news/bangor/husson-university-enters-two-year-agreement-to-televise-five-sports-games/?ref=inline|access-date=July 16, 2013|newspaper=Bangor Daily News|date=June 14, 2013}}</ref> This was followed a month later with a deal to carry [[University of Maine]] sports; as a result, WFVX and WVII replace WABI-TV as the television flagship of the [[Black Bear Sports Network]]. As part of the deal, Black Bear sports telecasts will also be seen on [[Fox College Sports]], and production will be handled by Pack Network (WABI had produced its telecasts in-house).<ref name=bdn-wviiumaine>{{cite news|last=Mahoney|first=Larry|title=UMaine signs deal to broadcast sports on ABC, FOX|url=http://bangordailynews.com/2013/07/15/sports/umaine-signs-deal-to-broadcast-sports-on-abc-fox/?ref=comments|access-date=July 16, 2013|newspaper=Bangor Daily News|date=July 15, 2013}}</ref>

===News operation===

{{see|WVII-TV#News operation}}

WVII produces a weeknight hour-long prime time newscast on WFVX called ''Fox 22 News at 10'', as well as a 7 a.m. newscast under the name ''The 7 AM News Hour on Fox 22''. WFVX also simulcasts WVII's 6:30&nbsp;a.m. newscast, ''Good Morning Maine''. The 10 p.m. newscast was originally a half-hour long, but was expanded on June 25, 2012. The morning newscast launched on September 7, 2011.<ref name="bdn-wfvxmorningnews">{{cite news|last=Neff|first=Andrew|title=WVII bucking shrinking trend with new staff, more news|url=http://bangordailynews.com/2011/07/22/business/wvii-news-bucking-shrinking-trend-with-expansion/|access-date=August 27, 2012|newspaper=Bangor Daily News|date=July 22, 2011}}</ref> Since September 2012, WFVX also airs a half-hour 10 p.m. weekend newscast.<ref name="bdn-weekendnews">{{cite news|last=Neff|first=Andrew|title=TV stations to continue expansion in wake of anchors' resignations|url=http://bangordailynews.com/2012/11/23/news/bangor/tv-stations-to-continue-expansion-in-wake-of-anchors-resignations/|access-date=November 24, 2012|newspaper=Bangor Daily News|date=November 24, 2012}}</ref>

WVII began taping the10p.m. newscast earlier in the eveningonOctober 16, 2006, though the sports report was still seen live on Fridays so that game highlights and scores from [[high school football]] games could still be featured.<ref name=bdn-recordedearlier>{{cite news|last=Neff|first=Andrew|title=WVII, WFVX cut live late newscasts|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=gaRJAAAAIBAJ&sjid=fw0NAAAAIBAJ&pg=4253%2C2398974|pages=C1–6|access-date=August 27, 2012|newspaper=Bangor Daily News|date=October 13, 2006}}</ref> As of September 2011, WFVX has resumed airingalive newscast at 10.<ref name=bdn-wfvxmorningnews/>

WVII currently contracts with [[AccuWeather]] to produce the station's forecasts. The segments are recorded in advance with rotating [[meteorologist]]s and fed via satellite to Bangor from AccuWeather's headquarters in [[State College, Pennsylvania]] (which is occasionally referred to as the "Fox 22 Weather Center" on WFVX). As a result, the station may not cover all [[severe weather]] events or be too late in doing so when conditions warrant.

==Subchannel==

{| class="wikitable"

|+Subchannel of WFVX-LD on the WVII-TV multiplex<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=WFVX-LD#station|title = RabbitEars TV Query for WFVX|website=RabbitEars.info}}</ref>

! scope = "col" | [[Digital subchannel#United States|Channel]]

! scope = "col" | [[Display resolution|Res.]]

! scope = "col" | [[Aspect ratio (image)|Aspect]]

! scope = "col" | Short name

! scope = "col" | Programming

|-

! scope = "row" | 22.1

| rowspan="2"| [[720p]] || rowspan="2"| [[16:9]] || WFVX || Main WFVX-LD programming<br>[[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] & [[MyNetworkTV]]

|}

[[Category:Fox Broadcasting Company affiliates]]

[[Category:Low-power television stations in Maine|FVX-LD]]