WBGT-CD
WBGT-CD, virtual channel 46 (UHF digital channel 29), is a low-powered, Class A MyNetworkTV-affiliated television station licensed to Rochester, New York, United States. Its transmitter is located 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 | My18 |
| 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) |
| 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.