WCOV-TV

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WCOV-TV
Wcov 2009.png
Wcov dt3.png
Montgomery, Alabama
United States
ChannelsDigital: 22 (UHF)
Virtual: 20
BrandingFox 20 (general)
WCOV News
Programming
Affiliations20.1: Fox
20.2: Antenna TV
20.3: This TV
Ownership
OwnerWoods Communications Corporation
(sale to Allen Media Group pending[1])
WALE-LD
WIYC
History
First air date
April 17, 1953 (68 years ago) (1953-04-17)
Former channel number(s)
Analog:
20 (UHF, 1953–2009)
Digital:
16 (UHF, 2001–2009)
20 (UHF, 2009–2020)
Primary:
CBS (1953–1986)
Independent (January–October 1986)
Secondary:
NBC (1953–1954)
ABC (1953–1960)
DuMont (1953–1956)
NTA (1956–1961)
Call sign meaning
Will Covington (brother of founding station owner, Oscar Covington)
Technical information
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID73642
ERP670 kW
HAAT528 m (1,732 ft)
Transmitter coordinates31°58′29″N 86°9′44″W / 31.97472°N 86.16222°W / 31.97472; -86.16222
Links
Public license information
Profile
LMS
Websitewww.wcov.com
www.studio20mgm.com

WCOV-TV, virtual channel 20 (UHF digital channel 22), is a Fox-affiliated television station licensed to Montgomery, Alabama, United States. Owned by David Woods and his Woods Communications Corporation, it is part of a duopoly with Troy-licensed Cozi TV affiliate WIYC (channel 48); it is also sister to Montgomery-licensed low-power Justice Network affiliate WALE-LD (channel 17). The stations share studios on WCOV Avenue in the Normandale section of Montgomery, while WCOV-TV's transmitter is located southeast of Grady along the Montgomery–Crenshaw county line.

History[]

Early years[]

On December 31, 1951, the owners of radio station WCOV (1170 AM)—the First National Bank of Montgomery and the estate of G. W. Covington, Jr.—filed an application with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for a new television station on VHF channel 12 in Montgomery.[2] Six months later, after the commission lifted its freeze on television applications, WCOV amended its application to specify UHF channel 20—to the surprise of others—after radio station WSFA also filed for channel 12.[3] The FCC granted WCOV—which had reorganized as the Capitol Broadcasting Company[4]—a construction permit on September 17, 1952.[2]

WCOV-TV was the first television station in Montgomery, making its first broadcast on April 17, 1953.[5] Commercial programs started five days later; the station was a primary CBS affiliate, but all four major networks were represented on channel 20's schedule.[6] During the late 1950s, the station was also briefly affiliated with the NTA Film Network.[7]

Christmas Day 1954 brought Montgomery a second television station, this time on VHF, when WSFA-TV began broadcasting as an NBC affiliate on channel 12.[8] The arrival of VHF television in Montgomery created an economic and viewership inequality between the city's two television stations. In 1959, WCOV-TV filed to have channel 8 moved from Selma to Montgomery to put it on an equal footing.[9] When that failed, the station instead proposed that WSFA be moved to the UHF band, an idea that drew protests from viewers—such as those in Butler County—which were served only by channel 12 and which could not receive channel 20.[10] The FCC voted not to pursue deintermixture in Montgomery and other markets in 1962.[11] 1962 also brought the arrival of full three-network service, when channel 32 signed on as ABC affiliate WCCB-TV.[12]

The Covington family sold WCOV radio and television in 1964 for $1.225 million to Gay-Bell Broadcasting, which owned WLEX-TV in Lexington, Kentucky.[13][14] Gay-Bell, however, continued to grapple with its UHF problem in Montgomery. In 1968, it attempted to buy the channel 8 station in Selma, WSLA-TV, which was silent at the time following its destruction by fire,[15] but nothing ever materialized. Channel 20 also continued fighting against multiple attempts by channel 8 to improve its facilities; WCOV-TV had petitioned against applications by WSLA-TV's ownership dating back to 1954,[16]

In 1976, WSLA-TV filed once more for an application to build a maximum-powered site, this time from a tall tower near Lowndesboro.[17] WCOV-TV objected to the proposal and again advocated for the deintermixture of the Selma and Montgomery markets to make all stations UHF; in 1978, it proposed moving channel 8 to Tuscaloosa for educational use and channel 12 to Columbus,[18] with WSFA being reassigned channel 45.[19] The FCC denied the WCOV-TV proposal in May 1980;[20] in July, it then proceeded to approve the WSLA application.[21] Appeals from WCOV and WKAB dragged on for several more years[22] until final approval from the FCC was granted in 1983[23] and a federal appeals court denied further pleas from the UHF stations the next year.[24]

From CBS to Fox[]

WSLA-TV's power increase, according to the FCC administrative law judge that had approved the application in 1981, would not jeopardize the service of Montgomery's two UHF television stations.[17] However, much was on the line for WCOV-TV, as the Selma station was also a CBS affiliate. The network had previously reassured channel 20 that it would remain in the network fold, but CBS went back on those claims and informed the station in March 1985 that it would disaffiliate from WCOV-TV the next year,[25] though this was not stated publicly for another two months.[26]

The affiliation uncertainty came the same month as Gay-Bell reached a deal to sell the station to Woods Communications, led by David Woods, for an estimated $4 million;[27] Gay-Bell had also spun off the radio station the year before, and both sales gave the company capital to improve its flagship property in Kentucky.[28] Woods was aware of the impending disaffiliation action when he agreed to buy WCOV-TV.[26] CBS was not required to transfer the affiliation to Woods, who closed on the purchase in early December 1985; the network opted to let WCOV-TV remain an affiliate through December 31 as a "courtesy".[25]

If we were drag racing, they all have V-8s and I'm an old four-cylinder. I have an 800-foot tower, and they all have 2,000-foot towers.

David Woods, in 1990[29]

WCOV-TV soldiered on as an independent station that "didn't even have money to buy toilet paper", picking up a Fox affiliation when the network launched in 1986.[30] Fox proved to be a lifeline to channel 20, despite its technical inferiority to other market stations and having axed its local newscasts; network programs boosted the station's ratings and finances.[29]

The original tower in the Normandale area of Montgomery was destroyed by a massive tornado on March 6, 1996.[31] The station was able to restore service for cable customers later that afternoon with help from WSFA and AT&T Cable (later to become Charter; now Spectrum). One month later, WCOV returned to the air on a temporary 350-foot (107 m) tower. The station applied to the FCC to resume full-power operations from a new 1,630-foot (497 m) tower in Grady, with a power increase from 617 to 2,667 kilowatts. The FCC granted the request and issued a construction permit. In January 1997, the station activated its new transmission facility, which provided much-improved coverage and secured it positions on 23 additional cable systems in the Montgomery market.[32]

Pending sale to Allen Media Group[]

On December 15, 2021, it was announced that Allen Media Group, a subsidiary of Los Angeles-based Entertainment Studios, would purchase WCOV-TV, WIYC and WALE-LD for $28.5 million, pending FCC approval; the deal is expected to close in the first half of 2022.[1]

Programming[]

In addition to Fox network programs like The Simpsons, The Masked Singer, NASCAR and the NFL, WCOV carries syndicated programming including The Ellen DeGeneres Show, The Big Bang Theory, The People's Court, Judge Mathis and The Andy Griffith Show.

Newscasts[]

Further information: WAKA (TV)
News logo.

As a CBS affiliate, WCOV operated its own news department, known during its latter years as Eyewitness News. It spent most of its history as a distant runner-up to WSFA. The station shut down its news department in September 1986, nine months after losing the CBS affiliation, when owner Woods called it a "tremendous financial drain" to sustain without network support.[33]

On January 7, 2008, Woods Communications contracted with NBC affiliate WSFA (owned by Raycom Media) to air a half-hour 9 p.m. broadcast in conjunction with another Fox affiliate and Raycom-owned station in Dothan, WDFX-TV.[34]

After WCOV's outsourcing contract with WSFA expired at the end of 2010, it entered into a new agreement with CBS affiliate WAKA to produce a nightly 35-minute prime time newscast at 9 covering Montgomery. WAKA, which merged with WNCF and WBMM on February 4, 2013, continues to produce the newscast.

Technical information[]

Subchannels[]

The station's digital signal is multiplexed:

Channel Video Aspect PSIP Short Name Programming[35]
20.1 720p 16:9 WCOV-DT Main WCOV-TV programming / Fox
20.2 480i 4:3 ANTENNA Antenna TV
20.3 THIS-TV This TV

Analog-to-digital conversion[]

WCOV-TV shut down its analog signal, over UHF channel 20, on February 20, 2009. The station's digital signal relocated from its pre-transition UHF channel 16 to channel 20.[36] At the same time, the station's transmitter was moved from Montgomery to Grady.

References[]

  1. ^ a b "Allen Media Buying Three Montgomery, Ala., Stations For $28.5M". TVNewsCheck. NewsCheckMedia. December 15, 2021. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
  2. ^ a b FCC History Cards for WCOV-TV
  3. ^ Bates, Bill (June 13, 1952). "Fight Shapes Up In Scramble For TV Permit". The Montgomery Advertiser. p. 1B. Retrieved April 2, 2021.
  4. ^ "Radio Station Transfer Application To Be Filed". The Montgomery Advertiser. March 2, 1952. p. 4C. Retrieved April 2, 2021.
  5. ^ "Test Pattern Opens For TV Station Here". Alabama Journal. April 18, 1953. p. 1-A. Retrieved April 2, 2021.
  6. ^ "Montgomery Steps Out Of Fringe Area TV Reception Today With WCOV Beginning Operations As City's First Station". Alabama Journal. April 22, 1953. pp. 1-B, 5-B. Retrieved April 2, 2021.
  7. ^ "Require Prime Evening Time for NTA Films", Boxoffice: 13, November 10, 1956
  8. ^ "Second Montgomery TV station goes on air". The Birmingham News. Associated Press. p. 11. Retrieved April 2, 2021.
  9. ^ "WCOV-TV Seeks Channel 8: Economic Variance Is Cited". July 16, 1959. p. 1-B. Retrieved April 2, 2021.
  10. ^ "Write FCC Protesting TV Change". The Greenville Advocate. October 26, 1961. p. 8. Retrieved April 2, 2021.
  11. ^ "FCC Spares Montgomery VHF Channel". The Montgomery Advertiser. September 13, 1962. p. 1-A. Retrieved April 2, 2021.
  12. ^ "WCCB Dark; Time Sought To Reorganize". Alabama Journal. February 16, 1963. p. 1-A. Retrieved April 2, 2021.
  13. ^ "WCOV-TV And Radio Sold To Lexington, Ky. Company". The Montgomery Advertiser. July 4, 1964. p. 1. Retrieved April 2, 2021.
  14. ^ "Changing hands" (PDF). Broadcasting. October 12, 1964. p. 54. Retrieved April 2, 2021.
  15. ^ "TV Station Is Purchased". Alabama Journal. Associated Press. August 21, 1968. p. 13. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
  16. ^ FCC (September 3, 1958). "In re Application of Deep South Broadcasting Co. (WSLA), Selma, Ala". pp. 824–845. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
  17. ^ a b Benn, Alvin (July 9, 1981). "Selma TV station eyes Montgomery". Montgomery Advertiser. p. 9. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
  18. ^ "Removal farfetched, says Bond". Selma Times-Journal. March 24, 1978. p. 3. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
  19. ^ Roberson, Peggy (August 26, 1979). "FCC to hear TV stations' dispute". Montgomery Advertiser. pp. 1, 2. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
  20. ^ "Channel 20 fails in attempt to make 12 move to UHF". Montgomery Advertiser. May 16, 1980. pp. 13, 21. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
  21. ^ "FCC grants WSLA tall tower status". Selma Times-Journal. July 8, 1980. p. 3. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
  22. ^ "FCC decision upheld in Selma station case". Montgomery Advertiser. Associated Press. February 17, 1982. p. 14. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
  23. ^ Berryman, Jeannette (May 3, 1983). "Selma television gets tower OK". Selma Times-Journal. pp. 1, 3. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
  24. ^ Benn, Alvin (March 6, 1984). "Lowndes tall tower approved". Montgomery Advertiser. p. 1. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
  25. ^ a b Price, Frank (December 3, 1985). "WAKA-TV To Be Sole CBS Affiliate". Montgomery Advertiser. p. 5B. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
  26. ^ a b Locker, Ray (June 1, 1985). "WCOV manager says station will lose CBS ties". The Montgomery Advertiser. p. 2A. Retrieved April 2, 2021.
  27. ^ "Changing Hands" (PDF). Broadcasting. May 20, 1985. p. 92. Retrieved April 2, 2021.
  28. ^ "WCOV-TV reported sold to Louisiana man". The Alabama Journal and Advertiser. May 11, 1985. p. 3B. Retrieved April 2, 2021.
  29. ^ a b Weinstein, Steve (May 5, 1990). "'Simpsons' Help Fox Send a Signal". Los Angeles Times. pp. F1, F13. Retrieved April 2, 2021.
  30. ^ Sims, Bob (October 22, 1986). "WCOV-TV Pins Hopes On Rivers, Fox Network". The Montgomery Advertiser. p. 8A. Retrieved April 2, 2021.
  31. ^ "Terrible dawn: Twisters batter area; 6 killed". The Montgomery Advertiser. March 7, 1996. pp. 1A, 10A. Retrieved April 2, 2021.
  32. ^ Thompson, Richard (January 31, 1997). "New Fox transmitter packing more power". The Montgomery Advertiser. p. 5B. Retrieved April 2, 2021.
  33. ^ Creamer, Jamie (September 16, 1986). "WCOV-TV Cancels Local News Programs To Relieve 'Tremendous Financial Drain'". The Montgomery Advertiser. p. 1C. Retrieved April 2, 2021.
  34. ^ Tankersley, Mike. "Braves' TV package not available in Montgomery, at least not yet". Montgomery Advertiser. p. 12B. Retrieved April 2, 2021.
  35. ^ RabbitEars TV Query for WCOV
  36. ^ "DTV Tentative Channel Designations for the First and the Second Rounds" (PDF). Retrieved 2012-03-24.

External links[]

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