WZPX

Infobox_Broadcast
call_letters = WZPX
city =
station_
station_slogan =
station_branding = ION Television
analog = 43 (UHF)
digital = 44 (UHF)
other_chs =
affiliations = ION Television
network =
founded =
airdate = October 11, 1996
location = Battle Creek, Michigan
callsign_meaning =
former_callsigns = WJUE (1996-1997)
WILV (1997-1998)
former_channel_numbers =
owner = ION Media Networks, Inc.
licensee = Paxson Battle Creek License, Inc.
sister_stations =
former_affiliations = Primary:
inTV (1996-1998)
Pax TV (1998-2005)
i (2005-2007)
Secondary:
UPN (through 1999)
The WB (1999-2006)
effective_radiated_power = 5000 kW (analog)
212 kW (digital)
HAAT = 323 m (analog)
305 m (digital)
class =
facility_id = 71871
coordinates = coord|42|40|45.3|N|85|3|56.4|W|type:landmark_scale:2000
homepage = [http://www.ionline.tv/ www.ionline.tv]

WZPX is a television station affiliated with the ION Television network (formerly PAX and i). It broadcasts on analog UHF channel 43 and digital channel 44 in the Grand Rapids and Lansing / Jackson, Michigan markets. The station is licensed to Battle Creek, Michigan and is owned by ION Media Networks (formerly Paxson Communications).

History

WZPX went on the air on October 11, 1996 under the call letters of WJUE, carrying infomercials. The transmitter is in Vermontville Township in western Eaton County. Within a short period of time the station changed call letters to WILV. When the PAX network was launched in August 1998, the station took the call letters WZPX. For a time WZPX also carried programming from UPN, but on August 31, 1999 UPN programming moved to WXSP. On October 6 of that year, WZPX added the WB to its programming.

Programming

As both the WB and ION networks offered prime time programming on weekdays, WZPX had a scheduling conflict for WZPX during its WB affiliation. It carried the ION programs on the same days and times as other stations, and the WB programs 22 hours later than other WB affiliates. For example, a WB program aired Tuesdays at 8pm in other markets aired on Wednesdays at 6pm on WZPX; promotional spots for these programs announced their local time slots. The station carried a brief announcement when switching from one network's programming to the other's. In part because the station had the added draw of WB programming, WZPX was at one point one of ION's highest rated affiliates.

Due to the closure of The WB on September 17, 2006, WZPX is now solely an ION affiliate. The station has yet to make the conversion to the digital ATSC standard.

Lansing and Jackson

Lansing and Jackson are within coverage of two ION stations: WZPX and Ann Arbor's WPXD-TV, which also serves Detroit. WPXD's transmitter in northwestern Washtenaw County is actually closer to Lansing and Jackson than to Detroit. However, WZPX's transmitter is in Vermontville Township in western Eaton County, which is within the Lansing broadcast market, and federal "must-carry" rules require Comcast cable systems in Lansing and Jackson to carry WZPX instead of WPXD. ( [http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=TV234408.html] , [http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=TV529039.html] )

The CW/My Network TV

The CW Television Network began broadcasting in Fall 2006; the network was the result of the merger of the WB and UPN networks. It was announced on April 4, 2006 that CBS affiliate WWMT (Channel 3) would carry the CW on digital subchannel 3.2, making WZPX an ION-only station [http://www.thefutoncritic.com/cgi/pr.cgi?id=20060404cw01] . WXSP-CA will carry programming from Fox's new television service, My Network TV [http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6328421.html?display=Breaking+News] .

Ownership

WZPX's original licensee was Horizon Broadcasting Corp, which Paxson Communications acquired before the station's sign on.

When Paxson bought WPXD, WZPX was spun off to DP Media because of duopoly rules in effect at that time. Paxson repurchased the station after duopolies were legalized.

External links

* [http://www.ionline.tv/ ION Television website]
*TVQ|WZPX
*BIA|WZPX|TV|TV