WGSR-LP

Infobox_Broadcast
call_letters = WGSR-LP
station_
station_slogan = Real News. Right Now.
station_branding = Star-39
analog = 39 (UHF)
digital = Coming Soon - 47
other_chs =
affiliations = Independent, CBS Secondary
founded = March 7, 1988
location = Reidsville, North Carolina, USA
callsign_meaning = W Greensboro StaR 39
former_callsigns = WXIV-LP, W14AU
owner = Star News Corporation
former_affiliations =
effective_radiated_power = 7 kW
HAAT = 127 m
class =
facility_id = 12834
homepage = www.wgsr.tv

WGSR-LP is a low-power independent television station serving Reidsville, North Carolina, the Piedmont Triad market in North Carolina, and parts of Southside Virginia. The station broadcasts on channel 39 and is owned by the Star News Corporation. WGSR-LP has filed an application for digital conversion, and upon approval and construction of facilities will transmit digitally on Channel 47.

History

The station began in 1982 as "WCTV-3," a community-access cable station on what was then Alert Cable in Reidsville. On March 7, 1988, the FCC granted an original construction permit to then-station manager Robert Tudor to broadcast on UHF channel 14 under the call letters W14AU. Over-the-air programming was largely supplied by satellite networks, but the station produced its own nightly newscast. W14AU also began a weekly call-in program, [http://www.mondaynightlive.info Monday Night Live] .

In August 1996, the FCC approved the sale of the station to Carolina Blue Communications, owned by Daniel Falinski. Under his leadership, the station expanded to a more regional focus. Following an established custom of TV stations in the Greensboro market, the station acquired Roman-numeral call letters WXIV-LP, and changed its branding to "The Boob Tube". Second-run situation comedies dominated the broadcast schedule during this period, with overnight programming brokered to a home-shopping network.

Digital channel conversion of the area's full-power broadcasters resulted in channel 14 being assigned as the digital channel for WGPX-TV of Burlington, and WXIV-LP was forced to seek a new channel on which to broadcast in order to remain on the air. Engineering studies determined that channel 39 was the only possibility for the station to continue broadcasting, and in April 2004, the station moved to channel 39.

At the time of the channel switch, Carolina Blue Communications was in the process of selling the station to Star News Corporation, owner of Martinsville-based NewsChannel 18, a cable-only news outlet. Since WXIV-LP was moving from channel 14 to channel 39, its old call letters no longer held any meaning, so the station changed call letters again, this time to WGSR-LP, reflecting the station's new "Star-39" brand.

Programming

WGSR-LP has expanded its local coverage of the Reidsville NC-Martinsville-Danville VA area, and has developed "Star News", a news-talk program which airs daily on the station from 5 to 9 pm. The station also has re-launched [http://www.mondaynightlive.info Monday Night Live] , following an 8-year hiatus, and until October 2006 broadcast Baltimore Orioles baseball games.

WGSR-LP began organizing the annual Reidsville Downtown Christmas Parade in late 2006, and now puts the event on annually. The station also hosts a New Year's Eve celebration in the city, both events broadcast live on the station.

Star News has gained a reputation for tackling controversial subjects not approached by the region's full-power broadcasters, as well as giving extensive coverage to the news of the "Dan River Region". The station has come under fire for exposing several scandals, including crime, that has involved governmental officials and other public figures in the local area. [Citation| last =Childrey| first =Mark | title = Star Talk - Discussion of Rockingham County School Board's Complicity in Hiding the Crimes of Wendy Hoover Campbell | Television Station = WGSR-LP | date =2006-01-11 | url = http://politicalsoup.tv/rockinghamradio/PS/PS20060111.mp3]

On May 31, 2008, WGSR-LP aired through its secondary affiliation with CBS, after primary affiliate WFMY chose to pass on airing it.

References

External links

* [http://www.wgsr.tv WGSR website]
* [http://www.starweather.info Star Weather website]
*