WBLU-LP

Infobox_Broadcast
call_letters = WBLU-LP
station_
station_slogan =
analog = 62 (UHF)
station_branding = My 62
digital =
affiliations = MyNetworkTV
RTN
founded = May 3,1999
location = Lexington, Kentucky
callsign_meaning = WBLUegrass
former_callsigns = W62CL
owner = Equity Broadcasting
former_affiliations = UPN: 1999-2004, The WB: 1999-2003 (secondary), independent: 2004-2006
effective_radiated_power = 42 kW
homepage =

WBLU-LP is a low-power television station broadcasting on channel 62 in Lexington, Kentucky. The station is owned by Equity Broadcasting of Little Rock, Arkansas, and is an affiliate of MyNetworkTV. The station is also an affiliate of Equity Broadcasting’s Retro Television Network. WBLU's signal broadcasts from downtown Lexington and provides coverage that does not extend far past the developed portions of the city, although the signal can be picked up in neighboring Scott and Bourbon counties. There is a construction permit to boost the current power of 4 kW to 42 kW on channel 62, which will increase the viewing area into the neighboring cities that touch Lexington. However, the signal upgrade has yet to take place. According to the "Lexington Herald-Leader", this has caused many Lexington-area fans of WWE SmackDown, which recently moved to MyNetwork TV, to complain to the station's owners. [ [http://www.kentucky.com/181/story/551115.html 'Smackdown' fans peeved over WBLU] "Lexington Herald-Leader". Retrieved on October 10, 2008.]

Programming

WBLU airs MyNetworkTV programs six nights a week, Monday through Saturday, 8:00-10:00 P.M. The rest of the schedule is filled by reruns from RTN, syndicated programs, and infomercials. Like all Equity-owned stations, WBLU's programming originates via satellite from Equity's headquarters in Little Rock, Arkansas. WBLU has no local staff.

History

Founded by B&C Communications, WBLU signed on the air May 3, 1999. Channel 62’s programming originally consisted of UPN programming from 8:00 to 10:00 P.M., Monday through Friday. The rest of the station’s programming consisted of infomercials and syndicated reruns.

In September 1999 WBLU added The WB as a secondary affiliation. The station aired WB programs off-schedule, weeknights at 10:00 P.M. and on weekends. Because of this, WB promos were usually deleted from the network's programs. The WB affiliation ended in September 2003 after WBKI (via cable) became the WB affiliate for the Lexington market.

In September 2004, WBLU lost its UPN affiliation when WKYT-TV established its digital channel, "UKYT" (now "CWKYT"). WBLU then became an independent television station. For the next two years, the station’s programming consisted of syndicated programs, infomercials and public-domain movies (usually purchased at the nearby Wal-Mart).

WBLU was purchased by Equity Broadcasting in August 2006. On September 5, 2006, The station became an affiliate of MyNetworkTV. Equity launched its Retro Television Network in the Lexington market on Channel 62 on that day as well. December 31, 2006 was the last day that WBLU had any staff, as Equity broadcasting decided to not staff the station beginning January 1, 2007.

Trivia

The channel 62 frequency was originally used by a full-powered station, WBLG-TV (later WTVQ-TV), until 1980, when that station relocated to channel 36.

WLKT broadcast over channel 62 in Lexington from Oct. 15, 1988 to June 30, 1989.

After WTVQ moved to channel 36, several organizations were petitioning for a license to broadcast on the channel 62 frequency, in the hopes of making it the fourth TV station broadcasting out of Lexington (excluding KET/PBS). Way of the Cross, Inc., which wanted to use it for Christian broadcasting, was initially awarded the license, but, in 1983, channel 62 was awarded to Family Broadcasting Co., Inc., a for-profit group, due to their ability to build a stronger transmitter, that would carry the signal further into Eastern Kentucky. In 1986, a settlement between Way of the Cross and FBC was reached, which would allow Way of the Cross to broadcast 15 hours of religious programming each week plus part ownership of the station, while FBC would construct the station. Meanwhile, WDKY (ch. 56) went on the air, making it the fourth channel. Finally, after more than seven years of legal battles, WLKT, channel 62, went on the air on Saturday, Oct. 15, 1988, owned by Family Broadcasting Corp. [Lexington now had two "independent" television stations, while Louisville, a much bigger market, still only had one.] The studio and offices were located in a small shopping center at 124 New Circle Road, Northeast. The transmitter was located on Clintonville Road, three miles north of U.S. 60, in Clark County. At 4:30 pm on June 30, 1989, WLKT went off the air for good. [Details on WLKT can be found in "WLKT'S DEMISE THE DECLINE AND FALL OF CHANNEL 62" by Tom Daykin, Lexington Herald-Leader, p. E1 (Business Section), July 9, 1989.]

tation Logos

References

External links

* [http://www.ebcorp.net/ Equity Broadcasting]
* [http://www.mynetworktv.com MyNetworkTV]
* [http://www.retrotelevision.net/ Retro Television Network]
*TVQ|WBLU