WICZ-TV

Infobox_Broadcast
call_letters = WICZ-TV
city =
station_
station_slogan =
station_branding = Fox 40
analog = 40 (UHF)
digital = 8 (VHF)
other_chs =
affiliations = Fox
MyNetworkTV (DT2)
network =
founded =
airdate = November 1, 1957
location = Binghamton, New York
callsign_meaning = Henry GuzeWICZ
(Stainless' owner when it bought WICZ)
former_callsigns = WINR-TV (1957-1967)
former_channel_numbers =
owner = Stainless Broadcasting Company
licensee = Stainless Broadcasting, LP
sister_stations =
former_affiliations = NBC (1957-1996)
effective_radiated_power = 468 kW (analog)
7.9 kW (digital)
HAAT = 375 m (analog)
371 m (digital)
class =
facility_id = 62210
coordinates = coord|42|3|23|N|75|56|38.7|W|type:landmark_scale:2000
homepage = [http://www.wicz.com/ www.wicz.com]

WICZ-TV is the Fox network affiliate for Binghamton, New York. The station operates on UHF channel 40 with its digital signal on VHF channel 8. It is licensed to Stainless Broadcasting Company, which also owns MyNetworkTV affiliate WBPN-LP. WBPN can be seen on WICZ's DT2 digital subchannel.

WICZ-TV produces its own 10PM newscast every night.

History

Channel 40 signed on November 1, 1957 [cite web| year=2006|url=http://www.brainyhistory.com/events/1957/november_1_1957_119605.html|title=WICZ TV channel 40 in Binghamton, New York (NBC) begins broadcasting|work=November 1 in History|publisher=BrainyHistory| language=English|accessdate=2006-05-29|curly=y] as WINR-TV, an NBC affiliate owned by WINR radio. Stainless Broadcasting acquired the station in 1967 and changed its call letters to the current WICZ-TV (for the company's owner, Henry Guzewicz).

In 1996, WICZ dropped its NBC affiliation and switched to Fox. During its final few years as an NBC affiliate, WICZ preempted much of that network's programming, particularly its daytime soap operas, in favor of Fox Kids shows. The NBC affiliation moved to low-power station WBGH-CA.

Despite consistently low ratings, the station did hire (& fire) some future stars in the business, including news anchor/reporter Kate Merrill (now at Boston's WBZ-TV and the wife of former NHL Goalie Mike Dunham) and sports director Steve Bunin (now a sports anchor at ESPN), who was unceremoniously dropped after just two months on the job in 1997.

See also

*WBPN-LP

External links

* [http://www.wicz.com/ WICZ website]
*TVQ|WICZ
*BIA|WICZ|TV|TV
* [http://www.binghamtonpmc.org/bhuston/localism.html Broadcast Localism in Binghamton Market] , report filed under FCC's Broadcast Localism NOI.
* [http://www.fccinfo.com/CMDProFacLookup.php?sFacilityID=62210&tabSearchType=Faci&sCurrentService=TV FCCInfo Data]

References

*cite web|last=Fybush|first=Scott| date=December 3, 2004|url=http://www.fybush.com/sites/2004/site-041203.html|title=Binghamton's Ingraham Hill Revisited|work=Tower Site of the Week|publisher=fybush.com| language=English|accessdate=2006-05-29|curly=y