WBQC-CA

Infobox_Broadcast
call_letters = WBQC-CA
station_branding = WBQC Channel 38
station_
analog = 38 (UHF)
digital = pending, 20 [http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/tvq?list=0&facid=168414 TV Query Results - Video Division (FCC) USA ] ]
affiliations = independent
founded = 1994
location = Cincinnati, Ohio
callsign_meaning = WB (for former affiliation)
Queen City (nickname for Cincinnati) or We're Block Communications Queen City
owner = Elliott B. Block
former_callsigns = W25AI
former_affiliations = The WB (1995-1998)
NBC (1999-?)
UPN (1998-2006)
effective_radiated_power = 140 kW/207m
homepage = [http://www.wbqc.com www.wbqc.com]

WBQC-CA is an independent television station in Cincinnati, Ohio. The station broadcasts on channel 38. WBQC's offices are located in their new 12,000-plus square foot complex in Roselawn, Ohio, which is a locale within the Cincinnati city limits. Its transmitter is located in Cincinnati, broadcasting from WCPO's tower. According to its website, WBQC was the first television station to be fully automated. [http://www.wbqc.com/aboutus/history/index.htm History] ] The station was also the first station in Cincinnati to do digital commercial playback. WBQC was also the first station to air Spanish language commercials.

History

The station signed on in 1994 on channel 25 as low power TV station W25AI, running mostly infomercials. With all the Cincinnati full power stations having network affiliations and a need to have an affiliate in Cincinnati, WB network (which launched in January 1995) signed an affiliation agreement and affiliated with Channel 25. The station changed its call letters to WBQC-LP to reflect its new affiliation, and began to identify on-air as "WB Channel 25".

In 1998, Sinclair Broadcasting did a deal with The WB, thus changing a number of their affiliates from UPN affiliates to WB affiliates. A station included in the deal was WSTR-TV Channel 64. Thus, the WB affiliation moved to WSTR-TV Channel 64 in 1998, which left WBQC without a network affiliate. UPN struck a deal to air their programming on WLWT Channel 5, the NBC affiliate, to air their programming on the weekends at 2AM-4AM. After a few months of having poor numbers airing four hours of programming late night on WLWT, UPN reopened talks with WBQC. In the fall of 1999, UPN and WBQC struck an agreement making WBQC the UPN affiliate in Cincinnati.

During WBQC's short time as an independent station in 1999, the station carried various NBC programming WLWT, the local NBC affiliate, chose to not want to carry, which included various sporting events as well as "The Profiler" and "Sunset Beach".

WBQC had been pushing for inclusion on local cable and satellite lineups for many years. In 2005, WBQC moved from channel 25 to channel 38. WOTH-LP, "The Other Channel", an America One affiliate, moved from channel 38 to channel 25. Both stations are operated by Block Broadcasting. WBQC became a Class A television station. The benefit to become a Class A station was cable must carry status and protection of displacement in order to make room for full power stations's digital allocation. Class A stations had to do all the requirements of full power stations to get these protections. However, legislation didn't go through the FCC. Class A's didn't get cable must carry status, however they did retain protection from being displaced in order to make room for a full-power station's digital allocation.

As an independent station, WBQC was on several small master antenna systems and a cable system in Delhi (area of Cincinnati). Talks with Intermedia Cable (Kentucky), Time Warner Cable (Cincinnati) and Adelphia Cable (Cincinnati) didn't progress until years later. Shortly after WBQC became the UPN affiliate, DirecTV added WBQC to their local channel lineup on Channel 25. Insight Cable bought Intermedia Cable and added WBQC to their cable lineup on Channel 25. Adelphia Cable followed suit and added WBQC to their cable lineup on Channel 25. The city of Lebanon, Ohio turned away from Time Warner, started their own service and added WBQC to their lineup. Suscom Cable in Indiana added WBQC to their lineup. Time Warner Cable (Oxford, Ohio) also chose to carry WBQC on their program lineup. However, Time Warner Cable (Cincinnati) didn't add WBQC to their cable lineup. A few Time Warner Cable (Cincinnati) customers were told by representatives the station was out of Indianapolis, Indiana, Dayton, Ohio, or broadcasted from some guys's basement.

Once UPN acquired Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Time Warner Cable opened discussions with WBQC. After months of talks, Time Warner Cable agreed to carry WBQC. Unlike the other cable systems, Time Warner Cable (Cincinnati) would only air WBQC from 6pm-11pm Mon-Sun on channel 20, a cable lease channel. Time Warner Cable (Cincinnati) purchased Adelphia Cable, but wouldn't make any changes to their program lineups until after Time Warner Cable had made the full transition moving Adelphia viewers into the Time Warner family.

With the merger of UPN and The WB in September 2006 into The CW Television Network, there was a question where The CW would land in Cincinnati. WSTR was the WB affiliate and a full power station; WBQC was the UPN affiliate, a Class A station with full cable carriage (Time Warner Cable Cincinnati the exception). (On March 2, 2006, it was announced that WSTR would affiliate with My Network TV.cite press release|publisher=Sinclair Broadcast Group|date=2006-05-02|url=http://sbgi.net/press/release_200652_162.shtml|title=SBG Enters Into Affiliation Agreement With The CW Network|accessdate=2006-05-20] cite news|author=Allison Romano|first=Allison|last=Romano|url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6312455.html|title=Sinclair Signs On to MyNetworkTV|work=Broadcasting & Cable|publisher=Reed Business Information|date=2006-03-02|accessdate=2006-05-20] This seemingly opened the door for WBQC to potentially become the CW's Cincinnati affiliate, but on April 19 it was confirmed that The CW Television Network would be carried on digital subchannel 12-2 of Cincinnati's CBS affiliate, WKRC. As a result of the shuffle, WBQC became an independent stationcite news | first =John| last =Kiesewetter| url =http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060625/ENT/606250308/1025/LIFE| title =Local media: 'Veronica Mars' Left Homeless By UPN Closing| work = | publisher =Cincinnati Enquirer| date =2006-06-25| accessdate =2006-07-16| language =English] upon the dissolution of UPN in September.

By July 4 2006 (in a stunt to promote their "Independence Day"), UPN network programming was moved out of primetime, and was replaced with marathons, and then a schedule of older off-network dramas and comedies. UPN aired overnight from 2am-4am early Tuesday morning-early Saturday morning until its closedown. The station then changed their logo, which has some elements of the Ohio State Flag.

With the launch of WKRC's "CinCW" digital subchannel, Time Warner Cable dropped WBQC on October 18 to carry CinCW full-time on Channel 20. The CinCW also replaced WBQC on Channel 25 on both Insight Cable and DirecTV, which has created some confusion to viewers who think WBQC is the CinCW. Insight Cable moved WBQC to channel 189 on its digital tier.

In 2007, Time Warner Cable (Cincinnati) experienced a change in management. In early 2008, WBQC and Time Warner Cable started discussions for cable carriage. However, Time Warner Cable stated they did not have any channels available, either on the analog or digital tier.

In addition to network programming, the station airs local entertainment programs such as New Xtreme Sounds (music entertainment), Lincoln Ware Live (community public affairs), Scizone with Bill Boshears (commentary on the political and paranormal), Friday Night Fu (Cap'n Dave and Fu Crew hosts campy kung fu movies), the Sunday Mass and After Midnight (music talent showcase).

References

[The Dean of Cincinnati (11-14-2007) [http://www.cincinnatibeacon.com/index.php/magaddiction/comments/wbqc_deserves_access_to_cable_sateliite_customers/ WBQC deserves access to cable, satellite customers] Cincinnati Beacon] [Ana Radelat (06-07-2008) [http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2008-06-07-digital-tv_N.htm Small television stations struggling with digital conversion] USA Today]

External links

* [http://www.wbqc.com/ WBQC Website]
* [http://www.wbqc.com/aboutus/history/index.htm Station history]
* [http://www.wbqc.com/aboutus/reception.htm Frequently Asked Questions] – information about inclusion on cable and satellite
*TVQ|WBQC
* [http://www.wbqc.com/woth/ The Other Channel] (WOTH)
* [http://www.fridaynightfu.com Friday Night Fu]
* [http://www.scizone.tv Scizone]