WJTC

Infobox_Broadcast
call_letters = WJTC
city =
station_
station_slogan = TV for You!
station_branding = UTV 44
analog = 44 (UHF)
digital = 45 (UHF)
other_chs =
affiliations = independent
network =
founded =
airdate = December 24, 1984
location = Pensacola, Florida/Mobile, Alabama
callsign_meaning = JTC stands for the surnames of the three original owners
former_callsigns =
former_channel_numbers =
owner = Newport Television, LLC
licensee =
sister_stations = WPMI-TV
former_affiliations = independent (1984-1995)
UPN (1995-2006)
effective_radiated_power = 3310 kW (analog)
1000 kW (digital)
HAAT = 457 m (both)
class =
facility_id = 41210
coordinates = coord|30|35|16.7|N|87|33|12.7|W|type:landmark_scale:2000
homepage = [http://www.utv44.com/ www.utv44.com]

WJTC is an independent television station in Mobile, Alabama and Pensacola, Florida and is owned by Newport Television, LLC, which also owns WPMI in Mobile. WJTC's transmitter is located in Elsanor, Alabama.

History

WJTC signed on in 1984 and was owned by the Mercury Broadcasting Company. The station had a general entertainment format consisting of old movies, cartoons, westerns, dramas, and a few classic sitcoms. "C44" was the on-air branding.

WJTC had a morning show called "Mornin" and also the area's first 9 p.m. newscast when it signed on the air. The broadcasts originated from downtown Pensacola. The 9 p.m. weeknight newscast was moved to 10 p.m. in the hopes of attracting more viewers, while the weekend 9 p.m. newscast continued, supplemented with national and international news from INN from New York City. The morning and evening newscasts were discontinued by May 31, 1986. Another attempt at a 9 p.m. local newscast was made many years later (after WJTC was sold and its facilities moved to Mobile).

In 1991, Clear Channel Communications, owner of WPMI began a local marketing agreement with WJTC. Mercury Broadcasting retained the license, but Clear Channel owned the programming. WJTC affiliated with the United Paramount Network upon its debut in 1995.

Clear Channel became the sole owner of WJTC in 2001. WJTC became an independent again on September 10, 2006, five days before the network ceased to exist in favor of The CW Television Network. The station was passed over for both the CW affiliation (which went to WBPG) and that of another new network, MyNetworkTV (which went to WFGX).

In addition to rebranding as UTV 44 and a new website, WJTC will allow viewers to choose key programming for the station, such as which high-school sports or movies to broadcast. This was a tactic similar to that of WZMY-TV in Derry, New Hampshire, when the station began branding itself as myTV in summer 2005.

On April 20, 2007, Clear Channel entered into an agreement to sell its entire television stations group to Providence Equity Partners.cite press release|title=Clear Channel Agrees to Sell Television Station Group to Providence Equity Partners|publisher=Clear Channel Communications|url=http://www.clearchannel.com/Corporate/PressRelease.aspx?PressReleaseID=1943|date=2007-04-20|accessdate=2007-04-20] On March 15, 2008 WJTC and WPMI as well as all of the other Clear Channel Television properties were sold to Newport Television LLC, the company that Providence Equity created to run the newly acquired television stations.

Digital television

In 2009, WJTC will move to channel 45 when the analog to digital conversion is complete.http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1082A2.pdf]

Past News/Sports/Weather Anchors (1985-1986, broadcasting from heart of downtown Pensacola)

*Sid Starks
*Scott Bryant
*Jim Reed

Past Newscast Titles (1985-1986, broadcasting from the heart of downtown Pensacola)

*Mornin'
*News at Nine
*News at Ten
*News at Nine (Weekends)

References

External links

* [http://www.wjtc.com/ WJTC website]
*TVQ|WJTC
*BIA|WJTC|TV|TV
*TitanTV|WJTC
* [http://www.al.com/tv/mobileregister/mbrantley.ssf?/base/entertainment/1155201550260870.xml&coll=1 "Losing its network affiliation, WJTC-TV creates a new identity" ("Press-Register" article)]