WBPG

Infobox_Broadcast
call_letters = WBPG
city = Gulf Shores, Alabama
station_
station_slogan =
station_branding =
analog = 55 (UHF)
digital = 25 (UHF) after 2009 analog shutoff
other_chs =
affiliations = The CW
network =
founded =
airdate = September 2, 2001
location = Mobile, Alabama/Pensacola, Florida
callsign_meaning = The WB Network (original affiliation) and PeGasus Communications (original owner)
former_callsigns =
former_channel_numbers =
owner = LIN TV Corporation
licensee = LIN of Alabama, LLC
sister_stations = WALA-TV
former_affiliations = The WB (2001-2006)
effective_radiated_power = 3750 kW
HAAT = 308 m
class =
facility_id = 83943
coordinates = coord|30|36|41|N|87|36|26.4|W|type:landmark_scale:2000
homepage = [http://www.thegulfcoastcw.com/ www.thegulfcoastcw.com]

WBPG is the CW Television Network affiliate for the Mobile, Alabama and Pensacola, Florida market. The station is owned by LIN Broadcasting along with WALA in the same market. The city of license is Gulf Shores, Alabama.

History

WBPG began broadcasting on Channel 55 on September 2, 2001, replacing WFGX as the area's WB Television Network affiliate after the station reverted to independent status on August 31 of the same year. WFGX's signal reaches mostly the Pensacola side of the market, but WBPG could reach both areas. The original call letters were WGMP (meaning Gulf Shores, Mobile, Pensacola) before the station went on the air. Pegasus Broadcasting originally owned the station until Emmis Communications, owners of WALA purchased the station in 2003. Both stations have since been located under one facility. Its transmitter is located in Robertsdale, Alabama.

When LIN acquired WALA-TV on November 30 2005, the company began operating WBPG (which had already been WALA's sister station under Emmis) under a local marketing agreement (LMA). A little over seven months later, on July 7 2006, LIN purchased WBPG outright.

On September 18, 2006, WBPG joined the CW Television Network, formed by the merger of the WB and the United Paramount Network.

With WALA having been relaunched using the myFox format, WBPG is now relaunched on a separate website on late August,2007

Digital television

Because it was granted an original construction permit after the FCC finalized the DTV allotment plan on April 21, 1997 [http://www.transmitter.com/FCC97115/chanplan.html] , the station did not receive a companion channel for a digital television station. Instead, on or before February 17, 2009, which is the end of the digital TV conversion period for full-service stations, WBPG will be required to turn off its analog signal and turn on its digital signal (called a "flash-cut").

The station was broadcasting a digital signal on sister station WALA-DT (10.2) until March 2007. The station plans to broadcast digitally on channel 25, but cannot broadcast under it's full power until WXXV-TV in nearby Gulfport, Mississippi shuts off its analog signal on February 17, 2009. As of October 2nd, WBPG is broadcasting digitally on channel 25, presumably under a Special Temporary Authority of the FCC.

WBPG-TV 55 will cease broadcasting an analog signal and commence digital broadcasting on channel 25 in full power on February 17, 2009.

External links

*TVQ|WBPG
*BIA|WBPG|TV|TV