WOVA-LD

WOVA-LD (channel 22) is a low-power television station in Parkersburg, West Virginia, United States, affiliated with Fox and The CW Plus. It is owned by Gray Television alongside NBC affiliate WTAP-TV (channel 15) and low-power CBS affiliate WIYE-LD (channel 26). The three stations share studios on Market Street (official address is One Television Plaza) in downtown Parkersburg; WOVA-LD's transmitter is located in Independence Township, Ohio.

WOVA-LD
CityParkersburg, West Virginia
Channels
BrandingFox Parkersburg
Parkersburg CW 15/21 (on LD2)[1]
Programming
Affiliations22.1: Fox
22.2: CW+
Ownership
Owner
WTAP-TV, WIYE-LD
History
FoundedMay 22, 2002
First air date
April 10, 2006 (2006-04-10)
Former call signs
W22CU (2006–2007)
WVEX-LP (2007–2012)
WOVA-LP (July–October 2012)
Former channel number(s)
Analog: 22 (UHF, 2006–2012)
Digital: 22 (UHF, 2012–2020)
Call sign meaning
Ohio Valley
Technical information[2]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID125125
ClassLD
ERP15 kW
HAAT189.7 m (622 ft)
Transmitter coordinates39°20′59.8″N 81°33′55.4″W
Links
Public license information
LMS
Website"Parkersburg CW 15/21" (LD2)

History

The market's first-ever locally based Fox affiliate was originally seen on a second digital subchannel of WTAP. Prior to that launch, the Parkersburg–Marietta market did not have a Fox affiliate of its own. Cable systems on the West Virginia side of the market piped in WVAH-TV from Charleston, while cable systems on the Ohio side and satellite systems in the region carried WTTE from Columbus; both stations are owned by Cunningham Broadcasting and operated by Sinclair Broadcast Group via local marketing agreements. On April 10, 2006, WTAP launched its Fox-affiliated second digital subchannel to serve as the area's first outlet for the network. To make the new service possible, the big three affiliate underwent a technical transformation. It carved out a new digital, high-definition-ready master control room from space previously used for storage. WTAP also installed an entirely digital production room. Despite the market gaining its own Fox affiliate, WVAH and WTTE continue to be offered on area cable systems.

WOVA was born out of then-license holder Wood Investments LLC's sale of two low-power station licenses on channel 22 (previously holding the callsign WVEX-LP) and another station on UHF channel 47 (then using the callsign WWVX-LP) to Gray Television on April 10, 2012 for $66,000.[3][4] Gray filed an application with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to change the callsign of WVEX-LP to WOVA-LP on July 18, 2012, and changed its city of license from Marietta to Parkersburg.[5] On September 3, 2012, Fox programming moved to this new low-powered station after which WTAP-DT2 was shut down. The move allowed Fox programming to be broadcast over the air in high definition. On October 1, 2012, the station changed its call sign to WOVA-LD.

On September 1, 2018, a 720p HD feed (branded as "Parkersburg's CW 15/21") of The CW's national CW Plus service was added to subchannel 22.2; prior to September 1, 2018, WQCW from the adjacent Portsmouth, Ohio/Charleston–Huntington, West Virginia media market served as the default CW affiliate in Parkersburg, being offered to viewers through local cable and satellite providers.

Programming

Syndicated programming

Syndicated programming on WOVA-LD includes Family Guy, Judge Judy, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, and The People's Court, among others.

Newscast

The station offers a weeknight prime time news broadcast known as Fox Parkersburg News at 10. Airing for thirty minutes from a secondary set, the show mirrors local news seen on WTAP except for slightly different graphics and unique feature segments.

Technical information

Subchannels

The stations' digital signals are multiplexed:

Subchannels of WOVA-LD[6]
Channel Res. Aspect Short name Programming
22.1 720p16:9FOXFox
22.2 CW+The CW Plus

References
  1. Official Station Logo
  2. "Facility Technical Data for WOVA-LD". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  3. Seyler, Dave (April 10, 2012). "Gray takes the low power road in Parkersburg-Marietta". Television Business Report. Retrieved September 7, 2012.
  4. "It's a Gray day for LPTV in Marietta OH". Television Business Report. April 20, 2012. Retrieved September 7, 2012.
  5. "Public Notice" (PDF). Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved July 18, 2012.
  6. RabbitEars TV Query for WOVA-LD
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