WYKE-CD
WYKE-CD (channel 47) is a low-power, Class A television station licensed to both Inglis and Yankeetown, Florida, United States, two cities in Levy County—part of the Gainesville market—but serving Citrus County, part of the Tampa Bay market. It is a translator of Clearwater-based WCLF (channel 22), the flagship station of the Christian Television Network (CTN).
Translator of WCLF, Clearwater, Florida | |
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City | Inglis–Yankeetown, Florida |
Channels | |
Branding | CTN West Central Florida |
Programming | |
Affiliations | 47.1: CTN |
Ownership | |
Owner |
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History | |
Founded | June 16, 1982 |
Former call signs |
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Former channel number(s) |
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Call sign meaning | Dual meaning: "We're Your Key Training Center" (reference to the Key Training Center, former owner and licensee) or Yankeetown, FL (city of license) |
Technical information[3] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
Facility ID | 63901 |
Class | CD |
ERP | 15 kW |
HAAT | 87.8 m (288 ft) |
Transmitter coordinates | 28°53′2.2″N 82°31′20.1″W |
Links | |
Public license information | |
Website | www |
History
The station was founded in 1982 as W49AI (channel 49). It was owned by the Citrus County Association for Retarded Citizens, a non-profit organization that assists handicapped and disabled people in Citrus County. The station repeated the TV signal of Orlando's WOFL, with some shows replaced with local programming. However, it did not carry WOFL's late-night programming, as it left the air around midnight. W49AI became a Fox affiliate when WOFL did in 1986.
W49AI dropped Fox and WOFL around 1991, when Ocala's WOGX affiliated with the Fox network. At that point, it offered more local programming, plus shows from other satellite networks, like Channel America, America One (later Youtoo America, now YTA TV) and My Family TV. WYKE has also aired religious programming from Faith TV and Orlando independent station WACX.[4]
In May 1995, W49AI became WYKE-LP, named after the Key Training Center in Inverness, where Citrus County's handicapped learn basic occupational skills for employment.
On February 9, 2005, WYKE relocated to channel 47 and became a Class A station (though they kept the "-LP" suffix). Soon after, on March 21, the station completed a flash-cut to digital, becoming one of the first licensed digital Class A stations in the United States. However, the station would not adopt a "-CD" suffix until 2009.
On December 10, 2021, it was announced that CTN would purchase WYKE-CD for $1 million;[1] the sale was completed on March 15, 2022.[5]
News operation
WYKE aired a half hour morning show called Citrus Today, hosted by Dennis Miller. Originally called Citrus Sunrise, the show aired weekdays at 9:30 a.m. and featured local news and public affairs segments.[6]
In the past, the station has aired simulcasts of Gainesville ABC affiliate WCJB's morning, evening, and late newscasts.[7]
References
- "Assignments". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission. December 10, 2021. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
- Retro Channel America Network Promo 1991 Affiliate List. December 5, 2022. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
- "Facility Technical Data for WYKE-CD". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
- "WYKE Key TV. A Citrus County Tv station showing original programs and My Family TV Programming". 2017-02-20. Archived from the original on 2017-02-20. Retrieved 2020-04-01.
- "Notification of Consummation". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission. March 15, 2022. Retrieved May 23, 2022.
- "schedule.pdf" (PDF). wyke47.com.
- "schedule.pdf" (PDF). 2007-10-21. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-10-21. Retrieved 2020-04-01.