WIPL
This article needs additional citations for verification. (February 2014) |
| |
---|---|
HAAT | 542.25 m (1,779 ft)[2] |
Transmitter coordinates | 43°50′44″N 70°45′41″W / 43.84556°N 70.76139°W[2] |
Links | |
Public license information | |
Website | iontelevision |
WIPL (channel 35) is a
History
The
This station's only attempt at local news was a 7 p.m. broadcast (produced by WPXT) in 2001 which was quickly canceled due to low ratings and inconsistent viewership. The station did not air a prime time newscast at 10 p.m. like many other UPN affiliates because it would compete with WPXT's nightly broadcast. However, that station's show was simulcasted on WPME for a period of time. Pegasus declared bankruptcy in June 2004 over a dispute with
In the wake of the merger of The WB and UPN into The CW, WPXT was announced as that network's Portland affiliate on March 9, 2006. WPME would then announce it would associate with MyNetworkTV on May 1, a network owned by News Corporation that was made up of stations which would not become CW affiliates. WPME joined the network on its launch date, September 5, 2006. It would be the only MyNetworkTV affiliate in Maine until December 6, 2006, when Bangor Fox affiliate WFVX-LD took a secondary affiliation with the network.
On June 27, 2008, WPME signed-on a new second digital subchannel to be the "Maine Visitor's Channel" (which was dropped in October 2014 to make room for Movies!) and a third subchannel to be QVC (replaced by Laff on November 7, 2016). It ceased transmission in analog on September 18, 2008, ten months prior to the revised FCC digital switchover deadline of June 12, 2009.
Throughout its history, the station has also produced and aired several local programs. From 2009 to 2013 this has included a simulcast of
Fellow MyNetworkTV affiliate WZMY-TV, based in
MPS Media announced in March 2012 that it would sell WPME to Triumph Broadcasting for $75,000. The deal was contingent on WPXT's concurrent sale from New Age Media to Tyche Broadcasting.[3] On November 13, 2012, WPME filed a non-consummation notice to the FCC, meaning the transaction was made null and void.[4] On February 13, 2013, MPS Media filed to sell WPME to Cottonwood Communications; this deal was concurrent with the sale of WPXT to Ironwood Communications, which took over WPME's operations through a shared services agreement.[5] The FCC granted its approval of the sale on April 2.[6] The sale was consummated on May 20.[7] On July 2, 2015, Ironwood chose to exercise an option to acquire WPME outright for $65,000; the company sought a failed station waiver, as there are not enough stations in the Portland market to permit a duopoly without a waiver.[8]
On February 27, 2021, WIPL's second, third and fourth subchannels became affiliates of Court TV, Bounce TV and Grit when Qubo, Ion Plus and Ion Shop ceased broadcasting.
Programming
Until the sale to Ion,
among others.Subchannels
The station's signal is
Channel | Res. | Aspect | Short name | Programming |
---|---|---|---|---|
35.1 | 720p | 16:9
|
ION | Ion Television |
35.2 | 480i | CourtTV | Court TV | |
35.3 | Bounce | Bounce TV | ||
35.4 | Grit | Grit | ||
35.5 | Defy TV | Defy TV | ||
35.6 | SCRIPPS | Scripps News | ||
35.7 | Jewelry | Jewelry TV
| ||
35.8 | HSN | HSN | ||
35.9 | QVC2 | QVC2
|
References
- ^ "Facility Technical Data for WIPL". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
- ^ a b c "Modification of a DTV Station Construction Permit Application". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission. February 25, 2019. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
- ^ Seyler, Dave (March 12, 2012). "Second half of Portland ME TV JSA sold". Television Business Report. Retrieved March 12, 2012.
- ^ "Application Search Details". Licensing.fcc.gov. November 13, 2012. Retrieved February 17, 2014.
- ^ "Application for Consent to Assignment of Broadcast Station Construction Permit or License". CDBS Public Access. Federal Communications Commission. February 13, 2013. Retrieved February 16, 2013.
- ^ "MPS Media of Portland License, LLC : WPME" (PDF). Licensing.fcc.gov. Retrieved February 17, 2014.
- ^ "CDBS Print". Licensing.fcc.gov. Retrieved February 17, 2014.
- ^ "Application for Consent to Assignment of Broadcast Station Construction Permit or License". CDBS Public Access. Federal Communications Commission. July 10, 2015. Retrieved July 14, 2015.
- ^ "Application for Consent to Assignment of Broadcast Station Construction Permit or License". CDBS Public Access. Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved December 12, 2017.
- ^ "CW". WMTW.
- ^ "Consummation Notice". CDBS Public Access. Federal Communications Commission. March 29, 2018. Retrieved April 2, 2018.
- ^ Ion Media closes on WPME Portland, Maine TVNewsCheck, April 2, 2018
- ^ Callsign Listing. CDBS Public Access, Federal Communications Commission, Retrieved April 12, 2018.
- ^ "RabbitEars TV Query for WIPL". Retrieved March 7, 2021.