WSST-TV (channel 55) is a television station licensed to Cordele, Georgia, United States, affiliated with MyNetworkTV. It is owned by Marquee Broadcasting alongside Valdosta-licensed CBS affiliate WSWG (channel 44). WSST-TV's studios (which also house master control and some internal operations for WSWG) are located on 7th Street and 11th Avenue in downtown Cordele, and its transmitter is located in rural southwestern Crisp County.
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| City | Cordele, Georgia |
| Channels | |
| Branding |
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| Programming | |
| Affiliations |
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| Ownership | |
| Owner |
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| WSWG | |
| History | |
First air date | May 22, 1989 |
Former channel number(s) |
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Call sign meaning | Sunbelt-South Telecommunications (previous owner) |
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 63867 |
| ERP | 66.2 kW |
| HAAT | 111 m (364 ft) |
| Transmitter coordinates | 31°53′36″N 83°48′18″W / 31.89333°N 83.80500°W |
| Translator(s) | WSWG-DT 44.3 (31 UHF) Valdosta WSST-LD 55 (28 UHF) Albany |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Website | www |
The station's digital signal extends only about 50 miles (80 km) from Cordele; however, the station is carried on many cable providers in the region, including in Albany and Perry. Since April 22, 2019, in order to increase its over-the-air reach, WSST-TV's primary channel has been simulcast on WSWG's third digital subchannel.[2]
History
edit
WSST-TV signed on May 22, 1989, as an independent station owned by Sunbelt-South Telecommunications Ltd.[3] The station grew out of a cable-only station for Cordele and Vienna that had started in 1981.[4] Though primarily independent, at various points WSST's schedule has included programming from Channel America,[5] America One, and Youtoo America. WSST was originally jointly owned by William B. Goodson and Phillip A. Streetman; Goodson died in 2006,[4] and Streetman assumed full control in 2007.[6]
On June 18, 2018, Marquee Broadcasting agreed to purchase WSST from Sunbelt-South Telecommunications.[7][8] The sale was completed on September 3, 2018.[9] Marquee subsequently acquired CBS affiliate WSWG from Gray Television, making it a sister station to WSST.[10] In May 2019, WSST-TV affiliated with MyNetworkTV; the affiliation was transferred from a WSWG subchannel.
Local programming
editWSST-TV airs a rebroadcast of sister station WSWG's early evening newscast and a prime time newscast, which launched on May 6, 2019;[11] prior to then, WSST produced its own evening newscast. Until 2022, WSST also produced South Georgia Sunrise, a two-hour morning news and talk program, and Midday, a half-hour talk and lifestyle program.
Technical information
editSubchannels
editThe station's digital signal is multiplexed:
| Channel | Video | Aspect | Short name | Programming |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 55.1 | 480i | 4:3 | WSST DT | Main WSST-TV programming / MyNetworkTV |
| 55.2 | 16:9 | WSST-D2 | MeTV (WSWG-DT2) | |
| 55.20 | WSWG-DT | CBS (WSWG) | ||
| 55.4 | 16:9 | WSST-D4 | Grit | |
| 55.5 | WSST-D5 | Ion Mystery | ||
| 55.6 | WSST-D6 | Laff |
Analog-to-digital conversion
editWSST-TV began broadcasting a digital signal in 2003.[4] Its digital transmitter facilities operated at low power for several years, due to Sunbelt-South Telecommunications, Ltd. being involved in bankruptcy proceedings.[needs update][13] The station discontinued regular programming on its analog signal, over UHF channel 55, on April 15, 2009. WSST's digital signal broadcast on its pre-transition UHF channel 51.[14][15] The station moved to channel 22 in early 2017,[16] and to channel 34 in late 2018.[17]
References
edit- ^ "Facility Technical Data for WSST-TV". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
- ^ "WSWG VALDOSTA, GA". www.rabbitears.info.
- ^ Television & Cable Factbook 1991 Edition (PDF). 1991. p. A-303. Retrieved May 14, 2019.
- ^ a b c "Georgia Obituary and Death Notice Collection - Various Counties - 481". GenealogyBuff.com. Retrieved May 14, 2019.
- ^ "Low power television gets high-powered investor" (PDF). Broadcasting. November 26, 1990. p. 55. Retrieved May 14, 2019.
- ^ Television & Cable Factbook 2008 (PDF). 2008. p. A-656. Retrieved May 14, 2019.
- ^ Lane, Brian J. (June 12, 2018). "Application for Consent to Assignment of Broadcast Station Construction Permit or License". CDBS Public Access. Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved June 14, 2018.
- ^ "Marquee Broadcasting acquires WSST". Cordele Dispatch. 18 June 2018. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
- ^ "Consummation Notice". CDBS Public Access. Federal Communications Commission. September 3, 2018. Retrieved September 5, 2018.
- ^ Mandel, Eric (August 16, 2018). "Gray Television sells Albany CBS affiliate WSWG alongside $3.6B Raycom purchase". Atlanta Business Chronicle. Retrieved May 14, 2019.
- ^ RabbitEars TV Query for WSST
- ^ "DECLARATORY RULING, SECOND REPORT AND ORDER, AND ORDER ON RECONSIDERATION" (PDF). 2016-07-14. Retrieved 2023-09-17.
- ^ "DTV Tentative Channel Designations for the First and Second Rounds" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-08-29. Retrieved 2012-03-24.
- ^ "Cox, WPGA attorneys argue lawsuit in court - Local & State - Macon.com". Archived from the original on April 9, 2010. Retrieved May 1, 2010.
- ^ "Channel 22 License to cover".
- ^ "License To Cover for DTV Application". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission. December 11, 2018. Retrieved May 14, 2019.