WLYH-TV

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WLYH-TV
Lebanon-Harrisburg-York-Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Branding	CW 15
Channels	15 (UHF) analog, 23 (UHF) digital
Affiliations	The CW
Owner	Nexstar Broadcasting Group (operated by Clear Channel Communications)
Founded	October 25, 1953
Call letters meaning	W Lebanon York Harrisburg
Former callsigns	WLBR-TV (1953-1954 & 1957-1958)
Former affiliations	ABC (1957-1961), CBS (1961-1995), UPN (1995-2006)
Website	www.cw15.com

WLYH-TV, CW 15, is the CW Television Network affiliate in the Susquehanna Valley region of Pennsylvania. It broadcasts its analog signal on UHF channel 15, and its digital signal on UHF channel 23. The station license is held by Nexstar Broadcasting Group but the station itself is operated by Clear Channel Communications through a local marketing agreement (LMA). It is a sister station to WHP-TV. The LMA with WHP-TV expires in 2015. WLYH's transmitter is located in Mount Gretna, Pennsylvania.

[edit] History

On October 25, 1953, WLYH-TV, then known as WLBR-TV first signed on the air with regular programming. The station was owned by Lebanon Television Corporation, formed by the Lebanon Broadcasting Company (WLBR Radio) and the Lebanon News Publishing Company (Lebanon Daily News). The 1 kW transmitter and 572 ft. tower were located just north of Mt. Gretna.

In October 1954, after a power loss due to Hurricane Hazel passing through the area, the station went dark.

In 1957, the Radio-Television division of Triangle Publications applied for the WLBR-TV license. The station signed on with increased power in August 1957. Under Triangle the station became a part-time ABC affiliate and received other programs from sister station WFIL-TV in Philadelphia.

On January 1, 1959, the call letters were changed to WLYH to indicate service to Lebanon, York and Harrisburg. In 1961, WLYH-TV became a CBS affiliate and part of the Keystone Network, comprising WHP-TV in Harrisburg, WSBA-TV in York, and WLYH.

In addition to the Mt. Gretna studio, WLYH had studios/offices in the Greist Building in downtown Lancaster during the 1960's. In the early 70's a new full color studio, offices and news film processing facility was constructed in the new Park City Shopping Mall. Two sister companies shared the space, including Park City Communications.

WLYH-TV became a Gateway Communications station in October 1972. Sister stations included WTAJ-TV in Altoona, Pennsylvania, WBNG-TV in Binghamton, New York and WOWK-TV in Huntington, West Virginia.

Clear Channel Communications entered into a 20 year local marketing agreement with Gateway in the fall of 1995. Television Station group acquired the station license in 2003. The license was then acquired by Nexstar Broadcasting Group on December 29, 2006.

On December 16, 1995 after 34 years as a CBS affiliate, WLYH became a UPN affiliate.

On January 24, 2006 UPN and The WB announced that they would merge networks to form The CW. It was confirmed on Thursday May 18, 2006 that WLYH will affiliate with The CW.

It was also announced on May 20, 2006 that WLYH will get back into the news business. WLYH is rumored to be considering a prime-time newscast or one that does not start at 11 p.m. For several years earlier this decade, WLYH went head-to-head with WPMT Channel 43, with less than impressive results.

On November 16, 2006, Clear Channel announced its intention to sell off all of its television stations, including WLYH's sister station WHP. The future status of WLYH's LMA with WHP is unknown at this time, as WLYH will become fully owned and operated by Nexstar once the sale of WHP is finalized.

[edit] External links

• CW15
• WLYH license sold to Nexstar
• Query the FCC's TV station database for WLYH-TV
• BIAfn's Media Web Database -- Information on WLYH-TV