WWSI explained

Callsign:WWSI
City:Mount Laurel, New Jersey
Logo Alt:The Telemundo network logo, a T with two circular overlapping components. To the right and under the T, the number 62. Beneath it, in a sans serif, the word Telemundo.
Branding:Spanish; Castilian: italic=no|Telemundo 62
Spanish; Castilian: Noticiero Telemundo 62
Digital:28 (UHF), shared with WCAU
Virtual:62
Owner:Telemundo Station Group
Licensee:NBC Telemundo License LLC
Country:United States
Airdate: (in Atlantic City, New Jersey; license moved to Mount Laurel in 2018)
Erp:745 kW
Haat:399.81NaN1
Facility Id:23142
Coordinates:40.0417°N -75.2361°W
Licensing Authority:FCC

WWSI (channel 62) is a television station licensed to Mount Laurel, New Jersey, United States, serving as the Philadelphia-area outlet for the Spanish-language network Telemundo. It is owned and operated by NBCUniversal's Telemundo Station Group alongside NBC outlet WCAU (channel 10); it is also sister to regional sports network NBC Sports Philadelphia. The stations' studios are located in Comcast Technology Center on Arch Street in Center City, and they are broadcast from one transmitter in the Roxborough section of Philadelphia.

Channel 62 was assigned to Atlantic City, New Jersey, in 1984 as part of a proceeding to improve local television service throughout the state. Garden State Communications obtained the construction permit in 1987, but construction activity only progressed in 2000, after Council Tree Communications bought a majority stake. The station signed on the air in January 2001 as a Telemundo affiliate, the first in the Philadelphia market in over a year, and aired little local programming first under Council Tree and later ZGS Communications ownership. In 2013, NBC acquired WWSI, which it has integrated with WCAU. This included the 2014 launch of local Spanish-language news and the 2018 move into the Comcast Technology Center. After selling the station's spectrum, WWSI began transmitting from WCAU's tower in 2018 and changed its city of license.

History

Prehistory and construction

In 1980, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) proposed assigning channel 62 to Atlantic City, New Jersey, as part of a proposal to improve television service in the state.[1] The proceeding and channel addition were finalized in 1984,[2] and in August 1986, the FCC designated a group of five applications for the channel for comparative hearing.[3] A settlement agreement was registered with the FCC in 1987, though Garden State Communications was not immediately granted the permit on the issue of short-spacing with other stations.[4] The permit remained dormant for the next decade. In 1990, the Securities and Exchange Commission sued a Philadelphia company for illegally raising funds on behalf of Garden State to build the proposed WACI-TV.[5]

Council Tree Communications filed to acquire a majority stake in the construction permit in 1999.[6] Council Tree was a Longmont, Colorado–based firm in which one of the investors was an Alaska Native–owned corporation.[7] During this time, construction on the station started and faced considerable difficulty. In May 2000, work on the tower along County Route 539 in Little Egg Harbor Township briefly came to a halt as opponents objecting on radiation concerns claimed they had an injunction to stop it.[8] Opponents also decried its proximity to homes and claimed it did not receive proper zoning approval.[9] The dispute was in part resolved when Little Egg Harbor Township agreed to assume ownership of the tower when completed.[10] This was key because it allowed for the exemption from planning board approval, though objectors continued to fight construction.[11] Other objections concerned the potential danger to birds posed by the mast.[12] During the construction process, Council Tree had become involved in Spanish-language broadcasting, principally the Telemundo network. In April 2000, it acquired KSBS-TV, the Telemundo affiliate for the Denver market, and the firm moved to acquire a stake in the network four months later.[13] After approximately six months of preparations,[14] channel 62 signed on as Telemundo affiliate WWSI on January 17[15] or 26, 2001.[16] It restored the Telemundo network to the Philadelphia market after the previous affiliate, WTVE (channel 51), disaffiliated from the network at the start of 2000.[17] It had local offices near Penn Treaty Park in Philadelphia and in Northfield, New Jersey.[18] Council Tree sold its ownership interest to NBC later in 2001 but did not relinquish WWSI.[19] The station initiated digital broadcasting on channel 49 on November 1, 2002. ZGS Communications acquired WWSI for $10 million in 2008.[20]

NBCU ownership

ZGS retained the station until agreeing to sell it to NBCUniversal for $20 million in a sale completed in July 2013. The deal created a duopoly with NBC's Philadelphia station, WCAU.[21] [22] Following the acquisition, NBC announced its intent to expand WCAU's news department to serve WWSI.[23] It hired a total of 15 new employees,[24] including bilingual reporters who filed stories for WCAU; Ramón Luis Zayas, former news anchor of Telemundo's morning program Un Nuevo Día, was named anchor of the evening newscasts.[25] Spanish; Castilian: Noticiero Telemundo 62 began airing at 6 and 11 p.m. on January 13, 2014, from WCAU's studios in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania.[26]

After the news launch, WWSI has been included in several group-wide news expansions at Telemundo. In November 2014, the owned-and-operated stations launched news at 5:30 p.m.,[27] followed by 6 a.m. and noon newscasts on April 2, 2018.[28]

NBCUniversal sold the spectrum of WWSI in the 2017 FCC spectrum reallocation incentive auction for $125.9 million.[29] WWSI continued broadcasting on the WCAU multiplex from its existing Philadelphia tower, and its city of license was changed to Mount Laurel, New Jersey,[30] an arrangement NBC believed would improve coverage. Prior to the auction, NBC and Telemundo were double-illuminated from each transmitter.[31]

WCAU and WWSI moved into floors 12 through 14 of the 59-story Comcast Technology Center in Philadelphia in 2018. With the new facility, the Telemundo side of the operation had a news studio nearly the same size as WCAU for the first time.[32] [33]

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: 3 Networks Oppose UHF Affiliate Plan. July 16, 1980. 18. Associated Press. Press of Atlantic City. Atlantic City, New Jersey. Newspapers.com. August 27, 2024.
  2. News: Vineland Gets TV Channel. June 28, 1984. 27. Associated Press. Press of Atlantic City. Atlantic City, New Jersey. Newspapers.com. August 27, 2024. August 30, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240830014841/https://www.newspapers.com/article/press-of-atlantic-city-vineland-gets-tv/153939588/. live.
  3. News: Notice. September 4, 1986. 36. Press of Atlantic City. Atlantic City, New Jersey. Newspapers.com. August 27, 2024. August 30, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240830014841/https://www.newspapers.com/article/press-of-atlantic-city-notice-atlantic/153939644/. live.
  4. News: 80. . In Contest. Broadcasting. August 3, 1987.
  5. News: Phila. firm accused over investments. May 25, 1990. 16-C, 21-C. Richard. Burke. The Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Newspapers.com. August 27, 2024. August 30, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240830014841/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-philadelphia-inquirer-phila-firm-ac/153948634/. live.
  6. News: Public Notice. August 5, 1999. C7. Press of Atlantic City. Atlantic City, New Jersey. Newspapers.com. August 27, 2024. August 30, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240830014841/https://www.newspapers.com/article/press-of-atlantic-city-public-notice/153939900/. live.
  7. News: Steve. Caulk. Spanish TV Station Sold. 4B. Rocky Mountain News. April 15, 2000.
  8. News: Tower construction stopped: Opponents claim they have obtained an injunction. May 11, 2000. B1, B4. Bill. Mc Laughlin. Asbury Park Press. Asbury Park, New Jersey. Newspapers.com. August 27, 2024. August 30, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240830014842/https://www.newspapers.com/article/asbury-park-press-tower-construction-sto/154127621/. live.
  9. News: LEHT man files suit over cell tower. June 13, 2000. C5. Gregory J.. Volpe. Press of Atlantic City. Atlantic City, New Jersey. Newspapers.com. August 27, 2024. August 30, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240830014846/https://www.newspapers.com/article/press-of-atlantic-city-leht-man-files-su/154127812/. live.
  10. News: Little Egg OKs new plan to lease tower. June 28, 2000. B2. Bill. Mc Laughlin. Asbury Park Press. Asbury Park, New Jersey. Newspapers.com. August 27, 2024. August 30, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240830014842/https://www.newspapers.com/article/asbury-park-press-little-egg-oks-new-pla/154127962/. live.
  11. News: LEHT man signals opposition to cell tower. September 30, 2000. C1, C3. Gregory J.. Volpe. Press of Atlantic City. Atlantic City, New Jersey. Newspapers.com. August 27, 2024. August 30, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240830014842/https://www.newspapers.com/article/press-of-atlantic-city-leht-man-signals/154128225/. live.
  12. News: Danger for birds soon may tower over southern N.J.. October 23, 2000. A1, A10. Jack. Kaskey. Press of Atlantic City. Atlantic City, New Jersey. Newspapers.com. August 27, 2024.
  13. News: Council Tree network share to grow: Longmont firm plans to buy stake in Spanish-TV Telemundo. August 15, 2000. A1. Robert. Schwab. The Denver Post.
  14. News: Spanish-language TV station to debut in Phila.. Philadelphia Business Journal. November 20, 2000. Elizabeth. Bennett. August 28, 2024. August 30, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240830015521/https://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/stories/2000/11/20/newscolumn6.html. live.
  15. Book: Television and Cable Factbook. WWSI, WWSI-DT. A-1455, A-1456. 2006.
  16. News: Local Spanish TV channel on air. February 2, 2001. 1A, 5A. Vanessa. Colon. Courier-Post. Camden, New Jersey. Newspapers.com. August 27, 2024.
  17. News: WTVE-51 will take Telemundo off the air. December 31, 1999. C1, C2. Patricia. Horn. The Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Newspapers.com. August 27, 2024. August 30, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240830020024/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-philadelphia-inquirer-wtve-51-will-t/115543619/. live.
  18. News: Spanish TV station opens Northfield office. March 11, 2001. F2. Press of Atlantic City. Atlantic City, New Jersey. Newspapers.com. August 28, 2024. August 30, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240830015901/https://www.newspapers.com/article/press-of-atlantic-city-spanish-tv-statio/153939794/. live.
  19. News: For WWSI, Telemundo deal signals fiesta time. Peter. Van Allen. October 22, 2001. Philadelphia Business Journal. August 28, 2024. August 30, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240830020025/https://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/stories/2001/10/22/newscolumn3.html. live.
  20. Web site: Deals . January 24, 2008 . Broadcasting & Cable .
  21. News: NBCUniversal doubles in Philadelphia with Telemundo outlet. Radio & Television Business Report. March 21, 2013. March 21, 2013. August 30, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240830015902/https://rbr.com/nbcuniversal-doubles-in-philadelphia-with-telemundo-outlet/. live.
  22. News: Telemundo Closes On Purchase of WWSI. TVNewsCheck. July 2, 2013.
  23. Web site: Telemundo's WWSI Gets Ready To Make News. TVNewsCheck. December 10, 2013.
  24. Web site: WWSI Philly Hiring 15 To Launch Local News. TVNewsCheck. September 11, 2013.
  25. Web site: Zayas to anchor upcoming Telemundo Philly newscast. Media Moves. October 21, 2013. October 21, 2013. August 30, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240830020041/https://www.mediamoves.com/2013/10/zayas-named-anchor-of-upcoming-wwsi-newscast.html#sthash.jr23e58b.dpuf. live.
  26. News: La gran historia: NBC10 and WWSI-TV team to create a Spanish-language news program, starting today. January 13, 2014. 27, 31. Chuck. Darrow. Philadelphia Daily News. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Newspapers.com. August 28, 2024. August 30, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240830015907/https://www.newspapers.com/article/philadelphia-daily-news-la-gran-historia/153940583/. live.
  27. News: Villafañe . Veronica . September 18, 2014 . Telemundo adds new 30 min newscast at 14 local stations . en-US . Media Moves . July 11, 2021 . November 30, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201130140053/https://www.mediamoves.com/2014/09/telemundo-to-hire-30-to-launch-local-newscasts-at-14-stations.html . live .
  28. News: Telemundo's WWSI Adding Two Newscasts. Miller. Mark. March 12, 2018. TVNewsCheck. October 26, 2018.
  29. Web site: NBC Makes Over $480 Million From Auction. TVNewsCheck. April 13, 2017. April 13, 2017. July 30, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170730080515/http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/103245/nbc-makes-over-480-million-from-auction. dead.
  30. Web site: All Purpose Exhibit for WWSI CP Application to Channel Share. Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission. December 21, 2017. August 30, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240830015908/https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/api/download/attachment/25076f915f0d91b4015f2741c7ff2f6e. live.
  31. Web site: PSIP Notifications for NBC Telemundo License LLC. December 13, 2016. Margaret L.. Tobey. Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission. August 30, 2024. August 30, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240830015910/https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/api/download/attachment/25076f9158ed3e690158fe5e402d00d6. live.
  32. News: A first look at NBC10's new home at the Comcast Technology Center. subscription. Jeff. Blumenthal. Philadelphia Business Journal. October 11, 2018.
  33. News: NBCU Philly Stations Make Big Leap To IP. October 11, 2018. TVNewsCheck.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "WWSI".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2025, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.