WICA-TV,
UHF
Ultra high frequency (UHF) is the ITU designation for radio frequencies in the range between 300 megahertz (MHz) and 3 gigahertz (GHz), also known as the decimetre band as the wavelengths range from one meter to one tenth of a meter (on ...
analog
Analog or analogue may refer to:
Computing and electronics
* Analog signal, in which information is encoded in a continuous variable
** Analog device, an apparatus that operates on analog signals
*** Analog electronics, circuits which use analog ...
channel 15, was a
television station
A television station is a set of equipment managed by a business, organisation or other entity, such as an amateur television (ATV) operator, that transmits video content and audio content via radio waves directly from a transmitter on the earth ...
licensed
A license (or licence) is an official permission or permit to do, use, or own something (as well as the document of that permission or permit).
A license is granted by a party (licensor) to another party (licensee) as an element of an agreeme ...
to
Ashtabula, Ohio
Ashtabula ( ) is a city in Ashtabula County, Ohio, Ashtabula County, Ohio, United States, and the center of the United States micropolitan area, Ashtabula micropolitan area. It is located at the mouth of the Ashtabula River on Lake Erie, nort ...
, United States.
Richard D. and David C. Rowley, the founders of WICA AM/FM, started WICA-TV in the 1950s. Hampered by broadcasting on the (then relatively unknown) UHF dial, and with no network affiliation of any sort, WICA-TV had limited broadcast hours, a sparse and often overused film library, and a heavy amount of local programming (usually filmed with only one camera).
History
WICA-TV started broadcasting on September 19, 1953, but quietly signed off around June 21, 1956.
The Rowley family reactivated WICA-TV on April 4, 1966, with an intent of donating it as a non-profit educational license. As was in its first incarnation, WICA-TV was again hampered with no network programming, an often overused and limited film library of mediocre and low rental fare. In addition, WICA-TV still broadcast only in
black-and-white
Black-and-white (B&W or B/W) images combine black and white in a continuous spectrum, producing a range of shades of grey.
Media
The history of various visual media began with black and white, and as technology improved, altered to color. ...
(as was the case for many educational stations of this era) when most stations already converted to color, and still filmed local programming with only one camera, as well as only broadcasting on weekdays.
WICA-TV signed off again for good on December 26, 1967, with its license returned to the
U.S. Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is an independent agency of the United States federal government that regulates communications by radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable across the United States. The FCC maintains jurisdiction ...
. The UHF antenna is the sole remaining element of WICA-TV's existence, still affixed to the
WREO-FM
WREO-FM (97.1 FM) is a radio station broadcasting a soft adult contemporary format licensed to Ashtabula, Ohio. It is one of five stations in Media One Radio Group's Ashtabula cluster, the others being WFUN (AM), WFXJ-FM, WQGR (FM), WYBL (FM ...
(formerly known as WICA-FM) tower.
See also
*
WFUN (AM)
WFUN (970 AM) – branded as ESPN 970 WFUN – is a commercial sports radio station in Ashtabula, Ohio. Owned by Media One Radio Group, it serves Ashtabula County, Ohio and parts of the Erie, Pennsylvania region. It is one of five stations in M ...
(formerly WICA AM)
*
WREO (formerly WICA-FM)
References
* ''Ashtabula's "Beacon" of Entertainment- Conclusion of the History Of WICA-TV 15 in Ashtabula'', Carl Feather, Ashtabula Star-Beacon, January 16, 1995
External links
WICA-TV at the History of UHF Television
Defunct television stations in the United States
Television channels and stations established in 1953
1953 establishments in Ohio
1967 disestablishments in Ohio
Mass media in Ashtabula County, Ohio
Television channels and stations disestablished in 1967
ICA-TV
1956 disestablishments in Ohio
1966 establishments in Ohio
Television channels and stations disestablished in 1956
Television channels and stations established in 1966
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