WAHU-CA

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WAHU-CA
Charlottesville, Virginia
Branding	WAHU FOX27 My C'Ville TV
Channels	27 (UHF) analog, 40 (UHF) digital
Affiliations	Fox, MyNetworkTV on DT2
Owner	Gray Television
Founded	2005
Call letters meaning	WAHU=Wahoo, unofficial nickname for the University of Virginia Cavaliers
Transmitter Power	50 kW
Website	www.charlottesvillenewsplex.tv

WAHU-CA (known on air as WAHU Fox 27) is a Charlottesville, Virginia Fox-affiliated Class A low-power television station on UHF channels 27 (analog) and 40 (digital). The station is owned by Gray Television and signed on in early 2005 becoming the market's first Fox affiliate in the wake of sister stations WCAV (CBS) and WVAW-LP (ABC) signing on. Prior to WAHU's sign-on, Fox affiliate WTTG from Washington, DC was considered the de facto Fox affiliate for the market and is still seen on cable via "significantly viewed" status via the FCC.

Contents 1 History 2 Digital transition 3 MyNetworkTV 4 External links

[edit] History

The station began its life as WADA-CA, a PAX-TV affiliate, first on UHF Channel 55, and later on 27. In late March 2005, Tiger Eye Broadcasting sold the station to Gray who proceeded to change the call letters to WAHU-CA and integrate the station with its other local outlets as part of its so-called "Charlottesville Newsplex".

Today, WAHU is one-third of the Newsplex operation, an attempt by Gray Television to take on the more established locally-owned NBC affiliate WVIR. Nonetheless, WAHU did not air news for its first year of existence, though it now does, broadcasting a 10:00 p.m. newscast nightly since February 2006. All of the Newsplex stations are operated from the same facility, while some behind-the-scenes duties are run alongside Harrisonburg sister station WHSV.

In 2006 WCAV, WVAW-LP, WAHU-CA scored a coup by negotiating to become the official flagship stations of University of Virginia Sports, beating out more established local stations.

[edit] Digital transition

On December 28, 2006, WAHU launched its digital service on Channel 40. While providing a standard-definition FOX feed on one digital subchannel (40.1), the station began airing a dedicated MyNetworkTV channel on another subchannel (40.2). Following the addition of digital services, the station shifted several programs to the new subchannel.

As part of the launch of digital services, on December 28, 2006 the local Comcast Cable franchise swapped the channel spot for Washington's Fox Station WTTG with WAHU, moving WAHU to channel 9, in what is widely considered a preferential location.

[edit] MyNetworkTV

Prior to the addition of digital services, in September 2006, MyNetworkTV was added as a secondary affiliation on its single analogue station. The two telenovelas the network carries, Desire and Fashion House, were initially carried in overnight hours on WAHU's primary feed before being moved to the digital MyNetworkTV feed when it launched.

[edit] External links

• Charlottesville Newsplex website
• Query the FCC's TV station database for WAHU-CA
• Channel Changes in Charlottesville

Fox Network Affiliates in the state of Virginia
WHSV-DT 3.2 (Harrisonburg) - WAHU-CA 27 (Charlottesville) - WFXR 27 / WWCW 21 (Roanoke / Lynchburg) - WRLH 35 (Richmond) - WVBT 43 (Virginia Beach)
See also: ABC, CW, CBS, MyNetworkTV, NBC, PBS, and Other stations in Virginia