WBPH-TV

WBPH-TV is a religious independent television station licensed to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and serving viewers across the Lehigh Valley and the broader Philadelphia television market. The station operates under the ownership of Sonshine Family Television Corporation, an organization formed by Pat Huber in 1985 after he had begun presenting Christian programming on a local public-access cable channel. WBPH-TV subsequently obtained a Federal Communications Commission broadcast license and began over-the-air transmission on December 27, 1990. The station's identity is built around Christian and other religious programming, locally produced community-oriented material, and selected secular or educational content required for broadcast compliance. Its schedule has included locally produced programs, televangelism, worship programming, special-interest shows, and legally mandated children's educational programming. Two long-running programs associated with the station's original identity are 60 Live and Bethlehem Glory, both hosted by station owner Pat Huber. WBPH has also developed programming partnerships with area churches, radio stations, and community institutions. In addition to religious content, WBPH-TV has carried Lafayette College sports through its affiliation with the Lafayette Sports Network. The schedule has included Lafayette football, including selected early playoff rounds, and home games involving the men's and women's basketball teams. Broadcast production has been handled through RCN channel 4. The station has also carried a Spanish-language newscast produced by WFMZ-TV and, historically, local sports such as the Easton–Phillipsburg high-school football game on Thanksgiving Day. WBPH's network relationships have changed over time. It was affiliated with FamilyNet before that network moved to a secular classic-sitcom format in 2013, and it later carried programming from The Worship Network until that service ceased operation in 2015. FamilyNet's subsequent conversion into The Cowboy Channel and the end of its over-the-air affiliate contracts in 2017 further altered the station's programming environment. Unfilled schedule periods have included Song and Scripture from Radiant TV, a service associated with WLMB. The station's technical history reflects the transition from analog to digital television in the United States. WBPH initially broadcast on analog channel 60 and sought approval in 2002 to move its digital assignment from UHF channel 59 to VHF channel 9, partly because high-band UHF channels were being removed from broadcast use. Following Federal Communications Commission approval, it became the first Lehigh Valley station to broadcast digitally on VHF. Its analog signal ended on June 12, 2009, while the digital signal continued on VHF channel 9 using virtual channel 60. WBPH maintains studios on North Fenwick Street in Allentown and a secondary studio on Columbia Avenue in Folcroft. Its transmitter is located on South Mountain in Salisbury Township. The station is distributed through cable systems across much of the Philadelphia market, with notable gaps in parts of Chester County, South Jersey, and Delaware. It is also available through satellite services and began carriage on Verizon FiOS on April 17, 2020. Translators extend its reach to additional locations in Pennsylvania and Indiana. WBPH-TV remains a locally rooted religious broadcaster whose programming combines Christian ministry, community content, educational obligations, and selected collegiate sports.

WBPH-TV developed from Christian programming that Pat Huber had presented through a local public-access cable channel. In 1985, Huber formed Sonshine Family Television Corporation and applied to the Federal Communications Commission for a television broadcast license. The station ultimately launched on December 27, 1990, as a religious independent outlet licensed to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. From its beginning, WBPH combined religious ministry with local production. Huber hosted original programs including 60 Live and Bethlehem Glory. The station also produced or carried programs created with churches and area radio stations. One example was Live from Studio 60, a Christian youth and music program produced with WBYO. It featured local Christian bands performing before a live audience at the station's Allentown studio and reached a notable period of popularity around 2000, including an appearance by the band The Waiting connected with the Fallout Christian music festival and See You at the Pole promotion. The program ended as the station redirected resources toward construction of a higher-power transmitter intended to extend coverage beyond the Lehigh Valley toward Philadelphia. WBPH's schedule has included locally produced special-interest programming, televangelism, worship content, children's educational programming, and selected secular material. It carried FamilyNet for part of its history, although that network changed to a classic-sitcom format in 2013. The station also carried The Worship Network until the network ceased operation in 2015. After FamilyNet's later transformation into The Cowboy Channel, its over-the-air affiliate agreements ended in 2017. WBPH has used Radiant TV's Song and Scripture service from WLMB to fill some unscheduled periods. Sports and community programming have supplemented the station's religious focus. WBPH is affiliated with the Lafayette Sports Network and has carried Lafayette College football and home men's and women's basketball games, with some additional away-game coverage. Production has been associated with RCN channel 4. The station has also carried a Spanish-language newscast produced by WFMZ-TV and previously televised the annual Easton–Phillipsburg high-school football game on Thanksgiving Day. The station's broadcast technology changed significantly during the digital transition. In 2002, WBPH requested reassignment of its digital channel from UHF 59 to VHF 9 because high-band UHF frequencies were being cleared from television use. After approval, WBPH became the first Lehigh Valley station to broadcast digitally on VHF. It ended analog transmission on UHF 60 on June 12, 2009, while retaining virtual channel 60 on its digital VHF service. WBPH's primary studios are on North Fenwick Street in Allentown, with a secondary studio on Columbia Avenue in Folcroft. Its transmitter is on South Mountain in Salisbury Township. The station's distribution footprint includes much of the Philadelphia television market through over-the-air, cable, and satellite carriage, although parts of Chester County, South Jersey, and Delaware have limited or no cable carriage. Translators in Pennsylvania and Indiana have extended the service beyond the main transmitter's coverage. WBPH was added to Verizon FiOS on April 17, 2020. Its continuing identity is that of an independent Christian broadcaster with a regional rather than national footprint.

• 2020

  Verizon FiOS carriage begins

  [1]WBPH-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Verizon FiOS began carrying WBPH-TV on April 17.

• 2009

  Analog transmission ends

  [1]WBPH-TVen.wikipedia.org

  WBPH ended its analog channel 60 service on June 12 and continued digital broadcasting on VHF channel 9.

• 2002

  Digital channel reassignment is approved

  [1]WBPH-TVen.wikipedia.org

  The FCC approved WBPH's request to move its digital assignment from UHF channel 59 to VHF channel 9.

• 2000

  Live from Studio 60 reaches a high point

  [1]WBPH-TVen.wikipedia.org

  The station's Christian music program, produced with WBYO, hosted The Waiting in connection with the Fallout festival and See You at the Pole promotion.

• 1990

  WBPH-TV signs on

  [1]WBPH-TVen.wikipedia.org

  WBPH-TV began over-the-air broadcasting on December 27, 1990.

• 1985

  Sonshine Family Television Corporation is formed

  [1]WBPH-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Pat Huber formed Sonshine Family Television Corporation and applied for a television broadcast license after producing Christian programming for public-access cable.

A locally rooted Christian television station combining religious programming, community-oriented local production, educational content, and selected collegiate sports coverage.

• Television programming · 1990

  Religious and Christian programming

  WBPH-TV's core offering consists of Christian ministry, worship, televangelism, and related religious programming. The station combines locally produced material with selected programming supplied by external religious television services.

• Local television program

  60 Live

  60 Live is one of WBPH-TV's original locally associated programs. It has been hosted by station owner Pat Huber and represents the station's emphasis on local Christian and community-oriented production.

• Local religious television program

  Bethlehem Glory

  Bethlehem Glory is an original WBPH program hosted by Pat Huber. Its association with Bethlehem reflects the station's local religious and community identity.

• Sports broadcasting

  Lafayette Sports Network broadcasts

  Through its Lafayette Sports Network affiliation, WBPH carries selected Lafayette College athletic events, including football and home men's and women's basketball games. Production has been provided through RCN channel 4.

• Music and youth television program

  Live from Studio 60

  Live from Studio 60 was a short-lived Christian music program produced with WBYO. It presented local Christian bands before a live audience at WBPH's Allentown studio and became associated with regional youth and church events.

• 2009

  Complete the analog-to-digital transitionGeneration change

  Background

  The United States required full-power television stations to end analog broadcasting as part of the national digital transition.

  Action taken

  WBPH discontinued its analog channel 60 signal on June 12, 2009, and continued using its digital VHF channel 9 signal with virtual channel 60.

  Aftermath

  The station continued serving its regional audience through digital terrestrial broadcasting and multichannel distribution.

  Source

• 2002

  Move the digital assignment to VHF channel 9Strategy

  Background

  WBPH's original analog and digital assignments were in high-band UHF frequencies that were scheduled to be cleared from television use.

  Action taken

  The station applied for and received FCC approval to relocate its digital transmission from UHF channel 59 to VHF channel 9.

  Aftermath

  WBPH became the first station in the Lehigh Valley to broadcast digitally on VHF and later retained virtual channel 60 after the analog shutdown.

  Source

• 2020

  Verizon FiOS adds WBPH-TV[1]WBPH-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Verizon FiOS began carrying WBPH-TV on April 17, expanding the station's subscription-television distribution in its regional market.

• 2009

  WBPH-TV ends analog broadcasting[1]WBPH-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  WBPH shut down its analog channel 60 signal during the United States full-power television transition to digital broadcasting and continued digitally on VHF channel 9 with virtual channel 60.

• 2002

  WBPH receives approval for VHF digital assignment[1]WBPH-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Regulation

  The station applied to move its digital assignment from UHF channel 59 to VHF channel 9, and the Federal Communications Commission approved the change.

• 1990

  WBPH-TV begins broadcasting[1]WBPH-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The station signed on the air on December 27, establishing a full-power religious television service for the Bethlehem and Lehigh Valley area.

1. 1WBPH-TVen.wikipedia.org
2. 2WBPH-TV official websitewbph.org