WDTB-LD

WDTB-LD was a low-power television station licensed to Hamburg, New York, in the Buffalo, New York, television market. The station was associated with the Daystar Television Network, a religious television network owned by Word of God Fellowship. Its operating history began with the W39BC call sign after the Federal Communications Commission granted a construction authorization on May 31, 1989. Although the authorization was issued in 1989, the station did not begin broadcasting until 1993. The station initially operated on analog channel 39. Its frequency history was shaped by the development of digital television in the Buffalo market. When CBS affiliate WIVB-TV received authorization to use channel 39 for its digital signal in 1997, W39BC was displaced. Regulators permitted the low-power station to move to channel 40, and it subsequently adopted the call sign WBUF-LP. In 1999, the station changed its call sign again, becoming WDTB-LP and aligning its identity with Daystar's network branding. Daystar later acquired WNGS, a full-power station on channel 67, from bankrupt broadcaster Equity Media Holdings. Because Daystar already controlled WDTB-LP in the same market, it sold WNGS to ITV of Buffalo, LLC, a partnership associated with local television personalities Philip Arno and Donald Angelo. The transaction included arrangements allowing Daystar to retain indefinite carriage rights for its programming on channel 67. WNGS subsequently continued to carry Daystar programming through later channel arrangements, including carriage on WBBZ-DT4, which served as the network's effective full-market outlet in the Buffalo area. During the 2010s, Daystar pursued technical changes for WDTB-LP. An application to move the station's city of license from Hamburg to Buffalo and to relocate it to channel 28 was dismissed. The station was later authorized to convert to digital operation on UHF channel 29. Its digital license was issued on December 5, 2016, at which point the call sign changed from WDTB-LP to WDTB-LD, with the final suffix reflecting low-power digital television operation. WDTB-LD later sought another channel change, applying in August 2020 to move from channel 29 to UHF channel 18 because of claimed interference from CKVP-DT on channel 29. The station was reported dark while the reassignment was being processed. The channel 18 authorization became effective on October 28, 2022. The station ultimately did not return to long-term operation: Word of God Fellowship surrendered its license to the FCC on February 8, 2024, and the license was canceled on February 12, 2024. WDTB-LD is therefore a defunct broadcast-station brand rather than an active television service.

WDTB-LD originated as W39BC, a low-power television authorization granted on May 31, 1989, for channel 39 in Hamburg, New York. The station did not begin broadcasting until 1993. Its first major technical disruption came in 1997, when WIVB-TV received channel 39 for its digital television operation. W39BC was allowed to relocate to channel 40 and adopted the call sign WBUF-LP. In 1999, it became WDTB-LP. The station's identity and programming were tied to Daystar Television Network, a religious broadcaster owned by Word of God Fellowship. Daystar's presence in the Buffalo market also involved WNGS, a full-power channel 67 station acquired from bankrupt owner Equity Media Holdings. Because Daystar already held WDTB-LP, it sold WNGS to ITV of Buffalo, LLC, while retaining indefinite rights to place Daystar programming on the service. This arrangement allowed Daystar to maintain a broad-market presence despite no longer owning the full-power station. Daystar sought to reposition WDTB-LP by applying to move its city of license from Hamburg to Buffalo and to change its channel assignment to 28. That application was dismissed. A later technical authorization allowed the station to upgrade to digital operation on UHF channel 29. The digital license was issued on December 5, 2016, and the station changed its call sign to WDTB-LD. In August 2020, WDTB-LD applied to move to UHF channel 18, citing interference from CKVP-DT on channel 29. The station was dark during the reassignment process. Its channel 18 license became effective on October 28, 2022. The station's operating life ended when Word of God Fellowship surrendered the license to the FCC on February 8, 2024. The FCC canceled it on February 12, 2024, making WDTB-LD a former television station.

• 2024

  License surrendered and canceled

  [1]WDTB-LDen.wikipedia.org

  Word of God Fellowship surrendered the license on February 8, and the FCC canceled it on February 12.

• 2022

  Channel 18 authorization takes effect

  [1]WDTB-LDen.wikipedia.org

  The station was licensed for channel 18 effective October 28.

• 2020

  Applies to move to channel 18

  [1]WDTB-LDen.wikipedia.org

  WDTB-LD requested a move from channel 29 to channel 18 because of reported interference from CKVP-DT.

• 2016

  Digital license issued

  [1]WDTB-LDen.wikipedia.org

  The station received its digital license on December 5 and became WDTB-LD.

• 1999

  Adopts WDTB-LP call sign

  [1]WDTB-LDen.wikipedia.org

  The station changed its call sign from WBUF-LP to WDTB-LP.

• 1997

  Relocates from channel 39 to channel 40

  [1]WDTB-LDen.wikipedia.org

  The station was displaced when WIVB-TV received channel 39 for its digital signal and was permitted to move to channel 40 under the WBUF-LP call sign.

• 1993

  Station begins broadcasting

  [1]WDTB-LDen.wikipedia.org

  W39BC commenced broadcasting after the authorization had been issued several years earlier.

• 1989

  Broadcast authorization granted as W39BC

  [1]WDTB-LDen.wikipedia.org

  A low-power television authorization was granted on May 31, 1989, for operation on channel 39 in Hamburg, New York.

A local low-power broadcast outlet used to distribute Daystar Television Network religious programming in the Buffalo, New York, market.

• Religious television programming

  Daystar Television Network programming

  WDTB-LD primarily functioned as a local over-the-air distribution outlet for Daystar Television Network programming. Its role was not the development of a distinct program catalogue but the transmission of network religious content to viewers in the Buffalo market through a low-power television facility.

• Low-power television broadcasting · 1993

  WDTB-LD broadcast service

  The station provided localized terrestrial television transmission from a facility licensed to Hamburg, New York. It operated under several call signs and channel assignments, moving from analog channel 39 to channel 40 and later to digital channel 29 and channel 18.

• 2024

  License surrenderOther

  Background

  The station no longer continued as an authorized broadcast outlet.

  Action taken

  Word of God Fellowship surrendered WDTB-LD's license to the FCC on February 8, 2024.

  Aftermath

  The FCC canceled the license on February 12, 2024, ending the station's legal operating status.

  Source

• 2020

  Application to change digital channelStrategy

  Background

  Daystar cited interference affecting operation on UHF channel 29 from CKVP-DT.

  Action taken

  WDTB-LD applied to move to UHF channel 18 and remained dark during the reassignment process.

  Aftermath

  The channel 18 authorization became effective in October 2022, but the license was surrendered and canceled in February 2024.

  Source

• 2016

  Conversion to digital operationGeneration change

  Background

  The station pursued an upgrade from its earlier low-power analog operation.

  Action taken

  A digital license was issued on December 5, 2016, and the station adopted the WDTB-LD call sign.

  Aftermath

  WDTB-LD continued as a digital low-power television station before later seeking another channel reassignment.

  Source

• 1997

  Relocation prompted by digital channel allocationGeneration change

  Background

  WIVB-TV was granted channel 39 for its digital signal, displacing W39BC from its original channel.

  Action taken

  The low-power station moved to channel 40 and later operated under the WBUF-LP call sign.

  Aftermath

  The station remained in the Buffalo-area market and changed its call sign to WDTB-LP in 1999.

  Source

• 2024

  WDTB-LD license surrendered and canceled[1]WDTB-LDen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Word of God Fellowship surrendered the station's license to the Federal Communications Commission on February 8, 2024. The FCC canceled the license four days later, ending WDTB-LD's legal authorization to operate.

• 2022

  WDTB-LD receives authorization for channel 18[1]WDTB-LDen.wikipedia.org

  Regulation

  The station's reassignment to UHF channel 18 became effective on October 28, 2022, following its application to move away from channel 29 because of reported interference.

• 2020

  WDTB-LD goes dark during channel reassignment[1]WDTB-LDen.wikipedia.org

  Regulation

  The station applied to move from UHF channel 29 to channel 18, citing interference from CKVP-DT. It was reported off the air while the channel change was pending.

• 2016

  Station converts to digital operation and adopts WDTB-LD call sign[1]WDTB-LDen.wikipedia.org

  Product generation · Regulation

  The station's digital license was issued on December 5, 2016. Its call sign changed from WDTB-LP to WDTB-LD, reflecting its digital low-power status.

• Daystar sells WNGS while retaining programming carriage rights[1]WDTB-LDen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  After acquiring WNGS, Daystar sold the full-power station to ITV of Buffalo because it already operated WDTB-LP in the market. The transaction preserved Daystar carriage rights on the former WNGS service.

1. 1WDTB-LDen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Daystar Television Networkdaystar.com