WFPA-CD

WFPA-CD is a low-power Class A television station serving the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, television market. The station broadcasts programming from UniMás, the Spanish-language network operated by TelevisaUnivision. Its transmitter is located in Philadelphia's Roxborough section, while its business and studio operations are conducted from facilities on North Delsea Drive in Vineland, New Jersey, shared with sister stations WUVP-DT and WMGM-TV. The station developed from a translator operation rather than from an independently created full-power broadcast outlet. It originally operated as W35AB on UHF channel 35 as a repeater for WXTV, Univision's New York City owned-and-operated station. After WYBE received authorization to operate a full-power station on channel 35, the translator moved to channel 28. It was subsequently relicensed as a low-power station and adopted the WXTV-LP call sign, although its on-air presentation used the Univision 42 identity. The Philadelphia market changed in 2002 when Univision Communications acquired WUVP, a full-power station operating on channel 65. Univision moved its principal Philadelphia Univision programming to WUVP, allowing channel 28 to become the local outlet for TeleFutura, the company's then-new Spanish-language network. This gave the station a distinct role within the group's local portfolio: WUVP served as the primary Univision outlet, while WFPA-CD carried the group's second Spanish-language network. TeleFutura was relaunched as UniMás in January 2013. The rebranding changed the network identity carried by channel 28 but preserved the station's function as a Spanish-language entertainment and network-programming service for the Philadelphia area. In June 2006, WFPA was added to Comcast systems in the Philadelphia area on digital cable channel 251. The station has also been distributed through the Philadelphia local-channel packages of DirecTV and Verizon FiOS, with FiOS carrying the service in widescreen standard definition through a subchannel associated with WUVP-DT. WFPA-CD's low-power status and transmitter location give it a role complementary to WUVP-DT rather than equivalent to a separate full-power network affiliate. Its over-the-air signal covers portions of the Philadelphia market, while cable, satellite, and telco distribution broaden access. In parts of the market north of Philadelphia, reception of the station's digital transmission has been reported to interact with reception of New York City's WNBC digital signal, which uses the same physical channel allocation. The station received authorization for digital operation on June 3, 2015, and changed its call sign from WFPA-CA to WFPA-CD. The final suffix identifies its digital Class A operation. WFPA-CD remains part of TelevisaUnivision's Philadelphia-area station group and continues to operate as a UniMás outlet alongside WUVP-DT.

WFPA-CD traces its history to a translator operation established to extend the reach of WXTV, Univision's New York City station, into the Philadelphia area. The original facility operated under the call sign W35AB on UHF channel 35. It was not initially a full-power Philadelphia station; its purpose was to repeat programming from the New York Univision outlet. The facility's channel assignment changed after WYBE received a license to operate a full-power station on channel 35. The translator moved to channel 28 and was later relicensed as a low-power station under the call sign WXTV-LP. Although its call sign linked it to WXTV, the outlet was presented to viewers as Univision 42. This arrangement reflected the station's role as a low-power extension of Univision's regional service rather than as a separate full-power network affiliate. A major change occurred in 2002, when Univision Communications acquired Philadelphia station WUVP on channel 65. The acquisition gave Univision a full-power Philadelphia outlet for its main network. Programming associated with the Univision service moved to WUVP, and channel 28 was assigned to TeleFutura, a newer Spanish-language network created by Univision Communications. The station therefore became the Philadelphia-area TeleFutura outlet while WUVP served as the market's principal Univision station. The channel's distribution expanded in June 2006, when it was added to Philadelphia-area Comcast systems on digital cable channel 251. It was also made available through DirecTV's Philadelphia local-channel package and through Verizon FiOS, where the service was carried in widescreen standard definition through a WUVP-DT subchannel. These arrangements were significant for a low-power station because they supplemented the limits of its terrestrial coverage with broader subscription-television distribution. TeleFutura was relaunched as UniMás in January 2013. WFPA consequently became a UniMás station, carrying the network's Spanish-language programming for viewers in and around Philadelphia. Its role remained distinct from that of WUVP: the two stations served different network brands within the same TelevisaUnivision local portfolio. On June 3, 2015, the station was licensed for digital operation and changed its call sign from WFPA-CA to WFPA-CD. The change reflected its digital Class A status. The station's transmitter is located in the Roxborough section of Philadelphia. Its studios are shared with WUVP-DT and WMGM-TV at a facility on North Delsea Drive in Vineland, New Jersey. In portions of the market north of Philadelphia, the station's digital signal has been associated with reception difficulties involving WNBC's digital transmission on the same physical channel. WFPA-CD remains an active UniMás outlet operated within TelevisaUnivision's Philadelphia-area station group.

• 2015

  Digital Class A licensing

  [1]WFPA-CDen.wikipedia.org

  The station received digital authorization and adopted the WFPA-CD call sign, replacing WFPA-CA.

• 2013

  TeleFutura becomes UniMás

  [1]WFPA-CDen.wikipedia.org

  The network carried by the station was relaunched under the UniMás name.

• 2006

  Cable carriage begins on Comcast

  [1]WFPA-CDen.wikipedia.org

  WFPA was added to Philadelphia-area Comcast digital cable systems on channel 251.

• 2002

  Philadelphia network realignment

  [1]WFPA-CDen.wikipedia.org

  Following Univision Communications' acquisition of WUVP, channel 28 ceased serving as the primary local Univision outlet and began carrying TeleFutura programming.

A local Spanish-language television outlet positioned as the Philadelphia market's UniMás station and as a companion service to TelevisaUnivision-owned Univision station WUVP-DT.

• Spanish-language television station

  WFPA-CD UniMás service

  WFPA-CD is the Philadelphia-area outlet for UniMás, TelevisaUnivision's Spanish-language television network. Its service combines the network's programming with local distribution through a low-power digital broadcast facility and carriage on selected cable, satellite, and fiber television systems. The station operates as a companion to WUVP-DT, the area's Univision station, rather than as the group's primary full-power broadcast outlet.

• 2015

  Convert to digital Class A operationOther

  Background

  The station's licensing status was updated for digital operation.

  Action taken

  WFPA-CA was licensed for digital operation and changed its call sign to WFPA-CD.

  Aftermath

  The station continued operating as a digital low-power Class A UniMás outlet.

  Source

• 2013

  Adopt the UniMás network identityGeneration change

  Background

  TeleFutura was relaunched as UniMás in January 2013.

  Action taken

  WFPA replaced its TeleFutura network identity with UniMás programming and branding.

  Aftermath

  The station continued serving as a secondary Spanish-language network outlet in the Philadelphia television market.

  Source

• 2002

  Assign channel 28 to TeleFuturaStrategy

  Background

  Univision Communications acquired WUVP, giving the company a full-power Philadelphia station for its main Univision network.

  Action taken

  The company moved its principal Univision programming to WUVP and used channel 28 to carry TeleFutura programming.

  Aftermath

  WFPA became the Philadelphia market's outlet for Univision's second Spanish-language network, a role later continued under the UniMás brand.

  Source

1. 1WFPA-CDen.wikipedia.org
2. 2UniMástv.univision.com