WFTT-TV
A television station licensed to Venice, Florida, serving the Tampa Bay market and carrying the Scientology Network.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
WFTT-TV is a full-power television station licensed to Venice, Florida, and serving the wider Tampa Bay area. The station operates on virtual channel 62 and maintains its transmitter facilities in Riverview, Florida. It is owned by Entravision Communications and, following a major affiliation change at the end of 2021, serves as an affiliate of the Scientology Network. The station began broadcasting on May 3, 1991, under the call sign WBSV-TV. Its origins were unusually protracted: the Federal Communications Commission had allocated channel 62 to Venice in 1984, but competing applicants, ownership disputes, appeals, and difficulties securing an acceptable antenna site delayed construction. Venice Broadcasting initially secured the construction permit, but later sought to transfer it to DeSoto Broadcasting. Concerns about the proposed tower’s proximity to aviation routes, together with a state moratorium on tall towers after a fatal tower accident in Venice, further postponed the launch. WBSV-TV was conceived as an independent station aimed largely at older viewers. Early plans included local news and programming from the Star Television Network, but the station’s launch occurred after Star had ceased operations. Its local news effort struggled to attract an audience. The station subsequently reduced its news output and carried a mixture of brief news updates, infomercials, sports, conservative talk programming, and other syndicated or locally sourced material. A proposed 1997 sale to Global Broadcasting Systems for $11 million did not close after the buyer entered bankruptcy proceedings. A parallel Tampa Bay television history shaped the station’s later identity. Univision’s predecessor, the Spanish International Network, had established a Tampa-area presence in 1982 through a low-power translator on channel 50. That service later moved to channel 61 and became WVEA-LP. WVEA-LP launched a Spanish-language local newscast in 1998 and was acquired by Entravision around the same period that Entravision agreed to purchase WBSV-TV. The transaction for WBSV-TV was announced at $17 million, although the station’s later corporate history involved broader affiliation and facility arrangements rather than a simple standalone rebrand. On March 29, 2001, channel 62 became WVEA-TV, moved its transmitter to Riverview, and adopted Spanish-language programming. The move effectively upgraded the former low-power WVEA service to full-power status and expanded its cable reach in the Tampa Bay region. Entravision’s long-term affiliation arrangement with Univision prevented Univision from immediately placing its programming on the station it acquired separately through the purchase of USA Broadcasting. That other Tampa station, WBHS on channel 50, became WFTT when Telefutura launched on January 14, 2002; Telefutura was later renamed UniMás. In December 2017, WVEA-TV and WFTT underwent a multi-market call-sign and programming realignment. Univision programming and the WVEA-TV identity moved to the Univision-owned channel 50 facility, while Entravision’s channel 62 facility adopted the WFTT-TV call sign and carried UniMás programming. Entravision also provided sales and promotional services for Univision-owned Telefutura stations in several markets under joint-sales arrangements. Those arrangements ended in the Tampa market at the close of 2021, after which WFTT-TV no longer carried UniMás programming. The station subsequently became affiliated with the Scientology Network. Its principal business is the operation and distribution of scheduled broadcast television programming, including network content and local commercial inventory, rather than the production of a broad standalone local-news operation.
History
The history of WFTT-TV began with the allocation of UHF channel 62 to Venice, Florida, in 1984. The Davis family and Holiday Group Limited initially sought the channel, but several additional applicants entered the FCC process. In 1986, an administrative law judge awarded the construction permit to Venice Broadcasting after finding serious problems with the structure of Holiday Group’s ownership. The parties later settled their dispute, allowing Venice Broadcasting to proceed. Construction was delayed by the difficulty of finding a suitable tower location. Venice Broadcasting proposed a very tall tower near Interstate 75 and State Road 72, but the Florida Department of Transportation objected because of possible conflicts with nearby aviation routes. A statewide moratorium on new tall towers followed an aircraft accident involving a cable tower in Venice. In 1989, Venice Broadcasting requested permission to assign the permit to DeSoto Broadcasting, whose participants included state legislator Jim Lombard and publisher Danford L. Sawyer Jr. DeSoto announced plans for a station aimed at viewers over 50, with local news and programming from the Star Television Network. Star ceased programming before the planned launch, but the station eventually went on air on May 3, 1991, as WBSV-TV. Its early independent format included a 5 p.m. newscast and a later evening newscast. The earlier newscast was discontinued after weak audience performance, while the 10 p.m. program drew on station resources and material from Tampa NBC affiliate WFLA-TV. By 1994, the schedule consisted largely of short news updates, infomercials, sports, and conservative talk programming. A planned sale to Global Broadcasting Systems in 1997 failed when the proposed buyer entered bankruptcy. A separate Spanish-language service had been developing in the Tampa market. A translator associated with the Spanish International Network began broadcasting on channel 50 in 1982. The service later moved to channel 61 and eventually adopted the WVEA-LP call sign. After being acquired by Latin Communications Group, WVEA-LP launched the weekday program Noticias 61 in 1998. Entravision agreed that year to acquire both WBSV-TV and WVEA-LP, bringing the two strands of the market’s television history under common ownership. On March 29, 2001, channel 62 became WVEA-TV. Entravision moved the transmitter to Riverview and shifted the station to Spanish-language service, providing full-power distribution for the former WVEA low-power operation. Entravision’s affiliation agreement with Univision was important because Univision had separately acquired WBHS, a Tampa channel 50 station, through its purchase of USA Broadcasting. That station became WFTT when Telefutura launched in January 2002, while channel 62 continued under the WVEA identity. In 2017, the call signs and network affiliations were reorganized. WVEA-TV and Univision programming moved to the Univision-owned channel 50 facility, while Entravision’s channel 62 facility became WFTT-TV and carried UniMás. Entravision continued providing operational and promotional support connected with the market for several years. Entravision centralized Tampa newscast presentation at Orlando’s WVEN-TV in 2015, a change that reduced some local positions but preserved Tampa-area reporting. The UniMás arrangement ended at the close of 2021. From January 1, 2022, Univision assumed control of certain related stations and services, while WFTT-TV remained an Entravision-owned channel 62 facility. The station’s subsequent affiliation with the Scientology Network marked another change in programming identity. Today, WFTT-TV remains a full-power Tampa Bay television station licensed to Venice, with transmission facilities in Riverview.
- 2021
UniMás service ends on channel 62
[1]The Entravision-related agreement ended at year-end, after which WFTT-TV no longer carried UniMás programming.
- 2017
WFTT-TV identity moves to channel 62
[1]Programming and call signs were swapped between the channel 50 and channel 62 facilities, placing WFTT-TV and UniMás on channel 62.
- 2002
Telefutura launches on the original WFTT facility
[1]The Tampa channel 50 station became WFTT when Telefutura launched; Telefutura was later renamed UniMás.
- 2001
WBSV-TV becomes WVEA-TV
[1]Channel 62 moved its transmitter to Riverview and became a full-power Spanish-language station under the WVEA-TV call sign.
- 1998
Entravision enters the station’s ownership history
[1]Entravision agreed to acquire WBSV-TV and also acquired WVEA-LP, the Tampa-area Spanish-language low-power service.
- 1991
WBSV-TV launches
[1]The station began broadcasting on May 3 as an independent outlet.
- 1986
Venice Broadcasting receives the construction permit
[1]An FCC administrative law judge awarded the permit to Venice Broadcasting after a comparative proceeding.
- 1984
Channel 62 allocated to Venice
[1]The FCC allocated UHF channel 62 to Venice, beginning a lengthy permit and construction process.
Products and positioning
A Tampa Bay full-power broadcast outlet whose identity has shifted from local independent television to Spanish-language network service and, more recently, Scientology Network affiliation.
Broadcast television · 1991
Over-the-air television service
WFTT-TV operates as a full-power UHF television station licensed to Venice and serving the Tampa Bay region. Its virtual channel is 62, while its transmitter facilities are located in Riverview. The station distributes scheduled programming to over-the-air viewers and supports commercial television advertising across its coverage area.
Network affiliation
Scientology Network programming
The station’s current programming identity is associated with the Scientology Network. This represents a later stage in WFTT-TV’s affiliation history, following its earlier periods as an independent station, a Spanish-language WVEA-TV service, and a UniMás affiliate.
Television advertising · 1991
Local commercial airtime
As a commercial broadcast station, WFTT-TV provides scheduled advertising inventory for businesses seeking access to viewers in the Tampa Bay market. Entravision’s ownership and sales operations have historically connected the station with broader Spanish-language and multicultural television activities in the region.
Brand decisions
2021
End UniMás programming on WFTT-TVStrategyBackground
The long-running Entravision and Univision-related operating arrangement reached its conclusion at the end of 2021.
Action taken
WFTT-TV stopped carrying UniMás programming after the agreement ended.
Aftermath
The station subsequently became affiliated with the Scientology Network while remaining owned by Entravision.
2017
Reassign the WFTT identity and UniMás affiliation to channel 62StrategyBackground
Univision and Entravision reorganized their Tampa facilities as part of a broader multi-market realignment.
Action taken
Univision programming and WVEA-TV moved to the Univision-owned channel 50 facility, while Entravision’s channel 62 facility became WFTT-TV and carried UniMás.
Aftermath
Channel 62 retained a major Spanish-language network identity under the WFTT-TV call sign until the related arrangement ended in 2021.
2001
Convert channel 62 to full-power Spanish-language serviceStrategyBackground
Entravision owned both the Venice independent station and the Tampa-area WVEA-LP Spanish-language service. The company used channel 62 to provide WVEA programming at full power and to expand its reach in the Tampa Bay market.
Action taken
The station moved its transmitter to Riverview, changed its call sign from WBSV-TV to WVEA-TV, and adopted Spanish-language programming.
Aftermath
The change gave the WVEA service full-power distribution and improved its availability on cable systems in parts of the market.
Recent events
- 2021
WFTT-TV loses UniMás programming after Entravision agreement ends[1]
Other
At the end of 2021, the Entravision arrangement associated with UniMás programming concluded, ending the station’s UniMás service.
- 2017
WFTT call sign moves to channel 62[1]
Product generation
A multi-market realignment moved Univision programming to the Univision-owned channel 50 facility and placed the WFTT-TV identity and UniMás programming on channel 62.
- 2015
Entravision centralizes Tampa newscast presentation in Orlando[1]
Leadership change
Entravision centralized presentation of Tampa-area newscasts at WVEN-TV in Orlando, reducing and relocating some Tampa newsroom roles while retaining local reporting capacity.
- 2001
Channel 62 becomes WVEA-TV and adopts Spanish-language programming[1]
Product generation
The station moved its transmitter to Riverview, became WVEA-TV, and transitioned to full-power Spanish-language service.
- 1998
Entravision agrees to acquire WBSV-TV[1]
M&A
Entravision agreed to purchase the Venice station while also acquiring the Tampa-area low-power WVEA-LP service.
- 1991
WBSV-TV begins broadcasting from Venice[1]
Product launch
Channel 62 began operations as WBSV-TV, an independent station serving the Venice–Sarasota–Bradenton area.
Sources1 sources
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