WHIZ-TV

WHIZ-TV is a commercial television station serving Zanesville and southeastern Ohio. Broadcasting on channel 18, the station is the principal commercial television outlet in the Zanesville market and has maintained a primary NBC affiliation since it began service. Its programming combines network television with locally produced news, weather, public-affairs content and sports, including coverage of area high-school basketball. The station also operates a secondary digital service branded Fox 5, which carries Fox programming and MyNetworkTV programming during late-night weekday hours. The station traces its origins to Southeastern Ohio Television System, the owner of WHIZ radio. The company applied for a television construction permit in June 1952 and received authorization in December of that year. Construction began immediately afterward at the Downard Road site, which remains the station's operating base. WHIZ-TV signed on May 23, 1953, initially broadcasting on channel 50 with limited power intended to reach the approximately 500 television sets then located in the Zanesville area. Roughly a year and a half later, it moved to channel 18 and expanded its technical reach. The station subsequently operated translators serving Coshocton and Cambridge and installed a higher-power antenna in 1986, when it also introduced stereo sound. Although NBC has been the station's principal network relationship from launch, WHIZ-TV carried selected CBS and ABC programs during its early years, along with some DuMont programming in the 1950s. Its status as the only major commercial television station based in Zanesville has made local production particularly important. Viewers in the market also receive stations from Columbus and other nearby markets through cable and satellite distribution, but WHIZ-TV remains the local source for news and community coverage. PBS member station WOUC-TV is the other locally based television service in the broader area. WHIZ-TV began digital broadcasting in 2002 on channel 40. A power-combiner failure in July 2008 interrupted its over-the-air service. Although the digital signal was restored, the station elected not to repair its analog transmitter because the nationwide analog shutdown was imminent and the repair would have provided only a short period of continued analog operation. WHIZ-TV therefore completed its transition to digital-only broadcasting on the federally scheduled transition date in February 2009. A major ownership change occurred in 2022. Marquee Broadcasting, a Salisbury, Maryland-based broadcaster, agreed to acquire WHIZ-TV and its related Zanesville radio stations for $10.7 million. The transaction closed on July 15, 2022, bringing the television and radio properties under Marquee's ownership. Later that year, the station announced that its second digital subchannel would adopt Fox affiliation beginning November 14. The service used the Fox 5 branding associated with its local Spectrum cable position and also retained MyNetworkTV programming in its schedule. WHIZ-TV consequently serves as both an NBC affiliate and a locally distributed source of Fox programming, while continuing to emphasize local news and southeastern Ohio community coverage.

WHIZ-TV originated with Southeastern Ohio Television System, the company operating WHIZ radio in Zanesville. The company filed an application for a television construction permit on June 26, 1952, and received approval on December 10. Construction at the Downard Road site began the following day, establishing what became Zanesville's first television station. The station began broadcasting on May 23, 1953, originally using channel 50. Its initial signal was deliberately modest and was intended to reach the roughly 500 television receivers then operating in the Zanesville area. Approximately a year and a half later, the station moved to channel 18 and increased its power to 186 kW. It also established translators on channel 71 in Coshocton and channel 80 in Cambridge, extending service beyond the immediate city. In 1986, a new antenna raised the station's power to 589 kW, and WHIZ-TV introduced stereo audio. WHIZ-TV has been primarily affiliated with NBC since its launch. During its early years, however, it supplemented NBC with selected programs from CBS and ABC, and it carried some DuMont programming during the 1950s. Because Zanesville has only one major commercial television station based locally, cable systems have historically supplemented WHIZ-TV with network affiliates from Columbus and other nearby markets. The station's local role has centered on news, weather and community reporting, together with sports coverage such as Friday-night high-school basketball. Digital broadcasting began in 2002 on channel 40. On July 25, 2008, a failed power combiner interrupted the station's transmission. WHIZ-TV restored its digital service but determined that repairing the analog transmitter was not economically sensible because the scheduled national digital transition was close. The analog facility was therefore left unrepaired, and the station became digital-only in February 2009. The station's ownership changed in 2022. Marquee Broadcasting, based in Salisbury, Maryland, announced an agreement on April 20 to acquire WHIZ-TV and the affiliated WHIZ radio stations. The reported purchase price was $10.7 million, and the transaction closed on July 15. The acquired radio properties included WHIZ AM, WHIZ-FM and WZVL, creating a local broadcast group under Marquee ownership. On October 24, 2022, WHIZ-TV announced a new use for its second digital subchannel. Beginning November 14, the service added Fox programming and adopted the Fox 5 branding associated with its Spectrum cable channel position. MyNetworkTV programming remained part of the subchannel's weekday late-night schedule. This change expanded the station's network offering while maintaining its central NBC service and local news operation. WHIZ-TV continues to operate from Downard Road and serves Zanesville and a group of surrounding southeastern Ohio counties through over-the-air broadcasting and cable distribution.

1. 2022Acquisition by Marquee Broadcasting

   Marquee Broadcasting completed its acquisition of WHIZ-TV and the associated WHIZ radio stations on July 15.

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2. 2022Fox added to second digital subchannel

   The second subchannel began Fox service under the Fox 5 brand on November 14 and continued carrying MyNetworkTV programming at selected times.

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3. 2009Digital-only operation

   The station ended analog transmission and continued as a digital-only broadcaster.

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4. 2002Digital broadcasting begins

   WHIZ-TV began digital transmissions on channel 40.

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5. 1986Power increase and stereo introduction

   A new antenna increased power to 589 kW, and the station introduced stereo sound.

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6. 1954Station moves to channel 18

   WHIZ-TV moved from channel 50 to channel 18 and increased its effective broadcast power.

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7. 1953WHIZ-TV begins broadcasting

   The station signed on May 23 as Zanesville's first television station, initially broadcasting on channel 50.

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8. 1952Television construction permit filed

   Southeastern Ohio Television System filed for authority to build a television station associated with its WHIZ radio operation.

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A locally focused, full-service television station serving Zanesville and southeastern Ohio, differentiated by its long-running NBC affiliation, market-leading local news role and combination of main-channel NBC service with secondary Fox and MyNetworkTV programming.

• WHIZ-TV main channelBroadcast television channel1953

  The station's primary service is an NBC-affiliated broadcast channel serving Zanesville and southeastern Ohio. It combines NBC network programming with locally produced news, weather, community coverage and sports. The channel has been the station's principal service since its 1953 launch.

• Fox 5Digital subchannel2022

  WHIZ-TV's second digital subchannel carries Fox programming and is branded Fox 5, reflecting its Spectrum cable channel position. It also carries MyNetworkTV programming during weekday late-night hours, giving the Zanesville market a locally distributed source for both services.

• WHIZ local newsLocal news service

  The station's local news operation reports on Zanesville and surrounding southeastern Ohio communities. Its role is strengthened by the limited number of locally based commercial television outlets in the market.

• Local high-school sportsSports programming

  WHIZ-TV provides local sports programming, including Friday broadcasts of area high-school basketball. The service supports the station's community-oriented positioning and local identity.

• 2022Sale to Marquee BroadcastingM&A

  Marquee Broadcasting sought to acquire WHIZ-TV together with its related Zanesville radio properties.

  What changed. The parties announced the transaction in April, and the sale closed on July 15 for a reported $10.7 million.

  Aftermath. WHIZ-TV became part of Marquee Broadcasting's Zanesville broadcast group alongside WHIZ AM, WHIZ-FM and WZVL.

  Reported acquisition price. $10.7 million (Announced April 20, 2022; completed July 15, 2022)

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• 2022Add Fox programming to the second subchannelProduct launch

  The station sought to provide locally distributed Fox programming in the Zanesville area while retaining MyNetworkTV content on the secondary service.

  What changed. WHIZ-TV announced that its second digital subchannel would affiliate with Fox beginning November 14 and use the Fox 5 brand.

  Aftermath. The subchannel expanded WHIZ-TV's network portfolio and continued carrying MyNetworkTV programming during selected late-night periods.

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• 2009Proceed with digital-only broadcastingStrategy

  A power-combiner failure disrupted the station's analog transmission in 2008, while the scheduled nationwide analog shutdown was approaching.

  What changed. WHIZ-TV restored its digital signal but chose not to repair the analog transmitter because the remaining period of analog operation would have been brief.

  Aftermath. The station became digital-only in February 2009 and continued its service through digital broadcasting.

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• 2022Marquee Broadcasting agrees to acquire WHIZ-TV and associated radio stations

  Marquee Broadcasting announced an agreement to purchase WHIZ-TV and the related WHIZ radio properties from their existing ownership for $10.7 million.

  M&A
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• 2022Marquee Broadcasting completes purchase of WHIZ properties

  The acquisition of WHIZ-TV and its sister radio stations was completed on July 15, transferring ownership to Marquee Broadcasting.

  M&A
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• 2022WHIZ-TV adds Fox affiliation to its second digital channel

  The station announced that its second subchannel would begin carrying Fox programming under the Fox 5 brand on November 14, while also retaining MyNetworkTV programming in its weekday late-night schedule.

  Product launch
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• 2009WHIZ-TV becomes digital-only after analog transmitter failure

  After a power-combiner failure took the station's analog signal off the air, WHIZ-TV chose not to restore analog transmission and completed its transition to digital-only broadcasting.

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1. WHIZ-TV
2. WHIZ News official website