WHNH-CD

WHNH-CD is a low-power, Class A digital television station associated with the Hartford, Connecticut, and southern Vermont television markets. Although its current service area is centered on Hartford and its transmitter is located on Rattlesnake Mountain in Farmington, Connecticut, the station has historically been licensed to Manchester, Vermont. The station is owned by the Daystar Television Network, a Christian television organization, following Daystar's acquisition of the facility from Vision Communications in January 2025. The station's history began with a construction permit granted on January 24, 1996, for UHF channel 49 to serve Manchester, Vermont. It initially used the call sign W49BU. Heritage Broadcasting Company of New York, the original permit holder, sold the station to Vision 3 Broadcasting in 1997. Vision 3 later added Londonderry, Vermont, as a second proposed city of license and launched the station in March 1998 as an independent outlet. The call sign became WVBK-LP in April 1998. For a period beginning in October 1998, the station carried UPN programming, including the UPN Kids block and the network's prime-time schedule. Its programming mix also included syndicated material and sports packages involving Big East college sports, Boston Red Sox baseball, and Boston Celtics basketball. The UPN affiliation ended around the beginning of 2000 after a separate cable-based operation associated with Time Warner Cable and WXXA-TV began carrying the network in the region. WVBK-LP returned to independent programming and emphasized its over-the-air availability. During the early 2000s, the station carried programming from America One and the Resort Sports Network, the latter being an earlier form of what became Outside Television. America One programming ended in 2003, after which the station became primarily associated with the Resort Sports Network. The facility moved to channel 2 in 2004 and received Class A status, strengthening its regulatory standing among low-power television stations. Ownership and operating arrangements changed again during the 2010s. A proposed sale to New Hampshire 1 Network, controlled by William H. Binnie, was filed in 2010 but abandoned in 2011. Cross Hill Communications later acquired the station after exercising an option connected with its proposed purchase of sister station WVBQ-LP. Under Cross Hill, the station adopted the YCN identity, short for Yankee Communications Network, and added more locally oriented programming. This included a weeknight half-hour newscast initially branded YCN News Hour, with multiple evening repeats. The station transitioned from analog to digital broadcasting in 2013. Its analog channel 2 service was shut down in May of that year, and the digital signal was introduced through a flash-cut on VHF channel 2. The station used the WYCX-CD call sign from October 2013 until October 2021, when it became WHNH-CD. During the digital period, its multiplexed service carried additional specialty programming, including Retro TV, Tuff TV, and PBJ, although the exact current subchannel lineup is not established by the available material. In October 2024, the Federal Communications Commission approved a proposal by Vision Communications to move the station's radio-frequency channel to 25 and change its city of license to Hartford, Connecticut. The available reference states that the approved change had not yet been implemented at that point. Daystar Television Network filed to purchase WHNH-CD in November 2024 for a reported $7.5 million, and the transaction was completed on January 29, 2025. The acquisition shifted the station from a locally branded YCN operation into the Daystar network's religious television portfolio. Its current programming details, technical implementation of the approved channel move, and current executive personnel are not identified in the available sources.

WHNH-CD originated with a construction permit granted on January 24, 1996, for a low-power television station on UHF channel 49 serving Manchester, Vermont. The permit was issued under the call sign W49BU. Heritage Broadcasting Company of New York, which had applied for the channel, transferred the station to Vision 3 Broadcasting on June 19, 1997. Vision 3 subsequently amended the permit to add Londonderry, Vermont, as another city of license. The station began broadcasting in March 1998 as an independent outlet and adopted the call sign WVBK-LP on April 24 of that year. On October 5, 1998, it became a UPN affiliate, carrying both the UPN Kids block and prime-time network programs. The schedule was supplemented by syndicated shows and several sports packages, including college football and basketball and programming involving the Boston Red Sox and Boston Celtics. The UPN affiliation ended at the beginning of 2000 after a separate regional operation began distributing the network through cable and another local television relationship. WVBK-LP then returned to independent programming. The station's early independent period included programming from America One and the Resort Sports Network, a predecessor of Outside Television. Vision 3 retained WVBK while selling or otherwise separating its other related low-power stations. America One programming was removed in 2003, leaving the station primarily affiliated with the Resort Sports Network. In 2004, the station moved to channel 2 and upgraded to Class A status. Vision 3 expanded its portfolio in the region in 2005 by acquiring a construction permit for W47CS in Windsor. The facility was later reassigned the WVBQ-LP call sign, moved to Newport and Charlestown, New Hampshire, and launched in March 2006 as a satellite of WVBK-CA. A proposed 2010 sale of WVBK-CA and WVBQ-LP to New Hampshire 1 Network, a company controlled by William H. Binnie, was abandoned in June 2011. Vision 3 then pursued a sale of WVBQ-LP to Cross Hill Communications. Cross Hill also received an option to acquire WVBK and exercised that option in June 2012. Under Cross Hill Communications, the station developed the YCN brand, an abbreviation of Yankee Communications Network. The new operating identity was accompanied by an increase in local programming, including a weeknight half-hour newscast first called YCN News Hour. The program was scheduled at 6 p.m., repeated at 6:30 p.m., and repeated again during the late-evening period. The station's transition to digital broadcasting occurred in 2013. Its associated analog operation ended in December 2012 when the WVBQ-LP license was returned to the FCC, and the digital facility associated with that operation became WYCU-LD. WVBK-CA completed its own digital conversion in May 2013 through a flash-cut on VHF channel 2. In October 2013, the station adopted the WYCX-CD call sign. Digital multicast services at various points included Retro TV, Tuff TV, and PBJ. The call sign changed to WHNH-CD on October 12, 2021. On October 3, 2024, the FCC approved a Vision Communications proposal to move the station's RF channel to 25 and change its city of license to Hartford, Connecticut, although the reference material indicates that the change had not yet occurred. Daystar Television Network filed an application to acquire the station on November 20, 2024, for $7.5 million. Completion of the transaction on January 29, 2025, made Daystar the station's owner and placed WHNH-CD within a religious television network. Information about subsequent programming, management, and implementation of the approved technical changes is not available in the supplied sources.

• 2025

  Daystar ownership begins

  [1]WHNH-CDen.wikipedia.org

  Daystar Television Network completed its purchase of WHNH-CD on January 29.

• 2024

  FCC approves proposed technical and licensing changes

  [1]WHNH-CDen.wikipedia.org

  The FCC approved a proposed move to RF channel 25 and a change in city of license to Hartford, Connecticut.

• 2021

  Call sign changed to WHNH-CD

  [1]WHNH-CDen.wikipedia.org

  The station adopted its current WHNH-CD call sign.

• 2013

  Digital conversion

  [1]WHNH-CDen.wikipedia.org

  The station ended analog broadcasting and flash-cut its digital signal on VHF channel 2, later operating as WYCX-CD.

• 2012

  YCN local programming identity introduced

  [1]WHNH-CDen.wikipedia.org

  After acquisition by Cross Hill Communications, the station adopted the YCN identity and added a local weeknight newscast.

• 2004

  Move to channel 2 and Class A upgrade

  [1]WHNH-CDen.wikipedia.org

  The station moved to channel 2 and upgraded to Class A status.

• 2000

  UPN affiliation ends

  [1]WHNH-CDen.wikipedia.org

  The station returned to independent programming after its UPN affiliation ended.

• 1998

  Independent launch and UPN affiliation

  [1]WHNH-CDen.wikipedia.org

  The station launched in March as an independent outlet, changed its call sign to WVBK-LP in April, and joined UPN in October.

• 1997

  Station transferred to Vision 3 Broadcasting

  [1]WHNH-CDen.wikipedia.org

  Heritage Broadcasting Company of New York sold the station to Vision 3 Broadcasting.

• 1996

  Construction permit granted

  [1]WHNH-CDen.wikipedia.org

  A permit was granted for a low-power station on UHF channel 49 serving Manchester, Vermont, initially using the call sign W49BU.

A low-power local television station whose programming identity evolved from independent and sports-oriented service to local YCN broadcasting and, following its 2025 acquisition, a religious television outlet within the Daystar Television Network.

• Television broadcasting · 1998

  WHNH-CD over-the-air television service

  The station's primary offering is free, low-power digital television service for viewers in and around the Hartford, Connecticut, and southern Vermont region. Its technical identity has changed over time, including operation on channel 2 and a proposed move to RF channel 25 approved by the FCC in 2024.

• Religious broadcasting · 2025

  Religious television programming

  Following Daystar Television Network's acquisition in 2025, WHNH-CD became part of a Christian religious television network. The supplied sources do not specify the station's complete current schedule or the precise division between locally originated and network programming.

• Local news · 2012

  YCN local news

  During the Cross Hill Communications period, the station carried a half-hour weeknight newscast under the YCN identity. The program originally aired at 6 p.m., with additional early-evening and late-evening repeats. Its current status after the Daystar acquisition is not established.

• 2025

  Acquired by Daystar Television NetworkM&A

  Background

  Daystar sought to expand or consolidate its religious television distribution through the purchase of the low-power Class A station.

  Action taken

  Daystar filed to purchase WHNH-CD in November 2024 and completed the transaction on January 29, 2025.

  Aftermath

  WHNH-CD became part of Daystar's religious television portfolio. The station's post-acquisition schedule and management structure are not identified in the supplied sources.

  Reported purchase price. $7.5 million (Transaction announced November 20, 2024; completed January 29, 2025)

  Source

• 2024

  Proposed Hartford relocation and RF channel changeStrategy

  Background

  Vision Communications sought to align the station's licensing and technical configuration more closely with the Hartford, Connecticut market.

  Action taken

  The FCC approved a change in city of license to Hartford and a move of the RF channel to 25.

  Aftermath

  The available material does not confirm when the approved changes were implemented.

  Source

• 2013

  Completed analog-to-digital conversionGeneration change

  Background

  The station operated as a low-power Class A outlet during the transition from analog to digital television.

  Action taken

  WVBK-CA shut down its analog VHF channel 2 signal and flash-cut its digital signal on the same VHF channel.

  Aftermath

  The digital operation later carried multiple multicast services and used the WYCX-CD call sign.

  Source

• 2012

  Expanded local programming under the YCN brandStrategy

  Background

  Cross Hill Communications took control of the station after exercising an option associated with its acquisition of a related facility.

  Action taken

  The station adopted the Yankee Communications Network identity and added a locally oriented weeknight newscast.

  Aftermath

  The station's identity shifted toward local news and regional service before later ownership by Daystar.

  Source

• 2004

  Moved to channel 2 and obtained Class A statusStrategy

  Background

  The station continued operating as a low-power outlet while developing its regional service footprint.

  Action taken

  It moved from channel 49 to channel 2 and upgraded to Class A status.

  Aftermath

  The change established the technical and regulatory configuration that preceded its later digital conversion.

  Source

• 1998

  Adopted a UPN affiliationStrategy

  Background

  After launching as an independent low-power station, WVBK-LP sought a network-based schedule to expand its programming offer.

  Action taken

  The station began carrying UPN programming, including the UPN Kids block and prime-time shows.

  Aftermath

  The affiliation ended around the beginning of 2000, after which the station returned to an independent schedule.

  Source

1. 1WHNH-CDen.wikipedia.org
2. 2WHNH-CD official websiteycnnow.com