WHPS-CD
WHPS-CD is a low-power Class A television station serving Highland Park, Detroit, and nearby communities in Michigan.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
WHPS-CD is a low-power, Class A television station serving the Detroit area from studios in Highland Park, Michigan. The station began broadcasting in 1995 as W68CH on UHF channel 68 and initially used the identities TNVC-Channel 68 and UHF 68, Highland Park. It subsequently adopted the W33BY call sign and operated on channel 33 before completing a transition to digital broadcasting in December 2014. The Federal Communications Commission licensed the station for digital operation in January 2015, and the call sign changed to WHPS-CD in August 2018 after the station moved as part of the FCC incentive-auction repacking process to UHF channel 15. The station has a distinctive place in Detroit television history. It was described as the first Black-owned television station in the Detroit area after WGPR-TV, the market's earlier Black-owned station, became a CBS affiliate. R. J. Watkins owned the station until 2015 and had previously been associated with Detroit's WGPR-TV, where he hosted and produced The New Dance Show. That program later moved to WHPS-CD, and reruns have remained part of the station's schedule at various times. WHPS-CD's programming has generally emphasized locally oriented and community-focused material rather than a conventional network-affiliate schedule. Its inventory has included phone-in talk programs, radio simulcasts, fashion programming, religious programming, paid advertisements, and the children's program K.E.Y.S. Kids, whose stated educational message encourages children to enjoy themselves without drugs. The station has also carried content connected with associated radio operations, including WHPR-FM and WVIE-FM. In the mid-2010s, its digital multiplex included several subchannels used for radio simulcasts, The Dream Network, and repeat programming from the main channel. The station is available over the air in its local service area and has also been distributed through online streaming, Roku, and Xfinity channel 91 in Highland Park, Hamtramck, and much of Detroit. Its transmitter is located in Detroit's Weatherby section near Burt Road and Capitol Avenue, using a site shared with radio stations WMUZ-FM and WCHB. WHPS-CD remains a specialized local television outlet whose identity is tied to Detroit-area community programming, Black media history, and multiplatform distribution rather than national broadcast-network affiliation.
History
WHPS-CD traces its origins to a low-power television operation launched in the Detroit area in early 1995. It initially operated as W68CH on channel 68 and used the branding TNVC-Channel 68, later adopting the identity UHF 68, Highland Park. The station's early history was unusual because it later operated under the W33BY identity while channel 68 continued carrying a separate or overlapping operation for a period. The channel-68 service was eventually discontinued, with channel 33 becoming the station's continuing broadcast outlet. In November 2001, the station began using the W33BY call sign and channel 33 identity, although both channel 33 and channel 68 were reportedly active during a transition period. By August 2002, the two channels were carrying separate schedules. Channel 68 ultimately ceased operation in September 2003. Although some television listings continued to show a channel-68 service for a time, later regulatory records and viewer reports indicated that the channel was no longer broadcasting. The station developed a significant cultural and ownership connection to Detroit's Black media community. It was identified as the Detroit area's first Black-owned television station after WGPR-TV, another historically important Black-owned outlet, became a CBS affiliate. R. J. Watkins owned WHPS-CD until 2015. Watkins had previously hosted and produced The New Dance Show at WGPR-TV from 1988 through 1996. The program moved to WHPS-CD in 1995, and the station has continued to air reruns at various times, preserving a connection to Detroit's dance-music television heritage. WHPS-CD's schedule has focused primarily on locally relevant and independently sourced programming. Its formats have included call-in talk shows, many of them simulcasts of radio programming, fashion shows, religious broadcasts, paid advertisements, and K.E.Y.S. Kids, a children's program built around an anti-drug message. This mixture reflects the operating model of a low-power community station rather than that of a large commercial network affiliate. The station pursued a digital flash-cut authorization for channel 33, with proposed operation at 4 kW from facilities at its Highland Park studios. It completed the transition from analog to digital broadcasting on December 4, 2014, and received its digital license from the FCC on January 29, 2015. The initial digital configuration included four subchannels: a 720p main service and three standard-definition services. In November 2015, the station added WVIE-FM on one subchannel and WHPR-FM on another, while The Dream Network was placed on a further subchannel. The lineup changed again in 2016 when one of the channels reverted to a simulcast of the primary service. Ownership also changed during this period. In April 2014, LocusPoint Networks announced that it was beginning the process of acquiring the station, which would have made it a sister outlet to WDWO-CD and potentially to WUDT-LD if a separate transaction had been approved. The purchase of W33BY closed successfully. The station is identified in reference material as owned by HME Equity Fund II. As part of the FCC's incentive-auction repacking, the station moved to UHF channel 15. The proposed digital call sign was W15EC-D, but the station ultimately adopted WHPS-CD on August 3, 2018. Its transmitter operates from a Detroit site near Burt Road and Capitol Avenue, shared with WMUZ-FM and WCHB, while its studios remain at the corner of Victor and Brush Streets in Highland Park. In addition to its local broadcast signal, WHPS-CD has been distributed through online streaming, Roku, and Xfinity channel 91 in Highland Park, Hamtramck, and much of Detroit.
- 2018
Call sign changes to WHPS-CD
[1]The station changed its call letters from W33BY to WHPS-CD on August 3.
- 2015
Digital license granted
[1]The FCC licensed the station for digital operation on January 29.
- 2015
Radio simulcasts added
[1]WVIE-FM and WHPR-FM were added to digital subchannels in November.
- 2014
LocusPoint acquisition closes
[1]The announced purchase of the station by LocusPoint Networks was completed.
- 2014
Digital conversion
[1]W33BY completed its transition from analog to digital broadcasting on December 4.
- 2003
Channel 68 closes
[1]The channel-68 operation was discontinued, leaving the channel-33 service as the station's continuing outlet.
- 2001
Adoption of W33BY identity
[1]The operation began using the W33BY call sign and channel 33 identity while the former channel-68 service remained in transition.
- 1995
Launch as W68CH
[1]The station began operating as W68CH on UHF channel 68 and used the TNVC-Channel 68 identity.
- 1995
The New Dance Show moves to the station
[1]The Detroit dance program associated with R. J. Watkins moved from WGPR-TV to the station, where reruns have continued to appear.
Products and positioning
A Detroit-area low-power community television station with a strong connection to Black-owned media history, locally produced programming, radio simulcasts, and accessible over-the-air and streaming distribution.
Broadcast television · 1995
WHPS-CD primary television service
The station's main over-the-air television service provides a locally oriented mix of talk programming, community content, lifestyle and fashion material, religious broadcasts, paid programming, and selected entertainment. It is distributed from the station's Detroit-area transmitter and is also available through selected streaming and pay-TV platforms.
Children's television
K.E.Y.S. Kids
K.E.Y.S. Kids is a children's program carried by the station. Its stated message encourages children to enjoy themselves without drugs, giving the station a community and educational component in addition to its entertainment programming.
Music and dance television · 1995
The New Dance Show
The New Dance Show is a Detroit dance-music program formerly associated with WGPR-TV and produced and hosted by R. J. Watkins. It moved to the station in the mid-1990s, and reruns have remained part of WHPS-CD's schedule at various evening times.
Multichannel television · 2015
Digital subchannel simulcasts
The station has used its digital multiplex for related radio and television services, including WHPR-FM, WVIE-FM, The Dream Network, and repeated programming from the primary service. The exact subchannel lineup has changed over time.
Streaming television
Online and Roku distribution
WHPS-CD extends its local broadcast presence through online streaming and Roku distribution. This gives viewers outside the station's immediate terrestrial footprint access to its programming and related services.
Brand decisions
2018
Rebranding following channel repackingStrategyBackground
The FCC incentive-auction repacking process required the station to move from its previous channel assignment to UHF channel 15.
Action taken
The station adopted the WHPS-CD call sign after the channel move.
Aftermath
WHPS-CD became the station's continuing identity for its Detroit-area low-power digital service.
2015
Expansion of digital subchannel programmingProduct launchBackground
After the digital conversion, the station had capacity for several subchannels and used it to connect its television operation with related radio and network programming.
Action taken
WVIE-FM, WHPR-FM, and The Dream Network were assigned to digital subchannels during November and December 2015, with later lineup changes.
Aftermath
The station continued adjusting its multiplex, including reverting one channel to a simulcast of the primary service in 2016.
2014
Sale to LocusPoint NetworksM&ABackground
The station announced that LocusPoint Networks had begun procedures to purchase W33BY. The transaction was considered in the context of LocusPoint's other low-power television holdings in the Detroit market.
Action taken
The acquisition process was completed, making the station a LocusPoint-associated outlet.
Aftermath
The station later became identified with HME Equity Fund II ownership in reference material. No purchase price is provided.
2014
Conversion from analog to digital broadcastingGeneration changeBackground
W33BY was the last remaining Detroit-area American station described as operating exclusively in analog. Federal low-power television conversion requirements created a deadline for conversion or closure.
Action taken
The station flash-cut to digital operation on December 4, 2014, and received its digital license in January 2015.
Aftermath
Digital broadcasting enabled a multiplexed service with a primary channel and multiple standard-definition subchannels.
Recent events
- 2018
Station adopts WHPS-CD call sign[1]
Other
The station changed its call letters from W33BY to WHPS-CD on August 3, 2018.
- 2015
Digital subchannels add radio simulcasts and network programming[1]
Product launch
The station expanded its digital multiplex with simulcasts of WVIE-FM and WHPR-FM and programming associated with The Dream Network.
- 2014
LocusPoint Networks begins purchase process for W33BY[1]
M&A
The station announced that LocusPoint Networks had begun procedures to acquire W33BY, potentially aligning it with other Detroit-area low-power stations. The transaction subsequently closed.
- 2014
W33BY completes digital conversion[1]
Other
W33BY ended its long-running analog operation and converted to digital broadcasting on December 4, 2014, ahead of the applicable low-power television conversion deadline.
Sources2 sources
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