WIAV-CD

WIAV-CD is a low-power Class A television station licensed to Washington, D.C., serving the Washington metropolitan television market. The station is owned and operated by Sinclair Broadcast Group and is co-located with WDCO-CD, another Sinclair station in the market. Its principal distinction is technical rather than consumer-brand oriented: Sinclair converted WIAV-CD to ATSC 3.0 operation in March 2021, making it one of the company's next-generation television transmission facilities and, according to the cited station history, Washington's first ATSC 3.0 broadcaster. The station's current role developed from a much earlier religious-television operation. WIAV-CD was acquired by Venture Technologies Group in 2014 while Venture was expanding the former WAZT network from the Shenandoah Valley into the much larger Washington market. The network used the Faith Television Network identity and religious programming during that period. In 2018, the Federal Communications Commission's spectrum-reallocation process created opportunities to reorganize television facilities in Washington. WIAV-CD applied to move to channel 30, while related station WDCO-CD pursued facilities associated with channel 24. Temporary facilities were subsequently shared at the WRC-TV tower in northwest Washington after other transmission arrangements changed. Sinclair agreed in 2020 to acquire WIAV-CD and WDCO-CD from Venture Technologies Group for $8.5 million. The transaction closed on October 15, 2020. Following the closing, the stations initially adopted Sinclair's TBD multicast network. Sinclair's stated strategic purpose for the purchase was to use WIAV-CD as a platform for ATSC 3.0 deployment, while WDCO-CD continued ATSC 1.0 service and accommodated a channel-sharing arrangement involving UniMás affiliate WMDO-CD. WMDO-CD moved its channel-sharing operation from WIAV-CD to WDCO-CD at the end of 2020, clearing the way for WIAV-CD's next-generation transmission launch. WIAV-CD's ATSC 3.0 service began on March 25, 2021. In the cited station description, WIAV-CD relays programming associated with WDCO-CD's Roar multicast network in the ATSC 3.0 standard. The relationship illustrates the way broadcasters use a single-market station group: one facility can maintain conventional ATSC 1.0 distribution while another hosts a newer broadcast standard and carries multiple digital services. The station also helps satisfy Class A local-programming requirements through delayed carriage of WJLA-TV weekday 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. newscasts, which are aired from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. on the participating facilities. WIAV-CD is therefore best understood as a regulated broadcast-station asset and transmission platform rather than as a standalone programming brand. Its public-facing identity has changed with its network affiliations and ownership history, while its enduring market function is to provide low-power television coverage in the Washington area and support Sinclair's ATSC 3.0 strategy.

WIAV-CD's documented modern history is tied to the expansion and restructuring of the former WAZT religious-television group. Venture Technologies Group purchased Washington-based WIAV-CD in 2014 as it sought to extend the WAZT network from the Shenandoah Valley into the Washington, D.C., market. During Venture's ownership, the broader operation adopted the Faith Television Network identity and focused primarily on religious television programming. The station's technical position changed during the FCC spectrum-reallocation period following the 2016–17 incentive auction. Channel capacity became available in the Washington market as other facilities were displaced or left the air. WIAV-CD applied to move to channel 30, while WDCO-CD pursued a related move involving channel 24 facilities. Changes to transmission-site availability led the two stations to use temporary low-power facilities at the WRC-TV tower in northwest Washington while permanent arrangements were pursued. Sinclair Broadcast Group announced an agreement in June 2020 to acquire WIAV-CD and WDCO-CD from Venture Technologies Group for $8.5 million. The transaction was completed on October 15, 2020, making the pair Sinclair properties in the Washington market alongside WJLA-TV. On the closing date, the stations changed their multicast affiliation to TBD. Sinclair indicated that its main strategic objective was to convert WIAV-CD into an ATSC 3.0 station. WDCO-CD would retain ATSC 1.0 service and support a channel-sharing arrangement with WMDO-CD. WMDO-CD transferred its channel-sharing operation from WIAV-CD to WDCO-CD at the end of 2020, enabling Sinclair to prepare WIAV-CD for its new technical role. WIAV-CD began ATSC 3.0 transmission on March 25, 2021. The cited station account describes it as relaying programming from the Roar multicast network associated with WDCO-CD. The station group also carries delayed WJLA weekday evening newscasts to meet the local-programming obligations applicable to Class A stations. WIAV-CD's history consequently reflects three overlapping developments in American local television: the consolidation of small independent stations, the relocation of facilities into a larger metropolitan market, and the transition from ATSC 1.0 to ATSC 3.0 broadcasting.

• 2021

  ATSC 3.0 launch

  [1]WDCO-CDen.wikipedia.org

  WIAV-CD began ATSC 3.0 operation on March 25 as part of Sinclair's next-generation broadcasting strategy.

• 2020

  Acquired by Sinclair Broadcast Group

  [1]WDCO-CDen.wikipedia.org

  Sinclair completed its acquisition of WIAV-CD and WDCO-CD from Venture Technologies Group on October 15.

• 2018

  Channel and facility reorganization

  [1]WDCO-CDen.wikipedia.org

  WIAV-CD applied to move to channel 30 during the Washington-market facility changes associated with the FCC spectrum-reallocation process.

• 2014

  Venture expands into Washington

  [1]WDCO-CDen.wikipedia.org

  Venture Technologies Group purchased Washington-based WIAV-CD while expanding the former WAZT network toward the Washington, D.C., market.

A low-power Washington-market broadcast facility positioned as a next-generation ATSC 3.0 platform within Sinclair Broadcast Group's station portfolio.

• Next-generation terrestrial television · 2021

  ATSC 3.0 television service

  WIAV-CD's principal technical offering is its ATSC 3.0 broadcast service, launched in March 2021. The service uses the station's Washington-market facilities to transmit next-generation digital television programming and multicast services. It is part of Sinclair's broader effort to deploy ATSC 3.0 while maintaining conventional ATSC 1.0 distribution on other stations.

• Multicast television network

  Roar multicast programming

  The cited station description identifies WIAV-CD as carrying programming associated with the Roar digital multicast network through its ATSC 3.0 operation. The offering represents the station's role as a distribution platform for a network schedule rather than as an independently produced full-service television channel.

• Local television programming

  Delayed WJLA local newscasts

  WIAV-CD and its associated station facilities carry WJLA weekday 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. newscasts on a delay from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. The arrangement helps satisfy the minimum locally produced programming requirement for Class A television stations.

• 2021

  Launch of ATSC 3.0 transmissionProduct launch

  Background

  Sinclair intended to use WIAV-CD as a next-generation television transmission platform. WMDO-CD's channel-sharing service was moved to WDCO-CD to clear the way for the conversion.

  Action taken

  WIAV-CD began broadcasting in the ATSC 3.0 standard on March 25, 2021.

  Aftermath

  WIAV-CD became a technical platform for ATSC 3.0 multicast distribution in the Washington market, while WDCO-CD continued ATSC 1.0 operations.

  Source

• 2020

  Sinclair acquisition of WIAV-CDM&A

  Background

  Venture Technologies Group owned WIAV-CD as part of a station portfolio serving the Washington market. Sinclair sought the facilities in connection with its local station group and ATSC 3.0 deployment plans.

  Action taken

  Sinclair agreed to acquire WIAV-CD and WDCO-CD for $8.5 million and completed the transaction on October 15, 2020.

  Aftermath

  The stations joined Sinclair's Washington portfolio, adopted the TBD multicast affiliation, and were reorganized so that WIAV-CD could become an ATSC 3.0 facility.

  Acquisition price. $8.5 million (Agreement filed June 25, 2020; transaction completed October 15, 2020)

  Source

• 2021

  WIAV-CD begins ATSC 3.0 operation[1]WDCO-CDen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  WIAV-CD commenced ATSC 3.0 broadcasting on March 25, 2021, following the relocation of WMDO-CD's channel-sharing operation to WDCO-CD.

• 2020

  Venture Technologies agrees to sell WIAV-CD to Sinclair[1]WDCO-CDen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  Venture Technologies Group filed an agreement to sell WIAV-CD and WDCO-CD to Sinclair Broadcast Group for $8.5 million.

• 2020

  Sinclair completes acquisition and changes multicast affiliation[1]WDCO-CDen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  The acquisition of WIAV-CD and WDCO-CD closed on October 15, 2020. The stations then moved to Sinclair's TBD multicast network.

1. 1WDCO-CDen.wikipedia.org