WJHL-DT2

WJHL-DT2 is the second digital subchannel of WJHL-TV, a television station licensed to Johnson City, Tennessee. Branded on air as ABC Tri-Cities, the subchannel carries ABC network programming and locally produced news for viewers in the Tri-Cities market, which includes northeastern Tennessee, southwestern Virginia, and nearby areas of western North Carolina. It operates as a broadcast television service rather than as an independently incorporated company or separately owned station. Its programming, facilities, advertising operation, and news resources are tied to WJHL-TV. The subchannel was created in late 2006, initially as a simulcast of WJHL's 24-hour cable weather service. That original format gave the station a digital multicast presence while extending the reach of WJHL's weather programming over the air. In August 2011, the service adopted a general-entertainment format as a MeTV affiliate. This arrangement ended when Media General and ABC announced that WJHL-DT2 would become the Tri-Cities area's ABC affiliate in 2016. The ABC transition took effect on February 1, 2016. It ended ABC's then-existing affiliation with WKPT-TV and also ended MeTV's placement on WJHL-DT2. The change reunited ABC programming with the WJHL operation, which had carried ABC as a secondary affiliation before WKPT-TV began broadcasting in 1969. Following the transition, MeTV moved to WAPK-CD, while WKPT received a MyNetworkTV affiliation. The new ABC service was marketed as ABC Tri-Cities, giving the market a dedicated over-the-air ABC outlet on digital channel 11.2. WJHL-DT2 also became an important outlet for local news. It simulcasts selected WJHL newscasts, including the morning, late-night, and weekend programs. In addition, it carries local broadcasts branded ABC Tri-Cities News at 6:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., with ABC World News Tonight scheduled between them. These broadcasts use the parent station's Johnson City newsroom and its reporting resources in Kingsport, Bristol, and Greeneville. The subchannel therefore combines national network programming with a local-news schedule tailored to the market. The service benefits from WJHL-TV's long operating history. WJHL-TV began broadcasting in 1953 and has remained a major local television operation in the region through successive ownership changes, including Park Communications, Media General, and Nexstar Media Group. WJHL's studios are in downtown Johnson City, while its principal transmission facilities are on Holston Mountain. WJHL-DT2 broadcasts in high definition as part of WJHL-TV's digital multiplex. Its identity is primarily regional and service-oriented: it provides ABC entertainment, news, sports, and informational programming while using WJHL's established local brand, technical infrastructure, and advertising platform.

WJHL-DT2 originated in late 2006 as the second digital subchannel of WJHL-TV. Its first role was to simulcast WJHL's 24-hour cable weather service. At a time when digital multicasting was expanding the number of channels that local broadcasters could distribute without obtaining a separate full-power license, the service allowed WJHL to extend an existing local-information product to an over-the-air audience. In August 2011, WJHL-DT2 changed direction and adopted a general-entertainment format affiliated with MeTV. This gave the subchannel a schedule centered on syndicated and classic television programming rather than continuous weather coverage. The MeTV arrangement lasted until a larger affiliation change reshaped the Tri-Cities television market. On January 4, 2016, Media General and ABC announced that WJHL-DT2 would become the market's ABC affiliate beginning February 1. The move transferred ABC from WKPT-TV and ended MeTV's use of WJHL-DT2. ABC had previously been associated with WJHL as a secondary affiliation before WKPT-TV launched in 1969, so the change restored the network to the WJHL operation after several decades. MeTV subsequently moved to WAPK-CD, and WKPT received a MyNetworkTV affiliation. Under the ABC Tri-Cities identity, WJHL-DT2 became both a network outlet and a local-news service. It carries ABC's national schedule and broadcasts local programming produced with WJHL-TV's newsroom and production facilities. Selected WJHL newscasts, including morning, late-night, and weekend editions, are simulcast on the subchannel. WJHL-DT2 also carries ABC Tri-Cities News broadcasts at 6:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., with ABC World News Tonight positioned between the two local programs. The subchannel's reporting resources come from WJHL-TV's principal operation in downtown Johnson City and its bureaus in Kingsport, Bristol, and Greeneville. Its transmission is part of WJHL-TV's digital multiplex and is identified over the air as channel 11.2. WJHL-TV itself has been owned by Nexstar Media Group following the consolidation of Media General's television assets. WJHL-DT2 has consequently remained an affiliated service within the WJHL station operation rather than developing as a separately managed broadcast company. Its principal historical development has been the progression from weather simulcast, to MeTV entertainment service, to the Tri-Cities' ABC network and local-news outlet.

• 2016

  ABC affiliation began

  [1]WJHL-TVen.wikipedia.org

  WJHL-DT2 became the Tri-Cities ABC affiliate on February 1, replacing WKPT-TV and ending its MeTV affiliation.

• 2011

  MeTV format adopted

  [1]WJHL-TVen.wikipedia.org

  The subchannel switched to a general-entertainment schedule as a MeTV affiliate.

• 2006

  Digital subchannel launched

  [1]WJHL-TVen.wikipedia.org

  WJHL-DT2 was established as a simulcast of WJHL's 24-hour cable weather channel.

Regional ABC network affiliate and local-news outlet delivered through WJHL-TV's second digital subchannel.

• Broadcast television network affiliate · 2016

  ABC Tri-Cities

  The primary on-air identity of WJHL-DT2 since its conversion to an ABC affiliate in February 2016. The service distributes ABC's national programming schedule to viewers in the Tri-Cities television market through WJHL-TV's digital channel 11.2. It also provides the local platform for news and community programming associated with the WJHL operation.

• Local television news · 2016

  ABC Tri-Cities News

  Local newscasts produced using WJHL-TV's newsroom, anchors, reporters, bureaus, and technical facilities. The schedule includes dedicated broadcasts at 6:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., while selected WJHL morning, late-night, and weekend newscasts are also simulcast on WJHL-DT2.

• Weather information service · 2006

  WJHL weather-channel simulcast

  The original WJHL-DT2 service, introduced in late 2006 as an over-the-air simulcast of WJHL's 24-hour cable weather channel. This format was later replaced by the MeTV schedule.

• General-entertainment television · 2011

  MeTV programming service

  WJHL-DT2 carried MeTV's general-entertainment format from August 2011 until January 31, 2016. The affiliation ended when the subchannel became the Tri-Cities ABC outlet.

• 2016

  Convert WJHL-DT2 into the Tri-Cities ABC affiliateStrategy

  Background

  ABC's Tri-Cities affiliation was then held by WKPT-TV, while WJHL-DT2 was carrying MeTV programming. The change also restored ABC to the WJHL operation, which had previously maintained a secondary ABC affiliation before 1969.

  Action taken

  Media General and ABC designated WJHL-DT2 as the new ABC affiliate, effective February 1, 2016. MeTV moved to WAPK-CD, and WKPT's affiliation was changed to MyNetworkTV.

  Aftermath

  WJHL-DT2 adopted the ABC Tri-Cities identity and added ABC network programming, simulcast WJHL newscasts, and dedicated local news broadcasts.

  Source

1. 1WJHL-TVen.wikipedia.org
2. 2WJHL official websitewjhl.com