WMDO-CD
WMDO-CD is a low-power Class A television station serving the Washington, D.C., market and affiliated with LATV.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
WMDO-CD is a low-power, Class A television station licensed to Washington, D.C. It operates as a local broadcast outlet in the Washington metropolitan television market and is owned by Entravision Communications Corporation, which also owns Maryland-licensed WJAL. The station’s current programming affiliation is LATV, a multilingual and multicultural television network. Its website is associated with Noticias Ya Washington, D.C., reflecting Entravision’s broader Spanish-language and multicultural media operations. The station traces its broadcast history to 1976, when it signed on as W14AA. Its earliest role was that of a translator for PBS member station WNVT, retransmitting WNVT’s signal from a transmitter in Arlington, Virginia. The translator was created in part because WNVT’s main transmitter location in Independent Hill, Virginia, was difficult for many viewers in the densely built Washington area to receive. The station’s early history was connected to a contested effort to relocate a vacant Washington channel allocation and to broader questions about local television service and minority ownership. A second important phase began in 1980, when Los Cerezos Television Co. launched KA2XEH on channel 56 as an experimental Spanish-language relay of the Spanish International Network, the predecessor of Univision. After regulatory changes, Los Cerezos acquired W14AA in 1981 and brought Spanish-language network programming to the station. The outlet subsequently changed channels and call signs several times. It became W48AW in 1988, WMDO-LP in 1995, and WMDO-CA in 2001 after receiving Class A status. The WMDO call letters reflected the station’s historical relationship with WMDO radio rather than an affiliation with Telemundo. Entravision acquired the television station from Los Cerezos in 1999. The company later pursued a plan involving WJAL that was intended to strengthen its Washington-market operations, although the proposed relocation was not achieved at that time. In 2003, WMDO-CA moved to channel 47 to accommodate digital facilities for another station. Entravision said the move materially weakened the station’s coverage and audience reach. In 2006, a joint sales agreement between Entravision and Univision Communications changed the station’s network role. Univision programming in the Washington market moved to WFDC-DT, while WMDO-CA became an affiliate of TeleFutura, later renamed UniMás. That arrangement ended on December 31, 2021. WMDO subsequently faced major transmission changes arising from spectrum reallocation, channel-sharing agreements, and the transition to newer digital broadcasting facilities. The station participated in the FCC’s 2016–17 broadcast spectrum incentive auction and was awarded compensation for relinquishing its independent spectrum. Rather than disappear entirely, WMDO entered channel-sharing arrangements. It moved from its own channel 22 facilities to the signal of WIAV-CD in 2017, later shifted to co-owned WDCO-CD in 2021, and then temporarily became silent when that agreement ended. Entravision later arranged channel sharing with WWTD-LD. WMDO returned to the air in December 2022, ceased operations in March 2024 after the agreement’s expiration, and resumed broadcasting on WWTD-LD’s multiplex in June 2024. These changes illustrate the station’s continuing effort to preserve terrestrial coverage despite the loss of its original transmission facilities.
History
WMDO-CD began broadcasting in 1976 as W14AA, a translator associated with PBS member station WNVT. The translator helped extend WNVT’s service into the Washington metropolitan area because WNVT’s transmitter in Independent Hill, Virginia, was difficult to receive in built-up parts of the region. Its creation occurred amid a dispute over the use of a vacant channel allocation. Central Virginia Educational Television Corporation sought to move the allocation to Fairfax, but competing interests, including local officials and groups concerned about Washington’s underserved television audience and minority ownership, opposed the request. The FCC rejected the requested move, while channel 56 was ultimately allocated to Fairfax and developed into WNVC. In 1980, Los Cerezos Television Co. launched KA2XEH on channel 56. The experimental station relayed Spanish International Network programming from KWEX-TV in San Antonio. These early “satellator” operations were made possible by an FCC experiment involving satellite-fed translator service. After the regulatory framework was relaxed, Los Cerezos purchased W14AA in July 1981 and soon placed Spanish-language programming on the station. The KA2XEH authorization was later deleted when channel 56 was assigned for WNVC’s use. The station underwent a series of technical and call-sign changes. On November 1, 1988, it moved to channel 48 and became W48AW. It adopted the WMDO-LP call sign in February 1995 and moved to channel 30 in October 1998 so that NBC-owned WRC-TV could deploy its digital signal on channel 48. On March 20, 2001, the station became WMDO-CA, reflecting its upgrade to Class A status. The WMDO calls originated from Los Cerezos’ co-ownership of WMDO radio and were not evidence of a Telemundo relationship. The television and radio properties were separated in 1999 when Los Cerezos sold the television station to Entravision. Entravision bought WJAL in 2001 and explored moving that station into Washington as a replacement for WMDO-CA, but the proposed relocation was not achieved at that time. In November 2003, WMDO-CA moved to channel 47 to enable WNVT’s digital operation on channel 30. Entravision argued that the new facility was materially weaker and reduced the station’s audience. From 2006 through the end of 2021, WMDO’s affiliations were shaped by an agreement with Univision Communications. A 16-year joint sales agreement transferred the Washington-market Univision affiliation to WFDC-DT, while WMDO became an affiliate of TeleFutura, which was later renamed UniMás. When the agreement expired on December 31, 2021, WFDC retained the Univision affiliation. The UniMás service was later carried on a subchannel of WFDC before the station’s subsequent programming and transmission changes. WMDO’s modern history has been dominated by spectrum policy and channel sharing. Its digital operation on VHF channel 8, begun in 2009, suffered interference from nearby facilities, and the station pursued a move to channel 22. After a dispute involving a Daystar construction permit, WMDO was authorized to move to channel 22 in 2015 and adopted the current WMDO-CD call sign. The station then participated successfully in the FCC’s 2016–17 spectrum incentive auction, receiving compensation in exchange for giving up its independent spectrum. It preserved service by sharing WIAV-CD’s channel 44 signal beginning in December 2017. When Sinclair acquired WIAV-CD in 2020 with plans for ATSC 3.0 operation, WMDO sought a new arrangement. The FCC approved dissolution of the WIAV agreement in January 2021, and WMDO moved to the signal of co-owned WDCO-CD in March. That agreement ended on December 31, 2021, and Entravision did not exercise its extension option. WMDO therefore went silent while seeking another facility, with the UniMás programming relocated to WFDC-DT. Entravision applied in December 2022 to share WWTD-LD’s facilities. WMDO returned on December 29, 2022, but the agreement expired on December 21, 2023. The station continued operating until March 15, 2024, then went off the air while Entravision negotiated for another arrangement. It resumed broadcasting on WWTD-LD’s multiplex on June 27, 2024. The station’s present identity combines a Washington local-market license, Entravision ownership, multicultural television distribution, and reliance on shared digital transmission infrastructure.
- 2024
Broadcasting resumes after interruption
[1]After the WWTD-LD agreement expires and the station temporarily ceases operation, WMDO resumes on the WWTD-LD multiplex in June.
- 2022
WWTD-LD agreement and return to air
[1]WMDO applies to share WWTD-LD’s facilities and returns to broadcasting on December 29.
- 2021
Move to WDCO-CD facilities
[1]The FCC approves a new channel-sharing arrangement after the WIAV-CD agreement is dissolved.
- 2017
Spectrum auction and first channel-sharing arrangement
[1]WMDO receives FCC spectrum-auction compensation and begins sharing WIAV-CD’s channel 44 facilities.
- 2015
Move to channel 22 completed
[1]The station receives authorization to move to channel 22 and changes its call sign to WMDO-CD.
- 2006
TeleFutura affiliation begins
[1]WMDO takes the TeleFutura affiliation as Univision programming moves to WFDC-DT under an Entravision–Univision joint sales agreement.
- 2001
Class A status reflected in call sign
[1]The station becomes WMDO-CA after receiving a Class A upgrade.
- 1999
Entravision acquires the television station
[1]The television station is separated from its former radio co-ownership and sold to Entravision.
- 1995
WMDO-LP adopted
[1]The station changes its call sign to WMDO-LP.
- 1988
Call sign becomes W48AW
[1]The station moves to channel 48 and receives the W48AW call sign.
Products and positioning
A local, low-power multicultural television outlet serving the Washington metropolitan area through network programming, local-market distribution, and channel-sharing infrastructure.
Television network affiliation
LATV programming service
WMDO-CD’s current network affiliation is LATV, a television service oriented toward multicultural and multilingual audiences. Through the affiliation, the station distributes network programming to viewers in the Washington, D.C., market using its low-power Class A broadcast authorization and shared transmission facilities.
Digital news and local-market media
Noticias Ya Washington, D.C.
The station’s official web presence is associated with Noticias Ya Washington, D.C., Entravision’s Spanish-language news and digital-media branding. The site provides a digital-facing identity for the Washington market alongside the station’s over-the-air operations.
Broadcast distribution · 1976
Over-the-air television service
WMDO-CD provides television distribution to the Washington metropolitan area as a low-power Class A station. Since the spectrum auction, it has relied on channel-sharing arrangements rather than an independently operated full broadcast channel, allowing the license to remain in service through partner multiplexes.
Brand decisions
2022
Third channel-sharing arrangement with WWTD-LDStrategyBackground
After the WDCO-CD agreement ended and WMDO lacked authorized facilities for continued transmission, Entravision sought another partner.
Action taken
Entravision applied on December 21, 2022, to share WWTD-LD’s channel 14 facilities and restored WMDO to the air on December 29.
Aftermath
The agreement later expired in December 2023. WMDO temporarily ceased operation in March 2024 and resumed on the WWTD-LD multiplex in June 2024.
2021
Replacement of WIAV-CD channel-sharing agreementStrategyBackground
Sinclair’s acquisition of WIAV-CD and its plan to convert that facility to ATSC 3.0 created a conflict with WMDO’s existing channel-sharing arrangement.
Action taken
WMDO applied to dissolve the WIAV-CD agreement and entered a new arrangement with co-owned WDCO-CD, which continued ATSC 1.0 service.
Aftermath
The FCC approved the dissolution on January 21, 2021, and WMDO relocated to WDCO-CD’s facilities in March.
2017
Acceptance of spectrum-auction compensationStrategyBackground
WMDO-CD was selected as a winner in the FCC’s 2016–17 broadcast spectrum incentive auction and faced the loss of its independent spectrum facilities.
Action taken
Entravision accepted the auction outcome and arranged for WMDO to preserve over-the-air service through channel sharing with WIAV-CD.
Aftermath
WMDO suspended its own channel 22 operation and began transmitting through WIAV-CD’s channel 44 signal in December 2017.
FCC spectrum-auction compensation. 58231415 (2016–2017 auction)
2006
Transfer of Univision affiliation to WFDC-DTStrategyBackground
Entravision and Univision Communications entered a 16-year joint sales agreement covering the Washington market. The arrangement placed Univision programming on WFDC-DT while leaving WMDO with the TeleFutura affiliation.
Action taken
WMDO became a TeleFutura affiliate on January 1, 2006; TeleFutura was later renamed UniMás.
Aftermath
The agreement expired on December 31, 2021. WFDC retained the Univision affiliation after expiration.
Recent events
- 2024
WMDO resumed broadcasting after a 2024 interruption[1]
Other
Following the expiration of its WWTD-LD channel-sharing agreement and a period off the air, WMDO resumed operations on WWTD-LD’s multiplex on June 27.
- 2022
WMDO became silent after its WDCO-CD agreement ended[1]
Regulation · Other
The channel-sharing agreement with WDCO-CD expired at the end of 2021. Entravision filed to keep WMDO silent while seeking another authorized transmission arrangement, and UniMás programming moved to a WFDC-DT subchannel.
- 2022
WMDO returned through WWTD-LD channel sharing[1]
Regulation · Other
Entravision applied to share WWTD-LD’s facilities and restored WMDO to the air on December 29, shortly before the station risked license deletion for prolonged inactivity.
- 2021
WMDO shifted channel sharing from WIAV-CD to WDCO-CD[1]
Regulation
After Sinclair acquired WIAV-CD and planned to use it for ATSC 3.0 service, WMDO obtained approval to dissolve its existing agreement and move to co-owned WDCO-CD’s facilities.
- 2017
WMDO-CD received spectrum-auction compensation[1]
Regulation · Other
WMDO-CD was a winning participant in the FCC’s broadcast spectrum incentive auction and received compensation to relinquish its independent spectrum facilities.
- 2017
WMDO began channel sharing with WIAV-CD[1]
Regulation
The station suspended transmission from its own channel 22 facility and began broadcasting through WIAV-CD’s channel 44 signal under a channel-sharing agreement.
- 2006
WMDO joined TeleFutura after Washington Univision realignment[1]
Other
Under a 16-year joint sales agreement between Entravision and Univision Communications, Univision programming moved to WFDC-DT and WMDO adopted the TeleFutura affiliation, later known as UniMás.
- 2003
WMDO-CA moved to channel 47[1]
Other
The station changed channels to make room for WNVT’s digital facilities. Entravision said the move substantially reduced WMDO’s audience because of the weaker signal.
Sources2 sources
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