WNYX-LD

WNYX-LD was a low-power television station associated with New York City that operated under several call signs, channel assignments, ownership arrangements, and programming formats before its license was canceled in 2023. The station originated as W59AT on channel 59, licensed to Plainview, and became one of the independent television outlets serving Long Island. Its early schedule combined an all-music-video service from the Satellite Program Network with instructional programming from local colleges, ethnic and community programming, and, for a period, translator service for WLIG, now known as WLNY-TV. In 1987, the station moved to channel 44 and changed its city of license to Hicksville, adopting the call sign W44AI. During this period it carried a mixture of public-access-style programming and programs supplied by independent producers. Its community-oriented schedule included a regularly scheduled program aimed at the region's LGBTQ+ community, making the station part of New York's diverse local-access television environment. In 1994, the call sign changed to WNYX-LP, and in 1997 the station moved to channel 35 in New York City. Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, WNYX-LP emphasized locally produced, community, ethnic, and public-access-type content rather than a single national network identity. Its programming included psychic and tarot shows, music videos, film reviews, and locally produced series such as The New Yorkers, hosted by James Chladek. A movie-review program hosted by Stu Lee was also carried. The station periodically adopted outside programming services: it aired Almavision during much of 2005, carried Nuestra TV full-time in 2006, and returned to an independent schedule in 2007. The station temporarily left the air in 2007 when Metro Studios relocated from East 23rd Street to West 42nd Street in Times Square. It returned shortly before Thanksgiving that year under the TV 35 New York identity. The revised schedule included The New Yorkers, classic films, psychic readings, and religious programming. In 2009, the station replaced its lineup with The Jared Whitham Channel, a locally focused entertainment format featuring comedian and musician Jared Whitham. Later that year, WNYX-LP temporarily went silent while digital transmission facilities were being developed. The station returned in November 2010 as WNYX-LD. Its subsequent schedules included paid and religious programming, simulcasts with related low-power stations, and silent black-and-white films featuring performers such as Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton. Ownership and operational arrangements changed during this period. Island Broadcasting Company was associated with the station before its facilities were transferred to New York Spectrum Holdings. In 2012, WNYX-LD became a full-time affiliate of CCTV News, the international news service later renamed CGTN America. The affiliation was not continuous: by 2013, the news service had shifted to sister station WNXY, while WNYX-LD was off the air. It returned in 2016 with CGTN News branding on its digital channel. In 2021, after years associated with the CGTN America service, WNYX-LD switched to Diya TV, a United States-based South Asian-oriented network that was also carried by WNXY-LD. The station subsequently became inactive. The Federal Communications Commission canceled the WNYX-LD license effective December 1, 2023, citing the station's prolonged silence since at least July 18, 2022, and concerns that its facilities had not been constructed in accordance with the authorized facilities. WNYX-LD therefore remains a historical television-station brand rather than an active broadcaster.

WNYX-LD began as W59AT on channel 59, licensed to Plainview, and operated as a low-power independent station serving Long Island. Its early programming included music videos supplied by the Satellite Program Network, educational material from local colleges, and ethnic and community programming. It also operated for a time as a translator for WLIG, a station now known as WLNY-TV. In 1987, the station moved to channel 44, changed its city of license to Hicksville, and adopted the call sign W44AI. Its schedule during this era emphasized public-access-style programs and shows from independent producers. The station carried a regularly scheduled program serving the regional LGBTQ+ community, along with other locally relevant material. In 1994, it became WNYX-LP, and in 1997 it moved to channel 35 in New York City. During the 1990s and 2000s, WNYX-LP remained a flexible community-oriented outlet. It carried programming produced by local businesses, public-access studios, and independent creators. Its programming history included psychic tarot readings, music videos, movie reviews, and the locally produced hour-long program The New Yorkers, hosted by James Chladek. A separate film-review program was hosted by Stu Lee. In 2005, the station carried Almavision for much of the day; in 2006, it carried Nuestra TV full-time; and in 2007 it returned to an independent format. WNYX-LP temporarily ceased operations in 2007 when Metro Studios moved from East 23rd Street to West 42nd Street in Times Square. It returned shortly before Thanksgiving with the TV 35 New York branding. Its renewed schedule combined The New Yorkers, classic movies, psychic programming, and religious shows. In 2009, the station adopted The Jared Whitham Channel, a local entertainment format built around comedian and musician Jared Whitham. It later went off the air while digital facilities were being constructed. The station returned in November 2010 as WNYX-LD. It initially carried paid and religious programming under a temporary local marketing arrangement, then adopted the shorter WNYX identity. It also simulcast programming with associated low-power stations and at times carried silent black-and-white films featuring Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton. Ownership was connected first with Island Broadcasting Company and subsequently with New York Spectrum Holdings. In 2012, the station became a full-time CCTV News affiliate. By 2013, the CCTV service had shifted to WNXY, leaving WNYX-LD off the air. WNYX-LD returned in 2016 carrying the service later known as CGTN America. A further programming change occurred in 2021, when WNYX-LD began carrying Diya TV, a U.S.-based South Asian-oriented network also available on WNXY-LD. The station later became silent. The FCC canceled its license effective December 1, 2023, citing prolonged inactivity and concerns that its facilities had not been built in accordance with the authorized technical specifications.

• 2023

  License canceled

  [1]WNYX-LD (1980–2023)en.wikipedia.org

  The FCC canceled the station's license effective December 1 after a prolonged period off the air and concerns regarding authorized facility construction.

• 2021

  Switches to Diya TV

  [1]WNYX-LD (1980–2023)en.wikipedia.org

  WNYX-LD changed affiliation from CGTN America to Diya TV.

• 2016

  Returns with CGTN America branding

  [1]WNYX-LD (1980–2023)en.wikipedia.org

  The station resumed broadcasting with programming from the international news service branded CGTN America.

• 2012

  Begins CCTV News affiliation

  [1]WNYX-LD (1980–2023)en.wikipedia.org

  WNYX-LD became a full-time affiliate of CCTV News.

• 2010

  Returns as WNYX-LD

  [1]WNYX-LD (1980–2023)en.wikipedia.org

  The station returned to the air in November under its digital low-power call sign, WNYX-LD.

• 2007

  Returns as TV 35 New York

  [1]WNYX-LD (1980–2023)en.wikipedia.org

  After a temporary shutdown connected with Metro Studios' relocation, the station returned under the TV 35 New York identity.

• 2006

  Carries Nuestra TV full-time

  [1]WNYX-LD (1980–2023)en.wikipedia.org

  WNYX-LP adopted Nuestra TV as its full-time programming service.

• 2005

  Carries Almavision

  [1]WNYX-LD (1980–2023)en.wikipedia.org

  The station carried Almavision during much of the daytime schedule while retaining community programming at other times.

• 1997

  Moves to channel 35 in New York City

  [1]WNYX-LD (1980–2023)en.wikipedia.org

  WNYX-LP moved to channel 35 and was licensed to New York City.

• 1994

  Adopts WNYX-LP call sign

  [1]WNYX-LD (1980–2023)en.wikipedia.org

  The station changed its call sign to WNYX-LP while continuing its low-power local television operation.

• 1987

  Moves to channel 44 and becomes W44AI

  [1]WNYX-LD (1980–2023)en.wikipedia.org

  The station moved from channel 59 to channel 44, changed its city of license to Hicksville, and adopted the W44AI call sign.

A local low-power television outlet whose identity shifted among community programming, independent entertainment, ethnic and religious content, paid programming, and international news affiliations.

• Broadcast station

  Local low-power television service

  The station's core offering was over-the-air low-power television for New York City and the surrounding region. Its schedule changed repeatedly and included independent programs, community-access-style productions, local entertainment, religious programs, paid programming, classic films, ethnic programming, and national or international network feeds.

• Local television program · 2004

  The New Yorkers

  The New Yorkers was a locally produced hour-long program hosted by James Chladek. It formed part of WNYX-LP's community and independent-programming identity and was later included in the station's schedule after its 2007 return under the TV 35 New York branding.

• International news affiliation · 2012

  CCTV News / CGTN America

  WNYX-LD carried the international all-news service first identified as CCTV News and later branded CGTN America. The affiliation gave the low-power station a predominantly international news schedule, although the service was moved to sister station WNXY for part of the period.

• Ethnic television network affiliation · 2021

  Diya TV

  Beginning in 2021, WNYX-LD carried Diya TV, a U.S.-based network with South Asian-oriented programming. The service was also carried by WNXY-LD and represented the station's final documented programming affiliation.

• 2013

  Island Broadcasting fraud investigation

  The station's historical account states that an Island Broadcasting founder was found guilty in a fraud investigation. Following the episode, WNYX-LD went offline and displayed SMPTE color bars. The available reference does not provide sufficient detail to characterize the case further.

  Source

Read more

• 2023

  License cancellationOther

  Background

  The station had been dark since at least July 18, 2022, and regulators raised concerns about whether its facilities had been constructed as permitted.

  Action taken

  The Federal Communications Commission canceled the WNYX-LD license effective December 1, 2023.

  Aftermath

  WNYX-LD ceased to exist as an authorized broadcast station.

  Source

• 2021

  Switches from CGTN America to Diya TVStrategy

  Background

  After several years associated with the international news service, the station changed its network programming.

  Action taken

  WNYX-LD began carrying Diya TV, a U.S.-based South Asian-oriented network also carried by WNXY-LD.

  Aftermath

  The change was the station's final documented programming transition before it became inactive and ultimately lost its license.

  Source

• 2012

  Adopts CCTV News affiliationStrategy

  Background

  WNYX-LD was operating as a low-power station with an evolving mix of independent and syndicated programming.

  Action taken

  The station became a full-time affiliate of CCTV News.

  Aftermath

  The affiliation later shifted to sister station WNXY, and WNYX-LD subsequently returned to the service under CGTN America branding.

  Source

• 2010

  Re-launches as a digital low-power stationStrategy

  Background

  WNYX-LP had temporarily gone silent while digital transmission facilities were developed.

  Action taken

  The station returned in November 2010 as WNYX-LD and adopted a schedule centered on paid, religious, and related-station programming.

  Aftermath

  The station later carried films, simulcasts, and network-affiliated programming under changing operational arrangements.

  Source

1. 1WNYX-LD (1980–2023)en.wikipedia.org