WSVI

WSVI is a full-power television station licensed to Christiansted on the island of Saint Croix in the United States Virgin Islands. The station serves the wider Virgin Islands market and is associated with WZVI, channel 21 in Charlotte Amalie on Saint Thomas. WZVI operates as WSVI's satellite, and the two outlets are collectively branded as the Virgin Islands Television Network. WSVI began broadcasting on November 10, 1965, as an affiliate of ABC. For approximately five decades, ABC programming formed the station's principal network relationship. During periods outside network programming, WSVI carried a mixture of paid programming, Caribbean Lottery drawings, local arts and events coverage, and locally produced news. The market's extensive access to mainland U.S. networks and syndicated programming through cable and satellite distribution reduced the need for the station to maintain a conventional, fully syndicated schedule. The station has changed ownership more than once. Antilles Broadcasting Corporation sold WSVI to Group III Inc. for $4 million in late 1986. By 2011, the station was associated with the Figgie Family Equity Fund, which agreed to sell it to Atlas News and Information Services of Las Vegas, Nevada, subject to approval by the Federal Communications Commission. Atlas is identified as the station's owner in the station's subsequent operating history. On January 1, 2016, WSVI ended its ABC affiliation after about 50 years and became primarily an independent station with a secondary affiliation with Ion Television. Reports differed about the circumstances: WSVI said it chose not to renew its ABC agreement, while other local reporting indicated that ABC had concerns about low ratings and technical problems. ABC programming was subsequently made available to Caribbean television distributors through an arrangement involving Lilly Broadcasting and WENY-TV, while WCVI-TV in the Virgin Islands was also identified as a possible local outlet before Lilly later leased WCVI's second subchannel for ABC programming. WSVI's programming model has emphasized local relevance rather than carrying the full Ion schedule. The station has aired local newscasts, public-affairs programs, community material, infomercials, and other locally selected programming, while also carrying portions of Ion Television's schedule. Its listed local news output includes weekday, Saturday, and Sunday broadcasts, as well as a substantial Sunday block devoted to the Channel 8 Virgin Islands Holiday Program. Hurricanes Irma and Maria severely damaged the transmitting facilities of WSVI and WZVI in 2017. Because federal communications rules can place licenses at risk after prolonged silence, WSVI received an extension associated with the hurricane damage affecting Caribbean stations. The facilities were rebuilt, and both stations returned to the air in September 2019. WSVI's terrestrial digital service uses virtual channel 8 and remained on UHF channel 20 after the United States' full-power analog television shutdown in 2009. Its transmitter is located on Blue Mountain, while WZVI's transmitter is on Flag Hill.

WSVI signed on November 10, 1965, as an ABC affiliate serving the United States Virgin Islands from its license community of Christiansted on Saint Croix. Its long-term role was shaped by the geography and media environment of the islands. Residents and visitors could receive many mainland American networks and syndicated programs through cable and satellite systems, so WSVI did not need to fill every non-network hour with the conventional syndicated schedule used by many mainland affiliates. Instead, its schedule included paid programming, Caribbean Lottery drawings, local arts and events material, and locally produced news. The station initially signed off during the overnight hours, although it later moved to a continuous 24-hour schedule. WSVI experienced ownership changes during its history. Antilles Broadcasting Corporation sold the station to Group III Inc. for $4 million in late 1986. By April 2011, the Figgie Family Equity Fund, identified as the former owner, had agreed to sell the station to Atlas News and Information Services of Las Vegas, subject to FCC approval. Atlas is subsequently identified as WSVI's owner. The station's Saint Croix service was later paired with WZVI, channel 21 in Charlotte Amalie on Saint Thomas. WZVI operates as a satellite of WSVI, and both outlets use the Virgin Islands Television Network identity. Their transmitters are located on Blue Mountain and Flag Hill, respectively. A major programming change occurred on January 1, 2016, when WSVI stopped carrying ABC as its primary affiliation after roughly 50 years. It became an independent station with a secondary Ion Television affiliation. WSVI stated that it had declined to renew its ABC agreement. Other local accounts indicated that ABC had threatened to withdraw programming because of the station's low ratings and technical problems. ABC programming was then distributed to Caribbean television providers through an arrangement involving Lilly Broadcasting and WENY-TV in Elmira, New York. ABC also indicated that WCVI-TV could carry its programming in the Virgin Islands; after initial uncertainty, Lilly leased WCVI-TV's second subchannel for the ABC service later in 2016. After the affiliation change, WSVI's schedule continued to mix selected Ion programming with a comparatively large amount of local and non-network content. The station has carried local newscasts, public-affairs programs, infomercials, and community-oriented material, including the Channel 8 Virgin Islands Holiday Program. Its published local-news pattern includes three hours on weekdays, two hours on Saturdays, and one hour on Sundays. The station's infrastructure suffered a severe disruption when Hurricane Maria struck the Virgin Islands on September 20, 2017. WSVI and WZVI's transmission facilities were heavily damaged. The potential loss of a license after a year of continuous silence under the Telecommunications Act of 1996 made the recovery period especially significant, but the FCC granted an extension for Caribbean stations affected by Maria and Hurricane Irma. Rebuilt facilities returned the stations to the air in September 2019. WSVI completed the United States full-power television transition from analog to digital on June 12, 2009. Its analog service had operated on VHF channel 8, while its post-transition digital signal remained on UHF channel 20 and retained virtual channel 8. The station therefore combines a long-standing channel identity with a modern operating model centered on local Virgin Islands service and a selective network relationship.

• 2019

  Return to air after reconstruction

  [1]WSVIen.wikipedia.org

  Rebuilt facilities allow WSVI and WZVI to resume broadcasting in September.

• 2017

  Hurricane Maria damages transmission facilities

  [1]WSVIen.wikipedia.org

  Hurricane Maria heavily damages the transmission facilities of WSVI and its WZVI satellite.

• 2016

  Transition from ABC to independent/Ion operation

  [1]WSVIen.wikipedia.org

  On January 1, WSVI ends its ABC affiliation and begins operating primarily as an independent station with secondary Ion Television programming.

• 2011

  Atlas acquisition agreement

  [1]WSVIen.wikipedia.org

  The Figgie Family Equity Fund agrees to sell WSVI to Atlas News and Information Services, subject to FCC approval.

• 2009

  Digital television transition

  [1]WSVIen.wikipedia.org

  WSVI ends its analog VHF channel 8 transmission and continues digitally on UHF channel 20 with virtual channel 8.

• 1986

  Sale to Group III Inc.

  [1]WSVIen.wikipedia.org

  Antilles Broadcasting Corporation sells WSVI to Group III Inc. for a reported $4 million.

• 1965

  WSVI begins broadcasting as an ABC affiliate

  [1]WSVIen.wikipedia.org

  WSVI signs on November 10 as an ABC affiliate licensed to Christiansted, Saint Croix.

A locally oriented Virgin Islands broadcast station combining independent programming, local news and public affairs, community content, and selected Ion Television programming.

• Television station · 1965

  WSVI Channel 8

  WSVI's primary broadcast service is licensed to Christiansted on Saint Croix and serves viewers across the United States Virgin Islands. The service uses virtual channel 8 and transmits digitally on UHF channel 20. Its schedule combines local news, public affairs, community material, paid programming, infomercials, and selected Ion Television programming.

• Satellite television station

  WZVI

  WZVI is WSVI's satellite station on channel 21 in Charlotte Amalie, Saint Thomas. Together with WSVI, it is presented under the Virgin Islands Television Network identity. Its transmitter is located on Flag Hill, and it shares the broader service role of delivering the network's programming to the Virgin Islands.

• Network programming · 2016

  Ion Television programming

  WSVI carries selected Ion Television content as a secondary affiliation rather than operating as a full-time Ion outlet. The station heavily preempts much of the Ion schedule in favor of local newscasts, public-affairs programs, community programming, and commercial material.

• 2017

  Recovery after hurricane transmission damageOther

  Background

  Hurricanes Irma and Maria damaged WSVI and WZVI's transmission facilities, creating a prolonged service interruption and a potential licensing issue under rules concerning extended silence.

  Action taken

  The stations obtained an FCC extension for hurricane-affected Caribbean broadcasters and rebuilt their facilities.

  Aftermath

  WSVI and WZVI returned to the air in September 2019.

  Source

• 2016

  End of ABC affiliation and move to independent operationStrategy

  Background

  After about 50 years as an ABC affiliate, WSVI faced a change in its network relationship. WSVI described the change as a decision not to renew its agreement, while other reporting cited ABC concerns about audience ratings and technical issues.

  Action taken

  Beginning January 1, WSVI operated as an independent station and added a secondary Ion Television affiliation.

  Aftermath

  ABC programming was subsequently distributed to Caribbean providers through arrangements involving Lilly Broadcasting, WENY-TV, and later WCVI-TV's second subchannel. WSVI continued emphasizing local programming and selected Ion content.

  Source

1. 1WSVIen.wikipedia.org
2. 2WSVI official websitewsvi.tv