WUWT-CD
| Union City, Tennessee United States | |
|---|---|
| City | Union City, Tennessee |
| Branding | WUWT TV 26 |
| Slogan | We're Upper West Tennessee |
| Channels | Digital: 26 (UHF/PSIP) [1] |
| Subchannels |
26.1 Retro TV 26.2 The Family Channel [2] |
| Owner | Harpole Telecom, Inc. |
| Founded | January 28, 1997 |
| Call letters' meaning | We're Upper West Tennessee |
| Former callsigns |
W41CD (1997-1998) W26BU (1998-2001) WUWT-CA (2001-2012) |
| Former affiliations |
Independent (1997-2001) America One (2001-2015) [3] |
| Transmitter power | 15 kW |
| Height | 303 feet (92 m) |
| Facility ID | 32216 |
| Transmitter coordinates | 36°26′46.2″N 89°2′12.2″W / 36.446167°N 89.036722°W |
| Website | WUWT Website |
WUWT-CD is a class A low-powered television station licensed to Union City, Tennessee, and serves northwest Tennessee, southwest Kentucky and the Missouri bootheel. Its transmitter and studio facility are located on the north side of Union City at 3862 Bartham Road off of US Route 51 bypass. The company holds a Class A Television Broadcast License granted by the FCC for channel 26 and frequencies 542-549 M. Broadcasting is available through Charter Cable channel 8, Time Warner Cable channel 10 and Antenna 26.1.[4]
History
The station signed on in January 1997. It started as an independent station for the first four years. It was an America One affiliate for the better part of the station’s existence, starting in 2001. After Youtoo TV's acquisition of America One's programming, in 2015, the station became an affiliate of the Retro Television Network (RTV).
In late summer of 2014 the Harpole family decided to continue the work of their father who had envisioned a “real TV station” serving Union City, Martin, and the communities of the Ken-Tenn area. The company recruited a new manager and program coordinator with an expertise in building television brands. The single channel was quickly rebranded and a new emphasis on quality local programming, local news, and a strong network affiliation was launched.
In late fall of 2014 the company chose Luken Communication as its national network provider. WUWT launched Retro TV, a classic television network with national brand recognition. Upgrading the general entertainment value was a primary focus of the new management team. The association and business relationship with Luken Communications was one of several strategic moves the company conducted in an effort to create a digital television distribution platform from what had been a small, understaffed and historically underfund.
While operating a single, analog channel was the initial vision of the founder, a new vision and business plan has evolved. The digital conversation and subsequent "reallocation" of frequencies and recent advances in technology have applied an entirely new economics to the once struggling class of broadcaster known as an LPTV or low power television station.
Coverage Area
With its 15,000 watts of effective radiated power, and their tower height at 303 feet, the station can be picked up with an antenna in the southernmost part of the Jackson Purchase region of western Kentucky, about five counties in northwest Tennessee, and parts of the New Madrid vicinity of southeastern Missouri. The 26.1 channel serves nearly 70,000 homes in over 14 counties reaching a population of nearly 170,000 when combined with its current cable distribution and over the air broadcast.