WITF-TV explained

Callsign:WITF-TV
City:Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Logo Alt:The letters WITF, lowercase, in a rounded sans serif in a very dark green. Next to them is a mint green symbol consisting of two L-shaped devices framing a rectangle. Next to them are the words "Let's Discover".
Logo Upright:1
Branding:WITF
Digital:36 (UHF), shared with WPMT
Virtual:33
Translators:W20EU-D Chambersburg
Owner:WITF, Inc.
Country:United States
Callsign Meaning:"It's Top Flight"
Sister Stations:WITF-FM
Former Affiliations:NET (1964–1970)
Erp:84 kW
Haat:4310NaN0
Facility Id:73083
Coordinates:40.3454°N -76.8688°W
Licensing Authority:FCC

WITF-TV (channel 33) is a PBS member television station in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, United States, serving the Susquehanna Valley region (Harrisburg–Lancaster–Lebanon–York). It is owned by WITF, Inc., alongside the area's NPR member, WITF-FM (89.5). The two stations share studios at the WITF Public Media Center in Swatara Township (with a Harrisburg mailing address); WITF-TV's transmitter is located in Middle Paxton Township, next to the transmitter of CBS affiliate WHP-TV (channel 21). WITF's programming is relayed on low-power digital translator station W20EU-D (channel 20) in Chambersburg.

WITF-TV was established as the first public media outlet in the region in 1964 and was based in Hershey for its first 18 years of existence. It expanded into radio with WITF-FM in 1971 and moved to Harrisburg in 1982. The station's local initiatives include programs on topics of local interest as well as several collaborative ventures in statewide news and educational content.

History

In 1963, the Pennsylvania Educational Network proposed the introduction of a series of new noncommercial television allotments in the state: channel 3 at Clearfield, channel 36 at Altoona, channel 39 at Allentown (then a commercial channel), channel 65 at Harrisburg, and channel 68 at Scranton.[1] The South Central Educational Broadcasting Council was formed to apply for, build and manage the Harrisburg station.[2] Even before a construction permit application was filed, negotiations began to use the Dauphin County site already home to WHP-TV.[3]

South Central Educational filed its construction permit application in December 1963, specifying a location at Hershey, where studios would be maintained on land donated by the Hershey Estates.[4] The nine counties in the planned service area of the new station were tasked with contributing funds for its startup, while the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare contributed $200,000 in the form of a grant.[5] After the grant, the FCC granted a construction permit on June 30.

The Hudson Broadcasting Corporation, owner of Harrisburg radio station WCMB, held some equipment and a construction permit, unbuilt and unused, for channel 33 in Harrisburg. After reaching a purchase agreement with that firm, South Central Educational filed to move its proposed WITF-TV down from channel 65 to 33.[6] While this would prolong the time needed to put the new station to air by two months, it would reduce costs and improve coverage.[7] Technical difficulties pushed the start back a week, but at a third of authorized power, channel 33 began broadcasting on November 22, 1964.[8] The call letters had been chosen by portraitist Florence Starr Taylor to represent the phrase "it's top flight".[9]

Chambersburg was predicted to receive poor coverage from the Harrisburg transmitter, and a translator for Franklin County went into service in 1965, the predecessor to today's W20EU-D.[10] The station was quickly embraced by the community; April 1971 brought the launch of WITF-FM 89.5,[11] and by 1979, it had the third-highest percentage of supporting members of any public television station in the United States, with viewers contributing 32 percent of its budget. The original transmission equipment was replaced in 1977 along with the commissioning of a new, taller tower, improving coverage and reducing the increasing number of faults attributable to its aging plant.[12]

After leasing space at the Hershey Community Center for 15 years, the Milton Hershey School Trust sold the building in 1979 to Hershey Foods.[13] As a result, WITF radio and television were forced to contemplate a move, examining sites in Derry and South Hanover townships;[14] the stations looked at a new build site which would cost about the same as renovations it had previously planned.[15] In late 1979, the governing board for the stations entered into an agreement under which WITF would have owned and operated a new, 46000ft2 facility at Harrisburg Area Community College.[16] Robert F. Larson, the president and general manager, noted that the proximity to the Commonwealth capital and educational institutions made a site in Harrisburg desirable.[17] However, the board discovered it would not actually own the land, which was a deal-breaker for WITF and led to the college proposal being dropped. Instead, the council mulled other sites and a proposal to create mini-studios throughout its service area.[18] A nine-acre site was considered and then shelved in early 1981 due to concerns about federal funding cutbacks from the new Reagan administration.[19] Headquarters were initially moved to a Hershey building shared with the public library, but the station ultimately secured facilities on Locust Road in northeast Harrisburg, in the form of the closing Anna L. Carter Elementary School in Susquehanna Township; the closure of the school attracted some opposition to the move from residents.[20] The stations moved in November 1982, with the community of license changing from Hershey to Harrisburg.[21] [22]

Spurred by growth and technological changes, and with 50 more employees than it had in 1982, WITF launched a capital campaign in 2002 to build a new, $22.2 million public media center on a site in Swatara Township, adjacent to Interstate 283.[23] Not only was the Locust Road site hard to find, it lacked an elevator and was not compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.[24] Ground was broken in 2005,[25] and staff moved into the new facility in 2006.[26]

In April 2023, WITF and Steinman Communications announced Steinman's plans to donate its LNP Media Group, which includes LNP newspaper based in Lancaster, to WITF, effective that June. The two groups plan to partner on a new nonprofit promoting civic engagement.[27]

Local programming and initiatives

WITF produces several local programs for the south-central Pennsylvania area, including a series on health (Transforming Health) and the annual Central PA Spelling Bee. Drawings for the Pennsylvania Lottery, aired statewide by a network of commercial stations, are also produced at WITF.[28] WITF also produced some television programs that are aired nationally on PBS, such as Computer Chronicles (co-produced with KCSM-TV from 1983 to 1995).[29]

In 2018, WITF launched PA Post, a statewide news outlet; the creation of such was suggested as a potential use for funds received in the FCC spectrum auction of 2017. PA Post was folded into Spotlight PA, an investigative portal run by several major Pennsylvania newspapers, in 2020.[30]

Joining two other PBS stations, WITF helped launch the Public Media Educational Platform (which soon changed its name to the Information Equity Initiative) in 2021, with the goal of using datacasting to transmit educational programming to school students without sufficient broadband access. As part of the initiative, WITF has conducted pilots serving K-12 students and prison inmates.[31]

Technical information

Subchannels

The station's signal is multiplexed:

Channel! scope = "col"
Res.AspectShort nameProgramming
33.1WITF PBS
33.2WITFK PBS Kids

Translator

! City of license! Call sign! Channel! ERP! HAAT! Facility ID! Transmitter coordinates
20 15 kW 4130NaN0 73081 40.0501°N -77.7475°W

WITF-TV became the first television station in Pennsylvania to broadcast and transmit a digital television signal on UHF channel 36 on August 26, 1998.[32] [33]

WITF-TV discontinued regular programming on its analog signal over UHF channel 33 on February 17, 2009, to conclude the federally mandated transition from analog to digital television; the station's digital signal remained on UHF channel 36, using virtual channel 33.[34]

WITF agreed to share its spectrum with Tribune Broadcasting-owned Fox affiliate WPMT (channel 43) following the 2016–2017 FCC incentive auction for $25 million on February 10, 2017. The proceeds were slated to be transferred to WITF's endowment, with interest to be used for Central Pennsylvania's media literacy program; a statewide news organization was cited as another possibility, foreshadowing the creation of PA Post.[35]

Notes and References

  1. News: Petition To Add New TV Channels Due April 1. February 22, 1963. 17. United Press International. Latrobe Bulletin. Latrobe, Pennsylvania. Newspapers.com. February 25, 2022. February 25, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220225071227/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96382897/petition-to-add-new-tv-channels-due/. live.
  2. News: Educational TV Council Is Organized. May 9, 1963. 33. Associated Press. Lancaster New Era. Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Newspapers.com. February 25, 2022. February 25, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220225071219/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96382941/educational-tv-council-is-organized/. live. (Refers to a South Central Regional Broadcasting Council)
  3. News: $200,000 Goal Fixed For Educational TV. August 2, 1963. 24. The York Dispatch. York, Pennsylvania. Newspapers.com. February 25, 2022. February 25, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220225071219/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96383047/200000-goal-fixed-for-educational-tv/. live.
  4. News: Details completed for educational tv outlet. November 5, 1963. 4. Intelligencer Journal. Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Newspapers.com. February 25, 2022. February 25, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220225071229/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96383113/details-completed-for-educational-tv/. live.
  5. News: Educational TV Grant. June 27, 1964. 2. Associated Press. Standard-Speaker. Hazleton, Pennsylvania. Newspapers.com. February 25, 2022. February 25, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220225071229/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96383438/educational-tv-grant/. live.
  6. News: ETV Start Held Up; Gain Lower Channel. August 26, 1964. 26, 19. The York Dispatch. York, Pennsylvania. Newspapers.com. February 25, 2022. February 25, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220225071221/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96383535/etv-start-held-up-gain-lower-channel/. live.
  7. News: Lower Cost, Later Start Is Predicted Now Area ETV Group Has Channel 33. August 27, 1964. 3. The Gazette and Daily. York, Pennsylvania. Newspapers.com. February 25, 2022. February 25, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220225071228/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96383630/lower-cost-later-start-is-predicted/. live.
  8. News: ETV Makes Debut; Praise Widespread. November 23, 1964. 34. The York Dispatch. York, Pennsylvania. Newspapers.com. February 25, 2022. February 25, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220225071218/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96383852/etv-makes-debut-praise-widespread/. live.
  9. News: Discover a Lancaster treasure a new. January 25, 2002. Happenings 10. Rebecca J.. Ritzel. Intelligencer Journal. Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Newspapers.com. February 25, 2022. February 25, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220225071220/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96387624/discover-a-lancaster-treasure-a-new/. live.
  10. News: TV Translator Station Ready. July 3, 1965. 4. Public Opinion. Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. Newspapers.com. February 25, 2022. February 25, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220225071226/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96384061/tv-translator-station-ready/. live.
  11. News: WITF-FM 89.5: Station Started 10 Years Ago Without A Turntable. April 5, 1981. 3C. Barbara. Miller. Sunday-The Daily News. Lebanon, Pennsylvania. Newspapers.com. February 25, 2022. February 25, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220225071254/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96386006/witf-fm-895-station-started-10-years/. live.
  12. News: WITF-TV Boosting Its Output. August 18, 1977. 9. Elizabethtown Chronicle. Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania. Newspapers.com. February 25, 2022. February 25, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220225071230/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96385856/witf-tv-boosting-its-output/. live.
  13. News: Hershey Foods To Purchase Center. May 22, 1979. 7. Bob. Bunty. The Daily News. Lebanon, Pennsylvania. Newspapers.com. February 25, 2022. February 25, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220225071254/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96385164/hershey-foods-to-purchase-center/. live.
  14. News: Search On For New Quarters With WITF-TV. August 21, 1979. 19. The Daily News. Lebanon, Pennsylvania. Newspapers.com. February 25, 2022. Barbara. Elliott. February 25, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220225071227/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96385446/search-on-for-new-quarters-with-witf-tv/. live.
  15. News: WITF ripe for change; Studio site being chosen. September 16, 1979. 4, 5, 7. Hershey Magazine. Barbara. Elliott. Lebanon, Pennsylvania. Newspapers.com. February 25, 2022. February 25, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220225071235/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96385491/witf-ripe-for-change-studio-site-being/. live.
  16. News: WITF-TV, FM To Move. October 2, 1979. A-3. The Evening Sun. Hanover, Pennsylvania. Newspapers.com. February 25, 2022. February 25, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220225071256/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96385694/witf-tv-fm-to-move/. live.
  17. News: Perspective: Harrisburg move. October 14, 1979. 2, 14. Robert F.. Larson. Hershey Magazine. Lebanon, Pennsylvania. Newspapers.com. February 25, 2022. February 25, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220225071220/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96384892/harrisburg-move/. live.
  18. News: WITF Will Stay; Area Satellites Sought. May 8, 1980. 1, 2. Barbara. Elliott. The Daily News. Lebanon, Pennsylvania. Newspapers.com. February 25, 2022. February 25, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220225071232/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96385747/witf-will-stay-area-satellites-sought/. live.
  19. News: Budget Slashes Short Circuit WITF Build Plans. February 25, 1981. 1, 2. The Daily News. Lebanon, Pennsylvania. Newspapers.com. February 25, 2022. February 25, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220225071229/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96385921/budget-slashes-short-circuit-witf-build/. live.
  20. News: WITF, district still negotiating. June 7, 1981. 1A, 9A. Jane. Welker. Sunday-The Daily News. Lebanon, Pennsylvania. Newspapers.com. February 25, 2022. February 25, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220225071231/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96386402/witf-district-still-negotiating/. live.
  21. News: WITF In New Home: Public Service Communications Center Will Be Dedicated Nov. 21. November 14, 1982. B1, B5. Linda. Whipple. Sunday News. Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Newspapers.com. February 25, 2022. February 25, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220225071231/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96386562/witf-in-new-home-public-service/. live.
  22. News: Stations Moved: Now It's 'WITF, Harrisburg'. November 22, 1982. 10. Howard. Kolus. The Daily News. Lebanon, Pennsylvania. Newspapers.com. February 25, 2022. February 25, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220225071228/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96386896/stations-moved-now-its-witf/. live.
  23. News: WITF appealing for bucks. May 29, 2003. B6. Tatiana. Zamowski. The Sentinel. Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Newspapers.com. February 25, 2022. February 25, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220225071225/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96386706/witf-appealing-for-bucks/. live.
  24. News: WITF to build new headquarters, fundraising campaign under way. November 15, 2003. B1, B5. Jane. Holahan. Lancaster New Era. Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Newspapers.com. February 25, 2022. February 25, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220225071240/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96386744/witf-to-build-new-headquarters/. live.
  25. News: WITF breaks ground on new Public Media Center. July 24, 2005. C3. The Daily Item. Sunbury, Pennsylvania. Newspapers.com. February 25, 2022. February 25, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220225071235/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96386820/witf-breaks-ground-on-new-public-media/. live.
  26. News: G12. WITF has shiny new home. Barry. Fox. The Patriot-News. March 11, 2007.
  27. News: WITF and LNP LancasterOnline Forge New Model for Local News, Community Education and Civic Engagement in Central Pennsylvania . WITF . April 26, 2023 . en.
  28. News: What goes on behind the scenes of the Pa. Lottery? An insider guide to the drawings. PennLIVE. January 5, 2019. Julia. Hatmaker. February 25, 2022. February 8, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180208235823/http://www.pennlive.com/life/2016/05/ever_wondered_what_goes_on_beh.html. live.
  29. News: PC Show Founder Running Program On 2-Coast Basis. December 14, 1987. Business Monday 1, 5. Nancy. Funk. Intelligencer Journal. Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Newspapers.com. June 30, 2022.
  30. Web site: PA Post Combines with Spotlight PA to Create Largest Statewide News Organization in Pennsylvania. August 17, 2020. WITF Public Media. February 25, 2022. February 23, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210223165203/https://www.witf.org/2020/08/17/pa-post-combines-with-spotlight-pa-to-create-largest-statewide-news-organization-in-pennsylvania/. live.
  31. News: New nonprofit will expand digital health and education offerings through datacasting. Current. Scott. Fybush. September 15, 2021. February 25, 2022. February 2, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220202232926/https://current.org/2021/09/new-nonprofit-will-expand-digital-health-and-education-offerings-through-datacasting/. live.
  32. News: Fox . Barry . November 1, 1998 . WITF joins first to air digital TV . The Patriot-News . D11.
  33. Web site: WTIF Digital Television . https://web.archive.org/web/20030207125523/http://www.witf.org/temps/TV/DTV.shtml . February 7, 2003 . May 4, 2024 . WITF.
  34. Web site: May 23, 2006 . DTV Tentative Channel Designations for the First and Second Rounds . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130829004251/http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1082A2.pdf . August 29, 2013 . August 29, 2021 . Federal Communications Commission.
  35. News: Sefton. Dru. Spectrum auction nets nearly $35M for two Pennsylvania stations. en. February 14, 2017. Current. February 10, 2017. February 13, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170213205846/http://current.org/2017/02/spectrum-auction-nets-nearly-35m-for-two-pennsylvania-stations/. live.

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