WBPZ-TV
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Broadcasting |
| Founded | March 1958 |
| Defunct | September 4, 1959 |
| Fate | Ceased broadcasting; license revoked in 1965 |
| Headquarters | Lock Haven , United States |
Area served | Lock Haven, Pennsylvania |
| Owner | Lock Haven Broadcasting Corporation |
WBPZ-TV (channel 32) was a television broadcaster based in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, United States, owned by the Lock Haven Broadcasting Corporation.
History
WBPZ-TV commenced transmissions in March 1958, utilizing a transmitter located on Sugar Lusk Mountain. This debut positioned Lock Haven as the smallest American city to host its own television station, making WBPZ-TV the nation's most modest station by market size. Functioning primarily as an ABC affiliate, the station also aired select NBC programs by retransmitting content from WILK-TV (channel 34) in Wilkes-Barre. To support the television operation, the associated radio station expanded its workforce by five employees. Shortly after its inauguration, WBPZ-TV was incorporated into cable service providers spanning from State College to Williamsport.
Financial difficulties forced the station to discontinue broadcasting on September 4, 1959; however, the radio operations persisted. In 1960, ownership of channel 32 was set to transfer from Lock Haven Broadcasting Corporation to Scranton Broadcasters, who managed WDAU-TV (channel 22) in Scranton. The intended arrangement—though never executed—included leasing the transmission equipment with an option for purchase, aiming to use channel 32 to broaden WDAU-TV’s coverage area to include Williamsport, Lock Haven, and State College. By 1962, the transmission apparatus was donated to Lock Haven State College, which opted not to establish a broadcasting service; a subsequent offer was extended to the local school board in 1965. That same year, during a Federal Communications Commission initiative targeting inactive UHF stations, WBPZ-TV's license was revoked.