WLEV-TV
| Company type | Television station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Broadcasting |
| Founded | 1953 |
| Defunct | 1957 |
| Headquarters | Bethlehem, Pennsylvania , United States |
| Products | Television broadcasting |
| Owner | Associated Broadcasters Inc. |
WLEV-TV (channel 51) operated as a television station based in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, United States. It was under the ownership of Associated Broadcasters Inc., which also controlled WEST. The station transmitted from 1953 until 1957 and was the inaugural broadcaster serving the Lehigh Valley. This market included three local UHF stations, with a fourth planned but never realized. Due to financial difficulties typical of early UHF broadcasters and competition from very high frequency (VHF) stations located in Philadelphia, WLEV discontinued its service in October 1957.
Founding
Following the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) ending its four-year moratorium on television station licenses in 1952 and opening the UHF spectrum, the Lehigh Valley area was allocated four channels: two for Allentown, one for Bethlehem, and one for Easton. The FCC granted a construction permit for the Bethlehem channel on October 30, 1952.
The transmitter for WLEV-TV was delivered by RCA during the week of April 13, 1953. After some postponements, the station commenced test pattern broadcasts on April 21.
Broadcasting
From its launch, WLEV served as an NBC affiliate, carrying most of the network’s late afternoon and evening lineup. The station also produced local programming such as high school and college sports coverage and occasional broadcasts of Philadelphia Phillies baseball games. Daily transmissions generally began around midafternoon at 3 p.m., with a short local newscast scheduled between 11 p.m. and midnight.
Closure
The lack of a requirement for UHF tuners in television sets until 1964 posed a significant challenge for 1950s UHF broadcasters such as WLEV. Improvements in VHF transmission technology, combined with the construction of tall antenna towers at the Roxborough site, enabled Philadelphia’s VHF network stations to deliver stronger signals and superior reception. This technological edge attracted viewers away from local UHF stations throughout eastern Pennsylvania.
On October 31, 1957, WLEV and the ABC-affiliated station WGLV based in Easton simultaneously discontinued their broadcasts after obtaining authorization to go dark. Although WLEV had originally intended to pause operations for six months to "reassess UHF television prospects in the Lehigh Valley," it ultimately never resumed broadcasting and surrendered its construction permit back to the FCC in 1965.