WPMT (Maine)

Portland Telecasting Corporation

Company type	Private
Industry	Broadcasting
Founded	1953
Founder	Frank S. Hoy
Defunct	1954-12-15
Fate	Liquidated
Headquarters	Portland, Maine , United States
Products	Television broadcasting

WPMT (channel 53) was a television broadcaster based in Portland, Maine, United States, operating from August 30, 1953, until December 15, 1954. It holds the distinction of being Portland's inaugural TV station. A significant portion of its content was simultaneously aired on WLAM-TV (channel 17) serving the Lewiston–Auburn area from November 26, 1953, through March 25, 1955; collectively, these stations were known as the Maine Television Network. The introduction of VHF channels such as WCSH-TV, WGAN-TV, and WMTW-TV reduced the availability and economic sustainability of network programming for UHF broadcasters.

History

In January 1953, the Portland Telecasting Corporation, headed by president Frank S. Hoy and owners of the Lewiston–Auburn radio station WLAM (1470 AM), submitted an application to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for a construction permit to operate on UHF channel 53 in Portland. This application was approved in February alongside permits for sixteen other television stations.

The station's facilities were established at the former premises of radio station WGAN located within the Columbia Hotel. The infrastructure included microwave relay systems designed to transmit network television signals from Boston into Maine. WPMT secured a primary affiliation with CBS, while initially also broadcasting programs from all major networks including CBS, NBC, ABC, and DuMont.

Simultaneously, WLAM pursued a license for channel 8 in Auburn amid competing proposals, one of which suggested a transmitter on Mount Washington intended to serve up to 1.5 million viewers. To accelerate the station's launch, Hoy redirected efforts toward channel 17 for Lewiston–Auburn. This shift led to consolidation among applicants and resulted in construction permits being awarded for WMTW and WLAM-TV as well as VHF licenses such as WCSH-TV.

WPMT commenced broadcasting on August 30 as Maine’s second television station following WABI-TV in Bangor but distinguished itself as the first to offer live network programming. The launch event featured notable public officials and Philo Farnsworth, the pioneer of electronic television. The Hoy family acquired property atop Applesass Hill for erecting WLAM-TV’s transmission tower. WLAM-TV began operations on Thanksgiving Day, November 26; due to ongoing microwave link installation, initial programming was transmitted from Portland. It became the eastern United States’ first broadcast relay station to retransmit another station’s content; its inaugural live broadcast originating from Lewiston occurred in February 1954.

Competition from VHF stations escalated with WCSH-TV (an NBC affiliate) starting broadcasts on December 20, 1953, followed by WGAN-TV (CBS affiliate) launching on May 16 and assuming local ABC programming as well. Despite this growing rivalry, the Maine Television Network continued producing live regional programming including basketball tournaments and fashion shows.

Following the debut of WMTW-TV in late September, WPMT discontinued operations on December 15, 1954. Frank S. Hoy announced that assets would be liquidated under Carrell K. Pierce’s management and noted unsuccessful attempts to repurpose the facilities for educational broadcasting. Pierce dismissed speculation regarding The Boston Globe expressing interest in utilizing the station for subscription television. The liquidation process for Portland Telecasting concluded early in 1956; creditors recovered approximately two and a half cents per dollar after settling claims totaling $200,000.

WLAM-TV persisted with limited programming for three months after WPMT’s shutdown, ceasing transmissions on March 25, 1955 due to "serious financial losses," as reported by Hoy.