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WPSG

From Alfawiki
WPSG
Company typePrivate
IndustryBroadcasting
PredecessorWWSG-TV, WGBS-TV
FoundedJune 15, 1981; 45 years ago (1981-06-15) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Headquarters
Philadelphia
,
United States
Area served
Philadelphia metropolitan area
ProductsTelevision broadcasting
OwnerCBS News and Stations (division of Paramount Global)
ParentCBS News and Stations

WPSG (channel 57), operating under the brand name Philly 57, is an independent television station located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is owned by the CBS News and Stations division alongside the CBS affiliate KYW-TV (channel 3). Both stations operate from shared studios situated on Hamilton Street near Center City Philadelphia, while WPSG’s transmission facilities are based in Roxborough.

The commercial allocation of channel 57 dates back to the early 1970s, when various entities competed to establish a subscription television (STV) service. The Radio Broadcasting Company emerged victorious and inaugurated WWSG-TV on June 15, 1981. Initially, the station aired limited financial news content before transitioning into subscription programming via SelecTV. By 1983, it began broadcasting PRISM, a regional premium service featuring sports and movies, designed to serve areas like Philadelphia that lacked cable access.

In 1985, ownership changed hands to the Grant Broadcasting System, which rebranded the station as WGBS-TV, an independent outlet known as "Philly 57". Grant heavily invested in programming and acquired broadcast rights for Philadelphia Flyers hockey and Villanova Wildcats basketball, filling the gap left by WKBS-TV’s shutdown in 1983. However, Grant’s aggressive expansion resulted in bankruptcy by December 1986. Subsequently, a creditor group named Combined Broadcasting assumed control with management based locally in Philadelphia. Combined Broadcasting pursued potential buyers throughout 1993; however, a planned acquisition by the Fox network was ultimately blocked and abandoned.

In 1995, the Paramount Stations Group acquired WGBS-TV and transformed it into a United Paramount Network (UPN) owned-and-operated station, adopting the WPSG call sign. Paramount reinstated professional sports coverage, including Flyers hockey, Philadelphia 76ers basketball, and Philadelphia Phillies baseball throughout the late 1990s and into the 2000s. Following Viacom’s merger with CBS in 2000, WPSG’s operations merged with those of KYW-TV. With the 2006 merger of The WB and UPN into The CW, channel 57 became a CW affiliate. After CBS divested most of its stake in The CW to Nexstar Media Group in 2022, CBS disaffiliated its eight CW stations effective September 1, 2023. Since joining CBS, WPSG has periodically aired local news programming.

WWSG-TV: The subscription television era

Originally designated as an educational channel for Philadelphia, channel 57 was targeted for over-the-air subscription television (STV) by Vue-Metrics, Inc. in 1970. Vue-Metrics initially filed for authorization to operate on channel 23; however, after that frequency was reassigned for educational purposes in Camden, New Jersey, channel 57 was allocated for commercial use within Philadelphia. In 1971, Radio Broadcasting Company (RBC) also submitted an application for this frequency. The two applicants proposed distinct STV technologies: Vue-Metrics intended to deploy Zenith Electronics’ Phonevision system, whereas RBC planned to utilize equipment from Blonder-Tongue.

A comparative hearing emphasizing financial qualifications took place in 1976. In 1977, an FCC hearing examiner recommended awarding the license to RBC; by this time, RBC had shifted its proposal to an ON TV franchise employing Oak Industries technology. Vue-Metrics, led by Robert S. Block of SelecTV fame, appealed the decision but the FCC upheld RBC’s license grant in 1978. Despite ongoing legal disputes, construction commenced in 1979.

WWSG-TV—named after RBC owner William S. Gross—commenced broadcasting on June 15, 1981, featuring scrambled SelecTV content rather than Oak Industries’ programming. The station formed part of RBC’s communications holdings, which included mobile paging services and HBO distribution rights. Financial News Network (FNN) programming delays postponed free over-the-air broadcasts until November 30, 1981; thereafter, financial and talk shows aired daily from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m., followed by subscription television offerings.

In early 1981, Wometco Home Theater (WHT) launched service in the Delaware Valley through WRBV-TV (channel 65), quickly surpassing SelecTV’s subscriber base—20,000 compared to SelecTV’s approximately 12,000 by January 1983. Following FCC deregulation in 1982 that eliminated requirements for free programming hours, WWSG-TV transitioned to full-time SelecTV service starting January 1983.

In 1983, a group led by Oak Industries and Philadelphia Flyers owner Ed Snider explored purchasing WWSG-TV with plans to replace SelecTV programming with PRISM—a regional premium cable network offering movies and local sports broadcasts—but no transaction materialized. Instead, RBC secured a two-year agreement beginning October 31 to carry PRISM content aimed at reaching Philadelphia viewers without cable access. Although PRISM’s monthly fee was $3 higher than SelecTV’s rate, subscriber retention remained strong; demand surged due to PRISM’s sports offerings causing a shortage of decoders.

On November 15, 1984, WWSG-TV aired its first unencrypted sports broadcast—a Philadelphia Flyers game—expanding viewership beyond subscribers. PRISM’s growing success prompted Wometco Home Theater to withdraw from the Philadelphia market by late November of that year.

WGBS-TV: The Grant Era

In early 1985, speculation arose that WWSG-TV might be sold and transformed into a fully ad-supported independent station. Milton Grant, a developer of independent stations who had launched Miami’s WBFS-TV the previous year, secured the rights to syndicated reruns such as Dallas and Eight Is Enough for the Philadelphia market, contingent upon acquiring channel 57.[1] By March, Grant Broadcasting System (GBS) officially announced its $30 million acquisition of WWSG-TV from RBC, with plans to enhance the transmitter power to the UHF maximum of five million watts.[2] RBC had experienced losses approaching $750,000 since 1981 due to the STV operation, despite earning $32.5 million from selling its paging division to Metromedia the prior year.[3][4] Gross retained perpetual datacasting rights within the vertical blanking interval and launched a service transmitting text information to displays in hospitality venues.[5] On October 20, 1985, WWSG-TV was rebranded as WGBS-TV—reflecting Grant Broadcasting System—and began broadcasting from studios on 20th Street under the brand Philly 57.[6][7]

Grant pledged to launch the station fully developed, capitalizing on Philadelphia’s scarcity of independent outlets—especially after WKBS-TV (channel 48) ceased operations in 1983. GBS secured a nearly $1 million contract over three years to broadcast Villanova basketball and football games, filling a notable gap in local sports coverage.[8] Later that summer, the Philadelphia Flyers ended their 15-year partnership with WTAF-TV (channel 29), signing a $3.3 million agreement with channel 57; this shift was influenced by Taft Broadcasting’s ownership of both the Phillies and WTAF-TV.[9] Nevertheless, an adverse federal court decision on must-carry rules initially limited cable carriage for WGBS-TV, constraining its competitive reach compared to other stations.[10]

In terms of entertainment programming, Grant’s aggressive investment unsettled existing market strategies.[11] This pressure led BCT Communications to withdraw from the competition for channel 48’s license in late 1985, citing Grant’s dominance in securing programming rights.[12] By July 1986, WTGI-TV commenced operations in Wilmington, Delaware; meanwhile, channel 57 abandoned its original programming plans in favor of home shopping and later multicultural content.[13] Another competitor, WSJT-TV (formerly WRBV-TV), exited the market by selling to the Home Shopping Network during that year.[14]

Grant Bankruptcy and Combined Broadcasting Ownership (1986–1993)

In January 1986, Grant Broadcasting System expanded by launching WGBO-TV in Chicago, following its late-1985 purchase of former WFBN. However, a stagnant advertising environment combined with expensive syndicated content resulted in significant financial losses for GBS. On December 8, 1986, GBS sought federal bankruptcy protection proactively to avoid involuntary proceedings initiated by creditors. That year alone, WGBS-TV reported losses of $9.72 million; WBFS-TV Miami lost $6.54 million; and WGBO-TV Chicago incurred $13.76 million in deficits—totaling $35.96 million company-wide. Market stagnation and fierce competition hindered Grant from replicating earlier profitable ventures such as KTXA and KTXH, which had been sold at substantial gains.

During bankruptcy court hearings in March 1987, Grant was permitted to maintain station operations until at least July 1 by utilizing available cash flow and receivables; this prevented creditors from seizing control or forcing asset sales. On July 7, Grant consented to receivership arrangements that transferred operational control to program suppliers and bondholders under a reorganization plan submitted in October 1987 and approved by March 1988. The restructuring targeted repayment of $420 million debt by 1995 through ongoing station revenues prior to eventual sale. In July 1988, Combined Broadcasting—a creditor-led entity—assumed ownership of Grant and its trio of stations. Although headquartered in Los Angeles, Combined managed day-to-day activities primarily from Philadelphia and negotiated deals preserving Flyers and Villanova sports broadcasts on channel 57.

By 1991, the Flyers shifted their broadcasts from channel 57 to WPHL-TV due to waning viewer interest following consecutive playoff absences and the station’s hesitant approach toward contract renewal. The new agreement also gradually curtailed the team’s over-the-air broadcast inventory.

Attempted acquisition by Fox (1993–1994)

In February 1993, Combined enlisted a financial institution to assess bids for the three former Grant Broadcasting stations. Half a year later, Combined revealed that Fox Television Stations had agreed to acquire WGBS-TV, channel 57, for $70 million, intending to designate it as the new Fox affiliate in Philadelphia, replacing WTXF-TV. Paramount Stations Group, which owned WTXF-TV, strongly opposed Fox’s strategy to withdraw its affiliation, cautioning its affiliates about Fox's allegiance being driven by financial motivations. The planned transition, set for April 1994 following the conclusion of channel 29's Fox affiliation, was anticipated to lead channel 57 to establish a local news division, directly competing with WTXF’s 10 p.m. newscast. This development sparked rumors that Paramount might collaborate with Chris-Craft Industries to launch a new network; indeed, when the United Paramount Network (UPN) debuted in October as a joint effort between these companies, WTXF became its Philadelphia outlet.

Nonetheless, in November, legal challenges emerged when the New York City branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) officially contested Fox’s purchase due to concerns about Fox’s ownership structure. The NAACP contended that News Corporation—then headquartered in Australia and chaired by Rupert Murdoch, who held a 76% stake in Twentieth Holdings Corporation (THC)—exercised effective control over Fox Television Stations. This situation raised compliance issues with FCC regulations limiting foreign broadcast ownership to 25%. As FCC authorization was delayed beyond the intended closing date of January 30, 1994, Combined retracted from the $57 million deal after one extension, thereby maintaining WTXF’s Fox affiliation. Concurrently, Fox redirected its acquisition efforts following an unsuccessful bid for Group W, including Philadelphia’s KYW-TV.

The NAACP’s intervention had enduring consequences: in June 1994, the FCC commenced a foreign ownership investigation into Murdoch’s holdings, posing potential mandates for divestiture that could have imperiled the network. This matter was ultimately resolved in July 1995 when Fox obtained FCC clearance for acquisitions in Boston, Denver, and Memphis, Tennessee, paving the way for additional station purchases.

WPSG: Paramount purchase and UPN affiliation (1994–2006)

In 1994, a significant reshuffling of broadcast affiliations occurred following Fox’s acquisition of NFL rights. Group W aligned all five of its stations with CBS, impacting KYW-TV. New World Communications entered into a partnership with Fox and submitted bids for CBS’s WCAU-TV; Fox also pursued WCAU as a contingency plan. On August 31, 1994, Viacom—which had recently acquired Paramount—disposed of WTXF to Fox for more than $200 million. NBC and CBS orchestrated a multi-market exchange that transferred WCAU-TV to NBC. Utilizing proceeds from selling channel 29, Viacom purchased WGBS and Miami’s WBFS-TV. Both stations affiliated with UPN initially; channel 57 did not have an immediate confirmed network partner.

UPN launched on January 16, 1995, with WGBS-TV designated as Philadelphia’s affiliate. The Viacom acquisition of both WGBS-TV and WBFS-TV finalized in August 1995, coinciding with the sale of WTXF-TV. On December 11 of that year, the station rebranded as WPSG under Paramount Stations Group ownership. During Paramount’s stewardship, WPSG prioritized sports programming through a partnership with Comcast SportsNet. The Philadelphia 76ers signed an agreement in 1997 to broadcast 21 games per season on the station. The Flyers returned during the 1998–99 season with coverage of 20 regular-season games after objections from WPHL-TV concerning preemptions of WB programming. In 1999, the Phillies joined the lineup with approximately 70 games televised each season—marking the first occasion that Phillies contests aired on this station.

In 1999, Paramount Stations Group acquired Pittsburgh’s UPN affiliate WNPA and laid off nineteen employees as technical operations were consolidated into Philadelphia facilities. Following Viacom’s acquisition of CBS in 2000—which created a duopoly with KYW-TV—Viacom also purchased Chris-Craft's half-interest in UPN for $5.5 billion that year. Subsequently, WPSG operations moved into KYW-TV’s Independence Mall studios and incorporated prime-time weather forecasts provided by KYW meteorologists while maintaining distinct general management teams. CBS-owned KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh assumed operational oversight of WNPA. The integration process among these stations advanced gradually over time.

The CW Philly 57 (2006–2023)

On January 24, 2006, Warner Bros. (under Time Warner) and CBS Corporation revealed plans to discontinue The WB and UPN networks, merging their programming into a new entity called The CW. Out of CBS's 15 UPN affiliates, eleven—including WPSG—transitioned into CW affiliates. The station reinstated the "Philly 57" identity, adopting the name "CW Philly 57".

On April 2, 2007, WPSG and KYW-TV relocated to modern studios located at 1500 Spring Garden Street in Philadelphia; their previous building was subsequently demolished to make way for the National Museum of American Jewish History. Over time, the station gradually lost its sports broadcast rights: following the 2008 season, the Phillies games returned to WPHL-TV, while in 2009, coverage of the Flyers and Sixers shifted to Comcast SportsNet and The Comcast Network.

WPSG ended its analog transmission on UHF channel 57 on June 12, 2009, continuing digital broadcasts on UHF channel 32 but maintaining virtual channel 57. In 2019, as part of the 2016 United States wireless spectrum auction repack, it moved from channel 32 to channel 33. On December 4, 2019, CBS Corporation and Viacom reunited to form ViacomCBS (now known as Paramount Skydance Corporation).

Return to independence (2023)

Following Nexstar Media Group's acquisition of majority ownership in The CW on October 3, 2022, CBS secured the option to end its affiliations with WPSG and seven other CW stations—a right it exercised on May 5, 2023. Subsequently, on June 14, Nexstar's WPHL-TV, then affiliated with MyNetworkTV, was announced as the new CW affiliate. When WPSG reverted to independent status on September 1, it fully reinstated the "Philly 57" brand as part of a wider rebranding effort among stations that had disaffiliated.

On August 10, 2023, WPSG became Philadelphia's primary broadcaster for the ATSC 3.0 standard while its existing channels remained available in ATSC 1.0 format through other local stations.

Newscasts

In September 2002, a weekday morning news show titled KYW NewsRadio This Morning debuted on WPSG as a collaboration between KYW radio and KYW-TV—essentially a radio newscast enhanced with basic graphics and video feeds from KYW-TV. This program was replaced in 2005 by Wake Up News, produced by Traffic Pulse (which later became Traffic.com).

Starting February 2, 2009, KYW-TV began producing a nightly newscast at 10 p.m. for WPSG. On June 29 of that year, the morning show was replaced by a two-hour extension of KYW-TV’s Eyewitness News This Morning. This morning broadcast continued until June 2015 when it was discontinued amid programming shifts and staffing changes. In January 2023, a morning newscast returned as a simulcast of CBS News Philadelphia’s streaming broadcast at 7 a.m.

On July 18, 2022, the program Eyewitness News at 10 on The CW Philly was rebranded as CBS News Philadelphia Now on The CW Philly, a hybrid local and national news broadcast rolled out across CBS-owned CW affiliates and independent stations. Following WPSG’s transition back to independence in September 2023, this was replaced by an evening newscast airing at 8 p.m.

Subchannels

WPSG's ATSC 1.0 broadcast streams are carried as multiplexed subchannels on various Philadelphia television stations:

WPSG's ATSC 1.0 subchannels
Channel Resolution Aspect ratio Identifier Content ATSC 1.0 carrier
57.1 720p 16:9 WPSG Independent programming KYW-TV
57.2 480i Nest The Nest network WTXF-TV
57.3 Confess Confess by Nosey
57.4 NOSEY Nosey channel WPVI-TV
57.5 FaveTV Fave TV channel

As of August 10, 2023, WPSG assumed the role of Philadelphia's ATSC 3.0 (NextGen TV) host station, transmitting from its Roxborough site.

WPSG ATSC 3.0 subchannels
Channel Resolution Identifier Content provider
3.1 1080p KYW-TV CBS (KYW-TV)
6.1 WPVI-HD ABC (WPVI-TV)
10.1 WCAU-TV NBC (WCAU)
12.1 WHYYNG PBS (WHYY-TV)
29.1 WTXFDT Fox (WTXF-TV)
57.1 WPSG Independent station
65.1 WUVP-DT Univision (WUVP-DT)
  1. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Phil850220
  2. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Phil850320
  3. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Phil850516
  4. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Phil840514
  5. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Phil850603
  6. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Phil851023
  7. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Cour851018
  8. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Phil850517
  9. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Phil850816
  10. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Phil851101
  11. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Phil851025
  12. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Phil851118
  13. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Phil880708
  14. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Dail860819
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