WHPX
Encyclopedia
WHPX-TV is the Ion Television affiliate serving the Hartford
/ New Haven, Connecticut
television market. It is owned and operated by Ion Media Networks
and is licensed
to New London, Connecticut
.
) as a result of WHCT's financial problems.
In 1990, the station also began to take programming that WTXX (now WCCT-TV) chose not to renew. It also offered to pick up WTXX's programming inventory in 1992, but WTXX's owner (Renaissance Broadcasting) declined.
The station had added more infomercials to its lineup by 1993. Two years later, it was sold to Paxson Communications (predecssor to Ion Media Networks), and switched to Paxson's standard schedule of religious programming in the morning, infomercials in the afternoon and evenings, and worship programming overnight. The rights to its programming were acquired by LIN Television, which placed those shows on WTVU (now WCTX
).
Paxson then began programming WHCT in 1997, and sold WTWS to Roberts Broadcasting. Roberts, in turn, sold the station to DP Media the following year. However, DP Media was owned by — and named for — Devon Paxson, son of Paxson Communications founder Bud Paxson
. Paxson then cut its ties with WHCT and took control of WTWS. The station then affiliated with Pax (the predecessor to Ion Television) that year, and changed its call letters to WHPX to reflect its affiliation. Paxson bought DP Media in 2000.
Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford is the capital of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960, it is the second most populous city on New England's largest river, the Connecticut River. As of the 2010 Census, Hartford's population was 124,775, making...
/ New Haven, Connecticut
New Haven, Connecticut
New Haven is the second-largest city in Connecticut and the sixth-largest in New England. According to the 2010 Census, New Haven's population increased by 5.0% between 2000 and 2010, a rate higher than that of the State of Connecticut, and higher than that of the state's five largest cities, and...
television market. It is owned and operated by Ion Media Networks
ION Media Networks
ION Media Networks is an American television broadcasting company that owns and operates over 60 television stations in most major American markets. It is now a privately owned company.-History:...
and is licensed
City of license
A city of license or community of license, in American and Canadian broadcasting, is the community that a radio station or television station is officially licensed to serve by that country's broadcast regulator....
to New London, Connecticut
New London, Connecticut
New London is a seaport city and a port of entry on the northeast coast of the United States.It is located at the mouth of the Thames River in New London County, southeastern Connecticut....
.
History
The station began operation on September 15, 1986 as WTWS. It was owned by R & R Media and ran a low-budget general entertainment format. In 1988, the station took over some programming from WHCT-TV (now WUVNWUVN
WUVN is the Connecticut affiliate for the Spanish language Univision television network. It is licensed to Hartford. Owned by Entravision, the station broadcasts its digital signal on UHF channel 46...
) as a result of WHCT's financial problems.
In 1990, the station also began to take programming that WTXX (now WCCT-TV) chose not to renew. It also offered to pick up WTXX's programming inventory in 1992, but WTXX's owner (Renaissance Broadcasting) declined.
The station had added more infomercials to its lineup by 1993. Two years later, it was sold to Paxson Communications (predecssor to Ion Media Networks), and switched to Paxson's standard schedule of religious programming in the morning, infomercials in the afternoon and evenings, and worship programming overnight. The rights to its programming were acquired by LIN Television, which placed those shows on WTVU (now WCTX
WCTX
WCTX is the MyNetworkTV-affiliated television station for the state of Connecticut that is licensed to New Haven. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 39 from a transmitter in Hamden. Owned by the LIN TV Corporation, the station is sister to ABC affiliate WTNH and the two...
).
Paxson then began programming WHCT in 1997, and sold WTWS to Roberts Broadcasting. Roberts, in turn, sold the station to DP Media the following year. However, DP Media was owned by — and named for — Devon Paxson, son of Paxson Communications founder Bud Paxson
Bud Paxson
Lowell W. "Bud" Paxson is an American media executive.A native of Florida, Paxson began his career at a little 500 watt radio station in upstate New York, and later as the owner of a small AM radio station, WWQT 1470 AM, in Clearwater, Florida. There, in 1977, an advertiser had plenty of product...
. Paxson then cut its ties with WHCT and took control of WTWS. The station then affiliated with Pax (the predecessor to Ion Television) that year, and changed its call letters to WHPX to reflect its affiliation. Paxson bought DP Media in 2000.