WPXX-TV
Encyclopedia
WPXX-TV, channel 50 is a ION Network affiliate in Memphis
, Tennessee
.
The station signed on the air on December 31, 1994 under the call letters WFBI and was owned by Memphis businessman, radiologist (and later Shelby County
commissioner) George Flinn. The station initially aired a feed from the Home Shopping Network
, until Paxson Communications (now ION Media Networks
) took over the station in 1998, when the station was converted to the then-new PAX network (now known as Ion Television) (Flinn still owned the station, however).
On September 5, 2006, WPXX officially became the city's MyNetworkTV
affiliate, branding itself as "My50 Memphis".
In mid-August 2007, ION announced that it would be purchasing WPXX and WPXL
in New Orleans
outright from Flinn Broadcasting for $18 million. http://broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6470612.html The transfer must be approved by the Federal Communications Commission
.
The sale was completed on January 2, 2008.
On September 28, 2009, WPXX dropped MyNetworkTV completely as a part of an out given by the network as part of its conversion from a full network to a syndicated programming service by voiding all affiliation agreements. CW affiliate WLMT
(Channel 30) chose to pick up the network, but only for the purposes of carrying WWE SmackDown on Saturday evenings, declining the remainder of the network's schedule. That lasted until SmackDown moved to SyFy
in October 2010, at which point WLMT's second digital subchannel picked up the full MyNetworkTV lineup while retaining the Retro Television Network
(RTV) affiliation (which would be dropped in November 2011 in favor of Me-TV) outside of prime time.
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
, Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
.
The station signed on the air on December 31, 1994 under the call letters WFBI and was owned by Memphis businessman, radiologist (and later Shelby County
Shelby County, Tennessee
Shelby County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. It is the state's largest both in terms of population and geographic area, with a population of 927,644 at the 2010 census...
commissioner) George Flinn. The station initially aired a feed from the Home Shopping Network
Home Shopping Network
Home Shopping Network or HSN began in 1977 as a 24-hour/7 day a week home shopping television network televised via cable, satellite, and some terrestrial channels in the Philippines. HSN can also be shopped online at hsn.com...
, until Paxson Communications (now 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:...
) took over the station in 1998, when the station was converted to the then-new PAX network (now known as Ion Television) (Flinn still owned the station, however).
On September 5, 2006, WPXX officially became the city's MyNetworkTV
MyNetworkTV
MyNetworkTV is a television broadcast syndication service in the United States, owned by the Fox Entertainment Group, a division of News Corporation...
affiliate, branding itself as "My50 Memphis".
In mid-August 2007, ION announced that it would be purchasing WPXX and WPXL
WPXL
WPXL-TV is the local Ion Television affiliate in New Orleans, Louisiana, owned by Ion Media Networks. It broadcasts on virtual channel 49....
in New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
outright from Flinn Broadcasting for $18 million. http://broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6470612.html The transfer must be approved by the Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
.
The sale was completed on January 2, 2008.
On September 28, 2009, WPXX dropped MyNetworkTV completely as a part of an out given by the network as part of its conversion from a full network to a syndicated programming service by voiding all affiliation agreements. CW affiliate WLMT
WLMT
WLMT is the CW-affiliated television station for Western Tennessee licensed to Memphis. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 31 from a transmitter in Arlington's Brunswick section. The station can also be seen on Comcast channel 9 and in high definition on digital channel...
(Channel 30) chose to pick up the network, but only for the purposes of carrying WWE SmackDown on Saturday evenings, declining the remainder of the network's schedule. That lasted until SmackDown moved to SyFy
Syfy
Syfy , formerly known as the Sci-Fi Channel and SCI FI, is an American cable television channel featuring science fiction, supernatural, fantasy, reality, paranormal, wrestling, and horror programming. Launched on September 24, 1992, it is part of the entertainment conglomerate NBCUniversal, a...
in October 2010, at which point WLMT's second digital subchannel picked up the full MyNetworkTV lineup while retaining the Retro Television Network
Retro Television Network
The Retro Television Network is a system of television stations that airs classic television shows as well as more recently produced programs...
(RTV) affiliation (which would be dropped in November 2011 in favor of Me-TV) outside of prime time.