WTAM-LP
Encyclopedia
WTAM-LD is a low-power television station
in Tampa, Florida
. It provides over-the-air service to the Tampa - St. Petersburg
area on analog channel 30 from its transmitter in Riverview
and studios on Franklin Street in Tampa Heights
. WTAM-LD broadcasts Spanish-language under the TV Visión name. The license and facilities are owned by Lotus Communications Corporation
of Los Angeles, California
, but was brokered
to TV Vision Network, LLC, a broadcaster founded and owned by Francisco Rios, a founder of the Brandon
Christian group, CPR Ministries.
The station signed on in August 2005 as TV Informa 30, affiliated with the Mexican Multimedios
network, but closed down in February 2006, after failing to find any cable system that would offer the channel in their line-up. Being a low-powered station with no connections with any local full-powered outlets, WTAM was exempt from the Federal Must-carry
rules that full-powered stations enjoyed, meaning that cable and satellite companies weren't obligated to offer the channel. Apparently not having the funds or the patience, Lotus opted to shut down WTAM, instead of keeping the station on the air as a terrestrial-only offering.
As of November 2006, WTAM has returned to the air under Rios as a family-oriented channel, TV Visión, still affiliated with Multimedios and also including programming from La Familia Network
. WTAM also carries some bilingual, locally-produced programs, such as Project 1805 (a weekly music video countdown), El Mundo de Luisitin (a children's program) and Total Action (featuring local sports).
WTAM is seen on Verizon FiOS
channel 23; it is currently not available on Bright House
or Comcast
.
In June 2010, the station was broadcasting a digital signal on channel 28 / virtual channels 30.1-30.4. One of the subchannels featured is My Family TV
, on 30.1.
Television station
A television station is a business, organisation or other such as an amateur television operator that transmits content over terrestrial television. A television transmission can be by analog television signals or, more recently, by digital television. Broadcast television systems standards are...
in Tampa, Florida
Tampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
. It provides over-the-air service to the Tampa - St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg, Florida
St. Petersburg is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. It is known as a vacation destination for both American and foreign tourists. As of 2008, the population estimate by the U.S. Census Bureau is 245,314, making St...
area on analog channel 30 from its transmitter in Riverview
Riverview, Florida
Riverview, the name of three places in the U.S. state of Florida, may refer to:* Riverview, Duval County, Florida* Riverview, Escambia County, Florida* Riverview, Hillsborough County, Florida...
and studios on Franklin Street in Tampa Heights
Tampa Heights (Tampa), Florida
Tampa Heights is one of the oldest neighborhoods within the city limits of Tampa that's situated in the central part of the city. As of the 2000 census, the neighborhood had a population of 16,393.-Description:...
. WTAM-LD broadcasts Spanish-language under the TV Visión name. The license and facilities are owned by Lotus Communications Corporation
Lotus Communications Corporation
Lotus Communications Corp. is a media company that owns numerous radio stations and a few TV stations, and is one of the largest privately owned radio station groups in the United States. Headquarters are located in Los Angeles, and the company's President and CEO is Howard Kalmenson.-Radio:Lotus...
of Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, but was brokered
Brokered programming
Brokered programming is a form of broadcast content in which the show's producer pays a radio or television station for air time, rather than exchanging programming for pay or the opportunity to play spot commercials...
to TV Vision Network, LLC, a broadcaster founded and owned by Francisco Rios, a founder of the Brandon
Brandon, Florida
Brandon is a census-designated place in Hillsborough County, Florida, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the CDP had a total population of 103,483.-Founding:...
Christian group, CPR Ministries.
The station signed on in August 2005 as TV Informa 30, affiliated with the Mexican Multimedios
Multimedios Television
Multimedios Television is a network of Spanish language television stations found throughout Mexico. The system is part of Grupo Multimedios. The flagship station of Multimedios Television is XHAW-TV located in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon. Programming features locally produced news, sports, children's...
network, but closed down in February 2006, after failing to find any cable system that would offer the channel in their line-up. Being a low-powered station with no connections with any local full-powered outlets, WTAM was exempt from the Federal Must-carry
Must-carry
In cable television, governments apply a must-carry regulation stating that locally-licensed television stations must be carried on a cable provider's system.- Canada :...
rules that full-powered stations enjoyed, meaning that cable and satellite companies weren't obligated to offer the channel. Apparently not having the funds or the patience, Lotus opted to shut down WTAM, instead of keeping the station on the air as a terrestrial-only offering.
As of November 2006, WTAM has returned to the air under Rios as a family-oriented channel, TV Visión, still affiliated with Multimedios and also including programming from La Familia Network
La Familia Network
La Familia Network, or LFN, is a Spanish language, family-oriented television network based in Harlingen, Texas. Clark Ortiz is President of LFN.-History :La Familia Network was created by Mr. Clark Ortiz from Harlingen, Texas...
. WTAM also carries some bilingual, locally-produced programs, such as Project 1805 (a weekly music video countdown), El Mundo de Luisitin (a children's program) and Total Action (featuring local sports).
WTAM is seen on Verizon FiOS
Verizon FiOS
Verizon FiOS is a bundled Internet access, telephone, and television service which operates over a fiber-optic communications network. It is offered in some areas of the United States by Verizon Communications. Verizon was one of the first major U.S...
channel 23; it is currently not available on Bright House
Bright House Networks
Bright House Networks is a cable television company, the seventh largest cable operator and the sixth largest traditional multiple system operator in the United States owned by Advance/Newhouse, headquartered in Syracuse, New York...
or Comcast
Comcast
Comcast Corporation is the largest cable operator, home Internet service provider, and fourth largest home telephone service provider in the United States, providing cable television, broadband Internet, and telephone service to both residential and commercial customers in 39 states and the...
.
In June 2010, the station was broadcasting a digital signal on channel 28 / virtual channels 30.1-30.4. One of the subchannels featured is My Family TV
My Family TV
My Family TV is a United States general entertainment television network jointly owned by ValCom and Luken Communications, and based in Chattanooga, Tennessee.-History:...
, on 30.1.