WBXH-CD

WBXH-CD is a low-power Class A television station licensed to Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The station broadcasts its own digital signal, but its limited low-power coverage is supplemented by a standard-definition simulcast on WAFB's fourth digital subchannel, allowing WBXH programming to reach the broader Baton Rouge television market. WBXH-CD and WAFB share studios on Government Street in downtown Baton Rouge, and the WBXH transmitter is also located at the studio site. WAFB's main transmitter is near the Riverbend section of Baton Rouge along River Road. The station began broadcasting on September 27, 1990, under the ownership of Box LP Group, a company associated with low-power stations carrying The Box music-video service. In 2001, WBXH became an MTV2 affiliate. Its early operation used UHF channel 46, but the station moved to channel 39 after WAFB launched its digital service on channel 46 in 2002. Raycom Media acquired the station in 2003, after which WBXH became a UPN affiliate. It promoted that affiliation under the local identity “UPN the Block,” using the “Rider and the Fish” characters in promotional material tied to programming and Baton Rouge locations. The collapse of UPN and The WB led to another major transition. After the creation of The CW was announced in 2006, News Corporation announced MyNetworkTV as a separate programming service intended in part for UPN and WB affiliates that were not selected for The CW. WBXH was announced as one of MyNetworkTV's affiliates in March 2006. The station removed its UPN branding before the new network launched and temporarily used “WBXH the Block.” It subsequently adopted “My BR TV,” later emphasizing its cable position with “channel 16,” reflecting its carriage on Cox Cable in the Baton Rouge area. By 2012, the station had reduced the prominence of the MyNetworkTV identity and used “WBXH Channel 16: Where X marks the spot.” WBXH has also served as a secondary outlet for locally produced news. WAFB launched a weeknight 9 p.m. newscast on the station in January 2007, later known as “9 News X-Tra,” and WAFB's morning coverage has periodically been simulcast or extended on WBXH. The station's news programming has changed over time, including “The Six30,” a young-adult-oriented weekday program, and “9 News This Morning — The Big Xtra Hour.” The station no longer maintains a regular prime-time newscast according to the referenced station history. WBXH received a digital license in December 2014 and adopted the WBXH-CD call sign. Its multicast lineup expanded in 2015 with Grit and Escape, the latter later becoming Ion Mystery. In June 2021, the station's second digital subchannel took over MeTV programming from WLFT-CD, with other multicast services moved to additional subchannels. WBXH also completed a spectrum-reallocation frequency change in August 2018, moving its digital transmission from channel 39 to channel 32. Today, the station operates as part of Gray Media's Baton Rouge broadcast group, with a programming mix centered on independent and multicast television, MyNetworkTV content, and selected WAFB-produced local programming.

WBXH began broadcasting in Baton Rouge on September 27, 1990. Its original owner, Box LP Group, operated low-power stations associated with The Box music-video network. The station later affiliated with MTV2 in 2001. It initially transmitted on UHF channel 46, but moved to channel 39 in 2002 after WAFB began digital broadcasting on channel 46. Raycom Media purchased WBXH in 2003, and the station became a UPN affiliate. It was the third Baton Rouge station to carry UPN, following WBTR and KZUP. During this period, WBXH marketed itself as “UPN the Block” and used the “Rider and the Fish” promotional characters. The station's network status changed again after CBS Corporation and Time Warner announced the creation of The CW through the combination of UPN and The WB. News Corporation subsequently established MyNetworkTV as a separate programming service for stations not selected for The CW. WBXH was announced as a MyNetworkTV affiliate in March 2006 and removed UPN branding before the new network began operation. Following the transition, WBXH used the identities “WBXH the Block” and later “My BR TV.” In 2010 it increasingly promoted its cable position as channel 16, while some station identifiers referenced digital channel 9.4. In 2012, WBXH reduced emphasis on MyNetworkTV and adopted “WBXH Channel 16: Where X marks the spot.” WAFB began producing a weekday 9 p.m. newscast for WBXH in January 2007. The program was initially called “My 9 News at 9” and was later renamed “9 News X-Tra.” WBXH also carried WAFB morning programming and a Saturday morning newscast for a period. After the 9 p.m. program was discontinued in 2013, the station carried reruns of WAFB's “Sportsline” and continued the distinct “The Six30” program until that show was canceled in 2014. In September 2014, WBXH introduced “9 News This Morning — The Big Xtra Hour,” a weekday extension of WAFB's morning news focused on weather and traffic. WAFB's local news operation, including WBXH broadcasts, moved to high definition in 2008. The station received authorization for digital operation in December 2014 and became WBXH-CD. It added Grit and Escape to its digital lineup in August 2015; Escape was later renamed Ion Mystery. In June 2021, WBXH-CD2 acquired MeTV programming from WLFT-CD, with Grit and Court TV Mystery moved to other subchannels. WBXH changed its physical digital frequency from channel 39 to channel 32 on August 31, 2018, as part of nationwide spectrum reallocation. Because the station remains low-power, its signal is supplemented by an SD simulcast on WAFB's fourth digital subchannel. The station is now owned by Gray Media alongside WAFB.

• 2021

  MeTV moves to WBXH-CD2

  [1]WBXH-CDen.wikipedia.org

  WBXH-CD2 assumed the MeTV affiliation from WLFT-CD, with other multicast services repositioned.

• 2018

  Spectrum-reallocation frequency change

  [1]WBXH-CDen.wikipedia.org

  WBXH moved its digital transmission from channel 39 to channel 32.

• 2015

  Multicast expansion

  [1]WBXH-CDen.wikipedia.org

  Grit and Escape were added to the station's digital multicast services.

• 2014

  Digital license and WBXH-CD call sign

  [1]WBXH-CDen.wikipedia.org

  The station received a digital license and changed its call sign to WBXH-CD.

• 2007

  WAFB-produced evening newscast launches

  [1]WBXH-CDen.wikipedia.org

  WAFB began producing a weeknight 9 p.m. newscast for WBXH.

• 2006

  Transition to MyNetworkTV

  [1]WBXH-CDen.wikipedia.org

  WBXH was selected as a MyNetworkTV affiliate following the planned shutdown of UPN and The WB.

• 2003

  Raycom Media acquisition and UPN affiliation

  [1]WBXH-CDen.wikipedia.org

  Raycom Media purchased the station, which then became a UPN affiliate.

• 2002

  Move to channel 39

  [1]WBXH-CDen.wikipedia.org

  WBXH moved from UHF channel 46 to channel 39 after WAFB began digital broadcasting on channel 46.

• 2001

  MTV2 affiliation

  [1]WBXH-CDen.wikipedia.org

  The station became an MTV2 affiliate.

• 1990

  WBXH begins broadcasting

  [1]WBXH-CDen.wikipedia.org

  WBXH launched in Baton Rouge on September 27 as a low-power station owned by Box LP Group and associated with The Box music-video service.

A locally distributed, low-power Baton Rouge television outlet combining independent programming, MyNetworkTV content, multicast networks, and selected WAFB news programming. Its market reach is extended through a simulcast on WAFB's digital subchannel.

• Television broadcasting · 1990

  WBXH-CD over-the-air service

  WBXH-CD is a low-power Class A digital television service licensed to Baton Rouge. Its own broadcast signal covers the immediate Baton Rouge area, while an SD simulcast on WAFB's fourth digital subchannel extends availability across the wider market. The service carries a mix of independent programming, MyNetworkTV content, local programming extensions, and multicast networks.

• Network television affiliation · 2006

  MyNetworkTV programming

  WBXH has carried MyNetworkTV programming since the network launched in 2006. Although the station later deemphasized the affiliation in its consumer branding, MyNetworkTV remains part of its programming identity alongside independent and syndicated content.

• Digital multicast television · 2021

  MeTV on WBXH-CD2

  WBXH-CD2 carries MeTV programming after assuming the affiliation from WLFT-CD in June 2021. The subchannel is part of the station's expanded digital multicast operation and complements the primary service's general-entertainment schedule.

• Local news television · 2007

  WAFB news extensions

  WBXH has served as an outlet for WAFB-produced local news, including a former weeknight 9 p.m. newscast, “The Six30,” and the weekday morning extension “9 News This Morning — The Big Xtra Hour.” It has also simulcast portions of WAFB's morning coverage.

• 2021

  MeTV affiliation transferOther

  Background

  A digital multicast affiliation became available when MeTV programming moved from WLFT-CD.

  Action taken

  WBXH-CD2 assumed the MeTV affiliation, and Grit and Court TV Mystery were moved to other WBXH subchannels.

  Aftermath

  The change broadened the station group's multicast programming portfolio in the Baton Rouge market.

  Source

• 2018

  Post-spectrum-reallocation channel moveStrategy

  Background

  Federal spectrum reallocation required some television stations to change their physical transmission channels.

  Action taken

  WBXH moved its digital transmission from channel 39 to channel 32 on August 31.

  Aftermath

  The station retained its Baton Rouge service while continuing to use a WAFB subchannel simulcast to improve market reach.

  Source

• 2014

  Transition to digital operationGeneration change

  Background

  WBXH's low-power television operation was authorized for digital broadcasting after years of analog-era and transitional channel arrangements.

  Action taken

  The station received a digital license and changed its call sign to WBXH-CD.

  Aftermath

  WBXH continued as a digital low-power station and expanded its use of multicast subchannels.

  Source

• 2006

  Switch from UPN to MyNetworkTVStrategy

  Background

  The announced formation of The CW meant that UPN and The WB would be discontinued, creating a need for unaffiliated stations to select new programming arrangements.

  Action taken

  WBXH removed its UPN branding and joined the newly created MyNetworkTV service, using temporary and later local identities to promote the change.

  Aftermath

  The station continued as a MyNetworkTV affiliate while increasingly emphasizing its local “WBXH Channel 16” identity from 2012 onward.

  Source

1. 1WBXH-CDen.wikipedia.org
2. 2WBXH-TV official websitewbxh.tv