WSKY-TV

WSKY-TV is an American independent television station broadcasting on virtual channel 4 in the Hampton Roads region of Virginia and northeastern North Carolina. Although the station is licensed to Manteo, North Carolina, it does not maintain a physical facility there. Its operating base and studios are in Hampton, Virginia, while its transmitter is located near South Mills, North Carolina. The station is associated with the Lockwood Broadcast Group, a Hampton-based broadcaster, and serves as the group's flagship station. The origins of WSKY-TV date to the Federal Communications Commission's 1995 invitation for applications for a station on channel 4 in Manteo. Six applicants sought the authorization. Before WSKY's launch, channel 4 on Cox Cable in the Hampton Roads area carried LNC, or Local News on Cable, a 24-hour cable news service operated by WVEC-TV. When WSKY-TV began broadcasting in fall 2001, LNC moved to channel 5 in Cox Cable lineups, allowing the new station to occupy the channel 4 position. WSKY-TV has operated as an independent station rather than as an affiliate of one of the major commercial broadcast networks. Its programming identity has therefore depended on acquired syndicated programming and other station-selected content rather than a national network schedule. The station has not produced a regular local news operation of its own. It did, however, carry two weeknight 11 p.m. newscasts supplied by CBS affiliate WTKR during WTKR's coverage of the 2009 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament; the broadcasts returned to a midnight time slot after the tournament coverage ended. The station's technical development included a transition from analog to digital broadcasting. Its analog VHF channel 4 service ended in November 2006 as the station prepared to activate a digital facility from a new tower in Camden County, North Carolina. The new facility was intended to improve coverage of the northern portion of the Hampton Roads market, including Williamsburg, Newport News, and Hampton. On March 2, 2007, strong winds associated with storms caused the partially completed WSKY-DT tower to collapse, destroying the transmitter building as well. The replacement tower was completed in November 2007; a test pattern began on November 24, and regular digital broadcasting resumed on November 27. WSKY-TV also experienced a temporary satellite-distribution interruption. DirecTV dropped the station from its lineup on January 1, 2009, after the station failed to re-elect must-carry status for the provider. Because the omission left the station without the relevant regulatory remedy for three years, WSKY waited until it could successfully file again. It returned to DirecTV on January 1, 2012. In July 2013, Lockwood Broadcast Group announced an agreement to acquire a 51 percent interest in WSKY-TV, subject to Federal Communications Commission approval. The transaction closed on November 25, 2013. WSKY-TV remains an active independent broadcast outlet serving the Hampton Roads market, with its licensed community in Manteo and its principal operational presence in Hampton.

WSKY-TV's regulatory history can be traced to 1995, when the Federal Communications Commission opened the application process for a television station licensed to Manteo, North Carolina, on channel 4. Six groups applied for the authorization. The station ultimately emerged as an independent broadcaster serving the Hampton Roads market, despite its North Carolina city of license. WSKY-TV launched in fall 2001. Before its arrival, Cox Cable systems in the area used channel 4 for LNC, a 24-hour cable news service operated by WVEC-TV. LNC shifted to channel 5 when WSKY began broadcasting. The station did not establish its own recurring local news department, although it temporarily aired WTKR-produced late newscasts during WTKR's coverage of the 2009 NCAA men's basketball tournament. The station's early technical configuration presented coverage limitations in parts of the northern Hampton Roads region. In November 2006, WSKY discontinued regular analog programming on VHF channel 4 while preparing a digital facility connected to a new tower in Camden County, North Carolina. The planned digital installation was intended to strengthen reception in Williamsburg, Newport News, Hampton, and nearby areas. On March 2, 2007, high winds during a storm caused the nearly completed WSKY-DT tower to collapse between 6 and 7 a.m. The collapse also destroyed the transmitter building. Reconstruction followed, and the replacement tower was completed in November 2007. WSKY transmitted a test pattern beginning November 24 and returned to regular digital broadcasting on November 27. WSKY also encountered a distribution problem involving DirecTV. The satellite provider removed the station on January 1, 2009. The station had mistakenly failed to re-elect must-carry status for DirecTV, and consequently lacked a regulatory route to compel continued carriage for the next three years. After that period elapsed, WSKY successfully filed for must-carry status and regained DirecTV carriage on January 1, 2012. Ownership changed in 2013. Lockwood Broadcast Group, based in Hampton, announced on July 15 that it intended to acquire a 51 percent stake in WSKY-TV, pending FCC approval. The transaction closed on November 25. The deal made WSKY the flagship station of Lockwood Broadcast Group and aligned the station more closely with a broadcaster already based in its principal service area. WSKY-TV remains an independent station licensed to Manteo and operated from Hampton. Its transmission facilities are near South Mills, North Carolina. The station's history is defined by its independent programming model, its unusual relationship between city of license and operational base, the rebuilding of its digital transmission facility, its temporary loss and restoration of satellite carriage, and its majority acquisition by Lockwood Broadcast Group.

• 2013

  Lockwood Broadcast Group becomes majority owner

  [1]WSKY-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Lockwood Broadcast Group completed its acquisition of a 51 percent interest in WSKY-TV on November 25.

• 2012

  DirecTV carriage restored

  [1]WSKY-TVen.wikipedia.org

  WSKY-TV returned to DirecTV after successfully filing for must-carry status following the applicable three-year period.

• 2009

  DirecTV carriage ends

  [1]WSKY-TVen.wikipedia.org

  DirecTV removed WSKY-TV after the station failed to re-elect must-carry status for the provider.

• 2007

  Digital tower collapses and is rebuilt

  [1]WSKY-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Storm winds destroyed the partially completed digital tower and transmitter building in March. A replacement tower was completed in November, with regular digital service resuming on November 27.

• 2006

  Analog service ends

  [1]WSKY-TVen.wikipedia.org

  The station ended regular analog broadcasting on VHF channel 4 in November while preparing a new digital transmission facility.

• 2001

  WSKY-TV launches

  [1]WSKY-TVen.wikipedia.org

  WSKY-TV began broadcasting as an independent station in fall 2001. LNC, formerly carried on Cox Cable channel 4, moved to channel 5.

• 1995

  FCC opens applications for channel 4 in Manteo

  [1]WSKY-TVen.wikipedia.org

  The FCC invited applications for a television station licensed to Manteo, North Carolina, on channel 4. Six groups applied.

An independent, locally operated television station serving Hampton Roads and northeastern North Carolina, with a focus on broad-market broadcast distribution rather than affiliation with a major national television network.

• Television station · 2001

  WSKY-TV channel 4

  The station's primary broadcast service, identified by virtual channel 4, is an independent television outlet serving the Hampton Roads region and northeastern North Carolina. Its programming is distributed over the air and through multichannel providers.

• Digital broadcasting · 2007

  WSKY digital television service

  WSKY's digital transmission service was developed to improve coverage in the northern portion of the Hampton Roads market. Following the 2007 tower collapse and reconstruction, the station resumed regular digital broadcasting from its North Carolina transmission facility.

• 2013

  Lockwood Broadcast Group acquires a majority stakeM&A

  Background

  Lockwood Broadcast Group announced an agreement to acquire a 51 percent interest in WSKY-TV, subject to FCC approval.

  Action taken

  The transaction was completed on November 25, making WSKY-TV the flagship station of Lockwood Broadcast Group.

  Aftermath

  The station became part of the Hampton-based broadcaster's operating group while continuing as an independent station.

  Source

• 2009

  Must-carry status is not re-elected for DirecTVStrategy

  Background

  DirecTV removed WSKY-TV from its lineup on January 1, 2009. The station had not re-elected must-carry status for the provider.

  Action taken

  WSKY waited through the relevant three-year period before successfully filing for must-carry status again.

  Aftermath

  The station returned to DirecTV on January 1, 2012.

  Source

• 2006

  Transition from analog to digital transmissionGeneration change

  Background

  WSKY's analog facility had coverage limitations in portions of the northern Hampton Roads market, and the station prepared a new digital facility in Camden County.

  Action taken

  The station ended regular analog service in November 2006 and moved toward digital operation using a new transmission tower and facility.

  Aftermath

  The initial digital tower collapsed during construction in March 2007, but a replacement was completed later that year and regular digital broadcasting resumed in November.

  Source

1. 1WSKY-TVen.wikipedia.org
2. 2WSKY-TV official websitesky4tv.com