WSTQ-LP
WSTQ-LP (UPN-6, The Q) is the
UPN affiliate for
Syracuse, New York. It broadcasts on channel 14, and is available on cable 6 in Syracuse. It can also be seen on WSTM's digital signal on channel 54.2.
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WSTQ-LP's future CW logo. |
In March of
2006 WSTQ saw two new changes happen to the station in the same week: the sale of the station to
Barrington Broadcasting, and being picked by
The CW Television Network as its new affiliate. Both changes will happen in September
2006.
WSTQ and WSTM share coverage of the
New York Yankees Friday-night package produced for
WWOR.
Local
"i" affiliate
WSPX-TV has filed an application with the FCC to broadcast its digital signal on channel 14, where WSTQ is now. If the application is granted, WSTQ will be required to relocate to another channel.
Before Raycom purchased the station, the call letters were
WAWA-LP. When the station signed on cable channel 6 on Time Warner Cable on July 1, 2003, Raycom changed the call letters to WSTQ-LP, to fit in with their current channel's call letters, WSTM.
WAWA, which was owned by Venture Technologies Group LLC, mainly showed very little syndicated shows; the majority of its line up was home shopping.
On October 20, 2001, 10 months after
WNYS-TV dropped its UPN affiliation, WAWA picked up the UPN affiliation for Syracuse.
For two years, WAWA fought to get the station on
Time Warner Cable's Syracuse system. Due to lack of programming (mainly home shopping), Time Warner refused to carry the station. By Federal law, it was not oblgated to do so -- due to its status as a low-powered television station (which has no "
must-carry" protection), Time Warner was not required to include this station on their line-up. Also, Time Warner already added
WSBK-TV out of Boston to its line-up in July 2001 on channel 6.
WAWA even offered to pay Time Warner Cable to carry the station; low-powered stations buying channel space on cable is commonplace, due to its lack of "must-carry" protection.
WAWA took the case to the FCC and asked them to adopt a rule that would require Time Warner to black out WSBK's prime time UPN line up, whether they carried WAWA or not. FCC ruled against WAWA.
In 2003, Raycom Media, owner of WSTM purchased WAWA from Venture Technologies for an undisclosed amount of money. The station was then re-called
WSTQ-LP and was given the moniker
UPN 6, The Q. Raycom used 6 instead of 14 to reflect its cable slot, which they eventually got following its acquisition from Raycom. The same "must-carry" laws that kept WAWA off Time Warner eventually got them on Time Warner -- the law gives full-powered stations the option of "retransmission consent", or requesting compensation from cable systems to carry their station. In this case, full-powered WSTM can require cable systems like Time Warner to offer low-powered WSTQ on their systems as part of the compensation for carrying WSTM.
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www.wstq.com
