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WSST-TV

WSST-TV (channel 55) is an independent television station licensed to Cordele, Georgia, United States, serving the Albany, Georgia, area and also having a secondary affiliation with MyNetworkTV. It is owned by Marquee Broadcasting alongside Valdosta-licensed CBS affiliate WSWG (channel 44); Marquee also operates Fox affiliate WFXL (channel 31) under joint sales and shared services agreements (JSA/SSA) with Sinclair Broadcast Group.[1] The three stations share offices on Slappey Boulevard in Albany; WSST-TV's transmitter is located in rural southwestern Crisp County.

The station's digital signal extends only about 50 mi from Cordele; however, the station is carried on many cable providers in the region, including in Albany and Perry. Since April 22, 2019, in order to increase its over-the-air reach, WSST-TV's primary channel has been simulcast on WSWG's third digital subchannel.[2]

History

WSST-TV signed on May 22, 1989, as an independent station owned by Sunbelt-South Telecommunications Ltd.[3] The station grew out of a cable-only station for Cordele and Vienna that had started in 1981.[4] Though primarily independent, at various points WSST's schedule has included programming from Channel America,[5] America One, and Youtoo America. WSST was originally jointly owned by William B. Goodson and Phillip A. Streetman; Goodson died in 2006,[4] and Streetman assumed full control in 2007.[6]

On June 18, 2018, Marquee Broadcasting agreed to purchase WSST from Sunbelt-South Telecommunications.[7][8] The sale was completed on September 3, 2018.[9] Marquee subsequently acquired CBS affiliate WSWG from Gray Television, making it a sister station to WSST.[10] In May 2019, WSST-TV affiliated with MyNetworkTV; the affiliation was transferred from a WSWG subchannel.

Local programming

WSST-TV aired a rebroadcast of sister station WSWG's early evening newscast and a prime time newscast, which launched on May 6, 2019;[11] prior to then, WSST produced its own evening newscast. Until 2022, WSST also produced South Georgia Sunrise, a two-hour morning news and talk program, and Midday, a half-hour talk and lifestyle program.

Technical information

Subchannels

The station's digital signal is multiplexed: {{legend|#E6FFF7|Simulcast of subchannels of another station}}

Analog-to-digital conversion

WSST-TV began broadcasting a digital signal in 2003.[4] Its digital transmitter facilities operated at low power for several years, due to Sunbelt-South Telecommunications, Ltd. being involved in bankruptcy proceedings.[13] The station ended regular programming on its analog signal, over UHF channel 55, on April 15, 2009. WSST's digital signal broadcast on its pre-transition UHF channel 51.[14] The station moved to channel 22 in early 2017,[15] and to channel 34 in December 2018.[16]

External links

References

  1. Facilities and Services Agreement Public Inspection File, Federal Communications Commission, October 7, 2024^
  2. WSWG VALDOSTA, GA www.rabbitears.info^
  3. Television & Cable Factbook 1991 Edition 1991, retrieved May 14, 2019^
  4. Georgia Obituary and Death Notice Collection - Various Counties - 481 GenealogyBuff.com, retrieved May 14, 2019^
  5. Low power television gets high-powered investor Broadcasting, November 26, 1990, retrieved May 14, 2019^
  6. Television & Cable Factbook 2008 2008, retrieved May 14, 2019^
  7. Brian J. Lane. Application for Consent to Assignment of Broadcast Station Construction Permit or License CDBS Public Access, Federal Communications Commission, June 12, 2018, retrieved June 14, 2018^
  8. Marquee Broadcasting acquires WSST Cordele Dispatch, June 18, 2018, retrieved July 19, 2018^
  9. Consummation Notice CDBS Public Access, Federal Communications Commission, September 3, 2018, retrieved September 5, 2018^
  10. Eric Mandel. Gray Television sells Albany CBS affiliate WSWG alongside $3.6B Raycom purchase Atlanta Business Chronicle, August 16, 2018, retrieved May 14, 2019^
  11. New Changes to CBS 44 SouthGATV, April 26, 2019, retrieved May 8, 2019^
  12. RabbitEars TV Query for WSST RabbitEars, retrieved February 2, 2025^
  13. DECLARATORY RULING, SECOND REPORT AND ORDER, AND ORDER ON RECONSIDERATION July 14, 2016, retrieved September 17, 2023^
  14. DTV Tentative Channel Designations for the First and Second Rounds retrieved March 24, 2012^
  15. Channel 22 License to cover^
  16. License To Cover for DTV Application Licensing and Management System, Federal Communications Commission, December 11, 2018, retrieved May 14, 2019^