WSVF-CD

WSVF-CD is a low-power Class A television station licensed to Harrisonburg, Virginia, and serving the Shenandoah Valley. The station operates as part of the Gray Media-owned WHSV television group, alongside full-power ABC affiliate WHSV-TV and low-power dual NBC/CW+ outlet WSVW-LD. Its studios are shared with WHSV-TV on North Main Street, near U.S. Route 11, in downtown Harrisonburg. The group also maintains a newsroom in Fishersville serving Staunton, Waynesboro, and Augusta County. The station's principal identity is The Valley's Fox. Fox programming began in 2006 on a WHSV-TV digital subchannel, giving the Shenandoah Valley its first full-time local Fox service. In 2012, the Fox service was moved to the primary digital feed of the newly relaunched WSVF operation so that Fox programming could be delivered in high definition. WSVF also gained a CBS affiliation in October 2012. CBS programming is carried on the station's second digital subchannel, WSVF-CD2, while the Fox service occupies the primary feed. This arrangement preserves a high-definition Fox signal while expanding the area's over-the-air access to CBS. Because WSVF-CD is a low-power station, its own terrestrial signal has a limited reach centered on Harrisonburg. To extend CBS coverage across the broader market, WSVF-CD2 is simulcast in 16:9 standard definition on WHSV-TV's fifth digital subchannel, channel 3.5, from a transmitter on Elliott Knob west of Staunton. WSVF-CD's own transmitter is located on Massanutten Mountain. The station is also distributed through cable systems under applicable federal must-carry and retransmission-consent arrangements connected to WHSV-TV. WSVF's license history began in 1996 as W25CC, a translator for the Woodstock-based religious independent station WAZT-LP. The callsign changed to W25AZ in 1997, WAZM-LP in 2000, and WAZM-CA after the station received Class A status in 2002. The original analog facility was poorly positioned for the market and was not widely carried by cable providers. Gray Television acquired the station in 2012, changed the callsign to WSVF-CA, suspended the old analog operation, and rebuilt the service as a digital-only station. The Class A status was transferred to the digital facility in February 2013, and the license was subsequently moved to Harrisonburg. Local programming is produced through WHSV's newsroom. WSVF-CD airs a weeknight half-hour prime-time broadcast called The Valley's Fox 10 O'Clock News from a secondary studio set. The program uses dedicated on-air personnel while drawing on additional reporting resources from WHSV. WSVF-CD2 carries simulcasts of WHSV's noon, 6 p.m., and 11 p.m. newscasts, while its early-morning schedule consists of CBS news programming rather than a locally produced morning newscast. The station does not generally simulcast WHSV's other local newscasts on its Fox feed.

WSVF-CD traces its regulatory history to 1996, when it began operation as W25CC, a channel 25 translator for WAZT-LP, a religious independent station based in Woodstock, Virginia. The callsign became W25AZ in 1997 and WAZM-LP in 2000. In 2002, the facility obtained Class A status and adopted the designation WAZM-CA. The original analog operation had limited practical value in the Shenandoah Valley. Its coverage did not adequately reach important population centers, including the community for which it was licensed, and local cable systems generally did not carry it. Television distribution in the region was particularly dependent on cable and satellite because of terrain and the National Radio Quiet Zone's impact on available communications infrastructure. The station therefore had little market visibility despite holding a broadcast license. A significant change began in 2006 when WHSV-TV launched Fox programming on a new digital subchannel, WHSV-DT2. The service debuted on October 26 and supplied the region with its first full-time local Fox affiliation. Before that launch, Fox programming was generally received through WTTG in Washington, D.C.; WHSV-TV had carried Fox secondarily from 1994 to 1996. WHSV undertook technical work, including installation of additional receiving equipment, to support the new service. The Fox feed later gained cable carriage and became an important component of the local television lineup. In April 2012, Jones Broadcasting announced the sale of WAZM-CA to Gray Television. Gray changed the call letters to WSVF-CA on June 4, 2012. Rather than continue the old analog operation, Gray sought to suspend the existing facility and relaunch it as a digital-only service. The FCC granted the suspension request in June. This allowed Gray to replace the poorly positioned analog signal with a digital facility designed to serve Harrisonburg and the broader Shenandoah Valley more effectively. Gray also pursued a CBS affiliation. On July 17, 2012, it announced an agreement involving WSVF-LD and two other Gray low-power stations. CBS programming began on WSVF in October 2012, marking the return of locally transmitted CBS programming to the Shenandoah Valley after a lengthy absence. The area's previous local CBS service had ended when WHSV's predecessor, WSVA-TV, dropped the network in 1963. For many years afterward, viewers relied on Washington station WUSA as the default CBS source. The post-relaunch station used two digital services. Fox programming moved to the primary WSVF feed, where it could be delivered in high definition, while CBS programming occupied the second feed. The CBS service was also placed on WHSV-TV's fifth digital subchannel to overcome the limited over-the-air reach of the low-power WSVF facility. In February 2013, the Class A designation was transferred from the former analog channel 25 operation to the digital station. Gray later received FCC permission to move the license to Harrisonburg. WSVF-CD remains integrated operationally with WHSV-TV. The stations share downtown Harrisonburg studios and newsroom resources, with additional reporting based in Fishersville. WSVF's Fox service airs a dedicated weeknight 10 p.m. local newscast, The Valley's Fox 10 O'Clock News. The CBS feed carries selected WHSV newscasts, including the noon, 6 p.m., and 11 p.m. editions. Gray Media is the current owner, following the corporate evolution of Gray Television into Gray Media.

1. 2013Class A status transferred to digital facility

   The Class A designation moves from the former analog operation to the digital station.

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2. 2012Gray acquires the facility

   Gray Television acquires WAZM-CA and changes the callsign to WSVF-CA.

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3. 2012Digital-only relaunch begins

   The legacy analog operation is suspended as Gray prepares a digital-only WSVF service.

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4. 2012CBS affiliation begins

   CBS programming launches on WSVF's second digital subchannel.

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5. 2006Fox service launches

   Fox programming begins on WHSV-DT2, establishing a full-time Fox service for the Shenandoah Valley.

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6. 2002Class A status granted

   The station upgrades to Class A status and becomes WAZM-CA.

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7. 2000Callsign changes to WAZM-LP

   The facility becomes WAZM-LP.

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8. 1997Callsign changes to W25AZ

   The station adopts the W25AZ callsign.

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9. 1996Station begins as W25CC

   The licensed facility starts as W25CC, a translator for WAZT-LP.

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A locally operated dual Fox/CBS television service for the Shenandoah Valley, combining network programming with regional news and weather coverage.

• WSVF-CD1Fox television affiliate2012

  The primary digital service carries Fox network programming and serves as the station's main over-the-air identity. It was created from the Fox service previously carried by WHSV-DT2. The feed is designed to provide high-definition Fox programming to the Shenandoah Valley and also carries the station's locally produced prime-time news program, The Valley's Fox 10 O'Clock News.

• The Valley's Fox 10 O'Clock NewsLocal television news

  A weeknight, half-hour prime-time newscast produced by WHSV for WSVF-CD. It originates from a secondary set at the shared Harrisonburg facility and combines dedicated WSVF on-air personnel with reporting resources from the wider WHSV newsroom. WHSV-DT4 also carries the program.

• 2012Gray acquires WAZM-CAM&A

  The former WAZM-CA analog facility had weak market visibility and limited carriage.

  What changed. Gray Television purchased the station, changed its callsign to WSVF-CA, and pursued a digital relaunch.

  Aftermath. The operation evolved into the current digital WSVF service and became part of the WHSV station group.

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• 2012Launch of CBS serviceProduct launch

  The Shenandoah Valley had lacked a local CBS affiliate since WHSV's predecessor dropped CBS programming in 1963.

  What changed. Gray launched CBS programming on WSVF's second digital subchannel under a new affiliation agreement.

  Aftermath. CBS became available through a local station, with the feed also distributed through WHSV-TV's fifth digital subchannel.

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• 2012Conversion to a digital-only operationStrategy

  The inherited analog signal did not adequately cover the principal communities in the market.

  What changed. Gray requested suspension of the analog operation and developed a digital facility intended to provide more useful regional coverage.

  Aftermath. The digital signal became the foundation of WSVF-CD's Fox and CBS services.

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• 2012Gray Television acquires WAZM-CA and begins digital relaunch

  Gray acquired the former WAZM-CA, changed its callsign to WSVF-CA, suspended the legacy analog operation, and prepared a digital-only service.

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• 2012WSVF signs CBS affiliation agreement

  Gray signed a CBS affiliation agreement covering WSVF and two other low-power stations. CBS programming began on WSVF's second digital feed in October.

  Product launch
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• 2012WSVF receives expanded cable carriage through must-carry arrangements

  The station's relationship with WHSV-TV enabled it to benefit from cable carriage rules associated with the full-power station's retransmission arrangements.

  RegulationOther
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• 2007WHSV-DT2 added to local Comcast systems

  The Fox digital subchannel expanded its distribution through Comcast, initially appearing on digital channel 705 before later moving to channel 192.

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• 2006WSHV launches Fox service on a digital subchannel

  WHSV-TV launched a standard-definition Fox service on October 26, creating the Shenandoah Valley's first full-time local Fox affiliation.

  Product launchOther
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1. WSVF-CD
2. WHSV-TV website