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WRTD-CD

WRTD-CD
Channels
BrandingTelemundo Raleigh
Programming
Affiliations54.1: Telemundo
Ownership
Owner
History
Founded1991 (34 years ago) (1991)
Former call signs
  • W60BT (1991–1999)
  • WHOA-LP (1999–2005)
  • WZGS-CA (2005–2013)
  • WZGS-CD (2013–2018)
Former channel number(s)
  • Digital: 44 (UHF, 2013–2018), 49 (UHF, 2018–2019)
  • Virtual: 44 (2013–2018)
Call sign meaning
Raleigh/Research Triangle Telemundo/Durham
Technical information[2]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID41095
ERP805.4 kW
HAAT607 m (1,991 ft)
Transmitter coordinates35°40′29″N 78°31′39″W / 35.67472°N 78.52750°W / 35.67472; -78.52750
Links
Public license information

WRTD-CD (channel 54) is a Class A television station licensed to Raleigh, North Carolina, United States, serving as the Research Triangle area's outlet for the Spanish-language network Telemundo. The station is owned and operated by the Telemundo Station Group subsidiary of NBCUniversal. Under a channel sharing agreement, WRTD-CD shares transmitter facilities with Fox affiliate WRAZ (channel 50, owned by locally based Capitol Broadcasting Company) near Auburn, North Carolina. The station originates its master control from the facilities of WZDC-CD in Washington, D.C., whose website links to WRTD's public file.

Despite WRTD-CD legally holding a low-power Class A license, it transmits using WRAZ's full-power spectrum. This ensures complete reception across the Research Triangle television market (Raleigh−Durham−Chapel Hill−Fayetteville).

History

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The station signed on in 1991 as W60BT. Its call sign was changed to WHOA-LP in 1999, and to WZGS-CA in 2005.

WZGS-CA went silent on April 1, 2010, due to losing its first affiliation with Telemundo.[3] It then became an independent station, airing English, Spanish and Portuguese programming. In the interim, the national cable/satellite feed for Telemundo served the market.

WZGS-CA resumed broadcasting on March 25, 2011.[4] The station changed its call sign to WZGS-CD on May 31, 2013.[5]

On December 4, 2017, NBCUniversal's Telemundo Station Group announced its purchase of ZGS Communications' 13 television stations, including WZGS-CD. The sale marks NBCUniversal's re-entry into the Raleigh–Durham market, as they owned WNCN (channel 17) from 1996 to 2006 (it is now a CBS affiliate, owned by Nexstar Media Group).[6] The sale was completed on July 20, 2018.[7] NBCUniversal changed the station's call letters to WRTD-CD[8] on July 25, 2018;[5] the station also rejoined Telemundo.

Subchannels

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Subchannels of WRAZ and WRTD-CD[9]
License Channel Res. Aspect Short name Programming
WRAZ 50.1 720p 16:9 WRAZ-HD Fox
50.2 MeTV MeTV
50.3 480i DABL Dabl
50.4 WRAZ4 Heroes & Icons
WRTD-CD 54.1 WRTD-CD Telemundo

References

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  1. ^ "WZGS / WRAZ Channel Share Agreement" (PDF). Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission. April 27, 2018. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  2. ^ "Facility Technical Data for WRTD-CD". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  3. ^ "Request for Silent STA". CDBS Public Access. Federal Communications Commission. March 25, 2010. Retrieved March 27, 2010.
  4. ^ "Resumption of Operations". CDBS Public Access. Federal Communications Commission. March 30, 2011. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
  5. ^ a b "Call Sign History (WRTD-CD)". CDBS Public Access. Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved July 31, 2018.
  6. ^ Miller, Mark K. (December 4, 2017). "NBCU Adding ZGS Stations To Telemundo". TVNewsCheck. Retrieved December 4, 2017.
  7. ^ "Consummation Notice". CDBS Public Access. Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
  8. ^ "Media Bureau Call Sign Actions" (PDF). Federal Communications Commission. July 6, 2018. Retrieved July 6, 2018.
  9. ^ "TV Query for WRAZ". RabbitEars. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved June 15, 2013.