History of WFMZ-TV in Timeline

WFMZ-TV is an independent television station based in Allentown, Pennsylvania, owned by Maranatha Broadcasting Company. It shares studios with WDPN-TV on South Mountain in Allentown, where WFMZ-TV's transmitter is situated. Additionally, WFMZ-TV operates a secondary studio in the PPL Center in Allentown and a newsroom in Reading. The station provides local programming and news coverage to the Lehigh Valley region.

December 1954: Early WFMZ-TV Operation

In December 1954, an earlier television station with the WFMZ-TV call sign began operating on UHF channel 67 in Allentown; it was co-owned with WFMZ radio.

February 1975: WFMZ Reapplied for Television Station License

In February 1975, WFMZ reapplied for a television station license, substituting channel 69 for channel 67 in Allentown.

May 1975: Equipment Sourced from WHFV

In May 1975, WFMZ sourced its channel 69 transmitter and much of its equipment from WHFV in Fredericksburg, Virginia, after it ceased operations.

December 9, 1975: WFMZ Television License Approved

On December 9, 1975, WFMZ's application for a television station license, using channel 69 in Allentown, was approved. The studios and transmitter were planned to be co-sited with WFMZ radio.

November 25, 1976: WFMZ-TV Debut

On November 25, 1976, WFMZ-TV debuted, broadcasting family-oriented entertainment shows for 13 hours a day.

1976: News Department Debuts

In 1976, WFMZ's news department launched with two daily newscasts at 7 and 10 p.m.

1989: News Expansion

In 1989, WFMZ added a 5 p.m. newscast and moved the 7 p.m. news show to 6 p.m.

1995: Berks Edition Newscast Debut

In 1995, WFMZ expanded its news service geographically with the debut of its Berks Edition newscast at 5:30 p.m.

1997: Enhanced News Ratings and New Programs

Beginning in 1997, WFMZ began experiencing significantly enhanced ratings for its news coverage of the Lehigh Valley. In the late 1990s, the station also launched its first Lehigh Valley-focused morning and noon news programs.

1997: FM Radio Station Sold

In 1997, the FM radio station, which had been co-owned with WFMZ-TV, was sold.

1998: Expanded Berks Edition Newscast

In 1998, WFMZ expanded its Berks Edition newscast to include a 10:30 p.m. news broadcast.

2000: Expanded Local News Programming

By 2000, WFMZ was broadcasting three hours of local Lehigh Valley news daily, alongside comedy, talk, reality, and court shows.

February 5, 2001: 69 News Weather Channel Launched

On February 5, 2001, WFMZ launched the 69 News Weather Channel, a continuous loop of local weather information, traffic cameras, and news headlines; it was the first such multicast service in the United States.

2003: Spanish Language Newscast Debut

In 2003, WFMZ launched 69 News en Español, the region's first Spanish language newscast, to serve the Hispanic community in the Lehigh Valley and Berks County areas.

2005: Broadcast Partnership with WPVI-TV

In 2005, WFMZ formed a broadcast partnership with WPVI-TV (channel 6) in Philadelphia, allowing them to collaborate on news gathering for local stories.

May 2008: Local Newscasts in High Definition

In May 2008, WFMZ began broadcasting its local newscasts in high definition, becoming the fourth station in the Philadelphia media market to do so.

June 12, 2009: Analog Signal Shut Down

On June 12, 2009, WFMZ-TV shut down its analog signal over UHF channel 69 as part of the U.S. transition to digital broadcasts; its digital signal continued on UHF channel 46, using virtual channel 69.

2009: WFMZ Began Carrying Retro TV

In 2009, WFMZ began carrying Retro TV as a WFMZ subchannel.

November 2013: KJWP Carries MeTV Programming

Since November 2013, KJWP has carried MeTV programming in addition to the WFMZ subchannel.

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January 24, 2014: MeTV Philadelphia Affiliation Change Announcement

On January 24, 2014, MeTV announced that it would move its Philadelphia-market affiliation from WFMZ-TV's 69.3 subchannel.

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April 2014: Tuff TV Replaced MeTV

In April 2014, Atlanta-based Tuff TV officially replaced MeTV on the 69.3 subchannel.

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October 2014: New 4 p.m. Newscast Added

In October 2014, WFMZ added an hour-long newscast at 4 p.m., making it the third station in the Philadelphia market to broadcast local news in that timeslot.

December 2014: Heroes & Icons Network Feed

In December 2014, the signal began carrying the Heroes & Icons network feed.

February 2015: New Street-Level Studio Debuted

In February 2015, WFMZ debuted its new street-level studio inside the PPL Center sports arena in Center City Allentown, broadcasting its noon news program from there.

2016: Spectrum Sale and Channel Sharing

In 2016, WFMZ's standalone signal was sold in the broadcast incentive auction and entered into a channel-sharing agreement with WBPH-TV. To relieve congestion, some of WFMZ's subchannels moved to KJWP, which WFMZ purchased.