Jump to content

WOFL

Add links
Coordinates: 28°36′14″N 81°5′10″W / 28.60389°N 81.08611°W / 28.60389; -81.08611
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

WOFL
CityOrlando, Florida
Channels
BrandingFox 35 Orlando; Fox 35 News
Programming
Affiliations
Ownership
OwnerFox Television Stations, LLC
WOGX, WRBW
History
First air date
  • March 31, 1974; 50 years ago (1974-03-31) (original incarnation)
  • October 15, 1979 (45 years ago) (1979-10-15) (current incarnation)
Last air date
September 30, 1976; 48 years ago (1976-09-30) (original incarnation)
Former call signs
WSWB (1974–1979)
Former channel number(s)
  • Analog: 35 (UHF, 1974–2009)
  • Digital: 22 (UHF, until 2020)
Call sign meaning
Orlando, Florida, also a play on the word Waffle
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID41225
ERP1,000 kW
HAAT447 m (1,467 ft)
Transmitter coordinates28°36′14″N 81°5′10″W / 28.60389°N 81.08611°W / 28.60389; -81.08611
Links
Public license information
Websitefox35orlando.com

WOFL (channel 35) is a television station in Orlando, Florida, United States, serving as the market's Fox network outlet. It is owned and operated by the network's Fox Television Stations division alongside MyNetworkTV station WRBW (channel 65). The two stations share studios on Skyline Drive in Lake Mary; WOFL's transmitter is located in unincorporated Bithlo, Florida.

WOGX (channel 51) in Ocala operates as a semi-satellite of WOFL, serving the Gainesville television market. As such, it clears all network programming as provided through its parent and simulcasts WOFL's newscasts, but airs a separate offering of syndicated programming; there are also separate local commercial inserts and legal station identifications. Although WOGX maintains an advertising sales office on Northwest 53rd Avenue in Gainesville, master control and most internal operations are based at WOFL's studios.

WSWB-TV

[edit]

Interest in constructing a commercial ultra high frequency (UHF) television station in Orlando stretched as far back as 1965, when the Connecticut-based Omicron Television Corporation applied for channel 35.[2] The construction permit was awarded in 1966,[3] but it was vacant by 1970, when Sun World Broadcasters Inc. applied for channel 35.[4] It was headed by Orlando resident Earl Boyles, who had run television stations in multiple states, and featured stockholders from the Orlando area as well as the state of North Carolina.[5] The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved the construction permit to Sun World on March 21, 1971, and the call sign WSWB-TV two months later.[6]

Sun World's plans to build the station were delayed 19 months. In April 1972, the company ran newspaper ads promising the station would debut that August.[7] Construction activities were snarled by a national shortage of building supplies, which delayed work on the studios on Colonial Drive east of Orlando, and difficulties with the land conditions at the tower site in Bithlo, which a station official called "mucky" and requiring compacted sand to withstand the weight of a 1,500-foot (460 m) tower. Planned airdates of March, August, and November 1973 were all missed.[8][9][10]

WSWB-TV began broadcasting on March 31, 1974. It represented an investment of $3.6 million and was a general-entertainment independent station with movies, sports, reruns, children's shows, and pre-empted network programming. It also featured a local 10:30 p.m. newscast.[11] The 10:30 news used national and international footage from Television News Inc.;[12] it lasted six months before being scrapped.[13] At the outset, WSWB-TV invested heavily in locally produced programs, which included a midday talk show, Florida Lifestyle; two children's shows, Romper Room and Uncle Hubie's Children's Playhouse; a teen dance hour, Blue Christie's Rock and Roll Sundance; and the country music program The Gene Thomley Show.[14]

Within months of signing on the air, WSWB-TV began showing signs of financial strain. In November 1974, RCA, a major equipment supplier to the startup station, sued for $2.28 million they alleged they were owed on video tape equipment, which they sought to repossess.[15] Sun World countersued, alleging that RCA had breached its contract and claiming loss of advertising sales and reputation after the RCA suit.[16] The station spent 1975 fighting for its viability. In June, Sun World agreed to sell WSWB-TV to the Martin International Corporation,[17] though the transaction was not submitted for FCC approval until December 16.[6] Meanwhile July 2, leasing company Continental Credit Corporation moved to seize $200,000 of mostly office furnishings from the studios, though the station continued to broadcast.[18] Continental pushed for the appointment of a receiver for WSWB-TV, to which Martin objected because it believed such a move would jeopardize the station's broadcast license; as a compromise, the parent of Sun World, not Sun World itself, was put into receivership.[19] Following the appointment, WSWB-TV canceled its local programs, let go of their hosts,[20][21] and focused its early evening lineup and movies.[22] In December 1975, Winter Park Federal Savings and Loan and Continental Credit—the two mortgageholders on WSWB-TV properties—moved to auction the station's facilities to satisfy creditors,[23] with the savings and loan winning its own mortgages at auction.[24]

Three years off the air

[edit]

On October 3, 1975, a federal judge ordered Sun World Broadcasters to turn over RCA's equipment to the company within 28 days. RCA later gave the station until September 28, 1976, to pay what it was owed. The action went unheralded until September 30, 1976, when U.S. Marshals arrived at the station's studios with a court order and a group of movers and engineers to remove the RCA equipment from the building. At 2:39 p.m., in the middle of The Mickey Mouse Club and with no advance warning to viewers, channel 35 left the air.[25] Viewers flooded the station's switchboard with calls after the shutdown and as they tuned in for programs throughout the day, asking what had happened. Even the youngest viewers, who watched channel 35's cartoons and children's programs, tried to help, sending letters of encouragement and in one case money from their allowances.[26]

Station officials expressed hope that a new owner could be identified and the station put back on the air. By mid-October, one of these potential buyers had bought the transmitter site: Ted Turner, who owned WTCG in Atlanta and WRET in Charlotte, North Carolina.[27] Turner successfully pushed for the appointment of a receiver for Sun World, an action seen as delaying any return to air until the station was sold.[28] The still-pending Martin International application was dismissed,[6] and instead Sun World tried to sell the station to the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN). Turner rejected CBN's offer for the station's real estate; Sun World challenged Turner's actions with the FCC, believing he was attempting to purchase the bankrupt station in the same manner he bought WRET in 1970.[29] A receiver was formally appointed to protect the broadcast license, which was about to expire,[30] and collate the company's assets and claims.[31] The receiver tentatively agreed to sell the station to Turner, but his decision was subject to review by circuit court judge Frederick T. Pfeiffer.[32]

Even though Turner already owned the transmitter site, the stockholders of Sun World disagreed with the receiver's preferred bidder over the structure of the contract. The Turner bid for $1.1 million called for half to be paid at closing and the other half over 10 years, but Turner had the option to prepay the latter at a 10 percent discount. They preferred a different bid for channel 35: the Omega group, a five-man consortium headed by Lawrence H. "Bud" Rogers, a retired Taft Broadcasting executive.[33] Pfeiffer bucked the receiver and his own "first impression" favoring Turner and approved the sale of WSWB-TV to Omega for $1.2 million on April 12, 1977.[34] Turner refused to back down and promised to appeal Pfeiffer's decision.[35]

In the meantime, the studio building was auctioned. Winter Park Federal Savings and Loan and Turner had each bid, but the winner was another Orlando television station: public station WMFE-TV (channel 24), which had outgrown its existing facilities at the Mid-Florida Technical Institute and sought larger quarters in preparation to start an FM radio station.[36][37][38] Turner filed his appeal, in the Florida Fourth District Court of Appeal in West Palm Beach; industry experts noted that what was at stake was the potential to run the only independent station in the rapidly growing Orlando market at a time when independent outlets were on an upturn.[39] The appeals court case, further delayed by the resignation of a judge,[40] ended in June 1978 with a ruling upholding Pfeiffer's April 1977 decision favoring Omega.[41] The ruling was unsuccessfully appealed to the Florida Supreme Court.[42]

WOFL: Omega and Meredith ownership

[edit]

Orlando's leading independent

[edit]

On June 15, 1979, the FCC approved the transfer of the channel 35 license to Omega Communications, Inc.[6] The station changed its call sign from WSWB-TV to WOFL on August 30,[6] and the new owners set to work converting a former bank on Orange Blossom Trail into channel 35's new studios. Lauding WSWB-TV's general manager in 1976, Ray Balsom, for keeping the station afloat and even profitable in the months before it closed, Rogers tapped him to be WOFL's first general manager. WOFL launched on October 15, 1979, again utilizing a typical independent station format.[43][44] The Meredith Corporation of Des Moines, Iowa, had invested in Omega Communications before WOFL went on air[43] and held a 40-percent stake as well as a buyout option that it could trigger before 1984. It acquired the remainder of Omega in a 1983 transaction valuing the station at $27.6 million—a substantial return on the $1.2 million Omega had paid to buy the facility out of receivership.[45][46] In the years after its relaunch, WOFL was the primary independent station in its market, with a market share of 8 to 9 percent. In 1982, Central Florida gained its second independent, WMOD (channel 43). Licensed to Melbourne, it lacked the corporate and programming resources and technical facility of WOFL and only had a market share of 3 percent by late 1984.[47][48] Though stations across Central Florida attempted to compete, only WOFL had a good signal and cable coverage in Orlando, while two other channels allotted to Orlando (27 and 65) were in the hearing phase.[49] In October 1986, WOFL became the Orlando-market affiliate of the new Fox network.[50]

With its prosperity, the station expanded its facilities and attempted to expand its coverage. In 1986, Meredith completed new studios for the station along Interstate 4 in the Orlando suburb of Lake Mary, consisting of a $5 million building and $1.5 million in new equipment.[51] The larger studio facility was used not only by WOFL but other production endeavors and even other divisions of Meredith. Parts of the 1988 film Ernest Saves Christmas were filmed at channel 35,[52] and the Meredith-owned magazine Golf for Women occupied space that had been designated for a future newsroom.[53]

As early as 1983, a locally owned low-power TV station in Crystal River, W49AI, was on air, rebroadcasting WOFL to a small area in Citrus County.[54] Meredith filed in 1986 to build channel 64, licensed to Inverness, as a rebroadcaster of WOFL under the proposed call sign WIFL. The application was contested by Ocala–based independent station WBSP-TV (channel 51, later WOGX) and the FCC's own Mass Media Bureau, which noted that multiple other applicants for the channel had sought full-service stations, not repeaters.[55][56] In 1989, WOGX appealed the FCC's award of a construction permit to the full commission.[57]

WOGX was acquired by Meredith from Wabash Valley Broadcasting in 1995.[58] When the sale took effect on January 1, 1996,[59] WOFL's general manager assumed responsibility for WOGX, and the company set up data links between the two stations.[60] Master control for WOGX moved to Lake Mary; of 30 jobs in Ocala, eight to nine were eliminated, and another 11 were transferred to Lake Mary. The combination added 94,000 Gainesville-area homes to WOFL's viewing area.[59]

On January 24, 1997, Meredith announced its acquisition of First Media Television, which owned three stations—including Orlando's CBS affiliate, WCPX-TV (channel 6).[61] At the time, duopolies were not allowed; Meredith had to select a station to keep. Employees at both stations suggested that WOFL would be chosen for sale,[62] but Meredith kept WOFL and instead traded WCPX to Post-Newsweek Stations.[63]

Fox ownership

[edit]

In 2002, Meredith traded WOFL and WOGX to News Corporation's Fox Television Stations Group, and, in return, Meredith received KPTV (channel 12) in Portland, Oregon; the deal was finalized on June 17, 2002, making WOFL a Fox owned-and-operated station, and sister station to then-UPN affiliate WRBW. Fox had acquired WRBW and KPTV several months earlier, when it acquired the United Television station group. This trade protected WOFL's Fox affiliation. After the trade was finalized, WRBW merged its operations with those of WOFL, and moved into WOFL's facility in Lake Mary. WOFL was the only network-owned station in the Orlando–Daytona Beach market during that time as the Chris-Craft purchase effectively stripped WRBW of its status as a UPN O&O. WOFL began airing fewer cartoons on the weekdays in the late 1990s and, in 2002, dropped them altogether during the five-day week when Fox ended its children's programming block and leased the lineup to 4Kids Entertainment under the 4Kids TV brand. Until Fox bought WJZY in Charlotte in 2013 (currently owned by Nexstar Media Group), it was also the smallest Fox O&O in the Eastern Time Zone.

On December 14, 2017, The Walt Disney Company, owner of ABC (affiliated network of WFTV, channel 9), announced its intent to buy WOFL's parent company, 21st Century Fox, for $66.1 billion; the sale, which closed on March 20, 2019, excluded WOFL and sister stations WRBW and WOGX as well as the Fox network, the MyNetworkTV programming service, Fox News, Fox Sports 1 and the Fox Television Stations unit, which were all transferred to the newly-formed Fox Corporation (since an outright buyout of Fox would be illegal under FCC regulations prohibiting a merger between any two of the four major networks).[64][65]

News operation

[edit]

WOFL general manager Norris Reichel announced in July 1996 that the station planned to debut a "fast-paced" 10 p.m. local newscast seven nights a week in early 1997. The only local station airing news at 10 was WKCF (channel 18), which offered a WCPX-produced newscast.[66] The plans were put on hold temporarily while Meredith decided which of WCPX or WOFL to divest, but when it decided to keep channel 35, the news department plans were cleared to launch.[53] The 10 p.m. news debuted as a half-hour broadcast on March 1, 1998, targeting a younger audience in line with Fox network programming; the main news anchors were in their early 30s, and the station had a fleet of Ford Mustangs as news vehicles. The original plans also included a 6 p.m. newscast for WOGX focusing on Ocala and Gainesville news,[67][68][69] but this failed to meet ratings and demographic targets and was discontinued after nine months.[70] The prime time news expanded to a full hour in September 1999.[71]

In 2000, WOFL expanded its news operation to mornings with the launch of Good Day Orlando, originally a two-hour program running from 7 to 9 a.m. against the national network morning newscasts. The news department was expanded by 13 employees and the station's video production unit closed to make way for the new newscast.[72][73] After the Fox acquisition, this program expanded to three hours from 6 to 9 a.m. in September 2002 and was relaunched as the more news-oriented Fox 35 Morning News.[74]

News operation

[edit]

WOFL presently broadcasts 57+1⁄2 hours of locally produced newscasts each week (with 9+1⁄2 hours each weekday and five hours each on Saturdays and Sundays); in regards to the number of hours devoted to news programming, it is the highest local newscast output of any television station in the Orlando market. As is commonplace with Fox stations that carry early evening weekend newscasts, WOFL's Saturday and Sunday 5 p.m. newscasts are subject to preemption due to sports coverage. WOFL's Ocala semi-satellite, WOGX (channel 51), currently simulcasts all of WOFL's newscasts, with the weeknight 11 p.m. show becoming the last newscast to be included in September 2022. WOFL shares resources with Tampa sister station WTVT in areas of Florida in which the Orlando and Tampa markets overlap; the stations share reporters for stories occurring in Florida counties served by both markets, and WOFL also simulcasts WTVT's Tampa Bay Buccaneers pregame show Scott Smith's Tailgate Sunday.

WOFL began competing against the Big Three affiliates in the early evening timeslot with the debut of the 5 p.m. newscast in March 2006, which expanded to seven days a week that fall. A 6 p.m. newscast was added in August 2007 and an 11 p.m. newscast began in January 2008; unlike many other Fox owned-and-operated stations that began airing newscasts in the traditional late news timeslot following Fox's purchase of the New World Communications station group, the 11 p.m. newscast does not use the NewsEdge title.

On February 9, 2009, WOFL became the third station in the Central Florida area to broadcast news in high definition. In June 2009, WOFL shut down its sports department, making it the only Fox-owned station without full-time sports segments; sports anchors Kevin Holden and Tom Johnson were reassigned to other positions. On October 27, 2009, WOFL debuted a new Doppler weather radar called "The Guardian", the most powerful radar system in the market operating on 1 million watts.

On September 14, 2009, the station rescheduled Fox 35 Morning News to 5–8:30 a.m. and launched an extension of the newscast called Good Day (marking a return of the brand after seven years), running weekdays from 8:30 to 10 am. The 8:30 half-hour was shortly reabsorbed into the morning news; however, on November 8, 2010, the entire morning newscast took on the Good Day name, along with an updated version of their news theme music. Also, in April 2010, the morning news was expanded to 4:30 am, expanding the entire morning newscast to 5+1⁄2 hours each weekday morning and competing against an earlier-launched 4:30 a.m. newscast on NBC affiliate WESH (channel 2). In November 2012, the morning show was renamed Good Day Orlando to match other Fox affiliates around the country.

On April 25, 2016, Good Day Orlando was further expanded to 4 am, making the entire morning newscast six hours each weekday.

Technical information

[edit]

Subchannels

[edit]

The station's signal is multiplexed:

Subchannels of WOFL[75]
Channel Res. Aspect Short name Programming
35.1 720p 16:9 WOFL Fox
35.2 480i Buzzr Buzzr
35.3 FOX WX Fox Weather
65.1 720p 16:9 WRBW MyNetworkTV (WRBW)
  Broadcast on behalf of another station

Analog-to-digital conversion

[edit]

WOFL was the first television station in the Orlando market to commence broadcasting of its digital signal in February 2000 on UHF channel 22. The station's digital signal began broadcasting in widescreen format in January 2002, and started to offer high definition programming in the 720p resolution format in September 2004.

WOFL shut down its analog signal, on UHF channel 35, on June 12, 2009, as part of the federally mandated transition from analog to digital television.[76] The station's digital signal continued to broadcast on its pre-transition UHF channel 22, using virtual channel 35.

WOFL was one of three stations in the Orlando area (along with WKCF and WKMG-TV) to participate in the "Analog Nightlight" program, which lasted until WOFL's analog transmitter was shut down permanently on July 12, 2009.[77]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Facility Technical Data for WOFL". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ^ "UHF Station Sought Here". The Orlando Sentinel. Orlando, Florida. July 15, 1965. p. 15-D. Retrieved November 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Omicron Wins TV Channel 35". The Orlando Sentinel. Orlando, Florida. September 15, 1966. p. 2-A. Retrieved November 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "New TV Station Seeks Okay For Orlando Area". The Orlando Sentinel. Orlando, Florida. August 5, 1970. p. 8-A. Retrieved November 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Frangus, Singhaus: 2 Educators Have Roles In Plans For TV Station". Orlando Evening Star. Orlando, Florida. August 8, 1970. p. 3-A. Retrieved November 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ a b c d e "History Cards for WOFL". Federal Communications Commission.
  7. ^ "From up here you'll get a clear view... starting August '72". The Orlando Sentinel (Advertisement). Orlando, Florida. April 23, 1972. p. 69-F. Retrieved November 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ Jean, Charlie (December 16, 1972). "TV Channel 35 To Go On Air In March". Orlando Evening Star. Orlando, Florida. p. 7-A. Retrieved November 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Channel 35 Looking To August". Sentinel Star. Orlando, Florida. April 20, 1973. p. 11-A. Retrieved November 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ Holston, Noel (November 29, 1973). "New UHF Station Resets 'Air' Date". Sentinel Star. Orlando, Florida. p. 16-D. Retrieved November 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Channel 35 Goes 'On The Air' Today". Sentinel Star. Orlando, Florida. March 31, 1974. p. 16-A. Retrieved November 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ Holston, Noel (April 27, 1974). "TVN Furnishes News Alternative". Sentinel Star. Orlando, Florida. p. 6-D. Retrieved November 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ Holston, Noel (September 28, 1974). "'New Land' May Prompt Shifts". Sentinel Star. Orlando, Florida. p. 8-D. Retrieved November 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ Holston, Noel (June 3, 1974). "Local Music Series Joins 35's Lineup". Sentinel Star. Orlando, Florida. p. 8-D. Retrieved November 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "Equipment Firm Sues Channel 35". Sentinel Star. Orlando, Florida. November 7, 1974. p. 2-B. Retrieved November 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ "$34 Million Sought In Channel 35 Suit". Sentinel Star. Orlando, Florida. November 19, 1974. p. 8-A. Retrieved November 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ "Agreement Reached On Sale Of Ch. 35". Sentinel Star. Orlando, Florida. June 22, 1975. p. 11-A. Retrieved November 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ Holston, Noel (July 2, 1975). "Troubled Station Still On Air". Sentinel Star. Orlando, Florida. p. 1-B. Retrieved November 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ "Channel 35 Negotiators In Accord". Sentinel Star. Orlando, Florida. July 10, 1975. p. B-1. Retrieved November 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ Holston, Noel (July 19, 1975). "Future Cloudy For Channel 35". Sentinel Star. Orlando, Florida. p. 8-D. Retrieved November 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ Holston, Noel (July 26, 1975). "Equal Time Rule Hovers". Sentinel Star. Orlando, Florida. p. 8-D. Retrieved November 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ^ Holston, Noel (August 30, 1975). "Channel 35's On The Mov(i)e". Sentinel Star. Orlando, Florida. p. 10-D. Retrieved November 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ^ Holston, Noel (December 5, 1975). "Channel 35 On Block Unless Buyer Arrives". Sentinel Star. Orlando, Florida. p. B-1. Retrieved November 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. ^ "TV 35 Facilities Sold For Debts". Sentinel Star. Orlando, Florida. January 22, 1976. p. 12-B. Retrieved November 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. ^ Williams, Malcolm (October 1, 1976). "TV 35 Goes Off As U.S. Marshals Take Equipment". Sentinel Star. Orlando, Florida. pp. 1-A, 7-A. Retrieved November 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  26. ^ Holston, Noel (October 14, 1976). "Camera? Kids Rally 'Round Troubled Channel". Sentinel Star. Orlando, Florida. p. 1-F. Retrieved November 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  27. ^ Holston, Noel (October 14, 1976). "Channel 35 Settlement Due By Noon". Sentinel Star. Orlando, Florida. p. 1-B. Retrieved November 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  28. ^ "Channel 35 Placed In Receivership". Sentinel Star. Orlando, Florida. October 28, 1976. p. 2-B. Retrieved November 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  29. ^ Holston, Noel (November 10, 1976). "Another Crisis For Channel 35". Sentinel Star. Orlando, Florida. p. 10-D. Retrieved November 11, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  30. ^ "Channel 35 Receiver Approved". Sentinel Star. Orlando, Florida. November 18, 1976. p. 1-A. Retrieved November 11, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  31. ^ Madlee, Dorothy (January 28, 1977). "Channel 35 May Be Going Back On Air With New Owners". Sentinel Star. Orlando, Florida. p. 1-B. Retrieved November 11, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  32. ^ Madlee, Dorothy (March 30, 1977). "Channel 35 awaits sale approval to begin telecasts". Sentinel Star. Orlando, Florida. p. 1-A. Retrieved November 11, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  33. ^ Navarro, Leonard (April 12, 1977). "Stockholders nix Turner offer to buy Channel 35 operation". Sentinel Star. Orlando, Florida. p. 2-C. Retrieved November 11, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  34. ^ Novarro, Leonard (April 13, 1977). "Judge awards Channel 35 to Omega five". Sentinel Star. Orlando, Florida. pp. 1-A, 4-A. Retrieved November 11, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  35. ^ Novarro, Leonard (April 17, 1977). "Rogers gets TV 35; Turner not giving in yet". Sentinel Star. Orlando, Florida. p. 11-B. Retrieved November 11, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  36. ^ "Judge won't upset Channel 35 ruling". Sentinel Star. Orlando, Florida. April 26, 1977. p. 2-C. Retrieved November 11, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  37. ^ Kupfer, April (April 26, 1977). "Bid for TV facility accepted". Sentinel Star. Orlando, Florida. p. 2-C. Retrieved November 11, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  38. ^ "Channel 24 gets money to move". Sentinel Star. Orlando, Florida. September 16, 1977. p. 2-C. Retrieved November 11, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  39. ^ Novarro, Leonard (May 1, 1977). "Turner appeal to stall return for Channel 35". Sentinel Star. Orlando, Florida. p. 9-B. Retrieved November 11, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  40. ^ Novarro, Leonard (May 11, 1978). "Court of Appeal asks re-run on Channel 35 case". Sentinel Star. Orlando, Florida. p. 12-C. Retrieved November 11, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  41. ^ Lipman, Larry (June 29, 1978). "Court upholds sale of Channel 35". Sentinel Star. Orlando, Florida. p. 2-C. Retrieved November 11, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  42. ^ "Omega Communications receives license to operate Channel 35". Sentinel Star. Orlando, Florida. June 20, 1979. p. 10-B. Retrieved November 11, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  43. ^ a b Holston, Noel (October 7, 1979). "The second coming of Channel 35". Sentinel Star. Orlando, Florida. pp. TV 7, 46. Retrieved November 11, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  44. ^ Platt, Pam (October 17, 1979). "Channel 35 Is Back on the Air". Today. Cocoa, Florida. p. 1D. Retrieved November 11, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  45. ^ Tracy, Dan (November 30, 1982). "Channel 35 is sold: Majority partner agrees to $16 million sale". The Orlando Sentinel. Orlando, Florida. pp. D-1, D-2. Retrieved November 11, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  46. ^ Marlowe, Dick (June 2, 1983). "Orlando television stations are a good way to get rich quick". The Orlando Sentinel. Orlando, Florida. p. D-1. Retrieved November 11, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  47. ^ Reed, Julie (December 24, 1984). "Independents fight for market share: Channels 35, 43 air plans for attracting dollars". The Orlando Sentinel. Orlando, Florida. p. Central Florida Business 3. Retrieved November 11, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  48. ^ Reed, Julia (June 22, 1985). "New Jersey firm buys Channel 43". The Orlando Sentinel. Orlando, Florida. pp. B-1, B-7. Retrieved November 11, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  49. ^ Strother, Susan G. (February 22, 1988). "Tower of Power: New independent stations rise to challenge WOFL's supremacy". The Orlando Sentinel. Orlando, Florida. pp. Central Florida Business 1, 20, 21. Retrieved November 11, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  50. ^ Blumenstyk, Goldie (September 17, 1986). "WOFL-TV puts Joan vs. Johnny: Battle for late-night viewers starts Oct. 9". The Orlando Sentinel. Orlando, Florida. pp. D-1, D-4. Retrieved November 11, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  51. ^ Snyder, Jack (December 8, 1986). "Troubles plaguing appraisal industry: Group proposes certification by state boards". The Orlando Sentinel. Orlando, Florida. p. Central Florida Business 6. Retrieved November 11, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  52. ^ Twardy, Chuck (January 21, 1991). "Making the high-tech move: Stations' homes befit their status". The Orlando Sentinel. pp. C-1, C-3. Archived from the original on August 5, 2023. Retrieved August 5, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  53. ^ a b Stutzman, Rene (June 3, 1997). "WOFL renews plans for newscast". The Orlando Sentinel. Orlando, Florida. p. B-4. Retrieved November 11, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  54. ^ Morelli, Keith (February 20, 1983). "Crystal River Getting Its Own Stations". Ocala Star-Banner. p. 6E. Archived from the original on April 5, 2024. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
  55. ^ Morelli, Keith (January 17, 1987). "Ocala Station Opposes Citrus TV Tower". Ocala Star-Banner. p. 2B. Archived from the original on April 5, 2024. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
  56. ^ Schuster, Larry (July 6, 1987). "FCC tunes in on Inverness". The Tampa Tribune. Tampa, Florida. pp. Citrus/Marion 1, 2. Archived from the original on April 5, 2024. Retrieved April 5, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  57. ^ Dougherty, Ken (July 31, 1989). "Inverness could get UHF-TV station". Ocala Star-Banner. p. 1B. Archived from the original on April 5, 2024. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
  58. ^ Ward, Tyler E. (March 25, 1995). "Wabash Valley sells WOGX: Meredith Corp. to buy Fox 51". Gainesville Sun. Ocala Star-Banner. p. 6B. Archived from the original on April 5, 2024. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
  59. ^ a b Stutzman, Rene (January 29, 1996). "Station takes over rival Fox affiliate: Deal puts WOFL in remote control of WOGX". The Orlando Sentinel. Orlando, Florida. p. Central Florida Business 4. Archived from the original on April 5, 2024. Retrieved April 5, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  60. ^ Firrone, Rima L. (December 21, 1995). "Ocala's Fox 51 gets rid of key post". Ocala Star-Banner. p. 7C. Archived from the original on April 5, 2024. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
  61. ^ Segal, David (January 25, 1997). "Marriott-controlled firm to sell 4 TV stations to Meredith Corp". Washington Post. Archived from the original on August 28, 2017. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
  62. ^ Stutzman, Rene (January 25, 1997). "Meredith to purchase Channel 6". The Orlando Sentinel. Orlando, Florida. pp. C-1, C-9. Archived from the original on February 26, 2024. Retrieved February 25, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  63. ^ "Meredith trades for Connecticut TV station". AP. June 2, 1997. Archived from the original on August 10, 2022. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
  64. ^ "Disney Buys Big Chunk Of Fox In $66.1B Deal". TVNewsCheck. December 14, 2017. Retrieved December 15, 2017.
  65. ^ "Murdoch: New Fox Interested In More Stations". TVNewsCheck. December 14, 2017. Retrieved December 14, 2017.
  66. ^ Stutzman, Rene (July 25, 1996). "Channel 35 promises 'fast-paced' newscast". The Orlando Sentinel. Orlando, Florida. p. A-2. Retrieved November 11, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  67. ^ Abbott, Jim (February 28, 1998). "WOFL takes aim at news market: Fox affiliate hopes to hook viewers with 'cool news'". The Orlando Sentinel. Orlando, Florida. pp. E-1, E-8. Retrieved November 11, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  68. ^ "WOFL jazzes up 10 o'clock news to lure young Fox watchers". The Orlando Sentinel. Orlando, Florida. March 2, 1998. p. 78. Archived from the original on April 5, 2024. Retrieved April 5, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  69. ^ Young Sikes, Janine (February 28, 1998). "Fox 51 News' debut to increase area competition". Gainesville Sun.
  70. ^ Arndorfer, Bob (November 5, 1998). "Local TV station dropping newscast". Gainesville Sun.
  71. ^ Abbott, Jim (September 13, 1999). "Revamped 'GMA,' debut of 'Martin Short'". The Orlando Sentinel. Orlando, Florida. p. B-8. Retrieved November 11, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  72. ^ "'Good Day Orlando' will dawn on Fox 35". The Orlando Sentinel. Orlando, Florida. June 30, 2000. p. E-4. Retrieved November 11, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  73. ^ Abbott, Jim (September 15, 2000). "On the way: New morning show and sports report". Orlando Sentinel. Orlando, Florida. p. E4. Retrieved November 11, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  74. ^ Boedeker, Hal (October 4, 2002). "News rivalries become a bit more intense". Orlando Sentinel. Orlando, Florida. pp. E1, E3. Retrieved November 11, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  75. ^ "Digital TV Market Listing for WOFL". RabbitEars.Info. Retrieved January 26, 2017.
  76. ^ "List of Digital Full-Power Stations" (PDF).
  77. ^ [1][permanent dead link]
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=WOFL&oldid=1256672914"