WLWC
| WLWC | |
|---|---|
| New Bedford, Massachusetts / Providence, Rhode Island | |
| Branding | UPN28 |
| Slogan | The U (formerly Altogether Now) |
| Analog channel | 28 (UHF) |
| Digital channel | 22 (UHF) |
| Affiliations | UPN The WB (secondary) |
| Owner | CBS Corporation |
| Founded | 1997 |
| Call letters meaning | |
| Former affiliations | |
| Website | www.upn28.com |
WLWC is the UPN owned and operated television station licenced to New Bedford, Massachusetts, and serving the Providence, Rhode Island market. Owned by CBS, the station's headquarters is in Providence, with master control operated out of the studios of nearby WBZ-TV and WSBK. In addition to UPN programming, the station also runs some WB network programming.
History
WLWC began broadcasting on April 13, 1997 as a The WB affiliate, owned by Fant Broadcasting , and controlled by NBC affiliate WJAR under a Local marketing agreement. At that time, the station aired a WJAR-produced newscast at 10PM . However, Fant sold the station (along with WWHO in Columbus, Ohio) to Viacom just three months later, which resulted in the WJAR LMA being terminated in September. Because of its close proximity to UPN O&O WSBK-TV, WLWC continued to air WB programming primarily, but since May 2000 it has been a secondary affiliation, as that is when the primary affiliation was finally switched to UPN, since proximity had become a non-issue by then.In 2002, WBZ-TV, whose studios by this point became home to the master control of WLWC, added their morning newscast and Sports Final to channel 28's lineup to serve viewers inconvinenienced by Cox Cable dropping channel 4 from their Rhode Island systems. By 2004, WLWC had dropped WBZ's program in favor of The Daily Buzz.
Programming
When not airing network programming, WLWC airs a general entertainment format, which includes talk shows, off-network sitcoms, dramas, syndicated programming, and (generally on the weekends) movies.In addition, WLWC airs the Phantom Gourmet from WSBK-TV every Saturday morning. Also, channel 28 airs WBZ-TV's Sports Final tape-delayed by one half-hour, at midnight on Sunday night/Monday morning.
Beginning with the 2005 season, WLWC (along with WSBK) began airing Jefferson Pilot's syndicated broadcasts of Atlantic Coast Conference College football games, as Boston College's move to the conference has created regional interest for the ACC.