View source for WEFG-LD

{{Short description|Television station in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2025}}
{{redirect-distinguish|WPTV-LP|WPTV-TV}}
{{Infobox television station
| callsign               = WEFG-LD
| logo                   = WWJT CHANNEL 7 logo.png
| logo_size              = 200px
| location               = [[Philadelphia]], Pennsylvania
| country                = United States
| city                   =
| branding               =
| analog                 =
| digital                = 21 ([[UHF]])
| virtual                = 7
| subchannels            = 
| affiliations           = ''see {{section link||Subchannels}}''
| owner                  = Philadelphia Television Network, Inc.
| licensee               =
| founded                =
| airdate                = {{start date and age|1991|8|16}}
| callsign_meaning       =
| former_callsigns       = {{ubl|W07CB (1991–2001)|WPTV-LP (2001)|WWJT-LP (2001–2010)}}
| former_channel_numbers = '''Analog:''' 7 ([[VHF]], 1991–2010)
| former_affiliations    = {{ubl|[[Channel America]]/[[Family Net]] (1992–1995?)|[[TV Scout]] (1995–1997)|[[Video Jukebox Network|The Box]] (1997–2001)|[[MTV2]] (2001–2007)|[[MTV Tres]] (2007–2011)}}
| erp                    = 15 kW
| haat                   = {{convert|103.2|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
| class                  = [[Low-power broadcasting#Television|LD]]
| facility_id            = 167606
| coordinates            = {{coord|40|4|58.2|N|75|10|54.6|W|type:landmark_scale:2000|name=WEFG-LD|display=inline,title}}
| licensing_authority    = [[FCC]]
| website                = {{url|www.channel7philly.com}}
}}

'''WEFG-LD''' (channel 7) is a [[low-power television station]] in [[Philadelphia]], Pennsylvania, United States. The station has been owned by the Philadelphia Television Network since November 10, 1999.

==History==

===Early years===
Channel 7 first appeared in December 1991 as W07CB ("WOCB"),<ref name="Phil920409">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-philadelphia-inquirer-for-partners/138261599/|date=April 9, 1992|pages=DC 3, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-philadelphia-inquirer-tv-partners-em/138261633/ 26]|first=Joe|last=Santoliquito|title=For partners, upstart station is a thrilling TV adventure|newspaper=The Philadelphia Inquirer|location=Philadelphia, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=January 7, 2024}}</ref><!-- Thu --> the first Philadelphia-licensed [[VHF]] television station since May 1948.

In 1992, W07CB, not affiliated with a major network, aired [[rerun]]s and old [[B-movie]]s. Affiliations included the Canadian music video channel [[MuchMusic]],<ref name="Phil920317">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/philadelphia-daily-news-watt-me-worry/138261310/|date=March 17, 1992|page=33|first=Francesca|last=Chapman|title=Watt, me worry? Ron Joseph's station may be tiny, but he's got some big plans for it|newspaper=Philadelphia Daily News|location=Philadelphia, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=January 7, 2024}}</ref><!-- Tue --> [[Channel America]],<ref name="Phil920812">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-philadelphia-inquirer-high-hopes-for/138261502/|date=August 12, 1992|pages=D1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-philadelphia-inquirer-high-hopes-for/138261470/ D6]|first=Dennis|last=Romero|title=High hopes for low-power TV|newspaper=The Philadelphia Inquirer|location=Philadelphia, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=January 7, 2024}}</ref><!-- Wed --> and [[FamilyNet]]. [[General Manager]] and part-owner [[Ron Joseph]] telecast reruns of his 1970s-era [[disco]] dance shows. The station achieved some degree of success under Joseph's stewardship. However, a dispute between the four owners of the station resulted in the decreased influence of Joseph over station affairs.

===Changes===
Within a year, the station underwent a series of management changes.  Dr. Walter Moxley IV, an [[infectious disease]] specialist with no previous broadcasting experience, was named the new general manager. His son Michael Moxley<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.michaelmoxley.com/ |title=Home |website=michaelmoxley.com}}</ref> was brought in to host local programming and acquire new revenue streams. Viewership and revenue picked up, but the station's transmitter was vandalized causing the station to go off the air for several weeks. As a result of being off the air, advertisement revenue dried up, and Michael Moxley departed W07CB to attend [[Penn State]].

By June 1994, the station's parent company Morton Broadcasting named George Brusstar, operator of small but profitable [[cable television]] operations in the Philadelphia suburbs, as its Director of Programming. All of the station's programming was abruptly scrapped along with the station's then-slogan ("T-V Heaven, Channel 7"). The station's new logo became "The Bell", modeled after Philadelphia's [[Liberty Bell]] according to Brusstar. Replacing the old disco shows, classic [[western (genre)|western]]s, and vintage [[sitcom]]s was a new format of 24-hour "two-way talk" programming featuring live TV hosts sitting at a desk with telephones. Viewers could call in live and sound off on the issues of the day with the hosts. Brusstar hired former Philadelphia radio performer Dennis Marcucci and [[Modesto, California]], television personality Al Mario to host shows on the new lineup. In addition, Brusstar himself was a featured host, and was joined by then-17-year-old [[Port Richmond, Philadelphia|Port Richmond]] resident [[Mike Phillips (TV host)|Mike Phillips]].

A contractual dispute in late 1994 resulted in Brusstar's sudden departure, and all local programming ceased. Brusstar was replaced by Mario who hired local college students, activists, and [[radio personalities]] in an attempt to cement a stable evening line-up. Programs included music (''Dr. Soul's Radio on TV''), comedy (''A Sermon from the Reverend Spoonicci''), and current events commentaries from Mario, [[homelessness]] activist Leona Smith, and [[libertarian]] Sean McBride. From 11 p.m. to 7 a.m., programming consisted of live TV [[psychic]]s from a low-power [[New York City]] station brought in via satellite. By June 1995, infighting between owners forced W07CB off the air.

===Later developments===
When Channel 7 next appeared, it was clear Ron Joseph was back in control; for weeks on end, a two-hour [[VHS]] tape loop of his recent wedding played continuously. Joseph attempted to take the station back entirely via a loophole in the partnership agreement (partner Moxley was imprisoned for the assault of a family member). Joseph later operated a low-power TV channel in [[Wildwood, New Jersey|Wildwood]]–[[Cape May, New Jersey]], W05AX.

In 1996, with few advertisers left, Morton Broadcasting was dissolved and the [[Federal Communications Commission]] (FCC) license for Channel 7 was sold to Shooting Star Productions. Executive Producer Jerry Leazer created a 24/7 [[music video]] programming format concentrating on the music roots of The Sounds Of Philadelphia. The format was an immediate success and Morton Broadcasting spent over a year trying to break the contract between Morton Broadcasting and Shooting Star Productions so they could sell the station for a higher price now that Leazer had dramatically increased the station's value. Shooting Star Productions, which had been represented by Reed Smith Shaw and McClay in Philadelphia and Richard Glanton, ultimately sold their interest to Glanton to avoid any further litigation. By the end of the 1990s, Channel 7 reduced its power {{Citation needed|date=December 2008}}, and programmed modern [[rap music]] videos. It could only be seen {{convert|1.5|mi|km|0}} from its [[Philadelphia]] transmitter, as opposed to a {{convert|14|mi|km|adj=on}} radius just a few years before. The station currently transmits a strongly-directional pattern, aiming most of its signal to the south-southwest portions of Philadelphia with lower power in other directions. This is to protect [[WABC-TV]] in New York City, also on Channel 7, about {{cvt|70|mi|km|0}} away.

On July 31, 1998, the FCC granted W07CB voluntary transfer of control from Ronald Joseph Caponigro to Digital Media T.V.<ref name=FCC-ASD-BTCTVL-19980609IE>{{cite web |title=FCC Application Search Details - BTCTVL-19980609IE Transfer of Control |url= http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/app_det.pl?Application_id=269521 |work=FCC.gov |publisher=Federal Communications Commission |agency=Accepted September 6, 1998; Granted July 31, 1998}}</ref><ref name=FCC-PNC-BTCTVL-19980609IE>{{cite web |title=FCC Public Notice Comment - BTCTVL-19980609IE Transfer of Control |url= http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/comment.pl?Application_id=269521&File_number=BTCTVL-19980609IE |work=FCC.gov |publisher=Federal Communications Commission |agency=Accepted September 6, 1998; Granted July 31, 1998}}</ref>

On November 10, 1999, Morton Broadcasting Company sold W07CB to Philadelphia Television Network, Inc.

The W07CB call letters were changed to WPTV-LP in November 2001 (not related to full power [[NBC]] affiliate [[WPTV]] (channel 5) in [[West Palm Beach, Florida]]). A month later, the call letters were changed again to WWJT-LP. On January 27, 2010, WWJT received another call sign, WWJT-LD,<ref name=FCC-CSH-167606>{{cite web|title=FCC Call Sign History - Facility ID 167606|url=http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/call_hist.pl?Facility_id=167606&Callsign=(see%20latest%20begin%20date)|work=FCC.gov|publisher=Federal Communications Commission}}</ref> for the digital facility while still retaining the call sign WWJT-LP<ref name=FCC-CSH-43869>{{cite web|title=FCC Call Sign History - Facility ID 43869|url=http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/call_hist.pl?Facility_id=43869&Callsign=(see%20latest%20begin%20date)|work=FCC.gov|publisher=Federal Communications Commission}}</ref> for the analog facility. WWJT-LD changed its call sign to WEFG-LD on January 1, 2014.

WWJT was relaunched on October 15, 2006, as African Community Television. The station aired a mix of news, movies, [[infomercial]]s and [[music video]]s, as well as various African shows.

==Technical information==
===Subchannels===
The station's signal is [[multiplex (TV)|multiplexed]]:
{| class="wikitable"
|+Subchannels of WEFG-LD
! scope = "col" | [[Digital subchannel#United States|Channel]]
! scope = "col" | [[Display resolution|Res.]]
! scope = "col" | [[Aspect ratio (image)|Aspect]]
! scope = "col" | Short name
! scope = "col" | Programming
|-
! scope = "row" | 7.1
| rowspan=4|[[480i]]
| rowspan=4|[[16:9]]
| rowspan=4|WEFG-7
| [[TV Scout]]
|-
! scope = "row" | 7.2
| [[Infomercial]]s
|-
! scope = "row" | 7.3
| Launch TV
|-
! scope = "row" | 7.4
| [[Independent station|Independent]]
|}

===Analog-to-digital conversion===
On June 16, 2010, WWJT-LP ceased analog transmission due to its analog transmitter and video server suffering catastrophic failures, keeping the station off the air until the launch of digital WWJT-LD.

Starting on or about November 17, 2011, WWJT-LD began broadcasting a digital signal on virtual channel 7 showing just the call letters and its three sub channels displaying a color test pattern. All four channels are currently in [[480i]] SD digital format.

==References==
{{Reflist}}
* "[https://web.archive.org/web/20050219001334/http://citypaper.net/articles/050197/article058.shtml Seven The Hard Way: Channel 7 operator Jerry Leazer is spitting mad]", Neil Gladstone, Philadelphia City Paper, May 1, 1997.
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20081020101352/http://www.actvonline.net/network/ African Community Television]

{{Philly TV}}

[[Category:1991 establishments in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Low-power television stations in Pennsylvania|EFG]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations established in 1991]]
[[Category:Television stations in Philadelphia|EFG-LD]]