Ever wonder about the story behind the call letters WPXW? It broadcasts Ion Television to the Washington D.C. area. The story of WPXW-TV is quite interesting. Let’s delve into the history of this television station.
WPXW-TV first signed on the air on April 2 1978. It was originally WTKK. Those call letters stood for Witnessing The King of Kings. It was a Christian station owned by National Capital Christian Broadcasting.
The station’s programming mainly consisted of religious shows. These shows were local and national. However in the 1980s, WTKK broadened its format. It started including some classic TV series. In 1982, WTKK increased its power. It moved its transmitter to a new site in Fairfax Station. The station was off the air for three months to make the move.
Shows like The Lone Ranger and Green Acres were added. WTKK’s ratings increased significantly. They went up 1000 percent in a year. WTKK also had to hire advertising sales representatives. This was to manage the increasing business.
In 1994, ValueVision purchased WTKK. ValueVision was a home shopping network. The call letters were changed to WVVI on June 6 1994.
Paxson Communications purchased the station in 1997. On January 13 1998 the call letters changed again. This time to WPXW. The station became an all infomercial channel. This lasted until the PAX Network began on August 31 1998. Before PAX switched its name to Ion, it was known as PAX66.
WPXW-TV has a rich history of serving the Washington D.C. area. From its beginnings as a Christian station to its current status as an Ion affiliate, WPXW-TV has adapted to the changing landscape of television. It has provided a variety of programming to its viewers.
WPXW-TV shut down its analog signal on June 12 2009. This was part of the federal mandate for full power television stations. The digital signal moved from channel 43 to channel 34. In 2019, WPXW-TV relocated its signal again. It moved from channel 34 to channel 35.
Today WPXW-TV continues to broadcast Ion Television. It also offers subchannels. These include Bounce TV, Court TV, and Laff.
The story of WPXW is a testament to the evolution of television. WPXW-TV adapted to changing times. It continues to serve the Washington D.C. area. It broadcasts a variety of programming for its viewers. Next time you tune into WPXW-TV remember its journey. It went from Witnessing the King of Kings to Ion Television. It is a story of resilience adaptation and service.