Coordinates: 28°36′35″N 81°3′35″W / 28.60972°N 81.05972°W / 28.60972; -81.05972

WEFS

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WEFS
CityCocoa, Florida
Channels
BrandingWEFS-TV
Programming
Affiliations
Ownership
OwnerEastern Florida State College
History
First air date
June 18, 1987; 36 years ago (1987-06-18)
Former call signs
  • WRES (1987–1991)
  • WBCC (1991–2013)
Former channel number(s)
  • Analog: 18 (UHF, 1987–1991), 68 (UHF, 1991–2008)
  • Virtual: 30 (2003–2005)[1]
PBS (2002–2012)
Call sign meaning
Eastern Florida State College
Technical information[2]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID6744
ERP300 kW
HAAT491 m (1,611 ft)
Transmitter coordinates28°36′35″N 81°3′35″W / 28.60972°N 81.05972°W / 28.60972; -81.05972
Links
Public license information
Websitewww.easternflorida.edu/wefs-tv/

WEFS (channel 68) is a television station in Cocoa, Florida, United States, serving the Orlando area. The station is owned by Eastern Florida State College (EFSC) and maintains studios at the EFSC campus in Cocoa; its transmitter is located on Brown Road near Christmas, Florida.

The station's history begins with the activation of Cocoa's non-commercial educational channel 18 as WRES, a church-owned, family-oriented television station that began limited telecasting in June 1987. Three months later, Press Broadcasting acquired WRES and immediately agreed to donate it to Cocoa-based Brevard Community College. While the station switched to offering primarily instructional television programming including telecourses, Press set in motion a series of channel improvements. It had owned WMOD in Melbourne but found that its signal hindered it from competing in Orlando. The donation of the channel 18 license was contingent on permitting a swap with another station. That station, WKCF, began broadcasting on channel 68 in 1988. After objections from several Orlando TV stations, WKCF moved to channel 18 in October 1991; simultaneously, WRES switched to channel 68 and changed its call sign to WBCC. The move permitted both stations to upgrade their signals.

At the start of 2002, WBCC became a secondary PBS station. With the arrival of digital television, it began providing subchannels with content from the University of Central Florida (UCF) and Brevard Public Schools. The presence of WBCC and WDSC-TV in the market eroded viewer support for Orlando's primary PBS station, WMFE-TV, and contributed to financial exigencies there. In 2011, that station ceased airing PBS programming while a sale was pending. Brevard Community College partnered with UCF to launch "WUCF TV", the new primary PBS station for Central Florida, as WBCC's main channel on July 1, 2011. This partnership was unwound the next year when UCF purchased the WMFE-TV license and transmitter facility, making WUCF-TV a station in its own right. WBCC programming had continued on a subchannel throughout the run of "WUCF TV" on channel 68, minus PBS shows, and returned to the main channel as PBS programming moved to channel 24. The station changed its call sign in 2013 as part of the renaming of Brevard Community College as Eastern Florida State College. Its local programming includes EFSC athletic and official events and public affairs shows for Brevard County and the Space Coast.

History

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Early years on channel 18 and swap to channel 68

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WRES made a quiet debut on channel 18 on June 18, 1987.[3] The original owner was the Glorious Church of God in Christ, a Tampa-based church whose pastor had been known for promoting vegetable ice cream. The station broadcast with a low effective radiated power—1,000 watts—from a facility that had belonged to cable company Florida CableVision. Its initial broadcast schedule ran for just three hours a day, six days a week, consisting of family-oriented secular programming.[4]

Shortly after launching, WRES was sold to Press Broadcasting. Press, a division of the Asbury Park Press newspaper in New Jersey, then turned around and donated WRES to Brevard Community College (BCC). The deal was part of a plan by Press that foresaw the move of WRES to another channel number so that a commercial station could use channel 18.[5] In the deal, BCC received the TV station facility, $1 million in operating funds, and another $240,000 to forge partnerships with the University of Central Florida (UCF), the Florida Institute of Technology, and public schools.[6] Press owned WMOD (channel 43) in Melbourne, which it intended to be the second major independent station for Central Florida. In spite of a $7 million outlay on programming, it ran into considerable difficulty because WMOD's transmitter site could not provide adequate full-market coverage.[7] The deal called for a swap, but not necessarily with WMOD; Press Broadcasting hinted at further announcements on the matter.[8] Meanwhile, Brevard Community College had been providing educational programming on cable systems since May 1986, featuring a mix of pre-produced telecourses and college-produced programming.[9]

Two months later, in November 1987, Press acquired the construction permit for channel 68 at Clermont, which became the other half of the proposed swap arrangement.[10] Robert McAllan, the vice president of broadcasting for Press Broadcasting, declared that the channel 68 permit purchase "culminate[d] a two-year search for improved transmission facilities" for WMOD.[11] By August 1988, WRES was back on the air with a full schedule of educational programming: this included telecourses and instructional series as well as programs such as UCF Views the News and Florida's Backyard.[12] By 1990, the station offered 17 courses for BCC credit taken by some 500 students.[9] Meanwhile, Press put WKCF on the air—on channel 68—in December 1988.[13][14]

Press Broadcasting and Brevard Community College then approached the FCC with the proposal to swap WKCF to channel 18 and WRES to channel 68. Two Orlando stations vehemently opposed the switch: WMFE-TV (channel 24), Orlando's public television station, and WOFL (channel 35), the market's established independent outlet. Both feared that the upgrades planned to channels 18 and 68 in the swap would create issues for them. WMFE feared that an upgraded WRES could become a competing public TV station, vying for viewers and donors with channel 24. WOFL believed Press Broadcasting had illegally controlled the channel 18 permit and that the two facilities did not serve the same area. Also objecting was a low-power TV station on channel 19 in Orlando, fearing displacement from the proposed WKCF facility in the Orlando-market tower farm at Bithlo.[15][16] The FCC approved the proposal in December 1989,[17] affirming the decision in October 1990 after further appeals from WOFL. This allowed Press to pay for WRES to relocate to a new tower site in the Deseret Ranch development.[18]

On October 7, 1991, the swap took place. WKCF moved to channel 18. WRES changed to channel 68 and simultaneously adopted the call sign WBCC.[19] That same year, WBCC qualified for funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, making it eligible for state and federal support.[20] Over the course of the 1990s, the station's audience and student count increased. In 1995, Time Warner Cable in Orlando added channel 68 to its lineup.[21] By 1997, Brevard Community College had 4,000 students in 91 courses offered over television and online.[22]

On January 1, 2002, the station became a secondary PBS member station, showing some limited programming from the network.[23] By that April, renovations began to accommodate WBCC-DT channel 30, which took to the air on November 4, 2003.[24] WBCC offered several digital subchannels shortly after launching. The University of Central Florida entered into a memorandum to use one of WBCC's subchannels in March 2004;[25] In September, BPS-TV launched with programming from Brevard Public Schools, which was produced and transmitted by WBCC.[26]

WBCC shut down its analog signal, over UHF channel 68, on February 17, 2009, the original target date on which full-power television stations in the United States were to transition from analog to digital broadcasts under federal mandate.[27] The station's digital signal remained on its pre-transition UHF channel 30, having used virtual channel 68 since 2005.[28][1]

"WUCF TV": Central Florida's primary public TV station

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Further information: WUCF-TV

Prior to July 2011, WMFE-TV had been the flagship PBS station for central Florida. In fall 2010, WMFE's owner, Community Communications, announced that it had been forced to furlough several employees due to financial difficulties.[29] Fundraising for WMFE radio was strong, but donations faltered for WMFE's television service.[30] On April 1, 2011, WMFE announced that it would sell channel 24 and leave PBS due to these financial difficulties and "critical uncertainties in federal and state funding".[31] One cause of WMFE's financial difficulties was the "triple overlap" of WMFE-TV, WBCC-TV, and WDSC-TV (channel 15) in Daytona Beach. The latter two were secondary stations that paid less to PBS and only aired a selection of the network's programming.[32]

When news spread of the sale, a campaign was undertaken by local residents and students at UCF to try to keep an active PBS station in the Orlando market.[33][34] On May 26, 2011, the UCF Board of Trustees approved a partnership with BCC to create "WUCF TV", the new primary PBS station for Central Florida. The new station would lease WBCC's primary digital channel and operate from WBCC's facilities. However, WBCC would retain its license and call letters.[35] On June 2, PBS approved the creation of "WUCF TV" and announced that it would become Central Florida's primary PBS channel.[36] The station served as the Orlando market's only PBS station, as WDSC-TV in Daytona Beach left PBS on July 1, concurrent with WMFE's departure from PBS and the launch of "WUCF TV".[37] WBCC's existing programming and UCF TV continued as subchannels.[38]

Resuming independence

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On June 21, 2012, Community Communications announced that it would sell all of WMFE-TV's assets, except the studio facilities, to the University of Central Florida.[39] With the acquisition of the WMFE-TV license, BCC and UCF announced that the operating agreement for channel 68 would be unwound once PBS programming returned to channel 24.[40] This took place on November 15, 2012, at which time WBCC ended its PBS membership and once again became an educational independent station, with its programming returning to the main subchannel.[41]

On July 1, 2013, Brevard Community College changed its name to Eastern Florida State College in conjunction with the offering of new four-year degrees. As part of the name change, WBCC changed its call sign to WEFS.[42][43]

Local programming

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WEFS produces and airs broadcasts related to Eastern Florida State College, including athletics events and college commencement. Through a partnership with the Florida Today newspaper in Cocoa, established in 2009,[44] WEFS offers Brevard County–targeted public affairs programming.[45]

Subchannels

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The station's signal is multiplexed:

Subchannels of WEFS[46]
Channel Res. Aspect Short name Programming
68.1 1080i 16:9 WEFS-HD Main WEFS programming
68.2 480i WEFS-CL Classic Arts Showcase
68.3 WEFS-NS NASA TV
68.4 WEFS-FL The Florida Channel

References

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  1. ^ a b "College TV station changes its digital channel". Florida Today. Cocoa, Florida. July 2, 2005. p. 2B. Retrieved June 14, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ "Facility Technical Data for WEFS". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  3. ^ "WBCC". Television & Cable Factbook. 2006. p. A-2557.
  4. ^ Horgan, Daniel II (August 7, 1987). "Pastor has big plans for new Cocoa TV station". Florida Today. Cocoa, Florida. p. 16C. Archived from the original on June 14, 2024. Retrieved June 14, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ Kayne, Roni Bea (September 11, 1987). "Ch. 43 donates educational station to BCC". Florida Today. Cocoa, Florida. p. 1B. Archived from the original on June 14, 2024. Retrieved June 14, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "BCC may soon have TV station: Agreement with WMOD awaiting FCC approval". The Orlando Sentinel. Orlando, Florida. September 12, 1987. p. 34. Archived from the original on June 14, 2024. Retrieved June 14, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ 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. Archived from the original on June 14, 2024. Retrieved June 14, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Press donates money to college". Asbury Park Press. Asbury Park, New Jersey. September 19, 1987. p. A6. Archived from the original on June 14, 2024. Retrieved June 14, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ a b "Station blankets Brevard with educational programs". Florida Today. Cocoa, Florida. September 9, 1990. p. 15A. Archived from the original on June 14, 2024. Retrieved June 14, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Swap Shop". The Orlando Sentinel. Orlando, Florida. November 6, 1987. p. C-1. Archived from the original on June 14, 2024. Retrieved June 14, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Press Broadcasting Applies For Purchase". Press Journal. Vero Beach, Florida. Associated Press. November 8, 1987. p. 19A. Archived from the original on June 14, 2024. Retrieved June 14, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "WRES-TV, Channel 18". Florida Today. Cocoa, Florida. August 14, 1988. p. TV Week 13. Archived from the original on June 14, 2024. Retrieved June 14, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "TV time". The Orlando Sentinel. Orlando, Florida. December 5, 1988. p. Central Florida Business 2. Archived from the original on June 14, 2024. Retrieved June 14, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "WKCF". Television & Cable Factbook. 2006. p. A-457.
  15. ^ Strother, Susan G. (June 19, 1989). "Fuss over switching channels: 2 broadcast groups fight plan by Orlando, Cocoa TV stations". The Orlando Sentinel. Orlando, Florida. p. Central Florida Business 5. Archived from the original on June 14, 2024. Retrieved June 14, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ Amster, Sara-Ellen (July 10, 1989). "Channel swap plan causes flap: Orlando public station fears it stands to lose audience". Florida Today. Cocoa, Florida. pp. 1B, 2B. Archived from the original on June 14, 2024. Retrieved June 14, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ Strother, Susan G. (December 4, 1989). "Going through the proper channels: FCC approves, but broadcasters may appeal the switch of stations". The Orlando Sentinel. Orlando, Florida. p. Central Florida Business 5. Archived from the original on June 14, 2024. Retrieved June 14, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ Solomon, Scott (October 3, 1990). "WKCF to enter market with swap". Florida Today. Cocoa, Florida. p. 19C. Archived from the original on June 14, 2024. Retrieved June 14, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ Harris, Joyce (October 5, 1991). "BCC station, WKCF to swap TV signals Monday". Florida Today. Cocoa, Florida. p. 15C. Archived from the original on June 14, 2024. Retrieved June 14, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ Mittman, Ann (December 1, 1991). "Brevard focuses on educational TV". Florida Today. Cocoa, Florida. pp. 1B, 2B. Archived from the original on June 14, 2024. Retrieved June 14, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ Hinman, Catherine (January 7, 1995). "Time Warner Cable to add channels, boost rates: TWC plans to raise its fees in metro Orlando and". The Orlando Sentinel. Orlando, Florida. p. D-3. Archived from the original on June 14, 2024. Retrieved June 14, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ^ Shedden, Mary; Goldschmidt, Keith (January 4, 1997). "BCC opens high-tech books: Community college uses cable, online courses to reach students". Florida Today. Cocoa, Florida. pp. 1A, 2A. Archived from the original on June 14, 2024. Retrieved June 14, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ^ "WBCC-TV to begin showing PBS programs". Florida Today. Cocoa, Florida. December 21, 2001. p. 23. Archived from the original on June 14, 2024. Retrieved June 14, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. ^ "History". Know WBCC-TV. WBCC-TV. 2003. Archived from the original on October 6, 2006. Retrieved May 23, 2006.
  25. ^ Damron, David (March 11, 2004). "Brevard college to aid UCF: University TV will get digital channel". Orlando Sentinel. Orlando, Florida. pp. H1, H2. Retrieved June 14, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  26. ^ Moore, Kimberly C. (November 22, 2004). "Brevard schools' channel hits air". Florida Today. Cocoa, Florida. p. 1B. Retrieved June 14, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  27. ^ "List of TV stations ending analog broadcasts". NBC News. Associated Press. February 17, 2009. Archived from the original on January 6, 2023. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  28. ^ "DTV Tentative Channel Designations for the First and Second Rounds" (PDF). Federal Communications Commission. May 23, 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 29, 2013. Retrieved August 29, 2021.
  29. ^ Boedeker, Hal (October 5, 2010). "WMFE avoids layoffs, asks employees to go on two-week furloughs". Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on October 8, 2010. Retrieved May 26, 2011.
  30. ^ "WMFE fund-raising: Radio is terrific, but television is off". Orlando Sentinel. September 21, 2010. Archived from the original on October 23, 2012. Retrieved May 26, 2011.
  31. ^ Boedeker, Hal (April 2, 2011). "WMFE sale: Dallas religious broadcaster is the buyer". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved May 26, 2011.
  32. ^ "Orlando's overlapped WMFE exits the public TV business, sells Channel 24". Current. April 1, 2011.
  33. ^ Boedeker, Hal (May 10, 2011). "Two UCF students fight WMFE's sale of Channel 24". Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on October 24, 2012. Retrieved May 26, 2011.
  34. ^ Thomas, Camille (May 25, 2011). "Board to vote on future of PBS". Central Florida Future. Archived from the original on July 22, 2011. Retrieved May 26, 2011.
  35. ^ "PBS to play on WUCF in Orlando". Orlando Sentinel. May 26, 2011. Retrieved May 26, 2011.
  36. ^ "WUCF-TV will be Central Florida's PBS station". Orlando Sentinel. June 2, 2011. Retrieved June 2, 2011.
  37. ^ Bodeker, Hal (June 17, 2011). "PBS: Daytona Beach station will stop PBS lineup July 1". The Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on June 19, 2011. Retrieved June 20, 2011.
  38. ^ "BCC, UCF team for PBS station: Big Bird among familiar stars who will be found on new station WUCF". Florida Today. Cocoa, Florida. May 27, 2011. pp. 8C, 7C. Retrieved June 14, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  39. ^ Boedeker, Hal (June 21, 2012). "WMFE to sell Channel 24 license, equipment to UCF". Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on June 24, 2012. Retrieved June 21, 2012.
  40. ^ Kennerly, Britt (June 22, 2012). "BCC, UCF intend to dissolve TV deal". Florida Today. Cocoa, Florida. p. 5B. Retrieved June 14, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  41. ^ Ryan, Mackenzie (November 1, 2012). "WBCC TV to resume role as independent public station". Florida Today. Archived from the original on November 5, 2012. Retrieved November 21, 2012.
  42. ^ Reed, Matt (May 14, 2013). "What's driving new name, degrees at BCC? Richey updates transition to state-college status". Florida Today. Cocoa, Florida. p. 5A. Retrieved June 14, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  43. ^ Ryan, Mackenzie (June 13, 2013). "BCC shows signs of change". Florida Today. ProQuest 1370970439.
  44. ^ "'Florida Today,' WBCC begin TV partnership". Florida Today. May 9, 2009. p. C10. ProQuest 239479104.
  45. ^ "Original Programs". Eastern Florida State College. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  46. ^ "RabbitEars TV Query for WEFS". RabbitEars. Archived from the original on October 5, 2016. Retrieved October 4, 2016.
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