City Elmira Slogan TV Now | Branding Twin Tiers CW 2 | |
Channels Digital: WENY-DT 36.3 (UHF/PSIP) Affiliations The CW (via The CW Plus; 2006–present) Owner Lilly Broadcasting, LLC | ||
WENY-DT3 is the CW+-affiliated television station for the Central and Western Twin Tiers of Southern Upstate New York and Northern Pennsylvania. It is a third digital subchannel of ABC affiliate WENY-TV that is owned by Lilly Broadcasting. Over-the-air, the station broadcasts a 16:9 standard definition widescreen digital signal on UHF channel 36.3 from a transmitter on Higman Hill in Corning. WENY-DT3 can also be seen on Time Warner Cable channel 2 (hence the on-air branding Twin Tiers CW 2) and in 720p high definition on digital channel 1212 (however, the HD feed is cable-only). Its parent station has studios on Old Ithaca Road in Horseheads along NY 13.
History
This television outlet originally served as the market's WB affiliate. It was part of cable-exclusive service The WB 100+, and as a result, used the call sign "WBE" (referring to The WB Elmira) in a fictional manner. In partnership with The WB 100+, ABC affiliate WENY provided operational and advertising services for this station.
In spring 2006, it was announced that Lilly Broadcasting had been granted the local CW affiliation, following the merger of UPN and the WB. The CW began airing on "WBE" on September 18 and there was a plan to eventually add it as a subchannel of WENY in order to increase access to the new network. WENY had a request to "flash-cut" from analog to digital broadcasting after the old DTV transition date of February 17, 2009.
WENY had an application to air a digital signal on UHF channel 55; however, the station opted to perform a "flash-cut" instead because Qualcomm held the transmitting licenses for the channel 55 allotment. Approval of WENY's request to flash-cut allowed that company's wholly owned subsidiary, MediaFLO United States, to expand its "media cast" service coverage in New York State without loss of broadcast service to the public. At the end of May, WENY finally performed a "flash-cut" and began broadcasting exclusively in digital on channel 36. "WBE" eventually began to be offered on a new third digital subchannel of WENY and started using the official WENY-DT3 call sign.
WENY-DT3's coverage area includes Steuben and Chemung Counties in New York which borders the Erie market and sister station CW affiliate WSEE-DT2. It is unknown if there is any coordination of the two stations that come within one county of each other in coverage and serve an area reaching between Cleveland, Ohio and Binghamton (not inclusive).