| Local Stations |
| Quality | Display | Physical | Call Letters | Distance | Direction | Power Level | Comments |
 | 7‑1 | 18 | WDBJ | 14.06 | 232° | 675 kW | |
Display
Channel | Physical
Channel | Video | Audio | Call Sign | Network/Programming | Nickname | Notes | Print
|
07-1  |
18.3 |
1080i |
DD5.1  |
WDBJ |
CBS |
"WDBJ-7" |
| 07-2 |
18.4 |
480i |
DD2.0 |
MY19 |
MyN |
"My 19" |
|
Historical, Ownership, and Translator Data
|
| Analog Sign-on: | October 3, 1955 (7) |
| Digital Sign-on: | April 30, 2002 (18) |
| Call Sign History: |
| WDBJ | | | 09/14/1978 | WDBJ-TV | | | 11/01/1983 | WDBJ | |
Expanded History:
Television on channel 7 begins in 1950, when Times World and the Polan Bros. of Huntington both applied for channel 7. Soon, the Polan Bros. instead filed a competing application for channel 10. The first station in the Roanoke valley, WROV-TV, went dark after only three months. Radio Roanoke (owner of WROV-AM 1240 and WROV-FM 103.7) filed a competing application for channel 7. Eventually, it was resolved with an agreement that Times World (owner of WDBJ-AM 960 and WDBJ-FM 94.9) would buy the UHF equipment of the now-dark WROV-TV, and in exchange Radio Roanoke would withdraw their application.
10/03/1955: WDBJ-7 signed on from Mill Mountain with studios in the Mountain Trust Bank Building.
--/--/1957: WDBJ-7 moved to a transmitter on Poor Mountain.
--/--/1969: WDBJ-7 was purchased by Schurz Communications.
04/20/2002: WDBJ-7 moved to studios in its new "Digital Broadcast Center" on Hershberger Road.
04/30/2002: WDBJ-DT signed on with a full-powered signal.
--/--/2004: WDBJ became the first in the market to invest in high-definition recording equipment. This allowed them to air a selection of movies from Paramount in high-definition.
09/05/2006: WDBJ-DT 7-2 "Seven Too" joined My Network TV.
09/11/2006: WDBJ-DT began carrying Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy in HD, the first HD syndicated programming in the market.
12/19/2006: WDBJ-DT 7-3 "Hometown Weather Channel" was discontinued.
04/22/2008, 5:00PM: WDBJ began HD newscasts.
|
Station has no translators. |
|
| 10‑1 | 30 | WSLS‑TV | 13.46 | 233° | 812 kW | |
Display
Channel | Physical
Channel | Video | Audio | Call Sign | Network/Programming | Nickname | Notes | Print
|
| 10-1 |
30.3 |
1080i |
DD2.0 |
WSLS-HD |
NBC |
"WSLS-10" |
| 10-2 |
30.4 |
480i |
DD2.0 |
WSLS-DT |
Weather |
"WSLS 10-2 Go" |
|
Historical, Ownership, and Translator Data
|
| Analog Sign-on: | December 11, 1952 (10) |
| Digital Sign-on: | April 30, 2002 (30) |
| Call Sign History: |
| WSLS | | | 09/14/1978 | WSLS-TV | W Shenandoah Life InSurance |
Expanded History:
Television on channel 10 begins in 1950, when Shenandoah Life Insurance (owners of WSLS-AM 610 and WSLS-FM 99.1) applied for the frequency. Soon, Polan withdrew their application for channel 7 and instead went after channel 10. In time, they withdrew and WSLS went on the air December 11, 1952. |
Station has no translators. |
|
 | 13‑1 | 34 | WSET‑TV | 17.44 | 90° | 200 kW | |
Display
Channel | Physical
Channel | Video | Audio | Call Sign | Network/Programming | Nickname | Notes | Print
|
| 13-1 |
34.4 |
720p |
DD2.0 |
WSET-HD |
ABC |
"ABC13" |
| 13-2 |
34.3 |
480i |
DD2.0 |
WSET-SD |
RTV |
"RTV 13.2" |
|
Historical, Ownership, and Translator Data
|
| Analog Sign-on: | February 8, 1953 (13) |
| Digital Sign-on: | September 8, 2003 (34) |
| Call Sign History: |
| WSET | W Lynchburg, VirginiA | | 09/14/1978 | WSET-TV | NeWSET 13 |
Expanded History:
Lynchburg broadcasting, owner of WLVA (590AM) received a construction permit for channel 13 in Lynchburg and signed on February 8, 1953.
--//1960's: ABC's Charles Gibson got his start at WSET.
--/--/1977: WLVA-TV changed calls to WSET-TV as part of its reimaging as "NeWSET-13"
09/04/2003: WSET-DT signed on with the ABC-HD Test Loop and Thurday Night football game.
09/04/2003: WSET-DT began regular broadcasts at 17.9 kW.
06/29/2005: WSET-DT boosted power to 200 kW.
02/24/2008: WSET-DT 13-2 began airing RTN. |
Translators:| Call Sign | Ch | Location | TSReader Data | | W05AA | 5 | ROANOKE, VA | |
|
|
| 15‑1 | 3 | WBRA‑TV | 13.94 | 232° | 9.8 kW | |
Display
Channel | Physical
Channel | Video | Audio | Call Sign | Network/Programming | Nickname | Notes | Print
|
| 15-1 |
3.3 |
1080i |
DD2.0 |
WBRA-HD |
PBS |
"Blue Ridge PBS HD" |
| 15-2 |
3.4 |
480i |
DD2.0 |
WBRA-SD |
PBS |
"Blue Ridge PBS" |
| 15-3 |
3.5 |
480i |
DD2.0 |
World |
PBS World |
"Blue Ridge PBS World" |
|
Historical, Ownership, and Translator Data
|
| Analog Sign-on: | August 1967 (15) |
| Digital Sign-on: | May 1, 2003 (3) |
| Call Sign History: |
| WBRA | | | 10/18/1978 | WBRA-TV | W Blue Ridge Area |
Expanded History:
Signed on as NET in August of 1967.
--/--/1969: NET switched to PBS.
05/01/2003: WBRA-DT signed on with no PSIP, leaving most without audio.
10/27/2003: WBRA-DT began transmitting PSIP.
12/09/2003: WBRA-DT began 24/7 PBS-HD on 15-5.
05/06/2004: WBRA-DT added PBS You on 15-2.
|
Station has no translators. |
|
 | 21‑1 | 20 | WWCW | 17.56 | 89° | 602 kW | |
Display
Channel | Physical
Channel | Video | Audio | Call Sign | Network/Programming | Nickname | Notes | Print
|
| 21-1 |
20.3 |
1080i |
DD2.0 |
WWCW-HD |
CW |
"CW5" |
| 21-2 |
20.4 |
480i |
DD2.0 |
FOX |
FOX |
"Fox 21/27" |
|
Historical, Ownership, and Translator Data
|
| Analog Sign-on: | 1984 (21) |
| Digital Sign-on: | April 2002 (20) |
| Call Sign History: |
| 820504KE | | | 04/04/1983 | WJPR | W Jefferson-Pilot Roanoke | | 06/30/2006 | WWCW | W W CW 5 |
Expanded History:
Signed on as Independent WJPR in 1984.
--/--/1986: WJPR switched from Independent to Fox.
--/--/1992: Grant Media bought struggling WVFT-27 and began a simulcast of Fox as "Fox 21/27".
10/--/2001: WJPR was slated to become WBVA, WB21, but plans fell through.
04/--/2002: WJPR-DT signed on as WB "WBVA-5." (No Fox programming)
Late-/2002: Moved WB from 21-1 to 21-3; put Fox "Fox 21/27" on 21-1.
01/19/2005: WJPR-DT began airing HD Fox programming on 21-1 with WB on 21-2.
09/18/2006: The WBVA subchannel changed from WB "WBVA-5" to CW "The CW 5."
10/13/2006: WWCW-DT began airing HD Fox programming on 21-2 with Fox in SD on 21-1. |
Station has no translators. |
|
| 24‑1 | 24 | WDRL‑TV | 29.86 | 135° | 51 kW | |
Display
Channel | Physical
Channel | Video | Audio | Call Sign | Network/Programming | Nickname | Notes | Print
|
| 24-1 |
24.1 |
480i |
DD2.0 |
WDRL |
Independent |
"WDRL 24" |
|
Historical, Ownership, and Translator Data
|
| Analog Sign-on: | May 1995 (24) |
| Digital Sign-on: | Summer 2003 (41) |
| Call Sign History: |
| 01/10/1994 | WDRG | W Danville Roanoke Greensboro | | 12/27/1993 | WPAJ | | | 12/27/1993 | WDRG | W Danville Roanoke Greensboro | | 01/20/1997 | WDRL-TV | W Danville Roanoke Lynchburg |
Expanded History:
History on channel 24 in Danville started in the early-1950's as ABC WBTM.
Mid-1950's: WBTM went silent.
1960's: WBTM worked out a deal to become a hybrid educational/commercial station, however the FCC would not approve it. (see KMOU in Missouri for a similar situation) WBTM remained silent.
05/--/1995: WDRG-TV signed on as WB primarily targetting Greensboro.
Mid-1990's: Switched from WDRG as WB for Greensboro to WDRL as UPN for Roanoke.
06/--/2003: WDRL-DT signed on at low power from the analog tower site.
05/--/2006: WDRL-DT signed on from its new location at Smith Mountain.
09/18/2006: WDRL became Independent "DRL-24."
12/13/2008: WDRL-DT relocated from channel 41 to channel 24.
07/--/2010: WDRL enters receivership and goes silent.
|
Station has no translators. |
|
| 27‑1 | 17 | WFXR | 13.91 | 232° | 637 kW | |
Display
Channel | Physical
Channel | Video | Audio | Call Sign | Network/Programming | Nickname | Notes | Print
|
| 27-1 |
17.3 |
720p |
DD5.1 |
WFXRHD |
FOX |
"Fox 21/27" |
| 27-2 |
17.4 |
480i |
DD2.0 |
WCW5 |
CW |
"CW5" |
|
Historical, Ownership, and Translator Data
|
| Owner: | Grant Media |
| Co-owned: | WWCW |
| Partners: | WSLS (News) |
| Analog Sign-on: | |
| Digital Sign-on: | |
| Call Sign History: |
| 800409KE | | | 07/23/1984 | WVFT | W Victory Faith Television | | 10/25/1993 | WFXR-TV | W FoX Roanoke | | 06/23/2009 | WFXR | |
Expanded History:
Signed on as WROV-TV in 1953.
--/--/1953: WROV-TV signed off.
--/--/1965: WRFT-TV signed on as ABC.
--/--/1975: WRFT-TV signed off.
--/--/1984: WVFT-TV signed on as Independent.
--/--1992: Grant Media bought WVFT and paired it up with WJPR as WFXR "Fox 21/27."
10/02/2003: WFXR-DT signed on at very low power with dead air.
02/25/2004: WFXR-DT began airing programming.
01/19/2005: WFXR-DT began airing HD Fox programming on 27-1 with WB on 27-2.
09/18/2006: WFXR-DT 27-2 changed from WB "WB5" to CW "The CW 5." |
Station has no translators. |
|
| 38‑1 | 36 | WPXR‑TV | 14.14 | 232° | 370 kW | |
Display
Channel | Physical
Channel | Video | Audio | Call Sign | Network/Programming | Nickname | Notes | Print
|
| 38-1 |
36.3 |
720p |
DD2.0 |
ION |
ION |
|
| 38-2 |
36.4 |
480i |
DD2.0  |
qubo |
Qubo |
|
| 38-3 |
36.5 |
480i |
DD2.0 |
IONLife |
ION Life |
|
|
Historical, Ownership, and Translator Data
|
| Analog Sign-on: | August 1986 (38) |
| Digital Sign-on: | April 30, 2002 (36) |
| Call Sign History: |
| 820201KI | | | 07/11/1983 | WEFC | W Evangelical Foursquare Church | | 01/13/1998 | WPXR | W PaX Roanoke | | 06/15/2009 | WPXR-TV | |
Expanded History:
Signed on in August 1986 as Religious WEFC, owned by the Evangelical Foursquare Church.
01/13/1998: Switched to INTV Infomercials as WPXR.
08/31/1998: Switched from INTV Infomercials to PAX.
04/30/2002: WPXR-DT signed on at full power with a 3-hour per day schedule.
06/27/2004: WPXR-DT began multicasting four digital services. |
Station has no translators. |
|
