WBPH-TV

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WBPH-TV/WBPH-DT
Allentown, Pennsylvania
Branding	WBPH
Slogan	Positively Different Television
Channels	60 (UHF) analog, 9 (VHF) digital
Affiliations	FamilyNet
Owner	Sonshine Family Television Corporation
Founded	1990
Call letters meaning	Beth and Pat Huber
Former affiliations	None
Transmitter Power	2950 kW/284 m (analog) 3.2 kW/284 m (digital)
Website	www.wbph.org

WBPH-TV is a television station in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania DMA. WBPH, owned by Sonshine Family Television Corporation, broadcasts programming as a FamilyNet affiliate, Worship network programming, special interest programs that are produced in-house, and paid religious infomercials. Its transmitter is located on South Mountain in Allentown, Pennsylvania (specifically Salisbury Township in Lehigh County).

Since its inception, two of WBPH's in-house programs have been "60 Live" and "Bethlehem Glory," both hosted by station owner Pat Huber. Through the course of its existence, the station has also tried producing shows in conjunction with area radio stations and churches. One program that had short lived popularity among area church youth was "Live from Studio 60." Produced along with Word FM, "Live from Studio 60" showcased local Christian bands performing to a live audience at the WBPH studio in Allentown, Pennsylvania. The program reached its peak in 2000 when it played host to Christian band The Waiting on the heels of the Fallout concert, a large Christian music festival held annually in the Lehigh Valley as a promotional event for See You at the Pole. In the end, overmodulation and inconsistent scheduling brought an end to channel 60's move toward attracting a younger audience.

WBPH identifies itself with its correct city of license, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. However, in an attempt to rebut challengers of the station's must carry status throughout the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania market, channel 60 features a bug typically seen at the top right of the screen which reads "WBPH Philadelphia." One such challenger, cable magnate Comcast, filed a petition in 2003 with the Federal Communications Commission to modify WBPH's market as they did not meet any interests of the southern half of the DMA. The FCC denied the petition, and WBPH remained on cable in places such as southern New Jersey.

In 2002, WBPH applied to have their digital channel assignment reallocated from channel 59 to channel 9. The reason for this was that both their analog and digital channels were out-of-core and would be taken out of television service in the future. With the FCC's approval of this application, WBPH became the first station in the Lehigh Valley to broadcast on a VHF channel.

They are also an affailate of The Lafayette University Sports Network.

[edit] External links

• WBPH website
• Query the FCC's TV station database for WBPH