Today in Wheeling History: April 22—The construction permit for WTRF-TV, Wheeling's first television station, was granted (1953).
WTRF-TV has been a cornerstone of broadcasting in the Ohio Valley since 1953. The station originated from Tri-City Broadcasting Corporation, which first operated WTRF radio stations in Bellaire, Ohio, with the call letters derived from "Two Radio Frequencies." After the FCC's four-year freeze on TV construction permits was lifted, Tri-City and WKWK merged their applications to expedite the creation of Wheeling's first television station. The construction permit was granted on April 22, 1953, and WTRF-TV began broadcasting six months later on October 24, despite last-minute equipment failures. Initially affiliated with NBC and secondarily with ABC, the station operated from the sixth floor of the Reilly Building (later known as the Ogden Building) at 14th and Market Streets. In 1966, TV-7 became the first full color station in the Ohio Valley with the installation of color movie projectors, videotape machines, and cameras. In 1969, WTRF moved to a new million-dollar complex at 96 Sixteenth Street in downtown Wheeling. The station switched from NBC to CBS in January 1980, citing NBC's eroding ratings. Throughout its history, WTRF has changed ownership multiple times, including Forward Communications, Wesray Capital, Nexstar Media Group, and others, while maintaining its commitment to local news coverage and community involvement.
To learn more: FCC Public Inspection Files (https://tinyurl.com/45xxnh2t), Wikipedia (https://tinyurl.com/296w23wc), WTRF Official Website (https://tinyurl.com/yb2ehj74), Jeff Miller (https://tinyurl.com/yc8a9u26)
Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV; Wikimedia Commons, Jeff Miller (jeff560.tripod.com)
WTRF-TV has been a cornerstone of broadcasting in the Ohio Valley since 1953. The station originated from Tri-City Broadcasting Corporation, which first operated WTRF radio stations in Bellaire, Ohio, with the call letters derived from "Two Radio Frequencies." After the FCC's four-year freeze on TV construction permits was lifted, Tri-City and WKWK merged their applications to expedite the creation of Wheeling's first television station. The construction permit was granted on April 22, 1953, and WTRF-TV began broadcasting six months later on October 24, despite last-minute equipment failures. Initially affiliated with NBC and secondarily with ABC, the station operated from the sixth floor of the Reilly Building (later known as the Ogden Building) at 14th and Market Streets. In 1966, TV-7 became the first full color station in the Ohio Valley with the installation of color movie projectors, videotape machines, and cameras. In 1969, WTRF moved to a new million-dollar complex at 96 Sixteenth Street in downtown Wheeling. The station switched from NBC to CBS in January 1980, citing NBC's eroding ratings. Throughout its history, WTRF has changed ownership multiple times, including Forward Communications, Wesray Capital, Nexstar Media Group, and others, while maintaining its commitment to local news coverage and community involvement.
To learn more: FCC Public Inspection Files (https://tinyurl.com/45xxnh2t), Wikipedia (https://tinyurl.com/296w23wc), WTRF Official Website (https://tinyurl.com/yb2ehj74), Jeff Miller (https://tinyurl.com/yc8a9u26)
Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV; Wikimedia Commons, Jeff Miller (jeff560.tripod.com)
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