WMBC-TV
WMBC-TV is a full-power commercial television station licensed to Newton, New Jersey, United States, serving the New York metropolitan area as an Estrella TV affiliate, with a reach of approximately 19 million people across 7.5 million television households in the Tri-State region.[1][2][3] It operates on virtual channel 63 (UHF digital channel 18) from a transmitter atop One World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan, using a top-mount broadband antenna at 526 meters (1,726 ft) height above average terrain.[4][5] Owned wholly by Mountain Broadcasting Corporation, which was incorporated in 1985 and is headquartered in West Caldwell, New Jersey, the station received its FCC construction permit on March 29, 1991, and first signed on the air on April 26, 1993.[1][4] WMBC-TV began digital broadcasting in July 2006 on subchannel 63.1 and has since maintained a 24-hour programming schedule featuring Estrella TV content, foreign-language news, international programming, and educational children's programming to fulfill public service requirements.[1][6] Its signal is available over-the-air, as well as on cable, Verizon Fios, and satellite providers throughout the region.[7] The station has broadcast in ATSC 3.0 since late 2022 and has been the subject of FCC consent decrees related to license renewals, including one in August 2023 addressing children's educational programming compliance.[8][9]History
Founding and launch
Mountain Broadcasting Corporation was established in 1985 by a group of Korean Americans led by Rev. Sun Young Joo, who served as its chairman and had previously founded the non-profit Hanguk Christian Broadcasting, Inc.[1][10] The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) licensed the station to Newton, New Jersey, and granted Mountain Broadcasting a construction permit on March 29, 1991, assigning the call letters WMBC-TV for a new UHF television station on channel 63.[1][4] WMBC-TV signed on the air for the first time on April 26, 1993, initially broadcasting a Christian religious format primarily featuring programming from the FamilyNet network.[1][10] Later in 1993, the station expanded its schedule by adding public domain movies and film shorts from the Main Street TV service alongside its FamilyNet content, while beginning to incorporate ethnic programming to address the diverse market demands in the New York metropolitan area.[10] The station's first studios were located at 99 Clinton Road in West Caldwell, New Jersey, with its initial transmitter sited in Lake Hopatcong, New Jersey, operating as an analog UHF broadcast on channel 63 at an effective radiated power of 1.2 million watts.[1][10] Under the continued ownership of Mountain Broadcasting Corporation, WMBC-TV maintained its focus on niche and community-oriented content during its early years.[1]Programming shifts and key events
Following its launch with an initial focus on Christian programming in 1993, WMBC-TV underwent significant shifts in its content strategy starting in 1996. That year, the station adopted a substantial block of ethnic and foreign-language programming after New York City-owned WNYC-TV discontinued similar content upon its sale and format change to WBIS-TV (now WPXN-TV). This move positioned WMBC-TV as a key outlet for diverse ethnic broadcasters in the New York metropolitan area, fulfilling FCC must-carry requirements for cable systems like Time Warner and emphasizing multicultural content to serve the region's immigrant communities.[11][12] By the late 1990s, WMBC-TV transitioned toward a brokered model heavy on infomercials and religious programming to bolster revenue. In 1997, the station aired a mix that included paid time blocks for religious ministries, alongside infomercials and remaining ethnic shows, as it sought specialty station status from the FCC for carriage purposes. This pivot reflected broader industry trends for independent UHF stations, prioritizing leased-airtime formats over original production amid competitive pressures from network affiliates.[13] A major operational disruption occurred in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, attacks, as the collapse of the World Trade Center destroyed transmitter facilities for many New York stations, including WNBC. To aid recovery and mitigate the resulting blackout, WMBC-TV temporarily relayed WNBC's NBC network programming from its transmitter in Lake Hopatcong, New Jersey, restoring over-the-air access for some viewers in the region during the initial recovery period. WNBC eventually shifted to temporary and permanent auxiliary sites, but the event highlighted WMBC-TV's role in emergency broadcasting continuity.[14][15] Carriage disputes further impacted WMBC-TV's distribution in the mid-2000s. The station's signal was dropped from DirecTV's New York City locals package on December 31, 2005, following the expiration of carriage rights amid ongoing FCC must-carry election disputes. Resolution came in early 2009, when DirecTV resumed carriage after negotiations, restoring satellite availability to subscribers and expanding the station's reach.[16][17] Signal enhancements marked key expansions in subsequent years. In 2011, WMBC-TV deployed a single-frequency network (SFN) with a secondary transmitter, significantly improving coverage in urban areas like Brooklyn and Queens and enhancing penetration in the New York City core. More recently, in 2023, the station installed a new antenna on the One World Trade Center master system, leveraging extended infrastructure from Radio Frequency Systems to boost overall signal strength and prepare for ATSC 3.0 compatibility, thereby addressing historical propagation challenges in the tri-state area. In October 2025, WMBC-TV began broadcasting EstrellaTV programming, marking a shift to include more Hispanic-targeted content.[18][19][20]Ownership and facilities
Ownership
WMBC-TV is wholly owned by Mountain Broadcasting Corporation, a privately held entity incorporated in New Jersey in 1985 by a group of Korean American investors led by Rev. Sun Young Joo, who serves as the company's chairman.[1] In August 1987, following comparative hearings, an FCC administrative law judge awarded the franchise for UHF channel 63 in Newton, New Jersey, to Mountain Broadcasting Corporation, marking the company's entry into broadcasting; Rev. Sun Young Joo held 50 percent ownership at the time, with the remaining shares divided between his brother Sun Hoo Joo (25 percent) and Chang Il Kim (25 percent).[21] The Federal Communications Commission granted the construction permit on March 29, 1991.[1][4] The station has maintained continuous ownership under Mountain Broadcasting Corporation since its launch in 1993, with no recorded sales, transfers, or major structural changes in FCC filings.[5] Key principals include Rev. Sun Young Joo as chairman, Victor C. Joo as a manager, and Joon S. Joo as a trustee affiliated with related entities like Youngshine Media Holdings LLC, which supports the corporation's operations.[1][22] The FCC has approved routine renewals and modifications for WMBC-TV under this ownership, including digital transition filings in 2009 and repack adjustments in 2017–2019, without any challenges to the licensee's structure. The Korean American leadership of Mountain Broadcasting has shaped the station's direction, emphasizing ties to ethnic communities through support for multicultural brokered programming and early Christian content reflective of Rev. Joo's background in founding Hanguk Christian Broadcasting, Inc.[1][21]Studios and transmitter
WMBC-TV's main studios and headquarters are located at 99 Clinton Road in West Caldwell, New Jersey, where the station conducts production operations for its programming, including the weekday newscast Hometown News that covers Sussex County and the tri-state region.[1][23] This facility has served as the primary operational hub since the station's launch, supporting the production of brokered ethnic and religious content through dedicated studio spaces equipped for multi-language broadcasts.[1] The station's transmitter is currently located atop One World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan, New York City, at a height of 530.4 meters (1,740 feet) above mean sea level, utilizing a top-mount broadband antenna shared with other broadcasters.[1] This relocation, completed in August 2022, marked a significant upgrade that expanded WMBC-TV's over-the-air reach to more than 7.3 million television households across the New York metropolitan area by leveraging the tower's superior elevation and modern infrastructure.[1] In March 2023, Technical Services Group commissioned two new Rohde & Schwarz transmitters at this site, preparing the station for potential ATSC 3.0 deployment while enhancing overall signal reliability.[19] Prior to the 2022 move, WMBC-TV's primary transmitter operated from a 567-foot tower in Montclair, New Jersey, a location that had been in use since the station's inception following its FCC construction permit in March 1991 and on-air debut on April 26, 1993.[24] To address coverage challenges posed by urban terrain and building interference in New York City and northern New Jersey, the station implemented a single-frequency network (SFN) in 2011, upgrading its Montclair transmitter with a Thomson Broadcast DCX Paragon system and adding a secondary 90 kW ERP transmitter at the Empire State Building.[18][24] This configuration, synchronized via a NetProcessor 9030 at the West Caldwell studios, significantly improved signal penetration in dense areas, as verified by third-party RF measurements across multiple sites.[24] The Montclair tower was decommissioned upon the shift to One World Trade Center, streamlining operations to a single, high-performance site.[19]Programming
Affiliations and schedule
WMBC-TV's primary channel, 63.1, carries Estrella TV as its main network affiliation, a Spanish-language broadcaster focused on entertainment and news for Hispanic audiences, which it adopted on October 20, 2025.[20] This affiliation replaced the station's prior Merit TV affiliation, providing a structured lineup of syndicated programming tailored to ethnic demographics in the New York metropolitan area.[6] The station's typical daily schedule on 63.1 revolves around Estrella TV's core offerings, with mornings featuring talk shows and news segments, daytime slots dedicated to telenovelas and lifestyle programs, and prime time evenings (7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. ET) highlighting reality competitions, variety specials, and ethnic-oriented entertainment.[25] Late nights and early mornings often include infomercials, while weekends incorporate additional syndicated content and public affairs segments to meet broadcast requirements.[26] To comply with federal regulations, WMBC-TV airs educational/informational (E/I) programming blocks for children, typically on weekend mornings, featuring animated and instructional series aimed at viewers aged 13 and under.[27] Religious content occupies select slots, such as Sunday mornings, with faith-based broadcasts from various denominations to serve diverse community interests.[27] Syndicated shows from Estrella TV, including talent contests and news magazines, form the backbone of the weekday lineup, supplemented by occasional local inserts. WMBC-TV's affiliations have evolved since its 1993 launch with FamilyNet, a family-oriented network, transitioning to independent operation in 1996 amid a shift toward ethnic-focused programming.[10] By 2024, it aligned with Merit TV before adopting Estrella TV, reflecting adaptations to market demands.[20] The station now employs a multi-subchannel strategy on its digital signal, distributing additional networks across subchannels to broaden viewer reach and revenue streams beyond the main Estrella TV feed.[28]Brokered and local content
WMBC-TV features a significant amount of brokered time dedicated to ethnic programming, particularly targeting immigrant communities in the New York metropolitan area. This includes shows in Korean, Chinese, and Spanish, often encompassing religious, cultural, and community-oriented content produced by third-party providers who lease airtime. For instance, Korean Christian Broadcasting Network airs religious programming on subchannel 63.9 (audio only), providing faith-based content to the Korean-American audience.[29] Chinese-language offerings include New Tang Dynasty Television on 63.5, delivering news, cultural discussions, and entertainment tailored to Chinese-speaking viewers.[30] In Spanish, Aliento Vision broadcasts on 63.7, featuring Hispanic ministry programs, including daily news from Latin America, talk shows, music videos, and church sermons, supporting spiritual and informational needs of Spanish-speaking communities.[31] Other subchannels carry additional brokered and network content, such as ION Mystery on 63.2 and Jewelry TV on 63.6, contributing to the diverse lineup.[32] The station's brokered ethnic lineup plays a vital role in serving diverse immigrant populations by offering culturally relevant content that fosters community connections and preserves linguistic heritage in the tri-state region. These programs, which include religious broadcasts like inspirational messages and discussions, help bridge cultural gaps for non-English-speaking residents in New Jersey and New York.[33][7] Complementing the brokered content, WMBC-TV produces local programming focused on community issues. The weekday half-hour newscast Hometown News covers local news from Sussex County and the broader New York metro area, emphasizing topics such as health, business, ecology, and public safety.[7] A companion program, Hometown, features exclusive reports and interviews on local interests including medical research, education, and community events, while Hometown Saturday extends this format on weekends with discussions led by local leaders.[34][35] Additionally, Mountain Views provides a weekly platform for local pastors to discuss church ministries and inspirational topics.[30] These local and brokered elements integrate into the overall schedule to deliver family-oriented, educational content that highlights regional diversity and community engagement.[1]Technical information
Subchannels
WMBC-TV's digital signal enables the transmission of multiple subchannels, providing diverse programming to serve ethnic and niche audiences in the New York metropolitan area.[5] The station's subchannels, established and updated following the full digital transition in 2009, feature a mix of national networks, ethnic content, shopping, and audio simulcasts, with resolutions varying to optimize bandwidth for different formats.[1]| Virtual Channel | Resolution | Aspect Ratio | Programming | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 63.1 | 720p | 16:9 | Estrella TV | Spanish-language network offering telenovelas, news, sports, and entertainment targeted at Hispanic viewers; launched on the main channel October 20, 2025, replacing previous independent programming.[6] |
| 63.2 | 480i | 16:9 | Ion Mystery | Crime and mystery drama series, including reruns of shows like Murder, She Wrote and Monk, appealing to fans of investigative storytelling.[5][36] |
| 63.4 | 480i | 16:9 | NTD America | English-language news and current affairs from New Tang Dynasty Television, focusing on international news, U.S. politics, and coverage of China-related issues for a global audience.[5] |
| 63.5 | 480i | 16:9 | NTD Television (Chinese) | Chinese-language programming from NTDTV, including news, cultural shows, and documentaries, serving the Chinese diaspora with content emphasizing traditional values and independent journalism.[5] |
| 63.6 | 480i | 16:9 | Jewelry TV | Home shopping network specializing in jewelry, gemstones, and accessories, broadcasting live auctions and product showcases to engage shopping enthusiasts.[5] |
| 63.7 | 480i | 16:9 | Aliento Vision (Spanish) | Spanish Christian religious programming, featuring sermons, music, and faith-based content from Hispanic ministries to support spiritual communities.[5][30] |
| 63.9 | Audio | - | Korean Christian Broadcasting Network | Audio feed from KCBN, offering Korean-language Christian content including sermons, hymns, and broadcasts aimed at the Korean-American community.[5] |
| 63.10 | Audio | - | WDNJ 88.1 FM (Spanish Christian) | Simulcast of Spanish-language Christian radio station WDNJ-FM, providing talk, music, and religious programming for audio-only reception on television sets.[5] |