Technical Profile: WCIQ-DT

TV Technical Profile: WCIQ

Channel:: 12
Programming:: 7.1 - APT, PBS; 7.2 - PBS Kids; 7.3 - Create
7.4 - World Channel
Transmitter Location:: [map] [google 360° view | alternate 360° view] Atop Mount Cheaha
Power (ERP):: 46 kW
Height Above Average Terrain (HAAT):: 1,964 feet
Antenna:: Omnidirectional
Other Information:: 36 dBu protected contour map, from the FCC. (OSM Link); [FCC]
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[Picture] Snapshot of network ID for -.1 APT/PBS channel
[Picture] Snapshot of network ID for -.2 PBS World channel
[Picture] Snapshot of network ID for -.3 PBS Create channel
History:: This station came on the air January 7, 1955 as a component of Alabama Public TV, the nation's first public TV network. The tower is atop Mt. Cheaha, tallest mountain in the state. As with all Alabama educational station, the calls ended in IQ, this one originally being WTIQ, T for Talladega, though the city of license was announced as Munford. Now WCIQ for Mt. Cheaha.; In April 2006 this station's digital counterpart signed on channel 56, with a temporary authority of 60,900 watts at 1,844 feet HAAT. They had a permit to increase power to 891,000 watts, but instead chose to move to their analog channel after the digital transition. Reports indicate that the station, as of February 17^th 2009, are now on VHF channel 7.

Due to budget cuts, at the start of October, 2012, all APT stations dropped iQ for PBS' World channel. In October 2012 the station put online a small boost in power and antenna height, further improving coverage. Starting in October 2015, the network began only airing PBS World during the second half of the day due to concerns over adult programming appearing during hours when children may be watching. A planned update for late 2015 or early 2016 to the switching equipment at the main studio will allow the station to cut out individual shows and insert child-friendly programming.

As part of the spectrum repacking process, the station was required to move from RF channel 7 to RF channel 12. That new assignment came on the air on 2 July 2020.