The Boston TV Dial: WUNI(TV)

Who, What, Where

Community: Worcester
Analog channel: 27=
Digital channel: 29 (will keep)
PSIP: 27-1
Ownership: Entravision Holdings, LLC
(Entravision Communications [NYSE: EVC])
Studio: 33 Fourth Ave.
Needham, MA 02194-2704
Transmitter: Stiles Hill
Boylston, MA 01505
Phones:
Receptionist +1 781 433 2727
Network: Univision

Technical Parameters

WUNI transmits on analog channel 27 from Stiles Hill in Boylston, northeast of its city of license, Worcester. WUNI transmits with 1,150 kW visual ERP, horizontally polarized, from 466 meters above average terrain. WUNI's digital channel is 29; FCC records show an expired construction permit for 200 kW at 453 m and special temporary authority for 11 kW at 212 m. The WUNI tower is the tallest broadcast tower in Massachusetts, at 441.5 meters (1350 feet). In addition to WUNI, the tower also serves WICN 90.5.

Station History

Channel 27 in Worcester went on the air for the first time on June 4, 1970, as WSMW, standing for the station's owner, the State Mutual insurance company. WSMW operated for several years as a locally-programmed independent station serving Worcester, with studios at 27 Beverly Road. WSMW's programming even included local Worcester news for several years.

By the late 1970s, WSMW's owners decided they could make more money with subscription TV. WSMW went scrambled for most of its programming day, serving both Worcester and the greater Boston area with movies and other pay-TV programming.

In the mid-1980s, WSMW returned to broadcasting in the clear, with syndicated fare aimed at the greater Boston market. The calls changed to WHLL under new ownership in the late 1980s.

By the early 1990s, Channel 27's owners decided to become the first full-power Spanish-language outlet in the Boston area, affiliating first with Telemundo, and later with Univision, under the new calls WUNI. The change to WUNI was accompanied by a change of studio location, from 15 Parker Road in Shrewsbury to the current 33 Fourth Avenue location in Needham, some 20 miles closer to downtown Boston.

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This station profile was written by the editors of The Archives @ BostonRadio.org. We have no relationship with the station; please send any comments or questions about their programming directly to the station. Network connectivity courtesy of MIT CSAIL.

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