It’s pronounced “Twenty-to-the-point.”
Or, 22-the-point, or WPNT. Any way you slice it, the old WPMY TV station is no more.
“We are going to become a sports and entertainment station,” said Terry G. Kowalski, creative services director for the Sinclair Broadcast Group’s Fox 53 and the new WPNT. “We felt there was a void in this type of programming, the local sports.”
During its soft launch a week ago, the station sent notice to the media that its call letters would now be WPNT. The station’s “My TV” network programming will remain, including “The Walking Dead” and various flavors of “Law & Order.” Mr. Kowalski promised more localized content soon.
WPNT will continue to broadcast “Baby Pens” hockey games featuring the American Hockey League Wilkes Barre-Scranton Penguins. It will become even more local this fall, with the Sept. 4 debut of “Friday Night Rivals.” Nine high school football games, beginning with Penn Hills at Upper St. Clair, will be featured.
Producers say they want to capture not only the games but the community spirit of the teams playing. Other games scheduled are North Allegheny at Pine Richland (Sept. 11), Baldwin at Mt. Lebanon (Sept. 18), Quaker Valley at Aliquippa (Sept. 25), Summit Academy at Shady Side Academy (Oct. 2), Woodland Hills at Canon McMillan (Oct. 9) Seneca Valley at Pittsburgh Central Catholic (Oct. 16), Moon at West Allegheny (Oct. 23) and Franklin Regional at Gateway (Oct. 30).
On Saturdays, the station will feature Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference game, with the schedule to be announced. ”So you’ll finally see Slippery Rock on TV,“ Mr. Kowalski said.
There are no current plans for a digital sub-channel. What’s in the works, he added, includes local entertainment programming.
”What we are doing is providing programming that is local, and that is what advertisers want. It’s really that simple.“
Maria Sciullo: msciullo@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1478 or @MariaSciulloPG.
First Published: May 27, 2015, 4:00 a.m.
