WCKD-LP

WCKD-LP is a low power television station licensed to serve Bangor and Dedham, Maine affiliated with JUCE TV. Its signal originates from a transmitter in East Eddington, Maine, and is seen on UHF channel 30. The station is not carried on any local cable systems.

History

WCKD-LP went on the air April 16, 1994 as W30BF, carrying PBS programming as part of Maine Public Television Plus, the state's secondary public television network. Cuts in federal funding led to the elimination of MPT Plus on June 30, 1996; W30BF then became a repeater of Maine Public Television's primary service until 1999, when James McLeod, owner of Pax affiliate WBGR-LP (channel 33), bought the station. McLeod was not able to put enough resources into the station, however, and in late 2000 he signed a local marketing agreement with Rockfleet Broadcasting, owner of ABC affiliate WVII-TV (channel 7), who relaunched the station in February 2001 as WCKD-LP, a UPN affiliate that also carried Fox Sports telecasts. Previously, Bangor viewers received UPN on cable via Boston's WSBK-TV. WCKD's schedule also included a 10 p.m. newscast produced by WVII.