WXXV-TV is a Fox-affiliated television station licensed to Gulfport, Mississippi, United States. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 25 (or virtual channel 25.1 via PSIP) from a transmitter in unincorporated Stone County near McHenry. Owned by Morris Multimedia, WXXV-TV is sister to low-powered ABC affiliate WLOX-LD (channel 13) and the two outlets share studios on U.S. 49 in Gulfport.
History
The station first signed on the air on August 1, 1985 as an independent station; it was founded by local businessman Robert Lipscomb and his company, South Mississippi Broadcasting Corporation. It was the first commercial television station in South Mississippi since WLOX-TV (channel 13) shut down its analog signal in 1982 due to financial difficulties; that station returned to the air as a low-powered ABC affiliate in 1986. In 1988, WXXV became a charter Fox affiliate when that network launched; it has remained with Fox ever since.
In 1995, South Mississippi Broadcasting sold WXXV to Morris Multimedia; the sale was finalized on April 1 of that year. The new owners changed the call letters to their current ones (the previous calls were WWJT). In 2000, WXXV began broadcasting its digital signal on UHF channel 25; this signal was shut down in 2009 due to financial difficulties but resumed broadcasting again in 2011 after Morris Multimedia received funding from the federal government’s Digital Television Transition grant program.
Programming
Syndicated programming seen on WXXV includes The Big Bang Theory, Two and a Half Men, Family Guy and Judge Judy among others. The station also produces several locally produced programs including Coast Live!, which airs weekdays at 11:00a.m., and Coast Life!, which airs Saturdays at 10:00a.m.; both shows feature interviews with local personalities and newsmakers as well as lifestyle segments focusing on topics such as health and fitness, cooking and home improvement projects.