WLYH-TV - News Operation

News Operation

WLYH established a full news operation in the early-1960s that focused on the eastern side (Lebanon and Lancaster) of its large viewing area. Since its aired a UHF signal during the analog era, the station's coverage area was limited due to the nature of such signals. UHF transmissions usually do not enjoy as much of a broadcasting radius in mountainous areas as do stations operating on VHF. During the 1960s, WLYH operated a bureau in the W. W. Griest Building in Downtown Lancaster in addition to its main studios in South Londonderry Township.

In the early-1970s, an entirely new base of operations for color television and updated news film processing were constructed as part of the new Park City Center in that city. WSBA simulcasted WLYH's newscasts until the arrangement ended in 1983 with the former severing ties after becoming WPMT. After WHP took over operations of WLYH in Fall 1995, the former shut down this station's separate news department. The next year in 1996, a news share agreement was established between WLYH and WHP. This resulted in a prime time newscast at 10 to debut on this station.

The effort competed with WPMT which also aired a prime time broadcast in the 10 o'clock slot. Due to low ratings and inconsistent viewership, WHP cancelled WLYH's original show and terminated the news share arrangement. In January 2009, WHP launched a prime time show on this station for a second time. This incarnation of WLYH's newscast initially only aired on weeknights but the production was expanded to a seven night operation at some point in time. Like the previous effort, WHP's broadcast at 10 competes with WPMT. However, WLYH's nightly newscast is thirty minutes long as opposed to an hour show on WPMT. In addition to its main studios in Harrisburg, WHP also operates bureaus in Lancaster and York.