View source for WBBH-TV

{{short description|Television station in Fort Myers, Florida}}
{{good article}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox television station
| callsign = WBBH-TV
| city = Fort Myers, Florida
| logo = WBBH 2025.svg
| logo_alt = A stylized lockup of the letters GC in light blue with the NBC peacock placed in the open area in the middle of the C. To the right are the words "Gulf Coast" on two lines in a sans serif.
| logo_size = 220px
| branding = Gulf Coast NBC
| digital = 15 ([[UHF]])
| virtual = 20
| subchannels =
| translators =
| affiliations = {{ubl|'''20.1:''' [[NBC]]|''for others, see {{Section link||Subchannels}}''}}
| owner = [[Hearst Television]]
| licensee = Fort Myers-Naples HTV [[LLC]]
| location = [[Fort Myers]]–[[Cape Coral]]–[[Naples, Florida]]
| country = United States
| airdate = {{Start date and age|1968|12|18|p=y}}
| last_airdate =
| callsign_meaning = Buerry, Burgess, and Hoffman, original investors in the station{{r|News051017}}
| sister_stations = [[WZVN-TV]]
| former_callsigns =
| former_channel_numbers = '''Analog:''' 20 (UHF, 1968–2009)
| former_affiliations = [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] (secondary, 1968–1974)
| erp = 1,000 kW
| haat = {{Convert|454.5|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
| facility_id = 71085
| coordinates = {{coord|26|49|22.4|N|81|45|53.6|W|type:landmark_scale:2000}}
| licensing_authority = [[FCC]]
| website = {{URL|https://www.gulfcoastnewsnow.com/}}
}}

'''WBBH-TV''' (channel 20, cable channel 2), branded as '''Gulf Coast NBC''', is a [[television station]] licensed to [[Fort Myers, Florida]], United States, serving as the [[NBC]] affiliate for [[Southwest Florida]]. It is owned by [[Hearst Television]], which provides certain services to [[Naples, Florida|Naples]]-licensed [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] affiliate [[WZVN-TV]] (channel 26) under a [[local marketing agreement]] (LMA) with Montclair Communications. The two stations share studio facilities on Central Avenue in Fort Myers; WBBH-TV's transmitter is located along [[Florida State Road 31|SR 31]] in [[Unincorporated area#United States|unincorporated]] southeastern [[Charlotte County, Florida|Charlotte County]].

WBBH-TV went on the air in December 1968 as the second station in Fort Myers; it has been an NBC affiliate since its first day on air. Waterman Broadcasting owned WBBH from 1979 to 2023; WBBH took over most of the operations of what is now WZVN-TV in 1994. The two stations have separate newscasts with separate anchors, though they share reporters, news resources, and—as of 2025—a common news brand.

==History==
===Buerry, Burgess, and Hoffman: Early years===
In 1967, two companies petitioned the [[Federal Communications Commission]] (FCC) to add channels in the [[ultra high frequency]] (UHF) band to the table of usable TV channels in Fort Myers. Acting on the proposals from Kenneth Schwartz and [[Hubbard Broadcasting]], the FCC allotted channel 20 in January 1968.<ref name="News680119">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113119046/fcc-allocates-channel-20-to-fort-myers/|date=January 19, 1968|page=2-C|title=FCC Allocates Channel 20 to Fort Myers|newspaper=News-Press|location=Fort Myers, Florida|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 15, 2023|archive-date=March 15, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230315190742/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113119046/fcc-allocates-channel-20-to-fort-myers/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Fri --> That May, Broadcasting-Telecasting Services, Inc., headed by former [[WMYR]] sales director and announcer Joseph Buerry Jr., applied for channel 20, proposing a station with an intensive focus on local programming,<ref name="News680525">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120923245/new-local-tv-station-seeks-fcc-license/|date=May 25, 1968|page=5-B|title=New Local TV Station Seeks FCC License|newspaper=News-Press|location=|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 15, 2023|archive-date=March 15, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230315190744/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120923245/new-local-tv-station-seeks-fcc-license/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sat --> and an emphasis on local news. No other group applied, and Broadcasting-Telecasting Services received a [[construction permit]] in July. It announced its intention to be a primary NBC affiliate with a secondary ABC affiliation.<ref name="News680714">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120923359/fcc-authorizes-new-television-station-in/|date=July 14, 1968|page=10-A|title=FCC Authorizes New Television Station In City|newspaper=News-Press|location=|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 15, 2023|archive-date=March 17, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230317060203/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120923359/fcc-authorizes-new-television-station/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sun --> Buerry, along with investors Jackson Burgess and Howard Hoffman (also formerly of WMYR{{r|News680714}}), gave the station its call letters—WBBH-TV.<ref name="News051017">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120924195/wbbhs-history-becomes-a-little-clearer/|date=October 17, 2005|page=D2|first=Chris|last=Wadsworth|title=WBBH's history becomes a little clearer|newspaper=News-Press|location=|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 15, 2023|archive-date=March 15, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230315190750/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120924195/wbbhs-history-becomes-a-little-clearer/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Mon -->

The studios were finished by the start of December, with erection of the station's transmitting tower in [[Lehigh Acres]] still ongoing.<ref name="News681201">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120923517/stars-attend-opening-of-studio-here/|date=December 1, 1968|page=3-A|title=Stars Attend Opening of Studio Here|newspaper=News-Press|location=|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 15, 2023|archive-date=March 15, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230315190743/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120923517/stars-attend-opening-of-studio-here/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sun --> The station began broadcasting on December 18, 1968. Previously, Miami's [[WSVN|WCKT]] had imported NBC programming into Fort Myers by way of a [[Broadcast relay station#Broadcast translators|translator]] on channel 70; Tampa's [[WFLA-TV]] had been carried alongside WCKT on most area cable systems.<ref name="News681218">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120923639/new-tv-station-on-air-tonight/|date=December 18, 1968|page=3-A|title=New TV Station On Air Tonight|newspaper=News-Press|location=|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 15, 2023|archive-date=March 15, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230315190741/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120923639/new-tv-station-on-air-tonight/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Wed --><ref name="News681214">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120923893/channel-10-abc-will-be-carried-by-leec/|date=December 14, 1968|page=5-B|title=Channel 10 (ABC) Will Be Carried By Leeco-TV Here|newspaper=News-Press|location=|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 15, 2023|archive-date=March 17, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230317060152/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120923893/channel-10-abc-will-be-carried-by/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sat -->

After nearly six years, Buerry resigned as president in August 1974; he had been visible on air presenting station editorials.<ref name="News740802">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120924052/buerry-resigns-office-as-president-of-wb/|date=August 2, 1974|page=1A, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120924019/buerry-resigns/ 2A]|first=David|last=Osier|title=Buerry Resigns Office As President Of WBBH|newspaper=News-Press|location=|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 15, 2023|archive-date=March 17, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230317060237/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120924052/buerry-resigns-office-as-president-of/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Fri -->{{efn|Buerry was then hired as WEVU's general manager in 1976, remaining there until 1980.<ref name="ladder">{{Cite news |last=Melsek |first=Lee |date=October 17, 1976 |title=Pointing WEVU up the local ladder |pages=Antenna 11, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/37842134/wevu/ 13] |work=News-Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/37842116/pointing_wevu_up_the_local_ladder/ |url-status=live |access-date=October 25, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191026053300/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/37842116/pointing_wevu_up_the_local_ladder/ |archive-date=October 26, 2019 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref name="News801027">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120925456/wevu-tv-official-buerry-resigns-from-pos/|date=October 27, 1980|page=2B|first=David|last=Lieber|title=WEVU-TV official Buerry resigns from post|newspaper=News-Press|location=|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 15, 2023|archive-date=March 17, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230317060204/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120925456/wevu-tv-official-buerry-resigns-from/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Mon -->}} Hoffman became the general manager at a time when the station was suffering financially, though it had begun to turn a profit in 1972.<ref name="News740912">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120924586/howard-hoffman-taking-the-helm-at-troub/|date=September 12, 1974|page=1D, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120924654/howard-hoffman-at-helm/ 5D]|title=Howard Hoffman: Taking The Helm At Troubled WBBH-TV|newspaper=News-Press|location=|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 15, 2023|archive-date=March 17, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230317060152/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120924586/howard-hoffman-taking-the-helm-at/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Thu --> The station lost ABC programs to a new station in Naples, [[WZVN-TV|WEVU]] (channel 26), at this time as well.<ref>{{Cite news |title=New TV Station Opens |page=2-B |work=News-Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/37842061/new_tv_station_opens/ |url-status=live |access-date=October 25, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191026053243/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/37842061/new_tv_station_opens/ |archive-date=October 26, 2019 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>

===Waterman ownership===
In 1978, Waterman Broadcasting Corporation, which at the time only owned two radio stations in [[San Antonio, Texas]], began negotiating to buy WBBH-TV after the stockholders of Broadcasting-Telecasting Services opted to put the station on the market. A sale agreement was reached in April 1979.<ref name="News790411">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120924827/accord-reached-on-sale-of-wbbh/|date=April 11, 1979|page=1A|first=Barbara|last=Johnson|title=Accord reached on sale of WBBH|newspaper=News-Press|location=|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 15, 2023|archive-date=March 15, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230315190751/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120924827/accord-reached-on-sale-of-wbbh/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Wed --> Waterman activated a new tower in 1983; the station began broadcasting at the UHF maximum [[effective radiated power]] of five million watts and improved its signal in the northern part of its coverage area.<ref name="News830320">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120925141/tall-order-new-wbbh-tv-tower-rises-to-c/|date=March 20, 1983|page=1G, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120925227/tower/ 18G]|first=Steve|last=Kaskovich|title=Tall order: New WBBH-TV tower rises to challenge of expansion|newspaper=News-Press|location=|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 15, 2023|archive-date=March 17, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230317060219/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120925141/tall-order-new-wbbh-tv-tower-rises-to/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sun --> In 1987, an expansion was completed to the Central Avenue studio; the original, {{convert|7000|ft2|m2|adj=on}} building was wrapped around a two-story building with an internal atrium.<ref name="News860929">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/37842645/wevu-moving-to-new-studios-in-bonita-bay/|date=September 29, 1986|page=Business 14|first=Prudy|last=Taylor Board|title=WEVU moving to new studios in Bonita Bay by mid-1987|newspaper=News-Press|location=|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 16, 2023|archive-date=March 17, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230317060221/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/37842645/wevu-moving-to-new-studios-in-bonita/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Mon -->

Waterman Broadcasting attempted to expand the station's presence in the early 1990s. It first thought it had an agreement with [[WXCW|WNPL-TV]] (channel 46) to program the second station under a time brokerage agreement.<ref name="Napl930819">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120927565/wbbh-will-manage-naples-tv-station/|date=August 19, 1993|page=3B|first=Clay W|last=Cone|title=WBBH will manage Naples TV station|newspaper=The Naples Daily News|location=Naples, Florida|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 16, 2023|archive-date=March 16, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230316043854/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120927565/wbbh-will-manage-naples-tv-station/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Thu --> However, WNPL was in turmoil at the time. The agreement was reached during a period in which the station manager left; he then came back and ignored the agreement, with station officials calling the issue a misunderstanding.<ref name="Napl950114">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120927797/bankrupt-wnpl-tv-may-go-up-for-auction/|date=January 14, 1995|page=1A, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120927737/station-wnpl-tv-may-go-up-for-auction/ 4A]|first=Michael|last=Rinker|title=Bankrupt WNPL-TV may go up for auction: Naples station expected to sell for $4 million|newspaper=The Naples Daily News|location=Naples, Florida|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 16, 2023|archive-date=March 16, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230316043909/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120927797/bankrupt-wnpl-tv-may-go-up-for-auction/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sat --> Waterman then sued WNPL, which in turn filed for bankruptcy protection.<ref name="Napl930928">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120927642/parent-of-wnpl-files-for-bankruptcy/|date=September 28, 1993|page=1A, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120927611/bills-wnpl-parent-seeks-bankruptcy/ 3A]|first=Michael|last=Rinker|title=Parent of WNPL files for bankruptcy|newspaper=The Naples Daily News|location=Naples, Florida|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 16, 2023|archive-date=March 16, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230316043907/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120927642/parent-of-wnpl-files-for-bankruptcy/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Tue -->

On June 1, 1994, Ellis Communications, the owner of WEVU, entered into a local marketing agreement with WBBH-TV, which began providing the station's news programming.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Patterson |first=Demetrius |date=May 27, 1994 |title=WBBH taking over WEVU newscasts |page=1A |work=News-Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/37843060/wbbh_taking_over_wevu_newscasts/ |url-status=live |access-date=October 25, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191026053221/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/37843060/wbbh_taking_over_wevu_newscasts/ |archive-date=October 26, 2019 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Some WEVU staffers were not retained by WBBH;<ref name="nervous">{{Cite news |last=Patterson |first=Demetrius |date=June 4, 1994 |title=Nervous tension grips WEVU staff |page=11A |work=News-Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/37843038/ |url-status=live |access-date=October 25, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230302200710/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/37843038/nervous-tension-grips-wevu-staff/ |archive-date=March 2, 2023 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> in all, there were 20 staff firings, including WEVU's main news, weather and sports anchors.<ref name="overboard">{{Cite news |last=Patterson |first=Demetrius |title=WEVU tosses anchors overboard as part of WBBH deal |page=9A |work=News-Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/37843053/ |url-status=live |access-date=October 25, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230302200636/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/37843053/wevu-tosses-anchors-overboard-as-part/ |archive-date=March 2, 2023 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> That September, WBBH began branding as channel 2 after its position on local cable systems; WEVU did likewise with channel 7 and changed its call sign to WZVN-TV the next year.<ref name="News940914">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/38418934/station-logos/|date=September 14, 1994|page=8A|title=Station Logos|newspaper=News-Press|location=Fort Myers, Florida|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 16, 2023|archive-date=March 16, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230316043903/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/38418934/station-logos/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Wed --><ref name="News951018">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/news-press-out-with-wevu-in-with-wzvn/37843107/|date=October 18, 1995|page=1D|first=Larry A.|last=Strauss|title=Out with WEVU, in with WZVN|newspaper=News-Press|location=Fort Myers, Florida|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 22, 2024}}</ref><!-- Wed -->

Ellis Communications merged with [[Raycom Media]] in 1996; under a deal previously made by Ellis, WZVN-TV's license was sold to Montclair Communications, which continued the LMA with WBBH. Montclair was founded by Lara Kunkler, station manager for WBBH and WZVN and the goddaughter of Bernie Waterman, owner of Waterman Broadcasting.<ref name="News960823">{{Cite news |last=Strauss |first=Larry A. |date=August 23, 1996 |title=WZVN-TV prepares for ownership shuffle |page=1A |work=News-Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120031248/wzvn-tv-prepares-for-ownership-shuffle/ |url-status=live |access-date=March 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230302200629/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120031248/wzvn-tv-prepares-for-ownership-shuffle/ |archive-date=March 2, 2023 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><!-- Fri --> The deal allowed a once-money-losing station to become profitable.<ref name="MW020701">{{Cite news |last=Davis Hudson |first=Eileen |date=July 1, 2002 |title=Ft. Myers-Naples, Fla. |pages=12–16 |work=Mediaweek |id={{ProQuest|213645893}} }}</ref>{{r|BC030113}} In 2001, Waterman attempted to merge with Montclair by way of a stock swap.<ref name="News011204">{{Cite news |last=LaGuardia |first=Joan D. |date=December 4, 2001 |title=Waterman to take full control of ABC 7 |pages=1D, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120031495/merger-fcc-looks-at-duopoly-case-by-cas/ 2D] |work=News-Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120031404/waterman-to-take-full-control-of-abc-7/ |url-status=live |access-date=March 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230302200632/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120031404/waterman-to-take-full-control-of-abc-7/ |archive-date=March 2, 2023 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><!-- Tue --> However, instead of allowing the deal, the FCC let the application languish;<ref>{{Cite news |last=Zitrin |first=Richard |date=February 20, 2006 |title=Ft. Myers-Naples, Fla. |pages=9, 12, 14 |work=Mediaweek |id={{ProQuest|213639499}} }}</ref> at one point, it ordered the LMA unwound by 2004.<ref name="BC030113">{{Cite news |last=McConnell |first=Bill |date=January 13, 2003 |title=Small broadcasters push big change |page=45 |work=Broadcasting & Cable |id={{ProQuest|225242268}}}}</ref>

===Sale to Hearst===
[[File:WBBH-TV 2024.svg|125px|thumb|left|Logo of WBBH-TV in 2024]]
Waterman Broadcasting announced on April 5, 2023, that it would sell WBBH-TV to [[Hearst Television]], the first sale of the station in 44 years. The $220 million<ref name="APA">{{Cite web|url=https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/api/download/attachment/25076f91874e52500187569a547203e3|date=April 4, 2023|title=Asset Purchase Agreement|website=Licensing and Management System|publisher=[[Federal Communications Commission]]}}</ref>{{rp|20}} deal marked the sale of the company's last media property after having been founded in 1956.<ref name="wbbhtohearst">{{cite news|title=Waterman Broadcasting selling WBBH-TV/NBC2 to Hearst Television|url=https://nbc-2.com/news/2023/04/05/waterman-broadcasting-selling-wbbh-tv-nbc2-to-hearst-television/|date=April 5, 2023|work=WBBH-TV}}</ref> Company executives cited Edith Waterman's desire to sell the station before her 100th birthday.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.gulfshorebusiness.com/waterman-broadcasting-selling-to-new-york-based-hearst/|work=Gulfshore Business|date=April 6, 2023|title=Waterman Broadcasting selling to New York-based Hearst|first=David|last=Dorsey}}</ref> The sale was completed on June 30;<ref>{{cite web|url=https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/views/public/consummationDraftCopy?displayType=html&appKey=25076ff388ea75f001890d5a28f5175f&id=25076ff388ea75f001890d5a28f5175f&goBack=N|title=Notification of Consummation|work=Licensing and Management System|publisher=[[Federal Communications Commission]]|date=June 30, 2023|accessdate=July 1, 2023}}</ref> Hearst would also continue programming WZVN-TV on Montclair's behalf.{{r|APA|p=14}}

Hearst rebranded WBBH-TV and WZVN-TV as Gulf Coast NBC and Gulf Coast ABC, with newscasts known as ''Gulf Coast News'', effective February 5, 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lieze-Adams |first=Darrel |date=February 5, 2025 |title=Introducing Gulf Coast NBC and Gulf Coast ABC |url=https://www.gulfcoastnewsnow.com/article/gulf-coast-news-nbc2-abc7-fort-myers/63677491 |access-date=February 6, 2025 |website=Gulf Coast News Now |language=en}}</ref>

==News operation==
[[File:WBBH van.jpg|thumb|A WBBH news van in Fort Myers]]
[[WINK-TV]] (channel 11), which had been the only local station prior to channel 20 signing on the air, remained the news leader in the market until 1974, when WBBH rose to the top and provided serious competition for WINK.<ref name="News750208">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120961574/stations-wage-electronic-battle-for-loca/|date=February 8, 1975|page=1D, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120961588/stations-wrestle-in-ratings-race/ 3D]|first=Lesley|last=Darren|title=Stations Wage Electronic Battle For Local Viewers|newspaper=News-Press|location=|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 16, 2023|archive-date=March 17, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230317060213/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120961574/stations-wage-electronic-battle-for/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sat --> However, by the early 1980s, it had slipped behind WINK, though it was well ahead of WEVU, whose news ratings were typically anemic.<ref name="News830618">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120962137/did-personnel-changes-hurt-wbbh/|date=June 18, 1983|page=1D, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120962202/ratings/ 2D]|first=Peter G.|last=Johnson|title=Did personnel changes hurt WBBH?|newspaper=News-Press|location=|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 16, 2023|archive-date=March 16, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230316043901/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120962137/did-personnel-changes-hurt-wbbh/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sat --> Beginning in January 1994, WBBH experimented with producing newscasts for air on local cable systems' [[public-access television|local origination]] channels: these included 7 p.m., 10 p.m., and midnight broadcasts branded as the ''Eyewitness News Network''.<ref name="Napl931217">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121030794/new-network-on-channel-20/|date=December 17, 1993|page=10D|title=New 'Network' on channel 20|newspaper=The Naples Daily News|location=Naples, Florida|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 17, 2023|archive-date=March 17, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230317060154/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121030794/new-network-on-channel-20/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Fri --><ref name="News940131">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121030811/news-on-cable/|date=January 31, 1994|page=1D|title=News on cable|newspaper=News-Press|location=Fort Myers, Florida|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 17, 2023|archive-date=March 17, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230317060204/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121030811/news-on-cable/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Mon -->

[[File:Gulf Coast logo 2025.svg|thumb|Logo of Gulf Coast News since February 5, 2025]]
In the wake of the WEVU LMA in 1994, equipment investments were made for the joint operation. WBBH–WZVN had the market's first [[Doppler weather radar]] installed in the mid-1990s, and in 1997, a studio expansion was completed allowing both stations to present simultaneous 11 p.m. newscasts.<ref>{{Cite news |last=West |first=Don |date=February 3, 1997 |title=Are two stations better than one? |id={{ProQuest|225348600}} |page=5 |work=Broadcasting & Cable |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1997/BC-1997-02-03.pdf |url-status=live |access-date=March 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308041204/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1997/BC-1997-02-03.pdf |archive-date=March 8, 2021}}</ref> The stations have dedicated anchors but share reporters;<ref>{{Cite news |last=Malone |first=Michael |date=October 3, 2011 |title=Market Eye: Fort-ified in Florida |work=Broadcasting & Cable |url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/market-eye-fort-ified-florida-43109 |url-status=live |access-date=March 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211128053525/https://www.nexttv.com/news/market-eye-fort-ified-florida-43109 |archive-date=November 28, 2021}}</ref> during major hurricane coverage, the stations have often aired a single telecast using their combined news and weather resources.<ref name="News051031">{{Cite news |last=Wadsworth |first=Chris |date=October 31, 2005 |title=Wilma tests endurance of TV newscasters |page=D2 |work=News-Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120036413/wilma-tests-endurance-of-tv-newscasters/ |url-status=live |access-date=March 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230302200639/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120036413/wilma-tests-endurance-of-tv-newscasters/ |archive-date=March 2, 2023 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><!-- Mon --><ref name="News040828">{{Cite news |last=Wadsworth |first=Chris |date=August 28, 2004 |title=Covering the storm: Local media rise to occasion when Charley hits |pages=E1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120036595/media/ E6] |work=News-Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120036545/covering-the-storm-local-media-rise-to/ |url-status=live |access-date=March 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230302200629/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120036545/covering-the-storm-local-media-rise-to/ |archive-date=March 2, 2023 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><!-- Sat --><ref>{{Cite news |last=Kurz |first=Phil |date=September 13, 2017 |title=Fort Myers Stations Cover Storm, Provide Refuge |work=TV Technology |url=https://www.tvtechnology.com/news/fort-myers-stations-cover-storm-provide-refuge |url-status=live |access-date=March 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220123193027/https://www.tvtechnology.com/news/fort-myers-stations-cover-storm-provide-refuge |archive-date=January 23, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Eck |first=Kevin |date=September 28, 2022 |title=Family Looks to Fort Myers Station for Help Escaping Hurricane Ian Floodwaters |work=TVSpy |url=https://www.adweek.com/tvspy/family-looks-to-fort-myers-station-for-help-escaping-hurricane-ian-floodwaters/244421/ |url-status=live |access-date=March 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221004190003/https://www.adweek.com/tvspy/family-looks-to-fort-myers-station-for-help-escaping-hurricane-ian-floodwaters/244421/ |archive-date=October 4, 2022}}</ref> Despite the shared resources, news viewership has tilted strongly toward WBBH—which continues to compete with WINK for first—over WZVN.<ref name="Napl000825">{{Cite news |last=Taylor |first=Dave |date=August 25, 2000 |title=Who's watching what news? |page=1B |work=The Naples Daily News |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120037098/whos-watching-what-news/ |access-date=March 2, 2023 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><!-- Fri --><ref name="News110926">{{Cite news |last=Wadsworth |first=Chris |date=September 26, 2011 |title=Local news stations continue to duke it out for ratings |pages=D1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120037304/media/ D4] |work=News-Press |location=Fort Myers, Florida |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120037279/local-news-stations-continue-to-duke-it/ |url-status=live |access-date=March 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230302200628/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120037279/local-news-stations-continue-to-duke-it/ |archive-date=March 2, 2023 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><!-- Mon -->

In 2018, the Waterman stations cut back their sports department; weeknight sportscasts were eliminated, along with the position of sports director for WBBH-TV.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Tsoflias Siegel |first=Stephanie |date=January 11, 2018 |title=WBBH-WZVN Reduces Sports, Eliminates Sports Director Position |work=TVSpy |url=https://www.adweek.com/tvspy/wbbh-reduces-sports-eliminates-sports-director-position/198919/ |url-status=live |access-date=March 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180318034140/http://www.adweek.com/tvspy/wbbh-reduces-sports-eliminates-sports-director-position/198919 |archive-date=March 18, 2018}}</ref> That same year, WBBH added a 3 p.m. newscast, giving it three and a half straight hours of local news leading into the ''[[NBC Nightly News]]''.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.adweek.com/tvspy/fort-myers-station-launches-3pm-newscast/204921/|date=June 12, 2018|title=Fort Myers Station Launches 4-Hour News Block Starting at 3 P.M.|first=Stephanie|last=Tsoflias Siegel|work=TVSpy|access-date=March 19, 2023}}</ref>

===Notable former on-air staff===
* [[Gene Lavanchy]] — sports anchor, 1986–1988<ref name="News890514">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120961826/old-faces-in-bigger-places-ex-area-spor/|date=May 14, 1989|page=7B|first=Glenn|last=Miller|title=Old faces in bigger places: Ex-area sportscasters dot nation's top markets|newspaper=News-Press|location=|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 16, 2023|archive-date=March 17, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230317060221/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120961826/old-faces-in-bigger-places-ex-area/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sun -->
* [[John Muller]] – reporter<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pix11.com/2014/06/03/pix-veteran-john-muller-named-co-anchor-of-pix11-news-at-5-and-10/|title=John Muller and Tamsen Fadal to co-anchor PIX11 News at 5 and 10|date=June 3, 2014 |publisher=[[WPIX]]|access-date=April 25, 2015|archive-date=August 13, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150813031254/http://pix11.com/2014/06/03/pix-veteran-john-muller-named-co-anchor-of-pix11-news-at-5-and-10/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Susan Rook]] — reporter, early 1980s<ref>{{Cite news|first=Patricia|last=Brennan|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|title=The Lively Host of 'TalkBack Live'|date=October 1, 1995|page=Y7|id={{ProQuest|307871980}} }}</ref>
* [[Shepard Smith]] – reporter, late 1980s–1992<ref name="News931013">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120962730/shepard-smith-hassled-in-haiti-former-l/|date=October 13, 1993|page=14A|first=Bob|last=Normal|title=Shepard Smith hassled in Haiti: Former local TV reporter held by gunmen|newspaper=News-Press|location=|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 16, 2023|archive-date=March 17, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230317060221/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120962730/shepard-smith-hassled-in-haiti-former/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Wed -->
* [[Ukee Washington]] — sports anchor, 1981—1987<ref name="News850630">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120961678/ukee-ebullient-wbbh-sports-anchors-cha/|date=June 30, 1985|page=1C, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120961743/ukee/ 4C]|first=Rick|last=Moschella|title=Ukee! Ebullient WBBH sports anchor's charisma is unmatched—and his popularity is, too|newspaper=News-Press|location=|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 16, 2023|archive-date=March 17, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230317060206/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120961678/ukee-ebullient-wbbh-sports-anchors/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sun -->{{r|News890514}}

==Technical information==
===Subchannels===
The station's signal is [[multiplex (TV)|multiplexed]]:
{| class="wikitable"
|+Subchannels of WBBH-TV<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=WBBH|title=RabbitEars listing for WBBH-TV|website=[[RabbitEars]]|access-date=September 3, 2019|archive-date=February 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210228104630/https://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=WBBH|url-status=live}}</ref>
! scope = "col" | [[Digital subchannel#United States|Channel]]
! scope = "col" | [[Display resolution|Res.]]
! scope = "col" | [[Aspect ratio (image)|Aspect]]
! scope = "col" | Short name
! scope = "col" | Programming
|-
! scope = "row" | 20.1
| [[1080i]] || rowspan="5"|[[16:9]] || WBBH || [[NBC]]
|-
! scope = "row" | 20.2
| rowspan="4"|[[480i]] || H&I || [[Heroes & Icons]]
|-
! scope = "row" | 20.3
| Nosey || Nosey
|-
! scope = "row" | 20.4
| MeTOONS || [[MeTV Toons]]
|- style="background-color: #E6FFF7;"
! scope = "row" | [[WWDT-CD|43.10]]
| style="background-color: #E6FFF7;"|WWDT || style="background-color: #E6FFF7;"|[[Telemundo]] ([[WWDT-CD]])
|}
{{legend|#E6FFF7|Simulcast of subchannels of another station}}

===Analog-to-digital conversion===
On October 31, 2002, WZVN-TV and WBBH-TV began broadcasting high-definition television, the first stations in the market to do so.<ref name="News021101">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120038734/abc-nbc-stations-unveil-their-hdtv-broa/|date=November 1, 2002|page=1D|title=ABC, NBC stations unveil their HDTV broadcasts|newspaper=News-Press|location=|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 2, 2023|archive-date=March 17, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230317060214/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120038734/abc-nbc-stations-unveil-their-hdtv/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Fri --> The conversion to digital required the construction of a new tower, as the 1983-built mast did not meet more stringent wind loading requirements.<ref>{{Cite news|title=WBBH-TV|work=Broadcast Engineering|date=December 2002|id={{Gale|A95438854}} }}</ref>

WBBH-TV discontinued regular programming on its analog signal, over [[UHF]] channel 20, on February 17, 2009, the original [[Digital television transition in the United States|digital television transition]] date.<ref name="Port090216">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121032508/despite-delay-digital-d-day-looms/|date=February 16, 2009|page=P1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121032500/looms-most-southwest-florida-stations-w/ P4]|first=Neil|last=Hughes|title=Despite delay, digital D-Day looms|newspaper=Port Charlotte Sun|location=|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 17, 2023|archive-date=March 17, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230317060205/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121032508/despite-delay-digital-d-day-looms/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Mon --><ref name="Analog to Digital">{{Cite web |date=May 23, 2006 |title=DTV Tentative Channel Designations for the First and Second Rounds |url=http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1082A2.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130829004251/http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1082A2.pdf |archive-date=August 29, 2013 |access-date=August 29, 2021 |publisher=Federal Communications Commission}}</ref> As part of the [[SAFER Act]],<ref name="FCC Nightlight">{{cite web|url=http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-291375A1.pdf|title=UPDATED List of Participants in the Analog Nightlight Program|publisher=Federal Communications Commission|date=June 12, 2009|access-date=June 4, 2012|archive-date=February 1, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201225603/http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv-movies/wnbc-ch-4-trims-promo-featuring-nypd-commissioner-ray-kelly-super-bowl-airing-article-1.1018204|url-status=live}}</ref> WBBH-TV kept its analog signal on the air until February 21 to inform viewers of the digital television transition through a loop of [[public service announcement]]s from the [[National Association of Broadcasters]]. The station's digital signal remained on its pre-transition UHF channel 15, using [[virtual channel]] 20.{{r|Analog to Digital}}

WBBH-TV broadcast WZVN-TV from its transmitter between October 2019 and March 2020 while repack work was conducted on that station's own transmitter equipment.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 27, 2019 |title=#82500 DTV Engineering STA Application |url=https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/api/download/draftcopy/DTV/25076f916aeaa74e016b0a62e7fd3afe |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191026053215/https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/api/download/draftcopy/DTV/25076f916aeaa74e016b0a62e7fd3afe |archive-date=October 26, 2019 |access-date=October 26, 2019 |website=Licensing and Management System |publisher=[[Federal Communications Commission]]}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Channel 2 branded TV stations in the United States]]
* [[Channel 15 digital TV stations in the United States]]
* [[Channel 20 virtual TV stations in the United States]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://www.gulfcoastnewsnow.com/ WBBH-TV/WZVN-TV official website]

{{Ft. Myers TV}}
{{NBC Florida}}
{{Hearst}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wbbh-Tv}}
[[Category:1968 establishments in Florida]]
[[Category:2023 mergers and acquisitions]]
[[Category:Hearst Television]]
[[Category:Heroes & Icons affiliates]]
[[Category:NBC affiliates]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations established in 1968]]
[[Category:Television stations in Fort Myers, Florida|BBH-TV]]