View source for WITF-TV

{{Short description|Television station in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania}}
{{good article}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2024}}
{{Infobox television station
| callsign               = WITF-TV
| city                   = Harrisburg, Pennsylvania{{efn|Originally licensed to [[Hershey, Pennsylvania]]; moved to Harrisburg in 1982.}}
| logo                   = WITF 2022.svg
| logo_alt               = The letters WITF, lowercase, in a rounded sans serif in a very dark green. Next to them is a mint green symbol consisting of two L-shaped devices framing a rectangle.
| logo_upright           = 1
| branding               = WITF
| digital                = 36 ([[UHF]]), shared with [[WPMT]]
| virtual                = 33
| subchannels            = 
| translators            = W20EU-D [[Chambersburg]]
| affiliations           = {{ubl|'''33.1:''' [[PBS]]|'''33.2:''' [[PBS Kids]]}}
| owner                  = WITF, Inc.
| licensee               =
| location               = {{ubl|[[Harrisburg]]–[[Lancaster, Pennsylvania|Lancaster]]–[[Lebanon, Pennsylvania|Lebanon]]–|[[York, Pennsylvania]]}}
| country                = United States
| airdate                = {{start date and age|1964|11|22|p=y}}
| last_airdate           = 
| callsign_meaning       = "It's Top Flight"
| sister_stations        = [[WITF-FM]]
| former_callsigns       = 
| former_channel_numbers = {{ubl|'''Analog:''' 33 (UHF, 1964–2009)}}
| former_affiliations    = [[National Educational Television|NET]] (1964–1970)
| erp                    = 84 kW
| haat                   = {{convert|431|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
| facility_id            = 73083
| coordinates            = {{coord|40|20|43.6|N|76|52|7.6|W|type:landmark_scale:2000}}
| licensing_authority    = [[FCC]]
| website                = {{URL|www.witf.org/}}
}}

'''WITF-TV''' (channel 33) is a [[PBS]] member [[television station]] in [[Harrisburg, Pennsylvania]], United States, serving the [[Susquehanna Valley]] region (Harrisburg–[[Lancaster, Pennsylvania|Lancaster]]–[[Lebanon, Pennsylvania|Lebanon]]–[[York, Pennsylvania|York]]). It is owned by WITF, Inc., alongside the area's [[NPR]] member, [[WITF-FM]] (89.5). The two stations share studios at the WITF Public Media Center in [[Swatara Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania|Swatara Township]] (with a Harrisburg [[United States Postal Service|mailing]] address); WITF-TV's transmitter is located in [[Middle Paxton Township, Pennsylvania|Middle Paxton Township]], next to the transmitter of [[CBS]] affiliate [[WHP-TV]] (channel 21). WITF's programming is relayed on [[Low-power broadcasting#Television|low-power]] digital [[Broadcast relay station#Broadcast translators|translator station]] '''W20EU-D''' (channel 20) in [[Chambersburg]].

WITF-TV was established as the first public media outlet in the region in 1964 and was based in [[Hershey, Pennsylvania|Hershey]] for its first 18 years of existence. It expanded into radio with WITF-FM in 1971 and moved to Harrisburg in 1982. The station's local initiatives include programs on topics of local interest as well as several collaborative ventures in statewide news and educational content.

== History ==
[[File:Hershey PA Community Center.jpg|left|thumb|200px|alt=Refer to caption|The [[Hershey Community Center Building|Hershey Community Center]] was WITF-TV's first home, used from 1964 to 1981]]
In 1963, the Pennsylvania Educational Network proposed the introduction of a series of new noncommercial television allotments in the state: channel 3 at [[Clearfield, Pennsylvania|Clearfield]], channel 36 at [[Altoona, Pennsylvania|Altoona]], channel 39 at [[Allentown, Pennsylvania|Allentown]] (then a commercial channel), channel 65 at Harrisburg, and channel 68 at [[Scranton]].<ref name="Latr630222">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96382897/petition-to-add-new-tv-channels-due-apri/|date=February 22, 1963|page=17|agency=United Press International|title=Petition To Add New TV Channels Due April 1|newspaper=Latrobe Bulletin|location=Latrobe, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 25, 2022|archive-date=February 25, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220225071227/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96382897/petition-to-add-new-tv-channels-due/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Fri --> The South Central Educational Broadcasting Council was formed to apply for, build and manage the Harrisburg station.<ref name="Lanc630509">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96382941/educational-tv-council-is-organized/|date=May 9, 1963|page=33|agency=Associated Press|title=Educational TV Council Is Organized|newspaper=Lancaster New Era|location=Lancaster, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 25, 2022|archive-date=February 25, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220225071219/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96382941/educational-tv-council-is-organized/|url-status=live}} (Refers to a South Central ''Regional'' Broadcasting Council)</ref><!-- Thu --> Even before a construction permit application was filed, negotiations began to use the Dauphin County site already home to WHP-TV.<ref name="York630802">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96383047/200000-goal-fixed-for-educational-tv/|date=August 2, 1963|page=24|title=$200,000 Goal Fixed For Educational TV|newspaper=The York Dispatch|location=York, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 25, 2022|archive-date=February 25, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220225071219/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96383047/200000-goal-fixed-for-educational-tv/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Fri -->

South Central Educational filed its construction permit application in December 1963, specifying a location at [[Hershey, Pennsylvania|Hershey]], where studios would be maintained on land donated by the [[Hershey Entertainment and Resorts Company|Hershey Estates]].<ref name="hc">{{Cite web|url= https://cdbs.recnet.com/corres/?doc=84189 |title= History Cards for WITF-TV|publisher=[[Federal Communications Commission]]}} ([[Wikipedia:WikiProject Radio Stations/History Cards|Guide to reading History Cards]])<!--Converted from {{FCC letter}}--></ref><ref name="Inte631105">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96383113/details-completed-for-educational-tv-out/|date=November 5, 1963|page=4|title=Details completed for educational tv outlet|newspaper=Intelligencer Journal|location=Lancaster, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 25, 2022|archive-date=February 25, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220225071229/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96383113/details-completed-for-educational-tv/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Tue --> The nine counties in the planned service area of the new station were tasked with contributing funds for its startup, while the [[Department of Health, Education, and Welfare]] contributed $200,000 in the form of a grant.<ref name="Stan640627">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96383438/educational-tv-grant/|date=June 27, 1964|page=2|agency=Associated Press|title=Educational TV Grant|newspaper=Standard-Speaker|location=Hazleton, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 25, 2022|archive-date=February 25, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220225071229/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96383438/educational-tv-grant/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sat --> After the grant, the FCC granted a construction permit on June 30.{{r|hc}}

The Hudson Broadcasting Corporation, owner of Harrisburg radio station WCMB, held some equipment and a construction permit, unbuilt and unused, for channel 33 in Harrisburg. After reaching a purchase agreement with that firm, South Central Educational filed to move its proposed WITF-TV down from channel 65 to 33.<ref name="York640826">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96383535/etv-start-held-up-gain-lower-channel/|date=August 26, 1964|page=26, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96383596/ 19]|title=ETV Start Held Up; Gain Lower Channel|newspaper=The York Dispatch|location=York, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 25, 2022|archive-date=February 25, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220225071221/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96383535/etv-start-held-up-gain-lower-channel/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Wed --> While this would prolong the time needed to put the new station to air by two months, it would reduce costs and improve coverage.<ref name="Gaze640827">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96383630/lower-cost-later-start-is-predicted-now/|date=August 27, 1964|page=3|title=Lower Cost, Later Start Is Predicted Now Area ETV Group Has Channel 33|newspaper=The Gazette and Daily|location=York, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 25, 2022|archive-date=February 25, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220225071228/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96383630/lower-cost-later-start-is-predicted/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Thu --> Technical difficulties pushed the start back a week, but at a third of authorized power, channel 33 began broadcasting on November 22, 1964.<ref name="York641123">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96383852/etv-makes-debut-praise-widespread/|date=November 23, 1964|page=34|title=ETV Makes Debut; Praise Widespread|newspaper=The York Dispatch|location=York, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 25, 2022|archive-date=February 25, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220225071218/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96383852/etv-makes-debut-praise-widespread/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Mon --> The call letters had been chosen by portraitist Florence Starr Taylor to represent the phrase "it's top flight".<ref name="Inte020125">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96387624/discover-a-lancaster-treasure-a-new/|date=January 25, 2002|page=Happenings 10|first=Rebecca J.|last=Ritzel|title=Discover a Lancaster treasure a new|newspaper=Intelligencer Journal|location=Lancaster, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 25, 2022|archive-date=February 25, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220225071220/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96387624/discover-a-lancaster-treasure-a-new/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Fri -->

Chambersburg was predicted to receive poor coverage from the Harrisburg transmitter, and a translator for [[Franklin County, Pennsylvania|Franklin County]] went into service in 1965, the predecessor to today's W20EU-D.<ref name="Publ650703">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96384061/tv-translator-station-ready/|date=July 3, 1965|page=4|title=TV Translator Station Ready|newspaper=Public Opinion|location=Chambersburg, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 25, 2022|archive-date=February 25, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220225071226/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96384061/tv-translator-station-ready/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sat --> The station was quickly embraced by the community; April 1971 brought the launch of [[WITF-FM]] 89.5,<ref name="Sund810405">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96386006/witf-fm-895-station-started-10-years-a/|date=April 5, 1981|page=3C|first=Barbara|last=Miller|title=WITF-FM 89.5: Station Started 10 Years Ago Without A Turntable|newspaper=Sunday-The Daily News|location=Lebanon, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 25, 2022|archive-date=February 25, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220225071254/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96386006/witf-fm-895-station-started-10-years/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sun --> and by 1979, it had the third-highest percentage of supporting members of any public television station in the United States, with viewers contributing 32 percent of its budget.{{r|Dail790916|p=5}} The original transmission equipment was replaced in 1977 along with the commissioning of a new, taller tower, improving coverage and reducing the increasing number of faults attributable to its aging plant.<ref name="Eliz770818">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96385856/witf-tv-boosting-its-output/|date=August 18, 1977|page=9|title=WITF-TV Boosting Its Output|newspaper=Elizabethtown Chronicle|location=Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 25, 2022|archive-date=February 25, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220225071230/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96385856/witf-tv-boosting-its-output/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Thu -->

After leasing space at the Hershey Community Center for 15 years, the Milton Hershey School Trust sold the building in 1979 to [[Hershey Foods]].<ref name="Dail790522">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96385164/hershey-foods-to-purchase-center/|date=May 22, 1979|page=7|first=Bob|last=Bunty|title=Hershey Foods To Purchase Center|newspaper=The Daily News|location=Lebanon, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 25, 2022|archive-date=February 25, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220225071254/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96385164/hershey-foods-to-purchase-center/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Tue --> As a result, WITF radio and television were forced to contemplate a move, examining sites in Derry and South Hanover townships;<ref name="Dail790821">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96385446/search-on-for-new-quarters-with-witf-tv/|date=August 21, 1979|page=19|title=Search On For New Quarters With WITF-TV|newspaper=The Daily News|location=Lebanon, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 25, 2022|first=Barbara|last=Elliott|archive-date=February 25, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220225071227/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96385446/search-on-for-new-quarters-with-witf-tv/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Tue --> the stations looked at a new build site which would cost about the same as renovations it had previously planned.<ref name="Dail790916">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96385491/witf-ripe-for-change-studio-site-being/|date=September 16, 1979|page=4, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96385560/ 5], [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96385591/ 7]|title=WITF ripe for change; Studio site being chosen|newspaper=Hershey Magazine|first=Barbara|last=Elliott|location=Lebanon, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 25, 2022|archive-date=February 25, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220225071235/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96385491/witf-ripe-for-change-studio-site-being/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sun --> In late 1979, the governing board for the stations entered into an agreement under which WITF would have owned and operated a new, {{convert|46000|ft2|m2|adj=on}} facility at [[Harrisburg Area Community College]].<ref name="Even791002">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96385694/witf-tv-fm-to-move/|date=October 2, 1979|page=A-3|title=WITF-TV, FM To Move|newspaper=The Evening Sun|location=Hanover, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 25, 2022|archive-date=February 25, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220225071256/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96385694/witf-tv-fm-to-move/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Tue --> Robert F. Larson, the president and general manager, noted that the proximity to the Commonwealth capital and educational institutions made a site in Harrisburg desirable.<ref name="Dail791014">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96384892/harrisburg-move/|date=October 14, 1979|page=2, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96384968/ 14]|first=Robert F.|last=Larson|title=Perspective: Harrisburg move|newspaper=Hershey Magazine|location=Lebanon, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 25, 2022|archive-date=February 25, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220225071220/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96384892/harrisburg-move/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sun --> However, the board discovered it would not actually own the land, which was a deal-breaker for WITF and led to the college proposal being dropped. Instead, the council mulled other sites and a proposal to create mini-studios throughout its service area.<ref name="Dail800508">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96385747/witf-will-stay-area-satellites-sought/|date=May 8, 1980|page=1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96385786/ 2]|first=Barbara|last=Elliott|title=WITF Will Stay; Area Satellites Sought|newspaper=The Daily News|location=Lebanon, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 25, 2022|archive-date=February 25, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220225071232/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96385747/witf-will-stay-area-satellites-sought/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Thu --> A nine-acre site was considered and then shelved in early 1981 due to concerns about federal funding cutbacks from the new Reagan administration.<ref name="Dail810225">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96385921/budget-slashes-short-circuit-witf-build/|date=February 25, 1981|page=1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96385958/ 2]|title=Budget Slashes Short Circuit WITF Build Plans|newspaper=The Daily News|location=Lebanon, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 25, 2022|archive-date=February 25, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220225071229/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96385921/budget-slashes-short-circuit-witf-build/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Wed --> Headquarters were initially moved to a Hershey building shared with the public library, but the station ultimately secured facilities on Locust Road in northeast Harrisburg, in the form of the closing Anna L. Carter Elementary School in [[Susquehanna Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania|Susquehanna Township]]; the closure of the school attracted some opposition to the move from residents.<ref name="Sund810607">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96386402/witf-district-still-negotiating/|date=June 7, 1981|page=1A, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96386455/ 9A]|first=Jane|last=Welker|title=WITF, district still negotiating|newspaper=Sunday-The Daily News|location=Lebanon, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 25, 2022|archive-date=February 25, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220225071231/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96386402/witf-district-still-negotiating/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sun --> The stations moved in November 1982, with the community of license changing from Hershey to Harrisburg.<ref name="Sund821114">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96386562/witf-in-new-home-public-service-communi/|date=November 14, 1982|page=B1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96386531/ B5]|first=Linda|last=Whipple|title=WITF In New Home: Public Service Communications Center Will Be Dedicated Nov. 21|newspaper=Sunday News|location=Lancaster, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 25, 2022|archive-date=February 25, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220225071231/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96386562/witf-in-new-home-public-service/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sun --><ref name="Dail821122">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96386896/stations-moved-now-its-witf-harrisbu/|date=November 22, 1982|page=10|first=Howard|last=Kolus|title=Stations Moved: Now It's 'WITF, Harrisburg'|newspaper=The Daily News|location=Lebanon, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 25, 2022|archive-date=February 25, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220225071228/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96386896/stations-moved-now-its-witf/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Mon -->

[[File:WITF Public Media Center (3765730312).jpg|left|thumb|alt=Refer to caption|The WITF Public Media Center (at left), completed in 2006]]
Spurred by growth and technological changes, and with 50 more employees than it had in 1982, WITF launched a capital campaign in 2002 to build a new, $22.2&nbsp;million public media center on a site in [[Swatara Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania|Swatara Township]], adjacent to [[Interstate 283]].<ref name="Sent030529">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96386706/witf-appealing-for-bucks/|date=May 29, 2003|page=B6|first=Tatiana|last=Zamowski|title=WITF appealing for bucks|newspaper=The Sentinel|location=Carlisle, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 25, 2022|archive-date=February 25, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220225071225/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96386706/witf-appealing-for-bucks/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Thu --> Not only was the Locust Road site hard to find, it lacked an elevator and was not compliant with the [[Americans with Disabilities Act]].<ref name="Lanc031115">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96386744/witf-to-build-new-headquarters-fundrais/|date=November 15, 2003|page=B1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96386787/ B5]|first=Jane|last=Holahan|title=WITF to build new headquarters, fundraising campaign under way|newspaper=Lancaster New Era|location=Lancaster, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 25, 2022|archive-date=February 25, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220225071240/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96386744/witf-to-build-new-headquarters/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sat --> Ground was broken in 2005,<ref name="Dail050724">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96386820/witf-breaks-ground-on-new-public-media-c/|date=July 24, 2005|page=C3|title=WITF breaks ground on new Public Media Center|newspaper=The Daily Item|location=Sunbury, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=February 25, 2022|archive-date=February 25, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220225071235/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96386820/witf-breaks-ground-on-new-public-media/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sun --> and staff moved into the new facility in 2006.<ref>{{cite news|page=G12|title=WITF has shiny new home|first=Barry|last=Fox|work=The Patriot-News|date=March 11, 2007}}</ref>

In April 2023, WITF and Steinman Communications announced Steinman's plans to donate its [[LNP Media Group]], which includes ''[[LNP (newspaper)|LNP]]'' newspaper based in Lancaster, to WITF, effective that June. The two groups plan to partner on a new nonprofit promoting civic engagement.<ref>{{cite news |title=WITF and LNP {{!}} LancasterOnline Forge New Model for Local News, Community Education and Civic Engagement in Central Pennsylvania |url=https://www.witf.org/2023/04/26/witf-and-lnp-lancasteronline-forge-new-model-for-local-news-community-education-and-civic-engagement-in-central-pennsylvania/ |work=WITF |date=April 26, 2023 |language=en}}</ref> In October 2024, WITF and ''LNP'' eliminated 24 positions, which amounted to 10% of total staff.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fuller |first=Austin |date=October 4, 2024 |title=Pennsylvania's WITF, 'LNP' newspaper eliminate 24 jobs |url=https://current.org/2024/10/pennsylvanias-witf-lnp-newspaper-eliminate-24-jobs/ |access-date=October 10, 2024 |website=Current |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Local programming and initiatives ==
WITF produces several local programs for the south-central Pennsylvania area, including a series on health (''Transforming Health'') and the annual Central PA Spelling Bee. Drawings for the [[Pennsylvania Lottery]], aired statewide by a network of commercial stations, are also produced at WITF.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.pennlive.com/life/2016/05/ever_wondered_what_goes_on_beh.html|work=PennLIVE|date=January 5, 2019|first=Julia|last=Hatmaker|title=What goes on behind the scenes of the Pa. Lottery? An insider guide to the drawings|access-date=February 25, 2022|archive-date=February 8, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180208235823/http://www.pennlive.com/life/2016/05/ever_wondered_what_goes_on_beh.html|url-status=live}}</ref> WITF also produced some television programs that are aired nationally on PBS, such as ''[[Computer Chronicles]]'' (co-produced with [[KCSM-TV]] from 1983 to 1995).<ref name="Inte871214">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104702358/pc-show-founder-running-program-on-2-coa/|date=December 14, 1987|page=Business Monday 1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104702438/ 5]|first=Nancy|last=Funk|title=PC Show Founder Running Program On 2-Coast Basis|newspaper=Intelligencer Journal|location=Lancaster, Pennsylvania|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=June 30, 2022}}</ref><!-- Mon -->

In 2018, WITF launched PA Post, a statewide news outlet; the creation of such was suggested as a potential use for funds received in the [[Spectrum allocation|FCC spectrum auction]] of 2017.{{r|spectrum}} PA Post was folded into [[Spotlight PA]], an investigative portal run by several major Pennsylvania newspapers, in 2020.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.witf.org/2020/08/17/pa-post-combines-with-spotlight-pa-to-create-largest-statewide-news-organization-in-pennsylvania/|date=August 17, 2020|title=PA Post Combines with Spotlight PA to Create Largest Statewide News Organization in Pennsylvania|publisher=WITF Public Media|access-date=February 25, 2022|archive-date=February 23, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210223165203/https://www.witf.org/2020/08/17/pa-post-combines-with-spotlight-pa-to-create-largest-statewide-news-organization-in-pennsylvania/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Joining two other PBS stations, WITF helped launch the Public Media Educational Platform (which soon changed its name to the Information Equity Initiative) in 2021, with the goal of using datacasting to transmit educational programming to school students without sufficient broadband access. As part of the initiative, WITF has conducted pilots serving K-12 students and prison inmates.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://current.org/2021/09/new-nonprofit-will-expand-digital-health-and-education-offerings-through-datacasting/|work=Current|title=New nonprofit will expand digital health and education offerings through datacasting|first=Scott|last=Fybush|date=September 15, 2021|access-date=February 25, 2022|archive-date=February 2, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220202232926/https://current.org/2021/09/new-nonprofit-will-expand-digital-health-and-education-offerings-through-datacasting/|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Technical information ==
=== Subchannels ===
<section begin=subs />
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Subchannels of WITF-TV<ref name=rei>{{cite web|title=Digital TV Market Listing for WITF|url=http://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=WITF#station|website=RabbitEars.Info}}</ref>
! scope = "col" | License
! 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
|-
! rowspan = "2" style="border-right: 4px solid #00dfa2;" | WITF-TV
! scope = "row" | 33.1
| [[720p]] || rowspan=3| [[16:9]] || WITF || [[PBS]]
|-
! scope = "row" | 33.2
| [[480i]] || WITFK || [[PBS Kids]]
|-
! rowspan = "2" scope = "row" style="border-right: 4px solid #045ea8;" | WPMT
! scope = "row" | 43.1 
| 720p || WPMT-DT || [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]]
|-
! scope = "row" | 43.2 
| 480i || [[4:3]] || Antenna || [[Antenna TV]]
|}
<section end=subs />
===Translator===
{| class="wikitable"
|+ {{screen reader-only|Translators of WITF-TV}}
! City of license
! Call sign
! Channel
! [[effective radiated power|ERP]]
! [[HAAT]]
! [[Facility ID]]
! Transmitter coordinates
|-
|| [[Chambersburg]] ||'''{{FCC-LMS-Facility|73081|3=W20EU-D}}'''|| 20 || 15&nbsp;kW || {{convert|413|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} || 73081 || {{coord|40|03|0.3|N|77|44|50.9|W|type:landmark_scale:2000|name=W20EU-D}}
|}

WITF-TV became the first television station in Pennsylvania to broadcast and transmit a [[digital television]] signal on [[UHF]] channel 36 on August 26, 1998.<ref>{{cite news |last=Fox |first=Barry |date=November 1, 1998 |title=WITF joins first to air digital TV |work=The Patriot-News |page=D11}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=WTIF Digital Television |url=http://www.witf.org/temps/TV/DTV.shtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030207125523/http://www.witf.org/temps/TV/DTV.shtml |archive-date=February 7, 2003 |access-date=May 4, 2024 |website=WITF}}</ref>

WITF-TV discontinued regular programming on its analog signal, over [[UHF]] channel 33, on February 17, 2009, to conclude the [[Digital television transition in the United States|federally mandated transition from analog to digital television]]; the station's digital signal remained on UHF channel 36, using virtual channel 33.<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>

WITF agreed to share its spectrum with [[Tribune Broadcasting]]-owned [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] affiliate [[WPMT]] (channel 43) following the [[Spectrum reallocation#Broadcast incentive auction|2016–2017 FCC incentive auction]] for $25&nbsp;million on February 10, 2017. The proceeds were slated to be transferred to WITF's endowment, with interest to be used for Central Pennsylvania's media literacy program; a statewide news organization was cited as another possibility, foreshadowing the creation of PA Post.<ref name="spectrum">{{cite news|last1=Sefton|first1=Dru|title=Spectrum auction nets nearly $35M for two Pennsylvania stations|url=http://current.org/2017/02/spectrum-auction-nets-nearly-35m-for-two-pennsylvania-stations/|lang=en|access-date=February 14, 2017|work=Current|date=February 10, 2017|archive-date=February 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170213205846/http://current.org/2017/02/spectrum-auction-nets-nearly-35m-for-two-pennsylvania-stations/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{Official website|http://www.witf.org}}

{{Harrisburg/Lancaster/York TV}}
{{Washington TV}}
{{PPTN}}
{{PBS Pennsylvania}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Witf-Tv}}
[[Category:1964 establishments in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:PBS member stations]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations established in 1964]]
[[Category:Television stations in the Susquehanna Valley|ITF-TV]]