The original WBGT-CD logo, being there from 1998-2003.
WBGT-CD began operations as WBGT-LP on February 2, 1998. For its first ten months on-air, it was an independent station under the Big TV branding, before it became an UPN affiliate in November of that year (UPN programming prior to its affiliation was primarily available only on cable/satellite systems via O&O WWOR-TV, while WUHF had a secondary affiliation with the network). Despite the affiliation, the station used the branding throughout most of the years of the network,[2] only ditching it after 2003. The Victor translator was added in 1999, and in 2001, Time Warner Cable (predecessor of Charter Spectrum) added WBGT-LP to its lineup. On January 24, 2006, The WB and UPN announced that the networks would end broadcasting and merge to form The CW, which signed with cable-only WB affiliate WRWB (the forerunner of WHAM-DT2). Several weeks later, MyNetworkTV was announced by Fox as an alternative for UPN or WB affiliates not chosen by the CW. WBGT-LP quickly signed an affiliation deal with MyNetworkTV, and joined the network at its launch on September 5, 2006. Around this time, the suffix was changed from "-LP" to "-CA".
The station has never been added to DirecTV or Dish Network; it has no must-carry rights as a low-power operation. Eventually, when it signed on its digital facilities, the station's calls were changed to WBGT-CD.
WBGT-CD was formerly also seen over-the-air on analog repeater W26BZ (channel 26) in Victor, which is no longer licensed. This broadcast from a transmitter south of Perinton's Egypt hamlet along the Monroe–Ontario county line. This translator was replaced with another, WGCE-CD, some time before 2018; WGCE was spun off to HC2 Holdings in August 2018.[4]
