A TV station callsign is 4 letters (in raw cases 3 letters), or 5 alphanumeric characters. The callsign indicates region (east or west). The station callsign suffix indicates power class (full or low power), and frequency status (primary or secondary).
The callsign indicates if the station is east or west of the Mississippi River. Stations west of the Mississippi River have a callsign that starts with a "K", east of the river the callsign starts with a "W".
| Callsign | Region |
|---|---|
| KXYZ | West of Mississippi River |
| WZYX | East of Mississippi River |
| Callsign | Suffix |
|---|---|
| KXYZ | - DT |
A callsign suffix is usually 2 letters and indicates power class, and frequency status. All high power stations are the primary frequency. Some low power stations have secondary status, the station cannot interfere with a primary frequency. Service Class maximum effective radiated power (ERP) varies with frequency band (VHF or UHF). In some regions maximum power is less than listed below.
| Callsign Suffix |
Description | Class | ERP Max Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| No Suffix |
Full Power |
185 kW
/ VHF 1000 kW / UHF |
|
| DT | Digital TV | ||
| TV | Television | ||
| CD | Class A Digital | Low Power Primary |
3 kW / VHF 15 kW / UHF |
| D | Digital |
Low Power Secondary |
|
| LD | Low Power Digital | ||
| LP | Low Power TV |
| Other Suffix Designations |
|
|---|---|
| DD | Distributed Digital Television |
| DS | Special Temporary Authority |
| DX | Auxiliary Backup Facilities |
| TX | Translator |
| LM | Land Mobile Use of TV Channel |
| CA | Class A Low Power Analog (outdated). |
| License Status | ||
|---|---|---|
| APP | -- | Application Filed |
| CP | -- | Construction Permit Granted |
| LIC | -- | License Approved |
| STA | -- | Special Temporary Authority |
| License Class | ||
|---|---|---|
| DCA | -- | Class A Television (Low Power). |
| DTR | -- | Translator for Full Power stations to fill gaps due to the analog to digital switch. |
| DTS | -- | Transmitters on the same frequency to improve coverage. |
| DTV | -- | Full Power Digital Television. |
| LPT | -- | Low Power TV Translator. |
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OTA DTv TV Station Callsigns |
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