A television station callsign indicates’s it’s power class, region, and frequency band status. Power class is high or low power, region is east or west, and frequency band status is primary or secondary. Callsigns are 4 letters (in raw cases 3 letters), or 5 alphanumeric characters sometimes followed by a 1 or 2 letter suffix.
| CALLSIGN | ||
| Prefix | - | Suffix |
| KXYZ | - | TV |
| WZYX | - | DT |
Callsigns starting with a “W” are east of the Mississippi River, callsigns starting with a “K” are west of the river.
The suffix indicates service class, high or low power. It also indicates the frequency band status, primary or secondary. 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 allowed power (ERP) varies with frequency band (VHF or UHF), and region. In some regions 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| CA | Class A Low Power Analog (outdated).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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