a joint venture of Kaiser Broadcasting and the Boston Globe purchased WXHR-TV (channel 56, formerly WTAO-TV; now WLVI), which had been off the air for a decade, and returned the station to the air that December. Although Boston was big enough on paper to support three independent stations, WJZB's technical problems proved too much to overcome. The station limped along for another year, until Springfield Television cut back its schedule to 90 minutes a day, the minimum required to cover the license. The station signed on at 6 p.m. and signed off at 7:30 p.m., its sole programs being WWLP's evening newscasts and The Huntley-Brinkley Report. In 1968, Springfield Television announced the sale of WJZB to Buckley and his new corporation, Evans Broadcasting. Buckley planned significant upgrades, including a new color transmitter capable of 1 million watts of power. However, before Buckley could close on the purchase, the studio and transmitter were destroyed by fire in May 1969. When it was apparent the station would never return to the air, Springfield Television surrendered the license to the FCC, which deleted it in February 1970, with its frequency reassigned to two-way radio and land mobile use. References Defunct television stations in the United States Television channels and stations established in 1953 Television channels and stations disestablished in 1969 JZB-TV Defunct companies based in Massachusetts JZB-TV Mass media in Worcester, Massachusetts 1953 establishments in Massachusetts 1969 disestablishments in Massachusetts