WPXH
Encyclopedia
WPXH-TV, digital channel 45, is the Ion Television network affiliate for the Birmingham
/Gadsden
/Anniston
/Tuscaloosa
market. The station's city of license is Gadsden
. The station is owned by ION Media Networks
(formerly Paxson Communications). The station can also be seen on Bright House Networks
channel 14 and HD channel 614.
. The two stations combined were intended to serve the Birmingham market, with WDBB serving the southern portion and WNAL serving the northern portion. After a few months as independents
, the two stations joined Fox
as charter affiliates. Despite the stations' relatively strong program lineup, independent station
WTTO
had stronger ratings. Additionally, neither WNAL nor WDBB were able to get a good signal into Birmingham, and several Birmingham cable companies declined to carry the stations. As a result, WDBB/WNAL was not profitable.
In 1991, Fox moved its Birmingham affiliation to WTTO, and shortly afterward WDBB and WNAL started simulcasting WTTO for all but three hours of the day. By 1993, WDBB and WNAL were full-time satellites of WTTO. The WTTO/WNAL/WDBB combo (which nonetheless branded only as "Fox21)") eventually became one of the leading Fox affiliates in the nation. In 1995, both WNAL and WDBB began airing separate daytime schedules. Fant Broadcasting bought WNAL in the same year.
In a complicated move, Citicasters
sold longtime ABC
affiliate WBRC
to Fox in 1995, forcing affiliation changes for six stations in central Alabama the next year. At that time, WBRC became the Fox affiliate for central Alabama, while WJSU-TV, the CBS
affiliate for northeast Alabama, became part of the Birmingham market’s new ABC affiliate, WBMA-LP
. WNAL, which prior to the massive affiliation switch had been a secondary affiliate of WB
, became the CBS affiliate for northeast Alabama.
In 1998, the Birmingham, Anniston/Gadsden, and Tuscaloosa television markets were combined into one market; of which the official CBS affiliate would be Birmingham’s WBMG (now WIAT
). Around this time, Paxson Communications (now ION Media Networks
) purchased WNAL with the intent of making the station the Pax TV (later i and now ION Television) affiliate for Birmingham. Soon afterwards, the station changed its call letters to WPXH. However, Channel 44 remained a CBS affiliate, and had an agreement to air simulcasts of WBMG/WIAT's 6:00 and 10:00 p.m. newscasts. In May 1999, WPXH dropped its CBS affiliation and the WIAT news simulcasts, and briefly became an independent station
targeting Anniston and surrounding areas. In August 1999, the station finally affiliated with Pax.
For several years until 2005, WPXH rebroadcast the 6:00 and 10:00 newscasts of WVTM-TV
, the local NBC
affiliate.
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
/Gadsden
Gadsden, Alabama
The city of Gadsden is the county seat of Etowah County in the U.S. state of Alabama, and it is located about 65 miles northeast of Birmingham, Alabama. It is the primary city of the Gadsden Metropolitan Statistical Area, which has a population of 103,459. Gadsden is closely associated with the...
/Anniston
Anniston, Alabama
Anniston is a city in Calhoun County in the state of Alabama, United States.As of the 2000 census, the population of the city is 24,276. According to the 2005 U.S. Census estimates, the city had a population of 23,741...
/Tuscaloosa
Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Tuscaloosa is a city in and the seat of Tuscaloosa County in west central Alabama . Located on the Black Warrior River, it is the fifth-largest city in Alabama, with a population of 90,468 in 2010...
market. The station's city of license is Gadsden
Gadsden, Alabama
The city of Gadsden is the county seat of Etowah County in the U.S. state of Alabama, and it is located about 65 miles northeast of Birmingham, Alabama. It is the primary city of the Gadsden Metropolitan Statistical Area, which has a population of 103,459. Gadsden is closely associated with the...
. The station is owned by ION Media Networks
ION Media Networks
ION Media Networks is an American television broadcasting company that owns and operates over 60 television stations in most major American markets. It is now a privately owned company.-History:...
(formerly Paxson Communications). The station can also be seen on Bright House Networks
Bright House Networks
Bright House Networks is a cable television company, the seventh largest cable operator and the sixth largest traditional multiple system operator in the United States owned by Advance/Newhouse, headquartered in Syracuse, New York...
channel 14 and HD channel 614.
History
The station originally began in 1986 as WNAL-TV, a full-time satellite of WDBB in TuscaloosaTuscaloosa, Alabama
Tuscaloosa is a city in and the seat of Tuscaloosa County in west central Alabama . Located on the Black Warrior River, it is the fifth-largest city in Alabama, with a population of 90,468 in 2010...
. The two stations combined were intended to serve the Birmingham market, with WDBB serving the southern portion and WNAL serving the northern portion. After a few months as independents
Independent station
An independent station is in the category of television terminology used to describe a television station broadcasting in the United States or Canada that is not affiliated with any television network....
, the two stations joined Fox
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
as charter affiliates. Despite the stations' relatively strong program lineup, independent station
Independent station
An independent station is in the category of television terminology used to describe a television station broadcasting in the United States or Canada that is not affiliated with any television network....
WTTO
WTTO
WTTO is a CW affiliate for the Birmingham/Anniston/Tuscaloosa, Alabama market. It broadcasts its digital signal on UHF channel 28, however through the use of PSIP technology, digital television receivers display WTTO's virtual channel as 21. It is licensed to Homewood, a Birmingham suburb...
had stronger ratings. Additionally, neither WNAL nor WDBB were able to get a good signal into Birmingham, and several Birmingham cable companies declined to carry the stations. As a result, WDBB/WNAL was not profitable.
In 1991, Fox moved its Birmingham affiliation to WTTO, and shortly afterward WDBB and WNAL started simulcasting WTTO for all but three hours of the day. By 1993, WDBB and WNAL were full-time satellites of WTTO. The WTTO/WNAL/WDBB combo (which nonetheless branded only as "Fox21)") eventually became one of the leading Fox affiliates in the nation. In 1995, both WNAL and WDBB began airing separate daytime schedules. Fant Broadcasting bought WNAL in the same year.
In a complicated move, Citicasters
Taft Broadcasting
The Taft Broadcasting Company, also known as Taft Television and Radio Company, Incorporated, was an American media conglomerate based in Cincinnati, Ohio....
sold longtime ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
affiliate WBRC
WBRC
WBRC, virtual channel 6, is the Fox-affiliated television station serving the Birmingham, Alabama designated market area. The station is owned by Raycom Media, and its transmitter is located atop Red Mountain in Birmingham...
to Fox in 1995, forcing affiliation changes for six stations in central Alabama the next year. At that time, WBRC became the Fox affiliate for central Alabama, while WJSU-TV, the CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
affiliate for northeast Alabama, became part of the Birmingham market’s new ABC affiliate, WBMA-LP
WBMA-LP
WBMA-LD, channel 58, is the ABC television affiliate for Birmingham and central Alabama. Its transmitter is located in Birmingham, while its studio is in Hoover, a suburb of Birmingham....
. WNAL, which prior to the massive affiliation switch had been a secondary affiliate of WB
The WB Television Network
The WB Television Network is a former television network in the United States that was launched on January 11, 1995 as a joint venture between Warner Bros. and Tribune Broadcasting. On January 24, 2006, CBS Corporation and Warner Bros...
, became the CBS affiliate for northeast Alabama.
In 1998, the Birmingham, Anniston/Gadsden, and Tuscaloosa television markets were combined into one market; of which the official CBS affiliate would be Birmingham’s WBMG (now WIAT
WIAT
WIAT, virtual channel 42, is the CBS-affiliated television station in the Birmingham/Tuscaloosa/Anniston/Gadsden, Alabama television market. Licensed to Birmingham, it broadcasts its digital signal on UHF channel 30, although through the use of PSIP, the station's virtual channel number is...
). Around this time, Paxson Communications (now ION Media Networks
ION Media Networks
ION Media Networks is an American television broadcasting company that owns and operates over 60 television stations in most major American markets. It is now a privately owned company.-History:...
) purchased WNAL with the intent of making the station the Pax TV (later i and now ION Television) affiliate for Birmingham. Soon afterwards, the station changed its call letters to WPXH. However, Channel 44 remained a CBS affiliate, and had an agreement to air simulcasts of WBMG/WIAT's 6:00 and 10:00 p.m. newscasts. In May 1999, WPXH dropped its CBS affiliation and the WIAT news simulcasts, and briefly became an independent station
Independent station
An independent station is in the category of television terminology used to describe a television station broadcasting in the United States or Canada that is not affiliated with any television network....
targeting Anniston and surrounding areas. In August 1999, the station finally affiliated with Pax.
For several years until 2005, WPXH rebroadcast the 6:00 and 10:00 newscasts of WVTM-TV
WVTM-TV
WVTM-TV, channel 13, is the NBC-affiliated television station in the Birmingham-Anniston-Tuscaloosa-Gadsden, Alabama television market. The station is owned by Media General...
, the local NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
affiliate.