WPIX

WPIX, channel 11, is a television station licensed to New York City, serving the New York metropolitan area. It is owned by Mission Broadcasting and operated under a local marketing agreement by the Nexstar Media Group, which also owns flagship CW affiliate KTLA in Los Angeles. The station's studios and transmitter are located in the Freedom Tower at the World Trade Center complex.

History

The station signed on the air on June 15, 1948, originally owned by the *New York Daily News*, whose parent company was the Tribune Company. Its call letters were derived from the paper's nickname, "New York's Picture Newspaper," with "PIX" being slang for pictures. For much of its early history, it operated as an independent station, not affiliated with a major television network. In 1957, WPIX was the originating station for the first-ever Major League Baseball World Series broadcast in color, produced in partnership with NBC. The station was purchased by the Tribune Broadcasting company in 1991, aligning it with other major Tribune properties like WGN-TV in Chicago and KTLA. Following Tribune Media's acquisition by Nexstar Media Group in 2019, regulatory conflicts required the sale of WPIX, which was purchased by Mission Broadcasting, though Nexstar continues to operate it.

Programming

Historically known for its eclectic mix, WPIX was a primary broadcaster of New York Yankees baseball games from 1999 to 2014, a relationship that created iconic local television moments. The station was also famous for its long-running children's programming block, which included shows like The Magic Garden and the hosted horror movie series Chiller Theatre. Since becoming a CW affiliate in 2006, its schedule has been dominated by the network's lineup of dramas and sitcoms, such as Superman & Lois and All American. It continues to air significant syndicated programming, including Inside Edition and Judge Judy, and maintains a tradition of broadcasting special event coverage like the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and the New York City Marathon.

Technical information

WPIX broadcasts a digital signal on VHF channel 11 from a transmitter atop One World Trade Center, sharing this facility with other New York stations like WNBC and WABC-TV. The station's signal is multiplexed to carry two subchannels: the main CW-affiliated channel on 11.1 and a Court TV affiliate on 11.2. WPIX was an early adopter of digital television broadcasting, commencing its digital signal in 1998, and ended analog television transmission on June 12, 2009, as part of the federally mandated digital transition. Its over-the-air coverage extends across parts of New Jersey, Connecticut, Long Island, and the Hudson Valley.

News operation

WPIX operates a substantial news department, branded as "PIX11 News," producing over 40 hours of local news programming each week. Its broadcasts are known for a focus on breaking news and hyperlocal stories from across the five boroughs. The station has invested in significant technology, including a news helicopter dubbed "PIX11 Skywatch" and multiple electronic news-gathering trucks for live coverage. It maintains a competitive presence in the nation's largest media market against rivals like WNBC, WABC-TV, WCBS-TV, and WNYW. Notable long-running programs include its morning news show PIX11 Morning News and its prime-time newscast at 10 p.m., which has been a staple since the 1990s.

Notable personalities

Throughout its history, WPIX has been home to many prominent broadcasters and journalists. Legendary sportscaster Phil Rizzuto called New York Yankees games for the station for over a decade. Iconic weatherman Dr. Frank Field delivered forecasts and science segments for many years. In news, anchors like Marvin Scott and Kaity Tong have become enduring figures in New York television. The station's children's programming featured beloved hosts such as Officer Joe Bolton, who presided over the The Three Stooges film package, and Captain Jack McCarthy, who hosted the popular The Popeye Show. Contemporary on-air personalities include veteran anchor Scott Stanford and Tamsen Fadal, a prominent evening news anchor.

Category:Television stations in New York City Category:CW affiliated television stations in the United States Category:Television channels and stations established in 1948