WHAM-TV
An ABC-affiliated television station serving Rochester, New York, with The CW carried on its second digital subchannel.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
WHAM-TV is a full-power television station serving Rochester, New York, and surrounding communities. Broadcasting on virtual channel 13, the station is affiliated with ABC and also carries The CW on its second digital subchannel under the CW Rochester identity. Its studios are located on West Henrietta Road in Henrietta, alongside those of Fox affiliate WUHF, while its transmitter is located on Pinnacle Hill near the Rochester–Brighton boundary. The station began broadcasting on September 15, 1962, as WOKR. It launched as an ABC affiliate and has retained that network affiliation throughout its history, making it the only commercial television station in the Rochester market to have maintained a single network relationship continuously since sign-on. The original ownership group, Channel 13 of Rochester, Inc., brought together a large collection of local broadcasting and community interests. Flower City Television Corporation eventually consolidated control and sold the station to Wisconsin-based Post Corporation in 1977. Ownership subsequently passed through several broadcasting groups. George N. Gillett Jr. acquired the Post stations in 1984 and placed them in Gillett Holdings. Hughes Broadcasting Partners bought WOKR in 1991, followed by Guy Gannett Communications in 1995. Guy Gannett sold its television properties to Sinclair Broadcast Group in 1998, but regulatory restrictions related to Sinclair's ownership of Rochester Fox affiliate WUHF led to WOKR being spun off to the Ackerley Group. Ackerley later merged with Clear Channel Communications, bringing the television station under common ownership with Rochester radio station WHAM-AM. At 1:42 a.m. on January 10, 2005, the station ended the WOKR identity and returned to the air at 4:59 a.m. as WHAM-TV. The call-sign change linked the television station more closely with the established WHAM radio brand, although the television and radio properties were separated again after Clear Channel sold its television group. The station retained the WHAM-TV calls and continued a news relationship with the radio operation. WHAM-TV became part of Newport Television after Clear Channel's television-station divestiture. In the subsequent restructuring of Newport's holdings, Sinclair acquired the station's non-license assets and Deerfield Media acquired the broadcast license. Sinclair continued to operate WHAM-TV under a shared-services arrangement while also owning WUHF. In 2014, WUHF moved into WHAM-TV's facilities and began carrying WHAM-produced newscasts, creating a close operational relationship between the two Rochester stations. Sinclair announced an acquisition of WHAM-TV in 2025, and the transaction was completed on March 1, 2026, giving Sinclair direct ownership of both WHAM-TV and WUHF. The station has maintained a prominent local-news operation and has led Rochester news ratings for much of its history. Longtime anchor Don Alhart worked at the station from 1966 until his retirement in 2024. WHAM-TV expanded its local morning, evening, and late-night news output through its CW subchannel and its relationship with WUHF. It became Rochester's first station to broadcast local newscasts in high definition in 2010. Its digital portfolio includes the main ABC service and CW Rochester, while its website provides news, weather, video, and live-streaming services.
History
WHAM-TV began service on September 15, 1962, as WOKR. The station was established by Channel 13 of Rochester, Inc., a consortium whose shareholders included several local television, radio, educational, community, and broadcasting interests. Its original studios were on South Clinton Avenue in Rochester. The station launched as an ABC affiliate and has preserved that affiliation continuously, an unusual degree of network stability in a competitive local market. In March 1970, Flower City Television Corporation bought out the other shareholders. Flower City sold the station to Post Corporation, a Wisconsin-based media company, in 1977. In 1984, George N. Gillett Jr. acquired Post's stations and transferred them to Gillett Holdings. Hughes Broadcasting Partners purchased WOKR in 1991, and Guy Gannett Communications became the owner in 1995. Guy Gannett sold its television group to Sinclair Broadcast Group in 1998. Because Sinclair already owned Rochester station WUHF, WOKR was divested to the Ackerley Group, with the transaction closing in April 1999. Ackerley merged with Clear Channel Communications in 2002, bringing WOKR under common ownership with WHAM radio. On January 10, 2005, WOKR changed its call letters to WHAM-TV, reviving a call sign historically used by an earlier Rochester television station and aligning the station with the local radio brand. Clear Channel announced in 2006 that it would sell all of its television stations. The television group was subsequently sold to Newport Television, separating WHAM-TV from WHAM radio. The station retained its call sign and continued to cooperate with the radio station on news-related activity. Newport later restructured its portfolio. In 2012 and 2013, the WHAM-TV license was sold to Deerfield Media, while Sinclair acquired the station's non-license assets and continued to operate it. The FCC approved the transaction on January 30, 2013, and it closed shortly afterward. WHAM-TV's relationship with WUHF deepened at the end of 2013. WUHF ended its shared-services agreement with WROC-TV and moved into WHAM-TV's Henrietta facilities. Beginning January 1, 2014, WUHF carried WHAM-produced programs including Good Day Rochester and a 10 p.m. newscast. This arrangement made WHAM-TV a central production base for multiple Rochester network outlets while preserving separate station identities. The station's digital and subchannel history is also significant. A cable-only WB service began in Rochester around 2000 after local broadcast licenses had been allocated. It was initially operated by Rochester Television Ventures, a joint venture involving Time Warner Cable and The WB, under the fictional call sign WRWB-TV. The service later became a CW affiliate when The WB and UPN were replaced by The CW. WHAM-TV purchased the service in 2006, renamed it CW WHAM, and added it to its second digital subchannel. It is now branded CW Rochester. WHAM-TV ended analog broadcasting on June 12, 2009, as part of the United States digital television transition. Its digital signal moved to VHF channel 13. The station began high-definition local news production in September 2010. Its news department has been a major part of the station's identity, leading Rochester ratings for much of its history. Don Alhart, one of its most prominent anchors, served from June 6, 1966, until his retirement on June 6, 2024. In July 2021, the FCC issued a forfeiture order against Deerfield Media in connection with an AT&T retransmission-consent dispute involving WHAM-TV and other Sinclair-managed stations. The order imposed a fine of $512,228 for each station named in the case. Sinclair announced in September 2025 that it would acquire WHAM-TV outright, and the transaction was completed on March 1, 2026. WHAM-TV consequently became directly owned by Sinclair alongside WUHF, subject to the regulatory framework governing the Rochester market.
- 2026
Sinclair completes direct acquisition
[1]Sinclair completes its acquisition of WHAM-TV, creating direct common ownership with WUHF.
- 2024
Don Alhart retires
[1]Longtime lead anchor Don Alhart retires after service at the station dating back to 1966.
- 2014
WUHF moves into WHAM-TV facilities
[1]WUHF relocates to the WHAM-TV studios and begins carrying WHAM-produced morning and late-evening newscasts.
- 2013
Deerfield and Sinclair transaction closes
[1]The FCC approves the ownership restructuring, with Deerfield acquiring the license and Sinclair acquiring non-license assets.
- 2010
Local news moves to high definition
[1]WHAM-TV becomes Rochester's first station to broadcast local newscasts in high definition.
- 2009
Analog broadcasting ends
[1]WHAM-TV shuts down its analog signal during the federally mandated United States digital transition.
- 2006
WHAM-TV acquires the cable WB service
[1]The station purchases WRWB-TV, converts it to a CW service, and begins carrying it on digital subchannel 13.2.
- 2005
WOKR becomes WHAM-TV
[1]The station changes its call sign and branding to WHAM-TV on January 10.
- 2000
Cable-only WB service launches
[1]A Rochester cable-only WB affiliate begins operation, later becoming the foundation of CW Rochester.
- 1998
Guy Gannett stations are sold to Sinclair
[1]Sinclair acquires Guy Gannett's television group, with WOKR subsequently spun off because Sinclair already owns WUHF in Rochester.
Products and positioning
A leading Rochester local-news and network television outlet, combining a long-established ABC affiliation with a secondary CW service and shared production resources for Fox programming on WUHF.
Local television news · 1962
13 WHAM News
WHAM-TV's principal local-news identity, covering Rochester-area breaking news, politics, public affairs, weather, traffic, and community events. The news operation has historically been one of the market's strongest and has supplied programming for the station's own ABC service as well as related broadcasts on WUHF.
Digital television subchannel · 2000
CW Rochester
The CW service carried on WHAM-TV's second digital subchannel, currently identified as CW Rochester. It originated as a cable-only WB affiliate around 2000, became a CW affiliate after the creation of The CW, and was acquired by WHAM-TV in 2006 to provide over-the-air access to the network.
Morning television news · 2014
Good Day Rochester
A local morning-news program associated with WHAM-TV and WUHF. It expanded across the stations' shared production operation and provided morning news, weather, traffic, and regional features for Rochester viewers.
Local television news · 2014
13 WHAM News on Fox Rochester
A WHAM-produced late-evening newscast carried by WUHF after the two stations' production relationship was consolidated in 2014. The program extended WHAM-TV's news operation to the Rochester Fox affiliate.
Controversies
2021
Retransmission-consent negotiation forfeiture
Following litigation brought by AT&T, the FCC found that Deerfield Media failed to negotiate retransmission consent in good faith for WHAM-TV and other Sinclair-managed stations. The FCC issued a forfeiture order imposing a fine of $512,228 for each station named in the case, including WHAM-TV.
Marketing campaigns
- 2010High-definition news transition
Rochester, New York
WHAM-TV promoted the conversion of its local newscasts to high definition, positioning the station as a technical leader in the Rochester market.
Outcome. The station became the first Rochester outlet to broadcast local news in high definition.
- 2005WOKR-to-WHAM-TV rebrand
Rochester, New York
The station replaced the WOKR identity with WHAM-TV, connecting its television brand to the established WHAM radio name and emphasizing a shared Rochester media identity.
Outcome. The WHAM-TV call sign was retained even after the television and radio properties later separated under different ownership.
Brand decisions
2025
Sinclair announces direct acquisitionM&ABackground
WHAM-TV's license remained held by Deerfield Media while Sinclair operated the station and owned WUHF.
Action taken
Sinclair announced an agreement to acquire WHAM-TV outright.
Aftermath
The transaction was completed on March 1, 2026, creating direct common ownership of WHAM-TV and WUHF.
2014
Consolidate Rochester news productionStrategyBackground
WUHF ended its shared-services agreement with WROC-TV and moved its operations to WHAM-TV's Henrietta facilities.
Action taken
WHAM-TV began producing additional WUHF programming, including Good Day Rochester and a 10 p.m. newscast.
Aftermath
The arrangement expanded WHAM-TV's news-production role across both ABC and Fox outlets in Rochester.
2013
Restructure WHAM-TV ownershipM&ABackground
Newport Television's station portfolio required a buyer structure that addressed existing ownership of WUHF and the Rochester market's limits on legal duopolies.
Action taken
Deerfield Media acquired the broadcast license for $54 million while Sinclair acquired the station's non-license assets and continued its operational management.
Aftermath
WHAM-TV and WUHF developed a shared-studio and news-production relationship despite the separate license ownership.
Broadcast license purchase price. $54 million (2012-2013 transaction)
2009
Complete the analog-to-digital transitionGeneration changeBackground
United States full-power television stations were required to end regular analog broadcasting under the federal digital transition.
Action taken
WHAM-TV discontinued its analog VHF signal and moved its digital operation to VHF channel 13.
Aftermath
Channel 13 continued as the station's primary digital identity, with additional programming carried through digital multiplexing.
2006
Launch CW WHAM on digital subchannel 13.2Product launchBackground
The Rochester cable-only WB service became part of the new CW network created by the merger of The WB and UPN.
Action taken
WHAM-TV purchased the service, renamed it CW WHAM, and simulcast it on the station's second digital subchannel.
Aftermath
The service evolved into the current CW Rochester identity and gained over-the-air distribution.
2005
Adopt the WHAM-TV call signStrategyBackground
The station came under common ownership with Rochester radio station WHAM after the Ackerley–Clear Channel transaction.
Action taken
WOKR ended its broadcast identity and relaunched as WHAM-TV on January 10, 2005.
Aftermath
The television station retained the WHAM-TV name after later ownership separation from the radio station.
Sources2 sources
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