WJET-TV
An ABC-affiliated television station serving Erie, Pennsylvania, and surrounding communities.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
WJET-TV is a commercial television station serving Erie, Pennsylvania, and the surrounding Lake Erie region. Operating on channel 24, the station is affiliated with ABC and also carries programming from The CW Plus. Its signal reaches Erie and nearby communities in northwestern Pennsylvania, parts of Chautauqua County in western New York, and northern Ashtabula County in Ohio. The station is also carried by selected cable systems in communities in southern Ontario, although its availability and channel placement have changed over time. WJET-TV began broadcasting on April 2, 1966, becoming Erie's third television station. It was established by Jet Broadcasting, which also owned WJET radio, and initially transmitted an analog UHF signal on channel 24. Its first broadcast was a 24-hour movie presentation. From sign-on, WJET-TV carried ABC programming, giving the network a full-time presence in Erie after previously receiving only limited or off-hours clearance on existing NBC and CBS affiliates. Nexstar acquired WJET-TV in January 1998. Later that year, the station began providing operational and production services for WFXP, Erie's Fox affiliate, under arrangements associated with Mission Broadcasting's ownership of WFXP. The two stations subsequently consolidated their operations at WJET-TV's facilities in Summit Township, which have an Erie mailing address. WJET-TV's relationship with WFXP has included the production of local news for Fox 66 News at 10 and the operation of a weekday morning newscast for WFXP. The station's news identity is centered on local reporting, weather, sports, and community coverage under the YourErie branding. Its weekday morning program Good Morning Erie expanded to a two-hour format beginning at 5 a.m. in September 2014. WJET-TV also produces or airs Friday Night Lights, a Friday evening local high-school sports program, with scheduling adjustments during football season. In 2013, its newscasts transitioned to high-definition production. The station introduced a new logo and updated on-air graphics in 2011. WJET-TV upgraded its digital service during the transition from analog broadcasting. It began transmitting a high-definition digital signal on UHF channel 58 in 2008, and its analog broadcasts ended on June 12, 2009, as part of the nationwide digital television transition. Nexstar later reached an agreement with Katz Broadcasting in 2016 to add Escape, Laff, Grit, and Bounce TV programming to a group of Nexstar-operated stations that included WJET-TV and WFXP. Escape has since been rebranded as Ion Mystery. The station shares a Summit Township broadcast and studio complex with WFXP. Its transmitter is located at the same general site, which is near the studios of public television station WQLN. WJET-TV remains a local ABC news and programming outlet while also functioning as an operational hub for related services supplied to WFXP. The station continues to provide news and weather updates to its former radio sister despite the radio and television properties having separate ownership.
History
WJET-TV signed on during the 6 p.m. hour on April 2, 1966, as Erie's third television station. Jet Broadcasting owned the station alongside WJET radio. The new outlet used UHF channel 24 for its analog transmission and opened with a 24-hour movie marathon. It immediately became a full-time ABC affiliate. Before WJET-TV's arrival, ABC programming in Erie had generally been limited to periods when NBC affiliate WICU-TV or CBS affiliate WSEE-TV could clear it. For much of its early history, WJET-TV operated as a conventional local network affiliate, combining ABC programming with local news, weather, sports, syndicated programs, and advertising. Its coverage area developed around Erie and the communities surrounding Lake Erie, including portions of western New York and northeastern Ohio. Cable carriage also extended into parts of Ontario, although the station later lost carriage in some Canadian markets and was moved to higher channel positions in others. Nexstar acquired WJET-TV in January 1998. After the acquisition, the station became connected operationally with WFXP, the local Fox affiliate owned by Mission Broadcasting. As part of the arrangement, WJET-TV assumed certain non-programming and production functions for WFXP, and WFXP's operations were consolidated at WJET-TV's Summit Township facilities. WJET-TV subsequently produced WFXP's nightly Fox 66 News at 10 broadcast. WJET-TV also launched Fox 66 News in the Morning for WFXP in 2007, creating a local newscast in the 8 a.m. hour. The station continued to develop its own local news schedule. Unlike many ABC affiliates in the Eastern Time Zone, it did not air a full two-hour weekday morning program until September 2014, when Good Morning Erie began at 5 a.m. Its local sports programming includes Friday Night Lights, a Friday evening show focused on high-school athletics. The station updated its logo and on-air graphics in June 2011 and began presenting its newscasts in high definition on October 23, 2013. WJET-TV also modernized its transmission facilities. It began broadcasting a high-definition digital signal on UHF channel 58 in 2008. Analog broadcasting ended on June 12, 2009, when the station completed the federally mandated transition to digital-only television. The station's transmitter and studios are located in Summit Township, although the facility uses an Erie mailing address. WFXP shares the site, and WQLN's nearby presence gives the area a concentration of local television facilities. In June 2016, Nexstar announced a multicast affiliation agreement with Katz Broadcasting covering Escape, Laff, Grit, and Bounce TV. WJET-TV and WFXP were among the Nexstar-operated or affiliated stations included in the arrangement. Escape was subsequently rebranded as Ion Mystery. WJET-TV remains an active ABC affiliate and regional news operation under Nexstar ownership, while continuing to provide selected programming and production services for WFXP. It also supplies news and weather updates to its former radio sister, even though the radio and television properties are no longer under common ownership.
- 2016
Multicast affiliation agreement
[1]Nexstar announces affiliations with Escape, Laff, Grit, and Bounce TV for a station group including WJET-TV.
- 2014
Good Morning Erie expands
[1]The weekday morning news program expands to begin at 5 a.m.
- 2013
Newscasts move to high definition
[1]WJET-TV begins broadcasting its local newscasts in high definition on October 23.
- 2011
Branding refresh
[1]The station introduces a new logo and updated on-air graphics.
- 2009
Analog shutdown
[1]WJET-TV ends analog broadcasting on June 12 and becomes a digital-only station.
- 2008
Digital high-definition transmission
[1]The station begins operating a high-definition digital signal on UHF channel 58.
- 2007
WFXP morning newscast begins
[1]WJET-TV begins producing Fox 66 News in the Morning for WFXP at 8 a.m. on weekdays.
- 1998
Nexstar acquisition
[1]Nexstar acquires WJET-TV and later establishes an operating relationship with Mission Broadcasting's WFXP.
- 1966
WJET-TV signs on
[1]The station begins broadcasting on April 2 as Erie's third television station and joins ABC from launch.
Products and positioning
Local ABC affiliate and regional news broadcaster serving the Erie television market.
Television broadcasting · 1966
Local news and weather
WJET-TV's core service is locally produced news, weather, traffic, and community reporting for the Erie market. The station distributes this content through broadcast television and its associated YourErie digital presence, while also supplying selected news and weather material to WFXP and its former radio sister.
Local morning news · 2014
Good Morning Erie
Good Morning Erie is WJET-TV's weekday morning news program. Its schedule was expanded in September 2014 to begin at 5 a.m., giving the station an earlier and more substantial morning-news presence in the Erie market.
Local sports programming
Friday Night Lights
Friday Night Lights is a local sports highlights program focused on area high-school athletics. It airs on Friday evenings, with its time adjusted during the high-school football season.
Broadcast production services · 1998
WFXP local news production
Under the operational relationship between Nexstar and Mission Broadcasting, WJET-TV produces or supports local news programming for WFXP, including the station's nightly Fox 66 News at 10 broadcast and its weekday morning newscast.
Brand decisions
2016
Multicast network expansionProduct launchBackground
Nexstar sought additional multicast programming for stations in its owned and operated portfolio.
Action taken
Nexstar announced an agreement involving Escape, Laff, Grit, and Bounce TV for stations including WJET-TV and WFXP.
Aftermath
The agreement expanded the range of digital multicast entertainment available through the stations; Escape was later renamed Ion Mystery.
2009
Transition to digital-only broadcastingStrategyBackground
The United States nationwide digital television transition required full-power stations to end regular analog transmission.
Action taken
WJET-TV discontinued its analog signal on June 12 after beginning high-definition digital transmission in 2008.
Aftermath
The station continued as a digital television service serving Erie and surrounding regional communities.
1998
Nexstar acquires WJET-TVM&ABackground
Jet Broadcasting's former television property became part of Nexstar's station portfolio.
Action taken
Nexstar purchased WJET-TV and subsequently used the station's facilities and staff relationships to support WFXP.
Aftermath
WJET-TV became an operational center for local television services in the Erie market while retaining its ABC affiliation.
Sources2 sources
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