WKRG-TV
WKRG-TV is a CBS-affiliated television station serving Mobile, Alabama, southwest Alabama, and northwest Florida.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
WKRG-TV is a commercial television station licensed to Mobile, Alabama, and serving the Mobile–Pensacola–Pascagoula regional market. The station broadcasts on virtual channel 5 and has been affiliated with CBS continuously since it began broadcasting on September 5, 1955. It is owned by Nexstar Media Group and operates alongside WFNA, a CW station licensed to Gulf Shores, Alabama. The stations share facilities in southwest Mobile, while WKRG-TV's transmitter is located in unincorporated Baldwin County near Spanish Fort. The station was established by Kenneth R. Giddens, an architect and movie-theater owner who had also launched WKRG radio. The radio operation's relationship with the CBS Radio Network helped lead to the television station's CBS affiliation. WKRG-TV began with a locally oriented ownership structure in which Giddens initially held a minority interest alongside local businesses and colleges. In 1958, Mobile Press-Register, Inc. acquired a substantial interest, but Giddens restored his full control in 1966. For much of its early history, WKRG-TV was the only locally owned television station in the Mobile–Pensacola–Pascagoula area. The station originally operated from studios on St. Louis Street in downtown Mobile. Around 1982, it moved to a facility near Bel Air Mall, a development with which Giddens was also associated. The building historically housed the television station on its lower floor and the related radio operations above it. Following Giddens's death in 1993, the radio stations were sold in 1994, although they continued to share the building for a period. WKRG-TV itself was acquired by Spartan Communications in 1998, then became part of Media General when Media General purchased Spartan in 2000. WKRG-TV's ownership history later became intertwined with television consolidation and federal limits on same-market station ownership. Media General's 2014 merger with LIN Media created overlapping holdings in the Mobile market, including WKRG-TV, WFNA, and WALA-TV. To satisfy Federal Communications Commission ownership requirements, Media General retained WKRG-TV and WFNA and sold WALA to Meredith Corporation. A proposed 2015 Media General acquisition of Meredith would have created another ownership conflict, but that transaction was terminated after Nexstar Broadcasting Group agreed in 2016 to acquire Media General. WKRG-TV consequently joined Nexstar, where it remains part of a broader national local-television group. The station has maintained a strong local-news and weather identity. Past local programs included Woman's World, The Popeye Show, Rosie's Place, and Small Fry News, which featured local fifth-grade students. Congressional Report ran from 1973 through 2006 and presented national political issues through the perspectives of members of Congress representing the region. WKRG-TV also became known beyond its broadcast area after meteorologist Alan Sealls attracted viral online attention for hurricane coverage in 2017. In addition to its main CBS service, WKRG-TV has operated digital multicast channels. Its third digital subchannel replaced Retro Television Network with MeTV in 2011; the subchannel later changed to Antenna TV in 2025. The station completed the United States digital television transition on June 12, 2009, ending regular analog broadcasts on VHF channel 5 while retaining channel 5 as its virtual channel through a UHF digital transmission.
History
WKRG-TV signed on in Mobile, Alabama, on September 5, 1955. Its founder, Kenneth R. Giddens, was an architect and movie-theater owner who had previously established WKRG radio. Because of the radio station's relationship with CBS Radio, the new television station joined CBS at launch. WKRG-TV has retained that primary network affiliation throughout its history, making it distinctive in a market where other stations changed affiliations over time. The station's original studios were located on St. Louis Street in downtown Mobile. Around 1982, operations moved to a building near Bel Air Mall. The facility was associated with Giddens's local development interests and housed WKRG-TV on the ground floor, with the related radio operations on upper floors. Ownership initially included Giddens, local companies, and area colleges. Giddens sold half of the station to Mobile Press-Register, Inc. in 1958, then regained complete control in 1966. WKRG-TV remained locally owned for many years and was described as the only locally owned television station in the Mobile–Pensacola–Pascagoula area during much of that period. After Giddens died in 1993, the radio stations were sold in 1994, though they continued to occupy the same general facility. Television ownership changed in 1998, when Spartan Communications purchased WKRG-TV. Media General acquired Spartan in 2000, making the station part of a larger regional and national broadcast portfolio. In 2007, WKRG established a radio partnership with Clear Channel Communications, later renamed iHeartMedia. The arrangement reconnected the station with former sister radio properties, including WNTM and WMXC, as well as WKSJ-FM and WRKH. The arrangement followed changes in the ownership of Clear Channel's television assets and replaced an earlier relationship involving NBC affiliate WPMI-TV. For decades, WKRG-TV also served viewers in the eastern part of the Pascagoula–Biloxi, Mississippi area. Cable systems in communities such as Biloxi and Gulfport carried the station, which functioned as the area's secondary CBS source behind New Orleans station WWL-TV. That role diminished in 2012, when ABC affiliate WLOX began carrying CBS programming on a digital subchannel. The station's later corporate history reflects the consolidation of American local television. In 2014, Media General agreed to merge with LIN Media. Because LIN already owned WALA-TV and WFNA in the same market, and WKRG-TV and WALA were among the market's four highest-rated stations by total-day viewing, ownership rules required a divestiture. Media General chose to retain WKRG-TV and WFNA and sold WALA to Meredith. When Media General announced a proposed acquisition of Meredith in 2015, a similar regulatory conflict would have arisen because the companies would have controlled both WKRG-TV and WALA. That transaction did not proceed. Instead, Nexstar Broadcasting Group announced an agreement in January 2016 to acquire Media General. The completed transaction placed WKRG-TV under Nexstar ownership and reunited it with WMBB, a Panama City station that had previously been part of Media General's portfolio. WKRG-TV has historically combined CBS network programming with locally produced news, weather, public affairs, and community features. Former programs included Woman's World, The Popeye Show, Rosie's Place, and Small Fry News. Congressional Report, broadcast from 1973 to 2006, featured local members of Congress discussing national and regional issues and was promoted as one of the longest-running programs of its type in the United States. In 2017, meteorologist Alan Sealls received broad online attention when video of his hurricane reporting circulated on social platforms. The station's technical service expanded through digital multicasting. WKRG-TV replaced Retro Television Network with MeTV on its third digital subchannel in September 2011, and Antenna TV later replaced MeTV on channel 5.3 in 2025. WKRG-TV ended analog broadcasting on June 12, 2009, as part of the federally mandated transition to digital television. Its digital transmission uses a UHF channel while preserving virtual channel 5 for viewers.
- 2025
Antenna TV replaces MeTV
[1]Antenna TV takes over WKRG-TV's 5.3 digital multicast position.
- 2017
Hurricane coverage becomes viral
[1]Online video of Alan Sealls covering multiple hurricanes receives substantial attention on Reddit and YouTube.
- 2016
Nexstar acquires Media General
[1]Nexstar's acquisition of Media General transfers WKRG-TV into the Nexstar station group.
- 2012
WLOX adds CBS service in the Biloxi area
[1]WLOX's CBS digital subchannel reduces WKRG-TV's role as the default CBS outlet for eastern Pascagoula–Biloxi viewers.
- 2011
MeTV launches on digital subchannel 5.3
[1]MeTV replaces Retro Television Network on the station's third digital subchannel.
- 2009
Analog broadcasting ends
[1]WKRG-TV ends regular analog transmission on June 12 during the United States digital television transition.
- 2006
Congressional Report ends
[1]The station's long-running congressional public-affairs program concludes after a run dating to 1973.
- 2000
Media General acquires Spartan
[1]WKRG-TV becomes part of Media General.
- 1998
Spartan Communications acquires WKRG-TV
[1]The station leaves its long period of local ownership and joins Spartan Communications.
- 1993
Founder Kenneth R. Giddens dies
[1]Giddens's death precedes the sale of the associated radio stations and later changes in television ownership.
Products and positioning
A locally focused CBS affiliate emphasizing regional news, weather, emergency information, and community coverage across the central Gulf Coast.
Local television news · 1955
WKRG local news
WKRG's local-news operation covers Mobile and the surrounding Gulf Coast region, with reporting on public affairs, regional events, emergencies, and community issues. Weather and severe-storm information are central parts of the service because the coverage area is exposed to hurricanes and other coastal hazards.
Network television affiliation · 1955
CBS network programming
WKRG-TV carries CBS programming for its designated market. The station has been the market's CBS affiliate continuously since its 1955 sign-on, including network entertainment, news, sports, and special programming distributed by CBS.
Digital television · 2009
WKRG-TV digital multicast channels
WKRG-TV supplements its main CBS service with digital multicast programming. Its third digital subchannel carried Retro Television Network before switching to MeTV in 2011; Antenna TV replaced MeTV on channel 5.3 in 2025.
Public-affairs programming · 1973
Congressional Report
Congressional Report was a WKRG public-affairs program that ran from 1973 through 2006. It featured members of Congress discussing Washington developments and their relevance to Mobile and the central Gulf Coast, providing a regional perspective on national politics.
Marketing campaigns
- 2017Hurricane Irma, Jose, and Katia coverage
Southwest Alabama · Northwest Florida · Online audiences
WKRG meteorologist Alan Sealls's coverage of Hurricanes Irma, Jose, and Katia was distributed beyond the station's broadcast footprint after a video circulated on Reddit and YouTube.
Outcome. The coverage generated viral attention and increased online visibility for the station and its weather operation.
Brand decisions
2025
Move digital subchannel 5.3 to Antenna TVOtherBackground
Nexstar's multicast portfolio included Antenna TV, creating an opportunity to change the programming carried on WKRG-TV's third digital subchannel.
Action taken
Antenna TV replaced MeTV on WKRG-TV 5.3.
Aftermath
The station's digital multicast lineup continued to provide a classic-television service separate from its primary CBS channel.
2016
Transfer to Nexstar ownershipM&ABackground
Nexstar Broadcasting Group agreed to acquire Media General after Media General's proposed acquisition of Meredith failed to proceed.
Action taken
Nexstar completed the acquisition of Media General, bringing WKRG-TV into the Nexstar station portfolio.
Aftermath
WKRG-TV became part of Nexstar's national local-television group and was reunited with Panama City station WMBB, which had previously been associated with Media General.
2014
Retain WKRG-TV and WFNA during Media General–LIN Media mergerStrategyBackground
The proposed merger created overlapping ownership of WKRG-TV, WFNA, and WALA-TV in the Mobile–Pensacola market. Ratings and Federal Communications Commission ownership rules required a divestiture.
Action taken
Media General announced that it would retain WKRG-TV and WFNA and sell WALA-TV to Meredith.
Aftermath
A later proposed Media General–Meredith transaction raised a similar ownership issue, but that transaction was terminated when Nexstar pursued Media General.
2011
Replace Retro Television Network with MeTVProduct launchBackground
WKRG-TV adjusted its digital multicast lineup as part of its development of additional over-the-air programming services.
Action taken
The station placed MeTV on its third digital subchannel in September 2011, replacing Retro Television Network.
Aftermath
The subchannel later changed again when Antenna TV replaced MeTV in 2025.
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