WOTF-TV
A Daytona Beach-licensed television station serving the Orlando and Central Florida market.
Last updated November 4, 2026
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Overview
WOTF-TV is a television station licensed to Daytona Beach, Florida, and serving the broader Orlando and Central Florida television market. The station broadcasts on channel 26 and is owned by Entravision Communications. Its programming history reflects the changing economics of independent and Spanish-language television in Central Florida, including several changes in call sign, ownership, network affiliation, and operating arrangements. The channel was first developed in the late 1970s and early 1980s after several companies sought authority to operate a station on channel 26. The Federal Communications Commission ultimately selected Life Style Broadcasting following a contested comparative hearing and a settlement among the applicants. Life Style later joined with the owners of Melbourne station WAYK-TV, channel 56, to create Beach Television Partners. The two stations were intended to function as a complementary service covering the Orlando market, although their signals and distribution arrangements did not deliver the expected reach. Channel 26 began broadcasting as WAYQ on September 12, 1988. Its early schedule largely mirrored WAYK and emphasized syndicated sports and other independently acquired programs. The stations encountered serious financial problems because WAYQ and WAYK were not consistently carried by the principal Orlando cable system and therefore struggled to attract sufficient advertising revenue. Beach Television Partners filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 1990. In June 1991, a United States Navy aircraft struck the station's transmission tower near Pierson, taking WAYQ off the air and adding repair costs, claims disputes, and lost advertising income to the company's existing financial difficulties. The bankruptcy case was later converted to liquidation, and the two stations were separated and sold. James McCotter acquired the channel 26 license from bankruptcy in the early 1990s. After reconstruction, the station returned to the air in June 1996 under the call sign WNTO. Its programming initially came principally from National Empowerment Television, a conservative news and talk service, supplemented by America One and selected Tampa Bay Devil Rays baseball broadcasts. Several attempts to expand its local or regional identity did not succeed, including proposals for an independently produced Spanish-language newscast and carriage of Florida's News Channel. Entravision acquired the station around 2000 after the consolidation of Latin Communications Group and EXCL Communications. Entravision had also become involved with WVEN-LP, a low-power Spanish-language station serving Orlando. On March 1, 2001, the WVEN call sign and Univision programming moved from the low-power facility to the full-power channel 26, materially expanding Univision's reach in Central Florida. Entravision subsequently launched local WVEN-TV news programs. At the same time, Univision-owned facilities in the market were associated with Telefutura, which later became UniMás, and the two companies maintained operating and sales arrangements covering several markets. In December 2017, the WOTF and WVEN identities were realigned between the market's facilities. WOTF-TV and UniMás programming moved to the Entravision-owned channel 26 facility, while the Univision programming and WVEN-TV call sign moved to the facility operating on virtual channel 43. Entravision continued to provide operating services for WVEN-TV until the end of 2021, after which Univision assumed control of WVEN-TV and WVEA-TV in Tampa. Following the end of the Entravision arrangement, channel 26 carried the Grit television network on its primary service for a period. Reference material also reports an agreement announced in February 2026 involving Entravision and Hemisphere Media Group to launch WAPA Orlando. Under that arrangement, the station would carry programming originating from Puerto Rico's WAPA-TV along with Central Florida-oriented morning and…
History
Interest in Daytona Beach's channel 26 developed during the late 1970s, when several potential operators considered applying for the frequency. Seven applicants ultimately participated in the FCC comparative process. The proposals varied in ownership structure, local involvement, technical plans, and intended programming. After an initial decision favoring a combination of Daytona Beach Television and Daytona Beach Family Television, the FCC review process produced a different result: Life Style Broadcasting was selected because of its proposed coverage and ownership diversity. The dispute continued for several years before the parties reached a settlement in 1986 that allowed Life Style to proceed with the construction permit. Life Style later entered an arrangement with the owners of Melbourne station WAYK-TV. The resulting Beach Television Partners planned to operate channel 26 and channel 56 as a coordinated service capable of covering the wider Orlando market. Construction of the channel 26 facility began in 1988, despite objections related to the proposed tower site and nearby aviation activity. WAYQ began broadcasting on September 12, 1988, largely retransmitting WAYK's schedule. The early lineup included syndicated sports, college basketball, and a substantial number of baseball games. The joint operation soon faced distribution and financial problems. WAYQ's signal did not adequately reach Orlando, and the principal cable system in the region did not carry the stations consistently on a full-time basis. Management found it difficult to sell advertising without dependable access to the market's largest population center. A proposed Star Television Network, associated with one of the station's investors, briefly supplied classic television and infomercial programming but ceased operations in early 1991. Beach Television Partners filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in August 1990. On June 26, 1991, a United States Navy Grumman A-6 Intruder clipped the station's tower near Pierson. The aircraft landed safely and no injuries were reported, but damage to the tower and transmission system forced WAYQ off the air. The station faced repair costs, a complex reimbursement process, and substantial lost advertising revenue. The bankruptcy case was converted to Chapter 7 liquidation in August 1991. A court-appointed trustee separated the two stations and arranged their sale to different parties. James McCotter agreed in 1992 to purchase the WAYQ license from bankruptcy. The tower site and related property were handled separately in the bankruptcy proceedings, requiring reconstruction before the station could resume service. Channel 26 returned in June 1996 as WNTO. Its principal programming source was National Empowerment Television, a conservative news and talk service, with additional material from America One. WNTO also carried selected Tampa Bay Devil Rays baseball games beginning in 1998, giving some Orlando viewers access to games that were not otherwise available through their local cable lineup. The station attempted several initiatives to increase its market profile. A proposed Spanish-language newscast called TV Noticias 26 was announced in 1997 but did not launch after a disagreement concerning startup expenses. In 1998, WNTO was announced as a possible broadcast outlet for Florida's News Channel, a planned regional service. The arrangement deteriorated amid a contract dispute over payments and carriage obligations. Florida's News Channel brought legal action and later received an out-of-court settlement, but the service was never carried by WNTO and ultimately closed its Orlando bureau. The channel's later history became closely connected to Spanish-language television. Orlando low-power station W63BH had begun broadcasting in 1992 and was associated with Univision programming. It was sold to Latin Communications Group in 1995 and became WVEN-LP. Latin Communications later merged with EXCL Communications, which in turn merged with Entravision Communications in 2000. Entravision then acquired WNTO. On March 1, 2001, the WVEN call sign and Univision schedule moved from the low-power facility to full-power channel 26, providing substantially broader coverage. Entravision launched local WVEN-TV news programming shortly afterward. Univision's market strategy also included its own facility on virtual channel 43, which became associated with Telefutura, later renamed UniMás. Entravision provided sales and promotional services for the Univision-owned Telefutura stations in several markets, including Orlando. In 2017, the market's callsigns and network programming were realigned: WOTF-TV and UniMás moved to channel 26, while WVEN-TV and Univision moved to virtual channel 43. Entravision continued operating WVEN-TV under an agreement until the end of 2021. After that arrangement ended, channel 26 carried Grit programming on its main service for a period. Reference material further reports that Entravision and Hemisphere Media Group announced a 2026 agreement to launch WAPA Orlando. The planned service would combine original programming from Puerto Rico's WAPA-TV with Central Florida morning and midday news programming produced from San Juan. Entravision would retain responsibility for sales, digital marketing, and Central Florida market production. This development illustrates the station's continuing reliance on affiliation and programming partnerships rather than a single permanent network identity.
- 2026
WAPA Orlando agreement reported
[1]Reference material reports a planned WAPA Orlando service involving Entravision and Hemisphere Media Group.
- 2021
Entravision operating arrangement ends
[1]Entravision's operation of WVEN-TV ended at the close of 2021.
- 2017
Network and callsign realignment
[1]WOTF-TV and UniMás moved to channel 26, while WVEN-TV and Univision moved to virtual channel 43.
- 2001
WVEN-TV becomes a full-power service
[1]WVEN programming and callsign moved to channel 26, expanding Univision's Central Florida coverage.
- 1996
WNTO returns to air
[1]The reconstructed station resumed broadcasting under the WNTO call sign.
- 1991
Transmission tower struck by Navy aircraft
[1]A Navy aircraft damaged the Pierson tower, taking WAYQ off the air.
- 1990
Owner enters Chapter 11
[1]Beach Television Partners sought bankruptcy protection after struggling with distribution and advertising limitations.
- 1988
WAYQ launches
[1]Channel 26 began broadcasting on September 12 as WAYQ, largely simulcasting Melbourne's WAYK.
- 1986
Settlement awards construction permit to Life Style Broadcasting
[1]The competing applicants reached a settlement that enabled Life Style Broadcasting to develop the station.
- 1981
FCC comparative hearing designated
[1]The FCC designated seven competing applications for channel 26 for a comparative hearing.
Products and positioning
A local broadcast outlet serving Spanish-speaking and general television audiences in the Orlando and Central Florida market, with its identity shaped by network affiliations and Entravision's local-market operations.
Television broadcasting · 1988
WAYQ channel 26 service
The station's original broadcast identity, launched in 1988, operated as a largely simulcast independent service with Melbourne's WAYK. Its schedule included syndicated sports, college basketball, baseball, and other independently acquired programming.
Independent television station · 1996
WNTO
The post-bankruptcy identity of channel 26, launched in 1996 after the station was rebuilt. WNTO carried National Empowerment Television, America One programming, and selected Tampa Bay Devil Rays baseball broadcasts.
Spanish-language television · 2001
WVEN-TV
WVEN-TV was the full-power Univision identity used on channel 26 from 2001 and later on virtual channel 43. The service also included locally produced evening newscasts launched after the 2001 full-power transition.
Television broadcasting · 2017
WOTF-TV
The current call-sign identity associated with channel 26. The station carried UniMás programming after the 2017 realignment and later moved through other programming arrangements, including a period carrying Grit and a reported planned WAPA Orlando service.
Controversies
Brand decisions
2026
Launch WAPA Orlando programmingProduct launchBackground
Reference material reports that Entravision sought a new programming relationship after the end of its prior Univision-related operating arrangement.
Action taken
Entravision and Hemisphere Media Group reportedly agreed to introduce WAPA Orlando programming, including WAPA-TV content and Central Florida-oriented news segments.
Aftermath
The reported arrangement would give WOTF-TV a programming identity connected to Puerto Rico's WAPA-TV while Entravision manages local commercial and production functions.
2017
Realign WOTF-TV and WVEN-TV between facilitiesGeneration changeBackground
Univision and UniMás operations in the Orlando market were reorganized across the Entravision-owned and Univision-owned facilities.
Action taken
WOTF-TV and UniMás moved to channel 26, while WVEN-TV and Univision moved to virtual channel 43.
Aftermath
Channel 26 became the market's UniMás-associated facility, while WVEN-TV continued on channel 43 under Entravision's operating arrangement until 2021.
2001
Move Univision programming to full-power channel 26StrategyBackground
Univision programming had been carried on a low-power Orlando facility with limited coverage.
Action taken
Entravision moved the WVEN callsign and Univision schedule to the acquired full-power channel 26 facility.
Aftermath
The change expanded the service's Central Florida coverage and was followed by the launch of local WVEN-TV newscasts.
Sources1 sources
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