WPXA-TV

WPXA-TV is a commercial television station licensed to Rome, Georgia, and serving the wider Atlanta television market. The station broadcasts the Ion Television network and is owned by Ion Media, a subsidiary of The E. W. Scripps Company. Its transmitter is located on Bear Mountain near the Cherokee–Bartow county line, a site selected to provide broad coverage of northwest Georgia and the Atlanta region. The station began broadcasting on February 29, 1988, as WAWA-TV. Its construction permit had originally been awarded to American Communications & Television, which later sold the permit to Sudbrink Broadcasting. The original service was a conventional independent station carrying syndicated entertainment, movies, sitcoms, talk programs, and local newscasts aimed primarily at the Rome area. Sudbrink later sought to reposition channel 14 as an Atlanta-market station. A new high-power transmitter facility was built on Bear Mountain, and the station adopted the WTLK-TV call sign in late 1990. In 1991, it introduced an unusually ambitious prime-time schedule centered on locally produced and nationally syndicated talk programming. The lineup included programs hosted by figures such as Neal Boortz, Suzette Charles, Brian Wilson, Michael Young, and Hosea Williams. The strategy was weakened by the station's difficulty obtaining carriage on Atlanta cable systems, which at the time were essential for reaching most metropolitan viewers. The resulting audience and distribution problems led to layoffs, host departures, and a rapid reduction in original programming. By 1993, WTLK-TV's schedule had largely shifted to reruns, country-music videos, and selected network programming, including CBS This Morning. A proposed plan to restore a broad, around-the-clock talk format did not proceed. The station's lack of placement on major Atlanta cable systems continued to restrict its commercial prospects, partly because of disputes concerning its market and copyright classification. Paxson Communications acquired WTLK-TV in 1994. Following the acquisition, the station gained broader cable distribution and became part of Paxson's emerging infomercial strategy. It was included among the initial stations of Infomall TV, an infomercial service announced in 1995. The call sign changed to WPXA-TV in January 1998, and the station joined the Pax TV network when that service launched on August 31 of the same year. During the early 2000s, WPXA-TV maintained a joint sales arrangement with WXIA-TV, the Atlanta NBC affiliate. WXIA sold local advertising for channel 14, while WPXA carried selected WXIA newscasts and other locally relevant programming, including an Atlanta Falcons coach's program. After Paxson changed its corporate and network identities, the service became i: Independent Television in 2005 and Ion Television in 2007. Ion Media was acquired by The E. W. Scripps Company in 2021, bringing WPXA-TV into the Scripps corporate group. WPXA-TV has also transitioned through several digital transmission arrangements. It began digital broadcasting on channel 51 in 2002, moved to channel 31 in 2014 to address interference involving nearby wireless frequencies, and moved again to channel 16 in September 2019 as part of the United States broadcast-spectrum repacking process. The station remains an Ion Television outlet focused primarily on network distribution rather than a large locally produced news operation.

The history of WPXA-TV begins with efforts to establish a television station on channel 14 in Rome, Georgia. In 1984, American Communications & Television was selected from competing applicants to receive the construction permit. The company initially considered the call sign WZGA and planned a conventional independent station, but construction was delayed while it prioritized another project and reconsidered the proposed transmitter location. The permit was sold to Sudbrink Broadcasting in 1986. Sudbrink proceeded with construction and established studio facilities on Shorter Avenue in Rome. Channel 14 went on the air on February 29, 1988, as WAWA-TV. Its original schedule consisted of syndicated talk shows, movies, sitcoms, and two locally produced newscasts each day. The station was initially oriented toward the Rome area and operated as a general-entertainment independent outlet. Sudbrink subsequently attempted to use the station's technical facilities to reach the much larger Atlanta market. Local officials approved construction of a new tower on Pine Log, also known as Bear Mountain, in 1990. The new facility, which cost approximately $2 million according to the cited historical account, significantly improved the signal toward Atlanta and Chattanooga. The station changed its call sign to WTLK-TV and leased studio space on Cobb Parkway in Marietta as it prepared a new programming service. In June 1991, WTLK-TV launched what was promoted as an all-talk prime-time schedule. Locally produced shows included Talk of the Town, hosted by Suzette Charles and Michael Young, and Talk at Nite, hosted by Brian Wilson. The schedule also featured programs associated with Neal Boortz and Mike Roberts, along with nationally syndicated programs hosted by Phil Donahue and Sally Jessy Raphael. The strategy depended heavily on reaching Atlanta cable subscribers, since terrestrial reception alone could not provide adequate metropolitan penetration. The plan quickly encountered distribution problems. Atlanta cable operators did not add WTLK-TV to their systems, and must-carry protections were not then available in a form that solved the station's problem. Because a substantial share of metropolitan households subscribed to cable, the absence of channel placement limited both audience visibility and advertising revenue. Sudbrink reduced staff in September 1991, and several prominent hosts left over the following months. By 1993, the schedule had contracted to a mixture of CBS This Morning, country-music videos, and reruns. A proposed acquisition and programming expansion by Joel Babbit, including a possible 24-hour talk format, was abandoned. The station's cable-distribution difficulties persisted even after must-carry rules were reintroduced. A dispute over the station's classification for copyright purposes contributed to its continued absence from major Atlanta systems. In 1994, Sudbrink sold WTLK-TV to Paxson Communications. Paxson initially considered a religious format, but the station soon became part of the company's infomercial strategy. Cable carriage improved after the acquisition, and WTLK-TV was included in the Infomall TV service announced by Paxson in 1995. The call sign changed to WPXA-TV in January 1998. On August 31 of that year, the station joined Pax TV, a network assembled largely from Paxson-owned stations. In the early 2000s, WPXA-TV entered a joint sales agreement with WXIA-TV. WXIA handled local advertising sales for channel 14, while WPXA retransmitted selected WXIA newscasts and other programming, including an Atlanta Falcons coach's show. These arrangements linked the station more closely to the Atlanta local television ecosystem despite its continued Ion-oriented network identity. Paxson Communications changed its corporate name to Ion Media Networks in 2006, and its network changed from i: Independent Television to Ion Television in 2007. WPXA-TV continued as an Ion affiliate. The station began digital broadcasting on channel 51 on January 5, 2002. Its digital assignment changed to channel 31 in 2014 to mitigate interference involving wireless communications services, and then to channel 16 in September 2019 during the post-spectrum-auction repacking process. The E. W. Scripps Company announced its acquisition of Ion Media in 2020 and completed the transaction in 2021. WPXA-TV consequently became part of Scripps through Ion Media. Its present role is principally that of an Ion Television distribution outlet serving the Atlanta area, with transmission facilities on Bear Mountain and a schedule centered on nationally distributed network programming.

• 2021

  Scripps ownership begins

  [1]WPXA-TVen.wikipedia.org

  The E. W. Scripps Company completed its acquisition of Ion Media, bringing WPXA-TV into the Scripps group.

• 2019

  Digital channel repacked to 16

  [1]WPXA-TVen.wikipedia.org

  WPXA-TV moved from channel 31 to channel 16 in September as part of the United States spectrum repacking process.

• 2007

  Network becomes Ion Television

  [1]WPXA-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Following the evolution of Paxson's corporate and network brands, the station became associated with Ion Television.

• 2002

  Digital broadcasting begins

  [1]WPXA-TVen.wikipedia.org

  WPXA-TV began digital transmission on channel 51 on January 5.

• 1998

  Call sign changes to WPXA-TV and Pax TV launches

  [1]WPXA-TVen.wikipedia.org

  The station adopted the WPXA-TV call sign and joined Pax TV when the network launched.

• 1995

  Infomall TV affiliation

  [1]WPXA-TVen.wikipedia.org

  The station became one of the early outlets in Paxson's Infomall TV infomercial network.

• 1994

  Paxson Communications acquisition

  [1]WPXA-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Paxson Communications purchased the station from Sudbrink Broadcasting.

• 1991

  Prime-time talk format launched

  [1]WPXA-TVen.wikipedia.org

  WTLK-TV introduced a locally focused and syndicated talk-programming schedule aimed at the Atlanta market.

• 1990

  Bear Mountain transmitter activated

  [1]WPXA-TVen.wikipedia.org

  A new transmitter facility was activated to extend coverage toward Atlanta and Chattanooga, and the station adopted the WTLK-TV call sign.

• 1988

  WAWA-TV begins broadcasting

  [1]WPXA-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Channel 14 went on air on February 29 as an independent general-entertainment station.

• 1986

  Permit transferred to Sudbrink Broadcasting

  [1]WPXA-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Sudbrink Broadcasting acquired the construction permit and proceeded with development of the station.

• 1984

  Construction permit awarded

  [1]WPXA-TVen.wikipedia.org

  American Communications & Television was selected to construct a channel 14 station in Rome, Georgia.

A network-owned or network-aligned broadcast outlet delivering Ion Television's nationally distributed programming to the Atlanta market and northwest Georgia, with limited emphasis on locally originated programming.

• Broadcast television network service · 2007

  Ion Television programming

  WPXA-TV's principal offering is the Ion Television schedule, distributed over the station's digital broadcast signal to viewers in the Atlanta and northwest Georgia region. The station functions primarily as a network outlet rather than as a full-service local news broadcaster. Its programming identity has evolved from the earlier Pax and i: services into the current Ion Television brand.

• Television advertising

  Local commercial advertising

  The station provides commercial inventory associated with its broadcast schedule. In the early 2000s, local advertising sales were handled through a joint sales arrangement with WXIA-TV, linking WPXA-TV's inventory to the established Atlanta NBC affiliate's sales operation.

• Broadcast transmission · 2002

  Digital over-the-air television

  WPXA-TV transmits a digital television signal from Bear Mountain near the Cherokee–Bartow county line. Its digital channel has changed over time, moving from 51 to 31 and later to 16 as regulators addressed interference and reorganized the broadcast spectrum.

• 2021

  Ion Media becomes part of ScrippsM&A

  Background

  The E. W. Scripps Company announced a transaction to acquire Ion Media and its portfolio of television stations.

  Action taken

  Scripps completed the acquisition, retaining WPXA-TV within Ion Media.

  Aftermath

  WPXA-TV became part of the Scripps corporate group while continuing to broadcast Ion Television programming.

  Source

• 1998

  Conversion into a Pax TV network outletStrategy

  Background

  Paxson assembled a national network from stations it owned or controlled.

  Action taken

  The station changed its call sign to WPXA-TV and joined Pax TV at the network's launch.

  Aftermath

  WPXA-TV moved away from its earlier independent and talk-format identity toward a nationally standardized network schedule that ultimately became Ion Television.

  Source

• 1994

  Paxson Communications acquires the stationM&A

  Background

  WTLK-TV faced distribution and programming difficulties under Sudbrink Broadcasting.

  Action taken

  Paxson Communications purchased WTLK-TV and integrated it into its developing national infomercial and television-network strategy.

  Aftermath

  The station obtained broader cable carriage and later became part of Pax TV, the predecessor to Ion Television.

  Source

• 1990

  Repositioning from Rome independent to Atlanta-market talk stationStrategy

  Background

  Sudbrink sought to use a new Bear Mountain transmitter and expanded studio presence to reach the larger Atlanta television market.

  Action taken

  The station changed its call sign to WTLK-TV and launched a prime-time schedule centered on local and syndicated talk programming.

  Aftermath

  The strategy was undermined by limited cable carriage, leading to layoffs, host departures, and a later reduction to reruns and music videos.

  Source

1. 1WPXA-TVen.wikipedia.org