WRAZ

WRAZ is a full-power television station licensed to Raleigh, North Carolina, and serving the Raleigh-Durham-Fayetteville market. The station uses the Fox 50 brand and is affiliated with the Fox television network. It is locally owned by Capitol Broadcasting Company, which also owns NBC affiliate WRAL-TV and operates related broadcast assets in the region. WRAZ and WRAL share Capitol Broadcasting facilities on Western Boulevard in Raleigh, while WRAZ's transmitter is located near Auburn, North Carolina. The station's roots date to a long-running effort to establish a television outlet on Raleigh's channel 50. After several applicants competed for the construction permit and the permit changed hands through regulatory proceedings, Tar Heel Broadcasting brought WRAZ to air on September 7, 1995. The station initially carried The WB, syndicated programming, and a nightly 10 p.m. newscast produced by WRAL-TV under a local marketing agreement with Capitol Broadcasting. Its launch was marked by a marathon of The Andy Griffith Show. WRAZ's initial WB affiliation was short-lived. Fox decided to replace Sinclair Broadcast Group-owned WLFL as its Raleigh-area affiliate following a disagreement over the direction and programming demands of the network. The affiliation switched on August 1, 1998, with WRAZ becoming the Fox affiliate and WLFL moving to The WB. Capitol Broadcasting temporarily operated WRAZ from separate facilities in Durham to give the station a distinct identity. After federal rules permitted television duopolies, Capitol acquired the WRAZ license in 1999 for $1 million, consolidating ownership with WRAL. The station became notable in the 2000s for selectively preempting or delaying Fox programs that Capitol Broadcasting considered inconsistent with family-oriented programming standards. Examples included Temptation Island, Married by America, Who's Your Daddy?, and Osbournes: Reloaded. These decisions differentiated WRAZ from many other Fox affiliates and occasionally drew attention from regulators or the national television industry. WRAZ's local news operation has remained closely integrated with WRAL. It launched a WRAL-produced 10 p.m. newscast when it signed on, later developed a separately presented Fox news identity after joining the network, and then returned to a more unified presentation as WRAL News on Fox 50 in 2003. The station added a morning extension in 2002, expanded that programming in 2019, and by 2024 carried more than 48 hours per week of dedicated or simulcast news. Its schedule included WRAL simulcasts and Fox 50-branded evening coverage. Operationally, WRAZ moved back from Durham to the WRAL Raleigh facility in 2012 after Capitol added space and established a joint master-control operation for the two stations. The station began digital broadcasting in 2000, ended analog transmission in 2009 as part of the nationwide transition to digital television, and moved its digital signal from UHF channel 49 to channel 15 in 2019 following the federal spectrum repack. Its digital multiplex also carries programming associated with WRTD-CD, a Telemundo station serving the market. WRAZ remains an active local Fox affiliate whose primary brand value comes from network programming, locally produced news, and its connection to Capitol Broadcasting's WRAL operation.

The history of WRAZ is tied to the development of Raleigh's UHF television channel 50. In 1985, the Federal Communications Commission placed five applicants into a comparative hearing to determine who would receive the construction permit. The initial award went to the L Broadcasting Company, associated with Fred and Evelyn Barber and Eleanor J. Brown. That decision was challenged by Cotton Broadcasting Company, whose owner Grant Cotton had operated WLFL and promised to divest his interest in that station if he obtained channel 50. An FCC review board later reversed the original decision, concluding that the earlier process had not properly considered Cotton's divestiture commitment. By 1990, Cotton Broadcasting had secured a prospective transmitter site near Apex and was preparing to develop the station. In 1994, the permit was transferred to Tar Heel Broadcasting, a not-for-profit company founded by Jim Layton. Tar Heel entered into a local marketing agreement with Capitol Broadcasting, the Raleigh owner of WRAL-TV. Capitol supplied operational facilities, programming, and transmitter support, allowing the new station to launch without building a fully independent infrastructure. WRAZ was publicly announced in July 1995 and began broadcasting on September 7 of that year. It initially affiliated with The WB and opened with a 50-episode marathon of The Andy Griffith Show. The station carried syndicated programs and a WRAL-produced 10 p.m. newscast from its first day. Tar Heel sold the license in 1996 to Carolina Broadcasting System, owned by former North Carolina deputy treasurer Thomas H. Campbell, but the ownership change did not substantially alter operations because Capitol's local marketing agreement continued. WRAZ also carried independently produced public-affairs programming, including NC Spin, which began airing in 1998. The station's most important early turning point came from a dispute between Fox and Sinclair Broadcast Group, then the owner of WLFL. WLFL had been Fox's Raleigh affiliate since the network's launch, but Fox became dissatisfied with the direction of its relationship with Sinclair, including disagreements over future network programming expansion. Fox announced that it would replace WLFL with WRAZ, and the change took effect on August 1, 1998. WRAZ became the Fox affiliate while WLFL moved to The WB. To distinguish WRAZ from WRAL after the affiliation switch, Capitol moved the station's operations to approximately 18,000 square feet in the Diamond View I building in downtown Durham. The facility was near the Durham Bulls Athletic Park and the American Tobacco Campus, both connected with Capitol's local development activities. The separate location was intended to give WRAZ an independent community identity, even though it continued to rely heavily on WRAL resources. After the FCC permitted common ownership of two stations in the same market, Capitol acquired WRAZ's license in 1999 for $1 million. During the 2000s, WRAZ developed a distinctive programming policy. Capitol Broadcasting declined to air or delayed several Fox reality programs that it considered objectionable on family-values grounds. The station rejected portions of Temptation Island, Married by America, and Who's Your Daddy?, and delayed Osbournes: Reloaded until late evening. The choices sometimes resulted in alternate scheduling on other stations, but they also gave WRAZ a recognizable editorial and programming profile. The station received favorable attention from the FCC after Fox affiliates were fined over an episode of Married by America that WRAZ had not carried. WRAZ's news identity evolved several times. Its original 10 p.m. newscast came from WRAL, while the station later used a more distinct presentation and talent lineup to match its Fox affiliation. In 2002 it added Fox Morning Connection, a morning extension of WRAL's news programming. Capitol reversed much of the separation in 2003, relaunching the operation as WRAL News on Fox 50 and returning to a shared pool of WRAL journalists and presenters. The station's local news advantage strengthened as competing WLFL's news operation later adopted a centralized format and stopped producing newscasts in 2006. In 2012, WRAZ returned from Durham to the WRAL campus in Raleigh. Capitol expanded the WRAL facility by approximately 15,000 square feet to accommodate the relocation of about 35 employees and created a joint master-control operation. Capitol later sold its other Fox affiliate, WJZY in Charlotte, to Fox in 2013 while securing a renewed affiliation arrangement for WRAZ. WRAZ has also undergone the major technical transitions affecting American television. It began digital broadcasting on May 1, 2000, ended regular analog service on June 12, 2009, and retained virtual channel 50 on its digital signal. The station was reassigned from physical channel 49 to channel 15 on September 11, 2019, following the federal spectrum auction and repack. Its multiplex includes a subchannel associated with WRTD-CD, the market's Telemundo outlet. By 2024, WRAZ was carrying approximately 48.5 hours per week of local news, including WRAL simulcasts, weekday morning and midday coverage, evening news, and weekend late news.

• 2019

  Digital channel repack completed

  [1]WRAZ (TV)en.wikipedia.org

  The station moved its physical digital channel from 49 to 15 while retaining virtual channel 50.

• 2012

  Operations return to Raleigh

  [1]WRAZ (TV)en.wikipedia.org

  WRAZ moved from its Durham offices back to expanded facilities shared with WRAL in Raleigh.

• 2009

  Analog television service ends

  [1]WRAZ (TV)en.wikipedia.org

  WRAZ ended regular analog broadcasting on June 12 as part of the United States digital television transition.

• 2003

  News operation reintegrated with WRAL

  [1]WRAZ (TV)en.wikipedia.org

  The station adopted the WRAL News on Fox 50 identity and again integrated its news presentation with WRAL's personnel and resources.

• 2000

  Digital broadcasting begins

  [1]WRAZ (TV)en.wikipedia.org

  WRAZ began digital transmissions on May 1 from a tower near Garner, North Carolina.

• 1999

  Capitol Broadcasting acquires WRAZ

  [1]WRAZ (TV)en.wikipedia.org

  Capitol Broadcasting purchased the station license for $1 million after the FCC allowed television duopolies.

• 1998

  WRAZ becomes the Fox affiliate

  [1]WRAZ (TV)en.wikipedia.org

  Fox shifted its Raleigh affiliation from WLFL to WRAZ, while WLFL moved to The WB.

• 1995

  WRAZ begins broadcasting

  [1]WRAZ (TV)en.wikipedia.org

  WRAZ signed on September 7 as a WB affiliate with WRAL-provided programming and operations.

• 1994

  Permit transferred to Tar Heel Broadcasting

  [1]WRAZ (TV)en.wikipedia.org

  The channel 50 construction permit was transferred to Tar Heel Broadcasting, which arranged a local marketing agreement with Capitol Broadcasting.

• 1985

  FCC comparative hearing begins for channel 50

  [1]WRAZ (TV)en.wikipedia.org

  The FCC placed five applicants into a comparative proceeding to determine who would receive authorization to construct a Raleigh channel 50 station.

A locally owned Fox affiliate combining national network entertainment and sports programming with extensive WRAL-produced local news, weather, and public-affairs coverage for the Research Triangle.

• Television station · 1995

  Fox 50 broadcast service

  WRAZ's core offering is a full-power over-the-air television service branded Fox 50. It carries Fox network programming, including entertainment and other network content, alongside locally scheduled material and syndicated programs. The service covers the Raleigh-Durham-Fayetteville market and uses virtual channel 50 on digital television.

• Local news · 1995

  WRAL News on Fox 50

  This local-news offering is produced in close association with WRAL-TV. It includes evening news, morning coverage, weather, traffic, and simulcast segments. The presentation was formally aligned with WRAL in 2003 and has become a central part of WRAZ's schedule, complementing Fox programming with locally focused reporting for the Research Triangle.

• Digital television · 2000

  Digital multiplex service

  WRAZ's digital transmission includes the station's primary Fox service and a subchannel associated with WRTD-CD, the market's Telemundo outlet. The station began digital broadcasting in 2000 and later moved to physical channel 15 during the 2019 spectrum repack.

• 2003WRAL News on Fox 50 rebranding

  Raleigh-Durham-Fayetteville

  Capitol Broadcasting brought WRAZ's news branding and presentation back into closer alignment with WRAL-TV, emphasizing the shared newsroom and established WRAL identity.

  Outcome. The station operated with an integrated WRAL news brand while continuing to serve Fox viewers.

  Source
• 1995WRAZ launch promotion

  Raleigh-Durham-Fayetteville

  WRAZ introduced itself to viewers with a launch schedule centered on a 50-episode marathon of The Andy Griffith Show, alongside its initial WB and syndicated programming.

  Outcome. The station established its local channel 50 identity and began regular broadcasting on September 7, 1995.

  Source

• 2012

  Consolidate operations in RaleighStrategy

  Background

  Capitol Broadcasting had operated WRAZ from a separate Durham facility since the Fox affiliation change.

  Action taken

  WRAZ returned to expanded WRAL facilities in Raleigh, with a joint master-control operation serving both stations.

  Aftermath

  The consolidation brought the stations' technical operations closer together while preserving WRAZ as the market's Fox-branded service.

  Source

• 2003

  Reintegrate WRAZ news with WRALStrategy

  Background

  Capitol Broadcasting had initially separated WRAZ's presentation and personnel to give the Fox station a distinct identity after the 1998 affiliation switch.

  Action taken

  The station adopted the WRAL News on Fox 50 brand and again used WRAL's broader news resources and on-air talent pool.

  Aftermath

  WRAZ strengthened its connection to the dominant WRAL newsroom and continued expanding its local news presence.

  Source

• 2000

  Decline selected Fox reality programmingOther

  Background

  Capitol Broadcasting considered some Fox reality shows inconsistent with its family-oriented programming standards.

  Action taken

  WRAZ declined to air or altered the scheduling of programs including Temptation Island, Married by America, Who's Your Daddy?, and Osbournes: Reloaded.

  Aftermath

  Some programs aired on alternate stations or at later times. WRAZ also received favorable FCC attention after other Fox affiliates were fined over content from Married by America.

  Source

• 1998

  Accept Fox affiliation and change network identityStrategy

  Background

  Fox chose to replace WLFL as its Raleigh affiliate after disagreements with Sinclair Broadcast Group about the future direction and programming obligations of the network.

  Action taken

  WRAZ switched from The WB to Fox on August 1, 1998, while WLFL took the WB affiliation.

  Aftermath

  WRAZ became the market's Fox station and its 10 p.m. newscast gained substantial audience share compared with the prior year.

  • WLFL — WLFL switched from Fox to The WB and continued competing through its own local news operation for several years.

  Source

1. 1WRAZ (TV)en.wikipedia.org
2. 2WRAZ official websitefox50.com