Fox-owned television station serving Washington, D.C., and the surrounding Mid-Atlantic region.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
WTTG is a television station serving the Washington, D.C., market and operating under the Fox 5 brand. It is owned and operated by Fox Corporation through Fox Television Stations and is paired with WDCA, a MyNetworkTV-affiliated independent station commonly branded as Fox 5 Plus. WTTG and WDCA share a broadcast facility on Wisconsin Avenue in Bethesda, Maryland, while WTTG's transmission facilities are also located in Bethesda. The station's signal is additionally rebroadcast by the low-power digital translator W24ES-D in Moorefield, West Virginia, which is owned by Valley TV Cooperative. The station originated in the experimental television work of Allen B. DuMont. On May 19, 1945, DuMont established W3XWT, an experimental station that became an important part of the technical and programming development of the DuMont Television Network. Coaxial-cable connections between W3XWT and DuMont's New York station WABD helped demonstrate the feasibility of an interconnected commercial television network. The Federal Communications Commission granted the station a commercial license in November 1946, and its first regular broadcast was a Washington Lions hockey game from Uline Arena on December 10 of that year. The callsign WTTG honors Thomas T. Goldsmith Jr., DuMont's chief engineer and a major figure in the company's television work. After DuMont discontinued network operations in 1956, WTTG became an independent station. It was separated from DuMont Laboratories as part of the DuMont Broadcasting Corporation, which later became Metropolitan Broadcasting. John Kluge acquired control of the company in 1958 and renamed it Metromedia in 1961. During the 1960s and 1970s, WTTG built a strong independent-station identity through syndicated entertainment, local news, movies, talk programming and sports. It became particularly prominent for its coverage of Georgetown Hoyas basketball and Big East men's basketball, as well as locally produced programming such as Panorama. Cable distribution expanded its reach beyond the immediate Washington market, making WTTG a regional superstation available in portions of several Mid-Atlantic states. Rupert Murdoch's acquisition of Metromedia's television stations in 1986 placed WTTG among the original owned-and-operated stations of the Fox network. Because Fox initially supplied only a limited number of network programs, WTTG retained much of its established independent-station schedule while gradually expanding its Fox-branded news, entertainment and sports presence. Fox's launch strengthened the station's national affiliation while WTTG's established local audience helped it remain one of the network's stronger early stations. WTTG's modern identity combines extensive local news production with Fox network programming and sports rights. It carries Washington Commanders games through Fox's National Football Conference package, selected Washington Nationals baseball, selected Maryland Terrapins events and Georgetown basketball. Its news operation has repeatedly expanded its morning, afternoon, evening and late-night schedules, and it also produces programming for WDCA. In 2019, WTTG added a four o'clock newscast, and in 2025 it launched The Take @ 2, described as the first local programming block in the Washington market at that hour. The station has remained part of Fox Corporation since the 2019 separation of the Fox assets from the portion of 21st Century Fox acquired by The Walt Disney Company. In July 2021, WTTG and WDCA moved from their former Friendship Heights facilities in Washington to the current Bethesda broadcast center. WTTG is therefore best understood not as a standalone national consumer brand, but as a locally focused broadcast operation whose Fox 5 identity is prominent across news, sports, digital publishing and community-oriented programming.
History
WTTG began as W3XWT, an experimental television station established by Allen B. DuMont in Washington, D.C., on May 19, 1945. DuMont used the station to test television technology and to establish an intercity connection with WABD in New York. These coaxial-cable experiments contributed to the creation of the DuMont Television Network, one of the earliest commercial television networks. The FCC granted WTTG a commercial license on November 29, 1946. Its first regular program was a Washington Lions hockey broadcast from Uline Arena on December 10, 1946. The station's callsign commemorates Thomas T. Goldsmith Jr., DuMont's chief engineer. DuMont initially operated WTTG with experimental equipment and later completed a full-power facility in 1949. Although the DuMont network ceased operations in 1956, WTTG survived as an independent station and was separated from DuMont Laboratories under the DuMont Broadcasting Corporation. The company later became Metropolitan Broadcasting. John Kluge gained control in 1958 and changed the corporate name to Metromedia in 1961. As an independent, WTTG developed a broad schedule of syndicated series, films, cartoons, local programs, news and sports. Metromedia's investments in syndicated programming helped the station compete effectively in Washington. During the 1970s, it became one of the leading independent stations in the United States. Its sports profile included a long association with Georgetown Hoyas men's basketball and Big East basketball. The locally produced talk program Panorama, associated with Maury Povich and John Willis, was another important part of its local identity. Cable carriage across Maryland, Virginia and parts of neighboring states gave WTTG regional superstation reach. In 1986, Rupert Murdoch acquired Metromedia's television stations after purchasing 20th Century Fox. WTTG became one of Fox's six original owned-and-operated stations when the network launched on October 9, 1986. Fox's early schedule was limited, so WTTG initially continued to look much like its former independent-station operation. Over time, the Fox affiliation brought additional network entertainment, sports and branding while the station expanded its local news operation. WTTG's programming developed through several transitions. Fox children's blocks moved between WTTG and WDCA during the 2000s and ended on WTTG in 2008. Fox's acquisition of WDCA in 2006 created a duopoly. The stations later shared news resources, with WTTG producing selected WDCA newscasts under the Fox 5 Plus identity. WTTG also entered a local news-sharing arrangement with WRC-TV in 2009 for video and helicopter resources. The news operation expanded substantially during the 2000s and 2010s. The station added or reshaped morning, midday, afternoon and late-night programs, began high-definition local news production in 2009, introduced The Final 5 in 2017, launched a four o'clock newscast in 2019 and added The Take @ 2 in 2025. By February 2026, the station reported 86 hours of locally produced newscasts per week. Corporate ownership changed again in 2019. Disney's acquisition of most of 21st Century Fox excluded WTTG, WDCA, the Fox network and Fox Television Stations. These assets were placed in Fox Corporation, under which WTTG continues to operate. In July 2021, WTTG and WDCA moved from their former Friendship Heights studios to a shared facility on Wisconsin Avenue in Bethesda. WTTG currently combines local news, Fox programming, digital content and regional sports coverage, with its primary service area centered on Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia.
- 2025
Launches The Take @ 2
[1]WTTG introduced a local programming block at 2 p.m.
- 2021
Relocates to Bethesda
[1]WTTG and WDCA moved to a shared broadcast center on Wisconsin Avenue in Bethesda.
- 2019
Becomes part of Fox Corporation
[1]WTTG was excluded from Disney's 21st Century Fox acquisition and transferred to Fox Corporation.
- 2009
Local news enters high definition
[1]WTTG began broadcasting local newscasts in high definition.
- 2006
WDCA acquisition creates duopoly
[1]Fox's purchase of WDCA paired the station with WTTG under common ownership.
- 1986
Joins the Fox network
[1]WTTG became one of Fox's original owned-and-operated stations.
- 1956
Becomes an independent station
[1]After the DuMont network ended, WTTG continued as an independent station.
- 1949
Full-power operation begins
[1]DuMont completed the station's full-time, full-power operation.
- 1946
Commercial license and first regular broadcast
[1]The FCC granted a commercial license, and the station aired its first regular program, a Washington Lions hockey game.
- 1945
Experimental station W3XWT established
[1]Allen B. DuMont established W3XWT in Washington, beginning the station's broadcast history.
Products and positioning
A major local news and sports broadcaster for the Washington, D.C., region, using the Fox 5 identity to combine high-volume local journalism with Fox network entertainment and sports programming.
Television journalism
Local news
WTTG produces an extensive schedule of Washington-area news, weather, traffic, investigative reports and public-affairs programming. Its output includes morning, daytime, afternoon, evening and late-night newscasts, as well as special coverage and the Sunday program Fox 5 News on the Hill.
Broadcast television · 1986
Fox network programming
As a Fox owned-and-operated station, WTTG carries Fox entertainment, news and sports programming for the Washington market, supplemented by syndicated series and station-produced content.
Sports broadcasting
Regional sports broadcasts
WTTG carries selected Washington Commanders, Washington Nationals, Maryland Terrapins and Georgetown Hoyas programming through Fox network and conference rights. Its Commanders relationship includes Fox's NFC regular-season and postseason package.
Controversies
2013
Gun-control reporting disclosure controversy
The station was criticized after Emily J. Miller presented reports critical of gun-control policies without initially disclosing her gun-rights advocacy. WTTG later added disclosures to the segments.
2004
Editorial-bias allegations examined in Outfoxed
Former WTTG personnel interviewed in Outfoxed alleged that News Corporation ownership encouraged politically slanted and sensationalist coverage and promoted stories with limited conventional news value.
1978
CIA photograph leak
WTTG broadcast classified CIA photographs in July 1978. Public information about the episode was reported as becoming available after later declassification.
Brand decisions
2021
Relocate broadcast operationsStrategyBackground
WTTG and WDCA had operated from studios in Washington's Friendship Heights neighborhood.
Action taken
Both stations moved to a shared facility on Wisconsin Avenue in Bethesda, Maryland.
Aftermath
The relocation consolidated the stations' production and broadcast operations in a modernized suburban facility.
2019
Transfer to Fox CorporationM&ABackground
Disney agreed to acquire most of 21st Century Fox, while certain Fox assets were separated from that transaction.
Action taken
WTTG remained with Fox Television Stations and became part of the newly established Fox Corporation.
Aftermath
The station continued as a Fox-owned operation alongside WDCA and the Fox network.
2006
Acquire WDCAM&ABackground
Fox sought to consolidate its Washington-area television presence.
Action taken
Fox acquired WDCA from Viacom's Paramount Stations Group, creating a duopoly with WTTG.
Aftermath
The stations shared facilities and production resources, and WTTG later produced selected Fox 5 Plus newscasts for WDCA.
1986
Adopt the Fox affiliationStrategyBackground
The acquisition of Metromedia stations supplied Fox with the initial core of its owned-and-operated station group.
Action taken
WTTG joined Fox at the network's launch while retaining much of its established independent-station programming during Fox's limited-schedule early years.
Aftermath
WTTG became a durable Fox flagship in the Washington market and gradually expanded its network, news and sports role.
Recent events
Sources4 sources
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