WXTV-DT

WXTV-DT, branded as Univision 41, is a Spanish-language television station licensed to Paterson, New Jersey, and serving the wider New York metropolitan area. It is one of Univision's two flagship local stations, alongside WLTV-DT in the Miami–Fort Lauderdale market. The station combines locally produced Spanish-language news and public-affairs programming with national Univision programming, entertainment, sports, news, and acquired programming distributed by the network. The station's origins date to the Federal Communications Commission's allocation proceedings for a Paterson television channel during the 1960s. Channel 37 had initially attracted applicants, but the frequency was also important to radio astronomy because it overlapped with a protected scientific observation band. The FCC therefore reserved channel 37 for radio astronomy and eventually assigned channel 41 to Paterson. Trans-Tel prevailed in a settlement involving several applicants, while the Spanish International Broadcasting Corporation obtained an option to acquire a substantial interest. That relationship connected WXTV to the Spanish International Network, the predecessor of Univision. WXTV began broadcasting on August 4, 1968. Its initial schedule relied heavily on filmed programs from Mexico and Puerto Rico, supplemented by local news and selected English-language public-affairs programming directed toward northern New Jersey. Technical constraints limited the station's early broadcasts to evening hours because the transmitter's temporary location at the Cities Service Building could operate only when certain building systems were shut down. The station later became involved in a prolonged effort to secure a suitable high-power transmitter location in Manhattan. After disputes and delays involving the World Trade Center site, WXTV ultimately operated from the Empire State Building, where its transmitter remains colocated with that of co-owned UniMás station WFUT-DT. The station expanded its regional reach through translator facilities, including service in Philadelphia and Hartford during the early 1980s. It also moved its studio operation from Paterson to Secaucus in 1978, consolidating production and advertising functions in a more strategically located facility. Over time, WXTV competed directly with other Spanish-language outlets, particularly WNJU, while adapting its programming to the changing Hispanic population of the New York region. Its audience growth accelerated during the late 1990s and 2000s. In 1999, it became the first station in the New York market to surpass WWOR-TV in total-day ratings, and in 2008 it won all three major evening news periods among Spanish-language stations. Local news is central to the station's identity. WXTV launched with evening newscasts, later adding a morning program in 1999—the first Spanish-language morning newscast in the New York market. Its news operation has also supplied weekday updates to News 12 Networks. The late-night program Solo a las Once was redesigned in 2020 with a more in-depth format. WXTV's newscasts have achieved particularly strong performance among Hispanic viewers and key advertising demographics, including adults aged 18–49 and 25–54. The station's transmitter history also shaped its role during major regional emergencies. Because WXTV had returned its transmitter to the Empire State Building before the September 11, 2001 attacks, its over-the-air signal was not interrupted by the destruction of the World Trade Center broadcast facilities. WXTV was consequently among the few major New York stations able to continue broadcasting normally over the air, and its anchors provided bilingual information for viewers who lacked access to local English-language stations. WXTV completed the federally mandated transition from analog to digital broadcasting in 2009. Its digital signal operates on UHF channel 40 while retaining virtual channel 41. In the FCC incentive auction, its spectrum was sold and the station's license was consolidated with co-owned WFUT-DT on a shared channel arrangement. The station currently operates from shared studios on Frank W. Burr Boulevard in Teaneck, New Jersey, with WFUT-DT and WFTY-DT, while WXTV and WFUT share transmission facilities at the Empire State Building. WXTV programming is also simulcast on WFTY-DT's third digital subchannel for Long Island viewers.

WXTV-DT emerged from a complicated FCC allocation process in northern New Jersey. During the early 1960s, several applicants sought the Paterson channel 37 allocation, including the Spanish International Broadcasting Corporation and Progress Broadcasting. Channel 37 was also considered for educational use, but the allocation conflicted with the operating band of a radio astronomy observatory in Illinois. Concern that television transmissions would interfere with scientific observations led the FCC in 1963 to reserve channel 37 for radio astronomy and seek another channel for Paterson. Channel 41 was ultimately selected. Trans-Tel won the resulting application process through a settlement that included the withdrawal of Bartell Broadcasters and an option for Spanish International to acquire half of the permit. Spanish International exercised that option in 1967, linking the proposed station to the Spanish International Network, which later became Univision. WXTV signed on August 4, 1968. Its early schedule consisted largely of filmed Spanish-language programs from Mexico and Puerto Rico, along with local news and some English-language public-affairs content for northern New Jersey. Temporary transmitter arrangements imposed severe operating limitations, and the station initially broadcast mainly during evening hours. The transmitter's location became a significant issue during the station's first decade. WXTV initially used the Cities Service Building in Manhattan while waiting for a possible move to the World Trade Center. As construction of the World Trade Center progressed, the station argued that the new towers were damaging reception from its temporary site. WXTV publicly criticized the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, sought FCC and gubernatorial intervention, and threatened legal action. Although approval to use the World Trade Center was obtained in 1974, further negotiations delayed implementation. In 1980, after additional disputes involving radiation concerns near the observation deck, WXTV and WNJU were authorized to transmit from the north tower. WXTV later returned to the Empire State Building; its move was completed in 1992. In 1978, WXTV announced that it would relocate its studios from Paterson to Secaucus, consolidating production operations with its Manhattan advertising offices. The move improved access to the broader metropolitan market and helped support the station's regional expansion. Through translator operations, WXTV extended service beyond the immediate New York market, including facilities in Philadelphia and Hartford during 1980. Competition with WNJU remained intense, and programming choices sometimes affected performance because the New York Hispanic population included large Puerto Rican, Dominican, and Cuban communities in addition to viewers interested in Mexican programming. By the late 1990s, WXTV had become a major force in the market. Its growth reflected both the expanding Hispanic population and the strengthening of Spanish-language local news. In February 1999, it exceeded WWOR-TV in total-day ratings, a first for a New York station of its kind. The station also launched an hour-long morning newscast that year. During the 2008 July ratings period, WXTV won the three principal evening news periods among Spanish-language outlets. Its 6 p.m. newscast performed especially well among adults aged 25–54, and the program ended 2011 as the highest-rated newscast in that time slot in the United States among adults aged 18–49, regardless of language. WXTV's transmitter location proved especially important on September 11, 2001. Because it was transmitting from the Empire State Building rather than the World Trade Center, its over-the-air signal continued when many other New York stations lost their primary facilities. WXTV's anchors also delivered information in both Spanish and English for viewers who could not receive local English-language stations through pay television. The station transitioned from analog UHF channel 41 to digital broadcasting on June 12, 2009. Its digital signal used channel 40 while preserving virtual channel 41. In the FCC incentive auction, WXTV's spectrum was sold for $198,965,211, and its license was consolidated with co-owned WFUT-DT through a shared-channel arrangement. WXTV and WFUT continue to use transmission facilities at the Empire State Building. WXTV's studios are now shared with WFUT-DT and WFTY-DT on Frank W. Burr Boulevard in Teaneck, and WXTV programming is carried on WFTY-DT's third digital subchannel for Long Island viewers.

• 2020

  Solo a las Once receives a format redesign

  [1]WXTV-DTen.wikipedia.org

  The late newscast was reworked around more in-depth coverage.

• 2009

  Analog television service ends

  [1]WXTV-DTen.wikipedia.org

  The station ended regular analog broadcasts on June 12 as part of the national digital transition.

• 1999

  Morning news service launches

  [1]WXTV-DTen.wikipedia.org

  WXTV introduced the New York market's first Spanish-language morning newscast.

• 1992

  Transmitter returns to the Empire State Building

  [1]WXTV-DTen.wikipedia.org

  WXTV completed its move back to the Empire State Building transmission site.

• 1980

  Regional translator expansion

  [1]WXTV-DTen.wikipedia.org

  WXTV launched translator service in Philadelphia and Hartford and received approval to use the World Trade Center antenna site.

• 1978

  Studios move to Secaucus

  [1]WXTV-DTen.wikipedia.org

  The station announced a studio relocation and consolidation with its Manhattan advertising operation.

• 1968

  Station signs on

  [1]WXTV-DTen.wikipedia.org

  WXTV began regular broadcasting on August 4.

• 1967

  Spanish International exercises its ownership option

  [1]WXTV-DTen.wikipedia.org

  The Spanish International Broadcasting Corporation exercised an option to acquire half of the station permit.

• 1965

  Channel 41 assigned to Paterson

  [1]WXTV-DTen.wikipedia.org

  The FCC selected channel 41 as the replacement television allocation for Paterson, New Jersey.

• 1963

  Channel 37 reserved for radio astronomy

  [1]WXTV-DTen.wikipedia.org

  The FCC decided that channel 37 should be protected for radio astronomy and began pursuing another Paterson allocation.

A leading Spanish-language local television service for Hispanic audiences in the New York metropolitan area, combining Univision network content with locally relevant news, weather, public affairs, and community coverage.

• Spanish-language television news · 1968

  Local news

  WXTV's local news operation is the station's principal original offering. It covers the New York metropolitan area, northern New Jersey, weather, traffic, public affairs, and community issues for Spanish-speaking viewers. The schedule has historically included morning, 6 p.m., and 11 p.m. newscasts, with the late program later developed as Solo a las Once. The operation has also supplied weekday news updates to News 12 Networks.

• Late-night local newscast

  Solo a las Once

  Solo a las Once is WXTV's late local newscast. In 2020, the program was redesigned to use a more in-depth presentation, distinguishing it from a purely headline-driven late bulletin and strengthening the station's evening news identity.

• Spanish-language network television · 1968

  Univision network programming

  As a Univision flagship station, WXTV carries the network's Spanish-language schedule, including national news, entertainment, serialized programming, sports, and other acquired or distributed content. Network programming complements the station's locally produced news and gives WXTV a full-market broadcast proposition.

• 2009

  Conversion from analog to digital broadcastingGeneration change

  Background

  The United States completed its federally mandated transition for full-power television stations.

  Action taken

  WXTV ended analog broadcasting on UHF channel 41 on June 12, while continuing digital service on channel 40 under virtual channel 41.

  Aftermath

  The station continued using the familiar channel 41 identity while operating as a digital broadcaster.

  Source

• 1980

  Expansion through translator stationsStrategy

  Background

  The Spanish International Network was developing translators to extend Spanish-language television beyond primary-market transmitters.

  Action taken

  WXTV launched translator service in Philadelphia and Hartford during the spring and summer of 1980.

  Aftermath

  The translators broadened the station's potential reach outside the core New York metropolitan signal area.

  Source

• 1978

  Relocation of studio operations to SecaucusStrategy

  Background

  WXTV sought a more efficient location for its production and advertising operations and wanted to support the cost of moving its transmitter to the World Trade Center.

  Action taken

  The station announced that its studios would move from Paterson to Secaucus and be consolidated with its Manhattan advertising offices.

  Aftermath

  The relocation placed the station closer to the wider metropolitan market and preceded its later development as a major regional Spanish-language outlet.

  Source

• Spectrum sale and channel consolidationStrategy

  Background

  The FCC incentive auction created an opportunity for broadcasters to sell spectrum and reorganize their transmission arrangements.

  Action taken

  WXTV sold spectrum in the incentive auction and consolidated its license with co-owned WFUT-DT through a shared-channel arrangement.

  Aftermath

  WXTV and WFUT continued using the Empire State Building transmission site, while WXTV remained available through its virtual channel identity and related digital distribution.

  FCC incentive-auction spectrum proceeds. 198965211 (FCC incentive auction; year not specified in the cited reference)

  Source

1. 1WXTV-DTen.wikipedia.org
2. 2WXTV Univision New York official websiteunivision.com