WXTX

WXTX is a broadcast television station licensed to Columbus, Georgia, and affiliated with the Fox network. It operates on channel 54 and serves viewers in western Georgia, eastern Alabama, and nearby communities. The station began broadcasting in 1983 as Columbus's first independent television station located within the city, entering a market that had previously been served primarily by stations from Columbus and nearby Opelika. Its early programming consisted of syndicated entertainment and other independent-station fare rather than network programming. The station was established by Columbus Family Television and put on the air with assistance from Media Central, a Southern-focused broadcaster that supplied equipment and operational support. Construction and launch were delayed by technical and site-related problems, but WXTX eventually commenced service in June 1983. When the Fox network expanded beyond its initial group of affiliates, WXTX joined Fox in July 1987. The affiliation gave the station access to a growing national schedule while preserving room for locally selected syndicated programs and, later, local news. WXTX's early corporate history was shaped by financial instability in the small-market broadcasting sector. Media Central filed for bankruptcy reorganization in 1987. In 1989, local restaurant operator Jack Pezold acquired WXTX through the bankruptcy process. Under Pezold, the station benefited from the growth of Fox and became a strong local competitor. By 1991, it had overtaken WLTZ in total-day audience share, and by 1996 it ranked among the stronger Fox affiliates nationally on the ratings measure cited in contemporary coverage. Pezold also explored operating arrangements involving other local stations, although a proposed transaction involving WLTZ did not close. WXTX changed hands again in the late 1990s. Retlaw Broadcasting acquired the station in 1997, and Fisher Broadcasting subsequently purchased Retlaw's television group. Fisher later sold WXTX and sister station WFXG in Augusta, Georgia, to Southeastern Media Holdings in 2003. Southeastern was associated with Community Newspaper Holdings and backed largely by the Retirement Systems of Alabama. Rather than building a fully independent news operation, Southeastern entered into a local marketing arrangement with Raycom Media, owner of Columbus ABC affiliate WTVM. That relationship resulted in WTVM producing WXTX newscasts, including a 10 p.m. program introduced in 2004. American Spirit Media acquired Southeastern Media Holdings in 2011. WXTX has continued to operate under a shared-services or similar management arrangement with the local Gray-operated stations. After Raycom Media merged with Gray Television in 2019, Gray became the station's operating partner. WXTX and WTVM share studio facilities on Wynnton Road in Columbus, while WXTX's transmitter is located on the eastern edge of the city. The station's current service combines Fox network programming, syndicated and locally scheduled content, and news produced through the WTVM newsroom. Its local news schedule includes weekday morning and evening broadcasts and a late-night newscast on weekdays and weekends. WXTX also operates a digital television signal and has changed digital channels as a result of the nationwide transition to digital broadcasting and subsequent spectrum-reallocation proceedings. WXTX is therefore best understood not as a standalone consumer product brand, but as a local broadcast-media brand whose value derives from its Fox affiliation, regional over-the-air signal, local advertising reach, and shared news operation.

Two applicant groups sought authority in 1981 to build a television station on channel 54 in Columbus, Georgia. The successful applicant was Columbus Family Television, associated with Morton and Jonathan Kent, with a minority interest divided among limited partners through Southern Star Media. Media Central, a company connected to Stephen Kent, supplied equipment and helped establish the station's technical operation. The construction project encountered repeated delays. Problems included drainage concerns near the proposed tower site and a dispute involving the first tower-construction crew. The station used promotional material asking viewers to watch for channel 54 while its launch date was postponed. WXTX ultimately began broadcasting in June 1983 from facilities on Buena Vista Road. It was the first independent station located in Columbus proper, although another independent station in Opelika, Alabama, also served portions of the wider market. For its first several years, WXTX operated as an independent station. Media Central initially avoided Fox when the network launched, but WXTX joined Fox in July 1987 along with several other Media Central stations. The affiliation arrived during a difficult period for Media Central, which filed for bankruptcy reorganization that same year. The company promoted prospective acquisitions of syndicated programs that did not always reach the station's schedule, and management turnover affected employee morale. WXTX nevertheless developed a competitive local audience. In 1989, Jack Pezold won control of WXTX through the bankruptcy process. Pezold, a local McDonald's franchisee, had entered the sale process late but offered more than the previously accepted bidder. His ownership coincided with the strengthening of Fox as a national network. WXTX briefly revived a local daytime program associated with the former Rozell Show and expanded its competitive position. By 1991, the station had exceeded WLTZ's total-day audience share, and by 1996 it was reported to be one of the highest-rated Fox affiliates in the country on a total-day basis. Pezold explored broader broadcast ownership and operating arrangements. A proposed 1994 sale of WLTZ to Piney Creek Broadcasting included an arrangement under which Pezold would provide programming and financing. Competing Columbus stations petitioned the Federal Communications Commission to block the transaction. The FCC rejected those challenges in 1995, but the transaction later collapsed after Congress ended a tax-certificate program that had helped encourage certain broadcast-station sales. Pezold subsequently sought to sell WXTX together with WFXG in Augusta. An agreement with Galleria Broadcasting Group failed when the buyer could not obtain financing, and a later proposed transaction with Girard Communications did not materialize. Retlaw Broadcasting acquired the two stations in 1997. Retlaw had been created by Lillian Disney and her daughter Diane; after Lillian Disney's death, the company moved to sell its broadcasting assets. Fisher Broadcasting purchased Retlaw's eleven-station group in a transaction reported at $215 million. Fisher considered strategic alternatives for its television division in the early 2000s amid financial pressure and debt. Its first attempt to sell the Georgia stations failed. In 2003, Fisher sold WXTX and WFXG to Southeastern Media Holdings for a reported $40 million. Southeastern was affiliated with Community Newspaper Holdings and was backed primarily by the Retirement Systems of Alabama. It entered into a local marketing agreement with Raycom Media, the owner of WTVM in Columbus. WTVM began producing a WXTX late-newscast in 2004, and the stations developed a continuing shared-news relationship. Community Newspaper Holdings sold Southeastern and its four stations to American Spirit Media in 2011. The reported transaction included assumption of debt. WXTX remained owned by American Spirit Media while its operations were handled through an arrangement with the company operating WTVM. Raycom's 2019 merger with Gray Television made Gray the relevant operating partner. WXTX's studios are shared with WTVM on Wynnton Road in Columbus's Dinglewood area. The transmitter is positioned on the eastern side of Columbus. The station launched digital broadcasting in 2002 on channel 49, retained that channel through the 2009 digital transition, and moved to channel 24 in 2018 after spectrum-reallocation activity connected to the federal wireless auction. By the source material's December 2025 description, WXTX carried a weekday morning newscast, a weekday 7 p.m. newscast, and 10 p.m. broadcasts on weekdays and weekends, with the news supplied through the WTVM newsroom.

• 2019

  Gray becomes operating partner after Raycom merger

  [1]WXTXen.wikipedia.org

  Gray Television's merger with Raycom changed the corporate identity of WXTX's shared-services operator.

• 2018

  Digital channel changes to 24

  [1]WXTXen.wikipedia.org

  WXTX moved its digital transmission from channel 49 to channel 24 following spectrum-reallocation proceedings.

• 2011

  American Spirit Media acquires the station

  [1]WXTXen.wikipedia.org

  American Spirit Media purchased Southeastern Media Holdings and its stations, including WXTX.

• 2004

  WTVM-produced late news launches

  [1]WXTXen.wikipedia.org

  WXTX began airing a 10 p.m. newscast produced through WTVM's newsroom.

• 2003

  Southeastern Media Holdings becomes owner

  [1]WXTXen.wikipedia.org

  Fisher sold WXTX to Southeastern Media Holdings, which entered a management arrangement with Raycom Media.

• 1997

  Retlaw Broadcasting acquires WXTX

  [1]WXTXen.wikipedia.org

  Retlaw Broadcasting purchased WXTX and sister station WFXG after earlier sale attempts failed.

• 1991

  WXTX overtakes WLTZ in total-day audience

  [1]WXTXen.wikipedia.org

  The station's total-day viewing share surpassed that of Columbus NBC affiliate WLTZ.

• 1989

  Pezold ownership begins

  [1]WXTXen.wikipedia.org

  Jack Pezold acquired the station through Media Central's bankruptcy proceedings.

• 1987

  Fox affiliation begins

  [1]WXTXen.wikipedia.org

  WXTX joined Fox during the network's early expansion.

• 1983

  WXTX begins broadcasting

  [1]WXTXen.wikipedia.org

  WXTX went on the air in June as Columbus's first independent station based within the city.

• 1981

  Channel 54 construction authority awarded

  [1]WXTXen.wikipedia.org

  Columbus Family Television was selected to build a new television station on channel 54 in Columbus, Georgia.

A local Fox affiliate combining national network entertainment and sports programming with locally targeted news, weather, advertising, and community coverage for the Columbus, Georgia, television market.

• Network television · 1987

  Fox network programming

  WXTX's principal programming proposition is its Fox affiliation. The station distributes Fox's national schedule to viewers in the Columbus, Georgia, market, supplemented by local commercials, station promotions, and locally scheduled programming.

• Local news · 2004

  WXTX local news

  WXTX carries locally branded morning and evening newscasts produced through the WTVM newsroom under the stations' shared operating arrangement. The schedule includes a weekday morning hour, a weekday 7 p.m. broadcast, and late news on weeknights and weekends.

• Broadcast transmission · 2002

  Digital broadcast service

  WXTX provides an over-the-air digital television signal from its Columbus-area transmitter. Its digital operation began on channel 49 in 2002 and later moved to channel 24 in 2018 following national spectrum-reallocation changes.

• 2011

  Transfer ownership to American Spirit MediaM&A

  Background

  Community Newspaper Holdings decided to sell Southeastern Media Holdings and its four television stations.

  Action taken

  American Spirit Media acquired Southeastern Media Holdings, including WXTX.

  Aftermath

  WXTX remained under American Spirit Media ownership while continuing to rely on a shared operational and news relationship with the local Gray-operated stations.

  Reported transaction consideration. $24 million plus assumption of $50 million in debt (2011 transaction)

  Source

• 2003

  Sell WXTX to Southeastern Media HoldingsM&A

  Background

  Fisher Broadcasting was reviewing options for its television assets amid financial pressure and debt.

  Action taken

  Fisher sold WXTX and WFXG to Southeastern Media Holdings.

  Aftermath

  Southeastern entered broadcasting and arranged for Raycom Media to manage WXTX's operations through a local marketing agreement.

  Reported purchase price. $40 million (2003 transaction)

  Source

• 1987

  Adopt Fox affiliationStrategy

  Background

  WXTX had operated as an independent station, while its parent company initially avoided affiliation with the newly launched Fox network.

  Action taken

  WXTX joined Fox in July 1987 as the network expanded its affiliate base.

  Aftermath

  The affiliation benefited from Fox's subsequent growth and became the central element of WXTX's programming identity.

  Source

1. 1WXTXen.wikipedia.org