Editing WPIX (section)

==History==
[[Image:TP-WPIX-1949.png|thumb|132px|An early WPIX test pattern, 1948, 1949 to 1976.]]
===As an independent station (1948–1995)===
The station first signed on the air on June 15, 1948; it was the fifth television station to sign on in New York City and was the market's second [[independent station]].<ref>[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1948/1948-06-14-BC.pdf#page=27 "WPIX inaugural, TV station to have glittering debut."] ''[[Broadcasting - Telecasting]]'', June 14, 1948, pg. 27.</ref> It was also the second of three stations to launch in the New York market during 1948, debuting one month after [[Newark, New Jersey]]–based independent WATV (channel 13, now [[WNET]]) and two months before WJZ-TV (channel 7, now [[WABC-TV]]). WPIX's call letters come from "New York's Picture ("PIX") Newspaper" the [[Nameplate (publishing)|nameplate slogan]] of the ''[[New York Daily News]]'' its founding owner.<ref>{{cite news |title=News Video Is Now WPIX |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news-news-video-is-now-wpix/173181558/ |access-date=May 26, 2025 |newspaper=Daily News |date=December 23, 1947 |location=New York City |page=3 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> The ''Daily News''{{'}}s partial corporate parent was the Chicago-based [[Tribune Company]], publishers of the ''[[Chicago Tribune]]''.

Until becoming owned outright by Tribune in 1991, WPIX operated separately from the company's other television and radio outlets (including [[WGN-TV]] in Chicago, which signed-on two months before WPIX in April 1948) through the ''News''-owned license holder, WPIX, Incorporated – which in 1963, purchased New York radio station, WBFM (101.9 FM) and soon changed that station's call letters to WPIX-FM. British businessman [[Robert Maxwell]] bought the ''Daily News'' in 1991. Tribune retained WPIX and WQCD; the radio station was sold to [[Emmis Communications]] in 1997 (it is now [[WFAN-FM]]). WPIX initially featured programming that was standard among independents: children's programs, [[feature film|movies]], syndicated [[rerun]]s of network programs, [[public affairs (broadcasting)|public affairs]] programming, [[religious broadcasting|religious programs]] and [[broadcasting of sports events|sports]] – specifically, the [[New York Yankees]], whose baseball games WPIX carried from [[1951 New York Yankees season|1951]] to [[1998 New York Yankees season|1998]].

To generations of New York children, channel 11 was also the home of memorable personalities. In 1955, original WPIX staffer and weather forecaster [[Joe Bolton (television personality)|Joe Bolton]], donned a policeman's uniform and became "Officer Joe", hosting several programs based around ''[[Little Rascals]]'', ''[[Three Stooges]]'', and later ''[[Popeye]]'' shorts. Another early WPIX personality, [[Jack McCarthy (television)|Jack McCarthy]], also hosted ''Popeye'' and ''[[The Dick Tracy Show|Dick Tracy]]'' [[animated cartoon|cartoons]] as "Captain Jack" in the early 1960s, though he was also the longtime host of channel 11's [[St. Patrick's Day]] parade coverage from 1949 to 1992. WPIX aired a local version of ''[[Bozo the Clown]]'' (with [[Bill Britten]] in the role) from 1959 to 1964; comic performers [[Chuck McCann]] and [[Allen Swift]] also hosted programs on WPIX during the mid-1960s before each moved to other entertainment work in [[Cinema of the United States|Hollywood]]. Jazz singer [[Joya Sherrill]] hosted a weekday children's show, ''Time for Joya'' (later known as ''[[Joya's Fun School]]''). Channel 11 produced the ''[[The Magic Garden (TV series)|Magic Garden]]'' series, which ran on the station from 1972 to 1984. Beginning in the late 1970s and continuing through spring 1982, the station aired "[[TV Powww#TV POWWW variants|TV PIXX]]", a television video game show played during commercial breaks of afternoon programs. Kids would call into the station for the chance to control a video game via telephone in hopes of winning prizes.

Another staple of WPIX's programming was its selection of movies; unlike many independent stations, WPIX's library went beyond the usual offerings from major studios and low-budget B-movies, to movies produced by [[Samuel Goldwyn]] and imports from Britain. The station also became famous to many area viewers for their various holiday broadcasts of films that became traditions at the station, such as the broadcast of the 1934 movie ''[[March of the Wooden Soldiers]]'' on Thanksgiving Day. This reputation for film programming (for much of the station's history, a movie ran at 8 p.m. every night in prime time; movies also made up much of the schedule on weekends) became so ingrained that the station frequently promoted itself as being "New York's Movie Station" during the late 1980s and 1990s.<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 16, 2018 |title=WPIX at 70: The classic films of New York's Movie Station |url=https://pix11.com/news/wpix-at-70-the-classic-films-of-new-yorks-movie-station/ |access-date=August 3, 2022 |website=PIX11 |language=en-US}}</ref> Another notable programming stunt was ''Shocktober'', where for the entire month of October, various horror and thriller films were played; this occurred for several years in the early 1990s, and became a cult favorite among area viewers.<ref>{{Cite web |title="Shocktober" Memories – Cinema Crazed |date=October 31, 2014 |url=https://www.cinema-crazed.com/blog/2014/10/31/shocktober-memories/ |access-date=August 3, 2022 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=October 3, 2018 |title=WPIX's SHOCKTOBER Marathon, from 1992! {{!}} Dinosaur Dracula! |url=https://dinosaurdracula.com/blog/wpix-shocktober-halloween-marathon/ |access-date=August 3, 2022 |language=en-US}}</ref>

From its early years through the 1960s, WPIX, like the other two major independents in New York, WOR-TV (channel 9, now [[WWOR-TV|WWOR]]) and WNEW-TV (channel 5, now [[WNYW]]), struggled to acquire other programming. In 1966, WPIX debuted ''[[The Yule Log]]'', which combines [[Christmas music]] with a film loop of logs burning inside a [[fireplace]]. Airing on Christmas Eve and/or Christmas morning initially until 1989, the film was made in 1966 and was shot at [[Gracie Mansion]], with the cooperation of then [[Mayor of New York City|Mayor]] [[John V. Lindsay]]. WPIX revived the ''Yule Log'' due to viewer demand in 2001, and has proven to be just as popular. Several of Tribune's other television stations (as well as [[WGN America]] and [[Antenna TV]]) have carried the WPIX version, complete with its audio soundtrack, on Christmas morning since the late 2000s, and is also streamed online on WPIX's website.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://pix11.com/2015/12/24/watch-the-wpix-yule-log-livestream-and-learn-about-its-history/ |title=Watch now: The WPIX Yule Log |website=Encyclopedia of Things |publisher=WPIX |date=December 24, 2015 |access-date=August 6, 2018}}</ref> Since 1977, Channel 11 has aired a live broadcast of Midnight Mass from [[St. Patrick's Cathedral (Manhattan)|St. Patrick's Cathedral]] every Christmas Eve.<ref>{{YouTube|id=VEyMN96lbhY|title=O Come, All Ye Faithful}}</ref><ref>{{YouTube|title=Midnight Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral 2017|id=m5MdHGSjlJ8}}</ref>

[[Image:wpix74.jpg|150px|thumb|WPIX's ''Circle 11'' logo, used from 1969 to 1976 and 1984 to 1995.]]
The station's "Circle 11" logo – predating the existence of the [[World Trade Center (1973–2001)|World Trade Center]] (which was not completed until 1973), which it closely resembled – was first unveiled in 1969 (an advertising billboard for WPIX with the "Circle 11" logo began appearing that year at [[Yankee Stadium (1923)|Yankee Stadium]]). By the mid-1970s, WPIX emerged as the second highest-rated independent station in the area, behind WNEW-TV. WPIX dropped the "Circle 11" when it rebranded as "11 Alive" in September 1976, though it continued to appear during station editorials until around 1982 (the "Alive" slogan was popularized by such stations as [[Atlanta]]'s [[WXIA-TV]], which itself has branded as "11 Alive" ever since that point, with the exception of a brief removal in 1995); the "Circle 11" logo returned as part of the "11 Alive" branding in 1984, before being restored full-time in the fall of 1986. Its relaunch featured a series of humorous promos in which a fictional station employee, "Henry Tillman", was searching for a "big idea" for something uniquely New York in nature to serve as the perfect WPIX symbol. The running gag in these ads was the fact that Tillman was constantly surrounded by – but never noticed – objects resembling a giant "11", most notably the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center.

[[Image:Wpix80.jpg|thumb|170px|right|The first ''11 Alive'' logo, which was used from 1976 to 1982.]]
In 1978, WPIX was uplinked to [[communications satellite|satellite]] and became a [[superstation]] that was distributed to cable providers throughout the U.S. (many providers carried WPIX's signal until the early 1990s, when most systems outside of the Northeastern United States began replacing WPIX with the superstation feed of WGN-TV,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-9267407.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924165250/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-9267407.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 24, 2015|title=WGN gains 2.2M subs; program appeal cited|work=[[Multichannel News]]|date=July 16, 1990|access-date=August 24, 2012}}</ref> though the station continues to be distributed through [[Dish Network]] domestically (which since it halted sales of the package to new subscribers in September 2013, is available only to [[grandfathered]] subscribers of its [[a la carte pay television|a la carte]] superstation tier) and on most cable and satellite providers throughout Canada). Two years later, WPIX began operating on a 24-hour programming schedule.

During the late 1980s, WPIX fell to sixth place in the ratings among New York's VHF stations, behind WNYW (which was now owned by [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]]) and a resurgent WWOR (then owned by [[MCA Inc.|MCA]]–[[Universal Pictures|Universal]]).{{Citation needed|date=June 2011}} After president Leavitt Pope stepped down as general manager (though he remained as president and CEO of WPIX), Michael Eigner was transferred from Los Angeles sister station [[KTLA]] to become WPIX's general manager in August 1989.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Imported From L.A. WPIX Names VP |last=Goldman|first=Kevin|date=July 8, 1989|work=Newsday|id = {{ProQuest|278166803}}}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Movin' On Up |last=MacMinn|first=Aleene|date=July 8, 1989|work=Los Angeles Times|id = {{ProQuest|280963178}}}}</ref>

Over the next few years the station engineered a slow turnaround that eventually resulted in WPIX becoming the leading independent station in the market. In 1994, the station became the exclusive home of the [[New York City Marathon]], carrying the event for the next five years. It was during the initial broadcast of that event that WPIX unveiled a stylized serifed "11" logo; the new numerical look eventually became the full-time logo, augmented with The WB's logo after the station affiliated with that network in 1995.

In mid-January 1994, the station began airing the ''[[Action Pack (television)|Action Pack]]'' programming block with the TV movie ''[[TekWar]]''. WPIX earned the biggest ratings of all the stations airing the program, with an 11.7/17 rating.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Benson|first1=Jim|title='Action' packs wallop, gives markets a boost|url=https://variety.com/1994/tv/news/action-packs-wallop-gives-markets-a-boost-117597/|access-date=June 9, 2017|work=Variety|date=January 20, 1994}}</ref>

===WB affiliation (1995–2006)===
[[Image:WB11 95.png|135px|thumb|WPIX's original "WB 11" logo, used from 1995 to 1999. The box with "THE" was removed in a variant used from 1999 to 2006.]]
On November 2, 1993, the [[Warner Bros. Television]] division of [[WarnerMedia|Time Warner]] and the Tribune Company announced the formation of [[The WB Television Network]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kolbert |first1=Elizabeth |title=THE MEDIA BUSINESS; Warner Bros. Enters Race For Network |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/11/03/business/the-media-business-warner-bros-enters-race-for-network.html |access-date=March 5, 2023 |newspaper=The New York Times |date=November 3, 1993 |location=Section D |page=1}}</ref> Due to the company's ownership interest in the network (initially a 12.5% stake, before expanding to 22%), Tribune signed the majority of its independent stations to serve as The WB's charter affiliates, resulting in WPIX becoming a network affiliate for the first time upon its January 11, 1995, debut.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Carter |first1=Bill |title=THE MEDIA BUSINESS; 2 Would-Be Networks Get Set for Prime Time |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/01/09/business/the-media-business-2-would-be-networks-get-set-for-prime-time.html |access-date=March 5, 2023 |newspaper=The New York Times |date=January 9, 1995 |location=Section D |page=6}}</ref>

The station was verbally branded as "The WB, Channel 11" (simply adding The WB name to the "Channel 11" branding in use since 1986), until it was simplified to "The WB 11" in 1997, and further to "WB11" in 2000. Initially, WPIX's programming remained unchanged, as The WB had broadcast only prime time shows on Wednesday nights at its launch. As with other WB-affiliated stations during the network's first four years, WPIX ran feature films and select first-run scripted series prior to its 10&nbsp;p.m. newscast on nights when The WB did not offer network programming.

WB network and syndicated daytime programs (such as ''[[Maury (talk show)|Maury]]'' and ''[[The Jerry Springer Show|Jerry Springer]]'') became more prominent on channel 11's schedule starting in 1996 at the expense of most of its local-interest programming outside of news. By September 1999, when The WB completed its prime time expansion and the network began running its programming Sunday through Friday nights, movies were limited to Saturday evenings and weekend afternoons.

====September 11 attacks====
[[Image:Wpix-911.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Screencap of the frozen WPIX image from September 11, 2001]]
On September 11, 2001, the transmitter facilities of WPIX, and several other New York City area television and radio stations were destroyed when two hijacked airplanes crashed into the World Trade Center; both of the complex's main towers collapsed due to fires caused by the impact. WPIX lead engineer Steven A. Jacobson<ref>[https://pix11.com/2015/09/11/remembering-steve-jacobson-pix11-news-engineer-killed-on-sept-11/ Remembering Steve Jacobson, PIX11 News engineer killed on Sept. 11] ''pix11.com'' September 11, 2015. Retrieved August 9, 2018</ref> was among those who were killed in the terrorist attack.<ref>[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-2002/BC-2002-09-09.pdf#page=28 They loved broadcasting: engineers who died on 9/11 were dedicated to keeping their stations on the air], ''Broadcasting & Cable'', September 9, 2002, pp.30. Retrieved August 9, 2018.</ref> WPIX's satellite feed froze on the last video frame received from the WTC mast, a replay of the North Tower burning and the start of the impact of the South Tower; the image remained on-screen for much of the day until WPIX was able to set up alternate transmission facilities (the [[microwave relay]] for WPIX's satellite feed was also located at the World Trade Center). WPIX also broadcast on W64AA in the interim.<ref>[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-2001/BC-2001-09-17.pdf#page=20 After the collapse, stations struggle], ''Broadcasting & Cable'', September 17, 2001, pp. 20-22. Retrieved August 9, 2015.</ref> Since then, WPIX has transmitted its signal from the [[Empire State Building]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20150924043911/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-102655199.html Television stations sign leases at Empire State Building], ''[[Real Estate Weekly]]'', May 21, 2003.</ref>

The station's coverage of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attack was notable in that WPIX's helicopter was the last to land following an FAA directive that grounded all aircraft. WPIX was given special permission to continue airing aerial video from its helicopter after the collapse of the World Trade Center, though that permission wasn't conditioned on WPIX distributing the footage as a [[Press pool|pool camera]]. Footage from WPIX's helicopter was one of many videos used by the NIST in its investigation into the collapse of the World Trade Center complex.<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/QmiROP2mFkA Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20180902201257/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmiROP2mFkA Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{Citation|title=WTC 9/11 Footage by WPIX-TV Helicopter "Air11" -- Part 2 of 2 (Enhanced Video/Audio & Doubled FPS)| date=August 28, 2018 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmiROP2mFkA|language=en|access-date=April 19, 2020}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

===CW affiliation (2006–present)===
[[Image:Wpixcw11.png|thumb|150px|WPIX logo, used from September 18, 2006, to November 30, 2008]]
On January 24, 2006, the [[Warner Bros. Entertainment]] unit of Time Warner and [[CBS Corporation]] announced that the two companies would shut down The WB and [[UPN]] and combine the two networks' respective programming to create a new "fifth" network called The CW.<ref>[https://money.cnn.com/2006/01/24/news/companies/cbs_warner/ 'Gilmore Girls' meet 'Smackdown'; CW Network to combine WB, UPN in CBS-Warner venture beginning in September], [[CNNMoney.com]], January 24, 2006.</ref><ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/24/business/media/24cnd-network.html?bl UPN and WB to Combine, Forming New TV Network], ''[[The New York Times]]'', January 24, 2006.</ref><ref>[https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna11006886 CBS Warner Bros forming new TV network], NBC News. Retrieved August 7, 2018.</ref> As part of the announcement, Tribune signed ten-year affiliation agreements with the network for 16 of its 19 WB-affiliated stations, including WPIX.<ref>[http://corporate.tribune.com/pressroom/?p=574 Tribune TV Stations to Lead Affiliate Group of New Network] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20121216131255/http://corporate.tribune.com/pressroom/?p=574 |date=December 16, 2012 }}, Tribune Company corporate website, January 24, 2006.</ref> Tribune chose not to exercise an ownership interest in The CW. At the time, WPIX was the largest CW affiliate that was not owned by either CBS Corporation or Time Warner, and the largest [[American English|English-language]] network-affiliated station that was not an [[owned-and-operated station]] of its respective network.

WPIX began transitioning its on-air branding to "CW 11" during the summer of 2006; prior to the start of the station's 10&nbsp;p.m. newscast on September 17, 2006 (which aired following [[The Night of Favorites and Farewells|The WB's final night of programming]] and the night prior to The CW's official launch), shortly after airing the WB's final sign off bumper featuring stars from the WB's shows, the station aired a video montage of past WPIX logos, starting with a 1948 test pattern and concluding with the official unveiling of the new "CW11" logo.<ref name="WB to CW">Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/y8GZKYIDltQ Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20100417002733/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8GZKYIDltQ Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8GZKYIDltQ|title=WPIX - From WB to CW - 2006|last=HKD2|date=May 8, 2009|access-date=December 30, 2016|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

On April 2, 2007, investor [[Sam Zell]] announced plans to purchase the Tribune Company, with intentions to take the publicly traded firm private. The deal was completed on December 20, 2007.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Zappone |first1=Chris |title=Zell buys Tribune Co., Cubs to be sold |url=https://money.cnn.com/2007/04/02/news/companies/tribune_zell/index.htm |publisher=CNN |date=April 3, 2007}}</ref> Prior to the sale's closure, WPIX had been the only commercial television station in New York City to have never been involved in an ownership transaction (Tribune subsequently filed for [[Chapter 11]] [[Bankruptcy in the United States|bankruptcy]] protection in 2008, due to debt accrued from Zell's [[leveraged buyout]] and costs from the company's privatization; it emerged from bankruptcy in December 2012 under the control of its senior debt holders [[Oaktree Capital Management]], [[Angelo, Gordon & Co.]] and [[JPMorgan Chase]]).<ref>{{cite news |last1=Pérez-Peña |first1=Richard |title=Tribune Company Seeks Bankruptcy Protection |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/09/business/media/09tribune.html?pagewanted=all |newspaper=The New York Times |date=December 8, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Chase |first1=Randall |title=Tribune Bankruptcy-Exit Plan Gets OK |url=http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/60776/tribune-bankruptcyexit-plan-gets-ok |website=tvnewscheck.com |agency=Associated Press |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121211020530/http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/60776/tribune-bankruptcyexit-plan-gets-ok |archive-date=December 11, 2012 |date=July 13, 2012}}</ref> The station began gradually adopting a modernized "Circle 11" logo in mid-October 2008, featuring a slimmer version of the WB-era "11" (the CW logo is sometimes used next to the "Circle 11", primarily in station promos for CW programs). The station's branding was then changed to "PIX 11" on December 1, 2008 (the "PIX" in the call letters are pronounced phonetically, similar to the word "picks").<ref name="nydn-endcwbrand">{{cite news |last1=Huff |first1=Richard |title=Veteran local TV news director Karen Scott leaving WPIX/Channel 11 after 16 years |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/2009/08/31/2009-08-31_veteran_tv_news_.html |newspaper=Daily News|location=New York |date=August 31, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090902174641/http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/2009/08/31/2009-08-31_veteran_tv_news_.html |archive-date=September 2, 2009}}</ref>

On August 17, 2012, [[Cablevision]] removed the station from its [[New York area]] systems, part of a [[carriage dispute]] with Tribune in which WPIX's [[WCCT-TV|Hartford]], [[WPHL-TV|Philadelphia]] and [[KWGN-TV|Denver]] sister stations were removed from Cablevision's systems in those markets.<ref>[https://variety.com/2012/tv/news/tribune-stations-go-dark-on-cablevision-1118057970/ Tribune stations go dark on Cablevision], ''Variety'', August 16, 2012.</ref> Cablevision accused Tribune of demanding higher carriage fees (claiming to total in the tens of millions of dollars) for use to help pay off debt, and alleged that it illegally bundled carriage agreements for WPIX and Hartford's [[WTIC-TV]] (which was later pulled as well, but unlike co-owned WCCT, was initially unaffected due to a separate carriage agreement); the company denied the claims, stating its approach complied with FCC regulations.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.multichannel.com/article/488589-Cablevision_Charges_Tribune_With_Illegally_Tying_Stations_Deals.php|title=Cablevision Charges Tribune With 'Illegally Tying' Stations Deals; Broadcaster Says Its Approach Is Lawful and Complies with FCC Good-Faith Rules|last=Spangler|first=Tom|date=August 17, 2012|access-date=August 24, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120826181045/http://www.multichannel.com/article/488589-Cablevision_Charges_Tribune_With_Illegally_Tying_Stations_Deals.php |archive-date=August 26, 2012 }}</ref> The stations and WGN America were restored in an agreement reached on October 26, following a plea by [[Connecticut State Senator]] [[Gayle Slossberg]] for the FCC to intervene in the dispute.<ref>[https://variety.com/2012/tv/news/cablevision-tribune-end-retrans-spat-1118061325/ Cablevision, Tribune end retrans spat], ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'', October 26, 2012.</ref>

On May 23, 2016, WPIX owner Tribune Broadcasting and The CW reached a five-year affiliation agreement that renewed the network's affiliations with twelve of Tribune's CW-affiliated stations (including WPIX) through the 2020–21 television season; the deal came after a year-long disagreement between The CW's managing partner CBS Corporation and Tribune concerning financial terms, specifically the amount of reverse compensation that The CW had sought from the group's CW affiliates.<ref>{{cite press release|title=The CW Network and Tribune Broadcasting Reach Long-Term Affiliation Agreement|url=https://www.cbscorporation.com/2016/05/the-cw-network-and-tribune-broadcasting-reach-long-term-affiliation-agreement/|website=[[CBS Corporation]]|date=May 23, 2016|access-date=May 23, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160528131319/http://www.cbscorporation.com/2016/05/the-cw-network-and-tribune-broadcasting-reach-long-term-affiliation-agreement/|archive-date=May 28, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=CW, Tribune Stations Set Affiliation Deal as WGN-TV Chicago Goes Indie|url=https://variety.com/2016/tv/news/cw-tribune-affiliation-wgn-1201780975/|first1=Brian |last1=Steinberg|first2=Cynthia|last2=Littleton|periodical=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=May 23, 2016|access-date=May 23, 2016}}</ref>

==== Sinclair acquisition attempt and subsequent transactions ====
{{Further|Attempted acquisition of Tribune Media by Sinclair Broadcast Group}}
[[Sinclair Broadcast Group]] announced plans to acquire Tribune Media for $3.9&nbsp;billion on May 8, 2017, plus the assumption of $2.7&nbsp;billion in Tribune debt.<ref>{{cite web|title=Sinclair Broadcast Group to buy Tribune Media for $3.9 billion plus debt|url=https://www.latimes.com/business/hollywood/la-fi-ct-tribune-sinclair-20170508-story.html|first=Stephen|last=Battaglio|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=May 8, 2017|access-date=June 6, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Sinclair Broadcast Group Sets $3.9 Billion Deal to Acquire Tribune Media|url=https://variety.com/2017/tv/news/sinclair-tribune-merger-station-group-1202416416/|first=Cynthia |last=Littleton|periodical=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=May 8, 2017|access-date=June 6, 2017}}</ref> To meet regulatory approval, WPIX was one of several stations identified by Sinclair for divestitures to a third party;<ref>{{cite web |title=AMENDMENT TO JUNE COMPREHENSIVE EXHIBIT |url=https://licensing.fcc.gov/cdbs/CDBS_Attachment/getattachment.jsp?appn=101779327&qnum=5140&copynum=1&exhcnum=3 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180222004745/https://licensing.fcc.gov/cdbs/CDBS_Attachment/getattachment.jsp?appn=101779327&qnum=5140&copynum=1&exhcnum=3 |archive-date=February 22, 2018 |website=fcc.gov |access-date=September 25, 2020}}</ref> Sinclair [[shell corporation|partner licensee]] [[Cunningham Broadcasting]] was later revealed as the buyer for WPIX-TV with a below market-value $15&nbsp;million purchase price.<ref name="ct-saletocunningham">{{cite news|title=Sinclair would still control WGN-TV despite proposed sale to Maryland auto dealer|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-sinclair-sale-wgn-tv-tribune-20180226-story.html|first=Robert |last=Channick|newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]]|publisher=[[Tronc]]|date=March 1, 2018|access-date=March 2, 2018}}</ref> Several weeks after that divestment was announced, Sinclair withdrew the resale with intentions to retain WPIX outright.<ref name="v-wpixnosaletocunningham">{{cite news|title=Sinclair Revises Station Divestiture Plan Following Pushback From Regulators|url=https://variety.com/2018/tv/news/sinclair-tribune-media-station-sales-merger-1202785468/|first=Cynthia|last=Littleton|periodical=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=April 24, 2018|access-date=April 24, 2018}}</ref> The attempted sale of WPIX—along with Tribune stations in [[KDAF|Dallas]] and [[KIAH|Houston]]—to Cunningham,<ref>{{cite web|title=Sinclair Withdraws Cunningham Station Sales|url=https://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/sinclair-withdraws-cunningham-station-sales|first=John |last=Eggerton|periodical=Broadcasting & Cable|publisher=NewBay Media|date=July 18, 2018|access-date=July 19, 2018}}</ref> and in particular a planned sale of WGN-TV to an [[LLC]] controlled by a friend of Sinclair executive chairman [[David D. Smith]],<ref>{{cite news|title=Sinclair Broadcast Group changes Tribune deal after FCC raises legal concerns|url=https://www.latimes.com/business/hollywood/la-fi-ct-tribune-sinclair-20180718-story.html|first=Stephen|last=Battaglio|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=July 18, 2018|access-date=July 19, 2018}}</ref><ref name="John Eggerton">{{cite web|title=Sinclair Is Divesting WGN, WPIX, But...|url=https://www.multichannel.com/news/sinclair-divesting-wgn-wpix-418287|first=John|last=Eggerton|periodical=[[Multichannel News]]|publisher=NewBay Media|date=February 21, 2018|access-date=July 19, 2018}}</ref> resulted in FCC chairman [[Ajit Pai]] publicly rejecting the merger.<ref>{{cite news|title=FCC chair rejects Sinclair-Tribune merger|url=https://thehill.com/policy/technology/397194-fcc-chairman-rejects-sinclair-tribune-merger/|first=Harper |last=Neidig|newspaper=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]|publisher=Capitol Hill Publishing Corp.|date=July 16, 2018|access-date=July 19, 2018}}</ref> Despite Sinclair abandoning the divestments,<ref name="chictrib-wgntvsaletosinclair">{{cite news|title=Sinclair now wants to buy WGN-TV in its bid to win FCC approval for stalled Tribune Media merger|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-sinclair-buy-wgn-tribune-fcc-20180718-story.html|first=Robert |last=Channick|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|publisher=Tribune Publishing|date=July 18, 2018|access-date=July 19, 2018}}</ref> the FCC voted to send the merger up for an evidentiary review.<ref>{{cite web|title=FCC orders hearing even as Sinclair changes plans to sell TV stations to address concerns about Tribune deal|url=http://www.baltimoresun.com/business/bs-bz-sinclair-tribune-revised-divestitures-20180718-story.html|first=Lorraine|last=Mirabella|newspaper=[[The Baltimore Sun]]|publisher=Tronc|date=July 18, 2018|access-date=July 19, 2018}}</ref> Tribune Media moved to terminate the merger outright on August 9, 2018, and filed a [[breach of contract]] lawsuit in the process.<ref>{{cite web|title=Tribune Ends Deal with Sinclair, Files Breach of Contract Suit|url=https://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/tribune-ends-deal-with-sinclair-files-breach-of-contract-suit|first=Jon |last=Lafayette|periodical=Broadcasting & Cable|publisher=NewBay Media|date=August 9, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Tribune Terminates $3.9 Billion Sinclair Merger, Sues Broadcast Rival|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/tribune-media-terminates-merger-agreement-with-sinclair-broadcast-group-1533810907|first=Joe|last=Flint|newspaper=The Wall Street Journal|publisher=[[News Corp (2013–present)|News Corp.]]|date=August 9, 2018|access-date=August 9, 2018}}</ref>

Following the Sinclair deal's collapse, [[Nexstar Media Group]] agreed to acquire Tribune Media's assets on December 3, 2018, for $6.4&nbsp;billion in cash and debt.<ref name="nxsttrco3">{{cite news|title=Nexstar-Tribune Media deal makes new co. worth $6 billion|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/ny-news-tribune-media-nexstar-billion-20181203-story.html|first=Theresa|last=Braine|newspaper=[[Daily News (New York)|Daily News]]|location=New York|publisher=[[Tribune Publishing]]|date=December 3, 2018|access-date=December 3, 2018}}</ref> WPIX-TV was then sold by Nexstar to the [[E. W. Scripps Company]] for $75&nbsp;million as part of a series of divestitures totaling $1.32&nbsp;billion; both transactions were completed on September 19, 2019.<ref>[https://scripps.com/press-releases/scripps-closes-acquisition-of-eight-tv-stations-from-nexstar-tribune-merger-divestitures/ "Scripps Closes Acquisition of Eight TV Stations from Nexstar-Tribune Merger Divestitures"], [[E. W. Scripps Company]], September 19, 2019. Retrieved October 4, 2019.</ref> Under the terms of the deal, Nexstar was granted an option by Scripps to repurchase WPIX between March 31, 2020, and December 31, 2021.<ref name="nxstspinoffs">{{cite web|title=Nexstar Selling 19 TVs In 15 Markets For .32B|url=https://tvnewscheck.com/article/top-news/232391/nexstar-selling-19-tvs-in-15-markets-for-1-32b/|author=Mark K. Miller|website=TVNewsCheck|publisher=NewsCheck Media|date=March 20, 2019|access-date=March 20, 2019|archive-date=March 20, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190320194359/https://tvnewscheck.com/article/top-news/232391/nexstar-selling-19-tvs-in-15-markets-for-1-32b/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Nexstar to Sell Stations to Tegna, Scripps for $1.32 Billion|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-03-20/nexstar-to-sell-19-stations-to-tegna-scripps-for-1-32-billion|first1=Nabila|last1=Ahmed|first2=Anousha|last2=Sakoui|website=Bloomberg News|publisher=[[Bloomberg, L.P.]]|date=March 20, 2019}}</ref> Nexstar partner licensee [[Mission Broadcasting]] exercised said option to buy WPIX on July 13, 2020—Nexstar had previously transferred to Mission said repurchase option—for $75&nbsp;million plus accrued interest.<ref name="wpixtomission" /> This coincided with Scripps's eventual merger with [[Ion Media]], owner of [[WPXN-TV]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hayes |first1=Dade |title=E.W. Scripps Buys ION Media For $2.65B, With Berkshire Hathaway Investment |url=https://deadline.com/2020/09/e-w-scripps-buys-ion-media-for-2-65b-with-berkshire-hathaway-investment-1234583423/ |website=Deadline |date=September 24, 2020 |access-date=September 25, 2020}}</ref> The sale to Mission was approved by the FCC on December 1<ref>[http://licensing.fcc.gov/prod/cdbs/pubacc/Auth_Files/1819389.pdf "Notice of Consent to Assignment"], ''CDBS Public Access'', [[Federal Communications Commission]], December 1, 2020. Retrieved December 2, 2020.</ref> and completed on December 30.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://scripps.com/press-releases/scripps-completes-sale-of-wpix/|title=Scripps completes sale of WPIX|first=Kari|last=Wethington|date=December 30, 2020|access-date=December 30, 2020}}</ref>

On May 20, 2021, Nexstar announced that they renewed affiliations for The CW in 37 media markets, which includes WPIX.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |date=May 20, 2021 |title=The CW Renews Agreement With Top Affiliate Nexstar Media Group |url=https://deadline.com/2021/05/the-cw-affiliate-agreement-nexstar-media-group-renewed-1234760798/ |access-date=January 16, 2023 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref>

On March 21, 2024, the FCC ruled Mission's ownership of WPIX to be an illegal circumvention of its ownership limits, due to Nexstar treating the station like its own, and ordered Nexstar to either sell it to an independent third party or sell off some of its other stations to buy WPIX outright. The decision came as [[local marketing agreement]]s and similar licensing deals came under increased scrutiny by the FCC. Nexstar stated its intent to dispute the ruling, claiming that it had always complied with FCC regulations.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hayes |first=Dade |date=March 21, 2024 |title=Nexstar Fined $1.2M By FCC & Could Lose Control Of CW Flagship WPIX-TV In New York; Company Vows To Fight Ruling "Vigorously" |url=https://deadline.com/2024/03/nexstar-fined-by-fcc-cw-wpix-tv-new-york-stations-1235865335/ |access-date=March 22, 2024 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |language=en-US}}</ref>