Editing WPIX (section)

===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>