WAGA-TV
WAGA-TV is a Fox-affiliated television station serving Atlanta, Georgia, and the surrounding North Georgia market.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
WAGA-TV, branded as FOX 5 Atlanta, is a television station serving Atlanta, Georgia, and nearby communities in North Georgia. It broadcasts on channel 5 and is owned and operated by Fox Television Stations, the station group of Fox Corporation. Its studios and transmitter facilities are located on Briarcliff Road Northeast in the Druid Hills area of unincorporated DeKalb County, immediately outside Atlanta's city limits. The station began broadcasting on March 8, 1949, making it Atlanta's second-oldest television station. It was established by the Fort Industry Company, a Toledo-based broadcaster that also operated WAGA radio stations in Atlanta. The television station initially became a CBS affiliate, reflecting the radio operation's longstanding relationship with the CBS Radio Network. During its early years, WAGA-TV also carried selected programming from the DuMont Television Network, and it briefly had an association with the NTA Film Network in the late 1950s. WAGA-TV's early facilities were located on West Peachtree Street in northwest Atlanta. The station moved to its present Druid Hills complex in 1966. Designed in the Colonial Revival style used by Fort Industry and its successor, Storer Broadcasting, the building was modeled as a Southern mansion and became one of the station's most recognizable physical features. The former West Peachtree facility later became associated with Atlanta independent station WTBS, now WPCH-TV. Ownership changed substantially during the 1980s and early 1990s. Storer Broadcasting sold its stations in 1985 to an investor group led by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts. The stations were subsequently acquired by Gillett Communications. After Gillett encountered financial difficulties and entered bankruptcy proceedings, its broadcasting assets were reorganized under SCI Television. In 1993, New World Pictures acquired a controlling interest in SCI and placed WAGA-TV and several other major-market stations into New World Communications. WAGA became the Atlanta-based company's flagship station. The most consequential turning point in WAGA-TV's history came from the 1994 realignment of United States television affiliations. Fox had secured the National Football Conference rights and sought stronger network affiliates, particularly established VHF stations with larger audiences. New World Communications agreed to affiliate a group of its stations with Fox, including WAGA-TV. On December 11, 1994, WAGA ended its 45-year CBS affiliation and became Atlanta's Fox station. Fox programming moved from WATL, while WGNX, now WANF, became the new CBS affiliate. Following the change, WAGA retained much of its established local identity. The station continued using the Channel 5 and Eyewitness News brands rather than immediately emphasizing Fox in its on-air presentation. It expanded local news and filled the schedule previously occupied by CBS programming with syndicated talk shows, sitcoms, dramas, game shows, documentary programming and weekend films. Children's programming was largely limited to weekend mornings, consistent with the programming strategies adopted by many former New World stations that joined Fox. WAGA-TV remains a major local-news and network-programming outlet in the Atlanta market. Its primary scope includes Fox entertainment and sports programming, locally produced news, weather and traffic coverage, and syndicated or other acquired programming. The station's long history as a VHF broadcaster, its prominent Atlanta news operation and its transition from a long-term CBS affiliation to Fox are central to its identity.
History
WAGA-TV began broadcasting on March 8, 1949, under the ownership of the Fort Industry Company. It was Atlanta's second television station and was connected to WAGA radio, whose CBS Radio Network affiliation helped determine the television station's original CBS relationship. WAGA-TV also carried programming from DuMont between 1949 and 1956 and briefly participated in the NTA Film Network during the late 1950s. The station originally operated from West Peachtree Street in Atlanta. On June 21, 1966, it opened its current Druid Hills facilities on Briarcliff Road Northeast. The building's Southern Colonial Revival design reflected the architectural style used by Fort Industry and Storer Broadcasting. The site has remained central to WAGA-TV's identity and also includes transmission infrastructure serving the Atlanta area. Fort Industry was later renamed Storer Broadcasting after founder George B. Storer. Although Storer sold the WAGA radio properties in 1959, the television station retained its WAGA identity. In 1985, WAGA-TV and other Storer stations were acquired through a transaction led by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts. The stations were sold to Gillett Communications in 1987. Gillett's financial problems led to bankruptcy proceedings in 1991, a reorganization under SCI Television and the eventual sale of its broadcasting holdings. In 1993, New World Pictures purchased a controlling stake in SCI Television and formed New World Communications as the operating home for WAGA-TV and several other major-market stations. Because New World was headquartered in Atlanta, WAGA became the company's flagship station. At that point it was a long-established CBS affiliate with a strong local news operation and a substantial VHF signal. Fox's acquisition of National Football Conference television rights created pressure for the network to improve its affiliate base. On May 23, 1994, New World and Fox announced a broad affiliation arrangement covering WAGA and other New World stations. Fox preferred WAGA's established audience and VHF coverage to its existing Atlanta outlet, WATL, even though Fox Television Stations owned WATL at the time. Fox therefore arranged to sell WATL while pursuing WAGA as its Atlanta affiliate. The affiliation change required a parallel rearrangement. CBS ultimately moved to WGNX, now WANF, after considering several Atlanta stations. WAGA's final CBS program aired on December 10, 1994. The following day, December 11, WAGA became a full-time Fox affiliate, beginning its new network relationship with Fox NFL Sunday and an NFL doubleheader. WAGA retained the Channel 5 and Eyewitness News identities and expanded its local-news schedule while replacing CBS daytime and late-night programming with syndicated content. The transition made WAGA one of the best-known examples of the 1990s American network-affiliation realignment. It also changed the distribution of network programming throughout the Atlanta region, especially in northern areas where WGNX's signal was less effective than WAGA's. New World Communications was later acquired by Fox, bringing WAGA into Fox Television Stations. The station continues to operate as FOX 5 Atlanta, combining network programming with local news, weather, traffic and digital coverage for the Atlanta market.
- 1994
WAGA becomes a Fox affiliate
[1]The station switches from CBS to Fox on December 11 as part of the national affiliation realignment.
- 1993
New World Communications takes control
[1]New World Pictures acquires a controlling interest in SCI Television and places WAGA within New World Communications.
- 1991
Gillett files for bankruptcy protection
[1]Financial problems at Gillett lead to Chapter 11 proceedings and the restructuring of its broadcasting assets under SCI Television.
- 1987
Gillett Communications acquires the station group
[1]The former Storer stations, including WAGA, are sold to Gillett Communications.
- 1985
Storer stations are sold to a KKR-led group
[1]WAGA becomes part of a transaction transferring Storer Broadcasting's stations to an investor group led by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts.
- 1966
Druid Hills facilities open
[1]WAGA begins operating from its purpose-built studio and transmission complex on Briarcliff Road Northeast.
- 1956
DuMont affiliation ends
[1]WAGA ends its secondary relationship with the DuMont Television Network.
- 1949
WAGA-TV signs on
[1]The station begins broadcasting on March 8 as Atlanta's second television station and a CBS affiliate.
Products and positioning
A major-market local television station combining Fox network programming with a long-established Atlanta news, weather and community-service operation.
Local television news
FOX 5 Atlanta local news
WAGA's local-news operation provides reporting for Atlanta and surrounding North Georgia communities, including scheduled newscasts, breaking-news coverage, weather, traffic and public-service content. The operation historically used the Eyewitness News identity and remained a central part of the station's value after its 1994 move from CBS to Fox.
Network television · 1994
Fox network programming
As Atlanta's Fox station, WAGA carries Fox entertainment and other network programming. Its Fox affiliation began on December 11, 1994, when the station broadcast Fox NFL Sunday and an NFL doubleheader as its first full-time Fox network schedule.
Broadcast information service
Local weather and traffic
Weather and traffic reporting are core elements of WAGA's Atlanta-market service. These offerings support daily viewing and breaking-news coverage across the station's broadcast footprint and digital channels.
Brand decisions
1994
Switch from CBS to FoxStrategyBackground
Fox was strengthening its affiliate network after obtaining National Football Conference broadcast rights, while New World Communications controlled several established major-market stations.
Action taken
WAGA ended its 45-year CBS affiliation on December 10 and began carrying Fox programming on December 11. WGNX became Atlanta's CBS affiliate, while WATL left Fox.
Aftermath
The change preserved Fox's access to WAGA's established VHF signal and local-news audience. WAGA expanded its news schedule and replaced CBS daytime and late-night programming with syndicated programming.
- WGNX — WGNX accepted the CBS affiliation and became Atlanta's new CBS station.
- WATL — WATL lost Fox programming and temporarily operated as an independent station before joining The WB.
Recent events
- 1994
WAGA-TV joins Fox after a major affiliation realignment[1]
Other
WAGA ended its long-running CBS affiliation and became Atlanta's Fox affiliate, while WGNX assumed the CBS affiliation and WATL temporarily operated independently.
- 1966
WAGA-TV moves to its Druid Hills facility[1]
Other
The station opened its current studio and transmission complex on Briarcliff Road Northeast.
- 1949
WAGA-TV begins broadcasting[1]
Other
WAGA-TV signed on as Atlanta's second television station and initially joined CBS, with a secondary DuMont affiliation during its early years.
Sources1 sources
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