WATE-TV
An ABC-affiliated television station serving Knoxville and the wider East Tennessee region.
Last updated November 4, 2026
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Overview
WATE-TV is a commercial television station serving Knoxville, Tennessee, and surrounding parts of East Tennessee, Southwestern Virginia, and Southeastern Kentucky. Broadcasting on virtual channel 6, the station is affiliated with ABC and is owned by Nexstar Media Group. Its studios occupy the historic Greystone mansion on North Broadway in Knoxville, while its transmission facilities are located on Sharp's Ridge in North Knoxville. The station began broadcasting on October 1, 1953, under the call sign WROL-TV. It was the first television station to sign on in East Tennessee, narrowly beating WJHL-TV in Johnson City after that station's planned tower collapsed before launch. The original operation was established by Greater East Tennessee TV, Inc., a group associated with local insurance executive Paul Mountcastle and investors who also owned WROL radio. WROL-TV initially operated primarily as an NBC affiliate and also carried selected ABC programming. Because its VHF signal reached a large area, the station was an important regional broadcaster from the beginning. In 1955, the station adopted the WATE-TV call letters. The letters were selected because they were available from the Federal Communications Commission rather than because they represented a particular phrase or name. In 1956, after WBIR-TV entered the market and took the CBS affiliation, WATE dropped ABC and continued as an NBC station. Knoxville consequently became one of the smaller American television markets with affiliates representing all three major networks. Ownership and facilities changed over the following decades. In 1965, Paul Mountcastle and his partners sold the station to Nationwide Communications. That year WATE moved into and renovated the Greystone mansion, a nineteenth-century structure that later became associated with the station and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The original Sharp's Ridge tower was eventually replaced by taller transmission structures, improving coverage across the mountainous regional market. A major turning point came on September 17, 1979, when WATE exchanged affiliations with WTVK and became an ABC affiliate. ABC was then seeking stronger outlets in several markets, and WATE's established VHF signal and strong local position made it an attractive partner. The change returned ABC programming to channel 6 and helped establish the station's modern identity. WATE remained an ABC affiliate thereafter. Local programming has been central to the station's history. Early entertainment and music programs reflected East Tennessee's country-music culture, including The Cas Walker Show, Star Time, Bonnie Lou and Buster, and programs featuring nationally known performers. Dolly Parton made an early television appearance on WATE before her national career. In the early 1980s, the station produced a regional edition of PM Magazine, hosted by MayCay Beeler and Calvin Sneed, which highlighted people, places, and events in East Tennessee and nearby communities. WATE also developed a prominent news operation. During the late 1960s and 1970s, the station built a widely recognized on-air team and introduced several technical and editorial innovations for the Knoxville market. It was an early adopter of videotape-based electronic news gathering, operated a live microwave news truck, and introduced the market's first television news helicopter, known as Sky Eye 6. The station launched local Saturday evening newscasts in 1977, a weekday noon newscast in 1978, and Sunday evening newscasts in 1979. In 1980, Calvin Sneed became the first African-American co-anchor of a weeknight principal newscast in the broader East Tennessee region. WATE changed ownership again when Nationwide sold the station to Young Broadcasting in 1993. Young later emerged from bankruptcy protection and merged with Media General in 2013. Media General merged with Nexstar Broadcasting in 2017, bringing WATE into Nexstar's station portfolio. The…
History
WATE-TV's history began in the early 1950s, when local investors organized Greater East Tennessee TV, Inc. to establish a Knoxville television station. The group was led by insurance executive Paul Mountcastle and was associated with WROL radio. The station signed on at 8 p.m. on October 1, 1953, as WROL-TV. It became the first television station in East Tennessee after a planned launch by WJHL-TV in Johnson City was delayed by the collapse of that station's tower. WROL-TV initially operated as a primary NBC affiliate, reflecting the long-standing NBC relationship of WROL radio. It also carried some ABC programs, while local programming filled portions of the schedule. The station's VHF signal gave it substantial reach across the mountainous regional market. In 1955, it adopted the WATE-TV call sign. The following year, WBIR-TV's arrival and affiliation changes altered the local network arrangement: WBIR took CBS, WATE dropped ABC, and WTVK became the market's ABC outlet. The station's early schedule included locally produced music and variety programming. Shows such as The Cas Walker Show and Star Time drew on East Tennessee's country-music culture and featured local and regional performers. WATE also carried syndicated country programs from Nashville and other production centers. Dolly Parton's early television exposure included an appearance on WATE before she became a nationally recognized performer. In 1965, the original owners sold WATE-TV to Nationwide Communications. The station moved its studios into Greystone, a nineteenth-century mansion on North Broadway, and renovated the building for broadcast use. The property became one of the most distinctive television facilities in the region. WATE's transmission infrastructure also evolved over time, with newer and taller towers replacing its original Sharp's Ridge structure. WATE returned to ABC on September 17, 1979, in an affiliation exchange with WTVK. The move reflected ABC's growing national strength and its desire for a better-positioned Knoxville outlet. Because WATE had a strong VHF signal and an established audience, the affiliation change made ABC more widely available across East Tennessee, Southwestern Virginia, and Southeastern Kentucky. The station's news operation expanded significantly during the late 1960s and 1970s. A successful anchor, weather, and sports team helped WATE compete with the market-leading WBIR. The station moved from film to videotape-based electronic journalism, operated a live microwave vehicle, and launched Sky Eye 6, described as Knoxville's first television news helicopter. WATE introduced local Saturday evening news in 1977, a noon newscast in 1978, and Sunday evening news in 1979. In 1980, Calvin Sneed became the first African-American co-anchor of a weeknight main newscast in the wider East Tennessee region. During the early 1980s, WATE produced the East Tennessee edition of PM Magazine. The program used a magazine format to profile unusual people, local destinations, and regional events. Its hosts included MayCay Beeler and Calvin Sneed, and it ran for three seasons. WATE also became an early employer of certified broadcast meteorological talent in the Knoxville area when Mark Mancuso joined the station in 1979. Nationwide sold its ABC stations, including WATE, to Young Broadcasting in 1993. In 1998, WATE entered a news-sharing arrangement with Fox affiliate WTNZ, producing a nightly prime-time newscast. That arrangement ended in 2011 after WTNZ contracted with WBIR. WATE subsequently began producing a 10 p.m. newscast for WBXX-TV in August 2011. The WBXX arrangement ended on December 31, 2016, after Gray Television-owned WVLT-TV assumed production. Young Broadcasting reorganized after bankruptcy and later merged with Media General in 2013. Media General merged with Nexstar Broadcasting in 2017, placing WATE under Nexstar ownership. In 2011, WATE adopted its Circle 6 logo and completed its local high-definition transition in October of that year. Its digital subchannel history included The Country Network and Live Well Network before later programming changes. WATE remains an active ABC affiliate with a substantial local-news schedule, reporting more than forty-two hours of locally produced newscasts per week according to the cited station history. Its current activities combine broadcast news, weather, community coverage, network programming, digital content, multicast services, and regional sports. The station's 2024 agreement to air One Knoxville SC matches expanded its sports role while retaining the station's long-standing local-market focus.
- 2024
One Knoxville SC broadcasts begin
[1]WATE announces selected broadcasts of One Knoxville SC matches and a related online soccer program.
- 2017
WATE enters Nexstar ownership
[1]Nexstar's merger with Media General brings WATE into the Nexstar portfolio.
- 2013
Young Broadcasting merges with Media General
[1]The transaction makes WATE part of Media General's station group.
- 2011
Station adopts the Circle 6 identity and HD news
[1]WATE introduces its current logo and begins local high-definition news broadcasts.
- 1993
Young Broadcasting acquires WATE
[1]Nationwide sells WATE and two other ABC stations to Young Broadcasting.
- 1979
WATE becomes an ABC affiliate
[1]The station exchanges affiliations with WTVK and joins ABC on September 17.
- 1965
Nationwide Communications acquires the station
[1]WATE-TV is sold to Nationwide Communications and moves into the renovated Greystone mansion.
- 1955
Call sign changes to WATE-TV
[1]The station adopts the WATE-TV identity.
- 1953
WROL-TV begins broadcasting
[1]The station signs on October 1 as WROL-TV, becoming the first television station in East Tennessee.
Products and positioning
A locally rooted ABC affiliate emphasizing regional news, severe-weather information, community reporting, sports, and East Tennessee identity.
Local television news
WATE 6 News
WATE's core local-news service covers Knoxville and the surrounding East Tennessee region through morning, daytime, evening, and weekend broadcasts. Its reporting includes breaking news, politics, public affairs, community stories, traffic, weather, and regional investigations. The station historically developed a large local-news operation and currently produces more than forty-two hours of locally originated newscasts per week according to the cited reference material.
Network television · 1979
ABC programming
WATE carries programming from the ABC television network for the Knoxville market. The station became an ABC affiliate in 1979 after exchanging affiliations with WTVK, a change that used channel 6's established VHF coverage to distribute ABC programming across a broad multi-state viewing area.
Regional sports · 2024
One Knoxville SC broadcasts
Beginning in 2024, WATE added selected matches involving USL League One club One Knoxville SC to its sports programming. At least two matches were planned for the primary station, with additional games scheduled for WATE-DT2, alongside a weekly Soccer Talk program distributed online.
Local magazine program · 1981
PM Magazine: East Tennessee
WATE produced a regional version of the syndicated PM Magazine format in the early 1980s. Hosted by MayCay Beeler and Calvin Sneed, the program featured profiles of unusual people, places, and events in East Tennessee and nearby communities. It ran for three seasons and represented the station's continuing investment in locally originated features beyond conventional newscasts.
Brand decisions
2024
Launch of One Knoxville SC match coverageProduct launchBackground
The growth of professional soccer in Knoxville created an opportunity for the station to add locally relevant sports programming.
Action taken
WATE agreed to air selected One Knoxville SC matches on its main channel and additional matches on WATE-DT2, with a related Soccer Talk show planned online.
Aftermath
The agreement broadened WATE's regional sports offering beyond network programming and seasonal football coverage.
2011
Transition to high-definition local broadcastingGeneration changeBackground
WATE was the last Knoxville station identified in the cited history to move its local newscasts to high definition.
Action taken
Starting with the 5 p.m. newscast on October 17, 2011, WATE launched high-definition news production together with new graphics, a studio set, news music, and a refreshed logo.
Aftermath
The upgrade modernized the station's presentation and was later extended to its outsourced WBXX newscast when that outlet upgraded its master-control capabilities.
1979
Switch from NBC to ABCStrategyBackground
ABC was gaining national ratings strength and sought stronger affiliates in several markets. WATE had a powerful VHF signal and an established Knoxville audience, while WTVK's UHF coverage was more limited in parts of the region.
Action taken
WATE exchanged network affiliations with WTVK on September 17, 1979, becoming the market's ABC affiliate.
Aftermath
The switch established the station's long-term ABC identity and expanded the practical reach of ABC programming across East Tennessee and adjacent areas.
Recent events
- 2024
WATE-TV begins broadcasting One Knoxville SC matches[1]
Product launch · Other
WATE reached an agreement to televise selected USL League One matches involving One Knoxville SC, with additional games planned for its Antenna TV digital subchannel and online programming.
- 2011
WATE-TV completes local high-definition transition[1]
Product generation · Other
The station began broadcasting its local news in high definition in October 2011 and introduced a revised logo, graphics package, studio, and news music.
- 1979
WATE-TV changes from NBC to ABC[1]
Other
WATE exchanged network affiliations with WTVK and became Knoxville's ABC affiliate, taking advantage of its strong VHF coverage and established local position.
- 1955
WROL-TV adopts the WATE-TV call letters[1]
Other
The station changed its call sign to WATE-TV; the letters were selected because they were available rather than as an acronym with a stated meaning.
- 1953
WATE-TV signs on as WROL-TV, becoming East Tennessee's first television station[1]
Other
The station began broadcasting from Knoxville on October 1, 1953, initially using the WROL-TV call sign and carrying primarily NBC programming.
Sources2 sources
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