WATM-TV
WATM-TV is an ABC-affiliated television station serving the Johnstown–Altoona–State College market in Pennsylvania.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
WATM-TV is a full-power television station licensed to Altoona, Pennsylvania, and affiliated with the ABC network. It serves the Johnstown–Altoona–State College designated market area, a geographically broad region that includes Altoona, Johnstown, State College, and surrounding communities. Although the station is licensed to Altoona, its principal studios are shared with Fox affiliate WWCP-TV in Geistown, while master control and several internal functions are handled from the facilities of WJAC-TV in Upper Yoder Township. The station began broadcasting on November 28, 1974, as WOPC on UHF channel 38. Its early operation was constrained by a weak signal, limited resources, and difficulty obtaining a direct network feed. For much of its first period, engineers switched between the signal of another ABC station and locally originated programming. In 1981, the station moved to the stronger UHF channel 23, but a major market realignment the following year combined the previously separate Johnstown and Altoona–State College markets. The station's coverage remained inadequate in the western portion of the enlarged market, and its audience share declined sharply. In 1986, the former WOPC license was acquired by the owners of WWCP-TV, a new station licensed to Johnstown. The station temporarily became WWPC-TV and operated as a satellite of WWCP while the owners developed a broader coverage strategy. That arrangement ended on August 27, 1988, when the station adopted the WATM-TV call sign and returned to independent ABC affiliation for the combined market. Palm Television later acquired the station in connection with federal ownership requirements, while operational relationships with WWCP continued. Digital television substantially improved WATM-TV's technical reach. Its digital facility, operating at substantially greater effective power than the former analog service, provided coverage more comparable with other major stations in the market. The station's programming has also been distributed through a high-definition simulcast on WWCP-TV's second digital subchannel, helping extend reception into areas where WATM's over-the-air signal is limited. WATM-TV has had several different approaches to local news. It created a separate news department with WWCP in 1992, but WATM's standalone operation was closed in 2002 after persistent ratings difficulties. The combined news operation was then shut down in 2007, leading to a news-sharing arrangement with WJAC-TV. WJAC produced newscasts and updates for WATM for several years, and the station later adopted the WATM News Centre identity for locally targeted broadcasts. In 2021, Sinclair replaced several of those broadcasts with The National Desk, resulting in reductions to the station's local news staffing. The station subsequently returned to the ABC 23 News branding while continuing to operate within the broader WJAC-supported news structure. WATM-TV remains an operating local broadcast brand. Its business is centered on ABC network programming, local and regional news, syndicated or multicast programming, advertising sales, and digital distribution. Ownership and operational arrangements are distinct: Palm Television remains the listed licensee, Cunningham is associated with WWCP's service relationship, and Sinclair operates the stations under a time brokerage structure.
History
WATM-TV signed on November 28, 1974, as WOPC, an ABC affiliate licensed to Altoona. It initially transmitted on UHF channel 38 with a relatively weak facility. John Powley owned the station and served as its manager. Because the operation could not afford a reliable direct network feed, engineers often switched between the signal of an ABC station in Harrisburg and locally originated material. This arrangement, together with the station's limited signal, restricted its ability to compete. In 1981, WOPC moved to UHF channel 23 in an effort to improve reception. The change did not solve the station's larger structural problems. In 1982, Johnstown and Altoona–State College were combined into a single television market, expanding the area that the station needed to serve. WOPC's signal was particularly poor in the western portion of the enlarged market, and its audience share fell to a negligible level. For several years, viewers in different parts of the region relied on ABC stations from Harrisburg, Scranton, or Pittsburgh instead. The station's next major phase began in 1986. The owners of WWCP-TV, a new Johnstown-licensed station, purchased the former WOPC license on February 28 for approximately $1.03 million. After power increases and extensive testing, the station became WWPC-TV on October 13, 1986, operating as a satellite of WWCP. This arrangement helped extend WWCP's programming into areas that its channel 8 facility could not adequately cover. The satellite model proved temporary. Because the combined market needed a dedicated ABC outlet and neighboring stations preempted portions of ABC programming, WWPC separated from WWCP on August 27, 1988. It adopted the WATM-TV call sign and resumed operation as the market's ABC affiliate. Palm Television later became the licensee in order to satisfy federal ownership requirements involving network affiliates, although WATM continued to be managed in association with WWCP through a local marketing arrangement. Digital broadcasting improved the station's reach. The analog facility had provided only marginal service even near Altoona and limited over-the-air reception in Johnstown and State College. WATM's digital operation used a significantly more powerful facility, giving it coverage more comparable to other full-market stations. Its programming was also made available through an HD simulcast on WWCP-TV's second digital subchannel, improving access in areas where the WATM transmitter was difficult to receive. Local news has been reorganized repeatedly. WATM and WWCP created separate news departments in January 1992, but WATM's standalone department closed in December 2002 after weak ratings. The shared news operation later closed in 2007 after several years of losses, eliminating roughly fifteen positions. WJAC-TV then began supplying news content. From 2008 through 2011, WJAC's late news was simulcast on WATM, while the station also carried recorded news updates during ABC's Good Morning America. At the end of 2016, WATM introduced the WATM News Centre name for WJAC-produced broadcasts, with production and much of the staffing based at WJAC's facilities. The station's ownership and operating framework continued to evolve. Horseshoe Curve Communications acquired assets associated with WWCP and WATM's operating agreement in the early 2010s. A proposed 2013 sale to Cunningham Broadcasting failed to close, but Cunningham later entered a time brokerage arrangement for WWCP in 2016. A renewed transaction announced in 2021 was approved by the FCC on March 4 and completed on April 1. Sinclair Broadcast Group operates WATM and WWCP through the related brokerage and service structure while owning WJAC-TV. On November 15, 2021, WATM began airing Sinclair's The National Desk instead of several WJAC-produced early-morning and late-night local broadcasts. The change reduced the station's local news staffing, including the elimination of certain anchor and meteorology positions. WATM subsequently returned to the ABC 23 News branding. Today, WATM-TV operates as an ABC affiliate with local advertising, network programming, digital subchannels, online video, and a news service supported by the wider WJAC and Sinclair operating infrastructure.
- 2021
The National Desk replaces selected local broadcasts
[1]Sinclair's nationally produced program replaces several early-morning and late-night local news broadcasts.
- 2016
WATM News Centre introduced
[1]WATM adopts a new identity for WJAC-produced newscasts serving the station's coverage area.
- 2011
This TV subchannel added
[1]The station adds a standard-definition This TV service to its digital multiplex.
- 2009
Digital transition
[1]WATM ends analog transmissions and continues digital service using virtual channel 23.
- 2007
Shared news operation ends
[1]The WWCP–WATM news operation is shut down and replaced by a news-sharing relationship with WJAC.
- 2002
WATM standalone news department closes
[1]WATM's separate newsroom is merged into the WWCP operation after persistent ratings challenges.
- 1992
Separate local news departments launch
[1]WATM and WWCP establish distinct news operations.
- 1988
WATM-TV becomes the market's ABC affiliate
[1]The station separates from WWCP and adopts its current calls on August 27.
- 1986
WWPC-TV satellite operation begins
[1]After acquisition by the owners of WWCP-TV, the station becomes WWPC-TV and operates as a WWCP satellite.
- 1981
Move to channel 23
[1]WOPC moves to UHF channel 23 to improve its signal.
Products and positioning
Local ABC network affiliate serving a large central and western Pennsylvania television market, with programming and operational support integrated with WWCP-TV and WJAC-TV.
Broadcast television · 1988
ABC network service
WATM-TV's principal offering is its over-the-air ABC affiliate service. It carries ABC network programming for the Johnstown–Altoona–State College market, supplemented by station identifications, local advertising, weather information, and other locally relevant material.
Local news · 2008
ABC 23 News
ABC 23 News is WATM-TV's local-news identity. Production has been supported by WJAC-TV since the closure of WATM's independent newsroom and has included broadcasts, weather coverage, web video, and livestream distribution aimed at communities across the large regional market.
Local news branding · 2016
WATM News Centre
WATM News Centre was a branding framework introduced for WJAC-produced WATM newscasts. The broadcasts used resources in Johnstown, State College, Altoona, and DuBois and combined centralized production with regionally targeted reporting.
Digital television · 2011
Digital multicast services
WATM's digital transmission supports additional programming beyond its primary ABC service. The station has carried a high-definition WWCP simulcast through a digital subchannel arrangement and added a standard-definition This TV feed in 2011.
Brand decisions
2021
Replace selected local broadcasts with The National DeskProduct launchBackground
Sinclair was operating WATM within the broader WWCP and WJAC service structure and sought to use its nationally produced news programming.
Action taken
Beginning November 15, WATM replaced selected WJAC-produced early-morning and late-night newscasts with The National Desk.
Aftermath
The change eliminated the station's morning news anchor and a shared meteorology role, and the station did not immediately fill an open State College anchor position.
2021
Complete renewed WWCP transactionM&ABackground
A prior proposed sale of WWCP and the associated WATM arrangement had failed to close in 2014.
Action taken
Horseshoe Curve Communications agreed to sell WWCP-TV and the WATM local marketing arrangement to Cunningham Broadcasting. The FCC approved the transaction on March 4, and it closed on April 1.
Aftermath
The transaction reinforced the Cunningham–WWCP service relationship and the Sinclair-operated structure surrounding WATM-TV.
Reported purchase price for WWCP-TV transaction. $2.85 million (Agreement announced January 5, 2021; FCC approval March 4, 2021; transaction completed April 1, 2021)
2007
Outsource local news production to WJACStrategyBackground
The WWCP–WATM news operation had reportedly operated at a loss for several years.
Action taken
The shared newsroom was closed and WJAC-TV entered a news-sharing arrangement to produce or supply coverage for the stations.
Aftermath
Approximately fifteen news and production employees lost their positions, while WATM continued receiving locally oriented content through WJAC.
1992
Launch separate local news serviceProduct launchBackground
WATM and WWCP sought to build distinct audiences and improve their competitiveness against established market leaders.
Action taken
Both stations created separate news departments and began producing their own local broadcasts.
Aftermath
WATM's separate newsroom was later closed in 2002 because of weak ratings, and the shared operation ultimately ended in 2007.
1988
Separate from WWCP and restore direct ABC affiliationStrategyBackground
The combined Johnstown–Altoona–State College market lacked a dedicated ABC outlet, while neighboring stations preempted some network programming.
Action taken
WWPC-TV ended its satellite relationship with WWCP, adopted the WATM-TV call sign, and became an independent ABC affiliate for the market.
Aftermath
The arrangement established WATM's long-term identity as the area's ABC station.
Recent events
- 2021
Sinclair assumes a larger operating role in the WWCP–WATM structure[1]
M&A
A renewed sale agreement transfers WWCP-TV and the associated WATM local marketing arrangement to Cunningham; the FCC approves the transaction in March and closing occurs in April.
- 2021
WATM-TV replaces several local newscasts with The National Desk[1]
Product launch · Leadership change
The station begins airing Sinclair's nationally produced The National Desk in place of early-morning and late-night WJAC-produced broadcasts, reducing local news staffing.
- 2016
Cunningham begins programming WWCP under a time brokerage agreement[1]
Other
Cunningham agrees to program WWCP-TV under a time brokerage arrangement, affecting the operating structure surrounding WATM-TV.
- 2016
WATM-TV adopts WATM News Centre branding[1]
Campaign · Product launch
WATM begins carrying WJAC-produced local newscasts under the WATM News Centre identity, with production based mainly at WJAC facilities and additional State College resources.
- 2014
Proposed WWCP sale to Cunningham fails to close[1]
M&A
A proposed sale of WWCP-TV to Cunningham Broadcasting, which included the WATM operating arrangement and anticipated Sinclair management, does not proceed.
- 2011
WATM-TV adds This TV multicast service[1]
Product launch
The station adds a standard-definition This TV feed as a third digital subchannel.
- 2010
Horseshoe Curve Communications announces acquisition of WWCP assets[1]
M&A
Horseshoe Curve Communications announces an agreement to acquire Peak Media assets, including WWCP-TV and the existing arrangement to operate WATM-TV.
- 2009
WATM-TV completes analog shutdown[1]
Regulation · Product generation
The station ends analog broadcasting on channel 23 and continues digital service on its pre-transition UHF channel with virtual channel 23.
- 2007
Shared WWCP–WATM news operation shuts down[1]
Other
The shared news operation closes after operating losses, eliminating approximately fifteen news and production positions and leading to a news-sharing arrangement with WJAC-TV.
- 2002
Standalone WATM news department closes[1]
Leadership change · Other
WATM ends its separate news department after continuing audience and ratings difficulties, with coverage consolidated with WWCP.
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