WAXN-TV
An independent television station licensed to Kannapolis, North Carolina, serving the Charlotte market and operated alongside WSOC-TV by Cox Media Group.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
WAXN-TV is an independent full-power television station serving the Charlotte, North Carolina, metropolitan area. The station is licensed to Kannapolis and identifies with virtual channel 64. Its operations are closely integrated with those of WSOC-TV, the Charlotte ABC affiliate owned by Cox Media Group. The two stations share studio facilities on West 23rd Street north of uptown Charlotte, while WAXN's transmission facilities are located near Reedy Creek Park in the Newell section of Charlotte. The station began broadcasting on October 15, 1994, under the call sign WKAY-TV. Its original owner was Kannapolis Television Company, a subsidiary of Truth Temple in Kannapolis. The station's earlier construction permit had used the call sign WDZH, but the call letters were changed to WKAY in 1989. Truth Temple pastor Garland Faw named the station after his wife, Kay. In its early period, WKAY carried religious programming, older films, syndicated barter programs, and locally produced material, including the 1995 special "Magic or Something." WAXN's development accelerated after Kannapolis Television entered into a joint sales agreement with Cox Enterprises, then the owner of WSOC-TV. In 1996, the station adopted the WAXN-TV call sign and was relaunched as Action 64. WSOC assumed responsibility for much of the station's day-to-day operation, moved the operation into its own facilities, and supplied a stronger schedule using syndicated programming that WSOC did not have enough airtime to broadcast. Cox also invested more than $3 million in the relaunch and technical improvements, including a substantial increase in transmitting capability. These changes transformed WAXN from a station with limited over-the-air reach into a more competitive Charlotte-market independent outlet. The station has carried a changing mix of syndicated entertainment, sports, movies, and locally produced news. From 1998 through 2000, it aired numerous programs associated with Pax TV, although it was not formally affiliated with that network. It later became a significant outlet for repeat daytime programming from WSOC, including programs such as Dr. Phil and The Oprah Winfrey Show. WAXN also carried Southeastern Conference football and basketball programming for many years, first through Jefferson-Pilot and Raycom Sports and later through SEC TV. That arrangement ended after SEC sports moved to the dedicated SEC Network in 2014. In 2000, following a change in Federal Communications Commission ownership rules, Cox completed its purchase of WAXN for a reported $3 million. The station dropped the Action branding in 2007 and adopted the TV64 identity. Its local news service is produced by WSOC-TV. A nightly 10 p.m. newscast began in 1999, a two-hour weekday-morning extension was added in 2010, the evening program expanded to one hour in 2013, and an hour-long 7 p.m. newscast debuted in 2020. The 10 p.m. program has been described as a strong performer in its time period against locally produced newscasts on competing stations. WAXN completed its transition from analog broadcasting in 2009 and subsequently increased its digital transmission power in stages. The station began carrying additional digital multicast services during the 2010s, including GetTV, Escape, and Laff, with channel arrangements changing over time. In June 2021, WAXN converted its physical digital facility to an ATSC 3.0 lighthouse operation. Its NextGen TV signal hosts simulcasts of programming from several Charlotte stations, while WAXN's former ATSC 1.0 services continue to be distributed through other transmitters under virtual-channel identities associated with channel 64. WAXN has also expanded its role as a local sports outlet. During the 2024–25 season, Cox Media Group reached an arrangement with the Charlotte Hornets and FanDuel Sports Network Southeast to air selected Hornets games over the air, with three games scheduled for WAXN and two for WSOC. The station also announced agreements to rebroadcast matches involving Charlotte FC of Major League Soccer and the Carolina Ascent of the USL Super League. These arrangements reinforce WAXN's position as a flexible independent station used for syndicated programming, local news extensions, special events, and regional sports distribution.
History
WAXN-TV originated as a locally owned station project associated with Truth Temple in Kannapolis, North Carolina. The construction permit initially used the call sign WDZH, but the call letters were changed to WKAY-TV in November 1989. The name was selected by Garland Faw, pastor of Truth Temple, in recognition of his wife Kay. WKAY-TV finally began broadcasting on October 15, 1994. Its early schedule consisted largely of religious programming, older movies, syndicated barter shows, and occasional local productions. The station's prospects changed in the mid-1990s when Kannapolis Television Company entered into a joint sales agreement with Cox Enterprises, the owner of WSOC-TV. In August 1996, the station adopted the WAXN-TV call sign and was relaunched under the Action 64 brand. WSOC assumed operational responsibilities, moved the station's activities into its Charlotte facilities, and supplied programming that could not fit into WSOC's schedule because of its expanding local-news commitments. Cox invested more than $3 million in the relaunch and technical upgrades. The improvements included a major power increase that made the station more usable across the Charlotte market; before the upgrade, its analog signal had limited practical reach and was received by many viewers mainly through cable. WAXN's schedule during this era combined syndicated series, movies, religious or specialty content, and sports. It carried many programs associated with Pax TV between 1998 and 2000 without becoming a formal Pax affiliate. It also served as a home for programs repeated from WSOC's daytime schedule, including Dr. Phil and The Oprah Winfrey Show. The station carried the Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon from 2001 through 2012. Its SEC sports schedule extended from syndicated Jefferson-Pilot and Raycom Sports coverage into SEC TV programming, but ended after the Southeastern Conference launched the SEC Network in 2014. A change in FCC rules in 1999 permitted Cox to own two stations in the Charlotte market. Under the terms contemplated by the joint sales arrangement, Cox purchased WAXN for a reported $3 million; the FCC approved the transaction in 2000. The acquisition formalized the operating relationship between WAXN and WSOC and established the station as part of Cox's Charlotte television cluster. In 2007, WAXN retired the Action 64 branding in favor of TV64. WSOC began producing a WAXN-specific 10 p.m. newscast in 1999. The program became an important part of the station's identity and was later expanded. In September 2010, WAXN added a two-hour weekday extension of WSOC's morning news. In December 2013, the weeknight 10 p.m. newscast grew from 30 minutes to one hour, with the station citing strong ratings and audience growth. WAXN began airing the program in high definition in October 2008, ahead of the station's later technical modernization. An hour-long 7 p.m. newscast was introduced in January 2020. The station's digital transition occurred in stages. WAXN ended analog operations on February 17, 2009, while retaining virtual channel 64 on its digital service. Its digital transmitter was upgraded in May 2009, increasing effective radiated power from 50 to 91 kilowatts, and a further upgrade in July 2011 raised power to 150 kilowatts using a directional antenna designed to reduce interference to WFMY-TV. Digital subchannels added during the 2010s included GetTV, Escape, and Laff, although their assignments changed as Cox adjusted the Charlotte multicast lineup. On June 29, 2021, WAXN converted its physical channel 32 facility to an ATSC 3.0 lighthouse. The station began transmitting NextGen TV simulcasts for WBTV, WSOC-TV, WCNC-TV, and WJZY. WAXN's former ATSC 1.0 services were redistributed among other Charlotte transmitters while retaining virtual-channel identities associated with channel 64. Cox Media Group's ownership changed in 2019 when Apollo Global Management acquired the television stations and related media assets. The transaction closed on December 17 of that year, and the Cox Media Group name was retained. In the 2024–25 sports season, WAXN expanded its event role through arrangements for selected Charlotte Hornets games, Charlotte FC match rebroadcasts, and Carolina Ascent broadcasts. The station therefore continues to function as a flexible independent outlet alongside WSOC, combining syndicated programming, local news, digital broadcasting, and selected sports rights.
- 2024
Selected local sports rights added
[1]The station announced selected Hornets, Charlotte FC, and Carolina Ascent broadcasts.
- 2021
ATSC 3.0 service begins
[1]WAXN became a Charlotte ATSC 3.0 lighthouse station carrying simulcasts from multiple local broadcasters.
- 2020
7 p.m. newscast launches
[1]WAXN introduced an hour-long 7 p.m. newscast produced by WSOC-TV.
- 2014
SEC sports coverage ends
[1]Syndicated SEC programming left WAXN after the launch of the SEC Network.
- 2013
10 p.m. newscast expands to one hour
[1]The weeknight prime-time news program was expanded in response to reported audience strength.
- 2010
Morning news extension added
[1]WAXN added a two-hour weekday extension of WSOC's morning newscast.
- 2009
Analog transmission ends
[1]WAXN shut down its analog signal and continued digital broadcasting.
- 2008
Prime-time news converts to HD
[1]The WAXN 10 p.m. newscast began broadcasting in high definition.
- 2007
TV64 branding introduced
[1]The station dropped the Action 64 identity and began using TV64.
- 2000
Cox completes acquisition
[1]Cox received approval to acquire WAXN outright after FCC ownership rules changed.
Products and positioning
A Charlotte-market independent television station that combines locally produced WSOC-TV news, syndicated entertainment, multicast services, special programming, and selected regional sports broadcasts.
Broadcast television · 1999
Local news programming
WSOC-TV produces WAXN's local news output, including the established 10 p.m. newscast, a weekday morning extension, and the 7 p.m. program introduced in 2020. The news service gives the independent station a locally relevant schedule while allowing Cox to share reporting, production, and technical resources across the Charlotte stations.
Television programming · 1994
Syndicated entertainment programming
WAXN has historically filled its independent schedule with syndicated series, films, and programs supplied through its relationship with WSOC-TV. The station has carried repeat episodes of major daytime programs and has also used older series, including The Andy Griffith Show, to provide dependable off-network programming.
Digital television · 2014
Digital multicast services
WAXN has carried several multicast networks over time, including GetTV, Escape, and Laff. Subchannel assignments have changed as Cox reorganized the Charlotte digital lineup. The multicast operation extends the station's service beyond its primary independent schedule.
NextGen TV broadcasting · 2021
ATSC 3.0 lighthouse
Since June 2021, WAXN has operated as an ATSC 3.0 lighthouse for the Charlotte market. Its NextGen TV facility carries simulcasts of services from several local stations, while other broadcasters distribute WAXN's ATSC 1.0 services through their transmitters.
Sports television · 2024
Regional sports broadcasts
WAXN uses its independent schedule to carry selected sports events that would not necessarily fit on WSOC's primary network schedule. Recent arrangements have included selected Charlotte Hornets games and rebroadcasts involving Charlotte FC and Carolina Ascent.
Brand decisions
2021
Conversion to ATSC 3.0 lighthouse operationGeneration changeBackground
Broadcasters in the Charlotte market were developing a shared NextGen TV architecture while preserving ATSC 1.0 service for existing receivers.
Action taken
WAXN converted its physical digital facility to ATSC 3.0 and hosted simulcasts from WBTV, WSOC-TV, WCNC-TV, and WJZY.
Aftermath
WAXN became part of the market's NextGen TV infrastructure, while its prior ATSC 1.0 services were redistributed to other transmitters.
2011
Further digital power increaseGeneration changeBackground
Additional engineering work was needed to improve coverage while managing interference concerns involving another North Carolina station.
Action taken
WAXN installed a directional antenna and raised effective radiated power to 150 kilowatts.
Aftermath
The station strengthened its digital coverage while using directional transmission to reduce interference to WFMY-TV.
2009
Digital transmission upgradeGeneration changeBackground
WAXN had completed the federally mandated transition from analog to digital broadcasting but required additional technical improvements for stronger market coverage.
Action taken
The station installed a larger digital transmitter and increased effective radiated power from 50 to 91 kilowatts.
Aftermath
The upgrade improved the station's digital transmission capability across the Charlotte area.
2007
Retirement of Action 64 brandingStrategyBackground
The station had operated for more than a decade under a branding system shared with other Cox independent stations.
Action taken
WAXN dropped the Action moniker and adopted the simpler TV64 identity.
Aftermath
The station continued as an independent outlet while emphasizing its channel identity rather than the former Action network-style brand.
2000
Cox purchases WAXN-TVM&ABackground
The FCC reversed longstanding restrictions on common ownership of two television stations in the same market in 1999.
Action taken
Cox acquired WAXN-TV outright from Kannapolis Television Company after receiving FCC approval.
Aftermath
WAXN became a fully owned member of Cox's Charlotte television operation alongside WSOC-TV.
Purchase price. $3 million (Acquisition completed in 2000)
1996
Relaunch under a joint sales agreementStrategyBackground
The original owner sought to strengthen a station whose analog signal had limited reach and whose early schedule was relatively narrow.
Action taken
The station adopted the WAXN-TV call sign and Action 64 branding, moved its operations into WSOC-TV facilities, and received programming, operational support, and major technical investment from Cox.
Aftermath
WAXN became a more competitive Charlotte independent station and developed an enduring operational relationship with WSOC-TV.
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