WBGH-CD

WBGH-CD is a low-power Class A television station licensed to serve Binghamton, New York, and affiliated with NBC. The station broadcasts on digital channel 20 and is identified to viewers primarily through the NBC 5 Binghamton brand. Its own over-the-air signal reaches the immediate Binghamton area, while broader market distribution is achieved through carriage on WIVT's second digital subchannel and through cable systems. The station's high-definition service is carried on Charter Spectrum channel 5, reinforcing the NBC 5 identity used in local promotion. The station originated with a construction permit granted in 1993 under the call sign W08DL. Its early development was closely connected to a major affiliation change in the Binghamton market. When longtime NBC affiliate WICZ-TV announced that it would move to Fox, local cable operators and Elmira NBC affiliate WETM-TV established a temporary cable-based NBC service for the Binghamton area. That service, branded NBC 5 Binghamton, helped preserve NBC programming in the market while a permanent replacement was developed. W08DL later became WBGH-LP and was sold to Smith Broadcasting, WETM's owner, with an initial plan for the station to operate partly as a WETM semi-satellite. Ownership and operating relationships changed several times. In 2000, Smith Broadcasting sold WBGH-LP to the Ackerley Group, which already owned Binghamton ABC affiliate WIVT. The station moved its operations to WIVT's Ingraham Hill facility and its direct programming relationship with WETM was reduced. In 2001, it became a Class A station, moved from VHF channel 8 to UHF channel 20, and adopted the call sign WBGH-CA. Ackerley's television assets subsequently passed to Clear Channel Communications, then to Newport Television, before WBGH and WIVT were acquired by Nexstar Broadcasting Group in 2012. WBGH-CD has not maintained a fully independent news department. During different periods it carried newscasts from WETM or WIVT, and it later participated in shared local-news arrangements with WIVT. In 2009, Newport consolidated much of the news operation with WETM after company-wide reductions, resulting in WBGH and WIVT carrying WETM-produced programming. A Binghamton-focused evening newscast was introduced later that year, initially produced from Elmira and subsequently incorporating news and sports production from the Binghamton facility. The station's role is therefore primarily that of an NBC programming outlet and local-market broadcast brand, with news, engineering, sales, and technical functions integrated into shared station operations. WBGH shut down its analog service in August 2015 and completed a flash cut to digital operation on UHF channel 20. Today, the station operates as part of Nexstar's Binghamton cluster alongside WIVT. Its market presence depends on a combination of its local low-power transmission, digital multicast distribution, cable carriage, NBC network programming, and shared local content rather than on a standalone news or production organization.

WBGH-CD traces its history to a construction permit granted on November 10, 1993, for a station using the call sign W08DL and facilities on VHF channel 8. The station applied for a license to cover the permit in July 1996, and the license was granted on August 12 of that year. Its emergence was tied to a major change in Binghamton television. In 1995, WICZ-TV, then the market's established NBC affiliate, announced that it would switch to Fox. Because Binghamton had only a small number of full-power commercial stations, the change threatened to leave NBC without a local affiliate. Time Warner Cable responded by arranging a local marketing agreement with WETM-TV, the NBC affiliate in nearby Elmira. A cable-only Binghamton version of WETM was launched under the NBC 5 Binghamton name after WICZ moved to Fox in April 1996. The arrangement included locally sold advertising and market-specific programming substitutions. W08DL adopted the call sign WBGH-LP on August 22, 1997. On October 23 of that year, original owner David Grant sold the station to Smith Broadcasting, which owned WETM. Smith intended to develop WBGH as an over-the-air semi-satellite of WETM. Although the station gradually separated from a full WETM simulcast, it continued to carry WETM newscasts for a time. In 2000, Smith sold WBGH-LP to the Ackerley Group. Ackerley also owned WIVT, the Binghamton ABC affiliate, and operated WETM under a separate local marketing arrangement. After the acquisition, WBGH's remaining direct ties to WETM ended and the station moved its operations into WIVT's studios on Ingraham Hill south of Binghamton. In 2001, WBGH upgraded to Class A status, changed its assignment to UHF channel 20 to accommodate WICZ's digital facilities on channel 8, and changed its call sign to WBGH-CA. Ackerley merged with Clear Channel Communications on June 14, 2002. Clear Channel later agreed to sell its television station group to Newport Television, a company formed with backing from Providence Equity Partners. That transaction closed on March 14, 2008. Newport announced in July 2012 that it would sell WBGH and WIVT, along with other stations, to Nexstar Broadcasting Group. The transaction was completed on December 3, 2012, placing WBGH within the Nexstar station group. WBGH has never operated a completely independent news department. During its early years as a WETM-related station, it carried WETM local newscasts. After the Ackerley acquisition, WIVT newscasts were simulcast on WBGH, and some early-evening programming eventually originated from secondary studios at the Oakdale Mall in Johnson City. In June 2009, Newport announced a consolidation of news operations involving WBGH, WIVT, and WETM after broad reductions across its television holdings. Most of the news staff and production personnel were dismissed, although a limited Binghamton-based operation remained. A Binghamton-centered evening newscast returned on June 28, 2009, as a joint WBGH-WIVT presentation. It was initially produced from WETM's Elmira studios, with later news and sports segments produced at the Ingraham Hill Road facility. The program used locally based photojournalists and was later repeated at 11 p.m. WIVT eventually stopped simulcasting WETM's news, while WBGH retained some WETM weekend programming into late 2013. WBGH ended analog broadcasting in August 2015 and completed a digital flash cut on UHF channel 20. Because its own low-power signal covers only the immediate Binghamton area, the station also relies on distribution through WIVT's second digital subchannel and cable carriage. Since February 9, 2010, the station has been carried in 720p high definition on WIVT-DT2, while a direct-to-cable 1080i feed has been available on Charter Spectrum channel 5. This hybrid distribution model allows the NBC 5 Binghamton brand to reach the wider local television market despite the station's low-power license.

1. 2015Digital flash cut

   The station shut down its analog signal and began digital operation on UHF channel 20.

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2. 2012Nexstar ownership begins

   Nexstar completed its acquisition of WBGH and WIVT from Newport Television.

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3. 2010HD multicast distribution begins

   WBGH became available in 720p high definition through WIVT's second digital subchannel.

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4. 2001Class A upgrade and channel move

   WBGH became a Class A station, moved to UHF channel 20, and adopted WBGH-CA.

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5. 1997Call sign changes to WBGH-LP

   The station adopted the WBGH identity and was sold to Smith Broadcasting later that year.

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6. 1996License granted and NBC replacement service established

   The station received its license, while a cable-based NBC 5 Binghamton service helped preserve NBC programming after WICZ moved from NBC to Fox.

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7. 1993Construction permit granted

   The original construction permit was granted for W08DL, the station that later became WBGH.

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A locally distributed NBC network station for the Binghamton market, using a low-power digital transmitter, multicast distribution, cable carriage, and shared Nexstar news and operational resources.

• NBC 5 BinghamtonNetwork television station service1996

  The station's principal consumer-facing service and brand, providing NBC network programming to viewers in the Binghamton market. The service reaches audiences through WBGH-CD's own low-power digital signal, WIVT's second digital subchannel, and cable distribution. The NBC 5 identity originated in the cable-based replacement service created after WICZ-TV left NBC.

• Binghamton local news simulcastLocal news television2009

  WBGH has carried locally focused news through shared operations rather than a fully independent newsroom. The post-2009 evening service combined production from WETM's Elmira facilities with Binghamton-based news, sports, and photojournalism resources and was also presented on WIVT.

• Digital and cable distributionTelevision distribution2010

  WBGH's distribution platform combines its own digital transmission on channel 20 with carriage on WIVT-DT2 and cable carriage on Charter Spectrum channel 5. This arrangement extends the station's effective reach beyond the limited footprint of its low-power transmitter.

• 2015Analog shutdown and digital flash cutGeneration change

  The station transitioned from analog transmission to digital broadcasting.

  What changed. WBGH shut down its analog channel 20 signal and moved its digital operation to UHF channel 20.

  Aftermath. The station continued as a low-power digital Class A service, supplemented by multicast and cable distribution.

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• 2012Sale to NexstarM&A

  Newport Television elected to sell a group of stations, including WBGH and WIVT.

  What changed. Nexstar Broadcasting Group acquired the stations, with the transaction closing on December 3, 2012.

  Aftermath. WBGH became part of Nexstar's Binghamton station cluster alongside WIVT.

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• 2009Consolidation of news operationsStrategy

  Newport Television implemented broad reductions and restructuring across its television properties.

  What changed. News operations for WBGH and WIVT were consolidated with WETM, while a limited Binghamton-based presence was retained.

  Aftermath. The stations carried WETM-produced newscasts and later introduced a separate Binghamton-focused evening program using shared production resources.

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• 2001Upgrade to Class A and relocate to UHF channel 20Generation change

  The station needed a new channel assignment as WICZ developed digital facilities on VHF channel 8.

  What changed. WBGH upgraded to Class A status, moved to UHF channel 20, and changed its call sign from WBGH-LP to WBGH-CA.

  Aftermath. The change established the channel position and regulatory status that preceded the station's later digital operation.

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• 2015WBGH completes analog shutdown and digital flash cut

  WBGH ended its analog transmission and moved its digital service to UHF channel 20 through a flash cut.

  Regulation
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• 2012Nexstar acquires WBGH and WIVT

  Nexstar announced the purchase of WBGH and WIVT from Newport Television; the transaction closed on December 3, making the stations part of Nexstar's Binghamton operations.

  M&A
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• 2009Shared news operations are consolidated

  Newport consolidated much of the WBGH and WIVT news operation with WETM following company-wide reductions. The stations subsequently carried WETM-produced newscasts while retaining some Binghamton-based personnel and facilities.

  Leadership change
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• 2009Binghamton-focused evening newscast returns

  A separate evening newscast focused on the Binghamton area was introduced for WBGH and WIVT. Production initially came from WETM and later included locally produced news and sports segments.

  Product launch
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• 2008WBGH transfers from Clear Channel to Newport Television

  The sale of Clear Channel's television group to Newport Television was completed, transferring WBGH and related stations to the new broadcasting group.

  M&A
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• 2002Clear Channel completes acquisition of Ackerley

  Clear Channel Communications completed its acquisition of Ackerley, bringing WBGH into the Clear Channel television portfolio.

  M&A
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• 2001WBGH gains Class A status and moves to channel 20

  The station upgraded to Class A status, shifted its assigned channel from VHF 8 to UHF 20, and changed its call sign to WBGH-CA.

  RegulationProduct generation
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• 2000Ackerley acquires WBGH and aligns it with WIVT

  Ackerley Group purchased WBGH from Smith Broadcasting. The station moved its operations to WIVT's Binghamton facility and ended its previous direct operating ties with WETM.

  M&A
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• 1997WBGH begins operation under the WBGH-LP call sign

  The station changed its call sign from W08DL to WBGH-LP, establishing the identity it would use as its role in the Binghamton NBC service developed.

  Other
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1. WBGH-CD
2. WBGH-CD official station website