WBNG-TV

WBNG-TV is a full-power television station serving Binghamton and the surrounding Southern Tier region of New York State. The station broadcasts on virtual channel 12 and is primarily affiliated with CBS. Its second digital subchannel carries The CW Plus programming and is marketed locally as Binghamton CW 11. WBNG is owned by Gray Media, a large U.S. television-station operator, and maintains studios on Columbia Drive in Johnson City, New York. Its transmitter is located on Ingraham Hill Road in the town of Binghamton. The station began broadcasting on December 1, 1949, under the call sign WNBF-TV. It was the first television station to serve the Binghamton market and initially carried programming from all four major American television networks then operating: CBS, DuMont, NBC, and ABC. Its VHF allocation and favorable position in the region's rugged terrain gave it unusually broad early reach. For a period, viewers in the adjacent Scranton–Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, area also received WNBF-TV through rooftop antennas, before additional local stations reduced that dependence. WNBF-TV established an early news identity through a newscast launched in January 1950 in cooperation with the Binghamton Press. Over time, it lost its DuMont, NBC, and ABC affiliations as competing stations entered the market or new network outlets became available. CBS became the station's durable primary network relationship. The station's ownership changed several times. Triangle Publications acquired the WNBF stations in 1955, and its broadcasting properties were later transferred to Gateway Communications in 1972. Gateway sold the WNBF radio outlets but retained the television station, which adopted the WBNG-TV call sign on October 28, 1972. WBNG expanded its local and multichannel role in the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries. In 1998, it helped launch a cable-only WB service known as WBXI in cooperation with The WB 100+ Station Group and a local cable provider. That service later moved to WBNG's second digital subchannel, where it became a broadcast outlet for The CW after the creation of that network. WBNG's digital signal began operation in 2002, and the station introduced high-definition network programming in 2007. A subsequent agreement with Time Warner Cable made WBNG's CBS high-definition feed available to cable subscribers across the Binghamton region. Granite Broadcasting acquired WBNG in 2006, followed by Quincy Newspapers' purchase of the station in a transaction announced in 2014 and completed in 2015. Gray Television acquired Quincy Media in 2021, bringing WBNG into the Gray station group. The station has also experienced changes in its effective service area as other markets launched competing CBS subchannels, although it has retained its central role in the Binghamton market. WBNG completed the United States full-power television transition from analog to digital broadcasting on June 12, 2009, retaining virtual channel 12 while transmitting digitally on VHF channel 7.

WBNG-TV signed on December 1, 1949, as WNBF-TV, the first television station in the Binghamton market. Its original owner was Clark Associates, which also operated WNBF radio. Because no other local television outlet initially existed, the station carried programming from CBS, DuMont, NBC, and ABC. Its VHF signal also reached viewers beyond the immediate Binghamton area, including parts of the Scranton–Wilkes-Barre region where reception conditions and the scarcity of local UHF service made distant signals valuable. The station entered local news early, launching a newscast in partnership with the Binghamton Press on January 30, 1950. Its initial all-network role diminished as the regional television landscape developed. DuMont programming ended after the network collapsed in 1956. NBC moved to WINR-TV, now WICZ-TV, in 1957, while ABC moved to WBJA-TV, now WIVT, in 1962. CBS remained WNBF-TV's principal affiliation. The station's position was shaped by federal channel-allocation policy. Binghamton sat between several established television markets, including Syracuse, Utica, Elmira, Scranton–Wilkes-Barre, Albany, and New York City. The spacing of existing VHF assignments left Binghamton with a particularly valuable VHF allocation, while the area's mountainous terrain limited the practical reach of UHF signals. This helped WNBF-TV maintain a strong first-mover position until competing stations appeared. Triangle Publications purchased the WNBF stations in 1955. In 1972, as Triangle withdrew from broadcasting, the WNBF radio and television stations were sold to Gateway Communications. Gateway retained the television license while divesting the radio stations to Stoner Broadcasting. The television outlet changed its call sign to WBNG-TV on October 28, 1972. WBNG entered multichannel television in 1998 through an arrangement with The WB 100+ Station Group and a local cable operator. The cable-exclusive service, identified as WBXI, replaced WPIX on area cable systems and gave WBNG local sales and promotional involvement. After the formation of The CW, the service became associated with that network and was eventually placed on WBNG's second digital subchannel in September 2007. SJL Broadcasting acquired Gateway in 2000. During the following years, SJL reduced staffing as part of an automation-oriented operating model. WBNG launched its digital signal on VHF channel 7 in 2002. Granite Broadcasting agreed to buy the station in 2006 and completed the purchase on July 26 of that year. High-definition CBS network programming began in early 2007, and a 2008 carriage agreement with Time Warner Cable extended the station's HD service to regional cable subscribers. The station's market reach changed as neighboring communities gained alternative CBS services. WBNG had long been the default CBS source for the Elmira–Corning area, but that role ended in 2009 when WENY-TV activated a CBS-bearing second digital subchannel. WBNG also lost default CBS status in most of Otsego County in 2015 after WKTV launched a CBS subchannel, though cable carriage and viewer demand later restored WBNG in some systems. A temporary removal from Time Warner Cable systems in 2016 was followed by restoration of the signal in January 2017. Quincy Newspapers announced its acquisition of WBNG from Granite in 2014. The transaction received approval in September 2015 and closed on November 2. Gray Television subsequently announced the purchase of Quincy Media in February 2021; the transaction closed on August 2, 2021, making WBNG part of Gray's nationwide television group. WBNG ended analog broadcasting on June 12, 2009, as part of the federally mandated full-power digital transition. It continued to use virtual channel 12 while operating its digital transmission on VHF channel 7. The station remains an active CBS affiliate with a CW Plus digital service and local news operation centered in Johnson City.

1. 2021Gray Television becomes parent company

   Gray completes its acquisition of Quincy Media on August 2, bringing WBNG into the Gray station group.

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2. 2015Quincy Newspapers completes acquisition

   Quincy Newspapers completes its purchase of WBNG on November 2.

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3. 2009Analog transmission ends

   WBNG shuts down its analog channel 12 transmission during the nationwide U.S. digital television transition.

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4. 2007CW programming moves to digital broadcast

   The former WBXI service begins simulcasting on WBNG's second digital subchannel, while CBS programming is introduced in high definition.

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5. 2006Granite Broadcasting acquisition announced

   Granite agrees to acquire WBNG from the SJL-related ownership structure.

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6. 2002Digital signal begins

   WBNG begins digital transmission on VHF channel 7.

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7. 2000Gateway is acquired by SJL Broadcasting

   SJL Broadcasting purchases Gateway Communications and assumes ownership of WBNG.

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8. 1998WBXI cable service launches

   WBNG supports the launch of a cable-only WB-affiliated service for Binghamton-area viewers.

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9. 1972Call sign changes to WBNG-TV

   Gateway Communications retains the television station after acquiring the WNBF properties, and the station adopts the WBNG-TV call sign on October 28.

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10. 1955Triangle Publications acquisition

    Triangle Publications purchases WNBF-TV and its associated radio stations.

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11. 1950First local newscast

    The station launches a newscast in cooperation with the Binghamton Press on January 30.

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12. 1949Station launches as WNBF-TV

    WNBF-TV begins broadcasting on December 1 as Binghamton's first television station, initially carrying programming from CBS, DuMont, NBC, and ABC.

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A long-established local broadcast source for news, weather, sports, emergency information, and CBS entertainment in the Binghamton television market, supplemented by a CW Plus digital subchannel.

• WBNG-TV CBS serviceBroadcast television network affiliate1949

  WBNG's principal service is its CBS-affiliated broadcast on virtual channel 12. It combines CBS network programming with locally produced news, weather, sports, public-service information, advertising, and emergency coverage for viewers in and around Binghamton and the Southern Tier.

• WBNG-DT2 / Binghamton CW 11Digital television subchannel2007

  The station's second digital subchannel carries The CW Plus programming and is promoted locally as Binghamton CW 11. It developed from the WBXI cable-only service that WBNG helped operate in the late 1990s.

• WBNG local newsLocal news and information1950

  WBNG produces local television news and related weather, traffic, sports, and public-affairs content for its coverage area. Its news tradition dates to a newscast introduced in 1950 in partnership with the Binghamton Press.

• 2021Integration into Gray TelevisionM&A

  Gray Television sought to expand its local television portfolio through the acquisition of Quincy Media.

  What changed. Gray announced the purchase of Quincy Media and completed the transaction on August 2, 2021, making WBNG a Gray-owned station.

  Aftermath. WBNG became part of Gray's broader U.S. broadcast group and a sister station to WWNY-TV in New York.

  Reported transaction value. $925 million (Announced February 1, 2021; completed August 2, 2021)

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• 2009Transition from analog to digital transmissionGeneration change

  Federal policy required U.S. full-power television stations to end analog broadcasting.

  What changed. WBNG discontinued its analog channel 12 signal and continued digitally on VHF channel 7 while retaining virtual channel 12.

  Aftermath. The station continued its established channel branding in a digital broadcast environment.

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• 2007Expansion into digital CW programmingProduct launch

  The creation of The CW created a new network identity for the former WB programming service.

  What changed. WBNG began simulcasting the CW affiliate on its second digital subchannel and dropped the inherited faux WBXI cable call sign.

  Aftermath. The service became a continuing digital companion to WBNG's CBS primary channel.

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• 1998Launch of WBXI cable serviceProduct launch

  Binghamton-area cable viewers needed a local arrangement for WB programming after the cable system replaced WPIX as a superstation source.

  What changed. WBNG partnered with The WB 100+ Station Group and the area's cable provider to launch the cable-exclusive WBXI service.

  Aftermath. WBXI later transitioned into a digital-subchannel service associated with The CW.

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• 1972Television station retained while radio stations are divestedStrategy

  During Triangle Publications' withdrawal from broadcasting, Gateway Communications acquired the WNBF properties.

  What changed. Gateway sold the WNBF radio stations to Stoner Broadcasting but retained the television operation, which was renamed WBNG-TV.

  Aftermath. The transaction established the WBNG-TV identity that remains in use.

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• 2021Gray Television announces acquisition of Quincy Media

  Gray Television announced a transaction to acquire Quincy Media, thereby adding WBNG to Gray's station portfolio. The acquisition was completed on August 2, 2021.

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• 2014Quincy Newspapers announces purchase of WBNG

  Quincy Newspapers announced plans to acquire WBNG and other Granite-owned or managed stations. Regulatory approval followed in 2015, with completion on November 2, 2015.

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• 2008Time Warner Cable adds WBNG high-definition feed

  Granite and Time Warner Cable reached an agreement to distribute WBNG's CBS high-definition feed throughout the Binghamton region.

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• 2007WBNG begins high-definition network programming

  The station began carrying network programming in high definition, expanding the quality of its CBS service for local viewers.

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• 2007WBNG's CW service moves to a digital subchannel

  The former cable-only WBXI service began appearing on WBNG's second digital subchannel, providing a broadcast home for the area's CW programming.

  Product launch
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• 2006Granite Broadcasting agrees to acquire WBNG-TV

  Granite Broadcasting announced an agreement to purchase WBNG from the SJL-related ownership structure for a reported $45 million. The transaction closed on July 26, 2006.

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1. WBNG-TV
2. WBNG-TV official website