WBOY-TV

WBOY-TV is a full-power television station licensed to Clarksburg, West Virginia, and serving North Central West Virginia. The station operates on channel 12 and is primarily affiliated with NBC. It also carries ABC programming on a second digital subchannel, branded for much of its history as “Your ABC.” Its on-air market identification emphasizes Clarksburg, Fairmont, and Morgantown, although Morgantown is generally associated with the Pittsburgh television market. The station began broadcasting on November 17, 1957, as the second television station in its local market. Its original plans called for an ABC affiliation, but difficult terrain and the limited reach of Parkersburg station WTAP-TV made the Clarksburg area functionally distinct from Parkersburg. WBOY therefore became an NBC affiliate and has retained that primary network relationship. For many years it also carried selected ABC programming, but it became a full-time NBC affiliate in the 1970s after its remaining ABC programming was discontinued. WBOY has passed through several ownership groups. Friendly Broadcasting was the original owner, followed by Northern West Virginia TV Broadcasting Company in 1964. Imes Communications acquired the station in 1976. Hearst-Argyle Television purchased WBOY from Imes in 2001, but subsequently sold it to West Virginia Media Holdings as part of Hearst’s decision to retain its Pittsburgh flagship, WTAE-TV. West Virginia Media Holdings developed a statewide group of West Virginia stations and invested in WBOY’s local news operation. Nexstar Broadcasting Group announced its acquisition of the West Virginia Media Holdings stations in 2015; operational control passed to Nexstar in December 2015, and the license transfer was completed in January 2017. Local news is a central part of WBOY’s identity. The station maintains its principal studios on West Pike Street in downtown Clarksburg and operates a bureau or secondary facility in Morgantown. Because WBOY has long been distributed on cable systems serving Morgantown, it has pursued substantial coverage of the city and Monongalia County despite Morgantown’s relationship with the Pittsburgh market. Its reporting includes local government, community affairs, weather, and extensive coverage of West Virginia University sports. WBOY also participates in Nexstar’s shared West Virginia news programming, including the statewide evening program Tonight Live and the public-affairs program Inside West Virginia Politics. Technically, WBOY ended analog broadcasting on February 17, 2009, and moved its digital transmission from pre-transition UHF channel 52 to VHF channel 12, its former analog channel. The station continues to operate as a local broadcast and digital-media outlet under Nexstar ownership, combining NBC network programming, ABC programming on its secondary digital service, local newscasts, sports coverage, public affairs, weather, and online news.

WBOY-TV signed on November 17, 1957, serving Clarksburg and surrounding communities in North Central West Virginia. It was the second television station in the local market. The station was initially expected to operate as an ABC affiliate, but the geography of the region complicated network distribution. North Central West Virginia is characterized by rugged, dissected plateau terrain, and Parkersburg’s WTAP-TV could not provide a sufficiently reliable signal to parts of the Clarksburg and Weston area. Once it became clear that Clarksburg would function as a separate television market, WBOY affiliated with NBC. It also carried some ABC programming for many years. Friendly Broadcasting owned WBOY at launch. In 1964, Rust Craft sold the station to Northern West Virginia TV Broadcasting Company. Imes Communications acquired WBOY in 1976. Imes also owned WCBI-TV in Columbus, Mississippi, and WMUR-TV in Manchester, New Hampshire. During the Imes period, WBOY ended its remaining ABC programming and became a full-time NBC affiliate. Cable systems in the region subsequently relied in part on Pittsburgh’s WTAE-TV for ABC programming. Hearst-Argyle Television acquired WBOY from Imes in a transaction completed on April 30, 2001. Hearst already owned WTAE-TV, one of its long-established Pittsburgh-area stations. After regulatory changes permitted greater ownership of stations with overlapping coverage areas, Hearst elected to retain WTAE and sold WBOY to West Virginia Media Holdings in September 2001. The sale closed on December 13, 2001. West Virginia Media Holdings was assembling a statewide group of stations intended to share resources and strengthen coverage across West Virginia. Under West Virginia Media Holdings, WBOY expanded its local-news operation and established a secondary facility in Morgantown. Although Morgantown is normally associated with the Pittsburgh television market, WBOY had been available on Morgantown cable systems and their predecessors since the 1960s. The station promoted Morgantown as part of its service area and increased its coverage of local events, government, education, and West Virginia University athletics. The effort helped make WBOY a particularly prominent news source in Monongalia County. The station also supplied sports material to sister stations within the West Virginia Media group. On August 1, 2008, WBOY added ABC programming to a second digital subchannel under the “Your ABC” identity. This gave the Clarksburg–Weston–Fairmont area a locally originated ABC service rather than depending primarily on an out-of-market Pittsburgh station. WBOY ended analog broadcasting on February 17, 2009, and shifted its digital transmission from pre-transition UHF channel 52 to VHF channel 12. Nexstar Broadcasting Group announced its purchase of the West Virginia Media Holdings stations, including WBOY-TV, on November 17, 2015. Nexstar took operational control through a time brokerage agreement in December of that year, while the station-license transaction was completed on January 31, 2017. WBOY is now part of Nexstar Media Group’s West Virginia station operations. Its programming includes NBC service, ABC programming on the secondary digital channel, local newscasts, weather, sports, public affairs, and online reporting. Nexstar also distributes shared programming across its West Virginia stations, including the half-hour evening newscast Tonight Live and the Sunday public-affairs program Inside West Virginia Politics.

1. 2017Nexstar completes license acquisition

   The transfer of WBOY-TV’s license assets to Nexstar was completed on January 31.

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2. 2015Nexstar announces acquisition

   Nexstar Broadcasting Group announced the purchase of the West Virginia Media Holdings stations, including WBOY-TV.

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3. 2009Digital transmission moves to channel 12

   WBOY ended analog broadcasting and relocated its digital signal from UHF channel 52 to VHF channel 12.

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4. 2008ABC returns through a digital subchannel

   WBOY launched ABC programming on its second digital subchannel under the “Your ABC” brand on August 1.

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5. 2001Hearst-Argyle completes acquisition

   Hearst-Argyle Television completed its purchase of WBOY from Imes Communications on April 30.

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6. 2001West Virginia Media Holdings acquires WBOY

   Hearst sold WBOY to West Virginia Media Holdings in September; the transaction closed on December 13.

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7. 1976Imes Communications acquires WBOY

   Imes Communications purchased WBOY and subsequently ended its remaining ABC programming, making the station a full-time NBC affiliate.

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8. 1964Ownership passes to Northern West Virginia TV Broadcasting Company

   Rust Craft sold the station to Northern West Virginia TV Broadcasting Company.

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9. 1957WBOY-TV launches

   WBOY-TV began broadcasting on November 17, serving Clarksburg and North Central West Virginia as an NBC affiliate with some ABC programming.

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A regional broadcast-news outlet positioned around local coverage of Clarksburg, Fairmont, Morgantown, and North Central West Virginia, with NBC programming on its primary channel and ABC programming on a digital subchannel.

• 12 NewsLocal television news

  WBOY’s principal local-news service, covering Clarksburg, Fairmont, Morgantown, and communities across North Central West Virginia. Its output includes scheduled newscasts, breaking news, weather, public-safety reporting, local government, education, and regional sports.

• NBC programmingNetwork television affiliation1957

  The station’s primary network service. WBOY has been affiliated with NBC since its launch, providing network entertainment, news, sports, and special programming to its broadcast area.

• Your ABCDigital multicast television2008

  An ABC-affiliated digital subchannel launched in 2008. The service restored a locally available ABC outlet for the Clarksburg-area market after WBOY had become a full-time NBC affiliate in the 1970s.

• Tonight LiveShared regional news program

  A half-hour evening program produced from Nexstar’s Charleston studios and distributed across Nexstar’s West Virginia stations, including WBOY. It is broadcast at 5:30 p.m. and was formerly known as West Virginia Tonight.

• Inside West Virginia PoliticsPublic-affairs television

  A Sunday public-affairs program carried across Nexstar’s West Virginia stations. The program focuses on state political and public-policy issues and is hosted by Rick Johnson.

• 2015Nexstar acquisition of West Virginia Media Holdings stationsM&A

  West Virginia Media Holdings owned WBOY as part of a statewide group of West Virginia television stations.

  What changed. Nexstar Broadcasting Group announced an acquisition of the group, including WBOY-TV, for a reported transaction value of $130 million.

  Aftermath. Nexstar assumed operational control in December 2015, and the WBOY license transfer was completed on January 31, 2017.

  Reported transaction value. $130 million (Announced November 17, 2015)

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• 2009Conversion from analog to digital broadcastingGeneration change

  United States full-power television stations were required to transition from analog to digital transmission.

  What changed. WBOY shut down its analog VHF channel 12 signal and moved its digital signal from pre-transition UHF channel 52 to VHF channel 12.

  Aftermath. The station continued digital broadcasting using its familiar channel 12 identity.

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• 2008Launch of the ABC digital subchannelProduct launch

  The local market had historically relied on Pittsburgh’s WTAE-TV for ABC programming after WBOY became a full NBC affiliate.

  What changed. WBOY launched ABC programming on a second digital subchannel branded “Your ABC” on August 1.

  Aftermath. The Clarksburg-area market received a locally transmitted ABC service alongside WBOY’s primary NBC channel.

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• 1976End of remaining ABC programmingStrategy

  WBOY’s original service included NBC and selected ABC programming, but the station’s market position and ownership changes led to a clearer primary-network strategy.

  What changed. After Imes Communications acquired the station, WBOY discontinued its remaining ABC programming and operated as a full-time NBC affiliate.

  Aftermath. Cable systems in the region began importing Pittsburgh’s WTAE-TV for ABC programming until WBOY added ABC to a digital subchannel decades later.

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• 2015Nexstar announces acquisition of WBOY-TV

  Nexstar Broadcasting Group announced an agreement to acquire the stations of West Virginia Media Holdings, including WBOY-TV. Nexstar assumed operational control through a time brokerage arrangement in December 2015, with the license transfer completed in January 2017.

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• 2009WBOY completes analog-to-digital transition

  The station ended analog transmission on VHF channel 12 and moved its digital signal from UHF channel 52 to VHF channel 12 as part of the United States digital television transition.

  RegulationProduct generation
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• 2008WBOY launches an ABC digital subchannel

  WBOY introduced ABC programming on a second digital subchannel on August 1, branded as “Your ABC,” restoring a local ABC service after decades without a full-time ABC affiliation.

  Product launch
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• 1976WBOY becomes a full-time NBC affiliate

  Following Imes Communications’ acquisition of the station, WBOY discontinued its remaining ABC programming and operated as a full NBC affiliate. Pittsburgh’s WTAE-TV subsequently served as a source of ABC programming for some cable systems.

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• 1957WBOY-TV begins broadcasting

  WBOY-TV launched on November 17 as the second television station in its local market. It became the market’s NBC affiliate after signal-coverage limitations made a separate Clarksburg-area service necessary.

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• WBOY expands Morgantown news presence

  During the West Virginia Media Holdings era, WBOY upgraded its news operation and established a Morgantown facility. The station increased coverage of Morgantown and Monongalia County and developed substantial West Virginia University sports reporting.

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1. WBOY-TV
2. WBOY-TV official website