WCJB-TV
A Gainesville, Florida television station serving as an ABC affiliate and operating a CW Plus digital subchannel.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
WCJB-TV is a full-power television station serving Gainesville and much of North Central Florida. The station broadcasts on virtual channel 20 and is affiliated with ABC on its primary service, while its second digital channel carries The CW Plus under the Gainesville CW brand. Its studios are located on Northwest 43rd Street in Gainesville, and its transmitter is situated near Micanopy, Florida. The station began broadcasting on April 7, 1971, originally as an NBC affiliate. It was founded by William E. "Bill" Minshall, and the WCJB call letters were formed from the initials of members of his family: his daughter Casey, his wife JoAnn, and Bill himself. WCJB changed its network affiliation to ABC in 1973, a relationship that has continued for decades and has made the station an important source of network programming, local news, weather, sports and public-affairs coverage in the Gainesville area. WCJB was sold to Diversified Communications in 1976. During the Diversified era, the station expanded its technical capabilities and began digital broadcasting in 2001 on UHF channel 16. Its analog service on UHF channel 20 ended in February 2009 as part of the United States transition to digital television. The station retained virtual channel 20 for digital viewers. In September 2006, WCJB launched a second digital subchannel affiliated with The CW Plus. The new service replaced WBFL, a cable-only WB 100+ outlet that ceased operating after the merger of The WB and UPN into The CW. WCJB subsequently broadened its digital offering with additional multicast services, including MeTV, Circle, Justice Network—later known as True Crime Network—and Grit. The station’s coverage extends beyond the Gainesville television market. Its signal and cable distribution reach communities such as Ocala and Lake City, while it has also been carried in portions of markets centered on Orlando, Jacksonville and Tallahassee. This distribution has historically given WCJB a significant role in delivering ABC programming to cable viewers in communities where another ABC affiliate may be designated as the in-market station. Local news is central to WCJB’s identity. For much of its history, the station was the only commercial television outlet with a dedicated local news department in Gainesville, helping it maintain a leading position in local ratings. It operates a Marion County bureau in Ocala and produces extensive weekday and weekend newscasts for the main channel, along with late-evening news on its CW subchannel. Following the discontinuation of CBS 4 News in 2023, WCJB again became the only commercial television station producing local news specifically for the Gainesville area. Diversified Communications announced in 2017 that it would leave the broadcasting business and sell WCJB and WABI-TV to Gray Television. The transaction closed on May 1, 2017. WCJB thereby became part of Gray’s national television group and a sister station to other Florida outlets, including WCTV in Tallahassee and stations serving Panama City. The station continues to combine ABC network programming, CW Plus content, syndicated and multicast services, local journalism, weather information and regional sports coverage for viewers in North Central Florida.
History
WCJB-TV began broadcasting on April 7, 1971, in Gainesville, Florida. The station was established by William E. "Bill" Minshall and initially operated as an NBC affiliate on analog UHF channel 20. Its call sign was derived from the first initials of Minshall’s daughter Casey, his wife JoAnn and Minshall himself. After only two years of NBC service, WCJB changed affiliations and became an ABC station in 1973. In 1976, Minshall sold the station to Diversified Communications. WCJB continued to develop as a regional broadcaster serving Gainesville and surrounding communities in North Central Florida. The station’s reach included parts of several adjacent television markets, including areas around Ocala, Lake City, Live Oak and Jasper. Cable carriage gave WCJB additional importance in communities where it supplied ABC programming despite the presence of another designated market affiliate. WCJB began transmitting a digital signal in 2001 on UHF channel 16. It ended analog broadcasting on February 17, 2009, during the federally planned digital television transition. Its digital service continued to use virtual channel 20, preserving the station’s long-established on-air identity. A major programming expansion took place on September 18, 2006, when WCJB activated a second digital subchannel carrying The CW Plus. The service replaced WBFL, a cable-only WB 100+ affiliate that had served the area before the merger of The WB and UPN created The CW. The station later added MeTV in 2018, Circle in 2020, True Crime Network in 2020 and Grit in 2022. These additions allowed WCJB to offer a broader collection of entertainment and specialty programming alongside its ABC service and CW outlet. Local journalism has remained a defining part of the station. WCJB historically operated the only commercial television news department focused on Gainesville, and it developed a strong local ratings position. Its newsroom covers Gainesville, Alachua County and the wider North Central Florida region, while a Marion County bureau in Ocala extends reporting into an important neighboring population center. The station has repeatedly revised its news presentation, including graphics, music, studio design and high-definition production. It began broadcasting local news in high definition in January 2010. WCJB has also adjusted its schedule in response to changing audience demand. A CW subchannel prime-time newscast launched in 2006, was later discontinued, and a late-evening CW newscast was relaunched in 2021. The main channel moved its early-evening newscast to 5 p.m. in 2016, added a weekday 4 p.m. newscast in 2021 and extended its weekday noon news to one hour in 2022. The station also used an inventive in-studio recreation to show the significance of a 2014 Florida Gators basketball victory when NCAA broadcast rules limited the immediate use of game highlights. WCJB’s ownership changed again in 2017. Diversified Communications announced that it would leave television broadcasting and sell WCJB and WABI-TV to Gray Television for a reported transaction value of $85 million. The sale closed on May 1, 2017, making WCJB part of Gray’s station portfolio and a sister station to WCTV in Tallahassee, WJHG-TV and WECP-LD in Panama City. WCJB remains an active ABC affiliate with a CW Plus subchannel, a broad multicast lineup and a substantial local news operation.
- 2022
Grit added
[1]The station activates a sixth digital subchannel carrying Grit.
- 2020
Circle and Justice Network services added
[1]WCJB adds Circle and Justice Network, later rebranded True Crime Network, to its digital lineup.
- 2018
MeTV added to the multicast lineup
[1]MeTV launches on WCJB’s third digital subchannel.
- 2017
Gray Television completes acquisition
[1]Gray Television completes its purchase of WCJB from Diversified Communications on May 1.
- 2009
Analog transmission ends
[1]WCJB ends regular analog programming and continues with a digital signal using virtual channel 20.
- 2006
Gainesville CW launches
[1]WCJB launches a CW Plus digital subchannel, replacing cable-only WBFL.
- 2001
Digital broadcasting begins
[1]WCJB begins digital transmission on UHF channel 16.
- 1976
Diversified Communications acquires WCJB
[1]WCJB is sold to Diversified Communications.
- 1973
Affiliation changes from NBC to ABC
[1]The station switches to ABC programming two years after its launch.
- 1971
WCJB begins broadcasting
[1]WCJB signs on in Gainesville on April 7 as an NBC affiliate operating on analog UHF channel 20.
Products and positioning
A locally focused broadcast television station combining ABC network programming with extensive Gainesville and North Central Florida news, weather, sports and community coverage.
Broadcast television · 1971
WCJB-TV ABC service
The station’s primary broadcast service carries ABC network programming, locally produced news, weather and public-affairs content, syndicated programming and selected sports. Its virtual channel 20 identity connects the service to WCJB’s long-running Gainesville broadcast brand.
Digital multicast television · 2006
Gainesville CW
WCJB’s second digital subchannel operates as a CW Plus affiliate. It provides CW programming and has also carried local late-evening news, giving the station a second outlet for entertainment and regional information.
Local journalism · 1971
WCJB Local News
WCJB produces a substantial schedule of Gainesville and North Central Florida newscasts, including morning, midday, afternoon, evening and weekend programming. Coverage includes local government, education, crime, weather, transportation, community events and regional sports, supported by a Marion County bureau in Ocala.
Multicast television · 2018
Digital multicast services
Beyond its ABC and CW services, WCJB has carried MeTV, Circle, True Crime Network and Grit on additional digital subchannels. These networks extend the station’s programming mix with classic television, country-oriented entertainment, true-crime programming and western or action-focused content.
Controversies
2024
Cease-and-desist letter over Amendment 4 advertisement
The Florida Department of Health sent WCJB and several other broadcasters a cease-and-desist letter concerning the airing of a political advertisement supporting Amendment 4, an abortion-related ballot measure. The action was criticized by the Federal Communications Commission.
Marketing campaigns
- 2014Florida–Dayton Elite Eight highlight recreation
Gainesville · North Central Florida
After Florida defeated Dayton in the 2014 NCAA basketball tournament, WCJB recreated portions of the game inside its studio because network and NCAA restrictions prevented the ABC affiliate from immediately showing the available broadcast highlights. Staff members acted as players using a small indoor hoop.
Outcome. The improvised segment gave local viewers a same-day visual account of the regional team’s victory while observing applicable highlight restrictions.
Brand decisions
2021
Expansion of local news scheduleProduct launchBackground
WCJB continued to use both its primary service and CW subchannel to expand local information programming.
Action taken
The station added a one-hour weekday 4 p.m. newscast and relaunched a half-hour 10 p.m. newscast on its CW subchannel.
Aftermath
The changes increased the station’s local-news presence across its broadcast services.
2017
Sale to Gray TelevisionM&ABackground
Diversified Communications announced that it was exiting the broadcasting business.
Action taken
Gray Television acquired WCJB and sister station WABI-TV; the transaction closed on May 1, 2017.
Aftermath
WCJB became part of Gray’s television group and a sister station to several other Florida broadcasters.
Reported transaction value. $85 million (2017 acquisition announcement)
2006
Launch of the CW Plus subchannelProduct launchBackground
The merger of The WB and UPN created The CW, while the local WB 100+ cable-only service WBFL was being replaced.
Action taken
WCJB launched a second digital subchannel carrying The CW Plus under the Gainesville CW identity.
Aftermath
The station gained a second network-affiliated television service and an additional platform for later local news programming.
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