WCNC-TV
NBC-affiliated television station serving Charlotte, North Carolina, on channel 36 and cable channel 6.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
WCNC-TV is a television station serving Charlotte, North Carolina, and the surrounding Carolinas market. It broadcasts on UHF channel 36 and is carried locally on cable channel 6. The station is affiliated with NBC and is known primarily for local news, weather, traffic, sports coverage, community programming, and the NBC network schedule. Its studios are in the Wood Ridge Center office complex near Billy Graham Parkway in south Charlotte, while its transmitter is in north-central Gaston County. The present station began broadcasting on July 9, 1967, as WCTU-TV, an independent outlet established by Charlotte Telecasters. The station entered a difficult market: Charlotte's established VHF station, WBTV, had a major technical and competitive advantage, while UHF stations generally faced limited household reception before federal requirements expanded UHF tuning in television sets. WCTU operated with a small, inexpensive schedule and encountered severe financial problems within two years. In 1969, creditors sued over unpaid equipment and programming obligations, and a court placed the station into receivership. Atlanta broadcaster Ted Turner acquired the troubled station during the receivership period and renamed it WRET-TV, using his initials. Turner substantially changed its programming, adding movies, syndicated series, cartoons, sports, and religious programming. Although the station initially required a highly unusual viewer fundraising appeal, the investment eventually produced a profitable independent station. By the middle of the 1970s, WRET had become one of the stronger independent stations in the United States by audience share and had expanded its reach through cable systems across several states. WRET became Charlotte's NBC affiliate in 1978 after WSOC-TV moved from NBC to ABC. Turner promised significant investment in technical facilities and a full local news operation as part of the affiliation agreement. The station launched local newscasts, but its news ratings remained well behind WBTV and WSOC. Turner sold the station to Westinghouse Broadcasting in 1979 for $20 million, using the proceeds to help finance the launch of CNN. Westinghouse changed the call sign to WPCQ-TV and adopted the Q36 identity. Despite a power increase and programming changes, the station struggled with limited resources, weak news ratings, and frequent preemption of NBC programming. After a period of local ownership beginning in 1984, the station was acquired by The Providence Journal Company in 1988. It adopted the WCNC-TV call letters in 1989, signifying its Charlotte and North Carolina identity. Belo Corporation purchased it in 1996, and Gannett acquired Belo's television properties in 2013. In 2015, Gannett separated its broadcasting and digital properties into Tegna. According to the supplied reference material, Nexstar acquired Tegna in 2026, making WCNC-TV part of Nexstar's wider station portfolio alongside Charlotte stations WJZY and WMYT-TV. The station has generally occupied third place in Charlotte's local television news market and continues to operate as an active NBC affiliate.
History
Channel 36 in Charlotte has a complicated prehistory. An earlier station using the frequency began as WAYS-TV in 1954, became WQMC-TV, and left the air after failing to compete effectively with established VHF broadcaster WBTV. The frequency later supported educational transmissions and was briefly used by WCCB before that station moved to another channel. The current station signed on July 9, 1967, as WCTU-TV. Charlotte Telecasters, led by dentist Harold W. Twisdale and engineer David L. Steel, established it as a low-budget independent station. Its schedule consisted largely of old films, westerns, older comedy programs, and public-affairs material, with limited broadcast hours. Although its technical equipment was relatively modern and local programs were produced in color, the station's financial position deteriorated rapidly. In 1969, Ampex and National Telefilm Associates pursued claims for unpaid equipment and film-rental obligations, and a court placed WCTU into receivership. Ted Turner became interested in the station after visiting Charlotte with advertising executive Lee McClurkin. Turner initially viewed the operation as a potential source of equipment and spare parts for his Atlanta station, but ultimately bought it personally. He changed the call sign to WRET-TV and rebuilt the schedule around syndicated entertainment, movies, cartoons, sports, and religious programming. The turnaround was not immediate. In 1972, Turner appeared on air to ask viewers for financial assistance; the appeal raised $53,000. The station later became profitable as its programming library and distribution expanded. By 1975, it ranked among the stronger independent stations nationally by audience share. Turner eventually repaid the viewer contributions with interest. WRET's success as an independent helped it secure the NBC affiliation in 1978. NBC needed a new Charlotte outlet after WSOC-TV moved to ABC. Turner committed to spending $2.5 million on improvements, including a substantial local news department. WRET began newscasts in September 1978, but the operation initially attracted very small audiences compared with WBTV and WSOC. The station's NBC relationship also came at a transitional moment for Turner, who was seeking financing for CNN. Westinghouse Broadcasting agreed in 1979 to purchase WRET-TV for $20 million, a record price at the time for a single UHF television station. Westinghouse changed the call sign to WPCQ-TV and branded the station Q36. It increased effective radiated power, revised the schedule, and repositioned newscasts. These changes did not solve the station's competitive problems. WPCQ had a weak news position, studios that were distant from central Charlotte, and reception limitations in parts of the market. In 1982, it eliminated its early-evening newscast and stopped carrying NBC Nightly News, while continuing a noon newscast and shorter news updates. It also became associated with frequent NBC program preemptions, including network news, entertainment, sports, and special coverage. The station was spun off to local ownership in 1984 and acquired by The Providence Journal Company in 1988. It became WCNC-TV in 1989, adopting a call sign tied to Charlotte and North Carolina. Belo Corporation acquired the station in 1996, followed by Gannett in 2013. Gannett reorganized its broadcasting business as Tegna in 2015. The supplied reference states that Nexstar acquired Tegna in 2026. WCNC-TV remains an NBC affiliate serving the Charlotte area, with local news and digital services forming the core of its public-facing operation.
- 2026
Nexstar acquisition of Tegna
[1]The supplied reference identifies WCNC-TV as becoming part of Nexstar through its acquisition of Tegna.
- 2015
Tegna formation
[1]Gannett separated its broadcasting operations into Tegna.
- 2013
Gannett acquisition
[1]Gannett acquired Belo's television properties.
- 1996
Belo acquisition
[1]The Providence Journal Company's station holdings, including the Charlotte outlet, were acquired by Belo Corporation.
- 1989
WCNC-TV name adopted
[1]The station adopted its current call letters.
- 1984
Return to local ownership
[1]The station was spun off from Westinghouse to local ownership.
- 1980
WPCQ-TV identity
[1]Westinghouse changed the call sign to WPCQ-TV and introduced the Q36 branding.
- 1979
Westinghouse acquisition
[1]Westinghouse Broadcasting purchased WRET-TV for $20 million.
- 1978
NBC affiliation begins
[1]WRET-TV became Charlotte's NBC affiliate and launched a full local-news operation.
- 1975
Independent-station turnaround
[1]WRET-TV had become a profitable and comparatively high-performing independent station.
Products and positioning
A Charlotte-market NBC affiliate focused on local news, weather, traffic, community information, and network television programming.
television news · 1978
Local newscasts
WCNC-TV's local-news operation reports on Charlotte and the surrounding Carolinas, with coverage typically spanning breaking news, politics, public safety, business, health, consumer matters, and community issues. The station's news department was established when the channel became an NBC affiliate in 1978 and has remained central to its identity despite a historically difficult ratings position.
broadcast information service
Local weather and traffic coverage
Weather forecasting, severe-weather information, traffic reporting, and related digital updates are core services for the Charlotte market. These offerings support the station's broadcast newscasts and online audience, particularly during storms, transportation disruptions, and other fast-changing local events.
network television affiliate service · 1978
NBC network programming
WCNC-TV distributes NBC's national schedule to the Charlotte market. The affiliation began in 1978 after WSOC-TV moved to ABC. During the WPCQ-TV period, the station was criticized for preempting or delaying portions of the NBC schedule, but its ongoing identity is that of the market's NBC affiliate.
Controversies
1980
License-renewal challenge and employment concerns
Approval of Westinghouse's acquisition followed an agreement involving grants and affirmative-action programs after local civil-rights groups withdrew a license-renewal challenge. The FCC found that the station had not employed enough minorities and renewed the license for a limited 18-month term.
Marketing campaigns
- 1972Viewer contribution appeal
Charlotte
Ted Turner appeared on WRET-TV to explain the station's financial difficulties and ask viewers for contributions. The appeal produced $53,000 and helped the station meet immediate obligations.
Outcome. After the station became profitable, WRET returned the contributions with interest to approximately 3,600 donors in 1976.
Brand decisions
1982
Reduction of local news and network carriageStrategyBackground
WPCQ-TV's early-evening newscast had very low ratings, and station management cited signal and market-coverage limitations.
Action taken
The station dropped the early-evening newscast and ceased carrying NBC Nightly News, while retaining a noon newscast and shorter news updates.
Aftermath
The move generated national attention and reinforced the station's reputation for preempting NBC programs.
1979
Sale to Westinghouse BroadcastingM&ABackground
Turner was raising capital for the planned Cable News Network and decided to sell the Charlotte station.
Action taken
Westinghouse Broadcasting agreed to purchase WRET-TV.
Aftermath
The station became WPCQ-TV and was operated as part of Westinghouse's Group W portfolio.
Acquisition price. $20 million (1979)
1978
Commitment to the NBC affiliationStrategyBackground
After WSOC-TV announced its move from NBC to ABC, WRET-TV competed with WCCB for the NBC affiliation.
Action taken
Ted Turner promised $2.5 million in station improvements, including a full-scale news department, and NBC selected WRET-TV.
Aftermath
The station launched local newscasts, but its early ratings remained well behind Charlotte's leading stations.
Promised station investment. $2.5 million (1978)
Recent events
- 2026
Nexstar acquires Tegna[1]
M&A
The supplied reference identifies Nexstar's acquisition of Tegna, placing WCNC-TV within Nexstar's station group.
- 1989
Call sign changes to WCNC-TV[1]
Product generation
Following a change in ownership, the station adopted the WCNC-TV call letters that it uses today.
- 1982
WPCQ-TV drops its early-evening newscast and NBC Nightly News[1]
Other
The station discontinued its low-rated early-evening newscast and stopped carrying NBC Nightly News, drawing criticism and national attention over network-program preemptions.
- 1980
Station changes identity to WPCQ-TV[1]
Product generation
Westinghouse changed the call letters to WPCQ-TV and promoted the station as Q36 while increasing transmission power and revising its programming and news schedule.
- 1979
Westinghouse purchases WRET-TV[1]
M&A
Westinghouse Broadcasting agreed to buy WRET-TV for $20 million, enabling Turner to raise capital for CNN.
- 1978
WRET-TV wins the NBC affiliation[1]
Leadership change
NBC selected WRET as its Charlotte affiliate after WSOC-TV announced its move to ABC, with Turner promising major investment in facilities and local news.
- 1970
Ted Turner acquires and renames the Charlotte station[1]
M&A
Ted Turner acquired the financially troubled channel 36 operation and relaunched it as WRET-TV with a substantially expanded independent-station schedule.
- 1969
WCTU-TV enters receivership after financial difficulties[1]
Other
The station faced creditor litigation over unpaid equipment and programming obligations and was placed into court-supervised receivership while remaining on the air.
Sources2 sources
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