WCTI-TV
WCTI-TV is a New Bern, North Carolina television station serving Eastern North Carolina as an ABC affiliate and, through its associated station WYDO, a regional Fox news and programming partner.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
WCTI-TV is a broadcast television station licensed to New Bern, North Carolina, and serving the Greenville–Washington–New Bern market and much of Eastern North Carolina. The station broadcasts on channel 12 and has been affiliated with ABC since it began operations. It is owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group and operates alongside Sinclair-owned WYDO, the Fox affiliate licensed to Greenville. WCTI and WYDO share facilities on Glenburnie Drive in New Bern, while WCTI's main transmitter is located north of Trenton along North Carolina Highway 41. The station originated in a lengthy effort to establish a commercial television service in New Bern. Nathan Frank filed an application for a channel 13 allocation in 1954, but approval was delayed by objections from military agencies, airlines, and pilot organizations. These groups were concerned that a proposed tower would interfere with military installations and aviation operations in a region containing numerous bases and flight routes. Regulatory changes also required the proposed channel to be moved from 13 to 12 after the Federal Communications Commission adjusted the channel plan in Hampton Roads, Virginia. Further short-spacing concerns were raised by the Richmond station then known as WRVA-TV, but the objections were ultimately resolved. The station signed on September 7, 1963, under the call sign WNBE-TV, a reference to New Bern. It was an ABC affiliate from launch, giving the Greenville–Washington–New Bern area three commercial network affiliates at a time when it was among the smallest markets in the United States to have that level of network service. Continental Television acquired the station in 1970 for $960,000, and the call letters were changed to WCTI-TV later that year. During the same period, the station expanded its technical reach by activating a high-power VHF facility and later constructing a much taller tower north of Trenton. Ownership changed several times over the following decades. Malrite Communications acquired WCTI in 1976, followed by Heritage Broadcasting in 1983, Diversified Communications in 1986, Lamco Communications in 1993, and Bluestone Television in 2001. Bluestone became part of Bonten Media Group in 2007. That transaction connected WCTI with WFXI and WYDO, and WFXI moved its operations from Morehead City to WCTI's New Bern facilities. WCTI subsequently produced a Fox-affiliated prime-time newscast for the associated stations. WCTI was an early adopter of digital broadcasting in its market, launching a digital signal in 2000. It later expanded its digital and high-definition distribution, including a high-definition satellite feed in 2009, and completed the transition to digital-only over-the-air broadcasting on June 12, 2009. Its digital multiplex has carried several network and independent services over time, including UPN, ENC-TV, This TV, Movies!, Live Well Network, and Decades. The station's local-news operation is a central part of its identity. WCTI produces local newscasts for its own ABC service and has produced programming for WYDO, including Fox Eastern Carolina News at 10. It upgraded local-news production to high definition in June 2010 and added a 5:30 p.m. newscast in August 2011. The operation has also maintained reporting bureaus in Jacksonville and Winterville. WCTI does not operate a dedicated sports department according to the referenced station history. In September 2018, Hurricane Florence caused severe flooding in New Bern. WCTI evacuated its building as floodwaters rose and temporarily simulcast storm coverage from WPDE-TV, a Sinclair sister station in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. After water levels fell, the station began cleanup and recovery work. The episode illustrated the operational importance of broadcast redundancy and regional cooperation for a station serving a hurricane-prone coastal market. WCTI remains an active local television brand, combining ABC network programming, local news, weather and public-service coverage with digital distribution and a broader Sinclair station-group structure.
History
WCTI-TV traces its origins to Nathan Frank's 1954 application for a commercial television station in New Bern. Frank initially sought channel 13, but the application encountered nearly seven years of regulatory and technical delays. Military agencies objected to the proposed tower because of possible interference with installations in Eastern North Carolina. Commercial airlines and pilot groups also expressed concerns about the height and location of the structure. The FCC later changed the New Bern allocation from channel 13 to channel 12 after adding a channel 13 allocation in Hampton, Virginia, and after WVEC-TV moved into that allocation. The change was intended to address channel spacing, but it led to further objections from WRVA-TV in Richmond, now known as WWBT. Those objections were eventually overcome, and the station began broadcasting on September 7, 1963, as WNBE-TV. It joined ABC at launch and helped make the Greenville–Washington–New Bern region one of the smallest American markets with three commercial network affiliates. Continental Television purchased the station from Frank in May 1970. The reported transaction value was $960,000. The station adopted the call letters WCTI-TV in 1970 and expanded its technical facilities, including a high-power VHF operation and a taller transmission tower south of Trenton. In 1980, WCTI erected a 2,000-foot tower north of Trenton along NC 41. This increased secondary coverage across a broad part of coastal and eastern North Carolina, including portions of the Outer Banks, Wilmington-area territory and the Triangle region. The earlier tower at the New Bern studio remained available as a backup facility. Malrite Communications acquired WCTI in 1976. Heritage Broadcasting followed in 1983, Diversified Communications in 1986, Lamco Communications in 1993 and Bluestone Television in 2001. In 2007, Bluestone merged with Bonten Media Group. The Bonten period connected WCTI with WFXI and WYDO. WFXI moved from Morehead City to WCTI's New Bern facilities, and WCTI became the production base for a Fox-oriented local-news service. The resulting arrangement enabled WCTI to extend its news operation beyond its ABC broadcasts. WCTI began digital broadcasting in 2000 and later expanded its high-definition distribution. A high-definition feed became available through DirecTV in January 2009, with satellite carriage also available through Dish Network. The station's analog service ended as part of the nationwide digital transition on June 12, 2009. The station's multicast history reflects the changing economics and programming strategies of digital television. Its third digital stream previously carried UPN programming under the brand UPN 48. After UPN and The WB were replaced by The CW in 2006, the service became the independent ENC-TV. It later carried This TV and then Movies!. WCTI also carried Live Well Network beginning in 2011; that service was replaced by Decades in 2015. Local news has remained WCTI's principal differentiator. In January 2008, it began repeating its 6 p.m. program later in the evening on the Fox stations, followed by the launch of a live Fox Eastern Carolina News at 10 broadcast. WCTI converted local-news production to high definition in June 2010 and added a 5:30 p.m. newscast in August 2011. Its reporting footprint has included bureaus in Jacksonville and Winterville. The station has competed for audience leadership with WITN-TV and WNCT-TV in a market where ratings positions have shifted over time. Sinclair announced its planned acquisition of the Bonten stations on April 21, 2017. The transaction was completed on September 1, 2017, making WCTI part of Sinclair's national station group. In September 2018, Hurricane Florence caused serious flooding in New Bern. WCTI evacuated its facility and temporarily used programming from WPDE-TV in Myrtle Beach, another Sinclair ABC affiliate, while flood conditions made the New Bern building unsafe. The station later began cleanup and resumed local operations. WCTI continues to operate as an ABC-affiliated local television station serving Eastern North Carolina.
- 2018
Hurricane Florence operational disruption
[1]Flooding forced WCTI to evacuate its New Bern facility and temporarily use WPDE-TV's storm coverage.
- 2017
Sinclair acquisition completed
[1]Sinclair completed its acquisition of the Bonten stations on September 1.
- 2011
5:30 p.m. newscast added
[1]WCTI launched a new 5:30 p.m. local newscast, expanding its weekly local-news schedule.
- 2010
Local news moves to high definition
[1]WCTI upgraded its local-news production to high definition on June 27.
- 2009
Digital-only broadcasting
[1]WCTI's over-the-air broadcasts became digital-only on June 12, following the U.S. digital television transition.
- 2008
Fox prime-time news production launches
[1]WCTI began producing Fox Eastern Carolina News at 10 for the associated Fox stations.
- 2007
Bonten Media Group ownership period begins
[1]Bluestone Television merged with Bonten Media Group, linking WCTI with WFXI and WYDO.
- 2000
Digital broadcasting begins
[1]WCTI launched the market's first over-the-air digital television service.
- 1980
New high-elevation transmission tower
[1]WCTI commissioned a 2,000-foot tower north of Trenton, substantially broadening its secondary coverage.
- 1970
Continental acquisition and WCTI call letters
[1]Continental Television acquired the station, which changed its call sign from WNBE-TV to WCTI-TV.
Products and positioning
A regional network-affiliated broadcast station focused on local news, weather, emergency coverage and community service for Eastern North Carolina, supported by Sinclair's broader television-station infrastructure.
Broadcast television station · 1963
WCTI-TV ABC service
WCTI's core service combines ABC network programming with locally produced news, weather, public-affairs and community-information content. The service is transmitted from the station's Eastern North Carolina facility and is distributed through over-the-air digital broadcasting and pay-TV platforms.
Television news · 1963
Local news operation
WCTI's news operation provides local reporting, weather and breaking-news coverage for the New Bern and wider Eastern North Carolina area. The operation has included bureaus in Jacksonville and Winterville and has produced programming for associated Fox station WYDO.
Syndicated group news production · 2008
Fox Eastern Carolina News at 10
This WCTI-produced prime-time newscast was created for WFXI and WYDO after the stations became associated with WCTI. It provided a one-hour weekday broadcast and shorter weekend editions on the Fox outlets.
Digital television · 2000
Digital multicast services
WCTI has used its digital multiplex for changing secondary services. The station's documented subchannel history includes UPN 48, ENC-TV, This TV, Movies!, Live Well Network and Decades, with affiliations changing as networks and local carriage arrangements evolved.
Brand decisions
2018
Emergency broadcast continuity during Hurricane FlorenceOtherBackground
Hurricane Florence caused rising floodwaters around WCTI's New Bern facility in September 2018.
Action taken
WCTI evacuated the building and temporarily simulcast coverage from WPDE-TV in Myrtle Beach while its own facility was unavailable.
Aftermath
After floodwaters receded, WCTI began cleanup and recovery operations and restored its local operating capacity.
2017
Sinclair acquisition of Bonten Media Group stationsM&ABackground
WCTI was part of Bonten Media Group's regional television portfolio after Bonten's combination with Bluestone Television.
Action taken
Sinclair announced the acquisition on April 21, 2017, and completed the transaction on September 1.
Aftermath
WCTI joined Sinclair's national group of local television stations and became associated with Sinclair sister station WPDE-TV during later emergency coverage.
Reported transaction value. 240 million USD (Announced April 21, 2017; completed September 1, 2017)
2010
Conversion of local news production to high definitionGeneration changeBackground
WCTI sought to modernize its local-news presentation and production facilities.
Action taken
On June 27, WCTI moved its local-news production to high definition, including the newscast produced for the Fox stations.
Aftermath
WCTI became the first television outlet identified in the station history as offering high-definition local news in its area.
2008
Launch of Fox Eastern Carolina News at 10Product launchBackground
WCTI became associated with WFXI and WYDO and was positioned to supply local news for the Fox outlets in the same regional market.
Action taken
The station first repeated its 6 p.m. newscast on the Fox stations and then introduced a new live nightly prime-time broadcast, Fox Eastern Carolina News at 10.
Aftermath
The move expanded WCTI's production role and gave the associated Fox stations a locally produced prime-time news service.
Sources2 sources
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