WFOR-TV
CBS-owned and operated television station serving Miami and South Florida.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
WFOR-TV is a television station serving the Miami–Fort Lauderdale market in Florida. The station operates on channel 4 and is branded as CBS Miami. It is owned and operated by CBS through the CBS News and Stations division, and it shares facilities in Doral with sister station WBFS-TV, the market’s CW affiliate. Its transmitter is located near Andover, Florida. The station’s origins lie in the assignment of a new VHF channel 6 to Miami during the late 1950s. Because channel 6 was also used in Orlando, federal technical rules required the Miami station’s transmitter to be placed unusually far south, ultimately near Homestead. After a lengthy Federal Communications Commission proceeding involving several applicants, Coral Television Corporation received a construction permit in 1964. The resulting station, WCIX-TV, began broadcasting on September 20, 1967. WCIX-TV initially operated as Miami’s first independent television station. Its early identity emphasized colorful local presentation, entertainment programming, children’s programming, movies, and local news. The station also carried some Spanish-language programming, reflecting the linguistic and cultural character of South Florida. The transmitter’s southern location created a persistent coverage problem in Broward County and farther north. To compensate, the station developed a network of translators and expanded its cable distribution across South Florida and parts of Florida’s west and central coasts. General Cinema Corporation gained control of Coral Television in the early 1970s. In 1983, General Cinema exchanged WCIX-TV with Taft Broadcasting for WGR-TV in Buffalo and cash. During Taft’s ownership, WCIX faced increasing competition from newer independent stations, including WDZL and WBFS-TV. It responded with stronger programming acquisitions, technological improvements, expanded news activity, and local sports. In 1986, WCIX became one of the original affiliates of the Fox Broadcasting Company and carried the network’s first programming services. The station’s affiliation and ownership position changed substantially at the end of the 1980s. CBS was seeking a Miami outlet after NBC acquired long-established CBS affiliate WTVJ. In January 1989, CBS purchased WCIX from TVX Broadcast Group and made it the new CBS affiliate in Miami. The station expanded its news operation under CBS, although its local newscasts remained challenged by the market’s established competitors for much of the following decade. A major technical and regulatory transaction took place in 1995. CBS and NBC arranged a complicated exchange involving licenses, channel assignments, and transmitter facilities. WCIX moved from channel 6 to channel 4 and adopted the call sign WFOR-TV, while WTVJ moved to channel 6. The change improved WFOR-TV’s service position in the Miami market and created the station identity that remains in use. CBS’s merger with the first Viacom in 2000 brought WBFS-TV into the same corporate family, establishing the local CBS–WBFS combination. WFOR-TV has since functioned as a network-owned station with a broad local-news, weather, investigative, public-service, and digital-media operation. It also maintains a long-running relationship with the Miami Dolphins for preseason television coverage. Its contemporary identity combines CBS network programming with locally produced news and information for the multilingual and highly diverse South Florida audience.
History
WFOR-TV traces its history to the FCC’s decision in the late 1950s to add VHF channel 6 to Miami. The assignment was technically difficult because the same frequency was already used in Orlando. To prevent interference, the Miami transmitter had to be located well south of the urban center, with height restrictions associated with nearby Homestead Air Force Base. Several applicants competed for the channel. A hearing examiner initially favored South Florida Amusement, but questions surrounding the company’s former Buffalo station led to further FCC scrutiny and eventually to its withdrawal from the proceeding. Coral Television Corporation received the construction permit in May 1964 and selected the call sign WCIX-TV. After abandoning a proposed Florida Keys tower site because of local, environmental, aviation, and regulatory objections, Coral built a transmitter near Homestead and established studios first at a repurposed building on Brickell Avenue. WCIX-TV began broadcasting on September 20, 1967, as Miami’s first independent television station. Its schedule combined syndicated entertainment, movies, local productions, children’s programming, and news. It also offered Spanish-language programs, an early indication of the station’s effort to address South Florida’s bilingual audience. The southern transmitter restricted reception in Broward County, so WCIX developed translators in Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, Hollywood, and Hallandale and pursued cable carriage in markets beyond Miami. General Cinema first invested in Coral Television in 1968 and obtained majority control in 1972. The station became a significant independent outlet, supported by movies, syndicated programs, local personalities, and a nightly 10 p.m. newscast. Taft Broadcasting acquired the station in 1983. During the Taft period, WCIX confronted new competition from WDZL and WBFS-TV, expanded its programming purchases, introduced stereo transmission, experimented with Spanish-language audio, and moved its studios to a purpose-built facility in West Dade. It also began carrying Miami Dolphins preseason games, a relationship described in station history as its longest-running NFL preseason television arrangement. In October 1986, WCIX became one of Fox’s original affiliates. Its status changed again when CBS purchased the station from TVX Broadcast Group in January 1989. CBS selected WCIX as its Miami outlet after NBC acquired WTVJ, the longtime CBS affiliate. CBS enlarged WCIX’s news operation, but the station continued to face strong competition in local-news ratings. The decisive technical transition occurred in September 1995. CBS and NBC completed an unusual exchange involving station licenses, channel positions, and transmission facilities. WCIX effectively moved from channel 6 to channel 4, while WTVJ moved in the opposite direction. The former WCIX adopted the call sign WFOR-TV, creating the present station identity and improving its coverage configuration for the Miami market. In 2000, the merger between CBS and the first Viacom placed WBFS-TV under common ownership with WFOR-TV. The stations subsequently operated as a local duopoly, sharing facilities while maintaining distinct network and programming identities. WFOR-TV remains a CBS-owned and operated station, branded CBS Miami, with local news, weather, community-service, investigative, digital, and sports output aimed at viewers throughout South Florida.
- 2000
WBFS-TV becomes a sister station
[1]The Viacom–CBS merger placed WBFS-TV under common ownership with WFOR-TV.
- 1995
Station becomes WFOR-TV on channel 4
[1]The CBS–NBC channel and facility transaction moved the station to channel 4 and established the WFOR-TV call sign.
- 1992
Hurricane Andrew response
[1]Damage to the Homestead transmission tower disrupted service for an extended period. The station also organized a charitable effort that developed into Neighbors 4 Neighbors.
- 1989
CBS ownership and affiliation
[1]CBS purchased WCIX and designated it as the CBS station serving Miami.
- 1986
Fox affiliation begins
[1]WCIX became a charter affiliate of the Fox Broadcasting Company.
- 1985
Studios move to West Dade
[1]The station relocated from its original Brickell Avenue facility to a West Dade studio site.
- 1983
Taft Broadcasting acquisition
[1]Taft acquired WCIX-TV from General Cinema in a station exchange involving Buffalo outlet WGR-TV.
- 1972
Translator network expands
[1]WCIX began using translator facilities to address weak over-the-air reception in Broward County and areas north of Miami.
- 1967
WCIX-TV begins broadcasting
[1]WCIX-TV signed on September 20 from a Homestead-area transmitter as Miami's first independent station.
- 1964
Coral Television receives construction permit
[1]After competing applications and hearings, Coral Television received authorization to build the Miami channel 6 station.
Products and positioning
A CBS-owned local television and news brand serving the Miami–Fort Lauderdale region, with emphasis on breaking news, weather, public affairs, community service, and South Florida sports.
Local television news
CBS Miami local news
Locally produced news programming covering Miami, Fort Lauderdale, the wider South Florida region, breaking events, public safety, politics, business, and community issues. The station has maintained a substantial news operation since its independent-station years and expanded it after joining CBS.
Network television · 1989
CBS network programming
WFOR-TV carries CBS entertainment, news, sports, and special-event programming for the Miami market as a CBS-owned and operated affiliate.
Weather broadcasting
South Florida weather coverage
Weather reports and severe-weather coverage tailored to South Florida, including tropical systems, hurricanes, flooding, heat, and coastal conditions.
Sports broadcasting · 1983
Miami Dolphins preseason broadcasts
Television coverage of Miami Dolphins preseason games, a local sports relationship that began during the station’s Taft ownership period and has continued as part of its South Florida programming identity.
Digital media
CBS Miami digital services
The station’s website and associated digital channels distribute local reporting, video, weather information, live coverage, alerts, and community material under the CBS Miami brand.
Marketing campaigns
- 1992Neighbors 4 Neighbors
South Florida
Following Hurricane Andrew, the station established a charitable and volunteer-coordination effort to connect South Florida residents needing assistance with people and organizations able to help.
Outcome. The initiative continued beyond the immediate hurricane response and became known as Neighbors 4 Neighbors.
- 1967Carousel of Color
Miami
WCIX-TV promoted its launch with a colorful entertainment-oriented identity, local personalities, children's programming, and early local news.
Outcome. The identity helped establish the station as a distinctive independent outlet in the Miami market.
Brand decisions
1995
Move from channel 6 to channel 4Generation changeBackground
The station's southern channel 6 transmitter created coverage limitations, particularly in Broward County, while CBS and NBC were reorganizing their Miami facilities.
Action taken
CBS and NBC completed a transaction that exchanged channel positions, licenses, and transmitter facilities. WCIX moved to channel 4 and adopted the WFOR-TV call sign.
Aftermath
The move created the current WFOR-TV identity and improved the station's technical position in the Miami market.
1989
CBS acquires WCIXM&ABackground
NBC had acquired WTVJ, Miami's longtime CBS affiliate, creating a need for CBS to secure a new local outlet.
Action taken
CBS purchased WCIX from TVX Broadcast Group and made it the network's Miami affiliate.
Aftermath
CBS expanded the station's news operation and established the ownership structure that ultimately led to WFOR-TV's present network-owned identity.
1986
Join the Fox Broadcasting CompanyStrategyBackground
WCIX was operating as an independent station amid increasing competition from newer entertainment outlets.
Action taken
The station became a charter Fox affiliate when Fox began its initial network programming.
Aftermath
The affiliation lasted until CBS acquired WCIX and converted it into Miami's CBS station in 1989.
Recent events
- 2000
WBFS-TV joins the station's corporate family[1]
M&A
The Viacom–CBS merger brought WBFS-TV into the same ownership group as WFOR-TV.
- 1995
WCIX moves to channel 4 and becomes WFOR-TV[1]
Regulation
A CBS–NBC facility and license transaction moved the station from channel 6 to channel 4 and changed its call sign to WFOR-TV.
- 1989
CBS purchases WCIX and makes it the Miami CBS station[1]
M&A · Leadership change
CBS acquired WCIX from TVX Broadcast Group and replaced WTVJ as the network's Miami affiliate.
- 1986
WCIX becomes a charter Fox affiliate[1]
Product launch
WCIX joined the Fox Broadcasting Company when the network began its initial programming service.
- 1983
WCIX-TV is acquired by Taft Broadcasting[1]
M&A
General Cinema traded WCIX-TV to Taft Broadcasting in a transaction involving WGR-TV in Buffalo and cash.
- 1972
General Cinema gains control of Coral Television[1]
M&A
General Cinema converted its investment in Coral Television into majority control of the station owner.
- 1967
WCIX-TV signs on as Miami's first independent station[1]
Other
Coral Television launched WCIX-TV on channel 6 after a multiyear licensing and transmitter-location process.
Sources2 sources
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