WFXG
WFXG is a Fox-affiliated television station serving Augusta, Georgia, and the surrounding Central Savannah River Area.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
WFXG is a full-power television station serving Augusta, Georgia, and nearby communities in Georgia and South Carolina. It broadcasts as a Fox network affiliate under the consumer-facing brand Fox 54. The station operates on digital channel 31 and maintains studios on Washington Road in the Lamkin section of Martinez, Georgia, while its transmitter is located in Beech Island, South Carolina. Its service area is commonly associated with the Augusta metropolitan market and the broader Central Savannah River Area. The station was created after a lengthy effort to establish a new commercial outlet on channel 54. Nine applications for the channel were submitted to the Federal Communications Commission in 1983, and Augusta 54, LP received approval in 1989. The construction permit changed hands in 1990, when it was sold to John Pezold, who was then associated with Columbus, Georgia station WXTX. WFXG began broadcasting in May 1991 and immediately affiliated with Fox. Its launch gave Augusta its first full-power commercial station not aligned with one of the traditional Big Three networks, and it restored a significant full-power television presence on the market after the earlier WATU operation had left the air. WFXG initially operated under Augusta Family Broadcasting. It briefly carried programming from the Prime Time Entertainment Network during the 1993–94 season, but its central identity remained its Fox affiliation. Ownership changed several times as the station moved through a series of broadcast groups. Retlaw Broadcasting acquired it in 1998, and Fisher Communications purchased WFXG and other Retlaw stations the following year. Fisher later sold WFXG and WXTX to Galleria Broadcast Group in 2002 for a reported $40.1 million, followed by a 2003 acquisition by Community Newspaper Holdings through its Southeastern Media Holdings subsidiary. In 2011, the station moved through Thomas Henson's Southeastern Media Acquisitions and then American Spirit Media. Raycom subsequently exercised an option to purchase WFXG directly, completing the transaction in August 2011. Under Raycom, WFXG expanded its sports and local-news profile. The station carried selected ACC football and basketball contests and other programming supplied by Raycom Sports. Its news operation also evolved substantially. It initially relied on a news-sharing agreement with ABC affiliate WJBF, which produced the Fox 54 News at 10 newscast from WJBF's Augusta facility beginning in 2003. In 2011, WFXG announced plans for an in-house operation developed with support from Raycom sister station WTOC-TV in Savannah. The station hired local multimedia journalists, introduced high-definition newscasts, and gradually increased the amount of locally originated content. A weekday morning program, Fox 54 Morning News Now, launched in February 2017, and by 2019 the schedule included locally produced morning, early-evening, and late-evening news programming. Following Gray Television's acquisition of Raycom Media in 2019, WFXG was divested because Gray already owned Augusta CBS affiliate WRDW-TV. Gray announced the sale of WFXG to Lockwood Broadcast Group in 2018, and the transaction closed on January 2, 2019. WFXG remains a local Fox affiliate whose principal offerings combine network entertainment and sports, local news, weather, traffic, community coverage, syndicated programming, and digital content. The station's brand is oriented toward broad local reach rather than a standalone national product line.
History
WFXG's history began with the search for a new television service on UHF channel 54 in Augusta. The FCC received nine applications for the proposed station in July 1983. Augusta 54, LP ultimately received approval in October 1989, and the construction permit was sold in 1990 to John Pezold, who was connected with Columbus-based WXTX. WFXG signed on in May 1991 as a Fox affiliate. The launch was locally significant. WFXG was Augusta's first full-power commercial station not affiliated with ABC, CBS, or NBC, and it represented the market's first full-power commercial television launch since WATU had returned to the air in 1974. Before WFXG began broadcasting, Fox programming had been carried locally by the low-power station W67BE. WFXG initially belonged to Augusta Family Broadcasting and later carried Prime Time Entertainment Network programming during the 1993–94 season. Ownership changed repeatedly during the next two decades. Retlaw Broadcasting purchased the station in May 1998. Fisher Communications acquired WFXG and the other Retlaw stations in 1999, but later redirected its portfolio toward the Pacific Northwest and California. WFXG and WXTX were sold to Atlanta-based Galleria Broadcast Group for a reported $40.1 million. In December 2003, Community Newspaper Holdings acquired WFXG, WXTX, and WSFX-TV through Southeastern Media Holdings. A proposed 2011 transfer to Thomas Henson's Southeastern Media Acquisitions was completed on April 5 of that year. The stations were then folded into American Spirit Media, with that merger finalized in May. Raycom exercised an option to buy WFXG outright from American Spirit Media, completing the purchase on August 31, 2011. During the Raycom period, WFXG added selected ACC sports and other Raycom Sports programming. The station's technical service changed during the digital transition. WFXG ended analog broadcasting on February 17, 2009. Although a post-transition move from digital channel 51 to channel 31 had been contemplated, the station initially remained on channel 51. On August 1, 2016, it moved to channel 31 and restored its effective radiated power to 413 kilowatts. WFXG's news identity also developed in stages. WJBF began producing Fox 54 News at 10 under a news-share arrangement in 2003. In 2011, WFXG announced plans for a more locally staffed operation supported by WTOC-TV in Savannah. Local multimedia journalists covered the Augusta area, while some anchor and weather production initially came from WTOC. The transition brought high-definition newscasts and expanded the late-evening program. In 2017, the station launched Fox 54 Morning News Now, a weekday morning newscast. By 2019, WFXG offered locally produced morning, early-evening, and late-evening news blocks. Gray Television announced its purchase of Raycom Media in June 2018. Because Gray already owned WRDW-TV in the Augusta market, WFXG was placed on the divestiture list. Gray announced in August 2018 that WFXG would be sold to Lockwood Broadcast Group. The FCC approved the transaction in December, and Lockwood completed the acquisition on January 2, 2019. WFXG continues to operate as a Fox affiliate serving Augusta and surrounding communities.
- 2019
Lockwood Broadcast Group becomes owner
[1]Lockwood completed its acquisition of WFXG on January 2.
- 2017
Fox 54 Morning News Now launches
[1]The station launched a weekday morning newscast on February 6.
- 2016
Digital channel changes to 31
[1]WFXG moved its digital signal to channel 31 and increased effective radiated power to 413 kilowatts.
- 2011
Raycom assumes direct ownership
[1]After intermediate ownership changes, Raycom completed its direct acquisition of WFXG on August 31.
- 2009
Analog transmission ends
[1]WFXG shut down its analog transmitter as part of the United States digital television transition.
- 2003
WJBF news-share arrangement begins
[1]WFXG introduced Fox 54 News at 10, produced by ABC affiliate WJBF.
- 1999
Fisher Communications acquires the Retlaw stations
[1]Fisher Communications purchased WFXG along with the other stations owned by Retlaw.
- 1998
Retlaw Broadcasting acquires WFXG
[1]Retlaw Broadcasting purchased the station in May.
- 1991
WFXG signs on
[1]WFXG began broadcasting in May and became an immediate Fox affiliate.
- 1989
Construction permit approved
[1]Augusta 54, LP received FCC approval for the station.
Products and positioning
A locally focused Fox affiliate combining network entertainment and sports with news, weather, traffic, and community coverage for the Augusta television market.
Local television news · 2003
Fox 54 News
WFXG's local-news brand, including late-evening coverage that originated through a WJBF news-share arrangement and later incorporated local reporting and production. The program covers Augusta-area news, weather, traffic, and community developments.
Morning television news · 2017
Fox 54 Morning News Now
A weekday morning newscast launched in February 2017. It expanded WFXG's news schedule beyond prime time and was developed as the station increased local staffing and studio production in Martinez.
Network television programming · 1991
Fox network programming
WFXG's principal programming service is its Fox affiliation, carrying the network's entertainment, sports, and other scheduled programming for viewers in the Augusta market.
Sports broadcasting
Raycom Sports programming
During the Raycom ownership period, WFXG carried selected ACC football and basketball games as well as periodic sports events supplied by Raycom Sports.
Brand decisions
2018
Divestiture to Lockwood Broadcast GroupM&ABackground
Gray Television announced its acquisition of Raycom Media but already owned WRDW-TV in the Augusta market.
Action taken
Gray marketed WFXG and announced an agreement to sell it to Lockwood Broadcast Group.
Aftermath
Regulatory approval was received in December 2018, and Lockwood completed the purchase in January 2019.
2017
Launch of Fox 54 Morning News NowProduct launchBackground
WFXG sought to broaden its news offering and increase the amount of locally produced programming.
Action taken
The station launched a weekday morning newscast on February 6, initially scheduled from 5:30 to 9:00 a.m.
Aftermath
By 2019, WFXG had expanded to include a four-hour weekday morning block and additional locally produced evening newscasts.
2016
Digital transmission move to channel 31OtherBackground
WFXG had continued operating its post-transition digital signal on channel 51 despite an earlier plan to move.
Action taken
The station moved to digital channel 31 on August 1 and restored its effective radiated power to 413 kilowatts.
Aftermath
The change established the station's current digital-channel configuration and expanded transmission power.
2011
Move toward an in-house news operationStrategyBackground
WFXG had relied on WJBF to produce its prime-time newscast since 2003.
Action taken
The station announced a locally oriented operation using Augusta-based multimedia journalists and production support from WTOC-TV in Savannah.
Aftermath
The change brought higher-definition production and expanded local news capacity, with later additions to the morning and early-evening schedules.
Recent events
- 2019
Lockwood Broadcast Group completes WFXG acquisition[1]
M&A
Lockwood Broadcast Group completed its purchase of WFXG on January 2, 2019.
- 2018
Gray places WFXG on the market after Raycom acquisition[1]
M&A
Gray Television announced its acquisition of Raycom Media and subsequently marketed WFXG because it already owned another Augusta station.
- 2011
WFXG announces in-house news operation[1]
Product launch
The station announced a locally oriented news operation developed with support from Raycom sister station WTOC-TV.
- 2003
WFXG begins outsourced Fox 54 News at 10[1]
Product launch
A news-sharing agreement with WJBF brought a nightly prime-time newscast to WFXG, produced from WJBF's Augusta facilities.
- 1991
WFXG launches as Augusta's Fox affiliate[1]
Product launch
WFXG began full-power broadcasting in May 1991 and immediately joined the Fox network.
Sources1 sources
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