WFXU

WFXU is a television station licensed to Live Oak, Florida, and serving the Tallahassee, Florida–Thomasville, Georgia designated market area. The station broadcasts on channels 15 and 57 and is owned by Gray Media, which also owns CBS affiliate WCTV. WFXU and WCTV share studio facilities on Halstead Boulevard in Tallahassee, while WFXU's transmitter is located in Hamilton County between Jasper and Jennings. The station was established to improve television coverage in the eastern part of the market. It began broadcasting on June 15, 1998, as a full-time satellite of Fox affiliate WTLH, using an analog UHF channel 57 signal. Its ownership changed several times during its early years, moving from L.O. Telecast to KB Prime Media in 1999 and then to WTLH owner Pegasus Communications in 2002. The station separated from WTLH in April 2002 and became a UPN affiliate. Because its transmitter was positioned on the eastern edge of the market, its over-the-air signal did not adequately reach Tallahassee itself. WTLF was therefore launched in May 2003 as a full-time satellite intended to extend the service across the market. WFXU's network identity changed repeatedly as U.S. broadcast networks were reorganized. In 2005, WFXU and WTLF moved from UPN to The WB through the WB 100+ service. After The WB and UPN announced their merger into The CW in 2006, the WFXU/WTLF operation became the market's primary CW outlet, with a simulcast on a digital subchannel of WTLH. The CW arrangement began when the network launched in September 2006. Following ownership changes and financial difficulties affecting Pegasus Communications, WFXU's operating pattern became intermittent, and the station was periodically silent while efforts were made to preserve its broadcast license. The station later returned to regular service through several programming identities. It carried Soul of the South beginning in 2013 and changed to Retro TV in 2016. On April 30, 2018, it adopted MeTV and MyNetworkTV programming. The station is now programmed primarily as an independent outlet while maintaining a secondary MyNetworkTV affiliation. Its broader distribution strategy includes relaying selected WFXU subchannels on WCTV's stronger transmitter, helping compensate for WFXU's limited ability to reach Tallahassee directly. Gray Media agreed to acquire WFXU and translator WUFX-LD in 2017, completing the transaction on December 27 of that year. The acquisition placed WFXU in the same ownership group as WCTV and WCJB-TV. In January 2026, WFXU began airing two weekday local newscasts produced by WCTV: a morning broadcast at 7 a.m. and a nightly broadcast at 10 p.m. This programming change followed the end of a separate WCTV news-sharing arrangement involving WTWC-DT2. WFXU therefore combines syndicated and network-related entertainment programming with selected local news from its Gray Media sister station.

WFXU began broadcasting on June 15, 1998, as a full-time satellite of WTLH, the Fox affiliate serving the Tallahassee area. Its purpose was to strengthen WTLH's reach in the eastern portion of the market, where the principal station's signal was less effective. WFXU initially transmitted an analog signal on UHF channel 57 from a site near Jasper, Florida, and was originally owned by L.O. Telecast, Inc. Ownership changed to KB Prime Media in 1999 and then to Pegasus Communications, the owner of WTLH, in 2002. The latter transaction received approval despite local duopoly limitations because Pegasus had helped finance WFXU's construction. In April 2002, WFXU separated from WTLH and became a UPN affiliate. Its coverage remained incomplete, however, because the transmitter was located toward the eastern edge of the Tallahassee–Thomasville market. To improve regional reach, Pegasus launched WTLF on May 7, 2003, as a full-time satellite of WFXU. Pegasus encountered financial problems in 2004 amid a dispute with DirecTV concerning the marketing of satellite television service in rural areas, and the company filed for bankruptcy protection in June of that year. On April 1, 2005, WFXU and WTLF switched to The WB through the WB 100+ service. The following year, The WB and UPN announced plans to merge into The CW. Although initial plans involved another station, the final arrangement made WFXU and WTLF the primary CW affiliates for the market, with WTLH's second digital subchannel also carrying the network. The new affiliation began when The CW launched on September 18, 2006. Most of Pegasus's stations were sold in 2006 to CP Media, but WFXU was sold separately to Budd Broadcasting in November. During this period the station operated inconsistently. CW programming was carried through related facilities, while WFXU itself was periodically silent. The station returned temporarily in 2010 and again in 2011, actions intended to prevent the loss of its broadcast license. In December 2011, its call sign was briefly changed to WTXI to hold that identifier for a co-owned Miami station; the WFXU call letters were restored about a week later. WFXU also pursued a possible transmitter relocation. In 2008, it applied to move its digital facility west of High Springs near Gainesville, potentially redirecting its service toward Gainesville and other parts of North Florida. The Federal Communications Commission dismissed that application later the same year. A separate construction permit contemplated a high-power facility in northern Columbia County, north of Lake City, that could have provided rimshot coverage toward Gainesville, Jacksonville, and Waycross. That permit later expired. The station returned to the air on September 14, 2013, with Soul of the South programming and later adopted Retro TV on April 8, 2016. Gray Television announced its acquisition of WFXU and translator WUFX-LD on June 26, 2017, for a reported purchase price of $600,000. The transaction closed on December 27, making WFXU a sister station of WCTV and WCJB-TV within the Gray group. On April 30, 2018, WFXU began carrying MeTV and MyNetworkTV. Its current operation is primarily independent, with MyNetworkTV retained as a secondary affiliation. Because WFXU's transmitter remains unable to adequately reach Tallahassee proper, selected subchannels are relayed through WCTV's transmitter in Thomas County, Georgia. This arrangement extends the effective availability of WFXU-related programming across the wider market. On January 5, 2026, the station added WCTV-produced weekday newscasts at 7 a.m. and 10 p.m., expanding the local programming available under the WFXU brand.

• 2026

  WCTV newscasts are added

  [1]WFXUen.wikipedia.org

  WFXU begins airing WCTV-produced weekday morning and late-evening newscasts on January 5.

• 2018

  MeTV and MyNetworkTV programming begins

  [1]WFXUen.wikipedia.org

  WFXU adopts MeTV and MyNetworkTV on April 30.

• 2017

  Gray agrees to acquire WFXU

  [1]WFXUen.wikipedia.org

  Gray Television announces a $600,000 acquisition of WFXU and WUFX-LD.

• 2016

  Retro TV affiliation

  [1]WFXUen.wikipedia.org

  WFXU switches to Retro TV on April 8.

• 2013

  Return as a Soul of the South affiliate

  [1]WFXUen.wikipedia.org

  WFXU returns to the air on September 14 with Soul of the South programming.

• 2006

  WFXU joins The CW

  [1]WFXUen.wikipedia.org

  WFXU and WTLF become the market's primary CW outlets when the merged network launches.

• 2005

  The WB affiliation begins

  [1]WFXUen.wikipedia.org

  WFXU and WTLF replace UPN programming with The WB through WB 100+.

• 2003

  WTLF launches as a satellite

  [1]WFXUen.wikipedia.org

  WTLF begins operation on May 7 as a full-time satellite intended to extend WFXU's coverage.

• 2002

  WFXU becomes a UPN affiliate

  [1]WFXUen.wikipedia.org

  After acquisition by Pegasus Communications, WFXU separates from WTLH and affiliates with UPN.

• 1999

  First ownership transfer

  [1]WFXUen.wikipedia.org

  L.O. Telecast sells WFXU to KB Prime Media.

• 1998

  WFXU begins broadcasting

  [1]WFXUen.wikipedia.org

  WFXU launches on June 15 as a full-time satellite of WTLH, broadcasting from near Jasper on analog UHF channel 57.

A locally licensed North Florida broadcast station that operates primarily as an independent television outlet, supplemented by MyNetworkTV and MeTV programming and selected local news from sister station WCTV.

• Television station · 1998

  WFXU broadcast service

  The station's primary broadcast service, licensed to Live Oak and serving the Tallahassee–Thomasville television market. Its programming is primarily independent, supplemented by syndicated entertainment and affiliated programming.

• Classic television network programming · 2018

  MeTV programming

  WFXU carries MeTV programming as part of its current entertainment schedule. The service is oriented toward classic television series and complements the station's broader independent programming role.

• Television network programming · 2018

  MyNetworkTV programming

  MyNetworkTV is maintained as a secondary affiliation on WFXU. It provides scheduled network-related programming alongside the station's independent and syndicated content.

• Local news · 2026

  WCTV-produced newscasts

  Since January 2026, WFXU has carried local newscasts produced by sister station WCTV on weekdays at 7 a.m. and nightly at 10 p.m.

• 2026

  Add WCTV-produced local newsStrategy

  Background

  A prior WCTV news-sharing arrangement with WTWC-DT2 ended at the start of 2026.

  Action taken

  WFXU began airing WCTV-produced weekday news at 7 a.m. and nightly at 10 p.m.

  Aftermath

  The move expanded the local news presence available on the WFXU service and strengthened coordination with its Gray Media sister station.

  Source

• 2018

  Adopt MeTV and MyNetworkTV programmingStrategy

  Background

  Following its return to regular operation and its earlier affiliations with Soul of the South and Retro TV, WFXU reorganized its programming identity.

  Action taken

  The station began carrying MeTV and MyNetworkTV on April 30.

  Aftermath

  WFXU operated primarily as an independent station while retaining MyNetworkTV as a secondary affiliation.

  Source

• 2017

  Sale to Gray TelevisionM&A

  Background

  WFXU and translator WUFX-LD were offered as broadcast assets after years of changing ownership and operating arrangements.

  Action taken

  Gray Television agreed to acquire both stations for $600,000; the transaction closed on December 27.

  Aftermath

  WFXU became a sister station of WCTV and WCJB-TV and gained access to the operating resources of the Gray group.

  Purchase price. $600,000 (Announced June 26, 2017; transaction completed December 27, 2017)

  Source

• 2006

  Adopt The CW affiliationStrategy

  Background

  The WB and UPN planned to combine their operations into The CW.

  Action taken

  WFXU and WTLF became the primary CW affiliates, with a simulcast on WTLH-DT2.

  Aftermath

  The arrangement began with The CW's launch in September 2006, although WFXU later operated intermittently.

  Source

• 2005

  Switch to The WBStrategy

  Background

  The WB was seeking broadcast distribution in the market while UPN programming moved to WCTV.

  Action taken

  WFXU and WTLF began carrying The WB through WB 100+.

  Aftermath

  The affiliation was later superseded by The CW after The WB and UPN announced their merger.

  Source

• 2002

  Break from WTLH and move to UPNStrategy

  Background

  WFXU had initially operated as a satellite of WTLH, but its owners pursued a separate network identity.

  Action taken

  The station became a UPN affiliate in April 2002.

  Aftermath

  The change began a succession of network affiliations that later included The WB, The CW, Soul of the South, Retro TV, MeTV, and MyNetworkTV.

  Source

• 2026

  WFXU adds WCTV-produced local newscasts[1]WFXUen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  Beginning January 5, WFXU started airing WCTV-produced weekday newscasts at 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. after a separate WCTV news-sharing arrangement with WTWC-DT2 ended.

• 2018

  WFXU adopts MeTV and MyNetworkTV programming[1]WFXUen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  WFXU began carrying MeTV and MyNetworkTV programming, establishing its current principal network-related programming identity.

• 2017

  Gray Television agrees to acquire WFXU[1]WFXUen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  Gray Television agreed to purchase WFXU and translator WUFX-LD for $600,000, subject to regulatory approval.

• 2016

  WFXU switches to Retro TV[1]WFXUen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The station changed its programming affiliation to Retro TV.

• 2013

  WFXU returns with Soul of the South programming[1]WFXUen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  After periods of silence, WFXU returned to the air as an affiliate of Soul of the South.

• 2006

  WFXU becomes part of The CW's launch lineup[1]WFXUen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  Following the planned merger of The WB and UPN into The CW, WFXU and WTLF became the primary CW outlet for the market, with a simulcast on WTLH's second digital channel.

• 2005

  WFXU changes from UPN to The WB[1]WFXUen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  WFXU and its satellite WTLF began carrying The WB through the WB 100+ service, replacing the station's earlier UPN affiliation.

• 1998

  WFXU begins broadcasting as a satellite of WTLH[1]WFXUen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  WFXU began broadcasting on June 15 as a full-time satellite of Fox affiliate WTLH, with the goal of improving coverage in the eastern portion of the Tallahassee market.

1. 1WFXUen.wikipedia.org
2. 2WCTV station informationwctv.tv