WIVT
ABC-affiliated television station serving Binghamton, New York, operated by Nexstar Media Group.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
WIVT is a full-power television station serving Binghamton, New York, and surrounding communities in the Southern Tier. Broadcasting on channel 34, the station is affiliated with the American Broadcasting Company and operates alongside low-power Class A NBC affiliate WBGH-CD under a local twinstick arrangement. Both stations are owned by Nexstar Media Group and share facilities on Ingraham Hill Road in the town of Binghamton, near WIVT's transmitter site. The station began broadcasting on November 24, 1962, as WBJA-TV. Its original permit holder was Alfred E. Anscombe, a Buffalo broadcaster who had secured authorization for a third television station in the Binghamton area. The station was initially associated with UHF channel 56, but Anscombe successfully obtained a move to channel 34 after changes in the regional television landscape created an opportunity for a stronger and more economical signal allocation. WIVT has maintained an ABC affiliation throughout its operating history. Ownership and branding changed several times. Pinnacle Communications acquired the station in 1978 and changed its call sign to WMGC-TV, promoting it for a period as “Magic 34.” Citadel Communications purchased the station in 1986, followed by USA Broadcast Group in 1995. The Ackerley Group acquired the station in 1997 and changed the call letters to WIVT in February 1998. The new calls were derived from WIXT, Ackerley's Syracuse station, which later became WSYR-TV. WIVT suffered a major operational disruption in May 1998 when a tornado destroyed its Ingraham Hill studios and transmission tower. The station temporarily restored a cable feed for nearby viewers but remained off the air for several months while rebuilding. During the recovery period, it used facilities associated with public broadcaster WSKG-TV in Vestal. WIVT became a sister station to WBGH after Ackerley acquired that station in 2000. Ackerley was subsequently absorbed by Clear Channel Communications in 2002, and the television group was later sold to Newport Television in a transaction completed in 2008. Nexstar acquired WIVT and WBGH from Newport in 2012. WIVT's local-news operation has undergone repeated changes in scale. The station historically faced strong competition in a relatively small, two-station market and generally ranked behind its principal competitors. Ackerley expanded the newsroom using resources from its Syracuse operations, but later owners reduced local production. Morning and midday news were eliminated around 2002, weekend newscasts ended in 2003, and the local sports department was closed in 2006. In 2009, Newport consolidated much of the news operation with WETM-TV in Elmira, resulting in substantial staffing reductions and the simulcast of WETM programming. A Binghamton-focused evening newscast returned later in June 2009. Initially produced largely from WETM's Elmira facilities, the program eventually shifted production of news and sports segments back to Binghamton, with locally based photojournalists contributing coverage. The station also used prerecorded regional weather content and continued some programming relationships with Syracuse-based outlets. WIVT's present identity centers on ABC network programming, locally oriented news and weather, digital broadcasting, and its operational partnership with WBGH-CD.
History
WIVT traces its history to Alfred E. Anscombe, a Buffalo broadcasting executive who received a construction permit on April 25, 1961, for a third television station in the Binghamton market. The proposed station was initially assigned UHF channel 56 and was named WBJA-TV after Anscombe's wife, Beth J. Anscombe. Anscombe later pursued a different channel allocation after a regional license consolidation involving WILK-TV and WARM-TV opened a more favorable opportunity. The Federal Communications Commission ultimately authorized operation on analog channel 34. WBJA-TV signed on November 24, 1962, from facilities on Ingraham Hill south of Binghamton. It joined ABC at launch and has remained affiliated with the network. Anscombe envisioned building a larger broadcasting group, but only one additional station associated with the plan was established before WBJA and that station were sold in 1966 to a group led by Gerald Arthur, Oliver Lazare, and Jules Hessen. Pinnacle Communications acquired the station in 1978 and changed its call letters to WMGC-TV in October of that year. The new identity was promoted as “Magic 34,” although that branding was later dropped. Citadel Communications purchased WMGC in 1986. In 1995, Citadel sold the station to USA Broadcast Group, which soon changed its corporate name after a complaint from USA Network. The group placed its stations on the market in 1997, during a period when the future of the Binghamton network affiliations was unsettled. WSKG-TV considered acquiring WMGC and converting it to an NBC affiliate, but that possibility did not come to fruition. The Ackerley Group acquired the station in 1997 and changed its call letters to WIVT on February 26, 1998. The calls were modeled on Ackerley's Syracuse station, WIXT. Only a few months later, on May 31, a tornado destroyed WIVT's Ingraham Hill studio facilities and tower. The station restored a temporary cable feed in the immediate Binghamton area but was unable to broadcast normally for several months. It temporarily operated from WSKG-TV's facilities in Vestal while rebuilding. The disaster also damaged towers used by several local radio services. WIVT became a sister station to WBGH after Ackerley acquired that station in 2000. Ackerley merged with Clear Channel Communications in 2002. Clear Channel later agreed to sell its television properties to Newport Television, a group formed with backing from Providence Equity Partners; the transaction closed in March 2008. Newport announced the sale of WIVT and WBGH to Nexstar Broadcasting Group in July 2012, and the transaction was completed in December of that year. The stations remain part of Nexstar's broadcast portfolio. The station's news strategy has changed repeatedly. It was historically a smaller competitor in a market dominated for long periods by two principal commercial stations. Ackerley expanded its newsroom and shared resources with WIXT in Syracuse and other upstate New York stations. WIVT began simulcasting evening news on WBGH in 2000. Following the tornado and subsequent rebuilding, however, the cost of maintaining a large local operation proved difficult to sustain. Weekday morning and midday newscasts were removed around 2002, weekend news ended in 2003, and the sports department was eliminated in 2006. The 11 p.m. program was also reduced to a brief update. In June 2009, Newport announced a broader consolidation in which WIVT and WBGH would share news production with WETM-TV in Elmira. Most of the news staff and production personnel were dismissed, although selected editorial and operational personnel remained in Binghamton. The stations initially simulcast WETM newscasts, with limited local weather content. A dedicated Binghamton evening newscast returned on June 28, 2009. It was initially produced from Elmira but later incorporated news and sports segments produced at the Binghamton facility, supported by local photojournalists. WIVT subsequently focused its schedule on ABC programming, a limited local news service, weather, and its shared operation with WBGH. WIVT completed the United States full-power digital transition after midnight on June 12, 2009. Its analog channel 34 service ended, and its digital signal moved from transitional VHF channel 4 to UHF channel 34. WBGH's programming was later carried in high definition on a WIVT digital subchannel, and WBGH completed its own low-power digital conversion in 2015.
- 2015
WBGH completes digital conversion
[1]WBGH-CD completed its transition to digital broadcasting as part of the shared operation.
- 2012
Nexstar ownership begins
[1]Nexstar completed its purchase of WIVT and WBGH from Newport Television.
- 2009
Analog broadcasting ends
[1]WIVT ended its analog transmission and moved its post-transition digital service to UHF channel 34.
- 2000
WBGH becomes a sister station
[1]Ackerley's acquisition of WBGH created the station pair that later formed the WIVT/WBGH twinstick.
- 1998
WIVT identity adopted
[1]Ackerley changed the call letters to WIVT on February 26.
- 1998
Tornado damages broadcast facilities
[1]A tornado destroyed the station's studio facilities and transmission tower, requiring temporary operations and rebuilding.
- 1978
Call sign changes to WMGC-TV
[1]Pinnacle Communications acquired the station and introduced the WMGC-TV identity, including the “Magic 34” branding.
- 1962
WBJA-TV signs on
[1]The station began broadcasting on November 24 from Ingraham Hill and joined ABC.
- 1961
Construction permit secured
[1]Alfred E. Anscombe obtained authorization for a new television station intended to serve Binghamton.
Products and positioning
Local broadcast television station combining ABC network programming with Binghamton-area news, weather, and community coverage.
Broadcast television · 1962
ABC network programming
WIVT's primary programming service is the ABC network schedule, supplemented by station promotions, announcements, and locally relevant material. The ABC affiliation has been continuous since the station began broadcasting as WBJA-TV in 1962.
News broadcasting · 1962
Local news and weather
WIVT provides local coverage for Binghamton and the surrounding Southern Tier, including news, weather, and selected sports content. Production has varied over time, including periods of shared programming with WETM-TV and Syracuse-based weather resources.
Digital television · 2009
WIVT digital broadcast service
Following the 2009 digital transition, WIVT operated its full-power digital service on UHF channel 34. Its digital multiplex has also supported programming associated with sister station WBGH.
Television station partnership · 2000
WBGH-CD shared service
WIVT operates alongside WBGH-CD in a shared ownership and facilities arrangement. The stations have combined resources for news, engineering, scheduling, and digital distribution while retaining distinct network affiliations.
Brand decisions
2012
Sale to NexstarM&ABackground
Newport Television announced the divestiture of WIVT and WBGH as part of a broader station sale.
Action taken
Nexstar Broadcasting Group acquired the two stations, completing the transaction on December 3.
Aftermath
WIVT became part of Nexstar's national local-television portfolio and continued operating with WBGH-CD.
2009
Consolidate news production with WETM-TVStrategyBackground
Newport Television implemented company-wide cost reductions affecting WIVT and WBGH.
Action taken
Much of the stations' news operation was transferred to WETM-TV in Elmira, while a smaller Binghamton presence was retained.
Aftermath
After initially simulcasting WETM programming, WIVT and WBGH restored a Binghamton-focused evening newscast later in 2009.
2002
Reduce weekday local-news scheduleStrategyBackground
After the Ackerley ownership period and the 1998 tornado recovery, the station faced the cost pressures of sustaining a large local newsroom in a competitive small-market environment.
Action taken
WIVT eliminated its weekday morning and midday newscasts.
Aftermath
The station continued to reduce its local-news footprint in subsequent years, including ending weekend newscasts in 2003 and closing its sports department in 2006.
1962
Move from UHF channel 56 to channel 34OtherBackground
The original construction authorization contemplated analog channel 56, but regional license changes created an opportunity to use channel 34, which offered a more favorable coverage and cost profile.
Action taken
Anscombe pursued and secured a revised construction permit, and the station launched on channel 34.
Aftermath
The channel 34 identity became a long-term part of the station's operating history and later branding.
Sources2 sources
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