WJAC-TV

WJAC-TV is a full-power television station licensed to Johnstown, Pennsylvania, and serving the Johnstown–Altoona–State College designated market area. The station broadcasts on virtual channel 6 and is affiliated primarily with NBC, while its fourth digital subchannel carries The CW Plus under the Alleghenies CW6 brand. Its principal studios, master-control facilities, and certain shared operations for other local stations are located on Old Hickory Lane in Upper Yoder Township. The station's transmitter is situated in Laurel Ridge State Park near the Cambria–Westmoreland county line. WJAC-TV began broadcasting on September 15, 1949, under the ownership of the Johnstown Automotive Company, which also owned WJAC radio. It initially transmitted on VHF channel 13 and carried programming from NBC, CBS, ABC, and DuMont. The station moved to VHF channel 6 in 1952. As other stations entered the market and national networks changed, WJAC gradually became principally associated with NBC. It remained a long-running source of local news, weather, sports, public-affairs programming, and community features for the Alleghenies region. During its early decades, WJAC developed a strong local-programming identity. Programs such as Scholastic Quiz, which featured area high-school students, and Seniors Today, aimed at older viewers, became established parts of the schedule. The station also produced a local edition of Romper Room. Its historic slogan, “Serving Millions from Atop the Alleghenies,” emphasized its mountain-top transmitter and regional reach. Later branding included “Coverage You Can Count On” and, from 2011, “6 News.” Ownership changed several times. The Johnstown Automotive Company sold the station to the estate of Anderson H. Walters, owner of The Tribune-Democrat, during the 1960s. The Walters interests retained channel 6 after selling the newspaper's radio properties in the 1980s, then sold WJAC-TV to Sunrise Television in 1997. Cox Enterprises acquired the station in 2000, together with WTOV-TV and other television properties. Cox placed WJAC-TV and several sister stations on the market in 2012, and Sinclair Broadcast Group announced an agreement to acquire them in February 2013. Regulatory approval followed in April, and the transaction closed on May 2, 2013. WJAC-TV has also participated in a complex local television operating structure. Since 2008, it has produced or supplied news programming for Fox affiliate WWCP-TV and ABC affiliate WATM-TV through a news-sharing arrangement. Sinclair later provided services to the Johnstown-licensed Fox station, owned by Cunningham Broadcasting, and to WATM-TV, owned by Palm Television and operated by Cunningham under a local marketing arrangement. A proposed 2013 transaction that would have brought WWCP-TV under Cunningham ownership and expanded Sinclair-related control of the market was abandoned before completion. The station has repeatedly used digital subchannels to broaden its programming. Its second subchannel carried NBC Weather Plus before carrying the Retro Television Network and then MeTV. MeTV was replaced by Charge! in September 2022. The fourth subchannel formerly carried TBD; after a 2019 announcement, it became the market's full-time CW Plus outlet in September of that year. WJAC-TV completed the United States digital television transition on June 12, 2009, ending analog transmission on channel 6 while retaining virtual channel 6 through its digital signal on UHF channel 34. Today, WJAC-TV combines network entertainment and news programming with local newscasts, weather, sports, digital distribution, and syndicated or multicast programming. It has maintained reporting operations in Altoona, State College, and DuBois, although cost reductions led to the closure of the Altoona bureau in 2022 and consolidation of the State College operation. The station continues to serve a geographically challenging market shaped by mountain ridges, dispersed communities, cable car…

WJAC-TV signed on in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, on September 15, 1949. It was established by the Johnstown Automotive Company alongside WJAC radio and initially operated on VHF channel 13. The station carried programs from NBC, CBS, ABC, and DuMont, reflecting the network affiliations common among early American television stations. In 1952, it moved to VHF channel 6, the channel with which it has remained identified. As the Johnstown television market developed, WJAC gradually became primarily an NBC affiliate. CBS programming left the station after a competing outlet signed on in 1953, while DuMont programming ended after that network ceased operations in 1955. A limited amount of ABC programming continued for several decades, but ABC's local presence was later assumed by WATM-TV in 1988. The station changed ownership during the 1960s when the Johnstown Automotive Company sold the WJAC properties to the estate of Anderson H. Walters, whose interests included The Tribune-Democrat. Federal Communications Commission cross-ownership rules eventually required the Walters estate to separate the newspaper and radio assets. The radio stations were sold in 1984, while channel 6 remained with the Walters interests until 1997, when it was sold to Sunrise Television. Cox Enterprises acquired WJAC-TV and sister station WTOV-TV in 2000. The Cox relationship produced occasional joint marketing with WPXI in Pittsburgh and influenced WJAC's graphics and presentation style. WJAC built a notable reputation for locally originated programming. Scholastic Quiz brought high-school students into a televised competition, while Seniors Today focused on issues and subjects relevant to older viewers. The station also produced a local version of Romper Room. Its news operation evolved through several branded formats, including The News Today, The News Tonight, 11th Hour News, and later Channel 6 News, WJAC-TV News, and 6 News. Local weather and sports segments were given distinctive identities in earlier decades. In January 2008, WJAC entered a news-sharing arrangement with WWCP-TV and WATM-TV. It began producing WWCP's Fox 8 News at 10 and supplied additional news updates for WATM. A simulcast of WJAC's late newscast on WATM continued from 2008 until 2011. The arrangement made WJAC an important production center for local television news across the market. Digital broadcasting expanded the station's services. WJAC carried NBC Weather Plus on a second digital channel before moving through Retro Television Network and MeTV affiliations. MeTV was replaced by Charge! in 2022. The fourth digital channel first carried TBD and then became a CW Plus outlet in September 2019, branded Alleghenies CW6. The service gave the Johnstown–Altoona market a full-time local CW outlet rather than relying principally on cable carriage from Pittsburgh. Cox placed WJAC-TV and several other stations on the market in 2012. Sinclair Broadcast Group announced its purchase of the stations in February 2013, received FCC approval in April, and completed the transaction on May 2. A related attempt to acquire WWCP-TV through Cunningham Broadcasting in 2013 did not close after the seller reported that the transaction had fallen through in February 2014. WJAC ended analog broadcasting on June 12, 2009, as part of the nationwide digital transition. Its digital signal uses UHF channel 34 while retaining virtual channel 6. The station maintains regional reach through translators and cable carriage in parts of Pennsylvania, Maryland, and West Virginia. Its reporting footprint has included bureaus in Altoona, State College, and DuBois; the Altoona bureau closed in 2022 as part of a cost-reduction program, while reporting resources remained in the region. WJAC-TV continues to operate as an NBC affiliate and regional news organization under Sinclair ownership.

1. 2022Charge! replaces MeTV

   WJAC-DT2 changes its multicast affiliation from MeTV to Charge!

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2. 2019CW Plus launches on WJAC-DT4

   The station launches a full-time CW Plus service branded Alleghenies CW6.

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3. 2013Sinclair ownership begins

   Sinclair completes its acquisition of WJAC-TV from Cox on May 2.

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4. 2012Local news moves to high definition

   WJAC-TV becomes the first station in its market to broadcast local news in full high definition.

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5. 2011Adopts 6 News branding

   The station changes its news identity to 6 News and adopts a presentation package associated with WPXI.

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6. 2009Digital transition completed

   Analog transmission ends on June 12, with digital broadcasting continuing on UHF channel 34 and virtual channel 6.

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7. 2008News-sharing agreement begins

   WJAC-TV starts producing or supplying news programming for WWCP-TV and WATM-TV.

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8. 2000Cox Enterprises acquisition

   Cox acquires WJAC-TV together with WTOV-TV and links the station commercially with other Cox television properties.

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9. 1997Sunrise Television acquisition

   The Walters interests sell WJAC-TV to Sunrise Television.

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10. 1988ABC programming shifts to WATM-TV

    The market's local ABC affiliation moves to WATM-TV, ending WJAC-TV's longstanding limited ABC schedule.

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11. 1952Moves to channel 6

    WJAC-TV changes its VHF assignment from channel 13 to channel 6.

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12. 1949WJAC-TV signs on

    The station begins commercial broadcasting in Johnstown on September 15, initially using VHF channel 13.

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A regional broadcast news and entertainment station positioned as a dependable source of local information for the Alleghenies, supported by NBC network affiliation, a CW Plus multicast service, and shared news operations with other stations in the market.

• WJAC-TV NBC serviceBroadcast television1949

  The station's primary service on virtual channel 6 combines NBC network programming with locally produced news, weather, sports, public-affairs features, syndicated programs, and community information for the Johnstown–Altoona–State College market.

• 6 NewsLocal news

  WJAC-TV's local news operation covers breaking news, weather, public safety, politics, education, business, sports, and community events across the Alleghenies. The operation also supplies selected news programming to related stations in the market.

• Alleghenies CW6Digital multicast television2019

  The station's fourth digital subchannel carries The CW Plus, including CW network content and a packaged schedule of syndicated programming for smaller markets. Sinclair handles local advertising and promotional functions.

• Charge!Digital multicast television2022

  WJAC-DT2 carries Charge!, a multicast network centered on action-oriented movies and television programming. It replaced MeTV on the subchannel in September 2022.

• 2019Alleghenies CW6 launch

  Johnstown–Altoona–State College

  WJAC promoted the launch of The CW Plus on its fourth digital subchannel as Alleghenies CW6, creating a full-time local CW service.

  Outcome. The service replaced TBD and expanded the station's multicast entertainment offering.

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• 200960th-anniversary campaign

  Johnstown–Altoona–State College

  WJAC-TV promoted its 60th year of broadcasting with anniversary commercials and a variation of the historic “Serving Millions from Atop the Alleghenies” slogan.

  Outcome. The campaign connected the station's early regional identity with its contemporary coverage positioning.

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• 2008Coverage You Can Count On

  Johnstown–Altoona–State College

  WJAC used the station promise “Coverage You Can Count On,” later combining it with language drawn from its historic Alleghenies slogan.

  Outcome. The slogan became part of the station's news and promotional identity during the period preceding the 60th-anniversary campaign.

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• 2022Consolidate regional reporting operationsStrategy

  The station adjusted its bureau structure as part of a cost-reduction effort.

  What changed. WJAC closed its Altoona bureau and consolidated its State College operation while retaining some regional reporting personnel.

  Aftermath. The station continued coverage of Altoona and State College through assigned staff and centralized operations.

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• 2019Launch CW Plus on the fourth digital subchannelProduct launch

  The market had not previously had a full-time over-the-air CW affiliate, relying in part on cable carriage of a Pittsburgh-area station.

  What changed. WJAC replaced TBD on WJAC-DT4 with The CW Plus and branded the service Alleghenies CW6.

  Aftermath. The CW received a full-time local broadcast outlet in the Johnstown–Altoona market.

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• 2011Rebrand the news operation as 6 NewsStrategy

  The station sought a consistent identity after earlier use of Channel 6 News and WJAC-TV News.

  What changed. WJAC changed its news branding to 6 News and refreshed its graphics and music.

  Aftermath. The new identity remained part of the station's contemporary local-news presentation.

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• 2008Enter news-sharing arrangements with WWCP-TV and WATM-TVStrategy

  The Johnstown–Altoona market included multiple commercial stations requiring local news production and scheduling support.

  What changed. WJAC began producing WWCP-TV's prime-time newscast and supplying news updates and, for a period, a late-newscast simulcast for WATM-TV.

  Aftermath. WJAC became a central local-news production hub for the three commercial stations.

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• 2022Altoona bureau closes amid cost reductions

  WJAC-TV closes its Altoona bureau while retaining a photographer assigned to the area and consolidating other regional reporting operations.

  Other
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• 2019WJAC-TV launches full-time CW Plus service

  The station replaces TBD on its fourth digital subchannel with The CW Plus, marketed locally as Alleghenies CW6.

  Product launch
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• 2013Sinclair agrees to acquire WJAC-TV from Cox

  Sinclair announces a deal to acquire WJAC-TV, WTOV-TV, and other stations being divested by Cox Enterprises; the transaction closes after FCC approval.

  M&A
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• 2009WJAC-TV celebrates six decades on the air

  The station marks its 60th anniversary with promotional spots and a revival of language derived from its historic Alleghenies slogan.

  Campaign
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• 2008WJAC-TV begins producing shared-market news programming

  A news-sharing agreement begins under which WJAC supplies programming for WWCP-TV and WATM-TV, including WWCP's prime-time newscast.

  Other
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• 1949WJAC-TV begins broadcasting

  The station signs on September 15 as a Johnstown Automotive Company television outlet and initially carries programming from all four major networks.

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1. WJAC-TV
2. WJAC-TV official website