WJHL-TV

WJHL-TV is a local television station licensed to Johnson City, Tennessee, and serving the Tri-Cities television market, which includes communities in northeastern Tennessee, southwestern Virginia, and western North Carolina. The station broadcasts on virtual channel 11 and is primarily affiliated with CBS. Its second digital subchannel, WJHL-DT2, carries ABC programming under the ABC Tri-Cities identity. The station combines network programming with locally produced news, weather, traffic, public-affairs, and community programming. The station began broadcasting on October 27, 1953, after a lengthy licensing process that had been delayed by the Federal Communications Commission's postwar freeze on new television licenses. It was created by the owners of WJHL radio, Hanes Lancaster Sr. and his son, Hanes Lancaster Jr. The younger Lancaster was an advocate for entering television even when household television ownership in the region was limited. The station initially operated from the former main post office building in downtown Johnson City, a location that has remained associated with its operations. WJHL-TV's launch was nearly disrupted by the collapse of a planned transmission tower at Tannery Knob shortly before the intended sign-on date. The station ultimately went on the air using a temporary antenna arrangement and later improved its regional coverage by relocating its transmitter first to Buffalo Mountain and then to Holston Mountain. Its elevated transmitter sites helped it reach the scattered communities of the Tri-Cities area and portions of three states. At launch, WJHL-TV carried programming from CBS, NBC, ABC, and DuMont, although CBS was its principal network relationship because of the radio station's existing CBS connection. NBC moved to WCYB-TV when that station began operating in 1956. WJHL continued sharing ABC programming with WCYB until 1969, when WKPT-TV became the market's ABC outlet. ABC returned to the WJHL operation in 2016 through the station's second digital subchannel. The Lancaster family sold its radio interests in 1960 and sold WJHL-TV to Roy H. Park Broadcasting in 1964. Park Broadcasting later became Park Communications. Media General acquired Park Communications in 1997, bringing the station into a larger U.S. television group. Media General's later merger with Nexstar resulted in WJHL-TV becoming part of Nexstar Media Group's station portfolio. The station has used several identities over time, including TV 11, NewsChannel 11, and 11 Connects. It returned to the NewsChannel 11 branding in 2012. WJHL has also expanded its digital distribution through subchannels and online services. Its news operation has maintained bureaus in Kingsport, Bristol, and Greeneville in addition to the Johnson City facility. The station converted its local newscasts to high definition in October 2010, following an announcement earlier that year. WJHL-TV remains a small-market local broadcaster whose competitive role depends on regional news, severe-weather coverage, local sports and events, and its dual CBS and ABC distribution. The operation serves viewers through over-the-air broadcasting, cable and satellite carriage, digital subchannels, and web-based news and video products.

WJHL-TV traces its origins to WJHL radio, which Hanes Lancaster Sr. founded in 1938. Lancaster's son, Hanes Lancaster Jr., later promoted the idea of establishing a television station even though television ownership was still limited in the region. The family applied for a television license in 1948, but the application was delayed by the nationwide freeze on new television licenses. The license was finally granted in January 1953. The station prepared to launch from a former main post office building in downtown Johnson City. A planned 550-foot tower at Tannery Knob collapsed when its guy wires failed shortly before the intended debut. The accident damaged the tower and antenna and caused two injuries, but did not destroy the transmission equipment. Because the incident created additional financial and logistical pressure, the station used a smaller temporary antenna mounted on a wooden power pole before completing a more permanent transmission arrangement. WJHL-TV ultimately began broadcasting on October 27, 1953, after WROL-TV in Knoxville had become the first station in East Tennessee to sign on. WJHL-TV initially carried all four major television networks then available in its region: CBS, NBC, ABC, and DuMont. CBS was its principal affiliation, reflecting the long-standing relationship of WJHL radio. NBC moved to WCYB-TV after that station began broadcasting in 1956, while DuMont disappeared after the network ceased operations. WJHL and WCYB continued to share ABC programming until WKPT-TV launched in 1969 and assumed the market's ABC affiliation. The station's transmitter was moved to Buffalo Mountain in 1954, improving coverage of Bristol, Kingsport, and surrounding communities. In 1969, it moved again to Holston Mountain, where the higher antenna site provided broad regional coverage. The station's familiar branding also reflected local geography: an early logo used a U.S. highway shield containing the number 11, linking the station to U.S. 11 and its alternate routes through the Tri-Cities area. The Lancaster family sold its radio properties in 1960 and sold WJHL-TV to Roy H. Park Broadcasting in 1964. Park Broadcasting was later renamed Park Communications. Media General acquired Park Communications in 1997. During the Media General era, the station shifted from the TV 11 identity to NewsChannel 11, experimented with the 11 Connects brand beginning in 2009, and restored NewsChannel 11 in 2012. WJHL expanded its digital operations in stages. It began digital transmission in 1998 and operated a 24-hour cable weather service beginning in late 2006. That service was initially represented on a digital subchannel and later gave way to other programming. WJHL-DT2 adopted a MeTV entertainment format in 2011. In February 2016, following an agreement involving Media General and ABC, the subchannel became the Tri-Cities ABC outlet under the ABC Tri-Cities name. Selected WJHL newscasts were simulcast there, alongside additional local evening newscasts. The news department has been a central part of the station's identity. WJHL previously simulcast news on WKPT, but those arrangements ended in 2006. The station introduced the local daytime program Daytime Tri-Cities in 2008 and reported taking the lead in the market's late-news ratings during that year's November ratings period. WJHL announced a high-definition conversion in 2010 and began airing local newscasts in HD that October. Its regional reporting footprint includes bureaus in Kingsport, Bristol, and Greeneville. Media General later became part of Nexstar Media Group, which owns WJHL-TV today. The station continues to operate from downtown Johnson City, with its transmitter on Holston Mountain in the Cherokee National Forest, and remains a local CBS service with an ABC outlet on its second digital channel.

1. 2016WJHL-DT2 becomes ABC Tri-Cities

   The second digital channel became the Tri-Cities ABC affiliate on February 1.

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2. 2012NewsChannel 11 branding returns

   The station reverted from 11 Connects to its NewsChannel 11 identity.

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3. 2010Local newscasts move to high definition

   WJHL began broadcasting its local newscasts in high definition on October 4.

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4. 2009Brand changes to 11 Connects

   WJHL replaced its NewsChannel 11 identity with the 11 Connects brand.

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5. 2008Daytime Tri-Cities debuts

   The station introduced a locally produced daytime program.

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6. 2006Digital weather service launches

   WJHL-DT2 was established initially as a simulcast of the station's 24-hour cable weather channel.

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7. 1998Digital broadcasting begins

   The station began transmitting a digital signal.

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8. 1997Media General acquires Park Communications

   WJHL-TV became part of Media General through its acquisition of Park Communications.

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9. 1969Transmitter moves to Holston Mountain

   WJHL moved its transmitter to Holston Mountain, where it remains associated with the station's regional signal.

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10. 1964Acquired by Park Broadcasting

    Roy H. Park Broadcasting purchased WJHL-TV from the Lancaster family.

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11. 1954Transmitter moves to Buffalo Mountain

    The station relocated its transmitter to a higher site to improve coverage of the Tri-Cities region.

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12. 1953WJHL-TV signs on

    WJHL-TV began broadcasting on October 27 from Johnson City, Tennessee.

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13. 1948Television license application submitted

    The Lancaster family applied for a television license, but the application was delayed by the national freeze on new television licenses.

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14. 1938WJHL radio is founded

    Hanes Lancaster Sr. established the radio operation that later provided the foundation and CBS relationship for WJHL-TV.

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A regional broadcast-news outlet emphasizing local reporting, weather authority, and network television service for the Tri-Cities market.

• NewsChannel 11Local television news

  WJHL-TV's principal local-news identity, covering Johnson City and the wider Tri-Cities region. The service includes scheduled newscasts, breaking-news coverage, regional reporting, weather, traffic, and community information. The NewsChannel 11 name has been used in multiple periods, including its restoration in 2012 after a temporary 11 Connects branding phase.

• ABC Tri-CitiesDigital television network affiliate2016

  The identity used by WJHL-DT2 after it became the Tri-Cities area's ABC affiliate in February 2016. The subchannel carries ABC network programming and additional local newscasts, including evening broadcasts distinct from the main WJHL-TV schedule.

• Daytime Tri-CitiesLocal daytime television2008

  A locally produced daytime program introduced by WJHL in 2008. It was positioned as a community-oriented program within the station's local programming portfolio and featured local presenters and regional topics.

• WJHL weather serviceWeather television service2006

  A 24-hour cable weather channel launched in the mid-2000s and later represented through WJHL's digital-channel operations. The service was subsequently replaced on the relevant digital capacity by other programming.

• 2016Return ABC programming to the WJHL operationStrategy

  ABC had been carried in the market by WKPT-TV since 1969, while WJHL-DT2 was operating as a MeTV affiliate.

  What changed. Media General and ABC arranged for WJHL-DT2 to become the Tri-Cities ABC affiliate on February 1, 2016, under the ABC Tri-Cities identity.

  Aftermath. The change reunited ABC with the WJHL operation and added ABC-branded local newscasts to the second digital channel.

  • WKPT-TV — WKPT-TV lost its ABC affiliation; its related programming arrangements changed after the transition.
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• 2010Convert local newscasts to high definitionOther

  Local television stations were upgrading production systems as viewers increasingly expected high-definition news programming.

  What changed. WJHL announced the conversion in April and began airing its local newscasts in high definition on October 4.

  Aftermath. WJHL became the second station in the Tri-Cities market to present its newscasts in high definition.

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• 2008Retransmission-consent dispute with Inter Mountain CableOther

  Cable carriage rules allow broadcasters either to grant carriage without payment under must-carry arrangements or negotiate retransmission-consent fees.

  What changed. Inter Mountain Cable announced that it might remove WJHL from portions of its Eastern Kentucky lineup unless a carriage agreement was reached.

  Aftermath. The possible removal generated concern among officials in Fleming-Neon, who questioned whether it would comply with the cable operator's local franchise obligations. The eventual resolution is not specified in the reference material.

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• 2016ABC returns to the WJHL operation

  WJHL-DT2 became the Tri-Cities ABC affiliate, replacing its previous MeTV format and ending WKPT-TV's ABC affiliation.

  Product launch
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• 2010WJHL-TV converts local newscasts to high definition

  WJHL introduced high-definition production for its local newscasts, becoming the second station in the market to make the transition.

  Product generation
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• 2008Inter Mountain Cable retransmission dispute

  Inter Mountain Cable warned that it could remove WJHL from portions of its Eastern Kentucky lineup unless the companies reached a retransmission-consent agreement, prompting concern from local officials.

  PricingOther
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• 1998WJHL-TV launches a digital signal

  The station began digital broadcasting on its pre-transition UHF assignment.

  Product launch
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• 1964WJHL-TV is sold to Park Broadcasting

  The Lancaster family sold the television station to Roy H. Park's broadcasting company.

  M&A
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• 1954WJHL-TV moves its transmitter to Buffalo Mountain

  A higher transmitter location improved the station's reach across northeastern Tennessee, southwestern Virginia, and nearby parts of North Carolina.

  Other
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• 1953WJHL-TV begins broadcasting

  The station signed on from Johnson City on October 27, beginning service to the developing Tri-Cities television market.

  Other
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1. WJHL-TV
2. WJHL-TV official website