WKMG-TV
WKMG-TV is a CBS-affiliated television station serving Orlando and Central Florida, operating under the News 6 and ClickOrlando brands.
Last updated October 21, 2026
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Overview
WKMG-TV is a commercial television station licensed to Orlando, Florida, and affiliated with CBS. It broadcasts on channel 6 and serves the wider Central Florida market, including the Orlando metropolitan area and nearby communities. Its principal consumer-facing identities are News 6 for local television news and ClickOrlando for digital news, weather, video, and community information. The station is owned by Graham Media Group, the broadcast subsidiary of Graham Holdings Company. The station began broadcasting on July 1, 1954, as WDBO-TV, making it the first television station in Central Florida. It was established by the Orlando Broadcasting Company alongside WDBO radio. During its first years, WDBO-TV carried CBS programming while also presenting selected programs from ABC, DuMont, and NBC. Its local schedule included news, outdoor programming, children's entertainment, music, and other studio productions. The station became a sole CBS affiliate in 1958 after the Orlando market gained additional commercial television stations. Ownership changed several times during the station's first three decades. In 1957, the WDBO stations were sold to Cherry Broadcasting Company, a Rhode Island-based broadcaster. The Outlet Company acquired the properties in 1963 and expanded the Orlando studio complex. Outlet also participated in the development of a major transmission tower near Bithlo, intended to improve coverage across Central Florida and the Space Coast. That tower collapsed on June 8, 1973, during work to install an antenna for WMFE-TV, killing two workers and disrupting the area's television service. WKMG's predecessor temporarily returned to an older transmission facility and did not regain full-power service until replacement facilities were completed more than two years later. The interruption contributed to a significant decline in local news competitiveness. The station adopted the call sign WCPX-TV in 1982. The call letters had been selected during Outlet's proposed but unsuccessful merger with Columbia Pictures and were retained even after that transaction failed. Outlet opened a new facility known as Broadcast House in 1984. In 1986, WCPX-TV was sold to First Media Corporation. First Media initially struggled to maintain the station's ratings and investment levels, while the news operation experienced changes in personnel, presentation, and format. During the 1990s, the station pursued a more aggressive news strategy, expanded its schedule, added newsgathering equipment and staff, and invested in a major newsroom and graphics relaunch. It also produced a late-night newscast for other local outlets and participated in First Media's efforts to develop nationally syndicated programming. First Media placed its television properties on the market in 1996. Meredith Corporation acquired the group and subsequently exchanged WCPX-TV to Post-Newsweek Stations in a transaction involving WFSB in Connecticut and cash. On January 30, 1998, the station changed its call sign to WKMG-TV in recognition of Katharine Meyer Graham, the longtime publisher of The Washington Post. Post-Newsweek Stations later became associated with Graham Media Group. Under the Graham ownership structure, the station continued its CBS affiliation and developed its local-news, weather, investigative, traffic, and digital offerings. Today, WKMG-TV's business is centered on local television broadcasting and multiplatform news distribution. Its programming includes CBS network content, locally produced newscasts, severe-weather coverage, breaking-news reporting, sports and traffic information, syndicated or acquired programming, and digital video. Through ClickOrlando, the station extends its Orlando news operation to the web and other digital platforms. Its principal competitive role is that of a locally focused broadcast outlet serving viewers throughout Central Florida.
History
WKMG-TV traces its origins to Orlando radio station WDBO and the allocation of VHF television channels to Orlando after the Federal Communications Commission ended its freeze on new television assignments. The Orlando Broadcasting Company applied for channel 6 and received a construction permit in October 1953 after a competing local application was withdrawn. The company built a combined radio and television center and launched WDBO-TV on July 1, 1954. It was the first television station in Central Florida. At launch, WDBO-TV held a primary CBS affiliation and also carried selected programs from ABC, DuMont, and NBC. Its early schedule combined network programming with locally produced shows, including outdoor programming and children's entertainment. The station became a sole CBS affiliate in 1958, after WESH and WLOF-TV entered the market. In 1957, the Orlando Broadcasting Company sold the WDBO properties to Cherry Broadcasting Company of Providence, Rhode Island. The Outlet Company acquired them in 1963 and expanded the station's facilities in the following years. A major technical development came through the construction of a high television tower near Bithlo. The tower was intended to improve reception throughout Central Florida and the Space Coast, but it collapsed on June 8, 1973, while workers were installing an antenna for public station WMFE-TV. Two workers died. WDBO-TV temporarily used an earlier facility while a replacement tower was built. The prolonged service disruption weakened the station's local-news position and contributed to a broader ratings decline. After the replacement tower became operational, the station briefly improved its early-evening performance, but WFTV subsequently became the dominant local news station. Outlet's proposed merger with Columbia Pictures in the early 1980s did not close, yet the station retained the call sign selected for that proposed combination. WCPX-TV became the station's identity in June 1982. Outlet opened the present Broadcast House facility in March 1984. In 1986, WCPX-TV was sold to First Media Corporation. The acquisition occurred during a period of high television-station valuations, and the station initially experienced reduced investment, staff turnover, and declining news ratings. First Media nevertheless used the Orlando operation as a base for developing syndicated programming and produced or distributed several nationally oriented specials and pilots. The news department went through repeated changes during the late 1980s and early 1990s. A more aggressive presentation was introduced in 1992, followed by the addition of veteran anchor Bud Hedinger and expansions into new time periods. After Brooke Spectorsky became general manager in 1994, First Media increased investment in equipment and personnel, reduced preemptions of CBS programs, and relaunched the newscasts in 1995 with new talent, graphics, and a redesigned set. Ratings improved by late 1996. First Media placed its stations on the market in 1996. Meredith acquired the group in 1997 but exchanged WCPX-TV to Post-Newsweek Stations for WFSB and cash. The transaction closed the station's First Media period and connected it to the company that later operated under the Graham Media Group identity. On January 30, 1998, WCPX-TV adopted the WKMG-TV call sign in honor of Katharine Meyer Graham. The station has continued as a CBS affiliate serving Orlando and Central Florida, with local news, weather, traffic, investigative reporting, emergency information, and digital journalism distributed through the ClickOrlando platform.
- 1998
WKMG-TV identity introduced
[1]The station adopted the WKMG-TV call sign in recognition of Katharine Meyer Graham.
- 1997
Post-Newsweek Stations acquisition
[1]Meredith exchanged WCPX-TV to Post-Newsweek Stations as part of a transaction involving WFSB.
- 1995
News operation relaunch
[1]A broad newsroom overhaul introduced new talent, graphics, set design, equipment, and staffing.
- 1992
News presentation is reformatted
[1]The station introduced a more aggressive news format and continued expanding its local-news schedule.
- 1986
First Media acquisition
[1]WCPX-TV became part of First Media Corporation.
- 1984
Broadcast House opens
[1]The station opened its new Orlando studio and newsroom complex.
- 1982
Call sign changes to WCPX-TV
[1]The television station stopped using WDBO-TV and adopted WCPX-TV.
- 1973
Bithlo tower collapse
[1]The station's major transmission installation collapsed during construction work, causing fatalities and a prolonged service disruption.
- 1963
Outlet Company ownership begins
[1]The Outlet Company completed its acquisition of the WDBO stations.
- 1957
Cherry Broadcasting acquires the station
[1]The WDBO radio and television properties were sold to Cherry Broadcasting Company.
Products and positioning
A locally focused, full-service CBS television station combining Central Florida news, weather, traffic, investigations, and community reporting with digital distribution through ClickOrlando.
Local television news
News 6
WKMG-TV's local-news identity, covering breaking news, public affairs, investigations, crime, politics, education, business, health, and community events across Orlando and Central Florida. The operation also produces weather, traffic, and emergency-information segments for broadcast and digital audiences.
Digital news platform
ClickOrlando
The station's online news and information brand, publishing local and regional reporting alongside live video, weather information, traffic updates, alerts, and selected television content. It extends WKMG-TV's broadcast journalism to web and connected-device audiences.
Network television service · 1954
CBS programming
WKMG-TV carries programming supplied by CBS, supplemented by locally produced newscasts and other station programming. The CBS relationship has been central to the station's identity since its launch, although the early station also carried selected programming from several other networks.
Controversies
2026
Republican Party of Florida sues News 6 over political ad
The Republican Party of Florida sued News 6 and multiple Orlando and Tampa Bay television stations over a political ad concerning the Hope Florida controversy. According to the report, the party argued that broadcasting the "gist" of an erased grand jury report is a crime. The lawsuit targets the stations' airing of the ad. No further details on the parties, dates, amounts, outcomes, or additional allegations are provided in the source material.
Brand decisions
1995
Comprehensive local-news relaunchStrategyBackground
The station had experienced years of ratings pressure and repeated changes in news personnel and presentation.
Action taken
First Media introduced a new anchor lineup, traditional news format, redesigned set and graphics, additional staff, and expanded newsgathering resources.
Aftermath
The relaunch did not immediately change ratings, but the station recorded its strongest news viewership in years by November 1996.
1982
Adoption of the WCPX-TV call signStrategyBackground
Outlet had selected the call letters during its proposed merger with Columbia Pictures, even though the merger did not occur.
Action taken
The station changed its call sign from WDBO-TV to WCPX-TV after the radio station retained the WDBO identity.
Aftermath
The WCPX-TV identity remained in use until the station became WKMG-TV in 1998.
1958
Consolidation as a sole CBS affiliateStrategyBackground
The Orlando market gained additional commercial television stations after WDBO-TV's launch, reducing the need for the station to carry programs from multiple networks.
Action taken
WDBO-TV concentrated its network affiliation on CBS while continuing to produce local programming.
Aftermath
The CBS affiliation became the station's enduring network position.
Recent events
Republican Party of Florida sues News 6 over political ad[3]
Reported:
The Republican Party of Florida sued News 6 and multiple Orlando and Tampa Bay television stations over a political ad about the Hope Florida controversy, arguing that broadcasting the “gist” of an erased grand jury report is a crime.
News 6 and Harbor House hosted a virtual fundraising event[4]
Reported:
News 6 and Harbor House teamed up to host a virtual fundraising event in Orlando on Thursday, raising $8,500 for Harbor House's cause.
Weekdays and relative dates follow the original report; their exact calendar dates have not been verified.
News 6 and A Gift for Teaching raise funds for school supplies[5]
Reported:
News 6 and A Gift for Teaching raised more than $38,268 to provide school supplies to students in need in Orange and Osceola counties.
News 6 teams up with the Salvation Army for Angel Tree Campaign[6]
Reported:
News 6 teamed up with the Salvation Army for the Angel Tree Campaign in Central Florida, seeking community help to provide gifts to children and seniors in need.
News 6 and WellMed partner for Medicare phone bank[7]
Reported:
News 6 announced that it was partnering with representatives from WellMed Medical Group and Medicare experts for a phone bank to answer questions about Medicare.
Sources8 sources
- 1WKMG-TVen.wikipedia.org
- 2WKMG-TV official websiteclickorlando.com
- 3Republican Party of Florida sues News 6 over political adclickorlando.com
- 4News 6与Harbor House举办线上筹款活动clickorlando.com
- 5News 6与A Gift for Teaching为学校用品筹款clickorlando.com
- 6News 6 再度与救世军合作开展 Angel Tree 活动clickorlando.com
- 7News 6 与 WellMed 合作举办 Medicare 电话咨询活动clickorlando.com
- 8News 6 teams up with WellMed to host virtual Medicare phone bankclickorlando.com
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