WKRN-TV
WKRN-TV is an ABC-affiliated television station serving Nashville, Tennessee, and surrounding areas.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
WKRN-TV, branded as News 2, is a commercial television station serving Nashville, Tennessee, and the surrounding Middle Tennessee market. The station operates on virtual channel 2 and is affiliated with the ABC television network. It is owned by Nexstar Media Group, one of the largest local television station operators in the United States. WKRN's primary business is the production and distribution of local television news, weather, traffic, public-affairs programming and community information, supplemented by ABC network programming, syndicated shows, sports-related programming and digital multicast services. The station began broadcasting on November 29, 1953, as WSIX-TV on VHF channel 8. It was the second television station to sign on in Nashville and was established by Louis and Jack Draughon, owners of WSIX radio. WSIX-TV initially carried CBS programming while sharing ABC programming with Nashville's existing station WSM-TV. After WLAC-TV signed on in 1954 and obtained the CBS affiliation, WSIX-TV became a full-time ABC affiliate, establishing the network relationship that remains central to the station's identity. A defining change occurred in 1973, when the station exchanged channel positions with Nashville's noncommercial educational station WDCN-TV. WSIX-TV moved from channel 8 to the stronger channel 2 facility, while WDCN moved in the opposite direction. The unusual swap took place during prime-time programming on December 11, 1973. At the same time, the station changed its call letters to WNGE, reflecting its ownership by General Electric and signaling a new position on channel 2. The move improved the station's technical and competitive position, although its market performance continued to be shaped by the relative strength of the ABC network and by competition from Nashville's NBC and CBS affiliates. General Electric sold the station to Knight Ridder in 1983. The new owner changed the call letters to WKRN-TV on November 29 of that year. Knight Ridder later exited the television business, selling WKRN to Young Broadcasting in 1989. Young's ownership linked WKRN with other network-affiliated stations, including WTEN in Albany and WATE-TV in Knoxville. Media General acquired Young Broadcasting in a transaction completed in 2013, making WKRN part of a larger station group. Nexstar Media Group acquired Media General in a transaction completed in January 2017, bringing the Nashville station into Nexstar's national local-media portfolio. WKRN's programming operation combines a substantial local news schedule with ABC programming. Its news department produces more than 45 hours of locally produced newscasts in a typical week, covering Nashville, Middle Tennessee, severe weather, public safety, politics, education, business and regional events. Weather coverage is a prominent part of the station's service, particularly during tornado threats and other severe-weather situations. The station also produces the public-affairs program This Week with Bob Mueller and has maintained sports relationships involving the Tennessee Titans, including the Bridgestone Titans on 2 coach's program and preseason-game coverage. The station has used its digital multicast channels for several different services. WKRN-DT2 originally carried the Nashville WX Channel, a locally produced automated weather service launched in 2008. It later carried MeTV, then switched to Bounce TV in September 2019. WKRN-DT3 has carried services including Live Well Network, a simulcast of the Nashville weather channel, Justice Network and, by December 2024, Defy. These changes illustrate the station's adaptation to the evolving economics of digital broadcasting and multicast television. Today, WKRN-TV functions as a local news and information brand within Nexstar's station portfolio while continuing its long-running ABC affiliation. Its core positioning is regional relevance: Nashville-focused reporting, weather expertise, local sports and community covera…
History
WKRN-TV signed on November 29, 1953, as WSIX-TV on VHF channel 8. It was founded by Louis and Jack Draughon, whose WSIX radio operation had originated in Springfield, Tennessee. The television station initially operated from facilities near its transmitter on Old Hickory Boulevard and shared elements of its operation with WSIX-FM. WSIX-TV was initially a CBS affiliate while sharing ABC programming with WSM-TV. When WLAC-TV began broadcasting in 1954 and assumed the CBS affiliation, WSIX-TV became a full-time ABC affiliate. The station's early competitive position was difficult. Its transmitter arrangement produced a weaker signal than those of its principal Nashville competitors, and ABC was not yet as strong nationally as CBS or NBC. The station nevertheless developed a durable identity as Nashville's ABC outlet. In 1961, WSIX-AM-FM-TV moved to a studio facility at 441 Murfreesboro Road, a location that remains associated with WKRN's operations. The facility had also been used for production of the Wilburn Brothers television program during the 1960s and 1970s, although another Nashville station held the local broadcast rights. The Draughon family sold the WSIX stations to General Electric in 1966. Under GE ownership, the television station participated in a rare facility and channel exchange with WDCN-TV, Nashville's educational station. WDCN occupied channel 2, while WSIX-TV occupied channel 8. Because channel 2 was considered better suited to a commercial network affiliate and channel 8 was suitable for the educational service, the stations exchanged positions on December 11, 1973. The change occurred during an evening broadcast, and WSIX-TV simultaneously became WNGE, a call sign associated with Nashville and General Electric. WSIX radio retained its existing call letters. General Electric nearly sold WNGE in connection with a proposed corporate transaction in the late 1970s, but the contemplated sale did not proceed. As GE reduced its broadcasting holdings in the early 1980s, Knight Ridder acquired the station in 1983. The call letters changed to WKRN-TV on November 29 of that year. The letters were associated with Knight Ridder's television holdings and its former San Francisco flagship KRON-TV, rather than representing a change in the station's Nashville service area. Knight Ridder sold its television stations in 1989, and Young Broadcasting acquired WKRN. During the Young era, the station remained an ABC affiliate and participated in the group's broader network of local television operations. In 2004, WKRN was among Young-owned ABC affiliates that preempted ABC's broadcast of Saving Private Ryan. Media General announced its acquisition of Young Broadcasting in June 2013 and completed the transaction in November of that year. The deal made WKRN a sister station to other Media General outlets, including WATE-TV in Knoxville and WJHL-TV in Johnson City. A later proposed Media General acquisition of Meredith Corporation would have created an ownership overlap in Nashville because Meredith owned WSMV. That transaction was abandoned before completion. Nexstar then announced plans to acquire Media General, and the transaction closed on January 17, 2017. WKRN expanded its digital television presence with a second subchannel devoted initially to the Nashville WX Channel, a locally produced automated weather service launched in 2008. The service provided forecasts, radar imagery, temperatures, precipitation information and recorded segments from the station's weather team. It could also simulcast the main channel's severe-weather coverage during tornado warnings. WKRN-DT2 later carried MeTV beginning February 1, 2016, replacing the weather service. On September 23, 2019, it changed to Bounce TV. The station's third digital subchannel has undergone several changes. It carried Live Well Network beginning in 2012, then a weather-service simulcast after Live Well distribution ended, followed by Justice Network. By December 2024, the subchannel had switched to Defy. Through these services, WKRN has used digital multicast capacity to broaden its programming beyond the ABC primary channel. WKRN's present operation is centered on local journalism and community service. The station produces extensive daily newscasts, weather reporting, public affairs and Tennessee Titans-related programming. It broadcasts from Murfreesboro Road in southeastern Nashville, while its transmitter is located in Forest Hills, Tennessee. Nexstar ownership provides group-scale resources, while the station's public-facing identity remains tied to Nashville news, weather and regional sports.
- 2024
Defy added to WKRN-DT3
[1]The third digital subchannel is reported to have switched to Defy by December 1.
- 2019
Bounce TV replaces MeTV
[1]WKRN-DT2 changes its multicast affiliation to Bounce TV.
- 2017
Nexstar acquisition completed
[1]Nexstar completes its acquisition of Media General on January 17.
- 2016
MeTV launches on WKRN-DT2
[1]MeTV replaces the Nashville WX Channel on the station's second digital subchannel.
- 2013
Media General acquires Young Broadcasting
[1]The transaction closes in November, placing WKRN within Media General.
- 2012
Live Well Network added to WKRN-DT3
[1]The station launches a third digital subchannel carrying Live Well Network.
- 2008
Nashville WX Channel launches
[1]WKRN introduces a locally produced, weather-focused second digital subchannel.
- 1989
Young Broadcasting acquisition
[1]Young Broadcasting purchases WKRN after Knight Ridder exits television broadcasting.
- 1983
Knight Ridder ownership and WKRN call letters
[1]Knight Ridder acquires the station and changes its call sign to WKRN-TV.
- 1973
Channel 2 facility swap
[1]WSIX-TV trades channel positions with WDCN-TV and becomes WNGE on channel 2.
Products and positioning
A Nashville-centered ABC affiliate positioned around local news, weather, public affairs, regional sports and community service.
Local television news
News 2
WKRN's primary local-news service covers Nashville and Middle Tennessee through morning, daytime, afternoon, evening and late-night newscasts. Its reporting mix includes breaking news, local government, courts, education, business, health, traffic, investigative stories and community features, with weather and severe-weather coverage serving as a major component.
Weather information
WKRN Weather
The station's weather operation provides forecasts, radar, alerts and severe-weather reporting for Nashville and surrounding communities. Its weather team has also supported digital multicast services and wall-to-wall coverage during tornado warnings and other significant weather events.
Public affairs
This Week with Bob Mueller
A locally produced public-affairs program airing on Sundays. The program provides a forum for discussion of regional politics, public policy and civic issues.
Sports programming
Bridgestone Titans on 2
A Tennessee Titans-focused program featuring the team's coach and related football discussion. The program has occupied different time slots over its history to balance local sports coverage with ABC and syndicated programming.
Sports broadcasting · 2000
Tennessee Titans Preseason Television Network
WKRN serves as the flagship outlet for the Tennessee Titans' preseason television coverage, broadcasting selected preseason games and occasionally scheduling ABC programming on delay when conflicts occur.
Digital multicast channel · 2008
WKRN-DT2
The station's second digital subchannel has carried several services over time, including the Nashville WX Channel, MeTV and Bounce TV. Its affiliations have changed as multicast network distribution and corporate programming strategies evolved.
Digital multicast channel · 2012
WKRN-DT3
The third digital subchannel has hosted Live Well Network, weather programming, Justice Network and later Defy. It demonstrates WKRN's use of over-the-air digital capacity for additional national and specialized programming.
Brand decisions
2019
Switch WKRN-DT2 to Bounce TVStrategyBackground
The station announced that the multicast affiliation change was made at the corporate level, with MeTV moving to another local outlet.
Action taken
WKRN-DT2 changed from MeTV to Bounce TV at midnight on September 23.
Aftermath
Bounce TV became the programming identity of WKRN's second digital subchannel, while MeTV remained available through another Nashville-area station.
2016
Replace local weather service with MeTVStrategyBackground
WKRN used its second digital subchannel for a locally produced weather service before changing to a national multicast entertainment network.
Action taken
WKRN-DT2 began carrying MeTV on February 1, replacing the Nashville WX Channel.
Aftermath
The Nashville WX Channel ceased to be the principal service on DT2, while the station continued using other digital capacity for weather and specialized programming at different times.
1973
Move from channel 8 to channel 2StrategyBackground
The existing channel 2 facility was regarded as better suited to a commercial network affiliate, while WDCN-TV operated as a noncommercial educational station.
Action taken
WSIX-TV exchanged facilities and channel positions with WDCN-TV on December 11 and adopted the WNGE call sign.
Aftermath
The station gained the channel 2 identity it retains today and received a more favorable technical position for its commercial network operation.
Sources2 sources
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