WNAC-TV

WNAC-TV is a commercial television station serving Providence, Rhode Island, and nearby communities in southern New England. The station is branded as Fox Providence and carries Fox network programming on its primary channel. It also carries The CW on a digital subchannel. The station is licensed to Providence, while its studios and much of its operational infrastructure are shared with CBS affiliate WPRI-TV in East Providence under a local marketing arrangement associated with Nexstar Media Group. WNAC-TV's transmitter is located in Rehoboth, Massachusetts. The station's license history reaches back to WNET, which signed on in 1954 as Providence's second television station. WNET operated on UHF channel 16 at a time when most television households were equipped primarily for VHF reception. The station faced severe technical and commercial disadvantages, including limited household access to UHF signals, the need for converter equipment, and competition from the stronger VHF signal of WPRO-TV, which began broadcasting on channel 12 in 1955. WNET ended local programming within months and left the air in July 1955. Although the original station ceased broadcasting, its license and transmitter assets remained the subject of regulatory and legal proceedings. The Federal Communications Commission deleted the construction permit in 1969, but the decision was successfully challenged and the permit was reinstated in 1971. By then, the WNET call sign had been assigned elsewhere and channel 16 had been repurposed for land-mobile use in the Boston area. The Providence authorization was consequently shifted to UHF channel 64. The dormant authorization was sold in the late 1970s to interests associated with Subscription Television of America and Pay Television Corporation. The station adopted the call sign WSTG and returned to the air in 1981 on a very limited test basis. It had been intended as a subscription television service, but that plan did not develop into a sustained operation. For a period, WSTG met minimum operating requirements by showing a small rotation of cartoons and older films while its owners searched for a buyer. Providence Television acquired the station and relaunched it as a conventional independent outlet in September 1984. WSTG carried cartoons, syndicated reruns, movies, and an edition of Independent Network News. The station struggled to establish a distinct identity in a market where viewers could receive independent stations from the adjacent Boston market. It entered bankruptcy reorganization in 1986, after which Sudbrink Broadcasting acquired it, restored its transmitter to full-power operation, and affiliated it with the newly launched Fox network. The call sign was changed to WNAC-TV, partly to capitalize on the historical recognition of the WNAC letters in New England. Under Sudbrink and later owners including Price Communications, Northstar Television Group, and Argyle Television, the station benefited from Fox's expansion and developed more locally oriented programming. Its efforts included University of Rhode Island men's basketball, a local talk program, a comedy show, and a children's program associated with the Bozo the Clown format. In the early 1990s, its Fox Kids Club reportedly became one of the largest such station clubs in the region. As Fox expanded its weekly schedule, WNAC-TV eventually discontinued its regular University of Rhode Island basketball package because of the increasing difficulty of preempting network programs. Since 1996, WNAC-TV has been closely integrated with WPRI-TV. Clear Channel Communications began operating the station under a local marketing agreement, and WPRI-TV subsequently produced WNAC-TV's local news. The arrangement led to shared facilities, staff, advertising operations, and technical services. The station's principal local news program, originally branded Fox News Providence, launched in January 1997 at 10 p.m. It later expanded from 30 minutes to an hour, and additional morning and early-evening news programming followed. WNAC-TV carried MyNetworkTV programming beginning in 2006, initially in a late-night block and later through a dedicated digital subchannel known as MyRITV. In 2017, The CW moved to another WNAC-TV digital subchannel after the market's previous CW outlet ceased operating over the air. MyRITV was subsequently moved to a WPRI-TV subchannel. The station completed the United States digital television transition in 2009, ending analog broadcasting and shifting its digital operation to VHF channel 12. Mission Broadcasting acquired the WNAC-TV license in 2021 after exercising an option associated with its operating relationship with Nexstar. WNAC-TV remains a Fox-affiliated local television brand whose identity combines network entertainment and sports programming with regional news and lifestyle content produced in conjunction with WPRI-TV.

WNAC-TV traces its authorization to WNET, a Providence UHF station that began network broadcasting on April 5, 1954, and local programming on May 2. Owned by Channel 16 of Rhode Island, WNET carried programs from CBS, ABC, and the DuMont Television Network, alongside locally produced material from its Rehoboth studios. As a UHF outlet, it reached far fewer households than VHF stations and many viewers required special converters. The station also opposed the launch of WPRO-TV on channel 12, arguing that the new VHF competitor would cause substantial economic harm. WPRO-TV began broadcasting in March 1955, and WNET ended local programming soon afterward before closing on July 10, 1955. The license did not disappear immediately. Channel 16 of Rhode Island maintained the transmitter site and pursued legal and regulatory remedies. In 1969, the FCC deleted the construction permit and call sign after concluding that the permit holder had chosen not to construct the station in light of regulatory developments affecting cable carriage. The company appealed successfully, and the permit was restored in 1971. During the intervening period, the WNET call letters had been assigned to an educational station in New York City, while channel 16 had been allocated for land-mobile use in the Boston region. The Providence authorization was therefore moved to channel 64. In 1978, the permit was sold to Channel 64 of New England, whose participants included Pay Television Corporation and Subscription Television of America. The new operators planned a subscription television service. The station adopted the call sign WSTG in 1980 and returned to the air in 1981 for tests. The intended subscription model never became a regular service. Instead, WSTG operated only long enough to satisfy its program-test obligations, showing a limited rotation of cartoons and older films while the owners attempted to find a buyer. Providence Television purchased the station in 1984 and relaunched it on September 16 as a conventional independent outlet. Its schedule included cartoons, syndicated reruns, movies, and Independent Network News. WSTG found it difficult to compete with established Boston independent stations whose signals were available throughout much of southern New England. The company sought bankruptcy reorganization in 1986, and Sudbrink Broadcasting acquired the station later that year. Sudbrink repaired the transmitter, restored full-power broadcasting, and secured an affiliation with the Fox network at its launch. The station changed its call sign to WNAC-TV, recalling the WNAC letters previously used by a Boston CBS affiliate and hoping to gain greater recognition among regional viewers. To strengthen its local identity, it carried University of Rhode Island men's basketball, introduced a locally hosted talk show, and experimented with comedy and children's programming. Price Communications purchased the station in 1988, and Northstar Television Group acquired it in 1989. Argyle Television Holdings II bought WNAC-TV in 1994. During this period, Fox's expanding schedule helped improve the station's commercial prospects, while the station's Fox Kids Club became a notable regional promotional program. In 1996, Clear Channel Communications began operating WNAC-TV under a local marketing agreement with Argyle. The arrangement allowed Clear Channel to program the station and sell its advertising while integrating operations with WPRI-TV. The Rehoboth facility was closed as the stations consolidated operations in East Providence. After Argyle merged with Hearst's broadcasting unit in 1997, regulatory limits arising from overlapping signals led to a transaction involving Sunrise Television. Clear Channel later sold WPRI-TV to Sunrise in 2001. Because Sunrise could not retain both the WPRI-TV and WNAC-TV licenses, the WNAC-TV license was transferred to LIN-related interests and ultimately to Super Towers Inc., while WPRI-TV continued to provide operational services. The station's local news identity developed through its relationship with WPRI-TV. A 10 p.m. newscast debuted in January 1997 following Fox's broadcast of Super Bowl XXXI and was initially called Fox News Providence. It was expanded from 30 minutes to one hour in 2002. A morning newscast began in 2003, and additional morning and early-evening services were added during the following years. The Rhode Show, a weekday lifestyle and entertainment program, premiered in 2009 and further extended the station's local programming presence. WNAC-TV joined MyNetworkTV when that service launched in 2006, initially carrying its programming late at night. In 2009, the service moved to a dedicated digital multicast channel identified as MyRITV. The station ended analog broadcasting in 2009 as part of the United States digital television transition and shifted its digital signal to VHF channel 12. In 2017, The CW moved to WNAC-TV's 64.2 subchannel after the former Providence-area CW station sold its spectrum. MyRITV subsequently moved to a WPRI-TV subchannel. Nexstar's acquisition of Media General in 2017 strengthened Nexstar's position in the Providence market through WPRI-TV. In 2020, Nexstar exercised an option to acquire WNAC-TV through Mission Broadcasting. Mission completed the purchase of the station license on June 16, 2021. WNAC-TV continues to operate as Fox Providence, with Mission as licensee and Nexstar-linked operations providing shared services through the WPRI-TV relationship. In 2023, the former licensee objected to the renewals of several Nexstar station licenses, alleging that public-inspection-file materials had not been uploaded on time; this represented a regulatory dispute connected to the station's ownership and operating structure rather than a change in its consumer-facing brand.

• 2021

  Mission Broadcasting completes license acquisition

  [1]WNAC-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Mission Broadcasting completes its acquisition of the WNAC-TV license following an option exercised by Nexstar.

• 2017

  The CW moves to WNAC-TV

  [1]WNAC-TVen.wikipedia.org

  The CW launches on a WNAC-TV digital subchannel after the previous market affiliate sells its spectrum.

• 2009

  Digital transition and MyRITV launch

  [1]WNAC-TVen.wikipedia.org

  The station ends analog broadcasting, moves its digital signal to VHF channel 12, and places MyNetworkTV programming on a dedicated digital subchannel.

• 2006

  MyNetworkTV affiliation begins

  [1]WNAC-TVen.wikipedia.org

  WNAC-TV starts carrying MyNetworkTV programming, initially during late-night hours.

• 1997

  Local 10 p.m. newscast launches

  [1]WNAC-TVen.wikipedia.org

  WPRI-TV begins producing the station's Fox-branded local evening newscast.

• 1996

  Local marketing agreement with WPRI-TV begins

  [1]WNAC-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Clear Channel starts operating WNAC-TV under an LMA, consolidating the station's operations with WPRI-TV.

• 1986

  Fox affiliation and WNAC-TV identity begin

  [1]WNAC-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Sudbrink Broadcasting acquires the station, restores full-power operation, affiliates it with Fox, and changes the call sign to WNAC-TV.

• 1984

  Independent-station relaunch

  [1]WNAC-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Providence Television relaunches WSTG as a full conventional independent station.

• 1981

  WSTG returns to the air

  [1]WNAC-TVen.wikipedia.org

  WSTG begins limited test broadcasts, mainly using cartoons and older films while its owners seek a buyer.

• 1980

  WSTG call sign adopted

  [1]WNAC-TVen.wikipedia.org

  The channel 64 construction permit adopts the WSTG call sign as subscription-television plans are developed.

• 1971

  Permit reinstated and channel assignment changed

  [1]WNAC-TVen.wikipedia.org

  The permit is restored after litigation, but the Providence authorization is shifted from channel 16 to channel 64.

• 1969

  FCC deletes the original construction permit

  [1]WNAC-TVen.wikipedia.org

  The FCC deletes the dormant permit and call sign, a decision later overturned on appeal.

• 1955

  WNET leaves the air

  [1]WNAC-TVen.wikipedia.org

  After facing major UHF reception disadvantages and competition from WPRO-TV, WNET ends local programming and closes in July.

• 1954

  WNET begins broadcasting

  [1]WNAC-TVen.wikipedia.org

  The station's license lineage begins when WNET launches on UHF channel 16 in Providence, carrying network and local programming.

A local broadcast television outlet combining Fox network programming, regional news, syndicated entertainment, digital multicast services, and southern New England community coverage.

• Primary broadcast service · 1986

  Fox Providence

  WNAC-TV's main over-the-air service is branded Fox Providence and carries Fox network entertainment, news, sports, and special-event programming for the Providence market. The service also includes syndicated programming and local advertising. Its identity was established after the station joined Fox in 1986 and adopted the WNAC-TV call sign.

• Local news · 1997

  WNAC-TV local news

  The station's local news service is produced in conjunction with WPRI-TV. It began with a 10 p.m. newscast in 1997, later expanded to an hour, and was followed by morning and other local-news programming. The service provides regional news, weather, traffic, and sports coverage under the station's Fox Providence identity.

• Digital multicast network service · 2017

  The CW on WNAC-TV

  The CW operates on a WNAC-TV digital subchannel serving the Providence market. The affiliation moved to the station in 2017 after the previous local CW outlet sold its spectrum. It gives the station a second network television service alongside Fox.

• Local lifestyle programming · 2009

  The Rhode Show

  The Rhode Show is a weekday morning lifestyle and entertainment program associated with WPRI-TV and WNAC-TV. It broadens the station group's local offering beyond hard news through interviews, regional features, entertainment, and community-oriented segments.

• Digital multicast service · 2009

  MyRITV

  MyRITV was the station's digital multicast outlet for MyNetworkTV programming after the service moved off the main channel. The service was later relocated to a WPRI-TV subchannel when The CW affiliation came to WNAC-TV.

• 1991Fox Kids Club

  Providence · Southern New England

  WNAC-TV used the Fox Kids Club to build family-oriented audience engagement and strengthen recognition for its Fox affiliation. The club reportedly reached tens of thousands of members during the early 1990s.

  Outcome. The club became one of the station's most prominent promotional initiatives and was reported as exceptionally large within New England.

  Source

• 2021

  Transfer the WNAC-TV license to Mission BroadcastingM&A

  Background

  Nexstar exercised an option to acquire the station through Mission Broadcasting while maintaining the established operating relationship with WPRI-TV.

  Action taken

  Mission Broadcasting completed the acquisition of the WNAC-TV license on June 16, 2021.

  Aftermath

  Mission became the licensee, while Nexstar remained closely involved through shared services and the WPRI-TV operating structure.

  Reported purchase price. more than $3.2 million (2020 announced option; transaction completed June 16, 2021)

  Source

• 2017

  Move The CW affiliation to a WNAC-TV subchannelProduct launch

  Background

  The previous Providence-area CW affiliate sold its spectrum, creating an opening for a replacement over-the-air outlet.

  Action taken

  Nexstar moved The CW to WNAC-TV's 64.2 digital subchannel and shifted MyRITV to WPRI-TV.

  Aftermath

  WNAC-TV became a dual-network local television platform with Fox on its main service and The CW on a digital subchannel.

  Source

• 2006

  Add MyNetworkTV programmingProduct launch

  Background

  The launch of MyNetworkTV created a new network affiliation opportunity in the Providence market.

  Action taken

  WNAC-TV began carrying MyNetworkTV programming in late-night hours and later moved the service to a digital multicast channel.

  Aftermath

  The station retained the service as MyRITV until the market's CW affiliation moved to WNAC-TV in 2017.

  Source

• 1997

  Launch Fox News ProvidenceProduct launch

  Background

  WNAC-TV needed a locally produced news offering to complement its Fox network schedule.

  Action taken

  WPRI-TV launched a 10 p.m. newscast for WNAC-TV after Fox's broadcast of Super Bowl XXXI.

  Aftermath

  The newscast became the foundation of the station's local news operation and was later expanded to a full hour.

  Source

• 1996

  Enter a local marketing agreement with WPRI-TVStrategy

  Background

  The station's owners sought operational efficiencies and stronger local programming resources.

  Action taken

  Clear Channel assumed programming and advertising operations for WNAC-TV and integrated many functions with WPRI-TV.

  Aftermath

  The stations shared facilities in East Providence, and WPRI-TV became the producer of WNAC-TV's local news.

  Source

• 1986

  Adopt Fox affiliation and WNAC-TV call signStrategy

  Background

  The station had struggled as an independent and needed a stronger national programming identity and greater recognition in a market exposed to Boston stations.

  Action taken

  Sudbrink Broadcasting restored full-power operation, joined the newly launched Fox network, and changed the call sign from WSTG to WNAC-TV.

  Aftermath

  The station's ratings and revenue prospects improved as Fox expanded nationally and the station developed additional local programming.

  Source

1. 1WNAC-TVen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Fox Providence official websitefoxprovidence.com