WNOL-TV
The CW-affiliated television station serving the New Orleans, Louisiana, market on channel 38.
Last updated August 31, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
WNOL-TV is a television station serving New Orleans and surrounding communities in southeastern Louisiana. Broadcasting on virtual and formerly analog channel 38, it is affiliated with The CW and is owned by Nexstar Media Group alongside ABC affiliate WGNO. The stations share facilities at The Galleria in Metairie, while WNOL-TV's transmitter is located in Chalmette, Louisiana. The channel's history began before the station itself went on the air. A construction permit for channel 38 was initially sought by Rault Petroleum Company in the late 1960s, but the Federal Communications Commission canceled that permit in 1971 after the station was not built. A later comparative application process involving five groups concluded with Cypress Broadcasting receiving the construction permit. To raise capital, Cypress expanded its ownership group to approximately 100 partners, and the permit was transferred to Channel 38 Associates. WNOL-TV began broadcasting on March 25, 1984, from Canal Street studios. It was the second independent station to launch in the New Orleans market, following WGNO-TV. Its initial schedule combined movies, classic syndicated programs, children's programming, and sports. The station obtained strong early ratings, but its financial position weakened after Tribune Broadcasting acquired WGNO and invested heavily in programming and promotion. WNOL's ownership also faced high employee turnover, limited advertising resources, and an economic downturn that reduced local advertising activity. Competition for syndicated programs and movie packages further constrained the new station. TVX Broadcast Group agreed to acquire WNOL-TV in December 1985. Under TVX, the station adopted a leaner operating model, reduced staffing and programming costs, and became New Orleans' Fox affiliate when that network launched in October 1986. TVX's highly leveraged acquisition of additional stations created serious financial pressure, however, and WNOL-TV was put up for sale. In 1989, musician Quincy Jones acquired the station through an arrangement financed by Time Warner. Jones's ownership gave the station a notable entertainment-industry profile and supported public-service activity, including the education-focused Great Expectations campaign. The national affiliation realignment of the mid-1990s changed WNOL-TV's role. After Fox reached an agreement with SF Broadcasting to acquire WVUE, Fox moved to channel 8, while ABC moved to WGNO. On January 1, 1996, WNOL-TV became New Orleans' affiliate of The WB, a new network backed in part by Tribune. The station retained a substantial syndicated-programming presence, including classic sitcoms that sometimes performed strongly against local newscasts. In 1994, Jones and partners including Willie Davis, Don Cornelius, and Geraldo Rivera organized Qwest Broadcasting, with Tribune holding a minority interest and providing management support. After the FCC authorized common ownership of two stations in a market in 1999, Tribune acquired Qwest's remaining interest in WNOL-TV and combined it with WGNO in a New Orleans duopoly. WNOL-TV later became a CW affiliate when The WB and UPN were replaced by The CW in 2006. The station's physical operations were severely affected by Hurricane Katrina in August 2005. WNOL-TV and WGNO had recently moved into the New Orleans Centre shopping mall, but flooding damaged the complex and destroyed or disabled key transmission facilities. Temporary transmission, master-control, studio, and business arrangements allowed the stations to resume service while permanent facilities were developed. WNOL-TV also carried a WGNO-produced 9 p.m. newscast beginning in 2006; that program continued for approximately four years. Tribune was acquired by Nexstar Media Group in 2019, bringing WNOL-TV into Nexstar's national station portfolio. The station remains an active CW outlet for the New Orleans market.
History
Channel 38 was first proposed for the New Orleans area in the 1960s. Rault Petroleum Company received an early construction permit, but the FCC canceled it in 1971 because the station had not been built. In 1981, the FCC selected Cypress Broadcasting from a group of competing applicants through a comparative hearing process. Cypress later expanded its ownership group to raise capital, and the permit was transferred to Channel 38 Associates. WNOL-TV launched on March 25, 1984, from studios at 1661 Canal Street. The station initially operated as an independent outlet, programming movies, classic reruns, children's shows, and sports. It achieved encouraging early ratings and briefly matched WGNO in sign-on-to-sign-off performance. The advantage did not last. Tribune Broadcasting's 1983 acquisition of WGNO brought stronger programming purchasing and promotional resources to WNOL's main competitor. A local advertising slowdown and WNOL's limited cash position made it increasingly difficult to acquire attractive syndicated programs. The station also experienced substantial internal turnover during its first ownership period. Management relied extensively on trade-out arrangements, exchanging advertising for goods and services rather than receiving cash, and former employees publicly criticized the operating culture. By late 1985, rumors of financial distress surrounded the station, and TVX Broadcast Group agreed to purchase Channel 38 Associates for $13.7 million. TVX reduced staffing and operating expenses, used its group purchasing power to improve the station's programming position, and ended WNOL's original policy of airing movies without edits. The station became a charter Fox affiliate when that network launched on October 9, 1986. TVX's broader expansion strategy, particularly its highly leveraged acquisition of five stations from Taft Broadcasting, left the company vulnerable to debt and refinancing problems. WNOL-TV consequently remained on the market. In 1989, Quincy Jones acquired the station through a financing arrangement involving Time Warner and the Quincy Jones Entertainment Company. Jones's ownership coincided with a period in which WNOL continued to compete closely with WGNO. The station also launched Great Expectations, an education-oriented public-service campaign, in 1991. The television affiliation environment then changed dramatically after Fox aligned with New World Communications in 1994. Fox-backed SF Broadcasting acquired WVUE, making it likely that Fox would move from WNOL to the stronger VHF outlet. At the same time, WNOL and WGNO competed for ABC, while Time Warner was preparing the launch of The WB. Jones and fellow investors subsequently formed Qwest Broadcasting. Tribune held a minority stake and supplied management support. The New Orleans affiliation switch took effect on January 1, 1996: Fox moved to WVUE, ABC moved to WGNO, and WNOL-TV became a WB affiliate. The station continued to rely heavily on syndicated programming and retained strong audience performance for some classic sitcoms. WNOL-TV moved to a large facility in the New Orleans Centre shopping mall in 1999. That same year, FCC authorization for television duopolies enabled Tribune to purchase Qwest's remaining interest and acquire WNOL-TV outright. WGNO and WNOL-TV were placed under common management, although the two stations initially maintained separate facilities. The stations finally shared the New Orleans Centre in July 2005, shortly before Hurricane Katrina devastated the region. Flooding rendered the mall unusable and destroyed or disabled the stations' transmission facilities. Temporary technical operations were established through Tribune facilities in other cities, while the stations used trailers and other temporary spaces for production and business functions. WNOL-TV later carried a WGNO-produced 9 p.m. newscast beginning in 2006, and it became a CW affiliate as The CW replaced The WB. Nexstar Media Group's 2019 acquisition of Tribune Media transferred ownership of WNOL-TV to Nexstar. The station continues to serve the New Orleans market as a CW outlet.
- 2019
Nexstar ownership begins
[1]Nexstar acquired Tribune Media, including WNOL-TV.
- 2006
CW affiliation begins
[1]WNOL-TV became an affiliate of The CW after the network replaced The WB and UPN.
- 2005
Hurricane Katrina damages operations
[1]Flooding forced WNOL-TV and WGNO into temporary facilities and transmission arrangements.
- 1999
Tribune takes full control
[1]Tribune acquired the remaining Qwest interest after duopoly ownership became permissible.
- 1996
WNOL-TV joins The WB
[1]The station changed from Fox to The WB as New Orleans affiliations were rearranged.
- 1991
Great Expectations campaign launches
[1]WNOL-TV introduced an education-focused public-service initiative.
- 1989
Quincy Jones ownership begins
[1]Quincy Jones agreed to acquire the station with financing support connected to Time Warner.
- 1986
Fox affiliation begins
[1]WNOL-TV became New Orleans' Fox affiliate when the network launched.
- 1985
TVX Broadcast Group acquisition
[1]TVX agreed to acquire the station from Channel 38 Associates amid financial and competitive pressure.
- 1984
WNOL-TV launches
[1]WNOL-TV began broadcasting on March 25 as the New Orleans market's second independent station.
Products and positioning
A local broadcast outlet combining national CW entertainment programming with syndicated television and market-specific promotional and public-service content for viewers in the New Orleans area.
Network television · 2006
The CW programming
WNOL-TV's principal programming offering is the national schedule of The CW, presented to viewers in the New Orleans market through channel 38. The affiliation replaced the station's previous WB service in 2006 and forms the core of its current broadcast identity.
Television syndication · 1984
Syndicated entertainment programming
Across different ownership periods, WNOL-TV has carried syndicated movies, sitcoms, reruns, children's programs, and other entertainment series. Classic sitcoms were particularly important during the WB era and sometimes achieved ratings competitive with local newscasts on rival stations.
Broadcast public service · 1991
Local public-service programming
WNOL-TV has used its local broadcast platform for community-oriented initiatives, including the Great Expectations education campaign launched during Quincy Jones's ownership. The station has also carried locally produced material associated with its New Orleans station operations.
Marketing campaigns
- 1991Great Expectations
New Orleans
WNOL-TV launched Great Expectations as a public-service campaign centered on education. The initiative reflected Quincy Jones's use of the station as a platform for community and social messaging in addition to entertainment broadcasting.
Outcome. The available reference material does not specify quantified results or an end date.
Brand decisions
2006
Adopt The CW affiliationStrategyBackground
The WB and UPN were replaced by The CW, requiring affiliated stations to transition to the new network.
Action taken
WNOL-TV began carrying The CW.
Aftermath
The CW affiliation became the station's continuing network identity.
1996
Switch from Fox to The WBStrategyBackground
Fox's agreement with SF Broadcasting to acquire WVUE created a new affiliation structure in New Orleans, while ABC moved to WGNO.
Action taken
WNOL-TV became the city's WB affiliate on January 1, 1996.
Aftermath
The station retained stable total-day ratings and continued to perform well with some syndicated sitcoms.
1986
Join Fox at network launchStrategyBackground
WNOL-TV was operating as an independent station while TVX sought to improve its programming position and use the station's affiliation to strengthen its competitive standing.
Action taken
WNOL-TV became the New Orleans affiliate of Fox on October 9, 1986.
Aftermath
The affiliation remained in place until the 1996 national and local realignment moved Fox to WVUE.
Sources2 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/wnol-tv · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled