WPNY-LD
A low-power television station serving the Utica, New York area, programmed primarily as an independent outlet with a secondary MyNetworkTV affiliation.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
WPNY-LD is a low-power television station serving Utica and nearby communities in New York's Mohawk Valley. The station is owned by Nexstar Media Group and operates alongside WFXV, a Fox and CW+ affiliate, and WUTR, the market's ABC affiliate. The three stations are managed together and share studio facilities on Smith Hill Road in Deerfield, using a Utica mailing address. WPNY-LD's transmitter is also located at the Deerfield site. The station began broadcasting on January 1, 1988, under the call sign W11BS. It was initially licensed to Little Falls as a low-power translator and general-entertainment independent station. In January 1995, it became a charter affiliate of the United Paramount Network, commonly known as UPN. Later that year, it adopted the WUPN-LP call sign after upgrading its low-power authorization. It subsequently became WPNY-LP, a change prompted by the use of the WPNY call letters by a full-power station in North Carolina. WPNY developed a close operational relationship with WFXV during the 1990s. The stations were sold to Sullivan Broadcasting in 1996, and Sullivan was acquired by Sinclair Broadcast Group two years later. WPNY and WFXV were instead purchased by Quorum Broadcasting, a company founded by former Sullivan executive Dan Sullivan. Nexstar acquired the stations in 2003. WUTR was later transferred to Mission Broadcasting, with Nexstar assuming operational control through local marketing and joint-sales arrangements. Following that transaction, WPNY and WFXV were consolidated into WUTR's Deerfield facilities. When UPN and The WB were replaced by The CW in 2006, WPNY did not become the market's CW outlet. Because the existing cable-only WB affiliate operated by WKTV was expected to receive the CW affiliation, WPNY selected MyNetworkTV instead. It began carrying MyNetworkTV programming on September 5, 2006. The station has otherwise operated primarily as an independent outlet rather than as a full-time network affiliate. WPNY's very low-power signal has limited geographic reach, covering mainly the immediate Utica area. To provide broader market coverage, its programming is simulcast in high definition on WUTR's second digital subchannel, 20.2. This arrangement allows viewers across the wider market to receive WPNY programming even where the station's own over-the-air signal is weak. The station also carried a rebroadcast of WUTR's local evening newscast. From September 2011 through September 2017, WPNY aired WUTR's Eyewitness News at 6 at 7 p.m. on weeknights. The program occupied a time slot in which the Mohawk Valley market did not otherwise have a comparable local newscast on WKTV. The rebroadcast was discontinued without advance public notice in September 2017, leaving WPNY without local news programming in its regular schedule. WPNY historically transmitted on analog VHF channel 11. Federal rules ended analog broadcasting by low-power television stations on July 13, 2021. The station was authorized for digital operation on channel 11 effective July 23, 2021, and began digital broadcasting later that year, on November 30. Its current role is therefore defined by a combination of localized low-power transmission, the WUTR 20.2 simulcast, independent programming, and secondary MyNetworkTV affiliation.
History
WPNY-LD signed on January 1, 1988, as W11BS, a low-power translator and general-entertainment independent station licensed to Little Falls, New York. The station joined UPN as a charter affiliate on January 16, 1995. In December of that year it upgraded its low-power status and adopted the WUPN-LP call sign. The call sign later changed to WPNY-LP after another station received the WPNY designation. During the 1990s, WPNY became associated with WFXV, the Utica area's Fox affiliate. The two stations were sold to Sullivan Broadcasting in 1996. When Sullivan was acquired by Sinclair Broadcast Group in 1998, WPNY and WFXV were instead acquired by Quorum Broadcasting, which had been founded by former Sullivan executive Dan Sullivan. Nexstar acquired the stations in 2003. A related ownership and operating structure developed around WUTR. In December 2003, Clear Channel Communications announced the sale of WUTR to Mission Broadcasting. The FCC approved the transaction on April 1, 2004. Nexstar then assumed operational control of WUTR through local marketing and joint-sales arrangements, while WPNY and WFXV were consolidated into WUTR's Deerfield studio operation. The three stations consequently functioned as a coordinated local television group despite their different formal ownership arrangements. The station's network role changed in 2006. The merger of UPN and The WB created The CW, while Fox announced MyNetworkTV as an alternative service for stations that did not receive CW affiliation. In the Utica market, the cable-only WB outlet operated by WKTV through the WB 100+ system was expected to become the CW outlet. WPNY therefore chose MyNetworkTV and began the affiliation on September 5, 2006. Outside those network programming hours, it remained primarily an independent station. Nexstar later expanded local news production in the market. On March 31, 2011, the company announced that it would establish a shared news operation for WUTR, WFXV, and WPNY. The project included an announced investment of $1 million in equipment and plans to hire twelve employees. WPNY carried a repeat of WUTR's Eyewitness News at 6 at 7 p.m. on weeknights from September 2011 until September 2017. The rebroadcast was notable because it supplied local news during a time slot without a comparable WKTV newscast. Its quiet cancellation in September 2017 left WPNY without local news programming. WPNY's low-power transmission has always constrained its direct coverage area. The station's signal reaches primarily the immediate Utica area, so its programming is also carried in high definition on WUTR's second digital subchannel, 20.2. The simulcast uses WUTR's broader transmission facilities to make WPNY content available across more of the market. The station formerly transmitted in analog on VHF channel 11. The FCC-mandated end of analog broadcasting for low-power television stations occurred on July 13, 2021. WPNY was licensed for digital service on the same channel effective July 23, 2021, and commenced digital operations on November 30, 2021. It remains an active Nexstar-operated low-power station with an independent programming profile and a secondary MyNetworkTV relationship.
- 2021
Moves to digital transmission
[1]The station ends analog operation and begins digital broadcasting on VHF channel 11 on November 30.
- 2017
Ends local-news rebroadcast
[1]WPNY stops airing the 7 p.m. repeat of WUTR's Eyewitness News at 6.
- 2011
Launches shared local news operation
[1]Nexstar announces and launches a joint news operation serving WUTR, WFXV, and WPNY.
- 2006
Begins MyNetworkTV affiliation
[1]WPNY starts carrying MyNetworkTV programming on September 5 after the UPN and WB network transition.
- 2004
WUTR joins the shared operating structure
[1]The FCC approves Mission Broadcasting's acquisition of WUTR, after which Nexstar assumes operational control and consolidates the stations in Deerfield.
- 2003
Acquired by Nexstar
[1]Nexstar acquires WPNY and WFXV.
- 1998
Acquired by Quorum Broadcasting
[1]WPNY and WFXV are acquired by Quorum Broadcasting rather than being absorbed into Sinclair Broadcast Group.
- 1996
Sold to Sullivan Broadcasting
[1]WPNY and sister station WFXV are sold to Sullivan Broadcasting.
- 1995
Joins UPN
[1]The station becomes a charter UPN affiliate on January 16.
- 1995
Adopts WUPN-LP call sign
[1]After upgrading its low-power status, the station adopts the WUPN-LP call letters.
Products and positioning
A localized low-power television service for the Utica market that combines independent programming with a secondary MyNetworkTV affiliation and relies on a high-definition simulcast on WUTR's second digital subchannel to extend its audience beyond the station's limited transmitter coverage.
Low-power television service · 1988
WPNY-LD channel 11
WPNY-LD's primary over-the-air service broadcasts on VHF channel 11 from Deerfield. Its low-power authorization limits direct reception mainly to the immediate Utica area. The service carries a mix of independent programming and MyNetworkTV content rather than functioning as a full-time traditional network affiliate.
Digital multicast simulcast
WPNY on WUTR-DT2
WPNY programming is simulcast in high definition on WUTR's second digital subchannel, 20.2. This distribution arrangement compensates for WPNY-LD's very limited transmitter footprint and makes the station's programming available throughout more of the Utica television market.
Network affiliation · 2006
MyNetworkTV programming
WPNY has maintained a secondary affiliation with MyNetworkTV since September 5, 2006. The affiliation arose after the UPN and WB transition and complements the station's broader independent programming schedule.
Local news programming · 2011
Eyewitness News at 6 rebroadcast
From September 2011 through September 2017, WPNY repeated WUTR's weeknight Eyewitness News at 6 at 7 p.m. The service provided a local news option in a time slot that otherwise lacked a comparable WKTV newscast, but it was later discontinued.
Brand decisions
2021
Transitions from analog to digital televisionGeneration changeBackground
Federal requirements ended analog broadcasting by low-power television stations in July 2021.
Action taken
WPNY ceased analog operation on July 13, 2021, received digital authorization on channel 11 effective July 23, and began digital operations on November 30.
Aftermath
The station continued operating as a digital low-power service, with its programming also distributed through WUTR's second digital subchannel.
2011
Adds shared local news programmingStrategyBackground
Nexstar sought to establish a coordinated news operation for WUTR, WFXV, and WPNY to compete in the Utica market.
Action taken
Nexstar announced a new shared newsroom, equipment investment, and staffing plan. WPNY subsequently carried a 7 p.m. rebroadcast of WUTR's evening newscast.
Aftermath
The rebroadcast continued until September 2017, when it was discontinued.
Announced investment in news equipment. $1 million announced investment (2011)
2006
Selects MyNetworkTV instead of The CWStrategyBackground
The merger of UPN and The WB created The CW, while a cable-only WB affiliate in the Utica market was expected to receive the new CW affiliation.
Action taken
WPNY chose to associate with MyNetworkTV and began carrying its programming on September 5, 2006.
Aftermath
The station retained a primarily independent programming profile while using MyNetworkTV as a secondary affiliation.
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