WPRI-TV
A Providence-area CBS affiliate with a MyNetworkTV digital subchannel and a jointly operated local television operation with WNAC-TV.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
WPRI-TV is a commercial television station serving Providence, Rhode Island, and the surrounding Southern New England market. It broadcasts on virtual channel 12 and is affiliated with CBS on its main signal. Its secondary digital channel, branded MyRITV, carries MyNetworkTV programming. The station is owned by Nexstar Media Group and operates alongside WNAC-TV, the market's Fox and CW station, under a long-running local marketing arrangement. WPRI-TV's studios are located on Catamore Boulevard in East Providence, while its transmitter is in Rehoboth, Massachusetts. The station began broadcasting on March 27, 1955, as WPRO-TV. It was established by Cherry & Webb, a Providence retailer that also owned WPRO radio. The launch followed several delays involving transmitter construction, local legal disputes, and damage caused by Hurricane Carol. WPRO-TV initially carried programming from both CBS and ABC, while NBC programs continued to be shown by WJAR-TV. ABC became the station's principal affiliation after the original WNET operation left the air, although the market's affiliation structure changed again when WTEV, now WLNE-TV, launched in 1963. In 1959, Cherry & Webb sold its WPRO radio and television properties to Capital Cities Television Corporation. WPRO-TV was subsequently sold to Poole Broadcasting in 1967 after Capital Cities' acquisition of another station created an ownership-limit problem. Because Poole and Capital Cities continued to own different radio and television stations in the same market, the television station adopted the WPRI-TV call sign. The letters were intended to evoke Providence, Rhode Island. Poole sold the station to Knight Ridder Broadcasting in 1977, and WPRI switched from CBS to ABC as part of a broader corporate affiliation arrangement. Ownership changed again in 1989, when Knight Ridder exited broadcasting and sold WPRI to Narragansett Television, a locally based company. CBS acquired the station in 1995, briefly making it a network-owned station. At midnight on September 10, 1995, WPRI returned to CBS, reversing its earlier affiliation exchange with WLNE-TV. The station promoted the transition through a campaign called “Survive the Switch.” CBS then sold WPRI to Clear Channel Communications in 1996 because of overlapping signal and ownership concerns involving CBS-owned WBZ-TV in Boston. Clear Channel later sold WPRI to Sunrise Television, which acquired the station in 2001. Sunrise merged with LIN TV in 2002, beginning the station's LIN-era ownership. LIN Media merged with Media General in 2014, and Media General retained WPRI while divesting WJAR to satisfy federal ownership rules. Nexstar Broadcasting Group acquired Media General in a transaction completed in January 2017, bringing WPRI into the Nexstar portfolio. WPRI's local identity is centered on news, weather, traffic, community reporting, and syndicated or network programming. Its news operation historically trailed WJAR in many ratings periods but developed a particularly strong late-night newscast. The station launched Providence's first 5 p.m. newscast in 1993 and began producing a 10 p.m. newscast for WNAC in 1996. Its digital-channel lineup has changed repeatedly as multicast networks and local affiliations moved among WPRI, WNAC, and other Providence stations. In 2017, MyNetworkTV programming moved from WNAC-DT2 to WPRI-DT2, which became the current MyRITV service.
History
WPRI-TV began service on March 27, 1955, under the call sign WPRO-TV. Cherry & Webb, a Providence retailer and owner of WPRO radio, established the station. Its launch was delayed by transmitter-site disputes in Rehoboth, Massachusetts, a move to Johnston, Rhode Island, and destruction of the Johnston transmitter by Hurricane Carol. Once the Rehoboth site was cleared, construction proceeded and the station went on the air as Rhode Island's third television station. The station initially carried CBS and ABC programming. Its connection with CBS was supported by WPRO radio's relationship with the CBS Radio Network, while ABC granted the new station access to selected programming. The market changed when WTEV, now WLNE-TV, began broadcasting in 1963. WPRO-TV's earliest studios were on the upper floor of 24 Mason Street in Providence, where its radio and television operations shared facilities and news resources. Personalities such as Salty Brine and Hank Bouchard helped give the station a strong local presence. Cherry & Webb sold WPRO-AM-FM-TV to Capital Cities Television Corporation in 1959. Capital Cities later sold the television station to Poole Broadcasting on July 18, 1967, after its acquisition of a Houston station created a conflict with federal ownership limits. Since Capital Cities retained the WPRO radio stations, Poole changed the television station's calls to WPRI-TV. The new calls referenced Providence and separated the television license from the radio properties. The radio and television operations continued to share Mason Street facilities until 1974, when the television station moved to separate facilities in East Providence. Poole sold WPRI, WJRT-TV, and WTEN to Knight Ridder Broadcasting in 1977. Under a corporate affiliation agreement, WPRI switched from CBS to ABC on June 27 of that year. Knight Ridder exited the broadcasting business in 1989, selling WPRI and WTKR to Narragansett Television. Narragansett sold WPRI to CBS in early 1995. The station returned to CBS on September 10, 1995, after an eighteen-year ABC period. CBS promoted the transition with “Survive the Switch,” a viewer-information campaign designed to prepare audiences for the change. CBS sold WPRI to Clear Channel Communications in 1996. The transaction reflected regulatory concerns about overlapping coverage between WPRI and CBS-owned WBZ-TV in Boston. WPRI entered a local marketing agreement with WNAC-TV in 1997, and WNAC moved its operations into WPRI's East Providence facilities. Sunrise Television bought WPRI in 2001 and later sold WNAC to a separate licensee while retaining operational control through the LMA. Sunrise merged with LIN TV in 2002. LIN Media agreed to merge with Media General in 2014. Because Media General already owned WJAR, federal ownership rules required a Providence-market divestiture. Media General retained WPRI and its WNAC operating arrangement and sold WJAR to Sinclair Broadcast Group. The merger closed in December 2014. Nexstar Broadcasting Group announced its acquisition of Media General in 2016 and completed it on January 17, 2017. WPRI's programming history includes a long-running local-news operation, CBS network programming, and digital multicast services. It introduced the market's first 5 p.m. newscast in September 1993 and expanded that program to an hour in 1995. In 1996, it began producing a 10 p.m. newscast for WNAC. WPRI-DT2 has carried several multicast services, including TheCoolTV and Bounce TV. MyNetworkTV moved to WPRI-DT2 in October 2017, where the service is branded MyRITV. The station remains an active Nexstar-owned CBS affiliate serving Providence and neighboring communities.
- 2017
Nexstar acquires Media General
[1]Nexstar completes the acquisition of Media General, becoming WPRI's owner.
- 2017
MyRITV moves to WPRI-DT2
[1]MyNetworkTV programming moves from WNAC-DT2 to WPRI's second digital subchannel, branded MyRITV.
- 2014
Media General completes LIN merger
[1]Media General completes its merger with LIN Media and retains WPRI while divesting WJAR.
- 2002
LIN TV ownership begins
[1]Sunrise merges with LIN TV, placing WPRI within the LIN station group.
- 2001
Sunrise Television acquires WPRI
[1]Sunrise Television purchases WPRI from Clear Channel Communications.
- 1997
WNAC moves into WPRI facilities
[1]WPRI assumes operational control of WNAC under a local marketing agreement.
- 1996
WPRI begins producing a WNAC prime-time newscast
[1]WPRI launches a 10 p.m. newscast on WNAC, expanding its local-news operation.
- 1995
WPRI returns to CBS
[1]The station reverses its earlier affiliation swap and rejoins CBS on September 10.
- 1993
First local 5 p.m. newscast
[1]WPRI launches what was described as Providence's first 5 p.m. local newscast.
- 1989
Narragansett Television ownership begins
[1]Knight Ridder sells WPRI to Narragansett Television as it leaves the broadcasting business.
Products and positioning
A locally focused network-affiliated television station competing in the Providence news market through live reporting, weather coverage, digital distribution, and complementary programming on its MyNetworkTV subchannel.
Broadcast television · 1955
WPRI-TV CBS service
The station's primary service carries CBS network programming together with WPRI's local news, weather, traffic, public-affairs, and community programming for the Providence market. The main digital signal is broadcast in high definition and serves Rhode Island and portions of southeastern Massachusetts.
Digital multicast television · 2017
MyRITV
MyRITV is the MyNetworkTV-affiliated service carried on WPRI-DT2. The subchannel has hosted several multicast networks over time, including TheCoolTV and Bounce TV, before MyNetworkTV programming moved to the service in October 2017.
Local news · 1955
WPRI local news
WPRI's local-news operation provides scheduled newscasts, breaking-news coverage, weather, traffic, investigative reporting, and regional features. The operation also produces programming for WNAC-TV under the stations' local marketing arrangement.
Marketing campaigns
- 1995Survive the Switch
Providence, Rhode Island
WPRI used this viewer-information and promotional campaign to explain its return from ABC to CBS and help households prepare for the September 1995 affiliation change.
Outcome. The station completed the affiliation change and resumed CBS service on September 10, 1995.
Brand decisions
2017
Move MyNetworkTV to WPRI-DT2Generation changeBackground
Nexstar reorganized digital subchannels and network affiliations in the Providence market after acquiring related programming assets and managing multiple local services.
Action taken
MyNetworkTV programming moved from WNAC-DT2 to WPRI-DT2, branded MyRITV; the subchannel was also upgraded from standard definition to 720p high definition.
Aftermath
WPRI continued with a CBS main channel and MyNetworkTV secondary service, while WNAC-DT2 carried CW programming.
2014
Retain WPRI during the LIN Media–Media General mergerM&ABackground
LIN Media and Media General agreed to a merger valued at approximately $1.6 billion. Media General already owned WJAR, creating a Providence-market ownership conflict.
Action taken
Media General retained WPRI and the WNAC operating arrangement and sold WJAR to Sinclair Broadcast Group.
Aftermath
WPRI became part of Media General and later entered Nexstar's portfolio.
Announced transaction value. $1.6 billion (2014 announced LIN Media–Media General merger)
1997
Begin operating WNAC-TV under a local marketing agreementStrategyBackground
Ownership restrictions and market arrangements made a shared operating structure more practical than direct common ownership.
Action taken
WPRI took over WNAC's operations and moved the station into WPRI's East Providence facilities.
Aftermath
The WPRI-WNAC operating relationship continued under successive owners.
1995
Return to CBSStrategyBackground
CBS acquired WPRI from Narragansett Television and sought to restore the station's earlier network relationship.
Action taken
WPRI reversed its 1977 affiliation exchange and joined CBS at midnight on September 10.
Aftermath
The station has remained a CBS affiliate, apart from its earlier ABC period.
1977
Switch primary affiliation from CBS to ABCStrategyBackground
The change followed Knight Ridder's acquisition of WPRI and a broader corporate affiliation agreement involving Knight Ridder stations.
Action taken
WPRI moved to ABC on June 27, 1977.
Aftermath
The station remained an ABC affiliate until returning to CBS in 1995.
1967
Adopt the WPRI-TV call signStrategyBackground
Poole Broadcasting acquired the television station while Capital Cities retained WPRO radio, creating a need for separate call letters under the ownership rules then in effect.
Action taken
The station changed its call sign from WPRO-TV to WPRI-TV, with the new letters also referring to Providence.
Aftermath
WPRI-TV became the station's permanent identity and remains its call sign.
Sources2 sources
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