WPXA-TV
WPXA-TV is an Ion Television station licensed to Rome, Georgia, serving viewers in the Atlanta area.
Last updated August 31, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
WPXA-TV is a commercial television station licensed to Rome, Georgia, and serving the wider Atlanta television market. The station broadcasts the Ion Television network and is owned by Ion Media, a subsidiary of The E. W. Scripps Company. Its transmitter is located on Bear Mountain near the Cherokee–Bartow county line, a site selected to provide broad coverage of northwest Georgia and the Atlanta region. The station began broadcasting on February 29, 1988, as WAWA-TV. Its construction permit had originally been awarded to American Communications & Television, which later sold the permit to Sudbrink Broadcasting. The original service was a conventional independent station carrying syndicated entertainment, movies, sitcoms, talk programs, and local newscasts aimed primarily at the Rome area. Sudbrink later sought to reposition channel 14 as an Atlanta-market station. A new high-power transmitter facility was built on Bear Mountain, and the station adopted the WTLK-TV call sign in late 1990. In 1991, it introduced an unusually ambitious prime-time schedule centered on locally produced and nationally syndicated talk programming. The lineup included programs hosted by figures such as Neal Boortz, Suzette Charles, Brian Wilson, Michael Young, and Hosea Williams. The strategy was weakened by the station's difficulty obtaining carriage on Atlanta cable systems, which at the time were essential for reaching most metropolitan viewers. The resulting audience and distribution problems led to layoffs, host departures, and a rapid reduction in original programming. By 1993, WTLK-TV's schedule had largely shifted to reruns, country-music videos, and selected network programming, including CBS This Morning. A proposed plan to restore a broad, around-the-clock talk format did not proceed. The station's lack of placement on major Atlanta cable systems continued to restrict its commercial prospects, partly because of disputes concerning its market and copyright classification. Paxson Communications acquired WTLK-TV in 1994. Following the acquisition, the station gained broader cable distribution and became part of Paxson's emerging infomercial strategy. It was included among the initial stations of Infomall TV, an infomercial service announced in 1995. The call sign changed to WPXA-TV in January 1998, and the station joined the Pax TV network when that service launched on August 31 of the same year. During the early 2000s, WPXA-TV maintained a joint sales arrangement with WXIA-TV, the Atlanta NBC affiliate. WXIA sold local advertising for channel 14, while WPXA carried selected WXIA newscasts and other locally relevant programming, including an Atlanta Falcons coach's program. After Paxson changed its corporate and network identities, the service became i: Independent Television in 2005 and Ion Television in 2007. Ion Media was acquired by The E. W. Scripps Company in 2021, bringing WPXA-TV into the Scripps corporate group. WPXA-TV has also transitioned through several digital transmission arrangements. It began digital broadcasting on channel 51 in 2002, moved to channel 31 in 2014 to address interference involving nearby wireless frequencies, and moved again to channel 16 in September 2019 as part of the United States broadcast-spectrum repacking process. The station remains an Ion Television outlet focused primarily on network distribution rather than a large locally produced news operation.
History
The history of WPXA-TV begins with efforts to establish a television station on channel 14 in Rome, Georgia. In 1984, American Communications & Television was selected from competing applicants to receive the construction permit. The company initially considered the call sign WZGA and planned a conventional independent station, but construction was delayed while it prioritized another project and reconsidered the proposed transmitter location. The permit was sold to Sudbrink Broadcasting in 1986. Sudbrink proceeded with construction and established studio facilities on Shorter Avenue in Rome. Channel 14 went on the air on February 29, 1988, as WAWA-TV. Its original schedule consisted of syndicated talk shows, movies, sitcoms, and two locally produced newscasts each day. The station was initially oriented toward the Rome area and operated as a general-entertainment independent outlet. Sudbrink subsequently attempted to use the station's technical facilities to reach the much larger Atlanta market. Local officials approved construction of a new tower on Pine Log, also known as Bear Mountain, in 1990. The new facility, which cost approximately $2 million according to the cited historical account, significantly improved the signal toward Atlanta and Chattanooga. The station changed its call sign to WTLK-TV and leased studio space on Cobb Parkway in Marietta as it prepared a new programming service. In June 1991, WTLK-TV launched what was promoted as an all-talk prime-time schedule. Locally produced shows included Talk of the Town, hosted by Suzette Charles and Michael Young, and Talk at Nite, hosted by Brian Wilson. The schedule also featured programs associated with Neal Boortz and Mike Roberts, along with nationally syndicated programs hosted by Phil Donahue and Sally Jessy Raphael. The strategy depended heavily on reaching Atlanta cable subscribers, since terrestrial reception alone could not provide adequate metropolitan penetration. The plan quickly encountered distribution problems. Atlanta cable operators did not add WTLK-TV to their systems, and must-carry protections were not then available in a form that solved the station's problem. Because a substantial share of metropolitan households subscribed to cable, the absence of channel placement limited both audience visibility and advertising revenue. Sudbrink reduced staff in September 1991, and several prominent hosts left over the following months. By 1993, the schedule had contracted to a mixture of CBS This Morning, country-music videos, and reruns. A proposed acquisition and programming expansion by Joel Babbit, including a possible 24-hour talk format, was abandoned. The station's cable-distribution difficulties persisted even after must-carry rules were reintroduced. A dispute over the station's classification for copyright purposes contributed to its continued absence from major Atlanta systems. In 1994, Sudbrink sold WTLK-TV to Paxson Communications. Paxson initially considered a religious format, but the station soon became part of the company's infomercial strategy. Cable carriage improved after the acquisition, and WTLK-TV was included in the Infomall TV service announced by Paxson in 1995. The call sign changed to WPXA-TV in January 1998. On August 31 of that year, the station joined Pax TV, a network assembled largely from Paxson-owned stations. In the early 2000s, WPXA-TV entered a joint sales agreement with WXIA-TV. WXIA handled local advertising sales for channel 14, while WPXA retransmitted selected WXIA newscasts and other programming, including an Atlanta Falcons coach's show. These arrangements linked the station more closely to the Atlanta local television ecosystem despite its continued Ion-oriented network identity. Paxson Communications changed its corporate name to Ion Media Networks in 2006, and its network changed from i: Independent Television to Ion Television in 2007. WPXA-TV continued as an Ion affiliate. The station began digital broadcasting on channel 51 on January 5, 2002. Its digital assignment changed to channel 31 in 2014 to mitigate interference involving wireless communications services, and then to channel 16 in September 2019 during the post-spectrum-auction repacking process. The E. W. Scripps Company announced its acquisition of Ion Media in 2020 and completed the transaction in 2021. WPXA-TV consequently became part of Scripps through Ion Media. Its present role is principally that of an Ion Television distribution outlet serving the Atlanta area, with transmission facilities on Bear Mountain and a schedule centered on nationally distributed network programming.
- 2021
Scripps ownership begins
[1]The E. W. Scripps Company completed its acquisition of Ion Media, bringing WPXA-TV into the Scripps group.
- 2019
Digital channel repacked to 16
[1]WPXA-TV moved from channel 31 to channel 16 in September as part of the United States spectrum repacking process.
- 2007
Network becomes Ion Television
[1]Following the evolution of Paxson's corporate and network brands, the station became associated with Ion Television.
- 2002
Digital broadcasting begins
[1]WPXA-TV began digital transmission on channel 51 on January 5.
- 1998
Call sign changes to WPXA-TV and Pax TV launches
[1]The station adopted the WPXA-TV call sign and joined Pax TV when the network launched.
- 1995
Infomall TV affiliation
[1]The station became one of the early outlets in Paxson's Infomall TV infomercial network.
- 1994
Paxson Communications acquisition
[1]Paxson Communications purchased the station from Sudbrink Broadcasting.
- 1991
Prime-time talk format launched
[1]WTLK-TV introduced a locally focused and syndicated talk-programming schedule aimed at the Atlanta market.
- 1990
Bear Mountain transmitter activated
[1]A new transmitter facility was activated to extend coverage toward Atlanta and Chattanooga, and the station adopted the WTLK-TV call sign.
- 1988
WAWA-TV begins broadcasting
[1]Channel 14 went on air on February 29 as an independent general-entertainment station.
Products and positioning
A network-owned or network-aligned broadcast outlet delivering Ion Television's nationally distributed programming to the Atlanta market and northwest Georgia, with limited emphasis on locally originated programming.
Broadcast television network service · 2007
Ion Television programming
WPXA-TV's principal offering is the Ion Television schedule, distributed over the station's digital broadcast signal to viewers in the Atlanta and northwest Georgia region. The station functions primarily as a network outlet rather than as a full-service local news broadcaster. Its programming identity has evolved from the earlier Pax and i: services into the current Ion Television brand.
Television advertising
Local commercial advertising
The station provides commercial inventory associated with its broadcast schedule. In the early 2000s, local advertising sales were handled through a joint sales arrangement with WXIA-TV, linking WPXA-TV's inventory to the established Atlanta NBC affiliate's sales operation.
Broadcast transmission · 2002
Digital over-the-air television
WPXA-TV transmits a digital television signal from Bear Mountain near the Cherokee–Bartow county line. Its digital channel has changed over time, moving from 51 to 31 and later to 16 as regulators addressed interference and reorganized the broadcast spectrum.
Brand decisions
2021
Ion Media becomes part of ScrippsM&ABackground
The E. W. Scripps Company announced a transaction to acquire Ion Media and its portfolio of television stations.
Action taken
Scripps completed the acquisition, retaining WPXA-TV within Ion Media.
Aftermath
WPXA-TV became part of the Scripps corporate group while continuing to broadcast Ion Television programming.
1998
Conversion into a Pax TV network outletStrategyBackground
Paxson assembled a national network from stations it owned or controlled.
Action taken
The station changed its call sign to WPXA-TV and joined Pax TV at the network's launch.
Aftermath
WPXA-TV moved away from its earlier independent and talk-format identity toward a nationally standardized network schedule that ultimately became Ion Television.
1994
Paxson Communications acquires the stationM&ABackground
WTLK-TV faced distribution and programming difficulties under Sudbrink Broadcasting.
Action taken
Paxson Communications purchased WTLK-TV and integrated it into its developing national infomercial and television-network strategy.
Aftermath
The station obtained broader cable carriage and later became part of Pax TV, the predecessor to Ion Television.
1990
Repositioning from Rome independent to Atlanta-market talk stationStrategyBackground
Sudbrink sought to use a new Bear Mountain transmitter and expanded studio presence to reach the larger Atlanta television market.
Action taken
The station changed its call sign to WTLK-TV and launched a prime-time schedule centered on local and syndicated talk programming.
Aftermath
The strategy was undermined by limited cable carriage, leading to layoffs, host departures, and a later reduction to reruns and music videos.
Recent events
- 2021
The E. W. Scripps Company completes Ion Media acquisition[1]
M&A
Scripps completed its acquisition of Ion Media, making WPXA-TV part of the Scripps corporate group through Ion Media.
- 2014
WPXA-TV changes digital channel from 51 to 31[1]
Regulation · Product generation
The station reassigned its digital transmission channel to reduce interference with wireless communications services on adjacent frequencies.
- 1998
WPXA-TV joins Pax TV[1]
Product launch
After changing its call sign from WTLK-TV to WPXA-TV, the station became part of Pax TV at the network's launch.
- 1994
Paxson Communications acquires WTLK-TV[1]
M&A
Paxson Communications purchased the station and subsequently incorporated it into the company's developing infomercial and national-network model.
- 1991
WTLK-TV launches an all-talk prime-time format[1]
Product launch
The station introduced a schedule built around locally produced and syndicated talk shows, but struggled to secure carriage on major Atlanta cable systems.
- 1990
Station shifts toward the Atlanta market as WTLK-TV[1]
Other
A new Bear Mountain transmitter was activated and the station adopted the WTLK-TV call sign in preparation for a broader Atlanta-market talk-programming strategy.
- 1988
WPXA-TV begins broadcasting as WAWA-TV[1]
Other
Channel 14 began operations in Rome, Georgia, as WAWA-TV under Sudbrink Broadcasting, offering independent entertainment programming and local newscasts.
Sources1 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/wpxa-tv · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled