WPXL-TV
WPXL-TV is an Ion Television station serving the New Orleans, Louisiana, television market.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
WPXL-TV is a full-power television station serving New Orleans and southeastern Louisiana. The station broadcasts the Ion Television network and operates on virtual channel 49, with its digital signal on UHF channel 50. Its offices are in Metairie, while its transmitter is located near the Orleans–St. Bernard parish line. WPXL is part of Ion Media, which became a subsidiary of the E. W. Scripps Company after Scripps acquired Ion Media's television assets. The station first went on the air on March 19, 1989, under the call sign WCCL. It was established as an independent general-entertainment station owned by Barbara Lamont, a Black woman broadcaster and station owner. In its initial period, WCCL also carried selected CBS programming that New Orleans CBS affiliate WWL-TV had preempted, including CBS This Morning. The station struggled with weak ratings, limited programming resources, and insufficient cable carriage. Technical and financial problems compounded those difficulties: a dispute involving the station's tower creditor led to the removal of equipment, and WCCL left the air in May 1990. Lamont attempted to reorganize and restore the station, but the Chapter 11 case was converted to a Chapter 7 liquidation proceeding in 1992. Flinn Broadcasting Corporation subsequently acquired the license through the bankruptcy process. Channel 49 returned to service on May 25, 1994, initially carrying programming from the Home Shopping Network. A major transition occurred on August 31, 1998, when the station adopted the WPXL-TV call sign and became a charter affiliate of Pax TV, the family-oriented network later renamed Ion Television. Under an operating arrangement with Paxson Communications, the owner of Pax TV, Paxson supplied or managed much of the station's programming operation. In 2001, Paxson entered into a joint sales agreement with Hearst-Argyle Television, owner of New Orleans NBC affiliate WDSU-TV. The arrangement supported advertising and marketing for WPXL and later included a delayed rebroadcast of WDSU's late-evening newscast. WPXL played a supporting role in the New Orleans television market after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Flooding damaged WDSU's transmission facilities in Chalmette, and WPXL temporarily partnered with WDSU to simulcast channel 6 programming. WPXL also used digital multicast capacity to carry programming associated with The Worship Network and the signals of WGNO and WNOL-TV, helping make local television services available to viewers with digital-capable receivers. In 2008, its digital subchannels added Qubo and Ion Life, two Ion-affiliated services. Ion Media announced the purchase of WPXL-TV from Flinn Broadcasting in 2007, and the transaction closed on January 2, 2008. WPXL consequently became an Ion-owned-and-operated station. The station ended its WDSU news rebroadcast arrangement in June 2005 as Paxson reduced the carriage of local affiliate newscasts during the network's financial difficulties. Following the nationwide digital television transition, WPXL discontinued analog broadcasting on June 12, 2009, while retaining virtual channel 49 through its digital operation. Today, WPXL-TV's principal role is as the New Orleans-market outlet for Ion Television. Its identity is centered on network entertainment programming and digital broadcast distribution rather than locally produced news. The station remains a local broadcast asset within Ion Media and the broader Scripps portfolio.
History
WPXL-TV's channel allocation first became active on March 19, 1989, when the station signed on as WCCL. Owned by Barbara Lamont, it operated as an independent general-entertainment station and supplemented its schedule with some CBS programs not carried by WWL-TV. The station had difficulty gaining audience share and cable distribution. A dispute with Lodestar Towers, identified as a hostile creditor, resulted in the repossession of transmission equipment and forced WCCL off the air on May 23, 1990. A proposed replacement transmission site at Bywater was not completed after opposition to the height of the planned tower. Lamont continued efforts to restore the station, but the reorganization case was converted from Chapter 11 to Chapter 7 liquidation in May 1992. Flinn Broadcasting Corporation acquired the license from the bankruptcy proceedings and relaunched the station on May 25, 1994, using Home Shopping Network programming. On August 31, 1998, the station changed its call sign to WPXL-TV and became one of the original affiliates of Pax TV. Pax TV was a family-oriented network operated by Paxson Communications and was later renamed i: Independent Television before becoming Ion Television. Paxson entered into a time brokerage arrangement with Flinn to operate or provide programming for WPXL. In July 2001, Paxson also agreed with Hearst-Argyle Television, owner of NBC affiliate WDSU-TV, to provide advertising and marketing services for WPXL. Beginning in September 2001, WPXL carried a delayed version of WDSU's 10 p.m. newscast at 10:30 p.m. on weeknights. That arrangement ended on June 30, 2005, when Paxson discontinued the carriage of affiliate newscasts amid financial pressure at the network. Hurricane Katrina created an important temporary public-service role for WPXL. After the hurricane damaged WDSU's transmitter building in Chalmette, WPXL partnered with WDSU to simulcast channel 6 programming. WPXL's digital signal also carried programming from The Worship Network and temporary digital signals associated with WGNO and WNOL-TV. These arrangements expanded the availability of television services in a region whose communications infrastructure had been severely disrupted. Ion Media announced in August 2007 that it would acquire WPXL-TV and WPXX from Flinn Broadcasting. The deal closed on January 2, 2008, making WPXL an Ion-owned-and-operated station. On March 29, 2008, the station added Ion-affiliated multicast services Qubo and Ion Life to digital channels 49.2 and 49.3. WPXL ended analog transmission on June 12, 2009, the federally designated date for the full-power television digital transition, while maintaining virtual channel 49 through its digital signal. The station is now part of Ion Media's national collection of Ion Television outlets. Following Scripps' acquisition of Ion Media, WPXL became part of the E. W. Scripps Company's television portfolio. Its current identity is principally that of an Ion Television network outlet serving the New Orleans market, with offices in Metairie and transmission facilities near the Orleans–St. Bernard parish line.
- 2009
Analog broadcasting ends
[1]WPXL completes the federally mandated transition to digital television.
- 2008
WPXL becomes an Ion-owned-and-operated station
[1]Ion Media completes its purchase of WPXL from Flinn Broadcasting.
- 2005
WPXL assists after Hurricane Katrina
[1]The station simulcasts WDSU programming and carries additional digital services after storm damage affects local broadcast infrastructure.
- 2001
Hearst-Argyle enters a joint sales agreement
[1]Paxson and Hearst-Argyle establish an arrangement for advertising and marketing services connected with WPXL.
- 1998
WPXL-TV joins Pax TV
[1]The station adopts the WPXL-TV call sign and becomes a charter affiliate of Pax TV.
- 1994
Station relaunches under Flinn Broadcasting
[1]Channel 49 returns to the air with Home Shopping Network programming.
- 1992
Bankruptcy reorganization becomes liquidation
[1]The station's Chapter 11 case is converted to Chapter 7, clearing the way for a license sale.
- 1990
WCCL leaves the air
[1]A tower-equipment dispute and related financial problems force the station to cease broadcasting.
- 1989
Channel 49 signs on as WCCL
[1]The station begins broadcasting as an independent general-entertainment outlet serving New Orleans.
Products and positioning
A network-affiliated, over-the-air television station providing Ion Television programming to the New Orleans market, with a primarily entertainment-focused schedule and limited local production.
Broadcast network service · 1998
Ion Television
WPXL-TV's principal service is the Ion Television network, delivered to viewers in the New Orleans market through the station's primary virtual channel 49. The schedule is primarily composed of nationally distributed entertainment programming rather than a large locally produced news operation. WPXL's affiliation with Ion began when the station joined Pax TV as a charter affiliate in 1998.
Digital television · 2008
Digital multicast services
WPXL has used its digital television capacity to carry additional network and community-oriented services. After Hurricane Katrina, the station carried temporary or supplemental programming associated with local broadcasters and The Worship Network. In 2008, Qubo and Ion Life were added to digital subchannels 49.2 and 49.3.
Brand decisions
2008
Add Qubo and Ion Life multicast channelsProduct launchBackground
The station had digital multicast capacity and Ion Media operated additional specialty networks.
Action taken
WPXL began carrying Qubo and Ion Life on digital channels 49.2 and 49.3.
Aftermath
The station expanded its digital programming offer beyond its primary Ion Television service.
2007
Ion Media agrees to acquire WPXL-TVM&ABackground
Flinn Broadcasting owned the station, while Paxson's successor Ion Media was expanding control over outlets carrying its network.
Action taken
Ion Media announced an agreement to purchase WPXL-TV from Flinn Broadcasting; the sale closed on January 2, 2008.
Aftermath
WPXL became an Ion-owned-and-operated station and later entered the Scripps portfolio through Scripps' acquisition of Ion Media.
announced purchase price. $18 million (2007 announcement of a transaction completed January 2, 2008)
2005
Provide emergency simulcast capacity after Hurricane KatrinaOtherBackground
Hurricane Katrina damaged WDSU's transmission facility and disrupted television infrastructure in the New Orleans area.
Action taken
WPXL partnered with WDSU to simulcast its programming and used digital capacity for additional services.
Aftermath
The arrangement helped maintain access to television programming while local facilities were being restored.
1998
Join Pax TV as a charter affiliateStrategyBackground
After returning to the air under Flinn Broadcasting with shopping programming, the station sought a more defined network identity.
Action taken
WPXL changed its call sign and affiliated with Pax TV, with Paxson Communications involved in the station's operating arrangement.
Aftermath
The affiliation established the channel's long-term identity as a national-network outlet and ultimately led to its Ion-owned-and-operated status.
Sources1 sources
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