WPXM-TV
WPXM-TV is an Ion Television station serving the Miami, Florida, television market.
Last updated August 31, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
WPXM-TV is a television station licensed to Miami, Florida, and affiliated with Ion Television. Broadcasting on channel 35, it serves viewers in the Miami–Fort Lauderdale market and is part of Ion Media, the television-station group owned by The E. W. Scripps Company. The station's offices are in Sunrise, while its transmitter is located in Andover, Florida. The station began broadcasting in October 1992 under the call sign WMLB-TV. It was initially operated as an independent station and underwent two call-sign changes during its first year: it became WDLP-TV in January 1993 and WCTD in December 1993. In 1997, Paxson Communications acquired channel 35. Following the transaction, the station briefly carried the Infomall TV Network, commonly known as inTV, an infomercial-oriented service associated with Paxson's developing broadcast strategy. On August 31, 1998, the station adopted the WPXM-TV call letters and became a charter owned-and-operated station of Pax TV. Pax TV was subsequently rebranded as i: Independent Television and later as Ion Television, making WPXM part of the network's long-running national distribution system. Its principal role has been to deliver Ion's scheduled entertainment programming to the Miami market through over-the-air digital broadcasting and related distribution platforms. WPXM also carried local and regional programming at different points in its history. From 2001 through 2005, it aired rebroadcasts of newscasts produced by NBC-owned WTVJ under a shared-services arrangement involving NBC and Pax TV. From the 2002 season through the 2005 season, WPXM served as the flagship broadcast station for the Florida Marlins, now known as the Miami Marlins. Marlins games were also shown on then-sister station WPXP-TV in West Palm Beach. The station completed its transition from analog to digital broadcasting in 2009. WPXM shut down its analog UHF channel 35 signal on February 17, 2009, the original federally designated deadline for full-power stations, even though the nationwide transition deadline was later extended to June 12. Its digital transmission moved from pre-transition UHF channel 26 to channel 35 on February 18, 2009. WPXM was notable as the only Miami-licensed station to cease analog broadcasting on the original February date. Today, WPXM-TV functions primarily as the Miami-area Ion Television outlet. Its identity is tied less to independently produced local programming than to the national Ion network schedule, while its local broadcast facilities provide market-specific transmission and station operations.
History
WPXM-TV originated as a new Miami television station that signed on in October 1992 as WMLB-TV. The station initially operated independently, but its identity changed rapidly during its first year. In January 1993, it adopted the call sign WDLP-TV, and in December of the same year it became WCTD. These early changes reflected the station's formative period as channel 35 established its place in the Miami television market. Paxson Communications acquired the station in 1997. After the acquisition, channel 35 became associated with the Infomall TV Network, or inTV, which used an infomercial-based format. This arrangement was part of Paxson's broader effort to assemble a national television service built around low-cost programming and broad distribution. On August 31, 1998, the station changed its call letters to WPXM-TV and became a charter owned-and-operated station of Pax TV. Pax TV was later rebranded first as i: Independent Television and ultimately as Ion Television. WPXM therefore became the Miami outlet for a national network whose schedule centered primarily on syndicated entertainment and acquired programming rather than a large locally produced news operation. The station had several notable local-market programming relationships. Between 2001 and 2005, WPXM aired rebroadcasts of newscasts produced by WTVJ, Miami's NBC-owned station, under a shared-services arrangement involving NBC and Pax TV. The arrangement gave WPXM access to local news content without requiring the Ion/Pax outlet to maintain a full independent newsroom. From the 2002 season through the 2005 season, WPXM also served as the flagship broadcast station for the Florida Marlins, now the Miami Marlins. Marlins games were additionally carried by then-sister station WPXP-TV in West Palm Beach. WPXM's technical history includes an early completion of the United States digital television transition. The station shut down its analog UHF channel 35 transmission on February 17, 2009, the original date established for full-power station conversion. Although federal legislation later moved the general deadline to June 12, WPXM proceeded on the earlier date. On February 18, its digital signal moved from pre-transition UHF channel 26 to channel 35. It was the only Miami-licensed station reported to have ended analog broadcasting on the original February deadline. The station is now part of Ion Media, which is owned by The E. W. Scripps Company. Its offices are located on Northwest 14th Street in Sunrise, and its transmitter is located in Andover, Florida. WPXM-TV continues to operate as the Ion Television station for the Miami market, with its principal function being the local transmission of Ion's national programming schedule.
- 2009
Analog television shutdown
[1]WPXM ends analog broadcasting on February 17 and moves its digital transmission to UHF channel 35 on February 18.
- 2005
Marlins flagship period ends
[1]WPXM's role as the Florida Marlins flagship broadcast station concludes after the 2005 season.
- 2002
Florida Marlins flagship role begins
[1]WPXM becomes the flagship broadcast station for Florida Marlins games.
- 2001
WTVJ newscast rebroadcasts begin
[1]WPXM begins airing rebroadcasts of WTVJ newscasts under a shared-services arrangement.
- 1998
WPXM-TV joins Pax TV
[1]The station adopts the WPXM-TV call sign and becomes a charter Pax TV owned-and-operated station on August 31.
- 1997
Paxson Communications acquisition
[1]Paxson Communications acquires channel 35, which subsequently carries the Infomall TV Network.
- 1993
Two call-sign changes
[1]The station becomes WDLP-TV in January and WCTD in December.
- 1992
Station launches as WMLB-TV
[1]The channel 35 station signs on in Miami in October as an independent station under the WMLB-TV call sign.
Products and positioning
A local broadcast outlet for Ion Television, offering nationally scheduled entertainment programming to the Miami–Fort Lauderdale market through a free over-the-air television signal and other distribution channels.
Broadcast television · 1998
Ion Television broadcast service
WPXM-TV's primary offering is the local Miami-market transmission of Ion Television. The service delivers Ion's nationally scheduled entertainment programming through a digital terrestrial signal on channel 35, with availability also dependent on local cable, satellite, and other distribution arrangements. The station's role is principally that of a network outlet rather than a standalone producer of a broad original schedule.
Sports broadcasting · 2002
Florida Marlins game broadcasts
From the 2002 season through the 2005 season, WPXM served as the flagship broadcast station for Florida Marlins games. The team is now known as the Miami Marlins. The games were also carried on then-sister station WPXP-TV in West Palm Beach.
Local news broadcasting · 2001
WTVJ newscast rebroadcasts
WPXM aired rebroadcasts of newscasts produced by NBC-owned WTVJ from 2001 through 2005. This programming was provided through a shared-services arrangement between NBC and Pax TV and gave WPXM a local news presence without a fully independent newsroom.
Brand decisions
2009
Early analog-to-digital transitionGeneration changeBackground
United States full-power television stations were required to transition from analog to digital broadcasting, with the nationwide deadline later extended to June 12, 2009.
Action taken
WPXM shut down its analog UHF channel 35 signal on February 17, 2009, then relocated its digital signal from pre-transition channel 26 to channel 35 on February 18.
Aftermath
WPXM became the only Miami-licensed station identified as having ceased analog transmissions on the original February deadline.
1998
Adoption of the Pax TV network identityStrategyBackground
Following Paxson Communications' acquisition of the station and its period carrying the Infomall TV Network, the operator was building a broader national television network.
Action taken
The station changed its call sign to WPXM-TV and became a charter owned-and-operated station of Pax TV on August 31, 1998.
Aftermath
WPXM remained associated with the network through its later identities as i: Independent Television and Ion Television.
Sources1 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/wpxm-tv · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled