WPXX-TV

WPXX-TV is a commercial television station serving the Memphis, Tennessee, area. Broadcasting on virtual channel 50, the station is affiliated with Ion Television and operates from facilities on Brother Boulevard in Bartlett, Tennessee. Its signal also functions as the de facto Ion Television outlet for the Jackson, Tennessee, and Jonesboro, Arkansas, television markets. The station began broadcasting on December 31, 1994, under the call sign WFBI. It was established by Flinn Broadcasting, a Memphis-based company associated with businessman, radiologist, and later Shelby County commissioner George Flinn. In its initial period, the station carried Home Shopping Network programming and shared that service relationship with WBUY-TV in Holly Springs, Mississippi. Its programming role changed in 1998, when Paxson Communications—later known as Ion Media—began operating the station under a local marketing agreement. WPXX then became a charter affiliate of Pax TV, the network that subsequently evolved into Ion Television. During the Pax TV era, the station also aired selected rebroadcasts of newscasts produced by Memphis NBC affiliate WMC-TV. WPXX expanded its local sports role during the first years of the Memphis Grizzlies' presence in the city. It carried a selected package of Grizzlies games produced by Fox Sports Southeast, although that arrangement ended sometime in the late 2000s. The station later became part of the realignment associated with the launch of MyNetworkTV. On September 5, 2006, WPXX added MyNetworkTV as a secondary affiliation and adopted the on-air identity “My50 Memphis.” The affiliation provided the new network with a Memphis outlet after the market's existing UPN and WB station, WLMT, was not selected as a MyNetworkTV affiliate at launch. Ion Media announced in 2007 that it would acquire WPXX and its sister station WPXL-TV in New Orleans from Flinn Broadcasting. The transaction was valued at $18 million, received Federal Communications Commission approval, and closed on January 2, 2008. Ownership by Ion Media placed WPXX more directly within the corporate structure associated with its primary network affiliation. The station subsequently dropped MyNetworkTV programming on September 28, 2009, when MyNetworkTV shifted away from its original network model toward a syndicated programming service. WLMT later carried the service in limited and then fuller form through its digital subchannels. WPXX completed the federally mandated transition from analog to digital broadcasting in 2009. Regular analog transmission on UHF channel 50 ended on June 12, while the station retained digital operation on UHF channel 51 and continued to use virtual channel 50. Under the SAFER Act, its analog signal remained temporarily active through June 26 with public-service announcements explaining the digital transition. Today, WPXX's principal identity is as an Ion Television station, with its broad network schedule and over-the-air reach extending beyond the Memphis market into nearby communities in Tennessee and Arkansas.

WPXX-TV began service in the Memphis television market on December 31, 1994, using the WFBI call sign. Flinn Broadcasting, a Memphis company associated with George Flinn, owned the station. Its original programming came from the Home Shopping Network, and the station shared that affiliation with WBUY-TV in Holly Springs, Mississippi. A major change occurred in 1998, when Paxson Communications began operating the station through a local marketing agreement. The arrangement made the station a charter affiliate of Pax TV, a new national network that later became Ion Television. In addition to network programming, WPXX carried selected rebroadcasts of WMC-TV newscasts. It also aired a selected group of Memphis Grizzlies games produced by Fox Sports Southeast from the team's arrival in Memphis until an unspecified point in the late 2000s. The station took on a second network role during the 2006 television affiliation changes. MyNetworkTV, created as an alternative for stations left without a CW affiliation, launched its Memphis service on WPXX on September 5, 2006. WPXX retained its principal Pax/Ion relationship while using the “My50 Memphis” identity for the secondary service. The arrangement ended on September 28, 2009, when WPXX discontinued MyNetworkTV programming. WLMT subsequently carried MyNetworkTV, first in a limited arrangement centered on WWE SmackDown and later through a digital subchannel carrying the service's full schedule. In August 2007, Ion Media announced an agreement to buy WPXX and sister station WPXL-TV in New Orleans from Flinn Broadcasting. The FCC approved the transaction, and the sale closed on January 2, 2008. This moved WPXX from a local ownership and operating arrangement into the station portfolio of the company associated with its Pax/Ion network identity. The current station is owned by Inyo Broadcast Holdings and remains affiliated with Ion Television. WPXX also participated in the national transition from analog to digital television. Its regular analog service on UHF channel 50 ended June 12, 2009. The digital signal remained on UHF channel 51 but continued to identify as virtual channel 50. A temporary analog signal was maintained through June 26 under the SAFER Act, broadcasting public-service announcements about the transition. The station's current role is primarily that of a full-time Ion Television outlet for Memphis and surrounding communities, including the Jackson and Jonesboro markets.

• 2009

  Digital television transition

  [1]WPXX-TVen.wikipedia.org

  The station ends regular analog broadcasting and continues digitally on UHF channel 51 using virtual channel 50.

• 2008

  Ion Media acquisition closes

  [1]WPXX-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Ion Media completes its purchase of WPXX from Flinn Broadcasting on January 2.

• 2006

  MyNetworkTV launches on WPXX

  [1]WPXX-TVen.wikipedia.org

  WPXX adds MyNetworkTV as a secondary affiliation and adopts the My50 Memphis brand.

• 1998

  Pax TV affiliation begins

  [1]WPXX-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Paxson Communications starts operating the station under a local marketing agreement, making it a charter Pax TV affiliate.

• 1994

  Station signs on as WFBI

  [1]WPXX-TVen.wikipedia.org

  WPXX begins broadcasting on December 31 under the WFBI call sign with Home Shopping Network programming.

A regional broadcast outlet centered on Ion Television's national entertainment schedule, with over-the-air coverage across the Memphis market and nearby parts of Tennessee and Arkansas.

• Broadcast television network affiliation · 1998

  Ion Television

  WPXX's principal offering is the Ion Television schedule, distributed over the station's Memphis-area broadcast signal. The station serves as the Ion outlet for Memphis and provides practical over-the-air access to Ion programming in portions of western Tennessee and northeastern Arkansas, including the Jackson and Jonesboro areas.

• Secondary broadcast affiliation · 2006

  My50 Memphis

  My50 Memphis was WPXX's on-air identity during its secondary MyNetworkTV affiliation from 2006 until 2009. It supplied the station with MyNetworkTV programming while WPXX continued its primary relationship with the Pax/Ion television service.

• Television programming · 1994

  Local and syndicated programming

  Over its history, WPXX has carried programming beyond its principal network schedule, including selected rebroadcasts of WMC-TV newscasts, sports telecasts produced by Fox Sports Southeast, and earlier Home Shopping Network programming.

• 2009

  End MyNetworkTV programmingStrategy

  Background

  MyNetworkTV changed from an intended full network service into a syndicated programming operation.

  Action taken

  WPXX dropped MyNetworkTV programming on September 28.

  Aftermath

  WLMT later carried the service, eventually using a digital subchannel for the full MyNetworkTV lineup.

  Source

• 2007

  Ion Media agrees to acquire WPXXM&A

  Background

  Ion Media sought to expand its station portfolio and announced an agreement with Flinn Broadcasting covering WPXX and WPXL-TV.

  Action taken

  Ion Media agreed to purchase the two stations, subject to FCC approval.

  Aftermath

  The transaction closed on January 2, 2008, after regulatory approval.

  Reported purchase price. $18 million (Announced in 2007; transaction closed January 2, 2008)

  Source

• 2006

  Add MyNetworkTV as a secondary affiliationStrategy

  Background

  The launch of MyNetworkTV created a new affiliation option for stations not selected for the CW, and the service needed a Memphis outlet.

  Action taken

  WPXX added MyNetworkTV on September 5 and branded the service as My50 Memphis.

  Aftermath

  The secondary affiliation lasted until September 2009, when WPXX discontinued MyNetworkTV programming.

  Source

• 1998

  Move into the Pax TV networkStrategy

  Background

  Paxson Communications was developing a new national broadcast network and began operating WPXX through a local marketing agreement.

  Action taken

  WPXX became a charter Pax TV affiliate while continuing to serve the Memphis market.

  Aftermath

  The affiliation established the station's long-term connection with the network that later became Ion Television.

  Source

• 2009

  WPXX ends MyNetworkTV programming[1]WPXX-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  WPXX drops MyNetworkTV on September 28 after the service changes from a conventional network model to syndicated programming.

• 2009

  WPXX completes analog-to-digital transition[1]WPXX-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Regulation

  Regular analog transmission ends on June 12. The station continues digitally on UHF channel 51 while retaining virtual channel 50, with temporary transition notices continuing under the SAFER Act.

• 2008

  Ion Media completes WPXX acquisition[1]WPXX-TVen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  The acquisition receives regulatory approval and closes on January 2, bringing WPXX into Ion Media's station portfolio.

• 2007

  Ion Media agrees to acquire WPXX[1]WPXX-TVen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  Ion Media announces an agreement to purchase WPXX and WPXL-TV from Flinn Broadcasting for $18 million.

• 2006

  WPXX adds MyNetworkTV as a secondary affiliation[1]WPXX-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The station joins MyNetworkTV on September 5 and uses the “My50 Memphis” branding while retaining its primary network relationship.

• 1998

  Paxson Communications begins operating WPXX under a local marketing agreement[1]WPXX-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Paxson Communications assumes operational control and makes the station a charter affiliate of the newly launched Pax TV network.

• 1994

  WPXX begins broadcasting as WFBI[1]WPXX-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The station signs on December 31 under the WFBI call letters, initially carrying Home Shopping Network programming.

1. 1WPXX-TVen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Ion Televisioniontelevision.com