WRIC-TV
WRIC-TV is the ABC-affiliated television station serving the Richmond, Virginia, market from a facility licensed to Petersburg.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
WRIC-TV is a full-power commercial television station licensed to Petersburg, Virginia, and serving the broader Richmond metropolitan area. It broadcasts on virtual channel 8 and is affiliated with ABC. The station is owned by Nexstar Media Group and operates from studios in Chesterfield County, with a Richmond mailing address. Its transmitter is in Bon Air, where it shares a transmission tower with PBS member stations WCVE and WCVW. The station began broadcasting on August 15, 1955, under the call sign WXEX-TV. It was established by Thomas Tinsley through Petersburg Television Corporation and initially operated as an NBC affiliate. Its original facilities were in Petersburg, while its transmitter was in the Bermuda Hundred area of eastern Chesterfield County. In its early years, the station had weaker Richmond coverage than the market's established stations, so it supplemented its Petersburg base with a Richmond sales office and later satellite facilities near Bon Air. In 1965, WXEX-TV exchanged network affiliations with channel 12 and became Richmond's ABC affiliate. It has retained the ABC affiliation ever since. Nationwide Communications, a subsidiary of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, acquired the station in 1968. A fire destroyed the original Petersburg studios in 1969, forcing temporary operations at the transmitter and in a vacant retail property before the station moved into a new Crater Road facility known as Blandford Manor. The station relocated its studios to Arboretum Place in Chesterfield County on April 23, 1990. At the same time, it adopted the WRIC-TV call letters. Although its facilities and marketing increasingly emphasized the Richmond market, its federal license remained assigned to Petersburg, leading to the identifying formulation “Petersburg–Richmond.” Nationwide sold its television stations, including WRIC, to Young Broadcasting in 1993. WRIC passed through several major ownership transitions in the following decades. Young Broadcasting entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2009, but the station ultimately remained with the reorganized company. Young merged with Media General in 2013, making WRIC one of Media General's flagship stations and placing it alongside other Virginia outlets in the company's broadcast group. Nexstar Broadcasting Group acquired Media General in 2017, creating the present Nexstar Media Group ownership structure. The station has also evolved technically and editorially. It began broadcasting local news in high definition in 2011. Its digital multiplex has carried several multicast services, including Ion Television and Laff, and it has participated in the Richmond market's ATSC 3.0 arrangements through a relationship with WUPV. WRIC ended regular analog broadcasting in 2009 as part of the nationwide digital transition, retaining a temporary analog signal for transition information under the federal SAFER Act. In 2017, it replaced the long-standing “WRIC-TV 8” and “TV 8” branding with “ABC 8.” Today, WRIC-TV combines ABC network programming, locally produced news, weather, traffic, public affairs and community coverage with digital publishing through WRIC.com and associated social channels. Its principal identity is that of a Richmond-area local news and broadcast brand, while its license and formal community of record remain Petersburg.
History
WRIC-TV began service on August 15, 1955, as WXEX-TV, a Petersburg-based NBC affiliate established by Thomas Tinsley and Petersburg Television Corporation. The station's license was assigned to Petersburg, while its transmitter operated from eastern Chesterfield County. Because its early signal did not reach Richmond as effectively as those of the market's established stations, WXEX maintained a Richmond sales office and later developed auxiliary facilities near Bon Air. A major turning point came in 1965, when WXEX exchanged affiliations with Richmond channel 12 and joined ABC. That affiliation has continued through every subsequent ownership change. Nationwide Communications, a subsidiary of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, bought WXEX-TV and WLEE radio in 1968. In 1969, a fire destroyed the station's original Petersburg studios. WXEX temporarily broadcast from its transmitter and then operated from a vacant store until it could move into a new Crater Road complex called Blandford Manor. Nationwide later divested its radio interests and ultimately sold its television properties. On April 23, 1990, WXEX moved its studios to Arboretum Place in Chesterfield County, a location overlooking Powhite Parkway south of the Midlothian Turnpike interchange. The move coincided with the adoption of the WRIC-TV call letters. The station remained legally licensed to Petersburg and continued to identify itself as “Petersburg–Richmond,” despite its operational center being in the Richmond area. In 1993, Nationwide sold WRIC-TV to Young Broadcasting. Young's financial difficulties led to Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2009. WRIC was listed for a bankruptcy auction that was canceled shortly before it was scheduled, and a court-approved restructuring transferred control to Young's secured lenders. The station continued operating throughout the process. Young announced a merger with Media General in 2013. After regulatory and shareholder approvals, the transaction closed in November of that year. WRIC became one of Media General's flagship stations and a sister station to outlets such as WSLS-TV in Roanoke. Media General subsequently became the target of a prolonged corporate contest involving a proposed Meredith acquisition and an unsolicited Nexstar offer. Nexstar and Media General eventually reached an agreement, and Nexstar completed the acquisition in January 2017. WRIC consequently became part of the enlarged Nexstar Media Group. The Nexstar era also involved a significant Richmond ownership issue. Nexstar's 2018 agreement to acquire Tribune Media would have placed it in a position to control both WRIC and WTVR-TV, two stations subject to the Federal Communications Commission's local ownership restrictions. The approved remedy kept WRIC with Nexstar and transferred WTVR to E. W. Scripps Company. This left WRIC as Nexstar's principal ABC outlet in the Richmond market. Technically, WRIC ended regular analog broadcasting on June 12, 2009, retaining an analog public-service loop for a limited period under the SAFER Act. Its digital signal uses virtual channel 8. The station's multicast history has included The Country Network, Live Well Network, Ion Television, GetTV and Laff. In April 2022, it began hosting two WUPV subchannels after WUPV converted to ATSC 3.0, while WUPV carried a WRIC simulcast in the newer digital standard. WRIC launched local news in high definition in September 2011. In September 2017, it replaced the “WRIC-TV 8” and “TV 8” identities with “ABC 8,” aligning the station's public-facing brand more closely with its network affiliation. In October 2023, Nexstar appointed Steven Blanchard general manager for the station and its related digital properties. The station now combines ABC programming, local journalism, weather, traffic, public affairs and digital video for viewers in Richmond, Petersburg and surrounding Central Virginia communities.
- 2023
Steven Blanchard named general manager
[1]Nexstar appoints Blanchard to oversee the station and related digital operations.
- 2022
WUPV ATSC 3.0 hosting arrangement begins
[1]WRIC begins carrying two WUPV subchannels after WUPV converts to ATSC 3.0.
- 2017
Nexstar ownership begins
[1]Nexstar completes its acquisition of Media General.
- 2017
ABC 8 branding introduced
[1]The station retires its former TV 8 branding in favor of ABC 8.
- 2013
Media General merger closes
[1]Young Broadcasting combines with Media General.
- 2011
Local news moves to high definition
[1]WRIC becomes the third commercial Richmond station to present local news in HD.
- 2009
Digital transition completed
[1]Regular analog service ends under the United States digital television transition.
- 1993
Acquired by Young Broadcasting
[1]Nationwide sells WRIC-TV to Young Broadcasting.
- 1990
Chesterfield studio move and call-sign change
[1]The station moves to Arboretum Place and becomes WRIC-TV.
- 1969
Original studios destroyed by fire
[1]A fire forces temporary broadcasting and office arrangements in Petersburg.
Products and positioning
A locally focused Richmond-area broadcast and digital news outlet, combining ABC network programming with regional reporting, weather, traffic and community coverage.
Broadcast television · 1955
ABC 8 local television service
WRIC-TV's primary service combines ABC network programming with locally produced newscasts, weather, traffic, public affairs and community-interest segments. The service broadcasts on virtual channel 8 and is marketed primarily to viewers in Richmond and surrounding Central Virginia, while the station remains licensed to Petersburg.
Digital news
WRIC.com
The station's website extends its local television operation into digital news, video, weather, traffic and community coverage. It operates alongside WRIC's social media channels and is managed as part of the station's broader local-media offering.
Digital multicast · 2015
Ion Television on 8.2
WRIC's second digital subchannel carries Ion Television programming. It replaced earlier multicast arrangements, including The Country Network and Live Well Network.
Digital multicast · 2017
Laff on 8.4
The 8.4 multicast service carries Laff programming and forms part of WRIC's expanded digital channel lineup.
Brand decisions
2022
Support WUPV's ATSC 3.0 transitionGeneration changeBackground
WUPV converted its primary transmission operation to ATSC 3.0 and required arrangements for continued distribution of associated services.
Action taken
WRIC began hosting WUPV's 65.4 and 65.5 subchannels, while WUPV carried a WRIC simulcast in ATSC 3.0.
Aftermath
The arrangement expanded WRIC's role in the Richmond market's next-generation television infrastructure.
2017
Adopt ABC 8 brand identityStrategyBackground
The station had long used WRIC-TV 8 or the shortened TV 8 identity.
Action taken
It changed its on-air branding to ABC 8.
Aftermath
The public-facing brand placed the station's ABC affiliation more prominently in its identity.
2009
Complete the transition to digital broadcastingGeneration changeBackground
United States full-power television stations were required to end regular analog broadcasting.
Action taken
WRIC ended regular analog programming on VHF channel 8 and continued digitally on UHF channel 22 using virtual channel 8.
Aftermath
The station became part of the Richmond market's digital broadcast environment and temporarily maintained an analog transition-information loop.
1990
Relocate studios and rebrand as WRIC-TVStrategyBackground
The station sought a more Richmond-oriented operating base while retaining its Petersburg license.
Action taken
It moved to Arboretum Place in Chesterfield County and changed its call letters from WXEX-TV to WRIC-TV.
Aftermath
The station developed a durable Petersburg–Richmond identity and strengthened its connection with the metropolitan Richmond audience.
1965
Change from NBC to ABCStrategyBackground
WXEX-TV exchanged affiliations with Richmond channel 12 as part of a market network realignment.
Action taken
The station adopted ABC as its network affiliation.
Aftermath
ABC affiliation became a defining part of the station's identity and continued through later ownership changes.
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