WSYT
WSYT is a Fox-affiliated television station serving Syracuse and Central New York.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
WSYT is a commercial television station licensed to Syracuse, New York, and affiliated with the Fox network. The station identifies locally as Fox 68 and serves the Syracuse television market, with its studios on James Street in Syracuse's Near Northeast section and its transmitter near Otisco, New York. Its signal is also repeated by WNYS-CD in Ithaca. The station originated in a long-delayed construction project. In 1979, Great Onondaga County Telecasting Corporation applied to build a Syracuse station, initially proposing channel 62. The permit was awarded in 1982, but ownership and financing complications slowed development. The permit interest was subsequently connected with UPI Media, an enterprise associated with United Press International executive Douglas Ruhe. The channel allocation was later changed to channel 68. Financial problems nearly prevented the station from launching. UPI Media ran out of funds while construction was incomplete and entered a leaseback and option arrangement with Boston businessman Thomas Flatley. WSYT first appeared on February 15, 1986, under the call sign WKAF, carrying only a limited amount of religious programming from the Trinity Broadcasting Network. After Flatley exercised his purchase option, the station adopted the WSYT call sign in August 1986 and obtained a Fox affiliation. It began full local operations on April 5, 1987, giving Syracuse a full-time independent-style commercial station and a new Fox outlet. During its early years, WSYT combined Fox programming with films, syndicated series, children's programming, and sports. Its acquisition of rights to Syracuse Orangemen basketball games was particularly important in building local visibility, attracting advertisers, and encouraging cable systems to carry the station. The station was initially unprofitable, as is common for a newly established television outlet, but its audience share rose to approximately six percent by early 1990. Flatley sold WSYT in 1990 to Encore Communications, owned by Chuck McFadden. Encore later became associated with Max Television and Max Media. Under that ownership, WSYT pursued local news. A planned newscast was delayed by economic conditions, but the station eventually launched Fox 68 News at 10 on June 26, 1995, under a production agreement with NBC affiliate WSTM-TV. In 1996, WSYT also assumed programming operations for WNYS-TV, Syracuse's UPN affiliate, while Syracuse sports programming moved to that station. Sinclair Broadcast Group acquired Max Media in 1998. After the WSTM arrangement ended in 2000, WSYT shifted production of its late-evening news to CBS affiliate WTVH-TV. The WTVH-produced Fox 68 Eyewitness News at 10 initially performed better than its predecessor, and a morning newscast was added in 2005. WTVH ended the production relationship in April 2006, leaving WSYT without locally produced news programming. Ownership changed again in the 2010s. Sinclair sold WSYT in 2013 to Brian Brady after acquiring Barrington Broadcasting and facing Federal Communications Commission ownership limits. Brady initially held the station through Bristlecone Broadcasting and later placed it within Northwest Broadcasting. Northwest acquired WNYS-TV outright in 2018. Northwest Broadcasting was acquired in 2019 by Apollo Global Management and combined with Cox Media Group; regulatory conditions associated with that transaction led to the surrender of the WNYS-TV license. Cox Media Group sold WSYT and other stations to Imagicomm Communications in 2022. In 2025, Imagicomm sold WSYT to Deltavision Media, which became the station's current owner. WSYT remains an active Fox affiliate focused on local over-the-air and digital television distribution in the Syracuse area rather than on a national consumer-product business.
History
WSYT's history began with a 1979 application by Great Onondaga County Telecasting Corporation for a new Syracuse television station. The proposal initially concerned channel 62, but the allocation was later changed to channel 68. The Federal Communications Commission granted the construction permit in March 1982. Ownership complications followed after the corporate interests behind the application changed, and the permit became associated with UPI Media. UPI Media struggled to finance construction. In January 1986, it arranged a leaseback of the station's equipment with Boston real-estate businessman Thomas Flatley and gave him an option to acquire the station after it began operating and received its license. The station went on the air on February 15, 1986, as WKAF, but initially transmitted only three hours of religious programming per day. Flatley exercised his option, completed the acquisition in July, changed the call sign to WSYT in August, and secured an affiliation with the newly forming Fox network. The station's full launch took place on April 5, 1987. WSYT carried Fox programming as well as movies, syndicated reruns, children's material, and sports. Its agreement to air Syracuse Orangemen basketball games was a major early promotional and distribution initiative. The station had difficulty making money during its first two years, but its ratings share improved steadily and reached about six percent by February 1990. Flatley put WSYT up for sale in 1990. Encore Communications, owned by Chuck McFadden, purchased the station for a reported $7 million. Encore later became Max Television and was connected with Max Media Properties. McFadden explored the creation of a 10 p.m. newscast in 1991, but delayed the plan because of economic conditions. In 1995, WSYT and WSTM-TV announced a five-year arrangement under which WSTM would produce Fox 68 News at 10. The first broadcast aired on June 26, 1995. In 1996, WSYT began operating WNYS-TV under a local marketing agreement, and Syracuse sports programming moved to that station. Sinclair Broadcast Group agreed to acquire Max Media in December 1997 and completed the deal in July 1998. The WSTM-produced news program was criticized for limited resources and uneven editorial choices. When that agreement expired in 2000, Sinclair arranged for WTVH-TV to produce a replacement program, Fox 68 Eyewitness News at 10. A morning newscast was added in 2005, but WTVH ended the production relationship in April 2006, and WSYT did not immediately establish another local news department. In 2013, Sinclair acquired Barrington Broadcasting, which owned Syracuse NBC affiliate WSTM-TV. Because of the ownership rules then in force, Sinclair announced the sale of WSYT, its arrangement involving WNYS-TV, and another station outside New York. Brian Brady acquired the Syracuse station for a reported $20 million, first through Bristlecone Broadcasting and later through Northwest Broadcasting. Northwest acquired WNYS-TV outright in 2018. Northwest Broadcasting was acquired by Apollo Global Management in 2019 and combined with Cox Media Group. Regulatory conditions connected to the transaction resulted in the surrender of the WNYS-TV license. Cox later sold WSYT and 17 other stations to Imagicomm Communications in 2022 for a reported $488 million portfolio price. Imagicomm exited broadcasting in 2025, selling WSYT and four other stations to Deltavision Media. WSYT remains an active Fox-affiliated station serving the Syracuse market. Technically, WSYT became the first Syracuse station to broadcast digitally in November 2002. It ended analog broadcasting in February 2009 and continued digitally. Its digital signal was moved from channel 16 to channel 14 in 2019 as part of the nationwide repacking process following the 2016 wireless spectrum auction. WNYS-CD in Ithaca repeats WSYT's programming.
- 2025
Deltavision Media acquisition
[1]Deltavision Media acquired WSYT from Imagicomm Communications.
- 2022
Imagicomm acquisition
[1]Imagicomm Communications acquired WSYT as part of a larger station portfolio purchase from Cox Media Group.
- 2019
Digital channel repack
[1]WSYT moved its digital signal from channel 16 to channel 14 following the United States spectrum repacking process.
- 2013
Sale to Brian Brady
[1]WSYT was divested by Sinclair and acquired by Brian Brady in response to market ownership restrictions.
- 2006
Local news production ends
[1]WTVH ended its production agreement with WSYT, ending the station's locally branded newscasts at that time.
- 2002
Digital broadcasting begins
[1]WSYT began digital transmission on November 7, becoming the first Syracuse station to broadcast digitally.
- 1998
Sinclair ownership begins
[1]Sinclair completed its acquisition of Max Media and took control of WSYT.
- 1995
First station-produced late news partnership
[1]WSYT launched a late newscast produced by WSTM-TV.
- 1990
Sale to Encore Communications
[1]Chuck McFadden's Encore Communications acquired WSYT from Thomas Flatley.
- 1987
Full Fox-affiliated operation begins
[1]WSYT launched its full program schedule on April 5, 1987.
Products and positioning
A local Fox affiliate positioned as a broad-reach entertainment and news outlet for Syracuse and Central New York, with additional value derived from syndicated programming, advertising, and regional sports coverage.
Broadcast television station · 1987
Fox 68
WSYT's primary local broadcast identity and Fox-affiliated service. It distributes network programming, syndicated entertainment, advertising, and locally relevant content across the Syracuse television market.
Digital television · 2002
WSYT digital broadcast signal
WSYT's over-the-air digital transmission serving Syracuse and surrounding communities. Digital broadcasting began in 2002, and the station later moved its assigned digital channel during the post-auction spectrum repack.
Television translator · 1996
WNYS-CD relay
WNYS-CD is a low-power station in Ithaca that repeats WSYT programming, extending the Fox 68 service into an additional part of Central New York.
Marketing campaigns
- 1987Syracuse Orangemen basketball rights campaign
Syracuse · Central New York
WSYT acquired rights to televise Syracuse Orangemen basketball games soon after its full launch. The sports programming was used to raise the station's profile, attract advertisers, and support cable carriage.
Outcome. The rights helped establish WSYT as a more visible local outlet during its early years.
Brand decisions
2025
Sale to Deltavision MediaM&ABackground
Imagicomm Communications exited the broadcasting business.
Action taken
Deltavision Media acquired WSYT and four other stations from Imagicomm.
Aftermath
Deltavision Media became WSYT's current owner, with the station remaining active in the Syracuse market.
2022
Sale from Cox Media Group to ImagicommM&ABackground
Cox Media Group reorganized and sold a group of broadcast stations.
Action taken
Imagicomm Communications acquired WSYT along with 17 other stations.
Aftermath
WSYT continued operating as a Fox affiliate under Imagicomm ownership until its subsequent 2025 sale.
reported portfolio transaction value. $488 million (2022 transaction for 18 stations)
2013
Divestiture to Brian BradyM&ABackground
Sinclair's acquisition of Barrington Broadcasting created ownership issues in the Syracuse market under the FCC rules then in effect.
Action taken
WSYT was sold to Brian Brady, initially through Bristlecone Broadcasting and later through Northwest Broadcasting.
Aftermath
The sale allowed Sinclair to complete its broader transaction while WSYT continued as a Fox affiliate under new ownership.
reported acquisition price. $20 million (2013 transaction)
2000
Change in local news producerStrategyBackground
The original WSTM production agreement expired amid criticism that the newscast had limited resources and uneven story selection.
Action taken
Sinclair arranged for WTVH-TV to produce WSYT's late news under the Fox 68 Eyewitness News branding.
Aftermath
The replacement program initially achieved higher ratings and later expanded to include a morning newscast, but WTVH ended the relationship in 2006.
1995
Launch of Fox 68 News at 10Product launchBackground
WSYT wanted a local late-evening news product but did not initially maintain a full in-house news department.
Action taken
WSYT contracted with WSTM-TV to produce a weekday-branded late newscast, which debuted on June 26.
Aftermath
The station gained a local news offering, although the arrangement ended after five years and was later replaced by a WTVH-produced service.
1986
Adopt Fox affiliation and relaunch as WSYTStrategyBackground
After the financially troubled station began limited operation as WKAF, Thomas Flatley completed its acquisition and aligned it with the newly forming Fox network.
Action taken
The station changed its call sign to WSYT and launched a full Fox-affiliated schedule in April 1987.
Aftermath
WSYT became a full-time commercial entertainment outlet and the Syracuse market's Fox affiliate.
Recent events
- 2025
Deltavision Media acquires WSYT[1]
M&A
Deltavision Media acquired WSYT from Imagicomm Communications as part of Imagicomm's exit from broadcasting.
- 2022
Imagicomm Communications acquires WSYT[1]
M&A
Cox Media Group sold WSYT and 17 other stations to Imagicomm Communications in a transaction reported at $488 million for the station portfolio.
- 2013
WSYT is sold to Brian Brady[1]
M&A
Following Sinclair's acquisition of Barrington Broadcasting, WSYT was sold to Brian Brady to address broadcast ownership restrictions. The reported transaction value was $20 million.
- 2006
WTVH ends production of WSYT newscasts[1]
Other
WTVH ended its agreement to produce WSYT's local news programs effective April 21, 2006, leaving the station without a replacement local news operation.
- 1995
WSYT launches a locally produced late news program[1]
Product launch
WSYT introduced Fox 68 News at 10 on June 26 under a five-year production agreement with WSTM-TV.
- 1987
WSYT launches as a full-time Fox affiliate[1]
Product launch
WSYT began full local operations on April 5, 1987, carrying Fox programming alongside films, syndicated programs, children's shows, and other entertainment.
- 1987
WSYT obtains Syracuse basketball rights[1]
Other
The station acquired rights to televise Syracuse Orangemen basketball games, helping increase its visibility among viewers, advertisers, and cable operators.
- 1986
WSYT begins limited broadcasting as WKAF[1]
Other
The station first went on the air on February 15, 1986, using the WKAF call sign and carrying a limited schedule of religious programming while construction and licensing work continued.
Sources2 sources
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