WTKR
WTKR is a CBS-affiliated television station serving the Hampton Roads region of Virginia from Norfolk.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
WTKR is a television station licensed to Norfolk, Virginia, and serving the Hampton Roads television market. It broadcasts on virtual channel 3 and is affiliated with CBS. The station is owned by the E. W. Scripps Company and operates alongside Portsmouth-licensed WGNT, an independent station also owned by Scripps. WTKR and WGNT share studio facilities on Boush Street near downtown Norfolk, while WTKR's transmitter is located in Suffolk, Virginia. The station began broadcasting on April 2, 1950, as WTAR-TV. It was established by WTAR Radio Corporation, whose interests were connected with Norfolk's newspapers and radio operations. WTAR-TV was the first television station to begin service in southeastern Virginia and initially operated on channel 4. For its first several years it carried programming from multiple networks, including NBC, CBS, ABC, and DuMont, before becoming primarily affiliated with CBS in the early 1950s. In 1954, following nationwide changes to television channel allocations after the Federal Communications Commission lifted its freeze on new television station grants, the station moved from channel 4 to channel 3. WTAR-TV developed a strong local-news operation early in its history. It began with short daily newscasts and expanded into a substantial newsroom producing local programs, field reports, and election coverage. For several decades the station was the dominant local-news outlet in Hampton Roads, benefiting from its early market entry, extensive facilities, and association with Norfolk newspaper companies. Its original ownership structure was reorganized in 1967 as Landmark Communications. The station became the subject of a lengthy broadcast-license challenge beginning in 1969. A group known as Hampton Roads Television Corporation sought the channel 3 license and raised questions involving newspaper-television cross-ownership, Landmark's corporate affairs, and the FCC's comparative-hearing procedures. The dispute continued through multiple administrative and regulatory stages until 1979, when Landmark agreed to sell the television station within two years and the challengers withdrew their application. The agreement reflected both the cost of continued litigation and FCC policy concerns about common ownership of newspapers and television stations in the same market. Knight-Ridder acquired the station in 1981 and changed its call sign from WTAR-TV to WTKR. The station subsequently passed through several owners: Narragansett Television acquired it in 1989, The New York Times Company purchased it in 1995, and Local TV LLC acquired it in 2007. Local TV purchased WGNT in 2010, creating the operational pairing that continues today. During this period WTKR sought to rebuild its local-news and advertising position in the market. When Tribune acquired Local TV in 2013, WTKR and WGNT were transferred to Dreamcatcher Broadcasting to address newspaper-broadcast cross-ownership concerns. Tribune continued to provide services under a shared-services arrangement. After the proposed Sinclair-Tribune transaction collapsed in 2018, Nexstar acquired Tribune in 2019 and sold WTKR and WGNT to the E. W. Scripps Company. WTKR remains an active CBS affiliate and produces local news programming for its own broadcasts and for WGNT.
History
WTKR traces its origins to WTAR-TV, established by WTAR Radio Corporation in Norfolk. The company applied to the FCC for a television construction permit in 1948, received authorization during the final period before a nationwide freeze on new television station grants, and built a combined radio and television facility on Boush Street. After test transmissions began in March 1950, WTAR-TV officially signed on April 2, 1950. It initially served only a few hundred television households but quickly expanded its local output, producing news, children's programming, variety programs, and other community-oriented shows. The station originally operated on channel 4 and carried programming from several national networks. It became primarily associated with CBS in 1953, while NBC moved to the newly launched WVEC-TV. The FCC's lifting of the television-station freeze brought major changes to channel assignments. WTAR-TV successfully sought channel 3 rather than the initially proposed higher-band VHF assignments, and completed the move in May 1954 after constructing a taller, higher-power transmitter facility. The change helped establish the channel identity that remains central to the station's brand. WTAR-TV was closely connected to Norfolk's newspaper and radio interests. In 1967, the ownership group was reorganized as Landmark Communications. That structure became controversial when a competing applicant challenged the station's license renewal in 1969. The resulting case involved comparative licensing proceedings, questions about Landmark's corporate character, and broader concerns over the concentration of newspaper and broadcast ownership in one market. Although administrative findings generally supported renewal, the matter was repeatedly reconsidered. In 1979, Landmark settled by agreeing to dispose of the television station, bringing the decade-long challenge to an end. Knight-Ridder acquired the station in 1981 and changed its call letters to WTKR. The station was sold to Narragansett Television in 1989, then to The New York Times Company in 1995. WTKR's local-news ratings weakened during portions of these ownership periods, although the station remained a significant broadcaster in Hampton Roads. Local TV LLC purchased WTKR in 2007. In 2010 it added WGNT, creating a two-station operation with shared facilities and resources. WTKR subsequently pursued a stronger local-market position, including renewed emphasis on news and advertising. Tribune's acquisition of Local TV in 2013 required a separate ownership arrangement because Tribune also controlled a newspaper serving the region. WTKR and WGNT were therefore transferred to Dreamcatcher Broadcasting, with Tribune continuing to provide operational services. The proposed sale of Tribune to Sinclair in 2017-2018 did not close after regulatory objections and the eventual termination of the agreement. Nexstar later acquired Tribune and divested WTKR and WGNT to Scripps in 2019. Under Scripps, WTKR continues as a CBS affiliate, shares a Norfolk facility with WGNT, and operates a newsroom producing local programming for both stations.
- 2019
Scripps ownership begins
[1]Scripps acquires WTKR and WGNT following Nexstar's purchase of Tribune.
- 2010
WGNT joins the operation
[1]Local TV acquires WGNT, pairing it operationally with WTKR.
- 2007
Local TV acquisition
[1]Local TV LLC acquires WTKR from The New York Times Company.
- 1995
New York Times Company acquisition
[1]The New York Times Company acquires WTKR as part of its television-station portfolio.
- 1989
Narragansett Television acquisition
[1]Narragansett Television purchases WTKR from Knight-Ridder.
- 1981
WTKR call sign adopted
[1]Knight-Ridder assumes control and changes WTAR-TV's call sign to WTKR.
- 1979
License challenge settled
[1]Landmark agrees to sell the television station, ending a prolonged competing-application dispute.
- 1967
Ownership reorganized as Landmark Communications
[1]The newspaper, radio, and television holdings associated with the station are reorganized under Landmark Communications.
- 1954
Channel change to 3
[1]WTAR-TV moves from channel 4 to channel 3 following the FCC's revised allocation plan.
- 1950
WTAR-TV launches
[1]The station begins broadcasting on April 2 as the first television station in southeastern Virginia.
Products and positioning
A locally focused broadcast television station combining CBS network programming with regional news, weather, traffic, investigative reporting, and digital coverage for Hampton Roads.
Local television news · 1950
WTKR local news
WTKR's core offering is locally produced television news for Hampton Roads. Coverage includes regional reporting, investigations, breaking news, politics, community affairs, sports, weather, and traffic. The newsroom also supplies programming for WGNT, enabling the two stations to share reporting resources while maintaining separate channel identities.
Broadcast network affiliation · 1953
CBS network programming
WTKR distributes CBS entertainment, news, sports, and special-event programming across the Hampton Roads market. The CBS affiliation became the station's principal network relationship in the early 1950s, after the market's network affiliations were reorganized.
Digital news
WTKR.com
WTKR.com extends the station's reporting to digital audiences through local news articles, video, weather information, traffic updates, and other regional content.
Controversies
1969
WTAR-TV license challenge
A competing applicant challenged renewal of WTAR-TV's FCC license. The dispute raised issues involving newspaper-broadcast cross-ownership, Landmark-related business matters, and the FCC's comparative-hearing process. It was settled in 1979 when Landmark agreed to sell the television station.
Marketing campaigns
- Take Norfolk Back
Hampton Roads, Virginia
A local-news and market-positioning initiative associated with WTKR's Local TV ownership period. The effort emphasized stronger local relevance and a renewed connection with Norfolk and the wider Hampton Roads audience.
Outcome. The station later reported gains in market advertising share and news ratings during the Local TV era.
Brand decisions
2010
Acquire WGNTStrategyBackground
Local TV sought to strengthen its position in the Hampton Roads market.
Action taken
Local TV acquired WGNT and paired its operations with WTKR.
Aftermath
The stations shared facilities and newsroom resources, with WTKR producing programming for both outlets.
1954
Move from channel 4 to channel 3Generation changeBackground
The FCC revised television channel allocations after lifting its freeze on new station grants.
Action taken
WTAR-TV moved to channel 3 and installed a new high-power transmitter and tower.
Aftermath
Channel 3 became the station's enduring broadcast identity.
1953
Adopt CBS as the primary network affiliationStrategyBackground
The arrival of additional Hampton Roads television stations prompted a reorganization of local network affiliations.
Action taken
WTAR-TV shifted its principal affiliation to CBS while continuing to carry selected programming from other networks.
Aftermath
CBS remains WTKR's primary network affiliation.
Sources2 sources
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