WUTB
A Baltimore television station broadcasting on virtual channel 24 and operating as part of Sinclair Broadcast Group's local station cluster.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
WUTB is a full-power television station serving Baltimore, Maryland, on virtual channel 24. The station's present identity developed through several major changes in ownership, network affiliation, and distribution. It originated from the reuse of the Baltimore channel 24 allocation after an earlier station, WMET-TV, ceased broadcasting in 1972. A new station eventually returned to the frequency as WKJL-TV in December 1985, initially under Family Media and with a family-oriented and religious programming emphasis. That operation was short-lived. The station was sold to Silver King Broadcasting, the television division associated with the Home Shopping Network, and adopted the call sign WHSW while carrying a predominantly Home Shopping Network schedule. In the late 1990s, the station became strategically important because Baltimore was losing its UPN outlet. Chris-Craft Industries, through its United Television division and with UPN interests, acquired WHSW in 1997. The station adopted the WUTB call letters and began carrying UPN programming on January 18, 1998, after WNUV moved to The WB. The transition was completed quickly so that UPN programming remained available in the Baltimore market without a prolonged interruption. During this period, WUTB was operated from facilities associated with WWOR-TV in New Jersey rather than from a fully independent Baltimore newsroom or studio operation. Fox Television Stations acquired WUTB and the other Chris-Craft stations in 2001. After UPN and The WB were discontinued in 2006, Fox created MyNetworkTV as a programming service for several stations that had not been selected as charter affiliates of The CW. WUTB therefore became a MyNetworkTV affiliate and used the local branding My 24 Baltimore or My TV Baltimore. The station also briefly carried news programming produced by Fox-owned WTTG in Washington, including a weekday morning simulcast and a 10 p.m. newscast under the My 24 News branding. Those arrangements ended in 2007 and early 2008. Sinclair obtained control through an option connected to a broader Fox-Sinclair affiliation agreement. The station was sold in 2013 to Deerfield Media, with Sinclair operating it under a local marketing agreement. WUTB's operations were consolidated with Sinclair's Baltimore facilities serving Fox affiliate WBFF and CW affiliate WNUV. In July 2021, the MyNetworkTV service associated with WUTB moved to WBFF's second digital subchannel, while WUTB received TBD programming. This changed the station's programming role even though its call sign and channel identity remained in place. WUTB has also participated in several digital-distribution arrangements. It carried Bounce TV on a secondary channel for a period beginning in 2012, later lost that service to another Baltimore station, and carried American Sports Network programming as a digital multicast service beginning in January 2016. The station ended analog broadcasting on June 12, 2009, retaining virtual channel 24 on its digital signal. Its spectrum was subsequently sold in the FCC incentive auction, after which WUTB entered a channel-sharing arrangement using WBFF's transmission facilities. In 2025, Sinclair announced and then completed the acquisition of full ownership of WUTB, creating a legally recognized duopoly with WBFF. WUTB remains an active Baltimore television brand, although its current programming identity is primarily tied to Sinclair's multicast and local-station portfolio rather than to its former MyNetworkTV affiliation.
History
The Baltimore channel 24 allocation was first used by WMET-TV, which began broadcasting in 1967 as the city's first UHF station. WMET-TV operated with limited resources and ceased transmission in 1972 after financial difficulties. A replacement station was proposed by Jesus Lives, Inc., later known as Look and Live Ministries. The applicant initially envisioned channel 24 as a vehicle for religious programming, but construction was delayed by fundraising problems, legal expenses, and changes in leadership. A loan from Liberty Baptist College helped advance the project, and the license and unfinished facility were ultimately sold to Family Media, a subsidiary of Thomas Nelson. Family Media completed the station, which returned to the air as WKJL-TV on December 24, 1985. Its programming included family-oriented material, conservative-themed content, and a short-lived locally produced children's program. The station entered a difficult competitive environment: WBFF and WNUV were also operating as independent stations, while advertising conditions were weakening. Family Media soon decided to exit broadcasting and sold the station to Silver King Broadcasting, the station group associated with the Home Shopping Network. After regulatory approval, the station adopted the WHSW call sign and carried a largely home-shopping schedule. A major transformation occurred in 1997, when United Television, a Chris-Craft subsidiary with ties to UPN, purchased WHSW. The transaction followed the planned move of WNUV from UPN to The WB, which otherwise would have left UPN without a Baltimore affiliate. On January 18, 1998, channel 24 became WUTB and began broadcasting UPN programming. The station was assembled rapidly, and its operation was initially coordinated from WWOR-TV facilities in Secaucus, New Jersey. WUTB performed strongly during its first year relative to UPN's national ratings. Fox Television Stations acquired WUTB in 2001 through its purchase of Chris-Craft's television interests. When UPN and The WB were replaced by The CW in 2006, Fox's UPN stations were not selected as charter CW affiliates. Fox responded by creating MyNetworkTV, and WUTB became the Baltimore MyNetworkTV outlet. Fox also used WUTB for news simulcasts from WTTG in Washington, but the morning and evening arrangements were discontinued within roughly two years. Ownership and operating control changed again through a 2012 Fox-Sinclair transaction. Sinclair exercised an option to buy WUTB, and the station was transferred to Deerfield Media in 2013 while Sinclair operated it through a local marketing agreement. WUTB was integrated into the same Baltimore station infrastructure used by WBFF and WNUV. The station's distribution profile continued to evolve: Bounce TV appeared on a secondary channel beginning in 2012, American Sports Network programming was added in 2016, and WUTB's spectrum was sold in the FCC incentive auction. A channel-sharing arrangement with WBFF allowed WUTB to continue transmitting using WBFF's spectrum and facilities. In July 2021, the MyNetworkTV service branded as My TV Baltimore moved to WBFF's second subchannel, and TBD programming moved to WUTB. Sinclair announced in August 2025 that it would acquire WUTB outright for $775,000. The transaction closed on November 18, 2025, giving Sinclair direct ownership and forming a legal duopoly with WBFF. WUTB continues to serve the Baltimore market as a Sinclair-controlled broadcast and multicast outlet.
- 2025
Sinclair takes full ownership
[1]Sinclair completes its acquisition of WUTB, establishing direct ownership alongside WBFF.
- 2021
Programming moves between WUTB and WBFF
[1]MyNetworkTV programming moves to a WBFF subchannel and TBD programming moves to WUTB.
- 2016
American Sports Network launches on WUTB
[1]WUTB is among the stations carrying American Sports Network as a dedicated digital multicast service.
- 2013
Deerfield Media ownership begins
[1]The sale to Deerfield Media closes, with Sinclair operating WUTB under an LMA.
- 2009
Analog broadcasting ends
[1]WUTB shuts down its analog transmission during the United States digital television transition and continues digitally on virtual channel 24.
- 2006
MyNetworkTV affiliation begins
[1]WUTB becomes an affiliate of the newly introduced MyNetworkTV service.
- 2001
Fox acquires WUTB
[1]Fox Television Stations purchases the station through its acquisition of Chris-Craft's television group.
- 1998
WUTB launches as a UPN affiliate
[1]Channel 24 adopts the WUTB call letters and becomes Baltimore's UPN outlet.
- 1987
Station becomes WHSW
[1]After approval of the Silver King transaction, the station begins full-time Home Shopping Network programming under the WHSW call sign.
- 1985
WKJL-TV returns channel 24 to the air
[1]Family Media launches WKJL-TV on December 24.
Products and positioning
A locally identifiable Baltimore broadcast outlet within Sinclair's station portfolio, used for multicast and network-distributed programming alongside WBFF and WNUV.
Broadcast television · 1998
WUTB broadcast service
WUTB's principal offering is its over-the-air television service on virtual channel 24 in the Baltimore market. The station has carried several network and syndicated identities over its history, including UPN, MyNetworkTV, and digital multicast programming. Its signal now operates through a channel-sharing arrangement using WBFF's transmission spectrum and related facilities.
Network programming service · 2006
MyNetworkTV / My TV Baltimore
WUTB served as Baltimore's MyNetworkTV affiliate from the service's launch in 2006 until the programming moved to WBFF's second digital subchannel in 2021. The service gave the station a recognizable entertainment identity after the shutdown of UPN and The WB.
Multicast television · 2012
Digital multicast programming
WUTB has carried a succession of digital multicast services, including Bounce TV and American Sports Network. Since the 2021 channel reconfiguration, the station has carried TBD programming, reflecting its role within Sinclair's broader network and multicast portfolio.
Television news · 2006
My 24 News
For a limited period beginning in 2006, WUTB simulcast weekday morning and late-evening newscasts produced by WTTG in Washington. The broadcasts were branded My 24 News and were intended to serve viewers across the overlapping Baltimore-Washington media region. The morning simulcast ended in 2007, followed by the late-evening simulcast in early 2008.
Brand decisions
2025
Sinclair acquisition of full ownershipM&ABackground
WUTB had been owned by Deerfield Media while Sinclair operated it under a local marketing agreement.
Action taken
Sinclair announced an agreement to acquire WUTB for $775,000 and completed the transaction on November 18, 2025.
Aftermath
Sinclair obtained direct ownership and formed a legal duopoly with WBFF.
Acquisition price. $775,000 (2025 acquisition, completed November 18, 2025)
2021
Reallocation of MyNetworkTV and TBD programmingStrategyBackground
Sinclair reorganized programming among its Baltimore station properties and digital subchannels.
Action taken
My TV Baltimore programming moved to WBFF's second subchannel, while TBD programming moved to WUTB.
Aftermath
WUTB ceased functioning as the primary MyNetworkTV-branded outlet in Baltimore and became a TBD-oriented multicast station.
2016
Spectrum sale and channel sharingStrategyBackground
The FCC incentive auction created an opportunity for broadcasters to monetize spectrum while preserving service through shared transmission facilities.
Action taken
WUTB's spectrum was sold for $122 million, and Sinclair arranged for the station to share WBFF's spectrum.
Aftermath
WUTB remained available as a virtual channel 24 service while transmitting through the WBFF technical infrastructure.
Spectrum sale proceeds. $122 million (2016-2017 FCC incentive auction)
2006
Adoption of MyNetworkTVStrategyBackground
The planned closure of UPN and The WB left many Fox-owned UPN affiliates without a successor network affiliation.
Action taken
WUTB adopted MyNetworkTV programming and was marketed as a Baltimore outlet for the new service.
Aftermath
The affiliation continued until MyNetworkTV programming was moved to WBFF's second subchannel in 2021.
Sources1 sources
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