WVEC
WVEC is an ABC-affiliated television station serving the Hampton Roads market from Norfolk, Virginia.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
WVEC is a television station licensed to Hampton, Virginia, and serving the Hampton Roads metropolitan area as an affiliate of ABC. The station operates under the consumer-facing 13News Now identity and maintains its principal studio on Woodis Avenue in Norfolk. Its broadcast facilities include a transmitter near Driver in Suffolk, allowing the station to serve communities across southeastern Virginia and the broader Hampton Roads region. The station began broadcasting on September 19, 1953, as a UHF outlet on channel 15. At the time, WTAR-TV was the only operating television station in the market, and WVEC's launch created a second local television service. Because early UHF signals required specially equipped television receivers, NBC supported the station's launch with an extensive audience-development effort that promoted the installation of UHF converters. WVEC initially carried NBC programming and achieved modest commercial success despite the technical limitations of UHF broadcasting. The competitive environment changed after WAVY-TV launched on VHF channel 10 in 1957. VHF signals could be received by ordinary television sets, and WVEC lost audience share and some network programming to its newer competitor. WVEC and related applicants subsequently pursued the allocation of a third VHF channel for Hampton Roads. The effort culminated in the station's move to channel 13 on November 13, 1959. At the same time, WVEC moved its main studio operations to Norfolk and became a full-time ABC affiliate, while WAVY became the market's full-time NBC station. The channel 13 assignment substantially improved WVEC's reach. During the 1960s, the station expanded its facilities, including a transmitter move to Driver and construction of a taller broadcast tower. Its local programming gradually became more substantial, especially during the 1970s and 1980s. Ownership changes brought the station first under Corinthian Broadcasting and then under the A. H. Belo Corporation. During this period, WVEC's news operation developed into one of the principal competitors in the Hampton Roads market, particularly after WTKR experienced a decline in news ratings during the mid-1980s. WVEC also participated in educational and experimental programming. Before the channel 13 conversion, channel 15 carried school-oriented programs supported by a Ford Foundation grant and later offered college-credit courses associated with the College of William & Mary. The former channel 15 facilities were subsequently used by WHRO-TV, a noncommercial educational station that began broadcasting in 1961. In 1997, WVEC joined Cox Communications and The Virginian-Pilot to create Local News on Cable, a regional cable news service. The project repeated WVEC newscasts and produced collaborative programming, including a 10 p.m. broadcast associated with the newspaper. The service's original programming declined in importance as competing local news products expanded, and the final dedicated newscast aired in 2009. Local News on Cable ended in 2010 after the partnership agreement expired. A. H. Belo sold WVEC to Gannett in 2013. Gannett's broadcasting and digital operations were separated from its newspaper business in 2015 and placed in Tegna. The station later became part of Nexstar Media Group following Nexstar's acquisition of Tegna, completed in 2026 according to the referenced account. That transaction placed WVEC under common ownership with WAVY-TV and WVBT in the Hampton Roads market. WVEC remains an active ABC affiliate whose principal offerings are local news, weather, traffic, investigations, community reporting, syndicated or network programming, and digital video and written content distributed through 13NewsNow.com.
History
WVEC's origins are connected to Peninsula Broadcasting Corporation, which also operated the WVEC radio station in Hampton. The company applied to the Federal Communications Commission in July 1952 for authority to construct a television station on UHF channel 15. The FCC granted the permit in February 1953, and the station prepared a two-story addition to its Hampton facilities. At launch, WVEC faced the major technical obstacle confronting early UHF broadcasters: many television receivers could not tune UHF frequencies without an external converter. NBC supported the station's pre-launch promotion and converter-distribution effort, helping persuade households and dealers to upgrade equipment. WVEC transmitted a test pattern beginning in August 1953 and commenced regular programming on September 19, 1953, with an opening presentation involving NBC personalities and production resources. The station initially carried NBC programming and gradually improved its financial position as UHF conversion became more common. The arrival of WAVY-TV on VHF channel 10 in 1957 weakened WVEC's competitive position. WAVY's signal could be received by standard television sets and the station initially operated as an ABC affiliate before also becoming an NBC competitor. WVEC's audience share fell sharply during the period, and it surrendered some NBC program rights. In response, WVEC joined efforts to secure a third VHF assignment for Hampton Roads. The FCC's decision to allocate channel 13 to the market led to a combined application involving WVEC and other local interests. After regulatory proceedings and a challenge from WAVY, the application received final approval in July 1959. WVEC began carrying ABC programming in August 1959 and completed its move to channel 13 on November 13. The station simultaneously opened its Norfolk facility, creating a more central base for serving Hampton Roads. The channel change expanded reception in areas that had difficulty receiving the former UHF signal. WVEC also launched local programs, including the children's series Bungles the Clown, which continued into the 1970s. Educational broadcasting formed another part of the station's early history. Channel 15 carried school programming supported by a Ford Foundation grant, and WVEC later transmitted courses connected with the College of William & Mary. After WVEC moved to channel 13, the former channel 15 facilities and tower were used in the development of WHRO-TV, which began operations in 1961 as a noncommercial educational station. WVEC remained a significant but frequently third-place station after the 1959 affiliation change. Its local news operation expanded during the 1970s and became more competitive in the 1980s. Ownership passed from Peninsula Broadcasting to Corinthian Broadcasting in 1979. Corinthian experimented with a multi-station magazine program, Tidewater Evening, although the program was discontinued after a short run. In 1983, Dun & Bradstreet sold Corinthian to A. H. Belo for $606 million; the transaction closed in February 1984. The ownership change ended the long period of Chisman family control associated with WVEC's broadcasting origins. The station gradually concentrated personnel and operations in Norfolk, even though it remained licensed to Hampton and retained obligations connected to its city of license. In the mid-1980s, WVEC and WAVY became the leading competitors for local-news leadership after WTKR's ratings declined. WVEC also upgraded its transmission infrastructure, including a move of its transmitter to Driver in 1965 and operation of a tall broadcast tower. In 1997, WVEC partnered with Cox Communications and The Virginian-Pilot to launch Local News on Cable. The service distributed WVEC news content over local cable systems and added jointly produced broadcasts, including a 10 p.m. program with anchors working from both WVEC and newspaper facilities. Competition from other stations' late-news products limited the project's audience. Dedicated original programming ended in January 2009, while the cable channel continued with repeated news and newspaper-derived information until the partnership ended and the service closed in 2010. Gannett announced its acquisition of Belo in June 2013 and completed the transaction in December of that year. In 2015, Gannett's broadcasting and digital assets were separated into Tegna, which continued to own WVEC. The referenced account records Nexstar Media Group's acquisition of Tegna as completed on March 19, 2026. WVEC consequently joined a local ownership group that also includes WAVY-TV and WVBT. The station continues to operate as an ABC affiliate under the 13News Now brand, with broadcast and digital services centered on Hampton Roads news and information.
- 2026
Nexstar ownership
[1]The referenced account states that Nexstar completed its acquisition of Tegna and assumed ownership of WVEC.
- 2015
Tegna succeeds Gannett broadcasting
[1]Gannett's broadcasting and digital operations were separated into Tegna.
- 2013
Gannett acquires Belo
[1]WVEC became part of Gannett after the company's acquisition of A. H. Belo.
- 1997
Local News on Cable launches
[1]WVEC, Cox Communications, and The Virginian-Pilot introduced a regional cable news service.
- 1984
A. H. Belo ownership begins
[1]A. H. Belo completed its acquisition of Corinthian Broadcasting.
- 1979
Acquisition by Corinthian Broadcasting
[1]Peninsula Broadcasting agreed to sell the station to Corinthian Broadcasting.
- 1961
Former channel 15 facilities support WHRO-TV
[1]WHRO-TV began broadcasting using facilities associated with WVEC's former UHF operation.
- 1959
Move to channel 13
[1]WVEC moved to VHF channel 13, opened its Norfolk studio, and became a full-time ABC affiliate.
- 1957
Competitive pressure from WAVY-TV
[1]The arrival of a VHF competitor reduced WVEC's audience share and intensified the station's push for a VHF assignment.
- 1953
Television launch
[1]WVEC began broadcasting on September 19 as an NBC-affiliated UHF station.
Products and positioning
A locally focused ABC television station and digital news provider for Hampton Roads, combining regional reporting, weather, traffic, public-affairs coverage, and network programming.
Local television news
13News Now television news
WVEC's primary local-news offering covers Hampton Roads politics, public safety, education, business, weather, traffic, and community events. The service is distributed through scheduled television newscasts and breaking-news updates, with reporting produced for the station's local broadcast audience.
Digital news
13NewsNow.com
The station's website extends WVEC's local-news operation into written stories, video, weather information, live coverage, alerts, and other digital formats. It serves as the online home of the 13News Now brand and complements the station's broadcast programming.
Cable news service · 1997
Local News on Cable
Local News on Cable was a regional service created with Cox Communications and The Virginian-Pilot. It carried WVEC newscast repeats and collaborative programming, including a late-evening program associated with the newspaper. Original programming ended in 2009, and the service closed in 2010.
Children's television program · 1959
Bungles the Clown
Bungles the Clown was a locally produced children's program introduced after WVEC's move to channel 13. Hosted by Jerry Sandford, the program became part of the station's local programming and ran from 1959 to 1973.
Marketing campaigns
- 1953Operation Norfolk
Hampton Roads, Virginia
NBC supported WVEC's launch by promoting UHF converter installation, helping households receive the new channel 15 signal. The effort included converter promotion, dealer activity, and local audience education at a time when most television sets could not receive UHF broadcasts.
Outcome. Converter adoption expanded substantially during WVEC's first year, helping the station move from early losses toward profitability.
Brand decisions
2026
Transition to Nexstar ownershipM&ABackground
Nexstar announced an acquisition of Tegna while already owning WAVY-TV and WVBT in the Hampton Roads market.
Action taken
The referenced account states that the transaction was completed on March 19, 2026, bringing WVEC under Nexstar ownership.
Aftermath
WVEC became commonly owned with the market's WAVY-TV and WVBT stations.
2013
Transition to Gannett ownershipM&ABackground
A. H. Belo placed its television properties within a transaction with Gannett.
Action taken
Gannett announced the acquisition in June and completed it in December, adding WVEC to its broadcast portfolio.
Aftermath
WVEC later became part of Tegna when Gannett separated its broadcasting and digital operations from its newspaper business.
1997
Launch of Local News on CableProduct launchBackground
WVEC sought to extend its local-news reach through cable distribution and collaboration with a major regional newspaper.
Action taken
WVEC partnered with Cox Communications and The Virginian-Pilot to create a cable news service carrying WVEC material and jointly produced programming.
Aftermath
Original programming ended in 2009 after competition and weak viewership, and the overall service closed in 2010 when the partnership agreement expired.
1959
Move from UHF channel 15 to VHF channel 13StrategyBackground
WVEC's UHF service faced reception limitations and rising competition from a VHF station whose signal reached ordinary television receivers.
Action taken
The station consolidated with other applicants for the new channel 13 allocation, moved its broadcast operation to VHF, opened a Norfolk studio, and changed to full-time ABC programming.
Aftermath
The move improved coverage of fringe areas and established WVEC's long-term channel identity in Hampton Roads.
- WAVY-TV — WAVY challenged the channel 13 application at an FCC hearing before withdrawing its petition.
Recent events
- 2026
Nexstar completes acquisition of Tegna[1]
M&A
The referenced account states that Nexstar completed its acquisition of Tegna, placing WVEC under common ownership with WAVY-TV and WVBT.
- 2015
Gannett broadcasting assets become part of Tegna[1]
M&A
Gannett separated its broadcasting and digital operations from its newspaper business, creating Tegna as the successor company for WVEC's ownership group.
- 2013
Gannett announces acquisition of Belo[1]
M&A
Gannett announced and later completed its acquisition of A. H. Belo, bringing WVEC into Gannett's broadcasting portfolio.
- 1997
WVEC joins Local News on Cable partnership[1]
Product launch · Campaign
WVEC, Cox Communications, and The Virginian-Pilot launched a regional cable news service featuring WVEC news repeats and jointly produced programming.
- 1959
WVEC moves to VHF channel 13 and becomes an ABC affiliate[1]
Other
WVEC moved from UHF channel 15 to channel 13, opened its Norfolk studio, and adopted full-time ABC programming.
- 1953
WVEC begins broadcasting on UHF channel 15[1]
Other
The station launched as a UHF television outlet serving Hampton Roads and initially affiliated with NBC.
Sources2 sources
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