WVNY
ABC-affiliated television station serving the Burlington, Vermont–Plattsburgh, New York market.
Last updated November 4, 2026
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Overview
WVNY is a television station licensed to Burlington, Vermont, and serving the Burlington–Plattsburgh regional market as an affiliate of the American Broadcasting Company (ABC). The station broadcasts on channel 22 and operates from shared facilities in Colchester, Vermont, alongside WFFF-TV, the market’s Fox affiliate. WVNY is owned by Mission Broadcasting, while many operational functions, including news production and other services, are provided through a shared-services arrangement with Nexstar Media Group, which owns WFFF-TV. Its transmitter is located on Mount Mansfield, giving the station broad coverage across Vermont and parts of northern New York and contributing historically to its reception by cable viewers in Montreal and nearby Canadian communities. WVNY began broadcasting on August 19, 1968, as the region’s third commercial television station. Its founding company, Vermont New York Television, obtained authorization from the Federal Communications Commission to construct a channel 22 facility with a transmitter on Mount Mansfield and designed the station to provide a full-time ABC outlet for the area. Early programming included local evening newscasts, a children’s program, sports coverage, and telecasts of University of Vermont athletics. The station also carried selected Canadian and regional sports programming and became known for overnight movies, which encouraged cable operators in Quebec and Ontario to add it to their systems. The station experienced serious financial problems soon after launch. It reduced its broadcast schedule in 1970 and went off the air in April 1971, remaining silent for more than five months while a sale was negotiated. International Television Corporation assumed operational control during the recovery period and completed its acquisition in 1974. Under that ownership, the station adopted the call letters WEZF-TV, matching the call sign of its associated FM radio station, and made several attempts to build a local news operation. These efforts struggled against established competitors WCAX-TV and WPTZ, while WVNY concentrated comparatively more heavily on sports, entertainment, and syndicated programming. In 1982, Philip J. Lombardo acquired the station, making it the first broadcast property associated with what became Citadel Communications. The original WVNY call sign returned after the station was separated from the WEZF radio operation. Citadel invested in electronic news-gathering equipment and revived late-evening local news, but the station remained a low-rated competitor. Sports remained central to its identity, including Boston Red Sox baseball, Boston Bruins hockey, and a short-lived Canadian Football Network arrangement that used WVNY’s cross-border cable reach to reach viewers around Montreal. The station also became notable for occasionally preempting ABC programs in favor of locally sold reruns, syndicated shows, or other commercial programming, although it later reduced those practices to improve its relationship with the network. Citadel sold WVNY in 1995 to U.S. Broadcast Group, which in turn sold the station to Straightline Communications in 1998. Straightline substantially rebuilt the news operation, replacing aging production equipment, installing a new set, improving weather technology, and launching a reworked ABC22 News service in August 1999. Although the relaunch was regarded as a stronger local-news effort than earlier attempts, ratings remained weak. Straightline closed the newsroom in September 2003 and dismissed approximately 25 employees, ending WVNY-produced local news for several years. In 2005, Lambert Broadcasting acquired the station license while Smith Media, owner of WFFF-TV, acquired WVNY’s non-license assets. The arrangement moved WVNY’s operations into facilities associated with WFFF in Colchester and created the foundation for shared operation of the two stations. When WFFF launched its own news department in 2007, local news returned to WVNY through the shared operation. Mission Broadcasting acquired WVNY in 2013 after Nexstar acquired WFFF; Nexstar continued to provide operational and news services under a shared-services agreement. The combined news department produces local programming for both stations, with a substantial portion of its weekly output airing on WVNY. Today, WVNY’s principal role is as the market’s ABC network outlet, supplemented by locally produced news, weather, sports, community coverage, syndicated programming, and digital content distributed through the Champlain Valley media operation.
History
The origins of WVNY date to November 1966, when Vermont New York Television applied to the FCC for a construction permit for a Burlington station on channel 22. The proposal called for a transmitter on Mount Mansfield and a full ABC affiliation. The FCC granted the permit in February 1967 over an objection from WCAX-TV, the region’s established commercial station. Equipment delays prevented a 1967 launch, so the applicant developed facilities in the former officers’ club at Fort Ethan Allen, where it leased and expanded studio space. WVNY-TV signed on August 19, 1968. Its initial local schedule included evening newscasts, a children’s program, local sports, and the first television coverage of University of Vermont home athletic events. The station also carried selected Canadian programming, including Montreal Expos baseball, and overnight movies. Its strong signal and cable carriage made it visible beyond Vermont, particularly in Montreal and parts of Quebec and Ontario. An associated FM station launched in 1969 as WVNY-FM before adopting the WEZF call sign in 1973. Financial instability quickly affected channel 22. The station shortened its broadcast day in 1970, reduced local programming, and eliminated jobs. On April 2, 1971, it suspended operations while its owners negotiated a sale. It returned in September under International Television Corporation’s operating control, and ITC completed the purchase in 1974. That year the television station became WEZF-TV, sharing the identity of the co-owned radio station. ITC made several attempts to establish local news. A one-person operation in 1975 was discontinued the following year; a 5:30 p.m. news and features program launched in 1979 after FCC scrutiny of the station’s local-programming performance and later moved to 6 p.m. as News Center 22. The newscast remained under-resourced and ranked well behind WCAX-TV and WPTZ. The station moved from Fort Ethan Allen to former WCAX facilities in Burlington in 1980. A license challenge by former station executive John R. Hughes was resolved in 1982, shortly before Philip J. Lombardo agreed to acquire WEZF-TV. After Lombardo took control, the station restored the WVNY call letters and became the first broadcast property of the ownership group later known as Citadel Communications. Lombardo added an 11 p.m. newscast and invested in field-production equipment, while cutting some expenses and dropping selected sports commitments. WVNY continued to distinguish itself through sports programming, including Red Sox baseball and Bruins hockey. In 1987 it carried a limited package of Canadian Football Network games, an unusual use of its cross-border reach. During the late 1980s and early 1990s, WVNY frequently preempted ABC programming when management believed syndicated reruns or locally sold commercial inventory would be more profitable. The station eventually restored several programs after discussions with ABC, although it temporarily declined to air Nightline and for years replaced General Hospital with children’s programming. These choices reflected the competitive and financial pressures facing a low-rated independent operation within a network-affiliate market. Citadel sold the station to U.S. Broadcast Group in 1995. Straightline Communications purchased it in 1998 and undertook a major news relaunch. Several existing news employees departed, the station upgraded from VHS-based production to digital equipment, built a new set, and acquired improved weather systems. The new ABC22 News debuted in August 1999 and was considered a more credible local-news effort, but it failed to attract a significant audience against WCAX and WPTZ. Straightline closed the newsroom in September 2003 and dismissed about 25 employees. The station also carried only part of the newly expanded Jimmy Kimmel Live! schedule in 2003, using the remaining time for infomercials. Lambert Broadcasting acquired WVNY’s license in 2005, while Smith Media acquired the station’s non-license assets in a related transaction. The station’s operations moved to Colchester and became closely integrated with WFFF-TV. WFFF established a news department and began producing a 10 p.m. newscast in December 2007; this infrastructure enabled local news to return to WVNY. Mission Broadcasting agreed to acquire WVNY in 2012 and completed the transaction in March 2013 after FCC approval. Nexstar, which acquired WFFF, entered into the operating arrangement that continues to provide services to WVNY. The two stations later used Local 22 and Local 44 branding, and their combined newsroom became the primary source of WVNY’s local news, weather, and community programming. WVNY remains an active ABC affiliate serving the Champlain Valley market.
- 2013
Mission Broadcasting becomes owner
[1]Mission completes its acquisition of WVNY while Nexstar assumes operation through its relationship with WFFF-TV.
- 2007
Local news returns through WFFF infrastructure
[1]WFFF launches a local news department that also supports news programming on WVNY.
- 2005
Lambert Broadcasting and Smith Media transaction
[1]Lambert acquires the license and Smith Media acquires non-license assets, setting up shared operations with WFFF-TV.
- 2003
Standalone newsroom closes
[1]WVNY discontinues its newsroom after persistent low ratings.
- 1999
ABC22 News relaunch
[1]A substantially upgraded local-news service debuts on August 9.
- 1998
Straightline Communications acquisition
[1]Straightline Communications purchases WVNY and begins rebuilding its local-news operation.
- 1995
Sold to U.S. Broadcast Group
[1]Citadel transfers WVNY to U.S. Broadcast Group.
- 1982
Citadel ownership begins
[1]Philip J. Lombardo acquires the station, restores the WVNY identity, and establishes the first broadcast property of Citadel Communications.
- 1980
Studios move to Burlington’s former WCAX facilities
[1]The station relocates from Fort Ethan Allen to the former WCAX studios in Market Square.
- 1974
Call sign changes to WEZF-TV
[1]International Television Corporation completes its purchase and changes the station’s call letters to WEZF-TV.
Products and positioning
A network-affiliated local television station combining ABC programming with regional news, weather, sports, and community coverage for viewers in northern Vermont and adjacent New York.
Broadcast television · 1968
ABC network programming
WVNY’s core offering is the ABC network schedule, including network entertainment, news, daytime, and sports programming. As a local affiliate, the station may schedule local news, weather, syndicated programs, or advertising around network content and has historically made programming decisions based on local ratings, commercial opportunities, and network commitments.
Local news · 2007
Local 22 news
WVNY’s local-news output is produced through the shared newsroom serving WVNY and WFFF-TV. It covers Burlington and the Champlain Valley, with emphasis on local government, weather, transportation, community events, regional affairs, and breaking news. The operation also supplies digital stories and video for the stations’ online presence.
Sports broadcasting · 1968
Regional sports programming
Sports have been a recurring part of WVNY’s identity since its launch. Historical programming included University of Vermont athletics, Boston Red Sox baseball, Boston Bruins hockey, Montreal Expos coverage, and selected Canadian Football Network games. Sports remains part of the station’s broader ABC and local-programming mix, although the specific rights and schedules change over time.
Brand decisions
2013
Transfer ownership to Mission BroadcastingM&ABackground
Lambert Broadcasting agreed to sell WVNY while Smith Media separately sold WFFF-TV to Nexstar.
Action taken
Mission Broadcasting acquired WVNY, with Nexstar operating the station through a shared-services arrangement tied to WFFF-TV.
Aftermath
The shared newsroom was expanded and continued producing local programming for both stations.
Reported transaction price. $16.9 million (2013)
2005
Create shared operation with WFFF-TVM&ABackground
Lambert Broadcasting acquired WVNY’s license while Smith Media, owner of WFFF-TV, acquired the station’s other assets.
Action taken
WVNY’s operations were consolidated with WFFF-TV in Colchester.
Aftermath
The arrangement enabled WFFF’s newsroom to provide local news for both stations beginning in 2007.
Reported transaction components. $1.3 million license purchase and $8.9 million non-license asset purchase (2005)
2003
End standalone local-news productionStrategyBackground
The rebuilt WVNY newsroom failed to gain meaningful share against established local-news providers.
Action taken
Straightline discontinued the newsroom and laid off approximately 25 employees.
Aftermath
Local news later returned through the shared operation associated with WFFF-TV after ownership and facility changes.
1999
Relaunch ABC22 NewsProduct launchBackground
Straightline Communications sought to make WVNY’s local news more competitive after acquiring the station.
Action taken
The company replaced older production equipment, built a new set, improved weather capabilities, and introduced redesigned 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. newscasts.
Aftermath
The relaunch was viewed as a stronger effort than prior attempts, but audience share remained very low and the newsroom closed in 2003.
Reported acquisition price. $26 million (1998)
1982
Restore WVNY identity and invest selectively in newsStrategyBackground
After several unsuccessful news experiments and a change in ownership, the station sought a clearer identity and stronger field coverage.
Action taken
Philip J. Lombardo restored the WVNY call sign, added an 11 p.m. newscast, and purchased electronic news-gathering equipment while cutting selected costs.
Aftermath
The station remained a low-rated local-news competitor but developed a durable sports- and entertainment-oriented profile.
Reported acquisition price. $4.5 million (1982)
1970
Reduce broadcast hours during financial difficultiesStrategyBackground
The young station faced financing problems and operating pressure in a difficult credit market.
Action taken
WVNY shortened its broadcast day, limited overnight movies, and reduced local programming and staffing.
Aftermath
The financial crisis culminated in a temporary shutdown beginning in April 1971 and lasting more than five months.
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