WVPX-TV

WVPX-TV is a commercial television station licensed to Akron, Ohio, and serving the broader Cleveland–Akron–Canton market. The station broadcasts Ion Television programming and operates on digital channel 23. Its present identity is the result of several major changes in ownership, network affiliation, call sign, and local-programming strategy. The station began broadcasting in 1953 as WAKR-TV, an extension of Akron radio station WAKR operated by Summit Radio Corporation, the family-owned company associated with S. Bernard Berk. Summit had originally sought a VHF allocation for Akron, but federal channel planning ultimately assigned the station a UHF frequency. WAKR-TV signed on using channel 49 and initially emphasized Akron and Canton rather than attempting to compete directly for Cleveland viewers. It became an ABC affiliate, benefiting from WAKR radio's existing relationship with the network. During its first decades, the station developed a strongly local identity. Its programming included Akron-focused news, weather, sports, children's shows, music and variety programs, and live coverage of civic events. WAKR-TV shared talent and reporting resources with WAKR radio and carried local sports involving the University of Akron, helping establish the station as an important Akron media institution. The station moved from channel 49 to channel 23 in 1967, improving its technical position but not eliminating the structural disadvantages associated with UHF broadcasting and its inclusion in the larger Cleveland television market. WAKR-TV remained a primary ABC affiliate alongside Cleveland's WEWS-TV for much of the period from 1953 through 1996. Despite its local commitment, the station faced persistent financial pressure and weak ratings relative to the larger Cleveland outlets. The station was renamed WAKC-TV in 1986 after the sale of WAKR, while remaining under Berk-family control. In 1994, the station was sold to ValueVision, a home-shopping broadcaster, but it continued to provide local programming and retain its ABC affiliation for a time. Paxson Communications acquired the station in the mid-1990s. After the transaction closed on February 28, 1996, production of the station's newscasts ended. WAKC-TV left ABC at the end of that year, removing Akron's traditional commercial television newscast and leaving the city without a conventional major-network affiliate. The station was renamed WVPX-TV and became a station owned and operated by Paxson's Pax TV network on August 31, 1998. Pax TV was later renamed Ion Television, and WVPX became part of Ion's national entertainment-oriented station group. The station's transition away from local news generated civic concern. When Paxson sought authorization for a high-definition-capable transmitter, Akron officials pressed the company to restore local news or support a television news service for the city. The permit was ultimately granted after Paxson made a one-time payment to Akron. A later arrangement connected Paxson with NBC and involved Gannett, the owner of Cleveland NBC affiliate WKYC-TV. Beginning in 2001, WKYC assumed operational responsibility and produced a daily half-hour Akron newscast for WVPX. After NBC ended its investment relationship with Paxson in 2005, the newscast moved to local cable distribution and WVPX returned to operation under Paxson, by then known as Ion Media. In 2021, Ion Media was acquired by The E. W. Scripps Company. Because Scripps owned Cleveland ABC affiliate WEWS-TV, WVPX and related station WDLI-TV were divested to Inyo Broadcast Holdings. WVPX and Canton-licensed Bounce TV affiliate WDLI-TV share facilities in Warrensville Heights. Under a channel-sharing arrangement, WDLI uses WVPX's full-power spectrum, while the stations maintain separate programming identities. WVPX's transmitter facilities are located near Ohio State Route 261 in Norton, Ohio. Today, the station's core offering is Ion Television's national schedule rather than a locally produced news service.

WVPX-TV traces its history to Summit Radio Corporation, the Berk-family company that operated Akron radio stations WAKR and WAKR-FM. Summit and another local radio operator sought an Akron television authorization in the late 1940s, initially expecting a VHF allocation. Federal channel planning and the 1952 reopening of television licensing instead assigned Akron a UHF channel. Summit received the authorization for channel 49, and WAKR-TV began broadcasting on July 19, 1953. The station was created as a local Akron service even though federal market definitions placed Akron and Canton within the Cleveland television market. It joined ABC, in part because WAKR radio already carried ABC programming. Its early schedule combined network programs with locally produced news, sports, weather, children's programming, music, variety shows and public-event coverage. The station's facilities were developed in the former Copley Theatre, which was renovated as the WAKR Television Center. Radio and television operations shared staff, enabling the station to present Akron-centered reporting and coverage of University of Akron athletics and other local events. WAKR-TV's local identity did not eliminate the competitive disadvantages of UHF transmission or the difficulty of operating in a market dominated by larger Cleveland stations. The station experienced financial weakness and low ratings for much of its history. It nevertheless remained a primary ABC affiliate, alongside WEWS-TV, until the mid-1990s. A move to channel 23 in 1967 improved its technical position, while cable carriage broadened its reach, but the station continued to struggle against the Cleveland outlets. In 1986, after WAKR was sold, the television station changed its call sign to WAKC-TV. It remained in the Berk family's ownership until 1994, when ValueVision acquired it. ValueVision retained the station's local programming and ABC affiliation. Paxson Communications then acquired the station. On February 28, 1996, immediately after the acquisition was completed, local newscast production ceased. The station left ABC at the end of the year, creating a major gap in Akron's commercial television news landscape. Paxson renamed the station WVPX-TV, and on August 31, 1998, it became an owned-and-operated station of Pax TV. Pax TV later became Ion Television, shifting the station's main role toward distribution of a national entertainment schedule. A transmitter modernization request led Akron officials to demand a local-news commitment or financial support for an independent television news service. The permit was approved after Paxson made a one-time payment to the city. A subsequent partnership involving Paxson and NBC placed WVPX's operations under Gannett, owner of WKYC-TV. In 2001, WKYC began producing a half-hour Akron newscast. When NBC withdrew from its involvement with Paxson in 2005, the program was moved to local cable rather than continuing as a conventional over-the-air WVPX newscast. Ion Media later resumed operation of the station. The E. W. Scripps Company purchased Ion Media in 2021. Since Scripps also owned WEWS-TV in the Cleveland market, WVPX-TV and Canton-licensed WDLI-TV were spun off to Inyo Broadcast Holdings. The stations now share studios in Warrensville Heights and transmitter facilities in Norton. WDLI operates through a channel-sharing agreement using WVPX's full-power spectrum. WVPX remains an Ion Television affiliate and continues to serve viewers in the Akron and Cleveland-area market.

• 2021

  Divestiture to Inyo Broadcast Holdings

  [1]WVPX-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Scripps acquires Ion Media and divests WVPX-TV and WDLI-TV to Inyo Broadcast Holdings.

• 2005

  Local newscast shifts to cable

  [1]WVPX-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Following NBC's withdrawal from its Paxson relationship, the Akron news program moves to local cable distribution.

• 2001

  WKYC-produced Akron news

  [1]WVPX-TVen.wikipedia.org

  WKYC begins producing a daily half-hour Akron newscast for WVPX.

• 1998

  Pax TV launch identity

  [1]WVPX-TVen.wikipedia.org

  WVPX becomes an owned-and-operated station of Pax TV, later known as Ion Television.

• 1996

  Paxson acquisition and ABC departure

  [1]WVPX-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Paxson acquires the station, ends local newscast production, and removes the station from ABC later that year.

• 1994

  ValueVision ownership

  [1]WVPX-TVen.wikipedia.org

  ValueVision acquires the station from the Berk-family interests.

• 1986

  Call sign changes to WAKC-TV

  [1]WVPX-TVen.wikipedia.org

  The station changes its call sign after the sale of WAKR radio.

• 1967

  Channel reassignment

  [1]WVPX-TVen.wikipedia.org

  The station moves from channel 49 to channel 23.

• 1953

  WAKR-TV signs on

  [1]WVPX-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Summit Radio Corporation launches the station on UHF channel 49, with ABC affiliation and a strong Akron-oriented local-programming strategy.

A network-affiliated commercial television station serving Akron and the wider Cleveland television market, with a primarily national Ion Television schedule and limited or no regularly produced local news programming.

• Television station · 1953

  WVPX-TV broadcast service

  The station's over-the-air television service on channel 23, licensed to Akron and serving viewers across the Cleveland–Akron–Canton region. Its current identity centers on Ion Television programming rather than a full locally produced news schedule.

• Network affiliation · 1998

  Ion Television programming

  A nationally distributed entertainment schedule supplied by Ion Television. WVPX carries this network service as its principal programming offering and functions as an Ion-affiliated commercial station.

• Local news · 1953

  Local Akron news programming

  WVPX historically produced or carried Akron-focused news. Original station newscasts ended in 1996, and a WKYC-produced half-hour program appeared in the early 2000s before moving to local cable after 2005.

• 2021

  Divestiture following the Ion Media acquisitionM&A

  Background

  Scripps acquired Ion Media while already owning WEWS-TV in the same regional television market.

  Action taken

  WVPX-TV and WDLI-TV were spun off to Inyo Broadcast Holdings.

  Aftermath

  WVPX continued operating as an Ion Television station under new ownership, alongside WDLI through shared facilities and a channel-sharing arrangement.

  Source

• 2001

  Launch of WKYC-produced Akron newscastProduct launch

  Background

  A Paxson, NBC and Gannett operating arrangement created an opportunity to restore a locally focused news service.

  Action taken

  WKYC began producing a daily half-hour Akron newscast for WVPX.

  Aftermath

  The program later moved to local cable after NBC ended its relationship with Paxson in 2005.

  Source

• 1998

  Adopt Pax TV owned-and-operated statusStrategy

  Background

  Paxson was building a national network of owned-and-operated stations.

  Action taken

  WVPX adopted its current call sign and became an owned-and-operated Pax TV station.

  Aftermath

  The station's principal role shifted to carrying Pax TV, later Ion Television, rather than maintaining a broad local-production schedule.

  Source

• 1996

  End local newscast production and leave ABCStrategy

  Background

  After Paxson Communications acquired the station, the business moved away from its long-standing locally oriented ABC-affiliate model.

  Action taken

  Paxson ended newscast production when the acquisition closed and disaffiliated the station from ABC at the end of 1996.

  Aftermath

  Akron lost a conventional commercial television newscast and a traditional network affiliate, while the station moved toward a nationally programmed service.

  Source

1. 1WVPX-TVen.wikipedia.org