WXIN
WXIN is a Fox-affiliated television station serving Indianapolis and Central Indiana, operating under the Fox 59 brand.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
WXIN is television station channel 59 in Indianapolis, Indiana, and a local affiliate of the Fox Broadcasting Company. The station operates under the consumer-facing Fox 59 and FOX59 brands, combining Fox network programming with locally produced news, weather, sports, entertainment, and community coverage. Its website, Fox59.com, extends the station's broadcast identity into digital publishing and streaming-oriented local media. The station began broadcasting on February 1, 1984, as independent WPDS-TV. Its original ownership group was associated with computer-services company Anacomp and Indianapolis business figures Ron Palamara, Chris Duffy, Melvin Simon, and Herbert Simon. The station initially offered general entertainment programming, including cartoons, films, syndicated series, and locally produced shows. Early local efforts included a children's program, an exercise show, gospel and comedy programming, a late-night talk program, and an initial local newscast. The first news effort was reduced after weak ratings, reflecting the difficulty of establishing a news identity for a new independent station. Outlet Communications acquired the station in 1985 and changed its call sign to WXIN. The new calls were intended to reduce confusion with PBS and the cable network WTBS. WXIN joined Fox when the network launched in October 1986. During the late 1980s and early 1990s, the station competed aggressively with established independent WTTV through syndicated-program acquisitions and schedule development. Although those purchases created financial pressure, they helped WXIN build a stronger position in the Indianapolis market. Ownership changed several times. Chase Broadcasting acquired WXIN in 1990, and Renaissance Communications purchased it in the early 1990s. Tribune Broadcasting bought Renaissance's television properties in 1996. Tribune later acquired WTTV and WTTK, creating a duopoly with WXIN. The two stations moved into a shared, purpose-built facility in northwest Indianapolis in 2003. WTTV became a CBS affiliate in 2015, while WXIN remained the market's Fox outlet. News became central to the station's identity under Tribune ownership. WXIN launched a 10 p.m. newscast in 1991, initially titled Fox 59 Nightcast. The program survived doubts about the viability of a new news department and became an important source of local reporting, weather, and sports. A morning news program, Fox 59 a.m., began in 1999, and the station subsequently expanded its schedule into additional dayparts. From 2004 through 2014, WXIN substantially increased its weekly local-news output. The station also developed sports programming, including coverage related to the Indiana Pacers and Indianapolis Colts. Nexstar Media Group acquired Tribune Media in 2019. Because Nexstar already owned other Indianapolis stations, it divested WISH-TV and WNDY-TV while retaining WXIN and WTTV. In 2024, Fox announced that it would become the exclusive national broadcaster of the IndyCar Series beginning in 2025. This moved the local broadcast of the Indianapolis 500 from NBC affiliate WTHR to WXIN, subject to Indianapolis Motor Speedway blackout rules when the race does not sell out. WXIN therefore combines the national reach of the Fox network with a specifically local Indianapolis identity built around news, weather, sports, and digital content.
History
The history of WXIN began with competing applications for Indianapolis television channel 59 during the late 1970s. Indianapolis Television Corporation secured the construction permit in 1981 after reaching a settlement with other applicants. The permit had initially been associated with subscription-television plans, but the station's owners abandoned that concept as technology and market conditions changed. In 1983, most of the company's stock was acquired by Anacomp, while Melvin Simon and Herbert Simon retained minority interests. The reorganized ownership group, USA Communications, selected the call sign WPDS-TV from the initials of Palamara, Duffy, and the Simon family. Weather delayed the station's planned launch, and WPDS-TV finally signed on February 1, 1984. It operated as an independent station from studios on North Meridian Street, using a general-entertainment schedule supplemented by locally produced programs. The station's initial news experiment did not attract sufficient ratings and was quickly reduced. Outlet Communications acquired the station in a transaction announced in 1984 and completed in 1985. The call sign became WXIN in August 1985, partly to avoid confusion with PBS and WTBS. The station joined Fox at the network's October 1986 launch. A policy of buying prominent syndicated programming helped WXIN challenge WTTV, then the dominant Indianapolis independent, although the strategy also increased the station's costs and debt exposure. WXIN briefly carried Indiana Pacers road games, but the arrangement ended after Fox expanded its own programming commitments. Chase Broadcasting purchased WXIN in 1990. Renaissance Communications acquired it the following year as Chase reorganized its television portfolio. Tribune Broadcasting purchased Renaissance's stations in 1996. Tribune's later acquisition of WTTV and WTTK created a duopoly with WXIN. The stations moved from the Meridian Street facility to a larger shared complex in northwest Indianapolis in 2003. The new building supported expanded production, newsroom, and technical operations. Local news became increasingly important. WXIN launched Fox 59 Nightcast in September 1991, initially as an hour-long late-evening program before reducing it to a half-hour. The newscast was later renamed Fox News at 10. WXIN added Fox 59 a.m. in 1999 and gradually introduced further newscasts and specialty coverage. Between 2004 and 2014, the station substantially expanded its weekly news schedule, reinforcing its identity as a news-intensive Fox affiliate. Its programming has included local weather, breaking-news coverage, investigative and consumer reporting, sports, and community features. The station has also carried Indiana-oriented entertainment and sports programming. It aired the Hoosier Millionaire lottery program beginning in 2003, although the program ended in 2005 after declining ticket sales. WXIN later carried Indianapolis Colts preseason games and coaches' programs under a rights arrangement shared with WTTV. Since 2019, WXIN has been part of Nexstar Media Group. Fox's IndyCar agreement, effective in 2025, gave WXIN the local Fox-network broadcast of the Indianapolis 500, subject to race-sellout blackout provisions. Today, WXIN functions as a broadcast and digital local-media brand serving Indianapolis and Central Indiana.
- 2025
Indianapolis 500 moves to WXIN
[1]Fox's IndyCar agreement places the local Fox-network broadcast of the Indianapolis 500 on WXIN.
- 2019
Nexstar ownership begins
[1]Nexstar completes its acquisition of Tribune Media and retains WXIN.
- 2015
WTTV becomes CBS affiliate
[1]The sister station changes affiliation while WXIN remains with Fox.
- 2003
Shared northwest Indianapolis facility opens
[1]WXIN and WTTV move into a purpose-built shared facility.
- 1999
Morning news launches
[1]WXIN begins Fox 59 a.m., expanding beyond its established late-evening newscast.
- 1996
Tribune acquires Renaissance
[1]WXIN joins Tribune Broadcasting through Tribune's purchase of Renaissance Communications.
- 1991
Nightly local news launches
[1]Fox 59 Nightcast debuts at 10 p.m.
- 1986
Fox affiliation begins
[1]WXIN becomes one of the original local affiliates of the Fox network.
- 1985
Call sign changes to WXIN
[1]Following Outlet Communications' acquisition, the station adopts the WXIN call letters.
- 1984
WPDS-TV begins broadcasting
[1]Channel 59 signs on as an independent Indianapolis station.
Products and positioning
A locally focused Fox network affiliate positioned around high-frequency news, weather, sports, and entertainment coverage for Indianapolis and Central Indiana.
Local television news · 1991
FOX59 News
WXIN's core local-news brand, covering Indianapolis and Central Indiana with scheduled newscasts, breaking-news reports, weather, traffic, investigations, consumer features, and local sports. The brand developed from the station's 1991 10 p.m. newscast and later expanded into morning and other dayparts.
Morning television news · 1999
Fox 59 a.m.
A morning program launched in 1999 that combines local news, weather, traffic, interviews, lifestyle material, and entertainment-oriented features in a personality-led format designed for early-day viewing.
Digital local media
Fox59.com
WXIN's digital news and information platform, extending the station's local reporting, weather, video, alerts, and programming presence beyond linear television.
Sports broadcasting · 2025
Indianapolis 500 coverage
Local Fox-network coverage of the Indianapolis 500 beginning in 2025 under Fox's national IndyCar rights agreement. Broadcast availability is subject to Indianapolis Motor Speedway blackout rules when the race is not sold out.
Brand decisions
2024
Carry the Indianapolis 500 through FoxStrategyBackground
Fox secured exclusive national IndyCar rights beginning in 2025, replacing NBC's previous network role for the series.
Action taken
WXIN became the expected local broadcast outlet for the Indianapolis 500 under the Fox agreement.
Aftermath
The change strengthened WXIN's local sports profile and connected the station to one of Indianapolis's most prominent annual events.
1999
Expand into morning newsProduct launchBackground
WXIN's late-evening newscast had become an established service, creating an opportunity to broaden the station's local-news schedule.
Action taken
WXIN launched Fox 59 a.m. as a morning news, entertainment, and lifestyle program.
Aftermath
The launch marked a broader transition from a Fox affiliate centered on entertainment and late news toward a full local-news operation.
1991
Create a dedicated late-evening news operationProduct launchBackground
WXIN sought to establish a stronger local identity after earlier news efforts had produced limited ratings results.
Action taken
The station launched Fox 59 Nightcast at 10 p.m. with a dedicated newsroom and anchor team.
Aftermath
The newscast survived ownership uncertainty, gained recognition within the Fox affiliate group, and became the basis for later news expansion.
1986
Join the Fox networkStrategyBackground
Fox was launching a new national broadcast network, while WXIN was competing as a newer independent station in the Indianapolis market.
Action taken
WXIN affiliated with Fox at the network's October 1986 launch.
Aftermath
The affiliation gave WXIN a national-programming platform and became the foundation of its long-term station identity.
Recent events
- 2024
Fox takes national IndyCar rights[1]
Product launch
Fox announces a multi-year agreement for exclusive IndyCar Series coverage beginning in 2025, moving the Indianapolis 500's local network broadcast to WXIN.
- 2019
Nexstar completes Tribune Media acquisition[1]
M&A · Regulation
Nexstar acquires Tribune Media and retains WXIN and WTTV after divesting other Indianapolis stations to comply with ownership requirements.
- 2015
WTTV becomes a CBS affiliate[1]
Other
WXIN's sister station WTTV changes network affiliation, while WXIN continues as the Indianapolis Fox affiliate.
- 2003
WXIN and WTTV move into a shared northwest Indianapolis facility[1]
Other
Tribune completes a new facility for the two Indianapolis stations in the Intech Park area.
- 1996
Tribune completes acquisition of Renaissance television stations[1]
M&A
Tribune Broadcasting acquires Renaissance Communications, bringing WXIN into the Tribune television group.
- 1991
WXIN debuts a 10 p.m. newscast[1]
Product launch
The station introduces Fox 59 Nightcast, establishing a local-news operation that later expands into multiple dayparts.
- 1986
WXIN joins the Fox network[1]
Other
WXIN becomes an affiliate of the Fox Broadcasting Company when the network begins operations.
- 1984
WXIN launches as WPDS-TV[1]
Other
Channel 59 begins broadcasting in Indianapolis as an independent station with general entertainment and locally produced programming.
Sources2 sources
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