WXLV-TV

WXLV-TV is a television station licensed to Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and serving the Piedmont Triad market, including Winston-Salem, Greensboro, and High Point. The station broadcasts on virtual channel 45 and operates as the market's ABC affiliate. It is owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group and is operated alongside sister station WMYV-TV, an independent station associated with MyNetworkTV programming. The stations share studios on Myer Lee Drive along U.S. 421 in Winston-Salem, while WXLV-TV's transmitter is located near Randleman along the I-73/U.S. 220 corridor. The station began broadcasting in 1979 as WGNN-TV. Its origins were connected to Good News TV Network, an organization formed with support from a local Baptist church and initially intended to operate a Christian-oriented service with religious programming and selected secular films. Financial and construction difficulties delayed the launch, and the construction permit was transferred shortly before the station went on air to Piece Goods Stores, a Winston-Salem fabric-retail company. The station ultimately adopted a more general-entertainment schedule than originally planned, but initially attracted only a very small audience. In 1980, most of the station and operational control were sold to Television Corporation Stations, later known as TVX Broadcast Group. The call sign changed to WJTM-TV, and the station moved toward the general-entertainment independent-station format that TVX had used successfully elsewhere. A transmitter move to Sauratown Mountain and a relocation of the studios improved its technical position and contributed to modest ratings gains. After a fatal shooting at the station in 1984, TVX changed the call sign to WNRW in memory of general sales manager William Norbert Rismiller, who had been killed during the incident. WNRW became the first Fox affiliate in the Triad when the network launched in 1986. That same year, TVX sold the station to Act III Broadcasting to satisfy federal ownership restrictions connected with TVX's acquisition of another North Carolina station. WNRW later entered into a broad programming simulcast with Greensboro station WGGT, creating a combined independent-station service marketed as a regional superstation. The combined operation also carried UPN programming for a period. The station's major identity change came in 1995. After existing ABC affiliate WGHP switched to Fox as part of the broader New World-Fox affiliation realignment, WNRW-WGGT became the Triad's ABC affiliate. Channel 45 adopted the call sign WXLV-TV and launched a full local-news operation, with newscasts scheduled in the morning, evening, and late night. The station also established a scholarship and newsroom memorial connected with Rismiller. Despite ABC's strong national profile and substantial investment in staffing, WXLV's newscasts struggled to compete with the area's established news organizations. The WNRW-WGGT simulcast ended in 1996 when channel 48 became a separate UPN station. Sinclair Broadcast Group acquired Sullivan Broadcasting in 1998 and thereby obtained WXLV, while also assuming programming control of the related channel 48 operation through a local marketing agreement. Sinclair initially invested in WXLV's newsroom, restoring a morning newscast and improving equipment. Persistent low ratings and weak financial performance, however, led to repeated reductions. The local newsroom was closed in January 2002, ending the station's traditional full-service news production. Sinclair subsequently used several outsourced or centralized approaches to provide limited news content. News Central programming supplied a mixture of local reports and corporate-produced national news from 2003 to 2005. Beginning in 2012, News 14 Carolina, later renamed Time Warner Cable News North Carolina and then Spectrum News North Carolina, produced local news broadcasts for WXLV under an arrangement associated with a retransmission-consent agreement. In the later period described by available reference material, Sinclair also used reporters and anchors connected with another Sinclair station to support WXLV programming. WXLV-TV remains an active ABC affiliate focused on network programming, syndicated and locally relevant content, weather, sports, and limited local news coverage for the Piedmont Triad.

WXLV-TV traces its history to a proposed Winston-Salem television station organized by Good News TV Network. The Federal Communications Commission granted a construction permit in 1977 after the organization had raised support for a station initially envisioned as a largely Christian, noncommercial service. Construction delays and financial problems postponed the launch. Piece Goods Stores, a local fabric-retail company, ultimately acquired the permit and supplied the resources needed to place the station on the air. Program testing began in September 1979 from facilities in the Wachovia Building, and the station launched as WGNN-TV later that year. Although its initial concept emphasized religious and family-oriented material, the schedule moved toward general entertainment in an effort to improve commercial viability. The station's early ratings were very low. In 1980, Piece Goods sold an 85-percent interest and operational control to Television Corporation Stations, later called TVX Broadcast Group. The new owner changed the call sign to WJTM-TV, upgraded the station's technical facilities, moved the transmitter to Sauratown Mountain, and relocated the studios. A major tragedy occurred in June 1984 when William Norbert Rismiller, the general sales manager, was killed during an armed hostage incident at the station. TVX changed the call sign to WNRW in his memory and introduced additional security measures. WNRW became the area's first Fox affiliate in 1986. Because TVX was acquiring WLFL in Raleigh and faced ownership restrictions, it sold WNRW to Act III Broadcasting. WNRW later entered a nearly full-day simulcast with Greensboro station WGGT, which was promoted as a regional superstation. The combined operation carried Fox and later UPN programming. The 1994 New World-Fox affiliation agreement set off a major realignment in the Triad. When established ABC affiliate WGHP moved to Fox, WNRW-WGGT was positioned to take over ABC service. On September 3, 1995, channel 45 adopted the WXLV-TV call sign and became an ABC affiliate. The station launched a substantial local newsroom and dedicated it, along with a scholarship, to Rismiller's memory. Its newscasts nevertheless faced entrenched competition from WFMY-TV and WXII-TV, and ratings remained weak. The joint schedule with channel 48 ended in 1996 when the latter became a separate UPN outlet. Sinclair Broadcast Group acquired Sullivan Broadcasting in 1998. Sinclair initially tried to strengthen WXLV by restoring morning news, purchasing equipment, and supporting a refreshed presentation. Continued low audience levels and poor economics led to staff reductions in 2000 and the closure of the traditional newsroom in January 2002. Sinclair later tested centralized News Central programming, which combined locally presented reports with national material produced elsewhere. That service ended in 2005. From 2012, WXLV obtained several local news broadcasts through News 14 Carolina, a Time Warner Cable news service. The service was subsequently renamed Time Warner Cable News North Carolina and then Spectrum News North Carolina. This arrangement provided WXLV with local news content without recreating a large station-owned newsroom. WXLV has continued as an active ABC affiliate under Sinclair ownership, sharing facilities with WMYV-TV and serving the Piedmont Triad through network, syndicated, digital, and locally focused programming.

• 2012

  Outsourced local news begins

  [1]WXLV-TVen.wikipedia.org

  News 14 Carolina began producing local newscasts for WXLV.

• 2002

  Traditional newsroom closes

  [1]WXLV-TVen.wikipedia.org

  WXLV ended its full-scale local-news department after prolonged ratings and profitability problems.

• 1998

  Sinclair acquisition

  [1]WXLV-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Sinclair acquired Sullivan Broadcasting and became WXLV's owner.

• 1995

  WXLV-TV becomes an ABC affiliate

  [1]WXLV-TVen.wikipedia.org

  The station changed call signs and joined ABC after WGHP moved to Fox.

• 1991

  WNRW-WGGT simulcast begins

  [1]WXLV-TVen.wikipedia.org

  WNRW and WGGT began simulcasting most of their schedules as a combined regional independent service.

• 1986

  Fox affiliation begins

  [1]WXLV-TVen.wikipedia.org

  WNRW became the first Fox affiliate in the Triad market.

• 1984

  WNRW call sign adopted

  [1]WXLV-TVen.wikipedia.org

  The station was renamed WNRW in memory of slain general sales manager William Norbert Rismiller.

• 1980

  TVX takes operational control

  [1]WXLV-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Television Corporation Stations acquired a controlling interest and changed the call sign to WJTM-TV.

• 1979

  WGNN-TV begins broadcasting

  [1]WXLV-TVen.wikipedia.org

  The station went on the air as WGNN-TV after construction and financing delays.

• 1977

  FCC grants construction permit

  [1]WXLV-TVen.wikipedia.org

  The FCC approved a construction permit for a proposed Winston-Salem television station associated with Good News TV Network.

Local ABC network affiliate serving the Piedmont Triad, with a programming mix centered on national ABC content and locally relevant broadcast, weather, sports, and news services.

• Broadcast television · 1995

  ABC network programming

  WXLV's principal service is the distribution of ABC network programming to viewers in the Piedmont Triad. The schedule includes network entertainment, news, sports, and special-event programming, supplemented by station-selected syndicated and locally relevant content.

• Local news · 1995

  ABC 45 local news

  WXLV has offered local news in several formats since becoming an ABC affiliate. Its original in-house newsroom closed in 2002, after which the station used centralized Sinclair programming and later outsourced production arrangements involving North Carolina cable-news operations and other Sinclair resources.

• Broadcast television

  Digital television service

  The station provides over-the-air digital television service from its transmitter near Randleman, covering the Piedmont Triad region. Its broadcast footprint complements cable, satellite, and digital distribution of the station's ABC and locally focused programming.

• 1995WXLV identity and memorial launch

  Piedmont Triad

  As the station prepared to join ABC, it adopted the WXLV-TV call sign and promoted a new identity. It also announced a scholarship and a newsroom dedication honoring former sales manager William Norbert Rismiller.

  Outcome. The rebranding accompanied the ABC affiliation and the launch of a new local-news department.

  Source
• 1995NFC viewer game-selection promotion

  Piedmont Triad

  During the first Fox NFL season, the station invited viewers to vote by telephone on which NFC game it should televise each week, an unusual promotion because Fox generally assigned games to affiliates.

  Outcome. The promotion generated attention but was not described as a long-term programming model.

  Source

• 2011

  Use outsourced local-news productionStrategy

  Background

  Sinclair and Time Warner Cable reached a carriage agreement covering WXLV and other stations.

  Action taken

  The agreement provided for News 14 Carolina to produce morning, evening, and late-night local newscasts for WXLV beginning in 2012.

  Aftermath

  The service was later renamed Time Warner Cable News North Carolina and then Spectrum News North Carolina.

  Source

• 2002

  Close the full-scale newsroomStrategy

  Background

  WXLV's local newscasts had low ratings and the news operation failed to turn a profit in 2001.

  Action taken

  Sinclair ended the station's traditional local-news department and dismissed approximately 35 employees.

  Aftermath

  WXLV later used centralized News Central programming and outsourced local-news production rather than maintaining a large in-house newsroom.

  News department employees laid off. Approximately 35 (January 2002)

  Source

• 1995

  Convert from Fox to ABCGeneration change

  Background

  WGHP was scheduled to leave ABC for Fox, creating an opening for a new ABC affiliate in the Triad.

  Action taken

  WNRW-WGGT changed branding, with channel 45 becoming WXLV-TV and joining ABC.

  Aftermath

  The station launched a local newsroom, but its newscasts did not achieve the audience levels of established competitors.

  Source

• 1986

  Join the Fox networkStrategy

  Background

  Fox was launching nationally while WNRW operated as a general-entertainment independent station.

  Action taken

  WNRW became the Triad market's first Fox affiliate.

  Aftermath

  The affiliation lasted until the 1995 realignment that moved Fox programming to former ABC affiliate WGHP.

  Source

• 1980

  Shift toward general entertainmentStrategy

  Background

  The station's initial religious and family-oriented concept had attracted little audience and faced financial pressure.

  Action taken

  Under TVX control, WJTM-TV adopted a more competitive general-entertainment independent-station format and upgraded its transmission facilities.

  Aftermath

  Ratings improved modestly, although the station remained a small-market independent for several years.

  Source

1. 1WXLV-TVen.wikipedia.org
2. 2WXLV-TV official websiteabc45.com