WZTV
WZTV is a Nashville television station affiliated with Fox and The CW, owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group.
Last updated October 26, 2026
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Overview
WZTV is a commercial television station serving Nashville, Tennessee, and the surrounding Middle Tennessee market. The station broadcasts on virtual channel 17 and is best known as the market’s Fox affiliate, using the consumer-facing brand Fox 17. Its programming mix combines Fox network shows, syndicated entertainment, locally produced news, weather and sports coverage, and programming from The CW on its second digital subchannel. WZTV shares facilities and operational relationships with other Sinclair-managed Nashville stations, including WUXP-TV and WNAB. The channel’s history began in 1968, when Music City Video launched WMCV as Nashville’s first UHF and first independent television station. The station attempted to distinguish itself through local production, including sports, interviews, movies, wrestling and community-oriented programming. Its financial position proved unsustainable, however, and WMCV left the air in March 1971 before entering bankruptcy proceedings. A subsequent ownership effort carried substantial historical significance. Local radio executive Bob Hudson acquired the bankrupt license and sought to relaunch it as WTLT, short for “Total Local Television.” Hudson intended to create a station with a strong focus on minority issues and broadcasting employment opportunities. Had the plan reached full operation, WTLT would have been the first Black-owned television station in the United States. Economic conditions, expensive financing and difficulty obtaining capital prevented the service from returning to regular broadcasting. The license and remaining assets were ultimately sold to Reel Broadcasting Corporation. Reel relaunched channel 17 as WZTV in March 1976. During its independent-station era, WZTV built an audience through syndicated programs, films and sports packages, while also maintaining a local presence. Multimedia, Inc. acquired the station in a transaction approved in 1980. Multimedia used Nashville as a base for country-music-related television production and syndication, and WZTV carried programming connected with the city’s music and sports culture. It televised Nashville Sounds baseball for much of the 1980s and early 1990s and also carried Vanderbilt Commodores football during selected periods. Act III Broadcasting, associated with Norman Lear, purchased WZTV in 1988. The acquisition made WZTV a flagship property for a company focused on independent stations. In 1990, Act III moved Nashville’s Fox affiliation from channel 30 to WZTV, together with much of the former affiliate’s programming inventory. The change established the station’s modern identity and gave Fox a stronger position in the market. WZTV has retained the Fox affiliation since then, despite the national affiliation uncertainty created by the 1994 New World Communications realignment. Act III was acquired in 1995 by ABRY Broadcast Partners, after which the former Act III stations were operated under Sullivan Broadcasting. During the Sullivan period, WZTV introduced its first local newscast, responding to Fox’s growing emphasis on local news at affiliated stations. Sinclair Broadcast Group acquired Sullivan Broadcasting in 1998 and has since expanded WZTV’s local news operation. The station’s news programming includes evening and morning broadcasts under the Fox 17 News identity, with coverage focused on Nashville-area breaking news, weather, traffic, crime, politics, consumer issues and community events. On September 20, 2021, WZTV’s second digital subchannel became Nashville’s CW affiliate. The CW programming had previously been carried by Sinclair-managed WNAB, giving WZTV a second network role while preserving Fox programming on its primary channel. WZTV now operates from Sinclair’s Nashville broadcast complex on Mainstream Drive along the Cumberland River. Its transmitter is located near Interstate 24 in Whites Creek. The station’s current role is that of a local broadcast-media brand: it combines national Fox entertainment and sports with market-specific news and promotional programming for viewers in Middle Tennessee.
History
WZTV’s channel history began with Music City Video, Inc., a consortium of Nashville investors that received approval to build a UHF television station. The proposed service was initially associated with channel 24, but a nationwide allocation revision moved it to channel 17. After construction of studios and transmission facilities, WMCV began broadcasting on August 5, 1968. It was Nashville’s first UHF station and its first independent outlet. WMCV emphasized local programming and operated a mobile production unit known as the “Jolly Green Giant.” Its early output included high-school basketball, Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway racing, interviews with athletes, sports coverage involving Tennessee State University and Fisk University, professional wrestling, movies and other locally produced programs. The station’s local ambitions could not overcome its financial difficulties. WMCV suspended operations on March 14, 1971, initially describing the shutdown as temporary, but it subsequently entered bankruptcy protection and was adjudicated bankrupt. In 1973, a bankruptcy court approved the sale of the license and some equipment to Hudson Broadcasting Corporation, owned by radio executive Bob Hudson. Hudson planned to reactivate the station under the call letters WTLT, meaning “Total Local Television.” His proposed service would have concentrated on minority issues and training minority broadcasting professionals. The project attracted attention because a successful launch would have made WTLT the first Black-owned television station in the United States. Although test patterns, staffing plans and equipment preparations were developed, recessionary conditions, high interest rates and limited access to financing prevented Hudson from beginning full-time operations. The facility was placed on the market in 1975. Reel Broadcasting Corporation, led by Robert K. Zelle, acquired the license and relaunched the station as WZTV on March 6, 1976. The revived station used films, syndicated programs and sports packages, while also presenting locally produced material such as the game show Beat the Bidders. Multimedia, Inc. agreed to acquire WZTV in 1978; regulatory approval came in 1980 and the transaction closed that March. Multimedia expanded the station’s technical and operational base and integrated it with the company’s Nashville entertainment interests, including country-music publishing and television production. WZTV remained a leading independent station even as competing outlets entered the market. Its sports portfolio included Nashville Sounds baseball from 1982 through 1991, along with Vanderbilt football in several seasons during the 1980s and early 1990s. Act III Broadcasting acquired WZTV in 1988 and completed the station’s move to the Mainstream Drive complex. The company sought to make WZTV a stronger independent and pursued the Fox affiliation then held by channel 30. On February 6, 1990, Act III transferred Fox programming to WZTV and purchased most of the former affiliate’s programming inventory. The move also included syndicated entertainment and sports content. WZTV thereby became Nashville’s Fox affiliate, a role it has maintained. A prospective 1994 change involving New World Communications and Nashville NBC affiliate WSMV-TV created uncertainty about WZTV’s future affiliation, because New World was arranging Fox affiliations for many stations it expected to acquire. The proposed WSMV transaction did not close, and WZTV retained Fox. In 1995, Act III was acquired by ABRY Broadcast Partners and its stations were operated through Sullivan Broadcasting. WZTV began its first local newscast during this period, initially with production support from WKRN-TV. Sinclair acquired Sullivan Broadcasting in 1998, including WZTV and the arrangement through which WUXP-TV was managed. WZTV continued expanding its local news presence under Sinclair. On September 20, 2021, its second digital subchannel became the Nashville affiliate of The CW, moving that programming from Sinclair-managed WNAB. The stations now share studios on Mainstream Drive along the Cumberland River, while WZTV’s transmitter is situated near I-24 in Whites Creek. The station’s present identity combines Fox network content, local news and weather, syndicated programming and CW content on its digital subchannel.
- 2021
CW programming moves to digital subchannel
[1]WZTV’s second digital subchannel became Nashville’s CW affiliate.
- 1998
Sinclair acquisition
[1]Sinclair Broadcast Group acquired Sullivan Broadcasting and added WZTV to its Nashville portfolio.
- 1997
Local news operation launches
[1]WZTV introduced Fox News @ Nine, its first local newscast.
- 1990
Fox affiliation begins
[1]WZTV took over Nashville’s Fox affiliation from channel 30.
- 1988
Act III Broadcasting acquisition
[1]Act III Broadcasting purchased WZTV and positioned it as a flagship independent station.
- 1980
Multimedia ownership begins
[1]Multimedia, Inc. completed its acquisition of WZTV and expanded the station’s role in Nashville entertainment production.
- 1976
WZTV returns to broadcasting
[1]Reel Broadcasting relaunched channel 17 as WZTV on March 6.
- 1975
Reel Broadcasting acquires the station
[1]Hudson’s unsuccessful relaunch effort gave way to a sale to Reel Broadcasting Corporation.
- 1973
Hudson Broadcasting acquires the bankrupt license
[1]Bob Hudson acquired the license and proposed a Black-owned, community-oriented relaunch as WTLT.
- 1971
WMCV leaves the air
[1]The station suspended broadcasting amid financial problems and later entered bankruptcy proceedings.
Products and positioning
A Fox-affiliated local television brand centered on Nashville news, weather, sports and entertainment, with additional CW programming on a digital subchannel.
Local news · 1997
Fox 17 News
WZTV’s local news service provides Nashville-area reporting, weather, traffic and breaking-news coverage. The operation developed from the station’s first local newscast in 1997 and has expanded under Sinclair ownership to support multiple news periods and digital distribution.
Network television · 1990
Fox network programming
The station’s primary channel carries programming supplied by the Fox network, including entertainment, sports and other network content. WZTV has held the Nashville Fox affiliation since 1990, when Act III moved it from the competing channel 30 outlet.
Digital multicast television · 2021
The CW on 17.2
WZTV’s second digital subchannel carries The CW’s network schedule for the Nashville market. The service began on September 20, 2021, replacing the previous CW carriage arrangement on WNAB.
Sports television · 1982
Nashville Sounds broadcasts
During its Multimedia ownership period, WZTV served as the television outlet for Nashville Sounds baseball from 1982 through 1991, strengthening the station’s local sports identity during its independent era.
Controversies
2020
Fox News Channel apologizes for reporting a debunked story
Fox News Channel apologized for confusion caused by its reporting of a debunked story that Nashville's mayor had concealed coronavirus case data linked to bars and restaurants. The report had been retracted by its Nashville affiliate, WZTV, which also clarified that it did not believe there had been a coverup and apologized for its reporting error.
Brand decisions
2021
Move The CW to WZTV’s second digital subchannelStrategyBackground
The CW had been carried by Sinclair-managed WNAB, while WZTV had a digital subchannel available for a network service.
Action taken
The CW began airing on WZTV’s second digital subchannel on September 20, 2021.
Aftermath
WZTV assumed Nashville’s CW affiliation while continuing to carry Fox on its primary channel.
1997
Launch of Fox News @ NineProduct launchBackground
Fox was encouraging affiliates to develop local news, and WZTV had not previously operated a regular local newscast.
Action taken
WZTV introduced a 9 p.m. local newscast with production assistance and resources supplied by WKRN-TV.
Aftermath
The launch established WZTV’s local news operation, which was subsequently expanded under Sinclair ownership.
1990
Move Nashville’s Fox affiliation to WZTVStrategyBackground
Act III Broadcasting viewed WZTV as a stronger independent station than the existing Nashville Fox affiliate and sought to consolidate Fox programming and syndicated inventory on channel 17.
Action taken
Act III acquired the Fox affiliation and most of the former affiliate’s programming inventory, moving Fox programming to WZTV.
Aftermath
WZTV became Nashville’s Fox affiliate and established the Fox 17 identity that remains central to the station’s brand.
Recent events
- 2021
The CW moves to WZTV digital subchannel[1]
Product launch
WZTV’s second digital subchannel became Nashville’s CW affiliate, replacing the prior carriage arrangement on WNAB.
- 1998
Sinclair acquires Sullivan Broadcasting[1]
M&A
Sinclair Broadcast Group acquired Sullivan Broadcasting, bringing WZTV into Sinclair’s Nashville station group.
- 1997
WZTV launches its first local newscast[1]
Product launch
WZTV began airing Fox News @ Nine, a locally focused 9 p.m. newscast developed with production support from WKRN-TV.
- 1990
Act III moves Fox affiliation to WZTV[1]
Other
WZTV acquired Nashville’s Fox affiliation and most of the former affiliate’s programming inventory from MT Communications, making channel 17 the market’s Fox station.
- 1976
WZTV returns to the air under new call letters[1]
Other
Reel Broadcasting relaunched the former WMCV facility as WZTV after acquiring the bankrupt station’s license and completing construction and equipment work.
Sources2 sources
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