View source for WNEP-TV

{{Short description|Television station in Scranton, Pennsylvania}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox television station
| callsign               = WNEP-TV
| city                   = Scranton, Pennsylvania
| logo                   = WNEP 2021.svg
| logo_size              = 200px
| image                  = Wnep dt2.png
| image_size             = 100px
| branding               = {{ubl|WNEP 16; ''Newswatch 16''|WNEP 16.2}}
| digital                = 21 ([[UHF]]), shared with [[WVIA-TV]]
| virtual                = 16
| translators            = ''see {{section link||Translators}}''
| affiliations           = {{ubl|'''16.1:''' [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]|'''16.2:''' [[Antenna TV]]}}
| subchannels            =
| network                =
| country                = United States
| founded                =
| airdate                = {{ubl|{{Start date and age|1953|9|15}} (WILK-TV)|{{Start date and age|1954|2|9}} (WARM-TV)|{{start date and age|1957|10|17}} (current license)}}
| last_airdate           =
| location               = [[Scranton]]–[[Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania]]
| callsign_meaning       = [[Northeastern Pennsylvania]]
| former_callsigns       = {{ubl|WILK-TV (1953–1957)|WARM-TV (1954–1957)}}
| former_channel_numbers = {{ubl|'''Analog:''' 34 (UHF, 1953–1957), 16 (UHF, 1954–2009)|'''Digital:''' 49 (UHF, 2002–2009), 50 (UHF, 2009–2020)}}
| owner                  = {{ubl|[[Tegna Inc.]]|''(sale to [[Nexstar Media Group]] pending<ref>{{Cite web |last=Miller |first=Mark K. |date=August 19, 2025 |title=Nexstar Buying Tegna For $6.2 Billion |url=https://tvnewscheck.com/business/article/nexstar-buying-tegna-for-6-2-billion/ |access-date=August 19, 2025 |website=TV News Check |language=en-US |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250819205146/https://tvnewscheck.com/business/article/nexstar-buying-tegna-for-6-2-billion/ |archive-date= August 19, 2025}}</ref>)''}}
| licensee               = Tegna Broadcast Holdings, [[LLC]]
| sister_stations        =
| former_affiliations    = [[NTA Film Network|NTA]] (secondary, 1956–1961)
| erp                    = 760 kW
| haat                   = {{convert|509.2|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
| class                  =
| facility_id            = 73318
| coordinates            = {{coord|41|10|55|N|75|52|16|W|type:landmark_scale:2000}}
| licensing_authority    = [[FCC]]
| website                = {{URL|https://wnep.com/}}
}}

'''WNEP-TV''' (channel 16) is a [[television station]] licensed to [[Scranton, Pennsylvania]], United States, serving as the [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] affiliate for [[Northeastern Pennsylvania]]. Owned by [[Tegna Inc.]], the station maintains studios on Montage Mountain Road in [[Moosic]]. Through a [[channel sharing]] agreement with [[PBS]] member [[WVIA-TV]] (channel 44), the two stations transmit using WNEP-TV's spectrum from an antenna at [[Penobscot Knob]] near [[Mountain Top]].

WNEP-TV operates a digital replacement [[broadcast relay station#Broadcast translators|translator]] on UHF channel 22 that is licensed to [[Waymart]] with a transmitter in [[Forest City, Pennsylvania|Forest City]]. It exists because [[wind turbine]]s run by [[NextEra Energy Resources]] at the [[Waymart Wind Farm]] interfere with the transmission of full-power television signals.

==History==

===WILK-TV and WARM-TV===
There were originally two ABC network affiliates in northeastern Pennsylvania. WILK-TV, operating on channel 34 and owned by [[WILK (AM)|WILK radio]] took to the air from [[Wilkes-Barre]] on September 15, 1953.<ref>[https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1953/BC-1953-09-21.pdf#page=64 "4 UHFs, 3 VHFs start commercial."] ''[[Broadcasting - Telecasting]]'', September 21, 1953, pg. 64.</ref> It was followed by Scranton-licensed WARM-TV, broadcasting on channel 16 and owned by future [[Governor of Pennsylvania|Governor]] [[William Scranton]] along with [[WARM (AM)|WARM radio]], in February 9, 1954.<ref>{{cite news |title=Tuesday Set For Opening Of WARM-TV |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/scrantonian-tribune-tuesday-set-for-open/173502099/ |access-date=May 30, 2025 |newspaper=The Scrantonian |date=February 7, 1954 |location=Scranton, Pennsylvania |page=13 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> During the late 1950s, WILK-TV was also briefly affiliated with the [[NTA Film Network]].<ref name="Boxoffice7">{{Cite journal|title=Require Prime Evening Time for NTA Films |journal=Boxoffice |page=13 |date=November 10, 1956 |url=https://issuu.com/boxoffice/docs/boxoffice_111056-1 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090614204506/http://issuu.com/boxoffice/docs/boxoffice_111056-1 |archive-date=June 14, 2009 }}</ref>

WILK wanted to get a head start on the other local stations when it signed on in 1953, going on the air at 2&nbsp;p.m. rather than the 3&nbsp;p.m. sign on that the other stations did. The engineers got the signal ready by noon and decided to take a break. However, at lunch, they turned on the station to inspect their handiwork, only to find the signal was dead. They rushed back and were able to establish the link by 1:50&nbsp;p.m., 10 minutes before sign-on.<ref name="history">{{cite web|url=http://www.wnep.com/Global/link.asp?L=46158 |title=WNEP history page |date=February 13, 2008 |access-date=November 27, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080213192857/http://www.wnep.com/Global/link.asp?L=46158 |archive-date=February 13, 2008 }}</ref>

Getting a signal from ABC headquarters in [[New York City]] was a challenge in the early days with no access to [[satellite]]s. As a result, WILK set up a microwave tower in [[Effort, Pennsylvania|Effort]], about {{convert|45|mi|km|0}} east of Wilkes-Barre. From there, the network signal was bounced to the Penobscot Knob transmitter site. Often, station engineers had to adjust the Effort transmitter to accept a signal from WFIL-TV (now ABC [[O&O]] [[WPVI-TV]]) in [[Philadelphia]] if they were unable to receive the New York feed.

WILK-TV and WARM-TV were both losing money, in large part because their network, ABC, was not on an equal footing with [[NBC]] and [[CBS]] (and would not be until the 1970s). However, they stayed on the air because they were owned by well-respected local radio stations.

===Merger and transition===
By 1955, however, it was obvious that Scranton and Wilkes-Barre were going to be a single television market. On October 17, 1957, WILK-TV and WARM-TV agreed to merge into a single ABC station for Northeastern Pennsylvania.<ref>{{cite news |title=Propose Merger of Nearby TV Stations |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/standard-speaker-propose-merger-of-nearb/173504440/ |access-date=May 30, 2025 |newspaper=Standard-Sentinel |date=October 18, 1957 |location=Hazleton, Pennsylvania |page=13 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> The merged station, then as now, operated under WILK-TV's license, but used WARM-TV's channel 16 in order to provide wider signal coverage at less cost—no small consideration given the station's vast and mostly mountainous coverage area. [[WGRZ|Transcontinent Television Corporation]], a [[Buffalo, New York]]–based media firm, acquired a 60 percent interest in the merged station; the remaining shares were split between the WARM and WILK groups, with William Scranton as chairman.<ref>[http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1957/1957-10-21-BC.pdf#page=108 "UHFs WARM-TV, WILK-TV merge."] ''Broadcasting'', October 21, 1957, pg. 108.</ref> The merged station, WNEP-TV, was licensed to Scranton, and split operations between WILK-TV's former facility in Wilkes-Barre and a new studio in Scranton. In 1962, WNEP-TV consolidated its operations at a new studio near [[Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport]] in [[Avoca, Pennsylvania|Avoca]]. WILK-TV's transmitter site at Penobscot Knob was retained by WNEP-TV, and the WARM-TV transmitter was donated a decade later to the area's [[PBS]] member station, [[WVIA-TV]] (channel 44).

Meanwhile, the WILK-TV facility was repurposed as a [[Broadcast relay station#Satellite stations|satellite repeater]] of WNEP-TV until late summer 1958.<ref>[https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1957/1957-12-09-BC.pdf#page=74 "Temporary satellite status requested for WILK-TV."] ''Broadcasting'', December 9, 1957, pg. 74.</ref><ref>[https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1958/1958-07-28-BC.pdf#page=94 "WNEP-TV wants dual-city call."] ''Broadcasting'', July 28, 1958, pg. 94.</ref> The channel 34 assignment was later reallocated to [[Binghamton, New York]], to be occupied by ABC affiliate WBJA-TV (now [[WIVT]]) beginning in 1962.<ref>[https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1961/1961-12-18-BC.pdf#page=82 "FCC finalizes move of idle TV channels."] ''Broadcasting'', December 18, 1961, pg. 82.</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1962/1962-12-03-BC.pdf#page=50|title=WBJA-TV begins operating.|publisher=Broadcasting|page=50|date=December 3, 1962}}</ref>

Despite a power boost to 1.5 million [[watt]]s, and an increased coverage area—expanded to 15 counties in northeastern Pennsylvania<ref name="history"/>—WNEP-TV bounced back and forth in the ratings for most of the next two decades. It was never able to achieve any consistency because of the bitter rivalry between Scranton and Wilkes-Barre. Viewers in Wilkes-Barre thought it was a Scranton station, while viewers in Scranton thought it was a Wilkes-Barre station. It was also hobbled by being an affiliate of the smallest and weakest network of the time. Indeed, WNEP's launch made Scranton–Wilkes-Barre the smallest market in Pennsylvania with full service from all three networks.

Transcontinent exited broadcasting in 1964 and sold several of its stations, including WNEP-TV, to [[Taft Broadcasting]].<ref>[https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1964/1964-02-24-BC.pdf#page=31 "Transcontinent sale: Last of its kind?"] ''Broadcasting'', February 24, 1964, pp. 27-[https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1964/1964-02-24-BC.pdf#page=32 28].</ref><ref>"Radio-TV concern to sell stations." ''The New York Times'', August 3, 1963, pg. 21.</ref> When Taft purchased Philadelphia [[independent station]] WIBF-TV (channel 29, now [[WTXF-TV]]) in 1969,<ref>[https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1969/1969-05-12-BC.pdf#page=48 "$20 million in TV sales approved."]  ''[[Broadcasting & Cable|Broadcasting]]'', May 12, 1969, pg. 48.</ref> it sought a waiver to keep both stations. Channel 16's Grade B signal reaches the [[Lehigh Valley]], which is part of the Philadelphia market. WNEP-TV had also operated an outlying [[Broadcast relay station#Broadcast translators|translator]] on channel 7 in [[Allentown, Pennsylvania|Allentown]] for many years. The [[Federal Communications Commission]] (FCC) normally did not allow one company to own two stations with overlapping coverage areas. While it initially granted the waiver, it reversed itself four years later and forced Taft to sell channel 16. A group of WNEP-TV station employees and executives formed '''NEP Communications''', which bought the station from Taft in late 1973.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-IDX/73-OCR/1973-11-26-BC-0026.pdf|title="Changing hands." ''Broadcasting'', November 26, 1973, pg. 28}}{{dead link|date=September 2023}}</ref>

Soon after NEP took over the station, news director Elden Hale decided to take a regional approach. He billed the station as serving "Northeastern and Central Pennsylvania", and stepped up coverage of the remote portions of the market. These areas had largely been ignored by the other stations in town. He also added the area's first news helicopter. This approach quickly paid off. In November 1976, WNEP surged to first place for the first time in a decade. After briefly falling back to second it returned to number one in 1978, around the same time ABC became the nation's number one network. Apart from a brief period in the mid-1990s when WBRE-TV passed it, it has been number one ever since. NEP also established a remote production company, which operated as an adjunct to WNEP-TV.

[[The New York Times Company]] bought the station in 1985.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-IDX/85-OCR/BC-1985-09-23-Page-0069.pdf|title="For the record." ''Broadcasting'', September 23, 1985, pg. 63}}{{dead link|date=September 2023}}</ref>  WNEP moved to its current studios in Moosic in 1989; the facility is similar to the building the Times Company built for then-sister station [[WHNT-TV]] in [[Huntsville, Alabama]], but on a larger scale. NEP Communications retained the production unit, which became [[NEP Broadcasting]]; the company provided remote broadcast facilities for the [[Olympics]], [[FIFA World Cup]] and the [[Academy Awards]], as well as a studio production facility in New York City.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://guardian.nepinc.com/newsArchive/2006/newsHarmarFirm.php |title=NEP Broadcasting, LLC News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120216090255/http://guardian.nepinc.com/newsArchive/2006/newsHarmarFirm.php |archivedate=February 16, 2012 }}</ref>

On January 4, 2007, the station, along with the rest of the Times Company's television division, was sold to [[Oak Hill Capital Partners]] in a $575 million transaction. Oak Hill formed [[Local TV LLC|Local TV]] as a holding company for its stations.<ref>{{cite web|title=New York Times sells TV stations for $575M |url=https://money.cnn.com/2007/01/04/news/companies/times.reut/index.htm |publisher=Reuters |date=January 4, 2007 |access-date=January 5, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070107143208/http://money.cnn.com/2007/01/04/news/companies/times.reut/index.htm |archive-date=January 7, 2007 }}</ref>

On July 1, 2013, Local TV announced that its 19 stations would be acquired by the [[Tribune Company]] for $2.75 billion;<ref name=ct-saletotribune>{{cite news|last=Channick|first=Robert|title=Acquisition to make Tribune Co. largest U.S. TV station operator|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/breaking/chi-tribune-buying-local-tv-20130701,0,3402241.story|access-date=July 1, 2013|newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]]|date=July 1, 2013|archive-date=July 4, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130704152051/http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/breaking/chi-tribune-buying-local-tv-20130701,0,3402241.story|url-status=dead}}</ref> Tribune owns ''[[The Morning Call]]'' in Allentown. Although Allentown is part of the Philadelphia television market, WNEP has long claimed the Lehigh Valley as part of its coverage area. The FCC ruled that Tribune could not keep WNEP due to its ban on [[Media cross-ownership in the United States#Cross ownership rules of 1975|newspaper-television cross-ownership]] within a single market, ''The Morning Call'' serving a city within WNEP's coverage area (although Tribune has maintained cross-ownership waivers for its newspaper-television station combinations in [[Los Angeles]], [[Chicago]], [[Miami]], and [[Hartford]]). Tribune spun off WNEP-TV to Dreamcatcher Broadcasting, an unrelated company owned by former Tribune Company executive [[Ed Wilson]].<ref name=bandc-dreamcatcher>{{cite web|title=Tribune to Put Local TV's WNEP Scranton, Norfolk Stations Up for Sale|url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/494770-Tribune_to_Put_Local_TV_s_WNEP_Scranton_Norfolk_Stations_Up_for_Sale.php|work=Broadcasting & Cable|access-date=July 29, 2013|archive-date=September 28, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130928111251/http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/494770-Tribune_to_Put_Local_TV_s_WNEP_Scranton_Norfolk_Stations_Up_for_Sale.php|url-status=live}}</ref> However, Tribune will operate the station and provide other services under a [[shared services]] agreement, and will hold an option to buy back WNEP outright in the future.<ref name=fcc-dreamcatcher>{{cite web|title=Transferee Exhibit 15 Agreements and Summary of Transaction|url=https://licensing.fcc.gov/cdbs/CDBS_Attachment/getattachment.jsp?appn=101561022&qnum=5140&copynum=1&exhcnum=1|publisher=FCC document|access-date=July 17, 2013|archive-date=July 17, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130717160542/https://licensing.fcc.gov/cdbs/CDBS_Attachment/getattachment.jsp?appn=101561022&qnum=5140&copynum=1&exhcnum=1|url-status=live}}</ref> The sale was completed on December 27.<ref>[http://corporate.tribune.com/pressroom/?p=6470 Company Completes Final Steps of Transaction Announced in July] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131228101139/http://corporate.tribune.com/pressroom/?p=6470 |date=December 28, 2013 }}, Tribune Company, December 27, 2013</ref> Tribune later announced on July 10, 2013, that it would [[corporate spin-off|spin off]] its newspapers (including ''The Morning Call'') into a separate company, the [[Tribune Publishing Company]], in 2014, pending shareholder and regulatory approval.<ref name=NewYorkTimes>{{cite news|title=Tribune Co. to Split in Two|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/11/business/media/tribune-co-to-split-in-two.html?_r=0|work=New York Times| date=July 10, 2013 |access-date=July 10, 2013|archive-date=July 10, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130710154103/http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/11/business/media/tribune-co-to-split-in-two.html?_r=0|url-status=live| last1=Haughney | first1=Christine | last2=Carr | first2=David }}</ref>  The split was completed in August 2014, though as of yet Tribune has not announced plans to acquire Dreamcatcher outright.

===Analog broadcast tower collapse===
WNEP-TV's transmission tower broadcasting the [[analog television|analog]] signal on channel 16 collapsed on December 16, 2007, due to severe ice, winds, and snow at the transmitter location on Penobscot Knob.<ref name="tl">{{cite news|title=Storm tips TV towers|first1=Steve|last1=Mocarsky|first2=Mark|last2=Sowers|date=December 17, 2007|access-date=December 17, 2007|publisher=[[Times Leader]] ([[Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania]])|url=http://www.timesleader.com/news/20071217_17storm_sm_ART.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080103131356/http://www.timesleader.com/news/20071217_17storm_sm_ART.html|archive-date=January 3, 2008}}</ref> The tower collapse also destroyed the transmitter building. No one was injured during the incident.<ref name="tl" /> [[WCLH]]'s FM antenna and transmitter, which was co-located on WNEP's analog TV tower, was also destroyed during the incident.<ref name="clh">{{cite web|title=Current News: WCLH FM off the air|date=December 17, 2007|access-date=December 17, 2007|publisher=[[WCLH]] ([[Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania]])|url=http://www.wclh.org/|archive-date=November 30, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071130113312/http://wclh.org/|url-status=live}}</ref> Transmission of the digital signal on channel 49 was restored after a brief interruption of power to the tower supporting the digital transmitter and antenna. WNEP's signal on local cable systems and satellite was restored later that day. WNEP-TV partially restored its analog over the air TV signal by January 1, 2008<ref name="nepr">{{cite web|title=Restoring WNEP's Analog Signal|date=January 1, 2008|access-date=January 2, 2008|publisher=WNEP-TV (Scranton, Pennsylvania)|url=http://www.wnep.com/global/story.asp?s=7529835&ClientType=Printable|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080101210934/http://www.wnep.com/Global/story.asp?S=7529835|archive-date=January 1, 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref> by broadcasting from the nearby American Tower on Penobscot Knob supporting the WNEP-DT antenna as well as [[WOLF-TV]]/DT's antenna.<ref name="nerw">{{cite web|title=Northeast Radio Watch – December 24, 2007 – Pennsylvania|first=Scott|last=Fybush|access-date=January 10, 2008|publisher=[[Northeast Radio Watch]] ([[Rochester, New York]])|url=http://www.fybush.com/NERW/2007/071224/nerw.html#pa|archive-date=January 16, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190116095927/https://www.fybush.com/NERW/2007/071224/nerw.html#pa|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="nerw2">{{cite web|title=Northeast Radio Watch – January 7, 2008 – Pennsylvania|first=Scott|last=Fybush|access-date=September 22, 2024|publisher=[[Northeast Radio Watch]] ([[Rochester, New York]])|url=http://www.fybush.com/NERW/2008/080107/nerw.html#pa}}</ref>

As the WNEP-TV analog broadcast tower collapsed on December 16, 2007, one of the falling guy wires supporting the WNEP-TV tower damaged the neighboring tower broadcasting WVIA-TV (analog and digital) and [[WVIA-FM]] by shearing off the top section of the WVIA tower supporting the antenna for the analog and digital TV signals. The antenna for WVIA-FM remained intact, as it is located on the lower section of the shared WVIA-FM-TV tower. The WVIA-TV analog signal on channel 44 was temporarily put off the air until service was restored through a back-up tower on Penobscot Knob.<ref name="via">{{cite news|title=Ice Storm affects WVIA-TV Signal – FM and TV 44 still on the air|date=December 17, 2007|access-date=December 17, 2007|publisher=[[WVIA-TV]] ([[Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania]])|url=http://www.wvia.org|author-link=WVIA-TV|archive-date=December 14, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071214012130/http://www.wvia.org/|url-status=live}}</ref> The collapse of WNEP-TV's analog tower also severed power to the transmitters for CBS affiliate [[WYOU]] (channel 22) and NBC affiliate [[WBRE-TV]] (channel 28), putting those stations off the air for a time.<ref name="you">{{cite news|title=WYOU and WBRE TV Signal Update|website=PAHomePage.com|date=December 17, 2007|access-date =December 17, 2007|publisher = [[WYOU]] ([[Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania]])|url=http://pahomepage.com/content/fulltext/?sid=ad33b5d15a314d89ba45b097f538d5ef&cid=22546|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080213191446/http://pahomepage.com/content/fulltext/?sid=ad33b5d15a314d89ba45b097f538d5ef&cid=22546|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 13, 2008}}</ref>

On June 12, 2009, WNEP was to operate on a new tower which had been completed, though the antenna had not arrived in a timely fashion. Their goal was to have the new facility operating by August 2009, but it was delayed a few months.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/cdbsmenu.hts?context=25&appn=101315829&formid=337&fac_num=73318|title=CDBS Print|access-date=June 10, 2009|archive-date=April 14, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220414211748/https://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/cdbsmenu.hts?context=25&appn=101315829&formid=337&fac_num=73318|url-status=live}}</ref> On December 5, 2009, WNEP turned off channel 49 and moved to channel 50. Moving to channel 50 was necessary so it could alleviate possible interference from [[Telemundo]] O&O [[WWSI]] in [[Atlantic City, New Jersey]], which at the time broadcast on UHF channel 49.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-09-523A1.pdf |title=System Maintenance &#124; Federal Communications Commission |publisher=Hraunfoss.fcc.gov |access-date=April 4, 2018 }}{{Dead link|date=July 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

On February 15, 2010, the channel 49 facility was put back into use by WNEP on a temporary basis with FCC approval to accommodate WVIA-TV, which had suffered a partial tower collapse and electrical fire which had destroyed WVIA's transmitter building and the equipment within.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.wnep.com/news/countybycounty/wnep-wvia-fire,0,7610541.story|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100222054722/http://www.wnep.com/news/countybycounty/wnep-wvia-fire%2C0%2C7610541.story|url-status=dead|title=WVIA Bouncing Back after Fire – WNEP|archivedate=February 22, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=David|last=Falchek|url=http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/wvia-tv-signal-restored-after-blaze-radio-signal-follows-1.618914 |title=WVIA-TV signal restored after blaze, radio signal follows – News – The Times-Tribune |publisher=Thetimes-tribune.com |date=February 15, 2010 |access-date=November 27, 2012 |archive-date=February 29, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120229155352/http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/wvia-tv-signal-restored-after-blaze-radio-signal-follows-1.618914 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Aborted sale to Sinclair Broadcast Group===
On May 8, 2017, [[Sinclair Broadcast Group]]—which has operated [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] affiliate WOLF-TV (channel 56), [[The CW|CW]] affiliate [[WSWB]] (channel 38) and [[MyNetworkTV]] affiliate [[WQMY]] (channel 53) since October 2014—entered into an agreement to acquire Tribune Media for $3.9 billion, plus the assumption of $2.7 billion in debt held by Tribune. The complicated SSA relationships that Sinclair has in the Scranton–Wilkes-Barre market with WOLF, WSWB and WQMY – the former two of which are currently the only legal television duopoly in the market – created an ownership entanglement, as WNEP and WOLF rank among the market's four highest-rated stations, and the market has too few independently owned full-power stations to permit a second legal duopoly in any event. (Sinclair CEO Christopher Ripley cited Scranton–Wilkes–Barre as one of three markets, out of fourteen where ownership conflicts exist between the two groups, where the proposed acquisition would likely result in divestitures).<ref>{{cite web|title=Sinclair Broadcast Group to buy Tribune Media for $3.9 billion plus debt|url=https://www.latimes.com/business/hollywood/la-fi-ct-tribune-sinclair-20170508-story.html|first=Stephen|last=Battaglio|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=May 8, 2017|access-date=June 6, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170606151425/http://www.latimes.com/business/hollywood/la-fi-ct-tribune-sinclair-20170508-story.html|archive-date=June 6, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Sinclair Broadcast Group Sets $3.9 Billion Deal to Acquire Tribune Media|url=https://variety.com/2017/tv/news/sinclair-tribune-merger-station-group-1202416416/|first=Cynthia|last=Littleton|periodical=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|publisher=[[Prometheus Global Media]]|date=May 8, 2017|access-date=June 6, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170605120406/http://variety.com/2017/tv/news/sinclair-tribune-merger-station-group-1202416416/|archive-date=June 5, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Sinclair Broadcast to buy Tribune Media for $3.9 billion, giving it control over 215 local TV stations|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/business/wp/2017/05/08/sinclair-broadcast-to-buy-tribune-media-for-3-9-billion-creating-nations-largest-tv-station-group/|first=Todd|last=Frankel|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|publisher=[[Jeff Bezos|Nash Holdings, LLC]]|date=May 8, 2017|access-date=June 6, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170522182043/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/business/wp/2017/05/08/sinclair-broadcast-to-buy-tribune-media-for-3-9-billion-creating-nations-largest-tv-station-group/|archive-date=May 22, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Sinclair Broadcast nears deal for Tribune Media|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-tribune-media-m-a-sinclair-exclusive-idUSKBN1830QH|first1=Liana|last1=Baker|first2=Jessica|last2=Toonkel|work=[[Reuters]]|date=May 7, 2017|access-date=June 6, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170606174927/http://www.reuters.com/article/us-tribune-media-m-a-sinclair-exclusive-idUSKBN1830QH|archive-date=June 6, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=The New Sinclair: 72% Coverage + WGNA|url=http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/103905/its-official-sinclair-is-buying-tribune|first1=Harry A.|last1=Jessell|first2=Mark K.|last2=Miller|website=TVNewsCheck|publisher=NewsCheck Media|date=May 8, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170802041339/http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/103905/its-official-sinclair-is-buying-tribune|archive-date=August 2, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Tribune, parent company of WNEP, sold to Fox 56 owner Sinclair|url=http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/business/tribune-parent-company-of-wnep-sold-to-fox-56-owner-sinclair-1.2190096|newspaper=[[The Scranton Times-Tribune]]|publisher=[[Times-Shamrock Communications]]|date=May 8, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170516211520/http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/business/tribune-parent-company-of-wnep-sold-to-fox-56-owner-sinclair-1.2190096|archive-date=May 16, 2017}}</ref> To alleviate some of the regulatory issues that the deal incurred by selling certain stations to both independent and affiliated third-party companies, on April 24, 2018, Sinclair announced that it would sell the non-license assets of WOLF-TV, WQMY, and WSWB and the full assets of eight other stations – Sinclair-operated [[KOKH-TV]] in [[Oklahoma City]], [[WRLH-TV]] in [[Richmond, Virginia|Richmond]], [[KDSM-TV]] in [[Des Moines]] and [[WXLV-TV]] in [[Greensboro]]/[[Winston-Salem]]/[[High Point, North Carolina|High Point]], and Tribune-owned [[WPMT]] in [[Harrisburg]] and [[WXMI]] in [[Grand Rapids]] – to [[Standard General#Standard Media|Standard Media Group]] (an independent broadcast holding company formed by [[private equity firm]] Standard General to assume ownership of and absolve ownership conflicts involving the aforementioned stations) for $441.1 million. Sinclair concurrently exercised its option to buy WOLF-TV and WQMY to allow Standard Media Group – the latter of which, for regulatory purposes, would have continued to be licensed as a satellite of WOLF-TV – to acquire the stations outright; Standard would concurrently acquire the WOLF-TV license, which is permitted under FCC ownership regulations as WSWB is not ranked as one of the top-four stations in the market.<ref name="fcc-saletostandard">{{cite web|title=Application for Consent to Assignment of Broadcast Station Construction Permit or License|url=http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/prefill_and_display.pl?Application_id=1783761&Service=DT&Form_id=314&Facility_id=73374|website=CDBS Public Access|publisher=[[Federal Communications Commission]]|access-date=May 1, 2018|date=April 30, 2018|archive-date=May 1, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180501231845/http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/prefill_and_display.pl?Application_id=1783761&Service=DT&Form_id=314&Facility_id=73374|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Sinclair Spins Off 23 TVs To Grease Trib Deal|url=http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/113054/sinclair-spins-off-23-tvs-to-grease-trib-deal|first=Harry A.|last=Jessell|website=TVNewsCheck|publisher=NewsCheck Media|date=April 24, 2018|access-date=April 25, 2018|archive-date=April 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180425121326/http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/113054/sinclair-spins-off-23-tvs-to-grease-trib-deal|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release|title=Sinclair Enters Into Agreements to Sell TV Stations Related to Closing Tribune Media Acquisition|url=http://sbgi.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Tribune-Divest-Announcement-FINAL-4-24-18.pdf|publisher=Sinclair Broadcast Group|date=April 24, 2018|access-date=April 25, 2018|archive-date=April 26, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180426075952/http://sbgi.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Tribune-Divest-Announcement-FINAL-4-24-18.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="aa-saletohsh">{{cite news|title=Sinclair Revises TV Spinoff Plans For Tribune Deal, Announces Deals For Several Stations|url=https://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/176083/sinclair-revises-tv-spinoff-plans-for-tribune-deal|website=All Access|date=April 24, 2018|access-date=April 25, 2018|archive-date=April 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180425182933/https://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/176083/sinclair-revises-tv-spinoff-plans-for-tribune-deal|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Station Trading Roundup: 7 Deals, $571.7M|url=http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/113254/station-trading-roundup-7-deals-5717m|website=TVNewsCheck|publisher=NewsCheck Media|date=May 1, 2018|access-date=May 2, 2018|archive-date=May 3, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180503110844/http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/113254/station-trading-roundup-7-deals-5717m|url-status=live}}</ref>

On July 18, 2018, the FCC voted to have the Sinclair–Tribune acquisition reviewed by an [[administrative law judge]] amid "serious concerns" about Sinclair's forthrightness in its applications to sell certain conflict properties.<ref>{{cite news|title=Sinclair and Tribune Fall as FCC Slams TV Station Sale Plan|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-07-16/fcc-rejects-sinclair-plan-for-tv-station-sales-in-tribune-deal-jjof6bcs|first=Todd|last=Shields|agency=[[Bloomberg L.P.|Bloomberg News]]|date=July 16, 2018|access-date=July 19, 2018|archive-date=October 4, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181004022344/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-07-16/fcc-rejects-sinclair-plan-for-tv-station-sales-in-tribune-deal-jjof6bcs|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=FCC chair rejects Sinclair-Tribune merger|url=https://thehill.com/policy/technology/397194-fcc-chairman-rejects-sinclair-tribune-merger/|first=Harper|last=Neidig|newspaper=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]|publisher=Capitol Hill Publishing Corp.|date=July 16, 2018|access-date=August 9, 2018|archive-date=July 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180716163305/http://thehill.com/policy/technology/397194-fcc-chairman-rejects-sinclair-tribune-merger|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=FCC throws Sinclair/Tribune deal in doubt|url=https://www.robertfeder.com/2018/07/16/fcc-throws-sinclairtribune-deal-doubt/|first=Robert|last=Feder|website=RobertFeder.com|date=July 16, 2018|access-date=August 9, 2018|author-link=Robert Feder|archive-date=July 17, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180717012938/https://www.robertfeder.com/2018/07/16/fcc-throws-sinclairtribune-deal-doubt/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=FCC Throws Wrench Into Sinclair Media Megadeal|url=https://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2018/07/fcc-throws-wrench-into-sinclair-tribune-deal.html|first=Benjamin |last=Hart|periodical=[[New York (magazine)|New York]]|publisher=New York Media, LLC|date=July 16, 2018|access-date=August 9, 2018|archive-date=July 17, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180717002815/http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2018/07/fcc-throws-wrench-into-sinclair-tribune-deal.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Sinclair Tries to Appease F.C.C., but Its Tribune Bid Is Challenged|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/18/business/media/sinclair-tribune-fcc.html|first=Edmund|last=Lee|newspaper=The New York Times|date=July 18, 2018|access-date=August 9, 2018|archive-date=April 5, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190405093744/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/18/business/media/sinclair-tribune-fcc.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=FCC orders hearing even as Sinclair changes plans to sell TV stations to address concerns about Tribune deal|url=http://www.baltimoresun.com/business/bs-bz-sinclair-tribune-revised-divestitures-20180718-story.html|first=Lorraine|last=Mirabella|newspaper=[[Baltimore Sun]]|publisher=Tronc|date=July 18, 2018|access-date=August 9, 2018|archive-date=August 11, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180811004751/http://www.baltimoresun.com/business/bs-bz-sinclair-tribune-revised-divestitures-20180718-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Three weeks later on August 9, Tribune announced it would terminate the Sinclair deal, intending to seek other [[M&A]] opportunities. Tribune also filed a [[breach of contract]] lawsuit in the [[Delaware Chancery Court]], alleging that Sinclair engaged in protracted negotiations with the FCC and the [[United States Department of Justice Antitrust Division|U.S. Department of Justice's Antitrust Division]] over regulatory issues, refused to sell stations in markets where it already had properties, and proposed divestitures to parties with ties to Sinclair executive chair David D. Smith that were rejected or highly subject to rejection to maintain control over stations it was required to sell.<ref>{{cite news|title=Tribune Terminates $3.9 Billion Sinclair Merger, Sues Broadcast Rival|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/tribune-media-terminates-merger-agreement-with-sinclair-broadcast-group-1533810907|newspaper=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|publisher=[[News Corp (2013–present)|News Corp.]]|date=August 9, 2018|access-date=December 6, 2018|archive-date=April 5, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190405150030/https://www.wsj.com/articles/tribune-media-terminates-merger-agreement-with-sinclair-broadcast-group-1533810907|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Tribune Kills Sinclair Merger, Files Suit|url=https://tvnewscheck.com/article/top-news/220320/tribune-kills-sinclair-merger/|first=Mark K.|last=Miller|website=TVNewsCheck|publisher=NewsCheck Media|date=August 9, 2018|access-date=December 6, 2018|archive-date=March 29, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220329181121/https://tvnewscheck.com/business/article/tribune-kills-sinclair-merger/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Tribune Media pulls out of Sinclair Broadcast merger|url=http://www.baltimoresun.com/business/bs-bz-tribune-sinclair-merger-ended-20180809-story.html#|first=Christopher |last=Dinsmore|newspaper=[[Baltimore Sun]]|publisher=[[Tronc]]|date=August 9, 2018|access-date=August 9, 2018|archive-date=April 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190406070148/https://www.baltimoresun.com/business/bs-bz-tribune-sinclair-merger-ended-20180809-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Tribune Ends Deal With Sinclair, Dashing Plan for Conservative TV Behemoth|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/09/business/dealbook/sinclair-tribune-media.html|first1=Edmund|last1=Lee|first2=Amie|last2=Tsang|newspaper=The New York Times|date=August 9, 2018|access-date=December 6, 2018|archive-date=January 17, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190117035459/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/09/business/dealbook/sinclair-tribune-media.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Tribune Ends Deal with Sinclair, Files Breach of Contract Suit|url=https://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/tribune-ends-deal-with-sinclair-files-breach-of-contract-suit|first=Jon|last=Lafayette|periodical=Broadcasting & Cable|publisher=NewBay Media|date=August 9, 2018|access-date=December 6, 2018|archive-date=August 9, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180809182004/https://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/tribune-ends-deal-with-sinclair-files-breach-of-contract-suit|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Tribune withdraws from Sinclair merger, saying it will sue for 'breach of contract'|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2018/08/09/tribune-withdraws-sinclair-merger-saying-it-will-sue-breach-contract/|first1=Brian|last1=Fung|first2=Tony|last2=Romm|newspaper=The Washington Post|publisher=Nash Holdings LLC|date=August 9, 2018|access-date=December 6, 2018|archive-date=April 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210428203302/https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2018/08/09/tribune-withdraws-sinclair-merger-saying-it-will-sue-breach-contract/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Sale to Nexstar Media Group and resale to Tegna Inc.===
On December 3, 2018, [[Irving, Texas]]–based [[Nexstar Media Group]]—which has owned NBC affiliate WBRE-TV since 1997 and operated CBS affiliate WYOU-TV since 1996 (running the latter through a shared services agreement with [[Mission Broadcasting]] since 1998 after selling the license to acquire WBRE through a grandfathered LMA)—announced it would acquire the assets of Tribune Media for $6.4 billion in cash and debt. Nexstar was precluded from acquiring WNEP directly or indirectly, as FCC regulations prohibit common ownership of more than two stations in the same media market, or two or more of the four highest-rated stations in the market. (Furthermore, any attempt by Nexstar to assume the operations of WNEP through [[local marketing agreement|local marketing]] or shared services agreements would have been subject to regulatory hurdles that could have delayed completion of the FCC and Justice Department's review and approval process for the acquisition.) As such, Nexstar was required to sell either WNEP or both WBRE and WYOU (separately as it would break the grandfathered LMA) to separate, unrelated companies to address the ownership conflict. On January 31, 2019, Nexstar announced that WNEP, along with [[WTKR]] and [[WGNT]] in [[Norfolk, Virginia]], would be sold to independent third parties in order to address ownership conflicts involving existing Nexstar properties in both markets.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/nexstar-plans-to-sell-wnep-tv-1.2439902|title=Nexstar plans to sell WNEP-TV|last=Allabaugh|first=Denise|website=www.citizensvoice.com|date=January 31, 2019 |language=en-US|access-date=February 1, 2019|archive-date=February 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190202042019/https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/nexstar-plans-to-sell-wnep-tv-1.2439902|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Acquisition of Tribune Media Company|url=https://www.nexstar.tv/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Nexstar-Tribune-Investor-Presentation-FINAL-12-3-18.pdf|website=[[Nexstar Media Group]]|date=December 3, 2018|access-date=December 6, 2018|archive-date=December 3, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181203202723/https://www.nexstar.tv/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Nexstar-Tribune-Investor-Presentation-FINAL-12-3-18.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Nexstar Confirms $4.1B Tribune Media Acquisition To Become Leading Local TV Station Owner|url=https://deadline.com/2018/12/nexstar-tribune-media-acquisition-1202512653/|first1=Peter|last1=White|first2=Dade|last2=Hayes|website=Deadline Hollywood|publisher=Penske Media Corporation|date=December 3, 2018|access-date=December 6, 2018|archive-date=December 4, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181204130313/https://deadline.com/2018/12/nexstar-tribune-media-acquisition-1202512653/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Nexstar to buy WGN owner Tribune Media for $4.1 billion|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-nexstar-tribune-media-20181202-story.html|first1=Gerry|last1=Smith|first2=Nabila|last2=Ahmed|first3=Eric|last3=Newcomer|agency=[[Bloomberg L.P.|Bloomberg News]]|newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]]|publisher=[[Tribune Publishing]]|date=December 3, 2018|access-date=December 6, 2018|archive-date=April 5, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190405053753/https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-nexstar-tribune-media-20181202-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Nexstar to buy Tribune Media for $4.1 billion|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-tribune-media-m-a-nexstar-media/nexstar-to-buy-tribune-media-for-4-1-billion-idUSKBN1O217Z|first1=Arjun|last1=Panchadar|first2=Sonam|last2=Rai|work=[[Reuters]]|date=December 3, 2018|access-date=December 6, 2018|archive-date=April 5, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190405145605/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-tribune-media-m-a-nexstar-media/nexstar-to-buy-tribune-media-for-4-1-billion-idUSKBN1O217Z|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Nexstar Announces Deal to Buy Tribune for $6.4B|url=https://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/nexstar-announces-deal-to-buy-tribune-for-6-4b|first=Jon |last=Lafayette|periodical=Broadcasting & Cable|publisher=NewBay Media|date=December 3, 2018|access-date=December 6, 2018|archive-date=April 5, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190405084338/https://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/nexstar-announces-deal-to-buy-tribune-for-6-4b|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=It's Official: Nexstar Takes Tribune In Billion-Dollar Stock Deal|url=https://www.rbr.com/reuters-nexstar-gets-tribune-in-4-1b-deal/|first=Adam|last=Jacobson|website=Radio-Television Business Report|publisher=Streamline-RBR, Inc.|date=December 3, 2018|access-date=December 6, 2018|archive-date=December 4, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181204005705/https://www.rbr.com/reuters-nexstar-gets-tribune-in-4-1b-deal/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Nexstar To Spin Off $1B In Stations|url=https://tvnewscheck.com/article/top-news/226264/nexstar-buying-tribune-media-6-4-billion/|first1=Harry A.|last1=Jessell|first2=Mark K.|last2=Miller|website=TVNewsCheck|publisher=NewsCheck Media|date=December 3, 2018|access-date=December 6, 2018|archive-date=December 4, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181204005800/https://tvnewscheck.com/article/top-news/226264/nexstar-buying-tribune-media-6-4-billion/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="nxsttrco1">{{cite web|url=https://www.nexstar.tv/nexstar_agrees_to_acquire_tribune/|title=Nexstar Media Group Enters into Definitive Agreement to Acquire Tribune Media Company for $6.4 Billion in Accretive Transaction Creating the Nation's Largest Local Television Broadcaster and Local Media Company|publisher=[[Nexstar Media Group]]|date=December 3, 2018|access-date=December 3, 2018|archive-date=December 3, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181203202744/https://www.nexstar.tv/nexstar_agrees_to_acquire_tribune/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="nxsttrco2">{{cite web|url=http://www.tribunemedia.com/nexstar-media-group-enters-into-definitive-agreement-to-acquire-tribune-media-company/|title=Nexstar Media Group Enters Into Definitive Agreement To Acquire Tribune Media Company|publisher=[[Tribune Media]]|date=December 3, 2018|access-date=December 3, 2018|archive-date=December 4, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181204005728/http://www.tribunemedia.com/nexstar-media-group-enters-into-definitive-agreement-to-acquire-tribune-media-company/|url-status=live}}</ref> On March 20, 2019, [[McLean, Virginia]]-based [[Tegna Inc.]] announced it would purchase WNEP from Nexstar upon consummation of the merger, as part of the company's sale of nineteen Nexstar- and Tribune-operated stations to Tegna and the [[E. W. Scripps Company]] (the latter of which would acquire New York City's [[WPIX]], which would later be re-acquired by Nexstar) in separate deals worth $1.32 billion; along with Harrisburg sister station WPMT (which was also acquired by Tegna as part of the spin-offs). This made WNEP among the first television properties in Pennsylvania for Tegna.<ref name="tvnc-nexstarspinoffs">{{cite web|url=https://tvnewscheck.com/article/top-news/232391/nexstar-selling-19-tvs-in-15-markets-for-1-32b/|title=Nexstar Selling 19 TVs In 15 Markets For $1.32B|work=TVNewsCheck|publisher=NewsCheckMedia|date=March 20, 2019|access-date=March 20, 2019|archive-date=March 20, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190320194359/https://tvnewscheck.com/article/top-news/232391/nexstar-selling-19-tvs-in-15-markets-for-1-32b/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Nexstar to Sell Stations to Tegna, Scripps for $1.32 Billion|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-03-20/nexstar-to-sell-19-stations-to-tegna-scripps-for-1-32-billion|first1=Nabila|last1=Ahmed|first2=Anousha|last2=Sakoui|website=Bloomberg News|publisher=[[Bloomberg, L.P.]]|date=March 20, 2019|access-date=March 20, 2019|archive-date=April 13, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190413200225/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-03-20/nexstar-to-sell-19-stations-to-tegna-scripps-for-1-32-billion|url-status=live}}</ref> The sale was approved by the FCC on September 16, and was completed three days later.<ref>[https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/FCC-19-89A1.pdf "Memorandum Opinion and Order"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190916172430/https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/FCC-19-89A1.pdf |date=September 16, 2019 }}, [[Federal Communications Commission]], September 16, 2019, Retrieved September 16, 2019.</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ftvlive.com/sqsp-test/2019/9/19/nexstar-takes-control-of-tribune|title=TODAY.... Nexstar Takes Control of Tribune|first=Scott|last=Jones|website=FTVLive|access-date=September 19, 2019|archive-date=September 20, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190920215436/https://www.ftvlive.com/sqsp-test/2019/9/19/nexstar-takes-control-of-tribune|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Local programming==
Many of the programs aired on WNEP have been in-house productions rather than [[television syndication|syndicated]] shows. The most popular of these was a [[children's program]] called ''The Land of Hatchy Milatchy''.<ref>{{cite web |last=Apichella |first=Michael |url=http://standardspeaker.com/news/behind-the-gates-of-hatchy-milatchy-1.848159 |title=Behind the gates of 'Hatchy Milatchy' - News |publisher=Standard Speaker |date=June 20, 2010 |access-date=November 27, 2012 |archive-date=January 5, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130105040301/http://standardspeaker.com/news/behind-the-gates-of-hatchy-milatchy-1.848159 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://standardspeaker.com/opinion/everything-i-need-to-know-i-learned-on-hatchy-milatchy-1.722232 |title=Everything I need to know I learned on 'Hatchy Milatchy' - Opinion |publisher=Standard Speaker |date=April 8, 2010 |access-date=November 27, 2012 |archive-date=June 8, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120608000029/http://standardspeaker.com/opinion/everything-i-need-to-know-i-learned-on-hatchy-milatchy-1.722232 |url-status=live }}</ref> One of the hosts during its long run, Miss Judy (who replaced original host Nancy Berg in the 1960s), would tell children where to find their birthday gift live on the air. The show was the inspiration for a scene in the 18th episode of the second season of the TV series ''[[The Office (American TV series)|The Office]]'', in which Michael Scott shows footage of him appearing as a child on a show called ''Fundle Bundle'', hosted by "Miss Trudy".

Another program, ''Uncle Ted's Ghoul School'', once employed [[Bill O'Reilly (commentator)|Bill O'Reilly]] as a writer. He was also a reporter at the station for a brief period during the mid-1970s. WNEP also served as the local affiliate for the ''[[Bowling for Dollars]]'' and ''[[Dialing for Dollars]]'' formats, producing local versions of each.

Today, WNEP produces two in-house programs: ''Pennsylvania Outdoor Life'', a show about hunting and fishing in Pennsylvania, and ''Home & Backyard'', a show about do-it-yourself home improvements, cooking and gardening. ''Pennsylvania Outdoor Life'' airs Sundays at 11&nbsp;a.m. and ''Home & Backyard'' airs Saturdays at 10&nbsp;a.m. on WNEP. The station also participates in several local charity events, including the ''[[MDA Labor Day Telethon]]'' (which ended in 2014) and Scranton's annual [[Santa]] Parade.

===News operation===
The station is best known for its local newscasts which are among the highest [[Nielsen ratings|rated]] in the United States.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/135744-High_ratings_low_rates.php |title=High ratings, low rates – 2000-09-11 00:00:00 &#124; Broadcasting & Cable |publisher=Broadcastingcable.com |access-date=November 27, 2012 |archive-date=April 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220414211748/https://www.nexttv.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref> It runs their newscasts under the branding of ''Newswatch 16''. WNEP has led the ratings in northeastern Pennsylvania for most of the last 40 years and according to Nielsen data attracts more viewers than the other stations in the market combined. In 2000, the weekday morning program earned shares between 50 and 60 meaning that 50 to 60% of televisions in the market were tuned to this station. Their on-air personalities are well known in the area. Chief Meteorologist Tom Clark had been with the station since 1981 and was one of the region's most popular broadcasters. He retired, and his final broadcast was on December 31, 2016. His wife Noreen, who was a meteorologist for the weekend news, had been with the station since 1982. She retired in April 2018. Marisa Burke, a native of nearby [[Danville, Pennsylvania|Danville]], had been with the station since 1984 and solo anchored the noon news and co-anchored the weeknight 6 o'clock newscast with Scott Schaffer. She retired from WNEP on October 28, 2016.<ref>{{cite news|last=Stevens|first=Mike|url=http://wnep.com/2016/10/28/marisa-burke-proud-to-serve/|title=Marisa Burke, Proud to Serve|date=October 28, 2016|publisher=WNEP-TV|access-date=November 4, 2016|archive-date=November 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161103220218/http://wnep.com/2016/10/28/marisa-burke-proud-to-serve/|url-status=live}}</ref>

WNEP-TV presently broadcasts 41 hours of locally produced newscasts each week (with 6{{frac|1|2}} hours each weekday, 4{{frac|1|2}} hours on Saturdays and four hours on Sundays). Recurring features of news broadcasts include the station's [[Rail transport modelling|scale model train set]] in the background of its weather deck and garden and the [[Letter to the editor|viewer response]] segment ''Talkback 16''.<ref name=":0" />

Like most stations at the time, WNEP aired local news at 6 and 11 p.m. It added a noon newscast, titled at first ''Midday 16'', beginning January 12, 1981. A half-hour 5 p.m. newscast was added in September 1987, beating WYOU-TV's 5:30&nbsp;p.m. "First News" as the earliest evening option for news.

Fox requested most of its affiliates to air local news in 1990. However, area Fox affiliate WOLF-TV (then channel 38) did not have a studio large enough for an in-house news department. To satisfy this, WNEP began producing a nightly 10 o'clock newscast on WOLF-TV in 1991, known as ''Newswatch 16 at 10 on Fox 38''. When the Fox affiliation moved from channel 38 to channel 56, the 10 o'clock news switched stations as well. It then became known as ''Fox 56 News at 10'' with a secondary title of ''Newswatch 16 at 10 on Fox 56''. WNEP aired this broadcast from a secondary set at its studios.

The station runs a secondary service, known as "WNEP 2" (formerly "Newswatch 16 Anytime" and before that "Newswatch 16 on [[Adelphia Communications Corporation|Adelphia]] 63"<ref>{{Cite web |title=Newswatch 16 on Adelphia 63 |url=https://local.wnep.com/misc/adelphia.htm |access-date=2024-04-12 |website=local.wnep.com}}</ref>), on its second digital subchannel and area cable systems. This channel currently airs Antenna TV programming along with other local programming. WNEP was the only media outlet in the market to utilize a helicopter, known as "Skycam 16", for news gathering purposes. The helicopter was operational from 1984 until being decommissioned in February 2009.<ref>{{cite web|last=STRAWSER|first=JUSTIN|title=WNEP reporter makes stop at Wellness Expo 2009|url=http://findarticles.com/p/news-articles/news-item-the-shamokin-pa/mi_8154/is_20090308/wnep-reporter-stop-wellness-expo/ai_n53974063/|publisher=The Shamokin, Pa.News – Item|access-date=November 17, 2011|date=March 8, 2009|archive-date=January 7, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160107062534/http://findarticles.com/p/news-articles/news-item-the-shamokin-pa/mi_8154/is_20090308/wnep-reporter-stop-wellness-expo/ai_n53974063/|url-status=live}}</ref> The station airs the [[Pennsylvania Lottery]] televised nighttime drawings live seven nights a week, [[Mega Millions]] drawing Tuesdays and Fridays, and the live [[Powerball]] drawing on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

In March 2009, its weekday morning news at 6 added another two hours (7–9 a.m.) seen on WNEP 2. Also in March, the station started up-converting its news programs to [[720p]] [[widescreen]] format becoming the first one in the area to make such a change. WNEP announced on August 6, 2009, that they would begin broadcasting a 4&nbsp;p.m. newscast on September 8, known as ''Newswatch 16 at 4''. In November 2009, after being unable to reach an agreement with WNEP on a contract extension, WOLF announced its intention to turn to WBRE to produce an hour-long 10&nbsp;p.m. newscast beginning January 1, 2010. WNEP then announced that it would begin a 10&nbsp;p.m. newscast on WNEP 2 on the same date.

On February 10, 2011, starting with the 4&nbsp;p.m. newscast, WNEP premiered a new HD-ready set (newscasts remained in widescreen standard definition). On July 9, 2011, WNEP began broadcasting its local newscasts in high definition starting with the 6&nbsp;p.m. newscast, becoming the first station in the Scranton–Wilkes-Barre market to begin offering local newscasts in high definition. In early September 2011, WNEP expanded its 4&nbsp;pm newscast to a full hour with an additional half-hour at 4:30&nbsp;p.m.

Since 1994, the station has used as its new theme song an updated version of [[Al Ham]]'s "[[Move Closer to Your World]]", which is composed by Cliff Schwarz. From 1979 to 1994, the station used the original theme, which is currently used by ABC O&O WPVI-TV in Philadelphia. Following its purchase by Tegna, a [[Change.org]] petition was started asking viewers to sign the petition to ask Tegna not to drop the song in favor of Tegna's proprietary "[[C Clarity]]" theme.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ftvlive.com/sqsp-test/2019/9/20/petition-to-tegna-station|title=Petition to Tegna station|first=Scott|last=Jones|website=FTVLive|access-date=September 22, 2019|archive-date=September 22, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190922193128/https://www.ftvlive.com/sqsp-test/2019/9/20/petition-to-tegna-station|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFScn2jSL60|title=- YouTube|website=www.youtube.com|access-date=September 22, 2019|archive-date=April 14, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220414211744/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFScn2jSL60|url-status=live}}</ref> On March 4, 2020, the station began using Tegna's standardized news graphics but retained the Schwarz version of "Move Closer to Your World" as its theme as opposed to using "C Clarity", seen somewhat as a compromise.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.newscaststudio.com/2020/03/06/wnep-new-graphics/?og=1|title=WNEP gets Tegna look, viewers call in varying opinions about it|website=NewscastStudio|access-date=October 9, 2021|archive-date=October 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211009021225/https://www.newscaststudio.com/2020/03/06/wnep-new-graphics/?og=1|url-status=live}}</ref>

====Notable former on-air staff====
* [[Bill O'Reilly (commentator)|Bill O'Reilly]] – reporter (1970s)
* [[Dan Patrick (politician)|Dan Patrick]] – reporter (1970s)

==In popular culture==
A live interview by WNEP reporter Sofia Ojeda (later with Houston NBC affiliate [[KPRC-TV]]) on August 1, 2014, at the Wayne County Fair made a social-media sensation of 5-year-old [[Noah Ritter]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://wnep.com/2014/08/01/summertime-tradition-in-wayne-county/ |title=Summertime Tradition in Wayne County |publisher=WNEP |date=August 1, 2014 |access-date=March 30, 2017 |archive-date=March 31, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170331032010/http://wnep.com/2014/08/01/summertime-tradition-in-wayne-county/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.click2houston.com/team/NX3AP374HNDBDD64Z2JWK6PEUI/ |title=SOFIA OJEDA |publisher=KPRC-TV (Click2Houston.com) |date=2015 |access-date=June 13, 2021 |archive-date=June 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210613183457/https://www.click2houston.com/team/NX3AP374HNDBDD64Z2JWK6PEUI/ |url-status=live }}</ref> WNEP's video was later "songified" by [[The Gregory Brothers]] into the song "Apparently."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3eevUjhIlfM |title=Apparently - Songify This - YouTube |publisher=schmoyoho |date=August 8, 2014 |access-date=March 30, 2017 |archive-date=April 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220414211744/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3eevUjhIlfM |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[John Oliver]] from [[HBO]]'s ''[[Last Week Tonight with John Oliver]]'' mentioned the conflict of viewers over the station's scale model train set in the background of its weather deck and garden (including 'agree/disagree' comments on the station's viewer comment line, which air in the newscasts' ''Talkback 16'' segment). This resulted in the show building a larger-scale train set for the station with the landmarks of Scranton and the surrounding area exaggerated. Though the station accepted it, it proved to be too large for the weather deck/garden, and was donated to Scranton's [[Electric City Trolley Museum]] for display beginning in late September 2017, with some modifications (including its tunnel now being presented as Oliver's mouth wide open rather than that of area native [[P. J. Carlesimo]]).<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/train-set-gifted-by-hbo-s-john-oliver-unveiled-at-electric-city-trolley-museum-1.2246173|title=Train set gifted by HBO's John Oliver unveiled at Electric City Trolley Museum|last=Horvath|first=Jeff|date=September 23, 2017|work=[[The Scranton Times-Tribune]]|access-date=December 31, 2017|archive-date=January 20, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180120071403/http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/train-set-gifted-by-hbo-s-john-oliver-unveiled-at-electric-city-trolley-museum-1.2246173|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Technical information==
===Subchannels===
<section begin=subs />
{| class="wikitable"
|+Subchannels of WNEP-TV and WVIA-TV<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=WNEP#station|title=RabbitEars TV Query for WNEP|website=[[RabbitEars.info]]|accessdate=September 4, 2024}}</ref>
! scope = "col" | License
! scope = "col" | [[Digital subchannel#United States|Channel]]
! scope = "col" | [[Display resolution|Res.]]
! scope = "col" | [[Aspect ratio (image)|Aspect]]
! scope = "col" | Short name
! scope = "col" | Programming
|-
! rowspan = "2" scope = "row" style="border-right: 4px solid #60B0FF;" | WNEP-TV  
! scope = "row" | 16.1 
| [[720p]] || rowspan=5| [[16:9]] || WNEP-TV || [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]
|-
! scope = "row" | 16.2 
| [[480i]] || WNEP2 || [[Antenna TV]]
|-
! rowspan = "3" scope = "row" style="border-right: 4px solid #0057AF;" | WVIA-TV
! scope = "row" | 44.1
| 720p || WVIA-HD || [[PBS]]
|-
! scope = "row" | 44.2
| rowspan="2"|480i || PBSKids || [[PBS Kids]]
|-
! scope = "row" | 44.3
| Create || [[Create (TV network)|Create]]
|}
<section end=subs />
The station became a charter affiliate of [[Antenna TV]] upon its launch on January 1, 2011. The network is carried on digital subchannel 16.2, replacing RTV on that subchannel.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://antennatv.tv/shows/antenna/affiliates/ |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20101127013332/http://antennatv.tv/shows/antenna/affiliates/ |archivedate=November 27, 2010 |title=Antenna Affiliates }}</ref>

===Analog-to-digital conversion===
WNEP-TV shut down its analog signal, over [[UHF]] channel 16, on June 12, 2009, the official date on which full-power television stations in the United States [[Digital television transition in the United States|transitioned from analog to digital broadcasts]] under federal mandate. The station's digital signal remained on its pre-transition UHF channel 49,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1082A2.pdf |title=DTV Tentative Channel Designations for the First and the Second Rounds |access-date=March 24, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130829004251/http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1082A2.pdf |archive-date=August 29, 2013 }}</ref> using [[virtual channel]] 16.

===Translators===
WNEP serves one of the largest coverage areas east of the [[Mississippi River]]. This area is very mountainous meaning that some areas cannot get a clear signal from the main transmitter on physical channel 21. As a result, it operates one of the largest translator systems of any station in the [[Eastern Time Zone]].

W20EI-D and W29EU-D are owned by WVIA but broadcast the full WNEP/WVIA multiplex.

*'''{{FCC-LMS-Facility|73325|3=W07DC-D}}''' [[Allentown, Pennsylvania|Allentown]]–[[Bethlehem, Pennsylvania|Bethlehem]] ([[Philadelphia]] market)
*'''{{FCC-LMS-Facility|73326|3=W14CO-D}}''' [[Clarks Summit]]
*'''{{FCC-LMS-Facility|167207|3=W29EU-D}}''' [[Clarks Summit]]
*'''{{FCC-LMS-Facility|49435|3=W20CP-D}}''' [[Mansfield, Pennsylvania|Mansfield]] ([[Elmira, NY]] market)
*'''{{FCC-LMS-Facility|129499|3=W26CV-D}}''' [[Mansfield, Pennsylvania|Mansfield]] ([[Elmira, NY]] market)
*'''{{FCC-LMS-Facility|73327|3=W29FQ-D}}''' [[Pottsville, Pennsylvania|Pottsville]]
*'''{{FCC-LMS-Facility|73320|3=W10CP-D}}''' [[Towanda, Pennsylvania|Towanda]]
*'''{{FCC-LMS-Facility|73324|3=W15CO-D}}''' [[Towanda, Pennsylvania|Towanda]]
*'''{{FCC-LMS-Facility|49431|3=W20EI-D}}''' [[Towanda, Pennsylvania|Towanda]]
*'''{{FCC-LMS-Facility|73318|3=WNEP-TV (DRT)}}''' 26 [[Waymart]]
*'''{{FCC-LMS-Facility|73321|3=W20AD-D}}''' [[Williamsport, Pennsylvania|Williamsport]]

====Former translator====
*'''{{FCC-LMS-Facility|73321|3=W36BE-D}}''' [[State College]] ([[Johnstown, Pennsylvania|Johnstown]]–[[Altoona, Pennsylvania|Altoona]] market)

==Out-of-market coverage==
{{unreferenced section|date=March 2015}}
WNEP was carried for many years on the two cable providers in the Lehigh Valley until it was declared part of the Philadelphia (WPVI) market in January 2013. From then on both [[Service Electric]] and [[RCN Corporation|RCN]] decided to drop WNEP due to the [[Syndication exclusivity|inability to broadcast duplicate programming]] from two ABC affiliates. Many viewers in the Lehigh Valley now rely on an over-the-air signal from WNEP-TV's Allentown translator.

In New York State, WNEP is carried on [[Charter Spectrum]] in [[Highland Lake, New York|Highland Lake]] in [[Sullivan County, New York|Sullivan County]], which are part of the New York City market.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Official website}}

{{Scranton/Wilkes-Barre TV}}
{{Philly TV}}
{{Elmira TV}}
{{Binghamton TV}}
{{ABC Pennsylvania}}
{{Tegna}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wnep-Tv}}
[[Category:1954 establishments in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:American Broadcasting Company affiliates]]
[[Category:Antenna TV affiliates]]
[[Category:Taft Broadcasting]]
[[Category:Tegna Inc.]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations established in 1954]]
[[Category:Television stations in Northeastern Pennsylvania|NEP-TV]]
[[Category:Mass media in Scranton, Pennsylvania]]