View source for WRAL-TV

{{Short description|Television station in Raleigh, North Carolina}}
{{about|the television station|its sister radio station in Raleigh that is also owned by Capitol Broadcasting Company|WRAL (FM)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox television station
| callsign               = WRAL-TV
| city                   = Raleigh, North Carolina
| logo                   = WRAL-TV_(1993).svg
| logo_size              = 150px
| image                  = WRAL Station1.JPG
| image_size             = 200px
| branding               = WRAL-TV 5; ''WRAL News''
| digital                = 17 ([[UHF]])
| virtual                = 5
| translators            = 
| subchannels            = 
| affiliations           = {{ubl|'''5.1:''' [[NBC]]|''for others, see {{section link||Subchannels}}''}}
| network                = 
| country                = United States
| founded                = 
| airdate                = {{start date and age|1956|12|15|p=y}}
| last_airdate           = 
| location               = {{ubl|[[Raleigh]]–[[Durham, North Carolina|Durham]]–|[[Fayetteville, North Carolina]]}}
| callsign_meaning       = Raleigh
| owner                  = [[Capitol Broadcasting Company, Inc.]]
| sister_stations        = [[WCLY]], [[WCMC-FM]], [[WDNC]], [[WRAL (FM)|WRAL]], [[WRAZ (TV)|WRAZ]], [[WNGT-CD]]
| former_callsigns       = 
| former_affiliations    = {{ubl|NBC (1956–1962)|[[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] (secondary 1957–1962, primary 1962–1985)|[[CBS]] (1985–2016)}}
| former_channel_numbers = {{ubl|'''Analog:''' 5 ([[VHF]], 1956–2009)|'''Digital:''' 32 (UHF, 1996–2000), 53 (UHF, 2000–2009), 48 (UHF, 2009–2019)}}
| erp                    = 833.7 kW
| haat                   = {{Convert|625|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
| facility_id            = 8688
| coordinates            = {{coord|35|40|29|N|78|31|39|W|type:landmark_scale:2000}}
| licensing_authority    = [[FCC]]
| website                = {{URL|https://www.wral.com/}} 
}}

'''WRAL-TV''' (channel 5) is a [[television station]] licensed to [[Raleigh, North Carolina]], United States, serving as the [[NBC]] affiliate for the [[Research Triangle]] area. It is the [[flagship station]] of the locally based [[Capitol Broadcasting Company]], which has owned the station since its inception.

It is a [[sister station]] to [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] affiliate [[WRAZ (TV)|WRAZ]] (channel 50, also licensed to Raleigh), [[Class A television service|Class A]] news-formatted [[independent station]] [[WNGT-CD]] (channel 34, licensed to both [[Smithfield, North Carolina|Smithfield]] and [[Selma, North Carolina|Selma]]), and [[radio station]]s [[WRAL (FM)|WRAL]] (101.5 FM), [[WCMC-FM]] (99.9), [[WDNC]] (620 AM), and [[WCLY]] (1550 AM). The television stations share studios at Capitol Broadcasting Company headquarters on Western Boulevard in west Raleigh; WRAL-TV's transmitter is located in [[Auburn, North Carolina]].

The station has been affiliated with NBC since February 29, 2016, when it ended a 30-year affiliation with [[CBS]], with CBS going to [[Goldsboro, North Carolina|Goldsboro]]-licensed [[WNCN]] (channel 17) on that date. This is channel 5's second stint with NBC; it was a primary affiliate with that network for six years at the station's inception.

==History==

===Early years===
WRAL-TV began broadcasting on December 15, 1956. Among the first programs aired was the [[feature film|movie]] ''[[Miracle on 34th Street]]''. A. J. Fletcher's Capitol Broadcasting Company, which first licensed WRAL Radio (AM 1240, now [[WPJL]]) in 1938, won the TV license in an upset over the much larger Durham Life Insurance Company, then-owners of radio station [[WPTF]].<ref>[https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1956/1956-07-02-BC.pdf#page=9 "Peoria, Springfield, Raleigh TV grants Issued by FCC"] ''[[Broadcasting and Cable|Broadcasting – Telecasting]]'', July 2, 1956, pg. 9.</ref>

WRAL was originally an NBC affiliate, taking that network from [[Durham, North Carolina|Durham]]-based [[WTVD]] (channel 11, which included Fletcher's son, Floyd, among its founders). When WNAO-TV (channel 28), the Triangle's CBS affiliate, went dark at the end of 1957 and the affiliation moved to WTVD (which was an ABC affiliate at that point) in the process,<ref>[https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1957/1957-12-30-BC.pdf#page=10 "WNAO-TV to go black, joins WTOB-TV in Ch. 8 shift plea."] ''Broadcasting – Telecasting'', December 30, 1957, pg. 10.</ref> WRAL shared [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] with WTVD until August 1, 1962, when channel 5 took the ABC affiliation full-time.<ref>[https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1962/1962-05-07-BC.pdf#page=80 "ABC-TV acquires two new primary affiliates."] ''Broadcasting'', May 7, 1962, pg. 80.</ref> This was unusual for a two-station market. ABC was at the time the smallest and weakest of the three major networks; it would not be on par with NBC and CBS in terms of ratings or affiliated stations until the early 1970s. WRAL did, however, continue to carry ''[[The Huntley-Brinkley Report]]'' until January 3, 1967, when ABC's own evening newscasts expanded to 30 minutes. WRAL also continued to carry ''[[My Three Sons]]'' for several years after that show switched networks, from ABC to CBS.

From 1960 until his election to the [[United States Senate]] in 1972, [[Jesse Helms]] was an editorialist on WRAL-TV's news broadcasts; by the early 1970s, the editorials were running for 10 minutes every weeknight. Helms' [[conservatism in the United States|conservative]] commentaries were both controversial and popular with many viewers.

===Switch to CBS===
In March 1985, WTVD's owner, [[Capital Cities Communications]], purchased ABC, resulting in WTVD becoming an [[owned-and-operated station]] of that network. The CBS affiliation moved to WRAL-TV on August 4, 1985.<ref>[https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1985/BC-1985-07-15.pdf "In brief." ''Broadcasting'', July 15, 1985, pg. 80]</ref> Within six months of the switch, WRAL-TV had become one of the strongest CBS affiliates in the country. It is one of the few stations in the country to have been a primary affiliate of all of the "Big Three" networks.

In December 1989, WRAL was knocked off the air when a severe [[ice storm]] caused the collapse of the station's {{convert|2,000|ft|m|0|adj=on}} transmitter tower. Within hours, channel 5 cut a deal with the then-struggling [[Fayetteville, North Carolina|Fayetteville]] [[independent station]] WKFT-TV (channel 40, now [[Univision]] O&O [[WUVC-DT]]), allowing WRAL to return to the air in only three hours. WKFT ran the entire WRAL schedule during this time. The station's new, stronger tower was activated on October 25, 1990, at which point WKFT reverted to broadcasting its own programming.

In the early 1990s, WRAL distributed its programming via C-Band satellite as part of the [[Primetime 24]] package, reaching viewers in the [[Caribbean]] and [[Latin America]], as well as the few rural areas of the United States and Canada where local over-the-air broadcast signals were not available. It was replaced in the late 1990s with fellow CBS affiliate [[WSEE-TV]] from [[Erie, Pennsylvania]], primarily because of WRAL's preemptions of network programming due to [[Atlantic Coast Conference|ACC]] [[college basketball|basketball]] games, which were (and still are) a highly-popular audience draw in North Carolina.

===Return to NBC===
On January 15, 2016, WRAL-TV announced that it would switch to NBC on February 29, 2016. Concurrently, CBS announced that the existing NBC station, [[Media General]]-owned and [[Goldsboro, North Carolina|Goldsboro]]-licensed [[WNCN]] (channel 17), would replace WRAL-TV as the Triangle's CBS affiliate the same day.<ref name=tvnc-wralswap>{{cite web|last1=Jessell |first1=Harry A. |title=WNCN, WRAL Swap Affiliations In Raleigh|url=http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/91581/wncn-wral-swap-affiliations-in-raleigh|website=TVNewsCheck|date=January 15, 2016 |access-date=January 15, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20160120024258/http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/91581/wncn-wral-swap-affiliations-in-raleigh|archive-date=January 20, 2016}}</ref> Capitol Broadcasting president and CEO Jim Goodmon stated that CBS would only renew its affiliation with WRAL if it entered into a [[reverse compensation]] agreement—under which Capitol would be required to pay the network for the local rights to air its programming, the complete opposite of traditional commercial television practices. NBC, on the other hand, took the line that an affiliation deal was a partnership.  Goodmon saw the switch to NBC as "a business decision for the future."<ref name="Nando"/> The last CBS program to air on WRAL was a showing of the movie ''[[Last Vegas]]'' at 9&nbsp;p.m. Eastern Time.<ref>{{Cite web|title=TV Listings for - February 28, 2016 - TV Tango|url=http://tvtango.com/listings/2016/02/28|access-date=June 3, 2021|website=tvtango.com}}</ref>

WRAL officially rejoined NBC at 7 a.m. on February 29. In a ceremony at the end of the morning newscast, Goodmon pressed a button decorated with the [[NBC peacock]] to switch to ''[[Today (American TV program)|Today]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wral.com/news/video/15447333/|title='Peacock button' helps NBC join WRAL :: WRAL.com|last=WRAL|website=WRAL.com|date=February 29, 2016 }}</ref>

[[Meredith College]] professor Doug Spero suggested that WRAL's overall dominance in the Triangle was so absolute that it was in a position to become one of NBC's strongest affiliates, much as it was one of CBS' strongest affiliates.<ref name="Nando">{{cite news
 |url         = http://www.newsobserver.com/news/business/article55473790.html
 |title       = WRAL-TV CEO says move to NBC a 'business decision for the future'
 |last        = Ranii
 |first       = David
 |date        = January 19, 2016
|publisher   = [[The News & Observer]]
 |url-status     = live
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20160305074352/http://www.newsobserver.com/news/business/article55473790.html
 |archive-date = March 5, 2016
}}</ref> The feeling was mutual; according to [[NBC News]] correspondent [[Harry Smith (US journalist)|Harry Smith]], NBC officials felt like they had "just won the lottery" when they learned WRAL was rejoining NBC.<ref>{{cite tweet|user=nsj|author=Nate Johnson|number=704374281908707328|date=February 29, 2016|title=.@HarrySmith: What do we (at NBC) think of #NBConWRAL? "We just won the lottery."}}</ref> Indeed, on the first day of WRAL's return to NBC, several dayparts saw NBC jump from third to first in the Triangle ratings at one stroke.  Notably, ''Today'', the ''[[NBC Nightly News]]'', and ''[[The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon]]'' immediately saw major ratings gains in the market after their move to WRAL.  The former two shows tallied their highest ratings on record in the Triangle on the day channel 5 officially returned to NBC, showing gains of well over 200 percent compared to their previous showings on WNCN. By contrast, CBS' competing programs lost more than half their audience share, falling from first to third in one stroke.<ref name="tvspy-firstday">{{cite web|title=WRAL Has 'Remarkable' First Day as NBC Affiliate|url=http://www.adweek.com/tvspy/wral-has-remarkable-first-day-as-nbc-affiliate/165040|website=TVSpy|date=March 2016 |publisher=Adweek|access-date=March 2, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304230555/http://www.adweek.com/tvspy/wral-has-remarkable-first-day-as-nbc-affiliate/165040|archive-date=March 4, 2016}}</ref> NBC had struggled in the Triangle ratings for more than 40 years, dating to when it was all but forced to move its programming full-time to WRDU-TV (channel 28, later WPTF-TV and now [[WRDC]]) in 1971. While NBC's performance in the area improved somewhat after it moved to WNCN in 1995, that station had remained stubbornly in third place for most of its 20-year run with the network.

The delay in the affiliation switch kept [[NFL on CBS|CBS's coverage]] of [[Super Bowl 50]], which featured the [[Carolina Panthers]] (based in nearby [[Charlotte, North Carolina|Charlotte]]) as champions of the [[National Football Conference]], on WRAL-TV. As an NBC station, channel 5 carried the [[2016 Stanley Cup Finals]] and the [[2016 Summer Olympics]] in [[Rio de Janeiro]], [[Brazil]], making it the only television station in the United States to air all three events from different networks in the same year.<ref name="tvspy-sbolympics">{{cite web|title=WRAL GM on Airing Super Bowl and Olympics in Same Year|url=http://www.adweek.com/tvspy/wral-gm-on-airing-super-bowl-and-olympics-in-same-year/162889|website=TVSpy|date=February 2, 2016 |publisher=Adweek Blog Network|access-date=February 2, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160206100842/http://www.adweek.com/tvspy/wral-gm-on-airing-super-bowl-and-olympics-in-same-year/162889|archive-date=February 6, 2016}}</ref>

==Programming==
WRAL clears most of the NBC schedule in pattern, except for one hour of ''[[The More You Know (block)|The More You Know]]'' (NBC's [[E/I]]-compliant block), which it preempts in favor of [[Infomercial|paid programming]] in the noon hour on Saturdays (as a CBS affiliate, it cleared the network's entire schedule from the late 1990s until it rejoined NBC). The only exceptions involved ACC [[college football|football]] and basketball from [[Raycom Sports]], both of which aired on the station from 1977, when they moved from WTVD, until the end of the syndication package in 2019. ACC-preempted NBC programming aired either as originally scheduled on [[digital subchannel]] 5.2 (which is otherwise an affiliate of [[Cozi TV]]) or overnights on the main signal. ''The More You Know'' is split over two days; the first hour airs on Saturdays from 10 to 11 a.m., with ''[[Brain Game (North Carolina)|Brain Game]]'' and ''Smart Start Kids'' (both of which count toward WRAL's E/I commitments) airing from 11 a.m. to noon, and the second hour airs on Sundays from 11 a.m. to noon.

However, the 2003 reality show ''Cupid'' did not air on the station, as have some controversial shows on sister station [[WRAZ (TV)|WRAZ]], and WRAL was one of a few CBS affiliates in the nation that did not carry an hour of CBS' weekend morning children's programming block (in favor of ''Brain Game'' and ''Smart Start Kids''). WRAL was also one of the few CBS affiliates that aired ''[[The Young and the Restless]]'' at 4 p.m. as a lead-in to its 5 p.m. newscast. Most CBS stations in the [[Eastern Time Zone]] air ''Y&R'' at 12:30&nbsp;p.m. (CBS' recommended time for the show), but in the case of WRAL, the timeslot switch occurred in January 1993. This happened because the station's sitcom reruns (the show being run at the time was an hour-long block of ''[[The Golden Girls]]'',<ref>{{cite news |last1=Langford |first1=Bob |title='Restless' moves to a new slot |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/80030284/wral-moves-the-young-in-the-restless-to/ |access-date= June 22, 2021 |work=The News and Observer |date= January 18, 1993 |location=Raleigh, NC |page=17 |language=ENGLISH}}</ref> making it ironic that during their ABC affiliation they were one of 13 affiliates not to carry the original network run of ''[[Soap (TV series)|Soap]]'', another [[Witt/Thomas Productions|Witt/Thomas/Harris Production]]<ref>{{cite news |title=Affiliates Wash Out 'Soap' |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/80152431/affiliates-wash-out-soap-961977/ |access-date=June 23, 2021 |work=The Kingston Daily Freeman |agency=UPI |date=September 6, 1977 |location=Kingston, NY |page=5 |language=ENGLISH}}</ref>) were having no luck against ''[[The Oprah Winfrey Show]]'' on WTVD. (The second half of their noon newscast and ''Right This Minute'' aired in ''Y&R''{{'}}s recommended time slot.)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wral.com/wral-tv/tv_schedule/|title=WRAL Program Schedule - What's On TV :: WRAL.com|last=WRAL|website=WRAL.com|date=August 7, 2006 }}</ref> Following WRAL-TV rejoining NBC on February 29, 2016, ''Y&R'' continued to air at 4 p.m. on WNCN while WRAL-TV carried local news at the time slot until January 17, 2022, when WNCN moved it to its traditional 12:30&nbsp;p.m. timeslot and introduced its own 4 p.m. newscast.<ref>{{cite web|title=CBS 17 adds 4 p.m. newscast, 'Young & Restless' to air earlier {{!}} CBS 17|url=https://www.cbs17.com/news/cbs-17-adds-4-p-m-newscast-young-restless-to-air-earlier/|access-date=January 18, 2022|website=[[WNCN]]|date=January 17, 2022 }}</ref>

When WRAL joined CBS in 1985, it became the Triangle's home for the [[NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament]], which has aired on CBS since 1981. Due to the Triangle's (and North Carolina's) longstanding status as a college basketball hotbed and local teams [[North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball|North Carolina]] and [[Duke Blue Devils men's basketball|Duke]] being fixtures in the tournament, NCAA Tournament games on WRAL were consistently among the highest-rated programs in the Triangle during tournament season. WRAL aired the Tar Heels' national championship wins in [[1993 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship Game|1993]], [[2005 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship Game|2005]], and [[2009 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship Game|2009]]; five of the Tar Heels' other Final Four appearances in [[1995 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|1995]], [[1997 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|1997]], [[1998 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|1998]], [[2000 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|2000]], and [[2008 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|2008]]; all five of the Blue Devils' national championship victories in [[1991 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship Game|1991]], [[1992 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship Game|1992]], [[2001 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship Game|2001]], [[2010 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship Game|2010]], and [[2015 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship Game|2015]]; four of the Blue Devils' other national championship appearances in [[1986 NCAA Division I men's basketball championship game|1986]], [[1990 NCAA Division I men's basketball championship game|1990]], [[1994 NCAA Division I men's basketball championship game|1994]], and [[1999 NCAA Division I men's basketball championship game|1999]]; and three of the Blue Devils' other Final Four appearances in [[1988 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|1988]], [[1989 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|1989]], and [[2004 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|2004]]. Despite the NCAA Tournament moving with the rest of the CBS schedule to WNCN, WRAL-TV continued to air ACC football and/or basketball until the package ended in 2019 in favor of the [[ACC Network]]. WRAL-TV may potentially air any away games of the local ACC teams if the opposing home team is from the Big Ten, Atlantic-10 or Big East conferences.

WRAL has broadcast memorable locally produced children's programming throughout its storied history. Its most famous and longest-running is ''Time for Uncle Paul'', which ran from 1961 to 1981, and starred Paul Montgomery. He had played various other characters on other local shows before getting his own program. He voluntarily ended his program after station management suggested a change to an educational format.

Soon after, WRAL continued to produce acclaimed{{who|date=February 2012}} educational children's shows such as ''Frog Hollow'', ''Sparks'', and ''The Androgena Show''. Today, WRAL continues to produce educational programs with such shows as ''Smart Start Kids'' and ''Brain Game''. In recent years, WRAL and [[UNC-TV]] have co-produced programming, such as the 2009 Gubernatorial Inauguration and the 2006 Parade of Sail Tall Ship Show in [[Beaufort, North Carolina|Beaufort]]. UNC-TV has, also, begun carrying WRAL's award-winning ''Focal Point'' documentaries. WRAL has long been a corporate supporter of UNC-TV, often assisting them financially and occasionally with on-air talent during UNC-TV's pledge drives.

WRAL announced on February 1, 2006, that it would begin to stream all of its programming live on the internet. This signified the latest advances in technology-driven delivery of product by a local television station. A few months later, WRAL was selected to be the flagship station for [[North Carolina Education Lottery]] drawings (twice daily for certain games, with the multi-jurisdictional [[Mega Millions]] Tuesday and Friday nights, and [[Powerball]] Wednesdays and Saturdays). On December 3, 2007, WRAL became the first local television station to stream live video to mobile phones.<ref>{{cite news|title=WRAL-DT buses mobile TV test|url=http://broadcastengineering.com/hdtv/wral-dt-mobile-tv-0416/|newspaper=Broadcast Engineering|date=April 16, 2009|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120707031941/http://broadcastengineering.com/hdtv/wral-dt-mobile-tv-0416/ |archive-date=July 7, 2012}}</ref>

===''Football Friday''===
Debuting in 1981, each Friday evening following the 11&nbsp;p.m. news, [[Tom Suiter]] hosts ''Football Friday'' covering all [[high school football]] games throughout [[Wake County, North Carolina|Wake]] and [[Durham County, North Carolina|Durham]] counties along with a dozen or more counties. WRAL crews spread out across the area providing not just scores but video coverage of each of 25 to as many as 35 games in the area. The show is an extension of the expansion throughout the 1980s of high school football coverage on the 11&nbsp;p.m. newscast. Each Friday, video crews are sent to cover two games each. WRAL videographers and sports reporters capture highlights of the first quarter of one game and second quarter of the other game. Editors have little more than an hour to prepare highlights.<ref>{{cite web|title=Changes in Store as WRAL-TV's Football Friday Resumes|url=http://www.cbc-raleigh.com/capcom/news/2006/wraltv_06/football_friday/football_friday.htm|publisher=CBC Broadcasting|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110107050918/http://www.cbc-raleigh.com/capcom/news/2006/wraltv_06/football_friday/football_friday.htm|archive-date=January 7, 2011}}</ref> From 1995 through 2002, ''Football Friday'' was broadcast from WRAL's Studio A with an audience of [[cheerleaders]], [[marching band|bands]], players and fans. The arrival of the North Carolina Education Lottery moved the show to the newsroom.<ref>{{cite news|title=WRAL's Football Friday Turns 25|url=http://www.cbc-raleigh.com/capcom/news/2005/wraltv_05/football_friday/football_friday.htm|newspaper=WRAL|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061026084407/http://www.cbc-raleigh.com/capcom/news/2005/wraltv_05/football_friday/football_friday.htm|archive-date=October 26, 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Fleming|first=Monika S.|title=Legendary locals of Edgecombe and Nash Counties, North Carolina|year=2013|publisher=Arcadia |isbn=978-1467100441}}</ref>

===News operation===
WRAL-TV presently broadcasts 42 hours of locally produced newscasts each week (with seven hours each weekday, three hours on Saturdays and four hours on Sundays). WRAL has the highest rated television news organization in the Triangle<ref name="nando sky5">{{cite news|url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-17206428_ITM|title=Airborne Newsroom Carries Latest Technology for Raleigh, N.C., TV Station.|last= Cox |first=Jonathan B.|date=February 25, 2004|work=News and Observer|access-date=June 7, 2008}}</ref> winning numerous regional Emmys. Most recently, WRAL and wral.com were nominated 29 times for Mid-South Regional Emmys.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://nashville.emmyonline.org/#101|title=22nd Annual Nominations|work=Midsouth Regional Emmy Awards|access-date=June 7, 2008|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100206120004/http://nashville.emmyonline.org/#101|archive-date=February 6, 2010}}</ref>

Until his retirement on July 1, 1994, Charlie Gaddy co-anchored newscasts alongside [[Bobbie Battista]], Adele Arakawa (now with KUSA-TV in [[Denver]]), Donna Gregory (who now works for [[WWAY]] in [[Wilmington, North Carolina|Wilmington]]), and Pam Saulsby (formerly of [[WTVJ]] in Miami). From 1994 to 2022, David Crabtree (formerly of [[KCNC-TV]] and [[KMGH-TV]] in Denver, [[WITN-TV]] in [[Washington, North Carolina]], and [[WKRN-TV]] in Nashville) and Debra Morgan were part of the longest-running on-air news team (news, weather, and sports) in the Triangle and one of the longest-running news teams in the state. Long time sports anchor Tom Suiter retired on December 18, 2008, and was replaced by Jeff Gravely, also a sports reporter and anchor for the 10 p.m. news on WRAZ. Jeff Gravely retired from WRAL, and Chris Lea (formerly of WXII in Winston-Salem) became the sports anchor in 2020.

In September 1995, WRAL began to produce newscasts for WRAZ. That station usually simulcasts local breaking news coverage from WRAL. For national breaking news events, WRAZ carries [[Fox News]] coverage, while WRAL carries coverage from NBC News. Otherwise, WRAZ may broadcast NBC programming in case WRAL cannot do so as in news-related emergencies. The WRAZ broadcasts include a three-hour newscast at 7 a.m. weekday mornings and a weeknight hour-long, weekend half-hour newscast at 10 p.m., seven nights a week. WRAZ previously aired a 4 p.m. newscast on weekdays; however that newscast moved to WRAL on February 29, 2016, replacing ''The Young and the Restless''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wral.com/wral-tv-move-to-nbc-faqs/15241044/|title=WRAL, NBC affiliate for Raleigh, NC :: WRAL.com|last=WRAL|website=wral.com|date=January 16, 2016 }}</ref>

WRAL was the first commercial station to provide high definition programming when it obtained an experimental HD transmission license from the FCC in 1996.<ref>{{cite journal|title=WRAL-TV adopts XDCAM HD for ENG, news production|journal=Broadcast Engineering|date=April 2008|url=http://broadcastengineering.com/eng/wraltv_adopts_xdcam_hd_0423/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517022648/http://broadcastengineering.com/eng/wraltv_adopts_xdcam_hd_0423 |archive-date=May 17, 2008}}</ref> On October 13, 2000, WRAL aired the world's first all-HD newscast.<ref name="timeline">{{cite web |title=WRAL-TV History Timeline |url=http://www.cbc-raleigh.com/history/view_history.asp?division=wral-tv |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120610215456/http://www.cbc-raleigh.com/history/view_history.asp?division=wral-tv |archive-date=June 10, 2012 |access-date=July 8, 2012 |website=Capitol Broadcasting Company}}</ref> On January 28, 2001, WRAL converted all of its newsgathering and broadcasts to all digital high definition<ref name=timeline/> (the WRAZ newscasts are broadcast in high definition as well). On November 17, 2006, WRAL had a special "reunion" newscast during the 6 p.m. broadcast with Gaddy, Battista and DeBardelaben reprising their roles once again in commemoration of the station's 50th anniversary alongside Suiter. On October 10, 2007, the WRAL sports department launched a sports talk radio station, [[WCMC-FM]] (which switched from a [[country music]] format); it is now the only FM sports talk station in the area and broadcasts in [[HD Radio]]. WRAL's newscasts are simulcast with local weather inserts on another sister station, [[WILM-LD]] in Wilmington.

The station moved newscasts out of the newsroom into Studio A in 2019 and upgraded to 4K cameras. A new set debuted with the noon newscast on October 31, 2019. The set, designed by Florida based FX Design Group, features a {{Convert|20 x 11|feet||abbr=|adj=on}} LED video wall, the largest installation in a local news operation, and a smaller curved LED wall near the anchor desk.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newscaststudio.com/2019/11/01/wral-new-set/|title=Raleigh station gets set packed with massive video walls|website=Newscast Studio}}</ref>

====Agricultural coverage====
WRAL was one of the first stations in North Carolina to cover agricultural markets and farm news in its regular newscasts. During 1953, ''Farm Program'' aired from 6 to 6:15&nbsp;a.m. and ''Regional and Farm News'' aired between 12:45 and 12:55&nbsp;p.m. from Fayetteville.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Decisions and Reports of the Federal Communications Commission of the United States, October 13 1954 to April 14, 1959|publisher=Federal Communications Commission|year=1959|location=Washington DC|pages=804}}</ref>

WRAL's noon newscasts included a farm segment featuring each day's farm commodity prices, followed by a feature agricultural story from somewhere in the viewing area or around North Carolina. This grew WRAL's popularity in rural areas and with farmers, especially in Eastern North Carolina. The segments were anchored by veteran farm reporter [[Ray Wilkinson]] and were dropped in the late 1990s, but were continued on the evening news broadcasts by Ray's son Dan Wilkinson. After the sudden unexpected death of Dan Wilkinson in October 2003, it was decided that the station would no longer have a full-time farm reporter and frequent agricultural coverage came to an end.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wral.com/news/local/story/114287/|title=Former WRAL Farm Broadcaster Ray Wilkinson Passes Away|date=December 6, 2004 }}</ref>

====Sky 5====
In 1979, WRAL became the state's first television station to begin using a news helicopter, known as "Sky 5". The [[Hughes 500]] helicopter {{Airreg|N|8624F}} was painted in the livery of the [[Royal Saudi Air Force]] with "Sky 5" graphics added, reflecting the original customer before the sale fell through and WRAL purchased it for newsgathering.<ref name=30years>{{cite web|title=30 years of Sky 5|date=August 21, 2009 |url=http://www.wral.com/wral-tv/story/5842684/|publisher=WRAL}}</ref><ref name=publicaffairs>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSBvTM_DHBY |title=Sky5 Public Affairs feature |date=May 14, 2011 |publisher=Youtube.com |access-date=July 8, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140630090448/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSBvTM_DHBY |archive-date=June 30, 2014 }}</ref>

The current [[Bell 407]] helicopter was purchased for $2 million in 2000. The {{Airreg|N|553HD}} tail number represents the station's channel, that this is the third news gathering helicopter for the station and WRAL's role in pioneering high definition broadcasting. The aircraft was piloted by Steve Wiley, who had flown for the station from 1987 until his death on February 3, 2021.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.wral.com/dependable-extraordinary-wral-remembers-sky-5-pilot-steve-wiley/19507747/ | title=Dependable, extraordinary: WRAL remembers Sky 5 pilot Steve Wiley | date=February 3, 2021 }}</ref> As of 2022 the helicopter is flown by two pilots that Wiley himself hired and trained to take over Sky 5 operations. Today, the aircraft is normally stored at the [[Raleigh-Durham International Airport]], but a helipad is available on the roof above the Capitol Broadcasting President's office in the WRAL buildings near downtown Raleigh.<ref>{{cite web |author=Anne Saker and Jonathan B. Cox |url=http://www.newsobserver.com/2003/12/28/89683/2003-jim-goodmon.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120906174931/http://www.newsobserver.com/2003/12/28/89683/2003-jim-goodmon.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 6, 2012 |title=2003: Jim Goodmon – People |publisher=NewsObserver.com |access-date=July 8, 2012 }}</ref><ref name="wralpeople">{{cite news|url=http://www.localtechwire.com/wral-tv/aboutus/page/1010704/|title=People of WRAL|publisher=WRAL|access-date=June 7, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080610032846/http://www.localtechwire.com/wral-tv/aboutus/page/1010704/|archive-date=June 10, 2008}}</ref> The helicopter is equipped with $600,000 worth of video equipment including cameras installed on the tail, two in the cabin and a [[gyroscope]] controlled high definition camera under the nose, all of which can be controlled from the rear of the aircraft by a videographer. WRAL modified the helicopter to reach speeds of 130 miles per hour providing access to anywhere in the Triangle within seven minutes.<ref name="nando sky5"/>

In over 30 years of electronic news gathering using helicopters, WRAL has had no significant incidents and remains one of the few stations to own rather than lease their helicopter. "Sky 5" has also participated in numerous search and rescue operations over the years at the request of local emergency officials before returning to newsgathering duties.<ref name=30years/><ref name=publicaffairs/>

====Awards====
{{Expand section|date=March 2012}}
WRAL has received award nominations for news 32 times, tying [[Nashville]] station [[WTVF]] in the 2012 Mid-South Regional [[Emmy Awards]] and won 11. WRAL took home the Emmy for [[Rick Gall|News Excellence]], Evening Newscast, Breaking News, Serious Feature News Report, Light Feature News Report, Light Feature News Series, Interactivity, Promo Spot News Same Day, Promo Spot News Image, Graphics Arts, and News Writing. Several of the 2012 Emmys came from coverage of the [[Tornado outbreak of April 14–16, 2011#Sanford–Raleigh, North Carolina|April 2011 tornadoes]] that ripped through the area.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://nashville.emmyonline.org/ |title=Nashville Chapter! |publisher=Nashville.emmyonline.org |access-date=July 8, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100206120004/http://nashville.emmyonline.org/ |archive-date=February 6, 2010 }}</ref> Parent company Capitol Broadcasting along with the [[A.J. Fletcher Foundation]] were awarded the Governor's Award, the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences' highest honor in 2012 as well.

In 1997, WRAL received eight Mid-South Regional Emmy Awards including those for news excellence, best newscast, best hard news series and investigative reporting.<ref>{{cite news|title=WRAL news team wins 8 Emmy awards|url=http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/161094/|newspaper=WRAL|date=February 16, 1997}}</ref> In 1998, WRAL received seven Mid-South Regional Emmy Awards including those for best daytime newscast, special event coverage, news magazine, news promotion, public service announcement, and best children's entertainment program.<ref>{{cite news|title=WRAL Emmys|url=http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/161094/|newspaper=WRAL|date=January 17, 1998}}</ref>

WRAL was awarded nine Mid-South Regional Emmy Awards in 2000 including for documentaries on the Cape Light and coverage of the [[1999 Special Olympics World Summer Games|Special Olympics World Games]]. Jim Goodmon, president and CEO of WRAL parent company Capitol Broadcasting Company, Inc., was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award as well.<ref>{{cite news|last=Gardner|first=Kelly|title=WRAL Wins Nine Emmy Awards|url=http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/168606/|newspaper=WRAL|date=February 4, 2000}}</ref>

In 2008, among the nine Emmy awards received by WRAL and WRAL.com received the inaugural award in Advanced Media for Interactivity for the video player used throughout the website.<ref>{{cite news|last=Shraeder|first=Brian|title=WRAL.com Video Player Wins Emmy Award|url=http://www.wral.com/wral-tv/video/2373257/#/vid2373257|newspaper=WRAL|date=January 30, 2008}}</ref> The station also won a bronze Horizon Interactive Award for their online hurricane tracker.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cbc-raleigh.com/capcom/news/2008/wraltv_08/stormtracker_award/stormtracker_award.html |title=WRAL.com Wins Horizon Award |publisher=Cbc-raleigh.com |date=May 7, 2008 |access-date=July 8, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110106183903/http://www.cbc-raleigh.com/capcom/news/2008/wraltv_08/stormtracker_award/stormtracker_award.html |archive-date=January 6, 2011 }}</ref>  Geoff Levine won the National Press Photographer of the Year award and the station received 6 awards from the North Carolina Associated Press Broadcasters.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cbc-raleigh.com/capcom/news/2008/wraltv_08/ncapb_awards/ncapb_awards.html |title=WRAL Named Best Television News Operation by NCAPB |publisher=Cbc-raleigh.com |date=April 22, 2008 |access-date=July 8, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110106182715/http://www.cbc-raleigh.com/capcom/news/2008/wraltv_08/ncapb_awards/ncapb_awards.html |archive-date=January 6, 2011 }}</ref>

WRAL has consistently swept television media categories in the ''[[Independent Weekly]]'' and ''[[Cary News]]'' annual "Best Of" awards voted by readers.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.carymagazine.com/maggy-awards/best-media |title=Maggy Awards &#124; Best Media |publisher=Cary Magazine |access-date=July 8, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101108110514/http://www.carymagazine.com/maggy-awards/best-media |archive-date=November 8, 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.indyweek.com/indyweek/best-of-the-triangle-2011-readers-choice-poll-winners/Content?oid=2522344 |title=Best of the Triangle 2011: Readers' Choice poll winners and finalists &#124; Best of the Triangle &#124; Independent Weekly |publisher=Indyweek.com |access-date=July 8, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120501111830/http://www.indyweek.com/indyweek/best-of-the-triangle-2011-readers-choice-poll-winners/Content?oid=2522344 |archive-date=May 1, 2012 }}</ref>

====Notable current on-air staff====
*[[Scott Mason (journalist)|Scott Mason]] – ''Tar Heel Traveler'' anchor/producer

====Notable former on-air staff====
{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}
*[[Adele Arakawa]] – anchor (1983–1989, later at [[KUSA]] in [[Denver]], now retired)
*[[Jim Axelrod]] – political reporter (1993–1996, now with [[CBS News]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/10/08/broadcasts/main524771.shtml|title=Jim Axelrod bio|date=March 13, 2013|work=[[CBS News]]|access-date=March 13, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130523095442/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/10/08/broadcasts/main524771.shtml|archive-date=May 23, 2013}}</ref>
*[[Bret Baier]] – reporter (mid-1990s, now with [[Fox News Channel]])
*[[Bobbie Battista]] – former co-anchor (1976–1981, joined [[CNN]] in 1982), later at [[The Onion News Network]]; deceased)
*[[Sandra Bookman]] – weekend anchor/reporter (1985–1989, now at [[WABC-TV]] in [[New York City|New York]])
*[[Rich Brenner]] – sports anchor (1978–1981; deceased)
*[[Dale Cardwell]] – reporter (1985–1991, later at [[WSB-TV]] in Atlanta. Democratic candidate for US Senate, 2008)
*[[Bob Caudle]] – news and weather anchor/wrestling announcer
*[[David Crabtree]] – evening anchor (1994–2022)
*[[Greg Fishel]] ([[American Meteorological Society|AMS]] [[Certified Broadcast Meteorologist]] Seal of Approval) – chief meteorologist (1981–2019)
*[[Charlie Gaddy]] – anchorman (1970–1994; deceased)
*[[Jesse Helms]] – general manager,  commentator (1960–1972, later [[United States Senate|U.S. Senator]], deceased)
*[[Brad Johansen]] – anchor (2018–2019, later at [[WCMH-TV]] in [[Columbus, Ohio|Columbus]])
*[[Nate Johnson (meteorologist)|Nate Johnson]] (AMS Certified Broadcast Meteorologist and NWA Seals of Approval) – meteorologist (now Director of Weather Operations at [[NBC Owned Television Stations]])
*[[Bill Leslie (journalist)|Bill Leslie]] – anchor (now retired)
*[[Ray Reeve]] – WRAL's first sportscaster (1956–1973, deceased)
*[[Stuart Scott]] – reporter (1988–1990, deceased)
*[[Tom Suiter]] – sports anchor, ''Football Friday'' anchor/producer and reporter for "The Extra Effort Award" (1981–2008; continued hosting the ''Football Friday'' program until the end of the 2015–16 football season; is currently retired)
*[[Mikaya Thurmond]] – journalist (2015–2022)
*[[Ray Wilkinson]] – farm news (1963–1995, deceased)
*[[Kelly Wright]] – reporter and weekend anchor (mid-1990s, now with [[Fox News Channel]])

{{div col end}}

==Technical information==
===Subchannels===
The station's digital signal is [[Multiplex (TV)|multiplexed]]:
{| class="wikitable"
|+Subchannels of WRAL-TV<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=WRAL-TV#station|title=RabbitEars.Info|website=www.rabbitears.info|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170404055339/http://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=WRAL-TV#station|archive-date=April 4, 2017}}</ref>
! 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
|-
! scope = "row" | 5.1 
| [[1080i]] || rowspan=4| [[16:9]] || WRAL HD || [[NBC]]
|-
! scope = "row" | 5.2 
| rowspan=3| [[480i]] || WRAL DT || [[Cozi TV]]
|-
! scope = "row" | 5.3 
| WRAL 3 || [[Start TV]]
|-
! scope = "row" | 5.4 
| WRAL 4 || [[Ion Mystery]]
|- style="background-color:#DFEBF6; border-top: 2px solid #003399;"
! scope="row" | [[WNGT-CD|34.1]]
| [[720p]] || 16:9 || WARZ CD || WRAL Plus ([[WNGT-CD]])
|}

On June 19, 1996, the [[Federal Communications Commission]] (FCC) awarded WRAL-TV the first [[experimental television|experimental]] [[high-definition television]] license in the United States. The station, identified as "WRAL-HD", began digital television operations on [[UHF]] channel 32 over a month later, on July 23, 1996.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wral.com/wral-tv/story/1069461/ |title=History of WRAL Digital |publisher=Wral.com |date=November 22, 2006 |access-date=July 8, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine | url=https://www.wired.com/thisdayintech/2010/07/0723first-hdtv-broadcast/ | title=''This Day in Tech'' for July 23, 1996: ''Stand By … High Definition TV Is on the Air'' | publisher=[[Condé Nast]] | magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired.com]] | date=July 23, 2010 | access-date=March 24, 2013 | author=Abell, John C | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014012209/http://www.wired.com/thisdayintech/2010/07/0723first-hdtv-broadcast | archive-date=October 14, 2013 }}</ref> The station's digital signal moved to channel 53 in March 2000.

WRAL-TV was the first in the U.S. to broadcast a live sports program in high definition (on September 6, 1997), as well as the first HD newscast (on October 13, 2000).<ref>{{Cite web|title=WRAL First HD Newscast at State Fair|url=https://history.capitolbroadcasting.com/media-assets/wral-first-hd-newscast-at-state-fair/|access-date=January 28, 2022|website=CBC History|language=en-US}}</ref> CBS utilized WRAL-HD in testing its own high-definition programming, and in 1999, began providing the station with a regular schedule of prime time programs in HD. HD sports programming recorded by WRAL was provided to other model stations as well.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/10/15/technology/hdtv-s-mixed-signals.html?pagewanted=2|title=HDTV's Mixed Signals|date=October 15, 1998|work=New York Times|access-date=October 15, 2009|first=Joel|last=Brinkley|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150527082127/http://www.nytimes.com/1998/10/15/technology/hdtv-s-mixed-signals.html?pagewanted=2|archive-date=May 27, 2015}}</ref> WRAL-TV's pioneering efforts in digital television have won wide recognition from within the television industry.<ref>{{cite news|title=WRAL goes high tech with news|date=February 18, 2001|publisher= Fayetteville Observer}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/153017/|title= Related Items On Friday, October 13, WRAL's 5:00 News will be the first ever all-high-definition newscast in the world.(WRAL-TV5 News) WRAL to Make History Again with High-Definition Newscast|date=October 9, 2000 |publisher=WRAL|access-date=October 15, 2009}}</ref>

===Analog-to-digital conversion===
WRAL-TV ended regular programming on its analog signal, over [[VHF]] channel 5, at 12:55&nbsp;p.m. 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 48,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1082A2.pdf |title=DTV Tentative Channel Designations for the First and 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]] 5.

As part of the [[SAFER Act]], WRAL-TV kept its analog signal on the air until July 6 to inform viewers of the digital television transition through a loop of [[public service announcement]]s from the [[National Association of Broadcasters]].<ref name="FCC Nightlight">{{cite web|url=https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-291375A1.pdf|title=UPDATED List of Participants in the Analog Nightlight Program|publisher=Federal Communications Commission|date=June 12, 2009|access-date=June 3, 2024}}</ref>

===ATSC 3.0===
{{Infobox television station
| callsign               = WRAL-EX
| city                   = Raleigh, North Carolina
| digital                = 39 (UHF)
| virtual                = 39
| subchannels            = {{ubl|'''39.1:''' [[1080p]] simulcast of 5.1|'''39.2:''' [[4K resolution|4K]]/[[2160p]] [[UHDTV]] demo loop}}
| airdate                = {{start date and age|2016|6|29|p=y}}
| last_airdate           = 2018
| location               = {{ubl|Raleigh–Durham–|Fayetteville, North Carolina}}
| erp                    = 40 kW
| haat                   = {{convert|548|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
| facility_id            = 703425
| coordinates            = {{nowrap|{{coord|35|40|35.1|N|78|32|7.2|W|type:landmark_scale:2000}}}}
| licensing_authority    = FCC
}}
On June 29, 2016, WRAL became the first U.S. television station to begin broadcasting a full-time service using [[ATSC 3.0]] digital television standards, operating under an experimental license from the FCC on UHF channel 39 as '''WRAL-EX'''. The service broadcast two subchannels, including a simulcast of WRAL's main programming in [[1080p]] high definition, and a demo loop of content in [[4K resolution|4K]] [[ultra high-definition television]], along with testing for NBC involving the 2016 Summer Olympics and [[2018 Winter Olympics]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.newsobserver.com/entertainment/tv/warm-tv-blog/article201303244.html|title=WRAL: ATSC 3.0 Next Generation TV delivers 4K ultra high-def|last=Cain|first=Brooke|date=February 21, 2018|work=[[The News & Observer]]|access-date=February 22, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180223051224/http://www.newsobserver.com/entertainment/tv/warm-tv-blog/article201303244.html|archive-date=February 23, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.tvnewscheck.com/marketshare/2018/02/21/wral-shows-olympics-in-next-gen-tv/|title=WRAL Shows Olympics In Next Gen TV Format|last=Greeley|first=Paul|date=February 21, 2018|work=TVNewsCheck|access-date=February 22, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180221151958/http://www.tvnewscheck.com/marketshare/2018/02/21/wral-shows-olympics-in-next-gen-tv/|archive-date=February 21, 2018}}</ref> The station produced episodes of its series ''Out & About'' in 4K.<ref name="tvnc-atsc3">{{cite web|title=WRAL Launches ATSC 3.0 Service|url=http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/95854/first-again-wral-launches-atsc-30-service|website=TVNewsCheck|access-date=June 29, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171117122543/http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/95854/first-again-wral-launches-atsc-30-service|archive-date=November 17, 2017}} </ref> However, WRAL-EX left the air in 2018 as a consequence of the FCC's [[Spectrum reallocation|repacking process]] as a result of a spectrum auction and has not returned. On September 11, 2020, Capitol Broadcasting bought then-WARZ-CD for $725,000, and since then has used the station, now [[WNGT-CD]], as an ATSC 3.0 multiplex for the region. Like WRAL-EX, WNGT-CD has since simulcast WRAL in 1080p as well.<ref name="warzsold">{{cite web|url=https://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/cdbsmenu.hts?context=25&appn=101821048&formid=314&fac_num=71089|title=Application for Consent to Assignment of Broadcast Station Construction Permit or License|work=CDBS Public Access|publisher=[[Federal Communications Commission]]|date=September 17, 2020|access-date=September 18, 2020}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! [[Digital subchannel#United States|Channel]]
! [[Display resolution|Video]]
! Programming
|-
! scope = "row" | 39.1 
| [[1080p]] || NBC
|-
! scope = "row" | 39.2 
| [[2160p]] || [[Ultra high-definition|UHD]] demo loop
|-
|}

===Mobile Emergency Alert System===
WRAL-TV debuted the first [[Mobile Emergency Alert System]] (M-EAS) in the United States on September 13, 2012.<ref>{{cite news|title=WRAL-TV to Demo Mobile DTV Emergency Alerts|url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/489358-WRAL_TV_to_Demo_Mobile_DTV_Emergency_Alerts.php|newspaper=Broadcasting Cable|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120916033030/http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/489358-WRAL_TV_to_Demo_Mobile_DTV_Emergency_Alerts.php|archive-date=September 16, 2012}}</ref> The system allows emergency information including text, web pages and video to be distributed to compatible receivers using existing digital television signals.<ref>{{cite news|title=Mobile Emergency Video Alert System Demo|url=http://www.wral.com/news/video/11504652/#/vid11504652|newspaper=WRAL}}</ref>

==Station coverage==
WRAL's signal can be viewed across much of Central and Eastern North Carolina. The official eastern fringe of the Raleigh market is [[Halifax County, North Carolina|Halifax County]] and the western fringe is [[Orange County, North Carolina|Orange County]]. The [[Virginia]] and [[South Carolina]] state lines make up the northern and southern fringe respectively, with the exception of [[Mecklenburg County, Virginia]]. WRAL can be seen well outside of the Raleigh market, with the signal penetrating parts of the Greenville, Greensboro, Wilmington, Charlotte, [[Roanoke, Virginia|Roanoke]]–[[Lynchburg, Virginia|Lynchburg]], [[Richmond, Virginia|Richmond]], [[Norfolk, Virginia|Norfolk]] and [[Florence, South Carolina|Florence]]–[[Myrtle Beach]] markets. WRAL's signal reaches as far east as [[U.S. Route 17 in North Carolina|U.S. Highway 17]] in the Greenville-Washington-New Bern market, including the city of Greenville. The fringe area of WRAL's digital signal runs as far east as the western side of Beaufort County.

WRAL-TV is still viewed and is quite popular with many outside of the Triangle, mainly in portions of the [[Piedmont Triad]], Eastern North Carolina, and even into parts of [[Southside Virginia]] and the [[Pee Dee]] region of South Carolina. It has long been available on cable as far east as Wilmington. The station is also known for its award-winning documentaries, children's shows and news staff, which has attracted viewers from outside of the Raleigh market. [[Halifax County, Virginia|Halifax County]] in Southside Virginia is frequently mentioned by WRAL, although it is located in the Roanoke–Lynchburg market.

===Significantly-viewed status===
In addition to the 23 counties in the [[Research Triangle#Media|Raleigh–Durham–Fayetteville]] market, the FCC lists WRAL as [[significantly viewed]] in [[Alamance County, North Carolina|Alamance]], [[Caswell County, North Carolina|Caswell]], [[Duplin]], [[Greene County, North Carolina|Greene]], [[Robeson County, North Carolina|Robeson]], and [[Scotland County, North Carolina|Scotland]] counties in North Carolina.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://transition.fcc.gov/mb/significantviewedstations031011.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=January 31, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111023215307/http://transition.fcc.gov/mb/significantviewedstations031011.pdf |archive-date=October 23, 2011 }} Significant Viewed Stations, FCC</ref>

===Out-of-market cable carriage===
For decades, WRAL has been available on cable in much of the eastern portion of North Carolina, as far east as Wilmington. It is also available on cable systems in portions of the Charlotte and Triad [[media market]]s, as well as the North Carolina portions of the [[Hampton Roads]] and Florence–Myrtle Beach markets. In recent years, it has also been picked up by cable systems on the fringes of the Richmond and Roanoke markets.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://svtvstations.webs.com/svtvstations.htm |title=SVTV Stations – The things you care that others won't |publisher=Svtvstations.webs.com |access-date=July 8, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120502223103/http://svtvstations.webs.com/svtvstations.htm |archive-date=May 2, 2012 }}</ref>

During the 1970s and 1980s through CATV, WRAL was once carried in even more places. In North Carolina, it was once carried in [[Burlington, North Carolina|Burlington]], [[Greenville, North Carolina|Greenville]], [[Wadesboro, North Carolina|Wadesboro]], [[Wilmington, North Carolina|Wilmington]], [[Williamston, North Carolina|Williamston]], and [[Yanceyville]]. In Virginia, it was once carried in [[Buena Vista, Virginia|Buena Vista]], [[Danville, Virginia|Danville]], and [[Emporia, Virginia|Emporia]].<ref name="Cable Search">[http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/coals7/forms/search/cableSearchNf.cfm Cable Search<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{Dead link|date=July 2022}}</ref>

==Amenities==
The station building, shared by WRAL-TV and WRAZ, and located at 2619 Western Boulevard in Raleigh, adjacent to the [[North Carolina State University]] campus, is a modern and open-designed structure and grounds. The property features a fountain visible from the roadway near the building entrance, a helipad on top of the building for the landing of Sky 5, and a large garden in the back of the property, including many varieties of [[azalea]]s and other flowering plants including several types of [[dogwood]]s. The garden is a popular public attraction, especially during April when the flowers are at the peak of blooming.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Official website|https://www.wral.com/}}
* [http://wral.thistv.com/ WRAL2 website]
* [https://www.fox50.com/ WRAZ website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190112095043/https://www.fox50.com/|date=January 12, 2019}}
* [http://www.wral-gardens.com/ Gardens website]
* [https://www.lib.ncsu.edu/findingaids/mc00516 Guide to the WRAL Farm Program Films 1970-1978]

{{Raleigh-Durham TV}}
{{NBC North Carolina}}
{{NBC Virginia}}
{{Capital Broadcasting}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wral-Tv}}
[[Category:1956 establishments in North Carolina]]
[[Category:Capitol Broadcasting Company]]
[[Category:Cozi TV affiliates]]
[[Category:NBC affiliates]]
[[Category:Start TV affiliates]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations established in 1956]]
[[Category:Television stations in the Research Triangle|RAL-TV]]