List of former ABC television affiliates

The American Broadcasting Company (ABC) is an American broadcast television network that originated in 1927 as the NBC Blue radio network, and five years after its 1942 divorce from NBC and purchase by Edward J. Noble (adopting its current name the following year), expanded into television in April 1948. Throughout its history, the network has many owned-and-operated and affiliated stations.

This article is a table listing of former ABC stations, arranged alphabetically by state, and based on the station's city of license as well as its Designated Market Area; it is also accompanied by footnotes regarding the present network affiliation of the former ABC-affiliated station (if the station remains operational) and the current ABC affiliates in each of the listed markets, as well as any other notes including the reasons behind each station's disaffiliation from the network. There are links to and articles on each of the stations, describing their histories, local programming and technical information, such as broadcast frequencies.

The station's advertised channel number follows the call letters. In most cases, this is their virtual channel (PSIP) number, which may match the channel allocation that the station originally broadcast on during its prior affiliation with the network.

Former affiliate stations

Stations are listed in alphabetical order by city of license.

City of license/Market Station/Channel Years of affiliation Current affiliation Current ABC affiliate Notes
Atlanta, Georgia WLTV/WLWA/WAII/WQXI/WXIA 8/11 1951–1980 NBC WSB-TV 2
Baltimore, Maryland WJZ-TV 13 1948–1995 CBS (O&O) WMAR-TV 2 Affiliated with CBS in January 1995 via a three-way network swap between CBS affiliate WBAL-TV (which switched to NBC) and NBC affiliate WMAR (which switched to ABC) resulting from CBS's group affiliation deal with WJZ's then-owner Group W.[1]
Birmingham-Tuscaloosa-Anniston, Alabama WBRC 6 1949–1996 (secondary until 1961) Fox (O&O from 1996–2008) WBMA-LD 58/WABM 58.2/WDBB 17.2/WGWW 40.2 Disaffiliated from ABC in September 1996 as a result of Fox Television Stations' purchase of WBRC, which converted it into a Fox owned-and-operated station.
WCFT-TV 33
(now WSES)		 1996–2014 Heartland Held ABC affiliation as part of the WBMA-WCFT-WJSU cluster formed out of Allbritton Communications Company's group affiliation deal with the network; it served as the CBS affiliate for Tuscaloosa until it disaffiliated from that network and converted into a satellite of low-power station W58CK (now WBMA-LD) in September 1996. In September 2014, the ABC affiliation moved to subchannels of Birmingham MyNetworkTV affiliate WABM and its Tuscaloosa sister station WDBB (which began serving as repeaters of WBMA), as a result of their owner Sinclair Broadcast Group's plan to turn over the licenses of WCFT and WJSU to the Federal Communications Commission due to conflicts with its purchase of the WBMA satellites from Allbritton, its existing ownership of WABM and CW affiliate WTTO, and an existing local marketing agreement with WTTO satellite WDBB;[2] Howard Stirk Holdings subsequently acquired the licenses of both stations, shortly before the move of WCFT/WJSU's intellectual property to WABM and WDBB.[3]
Boston, Massachusetts WHDH 5 1957–1961 Defunct WCVB-TV 5 Channel 5 allocation now occupied by the market's current ABC affiliate, WCVB-TV.
WNAC-TV 7 (now WHDH) 1961–1972 NBC Affiliated with CBS upon the shutdown of (the original) WHDH and the sign-on of WCVB.
Charleston, South Carolina WCIV 4
(now WGWG)		 1996–2014 ZUUS Country WCIV 36.2 In September 2014, WCIV's ABC affiliation and programming moved to WMMP, which assumed the WCIV call letters as a result of owner Sinclair Broadcast Group's plan to turn over WCIV's license to the Federal Communications Commission due to issues with its purchase of WCIV from Allbritton Communications Company, and an existing local marketing agreement arrangement between WMMP and Fox affiliate WTAT;[2] Howard Stirk Holdings subsequently acquired the WCIV license in October 2014, shortly before the move of the station's ABC affiliation and other intellectual property to WMMP.[4]
Cincinnati, Ohio WKRC 12 1961–1996 CBS WCPO 9 Lost ABC affiliation as a result of a group affiliation deal between the network and the E. W. Scripps Company that sent the ABC affiliation to WCPO. The station subsequently affiliated with CBS in September 1996, through a group deal with then-owner Citicasters.[5] Switch reversed an affiliation swap between WKRC and WCPO that occurred in 1961.[6]
Cleveland, Ohio WXEL 9/8 (now WJW) 1949–1955 Fox (O&O from 1996–2008) WEWS 5 Subsequently affiliated with CBS.
WAKR-TV/WAKC-TV 23
(now WVPX-TV)		 1953–1996 Ion Television (O&O) Served as the ABC affiliate for the Akron-Canton area.
Columbia-Jefferson City, Missouri KOMU-TV 8 1953–1971 (secondary); 1982–1985 (primary) NBC KMIZ 17 Lost ABC affiliation when KCBJ-TV (now KMIZ) signed on in 1971. Swapped affiliations with KCBJ in January 1982, becoming a full-time ABC affiliate; swap was reversed when KOMU rejoined NBC on January 1, 1986, with KCBJ becoming an ABC affiliate.
Columbus-Tupelo-West Point, Mississippi WKDH 45 2001–2012 Defunct WTVA 9.2 Ceased operations on August 31, 2012, as a result of the termination of a local marketing agreement between WKDH owner Southern Broadcasting and WTVA, Inc., the then-parent of sister NBC affiliate WTVA.[7][8]
Dayton, Ohio WDTN 2 1980–2004 NBC WKEF 22 Swapped affiliations with WDTN (which had previously been affiliated with NBC from 1949 to 1980).
Denver, Colorado KBTV/KUSA 9 1952–1995 NBC KMGH-TV 7 Became an NBC affiliate via a three-way affiliation swap between KMGH (CBS to ABC) and KCNC (NBC to CBS) that occurred in 1995.
Elkhart-South Bend, Indiana WSJV 28 1954–1995 Fox WBND-LD 57 Disaffiliated from ABC and switched to Fox in August 1995,[9][10]
Evansville, Indiana WTVW 7 1956–1995 The CW WEHT 25 Became a Fox affiliate in December 1995 via a three-way affiliation swap between CBS affiliate WEHT (which switched to ABC) and Fox affiliate WEVV (which switched to CBS).
Fresno, California KJEO 47 (now KGPE) 1956–1985 CBS KFSN-TV 30 (O&O) Disaffiliated from ABC and switched to CBS as a result of the purchase of ABC, Inc. by Capital Cities Communications, which converted KFSN into an ABC owned-and-operated station.
Green Bay, Wisconsin WFRV-TV 5 1955–1959, 1983–1992 CBS (O&O from 1992–2007) WBAY-TV 2 WFRV was affiliated with NBC from 1959 until 1983, when it swapped networks with WLUK-TV.
WLUK-TV 11 1959–1983 Fox Subsequently affiliated with NBC.
Greensboro-Winston-Salem-High Point, North Carolina WGHP 8 1963–1995 Fox (O&O from 1995–2008) WXLV-TV 45 Disaffiliated from ABC in September 1995 as a result of Fox Television Stations' purchase of WGHP, which converted it into a Fox owned-and-operated station.
Indianapolis, Indiana WISH-TV 8 1954–1956 The CW[11] WRTV 6
WLWI/WTHR 13 1957–1979 NBC
Jacksonville, Florida WJKS 17 (now WCWJ) 1966–1980; 1988–1997 The CW WJXX 25 As WJKS, station swapped affiliations with NBC affiliate WTLV in 1980; the two stations reversed the affiliation trade (with WJKS regaining its ABC affiliation and WTLV regaining its NBC affiliation) in 1988; WJKS lost its ABC affiliation to upstart WJXX in February 1997, as a result of the network's affiliation deal with that station's managing partner (later owner) Allbritton Communications Company.[12]
WTLV 12 1980–1988 NBC Originally a NBC affiliate, WTLV joined ABC in an affiliation swap with WJKS (now WCWJ) in March 1980, only to reverse the swap in April 1988. WTLV has been co-owned with current ABC affiliate WJXX since 2000.
Louisville, Kentucky WLKY-TV 32 1961–1995 CBS WHAS-TV 11
WKLO-TV 21 1953–1954 defunct Channel 21 allocation is now occupied by Ion Television affiliate WBNA.
Kansas City, Missouri KCMO-TV 5 (now KCTV) 1953–1955 CBS KMBC-TV 9
Macon, Georgia WPGA-TV 58 1996–2009 independent WGXA-DT 24.2 Disaffiliated from ABC in December 2009 due to objections by the station's ownership regarding content in ABC programming.
Memphis, Tennessee WHBQ-TV 13 1953–1995 Fox (O&O from 1995–2014) WATN-TV 24 Disaffiliated from ABC in December 1995, as a result of Fox Television Stations' purchase of WHBQ-TV from Communications Corporation of America.[13]
Milwaukee, Wisconsin WITI 6 1961–1977 Fox (O&O from 1997–2008) WISN-TV 12 Traded ABC and CBS affiliations with WISN-TV in 1961; switch was reversed in 1977 through an affiliation deal with CBS and then-owner Storer Broadcasting.
Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota WMIN/WTCN-TV 11 (now KARE) 1953–1961 NBC KSTP-TV 5 WMIN and WTCN were time-sharing stations occupying the VHF channel 11 frequency, before WTCN took over the allocation permanently in April 1955.
KMSP-TV 9 1961–1979 Fox (O&O)
Monroe, Louisiana KARD 14 1981–1994 Fox KNOE-DT 8.2 After KARD disaffiliated from ABC in 1994, the network was not available over-the-air in the Monroe market until KAQY (now KMLU) signed on in 1998.
New Orleans, Louisiana WJMR/WVUE-TV 61/20/13/12/8 1953–1995 (secondary until 1957) Fox WGNO-TV 26 Disaffiliated from NBC in January 1996 as a result of Fox's affiliation agreement with SF Broadcasting, then-owner of WVUE-TV.
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma WKY-TV 4 (now KFOR-TV) 1949–1953; 1956–1958 NBC KOCO-TV 5 Lost ABC affiliation upon sign-on of KTVQ; carried as a secondary affiliation, with NBC as WKY-TV's primary affiliation. WKY restored a secondary affiliation with ABC upon KTVQ's shutdown in 1956, only to disaffiliate from the network again when KGEO-TV (an existing ABC affiliate, which changed its call letters to KOCO-TV upon the move) relocated to Oklahoma City from Enid in 1958.
KTVQ 25 1953–1956 Defunct Ceased operations due to low viewership, the result of the lack of UHF tuners available on most television sets. Channel 25 allocation is now occupied by Fox affiliate KOKH-TV.
Phoenix, Arizona KPHO-TV 5 1949–1955 (secondary) CBS KNXV-TV 15 Lost secondary affiliation upon KTVK's sign-on.
KTVK 3 1955–1995 independent Lost ABC affiliation as a result of a group affiliation deal between the network and the E. W. Scripps Company that sent the ABC affiliation to KNXV-TV.[14] The station subsequently affiliated with The WB in January 1995 (before moving that affiliation to KASW and converting into an independent station).
Portland, Oregon KPTV 12 1959–1964 Fox KATU 2
Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina WRAL-TV 5 1962–1985 CBS WTVD 11 (O&O) Held secondary affiliation with ABC beginning in 1958 until it became a full-time affiliate in 1962.
Rockford, Illinois WREX 13 1965–1995 NBC WTVO 17 Subsequently became a full-time ABC affiliate (prior to that, it had been affiliated with ABC on a secondary basis since 1953)
Salt Lake City, Utah KUTV 2 1954–1960 CBS (O&O from 1995–2007) KTVX 4 Subsequently affiliated with NBC.
San Diego, California XETV 6 1956–1973 The CW KGTV 10 Subsequently became an independent station.
KCST 39 (now KNSD) 1973–1977 NBC (O&O)
San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, California KNTV 11 1960–2000 NBC (O&O) KSBW-DT2 8.2 Although based in San Jose (part of the San Francisco television market), KNTV served as the ABC affiliate for the Salinas-Monterey area; it became a WB affiliate in 1999, after agreeing to disaffiliate from ABC due to a market exclusivity claim for the network in San Jose by San Francisco ABC O&O KGO-TV (channel 7).[15] KGO was added to cable systems in the Monterey Bay area as compensation for the loss of the network's affiliation on KNTV; ABC would not have an in-market affiliate serving the Monterey-Salinas market until NBC affiliate KSBW-TV launched an ABC-affiliated digital subchannel on April 18, 2011.[16] As an NBC owned-and-operated station, KNTV now serves the entire San Francisco Bay Area.
Seattle-Tacoma, Washington KING-TV 5 1953–1959 NBC KOMO-TV 4
St. Petersburg-Tampa, Florida WSUN-TV 38 1955–1965 Defunct WFTS-TV 28 Channel 38 allocation is now occupied by MyNetworkTV affiliate WTTA.
WLCY/WTSP 10 1965–1994 CBS Lost ABC affiliation as a result of a group affiliation deal between the network and the E. W. Scripps Company that sent the ABC affiliation to WFTS. The station subsequently affiliated with CBS in December 1994, through a group deal with then-owner Citicasters.
Stockton-Sacramento, California KOVR 13 1957–1995 CBS (O&O) KXTV 10 Prior to affiliating with KOVR, ABC programming was carried by now-defunct station KCCC (whose channel 40 frequency is now occupied by Fox affiliate KTXL). Disaffiliated from ABC to join CBS in September 1995 through a swap agreement between KXTV's then-owner Belo Corporation and KOVR's then-owner Sinclair Broadcast Group.[17][18]
St. Louis, Missouri WTVI/KTVI 54/36/2 1955–1995 Fox (O&O from 1996–2008) KDNL-TV 30 Disaffiliated from Fox in July 1995 as a result of the network's affiliation agreement with New World Communications, then-owner of KTVI.[19]
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See also

References

  1. ↑ David Zurawik (January 1, 1995). "Get ready, get set, get confused, in TV's big switch in Baltimore Changing Channels". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Harry A. Jessell (May 29, 2014). "Sinclair Giving Up 3 Stations To Appease FCC". TVNewsCheck (NewsCheck Media). Retrieved March 20, 2015.
  3. ↑ "APPLICATION FOR CONSENT TO ASSIGNMENT OF BROADCAST STATION CONSTRUCTION PERMIT OR LICENSE". Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
  4. ↑ "Howard Stirk Holdings Grabs WCIV for $50,000". Broadcasting & Cable (NewBay Media). September 19, 2014. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
  5. ↑ "COMPANY NEWS; TV Stations Shift to ABC". The New York Times (The New York Times Company). June 17, 1994. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
  6. ↑ Tom Hopkins (June 3, 1996). "ANALYSIS: Networks Switch Channels". Dayton Daily News. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
  7. ↑ "ABC Getting New Outlet In Columbus-Tupelo". TVNewsCheck (NewsCheck Media). August 28, 2012. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
  8. ↑ Dennis Seld (August 9, 2012). "ABC affiliate to go off air". Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
  9. ↑ "ABC out, Fox in at WSJV". The News-Sentinel. April 21, 1995. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
  10. ↑ "Rocky Start for New South Bend ABC Affiliate". Times-Union. October 19, 1995. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
  11. ↑ Michael Malone (December 22, 2014). "Tribune Sells Indianapolis CW Affiliation to Media General". Broadcasting & Cable (NewBay Media). Retrieved March 20, 2015.
  12. ↑ "In Brief: Gannett to buy WJXX". Daily Record. November 17, 1999. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
  13. ↑ Andy Meisler (August 19, 1994). "THE MEDIA BUSINESS; Fox to Buy Memphis ABC Outlet". The New York Times (The New York Times Company). Retrieved March 20, 2015.
  14. ↑ "Phoenix Stations Change Affiliation". The Daily Courier. June 16, 1994. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
  15. ↑ "NBC to buy San Jose's KNTV". San Jose Business Journal (American City Business Journals). December 17, 2001. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
  16. ↑ Andy Gauthier (April 8, 2011). "NBC-Affiliate KSBW Launching Central Coast ABC Channel". TVSpy (Mediabistro.com). Retrieved March 20, 2015.
  17. ↑ David Wilkerson (June 1, 1999). "Belo closes Austin ABC buy". MarketWatch. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
  18. ↑ "Sinclair sells KOVR to Viacom". The Record. December 3, 2004. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
  19. ↑ Bill Carter (May 24, 1994). "Fox WILL SIGN UP 12 NEW STATIONS; TAKES 8 FROM CBS". The New York Times. Retrieved March 20, 2015.