Hubbry Logo
WXIA-TVWXIA-TVMain
Open search
WXIA-TV
Community hub
WXIA-TV
logo
7 pages, 0 posts
0 subscribers
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
WXIA-TV
WXIA-TV
WXIA-TV
View on Wikipedia
from Wikipedia

WXIA-TV (channel 11) is a television station in Atlanta, Georgia, United States, affiliated with NBC. It is owned by Tegna Inc. alongside MyNetworkTV affiliate WATL (channel 36). The two stations share studios at One Monroe Place on the north end of midtown Atlanta; WXIA-TV's transmitter is located in the city's east section, near Kirkwood. Atlanta is the second largest television market (after KPRC-TV in Houston, Texas) where the NBC station is not owned and operated by the network.[3]

Key Information

WXIA-TV is popularly known within the Atlanta metropolitan area by its longtime on-air brand, 11 Alive, which the station has used since 1976.

History

[edit]

What is known today as WXIA-TV originally signed on the air September 30, 1951, at 5 p.m., as WLTV on VHF channel 8. It was the first full time ABC affiliate for Atlanta, taking it over from WSB-TV and WAGA-TV (channel 5), both originally primary NBC and CBS affiliates respectively that previously shared ABC programming as a secondary affiliation. It was the third Atlanta television station to sign-on after WSB-TV and WAGA, all signing on within a three-year time frame.

Owned and operated by a group of Atlanta businessmen organized as Broadcasting, Inc., WLTV was indirectly born from the 1950 merger of Atlanta's two newspapers. The Atlanta Journal had originally owned channel 8 as WSB-TV, while The Atlanta Constitution held a construction permit for channel 2 as WCON-TV. Construction had already begun on the WCON-TV facilities when the Howell family, longtime owners of the Constitution, sold their paper to Cox Enterprises, owners of the Journal. However, Cox had a problem. At the time, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) did not permit the sale of television station construction permits, considering it "trafficking". Cox had little option but to keep the WCON-TV construction permit rather than the already-operating WSB-TV.[4] As such, it announced plans to move the WSB-TV intellectual unit to the stronger channel 2 facility when it was completed and sell its channel 8 license, which was acquired by Broadcasting, Inc., for $525,000. The sale was challenged by applicants for additional stations that were affected by the then-ongoing freeze on new construction permits, including Georgia Tech (owners of WGST radio)[5] and Decatur radio station owner E.D. Rivers,[6] in part because planned allocation changes meant that there would be no further commercial VHF stations for Atlanta, and they sought to operate the channel as well.[7]

The FCC dismissed the complaints and approved the sale of the channel 8 license to Broadcasting, Inc., in August 1951.[6] Testing for the new channel 2 began on September 25, 1951,[8] and WSB-TV moved there on September 30. Channel 8 returned at 5 p.m. that day as WLTV.[9] Due to the way the transfer was structured legally, WXIA operates under the license originally granted to WSB-TV, while the current WSB-TV license dates from 1951.[10] Thus, the present-day channel 11 is the second-oldest broadcasting facility in the South; WSB-TV signed on in 1948, four months after WTVR-TV in Richmond, Virginia.

Several more large changes would come for WLTV in the years that followed. When the FCC lifted its freeze on new TV stations with the Sixth Report and Order in April 1952, it made several changes to television allocations and substituted channel 11 for 8 at Atlanta, modifying WLTV's license to specify channel 11.[10] The change coincided with the reallocation of channel 8 to non-commercial educational use at Athens and mitigated interference with channel 9 at Rome. The station would not change channels until September 1953, by which time Broadcasting, Inc., had sold WLTV to Cincinnati-based Crosley Broadcasting Corporation for $1.5 million.[11] In line with its other television stations, Crosley changed the call letters to WLWA (often rendered as "WLW-A") on March 3, 1953.[10]

In 1962, WLWA was purchased by Indianapolis businessman Richard Fairbanks, via his WIBC, Inc., as part of a settlement between Crosley and Fairbanks. Crosley had started WLWI (now WTHR) in Indianapolis in 1957, but Fairbanks insisted that the last VHF allocation in Indianapolis should go to a local owner. Eventually, the two companies agreed to what amounted to a trade, in which Crosley kept WLWI while Fairbanks bought WLWA. The Atlanta station's call sign then became WAII-TV, using the slogan "The Eyes of Atlanta" and the calls standing for "Atlanta's 11" (II). The station was sold to Pacific & Southern Broadcasting in 1968 and on March 23 became known as WQXI-TV, aligning it with WQXI AM and FM (the calls had originally been used on channel 36, currently WATL, from 1954 to 1955). Pacific & Southern later merged with Combined Communications Corporation; the merged company could not purchase both WQXI radio and television, as the FCC had barred new radio-television combinations in top 50 markets.[12] The radio stations were sold to Jefferson-Pilot Broadcasting; as a result of the split, the station assumed the WXIA-TV call letters on December 24, 1973.[13]

On September 20, 1976, WXIA first adopted "11 Alive" as its on-air branding, as part of Combined's practice of using the word "Alive" as part of the brand of most of their stations (two stations not owned by Combined also adopted the "11 Alive" branding that same year, then-independent station WPIX (now a CW affiliate) in New York City—which used the brand until 1986, and NBC affiliate WIIC in Pittsburgh, now WPXI—which used it until 1979). In 1979, Combined merged with the Gannett Company in what became the largest media merger in history up to that time. Following the acquisition, most of the former Combined stations stopped using the "Alive" brand, though WXIA continued to call itself "11 Alive".[citation needed]

On September 1, 1980, WXIA swapped affiliations with WSB-TV and became an NBC affiliate. This move could be traced to ratings: NBC slid to a very poor third place; meanwhile, ABC was in first place for most of the late 1970s and was seeking out affiliates with higher viewership in many markets, including Atlanta. ABC thus jumped at the chance to affiliate with longtime market leader WSB-TV. Some network daytime programs switched stations in August, before the full affiliation switch occurred. In 1993, Gannett dropped the "11 Alive" moniker as part of the introduction of new on-air graphics for its newscasts and promos; however, the brand was so well established in Atlanta that viewer outcry forced Gannett to restore it after only a month; even so, the "11 Alive" brand was not fully restored until 1996, when the 11 Alive News title was restored for its newscasts (which were retitled 11 News with the removal of the "11 Alive" brand).[citation needed]

On June 5, 2006, Gannett entered into an agreement to purchase WATL from the Tribune Company for $180 million, creating Atlanta's first television duopoly;[14] the sale was finalized on August 7, 2006. WATL occasionally airs NBC programs when WXIA is not able due to extended breaking news and severe weather coverage, or special programming. As a result of the WATL acquisition, WXIA management decided to house the combined operation at WATL's facility at One Monroe Place, leaving WXIA's longtime studios at 1611 West Peachtree Street; WXIA and WATL began broadcasting from the new studios on July 27, 2008.

Around the first week of October 2012, Gannett entered a dispute against Dish Network regarding compensation fees and Dish's AutoHop commercial-skip feature on its Hopper digital video recorders. Gannett ordered that Dish discontinue AutoHop on the account that it is affecting advertising revenues for WXIA and WATL. Gannett threatened to pull both stations should the skirmish continue beyond October 7 and Dish and Gannett fail to reach an agreement.[15][16] The two parties eventually reached an agreement after extending the deadline for a few hours.[17]

On June 29, 2015, the Gannett Company split in two, with one side specializing in print media and the other side specializing in broadcast and digital media. WXIA and WATL were retained by the latter company, named Tegna.[18]

On January 24, 2019, WXIA debuted a new station logo for the first time in 26 years; the "11" in the new logo is similar to Louisville sister station WHAS-TV.[19]

Programming

[edit]

The station previously aired a program called Noonday for many years, beginning with the news at noon and at 12:30 continuing on for the rest of the hour with features, akin somewhat to the Today Show. This program was canceled in 1997, but the half-hour noon newscast was preceded by the hour-long Atlanta & Company, a program which has some similar features, but is partly paid for by the companies featured on it, until 2015, when the noon newscast was canceled. The program then expanded to 90 minutes, currently running from 11 to 12:30 p.m.[citation needed]

Sports programming

[edit]

Owing to NBC's longstanding contract with the International Olympic Committee, WXIA was the local broadcaster for the 1996 Summer Olympics held in Atlanta. It also carried the Atlanta Braves' World Series victory the previous year (coverage alternated between NBC and ABC as part of The Baseball Network, so WSB had Games 1, 4 and 5, while WXIA received Games 2, 3 and the clinching sixth game; all Braves games on NBC's MLB broadcast contract from 1981 to 1989 (and before that, from 1976 to 1980 with ABC's broadcast contract) and postseason games in select years from 1996 to 2000 were also broadcast on WXIA which include their 1999 World Series appearance). WXIA also aired a Braves game in 2023 as part of a simulcast between NBC and Peacock's MLB Sunday Leadoff package. From its switch to NBC in 1980 up to 1997, all Atlanta Falcons involving them playing an AFC team at home were aired on WXIA. Today, the station airs any Falcons contests under NBC's Sunday Night Football banner (afternoon games air either on WAGA or WUPA). The station also provided local coverage of Super Bowl XXVIII, which was hosted at the Georgia Dome. WXIA also aired all Atlanta Hawks games carried through NBC's NBA coverage from 1990 to 2002, and from 2025 onward.[citation needed]

News operation

[edit]

WXIA presently broadcasts 33 hours, 25 minutes of locally produced newscasts each week (with 5 hours, 35 minutes each weekday, 3+1⁄2 hours on Saturdays and two hours on Sundays). It also produces a half-hour prime time newscast at 10 p.m. for sister station WATL, which competes with the longer-running hour-long 10 p.m. newscast on Fox-owned WAGA-TV. The station's Doppler weather radar site is located west of Atlanta in far southern Cobb County, south-southwest of Mableton, on the south side of Interstate 20 not far west of Six Flags Over Georgia.[citation needed]

The station began calling its newscasts News Watch in 1963 and began broadcasting news in color for the first time on March 20, 1967. From the early 1970s onward, channel 11's newscasts waged a spirited battle with WAGA for second place behind long-dominant WSB-TV. When WAGA switched to Fox in 1994, WXIA surged to become a solid runner-up, usually finishing well ahead of perennial third-place finisher WGCL-TV; however, by May 2009, WXIA's ratings had been surpassed by WGCL at noon and 11 p.m. The morning news program Today in Atlanta had experienced a 40% ratings drop, leaving them a very distant third behind the local morning shows on WSB and WAGA, and sometimes fourth behind WGCL.[citation needed]

WXIA formerly had a partnership with The Weather Channel to use their weather forecasters and provide local weather forecasts (incidentally, NBCUniversal—which owns NBC through parent company Comcast, Atlanta's primary cable television provider—held a majority ownership stake in The Weather Channel until 2018). WXIA became the first Atlanta station to begin broadcasting its local newscasts in high definition on February 2, 2006. As part of the conversion to HD, a new HD-ready news set from Production Design Group, Ltd. was built and the station began using a new graphics package from Giant Octopus.[citation needed]

In February 2010, WXIA began a nightly news segment, "Bull Fighters", which consists of eight reporters/anchors; the segment is usually provided by former WAGA sports reporter Jeff Hullinger. On April 28, 2010, a new 4:30 a.m. newscast called Wake Up with Chesley debuted, featuring meteorologist Chesley McNeil and travel producer Matt Holmes; in addition to news updates throughout the show, McNeil primarily gives weather updates while Holmes gives travel delays and information. On January 29, 2013, on the noon broadcast, WXIA debuted the new Gannett standardized graphics and music ("This is Home" by Gari Media Group); their renovated studio debuted on February 12, 2013.[citation needed]

On January 29, 2015, WXIA announced that the 5 p.m. newscast would return for the first time since 2003, when Dr. Phil took over that time slot; that show moved to the 3 p.m. timeslot.[20] However, the new newscast came at the cost of ending its noon and 7 p.m. newscasts, which were replaced by an extension of Atlanta & Company and Wheel of Fortune, respectively (the latter reversing its 2007 move from WXIA to WATL). These changes went into effect on March 2, 2015.[21]

Between July 31 and August 28, 2017, WXIA underwent a significant relaunch of its news department, mirroring a similar move that was made by Tampa Bay sister station WTSP in April of that same year. The station renamed its morning and late-night newscasts as Morning Rush ATL and The Late Feed, respectively. Shiba Russell, who came over from NBC O&O station WNBC the previous year, became the solo anchor of Morning Rush ATL, while Vinnie Politan became the anchor of The Late Feed.[citation needed]

In March 2020, WXIA relaunched its noon newscast; however, it was meant to be temporary due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[citation needed]

In June 2021, WXIA re-titled its morning and late-night newscasts once again; the former is now titled 11 Alive Morning News and the latter, which had been renamed from The Late Feed to Up Late following Vinnie Politan's departure from the station in November 2018, returned to the previous 11 Alive News at 11 title.[citation needed]


Notable former on-air staff

[edit]

Technical information

[edit]

Subchannels

[edit]

The station's signal is multiplexed:

Subchannels of WXIA-TV[23]
Channel Res. Aspect Short name Programming
11.1 1080i 16:9 WXIA-TV NBC
11.3 480i Crime True Crime Network
11.4 NEST The Nest
11.5 ShopLC Shop LC
11.7 4:3 GetTV get
17.2 720p 16:9 Peachtree Sports Network (WPCH-TV)
  Broadcast on behalf of another station

The NBC Weather Plus service was discontinued on December 1, 2008; however, some stations, including WXIA, continued to air national and local radar with Weather Plus branding, supplied by The Weather Channel through the end of December. In January, WXIA rebranded the channel "11Alive Weather" and kept the "L-Bar" with weather information from The Weather Channel, but shifted the remainder of the content to a local radar loop, and eliminated the background music that aired with it. It was later rebranded as the "11Alive Weather Information Zone" or "WIZ" in 2010, along with the weather segments during newscasts on the main channel. This service was also carried on digital cable in the Atlanta area through Charter Spectrum and Comcast.

In early December 2010, the WIZ was moved to WATL, and aired on channel 36.2, while 11.2 continued to air a static message graphic directing over-the-air viewers to tune there and re-scan if necessary. One month later, on January 10, the channel was removed completely from WXIA, and 11.3 became 11.2, before being reversed the following day. In 2011, Atlanta-based Bounce TV launched on September 26 with WATL 36.2 as its de facto flagship affiliate, with the WIZ channel being restored two weeks later on 36.3. In early October, 11.2 again became Universal Sports and 11.3 was deleted and was reversed again a week later, with WIZ bounced back to its original channel 11.2. In November 2011, 11.3 was deleted leaving 36.3 as the sole channel for Universal Sports until it became a cable channel in 2012. Eventually, WIZ was converted from being presented using internal station weather computers to presentation and programming from The Local AccuWeather Channel. But an agreement with WAGA-TV and AccuWeather has made WXIA switch its programming and presentation to WeatherNation TV.

The station added Universal Sports at the beginning of May 2009 on channel 11.3, added it to 36.3 in October 2011, and then deleted it from 11.3 in November 2011. However, it used severe video data compression, which left very obvious blurriness and pixelation during high-motion scenes common in sports. This low-bitrate sacrifice protects the quality of the main HD channel and is unavoidable because Universal Sports transmits its programming via satellite in this highly compressed form (4.48 Mbit/s). It was therefore not originally transmitted on sister station WATL (virtual channel 36.3, digital channel 25) because it would look the same there, and that station's bandwidth is being used for mobile television (ATSC-M/H), including WXIA's mobile channels. Additionally, mobile communications work better on higher UHF TV channels than on low VHF ones.

In early 2018, the station added new network Quest on new subchannel 11.4, taking over many of WXIA-DT2's cable slots and leaving that station for the most part exclusive to over-the-air customers.

In February 2020, WeatherNation TV was replaced by a VHF simulcast of WATL on subchannel 11.2. The simulcast ended on April 5, 2021, when it was replaced with Twist after the network launched.

Analog-to-digital conversion

[edit]

WXIA-TV originally had the only VHF allotment for digital television in the area, until WGTV (channel 8) was moved from UHF 22 to VHF 12 (now 8). The station shut down its analog signal, over VHF channel 11, on June 12, 2009, at 12:30 p.m., as part of the federally mandated transition from analog to digital television.[24] The station's digital signal remained on its pre-transition VHF channel 10,[25] using virtual channel 11.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

WXIA-TV

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
WXIA-TV, known on-air as 11Alive, is an NBC-affiliated television station licensed to Atlanta, Georgia, United States, serving the Atlanta metropolitan area. It broadcasts on virtual channel 11 (VHF digital channel 10) from studios located at One Monroe Place in Midtown Atlanta. The station's history dates to September 30, 1951, when it signed on as WLTV, an ABC affiliate originally broadcasting on VHF channel 8; the call letters were changed to WLWA-TV in 1953 after acquisition by Crosley Broadcasting Corporation. In 1962, it was acquired by Richard H. Fairbanks and rebranded as WAII-TV before being sold again in 1968 to Pacific and Southern Broadcasting, which operated it as WQXI-TV until adopting its current WXIA-TV call letters on December 24, 1973. WXIA-TV switched its primary affiliation to NBC in September 1980. Ownership changed hands multiple times thereafter, including acquisition by Combined Communications in 1979 (which merged with Gannett in 1985) and a spin-off to TEGNA Inc. in 2015, under which it remains today as part of a duopoly with MyNetworkTV affiliate WATL (channel 36), also owned by TEGNA. Throughout its history, WXIA-TV has achieved several broadcasting milestones, including Atlanta's first color camera news broadcast in March 1967 and becoming the city's first station to air all local news programming in high definition in 2006. It served as the NBC flagship station for the 1996 Summer Olympics held in Atlanta and employs over 200 staff members dedicated to local news, weather, traffic, and sports coverage. The station introduced Atlanta's first female weather forecaster in 1963, marking an early step in diversifying on-air talent. As of November 2025, TEGNA's agreement to be acquired by Nexstar Media Group for $6.2 billion remains pending regulatory approval and shareholder vote.

History

Launch and early operations

WXIA-TV traces its origins to September 30, 1951, when it signed on the air as WLTV, an ABC affiliate broadcasting on VHF channel 8 in , Georgia. The station was founded by a group of local businessmen organized under Broadcasting, Inc., amid the rapid expansion of television in the post-World War II era. As Atlanta's third commercial TV station after and WAGA-TV, WLTV quickly established itself by airing a mix of ABC network programs and original local content, capitalizing on the city's burgeoning status as a regional media hub. In 1952, the reallocated channel 8 for non-commercial educational use, prompting WLTV to relocate to channel 11 in September 1953. This move was necessitated by signal interference concerns with nearby stations, including one in . Concurrently, Broadcasting, Inc., sold the station to Cincinnati-based Broadcasting Corporation, which infused capital for upgrades and rebranded the callsign to WLWA-TV on , 1953, aligning it with the company's other properties. Under ownership, WLWA-TV continued as Atlanta's primary ABC outlet, competing fiercely with NBC affiliate on channel 2 and CBS affiliate WAGA-TV on channel 5 during the early television boom, when only a handful of VHF stations served the market. Throughout the and , WLWA-TV's programming emphasized general entertainment, including ABC-supplied dramas, variety shows, and sports, supplemented by locally produced content that reflected Atlanta's economic and cultural growth. Notable local offerings included comedy sketches like The Merry Mutes, featuring future star in the early , alongside , , and community events broadcasts that captured the city's development, such as projects and civic celebrations. The station played a key role in local event coverage, from high school sports to public affairs discussions, helping to foster television's integration into daily life amid Atlanta's population surge and urban expansion. By the late , after further ownership changes—including sales to Richard M. Fairbanks in (renaming it WAII-TV with the slogan "The Eyes of Atlanta") and Pacific and Southern Broadcasting in 1968 (WQXI-TV)—the station had introduced innovations like color programming in 1967, solidifying its position in the competitive market.

Ownership transitions

In 1953, the station was sold to Crosley Broadcasting Corporation, which relocated the transmitter to channel 11 and changed the call letters to WLWA-TV to align with its flagship. Crosley Broadcasting, which had been under the control of Avco Corporation since 1945, sold WLWA-TV in 1962 to Indianapolis-based WIBC, Inc., owned by Richard M. Fairbanks, as part of a settlement; the station became WAII-TV. In 1968, WAII-TV was acquired by Pacific & Southern Broadcasting Company for an undisclosed amount, prompting a call letter change to WQXI-TV to match the company's Atlanta radio stations. Pacific & Southern merged with Combined Communications Corporation in 1974, retaining the WQXI-TV calls until December 25, 1973, when they were changed to WXIA-TV in anticipation of the merger. In 1979, Combined Communications merged with Gannett Company in a $370 million stock exchange, the largest media merger at the time, bringing WXIA-TV under Gannett ownership. As part of Gannett's corporate restructuring to separate its publishing and broadcasting divisions, WXIA-TV was spun off to the newly formed TEGNA Inc. on June 29, 2015. On August 19, 2025, announced a definitive agreement to acquire , including WXIA-TV, for $6.2 billion, inclusive of net debt and transaction expenses; the deal closed on November 7, 2025.

Affiliation changes and rebranding

WXIA-TV switched its primary network affiliation from ABC to NBC on September 1, 1980, in a swap with market leader , which had opted to join ABC amid the network's surging popularity and stronger ratings during the late 1970s. This move positioned WXIA to inherit 's programming slate, which, although struggling at the time with a third-place national ranking, underwent a significant turnaround in the mid-1980s through hits like and , ultimately boosting the station's audience share and establishing it as a competitive force in the market. The station had introduced its enduring "11 Alive" branding on September 20, 1976, while still an ABC affiliate, as part of a broader identity emphasizing and community connection under owner Combined Communications. Following the affiliation switch, this news-focused brand was reinforced to align with NBC's schedule, with the first logo update in incorporating a more dynamic design to reflect the new . Subsequent evolutions included a 1996 refresh that restored and modernized the "11 Alive" motif for broader on-air use, a 2006 update coinciding with high-definition production advancements, a 2012 revision for digital consistency, and a major overhaul on January 24, 2019, featuring bold custom angled at 11 degrees to evoke forward momentum. In the digital age, WXIA integrated its rebranding with technological shifts, launching high-definition local newscasts on February 2, 2006, as the first station to do so, which enhanced visual appeal and tied into the "Alive" theme of immediacy. The station's online presence at 11alive.com, established in the late , further evolved these efforts by synchronizing web content with on-air identities, enabling seamless multi-platform engagement and reinforcing the brand's commitment to real-time, viewer-centric .

Programming

Network and syndicated content

WXIA-TV, the NBC affiliate serving the metropolitan area, provides full carriage of the network's primetime lineup, featuring scripted dramas, comedies, and variety programs such as and late-night talk shows including . This schedule structure typically includes weekday mornings dedicated to the Today show, offering news, lifestyle segments, and interviews from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. ET, followed by in early afternoons. Evenings feature the with at 6:30 p.m., leading into primetime blocks of network content from 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., while weekends emphasize family-oriented programming, sports events, and specials. As the local host broadcaster for major NBC events, WXIA-TV played a prominent role in the held in , serving as the network's flagship station and providing extensive coverage of the games, including the and local impacts. The station adapts its network feed for the market by inserting local news breaks during national programs and preempting select content for extended coverage of significant events, such as presidential elections or disruptions, ensuring relevance to regional audiences. These adaptations integrate seamlessly with local newscasts, maintaining a balance between national content and community-focused interruptions. Historically, WXIA-TV has incorporated syndicated programming to fill daytime and early fringe slots, including long-running game shows like Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy!, which aired in the 7:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. positions respectively during much of the and beyond, drawing strong viewership in the competitive market. More recently, the station continues to air syndicated fare in off-peak hours, such as reruns and entertainment news segments, complementing the schedule without displacing core network obligations. This approach has allowed WXIA-TV to leverage popular syndicated titles to bolster ratings during non-primetime periods.

Local non-news programming

WXIA-TV has long emphasized original beyond news, beginning with the midday Noonday, which aired for many years and included interviews, cooking segments, and topics as a live daily talk format. The station's current flagship program, & Company, airs weekdays at noon for 30 minutes and highlights local events, health tips, entertainment, and community features with hosts like Cara Kneer. This show fills the midday slot following NBC's morning lineup, offering Atlanta-specific content such as chef spotlights and business profiles. WXIA-TV also dedicates time to community outreach through public affairs programming and in-house produced specials. Sunday blocks often include discussions on local issues, while annual holiday specials like the Holiday Can-A-Thon—a food drive partnership with —air to support metro Atlanta families, marking its 43rd year in 2025. Other produced specials, such as Stories of the Heart in 2015, focus on . The evolution of these formats benefited from infrastructure upgrades, including the station's 2008 relocation to modern studios at One Monroe Place in , which improved production quality with advanced sets and technology for live segments and specials.

Sports coverage

WXIA-TV's sports coverage has evolved alongside its network affiliations, emphasizing professional team broadcasts through national packages while integrating local elements into newscasts. As Atlanta's ABC affiliate from 1951 until the September 1980 affiliation swap with , WXIA-TV aired select games as part of ABC's national coverage, including telecasts starting in 1976 that occasionally featured the Braves. Following the switch to , the station focused on and content aligned with the network's rights. From 1980 to 1997, WXIA-TV broadcast home games against opponents, leveraging 's exclusive AFC package that ensured local carriage of those matchups. The station carried all Atlanta Hawks games selected for NBC's NBA coverage from 1990 to 2002, providing Atlanta viewers access to regular-season and playoff action during the network's 12-year run. This era included high-profile broadcasts tied to NBC's sports slate, such as the 1999 World Series featuring the Braves against the New York Yankees, which WXIA-TV aired in full as the NBC affiliate. Similarly, WXIA-TV provided local inserts and pre/post-game programming for NBC-broadcast Super Bowls, including in 1994 at the . Partnership shifts marked the late , with relinquishing its rights after the 1997 season, ending WXIA-TV's direct carriage of Falcons interconference home games to the incoming affiliate. The Hawks broadcasts concluded in 2002 alongside 's exit from the NBA, shifting those rights to cable and other networks. In a notable resurgence, 's NBA deal revived select Hawks coverage on WXIA-TV starting in the 2025-26 season, including the November 4, 2025, home opener against the . Today, WXIA-TV integrates sports into its newscasts with dedicated segments on professional teams, alongside occasional specials on high school athletics across and live reports from training camps in Flowery Branch. This local emphasis complements national programming, maintaining the station's role in Atlanta's sports media landscape.

News operation

Newscast schedule and format

WXIA-TV produces over 40 hours of programming each week under the "11Alive News" banner, encompassing weekday newscasts at 4:30 a.m., 5 a.m., noon, 4 p.m., 5 p.m., 6 p.m., and 11 p.m., along with weekend editions at various morning and evening slots. These broadcasts emphasize breaking news, weather updates, traffic reports, and community stories tailored to the Atlanta metropolitan area. In April 2025, the morning news expanded to include an additional 7 to 8:30 a.m. segment on the 11Alive+ streaming platform. The station's news format has evolved to expand its weekday presence. On March 2, 2015, WXIA-TV relaunched its 5 p.m. newscast for the first time since 2003, replacing portions of syndicated programming to strengthen early evening coverage. In March 2020, amid the , the noon newscast was temporarily revived to provide dedicated updates on public health and local impacts; this slot became permanent later that year, enhancing midday information access for viewers. Further adaptations included a late-night expansion in 2021, extending the 11 p.m. newscast to fill the full 35-minute slot leading into national late-night programming. This adjustment allowed for more in-depth reporting on evening developments. Additionally, WXIA-TV shares a 10 p.m. newscast with , providing an hour-long program that competes directly with FOX-owned WAGA-TV's established 10 p.m. broadcast in the market, bolstering Tegna's duopoly presence in late-evening news. WXIA-TV's newscasts incorporate special segments dedicated to investigative reporting via the "11Alive News Investigates" team, which uncovers issues like property fraud and public safety concerns, and community journalism efforts such as "11Alive Voices for Equality," highlighting diverse stories and social initiatives. These elements underscore a commitment to accountability and local engagement within the broadcasts.

Technical and production advancements

WXIA-TV marked a significant in local broadcasting by becoming the first station in to air all its programs in high definition in 2006, specifically launching this capability on February 2 following a comprehensive studio overhaul to accommodate the upgraded format. The new studio, designed for high-definition production, featured enhanced lighting, camera systems, and set elements optimized for sharper visuals and improved on-air presentation, setting a standard for news delivery in the market. This transition not only elevated the quality of WXIA-TV's newscasts but also positioned the station as a leader in adopting advanced video technology for viewer engagement. In , WXIA-TV further modernized its operations by relocating to a new facility that included the adoption of fully digital newsroom systems, streamlining from reporting to broadcast with integrated editing and tools. Concurrently, the station installed a site in southern Cobb County, which allowed for seamless integration of real-time into newscasts, providing more precise tracking and visual enhancements for meteorologists' segments. These upgrades improved the and accuracy of production, enabling faster response to developing stories and more dynamic coverage essential for the region. Following , WXIA-TV expanded its field reporting capabilities with the introduction of mobile production units and drone technology, facilitating high-quality live coverage from remote locations and aerial perspectives during events. Drones, in particular, have been utilized to capture overhead footage of incidents such as plane crashes and , offering viewers unique insights that traditional ground-based reporting could not achieve. This shift toward portable and versatile equipment has enhanced the station's ability to deliver timely, visually compelling content across its platforms. These innovations reflect WXIA-TV's ongoing commitment to leveraging cutting-edge production techniques to maintain relevance in a competitive media landscape.

Notable on-air personnel

WXIA-TV, known on-air as 11Alive, has featured a roster of accomplished anchors, reporters, and meteorologists who have shaped its reputation for and community-focused reporting. Among current evening anchors, Cheryl Preheim has earned acclaim for her work, including a Southeast Emmy for best anchor, recognizing her delivery in high-profile stories on local issues; in May 2025, she transitioned to anchor the 4 p.m. newscast. Faith Jessie, a six-time Emmy winner as of 2025, co-anchors key newscasts and brings expertise from her background in reporting on and public affairs, contributing to the station's multiple team Emmy wins for morning newscasts. Jennifer Bellamy anchors the 5 p.m., 6 p.m., and 11 p.m. broadcasts, focusing on and features that highlight Atlanta's . In weather coverage, Chief Chris Holcomb leads the team with over two decades of experience, providing forecasts during major events like severe storms and hurricanes, while Emmy-winning meteorologist Chesley McNeil delivers midday and weekend updates, noted for her engaging explanations of complex weather patterns. Reporters such as Savannah Levins, a three-time Emmy winner, excels in special projects on and , enhancing the station's investigative depth. These professionals appear across 11Alive's newscasts, contributing to the outlet's 36 Southeast in 2019 alone, including honors for team coverage and on-camera talent. Former personnel have left enduring legacies, particularly in longevity and diversity milestones. Brenda Wood anchored evening newscasts from 1997 to 2017, marking 20 years at the station and over 40 years in broadcasting; as an African American woman, she hosted award-winning specials like "Remembering the 1996 Olympics," reflecting on the event's impact on during its hosting. In the , served as an anchor and reporter from 1978 to 1982, becoming one of the first African American women to hold such roles at a major station, pioneering diverse representation in . Longtime anchors like Dave Michaels (1976–1985) and John Pruitt (–1980s) set standards for on-air stability, with Michaels remembered for his steady presence during pivotal local events until his passing in 2023. Reporters such as Kevin Rowson, who covered crime beats for decades before his 2025 death, and La'Tasha Givens, a two-time Emmy recipient who specialized in business and community stories until her departure in 2025, exemplified the team's commitment to accountability journalism. These figures' Emmy wins and roles in landmark coverage, including the 1996 Olympics broadcasts, underscore WXIA-TV's history of excellence and inclusivity.

Technical information

Broadcast signal and facilities

WXIA-TV maintains its broadcast studios and offices at One Monroe Place NE in , Georgia, a facility shared with sister station . This location has served as the station's production hub since July 2008, when operations relocated from the previous site at 1611 West Peachtree Street NE to consolidate resources following the acquisition of WATL. The modern studio setup supports comprehensive news production, including high-definition broadcasting capabilities introduced in the mid-2000s. The station's transmitter is situated in the Clifton neighborhood of , near Kirkwood, at coordinates 33°45′24″N 84°19′55″W. It operates on VHF physical channel 10, mapping to 11.1, with an (ERP) of 80 kW and a (HAAT) of 303 meters (994 feet). This configuration enables robust over-the-air coverage across the metropolitan area and surrounding regions of north Georgia, reaching an estimated population of over 6 million within its primary contour. WXIA-TV also supports broadcasting since August 2021, hosted on WPCH-TV's signal (virtual 17), offering advanced features such as higher resolution and . WXIA-TV serves as the NBC affiliate for the Atlanta designated market area (DMA), the seventh-largest television market in the United States with approximately 2.8 million television households as of the 2025–26 season. The signal is widely distributed via cable and satellite providers throughout the market, including channel 6 on Comcast Xfinity and Charter Spectrum systems in the Atlanta region. For redundancy, the station employs backup engineering systems to ensure operational continuity during potential disruptions. The primary digital signal on 11.1 carries WXIA's main programming, while additional subchannels are multiplexed for secondary content.

Subchannels

WXIA-TV's digital signal is multiplexed into five subchannels, providing a mix of national network and syndicated programming alongside its primary affiliation. The main channel, 11.1, carries programming in high definition since the completion of the digital transition on June 12, 2009, with local news in HD since 2006. Subchannel 11.3 airs the in 480i, added to WXIA-TV in 2020 following the rebranding of the Justice Network, which the station had carried since its 2015 launch. Subchannel 11.4 broadcasts The Nest in 480i, a and network added in 2024, replacing TBD which aired from 2021 to 2024. Subchannel 11.5 carries Shop LC in , a shopping network. Subchannel 11.7 features GetTV in , focusing on classic films and TV series. Prior affiliations on these subchannels included Grit from 2018 to 2020 and Quest from 2018 to circa 2023; all subchannels operate in standard definition to optimize bandwidth on the station's VHF , except for the main channel in .

Analog-to-digital conversion

WXIA-TV initiated its on VHF channel 10 in October 1998, marking an early adoption of the emerging technology while continuing to operate its primary on VHF channel 11. This initial digital launch allowed for experimental and limited programming, with the station gradually expanding its digital capabilities over the following years. By 2006, WXIA-TV completed a full conversion of its main channel to high-definition (HD) format, becoming Atlanta's first station to broadcast all programs in HD, which involved upgrading production equipment and transmission systems to support enhanced resolution and audio quality. In alignment with the nationwide mandated by the , WXIA-TV maintained a temporary of its analog and digital signals leading up to the full-power analog shutdown on June 12, 2009, at 12:30 p.m. Eastern Time. This sign-off ended over-the-air analog transmissions on channel 11, shifting all viewers to the digital signal on channel 10, which utilized PSIP to continue displaying as 11. The transition complied with the DTV Delay Act and subsequent FCC guidelines, ensuring a coordinated end to analog across the U.S. To support viewers through the changeover, WXIA-TV produced and aired announcements explaining the transition, distributed information on obtaining and installing digital converter boxes for older analog televisions, and maintained dedicated website resources with FAQs and troubleshooting guides. The station also engaged directly with the public through online chats and live interviews to address concerns about signal reception and equipment needs. Following the analog cessation, the fully digital operation delivered significant benefits, including sharper HD picture quality for compatible receivers and the technical foundation to introduce multiple subchannels, expanding programming options without disrupting the primary broadcast.

References

  1. https://www.11alive.com/about-us
  2. https://investors.tegna.com/news-releases/news-release-details/tegna-inc-reports-third-quarter-2025-results
  3. https://fadedsignals.com/post/119562624891/wltv-channel-8-signed-on-from-atlanta-in-1951-as
  4. https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/arts-culture/television-broadcasting/
  5. https://www.ajc.com/things-to-do/dick-van-dykes-early-days-in-atlanta-before-he-became-a-tv-legend/YUYIRC7H6FDQZD34MBQQPD5KBA/
  6. https://logos.fandom.com/wiki/WXIA-TV
  7. https://www.avid.wiki/Avco_Broadcasting_Corporation
  8. https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Archive-RandR/1970s/1974/RR-1974-08-16.pdf
  9. https://www.nytimes.com/1978/05/09/archives/combined-communications-agrees-to-a-370-million-gannett-merger.html
  10. https://www.tegna.com/separation-of-gannett-into-two-public-companies-completed/
  11. https://www.nexstar.tv/nexstar-media-group-inc-enters-into-definitive-agreement-to-acquire-tegna-inc-for-6-2-billion-in-accretive-transaction/
  12. https://www.newscaststudio.com/2025/11/07/nexstar-ceo-signals-more-deals-ahead-after-6-2b-tegna-acquisition-closes/
  13. https://www.newscaststudio.com/2019/01/24/11-alive-wxia-new-logo/
  14. https://media-index.kochava.com/ad_partners/11-alive
  15. https://www.nbc.com/
  16. https://www.tvpassport.com/tv-listings/stations/nbc-wxia-atlanta-ga/1709
  17. https://www.11alive.com/tv-listings
  18. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wx-dchTXRNo
  19. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-XDHLbZVCs
  20. https://www.ajc.com/things-to-do/georgia-entertainment-scene/11alive-moving-noon-newscast-to-11-am-starting-april-29/7VEMBUJSGZEJHJOI7Y24MLVAQ4/
  21. https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/outreach/can-a-thon/43rd-11alive-can-a-thon-how-to-donate-how-to-register/85-84462a96-61fd-476b-88ce-f26893d202e6
  22. https://www.11alive.com/article/features/holiday-special-stories-of-the-heart/85-53958477
  23. https://www.newscaststudio.com/2008/06/30/wxia/
  24. https://www.nbc.com/nbc-insider/the-history-of-the-nba-on-nbc-everything-to-know
  25. https://www.newscaststudio.com/2019/02/01/11alive-super-bowl/
  26. https://www.nbcuniversal.com/article/nbc-sports-unveils-full-2025-26-nba-regular-season-schedule-featuring-100-games-nbc-and-peacock
  27. https://www.11alive.com/hss
  28. https://www.11alive.com/article/about-us/11alive-morning-news-expands-11alive/85-6d5577d1-92f6-4ca8-89f0-dc69feb6500a
  29. https://www.ajc.com/blog/radiotvtalk/local-news-briefs-karyn-greer-sunday-wsb-lineup-changes-fred-blankenship/lOUZRwxcvAJVRXp9Kc3VUO/
  30. https://www.ajc.com/life/radiotvtalk-blog/karyn-greer-leaves-morning-anchor-job-adds-management-duties-keeps-noon-anchor-role/4P6VESXHY5HEFCMWETUH4RFUWE/
  31. https://tvnewscheck.com/journalism/article/watl-atlanta-launching-primetime-newscast/
  32. https://www.ajc.com/blog/radiotvtalk/alive-morning-show-adds-watl-hour/1ITK6ZF3n6DmEMyvNIIpHL/
  33. https://www.11alive.com/investigative
  34. https://www.11alive.com/community
  35. https://www.newscaststudio.com/2013/02/14/atlanta-nbc-debuts-new-set/
  36. https://www.newscaststudio.com/2008/07/27/atlantas-11alive-transitions-to-new-facilty/
  37. https://www.11alive.com/radar
  38. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3RKHztCu2g
  39. https://www.newscaststudio.com/setstudio/wxia/
  40. https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/11alive-is-most-honored-news-outlet-at-44th-annual-southeast-emmys/85-565030852
  41. https://www.11alive.com/video/news/local/11alive-morning-team-says-goodbye-to-cheryl-prehiem-and-julie-smith/85-fb635351-f770-4419-bb36-f875d32729de
  42. https://www.11alive.com/article/about-us/team-bios/faith-jesse/85-9b93502c-49ee-48e6-978c-dc218d93f8e1
  43. https://faithjessie.com/
  44. https://www.instagram.com/jbellamytv/
  45. https://www.facebook.com/11AliveChrisHolcomb/
  46. https://www.linkedin.com/in/chesley-mcneil-m-s-090067243
  47. https://www.linkedin.com/in/savannah-levins-b3137554
  48. https://www.11alive.com/article/news/11alive-honored-with-36-southeast-emmy-awards/85-64498704-aa20-4daa-9999-4951eba37f10
  49. https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/11alive-anchor-brenda-wood-announces-2017-retirement/85-329545819
  50. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/11alive-anchor-brenda-wood-announces-2017-retirement-300340837.html
  51. https://www.thehistorymakers.org/biography/roz-abrams
  52. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iiJEbNh9kO0
  53. https://www.11alive.com/article/about-us/former-11alive-reported-kevin-rowson-dies/85-09285960-58a1-4fc3-b486-437c90314145
  54. https://www.instagram.com/latashagivens1/?hl=en
  55. https://southeastemmy.com/emmy-awards/nominees-winners/
  56. https://www.atsc.org/news/five-stations-launch-3-0-broadcasts-in-atlanta/
  57. https://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=print_station&facility_id=51163
  58. https://www.antennasdirect.com/hdtv-station-list.html
  59. https://www.tegna.com/tegnas-justice-network-to-relaunch-as-true-crime-network-creating-the-first-24-7-true-crime-broadcast-network/
  60. https://www.truecrimenetworktv.com/about
  61. https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/nbc-nat-geo-discovery-executives-team-launch-justice-182300279.html
  62. https://www.tvtechnology.com/equipment/wxia-transitions-from-analog-to-hd-in-five-months
  63. https://www.nielsen.com/insights/2009/the-switch-from-analog-to-digital-tv/
Add your contribution
Related Hubs
User Avatar
No comments yet.