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WXIN (channel 59) is a television station in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States, affiliated with the Fox network. It is owned by Nexstar Media Group alongside Bloomington-licensed CBS affiliate WTTV, channel 4 (and its Kokomo-licensed satellite WTTK, channel 29). The stations share studios on Network Place (near 71st Street and I-465) in northwestern Indianapolis; WXIN's transmitter is located on West 73rd Street (or Westlane Road) on the northern outskirts of the city.

Key Information

Channel 59 debuted as independent station WPDS-TV on February 1, 1984, broadcasting from studios on Meridian Street. Majority-owned by Anacomp, Inc., it was named for its founding owners: Ron Palamara, Chris Duffy, and Melvin and Herbert Simon. The station dabbled in production of local programs including a newscast, a late-night talk show, and a children's program. Within a year, the partners sold the station to Outlet Communications, which changed the call sign to WXIN in 1985 to reduce confusion with PBS and WTBS. An aggressive program purchasing policy and the financial troubles of WTTV, its chief competitor, made the station more competitive in the market, and the station joined Fox at its creation in 1986.

After more than two years on the market and an abortive sale to locally based Emmis Communications, Chase Broadcasting purchased WXIN in 1990. The station began airing a 10 p.m. newscast in 1991, but it was not until Tribune Broadcasting ownership that it grew beyond late news. A morning newscast debuted in 1999, and from 2004 to 2014, the station tripled its weekly news output with new and expanded newscasts in nearly every key daypart. Tribune acquired WTTV in 2002 and moved both stations the next year to their present studios in northwest Indianapolis. WTTV became a CBS affiliate in 2015 with a partially separate news operation.

History

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WPDS-TV: Construction and early years

[edit]

The first group to express interest in channel 59 in Indianapolis was a group backed by Clint Murchison, who proposed subscription television (STV) operation for the channel in 1978.[4] The group, Channel 59 of Indiana, formally filed that July.[5] United Television Corporation of Indiana (owned by United Cable) filed the next month with a similar plan.[6] That December, Indianapolis Television—a consortium of shopping mall and Indiana Pacers co-owner Melvin Simon, his brother Fred, and Gerald Kraft—filed for channel 59.[7] A fourth application, from Indianapolis 59 (subsidiary of a young Sinclair Broadcast Group), was also received.[8]

Indianapolis Television Corporation secured the channel in 1981 under the terms of a settlement with the other applicants, reimbursing its competitors a combined $128,300 in the process.[9] While it, too, had proposed subscription programming, changes in technology and the industry led the firm to hold off on building an STV outlet[10] and ultimately find the concept unviable.[11] The permit, initially with the call sign WSMK,[12] soon changed hands. In 1983, 80 percent of the stock in the company was sold to local computer services company Anacomp, Inc.; Melvin retained 10 percent, while his other brother, Herbert Simon, bought a 10-percent stake. The $800,000 acquisition produced capital to be invested in the construction of the station.[13] Anacomp was headed by Ron Palamara, while one of the vice presidents in Anacomp was Chris Duffy, who had been the general manager at WTHR for five years before joining Anacomp in 1981. The reconfigured ownership group, known as USA Communications, changed channel 59's call letters to WPDS-TV, after Palamara, Duffy and Simon's initials.[11]

Palamara had promised the station would be on air for New Year's Eve 1983; due to weather delays, that turned into Chinese New Year's Eve when WPDS-TV signed on February 1, 1984.[14][15] Originally operating as an independent station, channel 59 maintained a general entertainment programming format featuring cartoons, movies, classic sitcoms and drama series. The station originally operated from studios located at 1440 North Meridian Street along Indianapolis's "Media Row", which had previously been occupied by WFYI.[16] Under USA Communications, the station had a heavy emphasis on local programming. The station produced 59er Diner, a local kids' show, plus exercise, gospel, and stand-up comedy programs,[17] as well as a late-night talk show, Night Talk with Dick Wolfsie.[18] A local news department also featured in channel 59's early months, including a half-hour 9 p.m. newscast; due to low ratings, this was scaled back to periodic news updates at the end of August.[19] Duffy told Richard K. Shull of The Indianapolis News, "I made a strategic error in how viewers perceive us. They see us as an entertainment vehicle. They look to the network stations for news."[20]

WXIN: Outlet ownership

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Palamara, Duffy, and Simon sold the station to Outlet Communications (through its Atlin Communications subsidiary) in a deal announced in October 1984 and completed in February 1985. The $22 million (equivalent to $54.3 million in 2024[21]) transaction was touted by Duffy as among the largest for a TV station in its first year of operation.[22][23] The station's call letters were then changed to the current WXIN on August 10, 1985, a decision precipitated not by the ownership change but by a desire to avoid confusion (particularly in ratings diaries) with the similar-sounding cable channel WTBS and PBS.[24][2] Under Outlet, the station maintained its competitiveness with established Indianapolis-market independent station WTTV; the station touted a total audience share of 7%, which it claimed was among the largest for a new independent in a top-35 market (beaten by KTXH in Houston and WBFS-TV in Miami).[25]

WXIN became an affiliate of the Fox Broadcasting Company when the network launched on October 9, 1986.[26] With aggressive program purchases, the station eroded WTTV's market share[27] and moved ahead in the early evening time slot of 6–8 p.m.,[28] aided by that station's multi-year bankruptcy.[29] However, these purchases were expensive and accumulated debt.[30]

In December 1987, Outlet Communications put WXIN and WATL in Atlanta on the market to repay debt from the related company that owned both stations' licenses, Atlin Communications.[31] In May 1988, Emmis Communications, an Indianapolis-based radio station group owner, announced it would purchase the Indianapolis station for $17.5 million (equivalent to $39.9 million in 2024[21]), marking its first television property.[32] Emmis, which had twice attempted to buy WTTV, needed a waiver from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to own WXIN as well as local radio station WENS.[29] Outlet's directors rebuffed the offer because its $15 million bid for WATL was seen as too low.[33] Emmis sued seeking damages and to compel Atlin to sell WXIN to it,[34] but the lawsuit was dismissed in federal court.[35] During the attempted Emmis purchase, WXIN acquired the rights to telecast Indiana Pacers basketball road games; these had been telecast since 1974 by WTTV.[36] The relationship lasted five seasons, concluding in 1993 when WXIN was no longer able to air the team due to its commitment to Fox network programming, which had grown as the network offered more programming to its affiliates.[37]

Chase and Renaissance ownership

[edit]

The Atlin sale process came to an end in 1989, as Outlet agreed to sell WXIN and WATL, plus two radio stations in Washington, D.C., to Chase Broadcasting of Hartford, Connecticut, for $120 million (equivalent to $26.3 million in 2024[21]). The purchase made Chase, which already owned WTIC-TV in Hartford and was buying KDVR in Denver, the largest single owner of Fox-affiliated stations[35] when it was concluded in March 1990.[38]

In 1991, Chase Broadcasting announced it would sell some or all of its properties in order to invest in new business ventures in Eastern Europe after the end of the Cold War, particularly successful cable television systems in Poland.[39] Four of its five Fox affiliates, including WXIN, were sold to Renaissance Communications of Greenwich, Connecticut.[40] Renaissance tamped down rumors that WXIN and WTTV would be brought under common operation, either via a local marketing agreement or the Fox affiliation moving outright to WTTV paired with a donation of channel 59.[41] These rumors surfaced again in 1996, when Sinclair Broadcast Group—having just acquired WTTV—was rumored as an acquirer for WXIN and the Renaissance group.[42]

Tribune ownership

[edit]

Chicago-based Tribune Broadcasting bought Renaissance's television properties for $1.13 billion on July 7, 1996.[43]

Tribune acquired WTTV and its satellite station in Kokomo, WTTK (channel 29), from Sinclair on April 29, 2002;[44] this created the market's first television duopoly under current FCC regulations with WXIN when the purchase was finalized on July 24.[45] With WXIN already at capacity in its existing building,[46] the company began investigating new sites for a larger facility, leaving behind Meridian Street, the "media row" home to all of the city's other major TV stations.[47] By year's end, zoning approval had been obtained for a site inside Intech Park on the northwest side of Indianapolis.[46] Construction began in January 2003, and the 51,200-square-foot (4,760 m2) facility was completed at the end of the year.[48]

Beginning in 2003, WXIN was the broadcast home for the state lottery game show Hoosier Millionaire, which had aired on WTTV. As part of the move, the show's hosts were changed to Cody Stark and Catt Sadler, who presented morning show Fox 59 a.m. at the time.[49] Hoosier Millionaire was canceled by the Indiana Lottery in 2005 due to declining ticket sales.[50] In 2006, the station picked up the rights to the Indianapolis Colts coaches' shows;[51] The shows later returned to WISH-TV. Beginning in 2015, WXIN and WTTV acquired the rights to all Colts preseason games and coaches' shows.[52]

WTTV became a CBS affiliate on January 1, 2015. It broadcast dedicated local newscasts using some of the same staff.[53]

Sale to Nexstar Media Group

[edit]

After a failed attempt by Sinclair Broadcast Group to acquire Tribune Media,[54] Nexstar Media Group announced in December 2018 that it would acquire the company.[55][56][57] Nexstar already owned WISH-TV and WNDY-TV in the Indianapolis market, and due to FCC ownership rules and scrutiny, Nexstar was required to divest two of the stations; the company ultimately elected to sell WISH and WNDY to the owner of Bayou City Broadcasting, in favor of retaining WTTV and WXIN.[58] The deal closed on September 19, 2019.[59]

On June 13, 2024, Fox Sports announced an agreement to become the exclusive broadcaster of the IndyCar Series beginning in 2025 under a multi-year deal, with all races airing on the Fox network.[60] As a result, local television rights to the Indianapolis 500 moved to WXIN from NBC affiliate WTHR. Per Indianapolis Motor Speedway rules, the live broadcast is blacked out on channel 59 if the race does not sell out,[61] which it did in 2025.[62]

On August 19, 2025, Nexstar Media Group agreed to acquire Tegna for $6.2 billion.[63] In Indianapolis, Tegna already owns WTHR and WALV-CD.[64]

News operation

[edit]

In late 1990, WXIN management began analyzing the creation of a local newscast after WTTV discontinued its local news effort.[65] The station also discussed contracting WISH-TV to produce the newscast after WTTV struck a deal to air a newscast produced by WRTV.[66] At the time, WTHR offered a 10 p.m. newscast as part of an early prime time experiment that was performing poorly.[67] The station opted to produce its own news effort and hired Jim Sanders from WGME in Portland, Maine, to serve as news director.[68]

With a news staff of 18,[69] Fox 59 Nightcast debuted on September 23, 1991, with the anchor team of Bob Donaldson, Caroline Thau, Chris Wright, and Brian Hammons.[70] Wright, a meteorologist, was the first African-American to be a lead anchor on a weeknight newscast in Indianapolis.[71] After just two weeks, the program was trimmed to a half-hour in length to appease fans of Star Trek: The Next Generation, which had originally been removed to make way for the news hour, and because WTTV recommitted to its newscast from WRTV.[72] Fox 59 Nightcast was launched days before Chase declared its intention to sell its TV stations, and Steve Hall of The Indianapolis Star felt the news department was doomed to be cut by any prospective buyer;[73] a rival general manager indicated to his employees that he believed WXIN would cancel the newscast within six weeks.[74] This did not come to pass. Fox named WXIN its affiliate of the year in 1992, citing Nightcast as a model for future news startups by Fox affiliates,[75] and the newscast—while second to WTTV's WRTV-produced newscast in total viewership—performed better in key young adult demographics.[76]

In 1994, the news department expanded into space at 1440 North Meridian previously used by radio station WZPL as its offices,[74] and that October, WXIN surpassed WTTV in 10 p.m. news total ratings for the first time.[77] Thau departed in 1995 and was replaced by Ginger Gadsden, the first Black woman to be the lead anchor of a late-night newscast in the market.[78] Nightcast was renamed Fox News at 10 in September 1995.[79] WTTV's WRTV-produced 10 p.m. newscast ceased airing on December 31, 2002, after Tribune's acquisition of that station; it had lived on until that point to help WTTV, which held the Indiana Lottery contract, comply with a provision that required drawing results to be broadcast within a newscast.[80]

WXIN expanded news programming outside its established 10 p.m. slot in April 1999, when it premiered Fox 59 a.m. Formatted as a mix of news, entertainment and lifestyle features with a looser, "personality-driven" style inspired by morning radio programs, the show initially aired from 6 to 9 a.m.[81][82][83] The program was reformatted as a more traditional morning newscast in 2004 and grew to beat competing local and national morning news programs in the 25–54 age demographic.[84]

In 2004, Jerry Martin took over as general manager of WXIN; under his tenure and that of successor Larry Delia, the station grew its news output. On April 17, 2006, WXIN expanded its 10 p.m. newscast to one hour, the first in a series of news expansions.[85] These included a 5 a.m. hour of the morning newscast in 2008, a 5 p.m. newscast and three-hour weekend morning newscasts in 2010,[86][87] 4:30 and later 4 a.m. hours of the Fox 59 Morning News, an additional hour for the weekend morning newscasts,[88] a 6 p.m. newscast in 2012,[84] and 7 and 11 p.m. newscasts in 2014.[89] A station that had produced 21+1⁄2 hours weekly of local news in 2004[88] grew to 66 hours a week of news in 2014.[90]

WXIN debuted IN Focus, a Sunday morning program focusing on political and civic issues, on May 10, 2015.[91] A new local lifestyle show, Indy Now, was added to the station's schedule at 10 a.m. in 2021.[92]

Notable current on-air staff

[edit]

Notable former on-air staff

[edit]

Technical information

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A red-and-white striped TV tower reaching tall into the sky
The WXIN and WTTK tower in Indianapolis

Subchannels

[edit]

WXIN broadcasts from a transmitter on West 73rd Street.[3] The station's signal is multiplexed:

Subchannels of WXIN[97]
Channel Res. Aspect Short name Programming
59.1 720p 16:9 WXIN-DT Fox
59.2 480i 4:3 AntTV Antenna TV
59.3 16:9 Defy Defy
59.4 Charge! Charge!
29.1 1080i 16:9 WTTK-DT CBS (WTTK)
  Broadcast on behalf of another station

Analog-to-digital conversion

[edit]

WXIN began broadcasting a digital signal on UHF channel 45 on October 28, 1999.[98] It shut down its analog signal, over UHF channel 59, on June 12, 2009—the official date on which full-power television stations in the United States transitioned from analog to digital broadcasts under federal mandate.[99] The station's digital signal continued to broadcast on its pre-transition channel 45.[100]

WXIN moved its digital signal from channel 45 to channel 22 on October 18, 2019, as a result of the 2016 United States wireless spectrum auction.[101][102]

References

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

WXIN

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia

WXIN, virtual channel 59, is a Fox-affiliated television station licensed to Indianapolis, Indiana, United States, serving as the network's outlet for central Indiana.
Owned by Nexstar Media Group since 2019, the station maintains studios at 6910 Network Place in northwestern Indianapolis.
WXIN signed on the air on February 1, 1984, initially as independent station WPDS-TV under original ownership by Indianapolis Television, Inc., before changing its call letters to WXIN in 1985 and joining Fox as a charter affiliate upon the network's launch on October 9, 1986.
It has remained Indianapolis's Fox affiliate without swapping networks, unlike many local commercial stations, and pioneered stereo broadcasting among them in July 1985.
As a local news leader, WXIN produces 65 hours of programming weekly, including coverage of Indianapolis Colts and Pacers sports, and operates the market's most-visited news website.

History

Construction and early operations as WPDS-TV (1968–1984)

The reallocated UHF channel 59 to in the late , prompting applications for a permit to establish a new . The permit was granted to a of local investors organized as USA Communications, Inc., a subsidiary majority-owned by Anacomp, Inc., with key figures including Ron Palamara. The group's , WPDS-TV, derived from the initials of Palamara, former general manager Chris Duffy, and shopping mall developer . Physical construction commenced in autumn 1983, with studios established in the Riddick Building at 1440 North Meridian Street in . The facility was outfitted with an RCA TTU-110C 110-kilowatt transmitter to support UHF . WPDS-TV signed on the air as an on February 1, 1984, marking Indianapolis's second UHF independent after WTTV (). The inaugural broadcast featured a special program welcoming viewers to channel 59, emphasizing its role in expanding local television options amid a market dominated by VHF network affiliates. Early operations emphasized a general entertainment format suited to independent UHF stations, including syndicated sitcoms, classic films, cartoons, and sports programming to attract underserved audiences in central . By June 1984, the station introduced local newscasts anchored by figures such as and , alongside promotional efforts like on-air auditions to build a talent roster. Initial signal coverage targeted the , though UHF propagation challenges limited reach without cable penetration, which was growing but incomplete in the region. WPDS-TV operated without network affiliation, relying on syndication and local for revenue during its formative months.

Relaunch as WXIN and independent station era (1984–1990s)

Channel 59 signed on the air as independent station WPDS-TV on February 1, 1984, licensed to Indianapolis Television, Inc., and broadcasting from studios on North Meridian Street in downtown Indianapolis. Initially owned by local investors Melvin Simon, Fred Simon, and Gerald Kraft, with majority control shifting to Anacomp Corporation (a subsidiary of USA Communications, Inc.) prior to launch, the station operated with a general entertainment format emphasizing syndicated cartoons, classic sitcoms, movies, and limited local programming such as broadcasts of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra and the talk show Al Hobb’s Love Express. Local newscasts debuted the same day with an hour-long 10:00 p.m. program titled 59 Headline News, featuring a hard-rock music format and anchored by Ken Owen, though this effort proved short-lived and was soon reduced to periodic 90-second reports amid cost-cutting measures. In 1984, the station was sold to Outlet Communications for $22 million, marking a shift toward more aggressive operations under the new ownership. Outlet changed the call letters to WXIN in July 1985, citing viewer confusion between "WPDS" and public broadcasting entities like or the WTBS. That same month, WXIN became the first commercial television station in to broadcast in stereo, enhancing its appeal for entertainment programming. By the late 1980s, local content had been scaled back significantly from 15 hours per week to just 3 hours, with the schedule increasingly filled with syndicated fare including additional sitcoms and off-network reruns to compete with established independents like WTTV (). WXIN secured a charter affiliation with the in June 1986, after WTTV declined the offer despite its stronger market position, with the network launching on the station October 9, 1986. This affiliation introduced prime-time network programming while preserving much of the independent-style schedule of movies, cartoons, and syndication outside Fox hours, allowing WXIN to gradually erode WTTV's ratings lead through the late 1980s and into the 1990s. News operations remained minimal until September 23, 1991, when WXIN relaunched a dedicated news department with NightCast, a 10:00 p.m. newscast that evolved into the station's flagship FOX59 News at Ten.

Ownership transitions: Chase, Renaissance, and Tribune periods (1980s–2019)

In August 1989, Outlet Communications sold WXIN to Chase Communications, a , Connecticut-based broadcaster that owned several independent television stations across the U.S.. This acquisition marked the end of a period of market uncertainty for the station, following an unsuccessful attempt to sell to local firm Emmis Communications, and positioned WXIN under ownership focused on operational efficiencies in mid-sized markets.. Chase retained WXIN for approximately four years before divesting assets amid industry consolidation. In early September 1992, Chase announced an agreement to sell four of its television stations—WXIN in , in , in , and in —to Communications Corp., a firm specializing in Fox affiliates and independents.. The transaction faced brief regulatory scrutiny over conduct issues but closed in 1993, transferring WXIN to , which prioritized syndication deals and local programming to leverage network growth.. Renaissance's ownership was short-lived as it pursued expansion through mergers. On July 2, 1996, Tribune Company announced its $1.13 billion acquisition of 's six television stations, including WXIN, in a cash-stock deal approved by Renaissance shareholders, where held a majority stake.. The purchase, completed in early 1997, integrated WXIN into Broadcasting's portfolio, emphasizing duopoly opportunities and digital transition investments.. Under Tribune ownership from 1997 to 2019, WXIN operated as part of a growing cluster, with Tribune acquiring CBS affiliate WTTV in to form a Fox-CBS duopoly serving the market.. This structure allowed shared resources for news and operations, contributing to ratings stability amid network affiliation shifts, though Tribune faced broader corporate challenges including a 2007 and subsequent bankruptcy reorganization in 2012.. The period ended with Tribune Media's merger into , approved in September 2019, divesting WXIN from standalone Tribune control..

Acquisition by Nexstar Media Group and post-2019 developments

On December 3, 2018, Nexstar Media Group entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Tribune Media Company, the parent of WXIN, for $4.1 billion in cash, inclusive of debt. The transaction aimed to expand Nexstar's portfolio of local television stations, including WXIN as a key Fox affiliate in the Indianapolis market. The approved the merger on September 16, 2019, with the acquisition closing on September 19, 2019, at $46.687397 per share. To comply with FCC ownership limits prohibiting control of more than two of the top four stations in a market, Nexstar divested while retaining WXIN and sister station WTTV, forming a duopoly in . Post-acquisition, WXIN continued as the , producing 65 hours of weekly in with WTTV and maintaining leadership in viewership. The stations jointly support community efforts, including annual fundraisers raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for pantries to address food insecurity. In December 2020, a led to remove WXIN, WTTV, and other Nexstar stations from its lineup across 115 markets, affecting access for subscribers until resolution. On August 19, 2025, Nexstar announced a $6.2 billion agreement to acquire , parent of affiliate , potentially consolidating three major stations under Nexstar pending FCC review and possible divestitures to meet ownership caps.

Programming and affiliations

Fox network affiliation and syndicated content

WXIN became a charter affiliate of the Fox Broadcasting Company upon the network's launch on October 9, 1986. The station, which had operated as an independent prior to Fox's debut, secured the affiliation after WTTV declined to join despite its established market presence. As the Fox affiliate for the Indianapolis market, WXIN carries the network's full primetime lineup, including scripted series, reality competitions, and specials, typically airing from 8:00 to 11:00 p.m. Eastern Time on weekdays and similar blocks on weekends. The station also broadcasts Fox's sports programming, such as National Football League games through Fox NFL Sunday and regional matchups, along with events like the Daytona 500 under Fox's NASCAR contracts when applicable. WXIN has maintained its Fox affiliation continuously since 1986, establishing itself as Indiana's longest-serving Fox outlet following the loss of the affiliation by fellow charter station WFFT-TV in Fort Wayne. In non-network time slots, particularly daytime and early evening periods, WXIN airs syndicated programming to fill its schedule. Following local morning newscasts, the station typically broadcasts talk shows such as The Drew Barrymore Show at 11:00 a.m. Additional syndicated fare may include court shows, lifestyle programs, and off-network sitcom reruns, though specific offerings vary seasonally and are subject to clearance by the station's ownership. These programs complement WXIN's extensive local news output and Fox network content, targeting audiences during off-peak hours.

Local original programming

WXIN produces Indy Now, a weekday program airing at 10:00 a.m. ET, which debuted on , 2021, and features segments on local events, businesses, arts, entertainment, and community trends in central . Hosted by Jillian Deam and Ryan Ahlwardt, the hour-long show emphasizes viewer engagement through live interactions and on-location reporting. By October 2021, Indy Now had achieved the highest ratings in its time slot among Indianapolis morning programs. The station also airs IN Focus, a Sunday morning public affairs program dedicated to Indiana politics, civic issues, and policy discussions, which premiered on May 10, 2015. The show includes panel discussions, interviews with elected officials, and analysis of legislative developments, often extending to formats for broader accessibility. Episodes typically address topics such as outcomes, state budget priorities, and local challenges. Additional original content includes event-specific programming tied to Indianapolis landmarks and festivals, such as live coverage from Colts training camps, features, and on-the-road segments from major Indiana events like the Indianapolis 500. In April 2025, WXIN announced plans to introduce FOX59 Tonight as exclusive streaming content on the FOX59 Now app, expanding original production into digital formats. These efforts complement syndicated fare by prioritizing regionally relevant, station-produced material.

News operation

Development and expansion of news department

WXIN established its news department on September 23, 1991, debuting the 35-minute primetime newscast NightCast at 10 p.m., which represented the station's first dedicated programming after years of limited news briefs as an independent outlet. The program was anchored by figures such as Bob Donaldson, hired specifically to lead the effort, and focused on evening headlines amid the station's transition to affiliation since 1986. Following Broadcasting's acquisition of WXIN in 1999, the station introduced its first morning newscast in April of that year, formatted as a blend of , , and segments to compete in early-day viewership. Expansion accelerated after Mike Martin became in August 2004, with investments in a satellite truck, 3-D technology, and additional staff to support broader coverage. This period saw the primetime newscast extend from 35 to on April 17, 2006, alongside the launch of an early-evening edition, while the morning show grew to four hours by January 2, 2008, and further to 4:30–9:00 a.m. in September 2009. By 2010, weekly live output had tripled from 18.5 hours in 2004 to 54.5 hours, reflecting aggressive programming growth to challenge established network affiliates in the market. Further additions included 7:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. newscasts in 2014, with the latter branded as Fox59 NewsPoint, pushing total weekly news to over 65 hours by the Nexstar era post-2019. These developments positioned WXIN as a leader in production, emphasizing extended morning and primetime slots to capture diverse audience segments.

Current format, ratings, and on-air personnel

WXIN operates a full-service news department producing multiple daily newscasts, including an extended morning program airing from 4:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. weekdays, featuring segments on local headlines, weather, traffic, and lifestyle topics. Evening programming includes 5:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. newscasts, followed by a 10:00 p.m. broadcast that leads into network programming, with weekend editions at 6:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. The format emphasizes live reporting, investigative stories, and community coverage, supplemented by syndicated content like Newsfeed Now for trending national topics. In recent Nielsen ratings periods, WXIN has demonstrated strong performance in the Indianapolis market. For May 2024, the station led in key demographics, particularly adults 25-54, across its news dayparts, outperforming competitors in morning, early evening, and late news slots. Earlier data from February 2022 showed WXIN achieving the top ratings in every one of its 12 daily hours of in the adults 25-54 demo, reflecting consistent viewer preference for its programming. Key on-air personnel include:
  • Beairshelle Edmé, main evening anchor for the 5:00 p.m., 6:00 p.m., and 10:00 p.m. newscasts, focusing on and in-depth reporting.
  • Lindy Thackston, anchor of the FOX59 Morning News from 4:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. weekdays.
  • Angela Ganote, co-anchor of morning and midday newscasts, with over 25 years of experience in markets.
  • Howard Monroe, weekend evening anchor, who joined in 2025 after prior local experience.
  • Anna Darling, developing news anchor for morning shows from 4:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
  • Other prominent anchors: Alia Blackburn (evening shifts), Melissa Crash, Bob Donaldson, Chelsea Helms, Sierra Hignite, Scott Jones, and Krista McEnany.
The station's team also features sports anchors like Adam Unger and various reporters contributing to field coverage.

Notable achievements, investigative reporting, and criticisms

WXIN's news department, operating as FOX59 News, has earned multiple industry awards for its reporting. In 2022, it received two Regional Awards from the Radio Television Digital News Association, recognizing excellence in digital reporting and overall station performance. In June 2025, FOX59 secured seven Midwest , including one for news excellence—its third consecutive win in that category—along with honors for investigative reporting, , and on-camera talent. These accolades highlight the station's commitment to comprehensive local coverage, producing over 65 hours of news weekly and leading viewership ratings in the market. The team has conducted notable , particularly through its FOX59 Investigates unit. A prominent example is the 2016 exposé on retired Indianapolis fertility specialist , which uncovered that he had used his own sperm to impregnate at least 15 patients without their knowledge or consent, resulting in dozens of biological children; the reporting contributed to Cline's 2017 guilty plea to two felony counts of obstruction of justice and inspired subsequent legal reforms in on donor anonymity. More recently, in 2025, FOX59 reported on ethical lapses and allegations within Mayor Joe Hogsett's administration, including investigations into deputy mayor Cook's conduct, prompting city council inquiries and public calls for accountability. Additional probes have exposed large-scale healthcare fraud schemes, such as a June 2025 U.S. Department of case charging 13 residents in the largest such investigation in DOJ history, involving millions in false claims. Criticisms of FOX59 News have been limited and often tied to perceptions of affiliation with the national brand rather than specific reporting failures. A 2023 Ball State University study found that while some viewers questioned the station's fairness due to branding associations, local content was generally viewed as more credible than national Fox programming, with trust influenced by perceived alignment with partisan narratives. Independent media evaluators, such as , rate WXIN's local news as minimally biased, emphasizing original, fact-based reporting over opinion, though occasional syndication of national Fox segments draws scrutiny from left-leaning critics for potential ideological slant. No major ethical scandals or retractions have been documented in credible sources, distinguishing it from broader industry concerns about local TV news .

Technical information

Digital subchannels and multicast services

WXIN's digital signal operates on UHF channel 45 and is multiplexed into four subchannels, enabling programming alongside its primary affiliation. The subchannels are structured as follows:
VirtualResolutionAudioProgramming
59.116:95.1
59.24:32.0
59.316:9 2.0Defy TV
59.416:9 2.0Charge!
Subchannel 59.2 airs , a network owned by that broadcasts classic television series from the 1950s through 1990s, including shows like and . Subchannel 59.3 features Defy TV, a digital multicast network focused on action movies, westerns, and adventure programming, distributed by . Subchannel 59.4 carries Charge!, a Sinclair Broadcast Group-owned network emphasizing , police dramas, and action series such as and reruns, under a carriage agreement renewed in February 2025 between Sinclair and Nexstar. These subchannels support over-the-air access to additional free content, targeting cord-cutters via antenna reception in the market.

Analog-to-digital conversion and signal relocations

WXIN transmitted its analog signal on UHF channel 59 from its 1984 sign-on until the federally mandated full-power digital transition. On June 12, 2009, the station terminated analog operations at 12:01 p.m. local time, in compliance with the Digital Television Delay Act and FCC requirements, which required all full-service analog stations to cease broadcasting by that date unless granted extensions. WXIN's digital signal, which had launched on UHF channel 45 in 2002 under FCC guidelines for early digital testing, remained on that physical frequency post-transition while remapping to virtual channel 59.1 for viewer identification. This preserved continuity for digital viewers equipped with ATSC tuners or converter boxes, though some fringe-area analog-only households lost over-the-air access without such equipment. In the aftermath of the 2016 FCC broadcast incentive auction, which auctioned UHF for use and necessitated repacking of remaining channels, WXIN was reassigned to a lower-frequency slot to optimize efficiency. The station relocated its digital transmitter from RF channel 45 to RF channel 22 on October 18, 2019, during the repack's later phases, requiring viewers to rescan antennas to reacquire the signal. This move, coordinated under FCC construction permit deadlines, maintained the station's at approximately 4470 kW and coverage footprint from its shared transmitter site atop the WTTV/WXIN tower near , with no reported significant disruptions to service area beyond temporary rescan needs. The relocation aligned with broader industry shifts, where over 1,000 stations adjusted frequencies to vacate higher UHF bands, funded in part by the Broadcaster Relocation Fund.

Transmitter facilities and coverage area

WXIN's transmitter facilities are located on West 73rd Street, also known as Westlane Road, on the northern outskirts of , , west of Meridian Hills. This site is shared with sister station WTTK. The coordinates are 39°53′20″N 86°12′7″W. The tower height measures 1,004 feet above ground level (1,814 feet above mean ) for broadcasting. WXIN operates with an of 1,000 kW using a oriented eastward. The station's signal provides coverage over a 58.5-mile contour, encompassing approximately 10,760 square miles and an estimated population of 2.84 million. This serves central , including Marion County and adjacent areas such as Hamilton, Boone, Hendricks, Johnson, and Shelby counties, forming the core of the Indianapolis designated market area.

References

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