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WCCT-TV (channel 20), branded CW 20, is a television station licensed to Waterbury, Connecticut, United States, serving the Hartford–New Haven market as an affiliate of The CW. It is owned by Tegna Inc. alongside Hartford-licensed Fox affiliate WTIC-TV (channel 61). The two stations share studios on Broad Street in downtown Hartford; WCCT-TV's transmitter is located on Rattlesnake Mountain in Farmington, Connecticut.

Key Information

This station was established in 1953 as WATR-TV, an NBC affiliate originally serving Waterbury, New Haven, and southern Connecticut. Following a transmitter upgrade by Hartford NBC affiliate WVIT in 1982, WATR relaunched as WTXX, a regional independent and the first station owned by Renaissance Broadcasting. WTXX became Connecticut's UPN affiliate in 1995 and switched to The WB in 2001, and became a charter CW affiliate in 2006. Adopting the current WCCT-TV call sign in 2010, it has been managed by WTIC-TV since 1998 and owned by Tegna since 2019.

History

[edit]

WATR (1953–1966)

[edit]

The station commenced operations on September 10, 1953, as WATR-TV on channel 53, the second UHF station in Connecticut.[3] It was owned by the Thomas and Gilmore families, along with WATR radio (1320 AM). The station's studios and transmitter were located on West Peak in Meriden. At the time, the station's signal only covered Waterbury, New Haven and the southern portion of the state.

WATR-TV was originally a dual secondary affiliate of both DuMont and ABC,[4] sharing them with New Haven-based WNHC-TV (channel 8, now WTNH). DuMont ceased operations in 1955,[5] but WATR-TV continued to carry the network's final regularly scheduled program, Boxing from St. Nicholas Arena, until it was cancelled in August 1958; WATR-TV was one of only five remaining DuMont affiliates at the end.[6][7]

In 1962, the station relocated to UHF channel 20 and moved to a new studio and transmitter site in Prospect, south of Waterbury.[8] Channel 53 was later occupied by WEDN, Connecticut Public Television's outlet in Norwich.

NBC affiliate (1966–1982)

[edit]

In August 1966, WATR-TV joined NBC.[9] At the time, the network's primary affiliate in Connecticut, WHNB-TV (channel 30) in New Britain, was hampered by a weak signal in New Haven and the southwestern portions of the state. In the 1970s, the station offered limited local news and instead aired older syndicated programs and religious shows such as The PTL Club when NBC programs were not offered. A notable local production was Journeys to the Mind, a half-hour talk show with host Joel Dobbin, which approached topics of the occult with a serious and sober tone. Journeys ran from 1976 to 1981.

The original Viacom bought WHNB-TV in 1978 and changed its call letters to WVIT.[10][11] Two years later, after WVIT more than doubled its transmission power to cover New Haven, it became clear that WATR-TV's NBC affiliation was now in jeopardy. In 1981, the Thomas/Gilmore interests opted to sell channel 20 to a joint venture of Odyssey Television Partners (later to become Renaissance Broadcasting) and Oppenheimer and Company. The sale was announced in May 1981[12] and gained FCC approval that December.[13]

WTXX: independent (1982–1995)

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The new owners of channel 20 ultimately opted to drop NBC and convert the station into an independent outlet (though NBC was considering ending its affiliation in any event). NBC programming aired on channel 20 for the last time on April 10, 1982. On the next day (Easter Sunday), the station stayed off the air, preparing to relaunch as an independent. On April 12—two days after the NBC affiliation ended—channel 20 returned to the air as WTXX (for "Television XX", with "XX" referring to 20 in Roman numerals),[citation needed] and subsequently became Connecticut's first full-service independent station since Hartford's WHCT-TV (channel 18, now Univision affiliate WUVN) served as an independent from 1957 to 1975.[14]

Soon after taking over, Odyssey replaced channel 20's tiny 250-foot (76 m) tower with a more powerful transmitter that more than doubled its signal and gave it a coverage area comparable with the major network stations in the state. It was a typical general-entertainment independent, carrying off-network series, movies, and cartoons presented by the local children's show Kidstime with T.X. Critter, a puppet created by and puppeteered by Paul Fusco who later created ALF. WTXX also carried some sports, most notably New York Mets telecasts from WOR-TV in New York City and Boston Celtics telecasts from WLVI-TV in Boston. WTXX prospered in its new status, and continued to do so even after WTIC-TV signed on in 1984. WTXX bid for the Fox affiliation two years later, but lost out to WTIC-TV. Channel 20's transmitter was located further south than the other major Connecticut stations, resulting in a significant overlap with Fox flagship WNYW. It could be seen at city-grade strength in Fairfield County, which is part of the New York City market, and provided at least secondary coverage to most of Long Island. Fox opted to affiliate with WTIC-TV, which did not have as large an overlap.

In October 1992, Renaissance Broadcasting sold WTXX to Counterpoint Communications, a non-profit media firm with close ties to the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Hartford.[15] Renaissance had recently acquired several stations, including WTIC-TV, from Chase Broadcasting, and Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations of the time did not allow common ownership of two stations in the same market. However, Renaissance retained the rights to all the programming it bought for WTXX. WTIC-TV wanted to establish a full-time local marketing agreement (LMA) with WTXX, which basically amounted to channel 20 being programmed by its main competitor. Counterpoint balked, wanting only a part-time agreement. Renaissance then moved some of WTXX's stronger shows to WTIC-TV, leaving the station with a considerably weakened schedule.

Duopolies and new networks (1995–2006)

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Renaissance's sale of WTXX to Counterpoint, and Renaissance's subsequent acquisition of WTIC-TV, became official in March 1993.[16] Under the terms of the sale to Counterpoint, WTXX retained few syndicated programs and some movies, and began airing programming from the Home Shopping Network (HSN) for 15 hours a day (including daytime and prime time). In addition, channel 20 would air a daily Catholic Mass, along with other Catholic religious programs, for one hour per day.[17] While trying to negotiate an LMA, WTXX continued to run some Renaissance-owned programming daily from 3 to 7 p.m. free of charge. These shows were the Disney Afternoon cartoon block, double runs of The Cosby Show and Growing Pains on weekdays, and some hour-long first-run syndicated dramas on weekends. Renaissance sold the ad time for the slot and WTXX paid nothing to run the programming during these hours. That July, after negotiations with WTIC collapsed, WTXX entered into a lease agreement with Viacom-owned WVIT, which would provide 27+1⁄2 hours a week of its programs.[18] Its schedule now included cartoons and children's programs during the morning and afternoon hours, and syndicated shows whose local rights were owned by WVIT during the early evenings. Most of the cartoons were shows WTXX previously had on a barter basis that WTIC could not fit on its schedule. The Disney Afternoon and other syndicated shows previously on WTXX moved to WTIC or stopped airing in the market. HSN programming remained during middays, prime time, and the overnight hours.[19]

WTXX became Connecticut's UPN affiliate on April 3, 1995; for the 2+1⁄2 months prior to that, Hartford viewers who wanted to watch UPN programming had to view it on cable, by way of WSBK-TV from Boston. This was due in part that Viacom, who operated the station through a LMA with WVIT, owned a minority interest in UPN. Initially, it continued to run Home Shopping Network in prime time on nights without UPN programming. By spring 1996, the station expanded its LMA with WVIT to cover the entire day, except for overnights and the hours when the Catholic Mass aired. By this point, WTXX upgraded its syndicated programming, and HSN was relegated to overnights before being dropped completely.

In 1998, WVIT was sold to NBC, and WTIC (now owned by Tribune Broadcasting) replaced WVIT as WTXX's LMA partner.[20] As part of the deal, some of the shows previously owned by WVIT were kept by WTXX and WTIC. The LMA change caused no impact on WTXX's daily broadcasts of the Catholic Mass, which continues to the present day. Around this time, the station changed its on-air name from "UPN 20" to "Connecticut's 20". It also picked up Boston Red Sox baseball games; the station's feed (with the "Connecticut's 20" bug) was carried during Red Sox highlights airing on ESPN for much of the late 1990s and early 2000s. In 1999, WTXX and WTIC consolidated their operations in a new facility at One Corporate Center on Church Street in Downtown Hartford.

On January 1, 2001, WTXX and WBNE (channel 59, now WCTX) swapped affiliations, with WTXX joining The WB and rebranding as "Connecticut's WB". This was due to in fact that the Tribune Company had a minority interest in The WB. Later that year, Tribune purchased WTXX outright, creating a duopoly with WTIC. Tribune, having already received a temporary waiver from FCC rules barring common ownership of a newspaper and a television station in the same area when it purchased the Hartford Courant a year earlier, received an additional waiver for its purchase of WTXX. Tribune had been seeking a waiver in anticipation of the FCC relaxing its rules to allow such media combinations to exist with the agency's blessing, which would include television duopolies. In March 2005, the FCC requested that Tribune sell WTXX to a new owner, but did not raise any additional pressure outside the request to force a sale or threaten a license forfeiture. In late 2007, the FCC loosened its restrictions on newspaper-broadcast cross-ownership perhaps creating an opening for Tribune (which was purchased by investor Sam Zell in December 2007) to retain WTXX without a waiver.

CW affiliate (2006–present)

[edit]

On January 24, 2006, Time Warner announced that the company would merge the operations of The WB with CBS Corporation's UPN (which CBS acquired one month earlier in December 2005 following its split from Viacom), to form a 50/50 joint venture called The CW Television Network.[21][22] The network signed a ten-year affiliation agreement with Tribune Broadcasting for 16 of the 19 WB affiliates that the company owned at the time, including WTXX.[23]

In August 2008, the station changed its branding from "CW 20" to "txx" in a corporate effort by Tribune to strengthen its CW affiliates' local identities and reduce the dependence on the use of network branding. In June 2009, after 56 years of transmitting from various locations in New Haven County, WTXX shut down its analog transmitter in Prospect, solely using WTIC-TV's tower in Farmington for its full launch into the digital age.

In July 2010, the station changed its branding again to "The CT" with "The CT is the place 2B" slogan;[24] to go along with this branding, the station changed its call letters to WCCT-TV on June 18.[25] In March 2012, the station changed its logo and began to use its calls, WCCT-TV, as its branding, though the station remains a CW affiliate. In August 2018, WCCT-TV returned to the "CW 20" branding.

Tribune announced plans on July 10, 2013, to spin off its publishing division into a separate company, with the split finalized in 2014. WTIC-TV and WCCT-TV remained with the Tribune Company (which also retained all non-publishing assets, including the broadcasting, digital media and Media Services units), while its newspapers (including the Hartford Courant) became part of the similarly named Tribune Publishing Company.[26][27]

Sinclair Broadcast Group announced it had agreed to purchase Tribune Media on May 8, 2017, for $3.9 billion.[28][29] Tribune Media terminated the Sinclair deal on August 9, 2018, and filed a breach of contract lawsuit, nullifying the transaction;[30] this followed a vote by the FCC to put the transactions up for a formal hearing[31] and a public rejection of the merger by commission chairman Ajit Pai.[32]

Tegna ownership

[edit]

After the collapse of the Sinclair deal, Tribune agreed to sell itself to Nexstar Media Group for $6.4 billion.[33][34][35] Nexstar already owned two stations in Connecticut—New Haven-based ABC affiliate WTNH and WCTX—requiring that it divest either the New Haven stations or WCCT-TV and WTIC-TV.[36] Tegna Inc. agreed to purchase WCCT-TV and WTIC-TV from Nexstar on March 20, 2019, upon consummation of the merger, marking Tegna's entry into the state and southern New England. The sale of WCCT-TV and WTIC-TV was part of a larger series of deals involving nineteen Nexstar- and Tribune-operated stations to Tegna and the E. W. Scripps Company worth a combined $1.32 billion.[37][38] The sale was completed on September 19, 2019.[39]

Programming

[edit]

Newscasts

[edit]

In July 1993, WTXX debuted a nightly 10 p.m. newscast produced by NBC station WVIT, called Connecticut News Live at 10. The news team consisted of WVIT's evening news team (anchors Gerry Brooks and Joanne Nesti, weather from Brad Field, Beasley Reece with sports), along with reporters from WVIT.[40] In 1998, when WTIC replaced WVIT as WTXX's LMA partner, the WVIT-produced broadcasts were replaced with a simulcast of the first half-hour of WTIC's nightly 10 p.m. newscast;[41] on April 24, 2006, the station began simulcasting the entire newscast; if Fox sports programming kept the newscast from starting on time on channel 61, it was aired on WTXX under the title News at Ten.

On December 12, 2009, WTIC, WCCT (then WTXX), and the Hartford Courant moved into new combined newsroom facilities in downtown Hartford,[42] and WTIC rebranded from Fox 61 to Fox CT (a transition completed in July 2010); in addition, WTIC became the second station in the market to begin broadcasting its local newscasts in high definition. The news simulcasts on WCCT were included in the transition.

In June 2010, the station ended the simulcast of WTIC's 10 p.m. newscast. It now airs a rebroadcast of WTIC's 11 p.m. newscast at 1 am, while the 10 p.m. newscast is re-aired on weekends; these rebroadcasts include a sports highlight program called Xfinity Sports Desk at 1:45 a.m. on early Sunday and Monday mornings. Originally, this was not simulcast on WTXX but has since been added (the 10 p.m. newscast continues to be shown live on WCCT, if it is preempted on WTIC due to sports programming overruns). The station also carries the 8 a.m. hour of WTIC's morning newscast (a previous simulcast of Fox 61 Morning News had aired at one point[when?], but was later dropped). WTIC also produces a weekly public affairs show called The Real Story, which airs Sunday mornings at 8:30 a.m. with a repeat on WCCT at 11 a.m.

Other than simulcasts and default carriage of WTIC's newscasts in the event of Fox Sports programming delays, WCCT does not carry traditional local newscasts produced specifically for the station.

Sports programming

[edit]

The station holds the local rights to air 29 New York Mets games from WPIX.[43][44] WCCT held the local broadcast television rights to the WNBA's Connecticut Sun until 2023. Prior to airing Sun games, the station held the over-the-air broadcast rights to the NHL's Hartford Whalers.

Technical information

[edit]

Subchannels

[edit]

WCCT-TV provides four subchannels, which are carried on the multiplexed signals of other Hartford–New Haven television stations:

Subchannels provided by WCCT-TV (ATSC 1.0)[45]
Channel Res. Aspect Short name Programming ATSC 1.0 host
20.1 1080i 16:9 WCCT-DT The CW WTIC-TV
20.2 480i Grit Grit WFSB
20.3 Comet Comet
20.4 Quest Quest WTNH

ATSC 3.0 lighthouse service

[edit]

In 2021, WCCT-TV began serving as the ATSC 3.0 (Next Gen TV) lighthouse for Connecticut broadcasters with all subchannels on UHF 33.[46]

Subchannels of WCCT-TV (ATSC 3.0)[45]
Channel Res. Aspect Short name Programming
3.1 1080p 16:9 WFSB-HD CBS (WFSB) DRM
8.1 WTNH-DT ABC (WTNH)
20.1 WCCT-DT The CW
30.1 WVIT-HD NBC (WVIT) DRM
61.1 WTIC-DT Fox (WTIC-TV)
  Subchannel broadcast with digital rights management

Analog-to-digital conversion

[edit]

WCCT-TV (as WTXX) shut down its analog signal, over UHF channel 20, on June 12, 2009, as part of the federally mandated transition from analog to digital television.[47] The station's digital signal relocated from its pre-transition VHF channel 12 to UHF channel 20 for post-transition operations. The digital signal's change in channel location was necessary to avoid interference with PBS member WHYY-TV in Wilmington, Delaware.

References

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

WCCT-TV

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia

WCCT-TV, branded as CW 20, is a CW-affiliated television station licensed to Waterbury, Connecticut, United States, serving the Hartford–New Haven designated market area as a provider of entertainment programming from The CW Network, supplemented by syndicated content and occasional local insertions.
The station operates as part of a duopoly with Hartford-licensed Fox affiliate WTIC-TV (channel 61), both owned by Tegna Inc. through its subsidiary TEGNA Broadcast Holdings, LLC; the two share studios on Broad Street in downtown Hartford, with WCCT-TV's transmitter sited on Rattlesnake Mountain in Farmington. Tegna acquired WCCT-TV and WTIC-TV from Nexstar Media Group in 2019 as part of divestitures following Nexstar's purchase of Tribune Media.
Tracing its origins to September 10, 1953, when it signed on as independent station WATR-TV on UHF channel 53—the second such outlet in Connecticut—WCCT-TV has undergone multiple ownership changes, call sign alterations (including WTXX from 1998 to 2010), and channel shifts before adopting its current branding and CW affiliation in 2006 via The WB merger. The station maintains a low-profile operation focused on network syndication rather than extensive local news production, which is handled primarily by sister WTIC-TV.

History

Inception and early operations as WATR-TV (1953–1966)

WATR-TV signed on the air on September 10, 1953, as the first television station in , operating on UHF channel 53 and serving as the state's fourth overall TV outlet. The station was established by Harold Thomas, the engineer-owner of co-owned AM radio station WATR (1320 AM), with involvement from the Gilmore family, utilizing shared facilities at the radio station's location for initial broadcasts that included a modest setup with a small switcher and audio console in the control room. From , WATR-TV functioned as a secondary affiliate of both the ABC and DuMont Television Networks, clearing select programming in competition with and sharing duties alongside New Haven's WNHC-TV (channel 8). Early operations emphasized local content production alongside limited network fare, reflecting the challenges of UHF broadcasting in an era dominated by VHF signals and the nascent TV market in . By 1956, following the collapse of the DuMont Network, WATR-TV assumed primary ABC affiliation status for much of western , airing a mix of network shows, syndicated material, and community-focused programming such as news, , and variety formats tailored to the Naugatuck Valley audience. In 1962, facing signal propagation issues on channel 53 and seeking improved coverage, the station shifted to UHF channel 20, relocating its studios and transmitter to a new site in Prospect, Connecticut, south of Waterbury, which enhanced technical capabilities and market reach. Ownership under the Thomas-Gilmore partnership remained stable through this period, with the station maintaining its focus on ABC-supplied content while producing original local segments. By , amid shifting network strategies and competitive pressures from established VHF outlets, WATR-TV transitioned to a primary affiliation, marking the end of its ABC era and a pivot toward broader network alignment in the Hartford-New Haven market.

NBC affiliation period (1966–1982)

In August 1966, WATR-TV, licensed to Waterbury and broadcasting on UHF channel 20, entered into an affiliation agreement with to serve as a secondary affiliate in , addressing gaps in coverage from the network's primary outlet, WHNB-TV (channel 30) in , which operated with a low-power UHF signal insufficient for western portions of the state. The affiliation enabled programming to reach audiences in Waterbury, southern , and adjacent areas more reliably, with WATR-TV airing the network's full slate of primetime, daytime, and sports content, including events like games and the Tonight Show. This dual-affiliate setup reflected 's strategy to strengthen penetration in fragmented markets during an era when UHF stations like WATR-TV, relocated to a new transmitter site in Prospect in 1962, competed with established VHF broadcasters. Under continued ownership by the Thomas and Gilmore Broadcasting Company, WATR-TV supplemented network fare with local inserts, syndicated reruns, and public affairs programming tailored to the Waterbury region's industrial and commuter demographics, though specific schedules emphasized network priority to maximize audience share in underserved territories. The station's operations during this period benefited from 's rising national popularity, driven by hits like and , which helped mitigate UHF reception challenges through promotional tie-ins and signal boosters. No major technical upgrades or ownership shifts occurred until the late , when market pressures from cable expansion began eroding standalone affiliate viability. The affiliation concluded in March 1982 amid a station sale to new operators who prioritized an independent format to pursue broader programming flexibility, rebranding as WTXX and dropping network commitments as consolidated with WHNB-TV (later ) for exclusive statewide coverage. This transition aligned with industry trends favoring independents in secondary markets, where 's improved primary affiliate signal and shifting economics reduced the need for dual affiliations.

Independent era as WTXX (1982–1995)

In 1981, the longstanding owners of WATR-TV sold the Waterbury-licensed station to Odyssey Television Partners, a group that would later evolve into Renaissance Broadcasting, marking the first such ownership for the new entity in independent television. The approved the transfer, enabling a relaunch following the end of its NBC affiliation. On March 22, 1982, the station adopted the call letters WTXX—referencing channel 20 in —and transitioned to full-time independent operation, serving the Hartford–New Haven market with a statewide signal enhanced by prior transmitter improvements. As Connecticut's primary , WTXX emphasized syndicated programming to attract viewers in a market dominated by network affiliates, including weekday morning cartoons such as and the , classic sitcom reruns like , and evening movies alongside off-network fare. The station invested in expanded facilities during the mid-1980s to bolster its regional coverage, positioning itself as a key alternative for non-network content amid growing cable penetration. Local insertions included community events and limited original productions, though the focus remained on cost-effective syndication to build audience share against competitors like emerging UHF independents. By the early 1990s, WTXX explored revenue-sharing models, notably entering one of the nation's earliest partnerships in 1993 by airing NBC affiliate WVIT's 10 p.m. newscast, which supplemented its own minimal news efforts and highlighted the viability of outsourced programming for independents. This arrangement reflected broader industry shifts toward efficiencies, as WTXX maintained a lean operation while preparing for affiliation opportunities amid the rise of new networks like . Ownership under / emphasized asset growth, setting the stage for duopoly expansions, though regulatory limits on multiple station holdings in the market constrained further acquisitions during this period.

Duopoly establishment and UPN affiliation (1995–2006)

In April , WTXX in , affiliated with the (UPN), becoming the network's outlet for the Hartford–New Haven market after operating as an . Prior to this, UPN programming had been available in the area via distant signals or other means, but WTXX's affiliation provided local carriage for shows such as . The affiliation aligned with UPN's expansion strategy targeting younger demographics through partnerships with Paramount and Chris-Craft/United Television. Duopoly operations with Fox affiliate (channel 61) in were established through a (LMA) initiated by in December 1997, allowing to manage WTXX's programming, sales, and operations while sharing resources. This arrangement replaced a prior LMA with NBC-owned (channel 30), which had operated since at least the mid-1990s and included WTXX simulcasting portions of WVIT's newscasts. By mid-1998, had fully assumed operational control, shifting WTXX's late-evening news to a of WTIC's 10 p.m. broadcast and integrating syndicated programming across both stations. The LMA complied with FCC rules permitting such agreements in markets without violating top-four station ownership restrictions, enhancing efficiencies amid the 1996 Telecommunications Act's relaxation of broadcast ownership limits. Tribune Broadcasting acquired outright ownership of WTXX in 2001, formalizing the duopoly under common control and enabling deeper integration of news production and advertising sales with . That January 1, following the purchase, WTXX swapped affiliations with WBNE (channel 59) in New Haven—trading for —reflecting Tribune's stake in The WB and strategic shifts as struggled with low ratings. WTXX retained 's stronger performers selectively but prioritized WB's youth-oriented lineup, including and , while expanding local content through 's resources. By April 2006, the duopoly featured full simulcasting of 's 10 p.m. newscast on WTXX, solidifying shared news operations ahead of The CW's formation from the WB- merger. Throughout this period, the arrangement boosted WTXX's viability in a competitive market dominated by Big Three affiliates, though it faced scrutiny under evolving FCC duopoly rules requiring divestitures in certain rankings.

CW affiliation, call sign change, and Tribune ownership (2006–2019)

On September 18, 2006, WTXX transitioned from The WB to become a charter affiliate of The CW Television Network, following the merger of The WB and UPN; this aligned with Tribune Broadcasting's strategy as a co-founder of the new network, securing carriage of CW programming including America's Next Top Model, Smallville, and Supernatural in the Hartford–New Haven market. The affiliation shift maintained the station's focus on younger demographics through a mix of network primetime, syndicated fare like The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and limited local content, while operating as the junior partner in a duopoly with Tribune-owned Fox affiliate WTIC-TV (channel 61), sharing studios in Hartford. Tribune had fully acquired WTXX in 2001 from Counterpoint Communications, forming the duopoly despite FCC scrutiny over cross-ownership with the Hartford Courant; in 2005, the FCC initially ruled the holdings violated rules but granted a temporary , allowing retention amid ongoing legal challenges that extended through the period. Under management, the station emphasized cost efficiencies, including simulcasting WTIC's 10 p.m. newscast until June 2010, when WTXX discontinued the newscast shortly before changing its to WCCT-TV on June 18, 2010, to better evoke "" and align with regional branding as "Connecticut's ." The call sign change coincided with rebranding efforts to strengthen local identity, though viewership remained modest, with Nielsen ratings reflecting a 2% all-day share in the late ; WCCT-TV continued CW affiliation without interruption, renewing in 2016 as part of a multi-station deal covering Tribune's CW outlets. Tribune's ownership persisted until 2019, marked by operational integration with WTIC—such as a 2009 move to shared downtown facilities—but also disputes, including a 2012 carriage blackout with over retransmission fees that temporarily removed WCCT-TV from 400,000 subscribers. This era solidified the station's secondary role in the market, prioritizing network compliance and duopoly synergies over expansive local production.

Tegna acquisition and carriage disputes (2019–present)

In March 2019, as part of regulatory approvals for Nexstar Media Group's acquisition of Tribune Media, TEGNA Inc. agreed to purchase WCCT-TV and its sister station WTIC-TV from Tribune Broadcasting for an undisclosed amount, within a larger deal involving 11 stations across eight markets. The transaction, valued at approximately $117 million for the full set of stations, aimed to address antitrust concerns by divesting overlapping properties in the Hartford-New Haven market. TEGNA completed the acquisition on September 19, 2019, integrating WCCT-TV into its portfolio of 64 stations reaching about 39% of U.S. television households. Under TEGNA ownership, WCCT-TV has been involved in retransmission consent negotiations, leading to carriage disputes with multichannel video programming distributors (MVPDs). On December 1, 2023, following an impasse in renewal talks, WCCT-TV and were removed from and U-verse services for approximately 200,000 subscribers in , depriving viewers of network programming and local content amid demands for higher fees. The blackout lasted several weeks until a multiyear agreement was reached in early , restoring access and highlighting ongoing tensions over affiliate compensation in a declining linear market. In November 2024, TEGNA successfully renewed its carriage deal with , ensuring continued availability of WCCT-TV without interruption, unlike some prior negotiations that risked blackouts. As of October 2025, TEGNA remains the owner, though announced a $6.2 billion agreement to acquire TEGNA on August 19, 2025, pending regulatory approval, which could further consolidate ownership and influence future carriage dynamics in . This potential merger has raised concerns among media analysts about reduced competition and intensified retransmission fee pressures on distributors.

Programming

Network and syndicated programming

WCCT-TV serves as the CW affiliate for the Hartford–New Haven market, carrying The CW's national primetime lineup on weekdays from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. ET, which typically features a mix of scripted dramas, reality competitions, and variety programs such as Penn & Teller: Fool Us and WWE specials when scheduled. Weekend network programming includes select CW-supplied content like music performances from iHeartRadio Live events and occasional sports telecasts, though the network's schedule has contracted in recent years, allowing affiliates greater flexibility in off-peak hours. The station fills daytime, early evening, and late-night slots with syndicated programming, emphasizing court shows, talk formats, sitcom reruns, and game shows to target local audiences. As of October 2025, syndicated offerings include morning and afternoon court programs such as Court Cam (6:00–8:00 a.m.), Cutlers Court (11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.), Divorce Court (12:00–1:00 p.m.), and We the People with Judge Lauren Lake (1:00–2:00 p.m.); talk shows like The Steve Wilkos Show (10:00–11:00 a.m. and 5:00–6:00 p.m.), Maury (6:00–7:00 p.m.), and Karamo (4:00–5:00 p.m.); off-network sitcoms in early fringe and access periods, including Last Man Standing (7:00–8:00 p.m.), The Neighborhood (8:00–9:00 p.m.), The Goldbergs (9:00–10:00 p.m.), Young Sheldon (10:00–11:00 p.m.), Modern Family (11:00 p.m.–12:00 a.m.), and Seinfeld (3:00–4:00 a.m.); and game shows such as 25 Words or Less (8:00–9:00 a.m. and 3:00–4:00 p.m.) and Just for Laughs Gags (7:00–8:00 a.m.). This lineup reflects a standard approach for CW affiliates, prioritizing cost-effective, high-repeat-viewership content from syndicators like Warner Bros. Television Distribution and CBS Media Ventures to complement the network feed.

Local news and original content

WCCT-TV simulcasts select local newscasts produced by co-owned sister station under the unified FOX61 News branding, covering the Hartford–New Haven market with reporting on , weather, traffic, and investigative stories. The duopoly's shared , located at 285 Broad Street in , employs a team led by news director III, appointed on June 14, 2021, to oversee content across both stations. This arrangement includes approximately 9.5 hours of weekly news simulcasts on WCCT-TV, as approved in FCC reviews of the stations' operational synergies. Beyond news, WCCT-TV airs limited original local programming, primarily community and public affairs content produced in partnership with the Office of Radio & Television (ORTV), a Catholic media organization based in Waterbury. ORTV's offerings, broadcast daily and weekly, include religious programs such as daily Masses, educational segments on faith topics, and community-focused shows emphasizing Connecticut-specific events and interviews. These productions, often live or recorded at ORTV studios, fill non-prime time slots and align with the station's historical emphasis on niche local content during periods of lighter network obligations. The station's original output remains modest compared to major network affiliates, prioritizing syndicated and CW network fare over extensive in-house development.

Sports broadcasts and partnerships

WCCT-TV, in partnership with sister station WTIC-TV (Fox 61), broadcast seven road games of the WNBA's Connecticut Sun during the 2016 regular season, beginning with the May 3 matchup against the San Antonio Stars. In 2017, the station aired three Sun games, including contests against the Chicago Sky on May 28 and the Los Angeles Sparks on September 3. This continued into 2018, with WCCT carrying select regular-season games as part of a broader lineup of 27 Sun broadcasts across local outlets. Additional games were added in 2019, including three over-the-air broadcasts on CW 20. The station held local broadcast rights to the Sun until the end of the 2023 season, after which regional coverage shifted primarily to NBC Sports Boston. Beginning October 29, 2018, WCCT-TV expanded its local sports coverage by airing CT Sports Now, a live weeknight program at 11:30 p.m. focused on Connecticut high school athletics, including highlights, interviews, and CIAC updates; the show originated from Frontier Communications' Vantage SportsNet and became available over-the-air statewide through CW 20. In November 2021, WCCT began televising select men's games, complementing the station's portfolio of regional sports programming alongside New York Yankees and Mets simulcasts.

Technical Information

Digital subchannels and multicast services

WCCT-TV transmits a digital over-the-air signal on UHF channel 33 (physical), remapped to 20 following the FCC spectrum repack completed in 2020. The multiplex supports ATSC 1.0 subchannels providing on the primary channel alongside additional multicast networks focused on and genres.
DTRes.AspectShort nameProgramming
20.116:9WCCT-HD
20.2480i16:9CourtTV (true crime trials and documentaries)
20.3480i16:9Comet (science fiction, horror, and cult classics)
These subchannels utilize technology to deliver niche programming without displacing the main affiliation, enabling broader content distribution within bandwidth constraints. , launched as a digital in 2019, emphasizes live court coverage and analysis, while , syndicated by Sinclair, airs acquired genre series and films from the 1950s to . No additional subchannels beyond these three have been consistently reported in recent FCC filings or broadcast data as of 2023.

ATSC 3.0 implementation as lighthouse station

WCCT-TV commenced (NextGen TV) broadcasting on October 12, 2021, functioning as the lighthouse station for the Hartford-New Haven market in . In this role, WCCT-TV utilizes its assigned RF channel 33 (UHF) to host signals for cooperating stations, enabling them to deliver enhanced features such as 4K ultra-high-definition video, (HDR) imaging, immersive audio, and interactive data services without relinquishing their primary spectrum allocations. The initial deployment included WCCT-TV itself (The CW affiliate, virtual channel 20), alongside hosted signals from Tegna-owned WTIC-TV (Fox, virtual channel 61), Meredith Local Media's WFSB (CBS, virtual channel 3), and Hearst Television's WTNH (ABC, virtual channel 8). This collaborative arrangement exemplifies the FCC-permitted "pop-up" or temporary hosting model for , where the lighthouse station maintains its ATSC 1.0 on a separate facility or subchannel to ensure for legacy receivers, while dedicating primary capacity to the advanced standard. By December 2023, WCCT-TV continued to operate as the host, complying with FCC multicast disclosure requirements for its subchannel arrangements. As of 2025, WCCT-TV's implementation supports expanded coverage for the market's major network affiliates, including affiliate in some configurations, transmitting encrypted or hosted subchannels to facilitate and datacasting opportunities inherent to the standard's IP-based framework. This setup aligns with broader industry efforts to phase in voluntarily, prioritizing markets with cooperative broadcaster agreements to demonstrate capabilities like hyper-localized content delivery and emergency alert enhancements over traditional over-the-air signals.

Analog-to-digital transition and spectrum reallocation

WCCT-TV discontinued its on UHF channel 20 at 12:01 a.m. EDT on June 12, 2009, in compliance with the federally mandated transition to broadcasting. Prior to the transition, the station's operated on VHF channel 12 under a temporary low-power facility; following the analog shutdown, it relocated to UHF channel 20, matching the former analog allocation, while retaining 20 for viewer identification. This shift allowed WCCT-TV to broadcast a full-power covering the Hartford–New Haven market, enabling high-definition programming and additional subchannels. In the aftermath of the Federal Communications Commission's 2016–2017 broadcast incentive auction, which ed remaining UHF television stations into a reduced spectrum band to reallocate 84 megahertz for services, WCCT-TV was reassigned from RF channel 20 to RF channel 33. The station did not participate in the voluntary auction to relinquish its spectrum but was required to transition as part of the multi-phase ing process, which compressed full-power and Class A stations into channels 14–36 to optimize spectrum efficiency. WCCT-TV completed construction and commenced operations on channel 33 by the conclusion of the on July 3, 2020, maintaining its 20 and ATSC 1.0 signal parameters, including resolution for the primary CW feed. The reassignment necessitated equipment upgrades and FCC coordination to avoid interference, with the FCC providing reimbursement eligibility for eligible repacked stations like WCCT-TV to offset relocation costs estimated in the billions nationwide.

Transmitter location, signal coverage, and FCC compliance

WCCT-TV's transmitter is located on Rattlesnake Mountain in Farmington, Connecticut, at coordinates 41°42′13″N 72°49′55″W. This elevated site, shared with co-owned WTIC-TV, facilitates broad over-the-air distribution across central Connecticut. The station transmits with an effective radiated power (ERP) of 220 kW (94.4 kW vertical) and a height above average terrain (HAAT) of 1,696 feet above ground level (2,019 feet above mean sea level). These parameters yield a predicted noise-limited contour extending approximately 63 miles, covering 12,478 square miles and an estimated population of 5,926,097 within the Hartford–New Haven designated market area (DMA), which encompasses most of Connecticut and portions of adjacent states. Over-the-air reception is strongest in urban centers like Hartford, New Haven, and Waterbury, with cable carriage on channel 11 extending availability market-wide. WCCT-TV operates under FCC facility ID 14050 as a full-service commercial , licensed to , with its current authorization active as of June 26, 2024. The station broadcasts on RF channel 33 ( 20) following the 2017–2020 spectrum repack, during which it maintained service continuity despite initial channel election adjustments. It adheres to FCC technical standards, including digital transition requirements completed in 2009, and has no outstanding violations; a 2012 "failing station" waiver for ownership purposes was granted based on low audience share (2%) but does not indicate ongoing noncompliance.

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