WGXA
{{Short description|Television station in Macon, Georgia}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox television station
| callsign = WGXA
| city =
| logo = WGXA Fox24-2017 (flat).svg
| logo_alt = The Fox network logo in blue next to a blue sans serif 24.
| image = WGXA-DT2 2024.webp
| image_alt = The ABC network logo next to a red italicized 16 in a sans serif.
| image_upright = 0.8
| branding = {{ubl|24.1: WGXA Fox 24|24.2: WGXA ABC 16|WGXA News}}
| digital = 26 (UHF)
| virtual = 24
| subchannels =
| translators =
| affiliations = {{ubl|24.1: Fox|24.2: ABC|24.3: Comet}}
| owner = Sinclair Broadcast Group
| licensee = WGXA Licensee, LLC
| location = Macon, Georgia
| country = United States
| airdate = {{start date and age|1982|4|21|p=y}}
| last_airdate =
| callsign_meaning = An X in the middle of "GA" represents "the crossroads of Middle Georgia", the region served{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107073569/new-tv-stations-opening-delayed/|date=March 17, 1982|page=1B|first=Ann|last=Doss|title=New TV Station's Opening Delayed|newspaper=The Macon Telegraph|location=Macon, Georgia|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=August 6, 2022|archive-date=August 6, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220806205944/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107073569/new-tv-stations-opening-delayed/|url-status=live}}
| former_callsigns = WWLG (CP, 1980–1982){{Cite web|title=FCC History Cards for WGXA|url=https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/api/download/attachment/fa8777ed-473e-b45b-03a8-cd4561770d7a|publisher=Federal Communications Commission}}
| former_channel_numbers = {{ubl|Analog: 24 (UHF, 1982–2009)|Digital: 16 (UHF, 2000–2019)}}
| former_affiliations = {{ubl|ABC (1982–1996)|MyNetworkTV (secondary, 2006–2009)}}
| erp = 540 kW
| haat = {{convert|243|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
| facility_id = 58262
| coordinates = {{coord|32|44|58.4|N|83|33|34.5|W|type:landmark_scale:2000}}
| licensing_authority = FCC
| website = {{url|https://wgxa.tv/}}
}}
WGXA (channel 24) is a television station in Macon, Georgia, United States, affiliated with Fox and ABC. Owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group, the station maintains studios on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard (GA 11/GA 22/GA 49/US 80/US 129) in downtown Macon, and its transmitter is located on GA 87/US 23/US 129 ALT (Golden Isles Highway), along the Twiggs–Bibb county line.
Established in 1982, WGXA was the third television station in Macon but emerged immediately as a more credible competitor than the longer-established WCWB-TV (channel 41) to locally dominant station WMAZ-TV (channel 13). Originally an affiliate of ABC, it was sold in 1995 to GOCOM Media and changed affiliations from ABC to Fox, with which it felt it could increase its local programming presence. An ABC subchannel was added in 2010 after the existing ABC affiliate balked at the network's programming. Local newscasts for the Fox and ABC subchannels, as well as a local newscast for air in Albany, Georgia, are produced from WGXA's Macon newsroom.
History
=As a primary ABC affiliate=
Aside from the brief existence of WETV/WNEX-TV/WOKA-TV from 1953 to 1955, Macon had one commercial television station (WMAZ-TV, channel 13) from 1955 to 1968, when WCWB-TV (channel 41) signed on. WMAZ had been a secondary affiliate of ABC since signing on in 1953, but by the 1970s, Macon was among the largest markets remaining without full service from the three networks; only cable viewers or those lucky enough to receive stations from Atlanta or Columbus could see the full ABC schedule. An effort in 1970 to get WMCN-TV off the ground on channel 24 failed.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/100168411/i-read-in-action-line-wmcn-tv/|date=April 12, 1970|page=1|title=Action Line|newspaper=The Macon Telegraph and News|location=Macon, Georgia|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 21, 2022|archive-date=April 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220421080212/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/100168411/i-read-in-action-line-wmcn-tv/|url-status=live}} It was not until later in the decade that movement started in earnest to bring Middle Georgia its third commercial TV station. A trio of WMAZ-TV employees—Lloyd Harris, Stan Carey, and Bill Manly—formed Broadcasting Dynamics and began planning a third station, which prompted WMAZ to fire them in September 1977.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/100168424/expected-in-78-new-tv-station-for-maco/|date=October 12, 1977|page=2A|title=Expected in '78: New TV Station For Macon?|newspaper=The Macon News|location=Macon, Georgia|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 21, 2022|archive-date=August 6, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220806205945/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/100168424/expected-in-78-new-tv-station-for/|url-status=live}}
A year later, Russell-Rowe Communications of Atlanta, headed by entrepreneurs Herman J. Russell and Howard Rowe, filed with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for a construction permit to build channel 24.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/100168439/fcc-takes-tv-station-application/|date=December 21, 1978|page=1A|first=Christopher|last=Bonner|title=FCC Takes TV Station Application|newspaper=The Macon News|location=Macon, Georgia|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 21, 2022|archive-date=August 6, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220806205946/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/100168439/fcc-takes-tv-station-application/|url-status=live}} Just days later, Rowe died, but Russell pressed on; they were joined by the Broadcasting Dynamics team, which had decided they did not have the money to pursue their own application.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/100168447/death-wont-hinder-third-tv-station/|date=December 23, 1978|page=1B|first=Sidney|last=Hill|title=Death Won't Hinder Third TV Station|newspaper=The Macon News|location=Macon, Georgia|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 21, 2022|archive-date=April 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220421080225/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/100168447/death-wont-hinder-third-tv-station/|url-status=live}} Lewis Television of Savannah, Georgia, owned by Julius Curtis Lewis Jr. and owner of Savannah's WJCL, also filed for channel 24, but it dropped its application in October 1979,{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/100168391/tv-station-applicant-withdraws/|date=October 31, 1979|page=1A, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/100168395/television/ 2A]|first=Mary|last=Burdette|title=TV Station Applicant Withdraws|newspaper=The Macon News|location=Macon, Georgia|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 21, 2022|archive-date=April 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220421080208/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/100168391/tv-station-applicant-withdraws/|url-status=live}} clearing the way for Russell-Rowe to be awarded the permit in January 1980.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/100168459/new-tv-station-gets-fcc-permit/|date=January 15, 1980|page=1|title=New TV Station Gets FCC Permit|newspaper=The Macon News|location=Macon, Georgia|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 21, 2022|archive-date=April 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220421080214/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/100168459/new-tv-station-gets-fcc-permit/|url-status=live}}
While Russell-Rowe hoped to name the station WROW in honor of the deceased Rowe, the first call letters on the construction permit were WWLG. The station purchased the former site of the Brown Hotel in downtown Macon,{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/100168466/channel-24-planning-to-stir-things-up/|date=September 28, 1981|page=1A, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/100168467/ 2A]|first=David|last=Beasley|title=Channel 24 planning to stir things up|newspaper=The Macon News|location=Macon, Georgia|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 21, 2022|archive-date=April 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220421080211/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/100168466/channel-24-planning-to-stir-things-up/|url-status=live}} while a tower went up on the Cochran Short Route, near the other TV transmission facilities for the Macon area.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/100168499/wgxa-macons-third-tv-station-to/|date=February 28, 1982|page=8M|title=WGXA, Macon's Third TV Station, To Begin Operations About April 1|newspaper=The Macon News|location=Macon, Georgia|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 21, 2022|archive-date=August 6, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220806205946/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/100168499/wgxa-macons-third-tv-station-to/|url-status=live}} While WGXA made its on-air debut on April 21, 1982, it was nowhere near fully ready. The studio was unlit; equipment was still in boxes, while other components had not yet arrived.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/100168508/new-macon-tv-station-goes-on-air/|date=April 22, 1982|page=1B|first=Steve|last=Bills|title=New Macon TV station goes on air|newspaper=The Macon News|location=Macon, Georgia|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 21, 2022|archive-date=April 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220421080224/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/100168508/new-macon-tv-station-goes-on-air/|url-status=live}} Local commercials had to be edited in Atlanta or Columbus.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107074539/debut-of-the-decade-wgxa-has-had-a/|date=April 21, 1992|page=1D, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107074605/ 2D]|first=Mitch|last=Clarke|title=Debut of the decade: WGXA has had 'a good 10 years'|newspaper=The Macon Telegraph|location=Macon, Georgia|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=August 6, 2022|archive-date=August 6, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220806205945/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107074539/debut-of-the-decade-wgxa-has-had-a/|url-status=live}} The first local newscast did not air until October 18, six months later.{{r|Maco821018}}
In Macon's television ratings, WGXA established itself as the second station, far behind the commanding audience shares that WMAZ held for news and entertainment programming but slightly ahead of WMGT (the renamed WCWB-TV).{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107073887/macons-tv-competition/|date=January 7, 1985|page=Business Plus 3, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107073981/ 6]|first=Stacy|last=Lam|title=Macon's TV competition|newspaper=The Macon Telegraph|location=Macon, Georgia|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=August 6, 2022|archive-date=August 6, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220806205946/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107073887/macons-tv-competition/|url-status=live}}
=GOCOM ownership and switch to Fox=
{{Quote box
| quote = When we looked at the station, we wondered, 'What if?' What if enough money had been put into news, into promotion?
| author = Ric Gorman
| source = president, GOCOM Media, on his attitude to operating WGXA{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107076344/new-attitude-wgxa-parties-in-anticipati/|date=December 21, 1995|first=Mike|last=Billips|page=1B, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107076260/ 2B]|title=New attitude: WGXA parties in anticipation of move to Fox|newspaper=The Macon Telegraph|location=Macon, Georgia|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=August 6, 2022|archive-date=August 6, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220806205949/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107076344/new-attitude-wgxa-parties-in/|url-status=live}}
| align = right
| width = 250px
| salign = left
}}
In February 1995, Russell-Rowe—whose three owners, Russell and two other men, were all past retirement age—filed to sell the station to GOCOM Media of Charlotte, North Carolina, for $11.75 million.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107075010/nc-company-buying-wgxa/|date=February 22, 1995|page=1B|first=Mike|last=Billips|title=N.C. company buying WGXA|newspaper=The Macon Telegraph|location=Macon, Georgia|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=August 6, 2022|archive-date=August 6, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220806205946/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107075010/nc-company-buying-wgxa/|url-status=live}} GOCOM closed on the sale in July; it replaced the management and announced an infusion of $1 million in cash and the hiring of 20 new staff for the station.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107075319/wxga-sic-bosses-plan-to-challange-sic/|date=July 29, 1995|page=1B|first=Mike|last=Billips|title=WXGA [sic] bosses plan to challange [sic] WMAZ: $1 million in changes include 20 new employees|newspaper=The Macon Telegraph|location=Macon, Georgia|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=August 6, 2022|archive-date=August 6, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220806205947/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107075319/wxga-sic-bosses-plan-to-challange/|url-status=live}}
That September, GOCOM announced the station would switch network affiliations from ABC to Fox, a move that the company felt would allow the station to more effectively counterprogram WMAZ with a 10 p.m. local newscast and shows aimed at a younger audience.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107075441/wgxa-tv-dropping-abc-to-pick-up-fox-affi/|date=September 8, 1995|page=1A, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107075537/ 6A]|first=Mike|last=Billips|title=WGXA-TV dropping ABC to pick up Fox affiliation|newspaper=The Macon Telegraph|location=Macon, Georgia|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=August 6, 2022|archive-date=August 6, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220806205947/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107075441/wgxa-tv-dropping-abc-to-pick-up-fox/|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1995/BC-1995-09-11.pdf|first=Harry A.|last=Jessell|id={{ProQuest|225333563}}|title=ABC, Fox change partners again: ABC is switching to WCPO-TV in Cincinnati, Fox is moving to WGXA-TV in Macon, Ga.|page=16|work=Broadcasting & Cable|date=September 11, 1995|via=World Radio History|access-date=April 21, 2022|archive-date=April 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220421080223/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1995/BC-1995-09-11.pdf|url-status=live}} This displaced Register Communications-owned WPGA-TV (channel 58), which began airing Fox programming in December 1994; during the 1994 season, WGXA had aired the NFL on Fox.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107075798/bowl-alliance-ends-full-day-of-football/|date=August 20, 1995|page=Football '95 55|first=Ivan|last=Aronin|title=Bowl alliance ends full day of football|newspaper=The Macon Telegraph|location=Macon, Georgia|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=August 6, 2022|archive-date=August 6, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220806205946/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107075798/bowl-alliance-ends-full-day-of-football/|url-status=live}} WPGA-TV aligned with ABC, setting up an affiliation switch for January 1, 1996.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107075946/channel-58-abc-strike-deal-switch-of-t/|date=November 2, 1995|page=1B|first=Mike|last=Billips|title=Channel 58, ABC strike deal: Switch of two local stations set for New Year's|newspaper=The Macon Telegraph|location=Macon, Georgia|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=August 6, 2022}} WGXA became one of just nine Fox affiliates ranked number one or two in their markets.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107076937/finding-a-niche-fox-24-sees-improvement/|date=February 21, 1997|page=Out & About 20|first=Dan|last=Maley|title=Finding a niche: Fox 24 sees improvement with its 10 p.m. newscast|newspaper=The Macon Telegraph|location=Macon, Georgia|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=August 6, 2022|archive-date=August 6, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220806205947/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107076937/finding-a-niche-fox-24-sees/|url-status=live}} GOCOM was itself acquired by a group led by Bain Capital in 1997.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107077212/gocom-cottonwood-large-group-of-small/|date=July 28, 1997|page=3D|first=David|last=Coburn|title=Gocom-Cottonwood: 'Large group of small-market network stations'|newspaper=The Charlotte Observer|location=Charlotte, North Carolina|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=August 6, 2022|archive-date=August 6, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220806205948/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107077212/gocom-cottonwood-large-group-of/|url-status=live}} Two years later, GOCOM merged its ten-station portfolio with Atlanta-based Grapevine Communications;{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107077361/wgxa-tv-to-be-sold/|date=May 12, 1999|page=2B|first=Rob|last=Kitchel|title=WGXA-TV to be sold|newspaper=The Macon Telegraph|location=Macon, Georgia|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=August 6, 2022|archive-date=August 6, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220806205958/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107077361/wgxa-tv-to-be-sold/|url-status=live}} the company then changed its name to Piedmont Communications.{{cite news|id={{ProQuest|231323428}} |title=Media veteran joins Elevator Channel as president|work=Charlotte Business Journal|first=David|last=Mildenberg|date=February 6, 2004|page=7|via=ProQuest}}
=Frontier ownership and return of ABC=
In 2007, Frontier Television Investors, a company owned by Jason R. Wolff, purchased WGXA-TV from Piedmont for $18.7 million, equivalent to ${{Format price|{{Inflation|US-GDP|18780503|2007}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US}} dollars.{{Inflation/fn|US}}{{cite news|url=https://www.rbr.com/wolff-gets-a-fox|work=Radio and Television Business Report|title=Wolff gets a Fox|date=July 9, 2007|access-date=August 6, 2022|archive-date=May 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210510013937/https://www.rbr.com/wolff-gets-a-fox/|url-status=live}}
Under Frontier ownership, ABC returned from WPGA-TV after 13 years to a subchannel of WGXA beginning January 1, 2010. The move was precipitated by two factors, both involving WPGA-TV's owner, Lowell Register: he disapproved of a change by ABC regarding the institution of affiliation fees, and he also decried what he felt was an increasingly risqué program offering from ABC, telling a reporter for The Macon Telegraph, "I had somebody tell me they're running a good bit of gay and lesbian stuff on it".{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107078356/changes-ahead-for-abc-affiliate/|date=October 30, 2009|page=1A, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107078391/abc/ 3A]|first=Mike|last=Stucka|title=Changes ahead for ABC affiliate|newspaper=The Macon Telegraph|location=Macon, Georgia|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=August 6, 2022|archive-date=August 6, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220806205959/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107078356/changes-ahead-for-abc-affiliate/|url-status=live}} The new subchannel was branded as "ABC 16", reflecting the physical channel then used for WGXA's broadcasts.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107078793/cox-wpga-at-odds-over-channel-placement/|date=December 7, 2009|page=1A, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107078829/ 10A]|first=Phillip|last=Ramati|title=Cox, WPGA at odds over channel placement|newspaper=The Macon Telegraph|location=Macon, Georgia|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=August 6, 2022|archive-date=August 6, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220806205959/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107078793/cox-wpga-at-odds-over-channel-placement/|url-status=live}}
The shift of ABC programming from WPGA-TV to the new WGXA-ABC subchannel led to a dispute between Cox Communications, the primary cable provider in Macon, and WPGA-TV over whether WPGA's channel 6 position belonged to WPGA-TV—as that station contended—or could be used for ABC programming—as Cox desired, in order to place the new WGXA subchannel on cable channel 6, and believed it could do under the terms of its contract with Register. WPGA-TV won a temporary restraining order in late December to hold the position, leading to the ABC subchannel debuting on cable channel 16.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107079281/injunction-issued-in-cox-wpga-feud/|date=December 23, 2009|page=1A, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107079256/wpga/ 3A]|first=Phillip|last=Ramati|title=Injunction issued in Cox, WPGA feud|newspaper=The Macon Telegraph|location=Macon, Georgia|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=August 6, 2022|archive-date=August 6, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220806205959/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107079281/injunction-issued-in-cox-wpga-feud/|url-status=live}}
A district court dismissed the case, but Register appealed; on June 23, 2011, the Georgia Court of Appeals upheld the ruling enabling Cox to drop WPGA from its lineup and place WGXA-ABC on cable channel 6, which it did in July.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107079515/cox-to-drop-wpga-in-july/|date=June 23, 2011|page=1B, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107079465/cox/ 2B]|first=Phillip|last=Ramati|title=Cox to drop WPGA in July|newspaper=The Macon Telegraph|location=Macon, Georgia|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=August 6, 2022|archive-date=August 6, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220806205959/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107079515/cox-to-drop-wpga-in-july/|url-status=live}} (A final appeal by Register to the FCC ended when the commission found that WPGA's contract with Cox rendered it a station that elected retransmission consent.{{cite news|last=Ramati|first=Philip|title=FCC clears way for Cox to drop WPGA from cable lineup|url=http://www.macon.com/2011/12/08/1815780/fcc-clears-way-for-cox-to-drop.html|access-date=December 9, 2011|newspaper=The Macon Telegraph|date=December 8, 2011|archive-date=January 26, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120126030920/http://www.macon.com/2011/12/08/1815780/fcc-clears-way-for-cox-to-drop.html|url-status=live}})
=Sale to Sinclair=
On March 24, 2014, Frontier Radio Management reached a deal to sell WGXA to Sinclair Broadcast Group for $33 million;{{cite web|title=Application For Consent To Assignment Of Broadcast Station Construction Permit Or License|url=http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/prefill_and_display.pl?Application_id=1631603&Service=DT&Form_id=314&Facility_id=58262|work=CDBS Public Access|publisher=Federal Communications Commission|access-date=April 25, 2014|date=April 23, 2014|archive-date=April 26, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140426201248/http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/prefill_and_display.pl?Application_id=1631603&Service=DT&Form_id=314&Facility_id=58262|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/75938/station-trading-roundup-1-deal-33-million|title=Station Trading Roundup: 1 Deal, $33 Million|work=TVNewsCheck|date=April 29, 2014|access-date=April 30, 2014|archive-date=May 2, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140502032118/http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/75938/station-trading-roundup-1-deal-33-million|url-status=live}} the sale was completed on September 3, 2014.{{cite news|title=Sinclair Closes WGXA Purchase, WHTM Sale|url=http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/78948/sinclair-closes-wgxa-purchase-whtm-sale|access-date=September 3, 2014|work=TVNewsCheck|date=September 3, 2014|archive-date=August 6, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220806210003/https://tvnewscheck.com/uncategorized/article/sinclair-closes-wgxa-purchase-whtm-sale/|url-status=live}}
News operation
WGXA began producing local newscasts on October 18, 1982.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/100168769/no-cloudy-skies-anymore-in-macon-tv-weat/|date=October 18, 1982|page=3B, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/100168783/ 4B]|first=Craig|last=Bustin|title=No cloudy skies anymore in Macon TV weather forecasts|newspaper=The Macon News|location=Macon, Georgia|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 21, 2022|archive-date=August 6, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220806210103/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/100168769/no-cloudy-skies-anymore-in-macon-tv/|url-status=live}} The launch of News 24 brought the market back to two full-service television newsrooms; WCWB had, the month before, dropped its full-length newscasts to produce inserts into CNN Headline News.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/100168772/wcwb-news-is-signing-off/|date=September 17, 1982|page=1A|first=Craig|last=Bustin|title=WCWB news is signing off|newspaper=The Macon News|location=Macon, Georgia|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 21, 2022|archive-date=April 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220421080210/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/100168772/wcwb-news-is-signing-off/|url-status=live}} Nearly immediately, the station made a more credible showing than WCWB, attracting about half the audience of the dominant WMAZ.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/100168832/viewers-switching-to-24-in-late-night-ra/|date=June 18, 1983|page=1B, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/100168835/ 2B]|first=Janet|last=Groat|title=Viewers Switching to 24 in Late-Night Ratings|newspaper=The Macon News|location=Macon, Georgia|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 21, 2022|archive-date=August 6, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220806210001/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/100168832/viewers-switching-to-24-in-late-night/|url-status=live}}
In conjunction with the switch to Fox, the station expanded its local news programming with new weekend newscasts and invested in improved equipment as Gocom sought to make the station more competitive against WMAZ.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/105666285/local-tv-news-battle-heats-up/|date=December 31, 1995|page=15A|first=Mike|last=Billips|title=Local TV-news battle heats up|newspaper=The Macon Telegraph|location=Macon, Georgia|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=August 6, 2022|archive-date=August 6, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220806210000/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/105666285/local-tv-news-battle-heats-up/|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/105666589/the-rating-game/|date=December 31, 1995|page=1C|first=Mike|last=Billips|title=The rating game|newspaper=The Macon Telegraph|location=Macon, Georgia|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=August 6, 2022|archive-date=August 6, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220806210002/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/105666589/the-rating-game/|url-status=live}} A morning newscast, News A.M., debuted in August 1997.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107076555/fox-24-adds-morning-news/|date=August 15, 1997|page=Out and About 19|first=Dan|last=Maley|title=Fox 24 adds morning news|newspaper=The Macon Telegraph|location=Macon, Georgia|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=August 6, 2022|archive-date=August 6, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220806210001/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107076555/fox-24-adds-morning-news/|url-status=live}} Viewership grew among youth audiences for the newscasts.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107076721/news-wars/|date=November 9, 1997|page=1C, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107076735/ 4C]|first=Lance|last=Wallace|title=News wars: WGXA is fastest growing Fox news in country|newspaper=The Macon Telegraph|location=Macon, Georgia|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=August 6, 2022|archive-date=August 6, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220806210001/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107076721/news-wars/|url-status=live}} The station retained its early evening newscast at 5:30 p.m. until 2001, when it consolidated it with the 10 p.m. newscast as an hourlong program.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107077573/fox-24-expands-prime-time-newscast/|date=September 5, 2001|page=8C, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107077609/ 7C]|first=Cindy|last=Sams|title=Fox 24 expands prime-time newscast|newspaper=The Macon Telegraph|location=Macon, Georgia|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=August 6, 2022|archive-date=August 6, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220806210002/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107077573/fox-24-expands-prime-time-newscast/|url-status=live}}
On March 1, 2010, an expansion of the WGXA newsroom began with a new 5:30 p.m. broadcast for the Fox subchannel and dedicated 7 and 11 p.m. newscasts on the ABC subchannel; the combined brand "NewsCentral" was adopted.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107079777/wgxa-adds-new-features-today-station-to/|date=March 1, 2010|page=3A, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107079800/ 4A]|first=Phillip|last=Ramati|title=WGXA adds new features today: Station to roll out news broadcasts on Fox, ABC|newspaper=The Macon Telegraph|location=Macon, Georgia|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=August 6, 2022|archive-date=August 6, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220806210100/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107079777/wgxa-adds-new-features-today-station/|url-status=live}} From 2010 to 2012, the station aired a morning radio-television simulcast with WMAC (940 AM), featuring the same people that had been producing a similar show for WPGA radio and television.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107080202/telegraph-fox-abc-940-am-to-partner-o/|date=May 28, 2010|page=1A, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107080277/ 5A]|first=Linda S.|last=Morris|title=Telegraph, Fox, ABC, 940 AM to partner on shows|newspaper=The Macon Telegraph|location=Macon, Georgia|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=August 6, 2022|archive-date=August 6, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220806210029/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107080202/telegraph-fox-abc-940-am-to-partner/|url-status=live}}
In 2019, WGXA morning news anchor Rick Devens competed on the CBS reality show Survivor: Edge of Extinction.{{cite news|url=https://www.nexttv.com/blog/anchor-devens-fights-to-the-end-on-survivor|date=May 21, 2019|title=Anchor Devens Fights to the End on 'Survivor'|first=Michael|last=Malone|work=Broadcasting & Cable|access-date=August 6, 2022|archive-date=June 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210615094409/https://www.nexttv.com/blog/anchor-devens-fights-to-the-end-on-survivor|url-status=live}}
WGXA handled production of a weeknight hour-long 10 p.m. newscast for sister station WFXL in Albany. Local reporters in the Albany area covered that region's news, which was presented from Macon. The WGXA news director also held that title for WFXL,{{cite web|url=https://wfxl.com/news/local/wgxa-news-names-jeff-cox-as-news-director|title=Jeff Cox promoted to News Director of WGXA and WFXL|date=June 10, 2021|first=Conner|last=Hendricks|work=WFXL}} and in 2022, WGXA was added to the portfolio of the general manager of WFXL and WACH-TV in Columbia, South Carolina.{{cite news|url=https://tvnewscheck.com/business/article/greg-conner-named-wgxa-macon-vp-gm/|first=Mark K.|last=Miller|title=Greg Conner Named WGXA Macon VP-GM|work=TVNewsCheck|date=April 8, 2022|access-date=August 6, 2022|archive-date=June 4, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220604231539/https://tvnewscheck.com/business/article/greg-conner-named-wgxa-macon-vp-gm/|url-status=live}} In March 2023, several newscasts were cut back at WGXA and replaced with Sinclair's national news program, The National Desk, accompanying a round of layoffs.{{Cite news|url=https://tvnewscheck.com/journalism/article/sinclair-shutters-five-news-markets-we-just-turned-off-the-lights-for-many/|title=Sinclair Shutters Five News Markets: 'We Just Turned Off The Lights For Many'|first=Michael|last=Stahl|work=TVNewsCheck|date=May 1, 2023|access-date=May 1, 2023}}
Technical information
=Subchannels=
The station's signal is multiplexed:
| class="wikitable"
! scope = "col" | Channel ! scope = "col" | Res. ! scope = "col" | Aspect ! scope = "col" | Short name ! scope = "col" | Programming |
| scope = "row" | 24.1 |
|---|
| scope = "row" | 24.2
| ABC || ABC |
| scope = "row" | 24.3 |
WGXA's broadcasts became digital-only, effective June 12, 2009.{{Cite web |date=May 23, 2006 |title=DTV Tentative Channel Designations for the First and Second Rounds |url=http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1082A2.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130829004251/http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1082A2.pdf |archive-date=August 29, 2013 |access-date=August 29, 2021 |website=Federal Communications Commission}}
The station was repacked from channel 16 to 26 in 2019.{{r|rei}}
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- {{Official website|https://wgxa.tv/}}
{{Macon TV}}
{{Fox Georgia}}
{{ABC Georgia}}
{{SBGI}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wgxa}}
Category:1982 establishments in Georgia (U.S. state)
Category:American Broadcasting Company affiliates
Category:Comet (TV network) affiliates
Category:Fox Broadcasting Company affiliates
Category:Sinclair Broadcast Group
Category:Television channels and stations established in 1982