WPBF

{{See|1989 South Florida television affiliation switch}}

In 1985, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) designated 13 applications for a new television station on channel 25 in Tequesta for comparative hearing.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97439961/draft-notice/|date=April 6, 1985|page=D7|title=Draft Notice|newspaper=The Palm Beach Post|location=West Palm Beach, Florida|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 12, 2022|archive-date=March 13, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220313034158/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97439961/draft-notice/|url-status=live}} The field thinned to six before an administrative law judge gave the initial nod to Martin Telecommunications in July 1986, citing its ownership by a Hispanic woman, Betty Heisler, and its proposal to air closed captioning on all of its news programs.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97439893/firm-gets-ok-for-tv-station/|date=July 18, 1986|page=4PB|agency=UPI|title=Firm gets OK for TV station|newspaper=The Miami Herald|location=Miami, Florida|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 12, 2022|archive-date=March 13, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220313034158/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97439893/firm-gets-ok-for-tv-station/|url-status=live}} Martin Telecommunications's entirely Hispanic ownership beat out a bid from Triple J Properties, a group of three women and Tequesta residents.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97439990/promise-to-assist-hearing-impaired-helps/|date=July 18, 1986|page=3B|agency=Associated Press|title=Promise to assist hearing-impaired helps woman win Tequesta TV station permit|newspaper=The Palm Beach Post|location=West Palm Beach, Florida|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 12, 2022|archive-date=March 13, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220313034159/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97439990/promise-to-assist-hearing-impaired/|url-status=live}} Several of the competing applicants appealed the award to Martin Telecommunications, and during that time, another firm, Tequesta Television secured additional investors and paid Martin and the other groups, anxious to avoid years of legal challenges, to drop their bids, clearing the way for Tequesta to be awarded the construction permit. The two additional investors that would own 98 percent of the company were John C. Phipps, who had built WPTV in West Palm Beach in 1956 and owned Tallahassee-area CBS affiliate WCTV, and Alan Potamkin, an owner of car dealerships in Miami.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35255607/new-tv-station-coming-but-programs-a-my/|date=July 29, 1988|page=1A, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35255614/always-room-for-another-competitor-in/ 8A]|first=Bob|last=Michals|title=New TV station coming, but programs a mystery|newspaper=The Palm Beach Post|location=West Palm Beach, Florida|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 12, 2022|archive-date=March 13, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220313034200/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35255607/new-tv-station-coming-but-programs-a/|url-status=live}}

By the summer of 1988, negotiations were nearly being concluded on the former RCA site in Palm Beach Gardens, but no programming plans had been made public, nor had the tower been constructed. This caught the attention of local broadcasters because of impending turmoil in the Miami area. In 1987, NBC had bought WTVJ, the CBS affiliate in Miami; its existing contract with WSVN (channel 7) did not end until the end of 1988. CBS, in shopping for a new station in Miami, acquired WCIX, which broadcast on channel 6. Because channel 6 was also assigned in the Orlando area, WCIX's antenna had to be located further south than the other Miami stations, with the result being that key areas of Broward County were poorly served without translator stations or cable. CBS's existing affiliate for Palm Beach County and points north, WTVX in Fort Pierce, had only added significant coverage in Palm Beach County in 1980, when it made a major facility upgrade, and it was a UHF station. Rumors began to emerge that WPBF would be involved in a swap that could affect up to six stations.{{r|Palm880729}} However, Phipps and Potamkin began buying programming with an eye to making the new WPBF the second independent station in the West Palm Beach market.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/68779448/palm-beach-to-get-new-tv-station/|date=July 27, 1988|page=1E|title=Palm Beach to get new TV station|newspaper=South Florida Sun Sentinel|location=Fort Lauderdale, Florida|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 12, 2022|archive-date=March 13, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220313034235/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/68779448/palm-beach-to-get-new-tv-station/|url-status=live}}

CBS rectified its Broward County problem by poaching WPEC (channel 12) in West Palm Beach from ABC. That put ABC on the hunt for a new affiliate and started a three-way battle. The contenders were WTVX, the outgoing CBS affiliate with an existing news department; WFLX (channel 29), a successful Fox affiliate and independent station; and WPBF, a station that was not even on the air.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97440767/west-palm-affiliate-switch-could-cinch-c/|date=August 6, 1988|page=7A|first=Bob|last=Michals|title=West Palm affiliate switch could cinch Channel 6 sale|newspaper=The Miami News|location=Miami, Florida|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 12, 2022|archive-date=March 13, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220313034200/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97440767/west-palm-affiliate-switch-could-cinch/|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35255645/cbs-acquires-channel-6-for-59-million/|date=August 9, 1988|page=1A, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35255650/ 5A]|first=Jim|last=Talley|title=CBS acquires Channel 6 for $59 million|newspaper=Fort Lauderdale News|location=Fort Lauderdale, Florida|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 12, 2022|archive-date=March 13, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220313034159/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35255645/cbs-acquires-channel-6-for-59-million/|url-status=live}} In September, officials from these three stations made presentations to ABC executives in New York.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97440891/who-will-win-race-to-be-abc-affiliate-s/|date=September 8, 1988|page=1D, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97440924/ 9D]|first=Bob|last=Michals|title=Who will win? Race to be ABC affiliate starts|newspaper=The Palm Beach Post|location=West Palm Beach, Florida|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 12, 2022|archive-date=March 13, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220313034201/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97440891/who-will-win-race-to-be-abc-affiliate/|url-status=live}} WTVX was seen as being in the lead, with its established operation, but it was not based in West Palm Beach, the largest city in the media market; WFLX had solid ratings and viewership even into Broward County, though it had no news department; but WPBF was cited by media as a "dark horse" and by WPTV's general manager as a "sleeper" because of its proposed technical facilities and the track record of Phipps in running WCTV, one of the most successful television stations in the country.{{r|Palm880908}}

ABC announced its choice on October 18, 1988: in a move that stunned broadcasters and the other two contenders vying for the affiliation, it selected WPBF. George Newi, the head of affiliate relations for ABC, noted the track record of Phipps in Tallahassee as a decision.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35255708/abc-picks-palm-affiliate-that-is-not/|date=October 19, 1988|page=8B|title=ABC picks Palm affiliate that is not yet on the air|newspaper=South Florida Sun Sentinel|location=Fort Lauderdale, Florida|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 12, 2022|archive-date=March 13, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220313034201/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35255708/abc-picks-palm-affiliate-that-is-not/|url-status=live}} It also helped that Phipps was willing to pay for the affiliation, forking over an estimated $1 million (equivalent to ${{Inflation|US|1|1988|r=1}} million in {{Inflation/year|US}}{{Inflation/fn|US}}) at a time when networks typically compensated stations for carrying their programs; it was the first time a station had ever paid for a network affiliation, known in the industry as reverse compensation.{{r|Sout881230}} In addition, WPBF agreed to cover most of its startup promotional costs.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97441609/new-tv-station-rehearses-for-sunday-debu/|date=December 31, 1988|page=PB 1D|first=Michael|last=Crook|title=New TV station rehearses for Sunday debut|newspaper=The Miami Herald|location=Miami, Florida|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 12, 2022|archive-date=March 13, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220313034201/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97441609/new-tv-station-rehearses-for-sunday/|url-status=live}} The decision drew fire from the competitors. Murray Green, general manager of WFLX, called the decision "ludicrous" for awarding the affiliation to a station that was not even broadcasting yet.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35255684/channel-25-will-sign-on-as-abc-affiliate/|date=October 19, 1988|page=1A, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35255682/abcs-choice-of-unbuilt-station-puzzles/ 13A]|first=Bob|last=Michals|title=Channel 25 will sign on as ABC affiliate|newspaper=The Palm Beach Post|location=West Palm Beach, Florida|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 12, 2022|archive-date=March 13, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220313034201/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35255684/channel-25-will-sign-on-as-abc-affiliate/|url-status=live}} Bob Morford, the news director for WTVX, felt that "ABC is apparently under the impression that it's better to sign on a new station in Palm Beach" than align with an outlet in Fort Pierce.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97441277/wtvx-wont-be-abc-affiliate/|date=October 19, 1988|page=A1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97441301/ A6]|first=Tony|last=Burns|title=WTVX won't be ABC affiliate|newspaper=St. Lucie News Tribune|location=Fort Pierce, Florida|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 12, 2022|archive-date=March 13, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220313034201/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97441277/wtvx-wont-be-abc-affiliate/|url-status=live}} The precedent-setting reverse compensation deal, which was said to make affiliates of ABC "very nervous",{{cite news|url=https://archive.org/details/sim_televisionweek_1988-10-31_7_44_0/mode/2up?q=WPBF|pages=1, 41|title=Affiliation sale rattles TV stations|first=Adam|last=Buckman|work=Electronic Media|date=October 31, 1988}} was so unusual that it spurred an editorial in Electronic Media calling the idea of selling affiliations to the highest bidder a "dangerously short-sighted move" with the potential to destabilize the industry.{{Cite news|url=https://archive.org/details/sim_televisionweek_1988-10-31_7_44_0/page/n11/mode/2up?q=WPBF|page=12|date=October 31, 1988|title=Selling network affiliations|work=Electronic Media}}

The decision put Phipps and Potamkin on the clock to finish construction of WPBF. As late as November 10, the studio building was an empty warehouse; equipment had to be ordered and installed and a staff assembled.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35255728/instant-tv/|date=December 30, 1988|page=1A, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97441410/ 12A]|title=Instant TV|newspaper=South Florida Sun Sentinel|location=Fort Lauderdale, Florida|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 12, 2022|archive-date=March 13, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220313034201/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35255728/instant-tv/|url-status=live}} The transmitter was turned on with days to go,{{r|Miam881231}} and WPBF made it to air on January 1, 1989—a half-hour later than planned, because an engineer overslept.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35255769/fanfare-absent-as-switchovers-strike/|date=January 2, 1989|page=13A|first=Tom|last=Jicha|title=Fanfare absent as switchovers strike airwaves in S. Florida|newspaper=South Florida Sun Sentinel|location=Fort Lauderdale, Florida|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 12, 2022|archive-date=March 13, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220313034201/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35255769/fanfare-absent-as-switchovers-strike/|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35255756/channel-25s-first-broadcast-is-heralded/|date=January 2, 1989|page=1A, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97441553/ 9A]|first=Scott|last=Montgomery|title=Channel 25's first broadcast is heralded with a 'hiccup'|newspaper=The Palm Beach Post|location=West Palm Beach, Florida|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 12, 2022|archive-date=July 14, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220714035859/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35255756/channel-25s-first-broadcast-is/|url-status=live}} However, the station struggled in its early years with signal issues in southern Palm Beach County, channel slot issues on some cable systems, and difficulty establishing viewer loyalty.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97442115/fox-affiliate-to-air-news-show-at-10/|date=August 9, 1991|page=1B|first=Jeffrey|last=Kleinman|title=Fox affiliate to air news show at 10|newspaper=The Miami Herald|location=Miami, Florida|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 12, 2022|archive-date=July 14, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220714035859/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97442115/fox-affiliate-to-air-news-show-at-10/|url-status=live}} This was particularly acute because WPLG, the Miami ABC affiliate, was widely available on cable.{{r|Palm960830}} These issues and the early 1990s recession, which softened the local advertising market, led to deep cuts. Between July and October 1991, WPBF dismissed more than 30 percent of its staff, and Capital Cities/ABC forgave $500,000 (equivalent to ${{Inflation|US|0.5|1991|r=1}} million in {{Inflation/year|US}}{{Inflation/fn|US}}) in affiliation fees that the station had pledged to pay its network.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97442164/debt-recession-zap-channel-25-30-of-s/|date=October 15, 1991|page=1A, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97442199/ 6A]|first=Eliot|last=Kleinberg|title=Debt, recession zap Channel 25; 30% of staff laid off since July|newspaper=The Palm Beach Post|location=West Palm Beach, Florida|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 12, 2022|archive-date=July 14, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220714035900/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97442164/debt-recession-zap-channel-25-30-of/|url-status=live}}

While Phipps and Potamkin never placed WPBF up for sale, they received an unexpected offer in late 1993 and accepted it at the start of 1994. The buyer was Clearwater-based Paxson Communications Corporation, which at the time owned radio stations in several major cities across the state but no television properties.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97442417/network-goes-shopping-for-station-treas/|date=January 13, 1994|page=B1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97442480/ B6]|first=Steven F.|last=Sundich|title=Network goes shopping for station: Treasure Coast's ABC affiliate WPBF to change hands|newspaper=St. Lucie News Tribune|location=Fort Pierce, Florida|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 12, 2022|archive-date=July 14, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220714035901/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97442417/network-goes-shopping-for-station/|url-status=live}} Founder Lowell Paxson vowed that WPBF would not be its last Florida TV station.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97442538/shopping-network-creator-buys-wpbf/|date=January 16, 1994|page=1B, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97442524/paxson-plans-to-be-dominant-player-in/ 7B]|first=Eliot|last=Kleinberg|title=Shopping network creator buys WPBF|newspaper=The Palm Beach Post|location=West Palm Beach, Florida|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 12, 2022|archive-date=July 14, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220714035900/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97442538/shopping-network-creator-buys-wpbf/|url-status=live}} He also deepened his involvement in the West Palm Beach area, buying the former Woolworth Donahue estate in Palm Beach for $12 million (equivalent to ${{Inflation|US|12|1995|r=1}} million in {{Inflation/year|US}}{{Inflation/fn|US}}) to live there and a West Palm Beach office building to serve as his corporate headquarters.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97442865/paxson-is-packin-up-ready-to-make-pres/|date=February 26, 1995|page=1A, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97442889/ 7A]|first=Christopher|last=Keidaish|title=Paxson is packin' up, ready to make presence in PB|newspaper=Palm Beach Daily News|location=Palm Beach, Florida|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 12, 2022|archive-date=July 14, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220714035901/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97442865/paxson-is-packin-up-ready-to-make/|url-status=live}} Paxson also supported the purchase of WTVX out of bankruptcy court by Whitehead Media in 1995, providing financing and assuming control over operations via a local marketing agreement.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97442906/feltner-officially-loses-ch-34-paxson/|date=June 3, 1995|page=13B|first=Eliot|last=Kleinberg|title=Feltner officially loses Ch. 34; Paxson to provide programming|newspaper=The Palm Beach Post|location=West Palm Beach, Florida|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 12, 2022|archive-date=July 14, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220714035124/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97442906/feltner-officially-loses-ch-34-paxson/|url-status=live}}

Paxson's increasing business interests focusing on infomercial programming—the seeds for what became Ion Television—and radio in Florida led the company to sell the West Palm Beach station. In 1996, Paxson hired an investment firm to consult it on a sale of WPBF and its LMA with WTVX or a trade with another station.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97443083/paxson-weighs-sale-or-swap-of-channel-25/|date=July 17, 1996|page=5B|first=Julie|last=Waresh|title=Paxson weighs sale or swap of Channel 25|newspaper=The Palm Beach Post|location=West Palm Beach, Florida|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 12, 2022|archive-date=July 14, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220714035125/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97443083/paxson-weighs-sale-or-swap-of-channel-25/|url-status=live}} Several buyers were rumored, including the ABC network itself,{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97443122/disney-reportedly-among-bidders-for-wpbf/|date=August 30, 1996|page=1D, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97443149/paxson-interested-in-home-shopping-info/ 6D]|first1=Paul|last1=LoMartire|first2=Mitch|last2=McKenney|title=Disney reportedly among bidders for WPBF, WTVX|newspaper=The Palm Beach Post|location=West Palm Beach, Florida|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 12, 2022|archive-date=July 14, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220714035902/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97443122/disney-reportedly-among-bidders-for/|url-status=live}} but Paxson took the stations off the market for the short-term, even though he still desired to sell WPBF, his only network affiliate.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97443193/paxson-seeks-to-sell-2-out-of-town-tv-st/|date=January 20, 1997|page=Business Day One 3|first=Julie|last=Waresh|title=Paxson seeks to sell 2 out-of-town TV stations|newspaper=The Palm Beach Post|location=West Palm Beach, Florida|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 12, 2022|archive-date=July 14, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220714035902/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97443193/paxson-seeks-to-sell-2-out-of-town-tv/|url-status=live}} WTVX was ultimately sold to the Paramount Stations Group, the owner of the UPN network it broadcast; the LMA structure made it easier to separate the two stations at sale.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97443236/paxson-selling-wtvx-tv-shows-staying/|date=February 21, 1997|page=1D, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97443249/ 6D]|first=Julie|last=Waresh|title=Paxson selling WTVX-TV; shows staying|newspaper=The Palm Beach Post|location=West Palm Beach, Florida|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 12, 2022|archive-date=July 14, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220714035127/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97443236/paxson-selling-wtvx-tv-shows-staying/|url-status=live}}

In March 1997, Paxson reached a deal to sell WPBF to the Hearst Corporation for $85 million (equivalent to ${{Inflation|US|85|1997|r=1}} million in {{Inflation/year|US}}{{Inflation/fn|US}}), more than double what he had paid for it and for a cash flow multiple higher than the industry average.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97443258/paxson-turns-32-million-into-85/|date=March 27, 1997|page=1D, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97443287/ 7D]|first=Julie|last=Waresh|title=Paxson turns $32 million into $85 million with sale of WPBF|newspaper=The Palm Beach Post|location=West Palm Beach, Florida|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 14, 2022|archive-date=July 14, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220714035902/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97443258/paxson-turns-32-million-into-85/|url-status=live}}

File:FEMA - 38682 - FEMA PIO with Television media.jpg public information officer after Tropical Storm Fay in 2008]]

The same haste with which WPBF was built extended to the news department. Founding news director Lee Polowczuk started on November 14; within 50 days, after receiving hundreds of unsolicited audition tapes from around the country,{{r|Sout881230}} the news department was up and running.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97441715/infant-ch-25-thrives-on-improvisation/|date=February 2, 1989|page=1E, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97441812/ 10E]|first=Tom|last=Jicha|title=Infant Ch. 25 thrives on improvisation|newspaper=South Florida Sun Sentinel|location=Fort Lauderdale, Florida|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 12, 2022|archive-date=July 14, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220714035903/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97441715/infant-ch-25-thrives-on-improvisation/|url-status=live}} Newscasts started on the station's second day of broadcasting,{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97441889/viewers-fuzzy-on-tv-switch-station-chan/|date=January 2, 1989|page=1A, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97441921/ 13A]|first=Gary|last=Enos|title=Viewers fuzzy on TV switch: Station change leaves some in the dark|newspaper=South Florida Sun Sentinel|location=Fort Lauderdale, Florida|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 12, 2022|archive-date=July 14, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220714035902/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97441889/viewers-fuzzy-on-tv-switch-station/|url-status=live}} originating came from a room intended for use as a prop closet until the actual newsroom could be finished. Most of the original news talent had worked in other Florida markets, including ex-WTVJ anchors Jim Brosemer and Marc Goldberg, as well as Sheila O'Connor, who had worked in Orlando.{{r|Sout890202}}

The local newscasts from WPBF debuted in third place in the ratings behind the two other West Palm Beach stations; the newly independent WTVX shuttered its news department in August 1989. Phipps and Potamkin made another expansion of the news staff in 1990, bringing it to 67 people, in an effort to lift the station out of third.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97441964/lagging-ch-25-to-expand-news-staff/|date=November 11, 1989|page=11B|first=Charles|last=Elmore|title=Lagging Ch. 25 to expand news staff|newspaper=The Palm Beach Post|location=West Palm Beach, Florida|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 12, 2022|archive-date=July 14, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220714035908/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97441964/lagging-ch-25-to-expand-news-staff/|url-status=live}} Closed captioning on the local newscasts—the promise that had once earned Heisler a favorable opinion at the FCC—was instituted in 1990; with all three local newsrooms doing so within a span of several months, West Palm Beach became one of just two markets nationally in which all local newscasts were captioned.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97442028/local-newscasts-to-have-closed-captionin/|date=August 3, 1990|page=9D|first=John|last=Eldridge|title=Local newscasts to have closed-captioning|newspaper=The Palm Beach Post|location=West Palm Beach, Florida|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 12, 2022|archive-date=July 14, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220714035908/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97442028/local-newscasts-to-have/|url-status=live}} However, the station's cuts meant that, by 1991, there were fewer full-time reporters than at WPTV or WPEC; even weekend newscasts were briefly suspended.{{r|Palm911015}} Under Paxson ownership, WPBF received a new news set.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97442983/paxson-puts-in-tv-on-tv/|date=October 8, 1995|page=1E, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97443001/ 2E]|first=Mitch|last=McKenney|title=Paxson puts IN TV on TV|newspaper=The Palm Beach Post|location=West Palm Beach, Florida|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 12, 2022|archive-date=March 13, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220313034302/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97442983/paxson-puts-in-tv-on-tv/|url-status=live}} It also briefly produced a 10 p.m. newscast for WTVX.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53011082/wtvx-plans-to-add-10-pm-newscast/|date=September 4, 1996|page=4B|first=Kevin D.|last=Thompson|title=WTVX plans to add 10 p.m. newscast|newspaper=The Palm Beach Post|location=West Palm Beach, Florida|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 12, 2022|archive-date=June 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200608033049/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53011082/wtvx-plans-to-add-10-pm-newscast/|url-status=live}} However, ratings did not improve.{{r|Palm960717}}

Third-place continued to be WPBF's finish in the early years under Hearst,{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97443403/abcs-millionaire-cant-pull-wpbf-up-f/|date=December 7, 1999|page=2B|first=Stephanie|last=Smith|title=ABC's 'Millionaire' can't pull WPBF up from 3rd place|newspaper=The Palm Beach Post|location=West Palm Beach, Florida|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 12, 2022|archive-date=March 13, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220313034307/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97443403/abcs-millionaire-cant-pull-wpbf-up/|url-status=live}} but ratings began to improve in 2000, attributed to improvements made by the new ownership.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97443525/cable-takes-viewers-from-local-tv-news-s/|date=December 6, 2000|page=5B, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97443534/ 10B]|first=Dan|last=Weil|title=Cable takes viewers from local TV news shows|newspaper=The Palm Beach Post|location=West Palm Beach, Florida|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 12, 2022|archive-date=March 13, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220313034303/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97443525/cable-takes-viewers-from-local-tv-news/|url-status=live}} This included the 1999 launch of a morning newscast, years after WPTV and WPEC.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97443547/channel-25-to-launch-morning-newscast-in/|date=April 22, 1999|page=1D|first=Marguerite|last=Plunkett|title=Channel 25 to launch morning newscast in August|newspaper=The Palm Beach Post|location=West Palm Beach, Florida|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 12, 2022|archive-date=March 13, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220313034304/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97443547/channel-25-to-launch-morning-newscast/|url-status=live}} However, ratings continued to be an issue. In 2003, the station dropped separate sports segments in its newscasts.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97443614/in-shake-up-wpbf-tv-drops-sports-segmen/|date=July 22, 2003|page=6B, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97443602/station-also-blames-abc-for-low-ratings/ 8B]|first=Susan T.|last=Port|title=In shake-up, WPBF-TV drops sports segments|newspaper=The Palm Beach Post|location=West Palm Beach, Florida|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 12, 2022|archive-date=March 13, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220313034309/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97443614/in-shake-up-wpbf-tv-drops-sports/|url-status=live}} In one shake-up, the 11 p.m. newscast was retooled with a three-anchor format.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97443657/viewers-dont-channel-to-wpbf-revamp-ra/|date=May 28, 2004|page=1D, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97443666/ 3D|first=Susan T.|last=Port|title=Viewers don't channel to WPBF revamp, ratings show|newspaper=The Palm Beach Post|location=West Palm Beach, Florida|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 12, 2022|archive-date=March 13, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220313034307/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97443657/viewers-dont-channel-to-wpbf-revamp/|url-status=live}}

In the mid-2000s, the station finally found a formula that improved its ratings, one centered around weather: forecasts were moved to the lead story in each WPBF newscast. After seeing ratings increases, channel 25 added 4 p.m. and 5:30 a.m. newscasts in 2006.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97443705/channel-25s-extreme-makeover-how-the-a/|date=June 12, 2006|page=1D, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97443719/ 5D]|first=Kevin D.|last=Thompson|title=Channel 25's Extreme Makeover: How the ABC affiliate has changed its image to face the competition|newspaper=The Palm Beach Post|location=West Palm Beach, Florida|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 12, 2022|archive-date=March 13, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220313034304/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97443705/channel-25s-extreme-makeover-how-the/|url-status=live}} Weekend morning and weekday 5 a.m. newscasts were added in 2008.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97443777/making-the-news-what-goes-on-behind-the/|date=March 16, 2008|page=1E|first=Melissa S.|last=Holsman|title=Making the news: What goes on behind the scenes at your local TV stations|newspaper=Indian River Press Journal|location=Vero Beach, Florida|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 12, 2022|archive-date=March 13, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220313034309/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97443777/making-the-news-what-goes-on-behind/|url-status=live}} The steady climb made WPBF a solid contender for second alongside WPEC by 2014, though both stations still trailed longtime market leader WPTV.{{cite news|url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/market-eye-gunning-best-west-134939|work=Broadcasting & Cable|date=October 20, 2014|first=Michael|last=Malone|title=Market Eye: Gunning for Best in 'West'|access-date=March 12, 2022|archive-date=March 13, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220313034304/https://www.nexttv.com/news/market-eye-gunning-best-west-134939|url-status=live}} After The Ellen DeGeneres Show ended its run in 2022, WPBF reintroduced a 4 p.m. news hour.{{cite news|url=https://tvnewscheck.com/journalism/article/wpbf-to-debut-4-p-m-newscast-on-july-18/|work=TVNewsCheck|date=July 14, 2022|title=WPBF To Debut 4 P.M. Newscast On July 18}} The next year, the station debuted a 10 p.m. newscast on its Me-TV subchannel, lengthened its noon news to an hour, and launched a weekly public affairs show, On the Record. By January 2024, WPBF led in local news ratings at 5, 6, and 11 p.m., with WPTV coming in second in all three time slots.{{Cite news |last=Malone |first=Michael |date=2024-03-05 |title=Local News Close-Up: Fun, Sun and New Arrivals in West Palm Beach |url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/local-news-close-up-fun-sun-and-new-arrivals-in-west-palm-beach |access-date=2024-03-06 |work=Broadcasting & Cable |language=en}}

• Victor Blackwell, anchor, later of CNN{{Cite news |date=July 26, 2012 |title=Meet CNN's New Black Anchor |language=en-us |work=The Root |url=https://www.theroot.com/meet-cnns-new-black-anchor-1790892549 |access-date=March 12, 2022 |archive-date=January 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200118034548/https://www.theroot.com/meet-cnns-new-black-anchor-1790892549 |url-status=live }}
• Stefan Holt, reporter and anchor, now at WMAQ-TV in Chicago; son of NBC Nightly News anchor Lester Holt{{cite news|url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/anchor-stefan-holt-departs-wnbc-new-york-for-wmaq-chicago|work=Broadcasting & Cable|first=Michael|last=Malone|date=August 19, 2020|title=Anchor Stefan Holt Departs WNBC New York For WMAQ Chicago|access-date=March 12, 2022|archive-date=October 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201021021238/https://www.nexttv.com/news/anchor-stefan-holt-departs-wnbc-new-york-for-wmaq-chicago|url-status=live}}
• Glenn Schwartz, meteorologist{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97472048/amicis-manfra-wines-and-dines-gourmet-s/|date=November 29, 1995|page=1D|first=Thom|last=Smith|title=Amici's Manfra wines and dines gourmet society|newspaper=The Palm Beach Post|location=West Palm Beach, Florida|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 12, 2022|archive-date=March 13, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220313034305/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97472048/amicis-manfra-wines-and-dines-gourmet/|url-status=live}}

The station's signal is multiplexed:

{{legend|#DFEBF6|Broadcast on behalf of another station}}

Estrella TV was added as a subchannel in 2009, replacing a weather subchannel.{{cite news|url=https://tvnewscheck.com/uncategorized/article/wpbf-west-palm-beach-adding-estrella-tv/|work=TVNewsCheck|date=August 10, 2009|title=WPBF West Palm Beach Adding Estrella TV|access-date=March 12, 2022|archive-date=March 13, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220313034305/https://tvnewscheck.com/uncategorized/article/wpbf-west-palm-beach-adding-estrella-tv/|url-status=live}} The Rewind TV subchannel of WWHB-CD moved to the WPBF multiplex in March 2022, when that station became the first West Palm Beach market transmitter for ATSC 3.0 (NextGen TV). In exchange, WPBF is hosted in that format on the WWHB-CD multiplex.{{cite news|url=https://www.tvtechnology.com/news/five-stations-launch-nextgen-tv-in-west-palm-beach|title=Five Stations Launch NextGen TV in West Palm Beach|first=George|last=Winslow|work=TV Technology|date=March 9, 2022|access-date=March 12, 2022|archive-date=March 9, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220309165704/https://www.tvtechnology.com/news/five-stations-launch-nextgen-tv-in-west-palm-beach|url-status=live}}

WPBF discontinued regular programming on its analog signal, over UHF channel 25, at 11:59 p.m. 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. The station's digital signal remained on its pre-transition UHF channel 16, using virtual channel 25.{{cite web |url=http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1082A2.pdf |title=DTV Tentative Channel Designations for the First and the Second Rounds |access-date=March 24, 2012 |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 }}

As part of the SAFER Act, WPBF kept its analog signal on the air until July 12 to inform viewers of the digital television transition through a loop of public service announcements from the National Association of Broadcasters.{{cite web|url=http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-291375A1.pdf|title=UPDATED List of Participants in the Analog Nightlight Program|publisher=Federal Communications Commission|date=June 12, 2009|access-date=June 4, 2012|archive-date=February 1, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201225603/http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv-movies/wnbc-ch-4-trims-promo-featuring-nypd-commissioner-ray-kelly-super-bowl-airing-article-1.1018204|url-status=live}}

{{reflist}}

• {{Official website|https://www.wpbf.com/}}

{{WPB TV}}

{{ABC Florida}}

{{Hearst-Argyle}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wpbf}}

Category:1989 establishments in Florida

Category:American Broadcasting Company affiliates

Category:Estrella TV affiliates

Category:Hearst Television

Category:MeTV affiliates

Category:Story Television affiliates

Category:Television channels and stations established in 1989

PBF

Category:True Crime Network affiliates