WHTM-TV

WHTM-TV is a commercial television station licensed to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and serving the Susquehanna Valley, including communities in Dauphin, Cumberland, Perry, York, Lancaster, Lebanon, and surrounding counties. The station operates as an affiliate of the American Broadcasting Company and is widely known on air as abc27. Its principal studios are in Harrisburg on North Sixth Street, with a Hoffman Street address, while its transmission facilities serve a broad regional audience from a site near the Cumberland–Perry county line. The station began broadcasting on June 19, 1953, under the call sign WTPA, a reference to “Television Pennsylvania.” It was established by the Newhouse family, whose newspaper interests included Harrisburg publications that later became part of Advance Publications. WTPA initially operated as an NBC affiliate and broadcast on UHF channel 71. In 1954 it changed affiliation to ABC, a relationship that has continued. The station moved to channel 27 on June 1, 1957, after the earlier channel 27 occupant, WCMB-TV, ceased operations. During its early years, WTPA carried a mixture of network programming and locally produced shows, including religious, variety, talk, cooking, and regional-interest programs. Local news was part of the schedule from sign-on, initially consisting of short midday, evening, and late-night bulletins. Over time, the station developed a substantial news operation with bureaus in York, Chambersburg, Lebanon, and Carlisle. It has generally competed for second place in local news ratings behind WGAL, while maintaining particular strength in Harrisburg and other northern portions of the market. Ownership changed several times. Times Mirror acquired the Newhouse television stations in 1980 and changed the station's call sign to WHTM-TV. Smith Broadcasting purchased it in 1986, Price Communications acquired it in 1994, and Allbritton Communications bought it in 1996. WHTM later became part of a complicated 2014 divestiture connected with Sinclair Broadcast Group's proposed acquisition of Allbritton's stations. Media General acquired WHTM in September 2014 for $83.4 million after regulatory review. Nexstar Broadcasting Group acquired Media General in a transaction completed in January 2017, making WHTM part of the Nexstar station portfolio. Nexstar's later acquisition of Tribune Media created an ownership conflict because Tribune-owned WPMT, another major Harrisburg-market station, was also a Fox affiliate in the market. Nexstar retained WHTM and divested WPMT to Tegna in 2019. The supplied reference material states that Nexstar subsequently acquired Tegna in 2026, although a court order temporarily prevented WPMT from being integrated into WHTM's operations. WHTM has invested substantially in local news production and broadcast technology. It converted its local newscasts to high definition in 2011, upgraded weather graphics in 2012, and opened expanded newsroom, office, and studio facilities in January 2019. The station produces more than 33 hours of local news programming per week and distributes its main service through digital subchannels, low-power simulcasts, and a channel-sharing arrangement involving WLYH. Its digital service includes the main ABC programming feed and additional multicast services that have changed over time, including ION Television, Dabl, and Grit. The station's journalism has received regional recognition, including Emmy nominations and awards, Pennsylvania Associated Press Broadcasters Association honors, and Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters awards. Its coverage of the Jerry Sandusky trial, breaking news, investigative reporting, transportation incidents, and Pennsylvania public-policy issues has been among its cited areas of recognition. WHTM remains an active regional television brand combining network entertainment and news programming with locally focused reporting, weather, traffic, public-affairs content, and digital distribution.

WHTM-TV signed on June 19, 1953, as WTPA, using the slogan-like call-sign interpretation “Television Pennsylvania.” The station was founded by the Newhouse family and operated alongside Harrisburg newspapers associated with The Patriot and The Evening News. WTPA initially broadcast as an NBC affiliate from UHF channel 71. In 1954, only about a year after launch, it moved to ABC. On June 1, 1957, the station moved to channel 27 after WCMB-TV ceased operations, establishing the channel identity that remains central to its brand. The early station schedule combined network programs with locally produced content. Programs cited from the period included the religious program Daily Devotions, the music and comedy variety show Mac's Matinee, the daytime talk program Harrisburg Hostess, the cooking program Look What's Cooking, and the regional program Susquehanna Trail. Local news was present from the beginning through short 15-minute broadcasts around midday, early evening, and late evening. Times Mirror acquired the Newhouse television stations on March 28, 1980. Following the transaction, WTPA adopted the call sign WHTM-TV. The station and sister station WETM-TV in Elmira, New York, were sold to Smith Broadcasting in 1986. Price Communications acquired WHTM in 1994, and Allbritton Communications purchased it in 1996. Under Allbritton, the station continued as an ABC affiliate and developed its local news, weather, and community-information operations. A major ownership transition occurred in the 2010s. Allbritton announced in 2013 that it would sell its television portfolio to Sinclair Broadcast Group. Sinclair's proposed structure for the Harrisburg market raised Federal Communications Commission concerns involving station ownership limits and the proposed relationships among WHTM, WHP-TV, and WLYH-TV. After revisions, WHTM was designated for divestiture rather than being retained by Sinclair. Media General agreed to acquire the station for $83.4 million. The FCC approved the transaction in July 2014, and the sale was completed on September 2, 2014, following a short hold-separate period associated with Sinclair's completion of the broader Allbritton acquisition. Nexstar Broadcasting Group announced its acquisition of Media General in January 2016, and the transaction closed on January 17, 2017. WHTM consequently became part of Nexstar's national station group and a sister station to several Nexstar properties in Pennsylvania. Nexstar's 2018 agreement to acquire Tribune Media created a separate Harrisburg-market ownership issue because Tribune owned WPMT, a Fox affiliate. FCC rules restricted common ownership of multiple highly rated stations in the same market, so Nexstar retained WHTM and sold WPMT to Tegna in a package of divestitures announced in March 2019. The station's news operation grew from its original brief bulletins into a full regional newsroom producing more than 33 hours of locally originated newscasts each week. Its bureaus and reporting presence extend beyond Harrisburg to York, Chambersburg, Lebanon, and Carlisle. WHTM has often ranked second in the market's local-news competition, with particular strength in Dauphin, Cumberland, and Perry counties. It has also competed closely with WGAL during some ratings periods, including gains in morning, noon, afternoon, and evening news during the early 2010s. Technology has been a recurring part of the station's development. WHTM launched a digital signal in 1999 and ended regular analog broadcasting on June 12, 2009, as part of the United States digital television transition. It retained virtual channel 27 while using VHF channel 10 for its digital transmission. Local newscasts moved to high definition in October 2011, and weather graphics were upgraded in January 2012. In January 2019, WHTM moved its newsroom, offices, and studio into an expanded facility adjacent to its older building. In October 2021, it completed a transmitter project involving a power increase and a 180-degree antenna rotation intended to improve coverage of the market's principal population centers. WHTM also distributes its service through digital multicast and low-power facilities. Its channel-sharing arrangement with WLYH uses WHTM's spectrum and transmission infrastructure, while several low-power stations simulcast the main WHTM service. Multicast offerings have included Retro TV, ION Television, getTV, Dabl, and Grit at different times. The station's news and public-service role has been recognized through regional Emmy nominations and wins, Pennsylvania Associated Press Broadcasters Association honors, and Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters awards for news service, investigative reporting, breaking news, feature reporting, and digital work. The supplied reference material states that Nexstar acquired Tegna in a transaction completed on March 19, 2026, and that a subsequent federal court order restricted integration involving WPMT. This later ownership development is included as reported reference material rather than independently verified here.

1. 2021Transmitter upgrade completed

   The station completes a power increase and antenna rotation designed to improve reception in key counties.

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2. 2019Expanded facility opens

   WHTM begins broadcasting from expanded newsroom, office, and studio facilities in January.

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3. 2017Nexstar ownership begins

   Nexstar completes its acquisition of Media General, bringing WHTM-TV into the Nexstar station group.

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4. 2014Media General becomes owner

   After regulatory approval and a hold-separate arrangement, Media General completes its acquisition of WHTM-TV on September 2.

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5. 2011Local news moves to high definition

   WHTM begins broadcasting local newscasts in high definition.

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6. 2009Analog broadcasting ends

   The station ends regular analog programming on June 12 as part of the nationwide digital television transition.

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7. 1999Digital signal begins

   WHTM-TV signs on its digital signal using VHF channel 10.

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8. 1996Allbritton acquisition

   Allbritton Communications purchases the station.

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9. 1994Price Communications acquisition

   Price Communications acquires WHTM-TV.

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10. 1986Smith Broadcasting ownership begins

    WHTM-TV and WETM-TV are sold to Smith Broadcasting.

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11. 1980Times Mirror acquires the station

    Times Mirror purchases the Newhouse television stations and changes WTPA's call sign to WHTM-TV.

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12. 1957Moves to channel 27

    WTPA begins operating on UHF channel 27 after WCMB-TV ceases operations.

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13. 1954Affiliation changes to ABC

    The station changes from NBC to ABC, beginning its long-running relationship with the network.

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14. 1953Station launches as WTPA

    WTPA begins broadcasting from Harrisburg on June 19 as an NBC affiliate on UHF channel 71.

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A locally focused ABC-affiliated broadcast station serving central and south-central Pennsylvania, with emphasis on regional news, weather, traffic, public affairs, and community coverage.

• abc27 NewsLocal television news1953

  WHTM-TV's principal local-news service covers Harrisburg and communities throughout the Susquehanna Valley. Its output includes morning, midday, afternoon, evening, and late-night newscasts, along with breaking-news, investigative, feature, traffic, and public-service reporting. The operation maintains reporting bureaus outside the main Harrisburg facility and produces more than 33 hours of local news programming in a typical week.

• ABC network serviceBroadcast network affiliation1954

  WHTM-TV carries programming from the American Broadcasting Company, including network entertainment, news, sports, and special-event programming. The station has been an ABC affiliate since 1954, apart from its initial period as an NBC affiliate.

• Local weather serviceWeather information

  The station's weather offering provides forecasts, severe-weather information, alerts, and related on-air coverage for central and south-central Pennsylvania. Its weather presentation received an upgrade to high-definition graphics in 2012 and is integrated into regular newscasts and breaking-news coverage.

• Digital multicast servicesMulticast television2009

  WHTM-TV uses digital multicast capacity for additional programming services. The station's secondary channels have carried services including Retro TV, ION Television, getTV, Dabl, and Grit at different times. The exact lineup has changed as network arrangements and distribution strategies have evolved.

• Main-channel simulcastsLow-power television distribution

  The main WHTM-TV service is simulcast in high definition through several low-power television facilities serving parts of the market, including locations associated with Red Lion, Harrisburg, and Chambersburg. These facilities extend reception beyond the principal transmitter footprint.

• 2021Antenna rotation and power increaseStrategy

  The station's former antenna orientation had been influenced by earlier efforts to protect a Philadelphia station's analog signal.

  What changed. WHTM completed a construction permit that increased power to 28.1 kW and rotated the antenna 180 degrees.

  Aftermath. The project was intended to improve reception in the principal population areas of the Harrisburg market.

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• 2019WHTM retained during Tribune divestituresM&A

  Nexstar's acquisition of Tribune Media created a regulatory conflict because Tribune-owned WPMT also operated in the Harrisburg market.

  What changed. Nexstar retained WHTM-TV and sold WPMT to Tegna as part of a wider package of station divestitures.

  Aftermath. WHTM remained a Nexstar station and avoided direct common ownership with WPMT.

  Aggregate value of separate Tegna and E. W. Scripps station transactions. $1.32 billion (2019 divestiture transactions)

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• 2017Nexstar acquires Media GeneralM&A

  Nexstar Broadcasting Group agreed to acquire Media General, whose television portfolio included WHTM-TV.

  What changed. The transaction closed on January 17, 2017, transferring WHTM-TV to Nexstar.

  Aftermath. WHTM became part of Nexstar's Pennsylvania and national broadcast-station portfolio.

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• 2014Divestiture to Media GeneralM&A

  Sinclair's proposed acquisition of Allbritton raised FCC concerns about ownership structures and operating arrangements involving multiple Harrisburg stations.

  What changed. WHTM-TV was separated from Sinclair's retained Harrisburg assets and sold to Media General for $83.4 million.

  Aftermath. The FCC approved the transaction in July 2014, and Media General completed the purchase on September 2, 2014.

  Acquisition price. $83.4 million (2014 transaction)

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• 2021WHTM-TV completes transmitter power increase and antenna change

  The station completed work that increased effective power and rotated its antenna to improve service in major population areas including Dauphin, Lancaster, York, and Lebanon counties.

  Product generation
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• 2019WHTM-TV expands newsroom and studio facilities

  The station began broadcasting from expanded newsroom, office, and studio facilities in January 2019 following construction that started the previous year.

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• 2019Nexstar selects WHTM-TV for retention in Harrisburg-market divestiture

  To resolve ownership concerns arising from Nexstar's acquisition of Tribune Media, WHTM was retained while Fox affiliate WPMT was sold to Tegna.

  M&ARegulation
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• 2011WHTM-TV completes conversion of local newscasts to high definition

  The station upgraded its studio, field cameras, electronic-news-gathering vehicles, satellite equipment, and related production systems so that local newscasts could be broadcast in high definition.

  Product generation
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1. WHTM-TV