WPRI-TV

WPRI-TV is a commercial television station serving Providence, Rhode Island, and the surrounding Southern New England market. It broadcasts on virtual channel 12 and is affiliated with CBS on its main signal. Its secondary digital channel, branded MyRITV, carries MyNetworkTV programming. The station is owned by Nexstar Media Group and operates alongside WNAC-TV, the market's Fox and CW station, under a long-running local marketing arrangement. WPRI-TV's studios are located on Catamore Boulevard in East Providence, while its transmitter is in Rehoboth, Massachusetts. The station began broadcasting on March 27, 1955, as WPRO-TV. It was established by Cherry & Webb, a Providence retailer that also owned WPRO radio. The launch followed several delays involving transmitter construction, local legal disputes, and damage caused by Hurricane Carol. WPRO-TV initially carried programming from both CBS and ABC, while NBC programs continued to be shown by WJAR-TV. ABC became the station's principal affiliation after the original WNET operation left the air, although the market's affiliation structure changed again when WTEV, now WLNE-TV, launched in 1963. In 1959, Cherry & Webb sold its WPRO radio and television properties to Capital Cities Television Corporation. WPRO-TV was subsequently sold to Poole Broadcasting in 1967 after Capital Cities' acquisition of another station created an ownership-limit problem. Because Poole and Capital Cities continued to own different radio and television stations in the same market, the television station adopted the WPRI-TV call sign. The letters were intended to evoke Providence, Rhode Island. Poole sold the station to Knight Ridder Broadcasting in 1977, and WPRI switched from CBS to ABC as part of a broader corporate affiliation arrangement. Ownership changed again in 1989, when Knight Ridder exited broadcasting and sold WPRI to Narragansett Television, a locally based company. CBS acquired the station in 1995, briefly making it a network-owned station. At midnight on September 10, 1995, WPRI returned to CBS, reversing its earlier affiliation exchange with WLNE-TV. The station promoted the transition through a campaign called “Survive the Switch.” CBS then sold WPRI to Clear Channel Communications in 1996 because of overlapping signal and ownership concerns involving CBS-owned WBZ-TV in Boston. Clear Channel later sold WPRI to Sunrise Television, which acquired the station in 2001. Sunrise merged with LIN TV in 2002, beginning the station's LIN-era ownership. LIN Media merged with Media General in 2014, and Media General retained WPRI while divesting WJAR to satisfy federal ownership rules. Nexstar Broadcasting Group acquired Media General in a transaction completed in January 2017, bringing WPRI into the Nexstar portfolio. WPRI's local identity is centered on news, weather, traffic, community reporting, and syndicated or network programming. Its news operation historically trailed WJAR in many ratings periods but developed a particularly strong late-night newscast. The station launched Providence's first 5 p.m. newscast in 1993 and began producing a 10 p.m. newscast for WNAC in 1996. Its digital-channel lineup has changed repeatedly as multicast networks and local affiliations moved among WPRI, WNAC, and other Providence stations. In 2017, MyNetworkTV programming moved from WNAC-DT2 to WPRI-DT2, which became the current MyRITV service.

WPRI-TV began service on March 27, 1955, under the call sign WPRO-TV. Cherry & Webb, a Providence retailer and owner of WPRO radio, established the station. Its launch was delayed by transmitter-site disputes in Rehoboth, Massachusetts, a move to Johnston, Rhode Island, and destruction of the Johnston transmitter by Hurricane Carol. Once the Rehoboth site was cleared, construction proceeded and the station went on the air as Rhode Island's third television station. The station initially carried CBS and ABC programming. Its connection with CBS was supported by WPRO radio's relationship with the CBS Radio Network, while ABC granted the new station access to selected programming. The market changed when WTEV, now WLNE-TV, began broadcasting in 1963. WPRO-TV's earliest studios were on the upper floor of 24 Mason Street in Providence, where its radio and television operations shared facilities and news resources. Personalities such as Salty Brine and Hank Bouchard helped give the station a strong local presence. Cherry & Webb sold WPRO-AM-FM-TV to Capital Cities Television Corporation in 1959. Capital Cities later sold the television station to Poole Broadcasting on July 18, 1967, after its acquisition of a Houston station created a conflict with federal ownership limits. Since Capital Cities retained the WPRO radio stations, Poole changed the television station's calls to WPRI-TV. The new calls referenced Providence and separated the television license from the radio properties. The radio and television operations continued to share Mason Street facilities until 1974, when the television station moved to separate facilities in East Providence. Poole sold WPRI, WJRT-TV, and WTEN to Knight Ridder Broadcasting in 1977. Under a corporate affiliation agreement, WPRI switched from CBS to ABC on June 27 of that year. Knight Ridder exited the broadcasting business in 1989, selling WPRI and WTKR to Narragansett Television. Narragansett sold WPRI to CBS in early 1995. The station returned to CBS on September 10, 1995, after an eighteen-year ABC period. CBS promoted the transition with “Survive the Switch,” a viewer-information campaign designed to prepare audiences for the change. CBS sold WPRI to Clear Channel Communications in 1996. The transaction reflected regulatory concerns about overlapping coverage between WPRI and CBS-owned WBZ-TV in Boston. WPRI entered a local marketing agreement with WNAC-TV in 1997, and WNAC moved its operations into WPRI's East Providence facilities. Sunrise Television bought WPRI in 2001 and later sold WNAC to a separate licensee while retaining operational control through the LMA. Sunrise merged with LIN TV in 2002. LIN Media agreed to merge with Media General in 2014. Because Media General already owned WJAR, federal ownership rules required a Providence-market divestiture. Media General retained WPRI and its WNAC operating arrangement and sold WJAR to Sinclair Broadcast Group. The merger closed in December 2014. Nexstar Broadcasting Group announced its acquisition of Media General in 2016 and completed it on January 17, 2017. WPRI's programming history includes a long-running local-news operation, CBS network programming, and digital multicast services. It introduced the market's first 5 p.m. newscast in September 1993 and expanded that program to an hour in 1995. In 1996, it began producing a 10 p.m. newscast for WNAC. WPRI-DT2 has carried several multicast services, including TheCoolTV and Bounce TV. MyNetworkTV moved to WPRI-DT2 in October 2017, where the service is branded MyRITV. The station remains an active Nexstar-owned CBS affiliate serving Providence and neighboring communities.

1. 2017Nexstar acquires Media General

   Nexstar completes the acquisition of Media General, becoming WPRI's owner.

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2. 2017MyRITV moves to WPRI-DT2

   MyNetworkTV programming moves from WNAC-DT2 to WPRI's second digital subchannel, branded MyRITV.

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3. 2014Media General completes LIN merger

   Media General completes its merger with LIN Media and retains WPRI while divesting WJAR.

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4. 2002LIN TV ownership begins

   Sunrise merges with LIN TV, placing WPRI within the LIN station group.

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5. 2001Sunrise Television acquires WPRI

   Sunrise Television purchases WPRI from Clear Channel Communications.

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6. 1997WNAC moves into WPRI facilities

   WPRI assumes operational control of WNAC under a local marketing agreement.

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7. 1996WPRI begins producing a WNAC prime-time newscast

   WPRI launches a 10 p.m. newscast on WNAC, expanding its local-news operation.

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8. 1995WPRI returns to CBS

   The station reverses its earlier affiliation swap and rejoins CBS on September 10.

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9. 1993First local 5 p.m. newscast

   WPRI launches what was described as Providence's first 5 p.m. local newscast.

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10. 1989Narragansett Television ownership begins

    Knight Ridder sells WPRI to Narragansett Television as it leaves the broadcasting business.

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11. 1977WPRI switches to ABC

    Following its acquisition by Knight Ridder, the station changes its primary network affiliation from CBS to ABC.

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12. 1967WPRO-TV becomes WPRI-TV

    Poole Broadcasting acquires the television station and changes its call sign to WPRI-TV.

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13. 1959Cherry & Webb sells the station

    Capital Cities Television Corporation acquires WPRO-TV and its sister radio stations.

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14. 1955WPRO-TV begins broadcasting

    The station signs on March 27 as WPRO-TV, becoming Rhode Island's third television station.

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A locally focused network-affiliated television station competing in the Providence news market through live reporting, weather coverage, digital distribution, and complementary programming on its MyNetworkTV subchannel.

• WPRI-TV CBS serviceBroadcast television1955

  The station's primary service carries CBS network programming together with WPRI's local news, weather, traffic, public-affairs, and community programming for the Providence market. The main digital signal is broadcast in high definition and serves Rhode Island and portions of southeastern Massachusetts.

• MyRITVDigital multicast television2017

  MyRITV is the MyNetworkTV-affiliated service carried on WPRI-DT2. The subchannel has hosted several multicast networks over time, including TheCoolTV and Bounce TV, before MyNetworkTV programming moved to the service in October 2017.

• WPRI local newsLocal news1955

  WPRI's local-news operation provides scheduled newscasts, breaking-news coverage, weather, traffic, investigative reporting, and regional features. The operation also produces programming for WNAC-TV under the stations' local marketing arrangement.

• 1995Survive the Switch

  Providence, Rhode Island

  WPRI used this viewer-information and promotional campaign to explain its return from ABC to CBS and help households prepare for the September 1995 affiliation change.

  Outcome. The station completed the affiliation change and resumed CBS service on September 10, 1995.

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• 2017Move MyNetworkTV to WPRI-DT2Generation change

  Nexstar reorganized digital subchannels and network affiliations in the Providence market after acquiring related programming assets and managing multiple local services.

  What changed. MyNetworkTV programming moved from WNAC-DT2 to WPRI-DT2, branded MyRITV; the subchannel was also upgraded from standard definition to 720p high definition.

  Aftermath. WPRI continued with a CBS main channel and MyNetworkTV secondary service, while WNAC-DT2 carried CW programming.

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• 2014Retain WPRI during the LIN Media–Media General mergerM&A

  LIN Media and Media General agreed to a merger valued at approximately $1.6 billion. Media General already owned WJAR, creating a Providence-market ownership conflict.

  What changed. Media General retained WPRI and the WNAC operating arrangement and sold WJAR to Sinclair Broadcast Group.

  Aftermath. WPRI became part of Media General and later entered Nexstar's portfolio.

  Announced transaction value. $1.6 billion (2014 announced LIN Media–Media General merger)

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• 1997Begin operating WNAC-TV under a local marketing agreementStrategy

  Ownership restrictions and market arrangements made a shared operating structure more practical than direct common ownership.

  What changed. WPRI took over WNAC's operations and moved the station into WPRI's East Providence facilities.

  Aftermath. The WPRI-WNAC operating relationship continued under successive owners.

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• 1995Return to CBSStrategy

  CBS acquired WPRI from Narragansett Television and sought to restore the station's earlier network relationship.

  What changed. WPRI reversed its 1977 affiliation exchange and joined CBS at midnight on September 10.

  Aftermath. The station has remained a CBS affiliate, apart from its earlier ABC period.

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• 1977Switch primary affiliation from CBS to ABCStrategy

  The change followed Knight Ridder's acquisition of WPRI and a broader corporate affiliation agreement involving Knight Ridder stations.

  What changed. WPRI moved to ABC on June 27, 1977.

  Aftermath. The station remained an ABC affiliate until returning to CBS in 1995.

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• 1967Adopt the WPRI-TV call signStrategy

  Poole Broadcasting acquired the television station while Capital Cities retained WPRO radio, creating a need for separate call letters under the ownership rules then in effect.

  What changed. The station changed its call sign from WPRO-TV to WPRI-TV, with the new letters also referring to Providence.

  Aftermath. WPRI-TV became the station's permanent identity and remains its call sign.

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• 2017WPRI-TV becomes part of Nexstar

  Nexstar completes its acquisition of Media General, making WPRI-TV part of Nexstar's national station group.

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• 1995WPRI returns to CBS

  WPRI reverses its 1977 affiliation change and rejoins CBS at midnight on September 10, following its acquisition by CBS.

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• 1967Station adopts the WPRI-TV call sign

  After its sale to Poole Broadcasting, the station changes from WPRO-TV to WPRI-TV to distinguish it from the separately owned WPRO radio stations and to reference Providence.

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• 1955WPRI-TV launches as WPRO-TV

  The Providence television station begins broadcasting on March 27 as WPRO-TV, initially carrying programming from CBS and ABC.

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1. WPRI-TV
2. WPRI-TV official website