WPXI

WPXI is a television station serving the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, market as an affiliate of the NBC network. The station broadcasts on virtual channel 11 and is owned by Cox Media Group, making it one of the company’s long-running local television properties. Its operations include local news, weather, traffic, sports, syndicated programming, network programming, public-affairs content, and digital publishing through WPXI.com. The station began broadcasting on September 1, 1957, under the call sign WIIC. Its original license was awarded to WIIC Incorporated, a joint venture involving interests associated with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and Pittsburgh radio operators. The station’s path to launch was complicated by licensing disputes and delays involving another proposed Pittsburgh television station. WIIC initially sought a CBS affiliation, but CBS ultimately made KDKA-TV its full-time Pittsburgh affiliate. NBC then reached an agreement with the new channel 11, establishing the network relationship that remains central to WPXI’s identity. Early WIIC programming reflected the local-production model common in American television during the 1950s through the 1970s. The station originated the wrestling program Studio Wrestling, the horror-film series Chiller Theatre, game programming, children’s shows, music programs, and other locally produced formats. Bill Cardille was particularly important to the station’s public identity. He hosted Chiller Theatre as “Chilly Billy,” presented Studio Wrestling, and remained associated with WPXI for decades. The station also became an important outlet for Pittsburgh sports. From 1970 through the 1997 season, its NBC affiliation gave it the primary local broadcast relationship for Pittsburgh Steelers games because NBC held the television rights to American Football Conference contests during that period. Cox Enterprises acquired WIIC in 1964. Under Cox ownership, the station developed a long-term relationship with NBC and later became the company’s longest-continuously operating NBC affiliate for much of its history. In 1981, the station changed its call sign from WIIC to WPXI. The new calls were associated with Pittsburgh and channel 11, using “XI,” the Roman numeral for eleven. WPXI has used several branding systems over time, including “e11even” and “11 Alive,” before adopting the circle-11 visual identity that became closely associated with the station. The station modernized its facilities and presentation during the 2000s. In 2007, it moved its main studios from Pittsburgh’s Fineview neighborhood to a new facility in Summer Hill, while retaining its transmitter site on Television Hill. WPXI began producing local newscasts in high definition from the new facility in October 2007. The transition required technical adjustments during its initial rollout but positioned the station as an early local-market adopter of high-definition news production. WPXI also helped establish a redesigned digital template for Cox television-station websites in 2008, reflecting the growing importance of online news distribution. Cox Enterprises announced in 2018 that it was examining strategic options for its television assets. Apollo Global Management subsequently agreed to acquire Cox Media Group and related broadcasting assets, with the transaction completed in December 2019. The station continued operating under the Cox Media Group name. WPXI remains a locally focused NBC affiliate whose competitive identity rests on Pittsburgh news coverage, weather and traffic services, regional sports history, community programming, and a recognizable channel-11 brand.

WPXI traces its history to WIIC, which signed on September 1, 1957, as Pittsburgh’s second commercial VHF television station. The Federal Communications Commission had issued the station’s construction permit in 1955 to WIIC Incorporated, a joint venture involving the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s radio interests and the owners of WJAS radio. Licensing challenges involving another applicant delayed the station’s launch for more than two years. The station’s original affiliation plans involved CBS, but CBS later selected Westinghouse-owned KDKA-TV as its full-time Pittsburgh affiliate. NBC, which had previously shared programming on KDKA-TV, reached an agreement with WIIC and became the new station’s network partner. Bill Cardille announced the station’s launch, and he became one of its most recognizable personalities. Early locally produced programs included Studio Wrestling and Chiller Theatre, both of which helped establish channel 11 in Pittsburgh popular culture. WIIC also produced children’s programs, music and dance shows, a game show, and other community-oriented programming. Cox Enterprises bought WIIC in 1964. The acquisition placed the station within a growing media group and began a period of ownership that has lasted through corporate changes. In 1970, the station became the Pittsburgh outlet for NBC’s American Football Conference coverage, giving it a prominent role in Steelers broadcasts. That arrangement continued until the 1997 season, after which AFC broadcast rights moved to CBS. WIIC experimented with several branding approaches during the 1970s, including “e11even” and “11 Alive.” On April 20, 1981, it changed its call sign to WPXI. The calls were intended to evoke Pittsburgh and channel eleven, with “XI” representing the Roman numeral for eleven. A circle-11 logo introduced in 1987 became a durable part of the station’s identity, although its surrounding graphics, colors, and relationship to the NBC peacock changed over time. The station also carried nationally distributed and syndicated programming. It aired the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon for the Pittsburgh market for many years, with Bill Cardille hosting the local segment until 2012. The telethon’s local carriage moved to another station when the program shifted to ABC distribution in 2013, and the event ended the following year. WPXI continued to develop its local news operation, including an expansion of its noon newscast to a full hour in 2013. In 2007, WPXI relocated its main studios from Television Hill in Fineview to a new facility in Summer Hill near the Parkway North. The transmitter remained at the Fineview site. Local news production from the new facility began in October, accompanied by a new set and graphics package and a transition to high-definition broadcasting. WPXI experienced technical problems during the initial rollout but subsequently became a technological reference point for other Pittsburgh stations undertaking similar upgrades. WPXI’s digital operations expanded during the same period. In 2008, it worked with Internet Broadcasting on a redesigned website that became a model for websites used by other Cox television stations. Cox later brought most website operations in-house, while WPXI and another station retained Internet Broadcasting support for a longer period before transitioning to the company’s newer platform. Cox’s television portfolio changed again in the 2010s. In 2013, Cox sold WJAC-TV, WTOV, and several other stations to Sinclair Broadcast Group. WPXI consequently became Cox’s only NBC affiliate for a period, although Cox later acquired additional NBC-affiliated stations through the purchase of Northwest Broadcasting assets. Apollo Global Management agreed to acquire Cox Media Group in 2019, and the transaction closed on December 17 of that year. WPXI remained a Cox Media Group station after the transaction and continues to serve the Pittsburgh market through broadcast, cable distribution, and digital platforms.

1. 2019Apollo acquisition closes

   Apollo Global Management completed its acquisition of Cox Media Group, including WPXI.

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2. 2013Noon newscast expands

   WPXI expanded its midday newscast to one hour.

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3. 2007Studio relocation and HD news launch

   WPXI moved to Summer Hill and began producing local newscasts in high definition.

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4. 1987Circle-11 logo introduced

   The station introduced the circle-11 mark that became a lasting element of its visual identity.

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5. 1981Call sign changes to WPXI

   WIIC adopted the WPXI call sign, which remains in use.

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6. 1970Steelers broadcast role begins

   WPXI became the local station of record for Steelers games carried through NBC’s AFC package.

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7. 1964Cox Enterprises becomes owner

   Cox Enterprises acquired the station and established a long-running ownership relationship.

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8. 1957WIIC signs on

   WIIC began broadcasting on September 1 as a Pittsburgh commercial VHF station and NBC affiliate.

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9. 1955FCC grants construction permit

   The FCC issued the construction permit for the future Pittsburgh channel 11 station to WIIC Incorporated.

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A Pittsburgh-focused broadcast and digital news brand combining NBC network programming with local news, weather, traffic, sports, public affairs, and community-oriented content.

• WPXI local newsTelevision news1957

  WPXI’s locally produced news operation covers Pittsburgh and surrounding communities through scheduled television newscasts, breaking-news reports, investigative and public-interest stories, weather, traffic, and sports. The operation is distributed through broadcast television and the station’s digital platforms.

• WPXI weather and trafficLocal information service

  Weather forecasting, severe-weather information, traffic reporting, and related digital updates are core parts of WPXI’s local-service proposition. These features support both scheduled newscasts and rapid updates during disruptive weather or regional transportation events.

• WPXI.comDigital news

  WPXI.com extends the station’s Pittsburgh news, weather, traffic, video, and community coverage online. The site was redesigned in 2008 in cooperation with Internet Broadcasting, and its publishing operations later transitioned toward Cox Media Group’s in-house digital model.

• Chiller TheatreLocally produced television1963

  Chiller Theatre was a late-Saturday horror-film program produced by WIIC from 1963 through 1983. Bill Cardille hosted the program as “Chilly Billy,” introducing films and performing comedy segments with a supporting cast. The show became an enduring part of Pittsburgh television history.

• Studio WrestlingLocally produced sports entertainment1957

  Studio Wrestling was a live professional-wrestling program produced by WIIC from the station’s early years through 1973. Hosted first by Mal Alberts and later by Bill Cardille, it attracted strong local ratings and was associated with the early Pittsburgh appearances of Bruno Sammartino.

• Jerry Lewis MDA TelethonFundraising broadcast

  WPXI served as the Pittsburgh outlet for the syndicated Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon for many years. The station carried the annual fundraiser under the Love Network arrangement, with a local segment hosted by Bill Cardille until 2012. Local carriage moved to WTAE when the program shifted to ABC distribution in 2013.

• 2019Transfer ownership through the Apollo transactionM&A

  Cox Enterprises explored strategic options for its television stations and related media businesses.

  What changed. Apollo Global Management acquired Cox Media Group and associated broadcasting assets, with the transaction closing on December 17, 2019.

  Aftermath. WPXI continued operating as a Cox Media Group station.

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• 2013Expand the noon newscastStrategy

  WPXI was competing for local news audiences across Pittsburgh’s increasingly multi-platform television market.

  What changed. The station expanded its noon news program to a full hour.

  Aftermath. WPXI became the first Pittsburgh station to offer an hour-long noon newscast.

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• 2007Move news production to high definitionGeneration change

  WPXI was relocating from its longtime Fineview studios to a newer Summer Hill facility.

  What changed. The station moved its news operation and began broadcasting local newscasts in high definition from the new facility.

  Aftermath. Initial technical problems drew criticism, but the station established a technological lead that other Pittsburgh broadcasters later followed.

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• 1981Adopt the WPXI identityStrategy

  The station had operated as WIIC since its 1957 launch and used several interim branding concepts during the 1970s.

  What changed. Management changed the call sign to WPXI, using a name associated with Pittsburgh and channel eleven.

  Aftermath. WPXI became the station’s enduring identity and remains in use.

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• 2019Apollo agrees to acquire Cox Media Group

  Apollo Global Management completed its acquisition of Cox Media Group’s television and related media assets. WPXI continued to operate under the Cox Media Group name.

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• 2007WPXI launches high-definition local newscasts from Summer Hill

  WPXI moved its news operation to a new Summer Hill facility and began airing local newscasts in high definition, becoming the first Pittsburgh station to make that transition.

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• 1981WIIC changes its call sign to WPXI

  The station adopted the WPXI call letters, linking its identity to Pittsburgh and its channel 11 position.

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• 1964Cox Enterprises acquires WIIC

  Cox Enterprises purchased the Pittsburgh channel 11 station, beginning a long ownership relationship that continued through later corporate reorganizations.

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• 1957WIIC begins broadcasting in Pittsburgh

  Pittsburgh’s second commercial VHF television station began operations on September 1 under the WIIC call sign and entered into an NBC affiliation after CBS selected KDKA-TV as its full-time local affiliate.

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1. WPXI