WRIC-TV
WRIC-TV (virtual channel 8, UHF digital channel 28) is an ABC-affiliated television station licensed to Petersburg, Virginia, United States, serving the Richmond media market as a provider of local news, weather, sports, and community programming under the branding 8News.[1][2] Owned by Nexstar Media Group, Inc., WRIC-TV maintains studios in the Arboretum Office Park in Chesterfield County, with its transmitter located in Bon Air.[3][4] The station has a long-standing commitment to investigative journalism and coverage of Central Virginia issues, including political reporting from the state capitol through its "Capitol Connection" segment.[2][5] WRIC-TV's call sign was changed from WXEX-TV on April 23, 1990, coinciding with the relocation of its operations from Petersburg.[4] Nexstar acquired the station in January 2017 through its $4.6 billion merger with Media General, enhancing its position as part of the largest U.S. local broadcasting group reaching over 220 million people across 116 markets.[6][3] The station transitioned to digital broadcasting on June 12, 2009, and has since adopted NextGen TV (ATSC 3.0) technology in collaboration with other Richmond-area broadcasters.[7][8]Station Overview
Licensing and Affiliation
WRIC-TV holds Federal Communications Commission (FCC) facility identification number 74416 and is licensed to serve the community of Petersburg, Virginia, a designation it has maintained since signing on the air in 1955 as an NBC affiliate initially focused on the Petersburg-Richmond area.[9][10] The station's licensing reflects its role as a full-power commercial broadcaster operating under FCC regulations for television service, including requirements for public file maintenance, equal time provisions, and adherence to indecency standards.[11] The call letters of the station have undergone one significant change during its history: it broadcast as WXEX from its launch on August 15, 1955, until January 2, 1979, and then as WXEX-TV until April 23, 1990, when it adopted the current WRIC-TV designation to better align with its expanded Richmond market identity.[4] This transition coincided with a relocation of studios to Chesterfield County, enhancing operational efficiency while preserving the Petersburg city of license to comply with FCC allocation rules for the region.[9] Since 1965, WRIC-TV has maintained a primary affiliation agreement with the American Broadcasting Company (ABC), under which it carries the network's national programming, including prime-time shows, sports events, and daytime content, in exchange for compensation based on clearance rates and audience delivery metrics.[12] As the exclusive ABC affiliate in the Richmond market, the station holds territorial rights that prevent overlapping affiliations within the designated market area, ensuring ABC's programming reaches viewers without direct competition from another primary outlet.[2] WRIC-TV functions as the primary ABC outlet for the Richmond–Petersburg Designated Market Area (DMA), ranked 56th nationally and encompassing 59 counties across central Virginia with approximately 625,000 television households as of the 2024–2025 season.[13] This affiliation positions the station as a key provider of network content to a diverse audience, supporting ABC's market penetration while integrating local programming to meet community needs under FCC public interest obligations.[12]Facilities and Broadcast Coverage
WRIC-TV maintains its main studios at 301 Arboretum Place in unincorporated Chesterfield County, Virginia, which uses a Richmond mailing address of 23236.[12][4] The facility supports the station's production of local news, weather, and programming content for the ABC affiliate.[2] The station's transmitter is situated in Bon Air, Virginia, at coordinates 37°30′45.6″N 77°36′4.8″W, within Huguenot Park in Chesterfield County.[14] This site features a tower with a height above average terrain (HAAT) of 345.7 meters (1,134 feet), enabling effective signal propagation across the region.[15] WRIC-TV's over-the-air signal covers the Richmond-Petersburg designated market area (DMA), serving central Virginia with strong reception in counties such as Chesterfield, Henrico, Hanover, and Prince George, as well as the cities of Richmond and Petersburg.[2] The coverage extends to portions of surrounding areas, including parts near Fredericksburg in northern Virginia and Farmville to the west, providing access to ABC network and local programming for households in these communities.[14]History
Launch and Early Years
WRIC-TV traces its origins to WXEX-TV, which signed on the air on August 15, 1955, as an NBC affiliate broadcasting on VHF channel 8 from studios in Petersburg, Virginia. The station was established by local broadcaster Thomas H. Tinsley through his Petersburg Television Corporation, which also operated WLEE-AM radio in Richmond; Tinsley served as president and emphasized coverage of the broader Richmond-Petersburg market with a 316 kW signal from a 1,049-foot tower.[16][17][18] Initial operations focused on delivering NBC network programming while building a local presence in a market previously served solely by WTVR-TV since 1948, positioning WXEX-TV as the second commercial television outlet in central Virginia.[19] In its early years during the late 1950s, WXEX-TV competed directly with WTVR-TV (channel 6) for viewers in Richmond and faced additional rivalry when WRVA-TV (channel 12, now WWBT) launched in April 1956 as a CBS affiliate, fragmenting the audience among the three VHF stations. The station's programming lineup supplemented national content with locally produced shows aimed at community engagement, though specific details on variety formats and events were typical of the era's emerging local television efforts to foster regional identity. Operations expanded to cover over 494,000 television homes across 70 counties, leveraging its strategic location to challenge WTVR's dominance in news and entertainment.[19][20][18] The 1960s brought challenges, including a major disruption on May 30, 1969, when an explosion and fire gutted WXEX-TV's original Petersburg studios, severely impacting production capabilities. Remarkably, the station resumed broadcasting just 11 hours later by relocating temporarily to a downtown Petersburg department store, minimizing downtime while network feeds continued from the transmitter site. Rebuilding efforts followed swiftly, with new facilities constructed to restore full local operations; this incident underscored the station's resilience amid growing competition from WTVR-TV and WWBT (formerly WRVA-TV). In 1965, WXEX-TV shifted its primary affiliation to ABC to better align with market demands.[21][19]Affiliation Changes and Rebranding
In 1965, WXEX-TV (channel 8) underwent a significant affiliation change when it swapped networks with WRVA-TV (channel 12, now WWBT) on September 1, becoming an ABC affiliate while channel 12 took NBC programming. This move was driven by market dynamics in the Richmond area, where ABC had been the weakest of the three major networks following earlier shifts, including WTVR-TV's loss of its CBS affiliation in 1960 to channel 12 due to low ratings for ABC on that station. The swap allowed WXEX-TV to align with ABC's growing national presence while providing NBC a stronger local outlet on channel 12, stabilizing affiliations in the competitive market.[22] The station retained its ABC affiliation continuously thereafter, marking over five decades of partnership that positioned it as the network's primary outlet for central Virginia. This stability contrasted with earlier years when NBC programming had dominated, but the 1965 change reflected broader industry trends toward consolidating weaker networks on UHF stations like WXEX-TV to foster growth. The affiliation has since supported robust local news and entertainment delivery, contributing to the station's role in the region.[23] On April 23, 1990, coinciding with a relocation of its studios from Petersburg to Arboretum Place in Chesterfield County, the station adopted the call letters WRIC-TV, replacing WXEX-TV. The new callsign was chosen to emphasize its service to Richmond, incorporating "RIC" as a nod to the city's name and aligning with the International Air Transport Association code for Richmond International Airport. This change symbolized a shift toward a more centralized Richmond identity, moving away from the Petersburg-licensed origins established in 1955. The transition was part of broader facility upgrades, enhancing operational efficiency without altering its broadcast coverage.[4] A major rebranding occurred in September 2017, shortly after Nexstar Media Group's acquisition of the station earlier that year, shifting the on-air identity from "News 8" or "WRIC-TV 8" to "ABC 8." This update included a refreshed logo emphasizing the ABC affiliation with a simplified "8" design and modernized on-air graphics, aiming to highlight network synergy and local relevance under new ownership. The rebrand streamlined branding across Nexstar's portfolio, replacing legacy elements like the distinctive helix logo introduced in prior decades, and was intended to boost viewer engagement in a digital media landscape.[24] During the 1990s, WRIC-TV expanded its local programming with the introduction of lifestyle segments and shows, including "Good Morning Richmond," a morning program featuring community features, interviews, and lifestyle content tailored to central Virginia audiences. Launched amid the station's post-call-sign transition era, this initiative complemented news offerings by providing lighter, engaging fare that highlighted regional events, health tips, and entertainment, helping to build viewer loyalty in an increasingly competitive market. Such programming underscored the station's commitment to diverse local content beyond hard news.[25]Ownership Transitions
In 1967, the Petersburg Television Corporation sold WXEX-TV (now WRIC-TV) and co-owned radio station WLEE-AM-FM to Nationwide Communications, a subsidiary of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, for $7.15 million.[26] Nationwide Communications retained ownership of the station until 1993, when it sold its three ABC-affiliated television stations—WRIC-TV in Richmond, WATE-TV in Knoxville, Tennessee, and WBAY-TV in Green Bay, Wisconsin—to Young Broadcasting Inc. as part of a broader expansion strategy by the buyer.[27] The transaction marked Young's entry into several mid-sized markets and added WRIC-TV to its portfolio of network affiliates. Young Broadcasting's ownership of WRIC-TV lasted until November 12, 2013, when the company merged with Media General Inc. in an all-stock, tax-free transaction that combined Young's 10 stations with Media General's 21 properties, creating a group reaching approximately 14% of U.S. television households.[28] The deal, approved by the FCC earlier that year, positioned the new Media General as a major player in local broadcasting with headquarters remaining in Richmond, Virginia.[29] Media General's control of WRIC-TV ended on January 17, 2017, when Nexstar Broadcasting Group Inc. completed its $4.6 billion acquisition of the company in a cash-and-stock deal, forming Nexstar Media Group and expanding its footprint to 171 stations across 100 markets.[30] This transaction brought WRIC-TV under Nexstar's direct ownership, enhancing its ABC affiliate holdings in the Southeast. In December 2018, Nexstar announced a $6.4 billion merger with Tribune Media Company, which owned CBS affiliate WTVR-TV in the same Richmond market as WRIC-TV.[31] To address FCC duopoly restrictions prohibiting common ownership of two of the four highest-rated stations in a market, Nexstar agreed to divest several Tribune stations, including WTVR-TV, to E.W. Scripps Company as part of a $580 million package involving eight properties.[32] The FCC approved the overall Nexstar-Tribune merger on September 16, 2019, with the WTVR sale closing later that year, allowing Nexstar to retain WRIC-TV while complying with regulatory limits on local market concentration. Under Nexstar's stewardship, WRIC-TV has entered into operational arrangements to optimize local news and programming delivery in the Richmond-Petersburg area.Local Programming and News
News Department Operations
WRIC-TV's news department, branded as 8News, maintains a robust operation focused on delivering local coverage to the Richmond and Central Virginia region, with a commitment to journalism that dates back to the station's early years as an ABC affiliate following its 1965 affiliation switch.[2] The department expanded its reach to provide around-the-clock access through digital platforms, including the launch of WRIC NOW for continuous livestreaming of news, weather, and original content, enabling 24/7 operations beyond traditional broadcast hours.[33] In 2011, the news team upgraded its production capabilities to support enhanced visual quality, including improvements to studio facilities and mobile reporting units, aligning with broader industry shifts toward advanced broadcasting technologies. Current weekday programming features Good Morning Richmond from 4:30 a.m. to 7 a.m., followed by additional morning segments, noon updates, and evening newscasts at 5 p.m., 5:30 p.m., 6 p.m., and 11 p.m., with weekend editions offering similar comprehensive coverage of local events.[34][35] The department emphasizes investigative journalism through its Taking Action series, which has addressed community issues such as election integrity, including probes into misconduct by Richmond electoral officials that led to resignations in 2024, and extensive weather reporting via StormTracker8 during severe events like hurricanes and storms affecting Central Virginia.[36][37] 8News has earned recognition for these efforts, including first-place awards for investigative reporting from the Virginia Association of Broadcasters in 2023 and multiple Virginias Associated Press Broadcasters honors in 2024 and 2025, as well as Regional Edward R. Murrow Awards in 2025 for innovation and digital excellence.[38][39] Under the leadership of Vice President and General Manager Steven Blanchard, appointed in October 2023, the news operations integrate traditional broadcasting with digital innovation to enhance audience engagement.[40] This includes the WRIC 8News mobile app, which offers live streaming of newscasts, on-demand videos, weather radar, and interactive features for real-time updates across iOS and Android devices.[41][42] The WRIC+ smart TV app further extends this access, providing free over-the-air viewing of local programming, investigative reports, and community-focused content on compatible devices.[36]Notable On-Air Talent
WRIC-TV has been home to several prominent on-air personalities who have shaped its news and programming over the decades. Among the most notable former staff members is Gretchen Carlson, who began her broadcasting career as a political reporter at the station in the early 1990s (1990–1992), covering significant local stories including state executions and scandals involving then-Governor Chuck Robb.[43][44] Carlson later advanced to national prominence as an anchor at Fox News Channel and became a prominent advocate against workplace harassment following her high-profile lawsuit against the network.[45] Another early career figure at WRIC-TV was Matt Lauer, who co-hosted the local entertainment and news program PM Magazine in the early 1980s alongside Denise Kranich.[46] Lauer, remembered fondly by former colleagues as a professional and gentlemanly presence during his Richmond tenure, went on to become a longtime co-host of NBC's Today show, anchoring from 1997 until his dismissal in 2017 amid allegations of sexual misconduct.[46] Longtime chief meteorologist John Bernier served WRIC-TV for over 40 years, joining in 1984 and delivering weather forecasts until his retirement on April 23, 2025.[47] Bernier earned a 1993 Emmy Award from the National Capital Chesapeake Bay Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for outstanding weathercasting in the mid-Atlantic region, contributing to the station's reputation for reliable storm coverage.[48] Similarly, former evening anchor Juan Conde anchored key newscasts from 1999 to 2021, covering major events like Y2K preparations and local elections before transitioning to a career in commercial real estate.[49] Among current on-air talent, chief meteorologist Matt DiNardo leads the StormTracker8 team, having received two Emmy Awards for his weather reporting and forecasting work.[50] Evening anchors Deanna Allbrittin and Eric Philips anchor the 5 p.m., 6 p.m., and 11 p.m. newscasts, with Allbrittin earning a 2025 Emmy for her investigative series on crime and justice issues, alongside an earlier nomination for reporting on predatory housing practices.[51][52] Heather Hope co-anchors the 4 p.m. newscast, while morning anchors Delaney Hall and Autumn Childress handle weekday broadcasts; weekend anchors include Rolynn Wilson and Madison Moore.[53] Reporters such as Tyler Englander, who covers the state capitol, and sports director Nolan Knight round out the team, contributing to WRIC-TV's award-winning local journalism.[53]Technical Specifications
Digital Subchannels
WRIC-TV broadcasts its primary ABC affiliation on virtual subchannel 8.1 in 720p high definition, featuring network news, primetime dramas, and local programming under the branding "ABC 8" and "8 News."[7] The station's secondary digital subchannels provide syndicated multicast networks owned or distributed by Nexstar Media Group, its parent company. Subchannel 8.2 carries Rewind TV, which debuted nationally on September 1, 2021, and airs classic sitcoms and family-oriented series from the 1980s and 1990s, such as Family Ties and The Cosby Show.[54][55] Subchannel 8.3 features Cozi TV, offering a mix of classic sitcoms and drama series like The Lone Ranger and Murder, She Wrote, targeted at family audiences.[55] Subchannel 8.4 airs Laff, a comedy-focused network with reruns of multi-camera sitcoms such as The King of Queens and 3rd Rock from the Sun, along with humorous movies.[55] In addition to its own subchannels, WRIC-TV simulcasts select digital subchannels from co-owned CW affiliate WUPV (channel 65) to provide ATSC 1.0 service and expand multicast coverage in the Richmond market following WUPV's adoption of ATSC 3.0 (see Transmitter and Signal Details subsection). These include virtual subchannel 65.4, which carries The365, a network dedicated to Black entertainment featuring films like I Am Legend and series such as The Parkers and Girlfriends; it launched on WUPV on February 1, 2024.[7][56] Virtual subchannel 65.5 broadcasts Start TV, emphasizing true crime dramas and mystery series like Murder, She Wrote and Diagnosis: Murder, along with films geared toward female viewers.[7] The following table summarizes WRIC-TV's current digital subchannel lineup:| Virtual Channel | Physical Channel | Resolution | Audio | Programming Network | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8.1 | 28.3 | 720p | DD 5.1 | ABC | Primary channel; local news and weather |
| 8.2 | 28.4 | 480i | DD 2.0 | Rewind TV | Classic 1980s–1990s sitcoms; launched September 2021 |
| 8.3 | 28.5 | 480i | DD 2.0 | Cozi TV | Family sitcoms and dramas |
| 8.4 | 28.6 | 480i | DD 2.0 | Laff | Comedy sitcoms and films |
| 65.4 | 28.8 | 480i | DD 2.0 | The365 | Black entertainment; simulcast from WUPV; launched February 2024 |
| 65.5 | 28.9 | 480i | DD 2.0 | Start TV | Crime dramas and mysteries; simulcast from WUPV |