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WUPL

WUPL, virtual channel 54 (UHF digital channel 24), is a MyNetworkTV-affiliated television station licensed to Slidell, Louisiana, United States, and serving the New Orleans metropolitan area. The station is owned by TEGNA Inc., a McLean, Virginia-based media company, as part of a duopoly with CBS affiliate WWL-TV (channel 4); both share studios on Rampart Street in the French Quarter of New Orleans and a transmitter on Cooper Road in Terrytown, Louisiana. WUPL signed on the air on June 1, 1995, initially as a affiliate under the ownership of Middle America Communications, a company controlled by broadcaster Safir. In 1997, the station was acquired by Stations Group, a Viacom subsidiary that owned a 50% stake in UPN, for an estimated $15–20 million, expanding Viacom's UPN owned-and-operated stations to 13. Following the 2006 merger of UPN and into , WUPL affiliated with , launching on the network's debut on September 5, 2006. The station's ownership transitioned again in 2007 when Belo Corp. purchased it from (successor to Viacom's broadcast assets) for approximately $15 million, creating a duopoly with and enabling shared operations in a new 61,000-square-foot digital broadcast facility in New Orleans. Belo was acquired by in 2013, and in 2015, Gannett's broadcasting and assets were spun off to form TEGNA, which has owned WUPL since. As of November 2025, TEGNA's agreement to sell its assets, including WUPL, to for $6.2 billion remains pending regulatory approval and shareholder vote. WUPL's programming primarily consists of MyNetworkTV's syndicated primetime lineup, including sitcoms, dramas, and reality shows, alongside produced by (such as a former 9 p.m. newscast that ended in ) and classic television reruns during off-network hours. The station reaches the New Orleans market, ranked as the 50th largest designated market area in the U.S. (as of the 2024–2025 television season), delivering entertainment and limited local content to 672,790 television households.

History

Launch and UPN affiliation (1995–2006)

WUPL signed on the air on June 1, 1995, as the United Paramount Network (UPN) affiliate serving the New Orleans television market, becoming the first UPN outlet in the region. The station was founded and owned by Texas broadcaster Larry Safir through his company, Middle America Communications, which also held other broadcast properties across the country. In 1996, Safir entered into a (LMA) with , under which Cox took over day-to-day operations of the station. From its , WUPL's programming centered on 's nascent primetime schedule, which had debuted nationally on January 16, 1995, with limited two-night weekly blocks featuring flagship series such as Star Trek: Voyager. The lineup included a mix of original scripted content like Deadly Games and Marker, alongside syndicated fare to fill evenings, aiming to attract viewers with and action-oriented shows in an effort to carve out a niche. As an independent UPN affiliate, the station supplemented network programming with classic movies, off-network sitcom reruns, and local promotions to build audience loyalty. Technically, WUPL broadcast on analog UHF channel 54, operating from studios in , with its transmitter situated on Cooper Road in Terrytown to cover the greater New Orleans area effectively. This setup allowed the station to reach households across the region, though signal propagation in the humid Gulf Coast environment posed occasional reception issues for fringe viewers. In , Safir sold WUPL to the Stations Group—a Viacom subsidiary—for an estimated $15 million to $20 million, marking the station's first major ownership transition and integrating it into Paramount's growing portfolio of UPN owned-and-operated stations. This acquisition expanded Paramount's UPN coverage to approximately 22% of U.S. television households, bolstering the network's presence amid its expansion efforts. Following Viacom's merger with CBS in 2000, WUPL remained part of the combined company's broadcast assets. In December 2005, Viacom announced a split into two entities, effective January 2006; the broadcast television assets, including WUPL, were assigned to . As a UPN affiliate, WUPL navigated a highly competitive landscape dominated by entrenched networks like , , , and emerging , where UPN's limited schedule and fewer affiliates hindered national promotion and ratings growth in its formative years. In the New Orleans market specifically, the station competed against established local powerhouses for and viewership, often relying on UPN's cult hits to differentiate itself while facing lower carriage on systems compared to major network rivals.

Transition to MyNetworkTV and ownership changes (2006–present)

Following the shutdown of the UPN network on September 15, 2006, WUPL transitioned to an affiliation with , launching as a charter affiliate on September 5, 2006. This move came after , which owned WUPL at the time, signed affiliation agreements with News Corporation's MyNetworkTV in July 2006, securing primetime programming slots for the station in the post-UPN landscape. The affiliation provided operational continuity amid the broader 2006 realignment of U.S. broadcast networks, where many former UPN stations sought new partnerships following the formation of . In February 2007, Belo Corporation completed its acquisition of WUPL from for $14.5 million, integrating the station into a duopoly with Belo's existing affiliate in New Orleans. The purchase, originally announced in July 2005 but delayed due to Hurricane Katrina's devastation of the region and subsequent litigation between CBS and Belo, enhanced Belo's market presence and allowed for shared resources, including consolidated studios on in the historic established shortly after the deal closed. This setup fostered operational synergies, such as joint production and administrative efficiencies, contributing to post-Katrina stability for WUPL's broadcasting amid the area's ongoing recovery efforts. Belo's ownership of WUPL ended in December 2013 when acquired Belo for $1.5 billion, adding WUPL to Gannett's growing portfolio of 43 television stations. In June 2015, Gannett spun off its broadcasting and digital media assets into TEGNA Inc., with WUPL remaining under TEGNA's ownership as part of the duopoly with . This restructuring positioned TEGNA as a focused media company, maintaining WUPL's affiliation and shared operations without major disruptions. As of November 2025, on August 19, 2025, Nexstar Media Group announced a definitive agreement to acquire TEGNA for $6.2 billion in cash, at $22 per share—a 31% premium over TEGNA's 30-day average stock price. The transaction, pending FCC approval and expected to close in the second half of 2026, would bring WUPL under Nexstar's umbrella alongside its existing New Orleans properties WGNO and WNOL-TV, potentially enabling further synergies in local programming and news while raising questions about media consolidation's impact on the market.

Programming

Network and syndicated content

WUPL has maintained its affiliation with MyNetworkTV since the network's launch on September 5, 2006, following an agreement announced in July of that year. The station airs the network's primetime block from 8:00 to 10:00 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, featuring a mix of scripted series and movies. Current MyNetworkTV programming emphasizes encores of popular network dramas, including Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Chicago P.D., Dateline, and Chicago Fire, reflecting the service's evolution from its original telenovela format in 2006–2007 to reality series in 2008 and ultimately to action-oriented syndicated reruns by 2009. This shift prioritized high-impact, widely viewed content to boost affiliate viewership. In daytime and early fringe slots, WUPL broadcasts syndicated fare such as court shows (Hot Bench, Tribunal Justice) and game shows (Family Feud), alongside other reality-based programs. These selections provide a balance of reality-based entertainment and light competition, typical for MyNetworkTV affiliates seeking to fill non-primetime hours with established, high-rated syndication. Weekends feature a varied lineup of movies, infomercials, and occasional overflow from sister station 's sports coverage, such as extended or broadcasts when primetime conflicts arise on the affiliate. Additionally, WUPL functions as an alternate outlet for network content preempted by , including sports events or specials, ensuring comprehensive coverage for the market.

Local news and original programming

WUPL's local news and original programming consists of newscasts and lifestyle content produced in partnership with sister station , emphasizing coverage tailored to the . These programs leverage 's news team and resources to provide timely reporting on regional events, updates, and community matters. From 2007 to 2013, produced Eyewitness News at 9 p.m., a half-hour weeknight newscast airing exclusively on WUPL that featured stories, forecasts, and sports segments relevant to the greater New Orleans region. The program was anchored by personalities and aimed to capture evening viewers seeking an early option following MyNetworkTV programming. In 2013, the newscast was discontinued due to low ratings and replaced by The 504, a and show hosted initially by Melanie Hebert and later by Sheba Turk, which spotlit New Orleans culture through segments on , community stories, celebrity news, fashion, food, and musical performances. Airing weeknights at 9 p.m. from 2013 to 2018, The 504 highlighted the area's unique and Cajun heritage, including features on festivals and everyday life in "the 504" area code. The show ended in 2018, after which the 9 p.m. slot reverted to uninterrupted MyNetworkTV programming. Post-2013, WUPL expanded its Eyewitness News offerings, incorporating additional newscasts produced by WWL-TV to broaden local coverage. In December 2016, the 7 to 9 a.m. portion of Eyewitness Morning News shifted to WUPL, allowing viewers access to extended morning updates on traffic, weather, and breaking stories while WWL-TV aired CBS This Morning during that slot. This arrangement continues as of November 2025. Around 2018, WUPL briefly carried Eyewitness News at 6:30 p.m. on weeknights, providing an evening news alternative focused on daily local developments, but the newscast was later discontinued in favor of syndicated programming. These expansions enabled digital extensions via WWL-TV's online platforms, including live streams and on-demand clips of special reports addressing key regional issues such as post-hurricane tourism recovery and seasonal preparedness for events like Mardi Gras. The shared production setup with WWL-TV facilitates efficient resource pooling, including studio space in New Orleans' French Quarter, supporting high-quality local content that underscores the stations' commitment to community-focused journalism.

Technical information

Subchannels

WUPL's primary digital subchannel, 54.1, has broadcast the MyNetworkTV feed in high definition since the station's full-power digital launch on June 12, 2009. As of November 2025, WUPL offers four additional subchannels to expand its multicast offerings: 54.2 carries Quest, featuring adventure and reality programming; 54.3 airs , focused on classic television series; 54.4 broadcasts the , specializing in crime documentaries; and 54.5 features , with family-oriented sitcoms. These subchannels operate in standard definition, sharing the station's 19.39 Mbps ATSC 1.0 bandwidth allocation, where the main channel receives the majority for HD transmission while subchannels use reduced bitrates to maintain signal integrity and reach more viewers via over-the-air antennas. Historically, WUPL introduced subchannel programming in the to capitalize on digital multicast opportunities. Earlier experiments included on 54.2 starting in 2014, which ceased operations in late 2016 and was replaced by a temporary before further changes. Following TEGNA's formation from the 2015 of Belo's assets by , the station introduced its current subchannel lineup, including Quest replacing the post- and additions like and , aiming to diversify content genres and enhance local ad revenue through targeted demographics.

Analog-to-digital conversion

WUPL, as a full-power television station, was subject to the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) mandate requiring all such stations to cease analog broadcasting and transition to digital-only operations by June 12, 2009, following a congressional delay from the original February 17 deadline. The station complied on that date, shutting down its analog signal on UHF channel 54 while continuing its digital signal. Prior to the full transition, WUPL began in , in with the FCC's transition requirements established in 2002, allowing for pre-transition testing and gradual implementation of services. The station's initial facility operated on physical UHF channel 24 with 54.1, transmitting at an (ERP) of 850 kW from a tower in , at coordinates 29°54'22.9″N 90°2'22.1″W and a (HAAT) of 970 feet. As of 2020, following the FCC spectrum repack, the transmitter relocated to Cooper Road in Terrytown, . The digital transition expanded WUPL's coverage compared to its , reaching an estimated population of 1.74 million viewers across approximately 9,964 square miles, encompassing the greater and including its , Slidell. Although the FCC authorized a 30-day "nightlight" period for some stations to aid viewers post-deadline, WUPL's compliance on June 12 rendered it unnecessary. Under Belo Corporation's ownership, which acquired WUPL in 2007, the conversion was funded through company investments in infrastructure, part of broader efforts where two Belo markets, including New Orleans, completed related upgrades in 2009. Challenges included the high costs of acquiring and installing transmission , as well as ensuring signal reliability amid post-Hurricane recovery in the region, though these were addressed to meet the federal timeline.

ATSC 3.0

WUPL launched support for , also known as NextGen TV, on December 15, 2022, through a collaborative effort with five other New Orleans-area stations, including its owned by . This partnership enabled the market-wide deployment of the advanced broadcasting standard, allowing WUPL to transmit enhanced signals featuring ultra-high-definition video, (HDR) for improved color and contrast, immersive audio, and interactive features such as hyper-localized content delivery. As part of the transition, WUPL shifted its primary digital transmission to UHF channel 17 to fully accommodate ATSC 3.0 operations while retaining its virtual channel mapping at 54.1 for continuity in viewer tuners. This configuration positions WUPL as the host station for the shared ATSC 3.0 signal in the New Orleans market, broadcasting its own MyNetworkTV programming alongside simulcasts from partner stations. The standard's greater data capacity supports enhanced subchannel multiplexing, enabling multiple simultaneous streams for localized news updates, weather information, and advanced emergency alerting systems that deliver geo-targeted notifications during crises, improving public safety in the hurricane-prone region. TEGNA Inc. has played a pivotal role in advancing adoption across its portfolio of stations, with the New Orleans deployment serving as a key early implementation to test and refine the technology in a diverse market. By hosting the NextGen TV signal on WUPL's infrastructure, TEGNA facilitates broader access to the standard's capabilities for over 660,000 households, including better indoor reception and integration with IP-based delivery for future-proofing broadcast services. The pending acquisition of TEGNA by , announced in August 2025 and awaiting final regulatory and shareholder approvals as of November 2025, could influence WUPL's evolution by leveraging Nexstar's extensive resources for further enhancements in IP delivery and mobile device compatibility. This potential shift aligns with 's inherent support for hybrid broadcast-broadband applications, enabling expanded interactivity and accessibility beyond traditional over-the-air viewing.

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