WHAM-TV

WHAM-TV is the ABC-affiliated television station for Rochester, New York. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on VHF channel 13 from a transmitter on Pinnacle Hill on the border between Rochester and Brighton. The station can also be seen on Time Warner channels 13 and 1200 in standard definition and high definition. Owned by Deerfield Media and operated by Sinclair Broadcast Group (owner of Fox affiliate WUHF) under a local marketing agreement, it has studios on West Henrietta Road (NY 15) in Henrietta (though the mailing address says Rochester).

History

The station signed-on at 4 in the afternoon on September 15, 1962 with the call sign WOKR (for "We're OK Rochester"). Right from the start, it was an ABC affiliate and is the only commercial station in the area that has never changed its affiliation. In March 1970, it was sold to Flower City Television Corporation. In 1977, Flower City was sold to Post Corporation, a media conglomerate based in the Fox Cities region of Wisconsin. George N. Gillett Jr. purchased the station from Post Corporation in August 1984 transferring it into Gillett Holdings, Inc. Hughes Broadcasting Partners (Paul Hughes and Veronis, Suhler & Associates) purchased the station in June 1991. Guy Gannett Communications acquired WOKR in April 1995.