WXTX is the Fox-affiliated television station for the Chattahoochee Valley of West-Central Georgia and East-Central Alabama. Licensed to Columbus, Georgia, it broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 49 (or virtual channel 54.1 via PSIP) from a transmitter in the Vista Terrance section of South Columbus. The station can also be seen Mediacom and Knology channel 7 as well as Charter channel 8. There is a high definition feed provided on Charter digital channel 708, Mediacom digital channel 807, and Knology digital channel 905.

Owned by American Spirit Media, WXTX is operated thorough a shared services agreement (SSA) by Raycom Media as a sister outlet to ABC affiliate WTVM. However unlike other SSAs between American Spirit and Raycom, this station maintains separate studios (home to its advertising sales and engineering staff) on Buena Vista Road in Vista Terrance near the transmitter. Syndicated programming on WXTX includes Everybody Hates Chris, Judge Judy, The Wendy Williams Show, and The Dr. Oz Show among others.

Digital television [link]

On WXTX-DT2, Mediacom channel 84, Knology digital channel 173, and Charter digital channel 174 is This TV.

History [link]

The station signed-on in November 1984 as the market's second Independent television outlet after Opelika, Alabama's WSWS-TV. Three years later in 1987, it became a Fox affiliate and has remained with the network ever since. The station is the network's longest serving Georgia affiliate after Fox dropped WATL for New World-owned WAGA-TV in Atlanta. By 1993, WXTX grew to a seven night network affiliate after Fox expanded its programming offerings. The station was named a top ten affiliate with the network in November 1994 for its prime time audience share. It has subsequently been named to the "Fox Number One Club" several times, most recently in 2007, in recognition of the station's sweeps ratings.

On September 5, 2006, it became the area's secondary MyNetworkTV affiliate after The CW chose then-UPN station WLGA to become its affiliate in Columbus. The CW is currently seen on a second digital subchannel of NBC affiliate WLTZ. Originally, WXTX aired programming from MyNetworkTV on weeknights from 11 until 1 in the morning. For Saturday night prime time, that network was shown early Sunday mornings from 12:30 until 2:30. It eventually shifted to the Tuesday through Saturday time slot of midnight until 2 a.m. after the network transitioned to a programming service. As of 2012, WXTX no longer carries MyNetworkTV as a secondary affiliate. There is currently no affiliate of the network in Columbus.

At one point, the station offered The Tube (a 24-hour automated music video network) on a second digital subchannel. This was dropped on October 1, 2007 when the service shut down due to a lack of advertising revenue. WXTX-DT2 now carries This TV (a 24-hour movie channel) which began airing in late-December 2008. After the analog television shutdown and digital conversion took place on June 12, 2009, WXTX remained on its current pre-transition channel number located at 49. Digital television receivers display its virtual channel as 54.1 through the use of PSIP.

News operation [link]

Since 2004 through a news share agreement, WTVM has been producing the area's only prime time newscast on WXTX. Known as Fox 54 News at 10, the broadcast airs every night for thirty minutes from the ABC affiliate's facility on Wynnton Road/SR 22 Spur in the Diglewood section of Columbus. It has a separate music package and graphics theme from WTVM and employs the use of a modified set. Although WXTX features the majority of WTVM's on-air personnel, this station maintains a separate second news anchor on weeknights.

In 2007, the ABC outlet began airing an hour-long extension of its weekday morning show on WXTX. Known as Fox 54 Morning News, this program was seen for an hour starting at 7 and offered a local alternative to the national morning broadcasts seen on the big three stations in Columbus. The production was eventually cancelled most likely due to inconsistent viewership and low ratings.

In late-October 2010, HD-ready graphics began to be seen in weather forecasting segments indicating WTVM and WXTX would be making the switch to high definition newscasts. The entire graphics package made a full switch to an updated theme in January 2011. On February 16, 2012, production of Fox 54 News at 10 moved to the newsroom while a temporary weather office was constructed in the hallway between the editing bay and the newsroom. The main set during this time was finally upgraded to high definition. The new HD-ready set was completed on March 14 at which point WXTX retained the use of the same graphics scheme.

In addition to WTVM's main studios, that station also operates an East Alabama Bureau on Executive Park Drive in Opelika offering coverage of that city in addition to Auburn and Phenix City. Since half of the viewing area includes East-Central Alabama, WTVM and WXTX are part of the "Raycom News Network". This is a system designed to rapidly share information among the company's widespread group of television stations and websites in Alabama. A regional network has developed among WSFA/WDFX-TV in Montgomery/Dothan, WAFF in Huntsville, and WBRC in Birmingham in which the outlets share information, equipment (such as satellite trucks), and stories/video footage from reporters. Between them, these stations cover the entire state of Alabama (except for the Gulf Coast) and also comprise the "Raycom Weather Network".

News team [link]

Anchors

• Jason Dennis - weeknight news
• Semone Doughton - weeknight news
• Katherine Kington - weekend news and East Alabama Bureau reporter (also fill-in news and weather anchor)
• Derek Kinkade (AMS and NWA Seals of Approval) - weeknight meteorologist
• Justin Logan - weekend meteorologist
• Dave Platta - Sports Director seen Tuesday through Friday
• Kristin Gold - Saturday sports and sports reporter

Hosts

• Paul Finebaum - Tide & Tigers Today
• Rick Karle - Tide & Tigers Today
• Dale Williams - Sportsvisions
• Daryll Jones - Sportsvisions
• Danita Lloyd - Sportsvisions
• Leeza Gibbons - America Now
• Bill Rancic - America Now

Reporters

• Cheryl Renee - "Woman to Woman" segment producer
• Zaneta Lowe - "ConsumerWatch" segment producer
• Elizabeth White - East Alabama Bureau Chief
• Taylor Barnhill - video journalist
• Mackenzie Patterson
• Lindsey Connell
• Curtis McCloud
• Laura Ann Sills
• Roslyn Giles

External links [link]

• WXTX "Fox 54"
• WXTX-DT2 This TV
• WTVM
• Query the FCC's TV station database for WXTX