FOX 29 Station History

FOX 29 (WTXF-TV) is known for popular programming such as “American Idol,” “The Simpsons,” “24,”and “House.”  It launched the tri-state area's first hour-long, prime time newscast, “FOX 29 Ten O'clock News” in 1986. Additional local programming includes "Good Day Philadelphia," the area's only all-local, all-live, morning program, weekdays from 5-9am, “FOX 29 News at Noon” weekdays from 12 to 12:30pm, “The FOX 29 News at Five,” weekdays from 5 to 6pm and “The FOX 29 News at Six,” Saturdays and Sundays at 6pm.

Steady growth and success is the best description of FOX 29’s development, which includes the following highlights:

1965 Mr. Bill Fox, local business person, signs on WIBF-TV, Channel 29

1969 The Taft Broadcasting Company acquires WIBF-TV; changes call letters to WTAF

1986 WTAF-TV launches the area’s first, prime time 10pm newscast, February 17th

1986 WTAF-TV debuts the 30-minute weekend "The Ten O’clock News" in September

1987 The TVX Broadcasting Company acquires WTAF-TV from Taft Broadcasting. WTAF –TV becomes a charter affiliate of the FOX Network

1988 WTAF-TV call letters change to WTXF

1990 WTXF expands "The Ten O’Clock News" to one hour on weekdays, March 5th

1990 WTXF expands the Sunday night "The Ten O’clock News" to one hour September 30th

1991 Paramount Communications Inc. acquires WTXF-TV from the TVX Broadcasting Company

1994 VIACOM Inc. acquires Paramount Communications Inc.

1995 FOX Television Stations Inc. purchases WTXF

1996 WTXF launches the area’s first live, locally-produced, morning show, Good Day Philadelphia, April 1st

2005 Demolition and construction begins on a complete renovation of our Old City facility

2006 WTXF launches "First News at 11 on FOX 29" October 9th

2007 WTXF launches "FOX 29 News at Five" January 22nd

2007 WTXF launches "FOX 29 News at Six" October 6th

2008  WTXF moves "First News at 11" to 12noon time period, retitling program "FOX 29 News at Noon" September 1st

In the early ‘70’s, the station signaled the strength of syndication success. The ‘80’s welcomed Phillies Baseball, "The Ten O’clock News," and the FOX Broadcasting Network. By 1990, the station expanded its prime-time news to one hour.   In the new millennium, the station continues to flourish, and in 2008, carried the MLB playoffs and World Series which crowned the hometown Philadelphia Phillies.

WTXF is a market leader in locally-produced programming, while the FOX Network continues its “take no prisoners” mission by increasing its commitment to quality programming and professional sports. In 1994, the FOX Broadcasting Network secured the rights to broadcast the National Football League’s NFC games, making FOX 29 the leader in Philadelphia Eagles football game broadcasts. “Eagles Game Day Live" is a local, weekly NFL pre-game show featuring reports from Eagles players and a preview of the upcoming game.

FOX 29 is broadcast over cable outlets in 8 Pennsylvania counties (Philadelphia, Delaware, Chester, Montgomery, Bucks, Berks, Lehigh and Northampton); 6 New Jersey counties (Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, Salem, Cumberland and Atlantic); and two Delaware counties (New Castle and Kent). It employs approximately 200 full- and part-time people and has continued through the years to produce quality local programming that has been recognized throughout the broadcast industry and has made a significant impact on the communities it is licensed to serve.

The FOX Television Stations group is one of the nation's largest owned-and-operated network broadcast groups, comprising 35 stations in 26 markets and covering nearly 45% of U.S. television homes. This includes six duopolies in the top 10 markets: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, Washington D.C. and Houston; as well as duopolies in Minneapolis, Phoenix and Orlando.