WTVX

WTVX is the CW-affiliated television station for the Gold and Treasure Coasts of South Florida. Licensed to Fort Pierce, it broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 34 from a transmitter in unincorporated Martin County (southwest of Palm City and I-95/SR 9). Owned by the Sinclair Broadcast Group, the station is sister to CBS affiliate WPEC, Class A MyNetworkTV affiliate WTCN-CA, and Class A Azteca América affiliate WWHB-CA. All of the television outlets share studios together on Fairfield Drive in Mangonia Park (with a West Palm Beach postal address).

History

WTVX began operations as an Independent station on April 5, 1966 and soon after became a CBS affiliate. Airing an analog signal on UHF channel 34, it was the market's third television outlet to sign-on after NBC affiliate WPTV-TV and ABC affiliate WPEC. Despite its call sign, the station was never owned by the TVX Broadcast Group, which coincidentally was a predecessor to former owner Paramount Stations Group.

It was originally owned by Indian River Television and based in a small building along U.S. 1 just south of the St. Lucie/Indian River County line. Prior to the station becoming a CBS affiliate, Miami's WTVJ was the market's default CBS affiliate. Even after WTVX launched, its UHF signal was not nearly as powerful as WTVJ's VHF signal, and the latter continued to be recognized as the CBS affiliate for the Palm Beaches. It was not until the 1980s when cable penetration allowed WTVX to gain significant audience in Palm Beach. Even then, it remained stubbornly in the ratings basement. It not only had to contend with local rivals WPTV and WPEC, but also with WTVJ, one of the strongest CBS affiliates in the nation. Indian River Television sold the station to the Spain family of Tupelo, Mississippi in 1979. The station later relocated its operations to a new studio facility located on North 25th Street (SR 615) in Fort Pierce.