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WFTS-TV

WFTS-TV (channel 28), branded as ABC Action News, is a television station licensed to Tampa, Florida, United States, serving the Tampa Bay area as an affiliate of ABC. It is owned by the E. W. Scripps Company alongside Bradenton-licensed Ion Television station WXPX-TV (channel 66). WFTS-TV's studios are located on North Himes Avenue on Tampa's northwest side, and its transmitter is located in Riverview, Florida.

Tampa, Florida

December 14, 1981 (1981-12-14)

  • Analog: 28 (UHF, 1981–2009)
  • Digital: 29 (UHF, until 2020)

"Family Television Station"[1]

FCC

64588

1,000 kW

469 m (1,539 ft)

Channel 28 was launched as the Tampa Bay area's second independent television station in December 1981 by a company that went on to become Family Group Broadcasting. It was purchased by Capital Cities Communications in 1984, though Capital Cities quickly sold it to Scripps the following year after it purchased the ABC television network. WFTS-TV became an affiliate of Fox in 1988.


A multi-market affiliation switch in 1994 saw WFTS-TV become Tampa Bay's ABC affiliate. The network attempted to disaffiliate from WWSB, its affiliate in Sarasota, but that station was ultimately allowed to remain with the network. To start local newscasts, channel 28 was forced to rent studio space in Clearwater. The newscasts debuted in fourth place in the market but have been more competitive since. In 1996, Scripps completed construction on the present studio facilities near Raymond James Stadium; the building accommodates the news department and is large enough that several business functions for the entire station group are run from Tampa.

– sports director (1998–2003)[54]

Jay Crawford

– sports anchor (1994–2000)[55]

Scott Hanson

– anchor/reporter (2005–2009)[50]

Walt Maciborski

– reporter (1998–2000)[56]

Elaine Quijano

– reporter (1998–2001)[57]

Sage Steele

Technical information[edit]

Subchannels[edit]

The station's signal is multiplexed:

– Official website

ABCActionNews.com

a 2002 documentary showing the WFTS-TV newsroom

"Behind the Scenes of 28 News"