History of WMUR-TV in Timeline

WMUR-TV is an ABC-affiliated television station serving most of New Hampshire. Licensed to Manchester, New Hampshire, it is owned by Hearst Television. The station's studios are located in downtown Manchester on South Commercial Street, while its transmitter is situated on Mount Uncanoonuc in Goffstown.

March 28, 1954: WMUR Signs On

On March 28, 1954, WMUR signed on the air as the first television station in New Hampshire. Founded by former governor Francis P. Murphy, owner of WMUR radio, the station broadcast from a Victorian-style house on Elm Street in Manchester, carrying ABC programming, daily newscasts, local game shows, and movies.

1955: Signal Boost

In 1955, WMUR channel 9 significantly boosted its signal, extending coverage into the Boston area, and began airing programming previously unavailable in Boston.

1957: Sale to Storer Broadcasting

In early 1957, Murphy agreed to sell WMUR-TV to Storer Broadcasting, but the deal faced opposition due to Storer's plan to move the transmitter closer to Boston. The outcry led regulators to reject Storer's request to build a new tower, and Storer backed out of the deal.

December 1958: Murphy's Death

In December 1958, the founder of WMUR, Francis P. Murphy, passed away. His estate later sold the station to Richard Eaton's United Broadcasting a few months later.

1966: Storer Purchases WSBK-TV

In 1966, Storer Broadcasting fulfilled its Boston ambitions by purchasing the channel 38 license as WSBK-TV.

1966: WRLH on the Air

In 1966, WRLH (channel 31) out of Lebanon started operating as an NBC affiliate.

1968: WRLH off the Air

In 1968, WRLH (channel 31) out of Lebanon went off the air.

1971: WRLH Back on the Air

In 1971, WRLH (channel 31) out of Lebanon returned to the air.

1973: Continued Black-and-White Broadcast

In 1973, WMUR continued to broadcast in black-and-white, long after the Boston stations had upgraded to color capability. During this period, The Uncle Gus Show and an active news department were among the few positive aspects of the station.

1974: WRLH off the Air Again

In 1974, WRLH (channel 31) out of Lebanon went off the air again.

1978: WRLH Becomes WNNE

In 1978, Channel 31 returned to the air under a new license as WNNE, now based in White River Junction, Vermont.

June 1981: Eaton's Death

Richard Eaton's death in June 1981 led to no further action being taken by the FCC regarding the licenses of WJMO and WCUY after an administrative law judge recommended their revocation.

July 1981: Sale to Imes Communications

In July 1981, following Richard Eaton's death, WMUR was sold to Birney Imes Jr.'s company, Imes Communications.

September 1987: Move to Millyard

In September 1987, WMUR moved from its original Elm Street studios to new facilities in the historic Millyard area of Manchester.

February 1, 1988: WNHT Becomes CBS Affiliate

On February 1, 1988, WNHT (channel 21) became southern New Hampshire's first CBS affiliate and began producing local newscasts.

March 31, 1989: WNHT Ceases Operations

On March 31, 1989, WNHT lost its CBS affiliation and ceased operations due to insufficient viewership.

1994: Dual Affiliation with Fox

In 1994, WMUR became both a primary and secondary affiliate of Fox and launched three low-powered repeaters in northern New Hampshire.

October 8, 1995: Significant Internet Presence Beginning

On October 8, 1995, WMUR was the first television station in the country to develop a significant Internet presence, including streaming newscasts live and archiving them online.

1995: Land Purchase for New Broadcast Center

In 1995, WMUR purchased land and a building for its current location, which was rebuilt into a new broadcast center.

January 1996: Move to New Broadcast Center

In January 1996, WMUR moved to its new 80,000-square-foot state-of-the-art broadcast center.

August 31, 1997: WFFF-TV Begins Broadcasting

On August 31, 1997, WFFF-TV began broadcasting, ending WMUR-LP's status as the only Fox affiliate serving part of the Burlington–Plattsburgh media market.

November 1998: Began Broadcasting on UHF Channel 59

In November 1998, WMUR-TV began broadcasting on UHF channel 59.

1998: Investments into Internet Strategy

Beginning in 1998, WMUR made significant financial, technical, and staff investments into its Internet strategy, including 24-hour original news segments and weather coverage.

September 2000: Sale to Emmis Communications and Trade to Hearst

In September 2000, Imes Communications agreed to sell WMUR to Emmis Communications, who then traded it to Hearst-Argyle Television (now Hearst Television).

2000: Simulcast of Presidential Primary Debates

In 2000, WMUR, CNN, and WMUR.com simulcast the New Hampshire presidential primary debates, marking the first widely promoted and executed worldwide live streaming video event.

December 19, 2001: Drops Fox Programming

On December 19, 2001, WMUR dropped all Fox programming following the Hearst acquisition.

2002: Repeaters Pick Up Full WMUR Schedule

In early 2002, W27BL and WMUR-LP began to carry WMUR-TV's full schedule, including ABC programming.

2004: Fiftieth Anniversary

In 2004, WMUR-TV celebrated fifty years of broadcasting.

September 24, 2005: Availability on DirecTV

On September 24, 2005, WMUR became available on satellite via DirecTV in Coös, Carroll, Grafton, and Sullivan counties in northern and west-central New Hampshire, providing in-state news to areas previously lacking it.

November 2006: WBZ Re-establishes News Bureau

In November 2006, WBZ re-established a news bureau on Elm Street in Manchester.

June 12, 2009: Analog Signal Shutdown

On June 12, 2009, WMUR shut down its analog signal on VHF channel 9, transitioning to digital broadcasts as mandated by the federal government. The station's digital signal relocated from UHF channel 59 to VHF channel 9.

February 2010: New Slogan Introduced

In February 2010, WMUR introduced a new slogan, "It's how you know," to promote its local news, weather, and website.

July 2012: Retransmission Consent Dispute

In July 2012, during a retransmission consent dispute, Hallmark Movie Channel was a substitute for Hearst Television's ABC affiliates, WMUR-TV and WMTW on Time Warner Cable.

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December 2015: DNC Excludes WMUR from Debate Sponsorship

In December 2015, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) announced that WMUR would not be included as a co-sponsor of the Democratic debate due to a labor dispute with unionized employees.

2016: WHAG-TV as NBC Affiliate Until 2016

Prior to 2016, WHAG-TV in Hagerstown, Maryland, operated as an NBC affiliate even though it is part of the Washington, D.C., market and competed with that city's NBC owned-and-operated station, WRC-TV.

January 1, 2017: WNEU Simulcasts NBC Programming

On January 1, 2017, Merrimack-licensed Telemundo owned-and-operated station WNEU began simulcasting NBC programming via its new Boston O&O WBTS-LD on its second digital subchannel.