History of WMUR-TV in Timeline

WMUR-TV is a television station based in Manchester, New Hampshire, serving most of the state as an ABC affiliate. It is owned by Hearst Television and operates from studios in downtown Manchester, with its transmitter situated on Mount Uncanoonuc in Goffstown. As a local news source, WMUR plays a significant role in providing news and information to the New Hampshire community. It is a commercial station.

March 28, 1954: WMUR-TV Signs on Air

On March 28, 1954, WMUR-TV began broadcasting 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. It aired ABC programming, daily newscasts, local game shows, and movies.

1955: WMUR Boosts Signal

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

1957: Storer Broadcasting Deal Falls Through

In early 1957, Francis Murphy agreed to sell WMUR-TV to Storer Broadcasting. However, the deal fell through after Storer's plan to move the transmitter near Boston caused an outcry, leading regulators to reject the plan.

December 1958: Sale of WMUR-TV after Murphy's Death

Following Francis P. Murphy's death in December 1958, his estate sold WMUR-TV to Richard Eaton's United Broadcasting a few months later.

1966: Storer Purchases WSBK-TV

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

1966: WRLH Begins Operations

In 1966, WRLH (channel 31) out of Lebanon began operations as the only NBC affiliate based in the state.

1968: WRLH Shuts Down

In 1968, WRLH (channel 31) out of Lebanon shut down

1971: WRLH Resumes Operations

In 1971, WRLH (channel 31) out of Lebanon resumed operations.

1973: WMUR Continues Broadcasting in Black-and-White

In 1973, WMUR continued to broadcast in black-and-white, long after Boston stations upgraded to color capability.

1974: WRLH Shuts Down Again

In 1974, WRLH (channel 31) out of Lebanon shut down again.

1978: Channel 31 Returns as WNNE

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

June 1981: Richard Eaton's Death

Richard Eaton, owner of WMUR-TV, died in June 1981, which led to the end of the FCC investigation on allegations of bribery.

July 1981: Sale to Imes Communications

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

September 1987: Station Move to Millyard Area

In September 1987, WMUR moved from its original Elm Street studios to 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.

March 31, 1989: WNHT Ceases Operations

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

August 22, 1994: WMUR Operated Repeaters

From August 22, 1994, WMUR operated repeaters in northern New Hampshire.

1994: WMUR Becomes a Primary and Secondary Affiliate of Fox

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

May 1995: W38CB Launched

In May 1995, translator W38CB launched, airing ABC programming.

October 8, 1995: WMUR Develops Significant Internet Presence

On October 8, 1995, WMUR became the first television station in the country to develop a significant Internet presence.

1995: Purchase of Land and Building

In 1995, WMUR purchased land and a building at its current location, which was rebuilt as 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 after purchasing land in 1995.

August 31, 1997: WFFF-TV Begins Broadcasting

On August 31, 1997, WFFF-TV began broadcasting, becoming another Fox affiliate serving a portion of the Burlington–Plattsburgh media market.

November 1998: WMUR-TV began broadcasting on UHF channel 59

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

1998: Investment in Internet Strategy

Beginning in 1998, WMUR made significant financial, technical and staff investments into its Internet strategy.

September 2000: Sale to Emmis Communications and Trade to Hearst-Argyle

In September 2000, Imes Communications reached an agreement to sell WMUR to Emmis Communications, who then traded WMUR to Hearst-Argyle Television in exchange for radio stations in Phoenix, Arizona.

2000: Simulcast of New Hampshire Presidential Primary Debates

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

December 19, 2001: WMUR Drops Fox Programming

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

2002: New Slogan

In 2002, WMUR adopted the slogan "No One Covers New Hampshire Like We Do", emphasizing its position as the only local television news source in the state.

2002: W27BL and WMUR-LP to Carry Full WMUR-TV Schedule

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

2004: WMUR-TV Celebrates Fifty Years of Broadcasting

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

September 24, 2005: WMUR Available on DirecTV

On September 24, 2005, WMUR became available on satellite via DirecTV in several counties in northern and west-central New Hampshire.

November 2006: WBZ Re-establishes News Bureau

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

June 12, 2009: WMUR Shuts Down Analog Signal

On June 12, 2009, WMUR-TV shut down its analog signal, VHF channel 9, as part of the U.S. transition to digital broadcasts.

February 2010: Introduction of New Slogan

In February 2010, WMUR introduced a new slogan, "It's how you know," often promoting local news, weather, and its photo-sharing site, "uLocal".

August 2, 2011: Newscasts Broadcast in High Definition

On August 2, 2011, WMUR began broadcasting its local newscasts in high definition. The station also introduced a new set and graphics package, styled differently from those of WCVB.

October 3, 2011: Sub-channel Added

On October 3, 2011, WMUR added sub-channel 9.2 with programming from classic television network MeTV.

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March 5, 2012: MeTV Subchannel Newscast

On March 5, 2012, WMUR started producing a half-hour weeknight 10 p.m. newscast for its MeTV subchannel, competing with WBIN-TV's 10 p.m. newscast.

July 2012: Hallmark Movie Channel as Substitute on Time Warner Cable

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

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2013: MDA Telethon Moves to ABC

In 2013, the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) moved its annual telethon, formerly known as The Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon, to ABC and rebranded it as the MDA Show of Strength.

2014: End of MDA Telethon on WMUR

In 2014, WMUR broadcasted the MDA Show of Strength for the last time, as the telethon ended its run.

December 2015: WMUR Excluded from Democratic Debate Sponsorship

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

2016: WHAG-TV operates as NBC affiliate

In 2016, WHAG-TV in Hagerstown, Maryland, operated as an NBC affiliate, competing with Washington, D.C.'s WRC-TV.

January 1, 2017: WNEU Begins Simulcasting NBC Programming

On January 1, 2017, Merrimack-licensed Telemundo station WNEU began simulcasting NBC programming via its new Boston O&O WBTS-LD on its second digital subchannel; however, the new station, known on-air as NBC Boston, is focused on Boston and eastern Massachusetts rather than New Hampshire.

2017: WBIN-TV Newscast Canceled

In 2017, WBIN-TV, a competitor offering New Hampshire-focused local newscasts, ceased operations after selling its spectrum in an FCC auction, leaving WMUR as the sole television news source in New Hampshire.

2017: WBIN-TV Goes Off Air

In early 2017, WBIN-TV went off the air due to the FCC's spectrum auction, ending the competition with WMUR's 10 p.m. newscast on its MeTV subchannel.

November 5, 2018: New Graphics Package Introduced

On November 5, 2018, WMUR introduced a new graphics package for the full 16:9 widescreen presentation, styled differently from those of WCVB.

December 27, 2018: W38CB Removed From Service

On December 27, 2018, W38CB was removed from service to enable T-Mobile to launch 600 MHz services.

2018: WNNE Moves to Montpelier

In 2018, WNNE moved to Montpelier, Vermont, and became the CW affiliate for the Burlington–Plattsburgh market.

February 10, 2020: W38CB License Surrendered

On February 10, 2020, the license for W38CB was surrendered for cancellation.

July 13, 2021: Analog Signals Turned Off

On July 13, 2021, W27BL and WMUR-LP turned off their analog signals.

October 2021: Subchannels Added

In October 2021, WMUR added subchannel 9.3 carrying Shop LC programming and later QVC on subchannel 9.5.

January 18, 2022: Repeaters Discontinued

Until January 18, 2022, WMUR operated repeaters in northern New Hampshire.

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