WPLG to End ABC Affiliation After 69 Years, ABC Programming to Shift to Sunbeam’s ABC Miami

WPLG cites high costs and a focus on local programming as reasons for the split, while ABC ensures continuity with a new affiliate starting August 2025.

• WPLG-TV, owned by Berkshire Hathaway, will end its nearly seven-decade-long ABC affiliation on August 4, 2025, due to failed financial negotiations.
• ABC programming will transition to a new affiliate, ABC Miami, operated by Sunbeam Television on channel 7.2, ensuring uninterrupted access for viewers in South Florida.
• WPLG CEO E. R. Bert Medina stated that continuing the ABC deal would have required layoffs and hindered the station’s mission to prioritize local content.
• The decision reflects broader industry challenges, including declining exclusivity in network programming and financial pressures on local broadcasters.
• Disney expressed confidence in its new partnership with Sunbeam Television, emphasizing shared community values and investments in ABC’s content.

3 Articles

Adweek Sun Sentinel The Hollywood Reporter