WTSP

WTSP (channel 10) is a television station in St. Petersburg, Florida, United States, that serves the Tampa Bay area. It is part of the CBS network and is owned by Tegna, a subsidiary of Nexstar Media Group. Tegna also owns several other stations in the area, including NBC affiliate WFLA-TV (channel 8), CW station WTTA (channel 38), and WSNN-LD (channel 39).

The station began broadcasting on July 18, 1965, originally as an ABC affiliate. Over the years, it has gone through many changes in ownership and news ratings. In 1994, WTSP switched to become a CBS affiliate. Despite efforts to improve, it has usually stayed in second or third place in local news ratings. In 2026, Tegna merged with Nexstar Media Group, which already owned several other local stations.

History

When the Federal Communications Commission allocated television channels in 1952, the Tampa Bay area was given several channels. In January 1955, three men from St. Petersburg formed a company and asked for channel 10 to be allocated to Pinellas County. After several applicants and much discussion, the FCC finally awarded the channel to a group called the Rahall group on November 1964.

WLCY-TV began broadcasting on July 18, 1965, and later became an ABC affiliate. In 1977, Gulf United Corporation acquired the station and changed its call sign to WTSP. Over the years, WTSP switched affiliations, first to ABC and later to CBS in 1994. In 1996, Jacor Communications acquired Citicasters, which owned WTSP, and then traded it to the Gannett Company. In 2015, Gannett split into two companies, and WTSP became part of Tegna. As of March 19, 2026, Nexstar Media Group completed its acquisition of Tegna, though a court order has temporarily prevented full integration of the stations.

News operation

WLCY-TV started its news program when it first began broadcasting in 1965. The team was small and had little experience, but they tried different ideas to get more viewers. In 1975, a well-known reporter named Arch Deal joined the station. Things changed in 1977 when Todd Spoeri became the general manager. He made many changes, including hiring new people and moving the evening news to a different time.

Later, the station improved its news team and added new features like a helicopter for live coverage. By the mid-1980s, it was doing well and competing closely with other stations. However, some changes didn’t work out, and the station sometimes fell behind again.

In 1989, there was a big problem when two employees were caught using secret information from a rival station. They were fired, and the station had to pay a fine. After that, the station kept trying to improve, adding new programs and changing its style.

In 2002, the station changed its look and added a new program called Life Around the Bay, which talked about local events in a relaxed way. Over the years, the station kept updating its news format and team. By 2017, it had a new morning show called 10News Brightside that focused on stories people were talking about online.

Even today, WTSP works hard to bring news to its viewers, though it usually ranks third or fourth among local stations.

Former notable on-air staff

Here are some people who used to work at WTSP as reporters, anchors, or weather experts:

• Jane Akre – reporter and anchor, 1992–1994
• Bubba the Love Sponge – commentator, 2011
• Michelle Caruso-Cabrera – reporter, 1994–1998
• Dick Crippen – sports director, 1965–1981
• Arch Deal – news director and anchor, 1975–1977
• Mike Deeson – investigative reporter, 1982–2017
• Rich Fields – meteorologist, 2017-2023
• Rob Finnerty – morning anchor, 2017–2020
• Dick Fletcher – chief meteorologist, 1980–2008
• Jineane Ford – anchor and reporter, 1989–1991
• Gina Gaston – anchor/reporter
• Don Harrison – anchor, 1979–1981
• Wally Kinnan – chief meteorologist, 1978–1980
• Dion Lim – evening anchor, 2014–2017
• Miles O'Brien – reporter, 1985–1986
• Noah Pransky – investigative reporter, 2009–2018
• Simeon Rice – co-host of The Blitz, a local football show for the 2021 season
• Craig Sager – weatherman and sports anchor/reporter, around 1975
• Tammie Souza – chief meteorologist, 2008–2011

Technical information

WTSP's main transmitter is located near Riverview, and it also broadcasts from a digital replacement translator near Hernando. The station began broadcasting a digital signal on May 15, 2000, on UHF channel 24 from its transmitter site near Holiday. It stopped analog broadcasting on June 12, 2009, as part of the digital television transition.

In 2011, WTSP moved to Riverview, where most other Tampa Bay TV stations broadcast. To help people in areas where the signal was weak, the station built a digital replacement translator at Hernando to serve places including Crystal River, Beverly Hills, and Inverness. WTSP is also available in ATSC 3.0 (NextGen TV) on the signal of WMOR-TV (channel 32).