WFTS-TV
WFTS-TV (Tampa Bay 28) is an ABC-affiliated local broadcast television station serving the nine-county Tampa Bay metropolitan area. Owned by Scripps Media (E.W. Scripps Company), it delivers local news, weather, sports, and investigative journalism across broadcast, streaming, and digital channels.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1981
- HeadquartersTampa, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What WFTS-TV does
WFTS-TV, operating as Tampa Bay 28, is an ABC-affiliated local broadcast television station serving the nine-county Tampa Bay metropolitan area in Florida (Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Polk, Sarasota, Manatee, Hernando, and Citrus counties). Founded in 1981 and headquartered in Tampa, the station has between 251 and 500 employees and is owned and operated by Scripps Media, Inc., a subsidiary of the publicly traded E.W. Scripps Company (NASDAQ: SSP). It produces local news, weather, sports coverage (Tampa Bay Lightning, Rays, Buccaneers, and USF), investigative journalism through its I-Team unit, and community engagement programming — exporting this content across over-the-air broadcast (channel 28), cable/satellite carriage, OTT streaming (Tampa Bay 28+), a FAST weather channel (Tampa Bay 28 Weather 24/7), a website (tampabay28.com), iOS/Android apps, and major social platforms (Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, TikTok).
The technical platform combines traditional broadcast transmission infrastructure with digital streaming capabilities for multi-platform content delivery, supporting interactive radar, push-notification alerting for breaking news and severe weather, and a hurricane tracking product (Tracking the Tropics). Specialized sub-brands include Good Morning Tampa Bay, Tampa Bay's Morning Blend, The Spot - Tampa Bay 66 (a digital property targeting younger audiences launched in 2025), Price of Paradise (cost-of-living investigative series), and the I-Team's Home Sweet HOA and Patient No More series.
The business model is a hybrid of (1) advertising revenue — local television spot ads, sponsored content segments (Marketplace, Home Pros, Real Estate Essentials, Don't Waste Your Money), and digital advertising across owned properties; (2) carriage fees — recurring payments from cable and satellite providers (Spectrum, Comcast, Dish Network, with DirecTV currently in dispute and removed from lineup) for distribution rights; and (3) ad-supported digital streaming revenue via the FAST channel and Tampa Bay 28+. Customer segments are Tampa Bay-area residents (consumers of local news, weather, sports) and local/regional businesses seeking advertising reach into the DMA. Leadership: Teresa Morgan was appointed Vice President and General Manager effective January 1, 2025.
WFTS-TV firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- WFTS-TV
- Legal name
- Scripps Media, Inc.
- Website
- https://abcactionnews.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1981
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- WFTS-TV (Tampa Bay 28) is an ABC-affiliated local broadcast television station serving the nine-county Tampa Bay metropolitan area. Owned by Scripps Media (E.W. Scripps Company), it delivers local news, weather, sports, and investigative journalism across broadcast, streaming, and digital channels.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
WFTS-TV industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Local Broadcast Television
- NAICS
- Television Broadcasting Stations (516120)
- SIC
- Television Broadcasting Stations (4833)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Network-Affiliated Local TV Stations (ABC/CBS/NBC/FOX/CW/Telemundo/Univision, etc.) (MPABACAE)
Keywords
Where WFTS-TV is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Tampa
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
WFTS-TV business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Advertising Revenue: Television advertising including local spot ads, sponsored content segments (Marketplace, Home Pros, Real Estate Essentials), and digital advertising on website and social platforms. The station carries segments like 'Don't Waste Your Money' consumer reporting and branded marketplace content.
- Carriage Fees: Fees paid by cable and satellite providers for carrying the station's broadcast signal. Currently experiencing distribution dispute with DirecTV.
- Digital Subscriptions/Streaming: Free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) content available through website and apps, generating digital advertising revenue.
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels9 records
WFTS-TV product offering
Product offeringCore offering
WFTS-TV (operating as Tampa Bay 28) is a local ABC-affiliated broadcast television station that delivers free over-the-air local news, weather, sports, and investigative journalism to viewers across the Tampa Bay metropolitan area. Core offerings include the main Tampa Bay 28 broadcast channel, the Tampa Bay 28+ OTT streaming service, the Tampa Bay 28 Weather 24/7 continuous weather channel, and the WFTS mobile applications for iOS and Android. Revenue is generated primarily through on-air and digital advertising, supported by carriage fees from cable and satellite providers.
Product overview
Tampa Bay 28 (WFTS-TV) is a local broadcast television station operated by Scripps Media, serving the Tampa Bay Florida metropolitan area. The station delivers news through a unified broadcast platform complemented by digital streaming services, mobile applications, and specialized programming modules. Core offerings include the main Tampa Bay 28 broadcast channel, 24/7 weather streaming, and Tampa Bay 28+ streaming service. Supporting modules encompass I-Team investigative reports, Good Morning Tampa Bay morning programming, Tampa Bay's Morning Blend lifestyle content, community engagement initiatives (Tampa Bay 28 Gives and Tampa Bay 28 Listens), and seasonal hurricane tracking through Tracking the Tropics. The station also maintains mobile applications for iOS and Android enabling on-the-go access to news and weather alerts.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Tampa Bay 28+: Over-the-top (OTT) streaming service offering live and on-demand Tampa Bay 28 content
- Tampa Bay 28 Weather 24/7
- Good Morning Tampa Bay
- The Spot - Tampa Bay 66
- I-Team Investigations
- Price of Paradise
- Full Circle Florida
Products and services
- Tampa Bay 28 (WFTS-TV) Broadcast Station Primary local ABC-affiliated broadcast television station delivering free over-the-air local news, weather, sports, and investigative reporting to viewers across the Tampa Bay metropolitan area spanning nine counties.
- Tampa Bay 28+ Streaming Service Over-the-top (OTT) streaming service offering live and on-demand Tampa Bay 28 local news, weather coverage, and extended programming beyond traditional broadcast schedules, accessible via website and connected TV platforms.
- Tampa Bay 28 Weather 24/7 Continuous weather streaming channel providing round-the-clock radar, forecasts, severe weather alerts, and hurricane tracking dedicated to the Tampa Bay region.
- WFTS Mobile App Smartphone application for iOS and Android providing on-the-go access to Tampa Bay 28 local news, weather alerts, live streams, and breaking news push notifications.
Companies that use WFTS-TV
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
WFTS-TV technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
WFTS-TV partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Scripps News GroupcoreTampa Bay 28 operates as part of the Scripps News Group network, receiving national news content and sharing resources across the E.W. Scripps portfolio of local television stations. The partnership provides syndicated national and international news coverage alongside local programming.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
WFTS-TV competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- E.W. Scripps Company (NASDAQ: SSP): Parent company of WFTS-TV; operates a portfolio of local ABC, NBC, CBS, and FOX affiliates across the U.S. Comparable as the corporate sibling providing shared services, syndicated content, and group-level ad sales that frame WFTS-TV's operating economics.
Broad incumbents
- Nexstar Media Group: Largest U.S. owner of local TV stations, including WFLA in Tampa. Indirectly comparable as the consolidated operator peer through which WFTS-TV competes on group-level ad sales and station-portfolio economics.
- Tegna Inc. Major U.S. broadcast group with network-affiliated stations nationwide. Operates local stations pursuing similar local-news, advertising, and digital-streaming strategies as WFTS-TV.
- Sinclair Broadcast Group: Large U.S. local-TV station group operating across multiple markets. Comparable to the Scripps ownership structure governing WFTS-TV, with overlapping local-news and political-ad business models.
Direct peers
- Bay News 9 (Spectrum): Regional 24/7 cable news channel owned by Charter/Spectrum covering the Tampa Bay region. Competes for local news viewership, severe-weather coverage, and political/community storytelling within the same DMA.
- WTVT (Fox 13 Tampa Bay): FOX-owned local station (Fox 13) competing head-to-head with WFTS-TV across the same Tampa Bay DMA for news, weather, and advertising share. Direct competitor in local news, sports, and weather across broadcast, app, and streaming.
- WTTA (Great 38): MyNetworkTV/Telemundo affiliate operating in the Tampa Bay DMA, competing for Spanish-language and general-entertainment audiences overlapping with WFTS-TV's coverage territory.
- WTSP (CBS News Tampa Bay, 10 Tampa Bay): CBS-affiliated station also serving the Tampa Bay DMA, providing local news, weather, and sports. Directly competes with WFTS-TV for viewers and advertisers within overlapping county coverage.
- WFLA-TV (News Channel 8): NBC-affiliated local station owned by Nexstar Media Group, competing with WFTS-TV for the same Tampa Bay audience and advertisers across linear broadcast, digital, and mobile. Closest network/competitor mapping since it is an ABC vs. NBC affiliate in the same market.
Regional players
- WEDU (PBS Tampa Bay): Public broadcasting station serving the Tampa Bay region, providing local and national programming. Overlaps with WFTS-TV in local public-affairs and community content, but does not compete on commercial advertising or sports.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
WFTS-TV social profiles
Digital presenceWFTS-TV financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
WFTS-TV leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
WFTS-TV funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
WFTS-TV M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about WFTS-TV
What does WFTS-TV do?
WFTS-TV (operating as Tampa Bay 28) is a local ABC-affiliated broadcast television station that delivers free over-the-air local news, weather, sports, and investigative journalism to viewers across the Tampa Bay metropolitan area. Core offerings include the main Tampa Bay 28 broadcast channel, the Tampa Bay 28+ OTT streaming service, the Tampa Bay 28 Weather 24/7 continuous weather channel, and the WFTS mobile applications for iOS and Android. Revenue is generated primarily through on-air and digital advertising, supported by carriage fees from cable and satellite providers.
Is WFTS-TV a public or private company?
WFTS-TV is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was WFTS-TV founded?
WFTS-TV was founded in 1981. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is WFTS-TV based?
WFTS-TV is headquartered in Tampa, United States, in the North America region.
How does WFTS-TV make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Advertising Revenue is the primary driver. The others are carriage Fees and digital Subscriptions/Streaming.
Who are WFTS-TV's main competitors?
E.W. Scripps Company (NASDAQ: SSP) is listed as an others. Broad incumbents are Nexstar Media Group, Tegna Inc. and Sinclair Broadcast Group. Direct peers are Bay News 9 (Spectrum), WTVT (Fox 13 Tampa Bay), WTTA (Great 38), WTSP (CBS News Tampa Bay, 10 Tampa Bay) and WFLA-TV (News Channel 8). WEDU (PBS Tampa Bay) is listed as a regional player.
Does WFTS-TV have an API?
No public API is recorded for WFTS-TV.
What industry is WFTS-TV in?
WFTS-TV's product category is Local Broadcast Television. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPABACAE, Network-Affiliated Local TV Stations (ABC/CBS/NBC/FOX/CW/Telemundo/Univision, etc.). Its NAICS code is 516120 and its SIC code is 4833.