Originally signed on the air on July 12, 1953 as WNAO-TV, a primary CBS affiliate on UHF channel 28, the first television station in the Raleigh–Durham market and North Carolina's first UHF station. It was owned by the Sir Walter Television Company. This first incarnation of channel 28 ceased broadcasting on December 31, 1957 when CBS announced it would affiliate with then-NBC affiliate WTVD (VHF channel 11, now a ABCowned-and-operated station)
WRDU-TV
1968–1975
SVG NEEDED
Channel 28 relaunched on November 4, 1968 as WRDU-TV at 2pm.
1976–1978
WPTF-TV
1978–1985
Print ad.
1979 ID
"28, Proud As A Peacock" ID (1980-1981)
"We're 28, Just Watch Us Now" ID (1982-1983)
"28 There, Be There" ID (1983-1984)
"TV-28, Let's All Be There" ID (1984-1985)
1984 ID
On August 14, 1978, after the station was sold to Durham Life, the station changed its call letters to WPTF-TV, to match with co-owned WPTF radio.
1985–1986
SVG NEEDED
1986–1991
"Come on Home to 28" #1 (1987–1988)
"Come on Home to 28" #2 (1987–1988)
WRDC (-TV)
1991–1993
SVG NEEDED
1993–1995
SVG NEEDED
1995–1997
SVG NEEDED
On January 16, 1995, WRDC began branding as UPN 28, carrying UPN programs while still carrying some NBC programs as their contract with the network did not expire until September. Later on September 4, 1995, channel 28 became a full-time UPN affiliate with the remainder of the station's NBC programs moving to WNCN (UHF channel 17). Brissette sold WRDC to Glencairn Ltd. (later Cunningham Broadcasting), which the Sinclair Broadcast Group (owner of WLFL) would later purchase outright in 2001 after the FCC finally allowed duopolies.
1997-2002
2002–2006
2006–present
Alternate logo with white text
In September 2006, UPN merged with The WB to form The CW. As The CW went to sister station WLFL (UHF channel 22), WRDC joined another new network, MyNetworkTV.
1Owned by Tennessee Broadcasting and operated by Sinclair under an outsourcing agreement. 2Nominally owned by Cunningham Broadcasting and operated by Sinclair under an LMA. However, trusts belonging to members of Sinclair's founding Smith family control almost all of Cunningham's stock. 3Operated by Nexstar Media Group under an LMA. 4Owned by Second Generation of Iowa, Ltd., operated by Sinclair under an LMA. 5Owned by Howard Stirk Holdings, operated by Sinclair under an LMA. 6Owned by Mercury Broadcasting Company and operated by Sinclair. 7Owned by Deerfield Media and operated by Sinclair under an LMA. 8Owned by New Age Media and operated by Sinclair under an MSA. 9Owned by MPS Media, but operated by New Age Media under an LMA. 10Owned by Main Street Sports Group. 11Co-owned with Yankee Global Enterprises, The Blackstone Group, Amazon, RedBird Capital and Mubadala Investment Company. 12Co-owned with Chicago Cubs. 13Owned by Palm Television, L.P. and operated by Cunningham Broadcasting under an LMA. 14Operated by Marquee Broadcasting under an SSA. 15Owned by Rincon Broadcasting Group, but operated by Sinclair under an SSA. 16Owned by Rincon Broadcasting Group, but operated by Sinclair under an LMA. 17Owned and operated directly by Cunningham. 18Owned by Sinclair, but operated by Rincon Broadcasting Group under an SSA.
