Founded in 1953 by John D. Swallows and William E. Swallows, WPEC came into being to bring the first independent television station to South Florida. The idea sparked when the brothers, who were already involved in radio broadcasting, saw the potential for television to reach a growing audience in the West Palm Beach area. They aimed to provide local news and programming that was distinct from the network affiliates. Today, the station is owned and operated by Sinclair Broadcast Group. Today, WPEC is run by a team of local anchors, reporters, and meteorologists and is mainly focused on local news, severe weather coverage, Florida politics, and community events. They are based in West Palm Beach, Florida, and serve as a primary news source for the Treasure Coast and Palm Beach County. One interesting fact: A unique fact about WPEC is its historical connection to a major television network. For many years, WPEC was the primary affiliate for CBS in the West Palm Beach market. However, in 2017, it switched its affiliation to ABC, and the CBS affiliation moved to another local station, making it a significant shift in the local media landscape.