WTEN began operations on October 14, 1953 as WCDA, Channel 41. The original transmitter was located in Herkimer and the studios were located in East Greenbush, NY. In November of 1954, WTEN became Capital Cities' first television station. In 1957, the station switched to Channel 10. In 1963, the studio was moved to Albany and the transmitter to its current location in the Helderberg Mountains in New Scotland, NY. In 1978, the station switched its network affiliation from CBS to ABC. In 1989, the station was purchased by its current owner, Young Broadcasting of Albany, Inc. The company also owns and operates a satellite station in Adams, MA., WCDC Channel 19. WCDC's Transmitter is located on Massachusett's Mount Greylock.

WTEN is an ABC television network affiliate in the nation's 57th largest market, serving Albany, Schenectady, Troy, Saratoga and surrounding communities. All together, the station's total viewing audience consists of more than 500,000 households (1.3 million people). A total of 14 counties are served, 12 of which are in Upstate NY, one in Vermont and another in Massachusetts.

The major focus for WTEN is NEWS10. NEWS10 reports to you weekdays, beginning at 5:00am with NEWS10 in the Morning, followed by NEWS10 at Noon and NEWS10 at 4:00pm. Additional news coverage is provided at 5:00pm, 5:30pm, 6:00pm and 11:00pm.

WTEN welcomed its newest newscast, NEWS10 at 4:00pm, on September 21, 2009. NEWS10 at 4:00pm is a weekday program that features news of the day, weather and a unique perspective to daily issues facing women, children and families in general, in the Capital Region.

NEWS10 also delivers the day's news on weekends, with shows at 6:00pm and 11:00pm.