History of WSAZ-TV in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: March 17, 2026

WSAZ-TV is an NBC-affiliated television station licensed to Huntington, West Virginia, serving the Charleston–Huntington market. Owned by Gray Media, it operates alongside CW affiliate WQCW. The station's broadcast area covers 31 counties across central West Virginia, eastern Kentucky, and southeastern Ohio. WSAZ-TV maintains studios in both Huntington and Charleston, with its transmitter situated on Barker Ridge near Milton, West Virginia.

1923: WSAZ Radio Origins

In 1923, radio engineer Glenn Chase began airing semi-regular broadcasts from Pomeroy, Ohio, marking the origins of WSAZ radio.

1926: WSAZ Radio Moves to Huntington

In 1926, WSAZ radio moved from Pomeroy, Ohio, across the Ohio River to Huntington, due to the challenges faced by Glenn Chase in maintaining the station.

1927: Huntington Publishing Buys Stake in WSAZ Radio

In 1927, Huntington Publishing purchased a stake in WSAZ radio.

1929: Huntington Publishing Buys Full Control of WSAZ Radio

In 1929, Huntington Publishing bought full control of WSAZ radio.

November 15, 1949: WSAZ-TV Begins Broadcasting

On November 15, 1949, WSAZ-TV, the oldest television station in West Virginia, began broadcasting on VHF channel 5. The station, owned by the Huntington Publishing Company, carried programming from NBC, CBS, ABC, and DuMont, primarily affiliating with NBC due to WSAZ radio's NBC Radio affiliation.

1950: WSAZ-TV Builds Microwave Link to Cincinnati

In 1950, WSAZ-TV received FCC approval to build a private microwave link to Cincinnati, enabling live broadcasts of NBC programming. The first broadcast was scheduled for Labor Day, but the system broke down.

1952: WSAZ-TV Moves to Channel 3

In 1952, as a result of the FCC's Sixth Report and Order, WSAZ-TV moved to channel 3 to reduce interference with WLWT in Cincinnati. The FCC also granted WSAZ a power boost at this time.

1952: Cincinnati Link Replaced

In 1952, the Cincinnati microwave link was replaced with a new link from Columbus, Ohio, for broadcasting.

March 1954: WJPB-TV Signs On

In March 1954, WJPB-TV (now WDTV) signed on from Weston, utilizing the channel 5 frequency vacated by WSAZ-TV.

1954: WCHS-TV Takes CBS Affiliation

In 1954, WCHS-TV (channel 8) signed on from Charleston and took over the CBS affiliation from WSAZ-TV. The two television stations then shared ABC programming.

1955: WSAZ-TV Drops DuMont Affiliation

In 1955, WSAZ-TV ceased carrying DuMont network programming after the DuMont network shut down.

1956: WSAZ-TV Opens Branch Studio in Charleston

In 1956, WSAZ-TV opened a branch studio in Charleston, West Virginia, located 50 miles from Huntington, where the main studios are based.

1956: WSAZ's Signal Strength Reduced

In 1956, as domestic television station regulations normalized, WSAZ's broadcast signal strength was reduced to be consistent with other stations.

1956: WSAZ's Newscasts Feature Two Anchors

Since 1956, WSAZ's newscasts have used a format with two anchors, one in Huntington and one in Charleston. This format served as the basis for "The Huntley-Brinkley Report".

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1959: WIS-TV Activates Taller Tower

In 1959, WIS-TV in Columbia, South Carolina, activated a taller transmission tower, surpassing WSAZ's tower as the tallest in North America.

1961: Huntington Publishing Sells WSAZ-AM-TV

In 1961, Huntington Publishing sold WSAZ-AM-TV to Goodwill Stations, owner of WJR radio and WJRT-TV, for $6 million.

1964: Goodwill Merged into Capital Cities Communications

In 1964, Goodwill Stations was merged into Capital Cities Communications.

1971: Capital Cities Spun Off WSAZ Stations

In 1971, Capital Cities Communications spun off the WSAZ stations as a result of acquiring stations from Triangle Publications. WSAZ radio went to Stoner Broadcasting, and WSAZ-TV was acquired by Lee Enterprises.

July 1993: WSAZ Launches First at Five Broadcast

In July 1993, WSAZ launched its weeknight First at Five broadcast.

1995: WSAZ Introduces Split Newscast

From 1995, WSAZ used W16CE to provide viewers with a "split" newscast on weeknights at 5:30, 6, and 11, with different segments for Kanawha Valley viewers and Huntington-area viewers.

1995: WSAZ Launches Low-Powered Repeater

In 1995, WSAZ launched a low-powered repeater on UHF channel 23 to improve signal coverage in the Kanawha Valley.

2000: Emmis Communications Buys WSAZ

In 2000, Emmis Communications bought WSAZ after Lee Enterprises decided to exit broadcasting.

2003: Translator Moved to Channel 16

In 2003, the low-powered repeater translator was moved to channel 16.

2005: Gray Television Acquires WSAZ

In 2005, Gray Television acquired WSAZ from Emmis Communications, making it a sister station to WTAP-TV in Parkersburg.

September 5, 2006: WSAZ Launches MyNetworkTV Subchannel

On September 5, 2006, WSAZ launched a second digital subchannel as a MyNetworkTV affiliate, branded as "MyZTV."

February 17, 2009: WSAZ-TV Ends Analog Programming

On February 17, 2009, WSAZ-TV ended regular programming on its analog signal over VHF channel 3, as part of the transition to digital broadcasts.

June 12, 2009: Original Digital Transition Date

June 12, 2009 was the pushed back date of which full-power television stations in the United States were to transition from analog to digital broadcasts under federal mandate.

August 29, 2009: MyZTV Adds This TV Affiliation

On August 29, 2009, MyZTV began a secondary affiliation with This TV, carrying its programming during the daytime, late nights, and on weekends.

2009: WSAZ Briefly Loses Timeslot to WCHS

In late 2009, WSAZ briefly lost a timeslot to WCHS due to lower lead-in numbers caused by "The Jay Leno Show".

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2010: WSAZ Regains First Place in All Timeslots

In early 2010, WSAZ regained first place in all timeslots after briefly losing to WCHS.

2010: WSAZ Remodels Newsrooms

In late 2010, WSAZ remodeled its Huntington and Charleston newsrooms to prepare for high-definition broadcasts.

June 26, 2011: WSAZ Launches High-Definition Newscast

On June 26, 2011, WSAZ launched the first high-definition newscast in the Charleston–Huntington market, becoming the second station in West Virginia to do so.

May 2012: WSAZ Achieves Highest Rated Nightly News

In May 2012, WSAZ had the highest-rated nightly news at 6 p.m. among the top 100 television markets in the United States. Its 6 a.m. and 5 p.m. newscasts ranked number two.

August 2015: Permit for Digital Channel 15 Expired

In August 2015, an earlier permit for digital channel 15 expired unbuilt.

August 26, 2015: WSAZ Announces MeTV Affiliation

On August 26, 2015, WSAZ announced that it was dropping This TV and affiliating with the MeTV network, carrying MeTV programming during select hours.

2017: WSAZ Ends Split Newscast

In 2017, WSAZ discontinued the "split" newscast format when W16CE was shut down, though the newscasts continued to feature one anchor in Huntington and one in Charleston.