History of WSAZ-TV in Timeline

WSAZ-TV is an NBC-affiliated television station licensed to Huntington, West Virginia, serving the Charleston–Huntington market. Its coverage area includes 31 counties across West Virginia, Kentucky, and Ohio. Owned by Gray Media, WSAZ-TV shares studios with CW affiliate WQCW in Huntington and operates a newsroom in Charleston. The station's transmitter is located on Barker Ridge near Milton, West Virginia.

1923: WSAZ Radio Origins

In 1923, WSAZ radio's origins began when radio engineer Glenn Chase started semi-regular broadcasts from Pomeroy, Ohio.

1926: WSAZ Radio Moves to Huntington

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

1927: Huntington Publishing Buys Stake in WSAZ Radio

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

1929: Huntington Publishing Buys Full Control in WSAZ Radio

In 1929, Huntington Publishing bought full control in 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. It was owned by the Huntington Publishing Company and carried programming from NBC, CBS, ABC, and DuMont, primarily as an NBC affiliate.

1950: WSAZ-TV Builds Microwave Link to Cincinnati

In 1950, WSAZ-TV received FCC permission to build a private microwave link to Cincinnati, enabling live broadcasts of NBC programming.

1952: Cincinnati Link Replaced

In 1952, the Cincinnati microwave link was replaced by one from Columbus, Ohio.

1952: WSAZ-TV Moves to Channel 3

In 1952, the FCC's Sixth Report and Order led WSAZ-TV to move to channel 3 to reduce interference with WLWT in Cincinnati. The FCC also granted WSAZ a boost in broadcast power, the highest ever authorized for a television station at the time.

March 1954: WJPB-TV Signs On

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

1954: WCHS-TV Takes Over 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 until WHTN-TV signed on the following year.

1955: WSAZ-TV Drops DuMont Affiliation

In 1955, WSAZ-TV dropped its affiliation with the DuMont network after the network ceased operations.

1956: Signal Strength Reduced

In 1956, WSAZ's signal strength was reduced to the same levels as other television stations as domestic television station regulation was normalized.

1956: WSAZ-TV Opens Charleston Branch Studio

In 1956, WSAZ-TV opened a branch studio in Charleston, West Virginia.

1956: Two-Anchor Newscasts

Since 1956, WSAZ's newscasts have featured two anchors, one in Huntington and one in Charleston. This format inspired NBC's "The Huntley-Brinkley Report".

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1959: Transmission Tower

In 1959, WIS-TV in Columbia, South Carolina, activated a taller tower making WSAZ's transmission tower no longer the tallest in North America.

1961: Huntington Publishing Sells WSAZ-AM-TV

In 1961, Huntington Publishing sold WSAZ-AM-TV to Goodwill Stations for $6 million.

1964: Goodwill Merges into Capital Cities Communications

In 1964, Goodwill Stations merged into Capital Cities Communications.

1971: Capital Cities Spun Off WSAZ Stations

In 1971, Capital Cities Communications spun off the WSAZ stations after purchasing several stations from Triangle Publications. WSAZ radio went to Stoner Broadcasting, and WSAZ-TV (channel 3) was acquired by Lee Enterprises.

July 1993: WSAZ's Weeknight First at Five Launched

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

1995: WSAZ Provides Split Newscast

From 1995, WSAZ used W16CE to provide viewers with a "split" newscast. Weeknights at 5:30, 6 and 11, the two anchors appeared together on screen until a certain point when the show split.

1995: WSAZ Launches Low-Powered Repeater

In 1995, WSAZ launched a low-powered repeater on UHF channel 23 to serve 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, WSAZ's low-powered repeater translator was moved to channel 16.

2005: Gray Television Buys WSAZ

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

September 5, 2006: WSAZ Launches MyNetworkTV Affiliate

On September 5, 2006, WSAZ launched a new second digital subchannel to be the area's MyNetworkTV affiliate, branded as "MyZTV".

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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 from analog to digital broadcasts.

June 12, 2009: Digital Broadcast

On June 12, 2009, WSAZ's digital signal remained on its pre-transition UHF channel 23, using virtual channel 3.

August 29, 2009: Secondary Affiliation with This TV

On August 29, 2009, WSAZ-DT2 began a secondary affiliation with This TV, carrying programming from that network.

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2009: Close Second to WCHS

In late 2009, WSAZ came in a close second to WCHS for a short period due to lower lead-in numbers from "The Jay Leno Show".

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2010: WSAZ Regains First Place

In early 2010, WSAZ regained first place in all timeslots.

2010: Newsrooms Remodeled

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

June 26, 2011: WSAZ Launches High-Definition Newscast

On June 26, 2011, at 6 p.m., WSAZ launched the first high-definition newscast in the Charleston–Huntington market.

May 2012: Highest Rated Nightly News

In May 2012, WSAZ had the highest rated nightly news at 6 p.m. of any station in the top 100 television markets in the United States.

August 2015: Permit Expired

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

August 26, 2015: WSAZ Affiliates with MeTV

On August 26, 2015, WSAZ announced it was dropping This TV and affiliating with the MeTV network.

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2017: Split Newscast Ends

In 2017, WSAZ's "two-city news" concept ended when W16CE was shut down, but the newscasts still feature one anchor based in Huntington and one anchor based in Charleston.