History of WSB-TV in Timeline

WSB-TV is an ABC-affiliated television station located in Atlanta, Georgia. It is the flagship television property of Cox Media Group, which has owned the station since it began. WSB-TV shares studio facilities with its sister radio stations WSB, WSBB-FM, WSRV, WSB-FM, and WALR-FM in Midtown Atlanta. The station's transmitter is located on the border of the Poncey-Highland and Old Fourth Ward neighborhoods.

March 2009: WSB-TV Files Applications for Digital Fill-In Translators

In March 2009, WSB-TV submitted applications for two digital fill-in translators. These translators were intended to mitigate potential signal loss towards the east and northeast of Atlanta, which was anticipated due to limitations of the ATSC digital broadcast standard.

June 2009: WSB-TV Applies for Translator Southwest of Rome

In June 2009, WSB-TV applied for a translator on channel 14 just southwest of Rome. The translator was intended to cover a significant portion of northwest Georgia from the same tower as WQTU (102.3 FM) and WSRM (93.5 FM), and the same site as WGPB (97.7 FM), W212AR (90.3 FM), and W215BA (90.9 FM).

October 2010: WSB-TV Applies for Translator Southwest of Atlanta

In October 2010, WSB-TV applied for and later received a construction permit for another translator southwest of Atlanta in Newnan on channel 17. This translator would be co-located on the same tower as Cox-owned WALR-FM (104.1), and less than .25 miles (0.40 km) west of another tower holding WRDG (105.3 FM; which is not owned by Cox).

2010: WSB Dropped by Systems in South Georgia

In 2010, WSB was dropped by almost all systems in south Georgia after WALB, the market's NBC affiliate, began carrying ABC on its 10.2 digital subchannel.

January 2011: WSB-TV Translators in Operation

By January 2011, WSB-TV's translators were in operation to address terrain obstructions, particularly those caused by Stone Mountain east of the WSB transmitter. The translators' signal coverage largely overlapped with the main station's coverage area, and they were intended to improve signal reception in areas where terrain obstructed the main signal.

August 21, 2019: Application for Translator Dismissed

On August 21, 2019, the application for a translator on channel 14 just southwest of Rome was dismissed.

September 6, 2019: WSB-TV Shifts Channels

On September 6, 2019, WSB-TV transitioned from physical channel 39 to channel 32 due to the spectrum incentive auction. This change removed channels 38 to 51 from the television bandplan, consolidating stations into channels 2 to 36.