WOAI-TV

WOAI-TV is a broadcast television station serving San Antonio, Texas, and the surrounding South-Central Texas market. The station broadcasts on channel 4 and has been affiliated with NBC since it began operation, making it one of the market’s longest-running network outlets. It also operates a CW-branded digital subchannel and presents its local programming under the News 4 San Antonio identity. The station is owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group and is operated alongside Fox affiliate KABB and CW affiliate KMYS, which is licensed to Kerrville and owned by Deerfield Media under arrangements that give Sinclair operational control. The stations share facilities in northwest San Antonio, while WOAI-TV’s transmitter is located in northwest Wilson County near Elmendorf. WOAI-TV first went on the air on December 11, 1949, as the first television station in the San Antonio market. It was launched by Southland Industries alongside WOAI radio, whose established NBC Red Network relationship helped secure the television station’s NBC affiliation. The WOAI call letters are unusual for a Texas station because the traditional division between W and K call signs was once positioned farther west than the Mississippi River; the radio station’s existing call sign was retained when the television service launched. During its earliest months, the station also carried selected programs from CBS, ABC, and DuMont, but those secondary affiliations moved to newer local stations as San Antonio’s television market developed. The station passed through several ownership groups during the second half of the twentieth century. Crosley Broadcasting announced its acquisition of the WOAI stations in 1965, and the broadcaster subsequently operated under the Avco name. After Avco decided to leave broadcasting, United Television, a subsidiary of 20th Century Fox, acquired WOAI-TV. Because the radio station had been sold separately and retained the WOAI call letters, the television station became KMOL-TV in December 1974. United later became associated with Chris-Craft Industries and BHC Communications. News Corporation’s Fox Television Stations acquired Chris-Craft’s television properties in a transaction announced in 2000 and completed in 2001. KMOL-TV was then exchanged to Clear Channel Communications, a transaction that reunited the station with WOAI radio and made it part of a San Antonio-based communications group. Clear Channel restored the WOAI-TV call sign in September 2002. The station was later transferred to Newport Television following Clear Channel’s 2007 divestiture of its television group. Ownership and regulatory restrictions led to a 2008 transaction in which High Plains Broadcasting held the station’s license while Newport continued to provide operating services. Sinclair acquired WOAI-TV in 2012. The transaction also brought the station into a San Antonio operating group with KABB and KMYS. Because federal ownership rules limited the number and combination of full-power stations that could be commonly owned in the market, KMYS was assigned to Deerfield Media while remaining subject to a Sinclair shared-services arrangement. The stations later consolidated sales, administrative, promotional, and newsroom functions in a shared northwest San Antonio facility. WOAI-TV remains an active NBC affiliate and local-news operation, combining network programming, syndicated and locally produced programming, weather coverage, sports content, digital publishing, and community-oriented reporting.

WOAI-TV began broadcasting on December 11, 1949, as San Antonio’s first television station. Southland Industries owned it alongside WOAI radio, and the television station inherited the radio outlet’s NBC relationship. The station initially carried some programming from CBS, ABC, and DuMont, but those secondary affiliations moved to other San Antonio stations as new competitors launched in 1950 and 1957. Crosley Broadcasting announced a $12 million purchase of the WOAI stations in 1965. After regulatory approval, Crosley assumed control, later operating its broadcasting interests under the Avco name. Avco announced in 1974 that it would leave broadcasting, leading to the sale of the television station to United Television, a 20th Century Fox subsidiary. Because WOAI radio had been sold to Clear Channel Communications and retained the call letters, the television station changed its identity to KMOL-TV on December 11, 1974. The sale was completed in November 1975. United subsequently became associated with Chris-Craft Industries and BHC Communications. Chris-Craft sold its television stations to News Corporation’s Fox Television Stations in a transaction announced in 2000 and completed in 2001. News Corporation exchanged KMOL-TV and KTVX in Salt Lake City to Clear Channel for WFTC in Minneapolis. Clear Channel took control of KMOL-TV in October 2001, reuniting it with WOAI radio. The historic WOAI-TV call sign returned in September 2002. Clear Channel announced the sale of its television group in 2006. The group was sold to Newport Television, controlled by Providence Equity Partners, with the transaction completed in 2008. Ownership restrictions involving Providence’s interest in Univision and San Antonio station holdings resulted in WOAI-TV’s license being transferred to High Plains Broadcasting. Newport continued to operate the station through a shared-services structure. In 2012, Newport and High Plains agreed to sell WOAI-TV to Sinclair Broadcast Group. Sinclair also acquired KABB, while KMYS was placed with Deerfield Media to address federal duopoly restrictions; Sinclair retained operational control of KMYS through a shared-services agreement. The deals closed in December 2012. A studio fire in March 2013 temporarily disrupted operations, but the station continued broadcasting through backup arrangements and returned to its downtown facility several days later. By 2014, WOAI-TV’s sales, promotional, executive, and news operations had been integrated into shared northwest San Antonio facilities with KABB and KMYS. The station has continued to expand and modernize its local service. It introduced local high-definition newscasts in 2009, later adding upgraded field-production capabilities. Its programming includes NBC’s schedule, local newscasts under the News 4 San Antonio brand, the San Antonio Living daytime program, Sports Sunday, weather and emergency coverage, and programming on its CW digital subchannel. WOAI-TV also has a long relationship with San Antonio Spurs coverage through NBC’s former NBA rights and later selected regional game packages.

1. 2019Post-auction channel reassignment

   The station moves its digital transmission from RF channel 48 to RF channel 28 following the U.S. spectrum reallocation process.

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2. 2016Noon newscast expands

   WOAI-TV introduces a midday newscast that later expands to a full hour.

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3. 2013Studio fire and temporary relocation

   A fire forces an evacuation and temporary relocation of broadcasting operations.

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4. 2012Sinclair ownership begins

   Sinclair acquires WOAI-TV and establishes its current operating relationship with KABB and KMYS.

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5. 2009Local news moves to high definition

   WOAI-TV launches high-definition local newscasts and upgrades studio and field equipment.

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6. 2002WOAI-TV identity restored

   Clear Channel restores the station’s heritage WOAI-TV call sign.

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7. 1974Call letters change to KMOL-TV

   The television station changes call letters after WOAI radio is sold separately.

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8. 1965Crosley acquisition

   Crosley Broadcasting announces and completes its acquisition of the WOAI stations.

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9. 1949WOAI-TV signs on

   The station begins broadcasting on December 11 as San Antonio’s first television station and an NBC affiliate.

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A major San Antonio local-news and broadcast television outlet built around NBC network affiliation, regional breaking-news coverage, weather reporting, sports, and a multiplatform News 4 San Antonio identity.

• News 4 San AntonioLocal television news

  WOAI-TV’s principal local-news brand, covering San Antonio and the wider South-Central Texas region through scheduled newscasts, breaking-news reports, weather, investigations, traffic, and digital video and articles. The brand is used across the station’s broadcast and online presence.

• San Antonio LivingDaytime talk and lifestyle program

  A locally produced weekday daytime program focused on lifestyle topics, community features, guests, food, health, and regional interest stories. It forms part of WOAI-TV’s locally originated non-news programming.

• Sports SundaySports television program

  A weekly sports-highlight program presented on Sunday evenings, covering local and regional teams and sports developments, including the San Antonio market’s strong connection with the Spurs.

• WOAI-DT2Digital multicast television service

  WOAI-TV’s digital subchannel carrying CW programming, with the network schedule generally presented outside occasional schedule adjustments. It extends the station’s network-programming portfolio beyond its primary NBC service.

• 2013Operational response to studio fireOther

  An electrical fire in the second floor of WOAI-TV’s studio offices interrupted normal operations and required staff evacuation.

  What changed. The station used a live truck and then temporarily broadcast from the KABB/KMYS facility while repairs and safety work were completed.

  Aftermath. WOAI-TV returned to its downtown facility on March 24, 2013, and later consolidated key operations in shared northwest San Antonio facilities.

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• 2012Sinclair acquires WOAI-TVM&A

  Newport Television and High Plains Broadcasting agreed to sell WOAI-TV in a broader station divestiture. FCC ownership limits shaped the structure of the related San Antonio transactions.

  What changed. Sinclair acquired WOAI-TV and KABB, while KMYS was assigned to Deerfield Media and operated under a Sinclair shared-services arrangement.

  Aftermath. WOAI-TV became part of Sinclair’s San Antonio operating group, with shared facilities and functions alongside KABB and KMYS.

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• 2010San Antonio Living replaces Live! with Regis and KellyStrategy

  WOAI-TV sought to strengthen its locally produced daytime schedule and announced that San Antonio Living would replace the syndicated Live! with Regis and Kelly.

  What changed. The station replaced the syndicated program with Rachael Ray and expanded the role of San Antonio Living in its daytime lineup.

  Aftermath. The change generated viewer criticism because Live! had established local associations, including San Antonio appearances and Regis Philbin’s interest in the Spurs. Live with Kelly and Mark later returned to the market on another station.

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• 2014WOAI-TV consolidates northwest San Antonio operations

  Sales, promotional, executive, and newsroom functions are moved into shared facilities used with KABB and KMYS.

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• 2013Fire disrupts WOAI-TV studios

  An electrical fire in the station’s studio offices forces an evacuation and temporarily moves production to a live truck and the KABB/KMYS facility.

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• 2012WOAI-TV sold to Sinclair

  Sinclair acquires WOAI-TV as part of Newport Television’s sale of stations to several broadcast groups, creating the station’s current operating relationship with KABB and KMYS.

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• 2002WOAI call sign returns to channel 4

  The station restores the historic WOAI-TV call letters after Clear Channel’s acquisition.

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• 2001Clear Channel reunites KMOL-TV with WOAI radio

  Following a trade involving News Corporation, Clear Channel takes control of KMOL-TV, reconnecting the television station with its former radio sister.

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• 1974WOAI-TV becomes KMOL-TV

  The television station changes its call letters to KMOL-TV after the radio station is sold separately and retains the WOAI call sign.

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• 1965Crosley announces purchase of WOAI stations

  Crosley Broadcasting announces a $12 million acquisition of WOAI-TV and WOAI radio; regulatory approval and the ownership transfer follow later that year.

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• 1949WOAI-TV begins broadcasting in San Antonio

  The station signs on as San Antonio’s first television station and begins its long-running NBC affiliation.

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1. WOAI-TV
2. News 4 San Antonio official website