WOWK-TV

WOWK-TV is a television station licensed to Huntington, West Virginia, and serving the Charleston–Huntington designated market area across portions of West Virginia, southern Ohio, and eastern Kentucky. The station broadcasts on virtual channel 13 and is affiliated with CBS. It is owned by Nexstar Media Group, one of the largest local television station operators in the United States. The station began broadcasting on October 2, 1955, under the call sign WHTN-TV. Its original owner was the Greater Huntington Theater Corporation, and its initial network affiliation was ABC. During its first decades, the station changed ownership and network relationships several times. Cowles Communications acquired it after its first year of operation, and the station became a CBS affiliate in 1958 after an affiliation exchange with WCHS-TV. Reeves Telecom purchased the station in 1960; under Reeves, it returned to ABC in 1962. Gateway Communications acquired the station in 1974, and in March 1975 the call letters were changed to WOWK-TV. The new call sign was intended to represent the three-state area in which the station operated: West Virginia, Ohio, and Kentucky. WOWK-TV returned to CBS on June 1, 1986, in another affiliation exchange with WCHS-TV. That arrangement has continued, making CBS programming, local news, weather, sports, syndicated programming, and digitally distributed multicast services the principal components of the station's offering. Its news operation has developed a distinctive schedule for the market, including an early-morning program that began at 4:30 a.m. in 2011, a 7 p.m. newscast, a 5 p.m. newscast, and the weekday 4 p.m. program Good Day at 4, launched in 2022. WOWK also produces a statewide evening program, Tonight Live at 5:30, which is simulcast by other former West Virginia Media Holdings stations. The station's physical base has shifted from Huntington toward the Charleston area. It operated from the Radio Center Building in Huntington until 1984 and subsequently moved to a Fifth Avenue location. Following the 2002 sale to West Virginia Media Holdings, the station moved its main studio and offices to Charleston while retaining a Huntington-area news bureau and advertising sales presence. Its studios are located on Quarrier Street near the Charleston Town Center, while its transmitter is located near Milton, West Virginia. Ownership changed again when West Virginia Media Holdings sold its stations to Nexstar Broadcasting Group. Nexstar announced the transaction in November 2015, assumed operational control through a time brokerage arrangement in December of that year, and completed the license-asset acquisition on January 31, 2017. The transaction reunited WOWK-TV with former Gateway stations WTAJ-TV and WBNG-TV under Nexstar-related ownership. WOWK-TV remains an active local broadcast brand, combining CBS network distribution with regional news and weather coverage for a geographically broad, tri-state audience.

WOWK-TV began operations on October 2, 1955, as WHTN-TV, an ABC affiliate licensed to Huntington, West Virginia. The station was established by the Greater Huntington Theater Corporation and was sold after approximately one year to Cowles Communications. In 1958, it exchanged affiliations with WCHS-TV and became a CBS affiliate for the first time. Reeves Telecom acquired channel 13 from Cowles in 1960. Two years later, the station returned to ABC, where it remained for roughly 24 years. Gateway Communications purchased it in 1974. Gateway had been formed by employees of the former broadcasting division of Triangle Publications, and the station was notable within Gateway's portfolio as an ABC affiliate that had not previously been owned by Triangle. In March 1975, Gateway changed the call sign to WOWK-TV. The letters were chosen to evoke the three states represented in the station's service area: West Virginia, Ohio, and Kentucky. The station experienced a major technical emergency on January 12, 1984, when a chemical fire destroyed its original transmitter installation at Barkers Ridge. The fire began around an electrical control panel and spread toward the roof. Although no one was killed, 46 people were transported to nearby hospitals for chemical-related conditions. WOWK-TV restored service on January 16. The station also changed its physical base during this period, moving from Huntington's Radio Center Building, where it had operated since its launch, to a Fifth Avenue facility in 1984. On June 1, 1986, channel 13 again exchanged affiliations with WCHS-TV, returning to CBS while WCHS-TV became the ABC affiliate. The change aligned WOWK with several other Gateway stations that had recently renewed or maintained CBS relationships. The CBS affiliation has remained a defining part of the station's identity. Gateway merged with SJL Broadcasting in 2000. SJL subsequently sold WOWK-TV and related assets to West Virginia Media Holdings in 2002. After the transaction, the station sold its Huntington building to Kindred Communications and moved its principal studio and offices to Charleston. It retained a Huntington-area bureau and advertising sales office, while the transmitter remained at the Milton site. The station's current studios are on Quarrier Street near the Charleston Town Center. Nexstar Broadcasting Group announced in November 2015 that it would acquire the West Virginia Media Holdings stations, including WOWK-TV. Nexstar assumed control under a time brokerage agreement in December 2015, while the license-asset transaction was completed on January 31, 2017. The acquisition reunited WOWK with former Gateway sister stations WTAJ-TV and WBNG-TV. Nexstar executive Perry A. Sook had previously worked at WOWK. WOWK's news operation has expanded over time. In May 2011, it began a 4:30 a.m. morning newscast, described as the first such start in the market and in West Virginia. The station also airs a 5 p.m. newscast and the market's only identified 7 p.m. newscast. On September 5, 2022, it added Good Day at 4 at 4 p.m. WOWK produces the statewide Tonight Live at 5:30 program, formerly known as West Virginia Tonight Live and West Virginia Tonight, which is shared with other former West Virginia Media Holdings stations. The station ended regular analog broadcasting on VHF channel 13 in early 2009 and moved its digital service to VHF channel 13. An ice storm damaged the analog transmitter on January 25, 2009, prompting an early shutdown rather than a repair for the remaining analog-service period. WOWK's broadcast tower near Huntington is a 1,112-foot guyed mast constructed in 1975 and is among the tallest structures in West Virginia.

1. 2022Good Day at 4 launches

   The station debuts a 4 p.m. local newscast.

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2. 2017Nexstar acquisition completed

   Nexstar completes the license-asset purchase of WOWK-TV on January 31.

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3. 2011Early-morning news expansion

   WOWK expands its morning newscast to begin at 4:30 a.m.

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4. 2009Digital transmission transition

   The station ends regular analog transmission and operates its digital service on VHF channel 13.

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5. 2002Acquisition by West Virginia Media Holdings

   SJL Broadcasting sells the station to West Virginia Media Holdings, which later relocates the main operation to Charleston.

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6. 1986Return to CBS

   WOWK-TV and WCHS-TV exchange affiliations, restoring channel 13 as a CBS affiliate.

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7. 1984Barkers Ridge transmitter fire

   A chemical fire destroys the original transmitter installation; service resumes four days later.

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8. 1975WOWK-TV call sign adopted

   Gateway changes the station's call letters to WOWK-TV to signify its tri-state service region.

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9. 1958First CBS affiliation

   WHTN-TV exchanges affiliations with WCHS-TV and becomes a CBS station.

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10. 1955WHTN-TV signs on

    The station begins broadcasting on October 2 as an ABC affiliate licensed to Huntington, West Virginia.

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A regional CBS affiliate combining local news, weather, network programming, and advertising services for viewers in the Charleston–Huntington market and surrounding parts of West Virginia, Ohio, and Kentucky.

• CBS programmingNetwork television1986

  WOWK-TV distributes CBS network programming to viewers in its licensed market. This forms the station's principal national programming relationship and anchors its schedule alongside locally produced news, weather, syndicated content, and multicast services.

• WOWK local newsLocal television news1955

  The station's local news operation provides reporting, weather, and market-specific information for the Charleston–Huntington region. Its schedule includes morning, afternoon, evening, and later news programming, with coverage extending across West Virginia and nearby parts of Ohio and Kentucky.

• Good Day at 4Local television news2022

  Good Day at 4 is a local afternoon newscast launched by WOWK-TV on September 5, 2022. It expands the station's daily news schedule into the 4 p.m. hour and complements its existing morning and evening broadcasts.

• Tonight Live at 5:30Statewide television news

  Tonight Live at 5:30 is a statewide evening newscast produced by WOWK-TV and simulcast across the former West Virginia Media Holdings stations. The program has also used the titles West Virginia Tonight Live and West Virginia Tonight.

• Multicast network servicesDigital television2017

  WOWK-TV carries additional digital multicast programming associated with Nexstar's network affiliations. The station's multicast lineup has included services such as Grit and other networks distributed through arrangements involving Katz Broadcasting and related network operators.

• 2022Launch of Good Day at 4Product launch

  WOWK-TV expanded its local-news schedule into the 4 p.m. hour.

  What changed. The station launched Good Day at 4 on September 5, 2022.

  Aftermath. The program became an additional local news offering in the Charleston–Huntington market.

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• 2015Nexstar agrees to acquire West Virginia Media Holdings stationsM&A

  West Virginia Media Holdings put its group of television stations, including WOWK-TV, into a transaction with Nexstar Broadcasting Group.

  What changed. Nexstar announced the acquisition in November and began operating the stations under a time brokerage agreement in December.

  Aftermath. The license-asset purchase was completed in January 2017, placing WOWK-TV under Nexstar ownership and reuniting it with former Gateway sister stations.

  announced transaction value. $130 million (2015 announcement)

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• 1986Return to CBSStrategy

  WOWK-TV and WCHS-TV exchanged affiliations after channel 13 had spent approximately 24 years as an ABC affiliate.

  What changed. WOWK-TV resumed CBS affiliation on June 1, 1986, while ABC programming moved to WCHS-TV.

  Aftermath. CBS has remained the station's principal network affiliation.

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• 2022WOWK-TV launches Good Day at 4

  The station introduced a new 4 p.m. local newscast titled Good Day at 4 on September 5.

  Product launch
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• 2017Nexstar completes acquisition of WOWK-TV license assets

  After interim operational control through a time brokerage agreement, Nexstar completed the license-asset acquisition on January 31, 2017.

  M&A
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• 2015Nexstar announces acquisition of West Virginia Media Holdings stations

  Nexstar Broadcasting Group announced an agreement to acquire WOWK-TV and the other West Virginia Media Holdings stations.

  M&A
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• 1986WOWK-TV returns to CBS affiliation

  The station switched from ABC back to CBS on June 1 after an affiliation exchange with WCHS-TV.

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• 1984Transmitter fire interrupts station operations

  A chemical fire destroyed the station's original Barkers Ridge transmitter on January 12. No deaths were reported, but 46 people were taken to hospitals for chemical-related conditions. The station returned to the air four days later.

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• 1975Station changes call sign to WOWK-TV

  Gateway Communications changed the station's call letters from WHTN-TV to WOWK-TV to reflect its service area across West Virginia, Ohio, and Kentucky.

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• 1955WOWK-TV begins broadcasting as WHTN-TV

  The station signed on October 2, 1955, as WHTN-TV, an ABC affiliate licensed to Huntington, West Virginia.

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1. WOWK-TV
2. WOWK-TV official website