WTOC-TV

WTOC-TV is a television station serving Savannah, Georgia, and the surrounding coastal market on channel 11. It is affiliated with CBS and is owned and operated by Gray Media. The station is primarily recognized for its local news operation, which uses the simplified on-air branding “The News,” as well as for its long-standing connection with the Savannah community. The station’s roots extend to WTOC radio, which began broadcasting in Savannah on October 15, 1929, as the area’s first radio station. The radio operation was established by the Junior Board of Trade, an organization that later became associated with the Savannah Jaycees. William Knight, Jr. subsequently acquired the radio stations and expanded the operation with an FM service in 1946. Knight launched WTOC-TV on February 14, 1954, taking a significant financial risk to establish Savannah’s first television station. WTOC-TV joined CBS from its launch. Its radio predecessors had already been affiliated with the CBS Radio Network, providing a foundation for the television affiliation. During its first two years, the station carried programming from all four major U.S. television networks because it was the only television outlet in the market. The competitive landscape changed when WSAV-TV began broadcasting in 1956, after which WTOC-TV and WSAV-TV shared ABC programming until WJCL-TV entered the market in 1970. WTOC has remained affiliated with CBS since 1954. The station originally operated from studios on Abercorn Street in downtown Savannah. Its original facility featured a distinctive self-supporting triangular tower, which remains a recognizable Savannah landmark and continues to serve as a backup transmission structure. In 1957, WTOC activated a 1,500-foot tower along Fort Argyle Road in southwestern Chatham County, substantially improving signal coverage. In 1995, the station moved to a larger facility at Chatham Parkway, known as “The News Place,” where its studios remain located. Ownership changed several times. Knight sold WTOC-AM-FM-TV to Aflac in 1979. Aflac later sold the radio stations while retaining the television operation. In 1996, Aflac sold its television group to an ownership group led by the Retirement Systems of Alabama. The television assets were combined with Ellis Communications to form Raycom Media. In 2018, Gray Television announced an agreement to combine with Raycom, a transaction valued at approximately $3.6 billion and completed on January 2, 2019. WTOC consequently became part of Gray’s national television portfolio and a sister station to WRDW-TV and WAGT-CD in Augusta, Georgia. WTOC has historically been one of the strongest local news stations in Savannah. The station has led local Nielsen ratings for much of the period in which market records have been maintained, and its news schedule is unusually extensive for a market of Savannah’s size. It broadcasts more than seven hours of news on a typical day and has offered formats not always available from competitors, including a midday newscast. In 2015, it introduced Savannah’s first 7 p.m. local newscast. The station also produces weather coverage using its own Doppler Max 11 radar system and distributes selected programming through online streaming. Its journalism has received national and regional recognition, including Emmy Awards, Edward R. Murrow Awards, and Georgia Associated Press Awards. WTOC began broadcasting local news in high definition in 2010. In 2019, it adjusted its morning schedule by ending a one-hour delay of CBS’s morning program and introducing the local talk and information program Morning Break at 9 a.m. WTOC also completed the federally mandated transition from analog to digital broadcasting in 2009, moving its post-transition digital operation to VHF channel 11.

WTOC-TV developed from a Savannah broadcasting enterprise whose origins date to WTOC radio's launch on October 15, 1929. The radio station was founded by the Junior Board of Trade, a civic organization that preceded the Savannah Jaycees. William Knight, Jr. later acquired the operation and expanded it with an FM station in 1946. Knight established WTOC-TV on February 14, 1954. Because it was Savannah's first television station, WTOC initially carried programming from CBS, NBC, ABC, and DuMont. Its CBS affiliation was particularly natural because WTOC-AM-FM had already been affiliated with the CBS Radio Network. When WSAV-TV signed on in 1956, the market's network assignments began to specialize. WTOC and WSAV shared ABC programming until the arrival of WJCL-TV in 1970, while WTOC retained CBS, an affiliation it has held continuously. The station's first studios were on Abercorn Street in downtown Savannah. A triangular self-supporting tower was installed above the building and became a local landmark. In 1957, WTOC expanded its technical reach by activating a 1,500-foot tower along Fort Argyle Road in southwestern Chatham County. The newer tower became the principal transmission site, while the downtown structure remained available as a backup. Ownership moved from Knight to Aflac in 1979. Aflac later disposed of the radio stations, but WTOC-TV remained part of its television holdings. In 1996, Aflac sold its television group to a group led by the Retirement Systems of Alabama. The assets were combined with Ellis Communications to create Raycom Media. Regulatory conditions surrounding the transaction required Raycom to divest WSAV-TV, since contemporary Federal Communications Commission ownership rules did not permit the relevant combination of Savannah stations. WTOC moved into new studios on Chatham Parkway in 1995. The facility, promoted as The News Place, became the station's long-term production and administrative base. The former downtown property later served as offices for the president of the Savannah College of Art and Design. The station expanded and modernized its local news operation over subsequent decades. It became known for a large daily news schedule, including a midday broadcast and extensive weather reporting. In 2010, WTOC became the second Savannah station to present its local news in high definition. It also operates Doppler Max 11, a station weather radar system, and streams selected newscasts online. In 2015, it added a 7 p.m. newscast, described as the first local program in that timeslot in the Savannah market. WTOC's news operation has received Emmy, Edward R. Murrow, and Georgia Associated Press recognition. Reporters and producers were honored for work involving sports, military personnel, civil rights history, and other regional stories. The station also supported a news operation for sister Fox affiliate WFXG in Augusta beginning in 2011, providing anchors and other resources while local multimedia journalists reported from the Augusta area. In June 2018, Gray Television announced its plan to merge with Raycom Media. The transaction, valued at approximately $3.6 billion, received approval in December 2018 and closed on January 2, 2019. WTOC thereby became part of Gray's station portfolio and a sister station to WRDW-TV and WAGT-CD in Augusta. In September 2019, the station revised its morning schedule by restoring CBS's morning program to the network's recommended Eastern Time Zone position and adding the locally produced Morning Break at 9 a.m. WTOC completed the United States full-power television transition from analog to digital broadcasting on June 12, 2009. Its pre-transition digital signal operated on UHF channel 15, after which the station returned to VHF channel 11 for regular digital service.

1. 2019Gray-Raycom transaction closes

   The Gray-Raycom transaction closed on January 2, making WTOC part of Gray's station group.

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2. 2018Gray announces acquisition of Raycom

   Gray Television announced a transaction to combine with Raycom Media and its station portfolio, including WTOC.

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3. 2010Local news moves to high definition

   WTOC began broadcasting its news programming in high definition on October 10.

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4. 2009Digital television transition

   WTOC discontinued regular analog broadcasting on June 12 and continued digital service on VHF channel 11.

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5. 1996WTOC joins Raycom Media

   Aflac's television group was sold to an ownership group led by the Retirement Systems of Alabama and combined with Ellis Communications to form Raycom Media.

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6. 1995Station relocates to Chatham Parkway

   WTOC moved into its new Chatham Parkway facility, known as The News Place.

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7. 1979Aflac acquires WTOC

   Aflac purchased WTOC-AM-FM-TV from the Knight ownership group.

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8. 1957New transmission tower expands coverage

   A 1,500-foot tower on Fort Argyle Road became the station's principal transmission facility.

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9. 1954WTOC-TV launches

   WTOC-TV began operations on February 14 as Savannah's first television station and joined CBS.

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10. 1946FM service is added

    William Knight, Jr.'s broadcasting operation added an FM station to the original WTOC radio service.

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11. 1929WTOC radio signs on

    WTOC radio began broadcasting on October 15 as the first radio station in the Savannah area, establishing the broadcasting heritage from which WTOC-TV later emerged.

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A dominant, full-service local news and CBS network television station for Savannah and the surrounding coastal region.

• The NewsLocal news

  WTOC's principal local news brand covers Savannah, Chatham County, coastal Georgia, and nearby communities. The station uses the concise title The News across much of its schedule, reflecting the central role of local journalism in its positioning. Broadcasts include morning, midday, afternoon, evening, and late-night coverage, with selected programming also distributed online.

• Morning BreakLocal talk and information program2019

  Morning Break is a locally produced weekday program introduced in September 2019 at 9 a.m. Its launch accompanied a schedule change that returned CBS's morning network program to its recommended Eastern Time Zone position while adding a locally focused talk and information offering.

• Doppler Max 11Weather service

  Doppler Max 11 is WTOC's branded weather radar resource. It supports local meteorological reporting and severe-weather coverage for Savannah and surrounding coastal communities, complementing the station's broader news and weather operation.

• CBS network programmingNetwork television programming1954

  WTOC carries CBS programming as Savannah's CBS affiliate. The station has maintained its CBS relationship since its 1954 launch, while scheduling local news and other locally produced content around the network lineup.

• 2019Repositioning of the weekday morning scheduleStrategy

  Until September 2019, WTOC aired CBS's morning program one hour later than the recommended Eastern Time Zone schedule and used the earlier slot for an extended local morning newscast.

  What changed. On September 16, 2019, the station ended the delay, returned the CBS morning program to its recommended timeslot, and introduced Morning Break at 9 a.m.

  Aftermath. The change expanded the station's local programming while aligning the CBS network program with the standard Eastern Time Zone schedule.

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• 2018Gray Television and Raycom Media combinationM&A

  WTOC was part of Raycom Media's television station portfolio when Gray Television proposed combining the two broadcasting groups.

  What changed. Gray and Raycom announced the transaction in June 2018. Regulatory approval followed in December, and the transaction closed on January 2, 2019.

  Aftermath. WTOC became a Gray Media station and a sister station to WRDW-TV and WAGT-CD in Augusta.

  Transaction value. $3.6 billion announced transaction value (Announced June 25, 2018; completed January 2, 2019)

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• 2019WTOC ends delayed morning CBS schedule and introduces Morning Break

  Beginning September 16, WTOC ended its one-hour delay of CBS's morning program and added Morning Break at 9 a.m., reshaping its weekday morning lineup.

  Product launch
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• 2018Gray Television announces Raycom combination

  Gray Television announced an agreement to combine with Raycom Media, bringing WTOC into Gray's expanded television station group. The transaction was completed in January 2019.

  M&A
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• 2015WTOC launches Savannah's first 7 p.m. newscast

  The station introduced a 7 p.m. local newscast, expanding its schedule and adding an early-evening local news option to the Savannah market.

  Product launch
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• 1995WTOC moves into The News Place

  WTOC moved from its downtown Abercorn Street studios to a new facility on Chatham Parkway in western Savannah, creating a larger base for its news operation.

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• 1957WTOC activates a high-power transmission tower

  The station put a 1,500-foot transmission tower into service along Fort Argyle Road, expanding its broadcast coverage across the Savannah area. The original downtown tower was retained as a backup.

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• 1954WTOC-TV becomes Savannah's first television station

  William Knight, Jr. launched WTOC-TV on February 14, establishing the first television station in the Savannah area. The station began as a CBS affiliate, continuing the market connection already held by WTOC radio.

  Product launch
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1. WTOC-TV
2. WTOC official website