WLTX
WLTX-TV, virtual channel 19 (UHF digital), is a CBS-affiliated television station licensed to Columbia, South Carolina, United States.[1] Owned by TEGNA Inc. through its subsidiary Pacific and Southern, LLC, the station provides local news, weather, and sports coverage to the Midlands region.[1][2] The station first signed on the air as WNOK-TV on September 1, 1953, initially broadcasting on UHF channel 67 before relocating to VHF channel 19 in the 1960s and adopting the WLTX call letters in 1977 under new ownership.[1][3] It was acquired by Gannett Co. in 1998, which later spun off its broadcasting assets to form TEGNA in 2015.[1][4] WLTX has earned recognition for journalistic excellence, including the 2015 Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award for investigative reporting on systemic issues in South Carolina's Department of Social Services child welfare operations, as well as multiple regional Emmys, Edward R. Murrow Awards, and designations as South Carolina Television Station of the Year in 2001, 2002, 2018, 2021, and 2022.[1] The station pioneered local digital broadcasting in Columbia in 2003 and launched a 24/7 weather channel in 2005, enhancing its service to viewers amid the transition from analog to digital television.[1]History
Origins as WNOK-TV (1953–1964)
WNOK-TV signed on the air on September 1, 1953, as Columbia, South Carolina's second UHF television station, broadcasting on channel 67 under the ownership of Palmetto Radio Corporation, which also operated sister station WNOK-AM (a Mutual Broadcasting System affiliate since 1947).[3][5][6] The station affiliated primarily with CBS and secondarily with the DuMont Television Network, airing network programs such as Art Linkletter's House Party, The Arthur Godfrey Show, The Red Skelton Show, and I Love Lucy.[3] Initial studios were located in the former Jefferson Hotel in downtown Columbia.[3] Early programming emphasized local content alongside network fare, including broadcasts of Sunday services from First Baptist Church, which began shortly after sign-on and became one of the longest-running local television programs in the United States.[3] WNOK-TV achieved a milestone in the early 1960s by becoming the first station in the Midlands region to telecast a live local baseball game featuring the Columbia Reds minor league team.[3] These efforts helped establish the station amid competition from VHF outlet WIS-TV (channel 10, NBC) and the short-lived WCOS-TV (channel 25, ABC/DuMont, which signed off in 1956).[7] Operating on high-band UHF channel 67 presented signal propagation challenges in an era dominated by VHF broadcasting, prompting WNOK-TV to relocate to lower-band UHF channel 19 on June 30, 1961, to improve coverage and viewer reception.[8][3] The station retained its CBS primary affiliation after DuMont ceased network operations in 1956, focusing on network and local content through 1964 without major ownership or format shifts.[7]Launch and expansion under Lewis Broadcasting (1965–1997)
In April 1977, Palmetto Radio Corporation announced the sale of WNOK-TV to Lewis Broadcasting Corporation, a media company based in Columbia, South Carolina. The transaction was completed later that year, after which Lewis relaunched the station as WLTX-TV on channel 19, adopting call letters distinct from the divested WNOK-AM/FM radio stations to emphasize its new ownership and operational focus.[1][3] WLTX retained its longstanding CBS network affiliation, which had been in place since the station's inception as WNOK-TV in 1953, while continuing to air local programming including news, weather, and community content such as broadcasts from the First Baptist Church.[1] Under Lewis ownership, WLTX operated from the existing studios at 2710 Garners Ferry Road, a facility constructed in 1969 for the prior WNOK operations and shared initially with the radio stations before their separation.[1][3] The station's early years emphasized stable, community-oriented broadcasting rather than aggressive expansion, maintaining a signal that covered central South Carolina but trailed dominant competitor WIS-TV (channel 10) in viewer share and market influence.[9] A significant infrastructural upgrade occurred in 1985, when WLTX erected a new 1,780-foot transmission tower, nearly doubling its effective radiated power and extending reliable coverage to 24 counties across the Midlands region.[1][3] This enhancement improved over-the-air reception in rural areas and supported modest growth in audience reach, though programming and news operations remained relatively conservative compared to later developments under subsequent owners.[1] By the mid-1990s, WLTX continued as a secondary player in the Columbia market, with Lewis focusing on operational efficiency amid increasing competition from cable television and emerging VHF rivals.[4]Gannett acquisition and operational growth (1998–2015)
In February 1998, the Gannett Company announced its agreement to acquire WLTX from Lewis Broadcasting Corporation for an undisclosed amount, with the transaction closing on April 30, 1998.[10][4] This purchase expanded Gannett Broadcasting to 21 television stations, collectively reaching 16.6 percent of U.S. television households.[4] Gannett's strategy emphasized integrating WLTX into its portfolio of owned-and-operated stations, focusing on enhancing local content production in the Columbia market. Following the acquisition, Gannett initiated substantial investments in WLTX's operations, particularly targeting expansion of the news department to establish it as a leading local news provider in the Carolinas.[1] These efforts included upgrades to facilities and staffing, enabling increased output of original programming. By 2003, under Gannett Television—which then operated 22 stations covering 17.4 percent of U.S. TV homes—WLTX had solidified its role in delivering extended local coverage.[3] A key milestone occurred in 2007, when WLTX launched a 5 p.m. newscast, positioning the station to air the most hours of local news among Columbia broadcasters.[11] This addition reflected Gannett's broader push for competitive programming schedules across its stations. Operational growth continued through the early 2010s, supported by Gannett's resources, until June 2015, when the company spun off its broadcasting division into TEGNA Inc., marking the end of direct Gannett ownership while preserving the station's expanded infrastructure.[12]TEGNA ownership and digital transitions (2016–present)
In June 2015, Gannett Company's broadcasting and digital media businesses were spun off to form TEGNA Inc., placing WLTX under TEGNA ownership as its CBS affiliate serving the Columbia market.[13] Under TEGNA, the station maintained its focus on local news and programming while investing in facility upgrades, including a new studio set debuted on November 15, 2016, featuring a 4×2 video wall and internally lit anchor desk designed by FX Design Group to enhance on-air production quality.[14] WLTX expanded its digital multicast offerings during this period, adding Antenna TV to subchannel 19.3 in September 2015, which carried classic television programming, followed by the introduction of Quest on a new 19.4 subchannel by August 2019, focusing on science, adventure, and history content owned by TEGNA.[15][16] Subchannel 19.2 carried Justice Network programming, providing true crime and legal dramas, enabling viewers with digital antennas access to multiple streams alongside the primary CBS feed on 19.1. These multicast channels supported TEGNA's strategy to diversify revenue through syndicated content distribution. The station advanced its over-the-air and online presence with streaming initiatives, launching the WLTX+ app in 2024 for 24/7 live news, on-demand videos, and local sports coverage, available on platforms including Roku, Amazon Fire TV, and Apple TV.[17][18] A companion news app, updated in September 2019, offered breaking news alerts, interactive weather radar, and shareable content, reflecting TEGNA's broader emphasis on connected TV and OTT advertising via its Premion platform.[19][20] On August 19, 2025, Nexstar Media Group announced a definitive agreement to acquire TEGNA for $6.2 billion in cash, valuing shares at $22.00 each—a 31% premium over the 30-day average—pending regulatory approval and expected to close in the second half of 2026, potentially integrating WLTX into Nexstar's larger portfolio of 200+ stations.[21][22] This transaction, if completed, would mark the end of TEGNA's independent ownership of WLTX while aiming to bolster digital and local news capabilities across markets.Technical Information
Analog and digital broadcasting details
WLTX commenced analog broadcasting as WNOK-TV on ultra high frequency (UHF) channel 67 upon its sign-on date of September 1, 1953. In the early 1960s, the station shifted to UHF channel 19 to achieve stronger signal propagation and broader coverage across central South Carolina.[3] This analog signal operated with an effective radiated power of up to 5,000 kW from a transmitter height above average terrain (HAAT) of approximately 1,749 feet, serving the Columbia designated market area.[23] The station initiated digital transmissions on UHF channel 17 by 2003, utilizing Program and System Information Protocol (PSIP) to map the signal to virtual channel 19.1 for continuity with its analog channel position. Analog broadcasting ended on June 12, 2009, aligning with the nationwide full-power analog shutdown mandated by the Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005, after which WLTX operated exclusively in digital format.[3] As of the post-2017 FCC broadcast spectrum incentive auction repack, WLTX transmits its primary digital signal on physical RF channel 15 (UHF) at 700 kW effective radiated power from an HAAT of 1,671 feet, located at coordinates 34° 5' 50" N, 80° 45' 50" W near Columbia, South Carolina. The signal conforms to ATSC 1.0 standards, delivering CBS network programming in 1080i high definition on virtual channel 19.1.[23]Subchannels and multicast services
WLTX transmits its primary CBS-affiliated programming on virtual subchannel 19.1 in 1080i high definition via ATSC 1.0 digital multicast on physical UHF channel 15.[24] The station utilizes additional subchannels to deliver syndicated networks and niche content, primarily in standard definition 480i resolution with stereo audio, enabling over-the-air viewers access to diverse programming without cable or satellite subscription.[24] These multicast streams support TEGNA's strategy of maximizing spectrum usage for supplementary revenue through affiliation agreements.[1]| Virtual Channel | Programming | Format/Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 19.1 | CBS (WLTX-HD) | 1080i, 5.1 surround audio |
| 19.2 | True Crime Network | 480i, true crime documentaries and series |
| 19.3 | Shop LC | 480i, shopping and lifestyle programming |
| 19.4 | Quest | 480i, science, engineering, and adventure shows |
| 19.5 | The Nest | 480i, movies and entertainment |
| 19.6 | Nosey | 480i, talk shows and reality |
| 19.7 | Confess | 480i, true crime confessions |
| 19.8 | Unassigned | Inactive |