WSB-TV
| File:WSB-TV logo.svg Logo used since January 1986 | |
| Company type | Broadcast television station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Television broadcasting |
| Founded | September 29, 1948 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States |
| Founder | James M. Cox |
| Headquarters | Atlanta, Georgia , United States |
Area served | Atlanta metropolitan area and surrounding regions |
| Owner | Cox Media Group (owned by Apollo Global Management) |
| Parent | Cox Media Group |
| Website | wsbtv |
WSB-TV (channel 2) operates as an ABC-affiliated television station based in Atlanta, Georgia. It serves as the principal television outlet for the locally headquartered Cox Media Group, which has maintained ownership since the station's establishment. WSB-TV shares a corporate relationship with radio stations WSB (750 AM), WSBB-FM (95.5), WSRV (97.1 FM), WSB-FM (98.5), and WALR-FM (104.1). All these broadcasters operate from studios located on West Peachtree Street in Midtown Atlanta, while WSB-TV’s transmitter is situated near the boundary between the Poncey-Highland and Old Fourth Ward neighborhoods.
Among ABC affiliates, WSB-TV ranks as the second-largest station by market size that is not directly owned and operated by the network, following Tegna’s WFAA in Dallas.
History
The station commenced operations on September 29, 1948, originally transmitting on channel 8. As Georgia’s inaugural television station and the second one established south of Washington, D.C., it was founded by James M. Cox, who also published The Atlanta Journal and owned WSB radio. Initially, WSB-TV functioned primarily as an NBC affiliate due to its radio counterpart’s NBC ties, while also airing select ABC programs until 1951.
In 1950, Cox expanded his media holdings by acquiring The Atlanta Constitution along with its associated broadcast properties, including AM station WCON (550 kHz) and a construction permit for WCON-TV on channel 2. Because FCC regulations prohibited selling construction permits, Cox retained the channel 2 permit but sold the channel 8 license to local investors for $525,000 in 1951, intending to transfer WSB-TV’s call sign and operations to channel 2. Despite competing applications, the FCC granted approval for this transaction in August 1951.
Test transmissions for channel 2 under the call letters WCON-TV began in September 1951, with an official rebranding to WSB-TV occurring on September 30; concurrently, channel 8 relaunched as WLTV (now WXIA-TV), affiliating with ABC. Transitioning to channel 2 significantly broadened WSB-TV’s broadcast reach throughout Georgia and into adjacent states.
In 1956, the WSB stations moved into the "White Columns" building on West Peachtree Street—a notable example of Colonial Revival architecture in Atlanta. This original facility was replaced in 1998 by a modernist structure constructed next door.
December 1965 marked a milestone as WSB became Georgia’s first station to deliver live color broadcasts. In 1972, the station aired a victim’s identity in defiance of state shield laws, leading to a pivotal U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Cox Broadcasting Corp. v. Cohn (1975) that invalidated those statutes.
Amid ABC's rising national prominence, WSB-TV switched network affiliations from NBC to ABC in June 1980; NBC affiliation was subsequently assumed by WXIA. The station introduced its current "2" logo design in January 1986.
On March 12, 2011, WSB-TV was among Atlanta’s earliest stations to launch Mobile DTV services utilizing ATSC-M/H technology.
On July 24, 2018, Cox Enterprises announced it was evaluating strategic alternatives for Cox Media Group’s television assets, considering partnerships or mergers rather than direct divestitures.
By February 2019, Apollo Global Management agreed to acquire Cox Media Group's TV stations along with Northwest Broadcasting's holdings. Apollo also purchased Cox’s radio and advertising divisions while maintaining the Cox Media Group brand name. The deal was finalized on December 17, 2019.
Historical preemptions and schedule adjustments
As an NBC affiliate, WSB-TV regularly replaced the network's noon to 2 p.m. programming with feature films, frequently including at least one movie during prime time hours. Additionally, it often preempted NBC Sports events not related to the NFL to air more films and also broadcasted The Lawrence Welk Show.
In 2004, WSB-TV, along with Cox-owned ABC affiliates WSOC-TV and WFTV, chose not to air Steven Spielberg's Saving Private Ryan due to concerns over its graphic content amid increased FCC oversight following the Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime controversy. The FCC ultimately determined the film was not indecent after its broadcast.
Sports coverage
From 1966 until 1972, WSB-TV served as the original local television home for the Atlanta Braves before their broadcasts transitioned to WTCG (now WPCH-TV) in 1973. Its sister AM radio station was the Braves' flagship broadcaster for 38 out of the franchise’s 46 years in Atlanta. Notable announcers included former pitcher Ernie Johnson, Sr., and Hall of Fame broadcaster Milo Hamilton, who also delivered sports segments on Channel 2. WSB-TV aired all Braves games featured on NBC (1966–1980), ABC (1981–1989), and The Baseball Network (1994–1995), including pivotal matches during the Braves' 1995 World Series championship.
The station has a long-standing association with the NFL's Atlanta Falcons, televising home games from 1970 through 1979 when Falcons hosted AFC opponents on NBC, as well as Monday Night Football on ABC from 1980 until 2005. Since 2006, it has aired Falcons games through ESPN’s local syndication of Monday Night Football. WSB-TV was also the official local broadcaster for Super Bowl XXXIV held at the Georgia Dome.
WSB-TV broadcasts select Atlanta Hawks games under ABC’s NBA contract and covers Georgia Bulldogs and Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football through ABC College Football.
News operation
WSB-TV currently produces and airs a total of 47 hours and 35 minutes of local newscasts each week, which includes 7 hours and 5 minutes on weekdays, 5 hours and 35 minutes on Saturdays, and 6 hours and 35 minutes on Sundays.
Since its inception, local news has been a cornerstone of channel 2’s programming, consistently ranking as Atlanta’s top-rated news source. It is among the few major network affiliates offering a midday newscast on weekends and maintains a greater weekend news output than Fox-owned WAGA-TV despite WAGA having more total weekly newscasts.
On September 27, 2006, WSB-TV became the second station in Atlanta—and among Cox-owned stations nationwide—to broadcast its local newscasts in high definition. This transition included unveiling a new HD-ready set alongside a graphics package created by Giant Octopus.
In November 2009, a reporter and cameraman narrowly escaped serious injury when their electronic news-gathering van’s telescoping antenna made contact with high-voltage power lines. The resulting explosion destroyed the vehicle and caused local disruptions; both crew members sustained minor injuries.
In August 2018, WSB-TV extended its weekday morning newscast by two hours during Good Morning America, exclusively available on its streaming platform WSB NOW, accessible online and via mobile applications.
In April 2020, the station rebranded its 11 p.m. newscast as WSB Tonight, replacing the long-standing Channel 2 Action News Nightbeat title. Initially launched as a special COVID-19 update program, WSB Tonight evolved into an in-depth news show covering major stories. Later that year, weekend newscasts adopted this new branding as well.
On September 5, 2020, WSB-TV became Atlanta’s first station to begin its weekend morning news at 5 a.m., expanding coverage for early viewers.
Distinguished current on-air personnel
- Sophia Choi – anchor and reporter
- Linda Stouffer – weekday morning news anchor
- Eboni Deon – meteorologist for weekend broadcasts
Distinguished former on-air personnel
- Sandra Bookman – anchor and reporter (1989–1998)
- Tom Brokaw – anchor and reporter (1965–1966)
- Steve Buckhantz – sports anchor and reporter
- Glenn Burns – chief meteorologist (1982–2022)
- Dale Cardwell – investigative journalist (1996–2007)
- Milo Hamilton – sports director (1968–1976)
- Ernie Johnson, Jr. – sports anchor and reporter (1982–1989)
- Monica Kaufman Pearson – anchor (1975–2012)
- Don Kennedy – host ("Officer Don") of the children's television program The Popeye Club (1956–1970)
- Stu Klitenic – sports anchor and reporter (1989–1996)
- Jovita Moore – anchor and reporter (1998–2021)
- John Palmer – anchor and reporter (1960–1962)
- Byron Pitts – reporter (1994–1996)
- Bob Richards – meteorologist
- Hal Suit – anchor and news director (1948–1978)
- Ukee Washington – sports anchor
Digital subchannels
WSB-TV's multiplexed digital broadcast consists of the following subchannels:
| Channel | Resolution | Aspect ratio | Identifier | Content provider |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.1 | 720p | 16:9 | WSB-HD | ABC |
| 2.2 | 480i | 16:9 | BOUNCE | Bounce TV |
| 2.3 | 480i | 16:9 | Dabl | Dabl |
| 2.4 | 480i | 16:9 | COMET | Comet |
| 2.5 | 480i | 16:9 | ION | Ion Television |
| 17.3 | 480i | 16:9 | COURT | Court TV (WPCH-TV) |
The station’s digital broadcast commenced on November 21, 1998. On January 28, 2008, subchannel 2.2 began airing the Retro Television Network, replacing previously inactive or minimal identification signals. This was succeeded by MeTV on June 1, 2011; Escape took over on March 25, 2017; followed by Bounce TV starting September 25, 2017.
In 2021, WSB-TV incorporated a simulcast of WKTB-CD’s Telemundo subchannel via WPXA-TV. After Gray Television acquired WKTB-CD in 2022, the simulcast transitioned to WGCL-TV’s spectrum but retained its virtual channel designation as 47.1.
Transition from analog to digital
On June 12, 2009, at precisely 12:30 p.m., WSB-TV ended its analog transmission on VHF channel 2 during a live noon newscast broadcast from the station’s transmitter room, fulfilling the federally mandated digital transition deadline. Veteran journalist Don McClellan, marking his half-century tenure at the station, led this transition. Following the switch, WSB-TV maintained its digital broadcast on UHF channel 39 with virtual channel identification as channel 2.
Between late August and early September of that year, the station dismantled its analog transmitter and repositioned its digital antenna higher on the transmission tower. Subsequently, at 9 a.m. on September 6, 2019, WSB-TV moved from physical channel 39 to channel 32 as part of the spectrum incentive auction repack that consolidated channels from the range of 38 to 51 into channels between 2 and 36.
Translators
- WSB-TV (DRT) 17 Athens
- WSB-TV (DRT) 20 Gainesville
- WSB-TV (DRT) 17 Newnan (CP)
To mitigate signal degradation east and northeast of Atlanta caused by ATSC digital transmission constraints, WSB-TV submitted applications in March 2009 for two digital fill-in translators. The Gainesville translator transmits on UHF channel 20 from a tower co-located with Cox’s WSRV FM and WSBB-FM, serving the northern and northeastern suburbs of Atlanta. Meanwhile, the Athens translator broadcasts on UHF channel 17 from a transmitter located southwest of Winder, extending coverage westward to Lilburn. Both translators commenced broadcasting by January 2011 and operate using separate virtual channel ranges (Athens: 2.11–2.15; Gainesville: 2.21–2.25) to enhance reception quality for viewers.
In June 2009, WSB-TV filed for a translator license on channel 14 near Rome, Georgia, aimed at covering northwest Georgia from a tower shared with several FM stations; however, this application was ultimately dismissed in August 2019. Later, in October 2010, the station obtained a construction permit for a Newnan translator on channel 17, situated on a tower owned by Cox alongside WALR-FM and close to WRDG’s transmission site.
Out-of-market coverage
WSB-TV extends its broadcast footprint beyond the Atlanta metropolitan area, reaching parts of northwest Georgia within the Chattanooga DMA—including Catoosa, Dade, Murray, and Walker counties—and continues to be accessible in Whitfield County. Additionally, it serves northeast Georgia counties such as Elbert, Franklin, Hart, and Stephens located within the Greenville–Spartanburg–Asheville DMA.
In central Georgia’s Macon market, WSB-TV was once available through Cox Communications when both entities were under common ownership; however, ABC programming was frequently blacked out due to WGXA-DT2 holding the local ABC affiliation. Distribution in this region likely depended on uplinks via the AMC-10 satellite. The station also reached viewers in Vidalia within the Savannah DMA.
Viewers in south Georgia received WSB through Cox Communications and most TCI/Mediacom providers except in Columbus, where no ABC affiliate existed historically in the Albany market. After WALB introduced ABC on its digital subchannel in 2010, most providers ceased carrying WSB. Charter Communications continued offering WSB in Douglas (Coffee County). This extensive reach was facilitated by satellite uplinking through AMC-10.
In western North Carolina, WSB remains accessible in Murphy (Cherokee County), alongside Asheville’s ABC affiliate WLOS. During the 1980s, cable systems in northeast Alabama cities such as Gadsden (Comcast) and Anniston (Sparklight) also included WSB in their lineups.
See also
- Channel 2 virtual TV stations in the United States
- Channel 32 digital TV stations in the United States
External links
- WSBTV.com – Official website
- WSB-TV Newsfilm Collection from the Digital Library of Georgia