WSOC-TV

WSOC-TV, virtual channel 9 (UHF digital channel 34), is an ABC-affiliated television station located in Charlotte, North Carolina, United States. The station is owned by the Cox Media Group subsidiary of Cox Enterprises, as part of a duopoly with independent station WAXN-TV (channel 64). The two stations share studio facilities located on North Tryon Street (U.S. 29/NC 49) just north of Downtown Charlotte and its transmitter is located in the Newell-Hickory Grove neighborhood, just outside Charlotte's northeastern city limits.

History

The station first signed on the air on April 28, 1957 as Charlotte's third television station, after WBTV (channel 3) and WAYS-TV (channel 36, which operated from 1954 to 1955); it was also Charlotte's second station on the VHF band. WSOC-TV currently holds the distinction of being Charlotte's second-oldest continuously operating station, behind WBTV.

WSOC was originally locally owned by Carolina Broadcasting, operated by the Jones family, along with WSOC radio (1240 AM, now WYFQ on 930 AM and; and 103.7 FM). WSOC-AM was the second radio station to sign on in Charlotte, having made its debut in 1929, seven years after the debut of WBT (1110 AM). Channel 9 originally operated as a primary NBC affiliate, and maintained a secondary affiliation with ABC, sharing the network with WBTV. In 1959, WSOC-AM-FM-TV were sold to Cox Enterprises under its forerunner, Miami Valley Broadcasting Company.