DMA Markets
Full-Power Stations
SCETV PBS Stations
NextGen TV Markets
South Carolina features 32 full-power television stations serving four major designated market areas (DMAs): Greenville-Spartanburg-Asheville-Anderson (DMA #36), Columbia (DMA #76), Charleston (DMA #85), and Myrtle Beach-Florence (DMA #97). The state's television landscape includes major network affiliates from NBC, CBS, ABC, and FOX, alongside the statewide South Carolina Educational Television (SCETV) network comprising 11 stations.
Television broadcasting in South Carolina began in 1953 when WCOS-TV in Columbia aired its first test pattern on April 23, becoming the state's pioneer station. Within months, WCSC-TV launched in Charleston (June 1953), WNOK-TV in Columbia (September 1953), and WIS in Columbia (November 1953), establishing the foundation for today's robust broadcast infrastructure. The state's broadcast signals reach 1.8 million TV households across diverse regions from the Upstate to the Lowcountry.
The Greenville-Spartanburg-Asheville-Anderson DMA ranks as the 36th largest television market in the United States, serving 987,740 TV households as of the 2024-2025 season (up 4% from previous year). This multi-state market comprises 28 counties across South Carolina (Abbeville, Anderson, Cherokee, Greenville, Greenwood, Laurens, Oconee, Pickens, Spartanburg, and Union), North Carolina, and Georgia, making it one of the largest geographic DMAs in the Southeast.
Columbia ranks as the 76th largest media market with 450,440 TV households as of 2024-2025 (up 2% from previous year). The market serves South Carolina's capital city and surrounding Midlands region with eight full-power television stations providing comprehensive network coverage.
Charleston's designated market area ranks 85th in the United States with 399,960 TV households as of 2024-2025 (up 3% from previous year). The market encompasses six counties across the coastal Lowcountry region: Berkeley, Charleston, Colleton, Dorchester, Georgetown, and Williamsburg.
The Myrtle Beach-Florence market serves South Carolina's Pee Dee and Grand Strand regions. This market experienced significant growth with Myrtle Beach's tourism expansion, leading to the area being rebranded from "Florence-Myrtle Beach" to reflect the beach area's prominence.
City of License: Greenville, SC
Owner: Hearst Television
Coverage: Upstate South Carolina including 14 counties (Anderson, Cherokee, Greenville, Greenwood, and others)
History: Originally signed on as WFBC-TV on December 31, 1953, later rebranded as WYFF-TV with call letters representing "We're Your Friend Four." Acquired by Hearst in 1998 following Pulitzer Broadcasting merger.
Market Position: Led all news ratings time slots in 2022 and maintained #1 position through May 2024 across multiple demographics (Adults 25-54, Adults 18-49, Adults 35-64, Adults 18+, and TV Households).
Digital Subchannels: 4.1 NBC HD (1080i), 4.2 MeTV (classic TV), 4.4 Story Television, 4.5 HSN, 4.6 Nosey
Website: wyff4.com
City of License: Spartanburg, SC
Owner: Nexstar Media Group
Coverage: Greenville, Spartanburg, Anderson, Pickens (SC), Asheville, Hendersonville (NC)
History: Channel 7 was allotted to Spartanburg instead of Columbia when FCC ended its multi-year freeze on TV stations in April 1952. On May 16, 1960, the station survived a devastating fire that gutted its shared building with WSPA radio.
Location: 250 International Drive, Spartanburg, SC 29303
Phone: 864.576.7777
Website: wspa.com
City of License: Asheville, NC
Owner: Sinclair Broadcast Group
Coverage: Asheville (NC), Greenville, Spartanburg, Anderson (SC)
Transmitter: Located on Mount Pisgah near Blue Ridge Parkway at approximately 5,800 feet elevation
Website: wlos.com
City of License: Greenville, SC
Owner: Gray Television
Branding: FOX Carolina
Website: foxcarolina.com
City of License: Columbia, SC
Owner: Gray Media
Secondary Affiliation: The CW
History: South Carolina's first television station, signing on November 7, 1953. First broadcast was a University of South Carolina vs. University of North Carolina football game. Call letters stood for "Wonderful Iodine State" (reference to iodine in South Carolina soil), inherited from WIS radio (560 AM) which received the last three-letter call sign in the U.S. on January 23, 1930.
Coverage: In 1959, WIS activated its transmitter tower in Lugoff (southeast of I-20 in Kershaw County), which was the tallest structure east of the Mississippi River at the time. Provides coverage reaching Charlotte (north), Augusta (south), Greenwood (west), and Florence (east).
Market Position: One of the most dominant TV stations in the country, maintaining market leadership for most of its history.
Notable Programming: Airs "Awareness" (since 1970), the first television news program focused on the African American community in South Carolina history.
Location: Bull and Gervais Streets (U.S. 1 and 378), downtown Columbia
Website: wistv.com
City of License: Columbia, SC
Owner: Tegna Inc.
Branding: News19
History: Columbia's oldest continuously operating television station, going on air in September 1953 as WNOK-TV on UHF channel 67. Moved to channel 19 in 1961. Started as secondary NBC affiliate before switching to CBS in 1956.
Awards: Received prestigious Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award in 2015 for "DSS: When the System Fails" investigative series on South Carolina's Department of Social Services.
Location: Garners Ferry Road (US 76-378), southeastern Columbia
Website: wltx.com
City of License: Columbia, SC
Owner: South Carolina Broadcasting
Branding: ABC Columbia
History: On October 1, 1961, local investors bought the channel 25 license and returned the station to the air as ABC affiliate WCCA-TV. In 1964, Cy Bahakel of Charlotte purchased the station and changed call letters to WOLO-TV. Serving Columbia since 1953.
Website: abccolumbia.com
City of License: Columbia, SC
Owner: Sinclair Broadcast Group
Website: wach.com
City of License: Charleston, SC
Owner: Gray Media
Branding: Live 5 News
History: First television station in Charleston and in South Carolina, founded with goal of serving "Wonderful Charleston, South Carolina." Debuted June 19, 1953. In 1953, WCSC-TV's aerial tower was the highest structure in Charleston at 440 feet. "Five is Alive" were the first words used to sign the station on the air. Longest continuously-operating station in South Carolina.
Firsts: First station in SC to broadcast in full color, use videotapes for programming/news, offer live broadcasts from locations throughout Lowcountry, and utilize satellite technology (1978).
Awards: First SC station to receive nationally acclaimed Peabody Award (1990) and Polk Award.
Website: live5news.com
City of License: Charleston, SC
Owner: Nexstar Media Group
Secondary Affiliation: CW+
Location: Studios in Mount Pleasant
Website: counton2.com
City of License: Charleston, SC
Owner: Sinclair Broadcast Group
Branding: ABC News 4
History: In September 2014, due to complications from Sinclair's acquisition of original WCIV (channel 4) from Allbritton Communications, WCIV's programming and ABC affiliation moved to second digital subchannel of WMMP. On September 30, 2014, WCIV and WMMP swapped signals, with WCIV moving to channel 36.
HD News: Debuted newscasts in high definition on October 15, 2011, becoming second in Lowcountry and last Allbritton-owned station to switch to HD.
Location: Allbritton Boulevard along US 17/701 (Johnnie Dodds Boulevard), Mount Pleasant; transmitter in Awendaw
Website: abcnews4.com
City of License: Charleston, SC
Owner: Cunningham Broadcasting Corporation (operated by Sinclair under shared services agreement)
Website: foxcharleston.com
City of License: Myrtle Beach, SC
Owner: Gray Television (acquired 2019 following Raycom Media merger)
Branding: WMBF News
History: Launched August 8, 2008, becoming the first full-power commercial television station based in Myrtle Beach. Constructed as state-of-the-art high-definition facility.
Coverage: Grand Strand and Pee Dee regions
Digital Channel: UHF channel 33
Location: Frontage Road East along U.S. Route 17, Myrtle Beach; secondary news bureau in Florence
Website: wmbfnews.com
City of License: Florence, SC
Owner: Sinclair Broadcast Group
Secondary Affiliation: The CW
History: Gave Florence its second commercial television station after WBTW (channel 13), immediately taking ABC affiliation. Projected to provide ABC programming to 750,000 people previously unserved by that network.
Location: Studios on University Boulevard, Conway (shared with WWMB under shared services agreement)
Website: wpde.com
City of License: Florence, SC
Coverage: Pee Dee and Grand Strand regions
City of License: Myrtle Beach, SC
Owner: GE Media
Website: wfxb.com
South Carolina Educational Television (branded as South Carolina ETV or SCETV) is a state network of Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) member stations owned and operated by the South Carolina Educational Television Commission, a state government agency. The network comprises 11 television stations, 8 radio stations, and a statewide tower network serving schools, hospitals, and emergency management teams. Broadcast signals cover almost all of South Carolina plus parts of North Carolina and Georgia.
Headquarters: George Rogers Boulevard, Columbia (across from Williams-Brice Stadium on University of South Carolina campus); satellite studios in Spartanburg, Sumter, and Rock Hill
History: SCETV began in 1958 in the library of Dreher High School in Columbia, teaching French and Plane Geometry classes via closed-circuit. In 1963, WNTV in Greenville launched as first open-circuit (broadcast) educational station in South Carolina. WITV in Charleston signed on one year later (1964), followed by WRLK-TV in Columbia two years later. Network entered PBS satellite system in 1978, ending years of receiving programming on tape delay.
Website: scetv.org
NextGen TV, based on ATSC 3.0 technology, delivers enhanced picture and audio quality, interactive features, and access to internet-based content over broadcast signals. South Carolina has three markets currently broadcasting in NextGen TV format.
TV stations in Charleston began broadcasting using NextGen TV format in March 2022, becoming one of the early adopters in the Southeast.
Five leading television stations launched NextGen TV simultaneously on June 2, 2022: WLOS (ABC/Sinclair), WSPA (CBS/Nexstar), WHNS (Fox/Gray), WYFF (NBC/Hearst), and WMYA (MNT/Cunningham). WMYA, covering South Carolina portions of the market, converted to ATSC 3.0 transmissions and broadcasts its own programming plus programming of other participating stations in NextGen TV format. BitPath led the planning process and coordinated efforts across the five stations.
SCETV launched NextGen TV in Myrtle Beach-Florence market in June 2024, marking the first use of ATSC 3.0 for SCETV's network and a major milestone for public media in South Carolina. Viewers can experience enhanced versions of ETV-HD and SCETV PBS Kids 24/7 channel. WWMB (Howard Stirk Holdings) transitioned to ATSC 3.0 transmissions, broadcasting its own programming and other participating stations (WPDE-TV ABC, WBTW CBS) in NextGen TV format.
Important Note: All NextGen TV programming continues to be available in existing DTV format, receivable on all modern television sets. Older TVs do not require replacement to continue receiving broadcast signals.
Owns multiple stations across South Carolina including WCSC-TV (Charleston), WIS (Columbia), WHNS (Greenville), and WMBF (Myrtle Beach). Gray Media is one of the largest television broadcast companies in the United States, owning or operating 180 stations across 113 markets. In October 2024, Gray launched Palmetto Sports & Entertainment, a new sports broadcast channel on South Carolina stations (WHNS 21.2, WIS 10.4, WZCH 35.3, WMBF 32.3).
Operates WCIV (Charleston), WTAT (Charleston via Cunningham Broadcasting), WACH (Columbia), WLOS (Greenville), and WPDE (Myrtle Beach-Florence). Sinclair is one of the largest and most diversified television broadcasting companies in the country. In March 2023, Sinclair reduced newscasts and laid off news employees at WACH Columbia as part of company-wide restructuring.
Owns WSPA (Spartanburg) and WCBD (Charleston). Nexstar is a leading diversified media company that produces and distributes engaging local and national news, sports, and entertainment content across television and digital platforms.
Owns WYFF (Greenville), acquired in 1998 following merger with Pulitzer Broadcasting. Hearst Television operates 33 television stations and two radio stations across the United States.
Owns WLTX (Columbia). Tegna operates 64 television stations in 51 U.S. markets, reaching approximately one-third of all television households nationwide.
Owns WGWG (Charleston) and WWMB (Myrtle Beach-Florence). Armstrong Williams founded HSH in 2011 with mission to provide diverse perspectives in broadcast media.
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| April 23, 1953 | WCOS-TV in Columbia airs first test pattern, becoming South Carolina's first TV station |
| May 1, 1953 | WCOS-TV begins broadcasting, offering programming from NBC, CBS, ABC, and DuMont networks |
| June 19, 1953 | WCSC-TV Charleston debuts with "Five is Alive" as first words on air |
| September 1, 1953 | WNOK-TV begins broadcasting in Columbia on UHF Channel 67 as CBS affiliate |
| November 7, 1953 | WIS launches on Channel 10 with live University of South Carolina football game broadcast |
| January 21, 1956 | WCOS-TV signs off permanently after losing networks to WIS |
| 1958 | South Carolina Educational Television begins closed-circuit broadcasts from Dreher High School library |
| 1959 | WIS activates transmitter tower in Lugoff, tallest structure east of Mississippi River at the time |
| May 16, 1960 | Fire guts WSPA radio and television building in Spartanburg, deemed one of worst fires in city history |
| October 1, 1961 | WCCA-TV (later WOLO) returns to air on channel 25 as ABC affiliate in Columbia |
| September 15, 1963 | WNTV Greenville becomes first open-circuit educational station in South Carolina |
| 1964 | WITV Charleston signs on as second SCETV station; WCCA-TV changes call letters to WOLO |
| 1970 | WIS launches "Awareness," first TV news program focused on African American community in SC history |
| 1978 | WCSC-TV becomes first South Carolina station to utilize satellite technology; SCETV enters PBS satellite network |
| 1990 | WCSC-TV receives Peabody Award and Polk Award, first SC station to achieve both honors |
| 1998 | Hearst Television acquires WYFF following Pulitzer Broadcasting merger |
| August 8, 2008 | WMBF-TV launches as first full-power commercial station based in Myrtle Beach |
| October 15, 2011 | WCIV debuts HD newscasts, last Allbritton station to make HD transition |
| September 30, 2014 | WCIV and WMMP swap signals in Charleston market due to Sinclair acquisition complications |
| 2015 | WLTX receives duPont-Columbia University Award for "DSS: When the System Fails" investigative series |
| 2019 | Gray Television acquires WMBF following Raycom Media merger |
| March 2022 | Charleston market stations launch NextGen TV (ATSC 3.0) broadcasts |
| June 2, 2022 | Five Greenville-Spartanburg-Asheville stations simultaneously launch NextGen TV |
| June 2024 | SCETV launches NextGen TV in Myrtle Beach-Florence market, first ATSC 3.0 deployment for public broadcasting in SC |
| October 2024 | Gray Media launches Palmetto Sports & Entertainment channel across South Carolina stations |
Comprehensive listing of all full-power and select low-power television stations licensed in South Carolina, organized by designated market area (DMA).
| Call Letters | Channel | Network | City of License | Market | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greenville-Spartanburg-Asheville-Anderson Market (DMA #36) | |||||
| WYFF | 4 | NBC | Greenville, SC | Greenville-Spartanburg | Hearst Television |
| WSPA | 7 | CBS | Spartanburg, SC | Greenville-Spartanburg | Nexstar Media Group |
| WLOS | 13 | ABC | Asheville, NC | Greenville-Spartanburg | Sinclair Broadcast Group |
| WGGS | 16 | TBN | Greenville, SC | Greenville-Spartanburg | Dove Broadcasting |
| WHNS | 21 | FOX | Greenville, SC | Greenville-Spartanburg | Gray Television |
| WNTV | 29 | PBS | Greenville, SC | Greenville-Spartanburg | SCETV |
| WNEH | 38 | PBS | Greenwood, SC | Greenville-Spartanburg | SCETV |
| WMYA | 40 | MNT | Anderson, SC | Greenville-Spartanburg | Cunningham Broadcasting |
| WYCW | 62 | CW | Asheville, NC | Greenville-Spartanburg | Nexstar Media Group |
| Columbia Market (DMA #76) | |||||
| WIS | 10 | NBC | Columbia, SC | Columbia | Gray Media |
| WLTX | 19 | CBS | Columbia, SC | Columbia | Tegna Inc. |
| WOLO | 25 | ABC | Columbia, SC | Columbia | South Carolina Broadcasting |
| WRJA | 27 | PBS | Sumter, SC | Columbia | SCETV |
| WRLK | 35 | PBS | Columbia, SC | Columbia | SCETV |
| WACH | 57 | FOX | Columbia, SC | Columbia | Sinclair Broadcast Group |
| WKTC | 63 | MNT | Sumter, SC | Columbia | Columbia Broadcasting |
| Charleston Market (DMA #85) | |||||
| WCBD-TV | 2 | NBC | Charleston, SC | Charleston | Nexstar Media Group |
| WGWG | 4 | MeTV | Charleston, SC | Charleston | Howard Stirk Holdings |
| WCSC-TV | 5 | CBS | Charleston, SC | Charleston | Gray Television |
| WITV-TV | 7 | PBS | Charleston, SC | Charleston | SCETV |
| WHDC-LD | 12 | Court TV | Charleston, SC | Charleston | Lowcountry 34 Media |
| WLCN-CD | 18 | CTN | Charleston, SC | Charleston | Christian Television Network |
| WTAT-TV | 24 | FOX | Charleston, SC | Charleston | Cunningham Broadcasting |
| WAZS-LD | 29 | Azteca America | Charleston, SC | Charleston | Jabar Communications |
| WCIV | 36 | ABC | Charleston, SC | Charleston | Sinclair Broadcast Group |
| Myrtle Beach-Florence Market (DMA #97) | |||||
| WBTW | 13 | CBS | Florence, SC | Myrtle Beach-Florence | Nexstar Media Group |
| WPDE-TV | 15 | ABC | Florence, SC | Myrtle Beach-Florence | Sinclair Broadcast Group |
| WWMB | 21 | CW | Florence, SC | Myrtle Beach-Florence | Howard Stirk Holdings |
| WHMC | 23 | PBS | Conway, SC | Myrtle Beach-Florence | SCETV |
| WMBF-TV | 32 | NBC | Myrtle Beach, SC | Myrtle Beach-Florence | Gray Television |
| WJPM | 33 | PBS | Florence, SC | Myrtle Beach-Florence | SCETV |
| WFXB | 43 | FOX | Myrtle Beach, SC | Myrtle Beach-Florence | GE Media |
| Other Markets Serving SC | |||||
| WMYT | 55 | MNT | Rock Hill, SC | Charlotte, NC | Nexstar Media Group |
| WJWJ-TV | 16 | PBS | Beaufort, SC | Savannah, GA | SCETV |
| WTGS | 28 | FOX | Hardeeville, SC | Savannah, GA | Bluenose Broadcasting |
| WEBA | 14 | PBS | Allendale, SC | Augusta, GA | SCETV |
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Last updated on November 27, 2025