WCIV is the ABC-affiliated television station for the Lowcountry area of South Carolina licensed to Charleston. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 34 from a transmitter in Awendaw. The station can also be seen on Time Warner channel 4 as well as Comcast andKnology channel 8. There is a high definition feed offered on Comcast digital channel 431, Time Warner digital channel 815, and Knology digital channel 901. Owned by the Allbritton Communications Company, the station has studios on Allbritton Boulevard along US 17/US 701(Johnnie Dodds Boulevard) in Mount Pleasant. Syndicated programming on WCIV
| |
| Charleston, South Carolina | |
|---|---|
| Branding | ABC News 4 |
| Slogan | Always Working
For You |
| Channels | Digital: 34 (UHF)Virtual: 4 (PSIP) |
| Subchannels | 4.1 ABC4.2 AccuWeather |
| Owner | Allbritton Communications Company
(WCIV, LLC) |
| First air date | October 23, 1962 |
| Call letters' meaning | Charleston IV (Roman numeral 4) |
| Former channel number(s) | Analog:
4 (1962-2009) |
| Former affiliations | NBC (1962-1996) |
| Transmitter power | 630 kW |
| Height | 522 m |
| Facility ID | 21536 |
| Transmitter coordinates | 32°55′28″N79°41′58″W |
| Website | abcnews4.com |
includes:Entertainment Tonight, The Dr. Oz Show, Ellen, and The Rachael Ray Show.
Digital programming[]
On WCIV-DT2, Knology digital channel 145, Time Warner digital channel 816, and live streaming video on its website is The Local AccuWeather Channel.
| Channels (virtual/physical) | Programming |
|---|---|
| 4.1/34.1 | main WCIV programming/ABC HD |
| 4.2/34.2 | WCIV-DT2 "ABC News 4 PinPoint Weather 24/7" |
History[]
The station launched October 23, 1962 as the third outlet in Charleston. The original license was granted to WTMA-TV but the call letters were later changed to WCIV before it signed-on. It was the area's NBC affiliate until 1996 when it became an ABC channel due to the preference of owner Allbritton as a byproduct of the major network affiliate realignment of 1994. The NBC affiliation went previous ABC station WCBD-TV. In 1989, WCIV was almost destroyed whenHurricane Hugo thundered ashore in September of that year. The station's building on the marsh just outside of Mount Pleasant near Sullivan's Island was flooded by the storm surge caused by the hurricane. WCIV aired from its transmitter site for a time and eventually moved to a new building in 1991.
Currently, the station is home to three well known and well respected anchors: Dean Stephens (who spent much of his early career as a sports anchor at WCIV), Victoria Hansen (who returned to the channel where she began her career after working as an anchor in Nashville, Tennessee) and meteorologist Tom Crawford. It has successfully launched the careers of a number of journalists who have gone on to work in network and cable news including Julie Chen, Van Earl Wright, and Fredericka Whitfield. Many more including Dave Lucas, Monica McNeil, and Dan Potash have moved on to enjoy careers in bigger markets. WCIV coordinates a number of popular annual community events and programs including Lowcountry's Promise and Gospel Fest. WCIV shut down its analog signal on June 12, 2009 as part of the DTV transition in the United States. [1] The station remained on its pre-transition channel 34 [2] using PSIP to display WCIV's virtual channel as 4.
Newscasts[]
News open.
WCIV produces a daily lifestyle and entertainment program called Lowcountry Live. The show features many popular regular segments and contributors including "Makeover Monday" and "Louis' Kids". LCL, as it is often referred to, also features a plethora of local artists, chefs, musicians, and authors. The show airs Monday through Friday mornings at 10 for an hour. This broadcast serves as a midday program during the week for WCIV because it does not offer news at 11 in the morning or at noon unlike most other ABC affiliates. There is also no newscast during the 5 o'clock hour on weeknights. Along with CBS affiliate WCSC-TV, this channel offers local news weeknights at 7. WCIV is making preparations for high definition newscasts sometime before the summer.
Newscast titles
- The Sixth Hour/The Eleventh Hour Report (1962-1971)
- TV-4 News (1971-1973)
- Action News (1973-1979)
- NewsCenter 4 (1979–1984)
- News 4 (1984–1994)
- NewsChannel 4 (1994–2000)
- ABC NewsChannel 4 (2000–2002)
- ABC News 4 (2002–present)
Station slogans[]
- "Charleston`s Full Color Station" (1960s)
- "4`s Company" (early 1970s)
- "This is 4 Country" (mid 1970s-1978)
- "4 Leads The Way" (1978-?)
- "TV-4, Proud As A Peacock!" (1979-1981; localized version of NBC ad campaign)
- "TV-4, Our Pride is Showing" (1981-1982; localized version of NBC ad campaign)
- "We're TV-4, Just Watch Us Now" (1982-1983; localized version of NBC ad campaign)
- "TV-4 There, Be There" (1983-1984; localized version of NBC ad campaign)
- "Channel 4, Let's All Be There" (1984-1986; localized version of NBC ad campaign)
- "Come Home to Channel 4" (1986-1987; localized version of NBC ad campaign)
- "Come on Home to Channel 4" (1987-1988; localized version of NBC ad campaign)
- "On Your Side" (mid-late 1980s)
- "Come Home To The Best, Only on Channel 4" (1988-1990; localized version of NBC ad campaign)
- "WCIV, The Place To Be!" (1990-1992; localized version of NBC ad campaign)
- "It's A Whole New 'CIV" (1992-1993; localized version of NBC ad campaign)
- "The Stars Are Back on 'CIV" (1993-1994; localized version of NBC ad campaign)
- "Dedicated, Determined, Dependable/The Best News You'll Get All Day" (mid 1990s)
- "Live. Local. Late Breaking." (1990s-2002)
- "TV is Good, on Channel 4" (1997-1998; localized version of ABC ad campaign)
- "We Love TV, on Channel 4" (1998-1999; localized version of ABC ad campaign)
- "Your Trusted Source" (2002–2009)
- "Always Working For You" (2009-2011)
- "Local News 4 You" (2011–present)
News team[]
Anchors
- Jon Bruce - weekday mornings and Lowcountry Live host
- Laura Harris - weekday mornings and Lowcountry Live host
- Victoria Hansen - weeknights
- Dean Stephens - weeknights
- Eric Egan - weekends and reporter
ABC News 4 PinPoint Weather Meteorologists
- Tom Crawford (AMS Seal of Approval) - weeknights
- Dave Williams - weekday mornings and Lowcountry Live host
- Sonya Stevens- (NWA Broadcaster's Seal of Approval) - weekends
Sports (both seen on Friday Football Frenzy)
- John Nugent - weeknights
- Scott Eisberg - weekends and sports reporter
Reporters
- Natalie Caula
- Nikki Gaskins
- Valencia Wicker
- Jon Bruce
- Lia Sestric
- Alyssa Irei