WSAZ NewsChannel 3

WSAZ NewsChannel 3 Your #1 choice for Breaking News and Severe Weather coverage in the Tri-State area since 1949. Television had hit the Tri-State area.

Our story began October 1949 in Huntington, WV, when radio was king and television was the new kid on the block. WSAZ broadcast its first programming, a test pattern and signal tone; to about 14 set distributors and a few individual owners. Originally found on Channel 5, WSAZ's first lineup was all local programming, including song and dance acts from local residents. Shows like Kukla, Fran and Ol

lie and Godfrey and Friends were later added. In 1950, the station applied for network feeds from Cincinnati and Columbus, Ohio, to give set owners live programming. The number of local television set owners grew beyond 4,000. The world's largest and most powerful transmitter license was granted to WSAZ in 1952. The station had to be more powerful in order to reach viewers living in the hills and hollows throughout the region. The power boost moved the signal to Channel 3, where it has remained up until the digital conversion in February 2009. There were reports that the station's signal could be received in Mexico and Canada. The station began broadcasting news as programming in 1951. For the first time, the station was no longer all entertainment, but was also informing the viewers of local and national news. Then, WSAZ pioneered the concept of a two-city newscast -- with one anchor in Huntington and the other in Charleston. The director would cut back between each feed. NBC modeled their nightly newscast The Huntley-Brinkley report on our Charleston-Huntington technique. We still do a two city newscast today, but to a greater capacity with a custom newscast only for Kanawha Valley viewers. Since the station first signed-on, WSAZ has dominated the Huntington-Charleston television market. The news department has been long credited with its regional approach to coverage of the entire region -- in West Virginia, Kentucky and Ohio. Today, WSAZ is still the most powerful broadcaster in the region, broadcasting a High definition digital signal seen on WSAZ 3.1. WSAZ’s owner, Gray Television also owns the local CW affiliate, WQCW The Tri-State’s CW seen on digital channel 30.1 in high definition and home of the WSAZ News at 10:00pm and popular CW prime time programming. WSAZ also operates a digital “sub-channel”, channel 3.2 home of myNetwork and MeTV programming. Channel 3.2 is available on most cable systems but not on satellite systems. Our dedication to the Kanawha Valley is seen with our one-of-a-kind split news broadcasting in Charleston. This hyper-local newscast is available over the air on channel 16 and to Suddenlink Cable system subscribers. WSAZ also offers one of the most viewer digital platforms in our region, WSAZ.com. We operate desktop, mobile, mobile app platforms that in 2016 delivered more than 201 million total page views (201,896,215) to nearly 16 million unique visitors. WSAZ offers advertising sales on all platforms and digital marketing services. Call 304-697-4780 and ask for Sales.

Sentence issued for man who murdered 4 Idaho students.
07/23/2025

Sentence issued for man who murdered 4 Idaho students.

Bryan Kohberger faced the families of his victims in court on Wednesday at his sentencing hearing.

“They are precious. They are just deaf, and deaf dogs’ lives matter as well."
07/23/2025

“They are precious. They are just deaf, and deaf dogs’ lives matter as well."

A deaf woman in Texas traveled thousands of miles to adopt a couple of puppies - who are also deaf.

07/23/2025

Delta plane bound for Atlanta has close call with flight landing on same runway in Mexico

Eric Ratliff, the Executive Director of the Big Sandy Area Development District, said a project is underway to build 49 ...
07/23/2025

Eric Ratliff, the Executive Director of the Big Sandy Area Development District, said a project is underway to build 49 new individual homes for people affected by flooding in Floyd County.

The Ohio State Fair runs through Aug. 3 in Columbus.
07/23/2025

The Ohio State Fair runs through Aug. 3 in Columbus.

07/23/2025

Trump says US will impose 19% tariff on imports from Philippines

07/23/2025

Columbia University says it has suspended and expelled students who participated in protests

Members of the board discussed the design plan for adding an extension on the side of the current Buffalo Middle School ...
07/23/2025

Members of the board discussed the design plan for adding an extension on the side of the current Buffalo Middle School building.

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Kenova, WV

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Our Story

Our story began October 1949 in Huntington, WV, when radio was king and television was the new kid on the block. WSAZ broadcast its first programming, a test pattern and signal tone; to about 14 set distributors and a few individual owners. Television had hit the Tri-State area. Originally found on Channel 5, WSAZ's first lineup was all local programming, including song and dance acts from local residents. Shows like Kukla, Fran and Ollie and Godfrey and Friends were later added. In 1950, the station applied for network feeds from Cincinnati and Columbus, Ohio, to give set owners live programming. The number of local television set owners grew beyond 4,000. The world's largest and most powerful transmitter license was granted to WSAZ in 1952. The station had to be more powerful in order to reach viewers living in the hills and hollows throughout the region. The power boost moved the signal to Channel 3, where it has remained up until the digital conversion in February 2009. There were reports that the station's signal could be received in Mexico and Canada. The station began broadcasting news as programming in 1951. For the first time, the station was no longer all entertainment, but was also informing the viewers of local and national news. Then, WSAZ pioneered the concept of a two-city newscast -- with one anchor in Huntington and the other in Charleston. The director would cut back between each feed. NBC modeled their nightly newscast The Huntley-Brinkley report on our Charleston-Huntington technique. We still do a two city newscast today, but to a greater capacity with a custom newscast only for Kanawha Valley viewers.

Since 1949, WSAZ has been making a difference and the overwhelming number one choice for Breaking News, Severe Weather coverage and information in western West Virginia, eastern Kentucky, and southern Ohio. Generations of residents have grown up counting on WSAZ to be a window to their world on-air and now digitally. Our people, on-air and behind the scenes, are trusted friends, neighbors and make a difference in the community. There is a culture within our walls that recognizes the responsibility we carry, to continue what was started more than sixty years ago. We take pride in our ratings, our content, our status, and the need to maintain the work ethic that got us to where we are.

Today, WSAZ is still the most powerful broadcaster in the region, broadcasting a High definition digital signal seen on WSAZ 3.1. WSAZ’s owner, Gray Television also owns the local CW affiliate, WQCW The Tri-State’s CW seen on digital channel 30.1 in high definition and home of the WSAZ News at 10:00pm and popular CW prime time programming. WSAZ also operates a digital “sub-channel”, channel 3.2 home of myNetwork and MeTV programming. Channel 3.2 is available on most cable systems but not on satellite systems. Our dedication to the Kanawha Valley unmatched with a fully staffed newsroom, studio and sales team

At WSAZ we care about each other, and know that we are stronger as one team than as many individuals. We take our jobs seriously, and know that we can be successful and have fun at the same time.