WSPA-TV

WSPA-TV

WSPA-TV (channel 7) is a television station licensed to Spartanburg, South Carolina, United States. It serves Upstate South Carolina and Western North Carolina as an affiliate of CBS. It is owned by Nexstar Media Group alongside Asheville, North Carolina–licensed CW station WYCW (channel 62). The station and WYCW share studios on International Drive in Spartanburg, and both broadcast from an antenna on Hogback Mountain.

WSPA-TV began broadcasting in April 1956. It was owned by the locally based Spartan Radiocasting Company for more than four decades and was a CBS affiliate from the start. The station's original studios in downtown Spartanburg were destroyed by fire in 1960, and it later built its current facilities in 1979. The station has had strong local news ratings over the years.

Early years

When the Federal Communications Commission allowed new TV stations in 1952, channel 7 went to Spartanburg. Two local radio station owners wanted this channel. Walter J. Brown worked hard to get it. They made a deal, and the new TV station got the call sign WSPA-TV.

First, the station was planned for Hogback Mountain. But to get TV to Spartanburg faster, the FCC let them use a temporary spot on Paris Mountain. Other TV stations were worried. After many arguments, the FCC said the station could stay there for now. But later, they said it must move to Hogback Mountain. In 1963, the station moved and added smaller transmitters to reach more areas.

Spartan ownership (1956–2000)

WSPA-TV began showing programs in 1956. At first, it only broadcast for part of the day. The station also made fun local shows for people in the area to enjoy.

In 1960, a big fire hurt the station's old building. But WSPA-TV kept broadcasting with help from other stations. They moved quickly to a new studio and made it better over time. In 1979, WSPA-TV moved to a larger building near major roads. The company behind the station changed its name in 1995. In the late 1990s, the station worked with other local stations to bring more programs to nearby areas.

Media General and Nexstar ownership

On December 8, 1999, Spartan Communications was bought by Media General. This helped Media General grow its TV stations in the Southeast.

In 2009, WSPA's tower fell down during a storm. The station used another station’s signal until a new tower was built. In 2017, Media General was bought by the Nexstar Broadcasting Group.

News operation

In the Greenville–Spartanburg–Asheville area, people watch news from different cities. WSPA-TV’s viewers are mostly in and around Spartanburg. The station focuses on stories from Upstate South Carolina. Another station, WYFF, usually has more viewers, but WSPA is often a close competitor, especially for viewers in Upstate areas. In 2007, WSPA had more viewers than WYFF during evening news for the first time.

WSPA-TV has news offices in Greenville, including a studio that opened in 2017. The station also makes a lifestyle show called Your Carolina from this Greenville studio.

WSPA-TV has helped other stations with their news programs. From 1996 to 1999, it made a 10 p.m. newscast for WHNS. Since 2002, WSPA has provided news for WASV-TV/WYCW, and in 2022, this newscast was made longer to a full hour.

Notable former on-air staff

• Mike Gallagher — editorial commentator, 1992–1994
• Leeza Gibbons – anchor and reporter, 1978–1979
• Jane Robelot – anchor and reporter, 1983–1990
• Sibila Vargas – anchor, since 2016

Technical information

Subchannels

The WSPA-TV and WYCW transmitter is located on Hogback Mountain in northeastern Greenville County, South Carolina.

  Broadcast on behalf of another station

Translators

WSPA-TV’s signal is also shown on these additional stations, mostly in North Carolina:

• Cherokee, North Carolina: W08AT-D
• Spruce Pine, North Carolina: W08BF-D
• Sylva, North Carolina: W09AF-D
• Franklin, North Carolina: W09AG-D
• Montreat, North Carolina: W10AD-D
• Greenville, South Carolina: W10AJ-D
• Bryson City, North Carolina: W11AN-D
• Mars Hill, North Carolina: W15EL-D
• Weaverville, North Carolina: W18EP-D
• Marshall, North Carolina: W23ES-D
• Canton, North Carolina: W23EY-D
• Brevard, North Carolina: W32FI-D
• Beaver Dam, North Carolina: W35DT-D