WSPA-TV
Encyclopedia
WSPA-TV channel 7 is the CBS
-affiliated television station
for western North Carolina and South Carolina
. It is licensed to Spartanburg, South Carolina
with its transmitter is located on Hogback Mountain southwest of Tryon, North Carolina
. Owned by Media General
, the station is sister to CW affiliate WYCW
. The two stations share studios on International Drive in Spartanburg. Syndicated
programming on WSPA includes Judge Judy
and Dr. Phil
. WSPA serves as master control for Media General's CBS network affiliates.
digital cable channel 247 was a 24-hour local weather channel known as "Storm Team 24/7". In 2009, WSPA Channel 7.2 became an affiliate of RTV
, but was replaced with Me-TV on September 26, 2011.
at AM 910; and 98.9 FM
). It has always been a CBS affiliate. Spartan Radiocasting bought several other radio and television stations over the years, and was renamed Spartan Communications in 1995. The radio stations were sold off in 1998, but WSPA-TV remained the flagship of the company until it merged with Media General in 2000. Channel 7 was the last locally owned-and-operated station in the market.
WSPA began broadcasting 24/7 in July of 1995, after previously having signed off every Friday night/Saturday morning and Saturday night/Sunday morning.
The station shared some resources with WNEG-TV in Toccoa, Georgia
while that station was co-owned with WSPA; this included a CBS affiliation. This arrangement was terminated after the sale of WNEG to the University of Georgia
; that station became WUGA-TV in May 2011.
Due to its transmitter location—just over 2200 feet (670.6 m) above average terrain—WSPA enjoys one of the largest coverage areas on the East Coast. WSPA's digital signal is picked up as far north as Watauga County, NC
, including Boone
and Blowing Rock
. In fact, WSPA's signal often comes in better than the two CBS affiliates both available on cable, WBTV
in Charlotte
(even though Watauga County is part of the Charlotte DMA
) and WJHL-TV
in Johnson City, TN
. In the Boone area, WJHL's transmitter is only 28 miles (45.1 km) away, WBTV's is 65 miles (104.6 km) and WSPA's transmitter is almost 80 miles (128.7 km) away. Blowing Rock is 5.5 miles (8.9 km) south of Boone at the height of the Blue Ridge spine, with a greater line of sight to Hogback Mountain at about 75 miles (120.7 km) away. Despite how well the signal is picked up in that area, WSPA is not available on cable in Watauga County. WSPA used to be carried in the western Union County
town of Weddington
, long before it became a suburb of Charlotte. Prior to the March 2009 tower collapse, WSPA provided grade B coverage as far east as Charlotte itself. WSPA appeared in the Charlotte Observer television listings well into the 1990s.
of sister station WYCW
; while the station received a replacement Channel 7 antenna on March 4, it was without its analog signal for one week after the accident. A new tower was built, in September 2009.
, WSPA is available on Comcast
in Newberry
, which is part of the Columbia
DMA
. WSPA is also available on Savannah Valley Cablevision in McCormick
, which is part of the Augusta, GA
DMA. Until January 2009, WSPA was available on cable in Rock Hill
, which is part of the Charlotte
DMA.
In North Carolina
, WSPA is available on Time Warner Cable
in Shelby
, CoMPAS Cable in Morganton
, and Charter Communications
in Hickory
, Lenoir
, and Valdese
, which are also part of the Charlotte DMA.
In Georgia
, WSPA was previously available on cable in Mountain City
, which is part of the Atlanta DMA.
, Jane Robelot
, and Susan McGinnis are notables who have worked for the station in the past. Annette Estes was WSPA's first female news anchor in 1977. She left the station in 1987 to anchor the 6 and 11 pm news with Carl Clark at WYFF. WSPA also used to produce a newscast for Fox affiliate WHNS
before that station launched its own news operation.
On September 16, 2007, WSPA began producing newscasts in high definition
and adopted the new Media General HD graphics. It was the first television station in the western Carolinas to upgrade local news broadcasts to HD.
In addition to its main studios, WSPA operates two news bureaus and shares a third with its sister stations. The Greenville Bureau is located on Villa Road and the Anderson Bureau is located on South Main Street. There is one in Columbia
as well, with costs of operating the bureau shared between Media General's stations in South Carolina - WSPA, WBTW, and WCBD. WSPA produces newscasts for its local sister station WYCW that air in high definition. This includes weekday mornings and evenings as well as on the weekends. The station operates an aerial news gathering helicopter with a gyrostabilized camera that is outfitted with a 72 power zoom lens and a motorized two power drop-in extender. The camera system is manufactured by Flir Systems International and the helicopter is maintained by U.S. Helicopters Inc. of Charlotte
. It is referred to on-air as "Air 7".
"News Channel 7" and its popular "On Your Side" brand, has the reputation for being the most "aggressive" news operation in the market, when it comes to breaking stories, and breaking news, on-air and online.
WSPA is currently either #1 or #2 in most timeslots. The 11pm weekday newscast was nominated for a 2010 Emmy Award for Best Newscast. The station won a 2010 Emmy for its breaking news coverage.
Reporters
Storm Team 7 HD
Sports
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
-affiliated television station
Television station
A television station is a business, organisation or other such as an amateur television operator that transmits content over terrestrial television. A television transmission can be by analog television signals or, more recently, by digital television. Broadcast television systems standards are...
for western North Carolina and South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
. It is licensed to Spartanburg, South Carolina
Spartanburg, South Carolina
thgSpartanburg is the largest city in and the county seat of Spartanburg County, South Carolina, United States. It is the second-largest city of the three primary cities in the Upstate region of South Carolina, and is located northwest of Columbia, west of Charlotte, and about northeast of...
with its transmitter is located on Hogback Mountain southwest of Tryon, North Carolina
Tryon, North Carolina
Tryon is a town in Polk County, North Carolina, United States. According to the 2000 Census the population of Tryon was 1,760. The area is a center for equestrian activity and fine arts....
. Owned by Media General
Media General
Media General, Inc. is a media company based in the Southeastern United States. Its major properties include newspapers such as The Tampa Tribune, the Winston-Salem Journal, and the Richmond Times-Dispatch, as well as numerous television stations, such as flagship station WFLA-TV.The company was...
, the station is sister to CW affiliate WYCW
WYCW
WYCW is the CW-affiliated television station for Western North Carolina and Upstate South Carolina licensed to Asheville, North Carolina. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 45 from a transmitter on Pinnacle Mountain Road, south of Green River Township's Jeter Mountain...
. The two stations share studios on International Drive in Spartanburg. Syndicated
Television syndication
In broadcasting, syndication is the sale of the right to broadcast radio shows and television shows by multiple radio stations and television stations, without going through a broadcast network, though the process of syndication may conjure up structures like those of a network itself, by its very...
programming on WSPA includes Judge Judy
Judge Judy
Judge Judy is an American court show featuring former family court judge Judith Sheindlin arbitrating over small claims cases in small claims court...
and Dr. Phil
Dr. Phil (TV series)
Dr. Phil is a reality/talk television show hosted by Phil McGraw. After McGraw's success with his segments on The Oprah Winfrey Show, Dr. Phil debuted on September 16, 2002...
. WSPA serves as master control for Media General's CBS network affiliates.
Digital programming
| Channel | Programming |
|---|---|
| 7.1 | Main WSPA-TV programming / CBS |
| 7.2 | MeTV MeTV Me-TV is a television network owned by Weigel Broadcasting and distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer that airs classic television sitcoms, dramas and classic commercials from the 1950s through the 1980s. The network is a sister network to This TV... |
Post-analog shutdown
WPSA-TV shut down analog transmissions on June 12, 2009, and moved its digital broadcasts back to its previous analog channel number, 7. On WSPA-DT2 and CharterCharter Communications
Charter Communications is an American company providing cable television, high-speed Internet, and telephone services to more than 4.7 million customers in 25 states. By revenues, it is the fourth-largest cable operator in the United States, behind Comcast, Time Warner Cable, and Cox Communications...
digital cable channel 247 was a 24-hour local weather channel known as "Storm Team 24/7". In 2009, WSPA Channel 7.2 became an affiliate of RTV
Retro Television Network
The Retro Television Network is a system of television stations that airs classic television shows as well as more recently produced programs...
, but was replaced with Me-TV on September 26, 2011.
Translators
In addition to its main signals, WSPA operates a network of 16 translator sites throughout the mountains of western North Carolina. Some translators have applications and/or construction permit to flash-cut from analog to digital and some translators will also displace their VHF allotment to a UHF one.| City of license | Callsign | Transmitter location |
|---|---|---|
| Burnsville Burnsville, North Carolina Burnsville is a town in Yancey County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 1,623 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Yancey County.-Geography:Burnsville is located at .... |
W02AT | Phillips Knob |
| Brevard Brevard, North Carolina Brevard is a town in Transylvania County, North Carolina, United States. The 2005 population estimate by the United States Census Bureau was 6,643. It is the county seat of Transylvania County.... |
W02AG | Rich Mountain |
| Mars Hill Mars Hill, North Carolina Mars Hill is a town in Madison County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 1,764 at the 2000 census. It is the home of Mars Hill College, which is named after the town. The town is located approximately one mile west of Interstate 26, and due north of Asheville, western North... |
W02AH | Middle Mountain |
| Asheville Asheville, North Carolina Asheville is a city in and the county seat of Buncombe County, North Carolina, United States. It is the largest city in Western North Carolina, and the 11th largest city in North Carolina. The City is home to the United States National Climatic Data Center , which is the world's largest active... |
W08BP | Reynolds Mountain |
| Canton Canton, North Carolina Canton is the second largest town in Haywood County, North Carolina, United States. It is located about west of Asheville, North Carolina and is part of the Asheville Metropolitan Statistical Area. The town is named after the city of Canton, Ohio.- History :... |
W08AO | Chambers Mountain |
| Cherokee Cherokee, North Carolina Cherokee is a town in Swain County, North Carolina, USA, within the Qualla Boundary land trust. It is located in the Oconaluftee River Valley, near the intersection of U.S. Route 19 and U.S... |
W08AT | Jenkins Mountain |
| Marshall Marshall, North Carolina Marshall is a town in Madison County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 840 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Madison County.Marshall is part of the Asheville Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Marshall is located at .... |
W08AX | Roberts Mountain |
| Spruce Pine Spruce Pine, North Carolina Spruce Pine is a town in Mitchell County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 2,175 at the 2010 census.-History:Spruce Pine was founded in 1907 when the Clinchfield Railroad made its way up the North Toe River from Erwin, Tennessee... |
W08BF | Woody's Knob Woody's Knob Woody's Knob , at an elevation of 4,170 feet, is a summit or "knob" in the Blue Ridge Mountains and one of the highest mountains in the unincorporated town of Little Switzerland in Mitchell County, North Carolina.- Geography :... |
| Sylva Sylva, North Carolina Sylva is an incorporated town located in central Jackson County, in the Great Smoky Mountains of Western North Carolina, United States of America. As of the 2010 census, the town had a total population of 2,588. It is the county seat, having taken over from nearby Webster in 1913.-Geography:Sylva... |
W09AF | Kings Mountain |
| Franklin Franklin, North Carolina Franklin is a town in Franklin Township, Macon County, North Carolina, United States, within the Nantahala National Forest. The population was 3,490 as of the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Macon County. Franklin is an official Appalachian Trail friendly destination... |
WO9AG | Winespring Bald |
| Waynesville Waynesville, North Carolina Waynesville is a town in and the county seat of Haywood County, North Carolina, United States. It is the largest town in Haywood County and the largest in Western North Carolina west of Asheville. Waynesville is located about or 50 km southwest of Asheville between the Great Smoky and Blue... |
WO9AD | Little Mountain |
| Weaverville Weaverville, North Carolina Weaverville is a town in Buncombe County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 2,646 in 2007. It is part of the Asheville Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Weaverville is located at .... |
W09AR | Baird Mountain |
| Black Mountain Black Mountain, North Carolina Black Mountain is a town in Buncombe County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 7,511 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Asheville Metropolitan Statistical Area. The town is named for the Black Mountain range of the Blue Ridge range in the Southern Appalachians.-History:Black... |
W10AD | Allen Mountain |
| Greenville Greenville, South Carolina -Law and government:The city of Greenville adopted the Council-Manager form of municipal government in 1976.-History:The area was part of the Cherokee Nation's protected grounds after the Treaty of 1763, which ended the French and Indian War. No White man was allowed to enter, though some families... |
W10AJ | Paris Mountain |
| Bryson City Bryson City, North Carolina Bryson City is a town in Swain County, North Carolina in the United States. The population was 1,353 as of 2009, a decrease of 4.1% since the 2000 census... |
W11AN | Fry Mountain |
History
The station went on the air on April 29, 1956. It was owned by broadcasting pioneer Walter J. Brown and his company, Spartan Radiocasting, along with WSPA radio (AM 950, now WOLIWOLI-FM
WOLI-FM, also known as "La Nueva 103.9", is a Regional Mexican radio station located in Greenville, South Carolina. The station is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission to the town of Easley and broadcasts on 103.9 FM with a effective radiated power of 6000 watts...
at AM 910; and 98.9 FM
WSPA-FM
WSPA-FM is an Adult Contemporary radio station licensed to Spartanburg, South Carolina and serves the Upstate region, including Greenville and Spartanburg. The Entercom Communications outlet is licensed to the Federal Communications Commission to broadcast at 98.9 MHz with an ERP of 100 kW...
). It has always been a CBS affiliate. Spartan Radiocasting bought several other radio and television stations over the years, and was renamed Spartan Communications in 1995. The radio stations were sold off in 1998, but WSPA-TV remained the flagship of the company until it merged with Media General in 2000. Channel 7 was the last locally owned-and-operated station in the market.
WSPA began broadcasting 24/7 in July of 1995, after previously having signed off every Friday night/Saturday morning and Saturday night/Sunday morning.
The station shared some resources with WNEG-TV in Toccoa, Georgia
Toccoa, Georgia
Toccoa is a city in Stephens County, Georgia, United States located approximately from Athens and approximately northeast of Atlanta. The population was 9,323 at the 2000 census...
while that station was co-owned with WSPA; this included a CBS affiliation. This arrangement was terminated after the sale of WNEG to the University of Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
; that station became WUGA-TV in May 2011.
Watauga County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 42,695 people, 16,540 households, and 9,411 families residing in the county. The population density was 137 people per square mile . There were 23,155 housing units at an average density of 74 per square mile...
, including Boone
Boone, North Carolina
Boone is a town located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of western North Carolina, United States. Boone's population was reported as 17,122, as of 2010...
and Blowing Rock
Blowing Rock, North Carolina
Blowing Rock is a town in North Carolina, USA, situated in both Caldwell and Watauga counties. The population was 1,418 at the 2000 census. However, during the summer the town's population increases to about 10,000.]]\\...
. In fact, WSPA's signal often comes in better than the two CBS affiliates both available on cable, WBTV
WBTV
WBTV, channel 3 , is the CBS affiliate in Charlotte, North Carolina. It is one of two flagship stations of Raycom Media. WBTV's studios are located off Morehead Street just west of Uptown Charlotte, and its transmitter is located in north-central Gaston County, North Carolina...
in Charlotte
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
(even though Watauga County is part of the Charlotte DMA
Media market
A media market, broadcast market, media region, designated market area , Television Market Area , or simply market is a region where the population can receive the same television and radio station offerings, and may also include other types of media including newspapers and Internet content...
) and WJHL-TV
WJHL-TV
WJHL-TV is the CBS-affiliated television station for the Tri-Cities area of Northeastern Tennessee and Southwestern Virginia that's licensed to Johnson City, Tennessee. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on VHF channel 11 from a transmitter on the southwest slope of Holston High Point...
in Johnson City, TN
Johnson City, Tennessee
Johnson City is a city in Carter, Sullivan, and Washington counties in the U.S. state of Tennessee, with most of the city being in Washington County...
. In the Boone area, WJHL's transmitter is only 28 miles (45.1 km) away, WBTV's is 65 miles (104.6 km) and WSPA's transmitter is almost 80 miles (128.7 km) away. Blowing Rock is 5.5 miles (8.9 km) south of Boone at the height of the Blue Ridge spine, with a greater line of sight to Hogback Mountain at about 75 miles (120.7 km) away. Despite how well the signal is picked up in that area, WSPA is not available on cable in Watauga County. WSPA used to be carried in the western Union County
Union County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 123,677 people, 43,390 households, and 34,278 families residing in the county. The population density was 194 people per square mile . There were 45,695 housing units at an average density of 72 per square mile...
town of Weddington
Weddington, North Carolina
Weddington is an influential town in Union County, North Carolina, United States. A small portion of the town extends into Mecklenburg County. The population was 6,696 at the 2000 census, and the 2005 estimate is 8,465.-Geography:...
, long before it became a suburb of Charlotte. Prior to the March 2009 tower collapse, WSPA provided grade B coverage as far east as Charlotte itself. WSPA appeared in the Charlotte Observer television listings well into the 1990s.
March 2009 tower collapse
On March 1, 2009, WSPA's analog & digital tower at Hogback Mountain in Spartanburg County near the North Carolina/South Carolina border collapsed due to ice and high winds, hitting the main back-up tower as it fell. WSPA's digital signal was restored using a digital subchannelDigital subchannel
In broadcasting, digital subchannels are a means to transmit more than one independent program at the same time from the same digital radio or digital television station on the same radio frequency channel. This is done by using data compression techniques to reduce the size of each individual...
of sister station WYCW
WYCW
WYCW is the CW-affiliated television station for Western North Carolina and Upstate South Carolina licensed to Asheville, North Carolina. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 45 from a transmitter on Pinnacle Mountain Road, south of Green River Township's Jeter Mountain...
; while the station received a replacement Channel 7 antenna on March 4, it was without its analog signal for one week after the accident. A new tower was built, in September 2009.
Out-of-market cable coverage
In South CarolinaSouth Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
, WSPA is available on Comcast
Comcast
Comcast Corporation is the largest cable operator, home Internet service provider, and fourth largest home telephone service provider in the United States, providing cable television, broadband Internet, and telephone service to both residential and commercial customers in 39 states and the...
in Newberry
Newberry, South Carolina
Newberry is a city in Newberry County, South Carolina, 43 miles west -northwest of Columbia. The charter was adopted in 1894. In 1890, 3,020 people lived in Newberry, South Carolina; in 1900, 4,607; in 1910, 5,028; and in 1940, 7,510. The population was 10,580 at the 2000 census. It is the county...
, which is part of the Columbia
Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan...
DMA
Media market
A media market, broadcast market, media region, designated market area , Television Market Area , or simply market is a region where the population can receive the same television and radio station offerings, and may also include other types of media including newspapers and Internet content...
. WSPA is also available on Savannah Valley Cablevision in McCormick
McCormick, South Carolina
McCormick is a town in McCormick County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 1,489 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of McCormick County.-Geography:McCormick is located at ....
, which is part of the Augusta, GA
Augusta, Georgia
Augusta is a consolidated city in the U.S. state of Georgia, located along the Savannah River. As of the 2010 census, the Augusta–Richmond County population was 195,844 not counting the unconsolidated cities of Hephzibah and Blythe.Augusta is the principal city of the Augusta-Richmond County...
DMA. Until January 2009, WSPA was available on cable in Rock Hill
Rock Hill, South Carolina
Rock Hill is the largest city in York County, South Carolina and the fourth-largest city in the state. It is also the third-largest city of the Charlotte metropolitan area, behind Charlotte and Concord, North Carolina. The population was 71,459 as of . Rock Hill has undergone rapid growth between...
, which is part of the Charlotte
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
DMA.
In North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, WSPA is available on Time Warner Cable
Time Warner Cable
Time Warner Cable is an American cable television company that operates in 28 states and has 31 operating divisions...
in Shelby
Shelby, North Carolina
Shelby is a city in Cleveland County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 19,477 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Cleveland County.-Geography:Shelby is located at ....
, CoMPAS Cable in Morganton
Morganton, North Carolina
Morganton is a city in Burke County, North Carolina, United States. Reader's Digest included Morganton in its list of top ten places to raise a family. The town was recently profiled in The 50 Best Small Southern Towns. The population was 17,310 at the 2000 census...
, and Charter Communications
Charter Communications
Charter Communications is an American company providing cable television, high-speed Internet, and telephone services to more than 4.7 million customers in 25 states. By revenues, it is the fourth-largest cable operator in the United States, behind Comcast, Time Warner Cable, and Cox Communications...
in Hickory
Hickory, North Carolina
Hickory is a city in Catawba County, North Carolina. Hickory has the 162nd largest urban area in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 341,851, making it the 4th largest metropolitan area in North Carolina. The city's population was 37,222...
, Lenoir
Lenoir, North Carolina
Lenoir is a city in Caldwell County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 18,228 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Caldwell County. Lenoir is located in the Blue Ridge foothills. The city also contains the Brushy Mountains, a spur of the Blue Ridge Mountains...
, and Valdese
Valdese, North Carolina
Valdese is a town in Burke County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 4,485 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Hickory–Lenoir–Morganton Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Valdese is located at ....
, which are also part of the Charlotte DMA.
In Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, WSPA was previously available on cable in Mountain City
Mountain City, Georgia
Mountain City is an incorporated town in Rabun County, Georgia, United States. The population was 829 at the 2000 census. The town straddles the Eastern Continental Divide in a deep gap in the Blue Ridge Mountain front. The gap allows U.S...
, which is part of the Atlanta DMA.
Preempted programming
WSPA pre-empted several CBS shows through the 1960s, 70s, 80s, and 90s.- CBS Children's Film FestivalCBS Children's Film FestivalCBS Children's Film Festival is a television series of live action films from several countries that were made for children...
- Press Your LuckPress Your LuckPress Your Luck is an American television daytime game show created by Bill Carruthers and Jan McCormack. It premiered on September 19, 1983 on CBS and ended on September 26, 1986. In the show, contestants collected "spins" by answering trivia questions and then used the spins on an 18-space game...
(was picked up in 1984 shortly after Michael Larson's record $110,237 win) - Card SharksCard SharksCard Sharks is an American television game show created by Chester Feldman for Mark Goodson-Bill Todman Productions. Two contestants compete for control of a row of oversized playing cards by answering questions posed by the host and then guessing if the next card is higher or lower in value than...
(aired by WSPA from 1986–1988, dropped from September 1988 to March 1989 and preempted by Wipeout; returned to lineup on March 6, 1989 until end of run) - Now You See ItNow You See ItNow You See It is an American television game show created by Frank Wayne for Mark Goodson-Bill Todman Productions. Two Now You See It series were produced, and both aired on CBS. The first series ran from April 1, 1974 until June 13, 1975, and was hosted by Jack Narz...
(April–July 1989, CBS daytime game show preempted by Love Connection) - Family Feud Challenge (final few months)
- Muppet BabiesMuppet BabiesJim Henson's Muppet Babies is an American animated television series that aired from September 15, 1984 to November 2, 1991 on CBS. The show portrayed childhood versions of the Muppets living together in a large nursery in the care of a human woman called Nanny...
(1991–1993, preempted by Jack Roper's Kidsizzle) - Pee-Wee's PlayhousePee-wee's PlayhousePee-wee's Playhouse is an American children's television program starring Paul Reubens as the child-like Pee-wee Herman. The show was developed from Reubens' popular stage show and the one-off TV special The Pee-wee Herman Show, produced for HBO, which was similar in style but featured much more...
(final season) - Bill and Ted's Excellent AdventuresBill & Ted's Excellent Adventures (1990 TV series)Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventures is a 1990 spin-off animated television series following the misadventures of two time-travelling slackers as they travel into the distant past and future...
(the animated series, final weeks?) - The Late Show with David Letterman (for one week around the Summer of 1998)
News operation
The station's newscasts were known as Eyewitness 7 News until 1994 when they were re-branded as NewsChannel 7. Leeza GibbonsLeeza Gibbons
Leeza Kim Gibbons is an American talk show host. Gibbons is the host of her own radio show, Hollywood Confidential, part of the United Stations radio syndication company.-Early life:...
, Jane Robelot
Jane Robelot
Jane Robelot was a co-anchor of CBS television's CBS This Morning during the early 1990s. In the 1980s she worked at WSPA-TV in Spartanburg, South Carolina, then at then-CBS-owned WCAU TV Philadelphia before moving to CBS. After working for CBS News she was the primary anchor for WGCL-TV in Atlanta...
, and Susan McGinnis are notables who have worked for the station in the past. Annette Estes was WSPA's first female news anchor in 1977. She left the station in 1987 to anchor the 6 and 11 pm news with Carl Clark at WYFF. WSPA also used to produce a newscast for Fox affiliate WHNS
WHNS
WHNS is the Fox affiliate television station for western North and South Carolina. Licensed to Greenville, South Carolina; it is owned by the Meredith Corporation. It broadcasts its digital signal on UHF channel 21...
before that station launched its own news operation.
On September 16, 2007, WSPA began producing newscasts in high definition
High-definition television
High-definition television is video that has resolution substantially higher than that of traditional television systems . HDTV has one or two million pixels per frame, roughly five times that of SD...
and adopted the new Media General HD graphics. It was the first television station in the western Carolinas to upgrade local news broadcasts to HD.
In addition to its main studios, WSPA operates two news bureaus and shares a third with its sister stations. The Greenville Bureau is located on Villa Road and the Anderson Bureau is located on South Main Street. There is one in Columbia
Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan...
as well, with costs of operating the bureau shared between Media General's stations in South Carolina - WSPA, WBTW, and WCBD. WSPA produces newscasts for its local sister station WYCW that air in high definition. This includes weekday mornings and evenings as well as on the weekends. The station operates an aerial news gathering helicopter with a gyrostabilized camera that is outfitted with a 72 power zoom lens and a motorized two power drop-in extender. The camera system is manufactured by Flir Systems International and the helicopter is maintained by U.S. Helicopters Inc. of Charlotte
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
. It is referred to on-air as "Air 7".
"News Channel 7" and its popular "On Your Side" brand, has the reputation for being the most "aggressive" news operation in the market, when it comes to breaking stories, and breaking news, on-air and online.
WSPA is currently either #1 or #2 in most timeslots. The 11pm weekday newscast was nominated for a 2010 Emmy Award for Best Newscast. The station won a 2010 Emmy for its breaking news coverage.
Newscast titles
- Your Esso Reporter (1956–1958)
- The Six O'Clock News Final (1958–1966)
- TV-7 News (1966–1974)
- Eyewitness 7 News (1974–1979)
- 7 Eyewitness NewsEyewitness NewsEyewitness News is a style of news broadcasting used by local television stations in different markets across the United States. It refers to a particular style of television newscast with an emphasis on visual elements and action video...
(1979–1994) - NewsChannel 7 (1994–2011)
- 7 On Your Side (2011-Present)
Station slogans
- Great Moments on Channel 7 (1982–1983; local version of CBS campaign)
- We've Got the Touch (CBS campaign; 1983–1986)
- Channel 7 Spirit, Oh Yes! (1987–1988; local version of CBS campaign)
- We're The Team! (1988–1990)
- In the Center of it All (1990–1994)
- News From Where You Live (mid-late 1990s)
- Putting South Carolina First (2001-mid 2000s)
- On Your Side (1986–1988 and mid 2000s-present)
Current
Anchors- Amy Wood, 5 pm, 6 pm, 10, and 11 pm Anchor/Interactive Anchor-Social Media Networking
- Tom Crabtree, 5 pm, 5:30 pm, 6 pm, and 11 pm Anchor/"Voice of the Viewer"
- Chris Cato, 7 pm Anchor/"Community Watchdog" Reporter
- Fred Cunningham, Daybreak/Noon Anchor
- Diane Lee, Daybreak Anchor/Consumer Reporter
- Gordon Dill, Weekend Evening Anchor/Reporter
Reporters
- Melissa Keeney, Greenville Bureau Reporter
- Robert Kittle, Capital Bureau Political Reporter
- Graeme Moore, General Assignment Reporter
- Laura Thomas, General Assignment Reporter
- Robin Kanady, Anderson Bureau Reporter
- Rachel Kent, Greenville Bureau Reporter
- Christine Scarpelli, Digital Journalist
- Emily Pace, Digital Journalist
Storm Team 7 HD
- Christy Henderson, Chief Meteorologist
- Dan Bickford, Daybreak/Noon Meteorologist
- Justin Cooper, Weekend Evening Meteorologist
- Judy Booker, Weekend Morning Meteorologist
Sports
- Pete Yanity, Sports Director/Weekday Anchor
- Todd Summers, Weekend Sports Anchor/Reporter
Past
- Leeza GibbonsLeeza GibbonsLeeza Kim Gibbons is an American talk show host. Gibbons is the host of her own radio show, Hollywood Confidential, part of the United Stations radio syndication company.-Early life:...
(Reporter, before she became a famous television personality) - Terri Gruca (Anchor/Reporter 2001-2003, now 6PM/10PM anchor at KVUE-TV, Austin, TX)