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| WIS (TV) | |
|---|---|
| Callsign | WIS |
| City | Columbia, South Carolina |
| Branding | WIS News 10 |
| Digital | 10 (VHF) |
| Virtual | 10 |
| Affiliations | NBC |
| Owner | Gray Television |
| Founded | 1953 |
| Location | Columbia, South Carolina |
| Country | United States |
| Sister stations | Wachovia Bank |
WIS (TV) is a television station licensed to Columbia, South Carolina, serving the Columbia metropolitan area and much of central South Carolina. As an affiliate of NBC, the station has been a prominent broadcaster in the region since its sign-on in 1953, competing with stations in Greenville, South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, and the broader Southeastern United States. WIS has been owned and operated at various times by local proprietors and by corporate groups, and it has played roles in regional coverage of events such as presidential campaigns, natural disasters, and legislative sessions in South Carolina General Assembly.
WIS began broadcasting in 1953 during the post-World War II expansion of television, joining a market that included affiliates of CBS, ABC, and later DuMont. Early ownership linked the station to local business interests in Columbia, South Carolina and to newspapers and radio chains operating in the Piedmont (United States). Over ensuing decades, WIS navigated consolidation trends affecting companies such as Gannett Company, Gray Television, and other broadcast groups, adapting through transmitter upgrades, affiliation agreements with NBC, and regulatory changes enacted by the Federal Communications Commission. The station covered landmark regional developments including coverage of the Civil Rights Movement in the United States, state gubernatorial elections, and the construction of interstate routes like Interstate 77 in South Carolina and Interstate 20 in South Carolina. Ownership transitions and duopoly considerations mirrored national shifts exemplified by mergers involving Belo Corporation, Raycom Media, and others.
WIS has historically combined national programming from NBC—including flagship programs from Today (U.S. TV program), NBC Nightly News, and multicamera entertainment shows—with locally produced content such as morning shows, investigative reports, and community affairs specials. Syndicated offerings have included series produced by distribution houses like Warner Bros. Television Distribution, CBS Television Distribution, and Disney–ABC Domestic Television. The station has aired coverage of major sporting events from partners including National Football League, NASCAR, and the Olympic Games, and it has produced special programming related to statewide events including the South Carolina State Fair and University of South Carolina athletics. WIS has also carried network newscasts and regional public affairs programs that intersect with institutions like South Carolina Department of Transportation and cultural organizations such as the Columbia Museum of Art.
WIS operates a newsroom that reports on local, state, and national issues, coordinating bureaus and correspondents to cover beats including the South Carolina State House, criminal justice in jurisdictions like Richland County, South Carolina, weather impacts across the Pee Dee region, and economic developments tied to companies such as Boeing and International Paper. The news operation has utilized technologies for live reporting, field production, and digital distribution on platforms owned by firms such as Apple Inc., Google, and Facebook. Anchors and meteorologists from WIS have participated in statewide investigative collaborations with outlets connected to organizations like The Associated Press and Nexstar Media Group. The station's coverage of storms, floods, and hurricanes has referenced resources from the National Weather Service and the National Hurricane Center.
WIS transmits an over-the-air signal on VHF channel 10 and provides digital subchannels that have carried multicast networks including affiliations with groups such as MeTV, The CW, or other diginets used by broadcasters like Tribune Media. The station has upgraded facilities in line with mandates from the Federal Communications Commission and the national digital transition, replacing analog transmitters with digital transmitters and implementing standards promoted by organizations like the Advanced Television Systems Committee. WIS's technical operations have coordinated frequency assignments and interference studies involving the North American Regional Broadcasting Agreement framework and have engaged consultants from engineering firms that work with broadcasters and carriers such as AT&T and Verizon Communications.
Over its history, WIS has employed anchors, reporters, and meteorologists who later moved to national markets or became known regionally, joining career paths similar to professionals at stations such as WABC-TV, WRAL-TV, WXIA-TV, and WTVJ. On-air talent has won recognitions from organizations like the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and professional associations including the Radio Television Digital News Association. Several alumni have taken roles in public service, business, or academia at institutions such as the University of South Carolina and have collaborated with nonprofit groups like the United Way.
WIS has engaged in community initiatives including public service campaigns, fundraising partnerships with charities such as the American Red Cross and March of Dimes, and local education outreach with school districts like Richland School District One. The station's journalism has earned regional and national awards from entities including the Emmy Awards (Regional), the Peabody Awards, and press organization honors administered by the South Carolina Broadcasters Association. Through sponsorship of cultural events at venues like the Koger Center for the Arts and participation in business coalitions tied to the Columbia Chamber of Commerce, WIS has maintained a visible civic presence.
Category:Television stations in South Carolina Category:NBC network affiliates