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WLOS (channel 13) is a television station licensed to Asheville, North Carolina, United States, broadcasting ABC and MyNetworkTV programming to Western North Carolina and Upstate South Carolina. It is owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group in an effective duopoly with WMYA-TV (channel 40) in Anderson, South Carolina. WLOS maintains studios on Technology Drive (near I-26/US 74) in Asheville and a transmitter on Mount Pisgah in Haywood County, North Carolina.

Key Information

WLOS-TV began broadcasting in September 1954 as the ABC affiliate for Asheville and most of the western Carolinas and the city's second TV station. It was founded by the Skyway Broadcasting Corporation, owner of WLOS radio, and owned by Wometco Enterprises from 1958 to 1987; Sinclair has owned it since 1996. Its local news coverage has historically focused on western North Carolina, in contrast to the other major stations in the market, all of which broadcast from studios in South Carolina.

History

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Early years

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Prior to the 1948 freeze on television station applications imposed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Skyway Broadcasting Corporation—owner of Asheville radio stations WLOS (1380 AM) and WLOS-FM (99.9)—had applied for the use of channel 7, one of three channels assigned to the city along with channel 5 (applied for by actress Mary Pickford) and 12. However, the major overhaul of TV allocations accompanying the introduction of ultra high frequency (UHF) channels resulted in only one VHF channel being allotted to Asheville: 13, along with UHF 56 (educational) and 62.[2] The Skyway Broadcasting Company, corporate parent of WLOS, applied for channel 13 on December 7, 1951.[3] It was soon joined by WSKY (1230 AM) in August 1952[4] and WWNC (570 AM), owned by the Asheville Citizen-Times Company, in March 1953.[5] WSKY had withdrawn by August 1953, as had the Community Television Company,[6] but Asheville tax attorney William W. Orr then filed in October, bringing the field back up to three contenders for channel 13.[7]

In December 1953, the field cleared, and Orr and the Citizen-Times Company withdrew their applications to allow WLOS to get the construction permit; the latter received an option to buy stock in Skyway, though it was cautioned that such would require additional FCC approval.[8] The next step was securing a transmitter site. WLOS immediately proposed to erect a 300-foot (91 m) tower atop Mount Pisgah, which was met with divided sentiment. Civic groups favored the location and claimed it was the only site in the mountainous area from which the station could provide regional coverage; others derided what they felt as the commercialization of the well-known summit.[9] A United States Forest Service hearing in February 1954 drew 50 attendees and thousands of letters, telegrams, and postcards,[10] but the federal government approved the Pisgah tower site at the end of February 1954.[11] Meanwhile, the station acquired the Battle House, a 1925-built residence on Macon Avenue described by The Asheville Citizen as "long considered one of Asheville's finest ... [with] a reputation as a residential showplace", to use as its studios.[12] By July 1954, work was under way on the Mount Pisgah transmitter facility, and a September 18 start date goal had been set;[13] WLOS-TV had signed for affiliation with ABC and the DuMont Television Network.[14]

A gray lattice tower on a forested mountain peak
The WLOS transmitting tower on Mount Pisgah

WLOS-TV, as projected, began broadcasting on September 18, 1954.[15] This gave Asheville its second station, as WISE-TV had begun broadcasting on channel 62 in August 1953.[16] Local programming was immediately planned, including shows for housewives, children, and teenagers; the WLOS radio stations also occupied the Battle House.[17] The Mount Pisgah transmitter site gave the station a wide coverage area; pre-launch advertising boasted of having the highest antenna in the South and a signal that reached Johnson City, Tennessee.[18]

Wometco ownership

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A squabble over options to purchase stock in Skyway Broadcasting Company erupted in April 1957, when Harold H. Thoms—owner of WISE radio and television—and Walter Tison of Tampa, Florida, announced they had an option to buy shares in the firm and were going to exercise it. Skyway denied that any such option existed, claiming that it was based on an option extended to a minority stockholder—J. E. Edmonds—and later withdrawn.[19] The matter was taken to court, where Edmonds attacked the validity of the 1953 Citizen-Times option, which remained outstanding.[20] Then, that option catapulted into the spotlight when Miami businessman Mitchell Wolfson—a summer resident of Asheville—announced that he had acquired the Citizen-Times option through his other broadcast property, WTVJ in Miami, and that he was offering a buyout of all other shareholders in Skyway.[21] The so-called "Britt option" that Thoms and Tison claimed to hold became the subject of multiple court cases as Thoms and Tison sued Britt and others for breach of contract.[22]

On March 1, 1958, Wolfson's company, Wometco Enterprises, announced it had reached a deal to buy Britt's stock in Skyway Broadcasting and thus assume majority ownership of the WLOS stations.[23] The FCC approved the transaction in August,[24] and upon closure, several WTVJ employees moved to Asheville to help manage WLOS radio and television.[25]

In 1959, Bill Norwood, known on air as "Mr. Bill", began hosting a children's program under a range of titles (the last being Mr. Bill's Friends) which continued to air until June 1988, later returning as a fill-in weatherman in the late 1990s.[26][27] Bill's sidekick was a clown named Bumbo, played by longtime WLOS weatherman Bob Caldwell.[26][28]

Wometco sold off WLOS AM to the Greater Asheville Broadcasting Corporation in 1969, retaining the FM and TV stations; the AM station changed its call sign to WKKE when the sale took effect.[29][30] WLOS continued to share ABC programming in the western Carolinas with WAIM-TV (channel 40) in Anderson, South Carolina, on the opposite end of the market. It was a dual ABC/CBS affiliate; while WAIM-TV's ABC affiliation agreement allowed it to carry any network program not aired by WLOS in Asheville, which was not receivable in the Anderson area. This ended in January 1979; after an ownership change at channel 40, ABC only allowed the station to continue airing its programming through the end of 1978.[31]

Ownership changes

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In 1984, Wometco was taken private in a leveraged buyout by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR).[32] As part of this transaction, WLOS-FM was sold to WISE and became WRLX-FM and later WKSF.[33][34] KKR struggled with the station, in part because ABC sank to third in the national ratings. It set revenue goals that were so unreachable that the entire WLOS-TV sales force turned over.[35]

AnchorMedia, associated with the Robert M. Bass Group, acquired WLOS-TV for $50 million in 1987 after two attempts had been made in the preceding year to purchase the station from KKR.[36][37] Anchor was a rapidly growing group in radio, having acquired stations in Dallas, Las Vegas, and Albuquerque, but WLOS-TV marked its first television station property. Anchor had also bid on WTVJ in Miami only to be beaten at the last minute by a bid from General Electric and NBC.[38]

During AnchorMedia's ownership, the company attempted to acquire WAXA, the former WAIM-TV, in Anderson; the company proposed to simulcast WLOS on channel 40 for the benefit of viewers in the southern portion of the market who could not receive the Asheville station.[39] The FCC denied an outright sale, citing the stations' overlapping coverage areas,[40] but AnchorMedia continued to negotiate a simulcast agreement with WAXA's existing ownership.[41] It also won a victory in federal appeals court, which ordered the FCC to reconsider its denial of the WAXA purchase.[42] WLOS produced a limited amount of South Carolina-specific programming for air on channel 40, including a public affairs program, Viewpoint 40, and a 6 p.m. newscast using the resources of the Anderson Independent-Mail newspaper.[43][44]

In 1994, Continental Broadcasting—the former AnchorMedia—was purchased by River City Broadcasting, a St. Louis-based owner of television and radio properties. The three ABC affiliates owned by Anchor represented River City's first major network affiliates.[45] River City spun WAXA out as a separately programmed independent station, WFBC-TV, in September 1995.[46] WFBC-TV later became The WB affiliate WBSC-TV in 1999[47] and MyNetworkTV affiliate WMYA-TV in 2006.[48]

Sinclair ownership

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River City merged with Sinclair Broadcast Group in 1996.[49] WFBC-TV was sold to a related company to Sinclair, Glencairn, Ltd.[50][51] Glencairn subsequently changed its name to Cunningham Broadcasting Corporation, but its stock is still almost entirely owned by the Smith family that owns Sinclair, and the companies continue to be closely related.[52]

WLOS sold the Battle House studios to the adjoining Grove Park Inn in 1999 and began scouting for a new location.[53] The station then secured space in the Biltmore Park commercial development south of downtown Asheville, with the first broadcasts from the new studio taking place in December 2000.[54][55] Battle House was demolished in 2006; the inn argued that it was too deteriorated to be preserved and that a half-century of use as a TV studio had resulted in too many alterations.[56] Among these were replacement of windows and doors and the removal of many finishes, as well as an addition to the structure made by the television station.[57]

By 2014, WLOS ranked second in estimated revenue, ahead of NBC affiliate WYFF in Greenville but behind WSPA-TV;[58] this was an improvement from 2011, when it trailed both of the Upstate stations in revenue.[59]

On September 20, 2021, "My 40" and the MyNetworkTV programming on WMYA-TV moved exclusively to the 13.2 subchannel of WLOS.[60]

News operation

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The word NEWS in an italic thick sans serif in the upper left corner, above the ABC network logo, which is next to a blue 13 in the same type. The words "Western North Carolina" are below.
News logo

As the major station based in Asheville, WLOS has traditionally focused its regional news coverage on western North Carolina, where it achieves higher ratings than its competitors. It was also initially the smallest of the three TV newsrooms in the region. After airing its main early evening newscasts at 5:30 and later 7 p.m., WLOS went head-to-head with the South Carolina stations (then-WFBC-TV and WSPA-TV) in 1979 and began airing its evening news at 6 p.m.[61]

Even though the station's focus is western North Carolina, management recognized the station needed a presence in the South Carolina part of the market if it was to lift itself from an overall third-place finish in the combined market. By the late 1970s, the station had a bureau in Greenville, which moved into a new building in 1984; that year, it also set up a news bureau in Spartanburg.[62][63] The station expanded its news coverage with the addition of a new 5:30 p.m. newscast—in addition to its 6 p.m. report—in 1986,[64] and a morning newscast debuted upon the end of Mr. Bill and Friends in 1988.[26] AnchorMedia also invested in new equipment upon taking over.[65] News programming slowly expanded: by 2008, the station had a two-hour morning newscast, 90 minutes of early evening news, and the 11 p.m. newscast on weeknights, and WMYA aired 6:30 and 10 p.m. newscasts produced by WLOS.[66]

In 2022, WLOS debuted a weekly sports show during the football season, Saturday Sports Night, covering regional college football.[67]

Notable former on-air staff

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Technical information

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Subchannels

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WLOS is currently broadcast from Mount Pisgah, though the station announced in 2024 that it would move south to Pinnacle Mountain, which unlike Mount Pisgah provides engineers with year-round access.[71] The station's signal is multiplexed:

Subchannels of WLOS[72]
Channel Res. Aspect Short name Programming
13.1 720p 16:9 ABC ABC
13.2 MyTV MyNetworkTV
13.3 480i Antenna Antenna TV
13.4 TheNest The Nest
13.5 GetTV Get

Analog-to-digital conversion

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WLOS ended regular programming on its analog signal, over VHF channel 13, on June 12, 2009.[73] It had intended to do so on February 17, even after the federal government moved the deadline back four months, but general manager Jack Connors explained that the FCC would have also required the station's analog translators, many of them serving mountainous areas shaded from Mount Pisgah by terrain, to be switched off at that time.[74] The station's digital signal relocated from its pre-transition UHF channel 56, which was among the high-band UHF channels (52–69) that were removed from broadcasting use as a result of the transition, to VHF channel 13.[75]

Translators

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WLOS operates 11 translators across the mountains of western North Carolina and upstate South Carolina. These translators serve as low-power, limited-area repeaters that bring the network's signal to towns in deep mountain valleys where the parent signal is blocked by the surrounding terrain.[76]

References

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

WLOS

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WLOS-TV, virtual and VHF digital channel 13, is an ABC-affiliated licensed to , , serving and . The station, whose call letters abbreviate "Wonderful Land of the Sky" in reference to the region's nickname, signed on the air on September 18, 1954, as Asheville's second television outlet. WLOS-TV is owned by , which acquired the station in 1997 as part of a larger purchase from Max Media Properties, and operates it in an effective duopoly with affiliate WMYA-TV (channel 40). Its transmitter is located atop Mount Pisgah in , providing coverage to the rugged Appalachian terrain. As 's primary ABC affiliate, WLOS-TV delivers , , and sports programming, with a focus on community events and regional issues such as , environmental concerns, and events. Under Sinclair ownership, the station has adhered to corporate mandates for certain syndicated content, including segments promoting viewpoints aligned with the company's leadership, which has drawn scrutiny for potentially limiting .

History

Founding and early broadcast years (1953–1958)

Skyway Broadcasting Company, owners of WLOS-AM and WLOS-FM in Asheville since the AM station's launch in 1947, secured a construction permit from the Federal Communications Commission to establish a television station on VHF channel 13. The company broke ground and constructed facilities in preparation for broadcast operations in the mountainous region of western North Carolina. WLOS-TV signed on the air for the first time on September 18, 1954, at 5:30 p.m., becoming Asheville's second after WISE-TV's debut on August 2, 1953. Operating as a primary ABC affiliate, it delivered network programming to viewers across the western Carolinas, filling a gap in television service for the area. The station's studios were based in downtown Asheville, while its transmitter was erected atop Mount Pisgah to overcome terrain challenges and extend signal reach. Initial was set at 316,000 watts. The call sign WLOS reflected the region's nickname, "Wonderful Land of the Sky." In its formative years through , WLOS-TV focused on establishing viewership with ABC-supplied content, supplemented by nascent productions and segments adapted to the rural, Appalachian demographic. The station competed directly with for audience share in a market where television adoption was accelerating post-World War II. By March , Wometco Enterprises acquired controlling interest in Skyway Broadcasting, marking the transition from the station's founding ownership.

Wometco Enterprises ownership (1958–1987)

In 1958, Wometco Enterprises, a Miami-based conglomerate founded by Mitchell Wolfson with interests in vending machines, coin-operated laundries, and theaters, acquired a in WLOS-AM-FM-TV from Skyway Broadcasting Corporation. The stations were subsequently operated under the Wometco-Skyway Broadcasting Company. Wometco divested WLOS-AM to Greater Asheville Broadcasting Corporation shortly after the acquisition, retaining the television and FM outlets as part of its growing broadcast portfolio, which eventually included stations like in (added in 1961). During this era, WLOS-TV maintained its primary affiliation with ABC and focused on local news, weather, and syndicated programming tailored to the Asheville-Greenville-Spartanburg market. Wometco's management emphasized operational efficiencies across its media assets, though specific investments in WLOS facilities or tower upgrades during the 1960s and 1970s are not extensively documented in contemporaneous reports. The company sold WLOS-FM to WISE Radio Inc. in early 1984 for $1.75 million, with the FCC approving the license transfer as part of broader regulatory adjustments amid Wometco's financial restructuring. That same year, Wometco underwent a $1 billion leveraged buyout led by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. (KKR), finalized by FCC approval on April 13, 1984, which shifted control to the investment firm and prompted asset reviews to manage debt. Under KKR's oversight, WLOS-TV remained operational without major format changes until its divestiture. In 1987, Anchor Media Ltd., backed by investor Robert M. Bass, completed the purchase of WLOS-TV from KKR-owned entities, marking the end of Wometco's direct involvement. This sale reflected the broader 1980s trend of media station flips amid deregulation and private equity maneuvers, with WLOS-TV valued at approximately $50 million based on market comparables for mid-sized ABC affiliates.

Transitional ownership and sales (1987–1996)

In April 1987, Anchor Media Ltd., a company associated with investor M. Bass and partners including Alan Henry, acquired WLOS-TV from Wometco Enterprises for $50 million. This sale followed Wometco's 1984 by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, which prompted divestitures of non-core assets amid financial pressures in the media sector. Under Anchor Media's ownership, WLOS expanded its reach by purchasing low-power station WAXA-TV (channel 67) in , in 1989 to serve as a for areas outside the primary signal footprint. Anchor Media merged its assets into River City Broadcasting L.P., a St. Louis-based operator of mid-sized market stations, in 1993. retained WLOS as part of its ABC-affiliated portfolio and renewed affiliation agreements during the 1994–1996 network realignment, avoiding disruptions from major shifts like those involving and Communications. This ownership change reflected broader consolidation trends, with focusing on operational synergies across its television and radio holdings. In April 1996, Sinclair Broadcast Group announced its acquisition of River City Broadcasting for $1.2 billion in cash and assumed debt, integrating WLOS into Sinclair's growing duopoly and multi-station clusters. The deal, completed later that year after regulatory approvals including a Department agreement on market overlaps, marked the end of the transitional period and positioned WLOS under long-term Sinclair control, emphasizing cost efficiencies and continuity.

Sinclair Broadcast Group era (1996–present)

In 1996, Sinclair Broadcast Group completed its acquisition of WLOS through a merger with River City Broadcasting Corporation, the station's prior owner, in a transaction valued at $1.2 billion. The deal closed on June 3, 1996, integrating WLOS into Sinclair's growing portfolio of local television stations and marking the beginning of the company's stewardship of the ABC affiliate serving western North Carolina and parts of upstate South Carolina. Under Sinclair, WLOS retained its primary focus on local news, weather forecasting, and community-oriented programming, while benefiting from the parent's resources for technological upgrades and operational efficiencies. Sinclair established operational ties with WMYA-TV (channel 40), a affiliate licensed to , through a agreement, forming an effective duopoly that allowed coordinated production and content distribution across the market. The station's studios remained in Asheville, with its transmitter sited on Mount Pisgah for broad coverage of the mountainous region. In 2007, WLOS experienced a brief blackout after cable provider dropped Sinclair-owned stations amid a carriage fee dispute, affecting viewer access until resolution. WLOS completed its transition to full on June 12, 2009, as mandated by federal regulations, operating on UHF channel 13 while retaining its virtual channel 13.1 for ABC programming. Throughout the Sinclair era, has emphasized expanded coverage, including events and regional developments, while introducing digital subchannels for additional content like (13.2) and TBD (13.3). The station marked its 70th anniversary of broadcasting on September 18, 2024, reflecting on decades of service to the community since its 1954 debut. Sinclair's ownership has positioned WLOS as a key outlet for syndicated and network content, with no major affiliation shifts, amid the company's broader strategy of consolidating media assets.

Programming and affiliations

Primary ABC affiliation and network programming

WLOS has operated as the primary ABC affiliate for Western North Carolina and parts of Upstate South Carolina since signing on the air on September 18, 1954. The station, broadcasting on virtual channel 13, delivers ABC's national programming to the Asheville-Greenville-Spartanburg designated market area, which encompasses 14 counties in North Carolina and six in South Carolina. As the market's ABC outlet, WLOS airs the network's core schedule, including the morning news program from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. ET weekdays, followed by local insertions. Evening programming features with at 6:30 p.m., anchoring national and international coverage. Primetime slots include scripted series such as 9-1-1, , and reality formats like , alongside seasonal events including broadcasts and games when ABC holds rights. WLOS carries ABC's sports offerings, notably games during the NFL season, college football matchups, and occasional NBA contests. Daytime lineup historically included soap operas until ABC discontinued them in 2024, shifting to talk shows like GMA3: What You Need to Know. Late-night programming, such as Jimmy Kimmel Live!, has faced occasional preemption by , WLOS's owner, as seen in September 2025 disputes over content, though core network feeds remain intact. The station's ABC affiliation enables comprehensive coverage of network specials, election nights, and simulcasts, supplemented by interruptions during events common to the Appalachian region. In 1979, WLOS increased transmitter power to 1.16 million watts, solidifying its ABC exclusivity across the full market by displacing secondary affiliate WAIM-TV in the portion. 13.2 carries programming, but the main channel prioritizes ABC's feed without significant historical deviations beyond syndicated preemptions.

Syndicated and local non-news content

WLOS airs a selection of syndicated programs in daytime and early evening slots not occupied by ABC network content or local news broadcasts. Weekday afternoons typically feature talk and game shows following ABC daytime soaps, including Access Daily with Mario & Kit at 1:00 p.m., Family Feud at 2:00 p.m., and Jeopardy! at 2:30 p.m. Additional syndicated offerings have historically included Maury, Wheel of Fortune, and lifestyle programs such as those hosted by Martha Stewart, though specific current slots for these may vary. In early evenings, syndicated game shows like Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune often serve as lead-ins to or ABC primetime programming, a common practice for ABC affiliates to bridge the gap before network dramas. Talk shows such as may air in select evening windows, providing entertainment-focused content on lifestyle and celebrity topics. Local non-news content on WLOS remains limited, with the station prioritizing ABC network feeds and news operations over original lifestyle or entertainment series. No dedicated regular local talk, cooking, or variety programs are prominently featured in current schedules, reflecting Sinclair Broadcast Group's emphasis on news and shared syndicated content across affiliates. Community-oriented non-news segments, if any, are typically integrated into news blocks or handled as specials rather than standalone programming. The station's second digital subchannel simulcasts WMYA-TV's MyNetworkTV lineup, which includes additional syndicated sitcom reruns and reality series outside primetime, extending non-news options for viewers.

Special events and community programming

WLOS has produced special broadcasts commemorating significant local milestones and disasters, including an exclusive program marking the station's 70th anniversary of service to on December 27, 2024, which highlighted its historical roots and contributions to the region. The station also aired a dedicated special on September 27, 2025, reflecting on the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Helene's impact, featuring coverage of loss, recovery efforts, and in the aftermath of the September 2024 storm. In response to natural disasters affecting its viewing area, WLOS has organized community fundraisers to aid recovery. Following Tropical Storm Fred in August 2021, the station launched the "Hope for Haywood" campaign, raising over $1 million for victims in Haywood County through viewer donations and partnerships. Similarly, after Hurricane Helene's devastation in September 2024, WLOS initiated the #togetherWNC Helping After Helene fundraiser on October 22, 2024, directing proceeds to support flood-affected families and infrastructure repair in . The station maintains an calendar that lists and promotes local events, festivals, and nonprofit activities across Asheville and surrounding areas, serving as a for public engagement and awareness of regional happenings. WLOS's subchannel programming has included public affairs content, such as discussions on local issues, though specific ongoing series details remain limited in . These efforts align with broader obligations for local broadcasters, emphasizing and civic information dissemination in a mountainous region prone to .

News operations

Format, bureaus, and production

WLOS produces local newscasts under the "News 13" banner, emphasizing coverage of weather, traffic, community events, sports, and breaking news in western North Carolina and upstate South Carolina. The station airs daily broadcasts including News 13 This Morning from 4:30 a.m. to 7:00 a.m., News 13 at Noon, First News at 5:00 p.m., and evening editions at 5:30 p.m., 6:00 p.m., and 11:00 p.m., with additional weekend programming. These newscasts follow a conventional television news format, featuring anchor-led segments, live field reports, and integrated digital elements for multi-platform delivery. The primary production facilities are housed at the station's main studio on 110 Technology Drive in Asheville, North Carolina, which was relocated to this site in 2000. In October 2022, WLOS unveiled a renovated state-of-the-art studio after three months of construction, enhancing production capabilities with modern sets and technology for high-definition broadcasting. As a Sinclair Broadcast Group property, local production integrates with group-wide resources, including occasional national segments like those from The National News Desk, aired on sister station WMYA-TV (channel 40) following the 10:00 p.m. local newscast. To extend coverage across its market, WLOS operates three satellite news bureaus beyond the Asheville headquarters: one on Verdae Boulevard in (with a presence also noted on Villa Road), and two in North Carolina's Rutherford and Haywood Counties. These bureaus support localized reporting for rural and cross-state areas, contributing field footage and stories to main newscasts. In 2021, the Greenville operation relocated to a new studio space along to improve on-site production.

Ratings performance and market share

In the Greenville-Spartanburg-Asheville-Anderson designated market area (DMA), ranked 36th nationally by Nielsen for the 2022-2023 season with approximately 940,000 television households, WLOS competes primarily with NBC affiliate WYFF and CBS affiliate WSPA for audience share in local news programming. Nielsen household ratings for the 11 p.m. newscast in the November 2022 sweeps period showed WLOS achieving a 2.0 rating, securing second place behind WYFF's leading 3.1 and ahead of WSPA's 1.9; in the adults 25-54 demographic, WLOS scored 0.3, trailing WYFF's 1.0 and WSPA's 0.5. Earlier data from May sweeps indicated WYFF edging WSPA in late news with 7.7/14.8 share versus 7.4/14.2, while WLOS trailed in the overall market but maintained relevance in the Asheville submarket. Historical trends reflect WLOS's consistent but non-dominant position, with WYFF reclaiming market leadership by 2022 across most news dayparts and WLOS placing second or third; for instance, in 1990 evening news, WLOS captured 13% of viewers, third behind and WSPA. In the May 2025 sweeps, again finished as the top-rated station overall, underscoring ongoing competition where WLOS leverages its ABC network affiliation and local focus on for targeted share in morning and early evening slots, though specific recent figures for those periods remain proprietary. Sinclair's emphasis on expanded production has supported WLOS's performance amid pressures, contributing to stable in a fragmented viewing landscape.

Awards, accolades, and journalistic achievements

WLOS News 13 has received multiple Southeast Regional from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for excellence in local . In 2025, the station earned four such awards, with veteran photographer Matthew Yates securing two for his contributions to programming. In 2013, WLOS won seven , more than doubling the previous year's total and recognizing achievements in reporting, , and production. Individual journalists at WLOS have also garnered accolades that highlight the station's journalistic output. Anchor Kimberly King has received multiple , an Award for her investigative series on an unsolved murder, and honors from the and . Former anchor Larry Blunt accumulated eight Emmys and dozens of state, regional, and national journalism awards over his 34-year career, including time at WLOS. Reporter Charu Kumarhia won a Southeast Regional Emmy for her work. These recognitions underscore targeted successes in investigative reporting, visual storytelling, and coverage in the Asheville .

Notable on-air personalities, past and present

Darcel Grimes served as a primary evening anchor and reporter at WLOS from 1981 until her retirement in May 2020, spanning 39 years and establishing her as one of the station's longest-tenured personalities. She co-anchored newscasts including News 13 at 6 p.m. and was recognized for her community engagement, receiving the Order of the Long Leaf Pine award in September 2024 for contributions to . Frank Kracher anchored and reported for WLOS starting in 1998, initially as before departing in 2005 for a news director role elsewhere; he returned to the station and retired in 2021 after a 42-year career highlighted by local coverage in Asheville. Mimi Paige worked as a morning anchor until her death at age 35 in a December 15, 2000, crash involving a tractor-trailer striking her stalled vehicle; she was remembered for her on-air warmth and off-air philanthropy, including advocacy for children's causes, with a memorial dogwood tree planted at the Arboretum. Heather Childers anchored weekends and reported from 1999 to 2002 before advancing to larger markets, including News 14 Carolina and later national roles. Among meteorologists, Bill Norwood, known as "Mr. Bill," delivered forecasts starting in 1959, contributing to WLOS's early weather coverage during its formative decades. Bob Caldwell provided weather reports and hosted outdoor segments, serving as a presence in both meteorological and anchoring roles through the late . Jay Siltzer anchored morning weather for over two decades until his 2024 farewell, participating in station milestones like the 70th anniversary retrospectives. Current notable figures include investigative reporter Jennifer Emert, who covers regional issues, and meteorologist Julia Haley, handling daily forecasts amid Western North Carolina's variable climate.

Ownership and corporate influence

Sinclair Broadcast Group's acquisition and strategy

acquired operational control of WLOS in 1996 via its $1.2 billion purchase of Broadcasting, L.P., which owned the station as part of a portfolio including multiple ABC affiliates. The deal, formalized in an dated April 10, 1996, expanded Sinclair's footprint into the Greenville-Spartanburg-Asheville designated market area (DMA), one of the smallest Nielsen markets, enabling the company to leverage local advertising revenues while adhering to FCC ownership limits through arrangements with affiliated entities like Glencairn Ltd. (later Cunningham Broadcasting). This acquisition aligned with Sinclair's broader expansion tactics in the mid-1990s, focusing on consolidating stations in underserved markets to build scale without immediately triggering regulatory divestitures. Post-acquisition, Sinclair's strategy for WLOS centered on sustaining its primary ABC affiliation for network programming access while prioritizing cost-efficient localism through and centralized content production. The company maintained WLOS's studios on Technology Drive in Asheville and invested in operations, positioning it as a key provider of coverage, including weather, traffic, and community events tailored to the mountainous region's needs. To optimize operations, Sinclair established an effective duopoly with WMYA-TV (channel 40, affiliate) in —licensed to Broadcasting but operationally controlled via local marketing agreements—allowing , unified sales teams, and resource pooling that boosted profitability in a low-population DMA. Sinclair integrated WLOS into its national framework by mandating the airing of corporate-produced segments on topics such as and , intended to supplement local reporting with consistent messaging across its 185+ stations, while emphasizing empirical data over partisan narratives. This approach, implemented since the late , aimed to counter perceived biases in network news by enforcing viewpoint diversity, though it drew scrutiny for potentially homogenizing local broadcasts. For WLOS, the strategy preserved a full in-house —unlike many Sinclair stations that outsourced or minimized local content—yielding high market share in news ratings through hyper-local focus, such as Hurricane Helene recovery coverage in , alongside national efficiencies that reduced per-station overhead.

Regulatory approvals, mergers, and compliance

acquired WLOS-TV through its $1.2 billion purchase of River City Broadcasting Corporation, announced on April 12, 1996, which included WLOS as one of nine television stations in the deal. The transaction required (FCC) approval for the transfer of control over broadcast licenses, which was granted in 1996, enabling Sinclair to integrate WLOS into its operations while adhering to then-applicable ownership limits under the Telecommunications Act of 1996. This approval occurred amid broader FCC scrutiny of station group expansions, but the deal proceeded without noted conditions specific to WLOS. Post-acquisition, WLOS has maintained operational compliance with FCC mandates, including signal carriage, participation, and reporting, as part of Sinclair's portfolio subject to routine regulatory oversight. No divestitures or compliance actions unique to WLOS have been imposed by the FCC since the 1996 transfer, though Sinclair faced general group-level reviews in subsequent years, such as the 2001 Glencairn investigation where WLOS's market position was referenced without adverse findings for the station itself. The station's ownership structure has remained stable under Sinclair, unaffected by the company's failed 2018 Tribune Media merger attempt, which was blocked by the FCC over national reach concerns unrelated to WLOS.

Integration with Sinclair's national operations

WLOS, as an owned-and-operated station of , incorporates national content feeds such as The National Desk, a daily program produced centrally by Sinclair that aggregates reporting from its local stations nationwide, including weekend editions aired on WLOS to supplement local programming. This integration enables WLOS to broadcast award-winning stories from Sinclair's network of over 160 stations, reaching approximately 38.7% of U.S. television households, while maintaining its ABC affiliation for primary network content. Operationally, WLOS benefits from Sinclair's centralized , including cloud-based media services deployed via AWS for scalable live production, IP-based origination, and dynamic content distribution across its stations. This shift to centralized, cloud-enabled operations, announced in 2023, streamlines , , and broadcast workflows for WLOS, reducing local redundancies and enhancing national coordination without specified impacts on Asheville-specific staffing as of 2025. Sinclair's national sales arm provides unified and content licensing services to WLOS, offering a single point of contact for syndication deals and revenue optimization across its portfolio, which includes , ABC, and other affiliates. This model, applied to WLOS since Sinclair's acquisition in 1996, facilitates cross-market ad buys and programmatic sales, though local programming decisions remain station-specific.

Controversies and public scrutiny

Allegations of conservative bias and mandated content

, owner of WLOS since 1996, has faced allegations of imposing a conservative editorial slant on its stations through centrally mandated programming, including "must-run" segments that local affiliates like WLOS are required to air verbatim. These segments, produced at 's headquarters, often feature conservative commentators such as and Mark Hyman, delivering commentary on topics like , , and criticism of liberal policies, which critics argue promote a right-leaning agenda under the guise of . In April 2018, WLOS anchors aired a scripted promotional segment mandated by Sinclair, warning viewers that "the sharing of biased and false news has become all too common on social media" and that "some members of the media use their platforms to push their own personal bias and agenda to control exactly what people think... This is extremely dangerous to our democracy." The identical script, broadcast across at least 66 Sinclair stations including WLOS, drew criticism from outlets like Media Matters for echoing then-President Trump's attacks on mainstream media and resembling propaganda, while Democratic lawmakers labeled it "pro-Trump propaganda." Sinclair defended the segment as promoting journalistic integrity and fair reporting, not partisanship. Allegations extend to Sinclair's broader of favoring conservative narratives, such as requiring stations to air a "Terrorism Alert Desk" segment emphasizing global threats in a manner critics say amplifies right-wing security concerns over balanced coverage. Media watchdogs, including those noting Sinclair's rivalry with in conservative influence, have rated WLOS as mixed in factual reporting partly due to this corporate overlay, though empirical studies on local bias vary and often highlight Sinclair's top-down control as a causal factor in perceived slant. In September 2025, Sinclair's decision to preempt Jimmy Kimmel Live! on and other ABC affiliates—replacing it with news programming amid disputes over the host's content—fueled claims of selective against liberal-leaning shows, with Sinclair initially refusing to resume airing even after ABC lifted a production suspension, before reversing course days later. Critics from left-leaning sources attributed this to ideological resistance, contrasting it with mandated conservative inserts, though Sinclair cited viewer alignment and programming discretion without explicitly endorsing bias claims.

Local coverage critiques and empirical studies

Critiques of WLOS's local coverage frequently highlight a shift away from Asheville and Western North Carolina-specific reporting toward broader regional and national stories, attributed to Sinclair Broadcast Group's centralized content strategies. Viewer feedback on platforms like has noted repetitive national segments and diminished emphasis on hyper-local events since Sinclair's acquisition, contrasting with pre-ownership patterns of more community-focused journalism. Empirical analyses of Sinclair stations, applicable to WLOS as a long-held asset, substantiate claims of reduced local emphasis. A 2019 study in the American Political Science Review examined acquisitions by Sinclair and documented a significant post-purchase decline in local news airtime, including a drop in coverage of local politics by approximately 10-15% while national content increased, based on content analysis of over 200 stations. This pattern aligns with causal mechanisms of cost efficiencies and mandated national feeds, leading to less investigative local reporting. A 2025 computational study of online content from Sinclair-acquired outlets further confirmed a pivot from local topics (e.g., city council meetings) to national politicized issues, using topic modeling on archived websites to quantify the shift pre- and post-ownership. These studies, drawn from peer-reviewed and data-driven methodologies, indicate that while WLOS maintains high factual reporting standards, its local coverage depth has empirically contracted under Sinclair, potentially eroding community accountability without corresponding gains in investigative quality. No station-specific longitudinal studies on WLOS exist, but aggregate Sinclair effects provide robust evidence of systemic trends rather than isolated incidents.

Specific incidents, including 2025 Jimmy Kimmel preemption

In September 2025, WLOS preempted the return of Jimmy Kimmel Live! on its schedule, aligning with a broader decision by parent company Sinclair Broadcast Group to replace the ABC late-night program with local news programming across its ABC affiliates. ABC had suspended the show on September 17, 2025, amid criticism of host Jimmy Kimmel's comments regarding an assassination attempt on a conservative figure, but announced its resumption starting September 23. Sinclair cited the network's suspension as "not enough" and indicated ongoing discussions with ABC, while emphasizing that the preemption was independent of any government influence. The preemption affected multiple Sinclair stations in North Carolina, including WLOS, and drew attention for highlighting tensions between affiliate owners and network programming perceived as politically slanted. Sinclair's action followed public statements criticizing Kimmel's content, with the company preempting episodes from September 23 through September 25, opting instead for extended news blocks to address viewer concerns over late-night comedy's ideological tilt. Nexstar Media Group, another major station owner, implemented a similar preemption policy during this period. On September 26, 2025, Sinclair reversed course, announcing the immediate resumption of on its affiliates, including WLOS, attributing the decision to "thoughtful feedback" from viewers rather than concessions from ABC or external pressures. The company reiterated its independence from governmental involvement in the initial preemption and restoration. This brief blackout underscored Sinclair's occasional overrides of network schedules to prioritize local content or counter perceived biases in national shows, though it resolved without long-term disruption to WLOS's ABC affiliation. Beyond the Kimmel incident, WLOS has faced isolated scrutiny over local reporting decisions, such as a 2024 investigative series on unfinished contractor work that prompted complaints from affected businesses about perceived unfairness in coverage, though no formal regulatory actions resulted. In 2023, the station's reporting on a Waynesville locker room dispute involving access sparked online debates, with critics accusing WLOS of amplifying conservative viewpoints in line with Sinclair's editorial stance, but the coverage relied on and witness accounts without editorializing. These events reflect broader critiques of Sinclair affiliates but lack the national profile of the 2025 preemption.

Defenses, counterarguments, and evidence of balanced reporting

WLOS has received numerous accolades for its journalistic work, including four Southeast Regional in 2025 for categories such as news reporting and , as well as seven Emmys in 2013, demonstrating peer recognition for production quality and storytelling in local coverage. Individual staff members, such as reporter Kimberly King, have earned Emmys and Awards, including a National Excellence Award, underscoring competence in investigative and feature reporting. These honors, awarded by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, reflect standards of accuracy, innovation, and impact rather than ideological alignment. An analysis rates WLOS as high for factual reporting, noting consistent verification of claims and minimal failed fact checks, despite a right-center lean in story selection. , WLOS's parent company, asserts that its stations aim for "balanced and comprehensive coverage of news that is relevant to our audience," countering allegations of by emphasizing local autonomy in daily reporting. The company has amassed over 500 and 200 Awards across its stations in recent years, which executives cite as evidence of journalistic merit amid criticisms often sourced from competitors perceived as left-leaning. Counterarguments to claims of mandated conservative content highlight that local programming at WLOS focuses predominantly on non-partisan topics like weather, traffic, community events, and regional investigations, comprising the bulk of airtime and differentiating it from national commentary. In response to the promotional script controversy, Sinclair defended the messaging as a necessary warning against "biased and false news" from certain national outlets, positioning it as a push for viewpoint diversity rather than uniformity. Regarding the 2025 preemption of , Sinclair stations including WLOS cited the host's "ill-timed and insensitive" remarks as justification for temporary replacement with local news, resuming the program after viewer and advertiser input, which proponents frame as editorial discretion to avoid perceived one-sided late-night satire rather than ideological suppression. Empirical comparisons of Sinclair-owned versus independent stations find that while national political coverage may tilt rightward post-acquisition, local content volume remains high and factually robust, with no of fabrication or systemic in routine reporting. Defenders argue that such shifts counteract dominant left-leaning narratives in , fostering market pluralism without compromising verifiability, as validated by WLOS's sustained high factual ratings.

Technical specifications

Analog-to-digital transition and facilities

WLOS-TV ceased analog broadcasting on VHF channel 13 at 12:00 p.m. EDT on June 12, 2009, coinciding with the nationwide full-power mandated by Congress. Prior to the transition, the station's digital signal operated on a temporary UHF channel allocation, but following the analog shutdown, WLOS relocated its digital operations to low-VHF channel 13 (192.628 MHz), aligning with its pre-transition and enabling viewers to access the signal using the same channel number via ATSC tuners. The station broadcast digital programming in high definition during this period, utilizing advanced compression and modulation techniques to mitigate VHF propagation challenges in the mountainous Asheville terrain. The station's primary studios are housed at 110 Technology Drive in , a facility shared with sister station WMYA-TV and equipped for local news production, , and ABC network feeds. For over seven decades, from its sign-on in September 1953 until 2024, WLOS transmitted from a atop Mount Pisgah in Haywood County, at coordinates 35°25′32″N 82°45′24″W and an elevation of approximately 5,721 feet (1,744 m), providing line-of-sight coverage across despite signal attenuation from the . In May 2024, announced the relocation of the transmitter to Pinnacle Mountain in Henderson County to install modern equipment, including higher-efficiency antennas and increased capabilities, with the move completed later that year to enhance reliability and future-proof the infrastructure amid evolving broadcast standards. This upgrade maintains the station's authorized of up to 50 kW while improving signal consistency for digital viewers.

Subchannels, multicast services, and digital offerings

WLOS operates multiple digital subchannels on its virtual channel 13, enabling multicast programming alongside its primary ABC feed. Subchannel 13.1 transmits WLOS's main ABC affiliation in 1080i high definition. Subchannel 13.2 carries MyNetworkTV content, branded as My 40, following the 2021 relocation of programming from sister station WMYA-TV, which subsequently focused on national feeds and ATSC 3.0 testing. Subchannel 13.3 airs Antenna TV, featuring classic sitcoms and dramas from the 1950s to 1990s in 480i standard definition. Subchannel 13.4 broadcasts The Nest, a Sinclair-owned network dedicated to classic films, also in 480i. Some listings indicate a potential 13.5 subchannel for getTV, offering vintage movies and series, though confirmation varies by source aggregation.
Virtual ChannelVideo ResolutionNetworkProgramming Focus
13.1ABCNetwork primetime, , and sports
13.2Syndicated series and movies
13.3Classic TV reruns
13.4The NestFeature films
These subchannels utilize ATSC 1.0 , with bandwidth allocated to support varying resolutions based on content demands. In addition to over-the-air multicast, WLOS provides digital streaming via its website (wlos.com), where users can access live newscasts and on-demand video. The station's mobile app, available on iOS and Android, delivers news, weather, and live streams, with over 1,000 ratings averaging 4.3 stars on Google Play as of recent data. Content extends to free ad-supported platforms including Amazon Fire TV Channels, Samsung TV Plus, and NewsON, enabling access without traditional cable subscriptions as of March 2024. WLOS also supports ATSC 3.0 NextGen TV broadcasting following its 2024 tower relocation to Pinnacle Mountain, which enhances signal quality, interactive features, and future-proofing for 4K and immersive audio, though adoption remains limited by compatible receiver availability.

Signal reach, translators, and coverage challenges

WLOS transmits its primary digital signal on VHF channel 13 from a tower atop Pinnacle Mountain near , with an (ERP) of 144 kW and a (HAAT) of approximately 1,260 meters, providing coverage to an estimated population of over 3.5 million across and parts of within an 80-mile contour. This relocation from the previous Mount Pisgah site, completed in 2024 after over 70 years, enhances operational reliability through year-round access and supports NextGen TV () capabilities for improved audio and video quality, though it primarily affects over-the-air viewers who must rescan receivers. To overcome propagation limitations, WLOS operates a network of low-power digital translators rebroadcasting its signal to remote and terrain-shadowed communities, including W32EO-D (channel 19) in ; W12CI-D (channel 12) in ; W15DY-D (channel 15) in ; W12AQ-D (channel 12) in ; W31DY-D (channel 31) in ; W12AR-D (channel 12) in ; W11AJ-D (channel 11) in ; W14EG-D (channel 14) in Robbinsville, North Carolina; W17DS-D (channel 17) in ; W15DR-D (channel 15) in ; and W30DX-D (channel 30) in . These facilities, licensed to WLOS Licensee, LLC, fill gaps in the main signal, particularly in valleys and western areas beyond Sylvia and where direct reception fails due to obstructions. Coverage challenges stem primarily from the ' rugged topography, which disrupts VHF line-of-sight propagation and causes signal multipath interference and shadowing, rendering over-the-air reception unreliable or impossible in many households without elevated antennas or . The former Mount Pisgah transmitter (50 kW at nearly 1,830 meters elevation) exacerbated issues through seasonal access restrictions, including snow, ice, and reliance on precarious trams or hikes for maintenance, occasionally leading to outages like the January 2024 disruption affecting antenna viewers. While the Pinnacle site addresses some logistical hurdles, terrain-induced variability persists, with many residents depending on cable, , or streaming alternatives for consistent access.

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