WCIV
A Charleston-area television station whose primary service carries independent and MyNetworkTV programming and whose secondary digital channel carries ABC programming.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
WCIV is a television station serving Charleston, South Carolina, and the surrounding Lowcountry region. The station operates from studios on Allbritton Boulevard along U.S. 17/701 in Mount Pleasant, with its transmitter located in Awendaw. Its current broadcast identity is unusual because the WCIV call sign and programming history are tied to a complicated exchange of licenses, virtual channels, and digital subchannels involving Sinclair Broadcast Group's stations in the Charleston market. The present station began broadcasting on December 1, 1992, under the call sign WCTP. It initially operated as an independent station and later became a charter affiliate of The WB in January 1995, adopting the calls WBNU later that year. After Max Media Properties acquired the station in 1997, it became WMMP and changed its affiliation to UPN. Sinclair acquired the station the following year. In 2006, after the creation of MyNetworkTV, WMMP became one of Sinclair's affiliates for the new network and retained that role after the network's launch. The station's corporate and regulatory history reflects the structure of the U.S. local television industry. Sinclair also became connected with Fox affiliate WTAT-TV through Glencairn Ltd., later renamed Cunningham Broadcasting. Regulators and critics argued that the arrangement gave Sinclair effective control over two stations in a market where direct common ownership was restricted. The Federal Communications Commission fined Sinclair $40,000 in 2001 for illegally controlling Glencairn. The relationship became a central issue when Sinclair attempted to acquire Allbritton Communications, owner of the original WCIV on channel 4, because the proposed structure would have created additional ownership and local-marketing-agreement conflicts. Sinclair completed its acquisition of Allbritton in August 2014 after restructuring the transaction. Rather than close the channel 4 WCIV operation, Sinclair transferred the WCIV license assets to Howard Stirk Holdings, a company owned by commentator Armstrong Williams. The transaction was proposed for $50,000 and was designed to preserve the station's license. In preparation for the transfer, the WCIV and WMMP facilities and programming identities were rearranged. The WCIV call sign moved to the channel 36 license, while the channel 4 license received the WMMP call sign and was subsequently associated with WGWG. ABC programming and the former WCIV news operation moved to a digital subchannel of the channel 36 facility, while the primary channel continued with independent programming and a secondary MyNetworkTV affiliation. WCIV's programming portfolio combines syndicated and network entertainment with locally produced content. Its best-known local program is Lowcountry Live, a weekday lifestyle and entertainment show featuring local artists, chefs, musicians, authors, community contributors, and recurring segments such as Makeover Monday and Louis' Kids. The station also produces local news and supplies news programming for WTAT-TV. A weekday 5 p.m. newscast began in 2015, and WCIV has also carried local news at 7 p.m. in cooperation with CBS affiliate WCSC-TV. The station converted its newscasts to high definition in October 2011. In April 2025, WCIV announced an agreement with the Charleston RiverDogs to televise all Sunday home games, extending the station's local role into Minor League Baseball coverage. WCIV therefore functions both as a broadcast outlet and as a local media brand: its value lies in its Charleston-area reach, local news and lifestyle production, syndicated programming, digital multicast services, and relationships with regional sports and community organizations.
History
The current WCIV operation traces its broadcasting history to December 1, 1992, when it signed on as WCTP, an independent station in the Charleston market. Its launch followed a nine-month delay and began with test programming. In January 1995, WCTP became a charter affiliate of The WB. Later that year, the station changed its call sign to WBNU. Max Media Properties acquired the station in January 1997. The new owner changed the call sign to WMMP and moved the station from The WB to UPN. Sinclair acquired WMMP in 1998, giving the station its third owner in several years. Sinclair subsequently became involved in a broader Charleston station structure that included Fox affiliate WTAT-TV. The station's license assets were placed with Glencairn Ltd., while Sinclair operated the station through a local marketing agreement. Glencairn was later renamed Cunningham Broadcasting. The arrangement attracted regulatory scrutiny because Glencairn's ownership was closely connected to the Smith family, which founded Sinclair. Although the entities were formally separate, critics argued that Sinclair exercised effective control over both stations. In 2001, the FCC fined Sinclair $40,000 for illegally controlling Glencairn. The structure also became significant because Charleston had only six full-power television stations, limiting the number of stations that one company could legally own directly. Sinclair chose to retain WMMP while WTAT's license was held by Glencairn/Cunningham, with the stations continuing to operate under an LMA. Before the creation of MyNetworkTV, WMMP carried UPN programming. After The WB and UPN were replaced by the new MyNetworkTV service in 2006, Sinclair announced that WMMP would join the new network. WMMP continued to carry MyNetworkTV, while also occasionally airing Fox programming when WTAT preempted Fox network content for emergency coverage, weather interruptions, or local specials. The station also carried The Tube on a digital subchannel before that service ceased operations in 2007. A major transformation occurred after Allbritton Communications announced in 2013 that it would sell its television stations to Sinclair. Allbritton owned WCIV, the established channel 4 station in Charleston. The proposed transaction raised concerns because Sinclair's existing relationships with WMMP and WTAT could have produced ownership and local-marketing-agreement combinations that conflicted with FCC rules. In December 2013, the FCC required Sinclair to amend or withdraw applications related to the deal. Sinclair announced a restructuring in March 2014, including the planned termination of its shared-services arrangement with Cunningham and the proposed sale of WMMP. Sinclair later reported that it had not found a buyer for WMMP and considered surrendering the original WCIV license. That plan would have moved WCIV's ABC affiliation, syndicated programming, and news operation to WMMP, while MyNetworkTV programming would have shifted to a digital channel. Sinclair ultimately retained the channel 36 facilities because they were technically superior. It completed the Allbritton acquisition on August 1, 2014. To avoid a complete shutdown of the channel 4 license, Sinclair filed in September 2014 to transfer WCIV's license assets to Howard Stirk Holdings, owned by Armstrong Williams. The transaction was proposed at $50,000. The station's programming and technical identities were then reorganized: WCIV moved onto the channel 36 license and virtual channel, while the channel 4 license took the WMMP call sign and was later associated with WGWG. ABC programming was placed on WCIV's second digital subchannel, while the primary service continued as an independent outlet with a secondary MyNetworkTV affiliation. WCIV has developed a local programming identity alongside its network and syndicated content. Lowcountry Live is a weekday lifestyle and entertainment program featuring regional artists, chefs, musicians, authors, and community figures. Its recurring features include Makeover Monday and Louis' Kids. The station introduced a weekday 5 p.m. newscast in April 2015 and has participated in a 7 p.m. local-news arrangement with WCSC-TV. WCIV's newscasts transitioned to high definition in October 2011, and from January 2016 the station produced WTAT-TV's newscast. The station continues to operate as a Charleston-area television outlet with local news, lifestyle, entertainment, network, multicast, and syndicated programming. In 2025, it added a recurring local sports relationship through an agreement to broadcast all Sunday home games of the Charleston RiverDogs.
- 2025
Announces RiverDogs broadcast agreement
[1]WCIV announces plans to air all Sunday home games of the Charleston RiverDogs.
- 2016
Begins producing WTAT newscast
[1]WCIV begins producing the Fox affiliate's local newscast.
- 2015
Adds a 5 p.m. newscast
[1]WCIV inaugurates a weekday 5 p.m. local newscast on April 20.
- 2014
Sinclair completes Allbritton transaction
[1]The acquisition closes on August 1 after restructuring to address FCC ownership concerns.
- 2014
WCIV identity moves to channel 36
[1]The WCIV call sign and virtual channel move to the channel 36 facility, while ABC programming shifts to a digital subchannel.
- 2013
Sinclair announces Allbritton acquisition
[1]Sinclair announces an agreement to acquire Allbritton Communications, including the original channel 4 WCIV.
- 2011
Newscasts move to high definition
[1]The station begins broadcasting its local newscasts in high definition on October 15.
- 2006
WMMP joins MyNetworkTV
[1]WMMP becomes a MyNetworkTV affiliate after Sinclair commits many of its former WB and UPN stations to the new network.
- 2001
FCC fines Sinclair over Glencairn control
[1]The FCC imposes a $40,000 fine for illegally controlling Glencairn Ltd., the company connected to Sinclair's Charleston station structure.
- 1998
Sinclair acquires WMMP
[1]Sinclair becomes the station's owner.
Products and positioning
Local broadcast television serving Charleston and the South Carolina Lowcountry, combining local news and lifestyle content with independent, MyNetworkTV, ABC, syndicated, and digital multicast programming.
Television programming · 1992
Local news
WCIV produces local news programming for the Charleston market, including weekday evening coverage and a 5 p.m. newscast introduced in 2015. The station also participates in local news production for WTAT-TV and has carried a 7 p.m. news program in cooperation with WCSC-TV. Its news operation became available in high definition in 2011.
Lifestyle and entertainment television
Lowcountry Live
Lowcountry Live is WCIV's weekday lifestyle and entertainment program. The show presents regional artists, chefs, musicians, authors, and community contributors, supported by recurring segments including Makeover Monday and Louis' Kids. It serves as a locally focused daytime offering and reflects the station's role as a community-oriented Charleston media outlet.
Network television · 2014
ABC programming
ABC programming is carried on WCIV's secondary digital channel. This arrangement dates from the 2014 reorganization in which the former channel 4 WCIV operation and its ABC affiliation were moved onto a digital subchannel of the channel 36 facility.
Network television · 2006
MyNetworkTV programming
The primary WCIV service carries an independent programming schedule with a secondary affiliation to MyNetworkTV. The MyNetworkTV relationship originated with the station's earlier identity as WMMP, which joined the network at its launch in 2006.
Sports television · 2025
Charleston RiverDogs broadcasts
WCIV's agreement with the Charleston RiverDogs provides television coverage of all Sunday home games. The arrangement adds recurring Minor League Baseball programming to the station's local news and entertainment portfolio.
Controversies
2001
FCC enforcement over Sinclair–Glencairn control
The FCC fined Sinclair $40,000 for illegally controlling Glencairn Ltd., a company that held the license of WTAT-TV while Sinclair operated the station through an agreement. Critics argued that the arrangement functioned as an indirect Sinclair duopoly and circumvented broadcast ownership limits.
Brand decisions
2025
Adds Charleston RiverDogs game coverageProduct launchBackground
WCIV sought to expand its locally relevant programming beyond news and lifestyle content.
Action taken
The station announced an agreement to broadcast all Sunday home games of the Charleston RiverDogs.
Aftermath
The agreement broadened WCIV's local sports offering.
2015
Launches weekday 5 p.m. newscastProduct launchBackground
The reorganized WCIV continued developing a local news operation after the 2014 channel and license changes.
Action taken
WCIV introduced a weekday 5 p.m. newscast on April 20.
Aftermath
The newscast became part of the station's local news schedule.
2014
Restructures Charleston station ownershipM&ABackground
Sinclair's acquisition of Allbritton created potential conflicts involving WCIV, WMMP, WTAT-TV, and existing local marketing agreements under FCC ownership rules.
Action taken
Sinclair retained the channel 36 facilities, transferred the WCIV license assets to Howard Stirk Holdings, and reorganized the call signs, virtual channels, and digital subchannels.
Aftermath
WCIV continued operating on channel 36 with ABC on a secondary digital channel, while the channel 4 license was separated from the WCIV identity.
Proposed license-asset purchase price. $50,000 (2014)
2006
WMMP affiliates with MyNetworkTVStrategyBackground
The launch of MyNetworkTV followed the replacement of The WB and UPN as major broadcast-network options.
Action taken
Sinclair placed WMMP among its former WB and UPN stations that would affiliate with MyNetworkTV.
Aftermath
The station retained a MyNetworkTV relationship while continuing to carry local and syndicated programming.
Recent events
Sinclair stations receive 28 Regional Edward R. Murrow Awards[3]
Reported:
Sinclair Broadcast Group said 18 of its news stations and partner stations were honored with a total of 28 Regional Edward R. Murrow Awards for journalism.
Sources3 sources
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