WCOV-TV
A Fox-affiliated television station serving Montgomery, Alabama, and surrounding communities.
Last updated November 4, 2026
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Overview
WCOV-TV is a commercial television station licensed to Montgomery, Alabama, United States. It broadcasts on virtual channel 20 and is affiliated with the Fox network. The station serves the Montgomery television market and operates alongside several other stations under common ownership, including NBC affiliate WSFA, Cozi TV affiliate WIYC, Telemundo affiliate WBXM-CD, and weather-focused WALE-LD. WCOV-TV, WIYC, and WALE-LD share studio facilities on WCOV Avenue in Montgomery's Normandale area, while the station's transmitter is located southeast of Grady. The station began broadcasting on April 17, 1953, becoming Montgomery's first television station. Its original owners were associated with radio station WCOV and reorganized their television interests as the Capitol Broadcasting Company. Although the original application sought VHF channel 12, the station ultimately received a construction permit for UHF channel 20. It launched primarily as a CBS affiliate and also carried programming from NBC, ABC, and DuMont during television's early network era. The choice of UHF placed WCOV-TV at a technical and competitive disadvantage after WSFA-TV began broadcasting on VHF channel 12 in December 1954. VHF reception generally offered broader and more reliable coverage at a time when many households lacked UHF tuning capability. For much of its early history, WCOV-TV sought regulatory and technical remedies to the imbalance between Montgomery's UHF and VHF stations. It advocated moving WSFA-TV to UHF, relocating another channel assignment, or otherwise restructuring the market. These proposals were not adopted. A studio fire in 1955 temporarily interrupted service and caused extensive damage, while a later tower replacement improved the station's transmission facilities without eliminating the underlying market disadvantage. Gay-Bell Broadcasting acquired WCOV-TV and its associated radio properties in 1964. During Gay-Bell's ownership, the station continued to challenge competing efforts to strengthen VHF service in the region, including proposals involving Selma station WSLA-TV. The regulatory disputes continued for decades. When WSLA became WAKA and expanded its reach into Montgomery, it became a stronger CBS competitor. In 1985, CBS informed WCOV-TV that WAKA would become the network's primary Montgomery affiliate, ending WCOV-TV's 32-year CBS relationship at the start of 1986. Gay-Bell sold the station to Woods Communications in 1985. WCOV-TV initially operated as an independent station after leaving CBS, but the cost of acquiring a full schedule of syndicated and other programming placed substantial pressure on the business. The station joined the newly launched Fox network in October 1986. Fox programming became an important financial and audience catalyst, helping WCOV-TV remain viable despite its historically weaker technical position. Woods also discontinued the station's locally produced newscasts in 1986. During the 1990s, WCOV-TV produced MPD, a local adaptation of the Fox program Cops, which became one of the market's highly rated programs. A major tornado destroyed the station's Montgomery-area tower on March 6, 1996. WCOV-TV restored cable service the same day, then operated from a temporary, lower-power facility. In January 1997, it began transmitting from WSFA's much taller tower near Grady, substantially expanding its coverage area and improving its commercial position. The station later relied on externally produced newscasts rather than maintaining a full in-house news department. These arrangements included a WBRC-produced morning newscast, a 9 p.m. newscast produced through WSFA and related stations, and later a WAKA-produced program. In February 2025, production of the 9 p.m. newscast moved to sister station WAAY-TV in Huntsville. Allen Media Group agreed to acquire WCOV-TV and related Montgomery stations from Woods Communications in 2021, completing the transaction in April 2023. Allen Media Group subsequently explored strategic alternatives for its television portfolio amid financial pressure and announced a sale of WCOV-TV and other stations to Gray Media in 2025. The supplied reference material states that the Gray transaction was completed on May 1, 2026. Under Gray Media, WCOV-TV remains a Fox affiliate serving central Alabama. The station also completed the U.S. digital television transition in 2009 and moved its digital transmission frequency from channel 20 to channel 22 in 2019 as part of the nationwide spectrum-repacking process.
History
WCOV-TV originated with an application filed on December 31, 1951, by the owners of Montgomery radio station WCOV. The applicants initially sought VHF channel 12, but amended the proposal to UHF channel 20 after WSFA also pursued channel 12 and after UHF transmission equipment was more readily available. The FCC granted a construction permit to the reorganized Capitol Broadcasting Company in September 1952. WCOV-TV began broadcasting on April 17, 1953, becoming Montgomery's first television station. It operated primarily as a CBS affiliate while also carrying selected programming from NBC, ABC, and DuMont. The launch of WSFA-TV on VHF channel 12 in December 1954 created a lasting competitive imbalance. At the time, VHF stations generally had better reception characteristics and wider household penetration than UHF stations. WCOV-TV repeatedly asked regulators to alter channel assignments or move WSFA to UHF, arguing that the market should not give one station a structural advantage. The FCC declined to adopt the proposed deintermixture arrangements. The station's facilities also suffered several setbacks, including a serious studio fire in August 1955 that interrupted both WCOV radio and television operations. Service resumed about a week later. Gay-Bell Broadcasting purchased WCOV-TV and its related radio stations in 1964. The new owner built a taller transmission tower and continued efforts to improve the station's competitive position. WCOV-TV objected to applications associated with Selma station WSLA-TV, including proposals that could strengthen VHF service in the Montgomery area. A series of regulatory challenges continued into the late 1970s and early 1980s. The FCC ultimately approved an expanded facility for WSLA, which later adopted the call sign WAKA and entered Montgomery as a stronger CBS outlet. The development of WAKA directly affected WCOV-TV's network status. Although CBS had previously indicated that WCOV-TV would remain affiliated, the network notified the station in 1985 that WAKA would become its Montgomery affiliate. Gay-Bell sold WCOV-TV to Woods Communications during the same period, with the transaction closing in December 1985. CBS allowed WCOV-TV to continue temporarily through the end of that year, but the affiliation ended on January 1, 1986. WCOV-TV initially attempted to operate independently. The expense of assembling many additional hours of programming, combined with weak advertiser confidence, placed the station under severe financial strain. The launch of Fox offered a solution. WCOV-TV joined Fox in October 1986, and the network's programming gradually gave the station a more dependable audience and revenue base. Woods closed the station's local news department in September 1986, shortly before the Fox affiliation began, citing the cost of competing against established local news operations. In the 1990s, the station produced MPD, a locally oriented version of Cops that became a notable ratings performer. On March 6, 1996, a tornado destroyed WCOV-TV's tower in Montgomery. The station restored service to cable customers later that day, then used a temporary tower while transmitting at reduced power. In January 1997, WCOV-TV moved to WSFA's 1,630-foot tower near Grady. The change materially increased the station's coverage area and improved its advertising proposition. Woods also negotiated additional cable carriage agreements during this recovery period. WCOV-TV later used a series of outside production arrangements for news. In 2006 it began carrying a morning newscast produced by WBRC in Birmingham. In 2008, Woods Communications entered an arrangement involving WSFA and WDFX for a 9 p.m. newscast. The program was subsequently produced by WAKA and, beginning in February 2025, by sister station WAAY-TV in Huntsville. The station's digital transition included the shutdown of its analog channel 20 signal in February 2009. Its post-transition digital signal initially used channel 20 and moved to channel 22 in September 2019 under the federal spectrum-repacking program. Allen Media Group agreed in 2021 to purchase WCOV-TV, WIYC, and WALE-LD from Woods Communications; the sale closed in April 2023. In 2025, Allen Media Group announced that it was considering strategic options for its television holdings. Gray Media later announced an agreement to acquire WCOV-TV and other stations in the portfolio. The supplied reference material reports completion of that sale on May 1, 2026. WCOV-TV therefore operates as a Gray Media-owned Fox affiliate serving Montgomery and central Alabama.
- 2026
Acquired by Gray Media
[1]The supplied reference material states that Gray Media completed its acquisition of WCOV-TV on May 1, 2026.
- 2023
Acquired by Allen Media Group
[1]Allen Media Group completed its acquisition of WCOV-TV and related Montgomery stations.
- 2019
Digital frequency relocated
[1]WCOV-TV moved its digital transmission from UHF channel 20 to channel 22 following the federal spectrum auction and repacking process.
- 2009
Analog transmission ended
[1]The station shut down its analog channel 20 signal as part of the U.S. digital television transition.
- 1997
Transmission moved to Grady tower
[1]WCOV-TV began using WSFA's taller tower near Grady, expanding its signal reach.
- 1996
Broadcast tower destroyed by tornado
[1]A tornado destroyed the station's principal tower, forcing temporary reduced-power operations.
- 1986
CBS affiliation ends and Fox affiliation begins
[1]WCOV-TV lost CBS on January 1 and joined Fox in October after a short period as an independent station.
- 1964
Acquired by Gay-Bell Broadcasting
[1]Gay-Bell Broadcasting purchased WCOV-TV and its associated radio stations.
- 1954
VHF competition begins
[1]WSFA-TV launched on VHF channel 12, intensifying WCOV-TV's technical and commercial disadvantage.
- 1953
First broadcast
[1]WCOV-TV began broadcasting on April 17 as Montgomery's first television station.
Products and positioning
A local Fox affiliate focused on network entertainment, regional reach, broadcast advertising, and outsourced late-evening news for the Montgomery, Alabama market.
Broadcast television station · 1953
WCOV-TV Fox 20
The station's primary service is a Fox-affiliated digital broadcast serving Montgomery and surrounding central Alabama communities. It combines Fox network programming with syndicated content, local promotional material, advertising, and market-specific programming.
Digital multicast channel
WCOV-DT2
WCOV-TV's second digital subchannel carries Antenna TV programming, extending the station's over-the-air offering beyond its main Fox service.
Local news program · 2008
WCOV-TV 9 p.m. newscast
WCOV-TV carries a late-evening local newscast designed for the Fox schedule. Production has been outsourced over time, including arrangements with WSFA-related operations, WAKA, and, from February 2025, sister station WAAY-TV in Huntsville.
Local television program
MPD
MPD was a locally produced adaptation of the Fox reality program Cops. Broadcast during the 1990s, it became one of WCOV-TV's strongest-rated locally connected programs in the Montgomery market.
Brand decisions
2025
Transfer 9 p.m. newscast production to WAAY-TVStrategyBackground
WCOV-TV used an outsourced model for its late-evening news after discontinuing its own newsroom.
Action taken
Beginning February 3, 2025, production of the 9 p.m. newscast moved from WAKA to sister station WAAY-TV in Huntsville.
Aftermath
The station retained a local late-evening news offering while continuing to rely on group-level production.
2025
Agree to sale to Gray MediaM&ABackground
Allen Media Group announced that it was evaluating strategic options for its television stations amid financial pressure and rising debt.
Action taken
Gray Media agreed to acquire WCOV-TV and other Allen Media Group stations. The supplied reference material reports that the transaction closed on May 1, 2026.
Aftermath
WCOV-TV became part of Gray Media's Montgomery station group.
Purchase price for announced station portfolio. $171 million (Announced August 8, 2025; reported completion May 1, 2026)
2021
Agree to sale to Allen Media GroupM&ABackground
Woods Communications placed WCOV-TV and related Montgomery stations into a transaction with Allen Media Group.
Action taken
Allen Media Group agreed to acquire WCOV-TV, WIYC, and WALE-LD; the transaction closed in April 2023.
Aftermath
The stations became part of Allen Media Group's television portfolio.
Purchase price. $28.5 million (Announced December 15, 2021; transaction completed April 14, 2023)
1997
Move transmission to the Grady towerStrategyBackground
The station's original tower had been destroyed by a tornado, leaving it dependent on temporary reduced-power facilities.
Action taken
WCOV-TV began broadcasting from WSFA's taller tower near Grady.
Aftermath
The move expanded coverage and improved the station's ability to compete for regional advertising.
1986
Join the Fox network after losing CBSStrategyBackground
The station lost a long-standing CBS affiliation to WAKA and found the cost of operating as an independent station difficult to sustain.
Action taken
WCOV-TV affiliated with Fox when the network launched nationally in October 1986.
Aftermath
Fox programming improved the station's audience and financial prospects and became the foundation of its continuing market position.
1986
End the in-house news departmentStrategyBackground
After losing CBS network support, Woods Communications judged that maintaining a competitive local newsroom would impose a substantial expense on the independent and then Fox-affiliated station.
Action taken
WCOV-TV discontinued its local news department in September 1986.
Aftermath
The station later relied on externally produced newscasts rather than restoring a full internal news operation.
Sources1 sources
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