WMYT-TV
Television station licensed to Rock Hill, South Carolina, serving the Charlotte market as an affiliate of The CW.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
WMYT-TV is a broadcast television station licensed to Rock Hill, South Carolina, and serving the larger Charlotte, North Carolina, television market. The station operates on channel 55 and is commonly distributed on cable channel 12, a position reflected in its former local branding as “My TV 12.” Its programming identity has changed several times since it began broadcasting, moving from an independent service to an affiliate of The WB, then to MyNetworkTV, and ultimately to The CW. The station’s origins lie in a lengthy Federal Communications Commission application process for a commercial station on Rock Hill’s channel 55 allocation. Twelve applicants initially sought the construction permit, and FCC decisions in 1987, 1988, and 1989 selected different applicants as the case moved through administrative and commission-level review. A proposed acquisition associated with Charlotte Hornets owner George Shinn also failed after objections and delays. The permit eventually went to Family Fifty Five Inc., which sold it to the operating station after a programming and management arrangement was reached with Capitol Broadcasting Company, owner of Charlotte station WJZY. The station signed on October 21, 1994, as WFVT, an independent outlet carrying movies, classic television programs, and syndicated sports. It joined The WB when that network launched in January 1995. Capitol initially supplied much of the station’s programming under a local marketing agreement and later acquired the station outright in 1999, creating a duopoly with WJZY. The call sign changed to WWWB in 2001 as a promotional link to The WB. During this period, the station also carried a locally produced 10 p.m. newscast, but the program was discontinued in 2002 after weak ratings. Following the 2006 combination of The WB and UPN into The CW, WJZY became the Charlotte market’s CW affiliate. The displaced station adopted the call sign WMYT-TV and joined MyNetworkTV, a service created by Fox Television Stations for stations that had lost their prior network affiliations. WMYT also carried selected Charlotte Bobcats basketball broadcasts for a period and resumed a 10 p.m. newscast in 2012, when a WBTV-produced program moved from WJZY to WMYT. Fox Television Stations acquired WJZY and WMYT in 2013. The transaction shifted Fox programming in the Charlotte market from WCCB-TV to WJZY, while WMYT continued its MyNetworkTV role. Fox later sold WMYT’s broadcast spectrum in the 2017 incentive auction; WJZY subsequently began transmitting the station’s programming from its own transmitter facility. In 2019, Fox sold WJZY and WMYT to Nexstar Media Group. WMYT and WJZY share studio facilities on Performance Road near Interstate 85 in western Mecklenburg County and use a transmitter site near Dallas, North Carolina, close to the Catawba River. Nexstar announced that WMYT would become the Charlotte market’s outlet for The CW on September 1, 2025, replacing its prior MyNetworkTV affiliation and making the station a Nexstar-owned CW outlet.
History
The channel 55 allocation in Rock Hill had earlier been used by an educational television translator before that service was replaced by WNSC-TV on channel 30. In 1981, York County Television Corporation applied to build a commercial station, but the allocation history created regulatory complications because channel 55 had been reserved for noncommercial use. The FCC opened the channel to commercial applications in 1983, and by 1985 twelve parties were competing for the permit. The application proceeding continued for nearly a decade. An FCC administrative law judge selected Neisler Limited Partnership in 1987, but the decision was challenged. In 1988, an FCC review board instead favored Koontz Communications. The full commission reversed that decision in 1989 and awarded the permit to Family 55 TV. A later attempt by George Shinn to consolidate control of the pending applications collapsed in 1990 after petitions opposing the transaction and delays in resolving the matter. Koontz Communications subsequently reached an arrangement involving Family 55 TV and Neisler Limited Partnership, but it could not finance the required buyout. In 1993, Koontz sold the permit to Family Fifty Five Inc., headed by minister Gene Hood. Family Fifty Five then entered into a local marketing agreement with Capitol Broadcasting Company, which owned WJZY. Capitol supplied most of the operating infrastructure and programming while Family Fifty Five retained a limited public-affairs role. The station began broadcasting on October 21, 1994, as WFVT. It initially operated as an independent station with movies, older television programs, and syndicated Southeastern Conference sports. When The WB launched in January 1995, WFVT became the network’s Charlotte-area affiliate. The station was sold to TV 55 LLC in 1996, and Capitol Broadcasting purchased it in 1999 after FCC rules began permitting television duopolies. The acquisition placed WFVT under common ownership with WJZY. In 2000, WFVT began airing a 10 p.m. newscast produced by WCNC-TV. The program emphasized lifestyle and health features and was intended to fit The WB’s audience profile, but it did not achieve sufficient ratings and ended in March 2002. The station changed its call sign to WWWB in August 2001 to reinforce its network identity. The 2006 merger of The WB and UPN created The CW. WJZY joined the new network, while WWWB became a MyNetworkTV affiliate. The station changed its call sign to WMYT-TV on April 28, 2006, and promoted itself locally as “My TV 12.” It also carried a limited number of Charlotte Bobcats basketball telecasts before those local rights moved elsewhere. A WBTV-produced 10 p.m. newscast returned to WMYT in April 2012, but the program later moved back to WJZY after Fox acquired the stations. Fox Television Stations purchased WJZY and WMYT in 2013. The deal was connected with Fox’s decision to move its Charlotte affiliation from WCCB-TV to WJZY. Fox sold WMYT’s spectrum in the 2017 broadcast incentive auction, and WJZY began transmitting the station’s signal from its transmitter in 2018. In 2019, Nexstar Media Group acquired both stations from Fox. WMYT and WJZY operate from shared studios on Performance Road in western Mecklenburg County and transmit from a site near Dallas, North Carolina. In 2025, Nexstar announced a further network change: WMYT would become the Charlotte market’s CW station on September 1, 2025. This marked the station’s transition from MyNetworkTV back to a major broadcast network affiliation, nearly two decades after it had lost The WB/CW relationship to WJZY.
- 2025
WMYT returns to a CW affiliation
[1]Nexstar announced that WMYT would become the Charlotte market’s CW affiliate on September 1.
- 2019
Nexstar acquires the station
[1]Nexstar Media Group purchased WMYT and WJZY from Fox.
- 2018
Transmission arrangement moves to WJZY facility
[1]Following the spectrum sale, WJZY began broadcasting from its transmitter on behalf of the station.
- 2013
Fox acquires WJZY and WMYT
[1]Fox Television Stations acquired the paired Charlotte-market stations from Capitol Broadcasting.
- 2006
Station becomes WMYT-TV and joins MyNetworkTV
[1]After WJZY selected The CW, WWWB changed to WMYT-TV and affiliated with MyNetworkTV.
- 2001
Call sign changes to WWWB
[1]The station adopted the WWWB call sign as a branding tie-in to The WB.
- 1999
Capitol Broadcasting completes acquisition
[1]Capitol Broadcasting purchased the station from TV 55 LLC, placing it under common ownership with WJZY.
- 1995
WFVT becomes a WB affiliate
[1]WFVT joined The WB when the network launched in January.
- 1994
WFVT begins broadcasting
[1]The station signed on October 21 as WFVT, initially operating as an independent station under a programming arrangement with Capitol Broadcasting.
- 1985
Twelve applicants compete for the construction permit
[1]A comparative FCC proceeding was established after twelve applicants sought authority to construct the Rock Hill station.
Products and positioning
A Charlotte-market broadcast station serving as a network-affiliated entertainment and television outlet, with a history of local news, syndicated programming, and sports coverage.
Network television · 2025
The CW programming
WMYT-TV is scheduled to carry The CW as its primary network service beginning September 1, 2025. The affiliation represents the station’s return to the network lineage created by the 2006 merger of The WB and UPN, although WJZY had held the Charlotte-area CW affiliation during the intervening period.
Network television · 2006
MyNetworkTV programming
From 2006 until its announced 2025 transition, WMYT served as the Charlotte market’s MyNetworkTV affiliate. The service supplied nationally distributed entertainment programming for stations displaced by the formation of The CW.
News broadcasting · 2000
Local news
WMYT has carried locally oriented late-evening news produced by other Charlotte-area stations. A WCNC-produced newscast ran from 2000 to 2002, and a WBTV-produced 10 p.m. program aired on WMYT beginning in 2012 before returning to WJZY after Fox’s acquisition.
Sports television · 1994
Sports broadcasts
The station has carried syndicated sports, including Southeastern Conference programming during its early independent period. It also aired selected Charlotte Bobcats basketball games after the team’s broadcasts moved from WJZY, before local television rights were acquired by Fox Sports Carolinas for the 2008–09 season.
Brand decisions
2025
Move to The CWStrategyBackground
Nexstar announced a new affiliation plan for the Charlotte market while operating WMYT as an owned station.
Action taken
WMYT is to become the Charlotte market’s CW affiliate on September 1, 2025.
Aftermath
The move ends the station’s long MyNetworkTV period and restores a CW-branded network role to WMYT.
2019
Sale to Nexstar Media GroupM&ABackground
Fox agreed to divest WJZY and WMYT after its ownership of the stations.
Action taken
Nexstar Media Group acquired the paired stations in a transaction reported at $45 million.
Aftermath
WMYT became part of Nexstar’s Charlotte-area station portfolio alongside WJZY and later became part of the company’s CW affiliation strategy.
Acquisition price. $45 million (2019 transaction)
2017
Broadcast spectrum saleStrategyBackground
Fox participated in the federal broadcast incentive auction while owning WMYT.
Action taken
Fox sold WMYT’s spectrum and later arranged for the station’s programming to be transmitted from WJZY’s facility.
Aftermath
WMYT continued operating as a station brand without its own separate full-power transmitter arrangement.
Spectrum auction proceeds. $46.4 million (2017 broadcast incentive auction)
2013
Fox acquisition of WJZY and WMYTM&ABackground
Fox sought control of the Charlotte market’s Fox affiliation and acquired the two stations from Capitol Broadcasting.
Action taken
Fox Television Stations agreed to purchase WJZY and WMYT for $18 million.
Aftermath
WJZY became the Fox affiliate, while WMYT retained its MyNetworkTV identity and its news arrangement changed.
Acquisition price. $18 million (2013 transaction)
2006
Switch from The WB to MyNetworkTVStrategyBackground
The planned merger of The WB and UPN into The CW displaced WWWB because WJZY secured the Charlotte-area CW affiliation.
Action taken
Capitol Broadcasting aligned WWWB with MyNetworkTV and changed the station’s call sign to WMYT-TV.
Aftermath
WMYT continued as a MyNetworkTV affiliate until Nexstar announced its move to The CW in 2025.
Sources1 sources
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