WSB-TV
WSB-TV is an ABC-affiliated television station serving Atlanta, Georgia, and the flagship television property of Cox Media Group.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
WSB-TV is a commercial television station licensed to Atlanta, Georgia, broadcasting on channel 2 and affiliated with the ABC television network. It is the flagship television property of locally based Cox Media Group and operates alongside Cox-owned or Cox-associated Atlanta radio services, including WSB, WSBB-FM, WSRV, WSB-FM and WALR-FM. The station shares facilities in Midtown Atlanta on West Peachtree Street, while its transmitter is located near the Poncey-Highland and Old Fourth Ward neighborhoods. The station began broadcasting on September 29, 1948, as Georgia's first television station and one of the earliest stations in the American South. It initially operated on channel 8 and was primarily affiliated with NBC, reflecting the long-standing NBC Radio relationship of its sister WSB radio service. ABC programming was also carried during the station's early years. A complicated series of transactions following Cox's 1950 acquisition of The Atlanta Constitution led to the channel 8 license being sold and the WSB-TV call letters and operating identity moving to channel 2 in September 1951. The channel 8 facility returned to the air as WLTV, later becoming WXIA-TV, while the present WSB-TV license dates from the 1951 transition. The move to channel 2 materially expanded WSB-TV's reach across Georgia and neighboring portions of the Southeast. Its low-band VHF signal provided broad regional coverage, including difficult terrain in northern Georgia. The WSB stations moved into a Colonial Revival-style building known as White Columns in 1956. A modern concrete-and-glass facility was constructed on the same property in 1998; elements of the earlier building, including its columns, were preserved around and inside the newer complex. WSB-TV has maintained a substantial local-news operation throughout its history and has long been a leading Atlanta news outlet. The station's news identity has included the Channel 2 Action News branding, later complemented by WSB Tonight for its late-evening newscast. It has also developed digital distribution through its website, mobile applications and the WSB NOW streaming channel. The station's programming portfolio includes local news, weather, investigative reporting, sports and ABC network content. Its sports history includes Atlanta Braves baseball, Atlanta Falcons football, Atlanta Hawks games and college football involving the Georgia Bulldogs and Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. A major programming turning point occurred in 1980, when WSB-TV left NBC and became Atlanta's ABC affiliate. The change took effect fully on September 1, 1980, with WXIA-TV moving to NBC. WSB-TV has remained with ABC since then. In 2006, it became one of the first Atlanta stations to broadcast local newscasts in high definition. The station later expanded its streaming and morning-news output, renamed its late-night newscast during the COVID-19 period, and expanded weekend morning coverage. WSB-TV's ownership history has been closely connected to Cox. Cox Enterprises owned the station from its launch through Cox Media Group, and Cox Media Group was acquired by Apollo Global Management in 2019 in a transaction that also involved Cox's radio and advertising businesses. The station remains an active Atlanta broadcast and digital-news brand.
History
WSB-TV began broadcasting from Atlanta on September 29, 1948, becoming Georgia's first television station. It initially used channel 8 and operated primarily as an NBC affiliate, while also carrying some ABC programming. Its launch was part of the expanding Cox broadcasting interests associated with James M. Cox, publisher of The Atlanta Journal and owner of WSB radio. Cox's 1950 purchase of The Atlanta Constitution brought additional broadcast assets, including the construction permit for WCON-TV on channel 2. Because federal rules at the time restricted the sale of television construction permits, Cox retained the channel 2 permit and sold the operating channel 8 license to Broadcasting, Inc. After FCC approval, WSB-TV's call letters and operating identity moved to channel 2 on September 30, 1951. The channel 8 facility returned as WLTV, later becoming WXIA-TV. The unusual legal structure meant that the current WSB-TV license dates from 1951, even though the station's broadcasting history began in 1948. The channel 2 assignment gave the station a much larger service area. Its low-band VHF signal traveled effectively across broad portions of Georgia and reached into neighboring states, including mountainous areas of north Georgia. In 1956, the WSB stations moved into a Colonial Revival building known as White Columns. The building became a recognizable part of Atlanta's architectural landscape and remained in use until a new facility was completed next door in 1998. The newer structure, sometimes informally called Digital White Columns, incorporated original columns into its grounds and lobby. WSB-TV expanded its technical and programming role over the following decades. In December 1965, it became the first Georgia television station to broadcast live in color, beginning with Ruth Kent's Today in Georgia. The station also developed a significant sports operation. It carried Atlanta Braves games from the team's arrival in Atlanta in 1966 through 1972 and continued to air games distributed through NBC, ABC and later regional baseball arrangements. It carried selected Atlanta Falcons games, including ABC's Monday Night Football broadcasts, and later became the local outlet for Falcons games distributed through ESPN. ABC network agreements have also brought selected Atlanta Hawks games and Georgia Bulldogs and Georgia Tech football games to the station. The station's news department has been central to its identity. WSB-TV has historically led Atlanta local-news ratings and has maintained extensive weekday and weekend schedules. Its Channel 2 Action News branding became widely associated with the station's reporting, weather and traffic services. The news operation moved to high definition on September 27, 2006. In 2009, a news crew survived an electrical accident when its electronic-news-gathering vehicle contacted high-voltage power lines while leaving the Fulton County Jail; both employees suffered minor injuries and were treated at a hospital. In 1972, WSB-TV became involved in a landmark press-freedom and privacy case after airing the name of a murdered rape victim in violation of Georgia's shield law. The U.S. Supreme Court's 1975 decision in Cox Broadcasting Corp. v. Cohn overturned the law, establishing important constitutional protection for the publication of lawfully obtained information from public records. WSB-TV's network affiliation changed in 1980. Although NBC had been its original primary network, ABC was seeking stronger affiliates and WSB-TV was the dominant Atlanta station. WSB-TV announced the change in June, began moving some programming in August, and completed the switch to ABC on September 1. WXIA-TV became the NBC affiliate. WSB-TV has retained its ABC affiliation since that transition. The station continued to refresh its brand and delivery platforms. It introduced the number 2 logo still associated with its identity in 1986, launched digital broadcasting in 1998, and added a digital subchannel carrying Retro Television Network programming in 2008. In 2018 it expanded streaming morning news through WSB NOW. In 2020 it renamed its late-evening newscast WSB Tonight, initially in the context of expanded pandemic coverage, and enlarged its weekend morning schedule. Ownership has remained connected to Cox for most of the station's existence. Cox Enterprises placed its television assets within Cox Media Group, and Apollo Global Management announced an acquisition of Cox Media Group's stations in 2019. The transaction closed on December 17 of that year. WSB-TV continues to operate as an Atlanta broadcast, news and digital-media brand.
- 2020
WSB Tonight introduced
[1]The station renamed its late-evening newscast WSB Tonight and expanded weekend morning news.
- 2019
Cox Media Group acquisition closes
[1]Apollo Global Management completed its acquisition of Cox Media Group's broadcast assets.
- 2006
Local news moves to HD
[1]The station began broadcasting local newscasts in high definition.
- 1998
Digital broadcasting begins
[1]WSB-TV's digital signal went on the air in November.
- 1986
Current number 2 logo introduced
[1]The station introduced the number 2 logo that remains associated with its visual identity.
- 1980
ABC affiliation begins
[1]WSB-TV completed its transition from NBC to ABC on September 1.
- 1965
Live color broadcasting
[1]WSB-TV became the first Georgia station to broadcast live in color.
- 1956
Move to White Columns
[1]The WSB stations moved into the Colonial Revival-style White Columns facility in Atlanta.
- 1951
Move to channel 2
[1]The WSB-TV identity moved to channel 2 after FCC approval of a complicated Cox broadcasting transaction.
- 1948
First broadcast
[1]WSB-TV began broadcasting on September 29 as Georgia's first television station, initially on channel 8.
Products and positioning
A high-reach, locally focused Atlanta broadcast-news brand combining ABC network programming with dominant local news, weather, traffic, investigative reporting and regional sports coverage.
Local television news
Channel 2 Action News
WSB-TV's principal local-news franchise, covering Atlanta and surrounding communities through regularly scheduled newscasts, breaking-news reports, investigations, weather and traffic. The brand has been central to the station's identity and ratings leadership for decades.
Late-evening television news · 2020
WSB Tonight
WSB-TV's late-evening news program, introduced as a replacement for the Channel 2 Action News Nightbeat name in 2020. It emphasizes more detailed treatment of the day's leading stories rather than a short headline recap.
Streaming news service · 2018
WSB NOW
WSB-TV's digital streaming channel and distribution platform, available through the station's website and applications. It extends local news access beyond the linear broadcast schedule and has carried additional morning-news programming.
Sports television · 1966
Atlanta Braves broadcasts
WSB-TV was the original local television broadcaster of the relocated Atlanta Braves, carrying the team's games from 1966 through 1972. It also later carried Braves games distributed through NBC, ABC and regional baseball packages.
Sports television · 1970
Atlanta Falcons broadcasts
The station has carried selected Falcons games across multiple network arrangements, including ABC's Monday Night Football and, from 2006, local broadcasts of ESPN's Monday Night Football telecasts.
Network television · 1980
ABC network programming
WSB-TV distributes ABC programming to the Atlanta market, including selected entertainment, news, sports and special-event programming. The station has been ABC's Atlanta affiliate since September 1980.
Controversies
Brand decisions
2019
Cox Media Group acquisitionM&ABackground
Cox Enterprises announced that it was exploring strategic options for its television stations before Apollo Global Management agreed to acquire Cox Media Group's broadcast assets.
Action taken
Apollo acquired the television group and subsequently retained the Cox Media Group name while also acquiring Cox's radio and advertising businesses.
Aftermath
The transaction closed on December 17, 2019, changing the station's ownership structure while preserving its Cox Media Group operating identity.
2004
Refusal to air Saving Private RyanOtherBackground
Following heightened FCC scrutiny after the Janet Jackson–Justin Timberlake Super Bowl incident, Cox-owned ABC affiliates reviewed the film's violence and profanity.
Action taken
WSB-TV declined to broadcast Saving Private Ryan, as did two other Cox-owned ABC stations.
Aftermath
The FCC later ruled that the film's broadcast was not indecent, clarifying the regulatory treatment of the program.
1980
Switch from NBC to ABCStrategyBackground
ABC was seeking stronger affiliates in major markets, while WSB-TV was Atlanta's dominant station despite NBC's weaker market position at the time.
Action taken
WSB-TV announced the affiliation change in June and completed the move to ABC on September 1; WXIA-TV moved to NBC.
Aftermath
WSB-TV has remained Atlanta's ABC affiliate, while the station's network change helped reshape the market's three major network affiliations.
Sources2 sources
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