View source for WTGS

{{Short description|TV station in Hardeeville, South Carolina}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox television station
| callsign = WTGS
| city = Hardeeville, South Carolina
| logo = FOX28WTGS.PNG
| logo_alt = A red Fox network logo with a red 28 in a sans serif next to it. Beneath both elements is the word "Savannah" in a thin black sans serif.
| branding = Fox 28
| digital = 26 ([[UHF]])
| virtual = 28
| affiliations = {{ubl|'''28.1:''' [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]]|''for others, see {{section link||Subchannels}}''}}
| translators =
| owner = [[Sinclair Broadcast Group]]
| licensee = WTGS Licensee, [[LLC]]
| location = {{ubl|[[Hardeeville, South Carolina]]|[[Savannah, Georgia]]}}
| country = United States
| founded =
| airdate = {{start date and age|1985|9|01|p=y}}
| last_airdate =
| callsign_meaning = Thomas G. Sonsini, vice president of founding owner American Communications & Television{{r|Isla850830}}
| sister_stations =
| former_channel_numbers = {{ubl|'''Analog:''' 28 (UHF, 1985–2009)|'''Digital:''' 27 (UHF, 1999–2009), 28 (UHF, 2009–2020)}}
| former_affiliations = [[Independent station|Independent]] (1985–1986)
| erp = 957 kW
| haat = {{convert|452.1|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
| facility_id = 27245
| coordinates = {{coord|32|2|46|N|81|20|26|W|type:landmark_scale:2000}}
| licensing_authority = [[FCC]]
| website = {{URL|https://fox28savannah.com/}}
}}
'''WTGS''' (channel 28) is a [[television station]] licensed to [[Hardeeville, South Carolina]], United States, serving as the [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] affiliate for the [[Savannah, Georgia]], area. Owned by [[Sinclair Broadcast Group]], WTGS maintains transmitter facilities on Fort Argyle Road/[[Georgia State Route 204|SR 204]] in western [[unincorporated area#United States|unincorporated]] [[Chatham County, Georgia]], while its studios are located in the ''[[Savannah Morning News]]'' building on Chatham Parkway in Savannah.
WTGS went on the air in 1985 as the first independent television station for Savannah and the southern Lowcountry and the lone commercial television station in southeastern South Carolina. Originally built by a Florida company, a change in federal regulations on cable carriage that took effect weeks before starting up nearly carried the station to the brink of bankruptcy. Between 1996 and 2014, operations of WTGS were related to those of [[WJCL (TV)|WJCL]] (channel 22), Savannah's [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] affiliate, by a series of operating agreements. During much of this period, WJCL produced local newscasts for air on WTGS. However, the two stations were split in 2014 when owner [[LIN Media]] and its affiliates opted to divest WJCL and WTGS to separate entities in order to complete a merger. The two stations continue to share office space, though Sinclair later brought news production in-house in 2016. From 2016 until its cancellation in 2024, WTGS's 10 p.m. newscast was produced from [[WPDE-TV]] in [[Myrtle Beach, South Carolina]].
==History==
=== Early years, cable disputes, and near-bankruptcy (1985{{Endash}}1996) ===
Business and Minority Coalition Broadcasters, Inc., a consortium of six investors from [[Charleston, South Carolina|Charleston]], filed an application with the [[Federal Communications Commission]] (FCC) to build a new television station on channel 28 in Hardeeville ({{convert|15|mi|km}} from the allocation city of Savannah, the maximum distance permitted), which would transmit from a site on [[Saint Helena Island (South Carolina)|St. Helena Island]] and reach audiences from [[Kiawah Island]] in the northeast to Savannah in the southwest.<ref name="Beau810226">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106393194/tv-station-license-requested-commercial/|date=February 26, 1981|page=1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106393313/ 14]|first=Jim|last=Polson|title=TV station license requested: Commercial outlet may transmit here|newspaper=The Beaufort Gazette|location=Beaufort, South Carolina|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 27, 2022|archive-date=July 27, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220727063808/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106393194/tv-station-license-requested/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Thu --> The FCC approved the license on November 17, 1981, and it took the call sign WTGS, with a planned start date in September 1982.<ref name="Colu820320">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106390219/wis-tvs-golden-voice-on-his-own/|date=March 20, 1982|page=TV Weekly 5|first=Ray|last=Benson|title=WIS-TV's 'golden voice' on his own|newspaper=The Columbia Record|location=Columbia, South Carolina|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 27, 2022|archive-date=July 27, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220727063808/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106390219/wis-tvs-golden-voice-on-his-own/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sat -->
The WTGS construction permit was purchased in 1983 by American Communications and Television (AC&T), a company based in [[Gainesville, Florida]].<ref name="Tamp830504">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106393655/business-briefs/|date=May 4, 1983|page=7-B|title=Business Briefs|newspaper=The Tampa Tribune|location=Tampa, Florida|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 27, 2022|archive-date=July 27, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220727063808/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106393655/business-briefs/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Wed --> This cable and communications firm was making an incursion into new full-power and low-power [[independent station]]s across the country.<ref name="Salt830624">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106393693/act-expects-to-open-tv-station-in-ogden/|date=June 24, 1983|page=B10|title=AC&T Expects to Open TV Station in Ogden|newspaper=The Salt Lake Tribune|location=Salt Lake City, Utah|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 27, 2022|archive-date=July 27, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220727063808/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106393693/act-expects-to-open-tv-station-in-ogden/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Fri --> It was another two years before movement began in earnest to build the station, whose founding general manager and 20% owner, John Bailie, had previously built two other Southern independents: [[WATN-TV|WPTY]] in [[Memphis, Tennessee|Memphis]] and [[WAWS-TV]] in [[Jacksonville]].<ref name="Beau850613">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106391520/tv-station-to-broadcast-from-lowcountry/|date=June 13, 1985|page=12A|first=Andrew|last=Miller|title=TV station to broadcast from Lowcountry area|newspaper=The Beaufort Gazette|location=Beaufort, South Carolina|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 27, 2022|archive-date=July 27, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220727063852/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106391520/tv-station-to-broadcast-from-lowcountry/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Thu --><ref name="Isla850830">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/103981642/wtgs-to-go-on-the-air-despite-cable-setb/|date=August 30, 1985|page=1-C, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106394277/ 2-C]|first=Nancy|last=Rutter|title=WTGS to go on the air despite cable setbacks|newspaper=The Island Packet|location=Hilton Head Island, South Carolina|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 27, 2022|archive-date=July 27, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220727063809/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/103981642/wtgs-to-go-on-the-air-despite-cable/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Fri --><ref>{{Cite news |last=Rutter |first=Nancy |date=November 1, 1985 |title=New cable company eyes Hilton Head |pages=1-B, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106395225/ 3-B] |work=[[The Island Packet]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106394023/new-cable-company-eyes-hilton-head/ |access-date=July 26, 2022 |archive-date=July 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220727063808/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106394023/new-cable-company-eyes-hilton-head/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Planned programming included movies and children's programming in the morning and afternoon, with few commercial interruptions;{{r|Beau850613}} Bailie stated that WTGS was the first TV station "programmed exclusively for the [[Lowcountry]]".<ref>{{Cite news |date=September 6, 1985 |title=New television station gets under way |pages=Lowcountry Leisure 12 |work=[[The Beaufort Gazette]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106391796/new-television-station-gets-under-way/ |access-date=July 26, 2022 |archive-date=July 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220727063809/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106391796/new-television-station-gets-under-way/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The station signed on September 1, 1985, as the market's first general entertainment independent outlet.<ref name="TheS851111">{{Cite news |last=Hornung |first=Bill |date=November 11, 1985 |title=Hardeeville TV station in midst of cable fray |pages=1-B, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106392242/ 5-B] |work=[[The State (newspaper)|The State]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106390449/hardeeville-tv-station-in-midst-of-cable/ |access-date=July 26, 2022 |archive-date=July 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220727063810/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106390449/hardeeville-tv-station-in-midst-of/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
On July 19, 1985 (a few months before WTGS officially signed on), a federal judge struck down the "[[must-carry]]" rule imposed by the FCC, which required cable television operators to carry all commercial over-the-air stations within {{convert|35|mi|km|0}} of its community of service. This decision was challenging for WTGS, as Bailie felt that it would cause the new station to become "squeezed out of the market".{{r|Isla850830}} By August 30, Savannah Cablevision, along with seven other local cable operators, had agreed to carry WTGS. However, Plantation Cablevision and [[Hargray|Hargray Cablevision]], along with "dozens" of other local cable operators, had refused to carry WTGS.<ref name="Isla850830" /> WTGS was one of the first stations to pay for carriage on a cable system, leasing a channel from Savannah Cablevision for $2,000 a month ({{Inflation|index=US|value=2,000|start_year=1985|end_year=2021|fmt=eq|cursign=$}}).{{r|Isla850830}} In particular, WTGS stated that Plantation Cablevision refused to carry the station, as they considered it to be competition; however, Plantation Cablevision stated that they did not carry WTGS due to the removal of the must-carry rule.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rutter |first=Nancy |date=September 20, 1985 |title=Local TV issue stirs interest in Washington |pages=1-C, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106395291/ 2-C] |work=[[The Island Packet]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106392891/local-tv-issue-stirs-interest-in-washing/ |access-date=July 26, 2022 |archive-date=July 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220727063809/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106392891/local-tv-issue-stirs-interest-in/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Plantation Cablevision also denied having wanted WTGS to pay for access to its cable system.<ref name="TheS851111" /> The controversy continued that September, when Plantation Cablevision announced a new [[Emergency communication system|emergency warning system]] for [[Hilton Head Island]]. This angered Bailie, as he was concerned that those who did not subscribe to Plantation Cablevision's service would not be able to receive emergency information; WTGS decided to create its own emergency warning system instead.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rutter |first=Nancy |date=September 13, 1985 |title=Cable warning system ignites TV dispute |pages=1-C, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106395314/ 3-C] |work=[[The Island Packet]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106392459/cable-warning-system-ignites-tv-dispute/ |access-date=July 26, 2022 |archive-date=July 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220727063809/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106392459/cable-warning-system-ignites-tv-dispute/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
The same month, Bailie went to [[United States Congress|Congress]] at the invitation of broadcasting groups, in order to speak to congressional leaders who were concerned that the repeal of the must-carry rule would hurt independent stations such as WTGS. The next month, Bailie revisited Congress in order to comment to the House Copyright Committee about bills in consideration at the time which would reform "[[compulsory license]]" rules.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rutter |first=Nancy |date=October 11, 1985 |title=When TV squabblers talk, Washington listens |pages=3–B |work=[[The Island Packet]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106393819/when-tv-squabblers-talk-washington-list/ |access-date=July 26, 2022 |archive-date=July 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220727063851/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106393819/when-tv-squabblers-talk-washington/ |url-status=live }}</ref> That same month, Plantation Cablevision was "carefully documenting requests" for WTGS to be added to its cable lineup<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rutter |first=Nancy |date=October 11, 1985 |title=New cable programs to come by Nov. |pages=1–B |work=[[The Island Packet]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106393296/new-cable-programs-to-come-by-nov/ |access-date=July 26, 2022 |archive-date=July 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220727063809/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106393296/new-cable-programs-to-come-by-nov/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and had sent out a questionnaire to subscribers in order to measure what viewers liked and disliked about the cable system.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rutter |first=Nancy |date=November 22, 1985 |title=Island case helps spur look at TV rules |pages=1-B, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106395397/ 2-B] |work=[[The Island Packet]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106394615/island-case-helps-spur-look-at-tv-rules/ |access-date=July 27, 2022 |archive-date=July 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220727063810/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106394615/island-case-helps-spur-look-at-tv-rules/ |url-status=live }}</ref> On December 27, 1985, Plantation Cablevision started to carry WTGS; the addition of WTGS removed Charleston stations [[WCBD]] and [[WCIV]] from the lineup.<ref name="Isla851219">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106394081/cable-lineup-changes/|date=December 19, 1985|page=1-A, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106394111/ 2-A]|first=Nancy|last=Rutter|title=Cable lineup changes|newspaper=The Island Packet|location=Hilton Head Island, South Carolina|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 27, 2022|archive-date=July 27, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220727063810/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106394081/cable-lineup-changes/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Thu --> WTGS was a charter affiliate of Fox at its October 1986 launch.<ref name="Dail860804">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106394158/fourth-net-to-cover-80-of-us/|date=August 4, 1986|page=23|title='Fourth net' to cover 80% of U.S.|newspaper=Daily News|location=New York, New York|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 27, 2022}}</ref><!-- Mon -->
In May 1987, the station was profiled on the ''[[MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour]]'', by which time it was so near to bankruptcy—due to its diminished ability to reach all TV homes in the region—that Bailie lived and slept in his office and drove a taxi cab the station had bought to promote the show ''[[Taxi (TV series)|Taxi]]''.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://americanarchive.org/catalog/cpb-aacip_507-kd1qf8k738 |title=MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour |date=May 29, 1987 |last=Bearden |first=Tom |type=Video |time=39:27}}</ref> Later that year, AC&T sold itself to new Florida-based owners, giving it an infusion of $500,000 in cash.<ref name="Beau870820">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106394654/florida-group-to-buy-wtgs/|date=August 20, 1987|page=5B|first=Charlene|last=Gunnells|title=Florida group to buy WTGS|newspaper=The Beaufort Gazette|location=Beaufort, South Carolina|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 27, 2022|archive-date=July 27, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220727063926/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106394654/florida-group-to-buy-wtgs/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Thu --> The new ownership moved the station's facilities south from Hardeeville to a site in [[Chatham County, Georgia]], which would not be limited by height restrictions on a tower and be more centrally located for advertising sales purposes.<ref name="Isla880628">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106394701/wtgs-move-to-expand-market/|date=June 28, 1988|page=6-A|title=WTGS move to expand market|newspaper=The Island Packet|location=Hilton Head Island, South Carolina|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 27, 2022|archive-date=July 27, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220727063948/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106394701/wtgs-move-to-expand-market/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Tue --> The new tower was activated in February 1990.<ref name="Isla900202">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106394753/wtgs-broadcasts-from-new-tower/|date=February 2, 1990|page=2-B|title=WTGS broadcasts from new tower|newspaper=The Island Packet|location=Hilton Head Island, South Carolina|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 27, 2022|archive-date=July 27, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220727063950/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106394753/wtgs-broadcasts-from-new-tower/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Fri --> AC&T sold its two remaining stations, WTGS and [[KUCW|KOOG]] in [[Ogden, Utah]], to Trivest Financial Services Corporation in 1991.<ref name="Brad910117">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106395564/actv-receives-better-offer/|date=January 17, 1991|page=A-13|title=ACTV receives better offer|newspaper=The Bradenton Herald|location=Bradenton, Florida|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 27, 2022|archive-date=July 27, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220727063927/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106395564/actv-receives-better-offer/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Thu -->
=== Common operation with WJCL (1996{{En dash}}2014) ===
Licensee Hilton Head Television sold the station in 1996 for $7 million to LP Media, a company owned by Julius Curtis Lewis III. His father, [[Julius Curtis Lewis Jr.]], was the majority owner and namesake of WJCL television.<ref>{{cite news|id={{ProQuest|1016940709}}|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1996/BC-1996-04-15.pdf|work=Broadcasting & Cable|date=April 15, 1996|title=Changing Hands|page=56|access-date=July 27, 2022|archive-date=April 8, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220408000615/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1996/BC-1996-04-15.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> The two stations came under common operation at that time. Lewis sold WJCL in 1998 to Grapevine Communications of Atlanta for $19 million, and in a parallel transaction, LP Media sold WTGS to Brissette Communications, owned by Paul Brissette, for $20 million.<ref>{{cite news|id={{ProQuest|1014782464}}|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1998/BC-1998-06-08.pdf|title=Changing Hands|page=38|work=Broadcasting|date=June 8, 1998|access-date=July 27, 2022|archive-date=November 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211108151300/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1998/BC-1998-06-08.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> After Grapevine Communications, having purchased and changed its name to GOCOM in 1999, became [[Piedmont Television]] Holdings (owned by Brissette), WTGS was sold to Bluenose Broadcasting, a company owned by members of the Brissette family. Parkin Broadcasting purchased WTGS for $17.5 million in 2007, in tandem with [[New Vision Television]] acquiring WJCL—and WJCL's option to buy WTGS's assets—for the same price.<ref name="RBR070521">{{cite news|work=Radio Business Report TV Epaper|url=https://www.rbr.com/tvepaper/issue99-07-wwr.html|date=May 21, 2007|title=Transactions|access-date=July 27, 2022|archive-date=July 27, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220727063928/https://www.rbr.com/tvepaper/issue99-07-wwr.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The two stations moved out of WJCL's longtime Abercorn Street studios to the vacant third floor of the ''[[Savannah Morning News]]'' building in 2011, establishing a content partnership with the newspaper.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Morning News, WJCL join forces: ABC, Fox affiliates to move into paper's vacant third floor|work=[[Savannah Morning News]]|date=October 29, 2010|first=Adam|last=Van Brimmer}}</ref> In 2012, [[LIN TV Corporation]] purchased New Vision Television and WJCL, which included a tandem sale of WTGS and two other stations that New Vision operated—[[KTKA-TV]] in [[Topeka, Kansas]], and [[WYTV]] in [[Youngstown, Ohio]]—to Vaughan Media.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/484100-LIN_Acquiring_New_Vision_Stations_for_330_Million.php|title=LIN Acquiring New Vision Stations for $330 Million|last=Malone|first=Michael|date=May 7, 2012|magazine=[[Broadcasting & Cable]]|access-date=May 7, 2012|archive-date=October 2, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002174205/http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/484100-LIN_Acquiring_New_Vision_Stations_for_330_Million.php|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://tvnewscheck.com/uncategorized/article/lin-new-vision-tops-a-week-of-tv-sales/|title=LIN-New Vision Tops A Week Of TV Sales|date=May 18, 2012|work=TVNewsCheck|access-date=July 27, 2022|archive-date=July 27, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220727063928/https://tvnewscheck.com/uncategorized/article/lin-new-vision-tops-a-week-of-tv-sales/|url-status=live}}</ref>
During [[Super Bowl XLVIII]], WTGS notably aired a two-minute long advertisement by local [[personal injury lawyer]] Jamie Casino, which featured a [[Thriller (genre)|thriller]]-styled retelling of how he stopped [[criminal defence lawyer|representing "cold-hearted villains"]] to avenge the shooting death of his brother Michael Biancosino in 2012, culminating with Casino digging through a grave with a [[sledgehammer]]. The ad gained media attention following the game as a [[viral video]], and while the station did not provide exact numbers, a WTGS spokesperson stated that the ad was its most expensive advertising sale in history.<ref name=rollingstone-jamiecasino>{{cite magazine|title=Georgia Lawyer Jamie Casino Turns His Local Super Bowl Ad Into Revenge Fantasy|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/videos/georgia-lawyer-turns-local-super-bowl-ad-into-revenge-fantasy-20140203|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203221356/http://www.rollingstone.com/culture/videos/georgia-lawyer-turns-local-super-bowl-ad-into-revenge-fantasy-20140203|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 3, 2014|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=February 3, 2014}}</ref><ref name=smn-jamiecasino>{{cite web|title=Savannah lawyer Jamie Casino's Super Bowl ad turns heads|url=http://savannahnow.com/exchange/2014-02-03/savannah-lawyer-jamie-casinos-super-bowl-ad-turns-heads|work=Savannah Morning News|access-date=February 3, 2014|archive-date=March 2, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140302213633/http://savannahnow.com/exchange/2014-02-03/savannah-lawyer-jamie-casinos-super-bowl-ad-turns-heads|url-status=live}}</ref>
=== Sinclair Broadcast Group ownership (2014{{Endash}}present) ===
On March 21, 2014, LIN Media entered into an agreement to merge with [[Media General]] in a $1.6 billion deal. Because Media General already owned NBC affiliate [[WSAV-TV]] (channel 3), the companies were required to sell either WSAV or WJCL to another station owner in order to comply with FCC ownership rules as well as planned changes to those rules regarding same-market television stations which would prohibit [[local marketing agreement|sharing agreements]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://variety.com/2014/tv/news/tv-station-mega-merger-media-general-lin-set-1-6-billion-deal-1201141567/|first=Cynthia|last=Littleton|title=TV Station Mega Merger: Media General, LIN Set $1.6 Billion Deal|work=Variety|date=March 21, 2014|access-date=December 9, 2017|archive-date=March 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180316152023/https://variety.com/2014/tv/news/tv-station-mega-merger-media-general-lin-set-1-6-billion-deal-1201141567/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-lin-media-general-merge-20140321,0,5277028.story|title=Media General acquiring LIN Media for $1.6 billion|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=March 21, 2014|access-date=July 27, 2022|archive-date=March 24, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140324101547/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-lin-media-general-merge-20140321,0,5277028.story|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/74959/media-genlin-to-sellswap-in-five-markets|title=Media Gen/LIN To Sell/Swap In Five Markets|work=TVNewsCheck|date=March 21, 2014|access-date=July 27, 2022|archive-date=June 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180623165710/http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/74959/media-genlin-to-sellswap-in-five-markets|url-status=live}}</ref>
On August 20, Media General announced that it would keep WSAV and sell WJCL to [[Hearst Television]]. It also would swap WTGS and television stations in [[Providence, Rhode Island]], and [[Green Bay, Wisconsin]], in exchange for properties that Sinclair owned or was acquiring in [[Colorado Springs, Colorado]]; [[Harrisburg, Pennsylvania]]; and [[Tampa]]. Sinclair also acquired the right to purchase other WTGS assets from WTGS Television LLC.<ref name=tvnc-saletosinclair>{{cite news|title=Media General, LIN Sell Stations In 5 Markets|url=http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/78615/media-general-lin-sell-stations-in-5-markets|access-date=August 20, 2014|work=TVNewsCheck|date=August 20, 2014|archive-date=August 21, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140821105448/http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/78615/media-general-lin-sell-stations-in-5-markets|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=b&c-saletosinclair>{{cite news|last1=Malone|first1=Michael|title=Media General, LIN Divest Stations in Five Markets|url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/currency/media-general-lin-divest-stations-five-markets/133323|access-date=August 20, 2014|work=[[Broadcasting & Cable]]|date=August 20, 2014|archive-date=August 21, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140821043302/http://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/currency/media-general-lin-divest-stations-five-markets/133323|url-status=live}}</ref> The sale was completed on December 19.<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://sbgi.net/site_mgr/temp/Swaps%20Closing%20Press%20Release.pdf|title= Sinclair Broadcast Group Closes on Certain Station Acquisitions and Divestitures with Media General|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141219222653/http://sbgi.net/site_mgr/temp/Swaps%20Closing%20Press%20Release.pdf |archive-date=December 19, 2014 |publisher=Sinclair Broadcast Group|access-date= December 19, 2014}}</ref>
==Newscasts==
{{see|WPDE-TV}}
Through a news share agreement established in 1996, WJCL produced a nightly prime time newscast on WTGS for the station from 1996 to 2016. On June 1, 2016, WJCL ceased producing the newscast for WTGS, and Sinclair took production in-house.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.adweek.com/tvspy/sinclairs-savannah-station-to-produce-its-own-newscast/171528/|date=June 1, 2016|first=Kevin|last=Eck|title=Sinclair's Savannah Station to Produce Its Own Newscast|work=TVSpy|access-date=July 27, 2022|archive-date=July 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210727020841/https://www.adweek.com/tvspy/sinclairs-savannah-station-to-produce-its-own-newscast/171528/|url-status=live}}</ref> The news program was produced and presented from [[WPDE-TV]] in [[Myrtle Beach]], using a local staff of seven.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://lbpo.com/f45LyNsgUW_f|title=News Manager - Savannah, GA|date=March 22, 2021|website=lbpo.com|access-date=July 27, 2022|archive-date=July 27, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220727063930/https://lbpo.com/f45LyNsgUW_f|url-status=live}}</ref> Sinclair ended production of WTGS's local newscasts on May 31, 2024, replacing them with Sinclair's syndicated ''[[The National Desk]]''.<ref>{{Cite AV media |title=Fox 28 News at 10 |date=May 31, 2024 |type=Television newscast |time=55:52 |quote=Now for a programming note. This will be our last broadcast of ''Fox 28 News at 10'' in Savannah. Starting Monday, June 3, you can watch ''The National Desk''...}}</ref>
==Technical information==
===Subchannels===
The station's signal is [[multiplex (TV)|multiplexed]]:
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Subchannels of WTGS<ref name="rei">{{cite web|url=https://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=WTGS#station|title=RabbitEars TV query for WTGS|website=rabbitears.info|access-date=July 26, 2022|archive-date=March 26, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160326045125/http://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=WTGS#station|url-status=live}}</ref>
! scope = "col" | [[Digital subchannel#United States|Channel]]
! scope = "col" | [[Display resolution|Res.]]
! scope = "col" | [[Aspect ratio (image)|Aspect]]
! scope = "col" | Short name
! scope = "col" | Programming
|-
! scope = "row" | 28.1
| [[720p]] || rowspan=2| [[16:9]] || WTGS-HD || [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]]
|-
! scope = "row" | 28.2
| rowspan=4| [[480i]] || Comet || [[Comet TV]]
|-
! scope = "row" | 28.3
| [[4:3]] || Antenna || [[Antenna TV]]
|-
! scope = "row" | 28.4
| rowspan=2|16:9 || TBD || [[TBD (TV network)|TBD]]
|-
! scope = "row" | 28.5
| CHARGE! || [[Charge! (TV network)|Charge!]]
|}
===Analog-to-digital conversion===
WTGS discontinued regular programming on its analog signal, over [[UHF]] channel 28, on February 17, 2009, the original target date on which full-power television stations in the United States were to [[Digital television transition in the United States|transition from analog to digital broadcasts]] under federal mandate (which was later pushed back to June 12, 2009).<ref>{{Cite news|id={{ProQuest|382017609}}|title=Digital TV conversion delay may be costly for local stations: Savannah Fox/ABC stations will drop analog signal on Feb. 17|work=[[Savannah Morning News]]|via=ProQuest|first=Tina|last=Brown|page=B1|date=February 6, 2009}}</ref> The station's digital signal relocated from its pre-transition UHF channel 27 to channel 28.<ref name="Analog to Digital">{{Cite web |date=May 23, 2006 |title=DTV Tentative Channel Designations for the First and Second Rounds |url=http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1082A2.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130829004251/http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1082A2.pdf |archive-date=August 29, 2013 |access-date=August 29, 2021 |publisher=Federal Communications Commission}}</ref> It was then [[2016 United States wireless spectrum auction|repacked]] to channel 26 in 2020.{{r|rei}}
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
*{{official website|https://fox28savannah.com/}}
{{Savannah TV}}
{{Fox Georgia}}
{{Fox South Carolina}}
{{SBGI}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wtgs}}
[[Category:1985 establishments in South Carolina]]
[[Category:Antenna TV affiliates]]
[[Category:Beaufort County, South Carolina]]
[[Category:Charge! (TV network) affiliates]]
[[Category:Comet (TV network) affiliates]]
[[Category:Fox Broadcasting Company affiliates]]
[[Category:Jasper County, South Carolina]]
[[Category:Sinclair Broadcast Group]]
[[Category:TBD (TV network) affiliates]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations established in 1985]]
[[Category:Television stations in Savannah, Georgia|TGS]]