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{{
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2024}}
{{Infobox television station
| callsign
| logo = Wcov 2009.png
| logo_alt = In blue, from top left: the Fox network logo and a numeral 20 in white. Beneath in white on red is the text "WCOV • Montgomery".
| digital = 22 ([[UHF]])
▲| branding = Fox 20; ''WCOV News''
| affiliations
▲| virtual = 20
| callsign_meaning
| former_channel_numbers = {{ubl|'''Analog:'''
▲| affiliations = '''20.1:''' [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]]<br/>'''20.2:''' [[Antenna TV]]<br>'''20.3:''' [[This TV]]
| owner = [[Allen Media Broadcasting]]{{r|wcovtoallen}}
| licensee = Montgomery TV License Company, [[LLC]]
▲| country = United States
| former_affiliations = {{ubl|[[CBS]] (1953–1985)|[[NBC]] (secondary, 1953–1954)|[[DuMont Television Network|DuMont]] (secondary, 1953–1956)|[[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] (secondary, 1953–1960)|[[NTA Film Network|NTA]] (secondary, 1956–1961)|[[Independent station|Independent]] (January–October 1986)}}
▲| airdate = {{start date and age|1953|4|17|p=y}}
| erp = 670 [[kW]]
▲| location = [[Montgomery, Alabama]]
▲| callsign_meaning = Will Covington (brother of founding station owner, Oscar Covington)
▲| former_channel_numbers = '''Analog:'''<br>20 (UHF, 1953–2009)<br>'''Digital:'''<br>16 (UHF, 2001–2009)<br>20 (UHF, 2009–2020)
| website
▲| sister_stations = [[WALE-LD]]<br>[[WIYC]]
▲| haat = {{convert|528|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
▲| facility_id = 73642
▲| coordinates = {{nowrap|{{coord|31|58|29|N|86|9|44|W|type:landmark_scale:2000}}}}
▲| licensing_authority = [[Federal Communications Commission|FCC]]
▲| website = {{URL|https://www.wcov.com/}}<br>{{URL|http://www.studio20mgm.com/}}
}}
'''WCOV-TV''' (channel 20) is a [[television station]] in [[Montgomery, Alabama]], United States, affiliated with the [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] network. It is owned by
WCOV-TV was the first television station to be built in Montgomery, beginning broadcasting on April 17, 1953. It was an affiliate of [[CBS]]; however, it was on the new [[ultra high frequency]] (UHF) band. When Montgomery's allocated [[very high frequency]] (VHF) station, [[WSFA-TV]], began in late 1954, it immediately came to dominate the Montgomery market. WCOV owners attempted to have the playing field leveled by proposing either a move of WSFA-TV to UHF or of WCOV-TV to VHF, but neither was approved. In 1964, Gay-Bell Broadcasting acquired WCOV-TV and its associated radio stations; seeking to bolster its position, it attempted to buy [[WAKA (TV)|WSLA]], a VHF station in [[Selma, Alabama|Selma]] and another CBS affiliate, but no sale ever materialized.
In 1985, WSLA changed its call sign to WAKA and added Montgomery to its coverage area. Despite prior reassurances from CBS, the network informed WCOV-TV that it would discontinue its affiliation with channel 20. Gay-Bell sold the station to Woods Communications, which operated it as an [[independent station]] and discontinued its local newscasts before adding the new Fox network in October 1986. The station initially struggled before Fox programming attracted significant ratings. A 1996 tornado destroyed the tower from which the station broadcast in Montgomery; WCOV-TV did not return to full power until the next year.
Allen Media acquired WCOV-TV, WIYC, and WALE-LD in 2023 from Woods Communications. The station airs a 9 p.m. local newscast produced by WAKA.
==History==
===Early years===
On December 31, 1951, the owners of radio station [[WGMP|WCOV (1170 AM)]]—the First National Bank of Montgomery and the estate of G. W. Covington, Jr.—filed an application with the [[Federal Communications Commission]] (FCC) for a new television station on [[very high frequency]] (VHF) channel 12 in Montgomery.<ref name="hc">{{
WCOV-TV was the first television station in Montgomery, making its first broadcast on April 17, 1953.<ref>{{cite news|via=Newspapers.com|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74984236/|accessdate=April 2, 2021|date=April 18, 1953|page=1-A|work=Alabama Journal|title=Test Pattern Opens For TV Station Here|archive-date=July 17, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230717035240/https://www.newspapers.com/article/74984236/|url-status=live}}</ref> It operated from a {{convert|400|ft|m|0|adj=on}} tower near its studios.<ref name=stationhistory/> Commercial programs started five days later; the station was a primary [[CBS]] affiliate
Christmas Day 1954 brought Montgomery a second television station, this time on VHF, when [[
The Covington family sold WCOV radio and television in 1964 for $1.225 million to Gay-Bell Broadcasting, which owned [[WLEX-TV]] in [[Lexington, Kentucky]].<ref>{{cite news|via=Newspapers.com|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74985790/|accessdate=April 2, 2021|date=July 4, 1964|title=WCOV-TV And Radio Sold To Lexington, Ky. Company|page=1|work=The Montgomery Advertiser|archive-date=July 17, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230717035803/https://www.newspapers.com/article/74985790/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1964/1964-10-12-BC.pdf|accessdate=April 2, 2021|date=October 12, 1964|page=54|title=Changing hands|work=Broadcasting|id={{ProQuest|1014475926}}|archive-date=November 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211108151213/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1964/1964-10-12-BC.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> The new owners built a new {{convert|793|ft|m|0|adj=on}} tower at the site of its predecessor.<ref name=stationhistory/> Gay-Bell, however, continued to grapple with its UHF problem in Montgomery. In 1968, it attempted to buy the channel 8 station in Selma, [[WAKA|WSLA-TV]], which was silent at the time following its destruction by fire,<ref>{{cite news|via=Newspapers.com|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44529879/tv_station_is_purchased/|title=TV Station Is Purchased|work=Alabama Journal|agency=Associated Press|page=13|date=August 21, 1968|access-date=February 16, 2020|archive-date=February 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200217044710/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44529879/tv_station_is_purchased/|url-status=live}}</ref> but nothing ever materialized. Channel 20 also continued fighting against multiple attempts by channel 8 to improve its facilities; WCOV-TV had petitioned against applications by WSLA-TV's ownership dating back to 1954.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6hzVAAAAMAAJ&q=%2211371%22+%22WSLA%22+%221958%22&pg=PA824|date=September 3, 1958|author=FCC|pages=824–845|title=In re Application of Deep South Broadcasting Co. (WSLA), Selma, Ala.|access-date=February 16, 2020|archive-date=April 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210425172349/https://books.google.com/books?id=6hzVAAAAMAAJ&q=%2211371%22+%22WSLA%22+%221958%22&pg=PA824|url-status=live}}</ref>
In 1976, WSLA-TV filed once more for an application to build a maximum-powered site, this time from a tall tower near [[
===From CBS to Fox===
WSLA-TV's power increase, according to the FCC administrative law judge that had approved the application in 1981, would not jeopardize the service of Montgomery's two UHF television stations.{{r|eyes}} However, much was on the line for WCOV-TV, as the Selma station was also a CBS affiliate. The network had previously reassured channel 20 that it would remain in the network fold, but CBS went back on those claims and informed the station in March 1985 that
The affiliation uncertainty came the same month as Gay-Bell reached a deal to sell the station to Woods Communications, led by David Woods, son of longtime Alabama broadcaster [[Charles Woods (Alabama)|Charles Woods]], for an estimated $4 million;<ref>{{cite news|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1985/BC-1985-05-20.pdf#page=90|date=May 20, 1985|accessdate=April 2, 2021|title=Changing Hands|work=Broadcasting|page=92|id={{ProQuest|963251984}}|archive-date=March 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308024938/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1985/BC-1985-05-20.pdf#page=90|url-status=live}}</ref> Gay-Bell had also spun off the radio station the year before, and both sales gave the company capital to improve its flagship property in Kentucky.<ref>{{cite news|via=Newspapers.com|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74988161/|accessdate=April 2, 2021|date=May 11, 1985|title=WCOV-TV reported sold to Louisiana man|page=3B|work=The Alabama Journal and Advertiser|archive-date=July 17, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230717040331/https://www.newspapers.com/article/74988161/|url-status=live}}</ref> Woods was aware of the impending
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WCOV-TV's 32-year affiliation with CBS officially ended on January 1, 1986. It intended to
===
On December 15, 2021, it was announced that Allen Media Group, a subsidiary of [[Los Angeles]]-based [[Entertainment Studios]], would purchase WCOV-TV, WIYC and WALE-LD for $28.5 million
===Newscasts===
{{see|WAKA (TV)#News operation}}
[[File:Wcov news 2011.png|thumb|150px|right|News logo.]]
As a CBS affiliate, WCOV operated its own news department, known during its latter years as ''[[Eyewitness News]]''. It spent most of its history as a distant runner-up to WSFA. The station shut down its news department in September 1986, nine months after losing the CBS affiliation and shortly
On January 7, 2008, Woods Communications contracted with NBC affiliate WSFA (owned by [[Raycom Media]]) to air a half-hour 9 p.m. broadcast in conjunction with another Fox affiliate and Raycom-owned station in [[Dothan, Alabama|Dothan]], [[WDFX-TV]].<ref>{{cite news|via=Newspapers.com|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74993752/|accessdate=April 2, 2021|title=Braves' TV package not available in Montgomery, at least not yet|date=January 20, 2008|page=12B|first=Mike|last=Tankersley|work=Montgomery Advertiser|archive-date=July 17, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230717040743/https://www.newspapers.com/article/74993752/|url-status=live}}</ref> This newscast was later replaced with one produced by WAKA.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://rbr.com/woods-seeks-a-failing-tv-station-in-alabama/|first=Adam|last=Jacobson|title=Woods Seeks A 'Failing' TV Station In Alabama|work=Radio + Television Business Report|date=November 27, 2017|access-date=July 17, 2023|archive-date=October 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211028114207/https://www.rbr.com/woods-seeks-a-failing-tv-station-in-alabama/|url-status=live}}</ref>▼
▲As a CBS affiliate, WCOV operated its own news department, known during its latter years as ''[[Eyewitness News]]''. It spent most of its history as a distant runner-up to WSFA. The station shut down its news department in September 1986, nine months after losing the CBS affiliation and shortly after joining Fox. Despite remaining a solid, if distant, runner-up to WSFA, owner Woods said the "tremendous financial drain" of sustaining a newscast without network support was not worth the effort.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74989182/|accessdate=April 2, 2021|date=September 16, 1986|work=The Montgomery Advertiser|first=Jamie|last=Creamer|title=WCOV-TV Cancels Local News Programs To Relieve 'Tremendous Financial Drain'|page=1C}}</ref>
▲On January 7, 2008, Woods Communications contracted with NBC affiliate WSFA (owned by [[Raycom Media]]) to air a half-hour 9 p.m. broadcast in conjunction with another Fox affiliate and Raycom-owned station in [[Dothan, Alabama|Dothan]], [[WDFX-TV]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74993752/|accessdate=April 2, 2021|title=Braves' TV package not available in Montgomery, at least not yet|page=12B|first=Mike|last=Tankersley|work=Montgomery Advertiser}}</ref>
==Technical information==
===Subchannels===
The station's
{| class="wikitable"
|+Subchannels of WCOV-TV<ref>
! scope = "col" | [[Digital subchannel#United States|Channel]]
! scope = "col" | [[Display resolution|Res.]]
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|-
! scope = "row" | 20.1
| [[720p]] || [[16:9]] || WCOV-DT ||
|-
! scope = "row" | 20.2
| rowspan=
|-
! scope = "row" | 20.3
|
|-
! scope = "row" | 20.4
| 16:9 || || [[TheGrio]]
|}
===Analog-to-digital conversion===
WCOV-TV shut down its analog signal, over UHF channel 20, on February 20, 2009. The station's digital signal relocated from its pre-transition UHF channel 16 to channel 20.<ref name="Analog to Digital">{{
==References==
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Wcov-Tv}}
[[Category:Fox network affiliates]]▼
[[Category:Television channels and stations established in 1953]]▼
[[Category:1953 establishments in Alabama]]
[[Category:Television stations in Montgomery, Alabama|COV-TV]]▼
[[Category:Antenna TV affiliates]]
[[Category:
▲[[Category:Television channels and stations established in 1953]]
▲[[Category:Television stations in Montgomery, Alabama|COV-TV]]
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