Will my TV stop working in Charleston-Huntington?
Charleston-Huntington · market #66 of 210
Not yet — but your market has already started the switch.
- Stations already on NextGen TV (3.0)
- 5 of 10
- since December 2, 2021
- Proposed shutoff of old (1.0) signals
- February 2030
- Wave 2 · NAB proposal, not yet adopted by the FCC
- Earliest the rules could change
- July 2027
- Current FCC rule keeps 1.0 simulcasts through July 17, 2027
What this means today: every full-power station in Charleston-Huntington is still sending a signal your current antenna TV can receive. One station (WSAZ-TV) has become a NextGen TV “host,” so its old-format programming now comes from a different station’s signal — rescanning your TV picks it up.
What’s coming: broadcasters have asked the FCC to let stations in the smaller markets switch off old-format signals starting February 2030. If that happens, TVs without an ATSC 3.0 tuner will need a converter box to keep receiving these channels. The FCC is expected to decide by the end of 2026.
Every station in Charleston-Huntington
“On 3.0” means the station’s programming is available in NextGen TV format. “3.0 host” means the station’s transmitter carries the new format only, and its old-format programming moved to another station’s signal (rescan to find it). Source: FCC licensing records.
| Ch. | Station | Network | NextGen TV | Old (1.0) signal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | WSAZ-TV Huntington, WV | NBC | 3.0 host since December 2, 2021 | Moved to another station |
| 8 | WCHS-TV Charleston, WV | WCHS D1 - ABC; WCHS D2 -FOX: WCHS D3 - Antenna TV | On 3.0 via WSAZ-TV · since December 2, 2021 | Still on the air |
| 11 | WVAH-TV Charleston, WV | Catchy | On 3.0 via WSAZ-TV · since December 2, 2021 | Still on the air |
| 13 | WOWK-TV Huntington, WV | CBS | On 3.0 via WSAZ-TV · since December 2, 2021 | Still on the air |
| 22 | WKPI-TV Pikeville, KY | PBS | 1.0 only | Still on the air |
| 25 | WKAS Ashland, KY | PBS | 1.0 only | Still on the air |
| 29 | WLPX-TV Charleston, WV | ION, Court TV, Bounce, Laff, IONPlus, Busted, Game Show Central, HSN, QVC | 1.0 only | Still on the air |
| 30 | WQCW Portsmouth, OH | CW | On 3.0 via WSAZ-TV · since December 2, 2021 | Still on the air |
| 33 | WVPB-TV Huntington, WV | PBS | 1.0 only | Still on the air |
| 61 | WTSF Ashland, KY | Independent | 1.0 only | Still on the air |
3 low-power stations in this market (not covered by the proposed shutoff rules)
- W26EW-D
- WTZP-LD
- WHWV-LD
What to do now
- Rescan your TV. If a channel disappeared recently, it probably moved to a host station’s signal. Settings → Channels → Auto scan.
- Find out if your TV already has a 3.0 tuner. Use the tuner check. If it does, you’re done.
- Don’t buy a converter box yet unless you want 3.0 features now. Prices are falling and the FCC hasn’t set a date. We’ll tell you when it’s time.