WSOC-TV
U.S. mostly neutral (local TV news)
Background
WSOC signed on in 1957 as Charlotte's third television station, originally carrying NBC programming with a secondary ABC affiliation shared with competitor WBTV. Cox purchased the station (along with WSOC radio) in 1959, after which it became a full NBC affiliate before later switching to ABC, the affiliation it holds today. The station has long been known locally for its "Action 9" consumer investigative unit, launched in 1970, one of the longest-running franchises of its kind in local TV news. As part of Cox Media Group, WSOC has occasionally been grouped in broader media-consolidation debates alongside companies like Sinclair Broadcast Group, but Cox has not faced comparable controversies over centrally mandated political scripts or commentary; Cox Enterprises' political donations have been more evenly split, and tilted somewhat Democratic, compared to Sinclair's heavily Republican-leaning giving. WSOC's reporting is typical of a major-market network affiliate: emphasis on crime, weather, traffic, and consumer-protection stories, with national/political coverage largely sourced from ABC News rather than produced in-house. There is no record of WSOC adopting an overt partisan editorial identity, and its coverage of national politics, including the Trump administration, is generally produced through straightforward wire and network-sourced reporting rather than distinct local commentary.
Sources
- WSOC-TV - Wikipedia
- Sinclair flap proves exception to the rule - Center for Public Integrity
- Media consolidation takes toll on local news but doesn't necessarily bias coverage - CU Boulder Today
- Jason Stoogenke, Action 9 - WSOC-TV
Profile compiled 2026-10-03; refreshed when ownership, funding, or the administration changes.