On New Year’s Eve in 1953 just before midnight, WYFF, dubbed “Giant of the Southern Skies,” signed on the air. It would be the start of seven decades of news, weather and service to the communities of upstate South Carolina, Western North Carolina and Northeast Georgia.
On New Year’s Eve in 1953, just before midnight, WFBC, now known as WYFF 4, signed on the air. WYFF is Hearst’s NBC affiliate in Greenville, S.C.
Radio station owners Roger Peace and R.A. Jolly joined forces to create the television station dubbed “Giant of the Southern Skies.”
It would be the start of seven decades of news, weather and service to the communities of upstate South Carolina, Western North Carolina and Northeast Georgia.
“At our core, the purpose of local broadcasting is to serve the community,” says John Humphries, WYFF’s GM. “For 70 years, it has been our job to inform, entertain, and bring people together. We are honored to continue the legacy of so many trusted broadcasters that have helped build this into one of America’s great television stations. We believe that we are a part of the community, and the community is a part of us. That commitment to excellence will continue for many years to come.”
Other notable milestones in the station’s history include:
• WFBC was the first station to televise a live sporting event in South Carolina. A basketball game between Furman and Newberry colleges aired in early 1954.
• The popular local children’s program Monty’s Rascals, hosted by Monty DuPuy and Stowe Hoyle, aired from 1960 to 1982.
• WFBC was the first station in South Carolina to have an African American anchor when Deborah Lee began anchoring The Scene on Six.
• In 1983, the station’s call letters changed to WYFF, which stands for Your Friend Four.
• WYFF 4 has participated in at least 14 telethons with the American Red Cross, raising more than $4 million.
In honor of its 70 years, WYFF launched a year-long initiative in 2023, Year 4 Giving: Feed It Forward,” to give back to its communities. Four campaigns in each market city – Greenville, Spartanburg, Asheville, Anderson – focused on food insecurity.
“Year 4 Giving: Feed it Forward” helped raise more than $111,000, benefitting MANNA Food Bank in Asheville, the Spartanburg Soup Kitchen, United Way of Anderson County’s Weekend SnackPack program, and Mill Village Farms in Greenville.
To wrap up the celebration, on Dec. 28 at 8 p.m., WYFF will air Chronicle: Celebrating Seventy Years. The hour-long special, hosted by Carol Clarke and Nigel Robertson, will look back at the biggest stories, weather events and changes that have shaped the market. Familiar faces from the past will join current talent to share memories and relive key moments in the station’s history.
After it debuts on WYFF, viewers will be able to stream the program anytime on the Very Local app that can be downloaded for free on Roku and Amazon Fire TV or on Apple or Android phones.
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