WJCL

1970–1977	1977–1980	1980–1982, 1985–1986	1982–1985	1986–1991	1991–1993
1993–1995	1995–1997	1997–1999	1999–2005	2005–2008	2008–2010
2010–2013	2013–2015	2015–2022	2022–present

1970–1977

SVG NEEDED

WJCL began operations on July 18, 1970. It was the fourth television station to launch in Savannah and immediately became the area's first-ever primary ABC affiliate. Prior to channel 22 signing on, CBS affiliate WTOC-TV (channel 11) and NBC affiliate WSAV-TV (channel 3) shared secondary affiliations with ABC. It was originally owned by former Savannah mayor and avid amateur radio operator Julius Curtis Lewis, Jr. (whose initials provided the call sign).

1977–1980

SVG NEEDED

Newswatch 22 logo

1980-1986

1980–1982, 1985–1986

SVG NEEDED

In 1982, WJCL swapped affiliations with WSAV-TV (due to the latter's action) and became an NBC affiliate. In 1985, WSAV-TV was one of several ABC affiliates nationwide unhappy with the network's weak prime time programming offerings. However, a mere three years later, it returned to ABC in 1985, while WSAV reverted to being an NBC affiliate full-time.

By the time WJCL returned to ABC, this logo was used again.

1982–1985

SVG NEEDED

In 1982, WJCL swapped affiliates with WSAV-TV and became an NBC affiliate. However, this bond did not last long, because in 1985, three years after changing networks, WJCL and WSAV-TV reversed the 1982 affiliation switch, reuniting channel 22 with ABC and channel 3 with NBC.

WJCL's "We're NBC Savannah!" (1982-1985)

1986–1991

ABC WJCL ID and Savannah Black History Notes Promo (1990)

1991–1993

1993–1995

1995–1999

1995–1997

1997–1999

News logo

News logo

1999–2005

SVG NEEDED

In 1999, Lewis Broadcasting sold WJCL to Grapevine Communications, which merged with Piedmont Television around the same time. In the mid-to-late 1990s, Lewis decided to divest an even larger portion of his media interests and sold four of his combined eight owned and/or previously owned radio and television stations including WJCL, WTGS, WJCL-FM, and WLTX.

2005–2008

WJCL and WTGS were sold to New Vision Television (in an ironic twist, a prior incarnation of New Vision once owned rival WSAV) and Parkin Broadcasting respectively in 2007.

2008

2008–2013

Designer:  John Christopher Burns

Typography:  Helvetica Black Italic (logo) Century Gothic (graphics)

Launched:  2008

On May 7, 2012, LIN TV Corporation announced that it will acquire the New Vision Television station group for $330.4 million and the assumption of $12 million in debt. Along with the outright ownership of WJCL, the agreement includes the acquisition of New Vision's shared services agreement with Parkin Broadcasting, giving LIN operational control of WTGS. On October 2, the FCC approved the proposed sale to LIN TV. The transaction was completed on October 12.

2013–2015

Designer:  Linear Drift

Typography:  Akzidenz-Grotesk

Launched:  2013

On August 20, 2014, Media General announced that it would keep WSAV and sell WJCL, along with WVTM-TV in Birmingham, Alabama, to Hearst Television, with WTGS going to Sinclair Broadcast Group. The sale was completed on December 19, and Hearst closed on its purchase of WJCL and WVTM on December 22.

2015–present

Old version (2015-2022)

Current version (2022–present)

Designer:  Hearst Television HTV Design

Typography:  Effra

Launched:  2015 (old version) 2022 (current version)

Print version

News open (2018–present)

WJCL news opens

External links

• Official website