The first television station in southern West Virginia, WOAY-TV, began operations on December 14, 1954, on channel 4.

[7] In previous decades, the station was known throughout the area for a very theatrical professional wrestling show that it produced with local talent in an arena adjacent to its studios.

However, this ended on September 30, 1977, when WOAY's main studio, control room, offices, and transmitter building were destroyed in a fire.

Channel 4 returned to the air within two weeks after the fire, first with ABC programs, and local productions resumed soon thereafter.

[11][12] Robert R. (Robbie) Thomas III succeeded his father as president of the stations, and oversaw WOAY-TV until his death in November 2016.