WSGI

WSGI is an NBC affiliate that serves the Rockledge, FL area. It broadcasts on Channel 7.
== History ==
WSGI was launched on May 9, 1959 and became the CBS affiliate. Owned by Orton Broadcasting, WSGI and WYSD were battling for the top spot in the market. After 1970, WSGI became the top station in the market, with WREL running a close second.
Robert Orton passed away in 1980, and his family decided to sell the station to Spain Enterprises. In 1985, WSGI saw their ratings slip, but by 1988, WSGI was once again the no. 1 station in the market.
=== 1994 Broadcast Realignment ===
In 1994, FOX was award the NFC package from the NFL after outbidding CBS for it. With CBS losing some affiliates, they were in desperation mode. Even though WSGI's ratings were the best in the market, CBS didn't have much of a choice but to move their affiliation to then-ABC affiliate WREL (Channel 4). ABC, in turn, made a deal with WYSD and WYSD left NBC and became an affiliate with ABC. Largely by default, WSGI became an NBC affiliate. Thanks to NBC's solid prime-time lineup, WSGI maintained their high ratings in the market. From 1995-2002, WSGI was the no. 1 station in the market. However, by 2007, WSGI's rating slid, and they went from 1 to 4th best in the market. In 2008, Spain Enterprises sold WSGI to Island Television.
=== Conflict with NBC ===
In 2009, NBC decided to give Jay Leno a prime-time show to air 5 days a week at 10 PM, right before their 11 PM newscast. Fearing that their newscasts would suffer, Island Television stated that it would not carry the program, and announced that it would instead launch a local news program in the time slot. NBC said that such plans would amount to a flagrant violation of the network contract—a claim which WSGI disputed—and said that it would immediately remove its programming from WSGI if the station followed through with the plan. WSGI backed down on April 13, 2009, and announced that it would air Leno instead of the proposed program. WSGI's fears were confirmed when, thanks to Leno getting low ratings, their 11 PM newscast dropped from 3rd to the bottom. Since 2009, their newscast ratings haven't recovered, finishing no higher than 4th since 2012.
=== New Owners ===
On Jan. 30, 2016, it was announced that Island Television, as well as Higgins Broadcasting, and Oakhurst Broadcasting, were merging into Adelphia Communications. So Island Television had to sell the station, and the station was sold to Evans Communications. On May 17, 2017, the station was sold to Gannett Communications
Category:NBC network affiliates
Category:Channel 7
Category:Rockledge, FL
Category:Florida
Category:Former CBS affiliates
Category:Television channels and stations established in 1959
Category:Gannett Communications