WELZ

WELZ is the NBC affiliate serving Columbia, SC, and the greater Columbia area. Broadcasting on channel 4, WELZ is owned and operated by Isle of Capri Enterprises. WELZ was launched in 1955, two months after WTL was launched, by Benoit Broadcasting and became the NBC affiliate. After enjoying getting high ratings in the 50s, 60s, and early 70s, WELZ's lost the ratings lead when NBC's ratings took a nosedive. Benoit Broadcasting sold the station to Furdge Communications in 1980, and by 1985, because NBC's ratings improved, WELZ became the no. 1 station in the market. In 2002, WELZ was sold to Isle of Capri Enterprises. In addition to running the NBC schedule, WELZ also airs syndicated programming, including Ellen, Steve Harvey, and Wheel of Fortune. WELZ also operates two subchannels: 4.2 (For Vault Disney) and 4.3 (For Nick GAS).