About WKNA-TV 49

WKNA-TV 49 is a Charleston-based local news station serving the Kanawha Valley and surrounding communities. WKNA-TV first appeared on Channel 49 in Charleston in the early 1950s during the first wave of UHF television in West Virginia. The station began test-pattern operations on September 21, 1953, and regular broadcasts began on October 12, 1953. The original broadcast era ended in 1955, but the WKNA-TV name remained part of Charleston television history.

WKNA49.com launched on January 18, 2001, as the station's first digital home. On April 10, 2025, WKNA-TV transferred ownership and began a modernization of its digital operations, newsroom systems, visual identity, and publishing platform. The redesigned WKNA49.com launched in early 2026 with a renewed focus on local news, weather, live coverage, and community service.

Because the 2026 redesign moved WKNA-TV to a new publishing system, older web articles are not part of the current public article archive. Selected station history, photos, and notable broadcast materials may be added to the WKNA-TV history section over time.

Timeline

• September 21, 1953

  WKNA-TV begins test-pattern operations on Channel 49 in Charleston.

• October 12, 1953

  Regular broadcasts begin.

• 1955

  The original WKNA-TV broadcast era ends.

• January 18, 2001

  WKNA49.com launches as the station's first digital home.

• April 10, 2025

  WKNA-TV transfers ownership and begins modernization.

• Early 2026

  The redesigned WKNA49.com launches with new newsroom systems.

Our Newsroom

The WKNA 49 newsroom is built around local reporting — neighborhood stories, weather that affects daily life in the valley, high school sports, and the institutions that make Charleston home.