WSB-TV tower facts for kids
The WSB-TV tower is a very tall broadcast tower located in Atlanta, Georgia. It stands about 328 meters (1,075 feet) high, which is taller than many skyscrapers! This tower is a "guyed mast," meaning it's held up by strong cables called guy wires that are anchored to the ground. When it was finished in 1950, it was the tallest tower of its kind in the whole United States.
The tower is in the Old Fourth Ward neighborhood, right next to Freedom Parkway and the Historic Fourth Ward Park skate park. Because the tower is so close to Freedom Parkway, some of its support cables actually go over the road. To keep people safe from falling ice during winter storms, a sturdy bridge-like cover was built over the road where the cables cross.
What Stations Broadcast from the WSB-TV Tower?
This tower is a busy place for broadcasting! It helps send out signals for several radio and television stations. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which is like the government's traffic controller for airwaves, lists these stations broadcasting from here:
- WSB-TV Channel 32: This is a television station owned by Cox Media Group. It used to broadcast on an older channel (VHF analog channel 2) but now uses a digital signal.
- W296BB FM 107.1: This is a special kind of radio station called a "broadcast translator." It helps extend the signal of another station, WTSH-FM 107.1, so more people can hear it.
How Technology Changed the Tower
For many years, the WSB-TV tower broadcasted both old-style analog TV signals and newer digital TV signals. Analog signals used a lower frequency, which meant their antennas had to be much bigger.
When the U.S. switched completely to digital TV in June 2009, the old, large analog antenna was removed from the top of the tower. A smaller digital antenna was then moved into its place. This change actually made the tower's broadcast reach even better because the digital antenna could be placed higher up, improving its broadcast range.
