WCSC-TV5 was the first television station in Charleston and in South Carolina, founded with the goal of serving "Wonderful Charleston, South Carolina."​ In 1953, WCSC-TV's aerial tower was the highest structure in the city at 440 feet and "Five is Alive"​ were the first words used to sign the station on the air. WCSC was the first station in South Carolina to broadcast in full color and use videotapes for programming and news coverage and was also the first station in Charleston to offer its live broadcasts from locations throughout the Lowcountry, thus developing the name "Live 5 News."​ In 1978, WCSC-TV was the first station in South Carolina to utilize satellite technology. During this year, Channel 5 made history with reports from Rome and Vienna. In 1986, WCSC-TV built a 2,000 foot tower enabling Channel 5's broadcast signal to reach nearly half the state of South Carolina. In 1990, WCSC-TV was the recipient of the nationally acclaimed Peabody Award and was also the first station in South Carolina to receive the nationally acclaimed Polk Award. Live Super Doppler 5000, the Lowcountry's only live, local radar, went online in January of 2000.