ABC7 marks 55 years serving the Suncoast

SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) - ABC7 is marking 55 years of serving viewers on the Suncoast.The station first signed on Oct. 23, 1971, as WXLT Channel 40 in Sarasota.Robert Nelson founded the station after the Suncoast struggled to receive a clear ABC signal from Tampa.ABC7’s early operations were based in a small studio on Lawton Drive.Manatee County kindergartner competes to become comic book superheroThe station changed its call letters to WWSB in 1986.It moved downtown in 2001.The station adopted the ABC7 brand in 2004.ABC7 recognized the anniversary during “Suncoast View.”The station is highlighting archival footage from its early decades. The videos include looks at ABC7 through the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s.