I would not want to see that. WSOC is bad about pre-empting ABC programming, though with a TiVo it's not really a big deal because the machine tapes the programs whenever they are on.A 4:00 newscast wouldn't make any difference re network affiliation; WTVD (ABC o&o) has one. I do agree, though, that WGHP will not go back to ABC; as I pointed out they have too much to lose in terms of timeslots given back to the network. Also, they have NASCAR (and the Triad is the highest-rated market in the country for NASCAR racing) and the Carolina Panthers, and they would be crazy to give those up. I'm sure these are things that will be taken into consideration when FOX8's current contract is up for renewal.
I somehow feel that ABC's chance of getting off WXLV rests on a real longshot: that Disney sells ABC to Hearst, and ABC moves to current NBC affiliate WXII/12. But again, I am not at all optimistic about that happening.
For the first six months of digital TV, with WXLV in a new location I didn't even WATCH WSOC. WXLV gave me results as close to perfect as I could ask for. I saw every minute of every episode of "Defying Gravity" on WXLV. Then the problems began and I just switched back to WSOC on cable most of the time. And I no longer have a VCR connected to an antenna, so watching on WXLV is quite rare these days.
WXII has no chance unless I spend the money on an outdoor antenna. It's just too far north. I picked it up when I was first setting up but I may have just been lucky.