In 1956 , WATE dropped ABC when WBIR - TV signed - on .
In 1956 , WATE took the CBS affiliation from WTVK , leaving WTVK the ABC station by default .
In 1956 , WATE dropped ABC when WBIR - TV signed - on and took the CBS affiliation from WTVK , leaving WTVK the ABC station by default .