 The Eastern Broadcasting Corporation, owners of WCNS in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, received in April 1947 a construction permit for a new daytime-only radio station on 1270 kHz in Newport News, with call letters WHYU.The new station went on air September 27, 1947 as an independent local station; a year later, the Elizabeth City-based ownership sold WHYU for $60,000, citing the fact that they could not devote the necessary time or attention to its operation.In 1951, WHYU opened a studio in Hilton Village.