RALEIGH, N.C. — The oldest commercial HBCU-owned TV station is located in North Carolina's City of Oaks. St. Augustine's University recently relaunched its TV station on campus, WAUG.

The student station is about to undergo a major makeover. It first launched in 1987.

In 2018, the FCC required all TV stations to do what's called a repack, essentially causing the station to move channels and also do required work on the broadcasting tower.

That requirement took time and funding to complete. But as of last December, the station regained the ability to broadcast. When the university made changes to its tower, the FCC reimbursed it.

Funding is now helping to pay for new equipment, setting the stage for a relaunch in early 2023.

Junior student Miles Beasley produces and currently helps anchor the Oakwood 7, an entertainment and news program. 

"[What] I love about it is the fact that whenever I have my camera in the mic, I try and make everyone feel like a celebrity because I mean, everyone should," Beasley said. "And so when you say, like representation, it's very important because if you see yourself doing something that you didn't even think you could do - I think that's what, that's what really brings the pride back into the school."

The station also houses its own radio station. WAUG is an important training ground, equipping future journalists to tell stories and provide representation to communities of color.

“WAUG was always a voice for members of the southeast Raleigh community, and we look forward to renewing that tradition of being out in the community and covering news in the Raleigh area using our students," said Demarcus Williams, associate VP of global marketing and communications.

It's hoped the station will be fully launched in early 2023. It will be broadcasting live on air, as well as streaming apps. 

"We've just been, just been working just to make sure that everything is kind of coming in and falling into place. I mean, slowly but surely, it's definitely coming," Beasley said.