WXII-TV

WXII-TV (digital channel 31, virtual channel 12) is the NBC television station licensed for the Greensboro–High Point–Winston-Salem, North Carolina (Piedmont Triad) designated market area. It is licensed to Winston-Salem and is currently owned by the Hearst Corporation. Its transmitter is located on Sauratown Mountain in Stokes County, North Carolina. The station is carried on cable channel 11 in most parts of the market.

History
The station began operation on September 30, 1953 as WSJS-TV. It is the third-oldest surviving station in North Carolina, behind Charlotte'sWBTV and Greensboro's WFMY-TV. The station at first was owned by a subsidiary of Piedmont Publishing, publishers of the Winston-Salem Journal and Twin City Sentinel along with WSJS radio (600 AM and 104.1 FM, now WTQR), and Hollywood star Mary Pickford and her husband Buddy Rogers.[1]

Johnny Beckman, an early employee, recalls working at WSJS-TV in those early years. There were three of us, and we all did multiple jobs -- the weather, commercials, a teenage dance party. We were all scrambling around trying to make a living. Broadcasting was not high-paying then. The pay has certainly improved, but it was a more enjoyable career than it has become now.[2]. The station has always been affiliated with NBC. ABC was shared with WFMY until WGHP signed on in 1963. The station first broadcast from the basement of WSJS studios on Spruce Street in Winston-Salem. The first broadcast was of the first game of the World Seriesbetween the New York Yankees and the Brooklyn Dodgers.

The station originally broadcast from an antenna near Kernersville. The tower was moved to Sauratown Mountain in 1955.

When Piedmont Publishing was sold to Media General in 1968, Gordon Gray, the longtime publisher of both papers, held onto WSJS-AM-FM-TV as Triangle Broadcasting. Gray also received the franchise for the city's cable system. However, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) ruled that TV stations could not also own the cable systems in their markets. Gray was thus forced to sell WSJS-TV in 1972 to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multimedia_Inc. Multimedia Inc.], who renamed the station WXII-TV. The letters "XII" from "WXII" are the Roman numerals for the number "12", which is the station's channel number. At the time of the call letter change, the station ran a promotional ad parodying the death of Julius Caesar to amplify the Roman numeral theme. Two other stations in the market later switched to Roman numeral call letters (WXLV-TV 45 and WLXI-TV 61; WGSR-LP's previous incarnation also used Roman numerals as WXIV).

Multimedia swapped WXII and WFBC-TV in Greenville, South Carolina (now WYFF) to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulitzer,_Inc. Pulitzer] in 1983 in exchange for KSD-TV in St. Louis (now KSDK). When Pulitzer bowed out of broadcasting in 1997, Hearst bought the entire group, including WXII.

Digital programming
The station's digital signal, UHF 31, is multiplexed. WXII added This TV on June 1, 2009[3].

Cable and satellite carriage outside of the market
WXII is carried on West Jefferson cable outlets in Ashe County, which is part of the Charlotte DMA. It is also carried in New London, Stanley County which is part of the Charlotte DMA. In addition to cable, WXII can be seen on DirecTV in Virginia border counties Carroll, Henry, and Grayson. Also, the Independent Cities of Danville, Galax, and Martinsville carry WXII as well.

WXII use to be carried by Charter Cable of Boone (serving both Avery and Watauga counties) until the mid-2000s, when it was replaced by WCNC from Charlotte.

Programming
Syndicated programs on WXII12 include: Live with Regis and Kelly, Dr. Phil, Oprah, Inside Edition, and Entertainment Tonight.

News operation
<p style="margin-top: 0.4em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">Ratings began to increase following a series of severe weather events in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

<p style="margin-top: 0.4em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">WXII currently broadcasts 33.5 hours of local news per week, with 5.5 hours on weekdays and 3 hours on weekends. A 2½ hour morning newscast begins at 4:30 am, followed by one-hour blocks at noon and 5 pm, a half-hour block at 6 pm, and a 35-minute wrap at 11 pm. On weekends, a two-hour morning newscast begins at 5 am, followed by half-hour blocks at 6 and 11 pm.

<p style="margin-top: 0.4em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">On February 12, 2010, after the Opening Ceremonies of the Winter Olympics, WXII became the last local station to produce news in 16:9 widescreen SD, joining WGHP and WFMY. For a few months after the switch, weather graphics were still in 4:3 with blue colored curtains presented, but since has upgraded it's graphics to 16:9 widescreen format. The studio cameras and news packages are in 16:9 SD widescreen. (WGHP has since upgraded to true high-definition newscasts.)

Newscasts
<p style="margin-top: 0.4em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">Weekdays


 * 4:30-7:00 a.m. - Kimberly Van Scoy, Nicole Ducouer, Austin Caviness, & Mary Beth Brown
 * 12:00-1:00 p.m. - Margaret Johnson, Michelle Kennedy (Monday-Wednesday), Brian Slocum (Thursday-Friday)
 * 5:00-6:00 p.m. - Wanda Starke, Cameron Kent, Lanie Pope, Michelle Kennedy (Monday-Wednesday)
 * 6:00-6:30 p.m. - Wanda Starke, Cameron Kent, Lanie Pope, Kenny Beck
 * 11:00-11:35 p.m. - Wanda Starke, Cameron Kent, Lanie Pope, Kenny Beck

<p style="margin-top: 0.4em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">Weekends:


 * 5:00-7:00 a.m. - Veronica White, Brian Slocum
 * 6:00-6:30 p.m. - Craig Thomas, Michelle Kennedy,
 * 11:00-11:35 p.m. - Craig Thomas, Michelle Kennedy,

News/station presentation
<p style="margin-top: 0.4em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">WXII used the "Hello News" theme package in the early 1980s. Their campaign song was "Hello Piedmont." Following the "Hello" campaign of the early 1980s, WXII hired a Florida production company to put together a new image campaign, "Count on Us". This was used for little more than a year and then dropped. In the early 1990s WXII was rebranded "Your Carolina News Connection". As with most TV stations, WXII used custom versions of NBC campaigns—one example being "Come Home to WXII". They also made a local version of "Come Home to the Best, Only on NBC" in 1988, featuring shots of NBC's stars and WXII's anchors throwing a party to coincide with the station's 35th anniversary. The latter clip can be seen on YouTube (originally uploaded by the station itself).

<p style="margin-top: 0.4em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">In the mid-to-late 1990s, WXII branded itself as NewsChannel 12, and its positioning statement was "Complete Local Coverage of the Western Piedmont." Once Hearst took full control (around 1999-2000), both the "NewsChannel" and positioning statement were dropped. The station then began branding itself as WXII 12 News. As of 2008, the station refers to itself (TV and Web) as WXII Digital Media.

Newscast titles

 * WSJS-TV News (1953–1967)
 * Eyewitness News (1967–1977)
 * NewsCenter 12 (1977–1985)
 * Channel 12 News (1985–1992)
 * Newswatch 12 (1992–1996)
 * NewsChannel 12 (1996–2000)
 * WXII NewsChannel 12 (2000–2003)
 * WXII 12 News (2003–present)

Station slogans

 * Channel 12, Proud as a Peacock! (1979–1981; localized version of NBC ad campaign)
 * Hello Piedmont, Channel 12 Loves You! (early-mid 1980s; used during period station used Frank Gari's Hello News)
 * Channel 12, Our Pride is Showing (1981–1982; localized version of NBC ad campaign)
 * We're Channel 12, Just Watch Us Now (1982–1983; localized version of NBC ad campaign)
 * Channel 12 There, Be There (1983–1984; localized version of NBC ad campaign)
 * Channel 12, Let's All Be There (1984–1986; localized version of NBC ad campaign)
 * Come Home to Channel 12 (1986–1987; localized version of NBC ad campaign)
 * Count on Us (late 1980s)
 * Come on Home to Channel 12 (1987–1988; localized version of NBC ad campaign)
 * Come Home to the Best, Only on Channel 12 (1988–1990; localized version of NBC ad campaign)
 * Channel 12, is The Place to Be (1990–1991; localized version of NBC ad campaign)
 * Your Carolina News Connection (1991–1996)
 * Complete Local Coverage of the Western Piedmont (1996–2004)
 * Your Home for Piedmont-Triad and Southwest Virginia News (2007–2008)
 * The Number 1 Choice for News in the Triad (2009–present)

Current on-air staff
<p style="margin-top: 0.4em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">Current anchors


 * Nicole Ducouer - Weekday mornings; also reporter
 * Margaret Johnson - Weekdays at noon; also morning reporter
 * Cameron Kent - Weeknights at 5, 6 and 11 p.m.
 * Craig Thomas - Weekends at 6 and 11 p.m.; weekday reporter
 * Wanda Starke - Weeknights at 5, 6 and 11 p.m.
 * Kimberly Van Scoy - Weekday Mornings; Health reporter
 * Veronica White - Weekend Morning Anchor and Morning Reporter

<p style="margin-top: 0.4em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">WXII 12 Weather Plus


 * Lanie Pope (AMS and NWA Seals of Approval) - Chief Meteorologist; Thursday-Fridays at 5, weeknights at 6 and 11 p.m.
 * Austin Caviness (AMS Seal of Approval) - Meteorologist; weekday mornings
 * Michelle Kennedy (AMS Certified Broadcast Meteorologist Seal of Approval) - Meteorologist; Monday-Wednesdays at noon and 5 p.m. and weekends at 6 and 11 p.m.
 * Brian Slocum (NWA Seal of Approval) - Meteorologist; Thursday-Fridays at noon and weekend mornings

<p style="margin-top: 0.4em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">Sports Team


 * Kenny Beck - Sports Director; weeknights at 6 and 11 p.m., formerly weekend morning anchor

<p style="margin-top: 0.4em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">Reporters


 * Arthur Mondale - Weekday Mornings Reporter
 * Craig Thomas - General Assignment Reporter
 * Bill O’Neil - investigative reporter
 * Mary Beth Brown - Girl Talk Reporter

<p style="margin-top: 0.4em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">Hearst Television Washington Bureau


 * Kate Amara - Washington Bureau reporter
 * Sally Kidd - Washington Bureau reporter
 * Nikole Killion - Washington Bureau reporter

Former on-air staff

 * Steve Adamson, former weekday morning and noon meteorologist (1986–1994). Now at WXIA-TV in Atlanta.
 * Rick Amme, former anchor (1980s-early 1990s).
 * John Beard, former anchor and reporter.
 * Tom Booth, former morning, noon, weekend anchor/reporter/weatherman/sports fill-in (1976–1983). Now hosting a morning program on Truth Radio Network.
 * James Brown, former anchor and reporter (1997–2000). Now main anchor at WHIO-TV in Dayton.
 * Tolly Carr, former morning anchor, charged with felony death by vehicle, felony serious injury by vehicle and driving while intoxicated in March 2007.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-3" style="line-height: 1em; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; ">[4] He was sentenced to 25–39 months in prison in August 2007.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-4" style="line-height: 1em; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; ">[5]
 * Kathy Cheek, former general assignment reporter.
 * Paul Dellegatto, former chief meteorologist (1986–1990). Currently chief meteorologist at WTVT in Tampa.
 * Cynthia Demos, former reporter. Now morning and noon anchor at WFOR-TV in Miami.
 * Aixa Diaz, former weekend morning anchor. Now at WESH in Orlando.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-5" style="line-height: 1em; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; ">[6]
 * Harvey Dinkins, farm reporter from 1954-1962. Dinkins was billed as "North Carolina's Favorite Farmer."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-6" style="line-height: 1em; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; ">[7]
 * Denise Franklin, former anchor (1983–1992). Currently the general manager of WFDD in Winston-Salem.
 * Bob Gordon, the station's first announcer. Gordon, whose real name was Robert Gordon Van Horn, hosted Bob Gordon Theater for 19 years.
 * Dave Goren, former sports anchor. Last day on air was Thanksgiving 2008.
 * Jeff Hardin, former meteorologist (1998–2001). Currently director of communications for the NC Credit Union League.
 * Nina Hayes, former traffic anchor.
 * Chris Horne, former morning anchor. Currently a realtor with Prudential Carolinas Realty in Winston-Salem.
 * Nicole Jacobs, former reporter. Now general assignment reporter at WTIC-TV in Hartford, Connecticut.
 * Damany Lewis, former reporter/fill-in anchor (2004–2007). Now a reporter with KCRA-TV in Sacramento.
 * Robin Lidner, former reporter.
 * Monica Malpass, former anchor and reporter. Co-anchor at WPVI-TV in Philadelphia since 1988.
 * Shaniqua Manning, former weekend anchor. Currently weekend anchor at Northwest Cable News.
 * Melissa Marsh, former reporter and anchor (2002–2007).
 * Mike McClellan, former meteorologist. Currently president of Mobile Weather Team, Inc. in Peoria.
 * Kathy Murphy, former anchor. Went to work for WGCL-TV in Atlanta in the late 90s.
 * Gene Overby, sports anchor and former voice of Wake Forest University athletics.
 * Angela Pellerano, former reporter and fill-in anchor. Now weekend anchor and reporter with WTVR-TV in Richmond, Virginia.
 * Dan Rath, former sports anchor. Currently a realtor in Winston-Salem. Hosted weekly sports segment titled "I Dare Dan", in which viewers would challenge Rath at sporting or gaming competitions.
 * Chris Runge, former weatherman (1987 to 1996). Left WXII and went to work for WXLV (ABC affiliate in Winston-Salem). Now station manager for Educational TV Channel on local cable channel 2 and spokesperson for the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools.
 * Ben Salt, former general assignment reporter and anchor.
 * Bonnie Schneider, meteorologist. Joined CNN in 2005.
 * Glenn Scott, former weatherman and longtime morning man on WSJS radio.
 * Debbie Severs, former weather person.
 * Mary Ann Sheboy, reporter for station for 19 years.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-7" style="line-height: 1em; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; ">[8]
 * Fred Shropshire, former general assignment reporter (2002–2004). Shropshire worked as a reporter and fill-in anchor at WGN-TV in Chicago before becoming the weekend anchor forWTVD in Durham, North Carolina.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-8" style="line-height: 1em; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; ">[9]
 * Jennie Stencel, Former traffic reporter. Resigned on May 14, 2010.
 * Teresa Taylor, former anchor and reporter.
 * John Wendel, meteorologist. Currently meteorologist for WCNC-TV in Charlotte, North Carolina since January 2001.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-9" style="line-height: 1em; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; ">[10]
 * Elizabeth Wenger, former weekend evening anchor. Now traffic anchor at KPIX-TV in San Francisco.
 * Anthony Wilson, reporter and substitute anchor (1990–1993). Currently a weekend anchor and reporter at WTVD in Durham.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-10" style="line-height: 1em; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; ">[11]
 * Scott Zahorik, former meteorologist.