WDTN

WDTN, virtual channel 2, is the NBC-affiliated television station for Ohio's Miami Valley. Licensed to Dayton, it broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 50 from a transmitter in the Frytown section of the city. The station can also be seen on Time Warner Cable channel 2 and in high definition on digital channel 1002. It is owned by the LIN TV Corporation.

WDTN operates CW affiliate WBDT (owned by ACME Communications) through shared service and local sales agreements. The two stations share studios on South Dixie Drive in Moraine (which is in a Dayton ZIP code). However, master control and some internal operations of WDTN are based within centralcasting facilities at sister station WISH-TV in Indianapolis.

Syndicated programming on this station includes: Inside Edition, Jeopardy!, The Doctors, and Swift Justice with Nancy Grace.

WDTN's logo is very similar to ones used by KMID, WPRI-TV, and WNAC-TV.

Digital programming
On WDTN-DT2 is a standard definition simulcast of the main signal.

Early years
The license for what is now WDTN was granted to the Crosley Broadcasting Corporation of Cincinnati, which was a subsidiary of the Aviation Corporation (later known as Avco), on March 3, 1947. It was the first broadcast television license granted by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to the Dayton market. However due to several delays, it did not actually go on-the-air until March 15, 1949, twenty days after CBS affiliate WHIO-TV began broadcasting.

The station originally signed on with the call sign WLWD. Named for Crosley's flagship Cincinnati radio station WLW (World's Largest Wireless) + Dayton, it identified on-air as "WLW-D".

WLWD's offices, studios, and studio-transmitter link KUQ-43 were established on South Dixie Highway in the Dayton suburb of Moraine, in a building that had previously housed a skating rink. The studios and offices remain there to this day.

WLWD was one of five stations which made up the Cincinnati-based WLW television network. Other stations included in this network were flagship WLWT in Cincinnati, WLWC (now WCMH-TV) in Columbus, WLWA (now WXIA-TV) in Atlanta and WLWI (now WTHR) in Indianapolis.

From its start, WLWD was affiliated with NBC. It also carried programming from DuMont and ABC. The first program shown on WLWD was the Texaco Star Theater with Milton Berle.

WLWD lost DuMont in 1955, a few months before the network shut down. It lost ABC in 1965 (though it cleared some ABC daytime programming until 1971 as a secondary affiliate) when then-independent WONE-TV (now WKEF) picked up ABC's prime time programming.

Game show host and announcer Johnny Gilbert hosted his own local daytime variety/talk show immediately after the local airing of WLW television's Paul Dixon Show in the mid-1960s.

Phil Donahue (former news anchor and radio talk show host at WHIO) began hosting a talk show on WLWD in 1967 that was more issue oriented (greatly reducing the station's program budget). Donahue's show went national in 1970. Since most programs on the WLW television regional network originated from WLWT in Cincinnati, it was the first time WLWD was the originator of a program.

Aside from Paul Dixon's weekday morning show, other Cincinnati-based programming that aired on WLWD included: The 50-50 Club, hosted by Ruth Lyons (hosted by Bob Braun after Lyons' 1967 retirement), and the Saturday evening country music program Midwestern Hayride.

Due to WLWD's heavy local and regional programming schedule, many network programs from NBC and ABC were recorded on film as a kinescope for later airing. On rare occasions when a program was unavailable (sometimes due to network technical difficulties or if fill time was available before or after a network sportscast), a half-hour series entitled Star Performance, consisting mostly of drama pilots from the 1950s, would air. Fifteen minute mini-documentaries or newsreels would also air as a time filler under the title Miniature Theater.

Avco's broadcasting division continued to operate under the Crosley Broadcasting name until 1968, when it took on the name of its parent company.

WDTN
In 1976, Avco decided to exit broadcasting. It sold WLWD to Grinnell College, which changed the call letters to WDTN. (From April, 2003 until April, 2010, the WLWD call sign was used by an FM station licensed to Columbus Grove, Ohio, serving the Lima market with a rhythmic hits format. That station has since changed its call sign to WBKS.)

Switch to ABC
By the mid to late-1970s, ABC was searching for stronger affiliates in order to cement its status as the leading network in the country.

Its existing affiliate, WKEF, had lower ratings than WDTN and WHIO-TV, and did not have a news department until 1979. ABC's Cincinnati affiliate, WKRC-TV, and its Columbus affiliate, WTVN-TV (now WSYX), were both preempting certain of the network's daytime programs, late night shows, and some of its Saturday morning cartoons. Because of these preemptions, ABC also wanted a station in Dayton with a stronger over-the-air signal, able to reach Cincinnati and Columbus. In late 1979, ABC approached WDTN and reached a deal.

Almost by default, NBC was then left with WKEF.

On January 1, 1980, WDTN and WKEF swapped affiliations. Under the deal, WDTN was exempt from running ABC's soap operas after 2 p.m. In place of One Life to Live and General Hospital, WDTN ran cartoons and off-network sitcoms.

1980-2004
In 1981, Hearst Broadcasting bought the station.

By the late 1980s, cartoons and sitcoms made way for first run talk shows such as The Oprah Winfrey Show (at 4 p.m.), The Montel Williams Show, and The Jerry Springer Show. WDTN would begin its talk block at 2 p.m. during the week.

In August, 1997, Hearst's television group merged with Argyle Television Holdings II to form what was then known as Hearst-Argyle Television. Argyle had purchased Cincinnati's WLWT that January. WDTN's city-grade signal covered most of the Cincinnati area while WLWT's city-grade signal reached most of the Dayton area. Since 1996, the FCC allowed without a waiver common ownership of two stations whose Grade B ("rimshot") coverage areas overlapped, but until duopolies began to be permitted in 2000, it would not even consider granting a waiver (let alone allowing common ownership) if the overlap was between city-grade signals. (Crosley/Avco's past ownership of both channels had been grandfathered.)

Faced with a choice between stations, Hearst-Argyle opted to keep WLWT and trade WDTN, together with WNAC-TV in Providence, Rhode Island, to Sunrise Television for WPTZ in Plattsburgh, New York, WNNE in Hartford, Vermont, and KSBW in Salinas, California. The sale was finalized on July 2, 1998.

In 2000, Time Warner Cable (Dayton's largest cable system) dropped the Cincinnati network affiliates to make room for new cable channels. As a result, ABC soap viewers could no longer see One Life to Live or General Hospital, while over-the-air viewers could still pick them up on WCPO-TV (which had become Cincinnati's ABC affiliate in 1996). As a result, in Fall 2000, General Hospital was added to WDTN's schedule. One Life to Live would be preempted another two years.

In May, 2002, Sunrise merged with LIN TV.

After the LIN TV acquisition, One Life to Live was added to the station's schedule as well. From this point on, WDTN aired ABC's entire schedule until the station returned to NBC in 2004.

Return to NBC
On August 30, 2004, in a reversal of the 1980 switch, WDTN became an NBC affiliate for the second time to take advantage of the network's then stronger programming.

In another reversal, ABC was left with WKEF by default.

Ironically, several months after the affiliation shift, ABC's ratings overtook those of NBC.

2004-Present
On May 18, 2007, LIN TV announced that it was exploring strategic alternatives that could have resulted in the sale of the company. In early June, WDTN's website (along with those of several other LIN TV-owned stations not affiliated with Fox such as WNDY-TV, WWHO, WAND, WWLP, and WLFI-TV) underwent a redesign. The web addresses were then operated by the Local Media Network division of World Now for a little over a year until October, 2008, when LIN TV relaunched most of its station websites through Fox Interactive Media. Prior to the World Now contract, the web addresses were powered by Web Pros.

On October 3, 2008, LIN TV pulled WDTN (and its other stations) from Time Warner Cable, due to a dispute over "retransmission fees."[1] [2] [3] Time Warner replaced WDTN with a free preview of HBO Family. On October 29, LIN TV and Time Warner Cable reached an agreement, restoring WDTN, as well as offering it in high definition on the cable system for the first time.[4] [5] [6]

WDTN ended its analog broadcast on VHF channel 2 on June 12, 2009 as part of the DTV transition in the United States.[7] It remained on its digital channel (50)[8] using PSIP to display its virtual channel as 2.

On June 4, 2010, it was announced LIN TV would begin operating CW affiliate WBDT (then owned by ACME Communications) through shared service and local sales agreements.[9] [10] Three months later, LIN TV exercised an option to purchase that channel along with another LIN-operated ACME station, fellow CW affiliate WCWF in Green Bay, Wisconsin.[11] LIN TV requested WBDT's license be assigned to a subsidiary of Vaughan Media (owner of Austin, Texas CW affiliate KNVA, which is also operated by LIN TV). The company holds a 4.5% equity stake in Vaughan Media, but controls most of that company's voting stock, effectively making it a shell corporation for LIN TV.[12] WBDT was integrated into WDTN's facilities and the merger between the two stations occurred sometime around October, 2010. WBDT originally had studios at Corporate Place in Miamisburg, along Byers Road.

On March 4, 2011, LIN TV's contract with DISH Network expired, and all TV stations owned or operated by LIN, including WDTN and WBDT, were pulled from DISH.[13] [14] [15] [16] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-16">[17] On March 13, LIN and DISH entered into a retransmission consent agreement, and all affected channels were restored.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-17">[18] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-18">[19] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-19">[20] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-20">[21]

Ongoing
Veteran announcer and former radio personality Charlie Van Dyke is the current voice heard on WDTN's station IDs, news intros, promos, and other voice over work.

Station slogans

 * "TV2, Reaching Out To You" (Mid-late 70s)
 * "TV2, Proud as a Peacock" (1979-1980; localized version of NBC ad campaign)
 * "You and Me and TV2" (1980-1981; localized version of ABC ad campaign)
 * "Now is the Time, TV2 is The Place" (1981-1982; localized version of ABC ad campaign)
 * "Come On Along with TV2" (1982-1983; localized version of ABC ad campaign)
 * "Here's 2" (early 80s)
 * "Say Hello" (mid 1980s-1989, used during period station used Frank Gari's "Hello News")
 * "Something`s Happening on Channel 2"
 * "The Miami Valley's Fastest Growing Television News" (1989–1996)
 * "If It`s The Miami Valley, It Must Be Channel 2" (1992-1993; localized version of ABC ad campaign)
 * "Dayton and the Miami Valley's Total News Coverage" (1996–2000)
 * "TV is Good, on Channel 2" (1997-1998; localized version of ABC ad campaign)
 * "We Love TV, on Channel 2" (1998-1999; localized version of ABC ad campaign)
 * "Your Weather Authority" (2000–2002)
 * "For News, Turn to 2" (2002–2004)
 * "WDTN, Dayton's NBC" (2004–2008)
 * "On Your Side" (2008–present)

News operation
Nightly news open at 11.In the 1970s and 1980s, WDTN used the popular Eyewitness News branding. For most of its history, its newscasts have been a solid runner-up to market leader WHIO-TV. According to Nielsen ratings, WKEF's news has always been a distant third place. However, on some nights (usually Sundays because of ABC programming) there are times when WKEF is runner-up to WHIO-TV. WHIO-TV became the first in the area to air local newscasts in 16:9 enhanced definition widescreen on April 1, 2007. Conversion to full high definition occurred December 12, 2010. Broadcasts on WDTN remain in pillarboxed 4:3 standard definition.

On August 18, 2007, this station began to produce a nightly prime time newscast for WBDT, known as 2 News at 10 on Dayton's CW. This show achieved higher ratings than WRGT's nightly prime time news in Dayton's metered market households on the 26th day of its broadcast.

Also that year, 2 News won the "Edward R. Murrow Award for Overall Excellence" for the second straight year.

WDTN currently has an Emmy award winning news operation and maintains news partnerships with several area newspapers. The station is known for its "Turn to 2" segments, in which viewers can contact the station if they need help with consumer issues.

In addition to its main studios, WDTN operates bureaus in Springfield (on West Main Street) and in Xenia‎ (in the Xenia Daily Gazette newsroom on South Detroit Street).

WDTN operates its own weather radar known on-air as "Live Doppler 2X". The station's weather reports are sometimes branded as "Live Doppler 2X", sometimes as "Storm Team 2". Live Doppler 2X logo. On air, the rings around the "X" are animated, oscillating in waves, perhaps suggesting the Doppler effect.Weather forecast including Storm Team 2 logo. On air, the "o" in "Storm" is animated, resembling a radar scope.===Newscast titles===
 * News and Sports (general)/Dayton Final (11 p.m. news, 1950–1965)
 * TV2 News (1965–1968 & 1984-1989)
 * TV2 News World (1968–1970)
 * TV2 Nightly News (1970–1971)
 * TV2 NewsHour (1972–1977)
 * Eyewitness News (1977–1984)
 * 2 News (1989–present)

News team
Anchors Live Doppler 2X Meteorologists Sports Reporters Notable former staff
 * Mark Allan - weeknights at 5, 6, 10, and 11
 * Marsha Bonhart - weekdays at noon, 5:30, and 6
 * health reporter
 * Dan Edwards - weekday mornings
 * business and education reporter
 * Pam Elliot - weekday mornings and reporter
 * Michelle Kingsfield - weeknights at 5, 5:30, 10, and 11
 * Holly Samuels - weekends and reporter
 * Brian Davis (AMS Seal of Approval) - Chief, seen weeknights
 * Tara Hastings (AMS Seal of Approval) - weekends
 * Jamie Jarosik (NWA and AMS Seals of Approval) - weekday mornings and noon
 * Carl Nichols - fill-in
 * Jack Pohl - Director, seen weeknights at 6, 10, and 11
 * Neil "Hutch" Konerman - weekends and reporter
 * Jim Bucher - "Bucher's Beat" segment producer
 * Jordan Burgess - weekday mornings
 * Jill Cordes - "Brighter Living" segment producer
 * Stacy Johnson - "Money Talks" segment producer
 * Anthony Kiekow
 * Megan O'Rourke - Greene County Bureau
 * Karrie Rossmiller - weekday morning traffic
 * Barbara Royce, Programming, Admin. Assist.; passed away August, 2007, missed by those who truly knew her. For those who worked closly to Barbara, no one could ever fill her shoes.
 * Libby Kirsch, News Anchor & Reporter
 * Dave D'Marko, reporter (Now at Florida Cable News)
 * Carl Day
 * Mike Schell, evening anchor and reporter More
 * Mandi Abner(formerly Sheridan), reporter( now Ohio Dept. of Transportation spokeswoman)
 * Bob Hocks, meteorologist during the 1980s (now is a substitute meteorologist at WCPO in Cincinnati)
 * Chris Bradley (now at WBNS in Columbus, OH)
 * Matt Stewart (now reporter/weekend anchor @ KCTV)
 * Rodney Dunigan (now reporter WTVF Nashville)
 * Jana Katsuyama, weekend anchor/reporter (now at KTVU Oakland/San Francisco)
 * Randi Rico,meteorologist (now at WLWT)[1]
 * Len Berman (now at NBC Sports and WNBC)
 * Donna Jordan, anchor (went to WHIO, now retired)
 * Dave Calabro, sports (now Sports Director at WTHR Indianapolis and Indianapolis Motor Speedway Announcer)
 * Coleen Sullivan, weekday anchor (formerly was dating Charles Spencer, brother of the late Princess Diana) Now @ KEYT
 * Dan Spehler, anchor/reporter (now at WRTV 6 in Indianapolis)
 * Howard Nathan, anchor/investigative Reporter (now at KCNC in Denver)
 * Kristi Piehl, reporter
 * Guy Fogle, sports anchor
 * Glen Barbour, reporter
 * Dan Patrick, sports anchor (formerly at ESPN and ESPN Radio)
 * Julie Chen, reporter (now at CBS News)
 * Scott Arnold, reporter (now at WTVFin Nashville)
 * Chelby Kosto (now with WSYX/WTTE in Columbus)
 * Fran Charles, sports anchor (now at NFL Network)
 * Jim Baldridge, reporter 1970-1972 (Went to WHIO to become lead anchor for many years)
 * Jodine Costanzo, reporter (now at WPXI)
 * Jack Hicks, lead anchor, former Sunrise Anchor (now retired)
 * Kathy Hart, anchor/reporter (now at WKEF/WRGT)
 * Karen Schimmoller, morning news anchor
 * Sam Yates, morning news anchor (formerly @ WHIO)
 * Omar Williams, long time sports director(retired in 1996, passed in 2008)[2]
 * Kris Long, anchor/reporter (now at KPSP, Palm Springs, CA)
 * Bruce Pompeani, anchor/reporter(worked at KDKA-TV Pittsburgh from 1997–2005, now works in advertising).
 * Tony Pann, meteorologist(now works for WUSA9 in the DC/Maryland area).
 * Mike Gallagher, sports anchor/reporter, conservative radio talk show host
 * Ken Kettering, sports anchor/reporter
 * Joan Khoenle, anchor/reporter (Now known as Joan Peabody, works in Media Relations with Walt Disney World)
 * Mark Viviano, sports anchor/reporter(now sports director at WJZ-TV, Baltimore)
 * C.K. Elston, staff announcer, retired
 * Ed Hamlyn, news director and 6 and 11 pm news anchor, retired
 * Dewey Hopper, staff announcer and host of "The Weather Outside with Dewey" during 6pm newscast and Saturday morning children's program "Janie and The Genie", retired
 * Bob Breck, first staff meteorologist (August 1973 - April 1978); now at WVUE, New Orleans
 * Dave Bohman, former reporter/Weekend Anchor; Currently Investigative/Consumer Reporter, KRQE/KASA, Albuquerque, NM
 * Molly Hughes, evening anchor (now at KCNC in Denver)
 * Brad Woebkenberg
 * Johnny Gilbert (announcer on Jeopardy!)
 * Phil Donahue
 * Myrt Price, reporter (now at WOIO, Cleveland, OH)
 * Laura Borchers, reporter for WLWT Cincinnati, OH
 * Chuck Gillespie, weather specialist (now radio personality, WLZT-FM, Columbus, OH)
 * Jim Blue (now with WFFT in Fort Wayne, IN)
 * Mark Giangreco, sports anchor (now sports director at WLS-TV, ABC O&O in Chicago)
 * Bobby "Scoop" Phillips, reporter/ cameraman (retired 2009)