WVEC

WVEC is the ABC affiliate television station for the Hampton Roads area of Virginia, which includes Norfolk, Portsmouth, Newport News, and the surrounding area. It is licensed to Hampton, with its main studio in downtown Norfolk. Its transmitter is located in Suffolk, Virginia. The station broadcasts on channel 13, and is owned by the Belo Corporation.

History
The station began operations on September 19, 1953, on UHF channel 15 as an NBC affiliate. It was signed on by Peninsula Broadcasting Corporation,co-owned by Hampton businessman Thomas P. Chisman and several other stockholders, along with WVEC radio (1490 AM, now WXTG; and 101.3 FM, now WWDE-FM). The station switched its affiliations to ABC in 1959, when WAVY-TV (channel 10) took the NBC affiliation two years after signing on. During the late 1950s, WVEC-TV was also briefly affiliated with the NTA Film Network. In those days, UHF stations were not as successful as VHF stations, and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) did not yet make requirements for television sets to have UHF tuners. So on November 14, 1958, WVEC-TV moved to its current location on VHF channel 13. Two years later, the channel 15 position would be occupied by current PBS member station WHRO-TV.

In 1980, Chisman sold the station to Corinthian Broadcasting, a unit of Dun & Bradstreet. At the time of the sale, it was the last locally owned and operated "Big Three" station in Hampton Roads. Four years later, Dun sold Corinthian to Belo, which owned the Dallas Morning News and WFAA-TV in its home city.

In 1997, WVEC (along with The Virginian-Pilot and Cox Communications) launched LNC4 (later LNC5), a 24-hour local cable news television channel, featuring repeats of WVEC newscasts and a live 10:00 p.m. newscast which began airing on WPEN-LP back in 1995. It was carried by Cox Communications on channel 5 within Hampton Roads. Pilot 13 News at 10ceased production on January 30, 2009, however, the partnership with the Virginian-Pilot was expected to continue on a lesser level. LNC5 was closed on December 31, 2010.

On January 12, 2008, WVEC started producing local newscasts in digital widescreen 16x9. Though not truly high definition, the digital widescreen broadcasts were rescanned and up-converted from standard definition to 1080i before transmission to match the ratio of HD television screens. It remained the only major station in the Hampton Roads market to continue to air its newscasts in enhanced definition widescreen rather than true high definition until it upgraded to full HD in 2013.

On June 13, 2013, the Gannett Company announced that it would acquire Belo. The sale was completed on December 23. Later on in August 2014, Gannett announced it would split its broadcast and digital holdings into a new company, Tegna; the split became official on June 29, 2015. WVEC was retained by the latter company. After the acquisition, the station was standardized on air as 13 News Now though still using the ABC logo on screen.

In February 2018, the logo for WVEC was updated along with a new theme curated by Sixième Son entitled "C Clarity" used for the newscasts.

Digital Channels
The station's digital signal is multiplexed: On November 8, 2010, WVEC added ABC's Live Well Network on channel 13.2. On January 23, 2013, WVEC added MeTV to a new subchannel, 13.3. On January 20, 2015, WVEC removed Live Well Network and replaced it with the new Justice Network.

Analog-to-digital conversion
WVEC discontinued regular programming on its analog signal, over VHF channel 13, on June 12, 2009, as part of the federally mandated transition from analog to digital television. The station's digital signal relocated from its pre-transition UHF channel 41 to VHF channel 13.



Spirit of Hampton Roads
In the late 1980s, WVEC-TV introduced its most well-known promotional campaign, "The Spirit of Hampton Roads" – a campaign which has been customized and used by several other Belo Corporation stations (most notably the originator, WFAA-TV's "Spirit of Texas" campaign and the extremely successful "Spirit of Louisiana" from New Orleans' WWL-TV). The campaign was revamped in September 1992 with a new logo and song composed by Nashville-based 615 Music. WVEC originally dropped it in 1996 and replaced it with another slogan, "Working for You". "The Spirit of Hampton Roads" would finally return in 2003 on New Year's Eve. WVEC phased out the "Spirit" image for the second time in 2008.

Easter Shore Translator
There is one low-powered translator of WVEC that is located in the Eastern Shore of Virginia and is municipally-owned by Accomack County rather than Gannett. WVEC and Tegna Media does not own and operate any translators in the Greater Hampton Roads area.


 * W18EG-D Channel 18.2 Onancock

Newscast titles

 * Telescope (1950s)
 * Newscene 13 (1970s)
 * 13 News (?–2013)
 * 13 News Now (2013–present)

Station slogans

 * The Spirit of Hampton Roads (1980s–1996 and 2003–2008)
 * Hampton Roads is Watching WVEC (1990–1992; localized version of ABC ad campaign)
 * If It's Hampton Roads, It Must Be Channel 13 (1992–1993; localized version of ABC ad campaign)
 * We're Working for You (1996–1997)
 * 13 Listens (1997–1998)
 * Thirteen Means News (1998–2000)
 * Thirteen Means Local News (2000–2003)
 * The Team You Know, The News You Trust (2008–2009)
 * Your Local News Leader (2009–2013)
 * Telling the Stories of Now

Weather titles

 * Nexrad 13 (1990s-1996)
 * Skymax 13 (1996–2001)
 * 13 News Weather Lab (2001–2009)
 * 13 News Weather Authority (2009–Present)

News staff
In 1978, upon the resignation of news anchor Tony Burden, WVEC-TV hired ABC News correspondent Jim Kincaid as its main news anchor. Kincaid's signature became his "Jim's notes", short commentaries which ended the station's nightly newscasts. Compilations of these essays were published in several books authored by Kincaid, including Notes from Elam, referring to the small town in Prince Edward County, Virginia, where his farm was located. During the Vietnam War, Kincaid was a war correspondent for ABC. He returned to Vietnam in 1994 and reported from the same locations he had covered in the 1960s, producing an award-winning documentary and series of news stories. Kincaid retired from channel 13 in 1997; he died in July 2011.

Another well-known news anchor for WVEC-TV was Terry Zahn, who was hired from WAVY-TV in 1994. Zahn was very active with the American Cancer Society and helped establish the Relay for Life in the area. He produced two videos about Relay for Life which were distributed nationally, and served as chairman of the local Relay, which at the time was the largest in the U.S. Zahn was diagnosed with bone cancer in 1997, but remained with channel 13 until his death in January 2000. Each year, the American Cancer Society presents the Terry Zahn Award to a supporter of the Relay for Life. He was inducted into the National Relay Hall of Fame in 1999.

Hampton Roads TV news veteran Barbara Ciara began her career in the market at WVEC-TV, before joining WAVY-TV in 1983. Ciara rejoined channel 13 in 1989 and anchored evening newscasts for the station until defecting to rival CBS affiliate WTKR(channel 3) in 2000.

On March 7, 2003, former investigative reporter Craig Civale and former general assignment reporter Michelle Louie were engaged during a live segment of "Joe's Job" on 13News Daybreak. Louie was filling in for fellow reporter Joe Flanagan, when she was to visit a jewelry shop. During a live shot, out came Civale with ring in hand, where he proposes to Michelle. They both, at the time, had been dating for five years. They were married in September 2004.

In 2008, WVEC began broadcasting their newscast in digital widescreen, but because it was not completely high definition, it led rivals WAVY-TV, WVBT and WTKR to broadcast their news in high definition as opposed to WVEC's digital widescreen. It wouldn't be until August 17, 2013, when WVEC began broadcasting their news in high definition starting with the 6 p.m. newscast.

WVEC began using Gannett's graphics and "This Is Home" package on July 24, 2014. The conversion happened during storms and debuted in "Storm Mode".

News

 * Ashley Smith - weekdays on 13News Daybreak (4:30-7AM) and weekdays at noon
 * Dan Kennedy - weekdays on 13News Daybreak (4:30-7AM)
 * Philip Townsend - weekdays on 13News Now at 4pm and 4:30pm
 * Janet Roach - weekdays on 13News Now at 4, 5, and 6pm
 * David Alan - weeknights at 5, 6, and 11pm
 * Nicole Livas - weeknights at 11pm
 * Adriana De Alba - weekends at 5, 5:30, 6, and 11pm, also an reporter

13News Weather Authority

 * Jeff Lawson - chief meteorologist; weeknights at 5, 6, and 11pm
 * Craig Moeller - meteorologist; weekdays on 13News Daybreak (4:30-7AM)
 * Tim Pandajis - meteorologist; weekdays at noon and 4pm
 * Evan Stewart - meteorologist; weekdays at 4pm
 * Rachael Pert - meteorologist; weekends at 5, 5:30, 6, and 11pm
 * Payton Domschke - fill-in meteorologist

Sports

 * Scott Cash - weeknights at 5, 6, and 11pm
 * Brian Smith - weekends at 5, 5:30, 6, and 11pm
 * Connor Rhiel - sports reporter

Reporters

 * Eugene Daniel - general assignment reporter
 * Allison Bazzle - general assignment reporter
 * Mike Gooding - military and political reporter
 * Alex Littlehales - general assignment reporter
 * Bethany Reese - traffic reporter
 * Anne Sparaco - general assignment reporter
 * Evan Watson - general assignment reporter
 * Angelo Vargas - general assignment reporter
 * Ali Weatherton - general assignment reporter

Former on-air staff

 * Sharyn Alfonsi, general assignment reporter from 1997–1999. Joined ABC News as a correspondent in January 2008.[9]
 * Doug Aronson,Chief Investigative Reporter from 1998 until 2005.[10] [11] Now works for S.L. Nusbaum Realty Co. in Norfolk.[12] Also worked for WAVY.
 * Kathy Barnstorff, weekend anchor from 1983–1989, reporter until 1998. Now media relations specialist at NASA.
 * Judith Baroody, reporter and anchor in the 1970s. Now Minister Counselor of Public Affairs, US Embassy, Paris[13]
 * Kathryn Barrett, began as host of Tidewater Evening in 1983, became medical editor, retired in 2008.
 * Natasha Barrett, reporter from 2003–2006. Now reporter at WJLA-TV in Washington, DC.[14]
 * Rhonda Bentley, morning and noon weathercaster in the 1990s.
 * LaSalle Blanks - anchor/reporter (1997-2017; now at WTNH-TV)
 * Andria Borba, reporter from January 2007 until March 2009. Now at KTXL in Sacramento, CA.[15]
 * Dave Browde, reporter from 1979-1981. Now correspondent at CBS News in New York and.[16]
 * Tony Burden, News Anchor and Director, resigned in 1978. Later worked at KMSP-TV
 * Wayne Carter, Anchor/Reporter 2004-2010, later at WWL-TV in New Orleans, LA.[17]
 * Chris Castleman, weathercaster 1990-1994. Primary weather anchor 1994-1998 WESH Orlando, FL. Morning and noon weather anchor KAIT Jonesboro, AR. 2004-2008.
 * Jessica Chang, reporter from 2004–2005. Now reporter for San Diego cable channel 4SD's San Diego Insider newsmagazine.[18]
 * Thomas P. Chisman, WVEC's founder, died in 1991.[19]
 * Craig Civale, investigative reporter from 2003–2006, left WVEC in January 2007 to join WFAA in Dallas, TX.[20]
 * Barbara Ciara, worked there for two stints, first in the early 1980s until leaving for WAVY in 1983; returned in late 1988 and stayed until 2000, now at WTKR.[21] Was President of the National Association of Black Journalists from 2007-2009. Elected interim President of Unity: Journalists of Color in 2009.[22]
 * Simeon Coxe, reporter specializing in off-beat stories in the 1970s and 80s. Lead singer for the 1960s and 1990s Silver Apples.
 * Mark Craft, reporter and contributing correspondent to "Focus" newsmagazine from 1979-81. Now staff vice-president of executive communications at WellPoint.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-22" style="line-height: 1em; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; ">[23]
 * Lori Crouch, reporter, left on family military transfer to Florida, has since returned to Hampton Roads to work as weekend anchor and investigator at WAVY-TV. Now spokeswoman for the City of Norfolk.
 * Alveta Ewell, anchor until 1989, served as anchor with WAVY-TV until her retirement in 2013.
 * Brad Face, anchor, reporter and sports director from 1975–1984. Now CEO of The Face Companies
 * Joe Foulkes, meteorologist during the 1970s and 1980s (died in 1993)
 * Jane Gardner, health reporter/anchor from 1979–1990. Moved to WTKR-TV as anchor from 1990–1998. Now retired. <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-23" style="line-height: 1em; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; ">[24]
 * Dale Gauding, investigative reporter from 1998 to 2003, previously at WTKR. Now is a public relations consultant for Sentara Hospitals<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-24" style="line-height: 1em; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; ">[25]
 * Dr. Duane Harding, meteorologist from 1986 until 1990, later worked for WTKR until 1996.
 * Bonita (Billingsley) Harris, weekend anchor and reporter from 1992-2003. Now works for the Norfolk Sheriff's Office.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-25" style="line-height: 1em; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; ">[26] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-26" style="line-height: 1em; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; ">[27]
 * Carlton Houston - reporter/anchor (1998-2004)
 * Sheldon Ingram, reporter from 1988-92, now at WTAE in Pittsburgh.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-27" style="line-height: 1em; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; ">[28]
 * Karen Jones, weekend weathercaster in the early 90s to 1997. Now is an author and teaches writing courses.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-28" style="line-height: 1em; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; ">[29] She also still appears occasionally on WVEC as a fill-in weathercaster.
 * Jim Kincaid, hired from ABC News in 1978, served as anchor from 1978-96,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-29" style="line-height: 1em; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; ">[30] retired in 1997.
 * Nesita Kwan, weekend anchor/reporter (1990-1992, later at WMAQ-TV in Chicago.)
 * Mike Lewis, anchor/reporter from 1985-1998. Was most recently lead co-anchor at WNEP-TV in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Now a recording artist.
 * Michelle Louie, general assignment reporter. Left back in 2003 for a career in pharmaceutical sales. Married former WVEC reporter Craig Civale in 2004.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-30" style="line-height: 1em; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; ">[31]
 * John Miller, news anchor and news director in the 1970s and 1980s, morning and noon anchor in the 1990s. Elected Virginia state senator in November 2007<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-31" style="line-height: 1em; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; ">[32]
 * Regina Mobley - anchor/reporter (1992-2018, now at WAVY-TV)
 * Dan Molina, reporter and talk show host in the 1970s. Later a correspondent and Chicago bureau chief for NBC News. Now part of the management team of Shelton & Caudle, a public relations firm in Texas.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-32" style="line-height: 1em; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; ">[33]
 * Doc Morgan - voiceover for WVEC-TV (1992-2001)
 * Greg O’Neil - voiceover for WVEC-TV (2001-2013)
 * Sandra Parker - anchor/reporter (1990-2016)
 * Ramona Parks, weekend anchor/investigative reporter 2001–2005, left to accept a position at NEA in Washington DC.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-33" style="line-height: 1em; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; ">[34]
 * Hank Plante, reporter in the 1970s and 80s. A reporter for KPIX in San Francisco from 1986 to 2010, now retired. A national Emmy and Peabody Award winner.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-34" style="line-height: 1em; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; ">[35] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-35" style="line-height: 1em; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; ">[36]
 * Pete Pochkowski, sports producer/photographer, fill-in anchor until 2009. [2]
 * Jude Redfield, weekend meteorologist until 2002. Now meteorologist at WTHR in Indianapolis.
 * Danielle Roach, LNC sports reporter ("Varsity Buzz") until May 2004, when she was killed in a car accident.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-36" style="line-height: 1em; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; ">[37]
 * Lindsey Roberts, former investigative reporter until 2010
 * Kristina Rohall, general assignment reporter from 2007–2010
 * Joel Rubin, host of the political discussion series "On the Record" from 1992 until its 2008 cancellation
 * Lee Sausley, 11pm co-anchor until January 1991. Now lead co-anchor at KRIS-TV in Corpus Christi, Texas.
 * Brittany Suddith, morning anchor until January 2002. Worked as a development officer for the Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters in Norfolk. Now works for the Mary Kay Cosmetics Company.
 * Stan Verrett, now an anchor at ESPN and ESPNEWS, also worked for rival WAVY.
 * Julia Wilcox - meteorologist
 * Graham Wilson, morning anchor 1980, now president of PRStreet, Cary, NC
 * Allison Williams, former reporter
 * Terry Zahn, hired from WAVY in 1994, served as anchor until death from bone cancer in January 2000.
 * Albert Zipp, anchor/reporter. Now lead co-anchor at WBOY-TV in Clarksburg, West Virginia.

Programs produced by WVEC

 * Dialogue- 30 minute public affairs program hosted by WVEC news anchor Lasalle Blanks. Airs Sunday mornings at 5:30am.