WISH-TV

WISH-TV, digital channel 9 (virtual channel 8), is the CBS affiliate in Indianapolis, Indiana. Its digital transmitter and main antenna are also located in Indianapolis, on the northwest side at 7619 Walnut Drive (though the property is officially listed by the City of Indianapolis as 2500 Westlane Road[1] ). The station's original transmitter and tower were on the southeast side of the city, at 553 S. Post Road. The station is owned by LIN TV, which also owns the area's MyNetworkTV affiliate WNDY-TV (channel 23, digital 32) and a low-power station WIIH-CA (channel 17), which is currently dark, pending final FCC approval to turn it into a fill-in translator for WISH-TV.

WISH-TV and WNDY-TV are co-located in a building at 1950 N. Meridian Street, which also serves as an operations hub for other LIN TV stations in the Midwestern U.S. The building also marks the north end of Indy's Television Row. WISH-TV also offers a 24-hour weather service, LWS (Local Weather Station), which is broadcast on WISH-TV's digital subchannel 8.2 (identified as both WISH-DT and WIIH-LD), and was previously carried over-the-air via WIIH-CA. LWS is also available on select cable systems across central Indiana, and from a live stream on the station's website. A 24-hour live feed of Forecast 8 Live Doppler Radar is also broadcast on digital subchannel 8.3.

History
The station began broadcast operations at 6 p.m. on July 1, 1954 and was owned by C. Bruce McConnell along with WISH-AM 1310 (now WTLC). It was a primary ABC affiliate with a secondary DuMont affiliation. It also carried several CBS and NBC shows turned down by WFBM-TV (now WRTV) and WTTV, respectively. In 1956, McConnell sold the station to the Indiana Broadcasting Company, who also owned WANE-TV in Fort Wayne. The new owners persuaded CBS to move its affiliation from WFBM-TV. Indiana Broadcasting became the Corinthian Broadcasting Corporation in 1957, with WISH-TV as the flagship station.

Corinthian merged with Dun & Bradstreet in 1971. Dun sold its entire broadcasting unit to Belo in February 1984. However, the merger left Belo two stations over the FCC's ownership limits of the time. Belo sold WISH and WANE to LIN Broadcasting (the predecessor of LIN TV) one month later. LIN was headquartered in Indianapolis for many years; it has since moved to Providence, Rhode Island.

From the mid-1980s until 2002, WISH was the leading news station in the Indianapolis market until WTHR took over the position. This was due largely because most of its news team has been at the station for over 20 years. At one time, WISH boasted that "more people in Central Indiana get their local news from 24-Hour News 8 than from any other source" at the close of many newscasts and in promos.

Mike Ahern was the station's main evening news anchor, as well as the de facto face of WISH's newsroom for more than thirty years—longer than anyone in Indianapolis television history. He joined the station as a reporter in 1967 and became the station's top anchorman in 1974. He retired from the anchor chair on December 1, 2004. His longtime co-anchor, Debby Knox, joined him in 1980 and is still on the air today. Stan Wood served as the station's main weatherman for much of the 1960s through 1991, while Patty Spitler was an afternoon news anchor and entertainment reporter from 1982 to 2004. News director Lee Giles, who left the station in 2004, was one of the longest-tenured news directors in local broadcasting.

[edit] 2008 Retransmission consent dispute
On September 15, 2008, it was announced that LIN TV, owners of WISH and WNDY, and Time Warner Cable were at an impasse in retransmission consent deals. Bright House Networks, a major cable provider for Indianapolis, negotiates retransmission consent through Time Warner Cable. LIN TV was requesting compensation for carriage, much like cable networks. The deal with Bright House expired October 2[2]. By 12:35am on October 3, LIN TV stations were replaced by substitute programs. 26 days later, LIN TV and Time Warner Cable reached an agreement, and LIN TV service was restored.

[edit] Digital television
WISH-TV permanently ceased its analog signal on June 12, 2009, continuing digital broadcasts on its pre-transition channel number, 9.[3] Through the use of PSIP, WISH-TV's virtual channel is displayed as 8.

On January 29, 2010, WISH-TV filed an application to the FCC for a digital fill-in translator on UHF Channel 17 [4] which it was granted a construction permit on June 16, 2010.[5] The translator will serve those parts of the city that lost signal strength due to the digital conversion in 2009. The channel 17 allotment was previously occupied by an analog signal of their sister-station, WIIH-CA. The translator and tower are located on the northwest side of Indianapolis, at 7619 Walnut Drive.

[edit] Programming
WISH-TV does not air the Saturday and Sunday editions of the CBS Evening News, but the newscasts are shown on sister station WNDY. The Saturday edition of The Early Show airs on sister station WNDY as well. Also helping WISH regain ratings is the success of the Indianapolis Colts, whose games air on WISH as part of CBS' coverage of the NFL on Sunday afternoons, and whose games have not been blacked out because of weak ticket sales.

[edit] News operation
WISH-TV has the distinction of being one of the last remaining broadcast television stations in the United States currently utilizing the 24 Hour News Source format, which it began using in 1990—the only other stations still using the format as of February 2010, are its sister station and NBC affiliate WOOD-TV in Grand Rapids, Michigan; ABC affiliate KCRG-TV in Cedar Rapids, Iowa; and NBC affiliate KFDX-TV in Wichita Falls, Texas.

Currently, WISH is a distant runner-up behind WTHR in most timeslots, except during the early news when it runs neck and neck with WRTV. However, due to the recent strength of CBS' primetime lineup (and being the lead-in for Indianapolis native David Letterman), WISH has recently regained the lead at 11 pm.

WISH-TV's newsroom began to produce WNDY's 10pm newscast in 2005, when LIN purchased WNDY from Viacom. Since 1991 all of WISH's news music themes have used components of the song Back Home Again in Indiana. The first theme to do so was specially composed for WISH by Stephen Arnold Music. The current theme is a version of 615 Music's "In-Sink" music package.[6]

On April 25, 2007, WISH-TV debuted a new state of the art FX Group set and Giant Octopus Graphics. On May 18, 2007, LIN TV announced that it was exploring strategic alternatives that could result in the sale of the company.[1] On September 8, 2008, WISH-TV and WNDY became the second station in Indiana (and Indianapolis) to broadcasting their newscasts in high definition.

[edit] Newscast titles

 * The Big News (1960s-1974)
 * Channel 8 News (1970s-early 1980s)
 * 8 On the Scene News (early 1980s-1984)
 * News 8 (1984–1990)[7]
 * 24-Hour News 8 (1990–present; sometimes called simply News 8)[8]
 * 24 Hour News 8's Daybreak (morning newscast)
 * 24 Hour News 8 at Noon (weekday noon newscast)
 * 24 Hour News 8 at 5 (weeknight 5 p.m. newscast)
 * 24 Hour News 8 at 5:30 (weeknight 5:30 p.m. newscast)
 * 24 Hour News 8 at 6 (nightly 6 p.m. newscast)
 * 24 Hour News 8 at 11 (nightly 11 p.m. newscast)
 * 24 Hour News 8's Sports Locker (weekend sports wrap-up program)

[edit] Station slogans
This film, television or video-related list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it with reliably sourced additions.===On-air staff===
 * We're Indiana's Own (1984–present; general slogan)
 * We Are the Team (1984–1994; used in image campaign by Michael Randall, paired with the "We're Indiana's Own" slogan)
 * Hey Indy, Get Ready for WISH-TV (1989–1990; localized version of CBS ad campign)
 * Indiana's Only 24-Hour Television News Service (1990; news slogan)
 * Indiana's Only 24-Hour News Service (1990–1991; news slogan)
 * Get Ready for WISH-TV (1990–1991; localized version of CBS ad campaign)
 * Central Indiana's Only 24-Hour News Service (1991–1999; news slogan)
 * News 8 Gets You Closer (1997–1999; news slogan)
 * Your 24-Hour News Station (1999–2006; news slogan)
 * Your 24-Hour News Source (2006–present; news slogan)[9]

WISH 5:30 p.m. and WNDY 10 p.m. primary anchors seen weeknights.

WISH/WNDY Chief Meteorologist seen weeknights.====Current on-air staff==== Anchors Forecast 8 Weather Team Sports Team Reporters Chopper 8 Indy Style
 * David Barras - weekdays at noon and 5 p.m.
 * Joy Dumandon - weekday mornings "News 8 Daybreak"
 * Deanna Dewberry - weekdays at noon and 5 p.m.
 * Ruthanne Gordon - weekend mornings "News 8 Daybreak"
 * Eric Halvorson - weeknights at 5, 6 and 11 p.m.
 * Karen Hensel - weeknights at 5:30 (on WISH-TV) and 10 p.m. (on WNDY)
 * Debby Knox - weeknights at 5, 6 and 11 p.m.
 * Daniel Miller - weekend mornings "News 8 Daybreak"
 * Gene Rodriguez - weekends at 6 and 11 p.m. (on WISH-TV) and 10 p.m. (on WNDY)
 * Scott Sander - weekday mornings "News 8 Daybreak"
 * Steve Bray (AMS Seal of Approval) - Chief Meteorologist; weeknights at 5 p.m., also technology reporter
 * Ken Brewer (AMS Seal of Approval) - Meteorologist; weekend mornings "News 8 Daybreak"
 * Angela Buchman (AMS Seal of Approval) - Meteorologist; weeknights at 5:30, 6 and 11 p.m. (on WISH-TV) and 10 p.m. (on WNDY)
 * Randy Ollis (AMS Seal of Approval) - Meteorologist; weekday mornings "News 8 Daybreak" and noon
 * Alicia Roman (AMS Seal of Approval) - Meteorologist; weekends at 6 and 11 p.m.
 * Anthony Calhoun - Sports Director; weeknights at 5, 6 and 11 p.m., also host of "Sports Locker", "Countdown to Kickoff" and "The Bill Polian Show"
 * Chris Widlic - Sports Anchor; weekends at 6 and 11 p.m., also sports reporter
 * Ashley Adamson - sports reporter
 * Derek Daly - racing expert
 * Rick Dawson - investigative reporter
 * Brad Edwards - general assignment reporter
 * Jay Hermacinski - general assignment reporter
 * Troy Kehoe - general assignment reporter
 * Julie Patterson - traffic reporter
 * Jacqueline Policastro - general assignment reporter
 * Phil Sanchez - general assignment reporter
 * Jim Shella - political reporter
 * Dick Wolfsie - general assignment reporter
 * Keith McCutchen - Chief Pilot
 * Andi Hauser
 * Tracy Forner

Notable WISH-TV former employees

 * Mike Ahern (anchor 1967-2004, now retired)
 * Sean Ash, Weekend evening meteorologist (now at WXYZ-TV in Detroit)
 * Bill Aylward (news anchor 1964-1967 later anchor WJZ-TV Baltimore, WABC-TV NY, WRC-TV Washington NBC News Now retired)
 * Sandra Chapman (reporter, now at competitor WTHR)
 * Jeane Coakley - Sports Anchor; weekends at 6 and 11 p.m.
 * Tom Cochrun (former news director, PM Magazine co-host, now with Nineteenth Star Productions)
 * Chet Coppock (sports director, 1975–1981, now at WMVP ESPN Radio 1000 AM in Chicago)
 * Bill Crafton (former co-anchor)
 * Jeannie Crofts, weekday morning reporter/fill-in anchor 2005-2008
 * Pam Elliott (investigative reporter, now at sister LIN station WDTN in Dayton, Ohio)
 * Betty Fields (host of public affairs shows "Roads to Learning" and "Summer Showtime", died 2-27-10)
 * Tim Fritz (reporter, later went to WTHR)
 * Doug Garrison, investigative reporter (2003–2004)
 * Marlee Ginter (reporter, now at KOMO in Seattle)
 * Ray Gray( weekend anchor/reporter mid-late 1960s, retired in Indianapolis )
 * Ed Harding (former sports director, now at WCVB in Boston)
 * Kimberly Harms (sports reporter, weekend sports anchor)
 * Rick Hightower (1993–2006, now at competitor WRTV)
 * Kim Hood (reporter, PM Magazine co-host, now retired)
 * Mike Corbin - weekends at 6 and 11 p.m.
 * Renee Jameson (reporter, now at competitor WRTV)
 * Liza Danver - general assignment reporter
 * Fred Kalil (former sports director, now sports director at WXIA in Atlanta)
 * Shana Kelley (weekend evening news anchor)1997-2006
 * Carol Krause (anchor, mid to late 70s)
 * Kathy Layne (weekend weathercaster, late mid-late 70s)
 * Josh Littman (reporter, deceased)
 * Nicole Manske (sports anchor/reporter, current host of NASCAR Now on ESPN)
 * Mary McDermott - general assignment reporter1997-2010
 * Jennifer McGilvray, (reporter 2006-2008)
 * Scott McKain [2] (entertainment reporter; anchor of weekend morning news; now bestselling author and professional speaker)
 * Leticia Miele (reporter)
 * Neal Moore (former news anchor & reporter)
 * Mike Morris (PM Magazine co-host)
 * Cliff Nicholson (chief meteorologist in the early 1990s, now at competitor WTHR)
 * Leslie Olsen, education reporter
 * Ken Owen (evening co-anchor 1989-1998, later went to WRTV, now Executive Director of Media Relations at DePauw University)
 * Mark Patrick (Sports Director until late 1990s and former host of Hoosier Millionaire on WTTV, current afternoon radio host on WNDE)
 * Jane Pauley (former co-anchor, former anchor/correspondent for NBC News)
 * Joe Pickett (host of the afternoon "Money Movie", now retired)
 * Anthony Ponce (reporter, now at WMAQ in Chicago)
 * Dick Rea (sports anchor 1981-1998, now at competitor WTHR)
 * Ray Rice (weekend, noon anchor)
 * Connie Rosenthal (reporter)
 * John Samples (Nightbeat & Daybreak Anchor/Producer 1982-1985, now with Christian HolyLand Foundation)
 * Twila Snyder (feature Weekend Morning News Reporter, now director and narrator for several WFYI-TV programs)
 * Ray Sparenburg (Horror movie host known as "Selwin", deceased)
 * Patty Spitler (noon anchor/entertainment reporter/film critic/reporter, now retired)
 * John Stehr (anchor/reporter/host of "Nightbeat" 1982, former CBS News corespondent, now primary anchor at competitor WTHR)
 * AJ Sterling (reporter, now at WFLD Chicago)
 * Sage Steele (sports reporter, now at ESPN's First Take)
 * Scott Swan (anchor, now at competitor WTHR)
 * Derren Taylor (reporter, weekend weathercaster, PM Magazine co-host)
 * Anne Marie Tiernon (anchor, now at competitor WTHR)
 * Maureen Tighe (reporter, weekend weathercaster)
 * Mark Voigtmann (reporter 1978-1989, now a partner at the law firm of Baker & Daniels)
 * Vince Welch (sports reporter, now at ESPN/ABC)
 * Anna Werner (reporter, now at KPIX-TV in San Francisco)
 * Stan Wood (chief meteorologist until 1991, now retired)
 * Chris Wright (meteorologist, after stint at WXIN now chief meteorologist at competitor WTHR)
 * Rob Youngblood, 5:30 and 10 (WNDY) anchor 2007-2009