WSYX

History
WTVN-TV identification logo from 1978.The station began operations on August 30, 1949 as WTVN-TV, Columbus' second television station. It was owned by Picture Waves Inc., a company controlled by Toledo-based attorney and investor Edward Lamb along with WTVN radio (610 AM). Lamb also owned WICU-TV in Erie, Pennsylvania, which went on the air five months earlier. In February 1953, Picture Waves sold the WTVN stations to the Cincinnati-based Taft Broadcasting Company. Taft later purchased a second radio station in Columbus, WLWF-FM (96.3 FM) from the Crosley Broadcasting Corporation in 1959, renaming it as WTVN-FM (it is now WLVQ).

WTVN-TV was an affiliate of the DuMont Television Network at its inception, and was one of only three primary affiliates of that network. In 1953, it took on a secondary affiliation with ABC. Channel 6 became an full-time ABC affiliate in 1955, after DuMont closed down its operations. During the late 1950s, the station was also briefly affiliated with the NTA Film Network.[2]

In the early 1970s, Taft's common ownership of WTVN-TV and WKRC-TV (channel 12) in Cincinnati was given protection under a "grandfather clause" by the Federal Communications Commission from its newly-enacted "one-to-a-market" rule. The ordinance prohibited television stations with overlapping signals from sharing common ownership while protecting existing instances. Ironically one of channel 6's competitors, Crosley/Avco-owned WLWC (channel 4, now WCMH-TV), was also given grandfathered protection through a similar situation.

In 1987, Cincinnati financier Carl Lindner acquired a majority of Taft's shares in a hostile takeover, renaming the company Great American Broadcasting. However, as the FCC considered the restructuring as an ownership change, WTVN-TV lost its grandfathered protection and could not be retained by Great American. A group of former Taft Broadcasting shareholders, led by Texas millionaire Robert Bass (who also participated in the hostile takeover), purchased WTVN-TV for its new company, Anchor Media. The sale closed on August 31, 1987, and the new owners renamed the station WSYX. WTVN and WLVQ-FM remained owned by Great American for several years.

Anchor Media, who also purchased ABC affiliates WLOS in Asheville, North Carolina (in April 1987) and KOVR in Stockton, California (in January 1989), was purchased by River City Broadcasting in 1993. River City was merged into the Sinclair Broadcast Group in 1996. Sinclair owned Columbus' Fox affiliate, WTTE, but could not keep both stations since the FCC did not allow common ownership of two stations in a single market. Sinclair kept the longer-established WSYX and sold WTTE to Glencairn, Ltd. owned by former Sinclair executive Edwin Edwards. However, the Smith family (Sinclair's founding owners) controlled nearly all of Glencairn's stock. In effect, Sinclair now had a duopoly in Columbus in violation of FCC rules. Sinclair and Glenciarn further circumvented the rules by merging WTTE's operations with those of WSYX under a local marketing agreement, with WSYX as the senior partner.

In 2001, after the FCC allowed duopolies, Sinclair tried to acquire Glencairn outright. However, the FCC would not allow Sinclair to repurchase WTTE for two major reasons. First, the FCC does not allow duopolies between two of the four highest-rated stations in a single market. Also, the Columbus market, despite its relatively large size, has only seven full-power stations--too few to legally permit a duopoly. Glencairn was renamed Cunningham Broadcasting but is still effectively owned by Sinclair because nearly all of its stock is owned by trusts controlled by the Smith family. This situation is one of many that has led to allegations that Cunningham is simply a shell corporation used by Sinclair to circumvent FCC ownership rules.

Digital programming
The station's signal is multiplexed. On WSYX-DT2, WOW! digital channel 141, Insight digital channel 189, and Time Warner Cable digital channel 990 is the area's MyNetworkTV affiliate. Known on-air as My TV Columbus, it also airs programming from This TV. In August 2006, WSYX launched a new second digital subchannel to carry programming from MyNetworkTV, a new programming service from News Corporation, the parent company of Fox. This channel added programming from This TV in the daytime and overnight hours on November 1, 2008.

WSYX shut down its analog signal on June 12, 2009 as part of the DTV transition. [3] It remained on channel 13 [4] using PSIP to display its virtual channel as 6 on digital television receivers. On December 11, 2009 the FCC issued a Report & Order granting WSYX's petition to move from VHF channel 13 to UHF channel 48 to improve signal strength and to be consistent with other Columbus stations on the UHF dial. [5] On Monday, August 30, 2010, WSYX began broadcasting on UHF channel 48.[6] Coincidently, the channel change happened on the station's 61st anniversary.

News operation
WSYX's news open seen every night at 11.Channel 6 is generally in last place in the local news ratings, except for two periods when the station was intensely competitive—from 1977 to 1983 (when ABC was either the number one or a close number two network), and from 1987 to 1992. During the 1977-83 era, channel 6 often passed WCMH for second place behind long-dominant WBNS-TV, and during 1987-1992, channel 6 and WBNS traded second place ratings. Over the years, the station has featured high profile Columbus anchors including Tom Ryan (who moved from WBNS to WTVN in 1979),[7] Pat Lalama, I.J. Hudson, Lou Forrest (known as Louis de la Foret on CNN Headline News), and Deborah Countiss. Liz Claman (now an anchor on CNBC) and Carol Costello (now an anchor on CNN) were also one time reporters on WSYX.

The station became somewhat competitive again in the late-1990s and in the past several years has attempted to fight with WCMH for the runner-up position behind WBNS. WTTE began a 10 P.M. newscast in 1995 and was the second in Central Ohio after an attempt by WWHO that was produced by WCMH. Former Fox 28 Kids Club host Yolanda Harris was one of the original anchors and now serves as weeknight co-anchor on the two stations. By August 1999, WTTE's broadcast was absorbed into WSYX's news department which then began producing that channel's news programs under the NewsCenter branding that was used at the time. This title was eventually dropped.

Currently, WSYX's news programs are called "ABC 6 News" while programming on WTTE is branded "FOX 28 News at 10" and "Good Day Columbus". The news operation produces five hours of news each weekday on this channel and three hours of news on WTTE. On the weekends, the stations do not have a weekend morning show similar to WBNS and WCMH.

WSYX and WTTE did not participate in the wider implementation of Sinclair's now-defunct, controversial News Central format for its newscasts but did air "The Point", a one-minute conservative political commentary, that was also controversial and a requirement of all Sinclair-owned stations with newscasts until the series was discontinued in December 2006 but damaged the credibility of the WSYX/WTTE newscasts. WSYX launched their newscasts in high definition on May 10, 2008 making them the second Columbus station to make the upgrade. The WTTE newscasts were included in the switch. In addition, this was the second Sinclair-owned station to launch local newscasts in HD.

First Warning Meteorologists Jerry Martz and Dana Turtle also provide local weather cut-ins during Good Morning America weekdays on ABC affiliate KDNL-TV (ABC 30) in St. Louis, Missouri via the Columbus studios. Master Control operations for KDNL-TV originate out of the Columbus Sinclair hub of WSYX and WTTE. KDNL-TV is also owned by Sinclair.

Newscast titles

 * 6-Star News (1960s)
 * NewsService (1970s)
 * Action 6 News (1977-1987)
 * Channel 6 News (1987-1992)
 * 6 On Your Side News (1992-1995)
 * 6 News (1995-1999)
 * Columbus' NewsCenter on ABC 6 (1999-2006)
 * ABC 6 News (2006-present)

Station slogans

 * "Channel 6 Calls it Home" (early-1970s)
 * "We're Ohio's Very Own, TV 6" (mid-1970s)
 * "Bringing it Home to You" (1979)
 * "Where News Comes First!" (early-1980s)
 * "The Spirit of Ohio" (1985-1988)
 * "Still The Team to Watch" (mid-late 1980s)
 * "News You Can Use" (1996-1998)
 * "Don't Just Watch the News...Use it." (mid-late 1990s)
 * "Television With The Power Times Two" (1998-2001)
 * "Your Weather Authority" (2002-2006)
 * "On Your Side" (2006-present)

News team
Anchors ABC 6 First Warning Meteorologists Sports Reporters
 * Amy Lutz - weekday mornings and noon
 * Andy Dominianni - weekday mornings and noon
 * "Recall Roundup" segment producer
 * Yolanda Harris - weeknights
 * Bob Kendrick - weeknights
 * Terri Sullivan - weekends and reporter
 * Jerry Martz (AMS and NWA Seal of Approval) - Chief seen weeknights and "Jerry's Garden" segment producer
 * Lisa Colbert - weekday mornings and noon
 * Dana Turtle - weekends
 * weather and science reporter
 * Clay Hall - Director seen weeknights at 6, 10, and 11
 * The Football Fever on ABC 6 host and "Beyond the Game" segment producer
 * Dimitrious Stanley - The Football Fever on ABC 6 host
 * Rob Harley - The Football Fever on ABC 6 reporter
 * TBD - weekends
 * Susan Burton - health and medical
 * Johnny DiLoretto - entertainment weekday mornings 7 to 9
 * Rodney Middendorf - entertainment photographer weekday mornings 7 to 9
 * Emily Riemer - government and public policy
 * Mary Jedlicka - nightly
 * Tom Bosco
 * Maria Durant
 * Carol Luper
 * Adam Slinger
 * Mike McCarthy
 * Meghan McCorkell
 * Steve Levine
 * Chelby Costo
 * Walter Allen

Former on-air staff

 * Bob Alan – chief weathercaster (1977-1980)
 * Anne Allred – reporter (2004-2006; now at WHDH-TV, Boston)
 * Mary Baer – morning/noon anchor (1989-1992; now at WJXT-TV in Jacksonville, FL)
 * Mike Bettes – meteorologist (now at The Weather Channel)
 * Terre Blair – anchor (married songwriter Marvin Hamlisch)
 * Kimberly Boles – anchor/reporter
 * Mike Bowersock – reporter (1986-1989; now at WCMH)
 * Chris Bradley – chief meteorologist (1998-2005; now Chief Meteorologist at WBNS)
 * Charlene Brown – 5, 6 and 11 p.m. anchor (1990-2002)
 * Tom Burris – anchor
 * Don Carson – chief meteorologist (1980-1984; now with Northwest Cable News)
 * Liz Claman (1989-1991; now at CNBC)
 * Kirstin Cole – anchor (1997-1999; now at WCBS-TV in New York City)
 * Larry "Coz" Cosgrove – chief meteorologist (1984-1989)
 * Carol Costello – weekend anchor (1988-1990; now at CNN)
 * Deborah Countiss – 6 and 11 p.m. anchor (1991-1998)
 * Wendi Craver – anchor/weekend weather meteorologist (1972-1997; retired)
 * Ray Crawford – sports anchor/reporter (1998-2003; later at Columbus Sports Network)
 * Sean Cuellar – weekend anchor/reporter (2006-2009)
 * Crystal Davis – reporter/weekend meteorologist
 * Lou Forrest – 6 and 11 p.m. anchor (1988-1993)
 * Jim Finnerty – 6 and 11 p.m. anchor (1987-1988)
 * Michele Gailiun – 6 and 11 p.m. anchor (1981-1991)
 * Keisha Grant – anchor/reporter (2000-2003; now at WVIT-TV in Hartford)
 * Earl Green – anchor (1955-1980; deceased)
 * Jon Greiner – morning/noon anchor (1990-2000; later at WTAE-TV in Pittsburgh until 2010)
 * Tom Griffith – weekend anchor (1982-1987; now at WMUR in Manchester, New Hampshire)
 * Donna Hanover – anchor (Actress and ex-wife of former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani)
 * Ted Hart – investigative reporter (1980s; now at WBNS)
 * Lonny Haskins – sports director
 * Bob Hetherington – anchor (1992-2001) (Now in real estate with wife Lorene Wagner)
 * I. J. Hudson – anchor (1977-1980)
 * Tanya Hutchins – anchor/reporter (1990-1999; ONN freelance anchor, WSYX/WTTE freelance writer 2008, later at WCMH-TV from 2008-2010)
 * Mike Jackson – anchor/reporter (-1994; now at WCMH)
 * Kent Justice – anchor/reporter (2003-2009)
 * Bud Kaatz – sports director (-1982)
 * Bruce Kirk – 6 p.m. anchor/reporter (1970s-1980s)
 * Pat Lalama – anchor (early 1980s)
 * Dwight Lauderdale (early 1970s; later at WPLG-TV in Miami, now retired)
 * Tom Lawrence – evening anchor (1992-1994; later at WDAF-TV in Kansas City, now retired)
 * Tom Layson – reporter/anchor (1996-2001)
 * Bill Linson – sports (1970s)
 * Rick Lord – reporter (2002-2005; now at WCHS-TV in Charleston, WV)
 * Tram Mai – anchor/reporter (now at KPNX-TV in Phoenix)
 * Bill Martin – weekend anchor (1988-1990; now at WJW-TV in Cleveland)
 * Karen Massie – anchor/reporter (-1987; now at KXTV in Sacramento)
 * Shannon McCormick – reporter
 * Dawn Meadows – morning/noon anchor
 * Jim Miller – anchor
 * Steve Minich – sports anchor (1979-1990; now at WMTW-TV in Portland, ME)
 * Chad Myers – chief meteorologist. (1991-1994; now at CNN)
 * Larry Nichols – anchor
 * Meredith Paul – anchor
 * Ben Piscitelli – weekend anchor (1989-1991; now with the Franklin County Board of Elections)
 * Megan Pringle – morning and noon anchor (2002-2006; now morning/noon anchor at WMAR-TV in Baltimore)
 * Liz Ogletree (later Jones) – reporter
 * Mariza Reyes – reporter (2002-2005; now at KPRC-TV in Houston)
 * Ralph Robinson
 * Anthony Rothman – weekend sports anchor/sports reporter (1994-2010; now with WBNS-AM/FM)
 * Mike Rowe – weekend anchor/reporter (1999-2008)
 * Jan Ryan – anchor/reporter (1977-1980; now President CEO of www.NewsPowerOnline.com and Managing Partner www.GlobalArtisanShowcase.com)
 * Tom Ryan – 6 and 11 p.m. anchor (1979-1987)
 * Larry Sales – weathercaster
 * Marc Silverstein – "6 On Your Side"/"Troubleshooter" consumer reporter (1989-1995; later host of Food Network's The Best Of and Discovery Channel's Go Ahead, Make My Dinner)
 * Calvin Sneed – "6 On Your Side" consumer reporter/anchor/talk show host (1986-1989), now senior news anchor, chief investigative reporter at WTVC-TV in Chattanooga
 * Gabe Spiegel – 5, 6, 10 (on WTTE) and 11 p.m. weekday anchor (2000-2009; starting his own public relations company[1])
 * Gary Somerset – reporter (1999-2001; currently Media and Public Relations Manager at the U.S. Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.)
 * Dr. Marivi Soto
 * Shawndrea Thomas – reporter (2007-2009)
 * Tony Victor – weathercaster/reporter (1991-1996); WTTE weekend anchor (1996-1997; now Director of Philanthropy, Gannon University in Erie, PA)
 * Lorene Wagner – anchor (1995-2001) (now in real estate with husband Bob Hetherington)
 * Shelley Walcott – reporter (2003-2005; now at WTMJ-TV in Milwaukee)
 * Alexis Wiley – investigative reporter (2008-2010)
 * Simone Wilkinson – reporter (2006-2007; later at KUSA-TV in Denver and now with the State of Ohio Attorney General's Office)
 * Jake Whittenberg – reporter (2007-2010; now at KING-TV in Seattle)
 * Ben Woods – chief meteorologist (1994-1998)
 * Tom Zizka – reporter/"Troubleshooter" consumer reporter (1992-1998; now at KRIV-TV in Houston)