WPDE-TV is the ABC-affiliated television station for the Pee Dee and Grand Strand areas ofSouth Carolina that is licensed to Florence. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal onUHF channel 16 from a transmitter near Floydale. The station can also be seen on Time Warner channel 9 and HTC Cablevision channel 15. A high definition signal is offered on Time Warner and HTC Cablevision digital channel 815. Owned by Barrington Broadcasting, it is sister to CW affiliate WWMB and the two share studios on Atlantic Avenue in Conway.Syndicated programming on WPDE includes: Entertainment Tonight, Judge Judy, The Insider, and The Dr. Oz Show.
| |
| Florence / Myrtle Beach, South Carolina | |
|---|---|
| Branding | WPDE NewsChannel 15 |
| Slogan | Your News. Your Station. |
| Channels | Digital: 16 (UHF) |
| Subchannels | 15.1 ABC
15.2 local weather |
| Owner | Barrington Broadcasting
(Barrington Myrtle Beach License, LLC) |
| First air date | November 22, 1980 |
| Call letters' meaning | Pee DEe River |
| Sister station(s) | WWMB |
| Former channel number(s) | 15 (UHF analog, 1980-2009) |
| Transmitter power | 421 kW |
| Height | 601.3 m |
| Facility ID | 17012 |
| Transmitter coordinates | 34°21′53″N79°19′49″W |
| Website | carolinalive.com |
Digital programming[]
On WPDE-DT2, HTC Cablevision channel 93, and Time Warner digital channel 817 is a 24-hour local weather channel.
| Subchannel | Programming |
|---|---|
| 15.1 | main WPDE programming / ABC HD |
| 15.2 | WPDE-DT2 "First Alert Weather on the 15's" |
History[]
WPDE signed-on November 22, 1980 as an ABC affiliate. Programming from the network had previously been airing on WBTW on a part-time basis. The former Florence Civic Auditorium building was transformed into WPDE's first studio on South Cashua Drive. This facility would serve the channel for twenty-two years. The dedication of the new studios was conducted in early-1981 with remarks by then Governor Dick Riley. Current owner Barrington Broadcasting purchased the station from Diversified Communications in 2005. In 2009, WPDE-TV's digital signal remained on channel 16 when the analog to digital conversion was completed.
Analog Signal & Digital Signal fills in gaps in other markets[]
WPDE over-the-air analog signal (UHF 15) as typical with most UHF stations at the time, barely covered the entire Florence/Myrtle Beach market. At one time, the North Carolina side of the market had a weaker signal than WWAY out of Wilmington or WTVD out ofRaleigh/Durham. These stations can be picked up better. Since the Digital Transition of when it reached full power (at RF 16), it can be regularly picked up on the North Carolina side much better than its analog signal. The southern DMA's of Raleigh and Greensboro can now pick up ABC better than WXLV from Greensboro/High Point/Winston-Salem and especially WTVD from Raleigh/Durham because it is on Digital Channel 11. VHF Digital Channels do not work well with Digital Television unlike Analog. The eastern DMA of the Charlotte market benefits as well, the Columbia market too because WOLO's signal transit on Digital Channel 8 and the northern & western parts of the Wilmington market since WWAY's signal does not make it past US Highway 701 too well.
News operation[]
WPDE NewsChannel 15 produces the following live newscasts each weekday: 5am-7am Good Morning Carolinas, 6pm-6:30pm, 7pm-7:30pm, 11pm-11:35pm. And on weekends, 6pm-6:30pm and 11pm-11:30pm.
WPDE also produces a live conversation program Carolina & Company each weekday at noon. Hosts Cecil Chandler and Amanda Kinseth interview guests and go on location to various business sponsors. Chandler had previously been on air at local WBTW TV for 36 years. [1]
On Wednesday September 23, 2010 WPDE broadcast the news from a temporary set making way for a new set in October. On October 26, 2010 WPDE debuted their new set with new graphics and in 16:9 standard definition widescreen. CBS affiliate WBTW also airs its local news in 16:9 standard definition widescreen, NBC affiliate WMBF broadcasts its local newscasts in High Definition. This station maintains partnerships with WMYB-FM 92.1, WYEZ-FM 94.5, WRNN-FM 99.5, WKZQ-FM 96.1, WYAV-FM 104.1, and WRNN-AM 1450. In addition to its main studios, WPDE operates a bureau on South Floyd Drive in Florence.
Newscast titles[]
- Pee Dee 15 News (1980–1983)
- 15 News (1983–1986 and 1993–1996)
- Action News 15 (1986–1993)
- NewsChannel 15 (1996–2015)
- ABC 15 News (2015-present)
Station slogans[]
- "Hello Grand Strand/Hello Pee Dee/Say Hello!(1984–1989, used during period station used Frank Gari's "Hello News")
- "Action News is Everywhere" (1989–1991)
- "The Team to Watch" (1991–1993)
- "The Carolinas' NewsChannel" (1996–1998)
- "Your Local Team" (2003–2010)
- "Your News. Your Station." (2010–present)
News team[]
Anchors
- Jason Claspell - weekday morning anchor and reporter
- Lisa Edge - weekend evening anchor and weekday reporter at 6 and 11
- Allyson Floyd - assistant news director, weeknight anchor at 6,7 and 11
- Tim McGinnis - managing editor, weeknight anchor at 6,7, and 11
- Holly Morgan - weekday morning anchor and reporter
Weather
- Mallory Nicholls - weekend evening weather
- Ed Piotrowski (AMS Seal of Approval) - weeknight weather
- Darren Stack (NWA Seal of Approval) - weekday morning weather
Sports
- Rich Chrampanis - sports director and weeknight sports anchor
- Mark Haggard - weekend evening sports anchor and weekday sports reporter
Reporters
- Joel Allen - weekday reporter
- Tonya Brown - weekday reporter
- Ryan Naquin - weekday reporter
- Lindsey Theis - weekday and weekend reporter
Former on-air staff[]
| Personality | Position | Years at WPDE | Whereabouts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sue Abrams | Anchor | 1986–1991 | Runs Sue Abrams Productions, LLC in Dallas, TX |
| Steven "Steve Addison" McClung | Anchor-Myrtle Beach Bureau/Reporter | 1987–1988 | Associate Professor of Marketing, Mercer University. |
| Jim Armstrong | Reporter/Anchor | 2000–2002 | Reporter at WBZ-TV Boston, MA |
| Ashley Blackstone | Reporter | 2005–2006 | Reporter at KTHV-TV Little Rock, AR |
| Kristin Browder | Reporter | 2003–2006 | |
| Steve Capps | Chief Meteorologist | 1985–1987 | |
| Shaunya Chavis | Anchor | 1990–1992 | News Director and Anchor on FGTV in Atlanta, GA |
| Eric Chilton | Anchor/Reporter | Late 1980s/early 1990s | Chief meteorologist on WFMY-TV in Greensboro, NC |
| Tiffany Cochran | Anchor | 1994–1997 | Communications Director of the Cochran Firm, a chain of law offices founded by her father, Attorney Johnny Cochran, Atlanta, GA. |
| Chris Connor | Reporter | 1994–1996 | |
| Von (Delbridge)Gaskin | Weekend Weather | 2004–2006 | Weekend Meteorologist on WIS in Columbia, SC |
| Stephen (DiFranco) DiPietrantonio | Weekend Anchor | 2008 | Reporter at FOX 19 WXIX Cincinnati, Ohio |
| Al Ervin | Reporter | 1982–1984 | |
| Mike Essian | Reporter | 2006–2008 | Now in management consulting, Detroit, Michigan |
| Sherrie Evans | Reporter | 2006–2008 | Anchor at WCYB-TV in Tri-Cities, TN/VA |
| Rich Everitt | News Director/Anchor | 1997–2000 | Book Author in Augusta, GA |
| Wayne Fournier | Anchor | 1988–1996 | |
| Rebecca Fox | Reporter | 2003–2006 | Freelance Journalist |
| Dave Gilbert | News Director/Anchor | 1996–1997 | Deceased (1949–1997) |
| Jen Gilbert | Weather | 2001–2004 | |
| Kyle Grainger | Reporter/Producer | 2002–2007 | Reporter at WMBF-TV Myrtle Beach, SC |
| Audra Grant Coble | Anchor/Reporter | 1997–2000 | Co-Host of Not the News at WFXB Myrtle Beach, SC |
| Sharon Greene | Morning/Noon News Anchor | 2007–2009 | |
| Terry Gurn | Sports Director | 1995–1999 | |
| Roger Harvey | Anchor | 1988–1989 | Senior Vice President, Bose Public Affairs Group in Indianapolis |
| Steve Hawley | Anchor | 1994–1996 | Later worked as a weathercaster for WITN-TV in Washington, NC. Now works for the city of Greenville, NC |
| Dan Hellie | Sports Director | 1998–2000 | Weekend Sportscaster on WRC-TV 4 in Washington, D.C. |
| Rick Henry | Sports Director | 1981–1988 | Sports Director on WIS-TV 10 in Columbia, SC |
| Bob Howick | News Director/Anchor | 1986–1992 | |
| Jay Kendrick | Weather | 1999–2001 | |
| Ted King | Weather | 2000–2006 | |
| Al Klensch | Anchor | 1980–1985 | |
| Walt Lehmann | Weekend Sports Anchor | 2000–2004 | Play-by-play presenter for Mediacom Cable in Des Moines, IA |
| Lauren Lowrey | Anchor/Reporter | 2006–2008 | Morning Anchor for WTOL Toledo, OH |
| Lee McLaughlin | Reporter | 2006–2007 | |
| Bob Mihalic | Sports Director | 1991–1998 | Governmental affairs coordinator for Greenville County, SC |
| Mandy Mitchell | Sports Reporter | 2004–2007 | Weekend Sportscaster on WIS-TV in Columbia, SC |
| Graeme Moore | Reporter-Myrtle Beach | 2007–2010 | Reporter at WSPA-TV in Spartanburg/Greenville, SC |
| Nancy O'Dell | Reporter/Anchor | Early 1990s | Co-Anchor of Entertainment Tonight in 2011. |
| Jan Pate | News Director/Anchor | 1982–1986 | |
| Autumn Perry | Reporter | 2007–2008 | Weekend Anchor/Reporter at WJRT in Flint, Michigan |
| Lanie Pope | Reporter | 1998? - 1999 | Chief Meteorologist at WXII, Winston-Salem, NC |
| Mike Prangley | Weather | 1997–1999 | Chief Meteorologist on WLFI-TV 18 in Lafayette, IN |
| Kevan Ramer | Chief Meteorologist | 1991–1993 | Chief Meteorologist on KMPH-TV 26 in Fresno, CA |
| Stuart Scott | Sports Reporter/Anchor | 1987–1988 | Anchor of ESPNSportsCenter |
| Ken Slats | Weekend Sports Anchor/Reporter | 1992–1995 | Sports Director for WSAV-TV in Savannah, GA |
| Tom Sorrells | Chief Meteorologist | 1987–1991 | Chief Meteorologist on WKMG-TV 6 in Orlando, FL |
| Gray Stabley | Weather | 1997–2000 | Weekend Meteorologist on WMTW-TV 8 in Portland, ME |
| Leo Stallworth | Anchor | 1996?-1997? | Reporter on KABC-TV 7 in Los Angeles, CA |
| Keith Sterling | Anchor/Reporter | 1998–2003 | Public Information Officer for Burbank, CA |
| Lindsay Tyner | Reporter | 2008–2009 | |
| Kristen Van Dyke | Weekend Weather | 2006–2010 | Weather KRQE News 13 Albuquerque, New Mexico |
| Bo Williams | Sports Director | 1989-92 | now Anchor of Good Morning Tennessee at WATE-TV Knoxville, TN |
| Clay Williams | Reporter | 1981–1995 | Public Information Director for Florence-Darlington Technical Community College |
| Rona Williams | Reporter | 1998–1999 | |
| Brian Williamsen | Morning Anchor/Reporter | 2002–2006 | State of Illinois |
Gallery[]
