Annex
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'''WALA-TV''' is the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fox_Broadcasting_Company Fox]-affiliated [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Television_station television station] for Southern [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alabama Alabama], Southeastern [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mississippi Mississippi], and the Western [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida_Panhandle Florida Panhandle] that is licensed to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile,_Alabama Mobile]. It broadcasts a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-definition_television high definition] digital signal on [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VHF VHF] channel 9 from a transmitter in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_Fort,_Alabama Spanish Fort, Alabama]. Owned by the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LIN_TV_Corporation LIN TV Corporation], the station is sister to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_CW CW] affiliate [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WFNA_%28TV%29 WFNA] and the two share studios on Satchel Paige Drive in Mobile. In addition to its main studios, it operates secondary facilities on Executive Plaza Drive in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pensacola,_Florida Pensacola]. The station operates a 24-hour local weather channel known as "Weather Now" on [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cox_Communications Cox] digital channel 698 in that city. It is not offered on [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comcast Comcast] in the Alabama side of the market.
 
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{| cellspacing="5" class="infobox" style="width: 205px; height: 966px;"
 
  +
|+ style=""|WALA-TV
 
 
<p style="margin-top: 0.4em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">'''WALA-TV''' is the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fox_Broadcasting_Company Fox]-affiliated [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Television_station television station] for Southern [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alabama Alabama], Southeastern [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mississippi Mississippi], and the Western [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida_Panhandle Florida Panhandle] that is licensed to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile,_Alabama Mobile]. It broadcasts a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-definition_television high definition] digital signal on [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VHF VHF] channel 9 from a transmitter in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_Fort,_Alabama Spanish Fort, Alabama]. Owned by the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LIN_TV_Corporation LIN TV Corporation], the station is a sister TV station to The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_CW CW] affiliate [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WFNA_(TV) WFNA] (now sister station to CBS-affiliated television station WKRG to Nexstar Media Group), and the two share studios on Satchel Paige Drive in Mobile. In addition to its main studios, it operates secondary facilities on Executive Plaza Drive in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pensacola,_Florida Pensacola]. The station operates a 24-hour local weather channel known as "Weather Now" on [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cox_Communications Cox] digital channel 698 in that city. It is not offered on [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comcast Comcast] in the Alabama side of the market.</p>
| colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"|[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Walatv.png ]
 
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{| cellspacing="5" class="infobox" style="font-size: 11px; border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); background-color: rgb(249, 249, 249); color: black; margin-top: 0.5em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 1em; padding-top: 0.2em; padding-right: 0.2em; padding-bottom: 0.2em; padding-left: 0.2em; clear: right; text-align: left; line-height: 1.5em; width: 22em; "
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|+ style="font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; "|WALA-TV
 
| colspan="2" style="vertical-align: top; text-align: center; "|[[File:175px-Walatv.png]]
 
|-
 
|-
! colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"|[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile,_Alabama Mobile, Alabama] / [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pensacola,_Florida Pensacola] -
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! colspan="2" style="vertical-align: top; text-align: center; "|[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile,_Alabama Mobile, Alabama] / [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pensacola,_Florida Pensacola] -
 
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Walton_Beach,_Florida Fort Walton Beach, Florida]
 
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Walton_Beach,_Florida Fort Walton Beach, Florida]
 
|-
 
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;"|[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_of_license City of license]
+
! scope="row" style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left; "|[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_of_license City of license]
| style=""|Mobile
+
| style="vertical-align: top; "|Mobile
 
|-
 
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;"|Branding
+
! scope="row" style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left; "|Branding
| style=""|FOXten (general)
+
| style="vertical-align: top; "|FOXten (general)
 
FOXten News (news)
 
FOXten News (news)
 
|-
 
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;"|Slogan
+
! scope="row" style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left; "|Slogan
| style=""|''Mobile's News Leader'' (primary)
+
| style="vertical-align: top; "|''Mobile's News Leader''
  +
(primary)
''Commitment to You'' (secondary)
+
''Commitment to You''(secondary)
 
|-
 
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;"|[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Channel_%28broadcasting%29 Channels]
+
! scope="row" style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left; "|[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Channel_(broadcasting) Channels]
| style=""|[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_terrestrial_television Digital]: 9 ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Very_high_frequency VHF])
+
| style="vertical-align: top; "|[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_terrestrial_television Digital]: 9 ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Very_high_frequency VHF])
 
|-
 
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;"|[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_subchannel Subchannels]
+
! scope="row" style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left; "|[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_subchannel Subchannels]
| style=""|10.1 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fox_Broadcasting_Company Fox]
+
| style="vertical-align: top; "|10.1 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fox_Broadcasting_Company Fox]
 
|-
 
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;"|Owner
+
! scope="row" style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left; "|Owner
| style=""|[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LIN_TV_Corporation LIN TV Corporation]
+
| style="vertical-align: top; "|[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LIN_TV_Corporation LIN TV Corporation]
 
''(LIN of Alabama, LLC)''
 
''(LIN of Alabama, LLC)''
 
|-
 
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;"|First air date
+
! scope="row" style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left; "|First air date
| style=""|January 14, 1953
+
| style="vertical-align: top; "|January 14, 1953
 
|-
 
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;"|[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Call_sign Call letters' meaning]
+
! scope="row" style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left; "|[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Call_sign Call letters' meaning]
| style=""|'''W'''e '''A'''re
+
| style="vertical-align: top; "|'''W'''e '''A'''re
 
'''L'''oyal '''A'''labamians
 
'''L'''oyal '''A'''labamians
 
|-
 
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;"|[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sister_station Sister station(s)]
+
! scope="row" style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left; "|[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sister_station Sister station(s)]
| style=""|[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WFNA_%28TV%29 WFNA]
+
| style="vertical-align: top; "|[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WFNA_(TV) WFNA]
 
|-
 
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;"|Former channel number(s)
+
! scope="row" style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left; "|Former channel number(s)
| style=""|10 (VHF analog, 1953-2009)
+
| style="vertical-align: top; "|10 (VHF analog, 1953-2009)
 
|-
 
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;"|[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Affiliate Former affiliations]
+
! scope="row" style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left; "|[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Affiliate Former affiliations]
| style=""|[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NBC NBC] (primary, 1953-1996)
+
| style="vertical-align: top; "|[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NBC NBC] (primary, 1953-1996)
 
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CBS CBS] (1953-1955)
 
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CBS CBS] (1953-1955)
 
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DuMont_Television_Network DuMont] (1953-1955)
 
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DuMont_Television_Network DuMont] (1953-1955)
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all secondary
 
all secondary
 
|-
 
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;"|[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Effective_radiated_power Transmitter power]
+
! scope="row" style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left; "|[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Effective_radiated_power Transmitter power]
| style=""|29 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kilowatt kW]
+
| style="vertical-align: top; "|29 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kilowatt kW]
 
|-
 
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;"|[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HAAT Height]
+
! scope="row" style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left; "|[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HAAT Height]
| style=""|381 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metre m]
+
| style="vertical-align: top; "|381 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metre m]
 
|-
 
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;"|[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Facility_ID Facility ID]
+
! scope="row" style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left; "|[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Facility_ID Facility ID]
| style=""|4143
+
| style="vertical-align: top; "|4143
 
|-
 
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;"|Transmitter coordinates
+
! scope="row" style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left; "|Transmitter coordinates
| style=""|[http://toolserver.org/%7Egeohack/geohack.php?pagename=WALA-TV&params=30_41_16.7_N_87_47_53.6_W_type:landmark_scale:2000 30°41′16.7″N 87°47′53.6″W / 30.687972°N 87.798222°W / 30.687972; -87.798222]
+
| style="vertical-align: top; "|[http://toolserver.org/~geohack/geohack.php?pagename=WALA-TV&params=30_41_16.7_N_87_47_53.6_W_type:landmark_scale:2000 30°41′16.7″N87°47′53.6″W]
 
|-
 
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;"|Website
+
! scope="row" style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left; "|Website
| style=""|[http://www.fox10tv.com/ fox10tv.com]
+
| style="vertical-align: top; "|[http://www.fox10tv.com/ fox10tv.com]
 
|}
 
|}
 
==History==
 
==History==
WALA came on-the-air for the first time on January 14, 1953 as Mobile's second television station. The first station, WKAB-TV, had been in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UHF UHF] band and it went off-air shortly before WALA came on. It was initially locally owned by W.O. Pape along with WALA radio (1410 AM now [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WLVV WLVV]). It aired television programs from all four of the major networks of the time ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NBC NBC], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Broadcasting_Company ABC], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CBS CBS], and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DuMont_Television_Network DuMont]). WALA and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WKRG-TV WKRG-TV] (on-air beginning in 1955) shared ABC programs until [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WEAR-TV WEAR-TV] went completely to ABC in 1959. During the late-1950s, WALA was also briefly affiliated with the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NTA_Film_Network NTA Film Network].<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Boxoffice7_0-0">[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=WALA-TV&diff=422355652&oldid=419223174#cite_note-Boxoffice7-0 [1]]</sup> Mr. Pape sold WALA in 1964 to the Roywood Corporation. In 1969, WALA was sold to the Universal Communications Corporation, the television arm of the ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Detroit_News Detroit News]''.
+
<p style="margin-top: 0.4em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">WALA-TV came on-the-air for the first time on January 14, 1953 as Mobile's second television station. The first station, WKAB-TV, had been in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UHF UHF] band and it went off-air shortly before WALA came on. It was initially locally owned by W.O. Pape along with WALA radio (1410 AM now [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WLVV WLVV]). It aired television programs from all four of the major networks of the time ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NBC NBC],[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Broadcasting_Company ABC], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CBS CBS], and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DuMont_Television_Network DuMont]). WALA-TV and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WKRG-TV WKRG-TV] (on-air beginning in 1955) shared ABC programs until [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WEAR-TV WEAR-TV] went completely to ABC in 1959. During the late-1950s, WALA was also briefly affiliated with the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NTA_Film_Network NTA Film Network].<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Boxoffice7_0-0" style="line-height: 1em; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; ">[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=WALA-TV&diff=422355652&oldid=419223174#cite_note-Boxoffice7-0 [1]]</sup> Mr. Pape sold WALA in 1964 to the Roywood Corporation. In 1969, WALA was sold to the Universal Communications Corporation, the television arm of the ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Detroit_News Detroit News]''.</p>
   
Throughout the years, WALA was the leading channel in a three-station race. As the more established outlet, WALA got the strongest syndicated programming and it had the top-rated local newscasts. Even today, WALA continues to dominate the local news viewership ratings despite the network affiliation switch from NBC to Fox. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gannett Gannett] company bought out Universal Communications in the merger with ''Detroit News'' publisher The Evening News Association, but due to the company's ownership of the ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pensacola_News_Journal Pensacola News Journal]'', and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Communications_Commission Federal Communications Commission] (FCC) regulations on common ownership of television stations and newspapers, Gannett owned WALA for only one day in 1986. Gannett sold WALA to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knight_Ridder Knight Ridder] Broadcasting, which in turn, sold it to Burnham Broadcasting in 1989.
+
<p style="margin-top: 0.4em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">Throughout the years, WALA was the leading channel in a three-station race. As the more established outlet, WALA got the strongest syndicated programming and it had the top-rated local newscasts. Even today, WALA continues to dominate the local news viewership ratings despite the network affiliation switch from NBC to Fox. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gannett Gannett] Company (now TEGNA) bought out Universal Communications in the merger with ''Detroit News'' publisher The Evening News Association, but due to the company's ownership of the ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pensacola_News_Journal Pensacola News Journal]'', and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Communications_Commission Federal Communications Commission] (FCC) regulations on common ownership of television stations and newspapers, Gannett owned WALA for only one day in 1986. Gannett sold WALA to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knight_Ridder Knight Ridder]Broadcasting, which in turn, sold it to Burnham Broadcasting in 1989.</p>
   
Fox wanted to upgrade affiliates in many markets when it acquired rights to broadcast the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NFL NFL]'s [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Football_Conference National Football Conference] games in the mid-1990s. In 1994, the network announced affiliation deals with [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_World_Communications New World Communications] stations in larger markets. The deal involved switching all the stations which were former big three affiliates to Fox in Fall 1994. More stations would switch to the network in 1995 when New World merged with Argyle Television and bought several stations from Citicasters. In turn, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newscorp Newscorp] purchased New World to merge it with the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fox_Television_Stations_Group Fox Television Stations Group] in 1997. As a result of Fox's influence on gaining more VHF affiliations to establish itself as a big four network, more upgrades were still sought out this time in smaller markets. The formation of SF Broadcasting with Savoy Broadcasting was the result of the smaller markets due in part to the network owning a voting stock in Savoy. SF then announced the purchase of WALA, along with [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WVUE WVUE] in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Orleans,_Louisiana New Orleans, Louisiana], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KHON-TV KHON-TV] in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honolulu,_Hawaii Honolulu, Hawaii], and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WLUK-TV WLUK-TV] in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Bay,_Wisconsin Green Bay, Wisconsin]. Aside from WVUE, then an ABC affiliate, the other three were NBC affiliates. The deal stipulated that all four stations should convert to Fox affiliation. Before the sale became final in 1995, it was determined that Fox's stock in SF would not be considered voting stock.
+
<p style="margin-top: 0.4em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">Fox wanted to upgrade affiliates in many markets when it acquired rights to broadcast the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NFL NFL]'s [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Football_Conference National Football Conference] games in the mid-1990s. In 1994, the network announced affiliation deals with [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_World_Communications New World Communications] stations in larger markets. The deal involved switching all the stations which were former big three affiliates to Fox in Fall 1994. More stations would switch to the network in 1995 when New World merged with Argyle Television and bought several stations from Citicasters. In turn, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newscorp Newscorp] purchased New World to merge it with the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fox_Television_Stations_Group Fox Television Stations Group] in 1997. As a result of Fox's influence on gaining more VHF affiliations to establish itself as a big four network, more upgrades were still sought out this time in smaller markets. The formation of SF Broadcasting with Savoy Broadcasting was the result of the smaller markets due in part to the network owning a voting stock in Savoy. SF then announced the purchase of WALA, along with [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WVUE WVUE] in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Orleans,_Louisiana New Orleans, Louisiana], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KHON-TV KHON-TV] in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honolulu,_Hawaii Honolulu, Hawaii], and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WLUK-TV WLUK-TV] in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Bay,_Wisconsin Green Bay, Wisconsin]. Aside from WVUE, then an ABC affiliate, the other three were NBC affiliates. The deal stipulated that all four stations should convert to Fox affiliation. Before the sale became final in 1995, it was determined that Fox's stock in SF would not be considered voting stock.</p>
   
On January 1, 1996, WALA along with KHON and WVUE, switched to Fox. WLUK changed its network affiliation back in September 1995. NBC affiliation moved to former Fox affiliate [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WPMI-TV WPMI-TV]. WALA aired [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fox_Kids Fox Kids] programming unlike the New World Fox affiliates. On weekdays where NBC's daytime dramas previously aired, Fox Kids would run from 1 to 4 p.m. (an hour earlier than most of its Fox counterparts). Fox Kids aired on Saturday mornings in pattern. WALA now re-branded "Fox 10", also expanded its local news on weekdays to 5-8 a.m., 5-6 p.m., and 9-10 p.m. Since then these times have changed only slightly. WALA, KHON, WVUE, and WLUK were sold in a group deal to Silver King/USA Broadcasting in 1997 and then to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emmis_Communications Emmis Communications] in 1998.
+
<p style="margin-top: 0.4em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">[[File:WALA_1997.png|thumb|left|In 1994, Burnham Broadcasting sold WALA-TV and three other stations (KHON-TV in Honolulu, WVUE in New Orleans, LA and WLUK-TV in Green Bay, WI) to SF Broadcasting (a joint venture of Savoy Communications and News Corporation), who announced the four stations would become Fox affiliates. WALA-TV's NBC affiliation moved to former Fox affiliate WPMI-TV (channel 15) in September 1995.]]On January 1, 1996, WALA-TV along with KHON-TV and WVUE-TV, switched to Fox. WLUK-TV changed its network affiliation back in September 1995. NBC affiliation moved to former Fox affiliate [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WPMI-TV WPMI-TV]. WALA aired [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fox_Kids Fox Kids] programming unlike the New World Fox affiliates. On weekdays where NBC's daytime dramas previously aired, Fox Kids would run from 1 to 4 p.m. (an hour earlier than most of its Fox counterparts). Fox Kids aired on Saturday mornings in pattern. WALA-TV now re-branded "Fox 10", also expanded its local news on weekdays to 5-8 a.m., 5-6 p.m., and 9-10 p.m. Since then these times have changed only slightly. WALA, KHON, WVUE, and WLUK were sold in a group deal to Silver King/USA Broadcasting in 1997 and then to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emmis_Communications Emmis Communications] in 1998.</p>
   
Fox dropped weekday afternoon programming, then running for only two hours before the end of 2001, and retained its Saturday morning programming. In 2002, that was revamped as the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fox_Box Fox Box] and then in 2003 the programming line-up was renamed 4KidsTV. At this point WALA, like most Fox affiliates, would purchase more talk and reality-based shows to fill time-slots that once had big three network programming (in WALA's case, NBC). Emmis bought [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WB_Television_Network WB] affiliate WBPG (now [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WFNA_%28TV%29 WFNA]) in 2003 creating a new [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duopoly_%28broadcasting%29 duopoly] in the market. Emmis put all of its television stations up for sale in 2005. WALA and WBPG were sold to LIN Television in 2005 and 2006 respectively.
+
<p style="margin-top: 0.4em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">Fox dropped weekday afternoon programming, then running for only two hours before the end of 2001, and retained its Saturday morning programming. In 2002, that was revamped as the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fox_Box Fox Box] and then in 2003 the programming line-up was renamed 4KidsTV. At this point WALA, like most Fox affiliates, would purchase more talk and reality-based shows to fill time-slots that once had big three network programming (in WALA's case, NBC). Emmis bought [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WB_Television_Network WB] affiliate WBPG (now [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WFNA_(TV) WFNA]) in 2003 creating a new [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duopoly_(broadcasting) duopoly] in the market. Emmis put all of its television stations up for sale in 2005. WALA and WBPG were sold to LIN Television in 2005 and 2006 respectively.</p>
   
Until March 2007 one of WALA's [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ATSC digital subchannels] simulcasted WBPG, now a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_CW_Television_Network CW] affiliate, as that station had no digital signal of its own. WBPG eventually started a low-power digital signal of its own in late 2008 and boosted to full power in 2009 when a neighboring station [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WXXV-TV WXXV-TV] abandoned its analog signal which shared the digital frequency that WBPG was assigned. On May 18, 2007, LIN TV announced that it was exploring strategic alternatives that could result in the sale of the company.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-1">[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=WALA-TV&diff=422355652&oldid=419223174#cite_note-1 [2]]</sup> In mid-June 2007, following the lead of most of the other LIN-owned Fox affiliates, WALA launched a new website using Fox Interactive's myFox interface. In [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008#October October 2008], WALA and LIN TV flagship [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WPRI-TV WPRI-TV] in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Providence,_Rhode_Island Providence, Rhode Island] relaunched their web sites through Fox Interactive as a result of a new partnership between LIN TV and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/News_Corporation News Corporation]. The new sites are similar in format to the myFox sites (which WALA and the other LIN TV-owned Fox affiliates previously used) but without the flashy myFox [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Owned-and-operated_station owned-and-operated station]-style look. Over the next few weeks, the other LIN TV-owned stations (irrespective of their network affiliation) followed suit.
+
<p style="margin-top: 0.4em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">Until March 2007 one of WALA's [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ATSC digital subchannels] simulcasted WBPG, now a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_CW_Television_Network CW] affiliate, as that station had no digital signal of its own. WBPG eventually started a low-power digital signal of its own in late 2008 and boosted to full power in 2009, when a neighboring station [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WXXV-TV WXXV-TV] abandoned its analog signal which shared the digital frequency that WBPG was assigned. On May 18, 2007, LIN TV announced that it was exploring strategic alternatives that could result in the sale of the company.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-1" style="line-height: 1em; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; ">[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=WALA-TV&diff=422355652&oldid=419223174#cite_note-1 [2]]</sup> In mid-June 2007, following the lead of most of the other LIN-owned Fox affiliates, WALA-TV launched a new website using Fox Interactive's myFox interface. In [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008#October October 2008], WALA and LIN TV flagship [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WPRI-TV WPRI-TV] in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Providence,_Rhode_Island Providence, Rhode Island] relaunched their web sites through Fox Interactive as a result of a new partnership between LIN TV and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/News_Corporation News Corporation]. The new sites are similar in format to the myFox sites (which WALA and the other LIN TV-owned Fox affiliates previously used) but without the flashy myFox [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Owned-and-operated_station owned-and-operated station]-style look. Over the next few weeks, the other LIN TV-owned stations (irrespective of their network affiliation) followed suit.</p>
 
==Digital television==
 
==Digital television==
On June 12, 2009, WALA-TV left channel 10 and moved to channel 9 when the analog to digital conversion was completed.
+
<p style="margin-top: 0.4em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">On June 12, 2009, WALA-TV left channel 10 and moved to channel 9 when the analog to digital conversion was completed.</p>
 
==Programming==
 
==Programming==
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Television_syndication Syndicated] programming on WALA includes: ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wheel_of_Fortune_%28U.S._game_show%29 Wheel of Fortune]'', ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeopardy%21 Jeopardy!]'', ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Oprah_Winfrey_Show The Oprah Winfrey Show]'', and ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dr._Phil_%28TV_series%29 Dr. Phil]''. Outside of network programming, the station offers a news-intensive general entertainment format. As a Fox affiliate, WALA has the "rare" distinction of broadcasting some of the strongest syndicated programming from [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CBS_Television_Distribution CBS Television Distribution] which the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Three_television_networks big three] affiliates in other [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Media_market markets] would normally air.
+
<p style="margin-top: 0.4em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Television_syndication Syndicated] programming on WALA-TV includes: ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wheel_of_Fortune_(U.S._game_show) Wheel of Fortune]'', ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeopardy! Jeopardy!]'', ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Oprah_Winfrey_Show The Oprah Winfrey Show]'', and ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dr._Phil_(TV_series) Dr. Phil]''. Outside of network programming, the station offers a news-intensive general entertainment format. As a Fox affiliate, WALA has the "rare" distinction of broadcasting some of the strongest syndicated programming from [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CBS_Television_Distribution CBS Television Distribution] which the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Three_television_networks big three] affiliates in other [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Media_market markets]would normally air.</p>
 
==News operation==
 
==News operation==
 
<p style="margin-top: 0.4em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">Currently, WALA-TV broadcasts a total of 26 hours of local news each week (five hours on weekdays, a half-hour on Saturdays, and one hour each on Sundays). WALA-TV is the only station in the market that airs a local newscast at 5:30 p.m. and it does not broadcast local newscasts at midday or at 6 and 10 p.m. Unlike most other Fox stations that produce their newscasts in-house, WALA-TV's 9 p.m. newscast does not air for an hour seven nights a week as the Saturday edition airs for a half-hour.</p>
{| class="metadata plainlinks ambox mbox-small-left ambox-notice" style=""
 
| class="mbox-image"|[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg ]
 
| class="mbox-text" style=""|This section requires [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=WALA-TV&action=edit expansion] with:
 
further information on WALA's news operation, prior to and since the affiliation switch to Fox.
 
|}
 
Currently, WALA-TV broadcasts a total of 26 hours of local news each week (five hours on weekdays, a half-hour on Saturdays, and one hour each on Sundays). WALA-TV is the only station in the market that airs a local newscast at 5:30 p.m. and it does not broadcast local newscasts at midday or at 6 and 10 p.m. Unlike most other Fox stations that produce their newscasts in-house, WALA-TV's 9 p.m. newscast does not air for an hour seven nights a week as the Saturday edition airs for a half-hour.
 
   
The Sunday 9 p.m. news was also aired as a half-hour newscast until April 3, 2011, when WALA-TV expanded the Sunday evening edition of its 9 p.m. newscast to one hour, by adding an additional half-hour at 9:30 p.m. As of March 2011, WALA remains one of two major network affiliated television stations in Mobile that have not yet upgraded their newscasts to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-definition_television high definition]; the other is WPMI.
+
<p style="margin-top: 0.4em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">The Sunday 9 p.m. news was also aired as a half-hour newscast until April 3, 2011, when WALA-TV expanded the Sunday evening edition of its 9 p.m. newscast to one hour, by adding an additional half-hour at 9:30 p.m. As of March 2011, WALA remains one of two major network affiliated television stations in Mobile that have not yet upgraded their newscasts to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-definition_television high definition]; the other is WPMI.</p>
 
===News/station presentation===
 
===News/station presentation===
 
====Newscast titles====
 
====Newscast titles====
*''WALA News'' (1953-mid 1960s)
+
*''Newsbeat'' (1960s–1970s)
 
*''The News Now'' (1970s–1982)
*''Channel 10 Newsbeat'' (10 p.m. newscast with Carlton Cordell, Danny Treanor, and Jim Koblas; late 1960s-1978)
 
 
*''The News 10'' (1982–1989)
*''10ALIVE'' (5 p.m. newscast with Don Schroeder; late 1960s-1978)
 
*''The News Now'' (1978–1983)
 
*''The News 10'' (1983–1989)
 
*''The News 10 Nightcast'' (10 p.m. newscast; 1983–1989)
 
 
*''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Action_News Action News] 10'' (1989–1996)
 
*''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Action_News Action News] 10'' (1989–1996)
*''Fox 10 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Action_News Action News]'' (1996–2001)
+
*''Fox 10 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Action_News Action News]'' (1996–2003)
*''FOXten News'' (2001–present)
+
*''FOXten or FOX 10 News'' (2003–present)
  +
 
====Station slogans====
 
====Station slogans====
 
*"Turn To 10" (news and community outreach slogan)
 
*"Turn To 10" (news and community outreach slogan)
*"Turn To 10 and Be There!" (1983–1984, entertainment programming slogan; local version of NBC campaign)
+
*"Turn To 10 and Be There" (1983–1984, entertainment programming slogan; local version of NBC campaign)
 
*"Turn To 10, Let's All Be There" (1984–1986, entertainment programming slogan; local version of NBC campaign)
 
*"Turn To 10, Let's All Be There" (1984–1986, entertainment programming slogan; local version of NBC campaign)
 
*"Come Home and Turn to 10" (1986–1987, entertainment programming slogan; local version of NBC campaign)
 
*"Come Home and Turn to 10" (1986–1987, entertainment programming slogan; local version of NBC campaign)
Line 108: Line 105:
 
*"[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/24_Hour_News_Source Mobile's 24-Hour News Channel]" (1990-1994)
 
*"[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/24_Hour_News_Source Mobile's 24-Hour News Channel]" (1990-1994)
 
*"Proud to Support the Troops" (1991, post-[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulf_War Gulf War])
 
*"Proud to Support the Troops" (1991, post-[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulf_War Gulf War])
  +
*"It's A Whole New Turn to 10!" (1992-1993, entertainment programming slogan; local version of NBC campaign)
  +
*"The Stars are Back and Turn to 10!'' (1993-1994, entertainment programming slogan; local version of NBC campaign)
 
*"More News, More Often" (1994–1997)
 
*"More News, More Often" (1994–1997)
 
*"The #1 News Station on the Gulf Coast" (1997–1999)
 
*"The #1 News Station on the Gulf Coast" (1997–1999)
Line 113: Line 112:
 
*"Mobile's News Leader" (2003–present)
 
*"Mobile's News Leader" (2003–present)
 
*"Commitment to You" (2010–present, secondary slogan)
 
*"Commitment to You" (2010–present, secondary slogan)
  +
===News team<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-2">[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=WALA-TV&diff=422355652&oldid=419223174#cite_note-2 [3]]</sup>===
+
===News team<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-2" style="line-height: 1em; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; ">[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=WALA-TV&diff=422355652&oldid=419223174#cite_note-2 [3]]</sup>===
'''Anchors'''
 
  +
<p style="margin-top: 0.4em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">'''Anchors'''</p>
  +
 
*Renee Dials - weekends at 9 p.m., also weekday reporter
 
*Renee Dials - weekends at 9 p.m., also weekday reporter
 
*Bob Grip - weeknights at 5 and 9 p.m., also "FOXten News Fugitive Files" segment producer
 
*Bob Grip - weeknights at 5 and 9 p.m., also "FOXten News Fugitive Files" segment producer
Line 122: Line 123:
 
*Cherish Lombard - "Studio10" co-host and reporter
 
*Cherish Lombard - "Studio10" co-host and reporter
 
*Joe Emer - "Studio10" co-host and sports reporter
 
*Joe Emer - "Studio10" co-host and sports reporter
  +
'''''FOXten StormTracker Weather'''''
 
  +
''Meteorologists Jason Smith and Michael White are also seen on WFNA and "Weather Now"''
 
  +
<p style="margin-top: 0.4em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">'''''FOXten StormTracker Weather'''''
 
''Meteorologists Jason Smith and Michael White are also seen on WFNA and "Weather Now"''</p>
  +
 
*Jason Smith ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Weather_Association NWA] Seal of Approval) - chief meteorologist; weeknights at 5 and 9 p.m., also host of ''Outdoors with Jason Smith''
 
*Jason Smith ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Weather_Association NWA] Seal of Approval) - chief meteorologist; weeknights at 5 and 9 p.m., also host of ''Outdoors with Jason Smith''
 
*Matt Barrentine (AMS Seal of Approval) - meteorologist; weekends at 9 p.m., also news reporter
 
*Matt Barrentine (AMS Seal of Approval) - meteorologist; weekends at 9 p.m., also news reporter
 
*Michael White ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Meteorological_Society AMS] Seal of Approval) - meteorologist; weekday mornings
 
*Michael White ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Meteorological_Society AMS] Seal of Approval) - meteorologist; weekday mornings
 
*Chasity Byrd - weather anchor; fill-in, also news reporter and "What's Happening" segment producer
 
*Chasity Byrd - weather anchor; fill-in, also news reporter and "What's Happening" segment producer
  +
'''Sports team'''
 
  +
  +
<p style="margin-top: 0.4em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">'''Sports team'''</p>
  +
 
*Rob Lehocky - sports director; weeknights at 5:30 and 9 p.m.
 
*Rob Lehocky - sports director; weeknights at 5:30 and 9 p.m.
  +
'''Reporters'''
 
  +
  +
<p style="margin-top: 0.4em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">'''Reporters'''</p>
  +
 
*Libby Amos - videojournalist
 
*Libby Amos - videojournalist
 
*April Douglas
 
*April Douglas
Line 138: Line 148:
 
*Hubert Tate
 
*Hubert Tate
 
*Derica Williams (also Studio10 correspondant)
 
*Derica Williams (also Studio10 correspondant)
  +
'''Photojournalists'''
 
  +
  +
<p style="margin-top: 0.4em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; ">'''Photojournalists'''</p>
  +
 
*Franz Barraza
 
*Franz Barraza
 
*Robert Brown
 
*Robert Brown
Line 146: Line 159:
 
*Marcus Powe
 
*Marcus Powe
 
*La-Keya Stinchcomb
 
*La-Keya Stinchcomb
  +
  +
   
   
 
====Former staff====
 
====Former staff====
{| cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="multicol" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; width: 100%;"
+
{| cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="multicol" style="font-size: 13px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; width: 815px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "
 
| align="left" valign="top" width="50%"|
 
| align="left" valign="top" width="50%"|
 
*'''Jeff Barker'''
 
*'''Jeff Barker'''
Line 166: Line 181:
 
*'''Don Davis'''
 
*'''Don Davis'''
 
*'''Ken Davis'''
 
*'''Ken Davis'''
*'''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Evans_%28meteorologist%29 Bill Evans]'''
+
*'''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Evans_(meteorologist) Bill Evans]'''
 
*'''Deiah Foster'''
 
*'''Deiah Foster'''
 
*'''Erica Fox'''
 
*'''Erica Fox'''
Line 201: Line 216:
 
*'''Mike Rockwood'''
 
*'''Mike Rockwood'''
 
*'''Don Schroeder'''
 
*'''Don Schroeder'''
  +
*'''Randal Smith'''
 
*'''Andrew Stockey'''
 
*'''Andrew Stockey'''
 
*'''Dave Straker'''
 
*'''Dave Straker'''
Line 212: Line 228:
 
|}
 
|}
 
==References==
 
==References==
#'''[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=WALA-TV&diff=422355652&oldid=419223174#cite_ref-Boxoffice7_0-0 ^]''' [http://issuu.com/boxoffice/docs/boxoffice_111056-1 "Require Prime Evening Time for NTA Films"] (<sup class="noprint Inline-Template">[''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot dead link]'']</sup>), ''Boxoffice'': 13, November 10, 1956, http://issuu.com/boxoffice/docs/boxoffice_111056-1
+
#'''[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=WALA-TV&diff=422355652&oldid=419223174#cite_ref-Boxoffice7_0-0 ^]''' [http://issuu.com/boxoffice/docs/boxoffice_111056-1 "Require Prime Evening Time for NTA Films"] (<sup class="noprint Inline-Template" style="line-height: 1em; ">[''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot dead link]'']</sup>), ''Boxoffice'': 13, November 10, 1956
 
#'''[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=WALA-TV&diff=422355652&oldid=419223174#cite_ref-1 ^]''' [http://www.lintv.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=298&Itemid=114 [1]]
 
#'''[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=WALA-TV&diff=422355652&oldid=419223174#cite_ref-1 ^]''' [http://www.lintv.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=298&Itemid=114 [1]]
 
#'''[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=WALA-TV&diff=422355652&oldid=419223174#cite_ref-2 ^]''' http://www.fox10tv.com/subindex/about_us/Staff_Bios
 
#'''[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=WALA-TV&diff=422355652&oldid=419223174#cite_ref-2 ^]''' http://www.fox10tv.com/subindex/about_us/Staff_Bios
Line 220: Line 236:
 
*[http://www.thegulfcoastcw.com/ WFNA "The Gulf Coast CW"]
 
*[http://www.thegulfcoastcw.com/ WFNA "The Gulf Coast CW"]
 
*[http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/tvq?call=WALA-TV Query the FCC's TV station database for WALA-TV]
 
*[http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/tvq?call=WALA-TV Query the FCC's TV station database for WALA-TV]
  +
[[Category:Fox Television Stations]]

Revision as of 21:28, 14 May 2020


WALA-TV is the Fox-affiliated television station for Southern Alabama, Southeastern Mississippi, and the Western Florida Panhandle that is licensed to Mobile. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on VHF channel 9 from a transmitter in Spanish Fort, Alabama. Owned by the LIN TV Corporation, the station is a sister TV station to The CW affiliate WFNA (now sister station to CBS-affiliated television station WKRG to Nexstar Media Group), and the two share studios on Satchel Paige Drive in Mobile. In addition to its main studios, it operates secondary facilities on Executive Plaza Drive in Pensacola. The station operates a 24-hour local weather channel known as "Weather Now" on Cox digital channel 698 in that city. It is not offered on Comcast in the Alabama side of the market.

WALA-TV
175px-Walatv
Mobile, Alabama / Pensacola -

Fort Walton Beach, Florida

City of license Mobile
Branding FOXten (general)

FOXten News (news)

Slogan Mobile's News Leader

(primary) Commitment to You(secondary)

Channels Digital: 9 (VHF)
Subchannels 10.1 Fox
Owner LIN TV Corporation

(LIN of Alabama, LLC)

First air date January 14, 1953
Call letters' meaning We Are

Loyal Alabamians

Sister station(s) WFNA
Former channel number(s) 10 (VHF analog, 1953-2009)
Former affiliations NBC (primary, 1953-1996)

CBS (1953-1955) DuMont (1953-1955) ABC (1953-1959) all secondary

Transmitter power 29 kW
Height 381 m
Facility ID 4143
Transmitter coordinates 30°41′16.7″N87°47′53.6″W
Website fox10tv.com

History

WALA-TV came on-the-air for the first time on January 14, 1953 as Mobile's second television station. The first station, WKAB-TV, had been in the UHF band and it went off-air shortly before WALA came on. It was initially locally owned by W.O. Pape along with WALA radio (1410 AM now WLVV). It aired television programs from all four of the major networks of the time (NBC,ABC, CBS, and DuMont). WALA-TV and WKRG-TV (on-air beginning in 1955) shared ABC programs until WEAR-TV went completely to ABC in 1959. During the late-1950s, WALA was also briefly affiliated with the NTA Film Network.[1] Mr. Pape sold WALA in 1964 to the Roywood Corporation. In 1969, WALA was sold to the Universal Communications Corporation, the television arm of the Detroit News.

Throughout the years, WALA was the leading channel in a three-station race. As the more established outlet, WALA got the strongest syndicated programming and it had the top-rated local newscasts. Even today, WALA continues to dominate the local news viewership ratings despite the network affiliation switch from NBC to Fox. Gannett Company (now TEGNA) bought out Universal Communications in the merger with Detroit News publisher The Evening News Association, but due to the company's ownership of the Pensacola News Journal, and Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations on common ownership of television stations and newspapers, Gannett owned WALA for only one day in 1986. Gannett sold WALA to Knight RidderBroadcasting, which in turn, sold it to Burnham Broadcasting in 1989.

Fox wanted to upgrade affiliates in many markets when it acquired rights to broadcast the NFL's National Football Conference games in the mid-1990s. In 1994, the network announced affiliation deals with New World Communications stations in larger markets. The deal involved switching all the stations which were former big three affiliates to Fox in Fall 1994. More stations would switch to the network in 1995 when New World merged with Argyle Television and bought several stations from Citicasters. In turn, Newscorp purchased New World to merge it with the Fox Television Stations Group in 1997. As a result of Fox's influence on gaining more VHF affiliations to establish itself as a big four network, more upgrades were still sought out this time in smaller markets. The formation of SF Broadcasting with Savoy Broadcasting was the result of the smaller markets due in part to the network owning a voting stock in Savoy. SF then announced the purchase of WALA, along with WVUE in New Orleans, Louisiana, KHON-TV in Honolulu, Hawaii, and WLUK-TV in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Aside from WVUE, then an ABC affiliate, the other three were NBC affiliates. The deal stipulated that all four stations should convert to Fox affiliation. Before the sale became final in 1995, it was determined that Fox's stock in SF would not be considered voting stock.

WALA 1997

In 1994, Burnham Broadcasting sold WALA-TV and three other stations (KHON-TV in Honolulu, WVUE in New Orleans, LA and WLUK-TV in Green Bay, WI) to SF Broadcasting (a joint venture of Savoy Communications and News Corporation), who announced the four stations would become Fox affiliates. WALA-TV's NBC affiliation moved to former Fox affiliate WPMI-TV (channel 15) in September 1995.

On January 1, 1996, WALA-TV along with KHON-TV and WVUE-TV, switched to Fox. WLUK-TV changed its network affiliation back in September 1995. NBC affiliation moved to former Fox affiliate WPMI-TV. WALA aired Fox Kids programming unlike the New World Fox affiliates. On weekdays where NBC's daytime dramas previously aired, Fox Kids would run from 1 to 4 p.m. (an hour earlier than most of its Fox counterparts). Fox Kids aired on Saturday mornings in pattern. WALA-TV now re-branded "Fox 10", also expanded its local news on weekdays to 5-8 a.m., 5-6 p.m., and 9-10 p.m. Since then these times have changed only slightly. WALA, KHON, WVUE, and WLUK were sold in a group deal to Silver King/USA Broadcasting in 1997 and then to Emmis Communications in 1998.

Fox dropped weekday afternoon programming, then running for only two hours before the end of 2001, and retained its Saturday morning programming. In 2002, that was revamped as the Fox Box and then in 2003 the programming line-up was renamed 4KidsTV. At this point WALA, like most Fox affiliates, would purchase more talk and reality-based shows to fill time-slots that once had big three network programming (in WALA's case, NBC). Emmis bought WB affiliate WBPG (now WFNA) in 2003 creating a new duopoly in the market. Emmis put all of its television stations up for sale in 2005. WALA and WBPG were sold to LIN Television in 2005 and 2006 respectively.

Until March 2007 one of WALA's digital subchannels simulcasted WBPG, now a CW affiliate, as that station had no digital signal of its own. WBPG eventually started a low-power digital signal of its own in late 2008 and boosted to full power in 2009, when a neighboring station WXXV-TV abandoned its analog signal which shared the digital frequency that WBPG was assigned. On May 18, 2007, LIN TV announced that it was exploring strategic alternatives that could result in the sale of the company.[2] In mid-June 2007, following the lead of most of the other LIN-owned Fox affiliates, WALA-TV launched a new website using Fox Interactive's myFox interface. In October 2008, WALA and LIN TV flagship WPRI-TV in Providence, Rhode Island relaunched their web sites through Fox Interactive as a result of a new partnership between LIN TV and News Corporation. The new sites are similar in format to the myFox sites (which WALA and the other LIN TV-owned Fox affiliates previously used) but without the flashy myFox owned-and-operated station-style look. Over the next few weeks, the other LIN TV-owned stations (irrespective of their network affiliation) followed suit.

Digital television

On June 12, 2009, WALA-TV left channel 10 and moved to channel 9 when the analog to digital conversion was completed.

Programming

Syndicated programming on WALA-TV includes: Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy!, The Oprah Winfrey Show, and Dr. Phil. Outside of network programming, the station offers a news-intensive general entertainment format. As a Fox affiliate, WALA has the "rare" distinction of broadcasting some of the strongest syndicated programming from CBS Television Distribution which the big three affiliates in other marketswould normally air.

News operation

Currently, WALA-TV broadcasts a total of 26 hours of local news each week (five hours on weekdays, a half-hour on Saturdays, and one hour each on Sundays). WALA-TV is the only station in the market that airs a local newscast at 5:30 p.m. and it does not broadcast local newscasts at midday or at 6 and 10 p.m. Unlike most other Fox stations that produce their newscasts in-house, WALA-TV's 9 p.m. newscast does not air for an hour seven nights a week as the Saturday edition airs for a half-hour.

The Sunday 9 p.m. news was also aired as a half-hour newscast until April 3, 2011, when WALA-TV expanded the Sunday evening edition of its 9 p.m. newscast to one hour, by adding an additional half-hour at 9:30 p.m. As of March 2011, WALA remains one of two major network affiliated television stations in Mobile that have not yet upgraded their newscasts to high definition; the other is WPMI.

News/station presentation

Newscast titles

  • Newsbeat (1960s–1970s)
  • The News Now (1970s–1982)
  • The News 10 (1982–1989)
  • Action News 10 (1989–1996)
  • Fox 10 Action News (1996–2003)
  • FOXten or FOX 10 News (2003–present)

Station slogans

  • "Turn To 10" (news and community outreach slogan)
  • "Turn To 10 and Be There" (1983–1984, entertainment programming slogan; local version of NBC campaign)
  • "Turn To 10, Let's All Be There" (1984–1986, entertainment programming slogan; local version of NBC campaign)
  • "Come Home and Turn to 10" (1986–1987, entertainment programming slogan; local version of NBC campaign)
  • "Come on Home and Turn to 10" (1987–1988, entertainment programming slogan; local version of NBC campaign)
  • "Count on Mobile's #1 News Team" (1988-1990)
  • "Mobile's 24-Hour News Channel" (1990-1994)
  • "Proud to Support the Troops" (1991, post-Gulf War)
  • "It's A Whole New Turn to 10!" (1992-1993, entertainment programming slogan; local version of NBC campaign)
  • "The Stars are Back and Turn to 10! (1993-1994, entertainment programming slogan; local version of NBC campaign)
  • "More News, More Often" (1994–1997)
  • "The #1 News Station on the Gulf Coast" (1997–1999)
  • "Live. Local. Latebreaking." (1999–2002)
  • "Mobile's News Leader" (2003–present)
  • "Commitment to You" (2010–present, secondary slogan)

News team[3]

Anchors

  • Renee Dials - weekends at 9 p.m., also weekday reporter
  • Bob Grip - weeknights at 5 and 9 p.m., also "FOXten News Fugitive Files" segment producer
  • Lenise Ligon - weeknights at 5 and 9 p.m., also "Daily Dot Com" segment producer/reporter
  • Eric Charles Reynolds - weekday mornings
  • Sarah Wall - weekday mornings
  • Cherish Lombard - "Studio10" co-host and reporter
  • Joe Emer - "Studio10" co-host and sports reporter


FOXten StormTracker Weather Meteorologists Jason Smith and Michael White are also seen on WFNA and "Weather Now"

  • Jason Smith (NWA Seal of Approval) - chief meteorologist; weeknights at 5 and 9 p.m., also host of Outdoors with Jason Smith
  • Matt Barrentine (AMS Seal of Approval) - meteorologist; weekends at 9 p.m., also news reporter
  • Michael White (AMS Seal of Approval) - meteorologist; weekday mornings
  • Chasity Byrd - weather anchor; fill-in, also news reporter and "What's Happening" segment producer


Sports team

  • Rob Lehocky - sports director; weeknights at 5:30 and 9 p.m.


Reporters

  • Libby Amos - videojournalist
  • April Douglas
  • Paige Malone - videojournalist
  • John Rogers
  • Hal Scheurich - videojournalist
  • Hubert Tate
  • Derica Williams (also Studio10 correspondant)


Photojournalists

  • Franz Barraza
  • Robert Brown
  • Eric Lowe
  • Riccardo Montgomery
  • Guy Turnbow
  • Marcus Powe
  • La-Keya Stinchcomb



Former staff

  • Jeff Barker
  • Wayne Barnett
  • Steve Bray
  • Sheldra Brigham
  • Molly Broderick
  • Anissa Centers
  • Eric Clemons
  • Tammy Coburn
  • Lisa Colagrossi
  • Chris Coraggio
  • Carlton Cordell
  • Lance Crawford
  • Dave Daughtry
  • Don Davis
  • Ken Davis
  • Bill Evans
  • Deiah Foster
  • Erica Fox
  • Adam Ghassemi
  • Ron Gollnick
  • Val Goodson
  • Alan Green
  • Don Hawes
  • Ed Heiland
  • Denise Hrdlica
  • Rob Jennings
  • Kellie Jones
  • Stuart "Stu" Kellogg
  • Clennon King
  • Jim Koblas
  • Christina Leavenworth
  • Carolyn Martin
  • Eric McClendon
  • Qwesi "Q" McCray
  • Edward McDonald
  • Rod Odom
  • John Oldshue
  • Wayne Perkey
  • Ned Perme
  • Doug Peters
  • Nancy Pierce
  • Craig Price
  • Eleanor Reynolds
  • Tommy Richards
  • Eric Richey
  • Glenn Robinson
  • Rob Roblin
  • Mike Rockwood
  • Don Schroeder
  • Randal Smith
  • Andrew Stockey
  • Dave Straker
  • Bill Stuart
  • Kevin Sullivan
  • Randy Tatano
  • John Edd Thompson
  • Danny Treanor
  • Adam Walser
  • Glenda Webb

References

  1. ^ "Require Prime Evening Time for NTA Films" ([dead link]), Boxoffice: 13, November 10, 1956
  2. ^ [1]
  3. ^ http://www.fox10tv.com/subindex/about_us/Staff_Bios

External links