WGME-TV is the CBS-affiliated television station for Southern Maine and Northern New Hampshire that is licensed to Portland. The station broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 38 from a transmitter on Brown Hill west of Raymond. Owned by the Sinclair Broadcast Group, the station has studios on the corner of Washington Avenue and Northport Drive in the North Deering section of Portland. Syndicated programming on WGME includes: Entertainment Tonight, The Insider, Oprah, and Judge Judy.
| |
| Portland, Maine | |
|---|---|
| Branding | WGME 13 (general)
News 13 (newscasts) |
| Slogan | Breaking News.
Breaking Weather. Breaking Stories. |
| Channels | Digital: 38 (UHF)Virtual: 13 (PSIP) |
| Affiliations | 13.1 CBS HD13.2 CBS SD(future theCoolTV) |
| Owner | Sinclair Broadcast Group
(WGME Licensee, LLC) |
| First air date | May 16, 1954 |
| Call letters' meaning | We're Gannett of MainE(for former owner Guy Gannett) |
| Former callsigns | WGAN-TV (1954-1983) |
| Former channel number(s) | 13 (VHF analog, 1954-2009) |
| Former affiliations | The Tube (on DT2, 2006-2007) |
| Transmitter power | 1,000 kW |
| Height | 465 m |
| Facility ID | 25683 |
| Transmitter coordinates | 43°55′28.5″N 70°29′26.7″W / 43.924583°N 70.49075°W / 43.924583; -70.49075 |
| Website | wgme.com |
Digital programming
Its digital signal is multiplexed.
| Channel | Video | Aspect | Programming |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13.1 | 1080i | 16:9 | CBS HD |
| 13.2 | 480i | 4:3 | CBS SD (future theCoolTV) |
History
Its first broadcast was on May 16, 1954 under the call sign of WGAN-TV. It was owned by Guy Gannett Communications along with WGAN-AM 560 and the Portland Press-Herald. When the radio station was sold in 1984, the WGAN call letters went with them. WGAN-TV then changed its call sign to the current "WGME-TV". It remained the flagship station of Guy Gannett Communications until the company sold most of its television stations, including WGME, to the Sinclair Broadcast Group in 1998. The 493.5-meter (1,619 foot) tall transmission tower of WGME, situated in Raymond, was built in 1959. It was, according to the 1999 Guinness Book of World Records, the world's tallest architectural structure in those days. It was surpassed by KFVS-TV's tower in Cape Girardeau, Missouri in 1960. However, it remained the tallest structure in Maine until the erection of WMTW's tower in 2002. This station ceased airing analog on February 17, 2009 and broadcasts digitally-only on channel 38.
Retransmission Dispute with Time Warner Cable
WGME owner Sinclair Broadcast Group and Time Warner Cable are in a dispute over the terms of their retransmission consent agreement that expired on December 31, 2010. The agreement was extended to January 14, 2011 while the parties continued to negotiate. [1] An agreement in principle to resolve the dispute followed shortly thereafter [2] and was finalized in February 2011. [3]
News operation
Its nightly 11 o'clock open.
During the final years of Guy Gannett ownership in the 1990s, WGME launched weekend morning news that featured many live shots and in-studio interviews. The effort was abandoned due to poor ratings. Its newscasts dominated the ratings in Portland for many years, but from the late 1980s until November 2007, WCSH overtook the station. Today's ratings show a resurgence in favor of this station in the weeknight 5, 5:30, and 11 o'clock time slots. Sinclair's investment in the latest technology and state of the art weather system was instrumental in improving its ratings.
Starting February 5, 2007, WGME began producing a nightly 10 o'clock newscast on Fox affiliate WPFO after establishing a news share agreement. Known on-air as News 13 on Fox, it is currently the only prime time broadcast in the market. Originally, the show had competed with the nightly prime time show that aired on CW affiliate WPXT (co-produced by WCSH and WLBZ). From September 2, 2008 until January 2, 2009, WGME aired a weeknight 7 o'clock newscast. Known as News 13 at 7: The Political Edge, it focused on the 2008 Presidential election and issues of public interest. The Associated Press awarded this channel as "Station of the Year" in 2009. Starting April 5, 2010, WGME expanded the weeknight 10 o'clock broadcast to an hour and launched a two-hour long morning show on WPFO called Good Day Maine. On May 4, it started using microphones with its "CBS 13" logo on one side and "Fox 23 Maine" on the other side.
The station has entered into a news partnership with Maine Today Media, owner of its former newspaper sisters-- Portland Press Herald, Kennebec Journal, Morning Sentinel, and Maine Sunday Telegram. In addition to its main studios, WGME operates a Lewiston Auburn Bureau on Main Street (across the street from WCSH's bureau). A second bureau is in Augusta near the Maine State House. Although WGME (or any of the other Portland television stations) do not own or operate a weather radar of their own, this station uses live NOAA National Weather Service radar data from several regional sites. These data are presented in a forecasting system on-air that is known as "Storm Team 13 Doppler HD".
Newscast titles
- The Maine Report (1954-1963)
- NewsBeat (1963-1974)
- News 13 (1974-1991 & 1999–2013)
- NewsChannel 13 (1991–1999)
- CBS 13 News (2013–present)
- News 13 on Fox at 10 (2007-present; WPFO)/News 13 at 10 (alternative)
- Good Day Maine (April 2010-present; WPFO)
Station slogans
- "The Tall-Tower Station" (1959-?)
- "13 Country" (1970s-early 1980s)
- "Hello Maine, Channel 13 Loves You" (early-mid 1980s, used during period station used Frank Gari's "Hello News")
- "Reach For The Stars On Channel 13" (1981-1982; localized version of CBS ad campaign)
- "What Maine's All About" (1989-1990)
- "The Look Of Portland Is Channel 13" (1991-1992; localized version of CBS ad campaign)
- "This is Your News" (1999–2004, used during period station used Frank Gari's "This is Your News")
- "Breaking News. Breaking Weather. Breaking Stories." (2004–2011)
- "Your Maine Source (For News)/(For Sports)" (2011–2013)
News team
Anchors
- Diana Ichton - Temporary Daybreak Anchor (4:55- 7AM), (on WPFO - 7-9AM Good Day Maine weekdays) News 13: ON YOUR SIDE Segment Producer & Reporter
- Jeff Peterson - Daybreak Anchor(4:55AM - 7AM), 5, and 5:30
- reporter weeknights at 6
- Doug Ray - weekday mornings (on WPFO - 7-9AM Good Day Maine weekdays) and noon
- reporter
- Kim Block - weekdays at Noon, 5, 6, (and 10 on WPFO - News 13 on FOX weeknights) 11PM **medical/health reporter
- Breaking News Anchor (Noon to 11PM)
- "Healthline" Anchor & Segment Producer
- Gregg Lagerquist - weeknights at 6 and 11/Political Anchor - Vote 2010 Segment Producer (5-5:30PM Fill-In Anchor)
- Catherine Parrotta - Weekends: 6 & 11 (News 13 on FOX weekend anchor 10PM) and reporter on News 13 Live at Five, News 13 at 5:30, and News 13 at 6:00PM (Fill in Daybreak Anchor)
Storm Team 13 Meteorologists
- Charlie Lopresti (AMS Seal of Approval) - Chief seen weeknights (10PM WPFO Weeknights)
- Sarah Long (AMS Seal of Approval) - Daybreak (4:55AM - 7AM) and Monday through Wednesday at Noon/CBS Early Show Weather Breaks
- "Thursday's Child" segment producer
- Good Day Maine Meteorologist - WPFO - 7-9AM
- Craig Miller - Thursday through Friday at noon and weekends/CBS Early Show Weather Breaks
- David Epstein - weekend fill-in
Sports
- Dave Eid - Director seen weeknights at 6, 10 (WPFO News 13 on FOX), and 11
- Evans Boston - weekend fill-in reporter and sports reporter 6 & 11 (WPFO News 13 on FOX weekends)
- John Brickley - fill-in
Reporters
- "
- Breaking News Anchor (Noon - 11PM)
- Ben Bozeman - weekday morning traffic and heard on WGAN-AM 560
- Scott Episkapo - photojournalist/general
- Giovanna Bechard - Fill-in Political Reporter/general (WPFO: News 13 on FOX at 10PM General Reporter)
- Jim Cyr - Fill-in Political Reporter/general
- Lewiston/Auburn Bureau Reporter - WGME News 13: 5PM to 11PM
- Anne McNamara - Top Stories/General Daybreak Reporter/Fill-in Anchor, Fill-in Anchor 5, 5:30
- Erik Van Den Bossche - weekday morning traffic and heard on WGAN-AM 560 ("773-Road")
- Steve Roldan - Top Stories/General
- Fill-in Anchor/Meteorologist
- Kate Barker - fill-in reporter (was formerly weekday morning co-anchor and general assignment reporter)
Former staff
- Doug Rafferty - Special Reports
"Maine Outdoors" & "Doug's Discoveries" Host/Segment Producer
- Erin Ovalle : former Daybreak and Good Day Maine (WPFO) co-anchor, now with WMTW anchoring "News 8 This Morning".
- Kiley Bennett retired from broadcasting on September 30, 2010 to be a stay at home mother.
- Steve Adamson: former weeknight meteorologist, now weekend meteorologist at WXIA in Atlanta, GA
- Emily Apel: former reporter, now anchor/reporter KION-TV in Salinas, CA
- Robb Atkinson: former News Director 2006-2010, now Senior Director of Sales and Affiliate Relations at CNN
- Jeff Barnd: former co-anchor, to WLVI Boston, now anchor WBFF Baltimore. He also hosted "American Crossroads", a now-defunct news magazine shown Sunday nights on Sinclair-owned stations including WGME.
- Barbara Barr: former weekend sports anchor/reporter (1998–2004), now reporter at WGAL, Harrisburg, PA
- Vivian Bean: former weekday morning co-anchor, now stay at home mother
- Bruce Berlinger: former Chief co-anchor 1978-1989, also did kids interest features
- Julene Britt: former general assignment and sports reporter, late 1990s/early 2000s
- Crystal Canney: former reporter, now president of Canney Communications
- Tom Caron: former sports anchor/reporter, to NESN
- Tom Chisolm: former metorologist, now Chief Meteorologist at WMTW
- Lucas Colavecchio: former reporter/anchor, now executive producer for HuB Studios in Sarasota, Florida.
- Lisa Colbert: former weathercaster, now weathercaster at WSYX
- Terry Cole: former General Manager 2006-2009, now General Manager at WEAR and WFGX
- Doug Cook: former reporter, later an anchor & reporter at WMTW, and currently director of communications at Bowdoin College
- Paul Cousins: meteorologist, now director AtmosForecast Portland and provides recorded forecasts for several radio & television outlets throughout Maine.
- Kathy Curran: former investigative reporter late 1990s, now a reporter at WBZ (1999-)
- Brad Day: weekend meteorologist, late 1990s
- Paul Dellegatto: former meteorologist, 1985–86, now chief meteorologist at WTVT in Tampa
- Frank Fixaris: former sports anchor 1967-1992, was a sports radio talk co-host; deceased 2006.
- Dianna Fletcher: former daybreak anchor/reporter, now media/p.r. consultant Fletcher Media.
- Chris Francis: former sports anchor/reporter (1996–1998)
- Lisa Gilbert: former sports anchor/reporter (1993–1996)
- Thom Hallock: former reporter, now an anchor at WPTZ in Plattsburgh, NY
- Gordie Hershiser: former sports director, mid 1990s
- John Hopperstad - weekdays at noon and 7, now working in Seattle
- Felicia Knight: former anchor, worked at WABI-TV (Bangor, ME) during the 1980s, now President, Knight Vision International
- Marnie MacLean: former anchor & reporter, now a reporter at NECN
- Thom McGair: former reporter/substitute anchor was last at WLVI-TV Boston
- Jennifer Miller: former weekend/fill-in anchor & reporter, now retired.
- Sayoko Murase: former daybreak anchor, now with ShawTV, Vancouver, BC
- Bob O'Wril: former weatherman & longtime host of the MDA telethon. Deceased
- Adam Pellerin: former weekend sports anchor/reporter, now a reporter at WFXT in Boston.
- Barbara Quill: former reporter & anchor (1973–1984)
- Max Riseman: former weekend meteorologist (2005–2007), now providing radio forecasts on WHOM and the Maine Public Broadcasting Network.
- Mark Rosenthal: former chief meteorologist (2005–2006)
- Josh Judge: former weekend meteorologist, now meteorologist for WMUR-TV in Manchester, NH.
- Jennifer Sabih: former reporter/weekend anchor, later a reporter for KCAL & KCBS in Los Angeles.
- Steve Schwaid: former news director, now Sr. V.P. news & programming NBC Universal Stations NY.
- Dave Silverbrand: former anchor & "Dave's People" reporter, now living in Eureka, CA
- Amy Sinclair—former reporter who mainly did light feature and interest stories (1995-05/24/2007); now at New England Cable News
- Mindi Ramsey: former anchor/reporter, now weekday morning/noon anchor for WNEP in Scranton, PA.
- Jeremy Reiner: former meteorologist, now a meteorologist at WHDH in Boston.
- Dave Santoro: former weekend/Daybreak meteorologist who became Chief Meteorologist in 1999, now a math teacher in the Portland, ME, public school system
- Joe Venuti: former meteorologist, now part-time meteorologist at WCVB in Boston.
- Ron Wolfe: former News Director (1999-2002); led news department to win the USC Annenberg Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Broadcast TV Political Journalism in 2000; Top Honors in Maine's Associated Press Annual Awards in 2000, including: Station of the Year, Best Continuing Coverage, Best Spot News, Best Public Affairs, Best Election Coverage, Best Feature, and Best Medical Reporting. The Columbia Journalism Review named the morning newscast as "Top in the Study" for morning newscasts around the United States, in 2000. Now working as CEO of Physicians Healthy Weight Center in North Hampton, NH.
- Matt Zidle: former Daybreak & Noon meteorologist, now at WMTW in a similar capacity with Shannon Moss and Erin Ovalle.
Kid Correspondents
This is a segment featured on Daybreak. "News 13 brings you school kids from around the state of Maine who take you inside their school to show you why they think it is special."
References
- ^ Sinclair, cable talks extended to Jan. 14, Portland Press Herald, January 1, 2011
- ^ Time Warner, Sinclair reach fee agreement, Portland Press Herald, January 16, 2011
- ^ Multiyear cable deal averts Sinclair TV signal blackout, Portland Press Herald, February 3, 2011