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WSB-TV

Revision as of 16:27, 9 November 2010 by Deangelo.stevens (talk | contribs)
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WSB-TV
[1]
Atlanta, Georgia
Branding WSB-TV, Channel 2 (general)

Channel 2 Action News (newscasts)

Slogan Coverage You Can Count On
Channels Digital: 39 (UHF)

Virtual: 2 (PSIP)

Subchannels 2.1 ABC

2.2, 2.6 RTV

Translators 31 (UHF) (2.5) Athens

46 (UHF) Gainesville (construction permit) 14 (UHF) Rome 17 (UHF) Newnan (applications)

Affiliations ABC
Owner Cox Enterprises, Inc.

(Georgia Television Company)

First air date September 29, 1948
Call letters' meaning Welcome South Brother (from AM sister station)
Sister station(s) WSB AM, WSB-FM, WBTS FM, WSRV FM, WALR-FM
Former channel number(s) Analog:

8 (VHF, 1948-1950) 2 (VHF, 1950-2009)

Former affiliations Primary:

NBC (1948-1980) Secondary: ABC (1948-1951)

Transmitter power 1000 kW
Height 316 m (1,037 ft)
Facility ID 23960
Transmitter coordinates 33°45′51″N 84°21′42″W / 33.76417°N 84.36167°W / 33.76417; -84.36167 (WSB-TV tower)Coordinates: 33°45′51″N 84°21′42″W / 33.76417°N 84.36167°W / 33.76417; -84.36167 (WSB-TV tower)
Website www.wsbtv.com

Its transmitter is located immediately adjacent to Freedom Parkway, east of downtown Atlanta and just southwest of the Carter Center. It is so close to the highway that one of its three sets of guy wires passes over the road. Because freezing rain may accumulate in winter storms (especially since the tops of towers are colder than at ground level), the road is covered by a "tunnel" to prevent heavy ice from falling into the roadway or onto cars during and after storms. The tower has carried both analog and digital for WSB, but has no other FM or TV tenants listed by the FCC. The station has also applied for three digital broadcast translators due to the poor performance of the ATSC digital TV standard, which has caused many viewers to lose the station's over-the-air signal.

WSB-TV is also available across Georgia to Cox Cable subscribers in the Macon area, although ABC programming is usually blacked-out by another local ABC affiliate, WGXA-DT2. WSB-TV is also available on cable TV systems in South Georgia (as far south as the Florida border) due to a lack of an ABC affiliate in the Albany media market covering southwest Georgia. This is possible because WSB-TV is uplinked to the AMC-10 TV satellite. The station is also the flagship of the Mega Millions multi-state lottery.


History

Early history

WSB-TV first began broadcasting on September 29, 1948. It is the second-oldest station south of Washington, D.C.; only Richmond, Virginia's WTVR-TV (channel 6) is older. James M. Cox, publisher of the Atlanta Journal, started the station; he also owned WSB radio (AM 750 and 104.5 FM, now on 98.5 FM). Cox owned WSB AM/FM/TV under the banner of Miami Valley Broadcasting Inc., which later on changed its name to the modern-day Cox Enterprises.

WSB-TV originally broadcast on channel 8. At that time, its present channel 2 allocation was licensed to the Journal's rival newspaper, the Atlanta Constitution, who had plans to start WCON-TV there. In 1950, the two newspapers merged. At the time, the Federal Communications Commission did not allow one entity to own two television stations in the same market. Accordingly, WCON-TV and WSB-TV merged, operating under WSB-TV's license but using the stronger channel 2. The channel 8 allocation was eventually reserved as non-commercial educational by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and is now WGTV, the flagship TV station of Georgia Public Broadcasting.

In 1955, the WSB stations moved into the noted "White Columns" building. They would remain there for 43 years, until a modern new facility was built adjacent to it on the same property in 1998. The new building, which has been called "Digital White Columns" by some, is located just off Atlanta's famed Peachtree Street, on the dead-end northern portion of West Peachtree Street which is actually east of Peachtree Street. This is near the Brookwood Hills area, and just east of the "Brookwood split", the well-known highway interchange where the Downtown Connector splits into I-75 and I-85. The older building was razed shortly after the new building was occupied. The original columns that stood on the front portico of the old building were placed in a garden area alongside the new building. Brand new white columns have been placed inside the glass-enclosed lobby of the newer building.

WSB-TV was originally a primary NBC affiliate, owing to its radio sister's long affiliation with NBC Radio. It also carried some ABC programming (from 1949, shared with WAGA-TV, channel 5) until WLWA-TV (channel 8, now WXIA-TV, channel 11) signed on in 1951.

The station was the original home to the relocated Atlanta Braves baseball team, carrying the games from 1966 to 1972 until the Braves moved to their current longtime home of what is now WPCH-TV, in 1973. Its sister AM station, was the longtime radio flagship of the Braves, carrying the broadcasts for a total of 38 of the 43 years that the franchise has been in Atlanta, dating back to 1966. Ernie Johnson, Sr., a former Braves pitcher and father of his namesake Turner Sports broadcaster, with future Hall of Fame announcer Milo Hamilton (who simutaneously pulled double-duty anchoring Channel 2's sportscasts during this time) were the main announcers for what was then the largest television network in baseball.

As an ABC affiliate

[2] This section requires expansion with:on WSB-TV's history under its current ABC affiliation..

ABC was the highest-rated network for most of the late 1970s and, at that time, was looking for stronger affiliates across the country, including Atlanta. ABC's longtime Atlanta outlet, WXIA, frequently traded second place with WAGA. However, WSB-TV was the far-and-away market leader despite being affiliated with last-place NBC. So during the summer of 1980, both stations conducted an experiment unusual for a large market: WXIA aired NBC daytime shows in the morning and ABC daytime shows in the afternoon, while WSB aired ABC shows in the morning and NBC shows in the afternoons. By the time it was over in September 1980, WSB-TV finally swapped affiliations with WXIA, and joined ABC.

Digital television

WSB-DT went on the air on April 17, 1998, making it one of the first regular-service digital TV stations in the country. (The -DT suffix is not mandated by the FCC, thus it is WSB-TV even for digital.) [3][4]WSB-DT 2.2 RTN test card.WSB-TV transmits digital TV on channel 39, but like other stations is remapped via virtual channels.

Channel Label Format Programming
2.1 WSB-DT 720p60 main WSB-TV/ABC programming
2.2 WSB-DT 480i60 Retro Television (RTV)

WSB-DT passes-through network programming featuring 5.1 surround sound. It also uses 720p60, the same high-motion HDTV used by ABC.

The over-the-air digital subchannel 2.2 started carrying the Retro Television Network on January 28, 2008[1]. Prior to this, the channel was blank, or later with a small station ID in the lower corner, and finally with the test pattern pictured at right.

Analog-to-digital conversion

For the 2009 analog television shutdown, Don McClellan, celebrating 50 years at WSB-TV, turned off the station's analog transmitter for last time at 12:30 PM on June 12, live from the station's transmitter room on the noon newscast.

WSB-TV permanently remains on digital channel 39.[2] Receivers use PSIP to display WSB-TV's virtual channels as 2.1 and 2.2.

During late August and into September 2009, the station removed its analog TV antenna from the top of the tower, and moved its side-mounted digital antenna up from lower on the tower.

Broadcast translators

In March 2009, the station filed applications for two digital fill-in broadcast translators, due to expected loss of signal toward the east and northeast because of the digital transition. One is to be on channel 46, which is being vacated by analog WGCL-TV on June 26 after two extra weeks as an analog nightlight station. It will be located on the same radio tower as Cox's WSRV/WBTS FM, having Gainesville, Georgia as its city of license, but reaching as far into the north-northeastern Atlanta suburbs as Lilburn. The other is for channel 31, licensed to Athens, Georgia, but located only about halfway to there from Atlanta on a tower southwest of Winder, and again reaching as far west as Lilburn. It has also requested special temporary authority to begin operating these stations immediately, pending approval of its regular applications.

Most of both stations' broadcast range will overlap with each other, and are almost entirely within the predicted coverage area of the main station, however distributed transmission (on-channel boosters) will not be used. The translators are expected to overcome the terrain obstructions caused by Stone Mountain to the east of the WSB transmitter. In late June 2009, it also applied for a translator on channel 14 just southwest of Rome, vacated by analog WPXA (channel 14). This will cover a significant portion of northwest Georgia with only 1000 watts. There is no request for STA with this station, however.

News operations

[5][6]WSB-TV reporter Ross Cavitt in front of the CNN Center in the aftermath of the 2008 Atlanta tornado.Currently, WSB-TV broadcasts a total of 41 hours of local newscasts every week (with six hours on weekdays and Sundays, and five hours on Saturdays); as such, WSB-TV is one of the few Big Three network affiliates to offer more than 35 hours of local news content each week and one of the few Big Three affiliates to carry a midday newscast on weekends. In addition, WSB-TV's weekend newscast output is larger than that of Fox owned-and-operated station WAGA (channel 5), which offers a larger overall weekly (and weekday) newscast output than WSB-TV. Appropriately for a station with roots in a newspaper, WSB-TV has a strong TV news tradition. It has led the news TV ratings in Atlanta for as long as records have been kept.

One factor behind its dominance is talent continuity. Many of the station's personalities have been on the air for 15 years or more. Monica Pearson (known as Monica Kaufman until 2005) has been the station's top anchorwoman since 1975, and was one of the first African-American female anchors in the South. Since 1994, her anchor desk partner has been John Pruitt, who started at channel 2 in 1973 before beginning a 16-year run at WXIA. Glenn Burns has been the main weatherman since 1981. Chuck Dowdle (previously in TV in Miami) served as sports director from 1985 until his December 2009 retirement. Pearson, Pruitt, Burns and Dowdle had been together since Pruitt's return to channel 2 in 1994—longer than any news team in Atlanta.

WSB-TV debuted local newscasts in high definition during its noon broadcast on September 27, 2006. It was the second in the Atlanta market to do so, behind WXIA-TV. It is also the second Cox station behind WFTV in Orlando to switch to HD. With the switch to HD came a new HD set and HD graphics from Giant Octopus, which are similar to those seen on WFTV.

In mid-November 2009, reporter Tom Jones and a cameraman escaped serious injury when the telescoping radio mast of their electronic news-gathering van (holding a microwave TV antenna for the remote pickup unit used for outside broadcasting) contacted 115-kilovolt high-voltage powerlines while leaving the Fulton County Jail. Georgia Power staff were surprised anyone survived, but the two were treated for minor burns and smoke inhalation at Grady Memorial Hospital and released later in the day. The massive electric spark caused an explosion, left a crater underneath the van, arced to and broke a water main, and caused a brief power outage. The vehicle was a total loss.[1] [2] [3]

At Noon on September 29th, 2010, WSB-TV fully switched graphics packeges from the 2006 Giant Octopus graphics to a new graphics package. [4] WSB had already been using this graphics package since late 2009 for its promos. It features a sleeker "2" logo, located in the bottom right hand corner that is not solid but gray. In the mornings, the News Ticker is a similar design to the one on sister station WSOC-TV. The news opens are using the same 2009 615 Music package, but now an animated "News Chopper 2" flies across the screen while views of Downtown Atlanta are in the background. The graphics still consist of Blue and Red colors. A YouTube video of the 11PM graphics debut is here.

News/station presentation

Newscast titles
  • The Esso Reporter (1948–1959)
  • Newsroom (1959–1965)
  • Channel 2 News (1965–1972; except for 11 p.m. newscast)
  • The World Tonight (1965–1968; 11 p.m. newscast)
  • 24 Hours (1968–1972; 11 p.m. newscast)
  • (Channel 2) Action News (1972–present)
Station slogans
  • Channel 2, Proud as a Peacock! (1979–1980; local version of NBC ad campaign)
  • You and Me and Channel 2 (1980-1981; local version of ABC ad campaign)
  • Now is the Time, Channel 2 is the Place (1981-1982; local version of ABC ad campaign)
  • 2 Steps Ahead (1980–1983)
  • Come on Along with Channel 2 (1982–1983; local version of ABC ad campaign)
  • That Special Feeling on Channel 2 (1983-1984; local version of ABC ad campaign)
  • We're With You on Channel 2 (1984–1985; local version of ABC ad campaign)
  • You'll Love it on Channel 2 (1985–1986; local version of ABC ad campaign)
  • Together on Channel 2 (1986-1987; local version of ABC ad campaign)
  • Something's Happening on Channel 2 (1987-1990; local version of ABC ad campaign)
  • Atlanta's Watching Channel 2 (1990-1992; local version of ABC ad campaign)
  • Georgia's News Leader (1986–1991)
  • If It's Atlanta, It Must Be Channel 2 (1992-1993; local version of ABC ad campaign)
  • Coverage You Can Count On (1991–present)[3]
  • Live, Local, Latebreaking (1998–present; used in news opens)

[7] This film, television or video-related list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it with reliably sourced additions.

On-air staff

Current on-air staff

Anchors
Severe Weather Team 2
  • Glenn Burns (AMS Certified Broadcast Meteorologist Seal of Approval) - chief meteorologist; weeknights at 6 and 11 p.m.
  • David Chandley (AMS Certified Broadcast Meteorologist Seal of Approval) - meteorologist; weeknights at 5 p.m.
  • Karen Minton (AMS Seal of Approval) - meteorologist; weekday mornings and noon
  • Brad Nitz (AMS Certified Broadcast Meteorologist Seal of Approval) - meteorologist; weekend mornings, weekends at noon, 6 and 11 p.m.
Sports team
  • Zach Klein - sports director; weeknights at 6 and 11 p.m.
  • Autumn Sam - sports anchor; weekends at 6 and 11 p.m., also sports reporter
  • Anthony Amey - sports reporter
Hosts
Reporters

Consumer

Investigative

Health

Triple Team Traffic

  • Mark Arum - weekday mornings
  • Captain Herb Emory

Multi-platform journalists

General assignment reporters

Past on-air staff
Name Position at WSB Years Active Whereabouts
John Alston Weekend anchor/reporter 1986–1995 Unknown
Elenora Andrews Reporter 2005–2008 Unknown
Dan Atkinson Meteorologist early 1970s Meteorologist, WSFA-TV in Montgomery, Alabama
Steve Bartkowski Sports reporter 1976–1977 Member, Board of directors of Atlanta Falcons.
Jill Becker Anchor/reporter 1981–1987 Morning and noon anchor at WXIA-TV
Johnny Beckman Meteorologist 1962–1982 Retired
Sandra Bookman Weekend anchor/reporter 1988–1998 Weekend anchor/reporter at WABC-TV in New York)
Bruce Bartley Anchor/reporter 1965-? Deceased
David Bodden Reporter 2001–2005 Broadcast Technician at WFTX-TV
Fred Briggs Anchor/reporter 1959–1965 Unknown
Tom Brokaw Anchor/reporter 1965–1966 Retired NBC Nightly News anchor; began his journalism career at WSB-TV
Marion Brooks Noon anchor/reporter 1996–1997 Anchor/reporter at WMAQ-TV in Chicago
Steve Buckhantz Sports anchor/reporter Unknown Play by play broadcaster for Washington Wizards
John Buren Sports anchor/reporter 1980–1984 Real Estate Agent, Reisterstown, MD
Dale Cardwell Investigative reporter 1996–2007 2008 Democratic candidate for U.S. senator from Georgia, Now has own consumer website called trustdale.com, [6][7]
Vic Carter Morning and noon anchor/reporter 1982–1995 Now at WJZ-TV in Baltimore
John Cater General assignment reporter 2007–2009 Deceased [8]
Anissa Centers Weekend noon anchor/reporter 2008–2009 Anchor at KLTV in Texas
Roby Chavez General assignment reporter 2000–2001 Reporter at WTTG-TV
Shaunya Chavis Weekend anchor/reporter Unknown News Director & Anchor, Fulton Government Television (FGTV) in Atlanta
Chris Clark Reporter 1962–1965 Retired from WTVF-TV in Nashville
Patrick Crosby Consumer and business reporter Unknown media relations for the Atlanta office of the U.S. Attorney
Chris Curle (Farmer) Noon and 5 PM anchor/reporter 1987–1997 Retired
Gulstan Dart 5 PM anchor/reporter 1999–2003 Anchor at KCRA in Sacramento
Amanda Davis Anchor/reporter 1981–1986 Primary anchor at WAGA-TV
Kristy Deer Sports anchor/reporter 1989–2002 Reporter at Daily Reporter (Greenfield, Indiana); producer/director/writer at Double Deer Video
Tony Dorsey General assignment reporter 1993–1998 Communications director for the Washington, D.C. Metro Transit Association
Chuck Dowdle Sports Anchor/Reporter (and the Host of High Q)

1985-2009

Retired from WSB-TV and the Host of High Q on December 18th, 2009 is Currently on Look Live Show
John Doyle Meteorologist Unknown Retired from broadcasting; currently doing voiceovers, working part-time as bailiff at the Gwinnett County Courthouse
Deidra Dukes General assignment reporter/weekend noon anchor 1998–2005 Weekend anchor at WAGA-TV
Carrie Edwards Scharbo Weekend Noon Anchor/Reporter 2003–2006 Unknown
Bebe Emerman Consumer Reporter 1975–1991 Bebe Emerman, Retired from KIRO News in Seattle.
Don Farmer 5/6/11 PM anchor/reporter 1987–1997 Freelance Florida newspaper columnist); father of WSB-TV anchor/reporter Justin Farmer
Steve Gasque General Assignment Reporter 1992–1997 Talk Radio Director at The National Association of Realtors
Vince Gerasole General Assignment Reporter 1999–2001 Reporter at WBBM-TV
Lynn Harasin Johnson Reporter 1974–2007 Retired
Bill Hartman Sports Anchor/Reporter 1996–2008 Retired from WSB-TV, Returned to WAGA-TV October 2009
Ashley Hayes General Assignment Reporter 2007–2010 Media Relations at Saint Joseph's Hospital
Tracy Haynes General Assignment Reporter Unknown WBMA-TV in Birmingham, AL
Dick Horner Reporter 1965–1975 Unknown
Summer Jackson (Cole) Reporter 2007–2008 Speech Instructor at Howard University
David Johnson Reporter/Anchor mid 1980's WPXI-TV in Pittsburgh
Ernie Johnson Sports Anchor/Reporter 1982–1989 Turner Sports Broadcasting
Tara Jones Reporter Unknown Owner of Reel Productions, LLC in Atlanta
Arch Kennedy Meteorologist 2004–2006 WZTV in Nashville
Don Kennedy Atlanta's "Officer Don" on WSB-TV's classic Popeye Club children's show 1957–1970 Prior to 1996, an owner of Atlanta radio station WKLS (96.1 FM)[4]; through July 22, 2009, owner, producer and host of the nationally syndicated “Big Band Jump,” or “BBJ,” on XM satellite radio.[5]
Kimberley Kennedy Host, Hot Topics 1997 - 2009 Unknown
Rachel Kim Reporter/Gwinnett County Bureau Chief 2006–2009 freelancing at KCBS in Los Angeles
Clennon King General Assignment Reporter 1992–1993 A fundraiser in Vermont
Stu Klitenic Sports Anchor/Reporter 1989–1996 Atlanta Braves Radio Network post-game anchor
Lynna Lai General Assignment Reporter 1995–1997 Morning Anchor at WOIO-TV in Cleveland
Terry Mann General Assignment Reporter 2001–2006 Unknown; husband of B 98.5 FM midday personality Jordan Graye
Tracy Martinez General Assignment Reporter 2003–2006 Atlanta-based Physical Trainer
Bob McClain Sports Anchor/Reporter 1983–1985 Unknown
Jerry McClellan Noon News Weather/Booth announcer 1963–1972 Freelance voice artist
John McKnight Anchor/Reporter ?-1988 Unknown
Paul Miller General Assignment Reporter '1979-1981 Retired from journalism. Director of Global Initiatives, National Association of Independent Schools
Russ Minshew Meteorologist 1982–1986 Deceased
Ray Moore Meteorologist and news anchor 1952–1969 Unknown
Toni Neal Traffic Reporter 2003–2005 Now at Microsoft
Vickie Newton Weekend Anchor/Reporter 2000–2001 KMOV-TV in St. Louis
Bill Nigut Political Reporter 1983–2003 Southeast Regional Director of Anti-Defamation League
John Palmer Anchor/Reporter 1960–1962 Retired from NBC News in 2002
Marc Pickard Reporter 1976–1988 WXIA-TV
Byron Pitts General Assignment Reporter 1994–1996 CBS News
Gary Reaves Reporter 1979–1982 WFAA-TV in Dallas
Tiffani Reynolds Reporter 2005–2009 Unknown
Bob Richards Meteorologist Unknown Deceased
Amanda Rosseter Weekend morning anchor and weekday reporter 2006–2009 Media relations for St. Josephs Hospital
Hank Phillipi Ryan Reporter 1978–1983 WHDH-TV in Boston
Jan Ryan Reporter 1974–1977 President/CEO of NewsPowerOnline.com
Ron Sailor Anchor/Reporter Unknown Minister in Dacula, GA. His son, Walter Ronnie Sailor, Jr., is a former Georgia State Legislator
Wes Sarginson Anchor 1978–1984 Retired
Warren Savage Morning and Noon Anchor/Reporter 1995–2005 Convicted of cocaine possession in 2006
Sally Sears Reporter Retired
Carl Sell Weekend Sports 1968 Unknown
Collins Spencer Morning and Noon Anchor 2005–2007 CEO at Strategic Communications LLC., Atlanta, GA
Carolyn Sawyer Reporter 1986–1987 Unknown
Jonathan Serrie Reporter 1994–1999 Atlanta-based reporter for Fox News Channel
Guy Sharpe Weather Man 1957–1968 Deceased
Tyler Sieswerda Reporter/Fill-In Anchor ? - 2005 KVUE-TV in Austin, TX
Don Stewart Reporter/Anchor 1950's Retired - Still resides in Atlanta and frequent organizes shows with local talent. Still performs at local 'hang-outs such as McKinnons restaurant.
Gary Stromberg Reporter 1973–1977 Retired in 2008 from WJW-TV in Cleveland); Author of Aren't You That News Man? (2008) and Every Tiger Has a Tale 2009
Lester Strong Anchor/Reporter 1980–1984 Chief Executive Officer at Experience Corps
Hal Suit Anchor/News Director 1948–1978 Former Republican candidate for Governor of Georgia in 1970 [9]
Rob Sweeting Anchor/Reporter 1983–1985 WJXT-TV in Jacksonville, FL
Lisa Tutman (Oglesby) Weekend Morning Anchor/Reporter 1992-95 Independent Broadcast Media Professional, writer, blogger at Freelance
Jim Viondi Sports Anchor/Reporter Unknown Unknown
Matt Wallace NewsChopper 2 Pilot/Reporter 1997–2003 Unknown
Shannon Walshe Reporter/Substitute anchor 2002–2007 Current anchor of the Daily 2 between Channel 2 Action News at Noon and 1:00pm TV"
Alan Wang General Assignment Reporter 1999–2005 KGO-TV in San Francisco
Ukee (Ulysses) Washington Sports Anchor/Reporter Unknown Morning/noon news anchor at KYW-TV
Jim Wilkerson Anchor/Reporter Unknown Unknown
JaQuitta Williams Anchor/Reporter 2004–2008 Anchor/Reporter, WGCL-TV
Terry Wood, Anchor/Reporter 1984–1987 Unknown

[8] This film, television or video-related list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it with reliably sourced additions.

References

  1. ^ Atlanta Business Chronicle (2007-11-20). "TV classics come to WSB with RTN". American City Business Journals, Inc.. http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/stories/2007/11/19/daily13.html?t=printable. Retrieved 2007-12-12.
  2. ^ CDBS Print
  3. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DH-k-H2OSKg
  4. ^ http://users.ece.gatech.edu/mleach/radio/fm.html
  5. ^ http://donmcclellan.wordpress.com/2009/09/page/2/

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