WTAE ready to go with the new set; WPXI seems to be on hold with new studios
Pittsburgh:WTAE-TV will unveil the new news set on Tuesday (9/4) at 5:00 PM. A picture (available in the PG news story) shows meteorologist Dimitrius Ivory behind the new two-desk weather set. The remainder of the new digs includes a monitor in front of the news desk as well as one which can pop up behind the anchors. Over the last few weeks the newscasts have originated from the newsroom desk.
Meanwhile, I am little perplexed about what is going on with the new WPXI-TV studios. Reports earlier in the summer said that the newscasts would begin to come from the new studios but now it doesn't seem so. In the same PG story, it says that Bill Cardille (who signed Channel 11 on as WIIC on 9/1/1957) was invited to be a part of the ribbon cutting ceremony at the new studios but is now unable now that the ceremony has been postponed from just after Labor Day to later in September. (One assumes that the ribbon cutting comes BEFORE something opens...but one could be wrong!) Either way, the 50th Anniversary special for the station will air on 9/22 at 10:00 PM.
Speaking of Chilly Billy: Cardille goes on to host his 37th annual Jerry Lewis Telethon this weekend on WPXI. He began hosting it in 1970 when the station picked up the telethon. Originally Channel 53 carried the telethon but it was in that year - one week before the telethon - that the station went dark due to financial reasons. Channel 11 was quick to pick it up and make Cardille the host with former radio personality Perry Marshall.
Finally, check out Rick Sebak's blog as he and his crew are travelling the Lincoln Highway (U. S. Route 30) for another exciting national documentary.
WTAE, WGAL parent company to go private
Pittsburgh, National News: The largest investor in WTAE-TV's parent company plans to take the corporation private.
According to The Hollywood Reporter and other sources, Hearst Corp. wants to buy the approximately 26 percent of Hearst-Argyle Television that it doesn't already own. (Company press release here.)
Hearst-Argyle was formed in 1997 by a merger between Argyle Television Holdings and Hearst's broadcasting division, which then included a mix of TV and radio stations, including Pittsburgh's former WTAE (1250) and WDRV-FM (96.1). (The company still retains an AM/FM combo in Baltimore, though the other radio outlets have been divested.)
The company currently trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "HTV." The acquisition of the remaining shares of Hearst-Argyle would cost Hearst Corp. an estimated $600 million, according to AP.
Founded by legendary mogul William Randolph Hearst and still controlled by his descendants, Hearst Corp. owns several of the most influential U.S. newspapers, including the Houston Chronicle, San Francisco Chronicle and Seattle Post-Intelligencer, along with magazines like Cosmopolitan, Esquire, Good Housekeeping, Harper's Bazaar, O, Popular Mechanics, Redbook and Seventeen.
Besides WTAE-TV, Hearst-Argyle owns 25 TV stations, including 12 ABC affiliates and 10 NBC affiliates, like Central Pennsylvania's WGAL-TV (8). Hearst also owns 20 percent of ESPN and part of the Lifetime and A&E cable networks.
Monday morning nostalgia fix
Pittsburgh, Monday Morning Nostalgia Fix: TV antenna installers were busy 50 years ago this week. Customers in Pittsburgh's suburbs whose rooftop aerials were tuned to KDKA-TV (2) --- the only commercial VHF TV station in town for nine years --- now needed upgraded antennas to pull in WIIC-TV (11), which would begin regular programming in a few days.
On Aug. 29, 1957, the Monessen Daily Independent and other newspapers reported that WIIC had signed on Aug. 28 with a test pattern:
"However, station officials said viewers will not receive (a) quality signal until Sunday afternoon when the NBC-TV affiliate goes on the air 'officially.'
"WIIC engineers are still testing the 100,000-watt transmitter and the test pattern may be off periodically while adjustments are made. They also report that the test pattern will be transmitted at only about 20 per cent of WIIC's normal power.
"The station's transmitter is the first of the kind built by RCA to overcome the difficult terrain features of western Pennsylvania. A specially-designed helical antenna will sit atop the 800-foot tower giving it an overall height of 842 feet. As a result, engineers predict shadow areas in the WIIC Channel 11 coverage area will be virtually eliminated.
"The test patterns will be on daily from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. until the regular programming begins Sunday at 5 p.m."
On Aug. 30, Mayor David Lawrence issued a proclamation designating the following week as "WIIC Week" in Pittsburgh. According to an Associated Press dispatch, "Lawrence had been active in helping Pittsburgh secure its second commercial VHF television station."
Meanwhile, a month earlier, stockholders of Irwin Community Television Inc. of Westmoreland County had agreed to sell their interest in a license on Channel 4 to Television City Inc.
Television City was owned jointly by KQV (1410) and Hearst Publishing Co., operators of WCAE (1250) radio and the Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph newspaper. It would move the Channel 4 allocation from Irwin to Pittsburgh and eventually erected the transmitter for WTAE-TV in Elizabeth Township, not far from the Westmoreland County border; the Hearst station signed on one year later, in September 1958.
WATM's Boddorf profiled
Johnstown-Altoona-State College: The Altoona Mirror profiles WATM-TV (23) anchor and reporter Angie Boddorf.
A Clarion University of Pennsylvania graduate, her first job was as an assignment desk assistant and news writer at WTAE-TV (4) in Pittsburgh. She also did an internship at KDKA-TV (2).
Boddorf's advice for aspiring TV reporters? "Take advantage of every opportunity you can during college. If you can get a part-time job in a newsroom, do it."
WPXI slates 'retro' TV channel
Pittsburgh: More news from the digital wonderland ... WPXI-TV (11) will roll out a retro TV channel on Oct. 15 on one of its digital auxiliary channels (11.3, for those of you playing along at home). People who can receive WPXI-DT over the air will be able to see it right away, according to Scott Tady of the Beaver County Times, but Comcast and Armstrong cable are expected to pick it up eventually.
WPXI is one of 19 outlets that's offering or will soon offer the "Retro Television Network," which will air shows like "I Love Lucy," "Magnum: PI," "Little House on the Prairie" and "Happy Days."
There are even thoughts of airing old tapes of local classics like "Chiller Theater" and Sam Nover's sports interview show, "One on One."
Mark Barash, WPXI director of programming, tells Tady, "I can't tell you how often viewers call me asking us to bring classic programming back to modern television." RTN's lineup includes "Family Ties" and "Mission: Impossible," which are currently carried on the low-powered WBGN network; presumably they'll disappear from those stations.
RTN is a new venture by Little Rock, Ark., based Equity Broadcasting, which owns more than 30 TV stations and one FM radio station, though nothing in Pittsburgh or the neighboring markets.
We're holding out hopes for "In Search Of..." with Leonard Nimoy and "The Million-Dollar Movie," but that's probably just us. Maybe classic Pirates games could be added, too ... you know, from before they began their decline into perpetual crapitude.
49-19+11=Digital TV
Pittsburgh: There's local news from what Harry Shearer mockingly calls "the digital wonderland," courtesy of Scott Fybush's NorthEast Radio Watch.Most stations are now simulcasting traditional analog TV signals on their existing frequencies, or channels, and digital TV signals on other frequencies. When analog TV signs off for good in February 2009, stations are supposed to give up their analog channels and move everything to the digital channels. Digital TV is supposed to allow broadcasters to send out either one "high-definition" TV signal or six different "standard-definition" broadcast feeds at the same time.
Fybush says that under the most recent FCC plan, Pittsburgh's CW affiliate, CBS owned-and-operated WPCW-TV (19), will give up its digital signal on channel 49 and move to the current channel 11, while NBC affiliate WPXI-TV (11) will give up 11 and stay on its digital channel 48.
But it won't matter, Fybush notes, because your snazzy new digital TV (assuming you've bought one) will still show WPXI as "channel 11" and WPCW as "channel 19," rendering the traditional channel numbers all but meaningless.
(Remember, you can't watch digital TV on a regular TV without a conversion box, and the regular broadcasts are set to disappear in 2009. Now would be a good time to check the credit limit on your MasterCard.)
By the way, according to Shearer's Aug. 19 broadcast of Le Show (heard locally on WDUQ-FM), FCC regulations concerning the "public interest, convenience and necessity" of local broadcasting only apply to a station's main digital TV channel, not the ancillary channels.
And there's nothing that compels stations to broadcast high-definition TV on their main channel, so for many viewers, the promise of "high-quality digital TV pictures" will never materialize.
Consequently, Shearer says some digital stations are already running their main digital channels in low-definition digital TV (which, as he noted, can look pretty choppy at times) and paid programming or static images (like weather maps) on the other channels. ("Ask yourself," says Shearer, "what entertainment company would consistently prefer to have one profit center on its channel, rather than up to six?")
That's why you might wind up seeing programming that Shearer calls "crap" on the digital TV secondary channels ... not that you could tell the difference, as he wryly noted.
It sounds like viewers are getting digital TV, all right ... mainly the middle digit.
For better or worse, Mowod everywhere on jazz scene
Pittsburgh: The Tribune-Review's Bob Karlovits has an excellent profile of Tony Mowod, nighttime host on WDUQ-FM (90.5) who's also syndicated around the country as part of the JazzWorks service that the station partners with.
The founder of the Pittsburgh Jazz Society, Mowod, 71, is a fixture at local concerts and is being honored Saturday with a "Walt Harper All That Jazz" award at Hill House, Uptown.
Mowod worked at the former WAZZ (860), WYDD-FM (104.7) and WTAE (1250) in the 1960s and '70s before quitting radio to open his own nightclub; he was lured back into radio by former WAMO general manager Judy Jankowski and program director Ron Chavis, and has been at WDUQ, the Duquesne University pubcaster, since 1987.
Not everyone thinks Mowod is an entirely positive force for jazz in Pittsburgh. A few people tell Karlovits that Mowod is involved in too many activities and appears at too many events. They say his refusal to promote new talent, broaden his playlist, or explore different artists on his show is stifling the local scene.
But others say Mowod is simply delivering what a mainstream audience wants to hear. "I'm just trying to get people to listen to jazz," he says.
WYNE 1530 flips to Oldies in AM Stereo
Erie-Meadville: WYNE 1530 (which is owned by Mercyhurst College) is no longer simulcasting with WMCE 88.5 / 104.9. The 1,000 watt daytimer has flipped to oldies. I received an e-mail from my former "Country 98" boss, Bill Shannon. He has been with the communications department of Mercyhurst for several years, but has now moved to the North East campus. He says that the station is entirely digital up to the transmitter and testing at this point, but the format will feature the sound of the 50's, 60's & a little bit of the 70's. Other interesting facts he shared include the fact that they are currently broadcasting in AM Stereo using the Motorola C-Quam exciter. WYNE could also be the first in the area to broadcast in HD once an HD exciter is purchased & installed in the future. The limited daytime signal of WYNE will receive help in the future. The FCC is changing the rules in order to allow AM stations (mostly daytime only stations) to add an FM translator, which will allow the station to broadcast 24 hours a day. In between songs, you will hear an occasional PAMS jingle updated and in stereo. Bill is looking to bring back the boss jock sound of the mid to late 1960's to the airwaves with help from his friends who worked with him at WWKB 1520 in Buffalo. They are recording liners, etc. to help with that vintage sound. The station will be a new teaching facility with a two year Radio Concentration liberal arts degree program. He'll cover everything from on-air, news, sports & sales. While WYNE will focus primarily on the North East area, I'm sure that there will be some in Erie who will enjoy live & local oldies over the satellite fed oldies over on WFNN 1330.Bob FM knocks Star 104 off top spot
Erie-Meadville: It looks like Erie radio listeners love "94.7 Bob FM." The new variety hits station (which was oldies "Froggy 94.7") has knocked top 40 powerhouse "Star 104" off the top spot in the latest book. The book was very good for Connoisseur Media who owns the top 2 stations as well as rock station "Rocket 101" (which moved up to 3rd) and "93.9 The Wolf", which has been impressive in it's first 2 books with it's younger leaning country format. "The Wolf " is tied for 4th with Citadel AC, "Classy 100." Meanwhile, Citadel Broadcasting has lost some momentum since fall of '06. While classic rock outlet "Z102.3" holds steady at 5th, 6th place belongs to "Country 98" which has lost it's dominance since "The Wolf" signed on last year. The first of the AM stations is talk outlet "Jet Radio 1400" in 7th followed in 8th by WRIE "ESPN 1260 The Score." The sports station flipped from nostalgia after WFNN 1330 flipped from sports to oldies in order to fill the void left by the flip on 94.7. Some listeners of WRIE's previous format flipped over to "AM 740" CHWO from Toronto, moving the 50,000 watt powerhouse to tie for 9th with christian contemporary, WCTL. 10TH place is a tie between WFNN 1330 and the Meadville / Oil City country duo of "Froggy 100.3 / 98.5." Not surprisingly, "FM 96" from London, Ontario was not even in the last book. The active rock station can no longer be heard locally in some parts of Erie because of a new low powered FM station WXNM, also at 95.9. Hopefully, the new station can find another spot on the dial.Monday morning nostalgia fix
Pittsburgh, Monday Morning Nostalgia Fix: "Toll television, like Gaul, is divided into three parts," goes the lede of a United Press dispatch on "pay television." "They are called phonevision, subscriber-vision and telemeter. All three systems can be delivered by wire, like your telephone, or by air like the telecasts you receive now. Wire is the more expensive method, but one of its virtues is that presumably, the show would not have to be scrambled to thwart free-loaders."
It sounds a lot like today's situation, with satellite TV delivered "by air" and cable connected to homes "to thwart free-loaders," but the story appeared in local newspapers on Aug. 13, 1957 --- 50 years ago today.
Pay television certainly seemed like an attractive idea to Pittsburgh-area viewers who otherwise could only receive two local channels --- KDKA-TV (2) and WQED-TV (13). There was a third, WENS-TV (16), but few people had TV sets equipped with UHF tuners. When WENS signed off for good about two weeks later, on Aug. 31, 1957, it's unlikely many people noticed; it reappeared a few years later as a low-powered sister station to WQED.
Also today, United Press reported that WJAS (1320) and its FM outlet at 99.7 were being sold to NBC. The stations' owner would use the money to invest in Pittsburgh's second commercial VHF TV outlet, WIIC-TV (11), which went on the air Sept. 1, 1957, the day after WENS went dark.
According to this TV grid from the now-defunct Charleroi Mail newspaper, on TV tonight, viewers could see The Phil Silvers Show, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, The $64,000 Question, The Man Called X, and The Nat King Cole Show.
On the radio, KDKA (1020) had Pirates baseball with Bob Prince, while KQV (1410), which wasn't yet a Top 40 outlet (and was still a CBS affiliate), offered "music for reading," Amos 'n Andy, and news with Edward R. Murrow. Tommy Riggs and Bill Nesbit were spinning records at WCAE (1250).
WQLN-TV signed on 40 years ago
Erie-Meadville: It was 40 years ago when a new TV station would take to the Erie airwaves. A year after WJET-TV (24) signed on, a new form on TV would sign on with Education as it's mission. WQLN-TV (54) signed on at 6pm on Sunday August 13, 1967. This would add a 4th TV station to the area which included WICU TV 12, WSEE TV 35, WJET & now WQLN. (Just in case you youngsters were wondering, there was no cable in 1967.) You can read about the well written history of WQLN TV & FM 91.3 at http://www.wqln.org. The late Paul Brown (who was WQLN's first employee) kept track of the history & wrote the article. My first memories of WQLN are those I have as a youngster at Waterford Elementary in the 1970's. The kids programs were a lot of fun for a younger "yours truly." I recall programs like "Sesame Street", "The Electric Company", "3-2-1 Contact", "The Letter People" and of course, "Mister Rogers Neighborhood." Who would have thought that I would become a part of the WQLN family back in 1997. It was a move that I am very glad that I made after my future at WXTA "Country 98" was uncertain because of the sale of that station. Please feel free to send us your memories of WQLN.Update on power-affected stations...
Pittsburgh:According to Ron Antill of Renda Broadcasting, WJAS was knocked off the air around 3:00 PM on 8/9. Both transmitters and the back-up generator were all affected. The generator was working as of the early morning 8/10. In regard to the station Antill says, "In the meantime, the show must go on and WJAS continues to operate via the internet at 1320WJAS.com."
Meanwhile over at WKHB/WKFB, Barry Banker reports that the transmitter power may not return until sometime Saturday.
(Disclosure: The Editor works part-time for WKHB/WKFB and was on duty when the power was cut from the station transmitter.)
Morning Newscast to air on Fox 66
Erie-Meadville: Jack Tirak over at "Erie Media Go Round" received a press release from WJET & WFXP concerning a new newscast. "Fox 66 News in the Morning" will begin to air a live & local newscast weekdays from 8 - 9am beginning September 4th. Trina Orlando & Meteorologist Tom DiVecchio will host the newscast along with live reports from Fox 66 & Jet TV reporters. This move could help Fox 66 gain viewers who are not up for the local morning news programs that air between 5 and 7am. It will also be a great tie-in with Fox 66 news reports that air weekday mornings on Z102.3 during "The Bob & Tom Show." The same team also handles weather & news for crosstown rivals Rocket 101 under the "Jet TV" branding.Don't expect to lose 5 PM newscasts
Pittsburgh:Recently TV stations in New York and Miami dropped their long-time 5 PM newscasts in favor of 7 PM newscasts. However, Rob Owen says that while it's a logical move, don't expect it to happen in Pittsburgh. It's logical to move the newscast since people work longer hours and aren't getting home from work as early. However the 5 PM newscast ratings are strong and solid even though they skew an older audience.
KDKA GM Chris Pike tells Owen that it's more likely that they will add more local news rather than subtract although the station has no plans to do either. KDKA is the only Pittsburgh station which has dared to start a 4 PM newscast which has been successful for the last few years. Pike adds that local stations are unique with their local content in the era of hundreds of cable channels. Meanwhile, WTAE news director Bob Longo thinks a trend might begin once news directors nationwide see what happens with the stations in NYC and Miami, but thinks that a 7 PM newscast in Pittsburgh would be "in addition to" not "instead of". Meanwhile, WPXI's Ray Carter wonders why bother with the "winning formula" of news from 5 - 6:30 PM followed by NBC News and then an hour of game shows at 7 PM.
Also in this article...
Rob Owen finds out why Fred Honsberger hasn't been doing his television program on PCNC since a leg break last year. Honsberger says that it has been a slow recovery - one that got even slower after a perferated ulcer was found for which he had surgery. He continues to do his KDKA radio show from home since walking is difficult. Honzman also adds that his TV program was a "moonlighting job" and has even told PCNC to move ahead if they desire although they have no plans to do so.
Finally (as in, this is the last part of this story), Patrice King Brown was married over the weekend to KDKA co-worker and medical reporter Dr. Paul Nemiroff in Palm Springs.
Open mouth, insert foot
Pittsburgh: The Post-Gazette and KDKA-TV (2) are apologizing for remarks made by one of the newspaper's sportswriters on a talk show.
Paul Zeise, who said suspended Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick "would have been better off raping a woman" than being accused of running dogfights, will not be invited to appear on KDKA's "Sunday Showdown" again, says the station's general manager, Chris Pike.
In a prepared statement, the P-G said that Zeise's comments "do not represent" the views of the newspaper, while Zeise apologized for using "a poor choice of analogies" to "characterize a professional athlete's legal situation." KDKA also apologized during yesterday's 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. newscasts.
Details from Bob Smizik in the Post-Gazette.