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WCCO-TV
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| WCCO-TV / KCCO-TV / KCCW-TV | |
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| WCCO: Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota KCCO: Alexandria, Minnesota KCCW: Walker/Bemidji, Minnesota |
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| Branding | WCCO, Channel 4, 'CCO |
| Slogan | Know More (TV) Always On (webpage) |
| Channels | Analog: 4, 7, 12 (VHF) Digital: 32, 24, 20 (UHF) |
| Affiliations | CBS |
| Owner | CBS Corporation |
| Founded | WCCO: July 1, 1949 KCCO: 1957 KCCW: 1962 |
| Call letters meaning | Washburn Crosby COmpany. (original owner of WCCO-AM) |
| Former callsigns | WCCO: WTCN (1949-52) KCCO: KCMT (1957-87) KCCW: KNMT (1962-87) |
| Former affiliations | None |
| Website | www.wcco.com |
WCCO-TV, occasionally WCCO 4, is a television station that serves the Minneapolis-St. Paul area of Minnesota. It broadcasts on channels 4 (analog) and 32 (digital). It also operates two full-powered semi-satellites--KCCO-TV in Alexandria (7, 24 DT) and KCCW in Walker (12, 20 DT). KCCO-TV simulcasts WCCO-TV, but airs separate commercials. KCCW is a full repeater of KCCO-TV.
From 1947 to 1996, WCCO-TV and WCCO-AM won twelve George Foster Peabody Awards, more than any other Twin Cities broadcast outlet.
Unlike most other CBS owned-and-operated stations, WCCO does not follow the CBS Mandate in its branding, using simply its call letters rather than "CBS 4".
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WCCO-TV's roots actually originate with another radio station, WRHM, which took to the air in 1925. In 1934, two newspapers—the Minneapolis Tribune and the Saint Paul Pioneer Press-Dispatch—formed a joint venture named "Twin Cities Newspapers," which purchased the radio station and changed its call letters to WTCN. WTCN-TV went on the air on July 1, 1949 as Minnesota's second television station and has been a CBS affiliate from the start.
When Twin Cities Newspapers sold all their radio holdings, including WTCN Radio, in 1952, it created an opportunity to purchase WCCO radio (AM 830 and FM 102.9, now WLTE) and merge the two companies into Midwest Radio and Television, Inc. The new company changed Channel 4's call letters to match its new radio sisters.
Channel 4 has been the market's only station to never change its affiliation. Because of this stability, WCCO-TV is one of CBS' best-performing affiliates.
In 1954, a live CBS broadcast from the Foshay Tower provided a view an early-morning solar eclipse, the first time such an event had been televised nationally. In 1955, a mobile unit was formed, using a van dubbed the "Blue Goose" which would be used for more than a decade.
WCCO-TV participated in the first transatlantic television broadcast via the Telstar satellite on July 23, 1962 when a mobile crew provided video of Mount Rushmore in South Dakota. This video was broadcast across the three major networks of the time: ABC, CBS, and NBC.
The station had broadcast from studios in the Radio City Theater building in downtown Minneapolis since the first WTCN-TV went on the air in 1949. Despite renovations in 1956, the space eventually became too small, so the station moved into a new space at the south end of Nicollet Mall when a new building was finished in 1983. Channel 4 is the only area TV station broadcasting from downtown Minneapolis today.
In 1987, WCCO bought KCMT, channel 7 in Alexandria and its satellite KNMT, channel 12 in Walker. KCMT had signed on in 1957 and had been the only full-power VHF station in central Minnesota. KNMT signed on in 1962 as a satellite of KCMT in northern Minnesota, serving Bemidji and Brainerd. They were renamed KCCO and KCCW respectively, and their local operations were progressively cut back until 2002, when local news segments on both stations were discontinued. WCCO has opened bureaus in Brainerd and St. Cloud, and stories produced in Alexandria, Brainerd and St. Cloud can be seen in the Twin Cities as well. Shortly after that, WCCO began identifying itself on-air as "Minneapolis-St. Paul/Alexandria/Walker". Today, KCCO-TV is a full repeater of WCCO-TV, except for commercials.
WCCO was purchased by CBS in 1992; it had been a minority owner of the station for many years. As a CBS station, WCCO 4 is simply branded as such as opposed to CBS4 under the CBS Mandate. Other sister stations not to follow this mandate are: KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh - branded KDKA-TV as preferred by residents over CBS2 (there is a logo for this station though), WJZ-TV in Baltimore - branded WJZ 13, KUTV in Salt Lake City - branded 2News, and WBZ-TV in Boston - branded as simply WBZ.
In the May 2006 ratings period, WCCO's newscasts claimed the top spot in all of their timeslots, except during the morning when KARE still leads its competitors.
WCCO experimented with cable in the 1980s. Known initially as WCCO II or 'CCO cable, it was a way to transmit programs that wouldn't ordinarily make it onto the over-the-air frequency. During this time, WCCO II aired local forecasts when not airing sports or other programming. This later morphed into the Midwest Sports Channel (MSC), which operated for several years. Following Viacom's purchase of CBS, MSC was sold to News Corporation and became Fox Sports Net North.
WCCO also operated a local weather channel on cable systems in the Twin Cities area. Unlike The Weather Channel, WCCO Weather Channel did not have any on-camera personalities and instead consisted of computer graphics with voice-over provided by WCCO-TV's meteorologists. This programming ran in a loop until updates were made available. Ads on this channel were delivered in this way as well (voice-over consisted of radio-formatted advertising). During severe weather occurrences, the channel would interrupt the recorded voice-over with live weather bulletins provided by WCCO 830 AM. Twin Cities PBS member station KTCI-TV airs weather info in a similar way but with the following differences:
- no advertising
- format is geared towards aviators
- audio is provided by the Minneapolis Air Route Control Center (NOAA Weather Radio KEC65 during severe weather)
- digital multicast on channel 17.5 (originally shared airtime with PBS during the daytime and late night hours)
A later experiment in 1995, this time in the field of evening newscasts, also proved to be interesting. WCCO partnered with KLGT channel 23 and fed a second news show to that station. This was known as "News of Your Choice", where the news anchors would periodically describe the upcoming items on each channel. This allowed viewers to decide which stories they wanted to see. Multiple factors contributed to the shutdown of the experiment after about one year.
WCCO-TV's transmitter is located in Shoreview, Minnesota, at the Telefarm paired tower installation also used by KSTP, KARE, and WUCW. The market's south & western portion gets WCCO from four low-power translators, all privately owned:
- K36FI, channel 36 Frost
- K51AL, channel 51 Olivia
- K54AC, channel 54 St. James
- K46AC, channel 46 Willmar
On about June 29, 2006, WCCO introduced "The Plaza Studio", a renovation to their existing studio, on 11th St. South and Marquette Ave.
 WCCO "Circle 4" logo in a 1980's blue variation. |
 WCCO longtime "circle 4" logo, in a 1990s variation. The logo started in the 1970s, originally a blue 4 on yellow, although it was later reversed in the early 80s, and finally changed to red in the 1990's. It was retired in 2000. |
 WCCO logo from 2000 to 2003, did not follow the guidelines for use of the CBS eye device |
Current WCCO logo, used since 2003 |
These were taken while they had their own programming.
 KCCO's version of the longtime "circle 4" logo, in the 1990s variation. Also retired since 2000. |
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KCCO logo from 2000 until their shutdown |
An early local program broadcast by the station was a children's program named Axel and His Dog, featuring Clellan Card as Axel. In 1954, the first local program to be broadcast in color by the station was an episode of Axel.
Some notable personalities at the station have had long careers. Dave Moore, a Minneapolis native who had worked almost his entire career in the city, did evening newscasts from 1957 until the early 1990s when he moved to a more leisurely schedule broadcasting Moore on Sunday. In 1962 he had helped create The Bedtime Nooz, a satirical view of newscasts that aired on Saturday nights. Another program called The Scene Tonight was created in 1968. Both programs featured meteorologist Bud Kraehling and other members of the regular station staff. Moore died in 1998.
Bill Carlson joined the station in 1959, working in several roles over the years including news anchor, and still provides film reviews as of 2006.
Don Shelby joined the station as a news anchor in 1978 and also has done investigative reporting, although he ended that area of his career when one of his reports was heavily criticized.[1] Shelby suffered a mild stroke in early 2004, and returned to anchor duties by the end of that year. As of 2005, Shelby continued the unique dual responsibility of hosting an afternoon radio show which ended at 5:00; for a while, immediately after the show, he anchored the 5 pm TV newscast. As of 2006, the radio show goes an extra hour, and the 5 pm news has been moved to 6 pm, still simulcast on radio but now minus Shelby. Today, Shelby only does the 10:00 news on television.
Weather forecaster Paul Douglas, sports commentator Mike Max, talk show host Dark Star (real name George Chapple) and other personalities also cross over between TV and radio.
Silvia Gambardella was a consumer affairs reporter, but later removed from this role after filing reports that were critical of the practices of local car dealers, inspiring the dealers to cancel their advertising contracts with the station.
In addition to the News, Weather and Sports, WCCO has many segments that air on a regular schedule.
Most weeknights at 10, a question is taken (often from a viewer), and people on the streets are polled for their answer. Tracy then goes and asks an expert on the topic of the question.
Ben Tracy, the original reporter for Good Question, announced his depature from the station in December to work for CBS News in Los Angeles. Good Question is expected to continue on WCCO with a new reporter.[2] Tracy's last day was December 12, 2007. WCCO has not yet announced who will take over Good Question which until then, is being reported by photojournalist Joe Berglove, Good Question's videographer when Tracy was the reporter.
Reported by Don Shelby, "In the Know" is his opinion on what is usually the top story of the day. "ITK" is pre-recorded and it airs after the weather weeknights at 10. "In The Know" does not air on days which Shelby is off or on assignment.
Reported by Dennis Douda, "Lifeline" is the report from the medical world. Lifeline can air on any newscast.
Reported by Pat Kessler, Reality Check is an in-depth report of government decisions and spending. Reality Check airs regularly each Wednesday at 10 p.m.
- Dennis Douda(Weekend Evenings)
- Amelia Santaniello(6&10PM)
- Don Shelby (10PM)
- Jeanette Trompeter (5:00pm)
- Frank Vascellaro (5&6 PM)
- Bill Carlson (Noon/Entertainment Reporter)
- Terri Gruca (Weekend Evenings/Consumer Reporter)
- Bill Hudson (Mornings)
- Karen Leigh (Mornings)
- Esme Murphy (Weekend Mornings)
- John Reger (Weekend Mornings)
- Paul Douglas (Chief Meteorologist/Weeknights)
- Mike Fairbourne (Weekends)
- Ron Trenda (Weekend Mornings)
- Chris Shaffer (Mornings & Noon)
- Mark Rosen (Sports Director/Weeknights)
- Mike Max
- Bob Rainey (Reporter/Weekend Anchor)
- Heather Brown (Reporter)
- Angela Davis (Weekday Morning Reporter)
- Jason DeRusha (Reporter)
- Pat Kessler (Political Reporter)(Reality Check)
- Lisa Kiava (Reporter)
- Caroline Lowe (Crime Reporter)
- Maya Nishikawa (Weekend Reporter)
- Darcy Pohland (5 & 6 p.m. Weekday Reporter)
- James Schugel (5 & 6 PM Wed.-Sat.)
- Ben Tracy (Reporter)(Good Question)
- Sue Turner (Reporter)
- Matt Baylow (Weekend Meteorologist 1989-1998, now at KFMB-TV in San Diego)
- Tony Berlin (Reporter, now Producer at WCBS-TV in New York)
- Bridgette Bornstien- Reporter
- Clellan Card (Children's television personality "Axel" 1954-1966)
- Christine Clayburg (Morning Weather)
- Alan Cox- Reporter
- Mary Davies (Children's television personality "Carmen the Nurse" 1954-1977)
- Andy Dominianni (Mornings)
- Jonathan Elias (5pm Anchor / Reporter 1993-1998, will join WBZ in Boston in October)
- Ralph Jon "R.J." Fritz Weekend Sports (now hosts Out n' About, a travel show on WCCO)
- Rick Fuentes- Reporter
- John Gallos (Children's television personality "Clancy" 1959-1977)
- Nelson Garcia- reporter
- Brian Gotter (Weekday Morning Meteorologist: 2002-2006)
- Chris Grote (Morning Weather)
- Ed Heil- Sports Reporter
- Cindy Hillger (Morning Anchor: 1998-2002)
- Dave Huddleson (Morning Anchor: 1999-2002)
- Anne Hutchinson- Sports (Now at KSTP-TV)
- Paul Huttner (Weekend Mornings)
- Mel Jass (On-air personality, c. 1950-1957)
- Randi Kaye (Evenings, now at CNN)
- Jim King
- Terri Knight- Traffic (Now at WCCO's FM Counterpart 102.9 Lite FM)
- Rebecca Kolls (Rooftop Gardener & Chief Meteorologist, Infomercial Host for knives)
- Bud Kraehling (Meteorologist)
- Allan Lotsberg (Children's television personality "Willie Ketchem?" 1963-1977)
- Chandra Michaels
- Pat Miles (anchor, 1978-1988)
- Dave Moore (Weeknight Anchor: 1957-1991; Host of Moore on Sunday until 1996)
- Michele Tafoya
- Mary Tan- Reporter
- Aloha Taylor (Weekend Meteorologist: 2005-2006)
- Heather Tesch (Meteorologist, now with The Weather Channel since 1999)
- Trish Van Pilsum- Investigative Reporter (Now at KMSP-TV)
- Mike Walcher- Anchorman (1978-1998), now weekend anchor at WINK-TV in Ft. Myers, FL
- Noelle Walker (Mornings)
- Cathy Wurzer- Reporter
Every year, at the Minnesota State Fair, WCCO takes most of its set and moves from their Nicollet Mall Studio to their Minnesota State Fair Newsroom/"Studio" and broadcasts its' noon, 5, 6 and 10PM newscasts at the WCCO studio in Carousel Park, at the Fairgrounds. The Anchors do the news, weather and sports at the grounds, a reporter broadcasts any breaking news at the studio. WCCO is also known for feeding its "studio" audience with state fair food. When they are not on the air, the anchors and reporters sign autographs and chat with fans. The 2007 fair brught changes to the 10:00 show with Don & Amelia doing the news form the main studio and the weather/sports anchors along with one of the other newas anchors at the fairgrounds.
In 2003, WCCO installed a dunk tank at the fairgrounds. They dubbed this "Dunk Don" (named after lead anchor, Don Shelby who was the only anchor dunked the first year.) Then form 2004-2006, wcco.com visitors voted for who they wanted to be dunked. At 10 PM, a reporter or anchor went into the tank and 3 "lucky" viewers (Or local celebs) were chosen to have a chance to dunk the anchor. If all 3 people missed, one of the other anchors had a chance to hit the target. Dunk Don was replased in 2007 in favor of the "Go Green" News campaign that sees how much human energy it would take to power each live newscast.
Dunk Don 2004 "Dunkees"
- Aug. 26- Randi Kaye
- Aug. 27- Paul Douglas
- Aug. 30- Amelia Santanello
- Aug. 31- Mark Rosen
- Sept. 1- Christine Clayburg
- Sept. 2- Dennis Douda
- Sept. 3- Don Shelby
Dunk Don 2005 "Dunkees"
- Aug. 25- Jeanette Trompeter
- Aug. 26- Karen Leigh
- Aug. 29- Terri Gruca
- Aug. 30- Don Shelby
- Aug. 31- Paul Douglas
- Sept. 1- Amelia Santaniello
- Sept. 2- Amelia Santaniello
Dunk Don 2006 "Dunkees"
- Aug. 24- Frank Vascellaro
- Aug. 25- Amelia Santaniello
- Aug. 28- Jeanette Trompeter
- Aug. 29- Jason DeRusha
- Aug. 30- Paul Douglas
- Aug. 31- Don Shelby
- Sept. 1- Heather Brown
On August 24, 2007, WCCO completed the first ever human powered newscast.
- In the movie Wrongfully Accused, a WCCO Channel 4 News Van is used as a get-away car by the freedom fighters after a botched attempt to assassinate Sir Robert McKintyre. Also, a brief newscast was shown during the movie using the WCCO logo.
- The Late Show with David Letterman did a Minneapolis-themed show on May 9th, 1997. On the telecast, anchors Don Shelby and Amelia Santaniello performed a scripted "breaking news" bit, in which Shelby memorably declared that he had a gopher in his pants named Carlos. Kirby Puckett also guest starred.
- Channel 4 was one of the few stations to broadcast Jeopardy! in the morning (it aired at 9:30 AM, leading into The Price is Right), but the show now airs at 4:30 PM on Channel 11 (though Wheel of Fortune can still be seen at 6:30 PM on Channel 4).
- WCCO-TV, along with KARE, is also carried on most cable systems in Manitoba and northwestern Ontario, making Winnipeg the largest city in the stations' viewing areas. The stations do not make any attempt to cater to this audience, other than their inclusion on regional weather maps.
- WCCO-TV Website
- Query the FCC's TV station database for WCCO
- Query the FCC's TV station database for KCCO
- Query the FCC's TV station database for KCCW
- Query the FCC's TV station database for K36FI
- Query the FCC's TV station database for K51AL
- Query the FCC's TV station database for K54AC
- Query the FCC's TV station database for K46AC
- ^ Oslund, John J. (1997). Ruling a Prizewinner Unfair. Retrieved on 2007-12-11.
- ^ Ben Tracy Leaving WCCO
- A History of Minneapolis: Radio and Television. Minneapolis Public Library (2001). Retrieved on 2004-09-25.
- History of WCCO-TV. WCCO (2003-07-16). Retrieved on 2004-09-26.
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Metro stations |
| See also: Broadcast television in the Fargo/Grand Forks and Rochester/Austin markets |
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KDLH 3 (Duluth) - WCCO 4 / KCCO 7 / KCCW 12 (Minneapolis / Alexandria / Walker) - KEYC 12 (Mankato) |
| See also: ABC, CW, Fox, MyNetworkTV, NBC, PBS, and Other stations in Minnesota |
