WFSB
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| WFSB | |
|---|---|
| Hartford / New Haven, Connecticut | |
| Branding | Channel 3 Eyewitness News |
| Slogan | Everywhere |
| Channels | 3 (VHF) analog, 33 (UHF) digital |
| Affiliations | |
| Owner | Meredith Corporation |
| Founded | September 21, 1957 |
| Call letters meaning | Frederick S. Beebe (former president of Post - Newsweek Stations, former owners) |
| Former callsigns | WTIC-TV (1957-1974) |
| Former affiliations | Independent (1957-1958) |
| Website | wfsb.com |
WFSB is an affiliate of the CBS television network serving the state of Connecticut except Fairfield County. The station is owned by the Meredith Corporation and is licensed to Hartford, the state capital. WFSB broadcasts its analog signal on VHF channel 3 and digital on UHF channel 33 from a transmitter located west of the city on Avon Mountain. The station's signal reaches as far away as Southwest New Hampshire. WFSB's studios are located at 3 Constitution Plaza in Downtown Hartford.
Contents |
The station's digital channel is multiplexed:
| Channel | Programming |
|---|---|
| 3.1 / 33.1 | main WFSB programming (CBS) |
| 3.2 / 33.2 | WSHM-LP (Springfield / Holyoke, Massachusetts CBS affiliate) |
| 3.3 / 33.3 | Channel 3 Eyewitness News Now (24-hour weather channel) |
Connecticut's second VHF station debuted September 21, 1957 as WTIC-TV, an independent station owned by the Hartford-based Travelers Insurance Company along with WTIC radio (1080 AM and 96.5 FM). It was one of the most powerful stations in the Northeast, covering nearly all of Connecticut, much of Western Massachusetts (including Springfield), and part of Long Island, New York.
By 1958, CBS was looking to sell its owned and operated station in Hartford, WHCT-TV channel 18 (now WUVN). CBS' ratings had been astonishingly low in Hartford because television manufacturers were not required to have UHF tuners at the time. CBS figured it was better to have its programming on a VHF station, even if it was merely an affiliate. With a national TV network providing Channel 3 many hours of current programming, the station could reduce its dependency on the older movies that it had shown in primetime as an independent.
Channel 3's sister station, WTIC Radio, was an affiliate of the NBC Radio Network. But West Hartford's Channel 30, now WVIT-TV, had already secured the contractual rights to be Connecticut's outlet for the NBC Television Network.
WTIC-TV proved to be a success beyond CBS' wildest dreams. With its tie-ins to CBS and one of New England's leading broadcasters, Channel 3 became the highest-rated station in the market. It has held the lead more or less ever since.
In early 1974, Travelers Insurance decided to exit broadcasting, selling Channel 3 to the Washington Post Company and WTIC-AM-FM to Hartford real estate developer David Chase, who, with the radio station management, formed The Ten-Eighty Corporation. The Post's broadcasting division, Post-Newsweek Stations, changed the calls to the current WFSB, after broadcasting division president Frederick S. Beebe. The WTIC-TV calls returned to Connecticut in 1984 when Arch Communications, the then-owners of WTIC-AM-FM, signed on as part-owners of a new television station on channel 61.
In 1986, Post-Newsweek moved its corporate offices from Washington, D.C., to office space located alongside WFSB, making the station the company's flagship. This was part of a move by the Post to give its various subcorporations their own independent identities. This strategy worked well at first. However, by the mid-1990s, WFSB found itself in a shrinking market without any cluster opportunities around it. In June of 1997, Post-Newsweek swapped WFSB to the Meredith Corporation for WCPX-TV (now WKMG-TV) in Orlando, Florida. The sale closed that October, although the Post-Newsweek group maintained its base in Hartford until 2000 when it relocated to the company's then-largest station, WDIV, Detroit's NBC affiliate.
During 2006, construction started on new studios for WFSB, which will be moving from Broadcast House, its longtime home on Constitution Plaza in downtown Hartford, to the suburb of Rocky Hill. The station is tentatively scheduled to move into the new building in the fall of 2007.
Also in June 2006, the station's website was redesigned (along with those of four of Meredith Corporation's other stations). The old website was operated by the Local Media Network division of World Now. Now Internet Broadcasting operates the site.
On weekday mornings, WFSB prempts the first hour of CBS's The Early Show and airs a third hour of local morning news instead.
When channel 3 became a CBS station in 1958, it was able to persuade CBS to make it the primary CBS affiliate for the nearby Springfield / Holyoke, Massachusetts television market as well. Springfield, at the time a two-station market, is only 30 miles from Hartford, and WFSB has repeatedly blocked attempts by Springfield's original CBS affiliate, current ABC station WGGB, to switch back to CBS[citation needed]. Seeing an opportunity to increase its presence in Western Massachusetts, WFSB began operating a low-power station in the Springfield / Holyoke market, WSHM-LP channel 67, in late 2003. As a result of WSHM being a low-powered station, it does not broadcast a digital signal of its own. To make up for this, the station can be seen on WFSB's DT2 digital subchannel. Although WSHM holds itself out as a separate station and produces its own newscasts, it is generally considered a semi-satellite of WFSB. See the main WSHM article for more information. Currently, WSHM has a digital construction permit to build and use channel 41 from a transmitter located on the nearby WHYN-FM tower. [1]
Starting on February 5, 2007, WFSB began broadcasting a 24-hour weather channel known as Channel 3 Eyewitness News Now. The channel offers Early Warning Weather forecasts and a live stream of the "Early Warning Pinpoint Doppler". The channel also offers local news updates and live traffic cams. Channel 3 Eyewitness News Now can be seen on WFSB's DT3 digital subchannel as well as on WFSB's website via live video. [2]
- Channel 3 Eyewitness News at 5:00 AM - 5-5:30 AM
- Channel 3 Eyewitness News at 5:30 AM - 5:30-6 AM
- Channel 3 Eyewitness News at 6:00 AM - 6-6:30 AM
- Channel 3 Eyewitness News at 6:30 AM - 6:30-7 AM
- Channel 3 Eyewitness News at 7:00 AM - 7-8 AM
- Channel 3 Eyewitness News at Noon - Noon-12:30 PM
- Channel 3 Eyewitness News at 5:00 PM - 5-5:30 PM
- Channel 3 Eyewitness News at 5:30 PM - 5:30-6 PM
- Channel 3 Eyewitness News at 6:00 PM - 6-6:30 PM
- Channel 3 Eyewitness News - 11-11:35 PM
- Channel 3 Eyewitness Saturday / Sunday at 6:00 AM - 6-7 AM
- Channel 3 Eyewitness Saturday / Sunday at 7:00 AM - 7-8 AM
- Channel 3 Eyewitness Sunday at 8:00 AM - 8-9 AM (Sundays only)
- Channel 3 Eyewitness News at 6:00 PM - 6-6:30 PM (Saturdays only)
- Channel 3 Eyewitness News at 6:30 PM - 6:30-7:00 PM (Sundays only)
- Channel 3 Eyewitness News - 11-11:35 PM
- Al Terzi, noon and 5pm, also host of "Face The State"
- Denise D'Ascenzo, all weekday evening newscasts (5 p.m., 5:30 p.m., 6 p.m., 11 p.m.)
- Dennis House, 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. weekdays (husband of Kara Sundlun)
- Mike Hydeck, weekday mornings, also reporter
- Kara Sundlun, weekdays noon, also I-Team reporter (wife of Dennis House)
- Irene O'Connor, weekday mornings
- Jessica Schneider, Saturday morning anchor
- Erika Arias, weekend evening co-anchor
- Kevin Hogan, weekend evening co-anchor
- Len Besthoff, I-Team
- Leon Collins, New Haven bureau chief, I-Team
- Hena Daniels
- Kevin Hogan, New London bureau chief
- Dan Kain
- Rachel Lutzker, Pinpoint Traffic
- Eric Parker
- Susan Raff
- Diana Rocco
- Jamie Roth
- Jessica Schneider
- Katy Zachry
- Bruce DePrest, chief meteorologist, weekday evenings
- Scot Haney, weekday mornings (also reports Every Town Has a Story on Fridays)
- Mark Dixon, weekdays at noon and 5:30 p.m.
- Darren Sweeney, weekends
- Joe Zone, sports director and weekday anchor
- John Holt, weekend anchor and weekday reporter
Denise D'Ascenzo and Scot Haney were named Best Anchor and Best Meteorologist respectively in the Best of Hartford 2006 Awards.
- Nancy Aborn, former AM features reporter, now marketing consultant.
- Mike Adams, former weekend sports, went to NECN Boston, now sports talk host WEEI Boston.
- Barbara Allen, former noon/evening co-anchor, to WNAC Boston, now sells Mary Kay from her pink Cadillac(true) in Montgomery, AL.
- Ron Allen, reporter, to WCVB Boston, now correspondent NBC News.
- Annie Rourke, reporter (2001-2002), went to WVIT, now at WTNH
- Phil Andrews, former weekend sports, went to WPVI Philadelphia, now at Comcast SportsNet.
- Sarah Barr, former weekend anchor (2000-2004) now communications aide to Hartford mayor.
- Charley Bagley, former morning/noon meteorologist, went to WVIT, Travelers Weather, retired.
- Adrianne Baughns, anchor, to WPIX New York, now consultant/freelancer.
- Polly Bell, former am/noon co-anchor/reporter,
- Rad Berky, reporter, now reporter WPLG Miami.
- Dick Bertel, 70's anchor/reporter, to Voice of America, retired.
- Julie Bidwell(Banderas), reporter, now anchor Fox News Channel.
- Al Bova, former VP/GM, now media consultant 'CouponBug'
- Nina Bradley, former producer, went to WHDH Boston, now at MSNBC.
- Mika Brzezinski, reporter/am co-anchor, went to WCBS NY, MSNBC & CBS News, now consultant.
- Gerry Brooks, co-anchor/'Brooks File' reporter (1979-1993) now 6 and 11 co-anchor at WVIT.
- Gary Brown, news director, now news director at KGTV San Diego.
- Steve Bunnell, former morning anchor (2004-2006) went into the ministry.
- Newton Burkett, former reporter, now called 'N.J.' reporter WABC NY.
- Ann Butler, 1st PM Magazine host, left in '82 for WABC NY, then WFAA Dallas, ???
- Heather Cabot, reporter, went to KUSA Denver then WUSA D.C., now co-anchor ABC World News Now.
- Lucille Caliendo, former reporter, was with United Illuminating, now communications consultant.
- Jon Camp, former reporter/anchor, now evening co-anchor WMTW Portland, ME.
- Virginia Cha, reporter/anchor, left for WBZ, then MSNBC, NBC News, now anchor CNN Headline News
- Pei Sze Cheng, reporter 02-05, now at WNBC NY.
- Mary Civiello, reporter/anchor, went to WNBC NY '82-95, to KRON S.F. '96-99, to WCBS NY & CNBC 2000-2001, now President of Civiello Comm., media consultancy NY.
- Eric Clemons, former sports anchor (1998-2005) Sports Director WVUE In New Orleans.
- Jeff Cole, was anchor/investigative reporter, now investigative reporter WTXF Philadelphia.
- Melissa Cole, former weekend meteorologist, still works fill-in weather at station.
- Kerry Connolly, former noon/5:30 co-anchor, went to WCVB Boston, now freelance, cohost NESN's 'Golf Destination' & reporter 'Patriots All-Access' on Comcast VOD.
- Bertha Coombs, anchor/reporter, left for WPLG, to WABC NY, to ABC News, now anchor CNBC.
- Bill & Janis Corsair, host of morning talk/entertainment show "Corsair & Co", '77-'78, now actors in New York City. Bill is a Screen Actors Guild Award winner for his role in "Chicago, The Musical".
- Bob Cox, meteorologist, with Travelers Weather Service, now with The New England Weather Service on WTIC Radio.
- Stefanie Cruz, reporter, (1999-2004) currently news reporter for Good Day Sacramento at KOVR/KMAX in Sacramento, CA
- John Daly, AM/noon co anchor,to KTNV Las Vegas,then host syndicated 'Real TV',now HGTV host.
- Brad Davis, 70's host of 'What's Happening!'(not the 'Rerun' comedy) AM talk-host WDRC radio.
- Arnold Dean, 70's 11pm sports anchor, WTIC1080 Radio, retired in 2004.
- Mark Effron, news director/station manager, went to WDIV, VP Post-Newsweek and VP MSNBC.
- George Ehrlich, early 70s sports director, radio sports, voice of Hartford Hawks, deceased.
- Rob Ewert, former sales manager, now partner Global Broadcasting LLC Providence.
- Dina Falco, former sports anchor (2003-2005) lives in North Carolina.
- Kim Fettig, former reporter, now at WGCL in Atlanta [3]
- Mike Fierberg, reporter/anchor, left for KMGH Denver, now in public affairs at Transportation Security Administration in Denver.
- Jim Forbes, reporter '81 to '85, left for KCBS LA.
- Joe Furey, was am/noon meteorologist, now on WTIC Radio, director of The New England Weather Service.
- Ken Garee, 70's & early 80's weekend meteorologist,
- Brian Garnett, reporter, now works in CT state government.
- Chris Gordon, 70's reporter, to WDVM, WJLA and now legal reporter/anchor WRC Wash. D.C.
- Dee Griffin, former anchor, went to KCTV Kansas City, now evening co-anchor WPTY Memphis.
- Jack Guckin, producer/director, retired, deceased.
- Elden Hale, former VP General Manager, now Sr.VP Meredith Corp. & VP/GM WSMV Nashville.
- Andria Hall, PM magazine host, went to WCVB Boston, now motivational Christian speaker.
- Jim Hanley, former 5pm co-anchor/reporter, now co-anchor at WRC Washington DC.
- Dawn Hasbrouck, former morning/noon co-anchor (2003-2006),now weekend anchor WBZ Boston.
- Alix Hayes, former reporter, was anchor at WNEM Flint,now freelancer in Philadelphia area.
- Andre Hepkins, reporter, now reporter with WNYW NY.
- Rich Hoffman, former meteorologist, now News12 Long Island AM meteorologist.
- Ellie Pai Hong, former morning anchor (2000-2003) currently at WMAQ-TV in Chicago [4]
- Gail Huff, reporter, now reporter WCVB Boston.
- Tasha Jamerson, former anchor/reporter, to WPIX NY, now at WTXF Philadelphia.
- Hilton Kaderli, former meteorologist (1974-1998) retired to Oklahoma, has done some WVIT reporting & freelance work, 'Gutter Helmet guy'
- Brendan Keefe, am co-anchor/reporter, went to KPRC Houston, now reporter at WCBS NY.
- Kathleen Keefe, Sales Director, went to Houston and WKMG Orlando,now VP at Hearst-Argyle NY.
- Deborah Kent, former consumer reporter (1986-2004)
- Gayle King, former anchor, Oprah's best friend, editor at O magazine NYC.
- Peter Krug, reporter '70-72, now law professor University of Oklahoma.
- Don Lark, former anchor, now evening co-anchor at WSTM Syracuse.
- Ted Leitner, early 80's Sports Director, went to KFMB San Diego, now play by play voice of San Diego Padres.
- Bill Liggins,ex-weekend sports anchor, actor/author of sci-fi books 'Warning' and 'NovaChasers'
- Jim Lutton, former station manager, now GM at WSTM Syracuse, with Don Lark.
- Khambrel Marshall, former sports anchor, went to WPLG Miami, now news anchor KPRC Houston.
- Eric McClendon, sports anchor, went to KCRA Sacramento, now HGTV host and actor in L.A.
- Duby McDowell, political reporter, went to WVIT, now consultant.
- John Metaxas, business reporter, went to CNBC, now reporter WCBS NY.
- John Mone, reporter, now reporter WPRI Providence.
- Miles Muzio, former chief meteorologist (1998-2002) currently at KBAK-TV in Bakersfield, CA[5]
- Christine Negroni, reporter, left for CNN, then to CBS News, now an Aeronautical journalist.
- David Nelson, former am co-anchor, now morning co-anchor WAVY in Portsmouth, VA [6]
- Dave Nemeth, former PM magazine/weatherman, to Salt Lake City, Detroit, GSN host, 'Extra!' contributor, now at WFLA Tampa co-hosting syndicated morning program called 'Daytime'
- Belkys Nerey, reporter, now prime evening anchor Sunbeam's WSVN Miami.
- Bob Neumeier, sports anchor, went to WBZ Boston, now hosts NESN's 'Sports Plus' & works for NBC Sports.
- Mary Ollie Newman, former reporter, now producer/host CPTV.
- Don Noel, political reporter, went to Hartford Courant now retired.
- Chuck Olmstead, reporter '71-72, now long-time reporter/host WHAS Louisville.
- Bill O'Reilly, former 11pm co-anchor and reporter(1979-80)
now at Fox News Channel.
- Bill Patrick, former weekend sports, to ESPN, now with NBC Sports NY.
- Glen Pearson, reporter/weekend anchor,to Fox25 Boston& WOFL Orlando,now reporter WNBC NY.
- Janet Peckinpaugh, arrived from WTNH New Haven, former anchor (1987-1995) WVIT 5pm coanchor, now retired.
- Andrew Pergam, former reporter (2001-2002) now at WVIT NBC30.
- Norm Peters, former weekend anchor, became a Conn. State employee as Communications Officer with the National Guard and then with the Motor Vehicle Dept. Now retired
- Randall Pinkston, former reporter, went to WCBS New York, now at CBS News.
- Barbara Pinto, reporter, went to MSNBC, now correspondent ABC News.
- Mike Randall, PM Magazine host, now main weatherguy WKBW Buffalo.
- Bill Ryan, former VP/General Manager '81-86, to WPLG, to CEO/President, then Chairman Post-Newsweek Company, retired.
- Christopher Rohrs, former VP/General Manager, now President TVB, Television Advertising Bureau.
- Steve Sabato, news director, to GM WNEM Flint, now ND WKRN Nashville.
- John Sablon, 70's community affairs programs host, went to WVIT as reporter, retired.
- R.D. Sahl, anchor/reporter, moved to WVIT as prime anchor, then to WHDH Boston and now at NECN.
- Donna Savarese, reporter/fill-in anchor, now 6pm co-anchor/reporter KMOV St.Louis.
- Marlene Schneider, was noon and 5:30 co-anchor thru '85, went to WTSP Tampa coanchor thru '92.
- Pat Sheehan, longtime Co-anchor, went to WTNH New Haven, First news anchor at WTIC-61 signed on, now financial consultant.
- Roger Simm, former weekend sportscaster.
- Dave Smith, former sports director, now???.
- Harvey Smilovitz, former sports anchor (1992-1998), WKRC Cincinnati.
- Bob Steele, sports director thru'68, WTIC AM 1936-2002, deceased.
- Joe Tessitore, former sports anchor (1995-2003) now at ESPN Boxing.
- Howard Thompson, reporter, to WNBC NY, then WCBS, now 'Help Me Howard' at WPIX NY.
- Lyn Tolan, former News Director '03-06, now News Director WSYX Columbus OH.
- Gerry Toney, reporter, joined Hartford city govt.
- David Ushery,former reporter/anchor (1989-1993),went to WABC NY, now weekend anchor at WNBC NY.
- Brian Van Aken, former meteorologist, ???
- Jim Vicevich, business reporter, went to WVIT, now radio talk host WTIC-AM1080 Hartford.
- Elijah Young, public affairs director, retired.
- Polly Bell, Former morning show anchor
.
- Klarn DePalma, Vice President and General Manager
- Dana Neves, News Director
- Open, Assistant News Director
- Victor Zarrilli, Chief Engineer
- Jim Gorham, Creative Services Director
- Joanne Gowdy, New Business Sales Manager
- Jim Messina, National Sales Manager
- Maripat Jordan, Local Sales Manager
- Stephanie Turner, Marketing Manager
- Linda Poindexter, MIS Director
- John Ahearn, Director of Traffic Operations
- Lisa Garofalo, Human Resource Manager
- Lori LeBlanc, Business Manager
- Frank Glowski, News Edit Manager
- WFSB Homepage
- WSHM-LP Homepage
- WFSB Tower & Transmitters
- Query the FCC's TV station database for WFSB
|
WFSB 3 (CBS) (WSHM-LP on DT2) - WTNH 8 (ABC) - WRDM 13 (TEL / RAI) - W17CD 17 (Ind) - WUVN 18 (UNI) - WTXX 20 (The CW) (The Tube on DT2) - WEDH 24 / WEDW 49 / WEDN 53 / WEDY 65 (PBS / CPTV) - WHPX 26 (ION) - WVIT 30 (NBC) (WX+ on DT2) - WHCT 38 (AZA) - WSAH 43 (S@H / JTV) - WUTH 47 (TFU) - WNHX 51 (Ind) - WCTX 59 (MNTV) - WTIC 61 (FOX) |
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| Cable television channels | ||
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CN8 - NESN - FSN New England - YES - NECN |
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| See also Broadcast television in the Boston and New York City markets | ||
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| CBS Network Affiliates: KCTV | KPHO | WFSB | WGCL | WNEM1 | WSHM |
| Fox Network Affiliates: KFXO2 | KPTV | KVVU | WHNS | WSMH3 |
| NBC Network Affiliate: WSMV |
| The CW Network Affiliate: WFLI |
| My Network TV Affiliates: KPDX | KSMO |
| Radio Station: WNEM |
| 1Digital subchannel is an affiliate of My Network TV. |
| 2Acquisition by News-Press & Gazette Company is now awaiting FCC approval. |
| 3Meredith and Sinclair Broadcast Group entered into a "news share" agreement. |
| Annual Revenue: $1.6 billion USD (2006) | Employees: 3160 (2006) | Stock Symbol: NYSE: MDP | Website: www.meredith.com |
Categories: Articles with unsourced statements since February 2007 | All articles with unsourced statements | Television stations in Hartford / New Haven | Television stations in Connecticut | CBS network affiliates | Channel 3 TV stations in the United States | Hartford, Connecticut | Television channels and stations established in 1957
