WCNC-TV
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| WCNC-TV | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Charlotte, North Carolina | |
| Branding | NewsChannel 36 |
| Slogan | Carolinas' News Channel |
| Channels | Analog: 36 (UHF) |
| Translators | W29BC Biscoe, North Carolina W24AY Lilesville, North Carolina |
| Affiliations | NBC NBC Weather Plus (DT2) |
| Owner | Belo Corporation (WCNC-TV, Inc.) |
| First air date | July 9, 1967 |
| Call letters’ meaning | Charlotte, North Carolina (also unofficially means Carolinas' News Channel) |
| Former callsigns | WCTU-TV (1967-1971) WRET-TV (1971-1980) WPCQ-TV (1980-1989) |
| Former affiliations | independent (1967-1978) |
| Transmitter Power | 5000 kW (analog) 791 kW (digital) |
| Height | 595 m (analog) 577 m (digital) |
| Facility ID | 32326 |
| Transmitter Coordinates | |
| Website | www.wcnc.com |
WCNC-TV is the NBC affiliate in Charlotte, North Carolina. It broadcasts its analog signal on UHF channel 36 and its digital signal on UHF channel 22 and is carried on cable channel 6 on all area cable systems. Charlotte is the largest market with an NBC affiliate on the UHF band. It is owned by the Belo Corporation. Its studios are located in the Wood Ridge Center office park, off Billy Graham Parkway in south Charlotte, at . Its transmitter is located in Dallas, North Carolina. It offers "WCNC WeatherPlus" on its digital subcarrier.
NBC News has its satellite news feed headquarters right next door to WCNC's studios. The complex is called the NBC Newschannel and in the 1990s, NBC Newschannel produced an overnight newscast on the network (NBC Nightside), and also produced the weather segments for Europe's NBC Super Channel, before that channel folded. It also served as headquarters of the failed Spanish language news venture "Canal de Noticias, NBC" from 1993-1997, before NBC purchased the Telemundo network from Sony.
WCNC's programming is repeated on low-powered W29BC in Biscoe, North Carolina and W24AY in Lilesville, North Carolina. These are the only low-powered translators operated by one of Charlotte's major television stations.
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[edit] Early history
The first station to broadcast on channel 36 in the Charlotte market signed on in December 1953 and was known as WAYS-TV and then WQMC-TV. However, it made no headway against WBTV because television set manufacturers were not required to include UHF tuning capability. It left the air in March 1955. A plan to return it to the air under different ownership in 1957 was unsuccessful. Cy Bahakel bought the station's license in 1964 and returned it to the air as WCCB, which broadcast on channel 36 before moving to its current location on channel 18 in 1966.
The channel 36 frequency was revived on July 9, 1967, as WCTU-TV, owned by Twisdale-Steel Stations. It was North Carolina's first independent station, beating Hickory's WHKY-TV by only a few months. WCTU was a typical UHF independent, airing a lineup of cartoons, sitcoms, old movies and sports. It was also the original home of Jim Bakker's television ministry after he broke off from Pat Robertson and CBN. The station hit hard times financially and was sold to Ted Turner in 1970. Turner renamed it WRET (after his initials, Robert Edward Turner). He significantly upgraded the station's programming and made it profitable almost immediately, as he did in Atlanta with what became WTBS. Briefly, Turner tried putting WRET on cable systems outside the immediate Charlotte area, as he did with his Atlanta station.
In 1978, ABC moved its Charlotte affiliation from WCCB to WSOC-TV. In a considerable upset, WRET won the NBC affiliation which WSOC-TV gave up, despite having been on the verge of closing down a few years earlier. NBC chose WRET over WCCB as its new affiliate on the basis of a commitment by Turner to invest $2.5 million in upgrading the station, increasing its signal strength and launching a local news department comparable in size to WSOC's, and twice the size of WCCB's existing small-scale operation.[1] (This was the first news operation ever owned by the future founder of CNN.) Within a few months, "Action News 36" had become competitive with WBTV and WSOC. Robert D. Raiford was the first news anchor. Upon becoming a network affiliate, Turner sold about half of WRET's programming to WCCB, including older sitcoms, movies and most of its inventory of syndicated cartoons.
[edit] WPCQ-TV/Group W Broadcasting (1980-1984)
Turner's ambitious ownership of the station would not last long, however. In 1980, he sold WRET to Westinghouse Electric Corporation (Group W), using the proceeds to start CNN. The $20 million sales price was then the highest ever paid for a UHF station. Westinghouse changed the call letters to WPCQ-TV (People [of the] Carolinas [and the] Queen [City]), and added more syndicated game shows and talk shows to its lineup. It was Group W's only station on UHF, and at the time the only one not located in a top-25 market (though Nielsen Media Research ranks Charlotte the 25th-largest market as of 2008).
Under Group W, channel 36 went into a ratings slump that lasted for almost two decades. Despite the record purchase price, Group W did not invest much in the station. The news department was significantly cut back. Group W immediately dropped the station's weekend news programs, and moved the 11 p.m. newscast to 12:30 a.m. before canceling it altogether in 1981. The early evening newscast was shifted between the 5:30 and 6 p.m. time slots until the fall of 1982, when it was canceled as well. For the remainder of Group W's ownership, the station's only remaining local news programming consisted of a half-hour broadcast at noon, hourly cut-ins, five-minute local inserts during the Today show, a weekly magazine program and occasional specials. Network news also suffered; WPCQ dropped NBC Nightly News on weekends in 1980, and on weeknights in 1982 (making it the only NBC affiliate not to carry Nightly News). The David Brinkley-anchored NBC Magazine, an early-1980's attempt to compete with 60 Minutes, was bumped from its prime-time network time slot to Sunday at midnight in Charlotte. Even Westinghouse's own productions were not guaranteed an audience on the station; Group W's nationally popular PM Magazine had been seen on WBTV since before Westinghouse's purchase of WPCQ, while Hour Magazine moved to WBTV after being canceled due to low ratings on WPCQ.
By the fall of 1982, and for the rest of Group W's ownership, the station's programming lineup and on-air look resembled those of an independent station rather than a major-network affiliate. In addition to airing minimal news programming, the station pre-empted significant amounts of NBC's schedule. Its daytime and late afternoon lineup consisted mostly of syndicated cartoons and reruns of 1960's and 1970's situation comedies, long after other major-network affiliates in markets of Charlotte's size had dropped these types of programs from their schedules. Local pre-emptions of network programs were common practice for Group W's affiliates, even though NBC has always been far less tolerant of this than the other networks, although they have eased their standards since then. However, in contrast to WPCQ, most of Group W's other stations turned profits, ran full-time newscasts, and aired many of Group W's syndicated programs.
For most of the 1980s, WPCQ was the third station in what was essentially a two-station market, even with NBC's powerful Thursday night lineup. It had to compete with WBTV and WSOC-TV, which had been on the air far longer and on more powerful VHF channels, as well as WCCB with a more powerful UHF signal than its own, but it also lost audience and ratings to WXII-TV in Winston-Salem, WIS-TV in Columbia and WFBC-TV/WYFF in Greenville, South Carolina, which were available to many viewers in the Charlotte market over-the-air and on cable. But many of this station's problems were of its own making. Besides cutting back the news department, Group W reduced channel 36's power to only 100,000 watts, far lower than expected for a major-network affiliate on UHF. It only provided grade B coverage of many inner-ring suburbs (such as Gastonia and Rock Hill) and was virtually unviewable over-the-air in much of the South Carolina and western portions of the market. For instance, many viewers on the South Carolina side of the market got a better signal from Columbia's WIS, whose transmitter is located almost 100 miles south of Charlotte, than from channel 36's facility in northeastern Mecklenburg County, only 20 miles north of the state line.
[edit] Modern history
Renaissance Broadcasting bought the station from Group W in 1984. NBC Nightly News returned to the schedule in the spring of 1985, but the local newscast at noon was discontinued. It also dropped cartoons from the weekday schedule, though syndicated reruns continued to make up a significant portion of the station's daytime programming. In 1986, WPCQ restarted a full-scale news department. At first, WPCQ scheduled its evening news for 5:30 p.m., knowing at the time that it couldn't compete with WBTV and WSOC-TV at 6 p.m. After a few fits and starts, it turned out to be the first truly successful attempt to program a drive-time newscast in the Charlotte market. In 1987, WPCQ expanded the 5:30 news to one hour, and added a 6 p.m. newscast on weekends. Renaissance also launched a significant technical overhaul. It moved the transmitter to Dallas, in Gaston County (where most of the other Charlotte stations have their towers), and boosted the signal to 2.1 million watts. Not long afterward came another power boost to 5 million watts, the maximum power allowed for a UHF station. This gave it a coverage area comparable to WBTV and WSOC-TV.
Renaissance sold WPCQ to The Providence Journal Company in 1988. Journal Broadcasting renamed the station WCNC-TV (for Charlotte, North Carolina) on September 3, 1989 and added a distinct 6 p.m. newscast to the weeknight schedule. On the same day of the call letter change, it moved to channel 6 on all Charlotte area cable systems, and began promoting itself as "WCNC-TV36, Cable 6." In 1991, the station moved from its longtime studios in northeast Charlotte to its current studios. From 1995 to 2003, the station was known on-air as NBC6, after its cable location. It called itself "channel 6" on-air for some years after dropping the NBC6 moniker.
Despite making a more credible effort at news than ever before, WCNC continued to drag along in the ratings until Journal Broadcasting merged with Belo in 1997.
[edit] Ratings growth
When Belo took over in 1997, it invested large amounts of money in the station by hiring talent away from rival stations.
WCNC hired Terri Bennett from WSOC-TV when that station declined to promote her to chief meteorologist upon Ray Boylan's retirement; coincidentally, Boylan filled in at WCNC until Bennett's non-compete clause was up. (Bennett left the station in the fall of 2007 when her contract was not renewed.) Sonja Gantt, formerly of WBTV, was lured back to her hometown from Chicago, where she had been working at WGN-TV. Belo also invested large amounts of money into new sets, a news helicopter, a powerful live doppler radar system and other equipment.
For much of the early part of the 21st century, it waged a spirited battle with WBTV for second place behind WSOC-TV, though it has recently returned to a distant third place, with the exception that it almost ties WBTV at 6 a.m. WCCB's 10 p.m. newscast also draws a larger audience than WCNC's at 11 p.m. [1] It is thought that WCNC's ratings slump is due to the fact it has yet to begin airing its newscasts in high definition.
WCNC is most successful in Mecklenburg County (home to Charlotte itself), and it actually leads WSOC and WBTV in higher income neighborhoods in Charlotte (as opposed to the outlying suburbs and rural counties). WCNC has a higher percentage of college-educated viewers than WSOC and WBTV.
In late 2005, WCNC added Charlotte's first 4:30 p.m. newscast, creating a two-hour local news block running from 4:30 p.m to 6:30 p.m. In 2007, the station phased out its longtime brand of "6News" and re-branded itself "WCNC, the Carolinas' News Connection." In August of 2008, it re-branded to "News Channel 36"--the first time it had used its over-the-air channel number in its branding in 12 years. In September 2008, WCNC added a 4:00pm newscast.
[edit] Digital television
The station's digital signal is multiplexed:
| Channel | Programming | Digital Cable Channel |
|---|---|---|
| 36.1 / 22.1 | WCNC-HD (main WCNC/NBC programming) | Comporium 306, TWC 220 |
| 36.2 / 22.2 | WCNC-WX (WCNC WeatherPlus) | TWC 221 |
[edit] Notable personalities
[edit] Current on-air talent
[edit] WCNC NewsChannel 36 anchors
[edit] Weekdays
- Sonja Gantt: WCNC NewsChannel 36 at 5, 6, Nightcast (11 PM)
- Dave Wagner: WCNC NewsChannel 36 at 5, 6, Nightcast
- Colleen Odegaard: WCNC NewsChannel 36 Today (5-7 AM), WCNC News Midday (11 AM-Noon)
- Bobby Sisk: WCNC NewsChannel 36 at 4:30
- Jeff Campbell: WCNC NewsChannel 36 Today, Midday
[edit] Weekends
- Maria Kotula: WCNC NewsChannel 36 Today (Saturday 6-8 AM, Sunday 7-10 AM)
- Anjanette Flowers: WCNC NewsChannel 36 at 6 (PM), Nightcast
[edit] WCNC NewsChannel 36 reporters
- Mark Boone
- Michelle Boudin
- Tony Burbeck
- Glenn Counts
- Maria Kotula
- Frances Kuo
- Amy Lehtonen
- Daniela Lopez
- Melissa Martin
- Mike Redding
- Alex Reed
- Diana Rugg
- Ann Sheridan
- Bobby Sisk
- Stuart Watson
[edit] WCNC NewsChannel 36 First Warn Storm Team
- Brad Panovich (AMS Seal of Approval): Chief Meteorologist, weeknights
- Larry Sprinkle: Weather Anchor, weekday mornings
- John Wendel (AMS Seal of Approval): Meteorologist, weekend mornings
- Daniela Lopez: Weather Anchor, weekend evenings
[edit] WCNC NewsChannel 36 Sports
- Greg Bailey: WCNC NewsChannel 36 at 6 & Nightcast Sports Director/Anchor
- Ira Cronin: WCNC NewsChannel 36 at 6 & Nightcast (weekend) Sports Anchor/Reporter
[edit] Former personalities
(Under Construction)
Bob (Robert D.) Raiford (anchor and talk show host, 1978-1986, now on The John Boy and Billy Show)
Amanda Davis (anchor, 1978-1982, now at WAGA-TV Atlanta)
Charles Fishburne (anchor, 1978-1981, now owner of Charles Fishburne Productions in Richmond, Va.)
Cecily Newton (anchor, early 1980s)
Dee Earley (Crosby)(anchor/reporter, 1978-1981, now living in Mount Pleasant, SC)
Lou Tilley (sports anchor, early 1980s, now at CN8)
Janet McGill (meteorologist, 1978-1979, now living in Centerville, Ohio)
Mike Thompson (meteorologist, early 1980s, now at WDAF-TV Kansas City)
Art Norman (reporter, 1978-1980, now an anchor at WMAQ-TV Chicago)
Norma Rashid (reporter, 1979-1983, now living in Cincinnati, Ohio)
Leesa Kelly (reporter, 1983-1984, now principal owner of Horizons TV in Great Falls, Virginia)
Frank Clark (reporter, early 1980s)
Kyle Hampton (reporter, early 1980s)
Ellen Shuman (reporter, 1980-1983, now author & founder of an eating disorder clinic, Cincinnati, Ohio)
Cassandra Lawton (reporter, early 1980s)
Jackie Nedell (reporter, early 1980s, was HHS Secretary Donna Shalala's Communications Director, now with the Porter Norvelli Agency in Washington, DC)
Hope Hines (sports anchor, 1979-1980, now sports director at WTVF in Nashville, Tenn.)
Doug McKelway (reporter, 1980-1982, now at WJLA-TV Washington)
Karen Adams (anchor, 1986-?, now at WPRI-TV Providence)
John McKnight (anchor, 1986-1988, now in public relations in Atlanta)
Rick Jackson (anchor, 1986-1995, now at WVIZ TV/PBS WCPN-FM NPR in Cleveland)
Lori Waldon (reporter, 1986-1988, now the news director at WISN-TV in Milwaukee)
Pierre Kimsey (reporter, 1986-1988, now writer, producer at WKNO-TV PBS in Memphis)
Peter Combs (reporter, 1986-1988, now based out of Atlanta with CBS Radio News)
Jim Celania (sports anchor, 1990's, now at WFNZ Sports Radio)
Larry Blucher (sports anchor, 1986-1988, now living in Bradenton, Fla.)
Dave Stanley (anchor/reporter) 1988-1995, now a Realter/Broker in Charlotte
Hannah Storm (sports anchor, 1988-1989, later at NBC Sports and on The Early Show on CBS)
Mary Shalvarjian (general assignment reporter 1988-1990, then to Reporter WAGA-TV Atlanta
Kurt Lee (Government news, 1988-1999)
Steve Raleigh (meteorologist, late 1980s, now at WCPO-TV Cincinnati)
Dr. Joe Conway (meteorologist, late 1980s)
Tom Miller (Donovan) (anchor, 1988-1992, now an anchor at WHP-TV in Harrisburg, Pa.)
Jesse Johnson (anchor, 1988-?)
Chuck Howard (sports anchor/sports director, 1995-2006)
Russ Riesinger (anchor, 1998-2003, now at WSAV-TV Savannah)
Allen Denton (anchor, 1996-1998, now at KNTV San Jose)
Alicia Booth (anchor, late 1990s, now at WEWS-TV Cleveland)
Val Holley-Dennis (anchor, ?-1997, now in public relations in Charlotte)
Chris Clackum (anchor, ?-1997, now at NBC News)
Tim Knol (reporter, 2003-2006)
Tracy Flanagan (reporter, 1998-2000, WAGA-TV Atlanta 2000-2005, now media consultant/producer)
Coretta Robinson (Weekend Morning Anchor/Traffic Reporter, 1995-2006)
Joey Popp (reporter, ?-?, now at WFAE, Charlotte's National Public Radio station)
Peggy Fox (anchor/reporter, ?-?, now at WUSA-TV Washington)
Beatrice Thompson (anchor/reporter, ?-?, now at WBAV-FM Charlotte)
Jerry Peterson (weather/commentary, ?-?, now at WRHI/WRHM radio, Rock Hill, SC)
Bob Ormseth (reporter, 1987-?), now spokesman for the Fort Mill, SC, School District
B.G. Metzler (late 1970s-early 1980s)
Steve Gasque (reporter, early 1980s)
Terry Chick (sports, late 1970s-early 1980s)
Kristin Moore (traffic reporter, 2006-2007,moved to Atlanta)
Terri Bennett (chief meteorologist, 1996-2007)
John Snyder (anchor, 1998-2007)
[edit] Awards
Despite still being in third place in the ratings, WCNC's news operation is one of the country's most frequent recipients of Regional Emmy and Edward R. Murrow Awards.
[edit] External links
- WCNC-TV web site
- Query the FCC's TV station database for WCNC
- BIAfn's Media Web Database -- Information on WCNC-TV
[edit] References
- ^ The Charlotte Observer, Apr. 25 and 29, 1978.
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