WSB-TV

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

WSB-TV
Atlanta, Georgia
Branding	WSB-TV, Channel 2 (general) Channel 2 Action News (newscasts)
Slogan	Coverage You Can Count On
Channels	2 (VHF) analog, 39 (UHF) digital
Affiliations	ABC (secondary 1948-51, full-time since September, 1980)
Owner	Cox Television
Founded	September 29, 1948
Call letters meaning	Welcome South Brother
Former affiliations	NBC (1948-80)
Transmitter Power	100kW/316m (analog), 1000 kW/301 m (digital}
Website	www.wsbtv.com

WSB-TV is the ABC affiliate in Atlanta, Georgia. It is the flagship television station of Cox Enterprises. It is co-owned and located in the same studio along with radio stations WSB-AM, WSB-FM, WBTS-FM, WSRV-FM, and WALR-FM. Cox also owns the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Its transmitter is located in Atlanta.

Contents 1 History 2 Newscasts 3 Other Local Programs 4 See also 5 External links

[edit] History

WSB-TV is the second-oldest station south of Washington, D.C.; only Richmond, Va.'s WTVR-TV is older. It is also the oldest station in Atlanta & Georiga. The station first began broadcasting on September 29, 1948. James M. Cox started the station; he also owned WSB radio and the Atlanta Journal, an ownership combination that led eventually to 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, becoming the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. At the time, the Federal Communications Commission did not allow one entity to own two television stations in the same market. So, the two stations merged, keeping the WSB-TV call letters, and moved to WCON's old channel. At that point, channel 8 was then occupied by WLTV, soon to become WLWA-TV. In 1952, the Federal Communications Commission reallocated channel 8 for non-commercial educational use, and its city of license was changed from Atlanta to Athens -- home of the University of Georgia. However, that station, WGTV, did not begin educational broadcasting until May 23, 1960. WGTV became the flagship station of Georgia Educational Television, now known as Georgia Public Broadcasting. WLWA, however, had already moved in 1953 to channel 11, where it is now known as WXIA-TV.

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. 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 along side the new building. Brand new white columns have been placed inside the glass-enclosed lobby of the newer building.

From its sign-on, WSB-TV was affiliated with the NBC television network, as WSB Radio had been with NBC for many years. It also carried some ABC programs from its inception until WLWA signed on in 1951. Now ABC was the highest rated network for most of the late 1970's and was looking for a stronger affiliate than WXIA. The main reason for this was because WSB-TV happened to be the rating leader in Atlanta, all the while still being affiliated with NBC, which fell last place in ratings. 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, WSB-TV finally swapped affiliations with WXIA, becoming an ABC affiliate that same year.

WSB-DT went on the air on April 17, 1998, making it one of the first regular-service DTV stations in the country.

WSB-TV debuted local news in High Definition during its noon broadcast on September 27, 2006. It is the second in the Atlanta market to do so, behind WXIA. It is also the second Cox station behind WFTV 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.

[edit] Newscasts

WSB-TV's newscasts, known as "Channel 2 Action News", are seen at the following times:

Weekdays:

• Channel 2 Action News This Morning - 5-7AM
  • Anchored by Pam Martin and Collins Spencer... Weather with Karen Minton... and Triple Team Traffic with Mark Arum
• Channel 2 Action News at Noon - 12-1PM
  • Anchored by Pam Martin and Collins Spencer... and Weather with Karen Minton
• Channel 2 Action News at 5 p.m. - 5-6PM
  • Anchored by John Pruitt, Monica Pearson (5-5:30), and Jovita Moore (5:30-6)... and Weather with David Chandley
• Channel 2 Action News at 6 p.m. - 6-7PM
  • Anchored by Monica Pearson and John Pruitt... Weather with Glenn Burns... and Sports with Chuck Dowdle
• Channel 2 Action News Nightbeat at 11 p.m. - 11-11:35PM**
  • Anchored by Monica Pearson and John Pruitt... Weather with Glenn Burns... and Sports with Chuck Dowdle

Note** - Edited tape delayed rebroadcast of the Channel 2 Action News Nightbeat at 11 p.m. airs from 12:35-1:10AM (Monday-Friday).

Saturdays:

• Channel 2 Action News Saturday AM - 6-10AM
  • Anchored by Carol Sbarge... and Weather with Brad Nitz
• Channel 2 Action News at Noon - Noon-12:30PM
  • Anchored by Carol Sbarge... and Weather with Brad Nitz
• Channel 2 Action News at 6 p.m. - 6-6:30PM
  • Anchored by Tom Regan and JaQuitta Williams... Weather with Brad Nitz... and Sports with Bill Hartman
• Channel 2 Action News Nightbeat at 11 p.m. - 11-11:35PM
  • Anchored by Tom Regan and JaQuitta Williams... Weather with Brad Nitz... and Sports with Bill Hartman

Sundays:

• Channel 2 Action News Sunday AM - 7:30-11AM
  • Anchored by Carol Sbarge... and Weather with Brad Nitz
• Channel 2 Action News at Noon - Noon-12:30PM
  • Anchored by Carol Sbarge... and Weather with Brad Nitz
• Channel 2 Action News at 6 p.m. - 6-7PM
  • Anchored by Tom Regan and JaQuitta Williams... Weather with Brad Nitz... and Sports with Bill Hartman
• Channel 2 Action News Nightbeat at 11 p.m. - 11-11:35PM
  • Anchored by Tom Regan and JaQuitta Williams... Weather with Brad Nitz... and Sports with Bill Hartman

[edit] Other Local Programs

• Hot Topics - Saturdays 11:35PM-12:05AM
  • Hosted by Kimberly Kennedy
• Georgia's People 2 People - Sundays 6:30-7AM
  • Hosted by Jacelyn Dorsey
• High Q - Sundays 7-7:30AM
  • Hosted by Chuck Dowdle
• Sports Final - Sundays 11:35PM-12:05AM
  • Hosted by Bill Hartman

Other current WSB-TV produced shows and specials include...

• Clark Howard Primetime, consumer advice from WSB-AM's Clark Howard
• Monica's Closeups, in-depth interview show hosted by Monica Pearson
• Action News Primetime with John Pruitt, in-depth report special hosted by John Pruitt
• The Mark Richt Show, which can be seen during College Football season.
• Sports Zone, which can be seen during College Football season.
• The Salute 2 America Parade, which can be seen every 4th of July.
• The Lighting of the Great Tree at Macy's, which can be seen every year on Thanksgiving Night.
• The Children's HealthCare of Atlanta Christmas Parade, which can be seen every year on the 1st or 2nd Saturday of December.

[edit] See also

• WSB-TV personalities

[edit] External links

• WSB-TV homepage
• Query the FCC's TV station database for WSB-TV