WDSI-TV

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

WDSI-TV
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Branding	FOX61/MyNetworkTV Chattanooga
Slogan	Serious Entertainment The Right News At The Right Time
Channels	61 (UHF) analog, 40 (UHF) digital
Affiliations	Fox (MyNetworkTV on Digital subchannel)
Owner	Pegasus Broadcasting Company
Founded	January 24, 1972
Former callsigns	WRIP-TV (1972-1982)
Former affiliations	Independent (1972-1986)
Website	www.fox61tv.com/

WDSI-TV "FOX61" is the Fox affiliate television station for Chattanooga, Tennessee, covering the eastern Tennessee River Valley. The station also covers parts of northern Georgia, western North Carolina, and northeastern Alabama. The station is owned by Pegasus Broadcasting. Its transmitter is located in Signal Mountain, Tennessee.

Contents 1 History 2 News Department 2.1 Newscasts 2.1.1 Past newscasts 2.2 Notable Personalities 3 Original Local Programming 4 External links

[edit] History

The station signed on the air on January 24, 1972 as WRIP-TV and aired movies 24 hours a day before shifting to a more conventional independent approach in 1973. Channel 61 is the oldest television station in Tennessee in continuous operation to have never had affiliation with any of the historically "big three" networks (ABC, CBS & NBC).

In 1982, the station changed its callsign to WDSI-TV. Their branding at that time was "Watch What We're Doing Now." The station even provided, free of charge, UHF antennas (which could be picked up at local convenience stores) so viewers could watch the station, because at that time, many households in the Chattanooga DMA were still not wired for cable.

In 1986 WDSI-TV became an affiliate of Fox, (beginning with The Late Show Starring Joan Rivers), and has remained so to this time. FOX 61 is also home to one of only two 10 p.m. newscasts in Chattanooga. In 2004, the news department at FOX 61 closed, and a news share agreement between the FOX affiliate and WTVC took effect. FOX61 First at Ten is currently being produced by ABC affiliate WTVC NewsChannel 9. (The other 10pm newscast airs on WYHB-CA 39.)

WDSI is now broadcasting MyNetworkTV over a second subchannel within its digital signal.

[edit] News Department

[edit] Newscasts

• FOX61 First at Ten: 10:00 - 10:35pm
  • Anchor: Scottie Goodman
  • Meteorologist: David Glenn
  • Sports: Sports Director: Darrell Patterson
• FOX61 First at Ten Weekend: 10:00 - 10:30pm
  • Anchor: Kay Blevins
  • Meteorologist: Erin Sebree
  • Sports: Dave Staley

[edit] Past newscasts

• FOX61 First News at Four
• FOX61 First News
• Racing Tonight
• FOX61 SportsZone
• FOX61 This Morning

[edit] Notable Personalities

Current Personalities

• Dan Howell, Taking Care of Business host
• Heidi Robinson, Around the Region host
• Heather Williams, Chattanooga Football w/Rodney Allison; Chattanooga Basketball w/John Shulman host
• For more news personalities see the Notable Personalities section of the WTVC article.

Past News Personalities

• Kim Chapman, Anchor (now at WTVC)
• Mark Edwards, Sports Director (now at WRCB)
• Mike MacGown, Weekend Meteorologist
• Darryn Moore, Weekend Co-Anchor
• Jerry Mathewson, Chief Meteorologist (2000-2004, now at WMGT-TV)
• Melissa Riopka, Anchor/Reporter (2000-2004, now at WCFT-TV)
• Heather Williams, Weekend Sports (now at WTVC)

This list is incomplete. You can help by expanding it.

[edit] Original Local Programming

• Metro Campus
• Around the Region
• Taking Care of Business
• Mayor's Roundtable
• Chattanooga Butterfly
• Chattanooga Football with Rodney Allison
• Chattanooga Basketball with John Shulman
• Valvoline Racing Tonight

[edit] External links

• Fox 61 Website
• Query the FCC's TV station database for WDSI