WJHG-TV

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WJHG-TV
Image:Wjhg.jpg
Image:Wjhg_cable_the_cw.PNG
Image:Wjhg_dt3_mntv.jpg
Panama City, Florida
Branding NewsChannel 7
The CW Panama City
My7
Slogan Spirit of the Panhandle
Channels 7 (VHF) analog,
8 (VHF) digital
Affiliations NBC (1953-73 and since 1982)
The CW (digital, on DT2)
My Network TV (digital, on DT3)
Owner Gray Television
Founded 1953
Call letters meaning W James Harrison Gray, Founder of Gray Communications
Former callsigns WJDM-TV (1953-60)
Former affiliations ABC (1953-82, secondary until 1973) CBS (1953-1960s?)
Website wjhg.com

WJHG, channel 7 is the NBC affiliate for Panama City, Florida. Owned by Gray Television, its studios are located in Panama City Beach while its transmitter is located in Youngstown, Florida.

Contents

[edit] History

WJHG was founded in 1953 as WJDM-TV, owned by J.D. Manley. The station aired local programming such as church services and wrestling, and went as an independent for a period of time before securing affiliation with NBC, CBS and ABC. Mel Wheeler purchased the station in 1957, and in 1960, James Harrison Gray, the founder of Gray Communications bought the station and changed the call letters to the current WJHG, after his initials.

WJHG dropped CBS in the 1960s after WTVY in Dothan, Alabama became the default CBS affiliate for Panama City as well. NBC and ABC both remained on the station until 1973, when WJHG became an exclusively ABC affiliate when WDTB (channel 13, now WMBB) signed on as an NBC affiliate. In 1982, WMBB and WJHG switched networks.

In 1998, WJHG was almost sold when the Phipps family sold WCTV to Gray Communications. This would have violated the pre-1996 ownership rules because WJHG's signal covers parts of the Tallahassee market. The 1996 Telecommunications Act allowed for overlapping fringe signals, so Gray kept WJHG. Instead, Gray ended up selling its flagship station, WALB in Albany, Georgia, because its city-grade signal overlapped that of WCTV's on the Georgia part of the Tallahassee market, still protected under FCC Rules.

Then in 2002, Gray bought most of Benedek Broadcasting's stations, including WTVY, whose tower is located in Bonifay, Florida, providing a signal that covers all the way from Fort Walton Beach, Florida to Troy, Alabama. By this time, signal contours were no longer an issue and Gray could keep both stations.

Since both stations are available on cable in both Dothan & Panama City, WJHG will run WTVY stories that take place in the northern part of the PC market, and WTVY will run WJHG stories on Panama City and the coast. Sometimes, WTVY will run their own stories on Panama City, but WJHG does not cover Dothan at all.

[edit] Digital & Cable Channels

The station's digital channel is multiplexed:

Digital channels

Channel Programming
8.1 / 7.1 WJHG-DT (NBC)
8.2 / 7.2 CW Panama City
8.3 / 7.3 My7 (MyNetworkTV)

CW Panama City is available on Knology Channel 9, Comcast Channel 99 and Mediacom Channel 60. My7 is available on Knology channel 13 and Comcast digital channel 245.

[edit] Weather Coverage

WJHG is the only station in Panama City that has all meteorologists on its staff.

[edit] Circle 7 Logo & Affiliation Changes

The station used the "Circle 7" logo as far back as the 1950s without objection from the ABC television network. At some point ABC had trademarked the logo for use by its owned and operated stations that shared the dial position (Channel 7) in several major television markets across the nation. In 1982 when Gray Communications switched the WJHG-TV network affiliation to NBC the rival ABC network ordered WJHG to cease using the logo. Station manager Ray H. Holloway produced archival film and still photographs that showed the local station had been using the "Circle 7" logo longer than the network, but in order to bring the matter to a quick and satisfactory end the station elected to modify the logo. The modification was minor (the bottom of the circle was left open) but enough to pacify executives at ABC in New York who were upset over the station's decision to "defect" to NBC. However, non-ABC stations still use designs similar to the Circle 7 logo including Ed Ansin's WHDH (NBC) in Boston, and WSVN (FOX) in Miami.

When WJHG switched its network affiliation in 1982 NBC was at the bottom of the network rankings and ABC was at the top. The decision to switch was puzzling to many and the true reasons behind the switch were not publicized. However, shortly after the switch NBC enjoyed a resurgence in the ratings and displaced ABC as America's most watched television network. The ratings rally provided something of a vindication for WJHG and parent company Gray Communications.

[edit] News Department

[edit] Daily Newscasts

MONDAY-FRIDAY

  • NewsChannel 7 Today (5-7AM)
  • NewsChannel 7 at Noon (NOON-1PM)
  • NewsChannel 7 at 5:00 (5-5:30PM)
  • NewsChannel 7 at 6:00 (6-6:30PM)
  • NewsChannel 7 at 10:00 (10-10:35PM)

SATURDAY

  • NewsChannel 7 at 6:00 (6-6:30PM)
  • NewsChannel 7 at 10:00 (10-10:30PM)

SUNDAY

  • NewsChannel 7 at 5:00 (5-5:30PM)
  • NewsChannel 7 at 10:00 (10-10:30PM)

[edit] Notable Personalities

CURRENT PERSONALITIES

  • Tracy Connors, General Manager
  • Donna Bell, Morning & Noon Anchor/Reporter
  • Tyler Berkley, Morning & Noon Meteorologist
  • Kristen Berset, 5pm Anchor / Reporter
  • Luciana Da Silva, Featured Reporter
  • Elizabeth Holmes, Meteorologist / General Assignment Reporter
  • Paris Janos, Morning Co-Anchor/Art Director
  • Jason Kelley, Chief Meteorologist
  • Tom Lewis, 6pm, 10pm Anchor/Reporter/News Director
  • Elyse Molstad, Destin Bureau Reporter
  • Joe Moore, Noon & 5pm Anchor / Vice President of News & Operations
  • Adam Roland, Weekend Sports Anchor/Reporter
  • Scott Rossman, Sports Director
  • Heather Waliga, General Assignment Reporter
  • Candace White, General Assignment Reporter
  • Neysa Wilkins, 6pm & 10pm Anchor/Reporter
  • Camille Williams, Jackson County Reporter
  • Sabrina Zimring, General Assignment Reporter

PAST PERSONALITIES

  • Dana Arquilla, General Assignment Reporter (2005-2006) (now at WTVO-TV)
  • Jake Bell, Sports Anchor/Reporter, Feature Reporter (2000-2002)
  • Caroline Brady, Weekend Anchor/Reporter (2005-2006) (now at WIFR-TV)
  • Donnell Brookins, News Reporter (1950s-1960s, retired as Bay County tax collector, now deceased)
  • Jason Davis, General Assignment Reporter (?-2006)
  • Kate Eckman, Weekend Anchor (2006-2007) (now at WBBH-TV)
  • Jennifer Elmore, Anchor/Reporter (1997-1999, 2003?)
  • Wayne Gentry, Morning Meteorologist (?, now at BeachTV)
  • Craig Gold, Weekend Meteorologist (2004-2005, now at KTKA-TV)
  • Mike Gurspan, News/Sports Anchor-Reporter (1981-1986, now with WTVY-TV)
  • Earl Hadaway, News Anchor/Program Director (1950s-1980s, retired)
  • Courtney Hayes, General Assignment Reporter (2001-2004)
  • Tom Hipps, Morning Show Host (1970s-1990s, retired)
  • Ray H. Holloway, Station Manager/Editorialist (1960s-1980s, retired as a Gray Communications vice president, now deceased)
  • Amy Hoyt, Anchor/Reporter (1980-1994, now at WMBB-TV)
  • Al Hubbard, Outdoor Reporter (2000-2004, deceased)
  • Earl Hutto, News/Sports Anchor (1960s/70s, retired U.S. Congressman)
  • Red Holland, Host, "The Red Holland Show" (1998-2004, now owns "Red's Rusty Rooster" store)
  • Karin Johnson, General Assignment Reporter (2000-2003, now at WLWT/Cincinnati)
  • Melissa Keeney, General Assignment Reporter (2000-2003, went to WINK-TV, now at WSPA-TV)
  • Carla Kneeland, 6pm Anchor/Reporter (2001-2006)
  • Adam Kramer, Weekend Anchor/Reporter (2005-2006)
  • Doug Luciani, Marianna Bureau Chief, (1994-1995)
  • Greg Majewski, Morning Meteorologist (2001-2005, now at WGCL-TV)
  • Paul Matadeen, Weekend Anchor (Sept 2006- Feb 2007)
  • Amy Morris, General Assignment Reporter (2001-2004)
  • Stan Pamfilis, News/Sports Anchor (late 1970s, now with WLOS-TV Asheville, NC)
  • Jeremy Pate, Morning Anchor, Reporter (1999-2006)(Now working in Public Relations)
  • Jay Prater, Morning Meteorologist (2003-2004, now at KAKE-TV)
  • Mike Sasser, Sports Anchor (early 1980s, now a private communications consultant)
  • Bill Schubert, Chief Meteorologist (1992-1996) (now at WTOV-TV Wheeling, WV)
  • Greg Sherrod, Reporter (now at WMBB-TV)
  • Krislyn Smith, General Assignment Reporter (2005-2006)
  • Shepard Smith, Anchor/Reporter (?, now at FOX News)
  • David Steele, Sports Anchor (mid 1970s, now with Sunshine Network and the NBA's Orlando Magic)
  • "Rob" Chris Still, Meteorologist (1996-1997, now at WBTW-TV)
  • Mike Tolbert, Anchor/Reporter (2003-2005, now at WTEV/WAWS)
  • Glen Walker, Weekend Sports Anchor, (early 1980s, now at KCBS-TV Los Angeles)
  • Buddy Wilkes, News/Weather (1960s-1970s, novelist)

[edit] External links

Gray Television, Inc.
v • d • e
ABC Network Affiliate: KAKE | KOLO | WBKO | WHSV | WTOK | WVAW | TV3 Winchester (WHSV-DT3) (cable only)
CBS Network Affiliates: KBTX | KKTV | KOLN/KGIN | KWTX | KXII | WCAV | WCTV | WIBW | WIFR | WKYT | WRDW | WSAW | WSWG | WTVY | WVLT | WYMT
The CW Network Affiliates1: KBTX | KKCO | KWTX | WBKO | WJHG | WKYT | WTOK | WYMT
Fox Network Affiliates: KXII1 | WAHU | WBKO1 | WHSV1 | WSYM2| WTOK1 | WTAP1
Independent Television Station1: WOWT
MyNetworkTV Affiliates1: KKTV (KKTV-DT2) | KOLN/KGIN | KXII | WAHU | WCTV | WHSV | WIBW | WJHG | WRDW | WSAW | WSAZ | WSWG | WTOK | WTVY | WTAP | WVLT
NBC Network Affiliates: KKCO | WEAU | WILX | WITN | WJHG | WMTV | WNDU | WOWT | WSAZ | WTAP
1These stations broadcast these networks on their digital subchannels.
2Gray and Journal Broadcast Group entered into a "news share" agreement.
Annual Revenue: $332.1 USD (2006) | Employees: N/A | Stock Symbol: NYSE: GTN | Website: www.graycommunications.com


Broadcast television in the Panama City, Florida market  (Nielsen DMA #156)

WTVY 4 (CBS)(MNTV on DT2 & The CW on DT3) - WJHG 7 (NBC)(The CW on DT2 & MNTV on DT3) - WMBB 13 (ABC) - W22CB 22 (A1) - WWEO-CA 24 (FamilyNet) - WPGX 28 (Fox) (The Tube on DT2) - W34DH 34 (TBN) - WPCT 46 (Info) - WBIF 51 (RTN) - WFSG 56 (PBS)
See also: Broadcast television stations in the Dothan, Pensacola-Mobile and Tallahassee Markets


Broadcast television in the Dothan / Ozark market (Nielsen DMA #172)

WDIQ 2/WGIQ 43 (PBS/APT) - WTVY 4 (CBS) (MNTV on DT2 & The CW on DT3) - WJJN-LP 5 (Ind.) - WDHN 18 (ABC) - WDFX 34 (Fox) (The Tube on DT2)
Significantly Viewed Out-of-Market Broadcast Stations
Reception may vary by geographical location

Panama City: WJHG 7 (NBC) - WBIF 51 (RTN)
Montgomery: WSFA 12 (NBC) - WRJM 67 (MNTV)
See also: Broadcast television stations in the Pensacola-Mobile, Columbus, Albany and Tallahassee Markets
NBC Network Affiliates in the state of Florida

WESH 2 (Daytona Beach-Orlando) - WPTV 5 (West Palm Beach) - WTVJ 6 (Miami) - WJHG 7 (Panama City) - WFLA 8 (Tampa) - WTLV 12 (Jacksonville) - WBBH 20 (Fort Myers) - WTWC 40 (Tallahassee)
See also: ABC, CBS, CW, Fox, MyNetworkTV, PBS, Religious, Spanish and Other stations in the state of Florida
CW Network Affiliates in the state of Florida

WJHG-DT 7.2 (Panama City) - WCWJ 17 (Jacksonville) - WKCF 18 (Clermont) - WCJB-DT 20.2 (Gainesville) - WTVX 34 (Fort Pierce)
WSFL 39 (Miami) - WTOG 44 (St. Petersburg) - WXCW 46 (Naples) - WTLH-DT 49.2 (Tallahassee)
See also: ABC, CBS, Fox, MyNetworkTV, NBC, PBS, Religious, Spanish and Other stations in the state of Florida
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