WPXI

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WPXI
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Branding	Channel 11
Slogan	Coverage You Can Count On
Channels	11 (VHF) analog, 48 (UHF) digital
Affiliations	NBC NBC Weather Plus (DT2)
Owner	Cox Broadcasting
Founded	September 1, 1957
Call letters meaning	We're Pittsburgh's XI = Roman numeral of 11
Former callsigns	WIIC-TV (1957-1981)
Former affiliations	None
Website	www.wpxi.com

WPXI "Channel 11" is the NBC television affiliate based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It is owned by Cox Enterprises.^[1] Its transmitter is located on the north side of Pittsburgh with the station's signal covering the Pittsburgh DMA. WPXI WeatherPlus is offered on its digital station.

Contents 1 History 2 News 2.1 Weekday News 2.2 Weekend News 2.3 Pittsburgh Cable News Channel 2.4 Channel 11 News on Fox 53 2.5 Ratings 2.6 Slogans 2.7 Logo 3 Local Programming 3.1 Present 3.2 Past 4 Personalities 4.1 Anchors 4.2 Anchors/Reporters 4.3 Severe Weather Team 11 4.4 Sports 4.5 Reporters 4.6 Former Personalities 5 Trivia 6 Contact 7 External links 8 References

[edit] History

On September 1, 1957, Channel 11 signed on as WIIC-TV, an NBC affiliate.

Bill Cardille (now a former Channel 11 host and weather forecaster) was the first personality viewers saw. Some of the first original programming to air on WIIC included Studio Wrestling and Chiller Theatre, both hosted by Cardille.

In 1970, WIIC made Pittsburgh broadcasting history as Eleanor Schano became the first woman to anchor a newscast alone. Schano also hosted a weekly half-hour public affairs program called "Face to Face."

During much of the 1970s, WIIC trailed in a distant third place in the ratings behind stations KDKA and WTAE. This coincided with much of the period where NBC also struggled in the ratings.

In 1981, the station was purchased by Cox Enterprises, and the call signs were changed to WPXI-TV (Pittsburgh 11, with XI being the Roman numeral sign for 11). The WIIC calls still reside in Pittsburgh, but on a low-powered independent station airing music videos.

WPXI has also been airing the Jerry Lewis Telethon as the Pittsburgh affiliate of the annual event.

In 2000, Cox Enterprises purchased WTOV in Steubenville, Ohio, and WJAC in the Johnstown-Altoona-State College, Pennsylvania, market. These stations often appear in channel lineups for the same viewers that watch WPXI, either by over-the-air signal or via cable provider. Both WJAC and WTOV are also NBC affiliates.

The station is moving from Television Hill to a spot of land near the Parkway North. The station's tower is to remain in place atop the station's current location.

[edit] News

WPXI is very news-intensive, occasionally pre-empting programming to report breaking news. Typically, WPXI offers 4-and-a-half hours of news on channel 11. It offers an hour-and-a-half on PCNC and one hour of WPGH.

[edit] Weekday News

WPXI was the first channel to offer a 5 p.m. newscast in Pittsburgh during the early 1990s. The newscast was, appropriately enough, named "Channel 11 News First At Five."

Channel 11 was also the first station to offer a two-hour morning newscast in Pittsburgh.

• Channel 11 Morning News - 5:00 to 7:00 a.m. - Bob Bruce, Newlin Archinal, meteorologist Krista Villarreal and Trisha Pittman with traffic
• Channel 11 News at Noon - 12:00 to 12:30 p.m. - Bob Bruce, Newlin Archinal and Krista Villarreal
• Channel 11 News at 5 - 5:00 - 6:00 p.m. - David Johnson, Peggy Finnegan, chief meteorologist Mike Lapoint and John Fedko with sports
• Channel 11 News at 6 - 6:00 to 6:30 p.m. - David Johnson, Peggy Finnegan , Mike Lapoint and John Fedko
• Channel 11 News on FOX 53 at 10 - 10:00 to 11:00 p.m. - David Johnson, Darieth Chisolm, Mike Lapoint and Alby Oxenreiter with sports
• Channel 11 News 11 at 11 - 11:00 to 11:35 p.m. - David Johnson, Darieth Chisolm, Mike Lapoint and John Fedko

[edit] Weekend News

WPXI dropped the NBC Saturday morning cartoons in 1989 in favor of a newscast airing from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The success of the weekend morning news prompted NBC network officials to extend NBC's Today show to the weekends. WPXI, however, has since scaled back its weekend mornings news, starting at 6 a.m. until 9 a.m.

Pittsburgh native Jodi Applegate co-anchored NBC's Weekend Today, but was never seen locally due to WPXI's weekend morning news.

Saturdays

• Channel 11 News Saturday Morning - 6 to 10:30 a.m. - Vince Sims and meteorologist Kevin Benson
• Channel 11 News at 6 - 6:00 to 6:30 p.m. - Gordon Loesch, Stacia Erdos, Kevin Benson and Bill Phillips with sports
• Channel 11 News on FOX 53 at 10 - 10:00 to 10:35 p.m. - Gordon Loesch, Stacia Erdos, Kevin Benson, and Bill Phillips
• Channel 11 News 11 at 11 - 11:00 to 11:35 p.m. - Gordon Loesch, Stacia Erdos, Kevin Benson, and Bill Phillips

Sundays

• Channel 11 News Sunday Morning - 7:00 to 10:00 a.m. - Vince Sims and Meteorologist Kevin Benson
• Channel 11 News at 6 - 6:00 to 6:30 p.m. - Gordon Loesch, Stacia Erdos, Kevin Benson and Bill Phillips with sports
• Channel 11 News at 10 on FOX 53 - 10:00 to 10:35 p.m. - Gordon Loesch, Stacia Erdos, Kevin Benson and Bill Phillips
• Channel 11 News 11 at 11 - 11:00 to 11:35 p.m. - Gordon Loesch, Stacia Erdos, Kevin Benson and Bill Phillips

[edit] Pittsburgh Cable News Channel

The station went into cable television in 1994 with the launch of PCNC - the Pittsburgh Cable News Channel. PCNC brought the first 10 p.m. newscast to Pittsburgh. The final installment of PCNC's 10 p.m. news aired on January 26, 2006, as WPXI took over WPGH's news operation.

PCNC offers two exclusive newscasts: a 7 to 8 a.m. weekday newscast and a 7 p.m. weeknight newscast.

[edit] Channel 11 News on Fox 53

As of Jan. 12, 2006, Sinclair Broadcast Group (owner of Fox affiliate WPGH-TV) and Cox entered into an agreement where WPXI began producing newscasts specifically for WPGH. This agreement, called a "news share", began Jan. 30, 2006. All of WPGH's former news staff, except for sportscaster Alby Oxenreiter, were laid off. The 10 p.m. newscast became "Channel 11 News at Ten on Fox 53. Oxenreiter's "Ox on Fox Sports Extra" fills the final 15 minutes of the newscast.

[edit] Ratings

Pittsburgh is a tough market for local news, with the news station ratings usually differing by a tenth of a point.

In February 2007, WPXI produced the most-watched ten p.m. newscast, Channel 11 News on Fox 53.^[2]

[edit] Slogans

WPXI has had a plethora of slogans focusing on their news-driven product, including "More News. More Often" and "Live. Local. Late-Breaking News," both of which were used during the 90s.

In the late 1980s and early 90s, WPXI was known as the "24-Hour News Source," providing news and weather updates every hour on Channel 11.

Channel 11's current slogan is "Coverage You Can Count On." In 2004, the station expanded the slogan to include various news-oriented services (i.e. "Weather Coverage You Can Count On" and "News Coverage You Can Count On").

On June 21, 2005, WPXI expanded its weather coverage to include NBC WeatherPlus, a digital cable channel in partnership with NBC. The channel can also be seen over-the-air on digital TV sets at Channel 11.2 and on digial cable providers in the Pittsburgh area. Channel 11 weather personnel deliver local forecasts three times every 15 minutes. NBC provides national weather reports in between local forecasts.

[edit] Logo

WPXI currently uses the number 11 drawn into a circle, which debuted when the station changed its call signs from WIIC in 1981. The 11 symbol is colored gold, while the box around it is dark blue. WPXI previously used the NBC Peacock logo in its logo (which was copied by sister stations WTOV and WJAC and is still used by those stations) but revamped its look in October 2004 and now just uses the Circle 11 logo with stylized "WPXI" below it.

[edit] Local Programming

Channel 11 has had only one major foray into producing local programming; from 1963 to 1983, the station produced and broadcast Chiller Theater, a late Saturday evening horror film show hosted by Bill Cardille, or as he was referred to, "Chilly Billy." Cardille and a cast of characters would introduce the film being shown, as well as perform skits during breaks in the film. Cardille became well-known for hosting the show, and the shows themselves became part of local yore. The final program aired on January 1, 1984. Cardille remains in Pittsburgh as midday personality on WJAS radio, and occasional Chiller Theater reunions have been held over the years. Cardille remained on-air at Channel 11 through the early- to mid-90s as the morning and noon weather forecaster.

The show was part of a trend during the 1960s and 1970s for television stations to produce local programming. Local stations often created their own children's shows as well. Horror theater shows, such as Shock Theatre, hosted by Ghoulardi and "Big Chuck and Little John" in Cleveland, as well as "Chiller Theater", were not only easy to produce, but popular with the local audience.

[edit] Present

• Our Region's Business
• Talkin' Pittsburgh
• Impact
• WPXI Celebrate the Season Parade
• WPXI Carol Sing
• Jerry Lewis Telethon
• Star Spangled Salute
• The Jerome Bettis Show

[edit] Past

• Chiller Theater
• H.S. Sports Saturday with Mark Malone
• Studio Wrestling
• Cartoon Colorama with Captain Jim

[edit] Personalities

[edit] Anchors David Johnson Peggy Finnegan Darieth Chisolm Newlin Archinal Bob Bruce [edit] Anchors/Reporters Stacia Erdos Gordon Loesch Vince Sims [edit] Severe Weather Team 11 Mike Lapoint (AMS Meteorologist) Krista Villarreal (AMS Meteorologist) Kevin Benson (AMS Meteorologist) Scott Harbaugh (AMS Meteorologist)

[edit] Sports John Fedko Alby Oxenreiter Bill Phillips Rich Walsh [edit] Reporters Stu Brown Jodine Costanzo Rick Earle (Target 11 Investigator) Kimberly Easton Andy Gastmeyer Lori Houy Alan Jennings (Westmoreland County Bureau Chief) Amy Marcinkiewicz Katrina Owens Trisha Pittman (Traffic) Dee Thompson Renee Kaminski Karen Welles (Target 11 Investigator)

[edit] Former Personalities

• Asa Aarons (19xx-19xx) (consumer reporter) - now a consumer reporter for WNBC New York
• Caroline Avedesian (19xx-1999) (reporter) -
• Hank Baughman (19xx-1986) (anchor) - now at disc jockey at WSHH "Wish 99.7" in Pittsburgh, also worked at KQV, WTAE-AM, WHTX
• Rocky Bleier (1980-19xx) (sports) - former Pittsburgh Steeler
• Mike Boguslowski (19xx-19xx) (consumer reporter) - used to work at KCBS-TV in Los Angeles
• Julie Bologna (1999-2004) (weather) - native of Aliquippa; now at KTVT in Dallas-Fort Worth
• Dennis Bowman (1984-2000) (weather) - after 16 years he moved on to Topeka, Kansas, but returned to Pittsburgh in 2005; now serves as a freelance meteorologist at KDKA-TV
• Jim Brinson (19xx-19xx) (sports) -
• Natasha Brown (1999-2002) (reporter) - now at KYW-TV and WPSG in Philadelphia
• Beverly Byer (19xx-19xx) (anchor) - was an anchor at KION-TV in Monterey, Calif.; now at KRXA 540 AM
• Reg Chapman (1999-2002) (reporter) - now a reporter at WNBC New York
• Steve Chenevey (1999-2002) (reporter) - now co-anchors WTTG morning news from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m [the same channel Shawn Yancy, formerly of WTAE-TV, works]
• Della Crews (1985-1998) (anchor/reporter) - now at News 12 in the New York/New Jersey area
• Red Donley (19xx-19xx) (sports) - previously worked at WTOV-TV in Steubenville, Ohio / Wheeling, West Virginia
• Mike Hambrick (1986-1989) (anchor) - news director at WTAP-TV in West Virginia
• Yolanda Hawkins (2003-2006) (reporter) - recently posed for the cover of Maniac Magazine's September 2006 issue
• Dagny Hultgreen (19xx-19xx) (anchor/reporter) - sister of Kara Hultgreen, first female US Navy fighter pilot; appeared in the film 'Speed' as a reporter; spent time as a reporter for E! News and Good Day L.A.
• Katina Forte (19xx-2002) (traffic reporter) - was host of 'QVC @ The Mall', now at ShopNBC
• Vince Gerasole (19xx-19xx) (reporter) - now at WBBM-TV, is a native of Pittsburgh
• Derrick Gunn (1987-1997) (sports) - now at Comcast SportsNet
• Ron Jaye ( -2000) (anchor/reporter) - retired
• Keith Jones (1999-2003) (anchor/reporter) now at KDKA-TV
• C.S. Keys (1995-1999) (weather) now at XETV-TV in San Diego
• Kris Long (1993-19xx) (anchor) - now at KPSP-LP in Palm Springs, Calif.
• Mark Malone (1990-1993) (sports) - now with WBBM-TV
• Loran Mann (1976-1996) (reporter) - now a minister in Pittsburgh
• Kelly Mitchell (19xx-19xx) (anchor) -
• Sam Nover (1970-2001) (sports) - retired
• Bruce Pompeani (1993-1996) (anchor/reporter) - worked at KDKA-TV
• Gina Redmond (2001-2003) (anchor) - now at WVTM-TV in Birmingham
• Dr. Mike Rosen (1997-2001) (medical reporter) - now the senior medical correspondent at WCBS-TV and also files reports for CBS Newspath
• Lori Savitch (1990-19xx) (anchor/reporter) - now an award-winning freelance producer for Nickelodeon, Lifetime and the History Channel and contributor to WQED Pittsburgh's 'OnQ'
• Eleanor Shano (19xx-19xx) (anchor) - host of WQED's 'LifeQuest'
• Margaret Shortridge (1992-2000) (reporter/anchor) - now at WFLD
• Roxanne Stein (19xx-1987) (anchor) -
• Edye Tarbox (1987-1989) (anchor) - now with Fox News Channel
• Steve Teeling (2000-2006) (Chief Meteorologist) - now with WXXA in Albany, New York
• Becky Thompson (xxxx-2006) - relocated to Texas
• Estha Trouw (19xx-19xx) (anchor/reporter)
• Randy Waters (1981-1984) (sports) - now at WXIA-TV in Atlanta

[edit] Trivia

• WPXI was the only Pittsburgh TV station that aired uncensored footage of Pennsylvania treasurer Budd Dwyer's suicide in 1987.

[edit] Contact

11 Television Hill
Pittsburgh, PA 15214

Phone Number: 412-237-1100

[edit] External links

• WPXI Web site

[edit] References

1. ^ Federal Communications Commission Commercial Broadcast Station report. FCC.gov. Retrieved on 2007-02-18.
2. ^ TV Ratings: Feb. 2007. post-gazette.com. Retrieved on 2007-03-11.

• Query the FCC's TV station database for WPXI