WMBB
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| WMBB | |
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| Panama City, Florida | |
| Branding | WMBB News13 |
| Slogan | On Your Side |
| Channels | Analog: 13 (VHF) |
| Affiliations | ABC (1982-Present) |
| Owner | Media General, Inc. (sale pending to Hoak Media Corporation) (Media General Communications Holdings, LLC) |
| First air date | October 4, 1973 |
| Call letters’ meaning | World's Most Beautiful Beaches |
| Former callsigns | WDTB-TV (1973-1977) |
| Former affiliations | NBC (1973-1982) |
| Transmitter Power | 316 kW (analog) 700 kW (digital) |
| Height | 437 m (analog) 405 m (digital) |
| Facility ID | 66398 |
| Transmitter Coordinates | |
| Website | www.wmbb.com |
WMBB News13 is a full power television station -- as an ABC network affiliate, it serves the entire Panama City, Florida metropolitan area. Its transmitter is located in Youngstown.
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[edit] Technical information
This station is licensed to broadcast on VHF channel 13 at 316 kilowatts and broadcasts in high definition on UHF channel 19 at only 38 kilowatts under a Special Temporary Authority, but has filed for a construction permit to increase its power to about 1,000 kilowatts. WMBB is owned and operated by Media General of Richmond, Virginia.
[edit] History
WMBB first began its broadcasting operations on October 4, 1973 as WDTB-TV, started by Panhandle Broadcasting Corporation, run by attorney Denver T. Brannen, and financed by local businessman/car dealer Tommy Thomas, and attorneys Julian Bennett and Dick Arnold. When it first took to the air, channel 13 was originally an NBC network affiliate. On February 28, 1977, WDTB was sold to Octagon Broadcasting, an Atlanta-based outfit. Upon the change, Octagon changed the station's callsign to the current WMBB -- which stands for "The World's Most Beautiful Beaches".
Originally, the station was positioned to be the NBC affiliate for Tallahassee as well, since they did not have one until the 1980s when WTWC signed on. The plan failed. At the time, the transmitter was in Frink, Florida, located in Calhoun County, well over 50 miles (80 km) away from Tallahassee, at approximately . In addition, many viewers in the capital city already receive NBC from Albany, Georgia's WALB.
On January 4, 1982, WMBB made the affiliation switch to ABC, swapping with its crosstown rival, WJHG, channel 7. Then on December 5, 1986, Buford Television of Tyler, Texas purchased the station and began investing in equipment and news talent, in order to make the station more competitive, not only with WJHG, but also with Dothan, Ala.'s WTVY, the CBS station serving the eastern part of the northwestern Florida "Panhandle" region. It was also around this time that the station moved from its location in downtown Panama City to its current location at 613 Harrison Avenue, which formerly housed a Buick dealership. The new station offered three times the space of the previous location.
Unexpectedly, at 2:03 p.m. Central Time on May 18, 1989, an Air Force F-15 fighter jet clipped a wire at its Frink tower. This caused the tower, antenna and transmitter to be completely destroyed. Not long after this incident the station was sold once again. This time, the station joined Spartan Communications of Spartanburg, S.C. as construction of new transmission equipment got underway. The company completed the acquisition on April 12, 1990. On August 6 of that same year, WMBB began broadcasting from a new 1,500-foot (457-meter) state-of-the-art antenna and transmitter tower, now located in Youngstown, Fla. This allowed for better viewing of the station in the western half of the market including the rapidly growing southern Walton County area and Destin.
In 1993, WMBB refused to air the ABC show NYPD Blue due to its violence, harsh language and partial nudity; instead, it aired syndicated programming during the timeslot. It was one of several ABC affiliates across the country that refused clearance to the program. Then-general manager Hugh Roche kept the show off the station until 1997, when the parental ratings system was adopted by the networks. By the time WMBB finally allowed the program to air, it was the last station in the country to lift its ban on the show.
In March 2000, WMBB became one of 13 stations in a package acquired by Media General, worth $605 million. Later that year, Media General purchased the Jackson County Floridan newspaper. WMBB then established a Jackson County bureau and used the resources of the Floridan to cover Jackson County as well. However, this caught the eye of the Federal Communications Commission because of the common ownership of a newspaper and television station in the same market. With the pending sale of WMBB-TV to Hoak Media, this will no longer be an issue.
WMBB made history during Hurricane Dennis in July 2005 when it became the first station in Panama City to broadcast live storm coverage over the internet, as well as being one of the first stations in the country to use the Titan forecasting tool, a 3D forecasting system which showed the collapse of the storm just before it struck Santa Rosa Island.
Media General announced on October 29, 2007, that WMBB is one of five of its stations the company is considering putting up for sale. [1] On March 14, 2008, it was announced that Media General would sell the station (along with sister station KALB-TV in Alexandria, Louisiana) to Hoak Media Corporation.[2] If the purchase is approved, WMBB would be Hoak's first television station east of the Mississippi River.
On February 17th 2009, WMBB will cease analog broadcasting and its digital signal will move from channel 19 to channel 13.
[edit] News Department
[edit] Notable Personalities
CURRENT PERSONALITIES
- Megan Albright, General Assignment Reporter
- Jerry Brown, Live at 5:00, 6:00, and 10:00 Anchor/Reporter
- Jessi Chapin, General Assignment Reporter
- Jessica Foster, Weekend Meteorologist/Reporter
- Stephen Gunter, Sports Director/Anchor
- Amy Hoyt, Live at 5:00, 6:00, and 10:00 Anchor/Reporter
- Mark Jenkins, Weekend Anchor/Reporter
- Justin Kiefer, Morning Meteorologist
- Deanna Lambert, Morning Anchor/Reporter
- Tuquyen Mach, Weekend Anchor/Reporter
- Chris Marchand, General Assignment Reporter
- Bree Sison, General Assignment Reporter
- Greg Sherrod, Morning Anchor/Reporter
- Jerry Tabatt, Chief Weather Forecaster
- Jim Wilson, Host, "Florida Outdoor Adventures"
PAST PERSONALITIES
- Christian Ashley, Sports Anchor/Reporter (now Public Affairs- Clear Channel -Atlanta) (2003-2005)
- Amy Ausley, Reporter/Anchor (late 1990s)
- David Bacon, Sports (1990s)
- David Bishop, Reporter (1989-1990, now in government affairs)
- Ed Bradford, Anchor (1989-1991)
- Sandra Brogan, Meteorologist (now at WPMT-TV Harrisburg, PA)
- Kyle Burger, Sports Director/Anchor (2005-2007, now at WAAY-TV Huntsville)
- Shannon Cake, Reporter (now at WPTV-TV West Palm Beach, FL)
- Crystal Cameron, Reporter, Weekend Anchor (2004-2006, now at WVIR-TV Charlottesville, VA)
- Susan Casper, Reporter (now with WFTS Tampa)
- Chris Cato, Live at 5:00, 6:00, and 10:00 Anchor/Reporter (1999-2005, now at WSPA/WYCW, Spartanburg, SC)
- Carmen Coursey Cato, Anchor/Reporter (?, now at WSPA/WYCW, Spartanburg, SC)
- Scot Chestnut, Reporter (1980s)
- Judy Dickey, Morning Meteorologist(2002-2005), Weekend Meteorologist (1997-2000)
- April Douglas, Marianna Bureau Reporter (now at WALA Mobile)
- John Dunlap, Sports (now at WJXT Jacksonville)
- Tracey Early, Reporter (now with News 14 Carolina)
- Craig Falanga, Sports (?-2003)
- Sheena Foster, Reporter (2006-2007)
- Tim Gehret, Anchor-Reporter (1999-2001 Now at WCBD Charleston, SC)
- Nancy Gay, Reporter (now with Central Florida News 13)
- Brian Goddin, Weekend Anchor/General Assignment Reporter (?-2005)(now with Bay County Sheriff's Office)
- Cynthia Gould, Anchor (1980s)
- Tracey Grimm, Reporter (1980s)
- Mike Gurspan, Anchor/Reporter (1987-1992, now at WTVY Dothan)
- Larche Hardy, Reporter / Anchor (1980-1986?) (currently News Director)
- Joy Harris, Weather (1980s)
- Lesley Hendrix, Weekend Anchor/General Assignment Reporter (?-2005,)
- Tom Higginbotham, Meteorologist (1990s)
- Paul Joseph, Sports (1980s-1990s)
- Mark Koelbel, Main Anchor (Early 1990s)
- Kerry Kinsey, Main Anchor (2001-2002, now at KTVX Salt Lake City)
- Robert Kittle, General Assignment Reporter (1985-1989, now at WSPA Spartanburg)
- Sam Lane, Weekend Weather Forecaster
- Tom Lewis, Anchor (early 1980s, 1989-2001, now at WJHG)
- Jared Long, General Assignment Reporter (?-2004)
- Janice Lucas, Reporter (1980s)
- Kira Mathis, General Assignment Reporter (2003-2005, now at News 14 Carolina Greensboro)
- Chris Mitchell, Walton County Reporter (1998-2007)
- Steve Moss, Morning Anchor
- Kate Mundy, Morning Anchor/Reporter (?-2004, now at KATC-TV Lafayette, LA)
- Capt. Norm Miller, Chief Weather Forecaster (1987-1998)
- Candace Mills, General Assignment Reporter (2007)
- Tom Najjar, Midday Host (1980s & 90s) (Now hosting morning talk show on WPGX-TV)
- Kathy Oliver, Main Anchor (Early 1990s)
- Leif Pedersen-Diaz, Reporter (Early 1990's)
- Chris Pedersen, Reporter (1980s)
- Bob Petermann, Weather Anchor (1980s) (Deceased)
- Linda Powell, Live at 5:00 Anchor (?-2004, now in Jacksonville with Video Law Services)
- Tanya Rivera, Morning Anchor (1993-2000, now at WFMY-TV Greensboro, NC)
- Ashley Roberts, General Assignment Reporter (2005-2007, now at WSLS Roanoke)
- Angela Sachitano, Morning Anchor/Reporter (2004-2006)
- Carolyn Scofield (now with Central Florida News 13)
- Dan Sheldon (now with KUTV Salt Lake City)
- Robby Thomas, General Assignment Reporter (2004-2006)
- Jennifer Turk, General Assignment Reporter (2005-2007 now with WNCN Raleigh-Durham)
- John Willams, Main Anchor (1987-1989)
- Hank Woolard, Reporter (1980s)
[edit] External links
- Official site
- Query the FCC's TV station database for WMBB
- BIAfn's Media Web Database -- Information on WMBB-TV
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