WRCB-TV

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

WRCB-TV
Image:Wrcb.jpg
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Branding Channel 3
Channel 3 Eyewitness News
Slogan Coverage You Can Count On
Channels Analog: 3 (VHF)

Digital: 13 (VHF)

Affiliations NBC
Owner Sarkes Tarzian, Inc.
First air date May 6, 1956
Call letters’ meaning Rust Craft Broadcasting
(former owners)
Former callsigns WRGP-TV (1956-1963)
Transmitter Power 100 kW (analog)
34.8 kW (digital)
Height 377 m (analog)
335 m (digital)
Facility ID 59137
Transmitter Coordinates 35°9′40″N, 85°18′51.3″W
Website www.wrcbtv.com

WRCB-TV Channel 3 is an NBC affiliate based in Chattanooga, serving southeastern Tennessee, northwestern Georgia, northeastern Alabama, and Southwestern North Carolina. Its transmitter and tower are located in Signal Mountain, Tennessee, just outside Chattanooga proper.

WRCB-TV uses the branding "Channel 3 Eyewitness News" and the slogan "Coverage You Can Count On."

[edit] History

The station signed on the air on May 6, 1956 as WRGP-TV. It picked up the NBC affiliation from WROM-TV (now WTVC). This made Chattanooga one of the smallest cities in the country, and the first in East Tennessee, with three VHF stations. It was named for one of the Chattanooga investors who founded the station, Raymond G. Patterson. Its studios were first located on McCallie Avenue, between downtown and Missionary Ridge.

The station has belonged to several owners over the years. When the local group decided to sell in 1959, Friendly Broadcasting, owner of WSTV-TV in Steubenville, Ohio (now WTOV-TV) bought WRGP. In 1961 WSTV and WRGP were sold to the Massachusetts-based United Printers And Publishers, who would later become Rust Craft Broadcasters, named after its greeting card line, which has since been acquired by American Greetings. These owners changed the station's callsign to WRCB-TV in 1963. In 1968 the station moved to new facilities on Whitehall Road, on Chattanooga's north side, across the Tennessee River from downtown. Those new studios and equipment enabled channel 3 to begin broadcasting in color. In 1979, Rust Craft merged with magazine publisher Ziff Davis, who, in turn, sold WRCB to current owner Sarkes Tarzian, Inc. of Bloomington, Indiana; in 1982.

[edit] News Department

Current Personalities/Employees

  • Paul Barys, Chief Meteorologist
  • Mark Bruce, General Assignment Reporter
  • David Carroll, 5PM and 6PM Anchor
  • Latrice Currie, Morning Anchor, Eye On Health Reporter
  • Greg Glover, 11PM Anchor/General Assignment Reporter
  • Bernadette Jay, General Assignment Reporter
  • David Karnes, Morning Meteorologist
  • Bill Markham, 5:30PM Anchor
  • Jed Mescon, Morning Anchor
  • Amy Morrow, Weekend Anchor, Reporter
  • Cindy Sexton, 5PM, 5:30PM, 6PM, and 11PM Anchor
  • Randy Smith, Sports Director
  • Callie Starnes, General Assignment Reporter
  • Brian Travers, Weekend Meteorologist
  • Marco Villareal, General Assignment Reporter
  • Rachel Withers, General Assignment ReporterReporter


Past Personalities/Employees

  • Jim Allday, Anchor (1974)
  • Bob Austin, PM Magazine Host, early 80's, Produced PM Magazine in Sacramento, now owns a broadcast brokerage firm.
  • Debbie Baer (later Debbie Baer McCurdy), Meteorologist (late 1970s), also host of the local PM Magazine (late 1970s)
  • Ted Barnhill, Reporter
  • Bob Beard, Reporter
  • Thom Benson, Morning Meteorologist (1995-2007)
  • C.J. Beutien, Anchor (1980-1983)
  • Frenche Brewer, Weekend Anchor
  • Paula Bridges, Weekend Anchor/Reporter (2003-2006)
  • Steve Buckhantz, Sports (late 1970's)
  • Alex Cabrero, Reporter (2000-2001) Now at KSL in Salt Lake City, Utah
  • Stan Carmack, Anchor (1973)
  • Will Carr, Reporter (2006-2008, now at WTVC-TV, Chattanooga)
  • Craig Cecil, Sports (1995-2000)
  • Raymond Cooke, Reporter
  • Ryan Cummings, Reporter
  • Lesley Dale, Reporter (2005-2008)
  • Ted Daniel, Reporter
  • Mike DeForest, Reporter
  • Terry Doepke, Weather
  • Elizabeth Emmons, Reporter (1995-2000)
  • Rich Everitt, Reporter
  • Roy Exum, Sports (1987-88)
  • Don Fischer, Sports (1958-1974)
  • Doreen Gentzler, Reporter
  • Tanya Gipson, Reporter, Weekend Anchor, Mid Morning Show Anchor, Eye on Health Reporter (1994-2001)
  • David Glenn, Meteorologist (1991-1997, Now at WTVC-TV, Chattanooga, TN)
  • Efrem Graham, Weekend Anchor/Reporter (1997-2003, now at WTVG-TV, Toledo)
  • John Gray, Weather (1958-1970)
  • Leann Gregg, Reporter
  • Kirsten Gum, Anchor/Reporter
  • Isaiah Harper, Reporter
  • David Hirt, Reporter
  • Craig Hoffman, Weekend Anchor
  • Chris Hohmann, Weather (1989-1992)
  • Karen Honkanen, Reporter
  • Bryan Houston, Sports (1988-91)
  • Fred Johnson, Anchor (1981-84)
  • Matt Johnson, Reporter (2006-2008)
  • Tonisha Johnson, Reporter (2004-2007)
  • Allen Jones, Anchor (1974-76)
  • Neal Kassebaum, Weather (1973-76)
  • Christine Lehman, Reporter/Part Time Weather Forecaster (1998-2000)
  • Bill Lambdin, Anchor/Sports (late 1970's)
  • Tamara Lister, Reporter
  • Mort Lloyd, Anchor (1958-1970)
  • Betty Mac, Host
  • Russell Martin, Reporter
  • Marty Matthews, Anchor/Reporter (late 1970s-mid 1980s?, now at WTSP-TV)
  • Will McDonald, Sports (1985-86)
  • Mike McKinney, Weekend Anchor (Deceased)
  • Scott Montgomery, Reporter (1982-1999)
  • Roy Morris, Anchor/Host (1959-1973)
  • Leigh Mosely, Reporter
  • Pam Newby, Anchor (1982-84)
  • Jason Racki, Reporter
  • Audrey Ramsey, Reporter
  • Russ Riesinger, Sports Anchor, News Anchor (1986-1991)
  • Heidi Robinson, Reporter
  • Clark Schaefer, Sports
  • Jackie Schulten, Anchor (1975-77)
  • Tony Shelton, Weather (Deceased)
  • Nick Simpson, Weekend Sports Anchor
  • Kevin Sims, Reporter
  • Erika Smedstad, Reporter
  • Lori Stafford, Reporter (1987-89)
  • Lorrie Taylor, Weekend Meteorologist (early 1980s), also host of the local PM Magazine (early 1980s)
  • Jim Thrasher, Sports (1980-83)
  • Jennifer Vickery, Reporter
  • Kathy Walsh, Reporter
  • Al Warlick, Anchor (1976)
  • Mary Kate Wells, Weekend Anchor
  • Don Wick, Anchor (late 1960s-early 1970s)
  • Jerry Wilson, Reporter, Anchor, Sports (1973-77)
  • Webb Wright, Weekend Sports (2004-2008)
  • Todd Yakoubian, Weekend Meteorologist (1999-2005, now at KATV)
  • Sky Yancey, Anchor (1979-1982)

[edit] External links