WTEN
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| WTEN / WCDC-TV | |
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| WTEN: Albany/Schenectady/Troy, New York WCDC: Adams/Pittsfield, Massachusetts |
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| Branding | WTEN News 10 |
| Slogan | The News Station |
| Channels | Analog: WTEN: 10 (VHF) WCDC: 19 (UHF) |
| Affiliations | ABC Local WX (on WTEN-DT2) RTN (on WTEN-DT3) |
| Owner | Young Broadcasting, Inc. (Young Broadcasting of Albany, Inc.) |
| First air date | WTEN: October 14, 1953 WCDC: February 5, 1954 |
| Call letters’ meaning | WTEN: channel TEN (10) WCDC: derived from WTEN's former callsign WCDA |
| Former callsigns | WTEN: WROW-TV (1954-1957) WCDA (1957-1960) WCDC: WMGT (1954-1957) |
| Former channel number(s) | WTEN: 41 (1954-1957) WCDC: 74 (1954-1957) |
| Former affiliations | WTEN: CBS (1954-1977) WCDC: DuMont (secondary, 1954-1956) CBS (1954-1977) |
| Transmitter Power | WTEN: 316 kW (analog) 700 kW (digital) WCDC: 447 kW (analog) 48 kW (digital) |
| Height | WTEN: 305 m (analog) 426 m (digital) WCDC: 637 m (analog) 631 m (digital) |
| Facility ID | WTEN: 74422 WCDC: 74419 |
| Transmitter Coordinates | WTEN: (analog) (digital) WCDC: |
| Website | www.wten.com |
WTEN is the ABC-affiliated television station for the Capital District of New York State and western New England. Licensed to Albany, the station broadcasts an analog signal on VHF channel 10 and a digital signal on UHF channel 26. WTEN's transmitter is located at the Helderberg Mountains tower farm in New Scotland. Owned by Young Broadcasting, the station has studios located on Northern Boulevard in Albany.
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[edit] Overview
WTEN operates a full-time satellite, WCDC-TV. Licensed to Adams, Massachusetts, this station broadcasts an analog signal on UHF channel 19 and a digital signal on UHF channel 36. WCDC's transmitter is located on Mount Greylock, Massachusetts' highest peak. There is no on-air reference to WCDC but the station is mentioned in WTEN's legal ID, EEO public file report, and on the News 10 Storm Tracker Weather Channel.
WCDC's signal reliably covers the western half of Massachusetts, southern Vermont, northern Connecticut, and southwestern New Hampshire. WCDC, along with MyNetworkTV affiliate WNYA, can be considered rimshot signals into the Springfield / Holyoke, Massachusetts television market. Despite WCDC being located in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, Time Warner cable systems in the county carry WTEN's signal instead of WCDC¹. The station is a full-time simulcast of WTEN.
[edit] Digital programming
WTEN's digital signal is multiplexed:
| Channel | Programming |
|---|---|
| 10.1 | main WTEN programming / ABC HD |
| 10.2 | News 10 Storm Tracker Weather Channel (24-hour local weather channel) |
| 10.3 | Retro Television Network |
On February 17,2009 WTEN might move its digital channel 10 so does WCDC on digital channel 19 after the DTV transition.
[edit] History
[edit] WTEN
WTEN began broadcasting on October 14, 1953 as WROW-TV from a temporary 100-foot (30-meter) mast which limited its signal to the immediate Albany and Troy area. It went to full power and a permanent antenna tower a few months later. The station was initially affiliated with ABC and transmitted on channel 41. It was owned by Hudson Valley Broadcasting Company along with WROW-AM. By 1954, the station was operating in the red and was losing money prompted the company's orginial owners to sell its controlling stake in Hudson Valley Broadcasting to a New York City based investors led by Frank Smith (who became President of the company) along with legendary radio broadcaster/author Lowell Thomas. In the spring of 1956, its call letters were changed to WCDA when it opened satellite station WCDB on channel 29 in nearby Hagaman, to reach areas which the channel 41 signal couldn't reach[1]. The calls were changed again to the current WTEN in 1957, when the station moved to Channel 10 and the WCDB satellite was discontinued. Hudson Valley Broadcasting eventually became Capital Cities Television Corp (forerunner of Capital Cities Communications) in December 1957 with WTEN becoming its flagship station. Both WROW-TV and WROW radio became CBS affiliates in 1955. the stations' original studios where located at an old nun retirement home once owned by The Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet in the Town of North Greenbush, until 1966, when the stations moved to its present location in the northside of Albany on Northern Boulevard. The old studio was burned down a year later.
In 1968, Capital Cities sold the original three stations of the group (WTEN, WPRO-TV in Providence (RI) and WJRT-TV in Flint (MI)) to Poole Broadcasting. Nine years later, Poole sold WTEN, WJRT, and WPRO (now WPRI-TV) to Knight-Ridder. The new owner signed an affiliation deal with ABC which resulted in WTEN swapping affiliations with WAST (now WNYT) to become the market's ABC affiliate. Young Broadcasting bought WTEN and its sister station WKRN-TV in Nashville (TN) from Knight-Ridder upon the latter's exit from broadcasting.
WTEN signed on its digital signal on UHF channel 26 in 2004 and began offering high-definition service. WTEN's HDTV signal can also be seen on Time Warner digital cable channel 1810.
On October 1, 2007, station owner Young Broadcasting launched Equity Broadcasting's Retro Television Network on WTEN's DT3 digital subchannel. This launch is part of a test of the network with sister stations WBAY in Green Bay (WI) and KRON in San Francisco (CA). The network features classic sitcoms and dramas. It remains to be seen if this channel will be offered on Time Warner digital cable systems in the Capital District and / or Berkshire County (MA).
In an effort to cut costs, Young Broadcasting eliminated 10 positions from WTEN on January 31, 2008, fueling speculations that the company might sell the station in order to pay down its financial debt.
[edit] WCDC
WCDC began broadcasting on February 5, 1954 as WMGT (Mount Greylock Television) on channel 74 as an independent station, affiliated with the DuMont network. The tower location on Mount Greylock helped WMGT serve first as the market's secondary affiliate of DuMont and later as a major boost to WCDA.
In December 1954, WMGT moved to channel 19, extending the station's range to the New York Capital Region. In February 1956, the station was forced off the air when a storm damaged its transmitting tower.[2] When it returned to the air in 1957, the call letters were changed to the current WCDC and the station had become a relay of WCDA in Albany. The WCDC call letters were derived from WTEN's former calls WCDA and its Hagaman relay, WCDB. The WMGT call sign is now used on the NBC affiliate in Macon, GA on Channel 41 in 1983.
WCDC's digital signal on UHF channel 36 signed on nearly 18 months before WTEN's did. However, it not upgrade to high-definition programming until WTEN-DT signed on. WCDC's digital signal is currently not offered on Time Warner digital cable systems in Berkshire County (MA).
[edit] WCDB
Prior to WCDA's move to channel 10, a second satellite was operated by WCDA located on channel 29 in the Montgomery County village of Hagaman. The station, with the call letters of WCDB, signed off the air in 1959 after the WCDA move rendered WCDB superfluous (even though it did provide some primary CBS coverage to Utica). The WCDB calls would return to the air in 1978 and serve the student-run radio station at the University at Albany.
[edit] News operation
For many years, WRGB had the leading local news production in the Capital Region followed by WNYT and WTEN. In 1993, WRGB was quickly eclipsed by WNYT. WTEN has consistently ranked third in the ratings. For a period in the early-2000s, WTEN passed WRGB. In 2005, WTEN launched a 24-hour local weather channel on its second digital subchannel. It is known on-air as News 10 Storm Tracker Weather Channel and can also be see in the Capital District on Time Warner digital cable channel 554. The channel is not seen on WCDC's digital signal but it is offered on Time Warner digital cable systems in Berkshire County. The weather channel can also be seen via live streaming video on WTEN's website. WTEN's weather radar is known as "News 10 Storm Tracker HD Doppler".
[edit] Newscast titles
- NewsTeam 10 (1977-1980)
- TV-10 Action News (1980-1985)
- 10 Eyewitness News (1985-1995)
- News 10 (1995-present)
[edit] News team
Anchors
(in alphabetical order)
| Personality | Position | WTEN Since |
|---|---|---|
| Steve Ammerman | News 10 at 5, 5:30, 6, and 11pm | 1997 |
| Christina Arangio | News 10 at 5, 5:30, 6, and 11pm | 2007 |
| Tracy Egan | News 10 at Noon | 1994 |
| Dori Marlin | News 10 in the Morning | 2005 |
| Mark O'Brien | News 10 in the Morning | 2007 |
| Elisa Streeter | News 10 at 5, 5:30, and 6pm | 1989 |
| Anya Tucker | News 10 at 6 and 11pm (weekends) | 2005 |
Storm Tracker 10 Meteorologists
(in order of rank)
| Personality | Position | WTEN Since |
|---|---|---|
| Steve Caporizzo | News 10 at 5, 5:30, 6, and 11pm (Chief Meteorologist) /Host of: "Pet Connection" specials seen six times a year | 1989 |
| Andy Gregorio | News10 in the Morning | 1997 |
| Katie Virtue | News10 at 6 and 11pm (weekends), News10 at Noon | 2005 |
Sports
| Personality | Position | WTEN Since |
|---|---|---|
| Jamie Seh | News10 at 6 and 11pm/Host of: Friday Night Frenzy | 2006 |
Reporters
(in alphabetical order)
| Personality | Position | WTEN Since |
|---|---|---|
| Eric Egan | General Assignment Reporter | 2007 |
| Demetra Ganias | General Assignment Reporter | 2006 |
| John McLoughlin | General Assignment Reporter/Managing Editor (since 2003) | 1972 |
| Jeff Stoecker | General Assignment Reporter | 2005 |
| Latricia Thomas | General Assignment Reporter | 2005 |
[edit] Past staff and Personalities
- Angela Hampton (6:00/11:00 p.m. anchor 1995-1997). Now 6:00/11:00 p.m. anchor at WTVD in Raleigh-Durham, N.C.
- Cary Berglund (Weekend/Noon anchor, 1986-1989; now at KNBC in Los Angeles)
- Jim Brennan (6:00/11:00 p.m. anchor, 1991-2000; now hosts "New York Week in Review", aired on PBS stations across New York state)
- Dan Burke (Station manager) 1960-66 became President and CEO of CapCities/ABC before retiring in 1995.
- Renee Chenault (Fattah) - reporter 1985? - 1988. Recently worked for KYW in Philadelphia before working for crosstown rival station WCAU NBC-10.
- Greg Floyd (Weekend anchor in the mid 1980's until leaving for WTZA in Kingston, then resurfacing at WXXA and WRGB)
- Marci Elliott (Co-Weeknight News Anchor with Dick Wood) 1980-1989. Now lives in Florida doing freelance commercials, voice overs and acting.
- Cynthia Fodor (6:00/11:00 p.m. anchor ?-1990's). Now with KCCI, Des Moines, Iowa and serves as Mid-West Bureau Chief for the nationally-syndicated travel magazine radio show, "The Travel Hour with Stephen Pickford and Friends" (formerly the Travel World Radio Show)
- Bob Gordon (Weatherman during the late 1960s and 1970s, preceded Bob Kovachick). Currently doing infomericals and voice-over commercials.
- Alfreida Graves (Reporter) she was station's first African-American reporter in the early 1970s. she sued WTEN in 1976 in a lawsuit claiming racial bias. The case was reportedly settled out of court. (Whereabouts Unknown).
- John Guaraldi (meteorologist from 1981 until about the mid-90s, now meteorologist at WPLG-TV in Miami)
- Ted Knight- (The Mary Tyler Moore Show and Too Close for Comfort) From 1955, he hosted a kids variety show playing 'Windy Knight; was the announcer of 'The Early Movie' show and was a DJ for WROW Radio. Left for Hollywood in 1957.(deceased)
- Bob Kovachick (Now of WNYT, was chief meteorologist at WTEN from April 1977 until 1986, was the first credentialed meteorologist in the Albany market)
- George Leighton - (Chief announcer - 1950 to 1989) Nicknamed 'The Voice of WTEN'; also was known as 'Old Skipper' on The Good Ship News (1958 - 1968). (deceased)
- Beth McKay (Co-Weekday Anchor with Jim Brennan) 1990-1995. Left for an NBC affiliate in Dallas. Born-Again Christian, she retired to raised a family.
- Bob McNamara (Sports Reporter) early to late 60's before moving to WRGB sometime in early 70's and WNYT in the 80's and early 90's (retired)
- Doug Myers (Reporter and News Producer 1971-1989) Did morning and weekend news anchoring. was a radio news reporter for WPTR in the late 60's, now communications director for the Albany International Airport.
- Walt McClure (key reporter from 1999-2005, now in the same role at WXXA-TV)
- Scott Patterson (reporter from 2001-2005, now weekend anchor at KPTM in Omaha, Nebraska)
- Terry McSweeney (6:00/11:00 p.m. anchor from 2000-2006, 5:00 p.m. anchor 2002-2006; now a freelance reporter at KGO-TV in San Francisco, California)
- Dan Murphy (Sports Director from 1992-2005 and previously weekend sports, now host of "Murphy's Law" on WOFX radio).
- Thomas S. Murphy (Station Manager) of WROW-TV and radio from 1954 - 1960. Rose through the ranks of CapCities until 1966 he was named Chairman and CEO of the company.
- Beth Nichols (Reporter in mid 80's to 1989) among the casualties of mass firings when station changed ownership in 1989.
- Sue Nigra (News Anchor) in the 1990s. Sued the station to get out the contract to work for WRGB.
- Ryan Nobles (Weekday morning anchor from 2003-2005, Currently Anchor at WWBT, Richmond, VA)
- Mary Caroline Powers (Co-anchored the noon news for many years with Ralph Vartigan. Worked at WRGB during the 1970s and later worked in public television and as an editor at The Saratogian newspaper)
- Susan Raff (former business reporter), has been with WFSB since 1995
- Rip Rowan (Sports anchor from 1968-86, later worked for the Albany-Colonie Yankees AA farm team)
- Sharman Sachetti (Former morning anchor - as of 2005 a reporter at WFXT in Boston)
- Mai Shiozaki (Former freelance morning anchor - was press secretary for National Organization for Women)
- Jeff Smith (Weekend meteorologist 2004-January 2007, now weekend mornings at WABC-TV in New York City)
- John Spadafora (Weekend sports anchor from 1992-2005, now heads communications for the Albany-Colonie Chamber of Commerce)
- Ralph Vartigan (Longtime host of the children's program "The Good Ship News as 'Commander Ralph' and "Young People's News" in the late 70's as 'Mr. Vartigan'; hosted "Dialing for Dollars" and later co-anchor of the noon news)
- Bruce Williamson - News Anchor Early 60's and early 70's. Became News Director until 1979. (deceased)
- Dick Wood (Main anchor from 1973-1991, as of 2006 hosts a jazz show on WABY Moon Radio)
- Herb Starr (reporter, weekend anchor, 1970-1975; communications dir., NY Lt Gov; corporate media advisor. Now a private investor)
- Dick (Hill) McCarthy, (anchor, 1970s, later in communications for New York state. WABY did sports reports
- Richard Roth, (reporter, early 70s, is a CBS News correspondent based in London)
- Richard Reingold, (reporter, early 70s, was president and general manager of WUSA-TV, Washington, DC)
- Dick Williams, (reporter-weekend anchor, early 70s, hosts WAGA-TV (FOX 5)'s Georgia Gang in Atlanta)
- John Craig (reporter 2000-2008, now at WNYT)
- Brian Sinkoff (sports director 2005-2008, now host of Sound Off with Sinkoff on WTMM)
- Alyssa Van Wie (weekend morning anchor 2004-2008)
- Robin Schwartz, anchor and reporter (Early 1990s-1998), now at WJBK in Detroit
[edit] References
- ^ Albany Times-Union, April 22, 1956, page H-4
- ^ Albany Times Union, 22 April 1956, Page H-4
[edit] External links
- WTEN "News 10"
- ABC
- Query the FCC's TV station database for WTEN
- Query the FCC's TV station database for WCDC-TV
- BIAfn's Media Web Database -- Information on WTEN-TV
- BIAfn's Media Web Database -- Information on WCDC-TV
¹ - WTEN cable carriage information courtesy Time Warner cable engineering staff, Pittsfield, MA.
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