WCAX-TV: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 17:22, 2 July 2007

Revision as of 00:50, 3 July 2007

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station_logo = [[Image:Wcax.jpg]]|

station_slogan = ''Vermont's Own''|

station_branding = ''Channel 3'' (normalgemeral)<br>''The Channel 3 News'' (newscasts)<br>''Mountain Lake PBS'' (on DT3)|

analog = 3 ([[very high frequency|VHF]])|

digital = 53 ([[ultra high frequency|UHF]]), 22 (post [[2009]]) [http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1082A2.pdf]|

other_chs = 69 W69AR [[Rutland (city), Vermont|Rutland]]|

affiliations = [[CBS]]<br>[[PBS]] (via [[WCFE-TV]], temporary, on DT3)|

founded = [[September 26]], [[1954]]|

___location = [[Burlington, Vermont]]/<br>[[Plattsburgh, New York]]|

callsign_meaning = '''C'''ollege of<BR>'''A'''griculture<BR>E'''x'''tension serviceService<BR>(once provided by the [[University of Vermont|UVM]])|
[http://www.oldradio.com/archives/nelson/origins.call former_callsigns = WMVT (1954-list.html]1956)|

effective_radiated_power = 38 [[kilowatt|kW]] (analog)<br />801 kW (digital)|

former_callsigns = WMVT (1954-1956?) |

owner = Mount Mansfield Television <br>(Martin familyFamily)|

effective_radiated_power = 38 [[kilowatt|kW]] (analog)<br />801 kW (digital)|

owner = Mount Mansfield Television (Martin family)|

former_affiliations = [[FOX]] (secondary, 1996-1997)|

homepage = [http://www.wcax.com/ wcax.com]|

}}

'''WCAX-TV''' is the [[CBS]]-affiliated [[television station]] station for theNorthern [[Burlington, Vermont]] /and [[Plattsburgh,Upstate New York]] market. The station is licensedLicensed to [[Burlington, andVermont|Burlington]], the station broadcasts an analog signal on [[VHF]] channel 3 withand a digital signal on [[UHF]] channel 53. ItsWCAX's transmitter is located on [[Mount Mansfield]], [[Vermont]]'s highest peak. WCAX's studios are located on Joy Drive in [[South Burlington, Vermont|South Burlington]]. Theand station'sis signalowned coversby Vermont,the northernMartin [[NewFamily Yorkof State|NewBurlington. York]],The and Southern [[Quebec]], [[Canada]] including [[Montreal]]. WCAXstation is ownedknown byon-air theas Martin'''''"Channel family of Burlington3"'''''.

The station operates an outlying transmitter in [[Rutland (city), Vermont|Rutland]]: '''W69AR''' channel 69. ItWCAX has a construction permit to broadcast that station on channel 20 with the same call letters.

On cable, WCAX can be seen on channel 3 via [[Comcast]] systems in Burlington and on channel 8 on [[Charter Communications|Charter]] systems in Plattsburgh. In Montreal on [[Videotron]] systems, it can be seen on analog channel 21. The station can also be seen on Illico digital cable channel 53.

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! Programming

|-

| 3.1 / 53.1 || WCAX-DT's main digital signal ([[CBS]])

|-

| 3.2 / 53.2 || "Weather 3.2"

|-

| 57.1 / 53.3 || Temporary subchannel for [[WCFE-TV|WCFE]] ([[PBS]])

|}

==History==

WCAX first signed on the air on [[September 26]], [[1954]] under the call letters of '''WMVT''' and as the first television station in the Green Mountain State. It was owned by C.P. Hasbrook, publisher of the now-defunct ''Burlington Daily News'', along with WCAX-AM 1320 (now WVMT-AM 620). AtIn some point in time[[1956]], the call letters were changed to match its radio sister. Stuart Martin, son of Hasbrook's son-in-law, is the current owner and general manager of WCAX.

WCAX has always been a CBS affiliate, although the stationit was a secondary [[FOX]] affiliate for one year in [[1996]]. As such, it is one of the few stations in the country (not counting [[owned and operated station|owned and operated stations]]) that has had the same owner, the same channel number, and the same primary network affiliation throughout its history. It has been the market leader for as long as records have been kept.

On [[October 25]], [[2006]], WCAX beganupgraded broadcasting aits digital signal withto broadcast in HDTV technology. WCAX -DT can also be seen on [[Comcast]] digital cable channel 107.

==Montreal==

WCAX has a large viewership in Montreal, which is far larger than the entire population of the station's American viewing area. In the past, WCAX has identified itself as "Burlington/Plattsburgh/Montreal" to acknowledge its Montreal viewership. However, its news presence there has generally been limited to weather and some sports coverage, in large part because it is not eligible for inclusion in [[Nielsen ratings]].

Like other Champlain Valley stations, WCAX once made the great majority of its advertising sales across the border;. howeverHowever, [[Canadian]] business has almost completely dried up, mostly due to the arrival of [[CKMI-TV]], coupled with the availability of network affiliates from other U.S. markets, (e.g.such as[[Boston]], and [[Detroit]]), on Canadian cable and satellite systems.

WCAX's ratings in that market are quite modest compared to [[CFCF-TV]], which has long been the highest-rated English-language station in Montreal. It should be noted that some viewers in Quebec might have to tune in to WCAX in order to see the entire CBS schedule since CFCF and CKMI do not carry all of that network's programming.

==WCAX-DT2 "Weather 3.2 (WCAX DT2)"==

[[Image:Wcax dt2.jpg|thumb|left|Logo for WCAX's ''Weather 3.2''.]]

When its digital signal signed on, WCAX began to operate a 24-hour local weather channel known as '''Weather 3.2'''. The channel features rebroadcasts of newscasts along with local weather. To satisfy minimum [[FCC]] children programming requirements, the channel also airs children programming on the weekends. ''Weather 3.2'' can be seen on WCAX's DT2 digital subchannel as well as on [[Comcast]] digital cable channel 168 and Telecom digital cable channel 303. Whenever CBS programming or sports prevents WCAX from airing news at 6 or 11 PM on the main channel, it is seen on ''Weather 3.2'' branded as ''The Channel 3 News on Weather 3.2''.

==WCAX-DT3 provides temporary facilities for "WCFE-TV (Mountain Lake PBS)"==

[[Image:WCFElogo.gif|thumb|left|WCFE's logo.]]

On [[April 18]], [[2007]], the transmitter tower of [[Plattsburgh, New York|Plattsburgh]]'s [[PBS]] member station,affiliate [[WCFE-TV]], collapsed as a result of heavy amounts of ice and snow from the [[April 2007 nor'easter|April 2007 Nor'easter]]. The collapse resulted in damage to the transmitter building and the destruction of the tower itself. WCAX aided WCFE by allowing use of a new digital subchannel so WCFE can provide their signal to cable and satellite providers. This arrangement will most likely beis temporary until WCFE can rebuild its transmitter. WCFE can be seen on digital channel 53.3, though it is mapped via [[Program and System Information Protocol|PSIP]] as channel 57.1.

==Local Programs and Newscasts==

==Local Programming==

Channel 3's longest-running local programs (both dating to the founding of the station) are a daily 15-minute agricultural-information program entitled ''Across the Fence'', produced in association with the [[University of Vermont]] Extension Service (ironically, the original owner of WCAX-AM), and a 30-minute weekly [[public affairs|public-affairs]] show called ''You Can Quote Me''.

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In [[September]] of 2006, WCAX introduced its third local program called ''Late Night Saturday''. It is produced in conjunction with [[Champlain College]] for its Media Arts Department. The program is hosted by Tim Kavanaugh and airs weekly on Saturdays. It offers local musicians and artists a chance to perform in front of a live studio audience and showcase their work. [http://www.wcax.com/Global/story.asp?S=5893795]

==Local Programs and Newscasts==

WCAX and the area's [[NBC]] affiliate, [[WPTZ]], are the only stations in the market that offer local news. WCAX delays the weekday edition of the ''[[CBS Evening News]]'' until 7 PM because there is no 5 PM local newscast. As the area's only [[Vermont]] and locally-owned station, WCAX tends to focus more on the Vermont side of the market.

WCAX operates four news bureaus. Two are located in Vermont: [[Montpelier, Vermont|Montpelier]] (the state capital, established in [[1964]]) and Rutland (established in [[1967]]). The "New York Bureau" is located in Plattsburgh and was established in [[1973]]. The "Upper Valley Bureau" is located in [[West Lebanon, New Hampshire]] and was established in [[2002]].

==Current personalitiesPersonalities==

[[Image:Wcax_weather.jpg|thumb|right|''Sky Watch 3'' weekday morning meteorologist Gary Sadowsky gives a weather forecast.]]

[[Image:Wcax_anchors.JPG|thumb|right|Marselis Parsons and Kristin Kelly anchor weeknights at 6 PM on WCAX.]]

[[Image:Wcax_weather.jpg|thumb|right|WCAX''Sky Watch 3''s weekday morning and Noon meteorologist Gary Sadowsky gives a weather forecast.]]

==Current personalities==

'''Anchors'''

*Judy Simpson - weekday mornings

*Beth Parent - Noonweekdays anchorat Noon and(also education reporter)

*Marselis Parsons - News Director seen weeknights at 6 PM

*Kristin Kelly - weeknights at 6 and 11 PM anchor

*Roger Garrity - weeknights at 11 PM anchor

*Darren Perron - weekends

'''''Sky Watch 3 Meteorologists'''''

*Sharon Meyer - Chief seen weekdaysweeknights at 6 PM

*Dan Dowling - weekdaysweeknights at 11 PM

*Gary Sadowsky - weekday mornings and Noon

*Dan Dowling - weekdays at 11 PM

*Dave Busch - weekends

'''Sports'''

*J.J. Cioffi - Director seen weekdaysweeknights at 6 PM

*Mike McCune - weekdaysweeknights at 11 PM

*Shawna Lidsky - weekday mornings

*Mike McCune - weekdays at 11 PM

*Mike McGill - weekends

'''Reporters'''

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*Adam Sullivan - Upper Valley reporter

*Jack Thurston - feature reporter

'''Administration'''

*Chris Smith - Internet Sales Coordinator

==Past Personalities==

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*Richard Gallagher (6 and 11 PM anchor) - deceased

*Anson Tebbits (environment reporter) - whereabouts unknown

==Logos==

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*[http://www.cbs.com CBS Website]

*[http://www.mountainlake.org/mlpbs.asp WCFE Website]

*[http://www.pbs.org PBS Website]

*[http://www.geocities.com/tvhatton/champ-local/wcax.html WCAX at TV Hat]

*{{TVQ|WCAX}}

*{{TVQ|W69AR}}