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WCAX-TV is the CBS-affiliated television station for Northern Vermont and Upstate New York. Licensed to Burlington, the station broadcasts an analog signal on VHF channel 3 and a digital signal on UHF channel 53. WCAX's transmitter is located on Mount Mansfield, Vermont's highest peak. WCAX's studios are located on Joy Drive in South Burlington and is owned by the Martin Family of Burlington. The station is known on-air as "Channel 3".
The station operates an outlying transmitter in Rutland: W69AR channel 69. WCAX 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 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.
Digital Programming
The station's digital channel is multiplexed:
| Channel | Programming |
|---|---|
| 3.1 / 53.1 | WCAX's main digital signal (CBS) |
| 3.2 / 53.2 | "Weather 3.2" |
| 57.1 / 53.3 | WCFE-TV (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). In 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 it 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 stations) that has had the same owner, channel number, and 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 upgraded its digital signal to broadcast in HDTV. 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. However, 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, such asBoston 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"
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 "WCFE-TV (Mountain Lake PBS)"
On April 18, 2007, the transmitter tower of Plattsburgh's PBS affiliate WCFE-TV collapsed as a result of heavy amounts of ice and snow from the 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 is temporary until WCFE can rebuild its transmitter. WCFE can be seen on digital channel 53.3, though it is mapped via PSIP as channel 57.1.
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 show called You Can Quote Me.
In August of 2006, WCAX began offering the first and only wireless news website in the market. The website can be seen on wireless web-enabled electronics by entering the full web address of WCAX's website. WCAX has been carring CBS News Up to the Minute from October of 2005 to the present, following 13 years of not being on the air.
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. [1]
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 (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 Personalities
Anchors
- Judy Simpson - weekday mornings
- Beth Parent - weekdays at Noon (also education reporter)
- Marselis Parsons - News Director seen weeknights at 6 PM
- Kristin Kelly - weeknights at 6 and 11 PM
- Roger Garrity - weeknights at 11 PM
- Darren Perron - weekends
Sky Watch 3 Meteorologists
- Sharon Meyer - Chief seen weeknights at 6 PM
- Dan Dowling - weeknights at 11 PM
- Gary Sadowsky - weekday mornings and Noon
- Dave Busch - weekends
Sports
- J.J. Cioffi - Director seen weeknights at 6 PM
- Mike McCune - weeknights at 11 PM
- Shawna Lidsky - weekday mornings
- Mike McGill - weekends
Reporters
- Jessica Abo
- Kristin Carlson - environmental reporter
- Kate Duffy
- Brian Joyce
- Jack LaDuke - New York reporter
- Tim Lewis
- Andy Potter
- Adam Sullivan - Upper Valley reporter
- Jack Thurston - feature reporter
Administration
- Chris Smith - Internet Sales Coordinator
Past Personalities
- Bridget Barry Caswell (6 and 11 PM anchor) - whereabouts unknown
- Sera Congi (6 and 11 PM anchor) - now at WBZ-TV in Boston
- Richard Gallagher (6 and 11 PM anchor) - deceased
- Anson Tebbits (environment reporter) - whereabouts unknown
Logos
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WCAX's previous news logo.
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WCAX's current news logo.
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WCAX's current logo.
