| WTEN / WCDC-TV | 
 | WTEN: Albany / Schenectady / Troy, New York
WCDC: Adams, Massachusetts | | City of license | WTEN: Albany | | Branding | WTEN (general)
News 10 (newscasts) | | Slogan | The News Station | | Channels | Digital:
WTEN: 26 (UHF)
WCDC: 36 (UHF)
| | Subchannels | 10.1 ABC
10.2 Local Weather
10.3 RTV | | Translators | W04AE 4 Herkimer | | Affiliations | American Broadcasting Company | | Owner | Young Broadcasting (operated by Gray Television)
(Young Broadcasting of Albany, Inc.) | | First air date | WTEN: October 14, 1953
WCDC: February 5, 1954 | | Call letters’ meaning | WTEN: channel TEN (former analog channel)
WCDC: derived from WTEN's former call sign WCDA | | Former callsigns | WTEN:
WROW-TV (1953-1956)
WCDA (1956-1957)
WCDC:
WMGT (1954-1957) | | Former channel number(s) | Analog:
WTEN:
41 (UHF, 1954-1957)
10 (VHF, 1957-2009)
WCDC:
74 (UHF, 1954-1957)
19 (UHF, 1957-2009) | | Former affiliations | WTEN:
CBS (1954-1977)
WCDC:
DuMont (secondary, 1954-1956)
CBS (1954-1977) | | Transmitter Power | WTEN: 700 kW
WCDC: 27.5 kW | | Height | WTEN: 426 m (1,398 ft)
WCDC: 631 m (2,070 ft) | | Facility ID | WTEN: 74422
WCDC: 74419 | | Transmitter Coordinates | WTEN: 42°38′14.2″N 73°59′53.4″W / 42.637278°N 73.998167°W / 42.637278; -73.998167
WCDC 42°38′13.7″N 73°10′6.2″W / 42.637139°N 73.168389°W / 42.637139; -73.168389 (WCDC-TV) | | Website | wten.com | WTEN is the ABC-affiliated television station for the Capital District of New York State and western New England that is licensed to Albany. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 26 from a transmitter northwest of New Salem. Owned by Young Broadcasting and operated by Gray Television [1], the station has studios on Northern Boulevard in Albany. Syndicated programming on WTEN includes: Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy!, The Doctors and Merv Griffin's Crosswords. WCDC-TV in Adams, Massachusetts operates as a full-time satellite. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 36 from a transmitter on Mount Greylock, the highest peak in Massachusetts. There is no on-air reference to the station but it is mentioned in WTEN's legal ID, EEO public file reports, 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. It can be considered a rim-shot signal into the Springfield / Holyoke, Massachusetts television market. Despite WCDC being located in Berkshire County, Time Warner Cable carries WTEN instead of WCDC ¹. WTEN can also be seen on W04AE channel 4 in Herkimer from a transmitter between that town and Little Falls. [edit] Digital programming WTEN's signal is multiplexed. On WTEN-DT2 and Time Warner digital channel 554 is the "News 10 Storm Tracker Weather Channel". It can also been seen via live streaming video on their website. On WTEN-DT3 and Time Warner digital channel 1897 is the Retro Television Network (a.k.a. RTV). According to one television listing website, WCDC's digital signal does not offer those two channels. [2] However, its website contradicts this. [3] Time Warner digital systems in Berkshire County does offer them in the same channel slots. On June 12, 2009, Their digital signals remained on channels (26 and 36) when the analog to digital conversion completed. [4][5][6] Virtual
channel | Video | Aspect | Programming | | 10.1 | 720p | 16:9 | main WTEN programming / ABC HD | | 10.2 | 480i | 4:3 | WTEN-DT2 "News 10 Storm Tracker Weather Channel"
(24-hour local weather channel) | | 10.3 | 480i | 4:3 | WTEN-DT3 RTV | [edit] History WTEN began broadcasting on October 14, 1953 as WROW-TV from a temporary 100-foot (30 m) mast which limited its signal to the immediate area. It went to full power and a permanent antenna tower a few months later. From the day it went on-the-air, they shared space with WROW radio inside an old retirement home for Nuns, formerly owned by The Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, on a farm dirt road in the town of North Greenbush near Troy. The station was initially an ABC affiliate broadcasting on UHF channel 41. It was owned by Hudson Valley Broadcasting Company along with WROW-AM. The television station switched to CBS in 1955. A year later in 1954, it was operating in the red and was losing money prompting the company's original owners to sell its 88% controlling stake in Hudson Valley Broadcasting to a New York City-based syndicate group led by legendary radio broadcaster / author Lowell Thomas and his manager / business partner Frank Smith (who later became President of Hudson Valley Broadcasting). Following the takeover, Smith recruited 29 year-old Thomas S. Murphy, a product manager for Lever Brothers in New York City, to run WROW-TV and radio as its first Station Manager. Though he never had any broadcast experience, Murphy's leadership and his conservative financial restraint help bring WROW-TV to profitability three years later. In Spring 1956, its call letters were changed to WCDA with the launch of a satellite station, WCDB channel 29, in nearby Hagaman to reach areas where the main signal could not. [7] The calls were changed again to the current WTEN in 1957 when the station moved to channel 10 and WCDB was discontinued. In December 1957, Hudson Valley merged with Durham Television Enterprises owners of WTVD in Durham, North Carolina to form Capital Cities Television Corporation (predecessor of Capital Cities Communications) and WTEN was its flagship station at the time. In 1966, channel 10 and WROW radio moved to current studios on the north side of Albany on Northern Boulevard (the radio station moved out of the facility in 1993). A year later, the old studio was burned down by a fire caused by arson. In 1968, Capital Cities sold the original three stations of the group (WTEN, WPRO-TV in Providence, Rhode Island, and WJRT-TV in Flint, Michigan) 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 again. Young Broadcasting bought WTEN and sister station WKRN-TV in Nashville, Tennessee 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 right from the start. This can also be seen on Time Warner digital channel 1810. On October 1, 2007, Young Broadcasting launched the Retro Television Network on a new third digital subchannel of WTEN. This launch was part of a test of the network with sister stations WBAY in Green Bay, Wisconsin and KRON in San Francisco. In an effort to cut costs, the company eliminated ten positions from WTEN on January 31, 2008 fueling speculations that the company might sell the station in order to pay down its financial debt. In January 2009, after failing to meet the minimum standards for being listed on NASDAQ, Young Broadcasting was dropped from the exchange.[8] One month later on February 13, they declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy. [9] The company planned to auction off its stations in a New York City bankruptcy court on July 14, 2009 but canceled the auction last minute. [10] However, Gray Television (who now operates the station) is currently in talks to purchase WTEN and six other stations from Young Broadcasting.[11] WCDC began broadcasting on February 5, 1954 as WMGT (Mount Greylock Television) on UHF 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 Capital Region of New York State. In February 1956, the station was forced off-the-air when a storm damaged its transmitting tower.[12] 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 satellite station, WCDB. The WMGT call sign has been used on the NBC affiliate in Macon, Georgia on Channel 41 since 1983. WCDC's digital signal on UHF channel 36 signed on nearly eighteen months before WTEN's did. However, it not upgrade to high definition level until WTEN-DT signed-on. Prior to WCDA's move to channel 10, a second satellite was operated by WCDA located on UHF 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 calls would return to the air in 1978 and now serve the student-run radio station at University at Albany. [edit] Newscasts  Their weeknight 4 o'clock news open. For many years, WRGB was the dominant news station in the Capital District. In 1993, that station was quickly eclipsed by WNYT and for several years in the mid-1990s fell to third place. For the most part, WRGB has stabilized at a steady second place although for a period in the early-2000s it fell back to third. Meanwhile, WTEN has consistently ranked third in the ratings. In 2005, this station launched a 24-hour local weather channel on a new second digital subchannel known as the "News 10 Storm Tracker Weather Channel". WTEN's regional weather radar is known as "News 10 Storm Tracker HD Doppler". On September 21, 2009, the station began airing the area's only weeknight 4 o'clock local newscast. [13] [edit] News/Station Presentation [edit] Newscast titles - Your Esso Reporter (1953-1956)
- News of the Night / Stratton Views the News (1956-1961)
- The Bob Hudson Report (1961-1967)
- The Big News (1967-1974)
- Channel 10 News (1974-1977)
- NewsTeam 10 (1977-1980)
- TV 10 Action News (1980-1985)
- 10 Eyewitness News (1985-1995)
- News 10 (1995-present)
[edit] Station slogans - The News Team That's Leading the Way in Local News Coverage (1995-2007)
- The News Station (2007-present)
[edit] News music packages [edit] News team Anchors - Mark O'Brien - weekday mornings and reporter
- Annie Scholz - weekday mornings and Noon
- reporter and "Annie on the Job" segment producer
- Lydia Kulbida - weeknights at 4 and weeknight reporter
- Elisa Streeter - weeknights at 4, 5, 5:30, and 6
- Steve Ammerman - weeknights at 5, 6, and 11
- Christina Arangio - weeknights at 5:30 and 11
- Nicol Lally - weekends and reporter
- Jamie Seh - Director seen weekends
Storm Tracker 10 Meteorologists - Steve Caporizzo (AMS and NWA Seals of Approval) - Chief seen weeknights and "Pet Connection" segment producer
- Andy Gregorio (AMS Seal of Approval) - weekday mornings and rotating weekdays at Noon
- Craig Flint (Certified Broadcast Meteorologist) - weekends and fill-in weekdays
- heard on WTSA-AM 1450 and WTSA-FM 96.7
Reporters - John McLoughlin - Managing Editor
- Anya Tucker - fill-in anchor
- Marie Luby - fill-in anchor
- Demetra Ganias
- Eric Egan
[edit] Past personalities  WTEN's "News 10 Storm Tracker Weather Channel". Anchors - 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
- 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 at KCCI in 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)
- Dori Marlin (Morning anchor, 2005-2008) left for evening news spots on WRGB in 2008[14]).
- Beth McKay (weekday anchor, 1990-1995) Left for KXAS in Dallas; she retired to become a full-time mom.
- 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)
- 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 in Richmond, Virginia)
- 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
- Sharman Sachetti (Former morning anchor) - as of 2005 a reporter at WFXT in Boston
- Robin Schwartz, anchor and reporter (Early 1990s-1998), now at WJBK in Detroit
- Mai Shiozaki (Former freelance morning anchor - was press secretary for National Organization for Women)
- Alyssa Van Wie (weekend morning anchor 2004-2008)
- Bruce Williamson - News Anchor early 60's early 70's. Became News Director until 1979. (deceased)
- George Lezotte - News anchor early 60's early 70's; NYS public relations. (deceased)
- Dick Wood (anchor from 1973-1991), as of 2006 hosts a jazz show on WABY Moon Radio and does commercials.
Meteorologists - Marc Edwards
- Bob Gordon (Weatherman during the late 1960s and 1970s) Preceded Bob Kovachick; currently doing commercials.
- John Guaraldi (meteorologist, 1981-c. mid-90s) Now meteorologist at WPLG-TV in Miami
- Bob Kovachick (chief meteorologist at WTEN, April 1977-1986) Now at WNYT, was the first credentialed meteorologist in the Albany market
- Jeff Smith (Weekend meteorologist 2004-January 2007, now weekend mornings at WABC-TV in New York City)
Sports - Bob McNamara (Sports Reporter) early to late 60's before moving to WRGB sometime in early 70's and later to WNYT in the 80's and early 90's (retired)
- Dan Murphy (Sports Director from 1992-2005 and previously weekend sports), later host of "Murphy's Law" on WOFX radio; now seen on WNYA My 4 Albany.
- Rip Rowan (Sports anchor from 1968-86) later worked for the Albany-Colonie Yankees AA farm team
- Brian Sinkoff (sports director from 2005-2008) now host of Sound Off with Sinkoff on WTMM-FM
- John Spadafora (Weekend sports anchor from 1992-2005) now heads communications for the Albany-Colonie Chamber of Commerce
Reporters - Ken Chenault (Reporter, 1985?-1988) Recently worked for WNYW in New York in the early 90's).
- Renee Chenault (Fattah) (Reporter, 1985?-1988) Recently worked for KYW-TV in Philadelphia before working for crosstown rival station WCAU.
- 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).
- Doug Myers (Reporter and News Producer, 1971-1989) Did morning and weekend news anchoring. Previously, a radio news reporter for WPTR in the late 60's, now communications director for the Albany International Airport.
- Dick (Hill) McCarthy, (anchor, 1970s, later in communications for New York state. WABY did sports reports
- Walt McClure (key reporter from 1999-2005) now in the same role at WXXA-TV)
- Scott Patterson (reporter, 2001-2005), now weekend anchor at YNN in Rochester)
- Beth Nichols (Reporter in mid 80's to 1989) among the casualties of mass firings when station changed ownership in 1989.
- Susan Raff (former business reporter), has been with WFSB since 1995
- Richard Reingold, (reporter, early 70s, was president and general manager of WUSA-TV, Washington, DC)
- David Glodt, reporter, producer, early 70's; executive producer, This Week With David Brinkley)
- Richard Roth, (reporter, early 70's, is a CBS News correspondent based in London)
- Herb Starr, (reporter, weekend anchor; Albany bureau WCBS Radio; 1975 comm. dir., NY Lt. Governor; corporate PA advisor; real estate developer; private investor)
- Vic Vetters (General assignment reporter); now general manager of WKTV in Utica, as well as the latter position at WFFF-TV/WVNY, Burlington, VT
- Dick Williams, (reporter-weekend anchor, early 70s, hosts WAGA-TV (FOX 5)'s Georgia Gang in Atlanta)
Others - Dan Burke (Station manager) 1960-66 became President and CEO of CapCities/ABC before retiring in 1995 when Company was sold to Disney.
- Ted Knight (1923-1986) hosted a kids variety show in mid 50's playing 'Windy Knight; was the announcer of 'The Early Movie' show and was a DJ for WROW Radio. Left for Hollywood in 1957.(deceased)
- George (Leighton) Layton - (Chief announcer for WTEN - 1950 to 1989) Nicknamed 'The Voice of God'; also was known as 'The Old Skipper' on The Good Ship News - an early morining show for children (1958 - 1968). (deceased March 2000)
- Thomas S. Murphy (Station Manager of WROW-TV and radio, 1954 - 1960) Rose through the ranks of CapCities became Chairman and CEO in 1966. Brought ABC in 1985. Retired in 1995 when he sold CapCities/ABC to Disney.
- John (Stewart) Musso - Co host 'Dialing for Dollars' with Vartigan in the mid to late 60's (retired)
- 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)
[edit] References - ^ http://www.tvnewscheck.com/articles/2009/07/30/daily.7/
- ^ http://tvlistings.zap2it.com/tvlistings/ZCGrid.do?method=decideFwdForLineup&zipcode=01220&setMyPreference=false&lineupId=PC:01220
- ^ http://www.wten.com/Global/story.asp?S=9601987&nav=menu30_8
- ^ http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1082A2.pdf.
- ^ CDBS Print
- ^ CDBS Print
- ^ Albany Times-Union, April 22, 1956, page H-4
- ^ http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20090127005778&newsLang=en
- ^ http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/business/6262997.html
- ^ "Young Broadcasting Calls Off Auction", from broadcastingcable.com 7/14/2009
- ^ NorthEast Radio Watch (July 27, 2009)
- ^ Albany Times Union, 22 April 1956, Page H-4
- ^ http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=837010&category=BUSINESS
- ^ http://blogs.timesunion.com/business/?p=5221
¹ - WTEN cable carriage information courtesy Time Warner cable engineering staff, Pittsfield, MA [edit] External links |
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