WLTZ
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| Columbus, Georgia-Auburn/ Phenix City/Opelika, Alabama |
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| City of license | Columbus |
| Branding | WLTZ NBC 38 NBC 38 News The CW Ga-Bama (on DT2) |
| Slogan | The Look of a Champion TV to Talk About (on DT2) |
| Channels | Digital: 35 (UHF) Virtual: 38 (PSIP) |
| Subchannels | 38.1 NBC 38.2 The CW |
| Owner | SagamoreHill Broadcasting (SagamoreHill Broadcasting of Georgia, LLC) |
| First air date | October 29, 1970 |
| Call letters' meaning | Lewis Television/Zenith |
| Sister station(s) | WNCF |
| Former callsigns | WYEA (1970–1981, added "-TV" suffix in 1979) |
| Former channel number(s) | 38 (UHF analog, 1970-2009) |
| Transmitter power | 50 kW |
| Height | 377.2 m |
| Class | DT |
| Facility ID | 37179 |
| Transmitter coordinates | 32°27′28.4″N 84°53′8.2″W / 32.457889°N 84.885611°W |
| Website | wltz.com |
WLTZ is the NBC-affiliated television station for the Chattahoochee Valley of West-Central Georgia and East-Central Alabama. Licensed to Columbus, Georgia, it broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 35 (or virtual channel 38.1 via PSIP) from its studios on NBC 38 Drive in the Vista Terrance section of South Columbus (official address is Buena Vista Road in Columbus). The station can also be seen on Knology and Mediacom channel 8 as well as Charter channel 13. There is a high definition feed offered on Charter digital channel 713, Mediacom digital channel 808 and Knology digital channel 903. Syndicated programming on WLTZ includes Family Feud, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Dr. Phil and The Jerry Springer Show among others.
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[edit] Digital programming
The station operates the area's CW affiliate on a second digital subchannel. Known on-air as The CW Ga-Bama, this can also be seen on Knology channel 9, Mediacom channel 12 and Charter digital channel 109. WLTZ-DT2 receives all programming through The CW Plus.
| Channels (physical/virtual) | Name | Video | Aspect | Programming |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35.1/38.1 | WLTZ-HD | 1080i | 16:9 | main WLTZ programming/NBC (HD) |
| 35.1/38.2 | WLTZ-DT2 | 480i | 4:3 | "The CW Ga-Bama" (SD) |
[edit] History
The station signed-on October 29, 1970 as WYEA and aired an analog signal on UHF channel 38. It was branded on-air as "YAY-TV" and featured promotions showing a cheerleader with pompoms. WYEA was originally owned by Huntsville, Alabama broadcaster Charles Grisham and his company, Gala Broadcasting. It brought a full NBC affiliate to Columbus after a full decade in which CBS outlet WRBL and ABC affiliate WTVM had shared NBC programming, which usually aired at times when the primary networks' programming was not shown. Like most UHF start-ups during this time, WYEA began with several handicaps.
First, like almost all other United States television markets with one or two dominant VHF stations, the Columbus area had strong-established preferences for either WRBL or WTVM. It also had to deal with established NBC stations WSB-TV in Atlanta (later WXIA-TV after an affiliation change in that market), WALB in Albany, Georgia and Montgomery, Alabama's WSFA all of which provided at least Grade B coverage of the outlying areas of the market.
In fact, Grisham attempted unsuccessfully to legally block WSFA's plans to build a new tower fearing it would cut into WYEA's market share. Later in the 1970s, WYEA became the flagship station of Aflac's broadcast operations (a locally-based insurance company). The outlet added the -TV suffix to its call sign on January 23, 1979. In 1981, Aflec sold the station to J. Curtis Lewis (owner of WJCL-TV-FM in Savannah, Georgia, WLTX and WNOK-FM in Columbia, South Carolina and WSTZ-FM-AM in Jackson, Mississippi).
On August 31 of that year, the station changed its calls to the current WLTZ and became known on-air as "Z 38". In May 2007, Lewis sold the station (his last remaining one) to SagamoreHill Broadcasting.[1] Although the official DTV transition was moved from February 17, 2009 to June 12, WLTZ ceased analog transmission at noon on February 17.[2] On April 2, 2009, it was announced The CW would discontinue its relationship with Pappas Telecasting-owned WLGA and WLTZ joined the network on April 27 adding it to a new second digital subchannel.[3] WLGA then became an Independent and began syndicated show. It eventually ceased operations in June 2010 after being unable to broadcast the format in the market.
[edit] News operation
The station's first attempt at a news department lasted from its inception in 1970 until 1993. Despite a credible effort, WLTZ's newscasts were never competitive enough against WTVM and WRBL to gain enough viewership and consistent ratings. Columbus broadcast veteran and former nightclub owner Al Fleming was once anchor of these newscasts as was Richard Elliot (later of WRBL and WSB-TV). After shutting down its news operation, WLTZ offered syndicated shows with brief news updates taped in advance that ran for three minutes in length. In November 2007, the station brought back weeknight newscasts at 6, 7, and 11 in partnership with the Independent News Network (INN) in Davenport, Iowa. Originally, the early evening shows aired in traditional half-hour formats while the late newscast was shown in an update format.
On May 29, 2008, WLTZ became the first station in Columbus and third in Georgia to upgrade local news to high definition. The change came after INN added HD capabilities to its centralized studios. In a report in the Macon, Georgia Telegraph, it was announced the centralized news service filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy on December 31, 2008 and would end all productions (including those for WLTZ) by January 9, 2009.[4] However, a later report in the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer on January 6 indicated this station's newscasts would not be affected by the bankruptcy filing.[5] In April 2010, WLTZ replaced the 7 O'Clock Report with Alabama First News. Unlike the other two weeknight broadcasts, the show focused on Eastern Alabama because that state, which is in the Central Time Zone, is an hour behind Georgia. Therefore, this was the only local newscast catering to viewers on the Alabama side of the market airing at 6.
Viewers in those areas also have access to stations from Dothan and Montgomery offering broadcasts geared for the Central Time Zone. The format change for WLTZ's show was made in conjunction with sister station WNCF in Montgomery after that outlets expanded its news department and agreement with the Independent News Network. Full thirty minute newscasts now air weeknights that feature WLTZ's reporters covering Eastern Alabama since Montgomery and Columbus have coverage areas bordering each other. At some point in Fall 2011, WLTZ's weeknight show at 7 was moved to 11 while still remaining known as Alabama First News. Therefore, NBC 38 News at 6 solely focuses on Columbus and other areas in Georgia while the late news (now 35 minutes in length) offers coverage specifically from the greater Auburn, Phenix City and Opelika areas in Alabama.
In addition, there are now local news and weather cut-ins on weekday mornings during Today from 7 until 11 (at :25 and :55 past the hour). The news anchor, meteorologist, and sports anchor are provided by the centralized news operation and other personnel from INN can fill-in as necessary. WLTZ maintains local reporters who contribute relevant West-Central Georgia and East-Central Alabama content. All of the broadcasts (except for the news cut-ins on weekday mornings which air live) are recorded in advance and originate from INN's facility on Tremont Avenue in Davenport. Like all CW Plus affiliates in the Eastern Time Zone, WLTZ-DT2 offers the nationally syndicated morning show The Daily Buzz on weekdays from 6 until 9.
On February 5, 2012, after Super Bowl XLVI, the station aired a special edition of NBC 38 News. During the newscast the station revamped their news operation, now broadcasting in Columbus, with the exception of weather (still produced by INN). Former WTVM anchor Dee Armstrong solo anchors, while Pat Walker still does weather and Chelsa Mettinger does sports. Also, NBC 38 News at 6 was rebranded Georgia First News on February 6.
[edit] Newscast titles
- WYEA Nightly News (1970s)
- NewsCenter 38 (late 1970s–1993)
- NBC 38 News (November 2007–present)
- 6 O'Clock Report (November 2007- February 3, 2012)
- 7 O'Clock Report (November 2007- August 2011)
- 11 @ 11 (November 2007- November 2011)
- Alabama First News (7 pm (August 2011-November 2011) 11pm (November 2011- present)
- Georgia First News (6 pm (February 6, 2012-present)
[edit] News team
News anchors and hosts
- Sara Belsole - weekday morning cut-ins and reporter
- Miller Robson - midday cut-ins
- Dee Armstrong - weeknights and The Dee Armstrong Show (also "Fixing It With Dee Armstrong" segment producer)
- Dorothy Sherman - The Dee Armstrong Show
- Calvin Floyd - Calvin Floyd Live
Other anchors
- Pat Walker (NWA Seal of Approval) - Senior Meteorologist seen weeknights
- Erik Garlick - weekday morning cut-in meteorologist and fill-in
- Dan Bronis - fill-in meteorologist
- Roland Glembine - producer and fill-in weeknight sports
Reporters
- Jeremy Babin - sports and "Scholar Athlete of the Week" segment producer
- Matt Lally - News Content Producer
- Donyel Perry - photojournalist
- Chelsa Mettinger - sports
- Christina Chambers
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6437753.html?rssid=193
- ^ WLTZ-38: "Turning Off Analog. WLTZ Goes Digital." (February 17, 2009)
- ^ http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/news/story/672471.html Retrieved Apr. 3, 2009.
- ^ Macon Telegraph: "Future of Macon TV station’s nightly newscast uncertain", 1/5/2009.
- ^ Columbus Ledger-Enquirer: "Bankruptcy filing doesn’t impact Columbus’ WLTZ", 1/6/2009.
[edit] External links
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