WMAZ-TV
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| WMAZ-TV | |
|---|---|
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| Macon, Georgia | |
| Branding | 13WMAZ (general) 13WMAZ Eyewitness News (newscasts) |
| Slogan | Straight from the Heart. |
| Channels | |
| Subchannels | 13.1 CBS 13.3 WX |
| Affiliations | CBS |
| Owner | Gannett Company, Inc. (Pacific and Southern Company, Inc.) |
| First air date | September 27, 1953 |
| Call letters’ meaning | Watch Mercer Attain Zenith |
| Former affiliations | All secondary: DuMont (1953-1955) NBC (1953-1968) ABC (1953-1982) |
| Transmitter Power | 52.6 kW (digital) |
| Height | 238 m |
| Facility ID | 46991 |
| Transmitter Coordinates | 32°45′11.7″N 83°33′32″W / 32.75325°N 83.55889°W |
| Website | www.13wmaz.com |
WMAZ-TV, channel 13, is the CBS affiliate in Macon, Georgia, United States. It is owned by Gannett.
Contents |
[edit] History
The station signed on for the first time on September 27, 1953, owned by Southeastern Broadcasting Company along with WMAZ radio (AM 940, now WMAC; and FM 99.1, frequency now occupied by WDEN). It is the fourth-oldest station in the state and the oldest outside of Atlanta, beating WDAK-TV (now WTVM) in Columbus by only a day. Southeastern Broadcasting won a television license on its second try; it had previously made an unsuccessful bid for channel 7 a year earlier. The new station was one of the most powerful VHF stations in the country, providing at least secondary coverage from the southern Atlanta suburbs to the western suburbs of Savannah. It carried programming from all three major networks, but has always been a primary CBS affiliate owing to WMAZ-AM's long affiliation with CBS Radio.
WMAZ's callsign comes from its AM sister's roots as a physics project at Mercer University. The call letters stand for Watch Mercer Attain Zenith.
Southeastern Broadcasting sold WMAZ-AM-FM-TV to Southern Broadcasting Corporation in 1963, earning a healthy return on its 1935 purchase of WMAZ-AM. Southern Broadcasting merged with the News-Piedmont Company of Greenville, South Carolina to form Multimedia, Inc. in 1967. In 1974, WMAZ-AM-FM-TV moved to a new studio on Gray Highway in Macon.
Multimedia merged with Gannett in 1995, making WMAZ-TV a sister station to Georgia's third-oldest station, WXIA-TV in Atlanta.
WMAZ was the only station in town until 1968, when WCWB-TV (now WMGT-TV) started and took the NBC affiliation. WMAZ continued to carry selected ABC shows until WGXA began in 1982.
It is still the only VHF station in the market, in part because Macon is sandwiched between Atlanta to the north, Columbus to the west and Savannah to the east. In part due to this, it has dominated central Georgia ratings for most of its history.
Its current image campaign, "Straight from the Heart," dates to 1983, based on Bryan Adams' song of the same name. Its sister station, WBIR-TV, an NBC affiliate in Knoxville, also uses the slogan and image campaign.
On Feb. 28, 2009, WMAZ analog signal stopped working on the video. This caused many viewers to not be able to watch storm coverage. WMAZ did stream their programming on the internet for nearly four hours because of this.
WMAZ broadcasts will be digital-only, effective June 12, 2009.[1]
At 1:02am, WMAZ-TV terminated its analog signal and moves its digital signal to channel 13.
[edit] Current News Personalities
[edit] Anchors
- Frank Malloy, 5:00 p.m., 6:00 p.m., and 11:00 p.m. Anchor/Sports Anchor
- Leah Johnson, 6:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m Anchor/Reporter
- Lorra Lynch, 5:00 p.m Anchor/Reporter
- Suzanne Lawler, Weekend Morning Anchor/Sports Anchor
- Carly Flynn Morgan, Weekend Evening Anchor/Reporter
- Tyler Pearson Mornin' and Midday Anchor/Reporter
[edit] Reporters
- Jennifer Bellamy, Multimedia Journalist
- Charles Reid, Traffic Reporter
- Vanessa Ruffes, Multimedia Journalist
- Randall Savage, Special Assignment Editor/"Close Up" Host
- Stephanie Susskind, Multimedia Journalist
- Bofta Yimam, Multimedia Journalist
[edit] Meteorologists
- Ben Jones, Chief Meteorologist/"Scene 13" Host
- Mike Fuller, Substitute Meteorologist
- Jason Disharoon, Weekend Meteorologist
- Sonya Stevens, Weekday Morning/Noon Meteorologist
- Trevor Chatfield, Substitute Meteorologist/Weather Producer
[edit] Sports
[edit] Personalities
- Brooke Hawkins, "Scene 13" Co-Host
- Annette St. Clair, Law Call Host
- Del Ward, "Personal Profile" Interviewer
[edit] Past Personalities
- Karen Acar, Weekend/Mornin'/Midday Anchor/Reporter (late 1980s-1994)
- Lou Antoine, Sports Anchor (1994-1996)
- Brittany Bailey, Weekend 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. Anchor/Reporter (2004-2006, now at WBIR-TV)
- Brad Bibb, Sports Director/Reporter (1982-1994)
- Troy Bridges, News reporter 1995-1997 (Now weekday 4pm and 5:30pm meteorologist at WKMG-TV (CBS) in Orlando)
- Brandyn Briley, Anchor/Reporter (1977-1979, 1983-1986)
- Jerry Brown, Anchor/Reporter (?, now at WMBB-TV)
- Kyle Burger, Sports Intern (2005, now at WAAY-31, Huntsville, AL)
- Stan Carey, Anchor (1960-1972, deceased)
- Steve Cohen
- Kyle Collins, Reporter/Webmaster (?)
- Paul Chambers, Anchor/Reporter 1999-2001
- David Chandley, Reporter/Meteorologist (1983-1986, now at WSB-TV)
- Susan Christopher, Consumer Reporter (?)
- Draymon Clark, Weekend 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. Anchor/Reporter (?)
- Kimberly Daniel, Health Reporter (?)
- Tim Dobbs, Political Editor/Reporter (1964-1977 deceased.)
- Vanessa Echols
- Karen Eisle
- Stacy Ellison, Weekend 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. Anchor/Reporter (?, now at WKYT-TV)
- Rachel English, Mornin' and Midday Anchor/Reporter (1996-2001)
- Chuck Englund, 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. Anchor/Mornin' Anchor (1985-1993)
- Shannon Espinosa, Weekend 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. Anchor/Reporter (?)
- Liz Fabian, (formerly Liz Jarvis), Mornin' and Midday Anchor/Reporter (?, now with The Macon Telegraph)
- John Favole, Anchor (1989-1992, now with WPTV-TV)
- Nicole Foerschler, General Assignment Reporter/Consumer Reporter (Now co-owner of educational consulting firm)
- Bill Gaines, Mornin' and Midday Anchor/Reporter (1993-1994, now at WGCL-TV)
- Jenny Geer, General Assignment Reporter/Fill-In Anchor (?-2004)
- Grant Gilmore, Mornin' and Midday Meteorologist (2006-2009, now at WFMY-TV )
- Scott Hartman, Sports Director (2000-2002, now with Atlanta PR firm Jackson Spalding)
- Yolanda Hawkins, General Assignment Reporter (?, now at WPXI-TV)
- Jennifer Hazelton, General Assignment Reporter (?)
- Karla Heath-Sands, Weathercaster/Community Service Director (1989-1997, now at WALB-TV)
- Tina Taylor Hicks, 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. Anchor/Reporter (1972-1999)
- Ken Hill (1970s-1988)
- Michael Hockey
- Chris Holcomb, Reporter/Meteorologist (1985-1990, now at WXIA-TV)
- Ben Hoover, Mornin' and Midday Anchor/Reporter (2003-2006)
- Telly Hughes, Weekend Sports Anchor/Reporter (?-2003, now at FSN North)
- Steve Jefferson (Now Crime Reporter/Anchor at WTHR-TV)
- George Jobin, News/Sports Director/Production Manager (1973-1990, now manager WMUM-FM Ga Public Broadcasting)
- Ernie Johnson, Jr., News/Sports (1979-1981, now with Turner Sports)
- Lori Johnson, 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. Anchor/Reporter (1999-2005)
- Tom Johnston, Meteorologist (?, now at WFTX)
- Ken Jones, Weekend Sports Anchor/Reporter (2002-2003, incarcerated)
- Phil Keating, General Assignment Reporter (1991-1993, now at FOX News)
- Arch Kennedy, Meteorologist (1994-1995, later worked for The Weather Channel, and CNN, now at WZTV)
- Aaron Lawrence, Meteorologist (?)
- John Marshall, Mornin' and Midday Anchor/Reporter/Weathercaster (?, now at WNBC-TV)
- Doris Martin, Anchor/Reporter/Interviewer (1959-1990, deceased)
- Mike Maze, Meteorologist (1991-1994, now at WRAL-TV)
- Drew McCombs, Weekend Meteorologist (2007-2009)
- Edward McDonald, Sports Director (1996-2000, now at WLOS-TV)
- Scott McGrew 1991-1993, now at KNTV
- Matt Miller 1992-1995 now at WCPO
- Lawrence Mink, Mornin and Midday Anchor (Early 1980s-1989 when he became Public Relations Officer for Macon Mayor Lee Robinson and again 1992-1993
- Carol Minn, Mornin' and Midday Anchor/Reporter (2001-2003, now at Bay News 9 in St. Petersburg, Florida)
- Laura Minter
- Rodney Mull (2004)
- Adam Murphy, General Assignment Reporter (?, now at WGCL-TV)
- Maureen O'Boyle, Mornin' Anchor/Reporter (?, later anchored A Current Affair, and Extra, now at WBTV-TV)
- Autumn O'Neill, Weekend Meteorologist (2005-2007)
- Chris Paul (Pisano), Wake-Up Call Team Reporter/Fill-in Anchor/Weathercaster (1996-1998, now at KCTV-TV)
- Evan Pinsonnault, News Reporter/Videojournalist/Sport Anchor (2006-2009)
- Bobby Pope, Sports Director/Sales Dept. (1968-1984, now Athletic Director Mercer University)
- Helen Farmer Popejoy, Presenter/Interviewer (1953-?, deceased)
- Bill Powell, Chief Weather Forecaster (1958-1998, deceased)
- Marilyn Peguero, General Assignment Reporter (2006-2008)
- Chris Porter, Sports Anchor/Reporter (2003-2009, now at First Coast News in Jacksonville, Fla.)
- Aungelique Proctor, General Assignment Reporter (?, now at WAGA-TV)
- Kandace Raymond, Warner Robins Anchor/5 p.m. Anchor/Reporter/"Middle Georgia Moms" Reporter (2004-2008)
- Jim Ragonese, General Assignment Reporter (?)
- Jenny Ray
- Elise Roberts, Assistant Producer and Anchor of "Entertainment Scene" (2004-2006, now at WLOX-TV)
- Anne Marie Rogers, General Assignment Reporter (?)
- Steve Russell, Weekend Sports Anchor/Reporter (?)
- Ben Sandifer, Sports Reporter/Anchor, (1977-1980, now owner of GMS Productions)
- Chris Smith, Chief Meteorologist (1997-2005, now a meteorologist at CNN)
- Tenikka Smith, General Assignment Reporter/Fill-In Anchor (2004-2006, Now at WPTY-TV/WLTM-TV)
- David Solano, Sports Director (2002-2006, now at WZZM-TV)
- Leigh Spann, Weekend Meteorologist (2001-2004, now at WFLA-TV)
- Rob Still (known as Chris Still to WBTW viewers), Meteorologist (2000-2005, now at WBTW-TV)
- Robin Straws, Associate Producer (2004-2005, now Motivational Speaker at The RGLynn Group)
- Sheeka Strickland, Sunday 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. Anchor/Reporter (2006-2008, now at WGHP-TV))
- Allison Swann, Mornin' Anchor (1994-1997)
- Bessie Swint
- Tami Tesch-Jerles, Substitute Meteorologist/Reporter (?-2008)
- Mary Therese Tebbe (known on the air as Mary Therese), Warner Robins Anchor/5 p.m. Anchor/Reporter (1988-2006)
- Pesh Thomas, General Assignment Reporter (Real name Depelsha Thomas, now an Executive at MTV and BET)
- Jim Thomas, Noon and 6pm Anchor 1979-1980. Retired from broadcasting 2001.
- Bob Toy
- Bill Tribble, Managing Editor/Host of "Close-Up" (?)
- John Trout
- Thanh Truong, General Assignment Reporter (2002-2003, now at KUSA-TV)
- Raymond Tubb, General Assignment Reporter/Assignment Editor/Managing Editor (1989-2005)
- Tiffanie Wallace, General Assignment Reporter (2003-2006)
- James Wieland, Meteorologist (?), now at WPTV in West Palm Beach, Florida
- Ron Wildman
- Gary Wilson
- Derek Wing, General Assignment Reporter (?, now at KCPQ-TV)
- Yenu Wodajo, Saturday 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. Anchor/Reporter (2006-2008)
- Andy Wood, Meteorologist (2004-2006, now at WHNS-TV)
- Calandra Wright, Mornin' and Midday Anchor/Reporter (2003-2005)
- Hugh Zeitlin, Sports Anchor/Reporter (2004-2008)
- Al Zimmerman, General Assignment Reporter (1990-1996, later KENS-TV San Antonio then Bay News 9 in St. Petersburg, Florida Incarcerated in 2008).
[edit] News/Station Presentation
[edit] Newscast Titles
- The 11th Hour Report (1964-1969)
- Pulse News (1969-1977)
- Eyewitness NewsCenter (1977-1979)
- Eyewitness News (1979-1992)
- 13 WMAZ Eyewitness News (1992-present)
[edit] Station Slogans
- Straight from the Heart (1983-present)
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- WMAZ website
- Query the FCC's TV station database for WMAZ
- BIAfn's Media Web Database -- Information on WMAZ-TV
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