WNDU-TV

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WNDU-TV
WNDU logo.png
South Bend, Indiana
Branding WNDU Channel 16 (general)
Newscenter 16 (newscasts)
Slogan Coverage You Can Count On
Your Severe Weather Station
Channels Digital: 42 (UHF)
Subchannels 16.1 NBC-HD
16.2 NBC-SD
Affiliations NBC
Owner Gray Television, Inc.
(Gray Television Licensee, LLC)
First air date July 15, 1955
Call letters' meaning Notre
Dame
University
Former channel number(s) Analog:
46 (1955-1957)
16 (1957-2009)
Transmitter power 560 kW
Height 282 m
Facility ID 41674
Transmitter coordinates 41°36′19″N 86°12′45″W / 41.60528°N 86.2125°W / 41.60528; -86.2125
Website www.wndu.com

WNDU-TV is a television station in South Bend, Indiana. The station is an affiliate of the NBC television network. Its transmitter is located in South Bend. WNDU-TV broadcasts in HDTV on Channel 42, additionally simulcasting a local Doppler radar image. Syndicated programming on the station includes: Live with Regis and Kelly, Ellen, Rachael Ray, and AgDay.

WNDU-TV's broadcasts has been digital-only since 11:59pm February 16, 2009.

Contents

[edit] History

WNDU-TV went on the air on July 15, 1955 on Channel 46. It was owned by the University of Notre Dame through a subsidiary, Michiana Television Corporation. In 1957, to much fanfare, WNDU-TV moved to analog Channel 16.

An NBC affiliate from the very beginning, WNDU-TV's early broadcast schedule included programs like Romper Room, and the first local telecast of a Notre Dame football game. WNDU aired the non-commercial Sesame Street from 1970 to 1974 until PBS member station WNIT came on air.

From 1967 to 1986, WNDU aired Beyond Our Control, a locally-produced sketch comedy program, which was presented as part of the station's involvement in the Junior Achievement program.[1]

WNDU-TV used a helicopter for its news broadcasts from 1980s until 2006.

Due to an increased focus on news, WNDU-TV made room for a a three-hour newscast, airing NBC's TNBC block in early parts of Saturday and Sunday to fulfill E/I guidelines. WNDU currently airs NBC's qubo programming block for three of the four hours on Saturday with the final hour airing on Sunday mornings at 7am.

On March 5, 2006, the University of Notre Dame sold the station to Gray Television for $85 million cash, which the university placed in endowment.

On Tuesday, April 21, 2010, starting with its noon newscast, WNDU became the second station in South Bend (behind WSBT) to broadcast local news in high definition.[2]

[edit] Controversy

Under Notre Dame's ownership, WNDU opted not to air some NBC shows out of concerns over their content; such shows included the animated series God, the Devil and Bob (for content offensive to the religious values of the university) and the American version of the British sitcom Coupling (for sexual content concerns). The latter series instead aired on WSBT-DT2, then South Bend's UPN affiliate after the end of the UPN schedule on Thursday night.

The station also aired the Notre Dame commencement address of President Barack Obama in full on May 17, 2009, in lieu of the first half of an NHL playoff game.

[edit] News team

Many of the WNDU staff members perform double duties as anchors or news correspondents, but only the most significant roles are listed.[3]

Anchors

  • Maureen McFadden - weeknights at 5:00 and 6:00 p.m.
  • Terry McFadden - weeknights at 5:00, 6:00 and 11:00 p.m.
  • Kevin Lewis - Sunday mornings (also reporter)
  • Joel Schipper - Saturday mornings, weekend evenings (also reporter)
  • Tricia Sloma - weekday mornings, noon

Weather Authority

  • Mike Hoffmann - (AMS Seal of Approval) - Chief Meteorologist; weeknights at 5:00, 6:00 and 11:00 p.m.
  • Cindi Clawson - (AMS Seal of Approval) - Meteorologist; weekend evenings
  • Gary Sieber - Weather Anchor; Saturday mornings
  • Frank Waugh - (AMS Certified Broadcast Meteorologist Seal of Approval) - Meteorologist

Sports Team

  • Jeff Jeffers - "The Dean of Local Sports" - Sports Director; weeknights at 5:00, 6:00 and 11:00 p.m.
  • Angelo DiCarlo - weekend evenings (also weekday reporter)

Reporters

  • Gabby Gonzalez - General assignment reporter
  • Barbara Harrington - General assignment reporter
  • Brandon Lewis - General assignment reporter
  • Mark Peterson - General assignment reporter
  • Katherine Rufener - General assignment reporter
  • Stephanie Stang - General assignment reporter

[edit] Former on-air staff

[5][6][7]

[edit] News/station presentation

[edit] Newscast titles

  • Your Esso Reporter (1955–1962)
  • Television 16 Reports (1962–1968)
  • Television 16 News (1968–1977)
  • NewsCenter 16 (1977–present)

[edit] Station slogans

  • Channel 16, Proud as a Peacock! (1980–1981; localized version of NBC ad campaign)
  • Your 24-Hour News Source (1991–1994)
  • Coverage You Can Count On (1994–2007)
  • Your Severe Weather Station (2007–2011)
  • Your Breaking News and Weather Authority (2011–present)
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[edit] References

[edit] External links

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