WTTG
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| WTTG | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Washington, D.C. | |
| Branding | Fox 5 (general) Fox 5 News (newscasts) |
| Slogan | Always On |
| Channels | |
| Affiliations | Fox |
| Owner | Fox Television Stations (Fox Television Stations, Inc.) |
| First air date | January 3, 1947 |
| Call letters’ meaning | Thomas Toliver Goldsmith (chief engineer of founding company DuMont) |
| Sister station(s) | WDCA |
| Former channel number(s) | Analog: 5 (1947-2009) |
| Former affiliations | DuMont (1946-1956) independent (1956-1986) |
| Transmitter Power | 1000 kW |
| Height | 201 m |
| Facility ID | 22207 |
| Transmitter Coordinates | 38°57′22″N 77°4′59″W / 38.95611°N 77.08306°W |
| Website | www.myfoxdc.com/ |
WTTG Channel 5 is an owned-and-operated TV station of the Fox Broadcasting Company. It's located in Washington, D.C. and serves the entire Washington metropolitan area (including Northern Virginia, Maryland and the Martinsburg, West Virginia area) from a studio and transmitter located in the Tenleytown neighborhood of Washington.[1] WTTG's sister station is MyNetworkTV O&O WDCA, forming a duopoly owned by Fox Television Stations Group.
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[edit] History
The station traces its history to May 19, 1945, when television set and equipment manufacturer Allen B. DuMont founded W3XWT, the second experimental station in the nation's capital (after NBC's W3XNB, forerunner to WRC-TV).
Later in 1945, DuMont Laboratories began a series of experimental coaxial cable hookups between W3XWT and its other television station, WABD in New York City (now WNYW). These hookups were the beginning of the DuMont Television Network, the world's first licensed commercial television network. DuMont began regular network service in 1946. Almost a year later on January 3, 1947, W3XWT received a commercial license -- the first in the nation's capital -- as WTTG. The station was named for Thomas T. Goldsmith, Dr. DuMont's best friend and the DuMont network's chief engineer.
Like its New York sister station, WTTG was far more successful than the network as a whole. In 1956, after DuMont ended network operations, WTTG and WABD were spun off as the "DuMont Broadcasting Corporation". It later changed its name to Metropolitan Broadcasting due to the failure associated with DuMont. In 1958, Washington investor John Kluge bought controlling interest in Metropolitan Broadcasting and installed himself as its chairman. He changed the company's name to Metromedia in 1961. Goldsmith sat on Metromedia's board for over a quarter-century.
At first, WTTG ran on a low budget. However, in the late 1960s, it benefited from Metromedia's aggressiveness in acquiring top syndicated programming, giving it a significant leg up on WDCA, which signed on in 1966. By the 1970s, WTTG was one of the leading independent stations in the country, running a broad lineup of cartoons, off-network sitcoms, first-run syndicated shows, old movies, local news and locally produced programs. During this time period, and well into the early 1990s, WTTG was the flagship station for the Georgetown Hoyas men's basketball team. Its main claim to fame was Panorama, an afternoon talk show hosted by John Willis, and Maury Povich. WTTG offered Japanese cartoons dubbed into English including Astro Boy and Marine Boy.
When cable television began in the 1970s, WTTG became a regional superstation. At one point, it appeared on every cable system in Maryland and Virginia, as well as most of Delaware and in parts of North Carolina, South Carolina and Pennsylvania. Though not distributed as widely as it once was, the popularity of WTTG has kept it available on cable on several Maryland and Virginia cable systems. It still serves as the default Fox affiliate for the Harrisonburg, Virginia market. Additionally, it is still carried on cable in Charlottesville, Virginia despite the city recently gaining a Fox affiliate out of WAHU-CA. It also served as the default Fox affiliate for Salisbury, Maryland until the debut of new default Fox affiliate, Fox21 Delmarva, a subsidiary of WBOC-TV on August 21, 2006).
Metromedia owned the station until 1986 when Rupert Murdoch, after buying 20th Century Fox, purchased the Metromedia television stations to form the nucleus of the Fox network. WTTG became one of 6 (now 16) Fox owned-and-operated stations (O&O), all the while retaining consistently high ratings, a rarity for a Fox station then. Initially, its programming was similar to what it had run as a true independent station, since Fox only programmed for a few hours on weekends. Then, in the summer of 1990, the morning cartoon block was ended in favor of Fox 5 Morning News. It was the second Fox O&O to have a morning newscast and the fourth or fifth Fox affiliate with morning news.
In the 1990s, Fox 5 added more syndicated talk shows and reality shows. It continued to air afternoon cartoons from Fox Kids until the fall of 2001, when they moved to WDCA (only to be cut to Saturdays everywhere in 2002). But WTTG later on brought back Fox children's programming under the banner 4Kids TV. On October 29, 2001, WDCA became WTTG's sister station when Fox bought it from Viacom. Fox 5 continued to run top rated off-network sitcoms in the evenings. In 2002, it added an evening 5 to 6 p.m. newscast. Today, it has 40 hours a week of local news.
On May 15, 2006 WTTG launched a new website, which features more news and video with the "MyFox" name and interface. (The "My" in the MyFox name may be a reference to Fox's new network My Network TV, which is now shown locally on WDCA.) It is at www.myfoxdc.com.
The new logo and set premiered on June 25, 2006. WTTG launched "NewsEdge" (previously titled "The Edge" until October 2006), its 11–11:30 pm newscast, on July 31, 2006. "NewsEdge", which is anchored solo by 10pm co-anchor Brian Bolter, follows its 10–11 pm newscast. Also with the launch of the 11pm broadcast, Fox 5 has now expanded its 5pm broadcast to 7 days a week. The 5pm on the weekend is only a half-hour long as opposed to the weekday hour-long broadcast. The new "NewsEdge" has gone to 7 days as well; the weekend 11 pm broadcast is 15 minutes long, followed by "Sports Extra."
On September 4, 2006, WTTG began simulcasting its weekday morning and daily 10 PM newscasts on Baltimore's Fox-owned WUTB, under the banner of My 24 News. The higher-ups at both stations cite the decision to simulcast as a by-product of cross-regional news interests and increasing overlap between the Baltimore and Washington media markets. [1] On October 2006, while WTTG aired Fox Sports' coverage of the 2006 Major League Baseball postseason, the first half-hour of the 10 PM newscast was seen on Washington's Fox-owned WDCA under the banner of Fox 5 News at Ten Special Edition. The same has occurred in 2007, with a banner name of My 20 News at 10.
On July 2, 2007, WTTG discontinued its noon newscast and replaced it with an hour-long newscast at 11am, titled Fox 5 News Midday. On September 10, 2007, the station added "NewsEdge" at 6pm which is also anchored solo by Brian Bolter. The 6pm edition of "NewsEdge" follows its 5–6pm newscast. The addition of "NewsEdge" at 6pm was due in part to the success of its current 11pm counterpart.
On January 14, 2009, WTTG entered into talks with local NBC O&O WRC-TV to share helicopters and pool news video. [2]
On January 30, 2009, starting with their 6pm newscast, WTTG became the third station in DC (behind CBS affiliate WUSA and ABC affiliate WJLA) to launch news in high definition. With the change to HD came the new FOX O&O HD graphics currently used on sister FOX stations WNYW, KRIV, KDFW, KTTV, and WAGA.
[edit] Criticism
In 2004, the inner operations of WTTG during the station's first years under Rupert Murdoch's control were critically scrutinized in Robert Greenwald's documentary Outfoxed: Rupert Murdoch's War on Journalism. The documentary, through a panel of former WTTG journalists and staffers, claimed that following Murdoch's acquisition, WTTG's news reporting became biased and sensationalistic, much in the style of the Fox News Channel, which Murdoch also owns and which the film primarily criticizes. Former WTTG employees claimed that: they were told "from the top" to air a tribute to Ronald Reagan, as seen at the 1988 Republican National Convention, uncut; they were told to run a piece from A Current Affair that "rehashed the whole matter of [Senator Ted Kennedy's deadly car accident at] Chappaquiddick" which had "zero news value"; and an obsessive attitude over airing stories related to wedge issues such as race relations and AIDS.
[edit] News Operation
WTTG broadcasts a total of 45 hours of local news a week (eight hours on weekdays, two hours on Saturdays and three hours on Sundays), the most of any television station in the Washington, D.C. market.[citation needed]
[edit] News/Station Presentation
[edit] Newscast titles
- MetroMedia 5 News (1970s-1983)
- Channel 5 News (1983-1992)
- Fox 5 News (1992-present)
[edit] Station slogans
- The Most Powerful Name in Local News (2006-2008)
- Always On (2008-present)
[edit] Logos
 WTTG ID in 1980s. This logo was used from late 1970s to 1984. |
 WTTG logo from 1984 to 1986. The logo looks simlilar to KTLA's logo. |
 WTTG logo from 1986 to 1987. Ths was during Fox ownership. |
 WTTG ID in 1987. This was used from 1987 to 1994. A variant of 20th Century Fox. |
 WTTG logo from 1994 to 1997. This was used during newscast opens. |
 WTTG logo from 1997 to 2006. |
Current WTTG "Fox 5" logo from 2006 to present. A variant of the current KRIV logo |
[edit] Digital television
On June 12, 2009, WTTG left channel 5 and continued broadcasting on channel 36 to complete its analog to digital conversion. [3] However, through the use of PSIP, digital television receivers will display WTTG's virtual channel as "5".
[edit] Notable personalities
[edit] Current personalities
[edit] Anchors
- Melanie Alnwick - Sundays 7 am–9 am; Special Projects reporter
- Brian Bolter - Weekdays at 6 pm, 10 pm, and 11 pm
- Steve Chenevey - Weekdays 5 am–9 am
- Gurvir Dhindsa - Weekdays 5 am–7 am
- Laura Evans - Weekdays at 5 pm
- Holly Morris - Weekdays at 11 am; Morning Feature Reporter
- Allison Seymour - Weekdays 7 am–9 am and 11 am
- Will Thomas - Weekends at 5 pm, 10 pm, and 11 pm
- Maureen Umeh - Weekends at 5 pm, 10 pm, and 11 pm
- Shawn Yancy - Weekdays at 5 pm and 10 pm
[edit] Weather Team
- Tucker Barnes - Weather Producer; weekend fill-in
- Gary McGrady - Weekdays at 5 pm (AMS Seal of Approval)
- Sue Palka - Weekdays at 6 pm, 10 pm, and 11 pm (NWA Seal of Approval)
- Tony Perkins - Weekdays 5 am–9 am and 11am
- Gwen Tolbart - Weekends at 5 pm, 6 pm, and 11 pm; Sundays 7 am–9 am
[edit] Sports
- Anthony Amey - Weekends at 5 pm, 10 pm, and 11 pm; weekday sports reporter
- Dave Feldman - Sports Director seen weekdays at 6 pm, 10 pm, and 11 pm
- Dave Ross - Weekdays 5 am–9 am; sports producer
[edit] Reporters
- Matt Ackland
- Bob Barnard
- Roby Chavez
- Claudia Coffey
- Stacey Cohan
- Tom Fitzgerald
- John Henrehan
- Karen Gray Houston
- Sherri Ly
- Wisdom Martin
- Beth Parker
- Roz Plater
- Sarah Simmons
- Paul Wagner
- Allyson Wilson
[edit] Former personalities
- James Adams - Anchor/Reporter (1977–1990, now at WRC-TV)
- Ed Alwood - Reporter/Business Anchor (1977–1982, now a journalism professor)
- Brooke Baldwin - Reporter (2006–2008, now at CNN)
- Ric Barrick - Meteorologist(2001–2002, now at WTVR-TV)
- Mike Barry - Meteorologist (2004–2006), currently WTTG fill-in meteorologist
- Dave Bender - Reporter (1990–1993, now at KOVR in Sacramento)
- Jackie Bensen - Reporter (1987–1999, now in same position at WRC-TV)
- Dave Benz - Sports Anchor/Reporter (??–2009)now at Comcast Sports Net California
- Josh Binswanger - Fox Morning News Anchor (1998–2000), left for History Channel, last at WBZ-TV in Boston
- Steve Buckhantz - Sports Anchor (1987–2001, currently play-by-play announcer for the Washington Wizards)
- Connie Chung - Reporter (1970–1971)
- Jack Conaty - reporter (1986–1987, now at WFLD-TV in Chicago)
- Vince DeLisi - Sports Anchor and Reporter (1990–1992)
- Rory Devine - reporter (1982-1983, now at KNSD in San Diego)
- Stacey Donaldson - Meteorologist (1998–2002, now at KCNC-TV in Denver)
- Mike Dunston - Reporter (now anchor at WOFL-TV, Orlando, FL)
- Barton Eckert - Anchor/Reporter (1975–1984, now at WTOP-AM
- Darya Folsom - Morning Anchor/Reporter (1994–1998, now at KRON-TV in San Francisco)
- Joe Fowler - Sports Anchor/Reporter (1986–1987)
- Michael Garguilo - Morning Anchor/Reporter (2000–2006, now at WNBC in New York)
- Jeff Gilbert
- Bill Gormly - Host of Children's Show Countdown Carnival (1963–1968), Staff Announcer
- Brett Haber - Sports Anchor/Reporter (1997–2000, now at WUSA-TV)
- Kerri Lee Halkett - Traffic Reporter/Anchor (1997–2000, now at WTXF in Philadelphia)
- Chick Hernandez - Sports Anchor/Reporter (1993–2000, now in same position at Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic)
- Lou Holder - Weekend Sports Anchor/Reporter (200?–2007)
- Hillary Howard (Statter) - Meteorologist (1990s–2000, now at WTOP Radio in Washington, DC; wife of WUSA-TV reporter (Dave Statter)
- Bill Johnson - Staff Announcer and Children's Show Host (1950s and 60s)
- Gus Johnson - Weekend Sports Anchor/Reporter (1991–1992, now a play-by-play commentator for CBS Sports)
- Morris Jones - Anchor/Reporter (1983–2001, now at Sinclair Broadcasting as Washington Bureau Correspondent)
- Jim Karvellas - Sports Anchor/Reporter (?, deceased)
- Dennis Ketterer - Meteorologist (1983–1985, now at WBOC-TV in Salisbury, Maryland)
- Mike Landess - Anchor/Reporter (1998–2001, now at KMGH in Denver)
- Jeff Lawson - Meteorologist (1984–1989, now at WVEC in Norfolk, Virginia)
- Lark McCarthy - Fox 5 Morning News co-anchor (1990–2007, left station on 6/1/2007 to move to Las Vegas)
- Patrick McGrath - National Correspondent (father of WRC-TV reporter Megan McGrath)(1983–2009, left station on 1/30/2009)
- Pat Mitchell - Anchor/Panorama Host (1977–1979, now President/CEO of The Paley Center for Media in New York)
- Tracey Neale - Anchor/Reporter (1994–2003)
- Maury Povich - Anchor/Reporter/Panorama Host (1967–76 and 1983–86, now host of the syndicated talk show Maury)
- Lee Reynolds - Children's Show Host Captain Tugg (1958–1966), Grandpa Reynolds (1956–1959), and Captain Lee and Mates (1964–1966)
- Mike Ritz - Sports Reporter (1987–1991, now at The Golf Channel)
- Amy Robach - Anchor/Reporter (1998–2003, now at MSNBC)
- Diane Roberts - Sports Reporter ans Substitute Sports Anchor
- Nathan Roberts - Anchor/Reporter (1988–1991, formerly of NewsChannel 8, now at WTOP-FM)
- Angela Robinson - Anchor/Reporter/Panorama host (1983–1993, now at WPBA-TV in Atlanta)
- Al Roker - Weather Anchor (1976–1978, now seen on the Today Show)
- Steve Rudin - Meteorologist (2001–2004, now at WJLA-TV/NewsChannel 8)
- Tom Sater - Meteorologist (1998–2005)
- Bob Schieffer - Reporter (1969–19??, now CBS News Chief Washington Correspondent)
- Kevin Schultze - Reporter (1993–1996)
- Bob Sellers - Weekday Morning News Anchor (2006–2008)
- Michelle Sigona - Traffic Reporter (2004–2006, now at America's Most Wanted)
- Aleen Sirgany - Anchor/Reporter (1999–2001, now at CBS News)
- Karna Small - Anchor (1976–1978, now Karna Bodman and an author [2])
- Alan Smith - Anchor (1960s?-1970s?)
- Bernie Smilovitz - Sports Anchor (1978–1986, now at WDIV-TV in Detroit)
- Jill Sorenson - General Assignment Reporter (2004–2005, now a sports anchor and reporter at Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic)
- Cynthia Steele - Evening anchor (1990–199?)
- Jackie Stone - Reporter (1983–1991)
- Sara Underwood - Reporter (???–2000), then at WBZ-TV,now at WFXT-TV)
- Todd D. Wallace - Morning Anchor (2000–2002, now at WRTV-TV in Indianapolis)
- Tim White - Morning Anchor (1990–1992, now at WKYC-TV in Cleveland)
- Brian Williams - Anchor/Reporter/Panorama Host (1985–1986, now at NBC News/MSNBC as Nightly News anchor)
- Brian Wilson - Anchor/Reporter (19??–2000, now at Fox News Channel)
This list is incomplete. You can help by expanding it.
[edit] References
- ^ "Digital Signal Sources". The Washington Post. 2008-05-20. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/graphic/2008/05/20/GR2008052000207.html?sid=ST2008051902978.
- ^ "Fox And NBC To Share In DC". http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/162178-Fox_And_NBC_To_Share_In_DC.php. Retrieved on 2009-01-14.
- ^ http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1082A2.pdf
[edit] External links
- WTTG Website
- Query the FCC's TV station database for WTTG
- BIAfn's Media Web Database -- Information on WTTG-TV
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