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WHSV-TV

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WHSV-TV, channel 3, is an ABC affiliate for the Harrisonburg, Virginia market. WHSV-TV3, as it is known on-air, is owned by Gray Television and has its transmitter located west of the town of Stanley on Massanutten Mountain. It serves 14 counties in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia and West Virginia.

WHSV, which can be considered an affiliate with three networks (ABC, FOX, and MyNetworkTV), broadcasts three additional stations on its digital signal. On DT2 is a FOX affiliate known as The Valley's FOX. DT3 is home to Winchester's new ABC affiliate known as TV3 Winchester (launched March 5, 2007). On DT4 is a MyNetworkTV affiliate known as My Valley TV.

Digital programming

The station's digital channel is multiplexed:

Channel Programming
49.1 / 3.1 Main WHSV programming (ABC)
49.2 / 3.2 The Valley's FOX
49.3 / 3.3 TV3 Winchester (ABC)
49.4 / 3.4 My Valley TV (MyNetworkTV)

History

Channel 3 signed on October 6, 1953 as WSVA-TV (for We Serve Virginia Agriculture). It was owned by Frederick L. Allman and his Shenandoah Valley Broadcasting Corporation along with WSVA radio (AM 550 and FM 100.7, now WQPO). The station was a primary NBC affiliate, with secondary CBS and ABC affiliations.

Although it was owned by one of Virginia's leading broadcasters, WSVA-TV operated on a shoestring budget. Station engineers switched to and from the signals of the three network affiliates in Washington, D.C. because it was unable to afford direct network feeds. [1] It didn't air local programs (except for news) until 1956. It dropped CBS in 1963.

In 1965, the WSVA stations were sold to James Gilmore, Jr., a Michigan businessman. The station began phasing out NBC in 1968, it continued to air some NBC shows until 1975. It picked up The Today Show from 1968 to 1975 (when Good Morning America debuted), but only aired the second hour of the show since it didn't sign on until 8 am (a practice that continued well into the 1970s). On occasion, engineers forgot to switch over for local breaks, resulting in channel 3 airing the local breaks from WMAL-TV (now WJLA-TV) in Washington.

In 1975, the Federal Communications Commission ruled that if a market had only one FM radio station, one AM radio station and one television station, they could not be owned by the same person. Gilmore sold WSVA-TV to Benedek Broadcasting in 1976, and the station assumed its current calls, WHSV. Under Benedek, the station was finally able to buy a network feed.

In the early 1990s, the station started its weekday newscast at noon.

Until 1999, WHSV’s main studio was located along U.S. Route 33, west of Harrisonburg. Construction of a new broadcast facility in downtown Harrisonburg began in 1998. WHSV relocated to its new home in the spring of 1999.

Most of Benedek's stations, including WHSV, were bought by Gray Television in 2002. A 5pm weekday newscast was also added in that same year. At that time, a new set was constructed in the station's Augusta County Newsroom in Staunton. The streetside set featured a window overlooking Downtown Staunton along West Frederick Street. The 5pm weekday newscast became WHSV’s first newscast to originate from the Augusta County Newsroom. In October 2003, WHSV began originating its 5pm newscast from both Harrisonburg and Staunton. WHSV's 6pm weekday newscast also originated from both Staunton and Harrisonburg for a brief period in the spring of 2004. During that time, WHSV’s 6pm weekday newscast featured 3 anchors. The 3 anchor, dual-city format was abandoned after a few months.

WHSV purchased its first microwave live truck in 2004. Prior to that, the station relied on rented equipment for remote broadcasts. Since 2004, WHSV has purchased additional microwave equipment for use by its news department.

Also in 2004, WHSV’s parent company, Gray Communications, launched WCAV in Charlottesville. WHSV management played a major role in the launch of WCAV, providing managerial, sales, and human resources support. Several members of WHSV’s news and production staff transferred to WCAV following its launch in August 2004.

2006 was a year of significant change at WHSV. On February 27, 2006, WHSV’s weekday morning Daybreak newscast began airing at 5am instead of the previous 5:30. This coincided with the debut of new weather technology purchased from WSI Corporation.

WHSV’s Harrisonburg and Augusta County news studios underwent a dramatic overhaul in April 2006 with the addition of new sets and studio camera equipment. WHSV newscasts were broadcast from a temporary studio in the Harrisonburg newsroom during the two week construction period. New sets debuted at 5am on April 24, 2006. At that time, portions of WHSV’s previous set, which was used from 1999 until 2006, were donated to nearby Turner Ashby High School.

News Director Van Hackett announced his retirement from the station in 2006. Hackett served as WHSV’s news director from December 2003 until August 2006. Hackett was succeeded by former TV-3 reporter Ed Reams, who left a job at WDSU in New Orleans, LA to return to the Shenandoah Valley. On July 21, 2006, popular weather anchor Jay Webb left after six years with the station. Webb accepted a job with WDBJ in Roanoke, VA. Webb enjoyed a week long send-off from his on-air colleagues before his final WHSV broadcast on July 21.

During the late summer and early fall of 2006, WHSV underwent major technical upgrades to make way for the station’s new digital subchannels. A large tower was built behind the station’s Harrisonburg studios to accommodate the additional satellite receivers needed for WHSV’s FOX and MyNetworkTV ventures. WHSV’s main analog transmitter was replaced during the week of August 31, 2006. Broadcasts were only available to viewers with cable while the transmitter was being replaced.

On October 30, 2006, WHSV dropped longtime 5:30 pm program "The Andy Griffith Show" in favor of a 5:30 pm newscast. This coincided with the debut of a new logo for the station and updated newscast graphics. While the logo itself was new, elements of a previous graphics package were retained. WHSV also began branding itself as "WHSV News 3" during newscasts. On November 27, 2006, WHSV dropped Gari Communications' "Making a Difference" in favor of 615 Music's "News One (V.1, V.2, Mini)" as its news open music.

Over the Thanksgiving 2006 weekend, the WHSV.com and the TV3Winchester.com websites received a huge makeover. Most of the Gray Communications stations have adopted this new website layout.

Until WVIR-TV signed on from Charlottesville in 1973, channel 3 was the only commercial television station between Richmond and Roanoke. It operated a translator on channel 64 in Charlottesville from 1979 until it became a separate station, WVAW-LP on channel 16.

WHSV DT2 "The Valley's FOX"

File:The Valleys FOX.gif
The Valley's FOX station logo.

WHSV and Gray Television created a FOX affiliate for the Shenandoah Valley called "The Valley's FOX", which began broadcasting on WHSV's DT2 digital subchannel on October 26, 2006. In March of 2007, the Valley's FOX was placed on Comcast Channel 705. WTTG, channel 5 in Washington continues to be the area's default Fox affiliate since it is still carried on analog channel 5. Outside of FOX primetime programming, the channel airs various syndicated programming, repeats of WHSV newscasts, and during overnights, The Sportsman Channel cable network.

WHSV and the Valley's Fox were scheduled to be carried on Dish Network within the Harrisonburg market and had been uplinked to the satellite, but a last minute court decision prevented this, and Dish dropped all plans to carry the stations. WHSV announced that the broadcasts were to begin on October 26, 2006. [2] At that point, the main WHSV channel was operating on satellite, but developments delayed the start of the FOX channel from being broadcast until later.

WHSV DT3 "TV3 Winchester"

Main article: TV3 Winchester
File:Station tv3winchester.JPG

On March 5, 2007, WHSV launched"TV3 Winchester", an ABC affiliate for Winchester, Virginia. The station is a joint project between WHSV and Shenandoah University. Along with Winchester, the station serves Frederick, Clarke, Warren, and Shenandoah counties in Virginia. Although the station transmits an over-the-air signal on WHSV's DT3 digital subchannel, it can only be seen on cable in its primary coverage area.

WHSV DT4 "My Valley"

File:Whsv mnt.gif
My Valley station logo.

WHSV operates a MyNetworkTV affiliate known as "My Valley TV". On MNTV's local station website, it lists WHSV as being an affiliate of the network. My Valley TV is currently broadcast on WHSV's DT4 digital subchannel. It can also be found on Comcast Channel 2 in the Shenandoah Valley. Besides the two MNTV primetime programs Desire and Fashion House, other syndicated programming such as Dr. Phil and Oprah will also air, along with repeats of WHSV newscasts, and during overnights, The Sportsman Channel cable network.

MyNetworkTV, which is a sister network to FOX, began broadcasting nationally in the U.S. on September 5, 2006. The network was created for two reasons. One, to go up against another new broadcast network called The CW, which is the result of the UPN and WB networks merging. The second reason is to offer stations not named as a CW affiliate another option besides becoming independent. The CW began broadcasting on September 18, 2006. NBC affiliate WVIR-TV in Charlottesville broadcasts The CW on its DT3 digital subchannel as part of The CW Plus.

Newscasts

According to a recent announcement by WHSV news director Ed Reams, there are plans in the works to begin a new 10 PM weekday newscast on The Valley's FOX. Although it does not have a radar of its own, WHSV uses live NOAA NWS radar data from four regional sites in a forecasting system presented onscreen as "First Alert Doppler".

Specials

  • The Endzone (11:35pm to 12:05am, Friday Nights during high school football season)

Current personalities

WHSV News Team

  • Ed Reams-News Director / Anchor[3]
  • Jamie Curott-6:00pm and 11:00pm News Anchor[4]
  • Val Thompson-6:00pm and 11:00pm News Anchor[5]
  • Bob Corso-5:00pm and 5:30pm News Anchor[6]
  • Melanie Lofton-5:00pm and 5:30pm Anchor[7]
  • Mike McNeill-Daybreak and Noon Anchor[8]
  • Jenelle Smith-Daybreak Anchor[9]
  • Lorilee Victorino- Harrisonburg Reporter[10]
  • Lauren McKay-Weekend Anchor / Rockingham County Reporter[11]
  • Meg Gatto-Waynesboro Reporter[12]
  • Kelly Creswell-Harrisonburg Reporter[13]
  • Shane Symolon-Augusta County Reporter[14]
  • Keith Jones - Staunton Reporter
  • James Jackson- Weekend Reporter[15]
  • Emily Brown - Morning Reporter

WHSV Weather Team

  • Leigh Abraham - Weekend Meteorologist / Weekday Reporter[16]
  • Megan Bennett - Daybreak Meteorologist[17]
  • George Hirschmann - Chief Meteorologist/6:00pm and 11:00pm Meteorologist[18]
  • Kirk Clyatt (AMS/NWA) - Noon, 5:00, and 5:30 Meteorologist

WHSV Sports Team

  • Joe Downs-Sports Director/Weekday Sports Anchor[19]
  • Zac Choate-Weekend Sports Anchor

Note: Bio Links go directly to the WHSV website and copyright WHSV.

Former WHSV personalities

  • John Andreucci - 6 and 11pm co-anchor (1990's)
  • Jane Smith - 6 and 11pm co-anchor, Daybreak Anchor, Reporter (1994-1998, now at KGW-TV)
  • Julie Bidwell - Daybreak Co-Anchor, Noon Anchor (1997-2000, now at Fox News Channel as Julie Banderas)
  • Chris Suchan - Weather (late 1990s, now at WBTV-TV)
  • Ron Magnuson - Reporter, Weekend Anchor (late 1990s, now at WSOC-TV)
  • Jenn Lesmerises - Daybreak Co-Anchor, Noon Anchor (Late 1990s)
  • Masha Kogan - Reporter (Late 1990s)
  • Tracey Neale - Reporter (Early 1990s, now at WUSA-TV)
  • Kevin Schultze - Reporter (Early 1990s, now at WJLA-TV)
  • Beth Parker - Reporter, Anchor (Early 1990s, now at WTTG-TV)
  • Andrew Speno - Weekend Anchor, Reporter (Late 90's, now at KOKH-TV)
  • J.J. Davis - Weekend Sports Anchor, Sports Director (1991-2000, now at KPTM-TV)
  • Brian North - Sports Director (1992-1998, now at WCTI-TV)
  • Meredyth Censullo - Reporter, Weather Anchor (late 1990s, now at WTSP-TV)
  • Thomas Tobin - Reporter (1998-1999, now a producer at WTTG-TV)
  • Tom Patton - Weather Anchor (late 1990s, now at WWBT-TV)
  • Joelle Girone - Anchor (Late 1990s-2000, now at WKRC-TV)
  • Amy Jo Dickerson - Reporter, Daybreak Co-Anchor, 6 and 11pm Co-Anchor (1998-2001)
  • Bob Radford - Weekend Sports Anchor, Sports Director (1998-2002, now at WCYB-TV)
  • Dan Bewley - Daybreak Co-Anchor (2000-2003, now at WOOD-TV
  • Rachel DePompa - Reporter, Weekend Anchor (1999-2002, now at WDBJ-TV)
  • Susan Bahorich - Reporter, Daybreak Co-Anchor (2000-2003, now at WDBJ-TV)
  • Melissa Tune - Reporter (1999-2001)(now Anchor at WRDW-TV, Augusta GA)
  • Melissa DiPane - Augusta County Reporter (1999-2002, now at WATE-TV)
  • Danielle Banks - Augusta County Reporter, Weather (2000-2003, now at The Weather Channel)
  • Jay Webb - Weekend Weather Anchor, Daybreak Weather Anchor (2000-2006, now at WDBJ-TV)
  • Amy Gleason - Reporter, Weekend Anchor, Daybreak Co-Anchor (2000-2004)
  • Adam Kramer - Augusta County Reporter (2001-2003)
  • Donald Robinson -Augusta County Reporter (2001-2003)
  • Melissa Reynolds - Reporter (2001-2002)
  • Michelle Smith - 6 and 11pm Co-Anchor (2001-2003, now at WWLP-TV)
  • Erin Tate - Reporter (2002-2003, now at WCMH-TV)
  • Amy Kehm - Reporter, Weekend Anchor, 5pm Co-Anchor (2002-2006, now at WHTM-TV)
  • Tara Brown - 5, 6, and 11pm Co-Anchor (2002-2004, now at KODE-TV)
  • Jarrod Aldom - Reporter (2003-2004)
  • Josh Chernikoff - Weekend Sports Anchor (2003-2004)
  • James Williams - Daybreak Co-Anchor (2003-2005)
  • Sonia Randev - Reporter (2003-2004)
  • Kirsten Gladding - Reporter, 5pm Co-Anchor (2003-2004)
  • Tim Saunders - Reporter, Weekend Anchor (2003-2006)
  • Van Hackett - 6pm Co-Anchor, News Director (2003-2006)
  • Chay Lee - Reporter (2004-2006)
  • Laura Speakman - Reporter (2004-2006)
  • Tamara Hinton - Weekend Reporter (2004, now at WVIR-TV)
  • Mike Mueller - Augusta County Reporter (2004-2006, now at WTAJ-TV)
  • Meryl Conant - Augusta County Reporter (2004-2006, now at WCBD-TV)
  • Evan Fitzgerald - Augusta County Reporter, Daybreak Co-Anchor (2004-2007)
  • Emmett Irby - Weekend Reporter (2005)
  • Brianne Carter - Augusta County Reporter (2005-2006, now at WJLA/News Channel 8)
  • Robin Tanner - Daybreak Reporter (2006)
  • Raymond Rivera - Augusta County Reporter (2006, now at WVIR-TV)
  • Melinda Summers - Weekend Meteorologist (2002-2006) Noon/5pm Meteorologist (2006-2007)
  • Damon Dillman - Reporter (2003-2004) Weekend Sports Anchor (2004-2007)
  • Megan Bennett- Daybreak Meteorologist (2006-2007, moved to Texas)

Syndicated programming

Logos

External links

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