WCCO-TV, is the
CBSCBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
owned and operated
television stationA television station is a business, organisation or other such as an amateur television operator that transmits content over terrestrial television. A television transmission can be by analog television signals or, more recently, by digital television. Broadcast television systems standards are...
that serves the
Minneapolis-St. Paul area of
MinnesotaMinnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
. Its transmitter is at the
TelefarmTelefarm Towers Shoreview is a transmission site for FM radio and television broadcasting in Shoreview, Minnesota consisting of two guyed towers. The towers, commonly called simply the Shoreview Towers by local residents, are owned by Telefarm, Inc., which is a company jointly owned by the Twin...
complex in
Shoreview, MinnesotaAs of the census of 2000, there are 25,377 people, Males: 12,303 , Females: 13,074 , 9,965 households, and 7,021 families residing in the city. The population density is 2,315.9 people per square mile . There are 10,127 housing units at an average density of 919.2 per square mile...
.
History
WCCO-TV's roots originate with a radio station but not one with which it is affiliated today.
WRHMWWTC is a long-standing radio station serving the Twin Cities region. Despite its up-and-down history, the station spawned two of the area's major television stations and had some very innovative and unusual periods in its history...
, which took to the air in 1925, is the station to which WCCO-TV traces its lineage. In 1934, two newspapers—the
Minneapolis Tribune and the
Saint Paul Pioneer Press-Dispatch—formed a joint venture named "Twin Cities Newspapers," which purchased the radio station and changed its call letters to WTCN. Twin Cities Newspapers later expanded into the then-new medium of televison with the launch of WTCN-TV on July 1, 1949 as Minnesota's second television station, broadcasting from the Radio City Theater at 50 South 9th Street in downtown Minneapolis.
When Twin Cities Newspapers sold its radio holdings (
WTCN-AMWWTC is a long-standing radio station serving the Twin Cities region. Despite its up-and-down history, the station spawned two of the area's major television stations and had some very innovative and unusual periods in its history...
1280 and WTCN-FM 97.1) in 1952, it was able to buy the much stronger and dominant WCCO Radio 830. A new company,
Midwest Radio and TelevisionMidwest Radio and Television was a broadcasting company based in the Upper Midwest United States.Its history dates back to August 1952, when the original owners of WTCN-AM-FM-TV decided to sell the stations. While the radio stations went to a separate owner, WTCN-TV was sold to the owners of WCCO...
, was created to do this, with
CBSCBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
as a minority partner. The call letters of Channel 4 were changed to match its new radio sister along with its network affiliation. The WTCN-TV call sign would later be picked up by what is now
KAREKARE, digital channel 11, is an NBC-affiliated television station licensed to Minneapolis, Minnesota, and serving the Minneapolis-St. Paul area of Minnesota and portions of western Wisconsin. It also operates KARE WX NOW, formerly known as NBC Weather Plus on its second digital subchannel...
. CBS, in 1992, acquired 100% ownership of WCCO-TV.
Since the May 2006 ratings period, WCCO's newscasts
have claimed the top spot in total household ratings for most news programs. The exception has been the mornings, where
KAREKARE, digital channel 11, is an NBC-affiliated television station licensed to Minneapolis, Minnesota, and serving the Minneapolis-St. Paul area of Minnesota and portions of western Wisconsin. It also operates KARE WX NOW, formerly known as NBC Weather Plus on its second digital subchannel...
still leads all local competitors. In main demographic groups, WCCO usually comes in second place. May 2009 showed a third place finish behind KSTP at 5:00 p.m.
Satellite stations and translators
WCCO-TV's transmitter is located at the
TelefarmTelefarm Towers Shoreview is a transmission site for FM radio and television broadcasting in Shoreview, Minnesota consisting of two guyed towers. The towers, commonly called simply the Shoreview Towers by local residents, are owned by Telefarm, Inc., which is a company jointly owned by the Twin...
paired tower installation in Shoreview also used by
KSTP-TVKSTP-TV, channel 5, is the ABC affiliate for the Twin Cities. Its transmitter is located at the Shoreview Telefarm. It is the flagship station of Hubbard Broadcasting, which also owns several other broadcasting properties across the United States....
, KARE and WUCW. The market's southern and western portions gets WCCO from three low-power translators, all privately owned:
- K36FI, channel 36 Frost
Frost is a city in Faribault County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 198 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land.-Demographics:...
- K51AL, channel 51 Olivia
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,570 people, 75 households, and 658 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,102.7 people per square mile . There were 1,178 housing units at an average density of 505.4 per square mile...
- K46AC, channel 46 Willmar
As of the census of 2000, there were 18,351 people, 7,302 households, and 4,461 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,549.9 people per square mile . There were 7,789 housing units at an average density of 657.8 per square mile...
WCCO also operates two satellite stations outside of the Twin Cities area.
| Station |
City of license A city of license or community of license, in American and Canadian broadcasting, is the community that a radio station or television station is officially licensed to serve by that country's broadcast regulator....
|
Channels In broadcasting, a channel is a range of frequencies assigned by a government for the operation of a particular radio station, television station or television channel. In common usage, the term also may be used to refer to the station operating on a particular frequency.-See also:*Broadcast...
(TVIn telecommunications, a logical channel number , also known as virtual channel, is a channel designation which differs from that of the actual radio channel on which the signal travels....
/ DTDigital terrestrial television is the technological evolution of broadcast television and advance from analog television, which broadcasts land-based signals...
) |
First air date |
Former callsignsIn broadcasting and radio communications, a call sign is a unique designation for a transmitting station. In North America they are used as names for broadcasting stations...
|
ERP In radio telecommunications, effective radiated power or equivalent radiated power is a standardized theoretical measurement of radio frequency energy using the SI unit watts, and is determined by subtracting system losses and adding system gains...
|
HAATHeight above average terrain is used extensively in FM radio and television, as it is actually much more important than effective radiated power in determining the range of broadcasts...
|
Facility ID The facility ID number or FIN is a unique positive integer assigned by the United States Federal Communications Commission to each domestic and international broadcast station in its Common Database System . Licensees are required to provide the relevant station's FIN when filing reports and...
|
Transmitter Coordinates |
| KCCO-TV |
AlexandriaAs of the census of 2000, there were 8,820 people, however the most recent count suggests a population upwards of 10,000, which is displayed on Alexandria's city limits signs. The census lists 4,047 households, and 2,011 families residing in the city. The population density was 992.5 people per...
|
7 (VHF Very high frequency is the radio frequency range from 30 MHz to 300 MHz. Frequencies immediately below VHF are denoted High frequency , and the next higher frequencies are known as Ultra high frequency...
)
7 (PSIPThe Program and System Information Protocol is the protocol used in the ATSC digital television system for carrying metadata about each channel in the broadcast MPEG transport stream of a TV station and for publishing information about television programs so that viewers can select what to watch...
) |
October 8, 1958 |
KCMT (1958–1987) |
29 kW |
339.6 m |
9632 |
45°41′10"N 95°8′3"W |
| KCCW-TV |
WalkerAs of the census of 2000, there were 1,069 people, 449 households, and 258 families residing in the city. The population density was 734.3 people per square mile . There were 517 housing units at an average density of 355.1 per square mile...
|
12 (VHF)
12 (PSIP) |
January 1, 1964 |
KNMT (1964–1987) |
59 kW |
286.4 m |
9640 |
46°56′5"N 94°27′19"W |
Note: Both of these stations were affiliated with
NBCThe National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
(primary) and
ABCThe American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
(secondary) from their sign-on dates until the summer of 1982, when they switched to
CBSCBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
. Both stations were acquired by WCCO in 1987. Until 2002, they simulcasted WCCO most of the day, except for separate commercials and inserts placed into channel 4's newscasts. However, in 2002, WCCO-TV ended KCCO/KCCW's local operations and shut down the Alexandria studio, converting the two stations into full-time satellites. Since then, channel 4 has identified as "Minneapolis-St. Paul/Alexandria/Walker," with virtually no on-air evidence that KCCO and KCCW were separate stations.
Current on-air staff
Anchors
- Mike Binkley - weekday mornings and noon
- Liz Collin - Saturdays at 5 and 6, Sundays at 5:30 and weekends at 10 p.m as well as a general assignment reporter.
- Angela Davis - weekday mornings and noon
- Jason DeRusha - Sundays at 5:30 and 10 p.m. (starting September 11, 2011) and "Good Question" feature reporter
- Esme Murphy - Sunday mornings as well as a general assignment reporter
- Amelia Santaniello - weeknights at 5, 6 and 10 p.m.
- Frank Vascellaro - weeknights at 5, 6 and 10 p.m.
- Jamie Yuccas - Saturday mornings as well as a general assignment reporter
WCCO Weather Team
- Chris Shaffer (AMS
The American Meteorological Society promotes the development and dissemination of information and education on the atmospheric and related oceanic and hydrologic sciences and the advancement of their professional applications. Founded in 1919, the American Meteorological Society has a membership...
Certified Broadcast MeteorologistCertified Broadcast Meteorologist is a rating for meteorologists given by the American Meteorological Society.The Certified Broadcast Meteorologist program was established to raise the professional standard in broadcast meteorology and encourage a broader range of scientific understanding,...
Seal of Approval) - Chief Meteorologist; weeknights at 5, 6 and 10 p.m.
- Mike Augustyniak (AMS Seal of Approval) - Meteorologist; weekday mornings and noon
- Lauren Casey (AMS
The American Meteorological Society promotes the development and dissemination of information and education on the atmospheric and related oceanic and hydrologic sciences and the advancement of their professional applications. Founded in 1919, the American Meteorological Society has a membership...
Certified Broadcast MeteorologistCertified Broadcast Meteorologist is a rating for meteorologists given by the American Meteorological Society.The Certified Broadcast Meteorologist program was established to raise the professional standard in broadcast meteorology and encourage a broader range of scientific understanding,...
Seal of Approval) - Meteorologist; Saturdays at 5 and 6, Sundays at 5:30 and weekends at 10 p.m.
- Matt Brickman - Meteorologist and reporter; weekend mornings
WCCO Sports
- Mark Rosen - Sports Director; Monday-Thursdays at 5, 6 and 10 p.m., Sundays at 10 p.m. (and host of Rosen's Sports Sunday)
- Mike Max - Friday-Saturdays at 5, 6 and 10 p.m. and Sundays at 5:30 p.m.
- Eric Nelson - fill in
Reporters
Former on-air staff
- Clellan Card
Clellan Card was a noted on-air personality at the Minnesota station WCCO best-known for the dozen years where he played Axel Torgeson on the local children's show Axel and His Dog. Card was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota and spent most of his life in the Twin Cities region, although he attended...
- children's television personality "Axel" (1954–1966)
- Bill Carlson
Bill Carlson was an American journalist and longtime television anchor at WCCO in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Carlson was born in Thief River Falls, Minnesota and grew up in St. Paul, Minnesota...
- entertainment reporter, midday news anchor
- Christine Clayburg
Christine Clayburg, born May 26, 1973 in Paso Robles, California is an American television meteorologist who also has done some acting and screenwriting....
- weekday morning meteorologist
- Mary Davies - host of childrens shows (as "Carman The Nurse")
- Paul Douglas
Paul Douglas is a meteorologist, author, entrepreneur, and software expert in Minneapolis-St.Paul, Minnesota. He worked at WCCO-TV in Minneapolis, Minnesota from December 1997 until he was laid off in April 2008 as part of nationwide cutbacks by CBS...
- chief meteorologist (1997–2008); now does weather for Star-Tribune
- Mike Fairbourne - meteorologist (1977-June 30, 2011)
- John Gallos - host of childrens shows as "Clancy The Cop" and other characters , host of weekly Laurel & Hardy films program, host of public service programs and staff announcer
- Tom Hanneman
Tom Hanneman is the current play-by-play television announcer for the Minnesota Timberwolves basketball team of the National Basketball Association and has been with the franchise since its inception in 1989. Prior to that, Hanneman was a sports and general assignment reporter for CBS affiliate...
- sports anchor
- Allan Lotsberg - host of childrens shows as "Willie Ketchum"
- Pat Miles - news anchor
- Dave Moore news anchor (1950s-1998)
- Don Shelby
Donald Gilbert "Don" Shelby is a former American news anchor on WCCO-TV in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He is regarded as an experienced investigative journalist, as his work has earned two Peabody awards and an Emmy Award....
news anchor
- Michele Tafoya
Michele Tafoya is an American sportscaster.-Early life and career:Tafoya received a B.A...
- sports anchor/reporter; now with ESPNEntertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
and WCCO-AMWCCO is a radio station located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. The station broadcasts on a clear-channel frequency and is owned by CBS Radio. The station's studios are located in downtown Minneapolis, while its transmitter is located in Coon Rapids, Minnesota.With 50,000 watts of power, WCCO's...
- Aloha Taylor
-External links:*...
- meteorologist (2005–2006)
- Jeanette Trompeter
Notable alumni
Many of WCCO-TV's on-air talent went on to the networks:
- Randi Kaye (to CNN)
- Barry Petersen
Barry Petersen is an Emmy Award-winning CBS News Correspondent. He has reported from around the world on numerous issues, including wars, natural disasters, Paris fashions, the fading popularity of Welsh choirs, and the return of American Jazz to Shanghai, China...
(to CBS)
- Bill Stewart (to ABC, murdered in Nicaragua in 1979)
- Susan Spencer
Susan Spencer is an American television news reporter and correspondent for 48 Hours Mystery.Spencer was born in Memphis, Tennesseee. She graduated from Michigan State University in 1968 with a Bachelor's degree in Journalism. The following year, Spencer completed her Master's in...
(to CBS)
- Skip Loescher (to CNN)
- Ben Tracy
Benjamin Sampair Tracy is a rising star in the news broadcast industry and has been a CBS News national correspondent since January 2008...
(to CBS)
External links