WFMY-TV
Encyclopedia
WFMY-TV is a television station in Greensboro, North Carolina
. Owned by the Gannett Company
, WFMYis the CBS
affiliate for the Greensboro/High Point
/Winston-Salem
(also known as the Piedmont Triad
) area. WFMY's studios are located on Phillips Avenue in downtown Greensboro, and its transmitter is located in Randleman, North Carolina
.
in Charlotte
. It was owned by the Greensboro News Company, publishers of the Greensboro Daily News and Daily Record (now merged as the Greensboro News & Record
). The News Company had put WFMY-FM on the air in 1947, but it removed the station from the air in the early part of the 1950s, eventually selling the license around 1955 to another party. The new owner put it back on the air as WQMG-FM (97.1), which retains those calls to the present day. It aired programs from all four networks (CBS, NBC
, ABC
, and DuMont
), but has always been a primary CBS affiliate. NBC moved to WSJS-TV (now WXII-TV
) when it signed on in 1953 and WFMY shared ABC with WSJS until WGHP
signed on in 1963.
Sportscaster Charlie Harville worked at WFMY from 1949 to 1963, when he joined WGHP, and from 1977 to 1988.
In 1965, the News Company was bought by what became Landmark Communications
. The station was acquired by Harte-Hanks
Communications in 1976, and by Gannett in 1989.
WFMY's local programming, including the long-running news program "Good Morning Show" with Lee Kinard, and children's program "The Old Rebel Show" pre-empted CBS' various attempts at morning programming from the 1957 through the 1980s. WGGT (now WMYV
) aired the CBS Morning News until 1985, and afterwards WFMY began to run the broadcast on delay from 8-10am following "The Good Morning Show". Lee Kinard later moved to the weeknight news until his retirement in the 1990s. WFMY carries CBS's Saturday Early Show only on its digital subchannel; the main channel carries a Saturday edition of "The Good Morning Show," followed by the CBS kids' block.
Another important local daytime program from the 1970s was "Sandra and Friends", hosted by current news anchor Sandra Hughes. This was one of the first shows in the region to be hosted by a black woman.
On September 25, 1984, the station's number one news-gathering tool, SKY 2, did itself become news. The Bell Jet Ranger Helicopter, piloted by Tom Haroski, was attempting to assist in the rescue of a construction worker trapped atop a water tower in Kernersville, near Winston-Salem. The tower was being dismantled when a piece of steel snapped and trapped the worker for hours. He was bleeding profusely when late that night, SKY 2 was called in to assist. The pilot began lowering the chopper above the tower. An EMS worker on board was going to attempt the rescue. As the chopper hovered over the tower the tail rotor hit one of the steel beams of the tower sending the helicopter nose first into the ground. The images were captured on tape by competitor WXII and broadcast around the country. The pilot and rescue worker were killed instantly. In a sad footnote, it was determined that the worker they were attempting to reach had bled to death before the chopper ever took off.
WFMY began using a new version of SKY 2 (painted black) after the accident, but eventually retired the chopper altogether.
During the analog television era, WFMY boasted one of the largest coverage areas in the Southeast. It provided grade B coverage as far west as Charlotte and as far east as Raleigh
. The channel 2 signal traveled a very long distance under normal conditions. Despite the move to a digital signal on UHF, WFMY's secondary coverage area is almost as large as it was in analog. Its digital signal operates at a full million watts, equivalent to 5 million watts for an analog transmitter.
On Tuesday, January 5, 2010 at noon, WFMY begun producing 16:9 widescreen newscasts. Local stories and remote broadcasts were all in 16:9 widescreen as well. On November 13, 2011 beginning with its 11 p.m. newscast, WFMY began broadcasting its local newscasts in high definition
. The station introduced a new format for its newscasts titled News 2.0.
customers in North Carolina
can watch WFMY in the counties of Chatham, Durham, Lee, Person and Orange. In addition, Albemarle
and Salisbury
(Time Warner Cable
(TWC) - Camp Wesley only) carry WFMY on cable but not on DirecTV in Stanly and Rowan counties. TWC (formerly Cablevision) used to carry WFMY in Southern Pines
and later, the Seven Lakes/West End area around the mid 1990s. Also more recently, TWC in Carrboro
also dropped WFMY but did not remove WGHP
from the lineup. In Virginia
, DirecTV customers can watch WFMY in the counties of Carroll, Grayson and Henry. The Virginia independent cities that can watch WFMY on DirecTV are in Danville
and Martinsville
. In these Virginia locations, WFMY is also carried on cable as well.
and as far north as Clifton Forge, Alleghany County
.
Reporters
Weather
Greensboro, North Carolina
Greensboro is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the third-largest city by population in North Carolina and the largest city in Guilford County and the surrounding Piedmont Triad metropolitan region. According to the 2010 U.S...
. Owned by the Gannett Company
Gannett Company
Gannett Company, Inc. is a publicly-traded media holding company headquartered in Tysons Corner, Virginia, United States, near McLean. It is the largest U.S. newspaper publisher as measured by total daily circulation. Its assets include the national newspaper USA Today and the weekly USA Weekend...
, WFMYis the CBS
CBS
CBS 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...
affiliate for the Greensboro/High Point
High Point, North Carolina
High Point is a city located in the Piedmont Triad region of North Carolina. As of 2010 the city had a total population of 104,371, according to the US Census Bureau. High Point is currently the eighth-largest municipality in North Carolina....
/Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Winston-Salem is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina, with a 2010 population of 229,617. Winston-Salem is the county seat and largest city of Forsyth County and the fourth-largest city in the state. Winston-Salem is the second largest municipality in the Piedmont Triad region and is home to...
(also known as the Piedmont Triad
Piedmont Triad
The Piedmont Triad, or Triad, is a north-central region of the U.S. state of North Carolina that consists of the area within and surrounding the three major cities of Greensboro, Winston-Salem, and High Point. This close group or "triad" of cities lies in the Piedmont geographical region of the...
) area. WFMY's studios are located on Phillips Avenue in downtown Greensboro, and its transmitter is located in Randleman, North Carolina
Randleman, North Carolina
Randleman is a city in Randolph County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 3,557 at the 2000 census. It is the home of NASCAR's Petty family, the Richard Petty Museum, and the Victory Junction Gang Camp.-Geography:...
.
History
The station began operation on September 22, 1949 as the second television station in North Carolina, just a few months after fellow CBS affiliate WBTVWBTV
WBTV, channel 3 , is the CBS affiliate in Charlotte, North Carolina. It is one of two flagship stations of Raycom Media. WBTV's studios are located off Morehead Street just west of Uptown Charlotte, and its transmitter is located in north-central Gaston County, North Carolina...
in Charlotte
CHARLOTTE
- CHARLOTTE :CHARLOTTE is an American blues-based hard rock band that formed in Los Angeles, California in 1986. Currently, they are signed to indie label, Eonian Records, under which they released their debut cd, Medusa Groove, in 2010. Notable Charlotte songs include 'Siren', 'Little Devils',...
. It was owned by the Greensboro News Company, publishers of the Greensboro Daily News and Daily Record (now merged as the Greensboro News & Record
Greensboro News & Record
The News & Record is the largest newspaper serving Guilford County and the surrounding region. It is based in Greensboro, NC, and produces local sections for Greensboro and Rockingham County, NC. As of April, 2011, it had an average weekday circulation of 60,993 and an average Sunday circulation...
). The News Company had put WFMY-FM on the air in 1947, but it removed the station from the air in the early part of the 1950s, eventually selling the license around 1955 to another party. The new owner put it back on the air as WQMG-FM (97.1), which retains those calls to the present day. It aired programs from all four networks (CBS, NBC
NBC
The 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...
, ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The 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...
, and DuMont
DuMont Television Network
The DuMont Television Network, also known as the DuMont Network, DuMont, Du Mont, or Dumont was one of the world's pioneer commercial television networks, rivalling NBC for the distinction of being first overall. It began operation in the United States in 1946. It was owned by DuMont...
), but has always been a primary CBS affiliate. NBC moved to WSJS-TV (now WXII-TV
WXII-TV
WXII-TV is the NBC television station licensed for the Greensboro–High Point–Winston-Salem, North Carolina designated market area with Parts of SWVA. It is licensed to Winston-Salem and is currently owned by the Hearst Corporation. Its transmitter is located on Sauratown Mountain in...
) when it signed on in 1953 and WFMY shared ABC with WSJS until WGHP
WGHP
WGHP, channel 8, is the Fox-affiliated television station serving the Greensboro/High Point/Winston-Salem, North Carolina designated market area...
signed on in 1963.
Sportscaster Charlie Harville worked at WFMY from 1949 to 1963, when he joined WGHP, and from 1977 to 1988.
In 1965, the News Company was bought by what became Landmark Communications
Landmark Communications
Landmark Media Enterprises LLC is a privately held media company headquartered in Norfolk, Virginia specializing in cable television, broadcast television, print publishing, and internet publishing...
. The station was acquired by Harte-Hanks
Harte-Hanks
Harte-Hanks is an advertising and direct marketing company headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. It is particularly associated with the publication of weekly shopper publications, with 13 million circulation weekly in 1100 separate editions of the PennySaver and Flyer each week in California and...
Communications in 1976, and by Gannett in 1989.
WFMY's local programming, including the long-running news program "Good Morning Show" with Lee Kinard, and children's program "The Old Rebel Show" pre-empted CBS' various attempts at morning programming from the 1957 through the 1980s. WGGT (now WMYV
WMYV
WMYV is the MyNetworkTV-affiliated television station for the Piedmont Triad area of North Carolina that is licensed to Greensboro. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 33 from a transmitter in Randleman along I-73/U.S. 220...
) aired the CBS Morning News until 1985, and afterwards WFMY began to run the broadcast on delay from 8-10am following "The Good Morning Show". Lee Kinard later moved to the weeknight news until his retirement in the 1990s. WFMY carries CBS's Saturday Early Show only on its digital subchannel; the main channel carries a Saturday edition of "The Good Morning Show," followed by the CBS kids' block.
Another important local daytime program from the 1970s was "Sandra and Friends", hosted by current news anchor Sandra Hughes. This was one of the first shows in the region to be hosted by a black woman.
On September 25, 1984, the station's number one news-gathering tool, SKY 2, did itself become news. The Bell Jet Ranger Helicopter, piloted by Tom Haroski, was attempting to assist in the rescue of a construction worker trapped atop a water tower in Kernersville, near Winston-Salem. The tower was being dismantled when a piece of steel snapped and trapped the worker for hours. He was bleeding profusely when late that night, SKY 2 was called in to assist. The pilot began lowering the chopper above the tower. An EMS worker on board was going to attempt the rescue. As the chopper hovered over the tower the tail rotor hit one of the steel beams of the tower sending the helicopter nose first into the ground. The images were captured on tape by competitor WXII and broadcast around the country. The pilot and rescue worker were killed instantly. In a sad footnote, it was determined that the worker they were attempting to reach had bled to death before the chopper ever took off.
WFMY began using a new version of SKY 2 (painted black) after the accident, but eventually retired the chopper altogether.
During the analog television era, WFMY boasted one of the largest coverage areas in the Southeast. It provided grade B coverage as far west as Charlotte and as far east as Raleigh
Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh is the capital and the second largest city in the state of North Carolina as well as the seat of Wake County. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's 2010 population was 403,892, over an area of , making Raleigh...
. The channel 2 signal traveled a very long distance under normal conditions. Despite the move to a digital signal on UHF, WFMY's secondary coverage area is almost as large as it was in analog. Its digital signal operates at a full million watts, equivalent to 5 million watts for an analog transmitter.
On Tuesday, January 5, 2010 at noon, WFMY begun producing 16:9 widescreen newscasts. Local stories and remote broadcasts were all in 16:9 widescreen as well. On November 13, 2011 beginning with its 11 p.m. newscast, WFMY began broadcasting its local newscasts in high definition
High-definition television
High-definition television is video that has resolution substantially higher than that of traditional television systems . HDTV has one or two million pixels per frame, roughly five times that of SD...
. The station introduced a new format for its newscasts titled News 2.0.
Controversy
On July 27, 2011, WFMY aired a story that claimed there had been a "series" of "violent flash mob" attacks at a downtown Greensboro, N.C. park. The report made numerous allegations that were not substantiated and were subsequently refuted by the Greensboro Police Department as reported by the News & RecordSatellite and out-of-market cable carriage
WFMY is carried in many counties outside of the DMA for cable and satellite customers. DirecTVDirecTV
DirecTV is an American direct broadcast satellite service provider and broadcaster based in El Segundo, California. Its satellite service, launched on June 17, 1994, transmits digital satellite television and audio to households in the United States, Latin America, and the Anglophone Caribbean. ...
customers in North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
can watch WFMY in the counties of Chatham, Durham, Lee, Person and Orange. In addition, Albemarle
Albemarle, North Carolina
Albemarle is the county seat of Stanly County, North Carolina. The population was 15,680 at the 2000 census. It is governed by Mayor Elbert L. "Whit" Whitley, Jr...
and Salisbury
Salisbury, North Carolina
Salisbury is a city in Rowan County in North Carolina, a state of the United States of America. The population was 33,663 in the 2010 Census . It is the county seat of Rowan County...
(Time Warner Cable
Time Warner Cable
Time Warner Cable is an American cable television company that operates in 28 states and has 31 operating divisions...
(TWC) - Camp Wesley only) carry WFMY on cable but not on DirecTV in Stanly and Rowan counties. TWC (formerly Cablevision) used to carry WFMY in Southern Pines
Southern Pines, North Carolina
Southern Pines is a town in Moore County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 10,918 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Southern Pines is located at ....
and later, the Seven Lakes/West End area around the mid 1990s. Also more recently, TWC in Carrboro
Carrboro, North Carolina
Carrboro is a town in Orange County in the U.S. state of North Carolina. The population was 19,582 at the 2010 census. The town, which is part of the Durham-Chapel Hill metropolitan statistical area, was named after North Carolina industrialist Julian Shakespeare Carr.Located near Chapel Hill and...
also dropped WFMY but did not remove WGHP
WGHP
WGHP, channel 8, is the Fox-affiliated television station serving the Greensboro/High Point/Winston-Salem, North Carolina designated market area...
from the lineup. In Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, DirecTV customers can watch WFMY in the counties of Carroll, Grayson and Henry. The Virginia independent cities that can watch WFMY on DirecTV are in Danville
Danville, Virginia
Danville is an independent city in Virginia, United States, bounded by Pittsylvania County, Virginia and Caswell County, North Carolina. It was the last capital of the Confederate States of America. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the city of Danville with Pittsylvania county for...
and Martinsville
Martinsville, Virginia
Martinsville is an independent city which is surrounded by Henry County, Virginia, United States. The population was 13,821 in 2010. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the city of Martinsville with Henry County for statistical purposes...
. In these Virginia locations, WFMY is also carried on cable as well.
CATV
During the 1970s and 1980s, CATV had WFMY carried in more areas of North Carolina as well as outside the state. In North Carolina, WFMY was once carried in Rockingham, Richmond County and as far northeast as Henderson, Vance County. In Virginia, it was once carried in Rocky MountRocky Mount, Virginia
Rocky Mount is the county seat of Franklin County, Virginia, United States. The town is part of the Roanoke Metropolitan Statistical Area, and had a population of 4,066 at the 2000 census. It is located in the Roanoke Region of Virginia-History:...
and as far north as Clifton Forge, Alleghany County
Clifton Forge, Virginia
Clifton Forge is a town in Alleghany County, Virginia, United States which is part of the Roanoke Region. The population was 3,884 at the 2010 census. The Jackson River flows through the town, which as a result was once known as Jackson's River Station....
.
Current on-air staff
Anchors- Frank Mickens,6:00 and 11:00p.m. Anchor
- Tanya Rivera, 5:00 and 6:00p.m. Anchor
- Rosemary Plybon, Good Morning Show Anchor
- Tracey McCain, Good Morning Show and Noon Anchor
- Carol Andrews, Weekends Evenings 6 & 11
- Brian Formica , Sports Anchor/Reporter
Reporters
- Mac Ingraham, General Assignment Reporter
- Philip Jones, Good Morning Show Reporter
- Meghan Packer, General Assignment Reporter/Fill in Anchor
- Liz Palka, General Assignment Reporter
Weather
- Eric Chilton, Chief Meteorologist
- Ed Matthews, The Good Morning Show Meteorologist
- Leigh Brock, Meteorologist/Reporter
- Grant Gilmore, Meteorologist
Newscast titles
- Your Esso Reporter (1950s)
- Channel 2 Evening News (6 p.m. newscast; 1967-1980)
- Nightbeat (11 p.m. newscast; 1967-1980)
- News 2 (1980-present)
Station slogans
- It's All Right Here (1980-1983)
- Share the Spirit on Channel 2 (1986-1987; localized version of CBS ad campaign)
- Your News 2 Station (1992-1994)
- Your Piedmont Coverage Team (1994-1997)
- Working For You (1997-2004)
- Dependable Local Coverage (2004-2008)
- Get Answers (2008-present)