WJAC-TV
Encyclopedia
WJAC-TV is the NBC
-affiliated television station
for the Allegheny
area of Pennsylvania
that is licensed to Johnstown
. It broadcasts a high definition
digital signal on UHF channel 34 from a transmitter northwest of the city in Laurel Ridge State Park
along the Cambria
and Westmoreland
County line. Owned by Cox Enterprises
, the station has studios on Old Hickory Lane in Johnstown. Syndicated
programming on the station includes The Ellen DeGeneres Show
, Dr. Phil
, Regis & Kelly
, Entertainment Tonight
, The Big Bang Theory
, The Insider
and Judge Judy
.
began airing on WJAC-TV's second digital subchannel in late December 2008.
Along with sister station WPXI
, WJAC-TV 6.2 transitioned to Me-TV at 12:00am on June 13 2011 immediately following an episode of Ellery Queen
at which point the channel was switched to the Me-TV feed for the start of Hogan's Heroes
. Sister station WTOV continued airing RTV programming after June 13.
at FM 96.5). At the time, it was the third smallest television station in the country market
wise to be granted a commercial license on or before December 31 behind CBS
affiliate WBNG-TV
in Binghamton, New York
and fellow NBC affiliate WICU-TV
in Erie
. It originally aired an analog signal on VHF channel 13 before moving to VHF channel 6 in 1952. Upon its sign-on, it aired programming from all four networks of the time (NBC, CBS, ABC
, and DuMont
). CBS disappeared from WJAC-TV's schedule when WARD-TV channel 56 (now Pittsburgh's CW
affiliate WPCW
on channel 19) signed-on in 1953 followed by DuMont when it shut down network operations in 1955. However, the station continued to air a few ABC shows into the 1980s.
In the 1960s, Johnstown Automotive sold the WJAC stations to the estate of Anderson H. Walters, the owner of The Tribune-Democrat
, who held them until 1984 when tightened Federal Communications Commission
(FCC) cross-ownership regulations forced the newspaper to sell off the radio stations. The Walters estate sold off the newspaper to MediaNews Group
in 1987 but held on to Channel 6 until 1997 when it was sold to Sunrise Television. WJAC and new sister station WTOV-TV
in the Steubenville, Ohio
–Wheeling, West Virginia
market were sold to Cox in 2000. The two stations and WPXI
in Pittsburgh are now occasionally marketed together as a result. WJAC-TV and WTOV were updated to WPXI's on-air graphics after being acquired by Cox, despite WPXI changing its own look in 2004. Most of the graphics introduced to WJAC-TV after the acquisition were used until October 2011, when WJAC-TV updated to WPXI's current look.
WJAC-TV gained a reputation for its locally-produced programs at the station throughout the years. Scholastic Quiz, a game show featuring local high school students, and Seniors Today (a public affairs program targeted to those 65 and older) would become mainstays of the station's programming and make host Ron Lorence (who would later build WADJ-AM, now WBHV
, at 1330 AM and then buy WYSN-FM 101.7 now WCCL
in Somerset County
) a local household name. The station was also one of the stations across the country to produce a local version of the children's TV show ″Romper Room
″. In the 1950s and 1960s, WJAC-TV's slogan was "Serving Millions From Atop the Alleghenies."
After the analog television shutdown and digital conversion that took place on 12th June, 2009 , WJAC-TV remained on its current pre-transition UHF channel number 34. However, through the use of PSIP, digital television receivers will display the station's virtual channel
as 6. The nearby mountain ridges had prevented most of Altoona
and all of State College
from receiving the analog signal. Because the audio portion of VHF channel 6 was transmitted at 87.75 MHz, it was possible to listen to the television station on most standard FM car radios (or any standard FM radio for that matter). This was a feature frequently employed by area residents. However, this is no longer an option after the digital conversion.
, Butler
, Clarion
, Indiana
and Westmoreland
. In West Virginia, it is carried in Petersburg
(93 miles away), Dorcas, Moorefield and Keyser.
WJAC-TV is also broadcast over-the-air on a low-powered repeater, W54BG, in Moorefield, West Virginia
. This repeater is owned by Valley TV Cooperative.
on DT2. In late 2008, WJAC-TV added the Retro Television Network to digital channel 6.2 to fill the spot left by the closure of NBC Weather Plus. This relationship lasted until June 2011 when RTV was replaced by the Me-TV Network.
On 28th November, 2007, The Tribune Democrat reported that the shared news department of Fox affiliate WWCP-TV
and ABC affiliate WATM-TV
was going to shut down. Under that operation, WWCP had produced an hour-long 10 p.m. news starting in 1992. However, according to a written statement, WWCP and WATM had been operating at a loss for years and the move was needed. The closure resulted in all personalities being released from their contracts. WJAC-TV had on-air positions open but no personnel from those two stations were hired.
Effective 14th January, 2008, WJAC-TV assumed production responsibility of the 10 o'clock broadcast on WWCP (still known as Fox 8 News at 10) which was reduced to 35 minutes on weeknights and thirty minutes on weekends. The WJAC-produced news uses the same music package and some voice-overs seen during segment opens as the former operation had. A new graphics package slightly different from WJAC-TV and new logos similar to the WWCP promo logo introduced in 2007 were created specifically for the primetime broadcast.
Because WJAC-TV has prior commitments with news and weather cut-ins during Today, WATM still produces its own Good Morning America
news and weather cut-ins that are seen Tuesday through Saturday. Former WWCP co-anchor Sherry Stalley, who was still under contract when the news department shut down, hosts the updates. The cut-ins use news video from the previous day's WJAC-produced WWCP broadcast and the same graphics package. On Mondays, the cut-ins are filled by WATM promos. In addition, WJAC-TV's nightly 11 o'clock newscast was simulcasted on that station branded as ABC 23 News until March 2011 when it was replaced by syndicated episodes of Senifeld.
On 8th August, 2008, WJAC-TV unveiled a new set designed by FX Group
in Orlando, Florida
. The station also unveiled a new graphics package and changed its on-air branding from its long standing "Channel 6" to "WJAC-TV" as different cable companies now carry the station on different channels. In addition to its main studios, the station operates bureaus in State College
, Altoona
, and DuBois
.
WJAC-TV officially changed the station's news branding from "WJAC-TV News" to "6 News" on 25 October 2011. This change comes only three years after the change from "Channel 6 News". In addition to the new branding, WJAC-TV updated their on-air graphics and theme music to those of sister station WPXI-TV in Pittsburgh.
Severe Weather Team 6 Meteorologists
Sports
Reporters
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...
-affiliated television station
Television station
A 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...
for the Allegheny
Allegheny Mountains
The Allegheny Mountain Range , also spelled Alleghany, Allegany and, informally, the Alleghenies, is part of the vast Appalachian Mountain Range of the eastern United States and Canada...
area of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
that is licensed to Johnstown
Johnstown, Pennsylvania
Johnstown is a city in Cambria County, Pennsylvania, United States, west-southwest of Altoona, Pennsylvania and east of Pittsburgh. The population was 20,978 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Johnstown, Pennsylvania, Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes Cambria County...
. It broadcasts a 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...
digital signal on UHF channel 34 from a transmitter northwest of the city in Laurel Ridge State Park
Laurel Ridge State Park
Laurel Ridge State Park is a Pennsylvania state park that passes through Cambria, Fayette, Somerset, and Westmoreland counties, Pennsylvania in the United States. The park is home to the Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail that runs through the park from the Youghiogheny River at Ohiopyle to the...
along the Cambria
Cambria County, Pennsylvania
Cambria County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It comprises the Johnstown, Pennsylvania, Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010, the population was 143,679....
and Westmoreland
Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 369,993 people, 149,813 households, and 104,569 families residing in the county. The population density was 361 people per square mile . There were 161,058 housing units at an average density of 157 per square mile...
County line. Owned by Cox Enterprises
Cox Enterprises
Cox Enterprises is the successor to the publishing company founded in Dayton, Ohio, United States, by James Middleton Cox, who began with the Dayton Daily News. He was the Democratic candidate for the President of the United States in the election of 1920...
, the station has studios on Old Hickory Lane in Johnstown. Syndicated
Television syndication
In broadcasting, syndication is the sale of the right to broadcast radio shows and television shows by multiple radio stations and television stations, without going through a broadcast network, though the process of syndication may conjure up structures like those of a network itself, by its very...
programming on the station includes The Ellen DeGeneres Show
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
The Ellen DeGeneres Show, often shortened to Ellen, is an American television talk show hosted by comedian/actress Ellen DeGeneres. Debuting on September 8, 2003, it is produced by Telepictures and airs in syndication, including stations owned by NBC Universal. For its first five seasons, the show...
, Dr. Phil
Dr. Phil (TV series)
Dr. Phil is a reality/talk television show hosted by Phil McGraw. After McGraw's success with his segments on The Oprah Winfrey Show, Dr. Phil debuted on September 16, 2002...
, Regis & Kelly
Live with Regis and Kelly
Live! with Kelly is a syndicated American television morning talk show, hosted by Kelly Ripa. The show has aired since 1983 in New York City and 1988 nationwide. Tony Pigg has been the show's announcer since its inception...
, Entertainment Tonight
Entertainment Tonight
Entertainment Tonight is a daily tabloid television entertainment television news show that is syndicated by CBS Television Distribution throughout the United States, Canada and in many countries around the world. Linda Bell Blue is currently the program's executive producer...
, The Big Bang Theory
The Big Bang Theory
The Big Bang Theory is an American sitcom created by Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady, both of whom serve as executive producers on the show, along with Steven Molaro. All three also serve as head writers...
, The Insider
The Insider (TV series)
The Insider is an American tabloid television news program covering events and celebrities. It debuted on September 13, 2004 as a spinoff of Entertainment Tonight and started as a popular segment that took viewers "behind closed doors" and gave them "inside" information...
and Judge Judy
Judge Judy
Judge Judy is an American court show featuring former family court judge Judith Sheindlin arbitrating over small claims cases in small claims court...
.
Digital programming
WJAC-TV's signal is multiplexed. The Retro Television NetworkRetro Television Network
The Retro Television Network is a system of television stations that airs classic television shows as well as more recently produced programs...
began airing on WJAC-TV's second digital subchannel in late December 2008.
Along with sister station WPXI
WPXI
WPXI, channel 11, is the NBC-affiliated television station for Western Pennsylvania that is licensed to Pittsburgh. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 48 from a transmitter located on the north side of Pittsburgh. Owned by Cox Enterprises, the station has studios in the...
, WJAC-TV 6.2 transitioned to Me-TV at 12:00am on June 13 2011 immediately following an episode of Ellery Queen
Ellery Queen (TV series)
Ellery Queen is an American television detective mystery series that ran for one season from 1975 to 1976 on NBC. It starred Jim Hutton as Ellery Queen, and David Wayne as his father, Inspector Richard Queen...
at which point the channel was switched to the Me-TV feed for the start of Hogan's Heroes
Hogan's Heroes
Hogan's Heroes is an American television sitcom that ran for 168 episodes from September 17, 1965, to March 28, 1971, on the CBS network. The show was set in a German prisoner of war camp during the Second World War. Bob Crane had the starring role as Colonel Robert E...
. Sister station WTOV continued airing RTV programming after June 13.
| Channel | Programming |
|---|---|
| 6.1 | main WJAC-TV programming / NBC |
| 6.2 | Me-TV |
Digital repeaters
| Callsign | Channel | City of license | Note | Transmitter location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WJAC-TV | 22 | Altoona | Licenced | Wopsononock |
| 26 | DuBois | FCC application pending for construction permit | southeast of Luthersburg | |
| 29 | Bedford Bedford, Pennsylvania Bedford is a borough in Bedford County, Pennsylvania, west of the State Capital, Harrisburg. It is the county seat of Bedford County. Bedford was established in the mid-18th century. Population counts follow: 1890, 2,242; 1900, 2,167; 1910, 2,385. The population was 3,141 at the 2000... |
construction scheduled to be completed by June 2012 | west of borough | |
| W42DG-D | 42 | State College | licensed | southwest of Pine Grove Mills |
History
WJAC-TV first began its broadcasting operations on 15th September, 1949 originally owned by the Johnstown Automotive Company along with WJAC radio (AM 1400, now WKGE at AM 850, and FM 95.5, now WKYEWKYE
WKYE is an adult contemporary formatted radio station in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. It is owned by Forever Broadcasting.-History: Beginnings as WJAC-FM:...
at FM 96.5). At the time, it was the third smallest television station in the country market
Media market
A media market, broadcast market, media region, designated market area , Television Market Area , or simply market is a region where the population can receive the same television and radio station offerings, and may also include other types of media including newspapers and Internet content...
wise to be granted a commercial license on or before December 31 behind 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 WBNG-TV
WBNG-TV
WBNG-TV is the CBS-affiliated television station for Upstate New York's Eastern Southern Tier licensed to Binghamton. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on VHF channel 7 from a transmitter on Ingraham Hill Road southwest of downtown. The station can also be seen on Time Warner Cable...
in Binghamton, New York
Binghamton, New York
Binghamton is a city in the Southern Tier of New York in the United States. It is near the Pennsylvania border, in a bowl-shaped valley at the confluence of the Susquehanna and Chenango Rivers...
and fellow NBC affiliate WICU-TV
WICU-TV
WICU-TV, channel 12, is an NBC-affiliated television station located in Erie, Pennsylvania, USA. WICU-TV is owned by SJL Broadcasting, which also operates CBS affiliate WSEE-TV and its CW subchannel through a local marketing agreement...
in Erie
Erie, Pennsylvania
Erie is a city located in northwestern Pennsylvania in the United States. Named for the lake and the Native American tribe that resided along its southern shore, Erie is the state's fourth-largest city , with a population of 102,000...
. It originally aired an analog signal on VHF channel 13 before moving to VHF channel 6 in 1952. Upon its sign-on, it aired programming from all four networks of the time (NBC, CBS, 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...
). CBS disappeared from WJAC-TV's schedule when WARD-TV channel 56 (now Pittsburgh's CW
The CW Television Network
The CW Television Network is a television network in the United States launched at the beginning of the 2006–2007 television season. It is a joint venture between CBS Corporation, the former owners of United Paramount Network , and Time Warner's Warner Bros., former majority owner of The WB...
affiliate WPCW
WPCW
WPCW is a The CW-affiliated television station for Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania that is licensed to Jeannette. WPCW is owned by the CBS Corporation and serves as an affiliate of The CW Television Network for the television market...
on channel 19) signed-on in 1953 followed by DuMont when it shut down network operations in 1955. However, the station continued to air a few ABC shows into the 1980s.
In the 1960s, Johnstown Automotive sold the WJAC stations to the estate of Anderson H. Walters, the owner of The Tribune-Democrat
The Tribune-Democrat
The Tribune-Democrat is a seven-day morning daily newspaper published in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. It is owned by Community Newspaper Holdings Inc....
, who held them until 1984 when tightened Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
(FCC) cross-ownership regulations forced the newspaper to sell off the radio stations. The Walters estate sold off the newspaper to MediaNews Group
MediaNews Group
MediaNews Group, based in Denver, Colorado, is one of the largest newspaper companies in the United States. It is privately owned and operates 56 daily newspapers in 12 states, with combined daily and Sunday circulation of approximately 2.4 million and 2.7 million, respectively...
in 1987 but held on to Channel 6 until 1997 when it was sold to Sunrise Television. WJAC and new sister station WTOV-TV
WTOV-TV
WTOV-TV is the NBC-affiliated television station for the Ohio Valley that is licensed to Steubenville & Wheeling. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on VHF channel 9 from a transmitter in Mingo Junction, Ohio. Owned by Cox Enterprises, the station has studios in Steubenville. Syndicated...
in the Steubenville, Ohio
Steubenville, Ohio
Steubenville is a city located along the Ohio River in Jefferson County, Ohio on the Ohio-West Virginia border in the United States. It is the political county seat of Jefferson County. It is also a principal city of the Weirton–Steubenville, WV-OH Metropolitan Statistical Area...
–Wheeling, West Virginia
Wheeling, West Virginia
Wheeling is a city in Ohio and Marshall counties in the U.S. state of West Virginia; it is the county seat of Ohio County. Wheeling is the principal city of the Wheeling Metropolitan Statistical Area...
market were sold to Cox in 2000. The two stations and WPXI
WPXI
WPXI, channel 11, is the NBC-affiliated television station for Western Pennsylvania that is licensed to Pittsburgh. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 48 from a transmitter located on the north side of Pittsburgh. Owned by Cox Enterprises, the station has studios in the...
in Pittsburgh are now occasionally marketed together as a result. WJAC-TV and WTOV were updated to WPXI's on-air graphics after being acquired by Cox, despite WPXI changing its own look in 2004. Most of the graphics introduced to WJAC-TV after the acquisition were used until October 2011, when WJAC-TV updated to WPXI's current look.
WJAC-TV gained a reputation for its locally-produced programs at the station throughout the years. Scholastic Quiz, a game show featuring local high school students, and Seniors Today (a public affairs program targeted to those 65 and older) would become mainstays of the station's programming and make host Ron Lorence (who would later build WADJ-AM, now WBHV
WBHV (AM)
WBHV is an American radio station, licensed to the community of Somerset, Pennsylvania. The station is licensed to operate at 1330 kHz, with a daytime power of 5,000 watts, and a nighttime power of 35 watts...
, at 1330 AM and then buy WYSN-FM 101.7 now WCCL
WCCL
WCCL is an American radio station physically located in Johnstown, Pennsylvania located at 101.7 FM, but licensed to the community of Central City, Pennsylvania. The oldies formatted station is the radio home for Motown, Soul and Rock and Roll. The station is owned by the Results Radio...
in Somerset County
Somerset County, Pennsylvania
Somerset County is a county located in the state of Pennsylvania. As of 2010, the population was 77,742. Somerset County was created on April 17, 1795, from part of Bedford County and named for Somerset, United Kingdom. Its county seat is Somerset. It is part of the Johnstown, Pennsylvania,...
) a local household name. The station was also one of the stations across the country to produce a local version of the children's TV show ″Romper Room
Romper Room
Romper Room is a children's television series that ran in the United States from 1953 to 1994 as well as at various times in Australia, Canada, Japan, Puerto Rico, New Zealand and the United Kingdom...
″. In the 1950s and 1960s, WJAC-TV's slogan was "Serving Millions From Atop the Alleghenies."
After the analog television shutdown and digital conversion that took place on 12th June, 2009 , WJAC-TV remained on its current pre-transition UHF channel number 34. However, through the use of PSIP, digital television receivers will display the station's virtual channel
Virtual channel
In 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....
as 6. The nearby mountain ridges had prevented most of Altoona
Altoona, Pennsylvania
-History:A major railroad town, Altoona was founded by the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1849 as the site for a shop complex. Altoona was incorporated as a borough on February 6, 1854, and as a city under legislation approved on April 3, 1867, and February 8, 1868...
and all of State College
State College, Pennsylvania
State College is the largest borough in Centre County in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It is the principal city of the State College, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Centre County. As of the 2010 census, the borough population was 42,034, and roughly double...
from receiving the analog signal. Because the audio portion of VHF channel 6 was transmitted at 87.75 MHz, it was possible to listen to the television station on most standard FM car radios (or any standard FM radio for that matter). This was a feature frequently employed by area residents. However, this is no longer an option after the digital conversion.
Out of Market Coverage
WJAC-TV is carried on various cable systems in several counties that are located outside of the Johnstown-Altoona market. These counties include ArmstrongArmstrong County, Pennsylvania
Armstrong County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the population was 68,941. It is located northeast of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County. Armstrong County was added to the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Statistical Area in 2003.The county seat is Kittanning...
, Butler
Butler County, Pennsylvania
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 174,083 people, 65,862 households, and 46,827 families residing in the county. The population density was 221 people per square mile . There were 69,868 housing units at an average density of 89 per square mile...
, Clarion
Clarion County, Pennsylvania
As of the census of 2000, there were 41,765 people, 16,052 households, and 10,738 families residing in the county. The population density was 69 people per square mile . There were 19,426 housing units at an average density of 32 per square mile...
, Indiana
Indiana County, Pennsylvania
-Government and politics:As of November 2008, there are 58,077 registered voters in Indiana County .* Democratic: 26,653 * Republican: 24,159 * Other Parties: 7,265 -County commissioners:*Rodney Ruddock, Chairman, Republican...
and Westmoreland
Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 369,993 people, 149,813 households, and 104,569 families residing in the county. The population density was 361 people per square mile . There were 161,058 housing units at an average density of 157 per square mile...
. In West Virginia, it is carried in Petersburg
Petersburg, West Virginia
Petersburg is a city in Grant County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 2,423 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Grant County.-History:...
(93 miles away), Dorcas, Moorefield and Keyser.
WJAC-TV is also broadcast over-the-air on a low-powered repeater, W54BG, in Moorefield, West Virginia
Moorefield, West Virginia
Moorefield is a town in Hardy County, West Virginia, USA. Moorefield is the county seat of Hardy County. It was originally chartered in 1777 and named for Conrad Moore, who owned the land upon which the town was laid out...
. This repeater is owned by Valley TV Cooperative.
60th anniversary
On 15th September, 2009, WJAC-TV celebrated its 60th year of broadcasting. During that month, WJAC-TV aired several commercials advertising the anniversary. One featured a variation of the "Serving Millions from Atop the Alleghenies" slogan creating "Serving Millions Across the Alleghenies." This old slogan was used in various ways in the station's broadcasts and mixed with the station's then-current slogan "Coverage You Can Count On" to form "Coverage You Can Count On Across the Alleghenies" the year before.Use of Digital Sub-channels
With the introduction of sub-channels in the years leading up to the 2009 Digital Transition, WJAC-TV partnered with several different providers to provide quality content on its sub-channels. Before its closure in 2008, WJAC-TV carried NBC Weather PlusNBC Weather Plus
NBC Weather Plus was a 24-hour, commercially sponsored, weather-oriented broadcast/cable television network jointly owned by NBC Universal and the local affiliates of the NBC network. It debuted on November 15, 2004 and shut down on December 31, 2008...
on DT2. In late 2008, WJAC-TV added the Retro Television Network to digital channel 6.2 to fill the spot left by the closure of NBC Weather Plus. This relationship lasted until June 2011 when RTV was replaced by the Me-TV Network.
News operation
In the late 1960s and 1970s, WJAC-TV had a fifteen minute long news and weather show weekday afternoons at 1 known as The News Today. Its 6 o'clock newscast was known as The News Tonight and the 11 p.m. broadcast was entitled 11th Hour News. The weather segment aired first and was titled "Weather in Motion" with its own sounder and graphics. The sports had a separate theme and was called "Sports Wrap Up." WJAC-TV's weekday morning newscast began as a half-hour broadcast at 6:30 in 1985. In 1987, TCI Cable (now Comcast) in Centre County began producing a WJAC-TV newscast, known as the Centre County Report, specifically targeted to that area.On 28th November, 2007, The Tribune Democrat reported that the shared news department of Fox affiliate WWCP-TV
WWCP-TV
WWCP-TV is the Fox-affiliated television station for the Allegheny area of Pennsylvania that is licensed to Johnstown. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on VHF channel 8 from a transmitter on Laurel Mountain along U.S. 30...
and ABC affiliate WATM-TV
WATM-TV
WATM-TV is the ABC-affiliated television station for the Allegheny area of Pennsylvania that is licensed to Altoona. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 24 from a transmitter on Wopsy Mountain east of Dysart. Owned by Palm Television, the station is operated by Peak Media...
was going to shut down. Under that operation, WWCP had produced an hour-long 10 p.m. news starting in 1992. However, according to a written statement, WWCP and WATM had been operating at a loss for years and the move was needed. The closure resulted in all personalities being released from their contracts. WJAC-TV had on-air positions open but no personnel from those two stations were hired.
Effective 14th January, 2008, WJAC-TV assumed production responsibility of the 10 o'clock broadcast on WWCP (still known as Fox 8 News at 10) which was reduced to 35 minutes on weeknights and thirty minutes on weekends. The WJAC-produced news uses the same music package and some voice-overs seen during segment opens as the former operation had. A new graphics package slightly different from WJAC-TV and new logos similar to the WWCP promo logo introduced in 2007 were created specifically for the primetime broadcast.
Because WJAC-TV has prior commitments with news and weather cut-ins during Today, WATM still produces its own Good Morning America
Good Morning America
Good Morning America is an American morning news and talk show that is broadcast on the ABC television network; it debuted on November 3, 1975. The weekday program airs for two hours; a third hour aired between 2007 and 2008 exclusively on ABC News Now...
news and weather cut-ins that are seen Tuesday through Saturday. Former WWCP co-anchor Sherry Stalley, who was still under contract when the news department shut down, hosts the updates. The cut-ins use news video from the previous day's WJAC-produced WWCP broadcast and the same graphics package. On Mondays, the cut-ins are filled by WATM promos. In addition, WJAC-TV's nightly 11 o'clock newscast was simulcasted on that station branded as ABC 23 News until March 2011 when it was replaced by syndicated episodes of Senifeld.
On 8th August, 2008, WJAC-TV unveiled a new set designed by FX Group
FX Group
FX Group is a set design, fabrication and lighting design company based in Ocoee, Florida.FX Group has designed and built sets for broadcast programs across the country, mostly in the area of live news...
in Orlando, Florida
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
. The station also unveiled a new graphics package and changed its on-air branding from its long standing "Channel 6" to "WJAC-TV" as different cable companies now carry the station on different channels. In addition to its main studios, the station operates bureaus in State College
State College, Pennsylvania
State College is the largest borough in Centre County in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It is the principal city of the State College, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Centre County. As of the 2010 census, the borough population was 42,034, and roughly double...
, Altoona
Altoona, Pennsylvania
-History:A major railroad town, Altoona was founded by the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1849 as the site for a shop complex. Altoona was incorporated as a borough on February 6, 1854, and as a city under legislation approved on April 3, 1867, and February 8, 1868...
, and DuBois
DuBois, Pennsylvania
DuBois is a city in Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, northeast of Pittsburgh. It is the principal city in the DuBois, Pa Micropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
.
WJAC-TV officially changed the station's news branding from "WJAC-TV News" to "6 News" on 25 October 2011. This change comes only three years after the change from "Channel 6 News". In addition to the new branding, WJAC-TV updated their on-air graphics and theme music to those of sister station WPXI-TV in Pittsburgh.
Newscast titles
- Your Esso Reporter (1949-1953)
- DuBois News (1953-1961)
- The Big News (1961-1966)
- 24 Hours (1966-1974)
- NewsCenter 6 (1974-2001)
- Channel 6 News (2001-2008)
- WJAC-TV News (2008-2011)
- 6 News (2011-present)
Station slogans
- NewsCenter 6, The News People (1970s)
- Coverage You Can Count On (2003-2008)
- Coverage You Can Count On Across the Alleghenies (2008-2011)
- Coverage You Can Count On (2011-present)
Localized version of NBC's national campaigns
- Channel 6, Proud As A Peacock!/JAC, Proud As A Peacock! (1980)
- Channel 6, Our Pride Is Showing/JAC, Our Pride Is Showing (1981-1982)
- We're Channel 6, Just Watch Us Now/WJAC, Just Watch Us Now (1982-1983)
- JAC There, Be There (1983-1984)
- WJAC, Let's All Be There! (1984-1986)
- Come Home to JAC (1986-1987)
- Come on Home to 'JAC (1987-1988)
- Come Home To The Best, Only on Channel 6 (1988-1990)
- JAC, The Place to Be! (1990-1992)
- It's A Whole New Channel 6 (1992-1993)
- The Stars Are Back on 'JAC! (1993-1994)
News team
Anchors- Bill BrownBill Brown (Broadcaster)Bill Brown is a morning news anchor for WJAC-TV, the NBC network affiliated television station serving the Johnstown-Altoona-State College, Pennsylvania metropolitan area....
- weekday mornings and noon - Lindsay Ward - weekday mornings
- Jen Johnson - weeknights at 5, 5:30, and 6
- Marty RadovanicMarty RadovanicMarty Radovanic is a longtime news anchor on WJAC-TV in Johnstown, Pennsylvania.He currently anchors the 6 PM newscast with Jennifer Johnson, and is a solo anchor on the 11 PM newscast. He also serves as WJAC's Managing Editor....
- Managing Editor seen weeknights at 6 and 11 - Nick Ruffner - weekends
Severe Weather Team 6 Meteorologists
- Jim Burton (AMSAmerican Meteorological SocietyThe 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...
Seal of Approval) - Chief seen weekday mornings and noon - Tony Martin (AMSAmerican Meteorological SocietyThe 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...
Seal of Approval) - weeknights - Josh Fosbrink (AMSAmerican Meteorological SocietyThe 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...
Seal of Approval) - weekends
Sports
- Matt Maisel - weekends and reporter
- Mike Tressa - State College Reporter/Sports
Reporters
- Gary Sinderson - State College Bureau Chief
- Scott MacFarlane - Washington Bureau
- Megan Hughes - Washington Bureau
- Alison Burns - Washington Bureau
- Bill Wadell - State College Bureau
- Brittany Boyer - Clearfield CountyClearfield County, PennsylvaniaClearfield County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of 2010, the population was 81,642.Clearfield County was created on March 26, 1804, from parts of Huntingdon and Lycoming Counties but was administered as part of Centre County until 1812...
- Carol Han - Washington Bureau
- Nick Ruffner - 11pm Reporter
- Karissa Shatzer - BlairBlair County, Pennsylvania-Significant Topographic Features:*Brush Mountain*Logan Valley*Morrison Cove*Tussey Mountain-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 129,144 people, 51,518 households, and 34,877 families residing in the county. The population density was 246 people per square mile . There were 55,061...
County - Melanie Gillespie - Johnstown Newsroom
- Maria Miller - Johnstown Newsroom
Notable former on-air staff
- John PatrickJohn Patrick (meteorologist)John Patrick is the Chief Meteorologist at WZVN-TV in Fort Myers, Florida. John delivers the forecast weekday evenings on ABC7 News at 6pm, 7pm & 11pm. JP, as his co-workers & viewers refer to him, also handles duties on sister station WBBH-TV as the meteorologist on NBC2 News at 4pm...
- Weekend Evening meteorologist from 1997-1998 and again from 2001-2003 (now at WZVN-TVWZVN-TVWZVN-TV is the ABC-affiliated television station for Southwest Florida licensed to Naples. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 41 from a transmitter in Southeastern Punta Gorda along SR 31. The station can also be seen on Comcast channel 7 and in high definition on...
) - Tim RigbyTim RigbyTimothy H. Rigby is a politician in Ontario, Canada. He served as Mayor of St. Catharines from 1997 to 2006, and is currently a Niagara Regional Councillor....
- Sports Director and Executive Producer from 1981-2011