WTWO
Encyclopedia
WTWO, virtual channel
2 (digital channel 36), is the NBC
-affiliated television station in Terre Haute, Indiana
. The station is owned by Nexstar Broadcasting Group
of Irving, Texas
, which operates local ABC
affiliate WAWV (channel 38), through a joint sales agreement with owner Mission Broadcasting
. Its transmitter and studios are located in Farmersburg, Indiana
.
Digital channels>
Virtual
channel
Digital
channel
Video
Aspect
Name
Programming
2.1
36.1
1080i
16:9
WTWO-DT
Main WTWO-TV programming / NBC HD
WTWO's digital signal is on channel 36.1 (PSIP virtual channel 2.1), and switched to full-power digital in mid-December 2008. In June 2008, WTWO-DT began to air HD-available programming from the network.
, which changed its call letters to WLBZ-TV
in 1958.
WTWO first signed on the air on September 1, 1965 at 7 a.m., a fairly late date for a fully affiliated VHF outlet. The first program WTWO aired was The Today Show.
A primary NBC affiliate, the station also carried ABC network programs either on tape delay or by occasionally preempting NBC programs (the most famous being a preemption of Star Trek
). Local primary CBS affiliate WTHI-TV
(channel 10) also carried some ABC programs in the same way.
This practice ended by 1973, when Terre Haute finally obtained a full-time ABC affiliate, WIIL-TV, channel 38 (before Fox
affiliate WFXW now returned-to-ABC affiliate WAWV-TV). Beginning in 1995, ABC became available to Terre Haute-area viewers only on stations from adjoining markets.
In the spring 2006, the station dropped reference to its analog channel number, using the call letters only. WTWO brought back reference to (PSIP virtual) channel 2 with "NBC 2" branding, starting on October 18, 2010.
WTWO-TV switched to using digital camera gear in May 2007, with every field reporter and photographer equipped with digital gear. On December 10, 2007, the Friday-only local lifestyle–entertainment program The Valley Showcase expanded to five days a week at 11 am, including local news and weather. This marked a return to 'midday' news on WTWO for the first time since 2002. In 2009, the program reverted to airing on Fridays only.
about the NBC affiliate in Terre Haute refusing to air the show because of a sketch called "Crazy Christians" was probably loosely based on this incident.
Also in 2006, WTWO aired a controversial one-minute promotion criticizing rival WTHI over its weather coverage. The commercial claimed that WTHI's Doppler weather radar was inferior to WTWO's because WTHI's radar was located within downtown Terre Haute; thus, its "dead zone" sat over thousands of residents, instead of WTWO's, whose "dead zone" sat over a corn field. The ad also mentioned that the combined experience of WTWO's weather team was more than that of WTHI's staff, and that WTHI's power had multiple points of failure in contrast to WTWO's. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJH-nvnCqLI The promotion, though technically accurate, became a source of amusement on Comedy Central
's The Daily Show
because of its use of hyperbole and techniques reminiscent of political "attack ad
s". After WTWO's general manager called the Daily Show "hard-up for material" in a local newspaper, Jon Stewart
mocked the station further in the following night's opening.
A response video to The Daily Show and Stewart that was supposed to be for internal uses at the station was leaked on YouTube
; it has since been removed, but has sprung up once more on iFilm.
, Rachael Ray
, Divorce Court
, Dr. Phil, The People's Court
, How I Met Your Mother
and Wheel of Fortune. WTWO does not currently broadcast its locally-produced newscasts or syndicated programming in high definition.
Full color newscasts premiered in 1971, anchored by Johnny Palmer, (who continued as a co-anchor until his retirement in 1992). In 1973, the newscast rebranded from "TV-2 News" to TV-2 Eyewitness News, the title it held until 1994. NewsChannel 2 was then adopted. After the sale of the station in 1997 to Nexstar Broadcasting from TCS Television Partners, the station amended the title to WTWO NewsChannel 2, then again in 2007 as WTWO NewsChannel. In 2010, branding was changed to NBC 2 News; along with the change, a new set, graphics and music package premiered.
Through its joint sales agreement with WAWW, WTWO produces local news broadcasts and news updates. From 2004 to September 1, 2011, WTWO produced a 10 p.m. weeknight newscast for then-Fox affiliate WFXW, in addition to a rebroadcast at 7 a.m. of WTWO's morning news. This ended when WFXW switched network affiliation from Fox to ABC under the callsign WAWV. WTWO's Live at Five newscast, which had been seen on the station since 1998, moved to WAWV (becoming the only weeknight newscast on that station). The 10 p.m. newscast became a live streaming broadcast exclusive to WTWO/WAWV's shared website. In addition to the 5 p.m. broadcast and 10 p.m. webcast, WTWO will still produce local weather updates during AgDay
and Good Morning America
, as well as news updates twice a day during that latter program.
Weather team
Sports team
Reporters
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....
2 (digital channel 36), is the 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...
-affiliated television station in Terre Haute, Indiana
Terre Haute, Indiana
Terre Haute is a city and the county seat of Vigo County, Indiana, United States, near the state's western border with Illinois. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 60,785 and its metropolitan area had a population of 170,943. The city is the county seat of Vigo County and...
. The station is owned by Nexstar Broadcasting Group
Nexstar Broadcasting Group
Nexstar Broadcasting Group, Inc., is an entity of broadcast television stations headquartered in Irving, Texas. The company consists of 50 television stations across the U.S., ranging from market sizes 9 to 201 . 43 of the stations are broadcasting at full power, with the other 4 broadcasting at...
of Irving, Texas
Irving, Texas
Irving is a city located in the U.S. state of Texas within Dallas County. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city population was 216,290. Irving is within the Dallas–Plano–Irving metropolitan division of the Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington metropolitan area, designated...
, which operates local 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...
affiliate WAWV (channel 38), through a joint sales agreement with owner Mission Broadcasting
Mission Broadcasting
Mission Broadcasting, Inc. is a television station group that owns 15 television stations operated by Nexstar Broadcasting. The group's president is David S. Smith, who founded the company in 1998. In most areas where Mission owns a station, its arrangements allow Nexstar to control two of the top...
. Its transmitter and studios are located in Farmersburg, Indiana
Farmersburg, Indiana
Farmersburg is a town in Curry Township, Sullivan County, Indiana, United States. The population was 1,118 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Terre Haute Metropolitan Statistical Area...
.
Digital television
WTWO-DT broadcasts on digital channel 36.channel
channel
Aspect ratio
The aspect ratio of a shape is the ratio of its longer dimension to its shorter dimension. It may be applied to two characteristic dimensions of a three-dimensional shape, such as the ratio of the longest and shortest axis, or for symmetrical objects that are described by just two measurements,...
1080i
1080i is the shorthand name for a high-definition television mode. The i means interlaced video; 1080i differs from 1080p, in which the p stands for progressive scan. The term 1080i assumes a widescreen aspect ratio of 16:9, implying a frame size of 1920×1080 pixels...
16:9
16:9 is an aspect ratio with a width of 16 units and height of 9. Since 2009, it has become the most common aspect ratio for sold televisions and computer monitors and is also the international standard format of HDTV, Full HD, non-HD digital television and analog widescreen television ...
WTWO's digital signal is on channel 36.1 (PSIP virtual channel 2.1), and switched to full-power digital in mid-December 2008. In June 2008, WTWO-DT began to air HD-available programming from the network.
History
The station's callsign was originally assigned to a television station in Bangor, MaineBangor, Maine
Bangor is a city in and the county seat of Penobscot County, Maine, United States, and the major commercial and cultural center for eastern and northern Maine...
, which changed its call letters to WLBZ-TV
WLBZ
WLBZ is the NBC-affiliated television station for Central and Eastern Maine licensed to Bangor. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on VHF channel 2 from a transmitter on Rider Bluff in Holden. The station can also be seen on Time Warner Cable channel 3 and in high definition on digital...
in 1958.
WTWO first signed on the air on September 1, 1965 at 7 a.m., a fairly late date for a fully affiliated VHF outlet. The first program WTWO aired was The Today Show.
A primary NBC affiliate, the station also carried ABC network programs either on tape delay or by occasionally preempting NBC programs (the most famous being a preemption of Star Trek
Star Trek: The Original Series
Star Trek is an American science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry, produced by Desilu Productions . Star Trek was telecast on NBC from September 8, 1966, through June 3, 1969...
). Local primary CBS affiliate WTHI-TV
WTHI-TV
WTHI-TV is the CBS-affiliated television station in Terre Haute, Indiana. Owned by LIN TV Corporation, it operates on VHF digital channel 10. Its transmitter is located in Farmersburg, Indiana...
(channel 10) also carried some ABC programs in the same way.
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
affiliate WFXW now returned-to-ABC affiliate WAWV-TV). Beginning in 1995, ABC became available to Terre Haute-area viewers only on stations from adjoining markets.
In the spring 2006, the station dropped reference to its analog channel number, using the call letters only. WTWO brought back reference to (PSIP virtual) channel 2 with "NBC 2" branding, starting on October 18, 2010.
Controversy
WTWO made national news in early 2006 by declining to air the controversial and short-lived NBC program The Book of Daniel, citing protesting calls and emails from viewers as the rationale for its decision. "Our relationship with NBC always provided for the right to reject programming. I am reaffirming that right to let them know I will not allow them to make unilateral decisions affecting our viewers", WTWO General Manager Duane Lammers said in a statement on the WTWO website. Due to poor ratings and several other affiliates following suit with WTWO, NBC canceled the show after only three episodes. A plotline on Studio 60 on the Sunset StripStudio 60 on the Sunset Strip
Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip was an American dramedy television series created and written by Aaron Sorkin. It ran for 22 episodes.The series takes place behind the scenes of a live sketch comedy show on the fictional television network NBS , whose format is similar to that of NBC's...
about the NBC affiliate in Terre Haute refusing to air the show because of a sketch called "Crazy Christians" was probably loosely based on this incident.
Also in 2006, WTWO aired a controversial one-minute promotion criticizing rival WTHI over its weather coverage. The commercial claimed that WTHI's Doppler weather radar was inferior to WTWO's because WTHI's radar was located within downtown Terre Haute; thus, its "dead zone" sat over thousands of residents, instead of WTWO's, whose "dead zone" sat over a corn field. The ad also mentioned that the combined experience of WTWO's weather team was more than that of WTHI's staff, and that WTHI's power had multiple points of failure in contrast to WTWO's. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJH-nvnCqLI The promotion, though technically accurate, became a source of amusement on Comedy Central
Comedy Central
Comedy Central is an American cable television and satellite television channel that carries comedy programming, both original and syndicated....
's The Daily Show
The Daily Show
The Daily Show , is an American late night satirical television program airing each Monday through Thursday on Comedy Central. The half-hour long show premiered on July 21, 1996, and was hosted by Craig Kilborn until December 1998...
because of its use of hyperbole and techniques reminiscent of political "attack ad
Attack ad
In political campaigns, an attack ad is an advertisement whose message is meant as a personal attack against another candidate or political party...
s". After WTWO's general manager called the Daily Show "hard-up for material" in a local newspaper, Jon Stewart
Jon Stewart
Jon Stewart is an American political satirist, writer, television host, actor, media critic and stand-up comedian...
mocked the station further in the following night's opening.
A response video to The Daily Show and Stewart that was supposed to be for internal uses at the station was leaked on YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
; it has since been removed, but has sprung up once more on iFilm.
Programming
Syndicated programming featured on WTWO includes Jeopardy!Jeopardy!
Griffin's first conception of the game used a board comprising ten categories with ten clues each, but after finding that this board could not be shown on camera easily, he reduced it to two rounds of thirty clues each, with five clues in each of six categories...
, Rachael Ray
Rachael Ray
Rachael Domenica Ray is an American television personality, businesswoman, celebrity chef and author. She hosts the syndicated talk and lifestyle program Rachael Ray and three Food Network series, 30 Minute Meals, Rachael Ray's Tasty Travels and $40 a Day...
, Divorce Court
Divorce Court
Divorce Court is a judge show about cases which only involve divorcing couples. Out of the shows currently airing in the court-themed genre, Divorce Court is the oldest...
, Dr. Phil, The People's Court
The People's Court
The People's Court is a US television court show in which small claims court cases are heard, though what is shown is actually a binding arbitration....
, How I Met Your Mother
How I Met Your Mother
How I Met Your Mother is an American sitcom that premiered on CBS on September 19, 2005, created by Craig Thomas and Carter Bays.As a framing device, the main character, Ted Mosby with narration by Bob Saget, in the year 2030 recounts to his son and daughter the events that led to his meeting...
and Wheel of Fortune. WTWO does not currently broadcast its locally-produced newscasts or syndicated programming in high definition.
News operation
"W-2 News" was the first newscast, running with that title until early 1968. When Illiana Telecasting sold channel 2 to Booth Newspapers, some on-air and branding changes occurred. That year, the station became "TV-2" (while retaining a hyphen in the callsign, "W-TWO"), and the local news adopted the name "Total News Tonight" (later amending the title to "Total News at Twelve" with the addition of a noon news broadcast and "Total News Today" for the 6 p.m. newscast). "TV-2 News" was used in addition to "Total News" from 1971 until January 1972, when "Total News" branding was dropped.Full color newscasts premiered in 1971, anchored by Johnny Palmer, (who continued as a co-anchor until his retirement in 1992). In 1973, the newscast rebranded from "TV-2 News" to TV-2 Eyewitness News, the title it held until 1994. NewsChannel 2 was then adopted. After the sale of the station in 1997 to Nexstar Broadcasting from TCS Television Partners, the station amended the title to WTWO NewsChannel 2, then again in 2007 as WTWO NewsChannel. In 2010, branding was changed to NBC 2 News; along with the change, a new set, graphics and music package premiered.
Through its joint sales agreement with WAWW, WTWO produces local news broadcasts and news updates. From 2004 to September 1, 2011, WTWO produced a 10 p.m. weeknight newscast for then-Fox affiliate WFXW, in addition to a rebroadcast at 7 a.m. of WTWO's morning news. This ended when WFXW switched network affiliation from Fox to ABC under the callsign WAWV. WTWO's Live at Five newscast, which had been seen on the station since 1998, moved to WAWV (becoming the only weeknight newscast on that station). The 10 p.m. newscast became a live streaming broadcast exclusive to WTWO/WAWV's shared website. In addition to the 5 p.m. broadcast and 10 p.m. webcast, WTWO will still produce local weather updates during AgDay
AgDay
AgDay is a syndicated daily half-hour television program presented in magazine format focusing on agriculture news, agribusiness, and country living. It generally airs in early morning timeslots on stations throughout the country and also airs weekday mornings on the digital cable and satellite...
and 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...
, as well as news updates twice a day during that latter program.
Newscast titles
- W-2 News (1965–1968)
- Total News (1968–1972)
- TV-2 News (1971–1973; used in conjunction with "Total News")
- TV-2 Eyewitness NewsEyewitness NewsEyewitness News is a style of news broadcasting used by local television stations in different markets across the United States. It refers to a particular style of television newscast with an emphasis on visual elements and action video...
(1973–1994) - NewsChannel 2 (1994–2003)
- WTWO NewsChannel 2 (2003–2007)
- WTWO NewsChannel (2007–2010)
- NBC 2 News (2010–present)
Station slogans
- Your No. 1 Color Station (1965–1967)
- Total News, Total Color (1971)
- Good News (1971–1973)
- The News People (In Touch with People) (1977–1983)
- Experience in Action (1983–1987)
- Your Hometown Team (1987–1990)
- Your 24-Hour News Source24 Hour News SourceThe 24 Hour News Source brand was a common name used by American television stations starting in the early 1990s for brief hourly news updates, usually running 30 seconds to a minute in length. At its peak, dozens of stations across the U.S. were producing these brief news updates...
(1990–1992 and 1995–1996) - In Touch with the Wabash Valley 24 Hours a Day24 Hour News SourceThe 24 Hour News Source brand was a common name used by American television stations starting in the early 1990s for brief hourly news updates, usually running 30 seconds to a minute in length. At its peak, dozens of stations across the U.S. were producing these brief news updates...
(1992–1994) - Moving Ahead with The Valley (1994)
- Working For You (1994–1995)
- The Wabash Valley's 24-Hour News Team24 Hour News SourceThe 24 Hour News Source brand was a common name used by American television stations starting in the early 1990s for brief hourly news updates, usually running 30 seconds to a minute in length. At its peak, dozens of stations across the U.S. were producing these brief news updates...
(1996–1997) - This is Your News (2003–2006)
- Live and Local (2007–2008)
- Making Good Things Happen (2008)
- Your #1 Source for News, Weather, and Sports (2010–present)
News music packages
- NBC Nightly News Ticker (1970–1973)
- The First NBC Affiliate Package (1973–1977)
- News People, by Tuesday Productions (1977–1983)
- WWL-TV, by Tuesday Productions (1983–1987)
- Looking Great, by Non-Stop Music (1987–1990)
- KATC 1986 News Theme (1990–1991)
- Production Music: The Visionary, by Soundtrack Music (1991)
- Production Music: News Breakers, by Soundtrack Music (1991)
- NBC: The Place To Be (1991–1992)
- WTWO First Report News (1992–1993)
- NBC Affiliate Package (1992–1994)
- Prime News, by NewsMusic Central (1994–1997)
- The Great News Package, by Gari Communications (1997–2003)
- The NBC Collection, by Gari Communications (2003–2007)
- WTWO Live at Five, by MoneyMusic (2006–2008)
- Signature, by the Stephen Arnold Group (2007–2010)
- U-Phonix, by the Stephen Arnold Group (2009–2010; only used for bumpers and morning/weekend opens)
- The Rock, by the Stephen Arnold Group (2010–present)
News team
Current anchors- Patrick Fazio - weeknights at 6 and 11 p.m.
- Sydney Benter - weeknights at 6 and 11 p.m.
- Jon Swaner - weekend evenings; also weeknight reporter
- Dana Winklepleck - weekday mornings NBC 2 News Today; also reporter
- Tom McClanahan - news director, fill-in anchor and reporter
Weather team
- Jesse Walker (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...
Certified Broadcast MeteorologistCertified 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,...
and NWANational Weather AssociationThe National Weather Association is an American professional association with a mission to support and promote excellence in operational meteorology and related activities...
Seals of Approval) - chief meteorologist; weeknights at 6 and 11 p.m. - Anne Elise Parks - meteorologist; weekday mornings NBC 2 News Today
- Dan Reynolds (NWA Seal of Approval) - meteorologist; weekend evenings, also "Tech Talk" feature reporter
Sports team
- Jason Pensky - sports director; weeknights at 6 and 11 p.m.
- Eric Peat - sports anchor; weekend evenings, also sports reporter
- Grant Pugh - sports reporter; also photographer
Reporters
- Kellie Bartoli - general assignment reporter
- Morgan Moore - general assignment reporter
Notable WTWO alumni
- Ray Dalessio - sports anchor
- Kathy Dash - anchor
- Nancy Hauskins - anchor
- Julie Nelson - anchor
- Jim PayneJim Payne (news anchor)Jim Payne is an award winning journalist/news anchor from Green Bay, Wisconsin. Payne co-anchors the 4:00, 6:00 and 11:00 p.m. news broadcasts for NBC-TV affiliate WESH-TV Channel 2, in Orlando, FL....
- anchor - Matt Pieper - anchor/reporter
- Jennie Runevitch - weekend anchor/reporter
- Rick Semmler - sports anchor/reporter
- Matt Seigel - sports reporter
- Ann Shea - anchor/reporter
- Janet Van De Winkle - weather anchor