I know it's TV but WCNC???

[Mike Sheridan]

: Gosh, I wish they would go back to 1953 when they came on the air as WAYS-TV..(Showing Age!) or maybe go back to the Turner Era as WRET ..Seems like I recall them also being WCTU and WPCQ..The station has a jeweled history of swapping networks and owners..Wonder how many sets had UHF when they were WAYS-TV.. WCNC.."Carolina News Connection"....I think not..."The Framers" said Charlotte, NC CNC..BIG APE/BIG WAYS

When I came here in 1981 it was WPCQ owned by Westinghouse and they started calling it Q-36. Bob Raiford was the news anchor. Westinghouse sold it, even they couldn't get the ratings up. For a time there was no 6pm news on the station. 36 has come a long way!

 

[wncc]

Breaking News from WBTV:

Capitol Broadcasting has decided to rebrand WMYT as My TV 55.

My opinion:

Branding WMYT based on their cable # was not a smart move.

 

[eacalhoun1]

Breaking News from WBTV:

Capitol Broadcasting has decided to rebrand WMYT as My TV 55.

My opinion:

Branding WMYT based on their cable # was not a smart move.

The WMYT (My 12) branding had slipped my mind until I was watching a movie yesterday afternoon. I think this "deceptive" channel branding is unacceptable. And while I don't agree with deceptive channel references, why did WMYT do this with a new startup network? Will the "MY" network still be around in 5 years? Also, since WJZY and WMYT are co-owned, why does WJZY still acknowledge its UHF channel number?

 

[fortmill]

: Gosh, I wish they would go back to 1953 when they came on the air as WAYS-TV..(Showing Age!) or maybe go back to the Turner Era as WRET ..Seems like I recall them also being WCTU and WPCQ..The station has a jeweled history of swapping networks and owners..Wonder how many sets had UHF when they were WAYS-TV.. WCNC.."Carolina News Connection"....I think not..."The Framers" said Charlotte, NC CNC..BIG APE/BIG WAYS

Problem is, today's channel 36 has NO relationship to the former WAYS-TV. OTOH, The so-called "Fox Charlotte" is a direct decendent of WAYS-TV. In the first place, the first channel 36 in Charlotte was WGMC-TV--the owner of WAYS radio eventually bought out his partners share and changed the calls to WAYS-TV. I challenge anyone to prove WAYS-TV was ever on the air in the 50s or early 60s, however, after going through several different owners and sets of calls, the license was sold to Cy Bahakel who finally put channel 36 on the air in 1964--as WCCB, with the tower/transmitter located on Independence Blvd, next to the Cricket Arena. WCCB/36 moved to a much more powerful transmitter in NE Charlotte and a new channel--18, in 1967. So the WCCB license is the same license issued to WGMC/WAYS in 1953, though WCCB is now ashamed to admit their channel number, much like WCNC and WMYT (WTVI doesn't ever mention/admit their channel number either, do they?). WCNC's first appearance in Charlotte was in 1968 as WCTU, with a totally new license for channel 36.

 

[BIG APE]

: Gosh, I wish they would go back to 1953 when they came on the air as WAYS-TV..(Showing Age!) or maybe go back to the Turner Era as WRET ..Seems like I recall them also being WCTU and WPCQ..The station has a jeweled history of swapping networks and owners..Wonder how many sets had UHF when they were WAYS-TV.. WCNC.."Carolina News Connection"....I think not..."The Framers" said Charlotte, NC CNC..BIG APE/BIG WAYS

Problem is, today's channel 36 has NO relationship to the former WAYS-TV. OTOH, The so-called "Fox Charlotte" is a direct decendent of WAYS-TV. In the first place, the first channel 36 in Charlotte was WGMC-TV--the owner of WAYS radio eventually bought out his partners share and changed the calls to WAYS-TV. I challenge anyone to prove WAYS-TV was ever on the air in the 50s or early 60s, however, after going through several different owners and sets of calls, the license was sold to Cy Bahakel who finally put channel 36 on the air in 1964--as WCCB, with the tower/transmitter located on Independence Blvd, next to the Cricket Arena. WCCB/36 moved to a much more powerful transmitter in NE Charlotte and a new channel--18, in 1967. So the WCCB license is the same license issued to WGMC/WAYS in 1953, though WCCB is now ashamed to admit their channel number, much like WCNC and WMYT (WTVI doesn't ever mention/admit their channel number either, do they?). WCNC's first appearance in Charlotte was in 1968 as WCTU, with a totally new license for channel 36.

Happy to oblige you! First of all, 36 came on the air as WQMC, Not WGMC and WAYS-TV was indeed on the air from 1953-54...WCCB does indeed get it's roots there (CCB-Cy Bahakel)

Reference:http://http://www.bookrags.com/wiki/WCCB BIG APE!

 

[tothedj]

Since we are discussing Channel 36, i'm sure those who post here remember
"WRET-TV" which was owned by Ted Turner, i never figured out how this station
at the time, one of the better "independents", managed to get themselves on
cable 200 miles from Charlotte.
As for the present, WCNC should have stuck with the use of the call letters, and
adjusted their slogan to be known as "The Carolina's News Channel", A.H. Belo
has done all they can to pour money into their operation, which at times has
paid off, but with news personnel leaving or having their contracts not renewed,
it must be showing in their daily and weekend newscasts.

 

[ToddJenkins]

Branding WCNC as NBC6 was just stupid.

The station was '36' in the TV Guide, newspaper listings, onscreen electronic guides, and on TitanTV online. Over-The-Air, DirecTV, and DishNetwork put CNC on '36'. This never made any sense to viewers.

WCNC is '36' on TiVo, '6' is WECT (and the Wilmington station IS on many Charlotte market TiVos).

And with WECT viewable as an NBC '6' in the eastern part of the market, what kind of confusion did THAT cause with ratings?

Good riddance, NBC6. Welcome back, 36.

 

[raedizzle2008]

WCNC is '36' on TiVo, '6' is WECT (and the Wilmington station IS on many Charlotte market TiVos).

And with WECT viewable as an NBC '6' in the eastern part of the market, what kind of confusion did THAT cause with ratings?

So what parts of the Charlotte market can receive WECT? That signal must go a long doggone way!

 

[ToddJenkins]

WCNC is '36' on TiVo, '6' is WECT (and the Wilmington station IS on many Charlotte market TiVos).

And with WECT viewable as an NBC '6' in the eastern part of the market, what kind of confusion did THAT cause with ratings?

So what parts of the Charlotte market can receive WECT? That signal must go a long doggone way!

Some viewers (not all) in parts of Richmond and Anson Counties get a better signal from channel 6 in Wilmington.
WECT transmits 100kw at 2000ft from a tower midway between Wilmington and Fayetteville.
Channel 6 also steals a huge chunk of WNCN 17(Raleigh)'s viewers in the sandhills area.

6 WECT's Contour...
http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=TV32560.html

17 WNCN's Contour...
http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=TV531834.html

36 WCNC's Contour...
http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/FMTV-service-area?x=DT710938.html

 

[fortmill]

WECT is viewable in Richmond county and the extreme eastern part of Chesterfield Co.--it is not viewable in Anson Co., so Richmond Co. is the only Charlotte DMA county where it might be available. It is not on cable in any of those areas (though it used to be THE ONLY NBC station on TW-Rockingham). Interestingly, WIS IS available on TW-Wadesboro/Anson. BTW, WCNC, Newschannel 36, has a powerful translator on channel 24 (about 50kw, I think) in Lilesville which puts a good signal over Anson and Richmond County, so WCNC is not really challenged signal-wise in those counties. Of course, WECT's signal will be a non issue next month when their analog from White Lake goes dark. Their digital will come from extreme eastern Bruswick County and will not come close to reaching Rockingham, etc.

 

[raedizzle2008]

Of course, WECT's signal will be a non issue next month when their analog from White Lake goes dark. Their digital will come from extreme eastern Bruswick County and will not come close to reaching Rockingham, etc.

Yup, I understand that the Wilmington market stations (WECT, WWAY, WSFX, WILM-LP, and the religious translator on ch.51) will all forgo their analog signals on September 8, over 5 months before the rest of the country follows suit. (Just in time for the peak part of hurricane season; couldn't they have waited till say November?) WECT will indeed lose probably near half of their current total viewing potential they've enjoyed with their analog tower so far inland, but I think a "trade-off" for that will be an improved signal (digital) for those that rely upon an antenna along the coastline, near Wilmington itself. Also, there's a new NBC affiliate that's in Myrtle Beach operating on channel 32, but it's digital-only. No point firing up an analog one when you'll just have to turn it off in a few months anyway...

 

[audiomusiclover]

Of course, WECT's signal will be a non issue next month when their analog from White Lake goes dark. Their digital will come from extreme eastern Bruswick County and will not come close to reaching Rockingham, etc.

Yup, I understand that the Wilmington market stations (WECT, WWAY, WSFX, WILM-LP, and the religious translator on ch.51) will all forgo their analog signals on September 8, over 5 months before the rest of the country follows suit. (Just in time for the peak part of hurricane season; couldn't they have waited till say November?) WECT will indeed lose probably near half of their current total viewing potential they've enjoyed with their analog tower so far inland, but I think a "trade-off" for that will be an improved signal (digital) for those that rely upon an antenna along the coastline, near Wilmington itself. Also, there's a new NBC affiliate that's in Myrtle Beach operating on channel 32, but it's digital-only. No point firing up an analog one when you'll just have to turn it off in a few months anyway...

What is the reason for their (WECT) moving the tower near the coastline when going Digital? Doesn't that drastically reduce their coverage area? Why waste that tall transmitter? Will they ever be moving back to their current transmitter?

 

[tothedj]

I don't think that will take place, with WMBF now on the air from Myrtle Beach, and WNCN serving the
Fayetteville area, the viewers in the sandhills will get one of these, and those in other places will get
WIS from Columbia, depending how strong their signal will be.
WECT's tower is being relocated to Bolivia in Brunswick County, which means places like Wilmington
and North Myrtle Beach will get a much better signal.

 

[DigitalSky]

I want to know what everyone's thoughts are on the fact that Charter Cable might drop WCNC-TV. They already have dropped WCNC-DT (HD channel) from the line up since early 2007.

WCNC-TV/DT's parent company, Belo Corporation, is asking for compensation for the cable company to carry their television stations' signals. Charter argues that it shouldn't have to pay for a signal that is broadcast freely over-the-air, and thus the argument continues and the two "could not reach an agreement" in terms of their signal on cable. (The other local networks do not charge anything, apparently)

So now, many are outraged with Charter and/or WCNC-TV, and discussion continues on WCNC's own website http://www.wcnc.com/news/topstories/stories/wcnc-121908-sjf-chartercable.7c4481cf.html

PS- Charter covers the mountain region of WCNC's viewing area (DMA), including the counties of Lincoln, Catawba, Caldwell, Alexander, Burke and Watauga.

 

[fortmill]

Charter is in conflict with Belo stations all across the country. For example, Belo station WVEC-Tv in Norfolk is also at risk of being dropped by Charter systems in that area. Usually, large broadcasters have master contracts with national cable/sat companies which cover the entire country. But it is not just Charter and Belo which can't come to carrage agreements. I believe Time Warner in Austin Texas recently dropped a local station there because they couldn't come to agreement. WRIC-TV in Richmond was recently dropped by DISH there for the same reason. Its happening everywhere. Most likely, Charter and Belo will come to agreement before Dec. 31.

 

[vchimpanzee]

This is serious.

If a cable company drops a network affiliate after Feb. 17, people won't just be able to go out and get an antenna.

Maybe some of these people are close enough to WCNC's tower since they're farther west than some stations. As for me, I'm concerned I'll be too far away to get NBC any way other than cable. I may be too far south for WXII, but I hope not, since WCNC might pre-empt something.

Other than that, I also want to watch "Jeopardy" if, for some reason, WFMY doesn't air it. And if WFMY doesn't, I have to have already seen it, since WCNC does the show at 7, and WFMY at 7:30. 'm told I'm within range of WFMY.

The converter boxes are here in the room with me, just waiting until I have made a decision on antennas.

 

[Mike Sheridan]

The converter boxes are here in the room with me, just waiting until I have made a decision on antennas.

Hook the boxes up with a bow tie antenna and some rabbit ears and see what you get. You may be surprised. I can get all the Charlotte stations doing just that. Analog WBTV is awful where I live but their digital signal is great!

With an outdoor UHF antenna I can get WFMY and WXLV from the Greensboro market but so far that's it for the out of town signals. My friend in Harrisburg picks up a lot more than I do.

 

[vchimpanzee]

The converter boxes are here in the room with me, just waiting until I have made a decision on antennas.

Hook the boxes up with a bow tie antenna and some rabbit ears and see what you get. You may be surprised. I can get all the Charlotte stations doing just that. Analog WBTV is awful where I live but their digital signal is great!

With an outdoor UHF antenna I can get WFMY and WXLV from the Greensboro market but so far that's it for the out of town signals. My friend in Harrisburg picks up a lot more than I do.

WXLV? Are you sure?

I did hear somewhere that WXLV's digital signal comes from the WMYV tower. I hope that's true, because I often get next to nothing there.

I would love to say Adios to WSOC once and for all.

I thought WCWG's signal was good in the Charlotte area. The man I plan to buy an antenna from said he sold this antenna to someone who lived near me who said he could pick up all the Greensboro stations.

I'm still worried about WXII because I would hate to depend on WCNC. I could get cable but don't want to spend that kind of money or have to deal with the potential problems. But I'm not confident about the Charlotte stations that have towers on the west side.

 

[Mike Sheridan]

Yep it's WXLV, the signal isn't very strong but for some reason it comes in. I can only get WFMY's DT signal off one antenna it's a Channel Master 4 bay outdoor bowtie. The Radio Shack VHF/UHF antenna doesn't get WFMY-DT at all. No trace of WXII but I think my friend in Harrisburg can see it.

Some of this may change after the analog stations go off. The analog signals that are close to the digital channels might be blocking some of the digital channels as the tuners try to sort it all out.

In any case, it won't be long now before analog TV passes into history.

 

[BIG APE]

;D I guess Goodwill Stores will be flooded with tube analog TV's!