WTSP-TV's 40th Anniversary passes with little notice

[FloridaBear1776]

WTSP, Channel 10, signed on as WLCY-TV in July, 1965.

While Channels 8 and 13 touted their 50th birthdays with special reports, I don't recall Channel 10 making any sort of deal about turning 40. No retrospectives on Marshall Cleaver (no relation to the Beaver), the young Dick Crippen, not even a fond mention of Sonny Daye! Most of those names have local radio ties as well IIRC.

WLCY radio was housed in the channel 10 building during much of the 60s and 70s, in the southwest corner, I believe. It was only a few years ago that WTSP's microwave gear moved off the 1380 main tower onto a separate stick built to a non-resonant height (and detuned as well, I'm sure).

 

[studiotwenty]

> WTSP, Channel 10, signed on as WLCY-TV in July, 1965.
>
> While Channels 8 and 13 touted their 50th birthdays with
> special reports, I don't recall Channel 10 making any sort
> of deal about turning 40. No retrospectives on Marshall
> Cleaver (no relation to the Beaver), the young Dick Crippen,
> not even a fond mention of Sonny Daye! Most of those names
> have local radio ties as well IIRC.
>
> WLCY radio was housed in the channel 10 building during much
> of the 60s and 70s, in the southwest corner, I believe. It
> was only a few years ago that WTSP's microwave gear moved
> off the 1380 main tower onto a separate stick built to a
> non-resonant height (and detuned as well, I'm sure).
>

This is going to hurt, but its the truth:

WTSP in 2005 caters strictly to the contemporary woman 35 to 54. Thats it. From their soft news coverage to health updates, there literally is little or no room for anything regarding men.

Again, I'm not being bitter, thats just their focus, and if it weren't for CBS they'd be rethinking their position.

For better or worse, TV history is comprised mainly of white males. A retrospective ala 13 or 8 simply doesn't fit in.

 

[rugrats1]

> WTSP in 2005 caters strictly to the contemporary woman 35 to
> 54. Thats it. From their soft news coverage to health
> updates, there literally is little or no room for anything
> regarding men.
>
> For better or worse, TV history is comprised mainly of white
> males. A retrospective ala 13 or 8 simply doesn't fit in.
>
Apparently, WTSP's 40th was, more or less, TOTALLY ignored -- haven't seen anything about it in the papers, either.

As a matter of fact, if it wasn't for this post, I would've fogotten about it, too.

 

[Wazzie]

Thanks for letting us know about Channel 10's anniversary. I guess observing a station's heritage doesn't count for crap. Way to go "Reg".<P ID="signature">______________
[email protected]</P>

 

[altsped]

> WTSP, Channel 10, signed on as WLCY-TV in July, 1965.
>
> While Channels 8 and 13 touted their 50th birthdays with
> special reports, I don't recall Channel 10 making any sort
> of deal about turning 40.
>

I dont recall channels 8 or 13 doing anything about their 40th either. Maybe 10 will remember in another 10 years.

 

[ct2874]

> WTSP, Channel 10, signed on as WLCY-TV in July, 1965.
>
> While Channels 8 and 13 touted their 50th birthdays with
> special reports, I don't recall Channel 10 making any sort
> of deal about turning 40. No retrospectives on Marshall
> Cleaver (no relation to the Beaver), the young Dick Crippen,
> not even a fond mention of Sonny Daye! Most of those names
> have local radio ties as well IIRC.
>
> WLCY radio was housed in the channel 10 building during much
> of the 60s and 70s, in the southwest corner, I believe. It
> was only a few years ago that WTSP's microwave gear moved
> off the 1380 main tower onto a separate stick built to a
> non-resonant height (and detuned as well, I'm sure).
>

Hmmm...missed this one, too. I wonder what that no-named ABC affiliate will
do for their 40th anniversary, that is if they get to it?

 

[flwfg]

> Hmmm...missed this one, too. I wonder what that no-named
> ABC affiliate will do for their 40th anniversary, that is if they get to it?


Which no name ABC affiliate...Ch 40 in Sarasota (with tower now in Parish,FL near the Hillsborough County Line) has been on the air since 1971 as an ABC affiliate.. primarily because ch 10's signal couldn't cover the Manatee/Sarasota market...(remember, they had to protect Miami's ch 10...) I remember it well... because the Nelson family was putting every dime they made from WDUV - WBRD (where I was working at)into the T V station...until the mid to later 70's..then radio got new toys...In news, you also had to do every story in triplicate, because the TV might use the radio story...

Oh, those were the days...

Later...

Walt - Bradenton

 

[rugrats1]

> > I wonder what that no-named
> > ABC affiliate will do for their 40th anniversary, that is
> if they get to it?
>
>
> Which no name ABC affiliate...Ch 40 in Sarasota...

Though considering that they're embracing the "ABC7" moniker now, I wouldn't be surprised if the passed on their 40th anniversary.

 

[sbe]

That circle 7 logo is owned by ABC and is used by most of it's original 7 O&O stations that for the most part are on Channel 7. Detroit, Chicago, come to mind. The Ft. Myers/Naples stations all do that. Call themselves by the cable channel they are on, not the actual over the air one. I must admit, I'm surprised that Ch 40 was allowed to retain their ABC affiliation. I know when the big network switch happened a few years ago and CH 28 got ABC, they cancelled Ch 40's ABC affiliation. I think 40 threatened legal action, and somehow were able to retain it. It had to do with them moving the transmitter to Parrish and into the Tampa market from Venice where it used to be. Ch 62 did the same thing just a couple years ago. I'm sure CH 28 had to be placated somehow because they lost a good share of their audience.



> > > I wonder what that no-named
> > > ABC affiliate will do for their 40th anniversary, that
> is
> > if they get to it?
> >
> >
> > Which no name ABC affiliate...Ch 40 in Sarasota...
>
> Though considering that they're embracing the "ABC7" moniker
> now, I wouldn't be surprised if the passed on their 40th
> anniversary.
>

 

[ct2874]

> That circle 7 logo is owned by ABC and is used by most of
> it's original 7 O&O stations that for the most part are on
> Channel 7. Detroit, Chicago, come to mind. The Ft.
> Myers/Naples stations all do that. Call themselves by the
> cable channel they are on, not the actual over the air one.
> I must admit, I'm surprised that Ch 40 was allowed to retain
> their ABC affiliation. I know when the big network switch
> happened a few years ago and CH 28 got ABC, they cancelled
> Ch 40's ABC affiliation. I think 40 threatened legal
> action, and somehow were able to retain it. It had to do
> with them moving the transmitter to Parrish and into the
> Tampa market from Venice where it used to be. Ch 62 did the
> same thing just a couple years ago. I'm sure CH 28 had to
> be placated somehow because they lost a good share of their
> audience.
>
>
>
> > > > I wonder what that no-named
> > > > ABC affiliate will do for their 40th anniversary, that
>
> > is
> > > if they get to it?
> > >
> > >
> > > Which no name ABC affiliate...Ch 40 in Sarasota...
> >
> > Though considering that they're embracing the "ABC7"
> moniker
> > now, I wouldn't be surprised if the passed on their 40th
> > anniversary.
> >
>

The No-Name station I was referring to would be Ch. 28, which no longer ID's
themselves with either their over-the-air channel number or their call letters,
but the silly moniker "your ABC Action News station". Therefore, I call it the
no-name ABC affiliate.

 

[altsped]

>
> The No-Name station I was referring to would be Ch. 28,
> which no longer ID's
> themselves with either their over-the-air channel number or
> their call letters,
> but the silly moniker "your ABC Action News station".
> Therefore, I call it the
> no-name ABC affiliate.
>

"Your ABC Action News Station" could be either 28 or 40, so 28 is indirectly promoting channel 40 in all of their radio ads.

I refuse to call WWSB by "channel 7". Going by your cable channel is just plain stupid, especially since cable penetration is dropping.

 

[rugrats1]

> "Your ABC Action News Station" could be either 28 or 40, so
> 28 is indirectly promoting channel 40 in all of their radio
> ads.
>
> I refuse to call WWSB by "channel 7". Going by your cable
> channel is just plain stupid, especially since cable
> penetration is dropping.
>

"Your ABC Action News Station" could also be advertising a syndicated or local program, but an unsuspecting viewer would dial up ch.40 instead of ch.28 and find something else instead. In a two-ABC market, with their trannies so close to each other, just saying "Your ABC Action News Station" won't work, as the viewers' loyalty would go either way, espectally if they get their signals on UHF or live down south (where they get both on cable).

If ch.28 wants to use that slogan to identify themselves, they're better off saying something like "WFTS, Your ABC Action News Station, cable 11".

 

[ct2874]

> > "Your ABC Action News Station" could be either 28 or 40,
> so
> > 28 is indirectly promoting channel 40 in all of their
> radio
> > ads.
> >
> > I refuse to call WWSB by "channel 7". Going by your cable
> > channel is just plain stupid, especially since cable
> > penetration is dropping.
> >
>
> "Your ABC Action News Station" could also be advertising a
> syndicated or local program, but an unsuspecting viewer
> would dial up ch.40 instead of ch.28 and find something else
> instead. In a two-ABC market, with their trannies so close
> to each other, just saying "Your ABC Action News Station"
> won't work, as the viewers' loyalty would go either way,
> espectally if they get their signals on UHF or live down
> south (where they get both on cable).
>
> If ch.28 wants to use that slogan to identify themselves,
> they're better off saying something like "WFTS, Your ABC
> Action News Station, cable 11".
>
That's pretty much my argument right there as to why I won't speak highly of
the station formerly known as Ch. 28. There is ABSOLUTELY NO VERBAL IDENTIFI-
CATION whatsoever of that station mentioning either their call letters or
their over the air channel number. It makes the station sound bush league
and gives them the perception of having an inferiority complex since their
signal is on UHF instead of VHF. Plus, using the stated moniker infers that
they are an offshoot network of Disney Corporation (i.e. ESPN, ABC Family, etc.)
which they are obviously not. In fact, they several times have pre-empted
network programming to air programs that either insults our intelligence
(such as a special in conjunction with WQYK before some CMA special...which
wasn't even during a sweeps period) or throw-away programming (in one instance,
a re-run of "In the Heat of the Night" starring the late Carrol O'Connor). If
they say that they have the best journalists in the Bay Area, why has their
news dept. been a revolving door after the name change took place in fall of
'02? What they need to do as far as imaging is have a Tampa Bay Devil Ray-like
makeover of that organization, even if it means trying to get a VHF signal, if
that's possible--I know Ch.5 is open.

 

[FloridaBear1776]

Does VHF mean anything in the digital age?

MOst of the "Vs" become "Us" in the digital realm.

10 becomes 24
3 becomes 59 I think
only 8 and 13 stay on VHF (7 & 12)

On the other hand some U's have VHF digital.

For example, Channel 40 in Tallahassee is digital 2...

So what's the point of being a V?

28 covers more people with its signal than 10, which fades away in Sarasota and points east.

Maybe Scripps could buy WWSB... and flip it to CBS...

heh heh heh...

 

[rugrats1]

> What [WFTS] need to do as far as imaging is have a Tampa
> Bay Devil Ray-like
> makeover of that organization, even if it means trying to
> get a VHF signal, if
> that's possible--I know Ch.5 is open.
>
I don't know -- isn't Gainesville's WUFT ch.5 too close to Tampa bay?

 

[rugrats1]

Re: Does VHF mean anything in the digital age?

> MOst of the "Vs" become "Us" in the digital realm.
>
> 10 becomes 24
> 3 becomes 59 I think
> only 8 and 13 stay on VHF (7 & 12)
>
> On the other hand some U's have VHF digital.
>
> For example, Channel 40 in Tallahassee is digital 2...

Though of course, there may be more changes come 2007, once analog TV fades away -- some stations will be moving back to their old channels. Also, there's a chance that stations with digitals on 2 to 6 and 52 to 69 would need to find a new channel -- 52 to 69's being reallocated for non-TV use, while there's talk of deallocating 2 to 6, due to interference issues.

>
> Maybe Scripps could buy WWSB... and flip it to CBS...
>
> heh heh heh...
>
While that may be a little outlandish, it's not impossible, nor illegal. In Grand Rapids MI, LIN Broadcasting, which owns WOOD ch.8 (NBC) in GR, also owns WOTV ch.41 (ABC) in Battle Creek, which WOOD uses to promote the fact that WOTV is GR's ABC station, even though GR already has their own -- WZZM ch.13 (owned by Gannett).

As for WWSB becoming CBS, I don't know, as most of Sarasota County can also tune in Fort Myers' WINK ch.11. It was WFTS, WTSP and WINK's coverage areas that almost led to WWSB losing ABC and not finding another network.

 

[altsped]

Re: Does VHF mean anything in the digital age?

> As for WWSB becoming CBS, I don't know, as most of Sarasota
> County can also tune in Fort Myers' WINK ch.11. It was WFTS,
> WTSP and WINK's coverage areas that almost led to WWSB
> losing ABC and not finding another network.

Both channels 10 and 11 put a poor Grade "B" over Sarasota. WTSP-DT on channel 24 does better in Sarasota than channel 10 does, but even it is viewable less than 20% of the time and WINK-DT channel 9 is not even on the air yet, so forget CBS in digital in Sarasota. Back when the big network swap happened, CBS considered giving CBS to either 40 or 62 (then in Venice) but channel 11 threatened to switch to ABC if they did. So CBS basically threw away the Sarasota market.

 

[bossmsx]

Alan Henry erased all tracks.

I remember finding an article from the early 80s one day at the UF library in Gainesville, when the station got its' makeover, from WLCY-TV into WTSP, that they pretty much wanted to get rid of anything doing with WLCY-TV.

They had Alan Henry (who had experience in turning WINS in NYC into an All News radio station) come in, get the Rahalls out, and completely redo the station, lock, stock and burritos. Among the things they mentioned about the old WLCY, not very nice ones, were former LCY employees calling him "a killer", and that there was a major story in Tampa that all stations covered except LCY, because they were too busy covering some benefit for the Rahalls....But apparently when the old Skyway Bridge accident occurred, the new WTSP was ready to go under Henry, and they had a helicopter and were a totally different operation.....So perhaps they are not proud of their old heritage??

 

[bossmsx]

the "7"

> That circle 7 logo is owned by ABC

Not sure what to say..WSVN (ex-WCKT) in Miami has used a variant for decades and has never been an ABC affiliate...They are now Fox and were NBC forever...So does co-owned WHDH-TV in Boston, which started using it when SVN owner Sunbeam bought them.

> Channel 7. Detroit, Chicago, come to mind. The Ft.
> Myers/Naples stations all do that. Call themselves by the
> cable channel they are on, not the actual over the air one.

WBBH-TV and WZVN-TV (ex-WEVU) went abruptly from being ("TV-20" and "26") respectively, to "2" and "7") when they joined together under an LMA with Waterman (longtime BBH owner) sometime in the mid 90s.....

 

[rugrats1]

Re: the "7"

> > That circle 7 logo is owned by ABC
>
> Not sure what to say..WSVN (ex-WCKT) in Miami has used a
> variant for decades and has never been an ABC
> affiliate...

Others that come to mind include WHIO Dayton (CBS), WJHG Panama City (NBC), KIRO Seattle (CBS), WJLA Washington (ABC, before they adopted ABC's Circle 7), WVII Bangor, ME (ABC, same story as WJLA), WZVN Fort Myers (ABC, which doesn't look exactly like ABC's Circle 7), and Australia's Seven Network (before switching to their current logo; their old logo looked like WJLA's old logo).