| Revision as of 22:32, 17 November 2009 editWAVY 10 Fan (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers7,353 edits →Station slogans: added details for inception of "Spirit of Texas" slogan← Previous edit | Revision as of 05:57, 26 November 2009 edit undoPiano non troppo (talk | contribs)Rollbackers53,873 edits Rmv scheduling information, Wiki is WP:NOT an online scheduling guide. Remove bios of non-notables after stationNext edit → | ||
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| {{col-2}} | {{col-2}} | ||
| ;A — L | ;A — L | ||
| *'''Neal Barton''' - Meteorologist (1989-1994 |
*'''Neal Barton''' - Meteorologist (1989-1994) | ||
| *'''Alan Berg''' - Austin Bureau Chief (1992-2000 |
*'''Alan Berg''' - Austin Bureau Chief (1992-2000) | ||
| *'''Jeff Brady''' - Reporter/Anchor (2001-2009 |
*'''Jeff Brady''' - Reporter/Anchor (2001-2009) | ||
| *'''Jan Bridgman''' - Consumer Reporter/Weekend Anchor (late 1970s-1984, deceased) | *'''Jan Bridgman''' - Consumer Reporter/Weekend Anchor (late 1970s-1984, deceased) | ||
| *'''Bill Brown''' - Reporter (1980-2004 |
*'''Bill Brown''' - Reporter (1980-2004) | ||
| *'''Bob Brown''' - Reporter/Anchor (1975-1977 |
*'''Bob Brown''' - Reporter/Anchor (1975-1977) | ||
| *'''Arch Campbell''' - Reporter (1971-1974 |
*'''Arch Campbell''' - Reporter (1971-1974) | ||
| *'''David Cassidy''' (not to be confused with the ]: Reporter (1974-1988; early 2000s-present) | *'''David Cassidy''' (not to be confused with the ]: Reporter (1974-1988; early 2000s-present) | ||
| *'''Mike Castellucci''' - ''Why Guy'' (2005-2008 |
*'''Mike Castellucci''' - ''Why Guy'' (2005-2008) | ||
| *'''Mark Clegg''' - Anchor/Reporter (1990-1992 |
*'''Mark Clegg''' - Anchor/Reporter (1990-1992) | ||
| *''']''' - Anchor/Reporter (1980-1984 |
*''']''' - Anchor/Reporter (1980-1984) | ||
| *'''John Criswell''' - Anchor (1973-1990 |
*'''John Criswell''' - Anchor (1973-1990) | ||
| * |
*'''Meghan Danahey''': Meteorologist (2007-2008) | ||
| *'''Deanna Dewberry''' - Anchor (1998-2005 |
*'''Deanna Dewberry''' - Anchor (1998-2005) | ||
| *'''Deborah Duncan''' - ''Good Morning Texas'' Host (1994-1997 |
*'''Deborah Duncan''' - ''Good Morning Texas'' Host (1994-1997) | ||
| *''']''' - Chief Weathercaster (1976-2007) | *''']''' - Chief Weathercaster (1976-2007) | ||
| *''']''' - Meteorologist (1987-1989 |
*''']''' - Meteorologist (1987-1989) | ||
| *'''Dave Evans''' - Senior Reporter (1989-2000 |
*'''Dave Evans''' - Senior Reporter (1989-2000) | ||
| *'''Justin Farmer''' - Morning Anchor/Reporter (2005-2008 |
*'''Justin Farmer''' - Morning Anchor/Reporter (2005-2008) | ||
| *'''Doug Fox''' - Anchor/Reporter/Urban Affairs Unit manager (1974-2003) | *'''Doug Fox''' - Anchor/Reporter/Urban Affairs Unit manager (1974-2003) | ||
| *'''Jim Fry''' - Washington Correspondent/City Hall Reporter (1982-2006) | *'''Jim Fry''' - Washington Correspondent/City Hall Reporter (1982-2006) | ||
| *''']''' - ''Daybreak'' Co-anchor (2000-2003 |
*''']''' - ''Daybreak'' Co-anchor (2000-2003) | ||
| *''']''' - Weekend Anchor/Reporter (1965-1968 |
*''']''' - Weekend Anchor/Reporter (1965-1968) | ||
| *'''Bob Gooding''' - Anchor (1961-1979, deceased) | *'''Bob Gooding''' - Anchor (1961-1979, deceased) | ||
| *'''Judi Hanna''' - Anchor/Reporter (1969-1974 |
*'''Judi Hanna''' - Anchor/Reporter (1969-1974) | ||
| *'''Charles Hadlock''' - Anchor/Reporter (1980-1982 |
*'''Charles Hadlock''' - Anchor/Reporter (1980-1982) | ||
| *'''Erin Hawksworth''' - Sports Reproter (2006-2008 |
*'''Erin Hawksworth''' - Sports Reproter (2006-2008) | ||
| *'''Chris Heinbaugh''' - Dallas City Hall Reporter (2000-2007 |
*'''Chris Heinbaugh''' - Dallas City Hall Reporter (2000-2007) | ||
| *'''Michael Hill''' - Reporter (1988-1993 |
*'''Michael Hill''' - Reporter (1988-1993) | ||
| *'''Midge Hill''' - Anchor/Reporter (1984-1989 |
*'''Midge Hill''' - Anchor/Reporter (1984-1989) | ||
| *''']''' - Morning Anchor/Reporter (2005-2007 |
*''']''' - Morning Anchor/Reporter (2005-2007) | ||
| *'''Macie Jepson''' - 5 p.m. anchor/reporter (2000-2008) | *'''Macie Jepson''' - 5 p.m. anchor/reporter (2000-2008) | ||
| *'''Brian Jensen''' - Sports Anchor/Reporter (1988- |
*'''Brian Jensen''' - Sports Anchor/Reporter (1988-1997l) | ||
| *''']''' - Anchor (1973-1985 |
*''']''' - Anchor (1973-1985) | ||
| *'''Andrea Joyce''' - Sports Reporter (1987-1988) | *'''Andrea Joyce''' - Sports Reporter (1987-1988) | ||
| *'''Kristine Kahanek''' - Meteorolgist (1997-2001) | *'''Kristine Kahanek''' - Meteorolgist (1997-2001) | ||
| *'''Karin Kelly''' - Reporter (1979-2006) | *'''Karin Kelly''' - Reporter (1979-2006) | ||
| *'''Shelley Kofler''' - Capitol Bureau Reporter (2000-2004 |
*'''Shelley Kofler''' - Capitol Bureau Reporter (2000-2004) | ||
| *'''Mike Landess''' - Anchor/Reporter (1967-1971 as Malcolm Landess |
*'''Mike Landess''' - Anchor/Reporter (1967-1971 as Malcolm Landess) | ||
| *'''Ed Lavandera''' - Reporter (1991-1998, |
*'''Ed Lavandera''' - Reporter (1991-1998,) | ||
| *'''Mike Lee''' - Reporter (1966-1968, |
*'''Mike Lee''' - Reporter (1966-1968,) | ||
| *'''Bert Lozano''' - Reporter (2004-2006 |
*'''Bert Lozano''' - Reporter (2004-2006) | ||
| *''']''' - Sports Anchor (1967-1983 |
*''']''' - Sports Anchor (1967-1983) | ||
| {{col-2}} | {{col-2}} | ||
| ;M — Z | ;M — Z | ||
| *'''Mark Mathis''' - Meteorologist (1994-1997) | *'''Mark Mathis''' - Meteorologist (1994-1997) | ||
| *'''David Margulies''' - Anchor/Reporter (1976-1986 |
*'''David Margulies''' - Anchor/Reporter (1976-1986) | ||
| *'''Anna Martinez''' - Reporter/Host of La Vida (1991-2002 |
*'''Anna Martinez''' - Reporter/Host of La Vida (1991-2002) | ||
| *'''Tony Martinez''' - Sports Anchor/Reporter (1983-1987 and 1996-2000) |
*'''Tony Martinez''' - Sports Anchor/Reporter (1983-1987 and 1996-2000) | ||
| *''']''' - Anchor/Reporter (1989-1991) | *''']''' - Anchor/Reporter (1989-1991) | ||
| *'''Stan Miller''' - Anchor/Reporter (1983-1985) | *'''Stan Miller''' - Anchor/Reporter (1983-1985) | ||
| *''']''' - Anchor (1983-1985 |
*''']''' - Anchor (1983-1985) | ||
| *'''Chip Moody''' - Anchor (1987-2000, deceased) | *'''Chip Moody''' - Anchor (1987-2000, deceased) | ||
| *'''''' - Weekend Weather Anchor/Meteorologist (1976-1980), later moved to ] (1980-1985; 1989-1993), ] (1985-1989) and ] (1996-2001). |
*'''''' - Weekend Weather Anchor/Meteorologist (1976-1980), later moved to ] (1980-1985; 1989-1993), ] (1985-1989) and ] (1996-2001). | ||
| *''']''', ] of the ] program '']''. | *''']''', ] of the ] program '']''. | ||
| *''']''' - Anchor (October 12, 2009) | *''']''' - Anchor (October 12, 2009) | ||
| *'''Vince Patton''' - Reporter (1989-2000 |
*'''Vince Patton''' - Reporter (1989-2000) | ||
| *''']''' - Reporter (1982-1989 |
*''']''' - Reporter (1982-1989) | ||
| *'''Pablo Pereira''' - Weather Anchor (1990-1997 |
*'''Pablo Pereira''' - Weather Anchor (1990-1997) | ||
| *'''Mary Ann Razzuk''' - Reporter (2001-2006) | *'''Mary Ann Razzuk''' - Reporter (2001-2006) | ||
| *'''Bill Ratliff''' - Anchor/Reporter/''PM Magazine'' Host (1980-1982 |
*'''Bill Ratliff''' - Anchor/Reporter/''PM Magazine'' Host (1980-1982) | ||
| *'''Gina Redmond''' - Midday Anchor (1995-2001) | *'''Gina Redmond''' - Midday Anchor (1995-2001) | ||
| *'''Michael Rey''' - Anchor/Reporter (2004-2005) | *'''Michael Rey''' - Anchor/Reporter (2004-2005) | ||
| *'''Elisa Robin''' - Meteorologist | *'''Elisa Robin''' - Meteorologist | ||
| *''']''' - Reporter (1985-1987 |
*''']''' - Reporter (1985-1987) | ||
| *'''Rebecca Rodriguez''' - Anchor/Reporter (2000-2006) | *'''Rebecca Rodriguez''' - Anchor/Reporter (2000-2006) | ||
| *''']''' - Reporter (2003-2007) | *''']''' - Reporter (2003-2007) | ||
| *''']''' - Anchor (1974-1999 |
*''']''' - Anchor (1974-1999) | ||
| *'''Scott Sams''' - News, Weather, Sports Anchor/Reporter (1985-2004 |
*'''Scott Sams''' - News, Weather, Sports Anchor/Reporter (1985-2004) | ||
| *'''Renay San Miguel''' - Anchor/Reporter/Host, "La Vida" (1991-1997) |
*'''Renay San Miguel''' - Anchor/Reporter/Host, "La Vida" (1991-1997) | ||
| *'''Phil Seib''' - Political Analyst (1978-2000) | *'''Phil Seib''' - Political Analyst (1978-2000) | ||
| *'''Nancy Snell''' - Meteorologist (to 2006; 2008-2008) | *'''Nancy Snell''' - Meteorologist (to 2006; 2008-2008) | ||
| *'''Bert Shipp''' - Reporter (1960s; father of Brett Shipp) | *'''Bert Shipp''' - Reporter (1960s; father of Brett Shipp) | ||
| *'''Mary Stewart''' - Reporter (1986-2000 |
*'''Mary Stewart''' - Reporter (1986-2000) | ||
| *''']''' - Anchor/Reporter (1992-1997 |
*''']''' - Anchor/Reporter (1992-1997) | ||
| *'''Susan Taylor''' - Anchor/Reporter (1980-1982 |
*'''Susan Taylor''' - Anchor/Reporter (1980-1982) | ||
| *'''Jack Van Roy''' - Chief Weather Anchor (1970s-1977, deceased) | *'''Jack Van Roy''' - Chief Weather Anchor (1970s-1977, deceased) | ||
| *'''Sonya Van Sickle''' - Reporter/Anchor (1986-1999 |
*'''Sonya Van Sickle''' - Reporter/Anchor (1986-1999) | ||
| *'''Anita Vanetti''' - Daybreak Reporter (1990-2001 |
*'''Anita Vanetti''' - Daybreak Reporter (1990-2001) | ||
| *'''Don Wall''' - Environmental Reporter (1989-2006) | *'''Don Wall''' - Environmental Reporter (1989-2006) | ||
| *'''Uze Brown Washington''' - Reporter (1984-1991) | *'''Uze Brown Washington''' - Reporter (1984-1991) | ||
| *'''Peggy Wehmeyer''' - Reporter (1981-1993) | *'''Peggy Wehmeyer''' - Reporter (1981-1993) | ||
| *'''Yolanda Walker''' - Reporter (2001-2006, |
*'''Yolanda Walker''' - Reporter (2001-2006,) | ||
| *'''Jay Watson''' - Program Director/Anchor (?-1966, first to break the news of ], deceased) | *'''Jay Watson''' - Program Director/Anchor (?-1966, first to break the news of ], deceased) | ||
| *'''Phyllis Watson''' - Anchor (1983-1991) | *'''Phyllis Watson''' - Anchor (1983-1991) | ||
Revision as of 05:57, 26 November 2009
{{Infobox broadcast}} may refer to:
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- Template:Infobox television channel
- Template:Infobox television station
Topics referred to by the same term
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WFAA (Channel 8) is a duPont-Columbia Award-winning and Peabody Award-winning ABC television affiliate serving the Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex, one of the top ten media markets in North America. The station is the flagship of Belo Corporation and the largest ABC affiliate not owned and operated by the network. It is also the largest affiliate of any of the "big four" networks (ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox) not owned by that respective network. In turn, WFAA and CW affiliate KDAF, (channel 33) are the only network-affiliate stations in the market not to be owned and operated by any major network.
The station is licensed to Dallas and its main business offices and studios are located in downtown Dallas next to the office of The Dallas Morning News—with whom it was co-owned from 1950 to 2008—at the Victory Park development next to the American Airlines Center. The station has small bureaus in Collin County at the Frisco Roughriders baseball stadium, and in Tarrant County near downtown Fort Worth. Its transmitter is located in Cedar Hill, Texas.
WFAA also serves as the default ABC affiliate for the Sherman, Texas/Ada, Oklahoma market since that market currently lacks an ABC affiliate of its own, as the market's former ABC affiliate KTEN became an NBC affiliate in 1998. WFAA is carried as the local ABC affiliate to DISH Network and DirecTV subscribers within that market and the sole ABC affiliate carried by cable operators in several of the largest cities in the Sherman-Ada market including Sherman and Denison in Texas; as well as Ardmore, Durant and Hugo in Oklahoma.
History
WFAA signed on as DuMont affiliate KBTV on September 17, 1949, owned by Texas oil magnate Tom Potter. (Note: The call letters KBTV were used for years by Channel 9, the ABC (now NBC) affiliate in Denver, but now belongs to Channel 4, the Beaumont, Texas Fox station.) WFAA was the third TV station in Texas behind Fort Worth's WBAP-TV (now KXAS-TV, channel 5) and Houston's KLEE-TV (now KPRC-TV, channel 2) the second in Dallas/Fort Worth, and the first licensed to Dallas. The station became WFAA-TV on March 21, 1950, not long after the station was purchased from Lacy-Potter TV Broadcasting Company for 575,000$ by Belo (FCC approval on March 13, 1950) in the midst of a FCC television license freeze from 1948 to 1952. It took its calls from WFAA radio (AM 570, now KLIF; and FM 97.9, now KBFB). Later in 1950, it switched its primary affiliation to NBC, and also took on a secondary ABC affiliation. DuMont shut down in 1955, and NBC disappeared from the schedule in 1957 when WBAP-TV boosted its signal to cover Dallas, making WFAA the market's ABC affiliate.
WFAA was the first station to break the news that President Kennedy had been assassinated on November 22, 1963 about two blocks north of the television station near Dealey Plaza outside the Texas School Book Depository. The station conducted the first live television interview with Abraham Zapruder, who shot the famous Zapruder film, which was processed at WFAA's photo lab, about an hour and a half after the President's death. WFAA and its live remote unit fed much coverage of the assassination and its aftermath to the ABC network over the next four days. The shocking and unexpected shooting of accused assassin Lee Harvey Oswald by Jack Ruby in the basement of Dallas police headquarters, however, was not broadcast live (as on NBC) or on tape (as on CBS a minute later) by WFAA and ABC as their live truck was positioned elsewhere at the time. ABC was thus only able to show delayed newsreel footage of the historic event.
As television matured, WFAA grew to become known as a pioneer in broadcast journalism as well as for many technological advancements including: the first computerized newsroom, the market's first station to use a helicopter in coverage, live trucks, microwaves and more. WFAA uncovered significant stories in the 1980s including information that would lead to SMU's football team being given the "death penalty" in the mid-1980s, as well as the first major media investigation into America's Savings & Loan scandal rooted in Texas.
WFAA dominated the market ratings for local news from the mid 1970s through the late 1990s, with anchors including Tracy Rowlett, Iola Johnson, Bob Gooding, Murphy Martin, Judi Hanna, John Criswell, Chip Moody, John McCaa, Gloria Campos, Lisa McRee, Verne Lundquist, Dale Hansen, and Troy Dungan. Former News Director turned Belo vice president/news Herman "Marty" Haag is credited for leading the station's news department to ratings dominance and national prominence. Haag was honored with a special Lifetime Achievement George Foster Peabody Award shortly before his death.
WFAA pioneered community outreach with town hall meetings all over north Texas through its Family First (F1) program. Family First began in 1993 and remains a significant part of the station's commitment to community service.
WFAA became the first television station in America to broadcast a digital signal on a VHF channel (VHF channel 9) on February 27m 1998 at 2:17 p.m. and holds the distinction of broadcasting the nation's first local news program in HDTV. When the station's digital signal went online, its frequency was already in use by Dallas hospitals and there was interference with the medical equipment. The station is one of the only ABC affiliates to broadcast HDTV in a 1080i format; other ABC affiliates broadcast in 720p. Some programming is broadcast from the station's sleek Victory Park studios (News 8 Daybreak, Good Morning Texas, News 8 Midday, News 8 at 5 and 6 p.m., and also when a major event is being held at Victory Park).
The WFAA call letters reportedly stood for "Working For All Alike," and also "World's Finest Air Attraction."
In 2008, Belo decided to split its broadcasting and newspaper interests into separate companies. WFAA remained with the broadcasting side, which retained the Belo Corp name, while the newspapers (including The Dallas Morning News) became the similarly-named A.H. Belo Corporation. However, the former corporate cousins still have a news partnership.
Digital television
The station's digital channel is VHF 8, multiplexed:
| Subchannel | Programming |
|---|---|
| 8.1 | Main WFAA/ABC programming |
| 8.2 | News 8 Now (see note) |
| 8.3 | This TV |
"News 8 Now" screens weather radar, regular news updates and headlines on a crawl, and occasional live programming. This live programming includes ABC News Now. This subchannel could also be used for special programming, especially hurricane season, when it was used to relay WWL-TV in New Orleans for Hurricanes Katrina in 2005 and Gustav in 2008; and KHOU-TV in Houston for Hurricane Ike in 2008. Both WWL and KHOU are sister stations to WFAA. While viewing the doppler radar on "Xpress 8.2", it broadcasts NOAA Weather Radio station KEC56 in Dallas.
Analog-to-digital conversion
The analog television shutdown took place on June 12, 2009 at 12:03PM and WFAA-DT has moved to channel 8 (formerly the analog WFAA-TV). The last few moments of WFAA's analog signal included its first broadcasting days followed by historic moments caught on tape, then their sign-off video used in the 1970s was played as the analog send-off.
Programming
WFAA airs All My Children on a day-behind basis at 11 am instead of the recommended time of 12 noon. It airs an hour-long midday newscast at noon. WFAA airs the ABC Kids children's programming block significantly out of pattern compared to many ABC stations. Currently, a double run of Power Rangers: RPM airs on a one-week delay from 5–6 am, instead of the recommended time of 11 am to 12 noon, when the ABC network feeds the show to its affiliates "live". Also, The Emperor's New School and The Replacements air on same-day delay from 11–12 pm, instead of the recommended 8 am–9 am timeslot for both shows. The remaining two hours air in pattern "live" from the ABC feed. WFAA airs the Saturday edition of News 8 Daybreak on Saturday mornings from 7–8:30 a.m.
For years, Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune aired on Channel 8. After years of airing Wheel of Fortune at 6:30 pm, WFAA dropped it in 2006 in favor of the younger-oriented Entertainment Tonight; it dropped Jeopardy! at the same time. Both game shows now appear on CBS owned-and-operated station KTVT.
News operation
WFAA broadcasts a total of 34 hours of local news a week (5½ hours on weekdays, three hours on Saturdays and 3½ hours on Sundays).
Since 1986, WFAA's news organization has won four Peabody Awards, with a fifth awarded personally to H. Martin "Marty" Haag, who was WFAA's executive news director from 1973 to 1989 and a Belo Corporation executive after that. WFAA's Peabody Awards were for:
- 1986: The SMU Mustangs were given the NCAA's "death penalty" because of the Southern Methodist University football scandal.
- 1995: The Peavy Investigation was a "revealing series of reports into insurance purchases involving the Dallas Independent School District...centered on the chairman of the Board of Education's Committee on Insurance."
- 2002: Fake Drugs, Real Lives was recognized for an investigative series which "revealed that confidential informants working with Dallas police planted powdered Sheetrock or billiard chalk near unsuspecting Mexican immigrants to contrive drug cases."
- 2004: State of Denial was a long-running series into improprieties in the Texas Workers Compensation Commission, part of the Texas Department of Insurance.
In 2009 it became the first local station to ever win the duPont-Columbia Award's Gold Baton for its "continuing commitment to outstanding investigative reporting."
WFAA started producing newscasts and other local programming in high definition on February 2, 2007.
Ratings
WFAA's News 8 Update at 10 pm is the market's most-watched late local newscast, and its 5 and 6 p.m. newscasts are the area's most-watched early evening local newscasts.
Notable personalities
Current on-air talent
News 8 anchors
(In alphabetical order)
| Anchor | Position | WFAA Since |
|---|---|---|
| Gloria Campos | News 8 at 5, News 8 at 6, News 8 Update at 10, Wednesday's Child, Anchor/Reporter | 1984 |
| Alexa Conomos | News 8 Daybreak Traffic Reporter, News 8 Midday Anchor | 2003 |
| Debbie Denmon | News 8 Daybreak Saturday/Sunday Anchor/Reporter | 2000 |
| Chris Flanagan | News 8 Daybreak Anchor | 2009 |
| Cynthia Izaguirre | News 8 Daybreak, News 8 Midday Anchor/Reporter | 2008 |
| John McCaa | News 8 at 5, News 8 at 6, News 8 Update at 10, Anchor/Reporter | 1984 |
| Rob McCollum | Good Morning Texas | 2009 |
| Shelly Slater | News 8 at 5, General Assignment Reporter | 2006 |
| Amy Vanderoef | Good Morning Texas | 2006 |
News 8 Investigates
| Reporter | Position | WFAA Since |
|---|---|---|
| Byron Harris | News 8 Investigates Reporter | 1970s |
| Brett Shipp | News 8 Investigates Reporter | 1992 |
In 2009, WFAA received the Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award's Gold Baton, the first local station to win that recognition in the 20-year history of the award; reporters Byron Harris and Brett Shipp were recognized for:
- three exemplary investigative reports about corruption and waste at the Export-Import Bank of the United States, grade changing for failing high school athletes, and the danger posed by aging gas pipeline couplings. Among the Dallas Independent School District high schools exposed by their investigations were South Oak Cliff High School and Roosevelt High School.
Also recognized were Mark Smith (producer), Kraig Kirchem (editor and photographer), and Michael Valentine, executive news director. The pipeline-couplings investigation was featured in the PBS documentary series, Exposé: America's Investigative Reports, in an episode entitled "Beneath the North Texas Dirt."
News 8 reporters/other
(In alphabetical order)
| Personality | Position | WFAA Since |
|---|---|---|
| Jonathan Betz | Reporter | 2008 |
| Aaron Chimbel | MoJo (mobile journalist) Reporter | 2006 |
| Craig Civale | Reporter | 2007 |
| Gary Cogill | Performing Arts Reporter | 1980s |
| Monika Diaz | Reporter | 2007 |
| Jim Douglas | Senior Reporter | 1995 |
| Chris Hawes | Reporter/Fort Worth Bureau | 2006 |
| Laura Houston | Airborne Traffic Reporter | 2003 |
| Rebecca Lopez | Senior Reporter | 1998 |
| Ben Martin | Traffic Reporter | 2005 |
| Darla Miles | Reporter/Fort Worth Bureau | 2006 |
| Gary Reaves | Senior Reporter | 1982-1986; 1991- |
| David Schechter | Senior Reporter | 2005 |
| Michael Scott | Airborne Traffic Reporter | |
| Mike Shannon | Traffic Reporter | 2003 |
| Janet St. James | Senior Reporter, Health Reporter | 1996 |
| Steve Stoler | Collin County Reporter | 2002 |
| Cynthia Vega | Reporter, News 8 Daybreak | 2000 |
| Brad Watson | Dallas City Hall Reporter | 1978 |
| Jason Whitely | Senior Reporter | 2008 |
| Walt Zwirko | Computer Corner, WFAA.com | 1984 |
News 8 Weather
(In order of rank)
| Personality | Position | WFAA Since |
|---|---|---|
| Pete Delkus (AMS/NWA Seals of Approval) | News 8 at 5, News 8 at 6, News 8 Update at 10, Chief Meteorologist | 2005 |
| Greg Fields (AMS Seal of Approval) | News 8 Daybreak, News 8 Midday Meteorologist | 1998 |
| Steve McCauley (AMS Seal of Approval) | News 8 at 6 (Saturdays), News 8 at 5 (Sundays), News 8 Update at 10 (weekend) Meteorologist | 2000 |
| Jennifer Schack | News 8 Daybreak Saturday/Sunday Meteorologist | 2008 |
News 8 Sports
(In order of rank)
| Personality | Position | WFAA Since |
|---|---|---|
| Dale Hansen | News 8 at 6, News 8 Update at 10, Sports Director/Host of Dale Hansen's Sports Special | 1983 |
| Joe Trahan | News 8 at 6, News 8 Update at 10 (Saturdays), Host of High School Sports Special (Sundays) | 2003 |
| George Riba | Senior Sports Reporter | 1977 |
| Ted Madden | Sports Reporter/Photographer | 2002 |
News 8 alumni
|
|
News/station presentation
Newscast titles
- Channel 8 News (1960s-1974; still used today in lower thirds)
- News 8 (1974-present; was shown in newscast as 'News8' in the past)
- News 8 HD (2007-present)
Station slogans
- Still the One, on Channel 8 (1979-1980; localized version of ABC ad campaign)
- You and Me and Channel 8 (1980-1981; localized version of ABC ad campaign)
- The Spirit of Texas (1984-present; originally created in anticipation of the sesquicentennial of the founding of the state of Texas)
- Variations: Working In The Spirit of Texas, In The Spirit of Texas
- Together on Channel 8 (1986-1987; localized version of ABC ad campaign)
- If It's Channel 8, It Must Be ABC (1992-1993; localized version of ABC ad campaign)
- First in News, First in HDTV (2007-present; sub-slogan is unofficial)
- Variation: First in HDTV
- Start Here (2007-present) (for all other programming; also the slogan for ABC)
- Trust Troy, Trust News 8 Weather (used in promotion of former chief weather anchor, Troy Dungan)
 | This list related to film, television, or video is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. |
News music packages
The "Spirit" news music package that was used on WFAA's newscasts was written by James R. Kirk of TM Productions. The "Spirit" news music package was used from 1984 until 1991. All of WFAA's news music packages have carried the "Spirit" motif, including a theme used from 1992-1996. WFAA also used McKinney, TX-based Stephen Arnold Music's "Spirit" from 1996-2000, a package customized by the station and composed by Arnold from 2000-2004, the News Matrix package from 2004-2005, and the Evolution package from 2004-2007 (which all carry the same signature that TM Productions' package used). They switched to a brand new 615 Music package called "Propulsion" (which is also based on the Spirit signature logo). This package is also being rolled out to several other Belo owned stations.
Other former packages used by WFAA include Tuesday Productions'"TuesdayC" from 1978-1980, and TM Productions' "Newsbeat" from 1980-1984.
Trivia
 | This article contains a list of miscellaneous information. Please relocate any relevant information into other sections or articles. (January 2008) |
- WFAA is one of the few television stations west of the Mississippi River with call letters beginning with a W. The FCC normally assigns stations west of the Mississippi call letters that begin with K; W is only used east of the Mississippi. The reason WFAA is different is that its call letters came from its sibling WFAA-AM, whose callsign predates this FCC policy.
- WFAA had an FM radio station in Dallas. It was 97.9, but now WFAA does not own it and it is currently an urban radio station called KBFB-FM, 97.9 The Beat.
- WFAA's "Spirit" campaign has been the basis for campaigns at sister stations like KHOU-TV, WVEC-TV, WWL-TV, and KXTV.
- WFAA's HD Chopper 8 still has the 1984-1996 logo on the underside of the helicopter and reads: N8TV.
- WFAA didn't have its current affiliate's logo in its branding until 2007.
Radio
WFAA-AM was the radio counterpart to the TV station. It signed on June 26, 1922, and used the WFAA call letters through July 2, 1983. (Thereafter, it was known as "KRQX" until Belo sold it, along with sister station KZEW-FM {the former WFAA-FM,} on January 1, 1987.) WFAA-AM has a rich history of service to the Dallas area. Moving around the AM dial, as most stations did in the 1920s and 1930s, the station settled into a permanent stay at 570 AM by 1938, while splitting time with WBAP at their clear-channel frequency of 820. This was the longest timeshare agreement in the US, starting in 1929 and concluding on April 27, 1970.
WFAA-AM was the first network-affiliated station in Texas (initially with NBC beginning April 2, 1923; later with Texas Quality Network, then ABC and CBS thereafter,) the first US station to carry educational programs, the first to produce a serious radio drama series, the first to air a state championship football game, and the first to air presidential inaugural ceremonies. WFAA-AM was home to the long-running morning program, "The Early Birds", hosted by John Allen; "Hymns We Love", "Saturday Night Shindig", "The Big D Jamboree", "Murray Cox RFD", "Slo-and-Ezy", and later, "57 Nostalgia Place."
After many years of an entertainment/variety format, the station flipped to Middle of the Road in 1970, followed by Top 40. On Election Day 1976, the station made its final format change to News/Talk (As "Newstalk 570.")
WFAA-AM was initially located in a 9' x 9' tent on the roof of The Dallas Morning News; to the Morning News library thereafter; to the Baker Hotel on October 1, 1925; atop the Santa Fe Railroad Warehouse on Jackson St. from June 20, 1941 to April 4, 1961 (the building still has "WFAA" clearly painted along a panel on the top floor) and to Communications Center, which was dropped entirely a few years ago.
Sister station WFAA-FM was the first FM to sign on in Texas, beginning October 5, 1946 as "KERA-FM" (no relation to the current radio and TV station known under the same call letters,) although its roots go back to an experimental FM station "W5X1C" that signed on October 15, 1945, and another experimental trial dating back to 1939. By 1947, it had moved from its original home at 94.3 FM to a preferred location in the center of the dial at 97.9 FM. With FM broadcasting in its infancy, WFAA-FM signed on and off the air for months and even two years at a time before settling on a permanent broadcast schedule by 1965. Initially a simulcast of the AM side, it programmed MOR and Beautiful Music until 1973, then flipped to album oriented rock (AOR) as KZEW-FM (known to listeners as The Zoo) on September 16, 1973. Featuring talent such as John LaBella and John Rody ("LaBella and Rody,") George Gimarc, Charley Jones, Dave Lee Austin, John B. Wells, Nancy Johnson, John Dew, John Dillon, Doc Morgan and Tempie Lindsey, the station's concept and programming were initially under the direction of Ira Lipson. The FM station shared studio locations with WFAA-AM on the second floor of the facility.
External links
References
Specific references:
- WFAA A Newsroom in Dallas That Serves Its Viewers from Broadcasting & Cable via AllBusiness.com
- http://www.tvtechnology.com/features/news/n_the_last_empty_channel.shtml
- HDTV of WFAA |WFAA.com
- WFAA-TV Fiftieth Anniversary
- http://www.belo.com/pressRelease.x2?release=20040803-526.html
- Channel 8 switches to digital signal - WFAA (released June 12, 2009)
- http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1082A2.pdf
- CDBS Print
- List of WFAA Peabody Awards from the Peabody Award website
- 2000 Personal Award to Marty Haag from the Peabody Award website
- 1995 The Peavy Investigation from the Peabody Award website
- /details.php?id=1316 2002 Fake Drugs, Real Lives from the Peabody Award website
- 2004 State of Denial from the Peabody Award website
- ^ Program Descriptions of 2009 duPont-Columbia Awards Winners from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism website
- DISD's Ron Price goes to DA about Channel 8 investigations from the Dallas ISD blog of The Dallas Morning News
- Grade-changing at Roosevelt High was widespread, says report from the WFAA website
- WFAA, Texas turns on the radio
General references:
- Shannon, Mike (January, 2004). Dallas-Fort Worth TV Station History. The History of Dallas-Fort Worth Radio and Television.
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- Articles with trivia sections from January 2008
- American Broadcasting Company affiliates
- ABC network affiliates
- Belo Corporation
- Channel 8 TV stations in the United States
- Television channels and stations established in 1949
- Television stations in Texas
- Television stations in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex