Florida's News Channel
Encyclopedia
Florida's News Channel was a regional cable news
television channel seen on selected cable systems (mainly those owned by Comcast
) in September 1998. It originated from Florida
's state capitol, Tallahassee, Florida
, at studios remodelled from a former movie theater. The network was run by Mike Vasilinda
. The network used a rolling 24-hour
news format with some special shows such as the Mike Vasilinda report.
The station relied on a virtual, chromakey-based set, which can be used to represent FNC's "bureaus" in various parts of Florida—all from its Tallahassee home base.
The network folded in 2003, as FNC's funds dried out, and they were unable to get carriage on major cable systems in the state's largest markets, especially on Bright House
systems in Tampa Bay
(Bay News 9
) and Orlando
(Central Florida News 13
). Even Comcast's Sarasota
system had their own news channel, SNN6.
Today, FNC's former studios is now used for a local CBS
affiliate, WCTV
.
United States cable news
Cable news refers to television channels devoted to television news broadcasts, with the name deriving from the proliferation of such networks during the 1980s with the advent of cable television. In the United States, early networks included CNN in 1980, Financial News Network in 1981, and CNN2 ...
television channel seen on selected cable systems (mainly those owned by Comcast
Comcast
Comcast Corporation is the largest cable operator, home Internet service provider, and fourth largest home telephone service provider in the United States, providing cable television, broadband Internet, and telephone service to both residential and commercial customers in 39 states and the...
) in September 1998. It originated from Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
's state capitol, Tallahassee, Florida
Tallahassee, Florida
Tallahassee is the capital of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat and only incorporated municipality in Leon County, and is the 128th largest city in the United States. Tallahassee became the capital of Florida, then the Florida Territory, in 1824. In 2010, the population recorded by...
, at studios remodelled from a former movie theater. The network was run by Mike Vasilinda
Mike Vasilinda
-Career:Vasilinda's career began as a student Florida State University. In January 1974, he founded Capitol Report airing on Florida Public Radio. Vasilinda was then hired to do freelance radio reporting and in 1975, Capitol News Service was founded where Vasilida actually began his formal career...
. The network used a rolling 24-hour
24-hour news cycle
The 24-hour news cycle arrived with the advent of television channels dedicated to news, and brought about a much faster pace of news production with increased demand for stories that can be presented as news, as opposed to the day-by-day pace of the news cycle of printed daily newspapers...
news format with some special shows such as the Mike Vasilinda report.
The station relied on a virtual, chromakey-based set, which can be used to represent FNC's "bureaus" in various parts of Florida—all from its Tallahassee home base.
The network folded in 2003, as FNC's funds dried out, and they were unable to get carriage on major cable systems in the state's largest markets, especially on Bright House
Bright House Networks
Bright House Networks is a cable television company, the seventh largest cable operator and the sixth largest traditional multiple system operator in the United States owned by Advance/Newhouse, headquartered in Syracuse, New York...
systems in Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay is a large natural harbor and estuary along the Gulf of Mexico on the west central coast of Florida, comprising Hillsborough Bay, Old Tampa Bay, Middle Tampa Bay, and Lower Tampa Bay."Tampa Bay" is not the name of any municipality...
(Bay News 9
Bay News 9
Bay News 9 is a cable news television network located in St Petersburg, Florida. It currently serves the Tampa Bay Area including Hillsborough, Pinellas, Manatee, Polk, Pasco, Hernando, and Citrus counties...
) and Orlando
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...
(Central Florida News 13
Central Florida News 13
Central Florida News 13 is a cable news television station located in Orlando, Florida. It currently serves the greater Central Florida areas including Volusia County, Seminole County, Orange County, Osceola County, Lake County, Marion County, Flagler County, and Brevard County...
). Even Comcast's Sarasota
Sarasota, Florida
Sarasota is a city located in Sarasota County on the southwestern coast of the U.S. state of Florida. It is south of the Tampa Bay Area and north of Fort Myers...
system had their own news channel, SNN6.
Today, FNC's former studios is now used for a local 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, WCTV
WCTV
WCTV is the CBS-affiliated television station for southwest Georgia and Tallahassee, Florida that is licensed to Thomasville, Georgia. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 46 from a transmitter in Metcalf along the Georgia and Florida state line. This is 609.6 meters high...
.