WFXG
Encyclopedia
WFXG is the Fox-affiliated television station
for the Central Savannah River Area
of East-Central Georgia
and West-Central South Carolina
. Licensed to Augusta, Georgia
, it broadcasts a high definition
digital signal on UHF channel 51 (or virtual channel
54.1 via PSIP) from a transmitter in Beech Island, South Carolina
's Spiderweb
section. The station can also be seen on Comcast
and Knology
channel 11. There is a high definition feed offered on Comcast digital channel 234 and Knology digital channel 905. Owned by Raycom Media
, WFXG has studios on Washington Road/GA 104
in the Lamkin section of Martinez
(official address is Augusta). Syndicated
programming on the station includes Friends
, How I Met Your Mother
, Two and a Half Men
and The Dr. Oz Show
among others. Its logo is identical to sister station WXTX
in Columbus, Georgia
.
. On WFXG-DT3 is Bounce TV
which has yet to be picked up on digital cable
.
as a replacement for under-performing Class A outlet WBEK-CA
as the area's Fox affiliate. It was Augusta's first full-powered commercial station
to sign-on after what is now WAGT
returned to the air for good in 1974. WFXG was owned-and-operated by Pezold Management Associates Incorporated
whose owner, Jack Pezold, also operates McDonald's
franchise
s in Columbus
. At one point, Pezold owned Columbus' Fox affiliate WXTX after buying that station out of bankruptcy
in 1989. Pezold had plans to launch another television station and chose Augusta. Within a year, WFXG became Fox's "Affiliate of the Year" for posting the highest sign-on/sign-off ratings
share ever for an affiliate with the network. For the 1993 and 1994 season, WFXG was also affiliated with the Prime Time Entertainment Network
.
In addition since 2003, the station has been honored with four "Fox Number One Club" awards for prime time ratings performance. In 1996, WFXG and WXTX were sold to a newly launched Atlanta-based Galleria Broadcast Group, L.P.
which purchased the two stations for $
40.1 million. In December 2003, Community Newspaper Holdings
acquired Galleria's stations (WFXG, WXTX and WSFX-TV
in Wilmington, North Carolina
) through its Southeastern Media Holdings
subsidiary. Community planned on selling all four of its television stations to Thomas Henson in January 2011.
Henson, upon approval from the Federal Communications Commission
(FCC), would then operate all four properties under a company called Southeastern Media Acquisitions. When contacted about the proposed deal, WFXG's General Manager
Barry Barth stated he could not confirm the specifics of the transaction but said the request was basically a licensing switch and would not affect the station's day-to-day operations. The deal was consummated April 5, 2011. During the next month, Henson folded the Southeastern Media Acquisition stations into American Spirit Media, LLC
(one of his other companies) with the merger being finalized on May 25.
At that time, Raycom exercised its option to purchase WFXG outright from American Spirit Media through a newly-created indirect subsidiary. Essentially, the station would be directly owned-and-operated by the company as opposed through a managing agreement. Raycom's acquisition of the station was completed on August 31. WFXG recently added coverage of Southeastern Conference
football and basketball games as well as periodic airings of certain sporting events from Raycom Sports
. The station signed-off its analog signal on February 17, 2009 in compliance with the DTV transition. It had plans to move its digital signal from channel 51 to channel 31 after the transition but ultimately petitioned to stay on channel 51.
affiliate WJBF
(owned by Media General
) renovated its studios in 2004, the station entered into a news share agreement with WFXG. The outsourcing arrangement resulted in a nightly prime time newscast to debut on this station. Known as Fox 54 News at 10, the thirty minute program originated from WJBF's facility on Reynolds Street in Downtown Augusta
. The broadcast featured different on-air graphics and modified WJBF's existing set with separate duratrans
in order to conceal that station's logo. The principal look of the set and on-air graphics for Fox 54 News at 10 remained the same since the newscast's launch and the program always used Gari Media Group's "The X Package" as its music theme.
Meanwhile, NBC affiliate WAGT decided to establish its own weeknight prime time newscast at 10 in 2004 to go up against this station's effort. The production launched a few days after WFXG's show and was initially seen on Independent outlet WBEK through a similar arrangement. Known as WBEK 16 News at 10, the program was soon cancelled due to low ratings and inconsistent viewership. The broadcast was unable to directly compete against WFXG's news because this program has been very successful in the time slot from its start. After being retooled, WAGT's weeknight prime time newscast was relaunched on cable-only
WB affiliate "WBAU" and was known as WB 23 News at 10.
In September 2006 with that station's switch to The CW, WAGT renamed the broadcast CW Augusta Now and tailored it towards a younger audience as was the case with the newly-formed network. On April 23, 2007 in an attempt to boost anemic ratings, WAGT decided to drop the CW Augusta Now title and its fast-paced format replacing it with a more traditional newscast (this time known as NBC Augusta News at 10). However, the program was still unable to mount a strong challenge and alternative to WFXG's newscast so it was eventually dropped completely in April 2008 as a result. In November 2009, WJBF continued producing Fox 54 News at 10 despite that station's owner entering into joint sales and shared services
agreements to operate WAGT.
On September 26, 2011 after terminating its seven year news share agreement with WJBF, WFXG launched its first ever in-house news operation. In partnership with a News Director
based at sister outlet WTOC-TV
in Savannah
, WFXG hired multimedia journalists to shoot, edit, and report coverage in the Augusta area. At this point, five personalities have joined the station and work out of Augusta. All anchors for news, weather and sports are provided by WTOC and the broadcast originates live from that station's facility on Chatham Center Drive in Savannah's Chatham Parkway section.
WFXG also features unique, regionalized coverage provided by Raycom Media sister outlets including WTOC, WIS
in Columbia
and WCSC-TV
in Charleston
. The partnership is comparable to the existing "Raycom News Network", another regional network among the company's widespread group of television stations in the state of Alabama
(WSFA
in Montgomery
, WDFX-TV
in Dothan
, WAFF
in Huntsville
, WBRC
in Birmingham
and WTVM
/WXTX in Auburn
/Phenix City
/Opelika
). The six stations share information, equipment (such as satellite trucks) and stories from reporters. WFXG became the third Fox affiliate in Raycom's portfolio to have its newscasts produced in-house joining Birmingham's WBRC and Cincinatti, Ohio's WXIX. Local newscasts on the remainder of the company's Fox outlets are produced through news share agreements by a big three network affiliate in the respective market.
With the change, WFXG upgraded its newscasts to full high definition level becoming the second station in Augusta to do so (CBS
affiliate WRDW-TV
was the first). According to television listings, Fox 54 News at 10 expanded to an hour on weeknights and 35 minutes on Sundays. The show remains a half-hour production on Saturdays. There is no regularly scheduled sports report seen in the broadcast. On the same day of WFXG's launch, WJBF introduced another prime time broadcast at 10 on WAGT-DT2. Known as NewsChannel 6 at 10 on The CW, the news is seen every night for thirty minutes on that station. Despite airing on a second digital subchannel
of WAGT, the program has WJBF branding and features anchors from the latter station.
Anchors
Weather
Multimedia journalists
Television station
A television station is a business, organisation or other such as an amateur television operator that transmits content over terrestrial television. A television transmission can be by analog television signals or, more recently, by digital television. Broadcast television systems standards are...
for the Central Savannah River Area
Central Savannah River Area
The Central Savannah River Area is a 13-county region in the U.S. state of Georgia, and is also considered to include five to eight counties in South Carolina. The term was coined in 1950 by C.C. McCollum, the winner of a $250 contest held by The Augusta Chronicle to generate the best name for the...
of East-Central Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
and West-Central South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
. Licensed to Augusta, Georgia
Augusta, Georgia
Augusta is a consolidated city in the U.S. state of Georgia, located along the Savannah River. As of the 2010 census, the Augusta–Richmond County population was 195,844 not counting the unconsolidated cities of Hephzibah and Blythe.Augusta is the principal city of the Augusta-Richmond County...
, it broadcasts a high definition
High-definition television
High-definition television is video that has resolution substantially higher than that of traditional television systems . HDTV has one or two million pixels per frame, roughly five times that of SD...
digital signal on UHF channel 51 (or virtual channel
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....
54.1 via PSIP) from a transmitter in Beech Island, South Carolina
Beech Island, South Carolina
Beech Island is an unincorporated community of Aiken County, South Carolina, United States. It appears to take its name from Beech Island, a nearby former island that is politically part of Georgia but geographically separated from the rest of Georgia by a river which changed its bed...
's Spiderweb
Spiderweb, South Carolina
Spiderweb is a populated place in Aiken County, South Carolina, United States. The name was collected by the United States Geological Survey between 1976 and 1980, and entered into the Geographic Names Information System on July 13, 1980.-References:...
section. The station can also be seen on 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...
and Knology
Knology
Knology Inc. is a cable company that formed in 1994 by ITC Holding Company, Inc, a telecommunications holding company in West Point, Georgia that also founded Internet service provider Mindspring. In late 1994, shortly after Knology's inception, two employees made a $600,000 investment to make...
channel 11. There is a high definition feed offered on Comcast digital channel 234 and Knology digital channel 905. Owned by Raycom Media
Raycom Media
- History :Although Raycom Media dates its birth to 1996, the core of the company was formed in 1992 when Atlanta native Bert Ellis formed Ellis Communications. He eventually controlled 13 television stations and two radio stations....
, WFXG has studios on Washington Road/GA 104
Georgia State Route 104
Georgia State Route 104 is a spur route of its parent, GA 4. It is more commonly referred to as both River Watch Parkway and Washington Road in the Augusta, Georgia area.-Routing:...
in the Lamkin section of Martinez
Martinez, Georgia
Martinez is a census-designated place in Columbia County, Georgia, United States. It is an affluent suburb of Augusta, Georgia and is part of the Augusta, Georgia metropolitan area...
(official address is Augusta). Syndicated
Television syndication
In broadcasting, syndication is the sale of the right to broadcast radio shows and television shows by multiple radio stations and television stations, without going through a broadcast network, though the process of syndication may conjure up structures like those of a network itself, by its very...
programming on the station includes Friends
Friends
Friends is an American sitcom created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman, which aired on NBC from September 22, 1994 to May 6, 2004. The series revolves around a group of friends in Manhattan. The series was produced by Bright/Kauffman/Crane Productions, in association with Warner Bros. Television...
, 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...
, Two and a Half Men
Two and a Half Men
Two and a Half Men is an American television sitcom that premiered on CBS on September 22, 2003. Starring Charlie Sheen, Jon Cryer, and Angus T. Jones, the show was originally about a hedonistic jingle writer, Charlie Harper; his uptight brother, Alan; and Alan's growing son, Jake...
and The Dr. Oz Show
The Dr. Oz Show
The Dr. Oz Show is an American syndicated television talk show, hosted by Dr. Mehmet Oz, a cardiothoracic surgeon and teaching professor at Columbia University who became famous for his appearances on The Oprah Winfrey Show from 2004 until 2009....
among others. Its logo is identical to sister station WXTX
WXTX
WXTX is the primary Fox and secondary MyNetworkTV-affiliated television station for the Chattahoochee Valley of West Central Georgia and East Central Alabama. Licensed to Columbus, Georgia, it broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 49 from a transmitter in the Vista Terrance...
in Columbus, Georgia
Columbus, Georgia
Columbus is a city in and the county seat of Muscogee County, Georgia, United States, with which it is consolidated. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 189,885. It is the principal city of the Columbus, Georgia metropolitan area, which, in 2009, had an estimated population of 292,795...
.
Digital programming
On WFXG-DT2, Knology digital channel 169, and Comcast digital channel 383 is This TVThis TV
This TV is a United States general entertainment television network, with a large emphasis in its programming on movies....
. On WFXG-DT3 is Bounce TV
Bounce TV
Bounce TV is a United States television network airing on digital terrestrial television stations. Promoted as "the first 24/7 digital multicast broadcast network created exclusively for African Americans," Bounce TV launched on September 26, 2011 and features programming geared toward blacks in...
which has yet to be picked up on digital cable
Cable television
Cable television is a system of providing television programs to consumers via radio frequency signals transmitted to televisions through coaxial cables or digital light pulses through fixed optical fibers located on the subscriber's property, much like the over-the-air method used in traditional...
.
| Channels | Video Display resolution The display resolution of a digital television or display device is the number of distinct pixels in each dimension that can be displayed. It can be an ambiguous term especially as the displayed resolution is controlled by all different factors in cathode ray tube , flat panel or projection... |
Aspect 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,... |
Programming |
|---|---|---|---|
| 54.1 | 720p 720p 720p is the shorthand name for 1280x720, a category of High-definition television video modes having a resolution of 1080 or 720p and a progressive scan... |
16:9 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 ... |
Main WFXG programming / FOX |
| 54.2 | 480i 480i 480i is the shorthand name for a video mode, namely the US NTSC television system or digital television systems with the same characteristics. The i, which is sometimes uppercase, stands for interlaced, the 480 for a vertical frame resolution of 480 lines containing picture information; while NTSC... |
4:3 | This TV |
| 54.3 | Bounce TV |
History
WFXG signed-on May 23, 19911991 in television
For the American TV schedule, see: 1991-92 United States network television schedule.The year 1991 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1991.-Events:-Debuts:-1950s:...
as a replacement for under-performing Class A outlet WBEK-CA
WBEK-CA
WBEK-CA is a low-power television station in Augusta, Georgia , broadcasting locally on UHF channel 16 as an affiliate of America One...
as the area's Fox affiliate. It was Augusta's first full-powered commercial station
Commercial broadcasting
Commercial broadcasting is the broadcasting of television programs and radio programming by privately owned corporate media, as opposed to state sponsorship...
to sign-on after what is now WAGT
WAGT
WAGT is the NBC-affiliated television station for the Central Savannah River Area of East-Central Georgia and West-Central South Carolina. Licensed to Augusta, Georgia, it broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 30 from a transmitter in the Spiderweb section of Beech Island,...
returned to the air for good in 1974. WFXG was owned-and-operated by Pezold Management Associates Incorporated
Incorporation (business)
Incorporation is the forming of a new corporation . The corporation may be a business, a non-profit organisation, sports club, or a government of a new city or town...
whose owner, Jack Pezold, also operates McDonald's
McDonald's
McDonald's Corporation is the world's largest chain of hamburger fast food restaurants, serving around 64 million customers daily in 119 countries. Headquartered in the United States, the company began in 1940 as a barbecue restaurant operated by the eponymous Richard and Maurice McDonald; in 1948...
franchise
Franchise
Franchise generally means a right or privilege. It may refer to:*Suffrage, the civil right to vote*Franchising, a business method that involves licensing of trademarks and methods of doing business, such as:...
s in Columbus
Columbus, Georgia
Columbus is a city in and the county seat of Muscogee County, Georgia, United States, with which it is consolidated. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 189,885. It is the principal city of the Columbus, Georgia metropolitan area, which, in 2009, had an estimated population of 292,795...
. At one point, Pezold owned Columbus' Fox affiliate WXTX after buying that station out of bankruptcy
Bankruptcy in the United States
Bankruptcy in the United States is governed under the United States Constitution which authorizes Congress to enact "uniform Laws on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout the United States." Congress has exercised this authority several times since 1801, most recently by adopting the Bankruptcy...
in 1989. Pezold had plans to launch another television station and chose Augusta. Within a year, WFXG became Fox's "Affiliate of the Year" for posting the highest sign-on/sign-off ratings
Nielsen Ratings
Nielsen ratings are the audience measurement systems developed by Nielsen Media Research, in an effort to determine the audience size and composition of television programming in the United States...
share ever for an affiliate with the network. For the 1993 and 1994 season, WFXG was also affiliated with the Prime Time Entertainment Network
Prime Time Entertainment Network
The Prime Time Entertainment Network was a United States television network launched in 1993 by the Prime Time Consortium, a joint venture between Warner Bros. Domestic Television and the Chris-Craft group of independent stations...
.
In addition since 2003, the station has been honored with four "Fox Number One Club" awards for prime time ratings performance. In 1996, WFXG and WXTX were sold to a newly launched Atlanta-based Galleria Broadcast Group, L.P.
Limited partnership
A limited partnership is a form of partnership similar to a general partnership, except that in addition to one or more general partners , there are one or more limited partners . It is a partnership in which only one partner is required to be a general partner.The GPs are, in all major respects,...
which purchased the two stations for $
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
40.1 million. In December 2003, Community Newspaper Holdings
Community Newspaper Holdings
Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc. is a publisher of newspapers and advertising-related publications throughout the eastern part of the United States. The company was formed in 1997 by Ralph Martin, and is based in Birmingham, Alabama. The company is financed by the Retirement Systems of...
acquired Galleria's stations (WFXG, WXTX and WSFX-TV
WSFX-TV
WSFX-TV is the Fox-affiliated television station for North Carolina's Cape Fear region licensed to Wilmington. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 30 from a transmitter in Town Creek Township. The station can also be seen on Time Warner Cable, Charter, and ATMC channel 9...
in Wilmington, North Carolina
Wilmington, North Carolina
Wilmington is a port city in and is the county seat of New Hanover County, North Carolina, United States. The population is 106,476 according to the 2010 Census, making it the eighth most populous city in the state of North Carolina...
) through its Southeastern Media Holdings
Southeastern Media Holdings
Southeastern Media Holdings is a broadcasting company based in Charlotte, North Carolina. It owns television stations in several cities in the Southeastern United States.-Fox Affiliates:* WXTX-TV, Columbus, Georgia* WSFX-TV, Wilmington, North Carolina...
subsidiary. Community planned on selling all four of its television stations to Thomas Henson in January 2011.
Henson, upon approval from the Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
(FCC), would then operate all four properties under a company called Southeastern Media Acquisitions. When contacted about the proposed deal, WFXG's General Manager
General manager
General manager is a descriptive term for certain executives in a business operation. It is also a formal title held by some business executives, most commonly in the hospitality industry.-Generic usage:...
Barry Barth stated he could not confirm the specifics of the transaction but said the request was basically a licensing switch and would not affect the station's day-to-day operations. The deal was consummated April 5, 2011. During the next month, Henson folded the Southeastern Media Acquisition stations into American Spirit Media, LLC
Limited liability company
A limited liability company is a flexible form of enterprise that blends elements of partnership and corporate structures. It is a legal form of company that provides limited liability to its owners in the vast majority of United States jurisdictions...
(one of his other companies) with the merger being finalized on May 25.
At that time, Raycom exercised its option to purchase WFXG outright from American Spirit Media through a newly-created indirect subsidiary. Essentially, the station would be directly owned-and-operated by the company as opposed through a managing agreement. Raycom's acquisition of the station was completed on August 31. WFXG recently added coverage of Southeastern Conference
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
football and basketball games as well as periodic airings of certain sporting events from Raycom Sports
Raycom Sports
Raycom Sports is an American syndicator of sports television programs. It is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, and owned and operated by Raycom Media.-Founding:...
. The station signed-off its analog signal on February 17, 2009 in compliance with the DTV transition. It had plans to move its digital signal from channel 51 to channel 31 after the transition but ultimately petitioned to stay on channel 51.
News operation
After ABCAmerican 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 WJBF
WJBF
WJBF, News Channel 6, is an ABC-affiliated television station in Augusta, Georgia, USA. WJBF is owned by the broadcast division of Media General, and formerly had its studios on Reynolds Street in downtown Augusta for over 50 years before moving to a new location near the Augusta Mall in October...
(owned by Media General
Media General
Media General, Inc. is a media company based in the Southeastern United States. Its major properties include newspapers such as The Tampa Tribune, the Winston-Salem Journal, and the Richmond Times-Dispatch, as well as numerous television stations, such as flagship station WFLA-TV.The company was...
) renovated its studios in 2004, the station entered into a news share agreement with WFXG. The outsourcing arrangement resulted in a nightly prime time newscast to debut on this station. Known as Fox 54 News at 10, the thirty minute program originated from WJBF's facility on Reynolds Street in Downtown Augusta
Augusta Downtown Historic District
Augusta Downtown Historic District is a historic district that encompasses most of Downtown Augusta, Georgia and its pre-Civil War area.It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2004.-Notable Historic sites:...
. The broadcast featured different on-air graphics and modified WJBF's existing set with separate duratrans
Duratrans
A duratrans is an element used in some television news sets and theater designs. Duratrans are most often used to create the backgrounds that appear behind news presenters or anchors. If it is used in a theatre the backgrounds would appear behind the actors, actresses, and other talent respectively...
in order to conceal that station's logo. The principal look of the set and on-air graphics for Fox 54 News at 10 remained the same since the newscast's launch and the program always used Gari Media Group's "The X Package" as its music theme.
Meanwhile, NBC affiliate WAGT decided to establish its own weeknight prime time newscast at 10 in 2004 to go up against this station's effort. The production launched a few days after WFXG's show and was initially seen on Independent outlet WBEK through a similar arrangement. Known as WBEK 16 News at 10, the program was soon cancelled due to low ratings and inconsistent viewership. The broadcast was unable to directly compete against WFXG's news because this program has been very successful in the time slot from its start. After being retooled, WAGT's weeknight prime time newscast was relaunched on cable-only
The WB 100+ Station Group
The WB 100+ Station Group was a group of primarily non-broadcast local cable television outlets for The WB Television Network, for markets below the top 100 television media markets in the United States. Dayparts with no WB programming were programmed by the network...
WB affiliate "WBAU" and was known as WB 23 News at 10.
In September 2006 with that station's switch to The CW, WAGT renamed the broadcast CW Augusta Now and tailored it towards a younger audience as was the case with the newly-formed network. On April 23, 2007 in an attempt to boost anemic ratings, WAGT decided to drop the CW Augusta Now title and its fast-paced format replacing it with a more traditional newscast (this time known as NBC Augusta News at 10). However, the program was still unable to mount a strong challenge and alternative to WFXG's newscast so it was eventually dropped completely in April 2008 as a result. In November 2009, WJBF continued producing Fox 54 News at 10 despite that station's owner entering into joint sales and shared services
Shared services
Shared services refers to the provision of a service by one part of an organization or group where that service had previously been found in more than one part of the organization or group. Thus the funding and resourcing of the service is shared and the providing department effectively becomes an...
agreements to operate WAGT.
On September 26, 2011 after terminating its seven year news share agreement with WJBF, WFXG launched its first ever in-house news operation. In partnership with a News Director
News Director
A news director is an individual at a broadcast station or network or a newspaper who is in charge of the news department. In local news, the news director is typically in charge of the entire news staff, including journalists, news presenters, photographers, copy writers, television producers,...
based at sister outlet WTOC-TV
WTOC-TV
WTOC-TV is the CBS-affiliated television station for Southeastern Georgia's Coastal Empire and Southern South Carolina's Lowcountry. Licensed to Savannah, Georgia, it broadcasts a high definition digital signal on VHF channel 11 from a transmitter along Fort Argyle Road/SR 204 in unincorporated...
in Savannah
Savannah, Georgia
Savannah is the largest city and the county seat of Chatham County, in the U.S. state of Georgia. Established in 1733, the city of Savannah was the colonial capital of the Province of Georgia and later the first state capital of Georgia. Today Savannah is an industrial center and an important...
, WFXG hired multimedia journalists to shoot, edit, and report coverage in the Augusta area. At this point, five personalities have joined the station and work out of Augusta. All anchors for news, weather and sports are provided by WTOC and the broadcast originates live from that station's facility on Chatham Center Drive in Savannah's Chatham Parkway section.
WFXG also features unique, regionalized coverage provided by Raycom Media sister outlets including WTOC, WIS
WIS
WIS, channel 10, is an NBC-affiliated television station in Columbia, South Carolina, USA. Owned by Raycom Media, WIS has studios on Bull Street in downtown Columbia, and transmitter located in Lugoff, South Carolina.-History:...
in Columbia
Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan...
and WCSC-TV
WCSC-TV
WCSC-TV is the CBS-affiliated television station for South Carolina's Lowcountry area licensed to Charleston. Its broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 47 from a transmitter in Awendaw. The station can also be seen on Time Warner channel 5 as well as Comcast and Knology...
in Charleston
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
. The partnership is comparable to the existing "Raycom News Network", another regional network among the company's widespread group of television stations in the state of Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
(WSFA
WSFA
WSFA is the NBC-affiliated television station for Central Alabama's Black Belt region licensed to Montgomery. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on VHF channel 12 from a transmitter in Grady along the Montgomery and Pike County line. The station can also be seen on Knology and Charter...
in Montgomery
Montgomery, Alabama
Montgomery is the capital of the U.S. state of Alabama, and is the county seat of Montgomery County. It is located on the Alabama River southeast of the center of the state, in the Gulf Coastal Plain. As of the 2010 census, Montgomery had a population of 205,764 making it the second-largest city...
, WDFX-TV
WDFX-TV
WDFX-TV is the Fox-affiliated television station for Southeastern Alabama's Wiregrass Region licensed to Ozark. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 33 from a transmitter in Wicksburg. The station can also be seen on Knology channel 5 as well as Comcast and Time Warner...
in Dothan
Dothan, Alabama
Dothan is a city located in the southeastern corner of the US state of Alabama, situated approximately west of the Georgia state line and north of Florida. It is the seat of Houston County, with portions extending into nearby Dale County and Henry County...
, WAFF
WAFF (TV)
WAFF is the NBC television network affiliate in Huntsville, Alabama. The station broadcasts on UHF channel 49 and serves the northern portion of Alabama and several counties in southern Tennessee.-Decatur years, 1954 - 69:...
in Huntsville
Huntsville, Alabama
Huntsville is a city located primarily in Madison County in the central part of the far northern region of the U.S. state of Alabama. Huntsville is the county seat of Madison County. The city extends west into neighboring Limestone County. Huntsville's population was 180,105 as of the 2010 Census....
, WBRC
WBRC
WBRC, virtual channel 6, is the Fox-affiliated television station serving the Birmingham, Alabama designated market area. The station is owned by Raycom Media, and its transmitter is located atop Red Mountain in Birmingham...
in Birmingham
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
and WTVM
WTVM
WTVM is the ABC-affiliated television station for Columbus, Georgia. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on VHF channel 11 from a transmitter in Cusseta. The station can also be seen on Charter, Knology, and Mediacom channel 10...
/WXTX in Auburn
Auburn, Alabama
Auburn is a city in Lee County, Alabama, United States. It is the largest city in eastern Alabama with a 2010 population of 53,380. It is a principal city of the Auburn-Opelika Metropolitan Area...
/Phenix City
Phenix City, Alabama
Phenix City is a city and the county seat in Russell County in the U.S. state of Alabama. Portions of Lee County are addressed as Phenix City, 36870 ZIP code, for the sole purpose that Smiths Station does not have full incorporation to annex the area...
/Opelika
Opelika, Alabama
Opelika is a city in and the county seat of Lee County in the east central part of the U.S. state of Alabama. It is a principal city of the Auburn-Opelika Metropolitan Area. According to 2010 Census, the population of Opelika was 26,477...
). The six stations share information, equipment (such as satellite trucks) and stories from reporters. WFXG became the third Fox affiliate in Raycom's portfolio to have its newscasts produced in-house joining Birmingham's WBRC and Cincinatti, Ohio's WXIX. Local newscasts on the remainder of the company's Fox outlets are produced through news share agreements by a big three network affiliate in the respective market.
With the change, WFXG upgraded its newscasts to full high definition level becoming the second station in Augusta to do so (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 WRDW-TV
WRDW-TV
WRDW-TV, channel 12, is a CBS-affiliated television station located in Augusta, Georgia, USA. WRDW-TV is owned by Atlanta-based Gray Television, and also provides digital subchannels for MyNetworkTV on channel 12.2 and The Country Network on channel 12.3...
was the first). According to television listings, Fox 54 News at 10 expanded to an hour on weeknights and 35 minutes on Sundays. The show remains a half-hour production on Saturdays. There is no regularly scheduled sports report seen in the broadcast. On the same day of WFXG's launch, WJBF introduced another prime time broadcast at 10 on WAGT-DT2. Known as NewsChannel 6 at 10 on The CW, the news is seen every night for thirty minutes on that station. Despite airing on a second digital subchannel
Digital subchannel
In broadcasting, digital subchannels are a means to transmit more than one independent program at the same time from the same digital radio or digital television station on the same radio frequency channel. This is done by using data compression techniques to reduce the size of each individual...
of WAGT, the program has WJBF branding and features anchors from the latter station.
News team
+ denotes WTOC personnelAnchors
- + Mike Manhatton - weeknights at 10 p.m.
- + Cyreia Sandlin - weeknights at 10 p.m.; also reporter
- + Melanie Ruberti - weekend evenings; also general assignment and medical reporter, producer and fill-in weekend weather anchor
Weather
- + John Wetherbee (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,...
Seal of Approval) - chief meteorologist; weeknights at 10 p.m. - + Ron Wallace - meteorologist; weekend evenings
Multimedia journalists
- Mark Barber
- Brian Grimes - videojournalist
- Teri Hornstein
- Rachel Moore
- Lauren Powell - also executive producer
- Jake Wallace