WLEX-TV
Encyclopedia
- For the experimental television station in Boston that used the branding "WLEX", see W1XAYW1XAYW1XAY was one of the first television stations in the world, being founded on June 14, 1928. It was also branded as "WLEX" from its sister radio station, in Lexington, Massachusetts, USA ....
.
WLEX-TV, channel 18, is the NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
-affiliated television station for Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region...
and the East-Central Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
region. Its transmitter is located in Southern Lexington near Hamburg Pavilion on WTVQ-DT's tower. WLEX-TV's studio is on Russell Cave Road in northern Fayette County.
Digital television
| Channel | Video | Format | Name | Programming |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18.1 | 1080i 1080i 1080i is the shorthand name for a high-definition television mode. The i means interlaced video; 1080i differs from 1080p, in which the p stands for progressive scan. The term 1080i assumes a widescreen aspect ratio of 16:9, implying a frame size of 1920×1080 pixels... |
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 ... |
WLEX-DT | Main WLEX programming / NBC |
| 18.2 | 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 | WZLEX | Wazoo Sports Network |
At 7 a.m. EDT
Eastern Time Zone
The Eastern Time Zone of the United States and Canada is a time zone that falls mostly along the east coast of North America. Its UTC time offset is −5 hrs during standard time and −4 hrs during daylight saving time...
on June 12, 2009, WLEX-TV's digital signal remained on channel 39 when the analog to digital conversion was completed. The digital signal originates from the tower that also transmits the WTVQ-TV
WTVQ-TV
WTVQ-DT is the ABC-affiliated television station for Lexington, Kentucky. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 40 from a transmitter located at the station's studios on the outer loop of Man o' War Boulevard in the Brighton section of Fayette County...
signal.
History
Channel 18 signed on March 15, 1955 as Lexington's first television station and the third in Kentucky (following LouisvilleLouisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
's WAVE-TV and WHAS-TV
WHAS-TV
WHAS-TV channel 11 is the ABC affiliated television station in Louisville, Kentucky. Owned by Belo Corporation, the station's transmitter is located in Floyd County, Indiana, near the community of Floyds Knobs...
). It was co-owned with WLEX radio (1300 AM, now WLXG
WLXG
WLXG is a Sports Talk formatted broadcast radio station affiliated with ESPN Radio.WLXG is licensed to Lexington, Kentucky and serves the Lexington and Frankfort area. WLXG is owned and operated by L.M. Communications, Inc.-History:...
) and carried programming from all four networks (NBC, ABC
American 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...
, 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...
, and DuMont
DuMont Television Network
The DuMont Television Network, also known as the DuMont Network, DuMont, Du Mont, or Dumont was one of the world's pioneer commercial television networks, rivalling NBC for the distinction of being first overall. It began operation in the United States in 1946. It was owned by DuMont...
). The DuMont network went out of business later that year. In 1957 ABC programming moved to WKXP-TV (channel 27, now WKYT-TV
WKYT-TV
WKYT-TV is the CBS-affiliated television station in Lexington, Kentucky, serving the east-central part of Kentucky. Through cable, the station also reaches much of eastern, southern & northern Kentucky. Its transmitter is located in Lexington, east of the intersection of I-75 & US 60...
). In 1968 CBS moved to WKYT when WBLG-TV (now WTVQ-TV
WTVQ-TV
WTVQ-DT is the ABC-affiliated television station for Lexington, Kentucky. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 40 from a transmitter located at the station's studios on the outer loop of Man o' War Boulevard in the Brighton section of Fayette County...
) signed on and took the ABC affiliation, making WLEX a full-time NBC affiliate.
In November 2009, it was announced that WLEX has partnered with online sports site Wazoo Sports to form the Wazoo Sports Network
Wazoo Sports Network
Wazoo Sports Network is a regional sports network specializing in airing local high school, college, and minor league sports mainly in the Kentuckiana and Bluegrass regions of Kentucky and southern Indiana, The network, which started out as online-only in 2005, became a digital subchannel network...
. The new regional television network will be dedicated to carrying live coverage of Kentucky High School sporting events, as well as classic coverage of past high school & college events. The network can be seen on the Lexington-area digital cable outlet, as well as on WLEX digital subchannel 18.2.
Firsts
- First tower over 600 feet in Kentucky (December, 1954)
- First station to broadcast a test pattern in Lexington (January 19, 1955)
- First station to broadcast programming in Lexington (March 15, 1955)
- First Kentucky commercial station to regularly schedule an educational program (Zemanski and White Physics, 1959; Anthropology I, September, 1959)
- First television broadcast of University of KentuckyUniversity of KentuckyThe University of Kentucky, also known as UK, is a public co-educational university and is one of the state's two land-grant universities, located in Lexington, Kentucky...
basketball – DePaul UniversityDePaul UniversityDePaul University is a private institution of higher education and research in Chicago, Illinois. Founded by the Vincentians in 1898, the university takes its name from the 17th century French priest Saint Vincent de Paul...
, from Chicago, February 18, 1956 (DePaul won 81-79) - First station to air regularly scheduled church service telecast in Kentucky (Immanuel Baptist)
- First station in Kentucky to broadcast in full-color and first full-color UHF in the United States (November 15, 1962)
- First station in Lexington to have a female news anchor, Sue Hackett Wylie (April, 1968)
- First station in Kentucky to produce a computer-generated program log (July, 1968)
- First commercial station in Lexington to use broadcast-quality Electronic News Gathering, ENG, (October, 1978)
- First station in Lexington to air a Saturday morning newscast (July 4, 1992)
- First station in Lexington to air an hour-long weekly morning newscast (July 6, 1992)
- First station in Kentucky and Lexington to announce the appointment of John Calipari as the head coach of the University of Kentucky Basketball program on March 31, 2009 at 6:45pm.
- First station in Lexington and the Ohio Valley with a "Live" Doppler, The Maxtrack Live Doppler in 2004.
- In September 2007, Kristie Kubovic became the first woman in Kentucky to receive the American Meteorological SocietyAmerican 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...
's CBM seal. This seal is an upgrade to the AMS seal. - First station in Lexington to launch a 7:00 p.m. newscast.
- WLEX is the first station in Lexington to have a on-the-air 4 p.m. newscast.
Kentucky Derby Coverage
WLEX has brought Central Kentucky live coverage of the Kentucky Derby since 2000 when the station signed a contract with NBC Sports. In 2005, LEX 18 Renewed the contract and they are still bringing all-day coverage of the Derby with their "Derby Crew". No other Lexington stations currently broadcast Derby Day coverage due to contract rights.News operation
In the Spring of 2007, WLEX-TV became the second station in Lexington and the entire state of Kentucky to broadcast local newscasts in high definitionHigh-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...
, and it debuted a new set in preparation for the transition. The station had used their famous "Skyline" set for twelve years until they updated it in May 2007. The station uses 615 Music
615 Music
615 Music is a broadcast production music company based in Nashville, Tennessee. 615 Music composes television news music packages and custom image campaigns for many television networks around the world. 615 Music also operates out of Los Angeles...
's In-Sink as its news music package, which they have used for eleven years. WLEX's graphics are made by Giant Octopus and feature the NBC peacock logo.
Newscast titles
- WLEX-TV News (1960s)
- Dateline News (1970s)
- Eyewitness NewsEyewitness NewsEyewitness News is a style of news broadcasting used by local television stations in different markets across the United States. It refers to a particular style of television newscast with an emphasis on visual elements and action video...
(1970s) - Action NewsAction NewsAction News is a local television newscast format in the United States. It was conceived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, at WFIL-TV by then-news director Mel Kampmann in 1970 as a response to the "Eyewitness News" format used on rival station KYW-TV...
(1970s–1982) - WLEX 18 Action NewsAction NewsAction News is a local television newscast format in the United States. It was conceived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, at WFIL-TV by then-news director Mel Kampmann in 1970 as a response to the "Eyewitness News" format used on rival station KYW-TV...
(1982–1984) - 18 News (1984–1990 and 1991–1994)
- Channel 18 News (1990–1991)
- 18 Action NewsAction NewsAction News is a local television newscast format in the United States. It was conceived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, at WFIL-TV by then-news director Mel Kampmann in 1970 as a response to the "Eyewitness News" format used on rival station KYW-TV...
(1994–1999) - LEX 18 News (2000–present)
Station slogans
- "WLEX-TV, Lexington's Color Station" (1966–1970)
- "This is TV-18" (early 1970s)
- "Lexington Turns Us On"' (mid-1970s)
- "The Big One-Eight" (late 1970s)
- "WLEX-TV 18, Your Action News Station" (late 1970s)
- "The News People" (1980s)
- "Central Kentucky's 18" (1991–2000)
- "Coverage You Can Count On" (2000–present)
News team
Anchors- Nikki Burdine - weekends at 6 and 11 p.m.; also weeknight reporter
- Kevin Christopher - weeknights at 5, 5:30, 6 and 11 p.m.
- Nancy Cox-KennyNancy Cox (TV news anchor)Nancy Jane Cox, is Miss Kentucky 1990, a television journalist and news anchor for WLEX-TV in Lexington, Kentucky.-Biography:Nancy Cox anchors LEX 18 News at 5:00, 5:30, 6:00, and 11:00. She joined LEX 18 in July 1992...
- weeknights at 5, 5:30, 6, 7 and 11 p.m. - Lee Cruse - weekday mornings LEX 18 News Sunrise (field anchor) and 12:30 p.m.; also weeknight reporter
- Dia Davidson - weekdays at noon, 12:30, 4 and 5:30 p.m.; also 7 p.m. fill-in anchor
- Chris Goodman - weekday mornings LEX 18 News Sunrise, weekdays at noon and 12:30 p.m.
- Devon Patton - weekdays at 4 p.m.; also weeknight reporter
- Nicole Pence - weekday mornings LEX 18 News Sunrise
- Kristen Pflum - weekdays at 4 and 5:30 p.m.; also; also reporter and 7 p.m. fill-in anchor
LEX 18 StormTracker Weather
- Bill Meck (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...
and NWANational Weather AssociationThe National Weather Association is an American professional association with a mission to support and promote excellence in operational meteorology and related activities...
Seals of Approval) - chief meteorologist; weeknights at 5, 6, 7 and 11 p.m. - Tom Ackerman (AMS 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) - meteorologist; weekday mornings LEX 18 News Sunrise, noon and 12:30 p.m. - Mat Ortiz - meteorologist; weekends at 6 and 11 p.m.
- Lindsay Schwarzwaelder - meteorologist; weekdays at 4, and weeknights at 5:30 p.m.
Sports team
- Alan Cutler - sports director; weeknights at 5, 6 and 11 p.m.
- Mary Jo Perino - sports anchor; weekends at 6 and 11 p.m.
- Brent Carney - sports reporter
Reporters
- Jeff Allen - general assignment reporter
- Adam Baker - general assignment reporter
- Josh Breslow - general assignment reporter
- Jackie Congedo - general assignment reporter
- Courtney Fischer - general assignment reporter
- Jennifer Hoff - general assignment reporter
- Leigh Searcy - general assignment reporter
- Bianca Spinosa - general assignment reporter
- Chris Sutter - general assignment reporter
- Adam Winer - general assignment reporter
Out-of-market coverage
In Tennessee, WLEX and many other Lexington television stations are carried in JellicoJellico, Tennessee
Jellico is a city in Campbell County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 2,448 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Jellico is located at . The city is situated amidst the Cumberland Mountains in the Elk Creek Valley, which runs perpendicular to the Tennessee-Kentucky state line...
. WLEX is also available in Ashland
Ashland, Kentucky
Ashland, formerly known as Poage Settlement, is a city in Boyd County, Kentucky, United States, nestled along the banks of the Ohio River. The population was 21,981 at the 2000 census. Ashland is a part of the Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH, Metropolitan Statistical Area . As of the 2000 census, the...
, which is in the Charleston
Charleston, West Virginia
Charleston is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of West Virginia. It is located at the confluence of the Elk and Kanawha Rivers in Kanawha County. As of the 2010 census, it has a population of 51,400, and its metropolitan area 304,214. It is the county seat of Kanawha County.Early...
/Huntington, West Virginia
Huntington, West Virginia
Huntington is a city in Cabell and Wayne counties in the U.S. state of West Virginia, along the Ohio River. Most of the city is in Cabell County, for which it is the county seat. A small portion of the city, mainly the neighborhood of Westmoreland, is in Wayne County. Its population was 49,138 at...
market
Media market
A media market, broadcast market, media region, designated market area , Television Market Area , or simply market is a region where the population can receive the same television and radio station offerings, and may also include other types of media including newspapers and Internet content...
.