WMTV
Encyclopedia
WMTV is a NBC
affiliated television station serving Madison, Wisconsin
. The station is owned and operated by Gray Television
, and has its studio and transmitter located in Madison.
, DuMont
, and NBC. In 1956, WKOW-TV
, which had the CBS
affiliation, picked up the ABC affiliation from WMTV after losing CBS to then-new VHF
station WISC-TV
, thus resulting in WMTV becoming solely affiliated with NBC.
In 1960 WMTV switched channels from 33 to 15, where it remained until analog broadcasting ceased just before midnight on February 17, 2009. The station's over-the-air broadcasts are now on digital channel 19, though it is found through PSIP protocol on virtual channels 15.1 (NBC) and 15.2 (The AccuWeather Channel).
On October 16, 2010, WMTV became the second commercial TV station in Madison to produce all of its newscasts in high-definition, the first being WISC-TV
. On October 18, 2010, the station also began airing its flagship syndicated programs Jeopardy!
and Wheel of Fortune
in HD.
but continuing digitally on channel 19, appearing as virtual channel 15.1 through PSIP protocol
. Then in a final sign-off similar to early U.S. television broadcasts, a live camera shot of the U.S. and Wisconsin state flags aired as "The Star Spangled Banner", the U.S. national anthem, played in the background. The station then switched to the black-and-white Indian Head test pattern for one or two minutes before permanently switching off the analog signal.
Although the final analog-to-digital conversion date for U.S. television stations was extended to June 12, 2009, the station opted to switch on the original date of February 17 because it had been heavily promoting that conversion date on the air and through community outreach events in the Madison coverage area.
The station's channel 19 signal is also used by Chicago
's WGN-TV
and WXMI
in Grand Rapids, Michigan
, causing interference between it and those two stations in the easternmost portions of their coverage area, mainly in Walworth County
, which is just outside the Madison market (though WXMI's signal is limited by the Kettle Moraine
range west of Jefferson County).
Weather team
Sports team
Reporters
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 serving Madison, Wisconsin
Madison, Wisconsin
Madison is the capital of the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Dane County. It is also home to the University of Wisconsin–Madison....
. The station is owned and operated by Gray Television
Gray Television
Gray Television, Inc. is a communications company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, with administrative offices in Albany, Georgia.Established in 1946 by James H...
, and has its studio and transmitter located in Madison.
History
WMTV signed on the air in July 1953 on channel 33 and was an affiliate of 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...
, 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...
, and NBC. In 1956, WKOW-TV
WKOW-TV
WKOW is the ABC-affiliated television station for Madison, Wisconsin. The station broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 26 from a transmitter in the city's Middleton Junction section; the station is also available on Charter Cable systems in the Madison market...
, which had the 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...
affiliation, picked up the ABC affiliation from WMTV after losing CBS to then-new VHF
Very high frequency
Very high frequency is the radio frequency range from 30 MHz to 300 MHz. Frequencies immediately below VHF are denoted High frequency , and the next higher frequencies are known as Ultra high frequency...
station WISC-TV
WISC-TV
WISC-TV is the CBS affiliate television station for Madison, Wisconsin. The station is the flagship of Madison-based Morgan Murphy Media, and has been affiliated with CBS since its launch on June 24, 1956...
, thus resulting in WMTV becoming solely affiliated with NBC.
In 1960 WMTV switched channels from 33 to 15, where it remained until analog broadcasting ceased just before midnight on February 17, 2009. The station's over-the-air broadcasts are now on digital channel 19, though it is found through PSIP protocol on virtual channels 15.1 (NBC) and 15.2 (The AccuWeather Channel).
On October 16, 2010, WMTV became the second commercial TV station in Madison to produce all of its newscasts in high-definition, the first being WISC-TV
WISC-TV
WISC-TV is the CBS affiliate television station for Madison, Wisconsin. The station is the flagship of Madison-based Morgan Murphy Media, and has been affiliated with CBS since its launch on June 24, 1956...
. On October 18, 2010, the station also began airing its flagship syndicated programs Jeopardy!
Jeopardy!
Griffin's first conception of the game used a board comprising ten categories with ten clues each, but after finding that this board could not be shown on camera easily, he reduced it to two rounds of thirty clues each, with five clues in each of six categories...
and Wheel of Fortune
Wheel of Fortune (U.S. game show)
Wheel of Fortune is an American television game show created by Merv Griffin, which premiered in 1975. Contestants compete to solve word puzzles, similar to those used in Hangman, to win cash and prizes determined by spinning a large wheel. The title refers to the show's giant carnival wheel that...
in HD.
Analog-to-digital conversion
WMTV ceased analog broadcasting just before midnight on February 17, 2009. A title slide of the station ID and slogan was aired with an announcer indicating the station was permanently ceasing analog broadcasting to southern WisconsinWisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
but continuing digitally on channel 19, appearing as virtual channel 15.1 through PSIP protocol
Program and System Information Protocol
The Program and System Information Protocol is the protocol used in the ATSC digital television system for carrying metadata about each channel in the broadcast MPEG transport stream of a TV station and for publishing information about television programs so that viewers can select what to watch...
. Then in a final sign-off similar to early U.S. television broadcasts, a live camera shot of the U.S. and Wisconsin state flags aired as "The Star Spangled Banner", the U.S. national anthem, played in the background. The station then switched to the black-and-white Indian Head test pattern for one or two minutes before permanently switching off the analog signal.
Although the final analog-to-digital conversion date for U.S. television stations was extended to June 12, 2009, the station opted to switch on the original date of February 17 because it had been heavily promoting that conversion date on the air and through community outreach events in the Madison coverage area.
The station's channel 19 signal is also used by Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
's WGN-TV
WGN-TV
WGN-TV, virtual channel 9 , is the CW-affiliated television station in Chicago, Illinois built, signed on, and owned by the Tribune Company. WGN-TV's studios and offices are located at 2501 W...
and WXMI
WXMI
WXMI channel 17 is a Fox-affiliated television station in Grand Rapids, Michigan, owned by the Tribune Company. WXMI's studio and office facility is located in Grand Rapids and its transmitter is based southwest of Middleville, Michigan...
in Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located on the Grand River about 40 miles east of Lake Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 188,040. In 2010, the Grand Rapids metropolitan area had a population of 774,160 and a combined statistical area, Grand...
, causing interference between it and those two stations in the easternmost portions of their coverage area, mainly in Walworth County
Walworth County, Wisconsin
Walworth County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2010, the population was 102,228. Its county seat is Elkhorn.-Geography:According to the U.S...
, which is just outside the Madison market (though WXMI's signal is limited by the Kettle Moraine
Kettle Moraine
Kettle Moraine is a large moraine in the state of Wisconsin stretching from Walworth County in the south to Kewaunee County in the north. It has also been referred to as the Kettle Range and, in geological texts, as the Kettle Interlobate Moraine....
range west of Jefferson County).
Newscast titles
- WMTV News (1953-1975)
- WMTV News and Sports Service (1975-1981)
- NewsScene 15 (1981-1990)
- 15 News (1990-1998)
- NBC 15 News (1998-present)
Station slogans
- It's Happening on WMTV (1970-1972)
- Come and See WMTV (1973-1974)
- WMTV, Proud As a Peacock (1979-1981; localized version of NBC ad campaign)
- WMTV, Our Pride is Showing (1981-1982; localized version of NBC ad campaign)
- We're WMTV, Just Watch Us Now (1982-1983; localized version of NBC ad campaign)
- WMTV There, Be There (1983-1984; localized version of NBC ad campaign)
- WMTV, Let's All Be There (1984-1986; localized version of NBC ad campaign)
- Come Home To The Best, WMTV (1988-1990; localized version of NBC ad campaign)
- WMTV, is The Place to Be (1990-1991; localized version of NBC ad campaign)
- Coverage You Can Count On (1999-present)
Current on-air staff
Anchors- Christine Bellport - weekday mornings (5-7 a.m.)
- Tim Elliot - 11 a.m. and morning reporter
- Leigh Mills - weeknights at 5, 6 and 10 p.m.
- Barclay Pollak - weekend mornings and weekday reporter
- John Stofflet - weeknights at 6 and 10 p.m.
- Carleen Wild - weekdays at 11 a.m, 4 and 5 p.m.
- Chris Woodard - Weekend evenings and weekday reporter
Weather team
- David George - Meteorologist; weeknights at 4, 5, 6 and 10 p.m.
- Amy Carlson - Meteorologist; weekend mornings
- Chuck Koch - Meteorologist; weekend evenings and 11a.m.
- Charlie Shortino - Meteorologist; weekday mornings (5-7 a.m.) and 11 a.m.
Sports team
- Robb Vogel - Sports Director; weeknights at 6 and 10 p.m.
- David Kmiecik - Sports Anchor; weekend & evenings
- Lee Descharles
Reporters
- Rachelle Baillon - general assignment reporter
- Carson Krislov - general assignment reporter
- Phil Levin- general assinment reporter
- Pam Tauchser-momseveryday.com reporter
- Zac Schultz - general assignment reporter