WNDU-TV
Encyclopedia
WNDU-TV is a television
station in South Bend, Indiana
. The station is an affiliate of the NBC
television network
. Its transmitter is located in South Bend. WNDU-TV broadcasts in HDTV on Channel 42, additionally simulcasting a local Doppler radar image. Syndicated programming on the station includes: Live with Regis and Kelly
, Ellen
, Rachael Ray
, and AgDay
.
WNDU-TV's broadcasts has been digital-only since 11:59pm February 16, 2009.
through a subsidiary, Michiana Television Corporation. In 1957, to much fanfare, WNDU-TV moved to analog Channel 16.
An NBC affiliate from the very beginning, WNDU-TV's early broadcast schedule included programs like Romper Room
, and the first local telecast of a Notre Dame football game. WNDU aired the non-commercial Sesame Street
from 1970 to 1974 until PBS member station WNIT came on air.
From 1967 to 1986, WNDU aired Beyond Our Control, a locally-produced sketch comedy program, which was presented as part of the station's involvement in the Junior Achievement
program.
WNDU-TV used a helicopter for its news broadcasts from 1980s until 2006.
Due to an increased focus on news, WNDU-TV stopped airing Saturday morning cartoons in 1994 to make room for a three-hour newscast. However, WNDU currently airs NBC's qubo
programming block for three of the four hours on Saturday with the final hour airing on Sunday mornings at 7am due to E/I
requirements.
On March 5, 2006, the University of Notre Dame sold the station to Gray Television
for $85 million cash, which the university is planning to put into an endowment fund.
On Tuesday, April 21, 2010, starting with its noon newscast, WNDU became the second station in South Bend (behind WSBT) to broadcast local news in high definition.
(for content offensive to the religious values of the university) and the American version of the British
sitcom Coupling
(for sexual content concerns). The latter series instead aired on WSBT-DT2
, then South Bend's UPN
affiliate after the end of the UPN schedule on Thursday night.
The station also aired the Notre Dame commencement address of President Barack Obama
in full on May 17, 2009, in lieu of the first half of an NHL playoff game.
Anchors
StormTeam 16
Sports Team
Reporters
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
station in South Bend, Indiana
South Bend, Indiana
The city of South Bend is the county seat of St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States, on the St. Joseph River near its southernmost bend, from which it derives its name. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total of 101,168 residents; its Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 316,663...
. The station is an affiliate of 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...
television network
Television network
A television network is a telecommunications network for distribution of television program content, whereby a central operation provides programming to many television stations or pay TV providers. Until the mid-1980s, television programming in most countries of the world was dominated by a small...
. Its transmitter is located in South Bend. WNDU-TV broadcasts in HDTV on Channel 42, additionally simulcasting a local Doppler radar image. Syndicated programming on the station includes: Live with Regis and Kelly
Live with Regis and Kelly
Live! with Kelly is a syndicated American television morning talk show, hosted by Kelly Ripa. The show has aired since 1983 in New York City and 1988 nationwide. Tony Pigg has been the show's announcer since its inception...
, Ellen
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
The Ellen DeGeneres Show, often shortened to Ellen, is an American television talk show hosted by comedian/actress Ellen DeGeneres. Debuting on September 8, 2003, it is produced by Telepictures and airs in syndication, including stations owned by NBC Universal. For its first five seasons, the show...
, Rachael Ray
Rachael Ray (TV series)
Rachael Ray, also known as The Rachael Ray Show, is a talk show starring Rachael Ray that debuted in syndication in the United States and Canada on September 18, 2006....
, and AgDay
AgDay
AgDay is a syndicated daily half-hour television program presented in magazine format focusing on agriculture news, agribusiness, and country living. It generally airs in early morning timeslots on stations throughout the country and also airs weekday mornings on the digital cable and satellite...
.
WNDU-TV's broadcasts has been digital-only since 11:59pm February 16, 2009.
History
WNDU-TV went on the air on July 15, 1955 on Channel 46. It was owned by the University of Notre DameUniversity of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
through a subsidiary, Michiana Television Corporation. In 1957, to much fanfare, WNDU-TV moved to analog Channel 16.
An NBC affiliate from the very beginning, WNDU-TV's early broadcast schedule included programs like Romper Room
Romper Room
Romper Room is a children's television series that ran in the United States from 1953 to 1994 as well as at various times in Australia, Canada, Japan, Puerto Rico, New Zealand and the United Kingdom...
, and the first local telecast of a Notre Dame football game. WNDU aired the non-commercial Sesame Street
Sesame Street
Sesame Street has undergone significant changes in its history. According to writer Michael Davis, by the mid-1970s the show had become "an American institution". The cast and crew expanded during this time, including the hiring of women in the crew and additional minorities in the cast. The...
from 1970 to 1974 until PBS member station WNIT came on air.
From 1967 to 1986, WNDU aired Beyond Our Control, a locally-produced sketch comedy program, which was presented as part of the station's involvement in the Junior Achievement
Junior Achievement
Junior Achievement or JA or JA Worldwide is a non-profit youth organization that was founded in 1919 by Horace A. Moses, Theodore Vail, and senator Winthrop M. Crane. JA focuses on educating kids in K-12 about the free enterprise system...
program.
WNDU-TV used a helicopter for its news broadcasts from 1980s until 2006.
Due to an increased focus on news, WNDU-TV stopped airing Saturday morning cartoons in 1994 to make room for a three-hour newscast. However, WNDU currently airs NBC's qubo
Qubo
Qubo is a multi-platform children's television specialty channel endeavor operated as a joint venture between ION Media Networks, NBCUniversal, Nelvana, Scholastic Corporation, and Classic Media...
programming block for three of the four hours on Saturday with the final hour airing on Sunday mornings at 7am due to E/I
E/I
E/I, which stands for "educational and informative," refers to a type of children's television programming shown in the United States. The Federal Communications Commission requires that every full-service Terrestrial television station in the U.S. show at least three hours of these television...
requirements.
On March 5, 2006, the University of Notre Dame sold the station to 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...
for $85 million cash, which the university is planning to put into an endowment fund.
On Tuesday, April 21, 2010, starting with its noon newscast, WNDU became the second station in South Bend (behind WSBT) to broadcast local news in high definition.
Controversy
Under Notre Dame's ownership, WNDU opted not to air some NBC shows out of concerns over their content; such shows included the animated series God, the Devil and BobGod, the Devil and Bob
God, the Devil and Bob is an animated sitcom which premiered on NBC on March 9, 2000 and ended on March 28, 2000, leaving nine episodes unaired. It was created by Matthew Carlson. It is currently broadcast on the Philippine channel Maxxx. The entire series was released on Region 1 DVD in the...
(for content offensive to the religious values of the university) and the American version of the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
sitcom Coupling
Coupling (UK TV series)
Coupling is a British television sitcom written by Steven Moffat that aired on BBC2 from May 2000 to June 2004. Produced by Hartswood Films for the BBC, the show centres on the dating and sexual adventures and mishaps of six friends in their thirties, often depicting the three women and the three...
(for sexual content concerns). The latter series instead aired on WSBT-DT2
WSBT-TV
WSBT-TV, channel 22 is a television station in South Bend, Indiana. WSBT is the flagship television station of Schurz Communications, and is an affiliate of the CBS television network. It's studios are located in Mishawaka. Its transmitter is located in South Bend.-Early broadcasting:WSBT-TV first...
, then South Bend's UPN
UPN
United Paramount Network was a television network that was broadcast in over 200 markets in the United States from 1995 to 2006. UPN was originally owned by Viacom/Paramount and Chris-Craft Industries, the former of which, through the Paramount Television Group, produced most of the network's...
affiliate after the end of the UPN schedule on Thursday night.
The station also aired the Notre Dame commencement address of President Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
in full on May 17, 2009, in lieu of the first half of an NHL playoff game.
News team
Many of the WNDU staff members perform double duties as anchors or news correspondents, but only the most significant roles are listed.Anchors
- Maureen McFadden - weeknights at 5:00 and 6:00 p.m.
- Terry McFadden - weeknights at 5:00, 6:00 and 11:00 p.m.
- Joel Schipper - weekend mornings, evenings (also reporter)
- Tricia Sloma - weekday mornings, noon (also reporter)
StormTeam 16
- Mike Hoffmann - (AMS Seal of Approval) - Chief Meteorologist; weeknights at 5:00, 6:00 and 11:00 p.m.
- Cindi Clawson - (AMS Seal of Approval) - Meteorologist; weekend evenings
- Gary Sieber - Weather Anchor; Saturday mornings
- Frank Waugh - (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) - Meteorologist
Sports Team
- Jeff Jeffers - "The Dean of Local Sports" - Sports Director; weeknights at 5:00, 6:00 and 11:00 p.m.
- Angelo DiCarlo - weekend evenings (also weekday reporter)
Reporters
- Brandon Lewis - General assignment reporter
- Kevin Lewis - General assignment reporter
- Nick McGurk - General assignment reporter
- Mark Peterson - General assignment reporter
- Katherine Rufener - General assignment reporter
- Stephanie Stang - General assignment reporter
Former on-air staff
- Dick Addis (weathercaster; died March 19, 2006)
- Gordy Young Weather Anchor; Weekday mornings and noon (also weekday morning and noon news anchor) (1994–2010) (retired)
- Jim McAteer (weekend sports anchor)
- Robert Borelli (reporter/anchor)
- Mike Collins (main anchor, went to competitor WSBT-TVWSBT-TVWSBT-TV, channel 22 is a television station in South Bend, Indiana. WSBT is the flagship television station of Schurz Communications, and is an affiliate of the CBS television network. It's studios are located in Mishawaka. Its transmitter is located in South Bend.-Early broadcasting:WSBT-TV first...
)(now retired) - Bonnie Druker (reporter) (went to WISH-TVWISH-TVWISH-TV, virtual channel 8, is the CBS-affiliated television station for Central Indiana licensed to Indianapolis. Owned by the LIN TV Corporation, WISH-TV is part of a duopoly with MyNetworkTV affiliate WNDY-TV and the two share studios on North Meridian Street at the north end of Indianapolis'...
Indianapolis) - Erin Logan - anchor/reporter (2007–2010) (terminated for personal incident)
- Dawn Meyer (5PM anchor, now retired)
- Tracie Strahan (reporter and producer) (now at reporter WNBC-TV)
- Jennie Runevich (reporter,weekend anchor) (now a reporter/weekend anchor at WTHRWTHRWTHR, channel 13, is a full-service television station serving the Indianapolis, Indiana metropolitan area. An affiliate of the NBC television network, its studios at 1000 N. Meridian Street anchor the south end of Indy's Television Row...
Indianapolis) - Jack Nolan (sports anchor) (Now at Notre Dame)
- Jen Strathman (reporter) (now at KSHB-TVKSHB-TVKSHB-TV, virtual channel 41, is the NBC-affiliated television station serving the entire Kansas City metropolitan area; the station is commonly known by its branding NBC Action News. It is owned by the E.W. Scripps Company, alongside independent station KMCI as the company's only existing duopoly...
) - Kimberly Torres (reporter)
- Alana Greenfogel (reporter) (2007–2010) (now at KOAT-TVKOAT-TVKOAT-TV, channel 7, is an ABC network affiliated television station serving Albuquerque, New Mexico. Its transmitter is located on Sandia Crest, northeast of Albuquerque. Syndicated programming on KOAT includes: Entertainment Tonight, Ellen, The Dr...
Albuquerque) - Anqunette Jamison (reporter) (now at WJBK-TV)
- Cathy Ray (anchor/reporter) (last at KTNV-TV)
- Janelle Hall (Reporter) (now at WTAE-TVWTAE-TVWTAE-TV is the ABC affiliated television station for Western Pennsylvania that is licensed to Pittsburgh, broadcasting on UHF channel 51 and identifying via PSIP as channel 4 . It also serves as an ABC affiliate for the Wheeling/Steubenville and Clarksburg/Weston, West Virginia market areas...
) - Virginia Johnson (weekend anchor)
- Michelle Relerford (weekend anchor/reporter) (now reporter at WHDH-TVWHDH-TVWHDH, digital channel 42 , is an NBC-affiliated television station in Boston, Massachusetts. It is the largest NBC station not owned by the network. Owned by Sunbeam Television, WHDH is a sister station to CW affiliate WLVI...
) - Hannah StormHannah StormHannah Storm is an American television sports journalist, serving as co-anchor of ESPN's SportsCenter Monday–Thursday mornings, and is also host of the NBA Countdown pregame show on ABC as part of the network's NBA Sunday game coverage.-Early life and career:Storm was born in Oak Park, Illinois,...
(?) (last anchor of The Early ShowThe Early ShowThe Early Show is an American television morning news talk show broadcast by CBS from New York City. The program airs live from 7 to 9 a.m. Eastern Time Monday through Friday; most affiliates in the Central, Mountain, and Pacific time zones air the show on tape-delay from 7 to 9 a.m. local time. ...
on CBSCBSCBS 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...
, now with SportsCenterSportsCenterSportsCenter is a daily sports news television show, and the flagship program of American cable network ESPN since the network launched on September 7, 1979. Originally broadcast only daily, SportsCenter is now shown up to twelve times a day, replaying the day's scores and highlights from major...
on ESPNESPNEntertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
) - Jay Hermizinski (weekend anchor)(now at WISH-TVWISH-TVWISH-TV, virtual channel 8, is the CBS-affiliated television station for Central Indiana licensed to Indianapolis. Owned by the LIN TV Corporation, WISH-TV is part of a duopoly with MyNetworkTV affiliate WNDY-TV and the two share studios on North Meridian Street at the north end of Indianapolis'...
Indianapolis) - Marcie Kobriger (reporter/anchor) (2006–2008) (now at WBAY-TVWBAY-TVWBAY-TV is the ABC television affiliate in Green Bay, Wisconsin, broadcasting on UHF digital channel 23 from a transmitter located in the town of Ledgeview, Wisconsin, and master control based in its building in downtown Green Bay...
Green Bay) - Sarah Platt (reporter/weekend anchor) (2006–2009) (now at WITI-TV Milwaukee)
- Tom RandlesTom RandlesTom Randles is a former football player who represented New Zealand at international level.Randles played four official full internationals for New Zealand in March 1973, making his debut in a 1-1 draw with Indonesia on 11 March, playing games against Iraq and Australia before gaining his final...
(news photographer/editor) (now news anchor at WSMV-TVWSMV-TVWSMV-TV, virtual channel 4, is the NBC-affiliated television station serving the Nashville, Tennessee area. It broadcasts its digital signal on VHF channel 10. Owned by Meredith Corporation, its transmitter and tower are located adjacent to its studios on Knob Road in west Nashville, south of...
Nashville) - Judi Lykowski (night side weekday reporter 2002-2006)(now TV broadcasting teacher/adjunct prof.)
- Lisa Green (weather intern) (now at KVLY-TVKVLY-TVKVLY-TV, is an NBC affiliated television station in Fargo, North Dakota, USA, serving Eastern North Dakota and Northwestern Minnesota. It broadcasts on ATSC channel 44, which redirects to former NTSC channel 11 via PSIP. In addition to its main studio in Fargo, it operates a satellite studio in...
) - Claudine WongClaudine WongClaudine Wong is a news reporter who currently reports for KTVU, the San Francisco Bay Area's FOX affiliate. She is a regular reporter and fill-in anchor for "KTVU Channel 2 Morning News," "Mornings On 2," and the "KTVU Channel 2 News at Noon."...
(reporter, weekend anchor) - Tiffany Tucker (reporter) (now at KTVU-TV)
- Mike Jacobson (reporter-2000-2002)
- Rod Johnson-(reporter 1968-1974)
- Ryan Famuliner - reporter / anchor (now Asst. News Director KBIA-FM, Adjunct faculty at University of Missouri School of Journalism)
Newscast titles
- Your Esso Reporter (1955–1962)
- Television 16 Reports (1962–1968)
- Television 16 News (1968–1977)
- NewsCenter 16 (1977–present)
Station slogans
- Channel 16, Proud as a Peacock! (1980–1981; localized version of NBC ad campaign)
- Your 24-Hour News Source (1991–1994)
- Coverage You Can Count On (1994–2007)
- Your Severe Weather Station (2007–present)