WRDW-TV
Encyclopedia
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 subchannel
s for MyNetworkTV
on channel 12.2 and The Country Network on channel 12.3. While the station is licensed to Augusta, its studio/office and transmitter facilities are located across the Savannah River
in South Carolina
, respectively in North Augusta
and Beech Island
.
WRDW-TV shares call letters with WRDW (AM)
in Augusta and WRDW-FM
in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
, both owned by Beasley Broadcast Group
and unrelated to the television station.
) along with the Augusta Chronicle
and the original WRDW radio (1480 AM). It has been Augusta's CBS affiliate for its entire history, owing to its radio sister's long affiliation with CBS radio. However, it shared ABC
with then-NBC
affiliate WJBF
(channel 6). On October 1, 1966, WJBF switched its primary affiliation to ABC, and began splitting NBC with WRDW-TV. This was unusual, but WJBF's namesake owner J.B. Fuqua wanted to get that station in line with two ABC affiliates he had just purchased, located in Evansville, Indiana
and Fargo, North Dakota
.
When WATU (channel 26, now WAGT
) appeared as the market's third station in late 1968, NBC allowed WRDW-TV and WJBF to keep their secondary NBC affiliations. This situation mostly shut WATU out of access to network programming, thereby forcing it to go dark in 1970. Channel 12 continued to split NBC with WJBF until WATU resumed broadcasting in 1974 with a primary NBC affiliation. At that time, channel 12 finally became a full-time CBS station.
In the mid-1960s, the Morris family sold WRDW-AM-TV to Rust Craft Broadcasting. WRDW radio was acquired by entertainer and Augusta native James Brown
in 1969 (it is now WGUS
); both stations were allowed to retain the WRDW call sign. Rust Craft's station group was acquired by Ziff Davis
in 1979. Channel 12 was sold along with then sister stations in Saginaw, Michigan
, Rochester, New York
, Chattanooga, Tennessee
and Steubenville, Ohio
to Television Station Partners in 1983. Television Station Partners sold off all of its stations in early January 1996, with WRDW going to Gray Communications Systems (now Gray Television).
enhanced definition widescreen
becoming the first area station to do so. With the upgrade came new HD-ready graphics. Although not truly high definition, broadcasts match the ratio of HD television screens.
On Monday, January 24, 2011, WRDW launched local newscasts in High Definition
with the midday newscast. It is the first station in the area to do so. With the launch came a brand new logo and brand new high definition graphics, similar in style to the previous 16:9
enhanced definition widescreen
graphics that debuted just 4 months before, but fully animated.
WRDW-TV had the longest-running news anchor team in the market with Richard Rogers and Laurie Ott seen weeknights at 6 and 11. The two were together on-air from the mid-1990s until September 2007 when Laurie Ott left to pursue other career opportunities. Unlike most CBS affiliates in the Eastern Time Zone
, WRDW does not offer news weeknights at 5:30.
Storm Team 12 Meteorologists
Sports (both seen on Operation Football Live)
Multimedia journalists
Contributors
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...
-affiliated television station located in 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...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. WRDW-TV is owned by Atlanta
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
-based 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 also provides 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...
s for MyNetworkTV
MyNetworkTV
MyNetworkTV is a television broadcast syndication service in the United States, owned by the Fox Entertainment Group, a division of News Corporation...
on channel 12.2 and The Country Network on channel 12.3. While the station is licensed to Augusta, its studio/office and transmitter facilities are located across the Savannah River
Savannah River
The Savannah River is a major river in the southeastern United States, forming most of the border between the states of South Carolina and Georgia. Two tributaries of the Savannah, the Tugaloo River and the Chattooga River, form the northernmost part of the border...
in 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...
, respectively in North Augusta
North Augusta, South Carolina
North Augusta is a city in Aiken County, South Carolina, United States, on the north bank of the Savannah River. The population was 21,348 at the 2010 census. The city is included in the Central Savannah River Area and is also part of the Augusta, Georgia metropolitan area.- History :North...
and Beech Island
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...
.
WRDW-TV shares call letters with WRDW (AM)
WRDW (AM)
WRDW is a radio station broadcasting a Talk radio format. Licensed to Augusta, Georgia, USA, the station is owned by Beasley Broadcast Group....
in Augusta and WRDW-FM
WRDW-FM
WRDW-FM, also known as Wired 96.5, is a Philadelphia radio station owned by Beasley Broadcast Group that plays a Rhythmic Top 40 musical format. Although they lean towards R&B/Hip-Hop, Wired also adds Rhythmic Pop tracks to their playlist...
in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
, both owned by Beasley Broadcast Group
Beasley Broadcast Group
Beasley Broadcast Group, Inc. , based in Naples, Florida, is an owner/operator of radio stations in the United States. As of January 2011, the company owned 17 AM stations and 28 FM stations. -History:...
and unrelated to the television station.
Digital programming
The station's signal is multiplexed as follows:| Channel | Programming |
|---|---|
| 12.1 | main WRDW-TV programming/CBS HD |
| 12.2 | WRDW-DT2 "My 12" (MyNetworkTV MyNetworkTV MyNetworkTV is a television broadcast syndication service in the United States, owned by the Fox Entertainment Group, a division of News Corporation... ) |
| 12.3 | WRDW-DT3 The Country Network |
History
WRDW-TV commenced operations on February 14, 1954; it is the second-oldest television station in Augusta. It was originally owned by the Morris family (whose holdings eventually became Morris CommunicationsMorris Communications
Morris Communications of Augusta, Georgia is a privately held media company with diversified holdings that include newspaper and magazine publishing, outdoor advertising, radio broadcasting, book publishing and distribution, visitor publications and online services. Newspapers are the foundation...
) along with the Augusta Chronicle
Augusta Chronicle
The Augusta Chronicle is the major daily newspaper of Augusta, Georgia and is one of the oldest newspapers in the United States. The paper is known for its coverage of the Masters Tournament, which is played in Augusta. Among locals, the paper is commonly referred to as "The AC"-History:The paper...
and the original WRDW radio (1480 AM). It has been Augusta's CBS affiliate for its entire history, owing to its radio sister's long affiliation with CBS radio. However, it shared 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...
with then-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...
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...
(channel 6). On October 1, 1966, WJBF switched its primary affiliation to ABC, and began splitting NBC with WRDW-TV. This was unusual, but WJBF's namesake owner J.B. Fuqua wanted to get that station in line with two ABC affiliates he had just purchased, located in Evansville, Indiana
WTVW
Banam sold WTVW to Petracom Broadcasting in 1995. A 20-percent equity stake in Petracom was purchased by Fox soon afterward, eventually leading to a three-way affiliation swap in which WTVW ended its 39-year ABC affiliation and joined Fox on December 3, 1995, with ABC moving to former CBS...
and Fargo, North Dakota
KVLY-TV
KVLY-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...
.
When WATU (channel 26, 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,...
) appeared as the market's third station in late 1968, NBC allowed WRDW-TV and WJBF to keep their secondary NBC affiliations. This situation mostly shut WATU out of access to network programming, thereby forcing it to go dark in 1970. Channel 12 continued to split NBC with WJBF until WATU resumed broadcasting in 1974 with a primary NBC affiliation. At that time, channel 12 finally became a full-time CBS station.
In the mid-1960s, the Morris family sold WRDW-AM-TV to Rust Craft Broadcasting. WRDW radio was acquired by entertainer and Augusta native James Brown
James Brown
James Joseph Brown was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and recording artist. He is the originator of Funk and is recognized as a major figure in the 20th century popular music for both his vocals and dancing. He has been referred to as "The Godfather of Soul," "Mr...
in 1969 (it is now WGUS
WGUS (AM)
WGUS is a radio station broadcasting a Hispanic format, and was formerly a simulcast of WGUS-FM. Licensed to Augusta, Georgia, USA, the station is currently owned by Beasley Broadcast Group....
); both stations were allowed to retain the WRDW call sign. Rust Craft's station group was acquired by Ziff Davis
Ziff Davis
Ziff Davis Inc. is an American publisher and Internet company. It was founded in 1927 in Chicago by William B. Ziff, Sr. and Bernard G. Davis. Throughout most of its history, it was a publisher of hobbyist magazines, often ones devoted to expensive, advertiser-rich hobbies such as cars,...
in 1979. Channel 12 was sold along with then sister stations in Saginaw, Michigan
WEYI-TV
WEYI-TV is the NBC-affiliated television station for the Flint/Tri-Cities market that is licensed to Saginaw. The station broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 30 from a 193 kilowatt, high transmitter at its studios on West Willard Road in Vienna Township along the Genesee and...
, Rochester, New York
WROC-TV
WROC-TV, virtual channel 8, is a CBS affiliate based in Rochester, New York, USA, owned and operated by Nexstar Broadcasting Group. WROC-TV operates Fox affiliate WUHF through a shared services agreement. The two share studios on Humboldt Street in Rochester...
, Chattanooga, Tennessee
WRCB-TV
WRCB is an NBC affiliate television station based in Chattanooga, serving southeastern Tennessee, northwestern Georgia, northeastern Alabama, Southwestern North Carolina, and three Upstate South Carolina counties of Anderson, Oconee and Pickens...
and Steubenville, Ohio
WTOV-TV
WTOV-TV is the NBC-affiliated television station for the Ohio Valley that is licensed to Steubenville & Wheeling. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on VHF channel 9 from a transmitter in Mingo Junction, Ohio. Owned by Cox Enterprises, the station has studios in Steubenville. Syndicated...
to Television Station Partners in 1983. Television Station Partners sold off all of its stations in early January 1996, with WRDW going to Gray Communications Systems (now Gray Television).
Newscasts
The station's newscasts were updated in 2004 with new graphics from Cinemagic. A new state-of-the-art news set soon followed in early-2005 built by designer Gil Jiminez. On August 17, 2010, WRDW launched local newscasts in 16:916:9
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 ...
enhanced definition widescreen
Widescreen
Widescreen images are a variety of aspect ratios used in film, television and computer screens. In film, a widescreen film is any film image with a width-to-height aspect ratio greater than the standard 1.37:1 Academy aspect ratio provided by 35mm film....
becoming the first area station to do so. With the upgrade came new HD-ready graphics. Although not truly high definition, broadcasts match the ratio of HD television screens.
On Monday, January 24, 2011, WRDW launched local newscasts in 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...
with the midday newscast. It is the first station in the area to do so. With the launch came a brand new logo and brand new high definition graphics, similar in style to the previous 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 ...
enhanced definition widescreen
Widescreen
Widescreen images are a variety of aspect ratios used in film, television and computer screens. In film, a widescreen film is any film image with a width-to-height aspect ratio greater than the standard 1.37:1 Academy aspect ratio provided by 35mm film....
graphics that debuted just 4 months before, but fully animated.
WRDW-TV had the longest-running news anchor team in the market with Richard Rogers and Laurie Ott seen weeknights at 6 and 11. The two were together on-air from the mid-1990s until September 2007 when Laurie Ott left to pursue other career opportunities. Unlike most CBS affiliates in the Eastern Time Zone
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...
, WRDW does not offer news weeknights at 5:30.
Newscast titles
- 12 Country News (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...
(1974-1982) - Channel 12 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...
(1982-1992) - Channel 12 News
- 12 News (1992–1998)
- News 12 (1998-present)
Station slogans
- "Channel 12, the Color Station" (early-1970s)
- "Action News: Where the Action Is" (mid-1970s)
- "The Best is Here on Channel 12" (late-1970s)
- "Keep Your Eye on Eyewitness News" (early-1980s)
- "Where the News Comes First"/"Your 24-Hour News Source" (1992–1998)
- "Your News Station" (1998–2002)
- "On Your Side" (2002–present)
News team
Anchors- Richard Rogers - 6 and 11 o'clock Co-Anchor
- Meredith Anderson - 6 and 11 o'clock Co-Anchor
- Lynnsey Gardner - News 12 This Morning Anchor
- Tom Campbell - Midday Anchor
- Chris Thomas - First at Five Co-Anchor
- Katie Beasley - First at Five Co-Anchor
- Sheli Muniz - Weekend Anchor
Storm Team 12 Meteorologists
- Shane Butler (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,...
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...
Seal of Approval) - Chief seen weeknights - Bob Smith - Chief Emeritus
- Tim Strong - weekday mornings and noon
- Vicki Graf - weekends
Sports (both seen on Operation Football Live)
- Kevin Faigle - Director seen weeknights at 6 and 11
- Jake Young - weekends and sports reporter
Multimedia journalists
- Trishna Begam - Morning Reporter
- Katie Beasley - Columbia County Reporter
- Israel Butler - Web Reporter
- Carter Coyle
- Justin Fabiano
- Kristi Ludlow - Aiken County Reporter
- Chad Mills
- Sheli Muniz
- Liz Owens - On Your Side Reporter
- Chris Thomas - Richmond County Reporter
Contributors
- Kim Beavers - Eating Well With Kim
- Neil Gordon - Buzz on Biz
- Lee Miller - Time Saver Traffic
- Candye Smith - Give It 4Ward