WSAW-TV
Encyclopedia
WSAW-TV is a CBS
affiliate television station licensed to Wausau, Wisconsin
and serving central and north central Wisconsin
, United States
. The station is owned by Gray Television
and operates from studios at 1114 Grand Avenue in Wausau, and from a transmitter located on the summit of Rib Mountain
in the Marathon County
township of Rib Mountain (44° 55' 14.00" N, 89° 41' 28.00" W). The station also operates two translator stations in Sayner, Wisconsin
, near the Eagle River
area of far Northern Wisconsin (analog signal W57AR, channel 57, and digital signal W42DH-D, channel 42).
. It was originally owned by a consortium of north-central Wisconsin newspapers that included the Wausau Daily Tribune-Herald, owner of WSAU-AM-FM.
Channel 7 originally operated from the Plumer Mansion, a Richardsonian Romanesque-style
building that was located on N. 5th St in Wausau and torn down in 1972, one year after the station moved to its current home. The Plumer Mansion's castle-like exterior and a suit of armor displayed in the mansion inspired the station's graphic designer, Sid Kyler, to design a medieval-style "7" logo along with an accompanying cartoon mascot, the fully armored knight "Sir Seven." The logo and mascot served as representations of the station for several decades.
Sometime in the 1960s, the station's original owners sold it to Forward Communications. Forward sold off channel 7 in 1981, and it adopted its current calls, WSAW-TV. By the late 1980s, WSAW's logo would change to a square-style "7", which would be replaced by a stylized version of the circle 7 logo in 2006.
WSAW-TV has been affiliated with CBS
since its beginning, although the station did have secondary affiliations with DuMont
(until that network expired in 1956), ABC
(until WAOW-TV
signed on in 1965), and NBC
(until WAEO
launched in 1966). In Fall 2006, WSAW-TV added MyNetworkTV
to digital subchannel 7.2 (subchannel 7.3 broadcasts "24/7 Weather").
On April 2, 2011, WSAW NewsChannel 7 became the first station in northcentral Wisconsin to broadcast local news in high definition from the studio and in the field. The market's first HD signal live from the field, was fed via satellite from Stratford, Wisconsin during Meteorologist Chad Franzen's Noon Show weather report. With the switch to HD came and revamp of their news set and new graphics. Along with the switch, "Sir Seven" returned, still true to the original in the 1950s, now in 3D/HD.
Reporters
Storm Team 7
Sports Team
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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 television station licensed to Wausau, Wisconsin
Wausau, Wisconsin
Wausau is a city in and the county seat of Marathon County, Wisconsin, United States. The Wisconsin River divides the city. The city is adjacent to the town of Wausau.According to the 2000 census, Wausau had a population of 38,426 people...
and serving central and north central Wisconsin
Wisconsin
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...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The station is owned 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 operates from studios at 1114 Grand Avenue in Wausau, and from a transmitter located on the summit of Rib Mountain
Rib Mountain
Rib Mountain is a glacially-eroded monadnock in central Wisconsin, located in the Town of Rib Mountain in Marathon County...
in the Marathon County
Marathon County, Wisconsin
Marathon County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. It is part of the Wausau, WI, Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010, the population was 134,063. Its county seat is Wausau.-Geography:...
township of Rib Mountain (44° 55' 14.00" N, 89° 41' 28.00" W). The station also operates two translator stations in Sayner, Wisconsin
Sayner, Wisconsin
Sayner is an unincorporated census-designated place in the town of Plum Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin. It is located at the intersection of Highway 155 and County N, about 15 miles northwest of Eagle River. As of the 2010 census, its population is 207...
, near the Eagle River
Eagle River, Wisconsin
Eagle River is a city in Vilas County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,443 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Vilas County. The city is known for being a popular "Northwoods" vacation town...
area of far Northern Wisconsin (analog signal W57AR, channel 57, and digital signal W42DH-D, channel 42).
History
The station launched on October 23, 1954 as WSAU-TV, a sister station to WSAU radio (AM 550 and the original WSAU-FM at 95.5, now WIFCWIFC
WIFC is a Top 40 radio station located in Wausau, Wisconsin. The station is owned and operated locally by Midwest Communications, previously owned by [Journal Communications], Dave Raven and originally owned by Forward Communications, where the call letters were taken .Formerly WSAU-FM WIFC...
. It was originally owned by a consortium of north-central Wisconsin newspapers that included the Wausau Daily Tribune-Herald, owner of WSAU-AM-FM.
Channel 7 originally operated from the Plumer Mansion, a Richardsonian Romanesque-style
Richardsonian Romanesque
Richardsonian Romanesque is a style of Romanesque Revival architecture named after architect Henry Hobson Richardson, whose masterpiece is Trinity Church, Boston , designated a National Historic Landmark...
building that was located on N. 5th St in Wausau and torn down in 1972, one year after the station moved to its current home. The Plumer Mansion's castle-like exterior and a suit of armor displayed in the mansion inspired the station's graphic designer, Sid Kyler, to design a medieval-style "7" logo along with an accompanying cartoon mascot, the fully armored knight "Sir Seven." The logo and mascot served as representations of the station for several decades.
Sometime in the 1960s, the station's original owners sold it to Forward Communications. Forward sold off channel 7 in 1981, and it adopted its current calls, WSAW-TV. By the late 1980s, WSAW's logo would change to a square-style "7", which would be replaced by a stylized version of the circle 7 logo in 2006.
WSAW-TV has been affiliated with 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...
since its beginning, although the station did have secondary affiliations with 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...
(until that network expired in 1956), 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...
(until WAOW-TV
WAOW-TV
WAOW is the ABC-affiliated television station for North Central Wisconsin's Northern Highland area licensed to Wausau. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on VHF channel 9 from a transmitter on Rib Mountain. The station can also be seen on Charter channel 6 and in high definition on...
signed on in 1965), and 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...
(until WAEO
WJFW-TV
WJFW-TV is the NBC-affiliated television station for North Central Wisconsin's Northern Highland area licensed to Rhinelander. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 16 from a transmitter east of the city in unincorporated Oneida County. The station can also be seen on...
launched in 1966). In Fall 2006, WSAW-TV added MyNetworkTV
MyNetworkTV
MyNetworkTV is a television broadcast syndication service in the United States, owned by the Fox Entertainment Group, a division of News Corporation...
to digital subchannel 7.2 (subchannel 7.3 broadcasts "24/7 Weather").
On April 2, 2011, WSAW NewsChannel 7 became the first station in northcentral Wisconsin to broadcast local news in high definition from the studio and in the field. The market's first HD signal live from the field, was fed via satellite from Stratford, Wisconsin during Meteorologist Chad Franzen's Noon Show weather report. With the switch to HD came and revamp of their news set and new graphics. Along with the switch, "Sir Seven" returned, still true to the original in the 1950s, now in 3D/HD.
Digital television
WSAW-TV's broadcasts have been digital-only since before midnight on February 16, 2009, when the analog signoff featured a "good night" from Sir Seven.Current on-air staff
Anchors- Mikel Lauber - weeknights at 5PM and 6PM, also News Director
- Vickie Mrotek - weeknights at 5PM and 6PM, also reporter (Married to Erik Mrotek)
- Liz Hayes - weeknights at 10PM, also reporter and producer
- Erik Mrotek - weeknights at 10PM, also reporter. (Married to Vickie Mrotek)
- Amy Pflugshaupt - weekday mornings anchor "Sunrise 7" and also at Noon
- Jeff Thelen - weekday mornings anchor "Sunrise 7" also morning news director
- Jennifer Kliese - Saturdays at 6, Sundays at 5:30 and weekends at 10PM, also reporter and producer
- Diana Normand - Sunday mornings anchor, also video journalist
Reporters
- Madeline Anderson - video journalist
- Brigette Burnett - video journalist
- John DesRivieres - video journalist, also Chief Photographer
- Al Knox - video journalist
- Leah - Kraus - video journalist
- Heather Poltrock - web/social media specialist
- Ryan Wing - video journalist, also sports fill-in
- Bao Vang - video journalist
Storm Team 7
- Mike Breunling -(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...
Seal of Approval) - Chief Meteorologist; weeknights at 5, 6 and 10PM - Jeremy Tabin - (AMSAMS-Companies:*AMS *Auxiliary Medical Services* Austria Mikro Systeme, the old name of austriamicrosystems*American Management Systems*AMS Pictures*Arbiter Modeling Systems Pty Ltd, Melbourne, Australia*Association of Muslim Schools...
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; Saturdays at 6, Sundays at 7, 5:30 and weekends at 10PM - Chad Franzen -(AMSAMS-Companies:*AMS *Auxiliary Medical Services* Austria Mikro Systeme, the old name of austriamicrosystems*American Management Systems*AMS Pictures*Arbiter Modeling Systems Pty Ltd, Melbourne, Australia*Association of Muslim Schools...
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 NewsChannel 7 at Noon and fill-in; WebMaster for WSAW-TV - Sam Ryan - Meteorologist; weekday mornings on "Sunrise 7"
Sports Team
- Dale Ryman - Sports Director; weeknights at 6 and 10PM
- Eric Rajala - Weekend sports anchor and reporter. Saturday at 6, Sundays at 5:30 and weekends at 10PM
Newscast titles
- Channel 7 Reports (1960s-1970s)
- News 7 (1980s-early 1990s,) (2011–present)
- 7 News
- NewsChannel 7 (early 1990s-2011)
Station slogans
- Putting You First is What Keeps Us First (late 1970s-early 1980s)
- Local News, Local People (early 1990s-1996)
- On Your Side (1996–2011)
- 7 You Know, 7 You Trust (2011–present)
External links
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