WTVQ-TV

Infobox_Broadcast
call_letters = WTVQ-TV
city =
station_
station_slogan = Deticated, Determined, Dependable| station_branding = WTVQ 36 (General) = WTVQ 36 News(Newscasts)
analog = 36 (UHF)
digital = 40 (UHF)
other_chs =
affiliations = ABC
network =
founded =
airdate = June 2, 1968
location = Lexington, Kentucky
callsign_meaning = We Tell Viewers Quicker
former_callsigns = WBLG-TV (1968-1974)
former_channel_numbers = 62 (1968-1980)
owner = Morris Multimedia, Inc.
licensee = WTVQ-TV, Inc.
sister_stations =
former_affiliations =
effective_radiated_power = 2240 kW (analog)
370 kW (digital)
HAAT = 305 m (analog)
286 m (digital)
class =
facility_id = 51597
coordinates = coord|38|2|2.8|N|84|23|37.6|W|type:landmark_scale:2000
homepage = [http://www.wtvq.com/ www.WTVQ.com]

WTVQ-TV 36 is the ABC affiliate in Lexington, Kentucky, serving the East Central Kentucky region.

History

WTVQ signed on as WBLG-TV on June 2, 1968 on channel 62, at the time one of the highest full-power television channels assigned in the country, from studios and transmitter facilities on Man O' War Boulevard (formerly Bryant Road). WBLG-TV was founded by Lexington area businessman Roy White, owner of Starr Broadcasting (which also owned WBLG radio in Lexington and WTPA-TV in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania), and was the third commercial television station to begin broadcasting in Lexington. Since the first day of operation, the station has been the ABC affiliate for Central Kentucky, replacing WKYT, which continues to this day as the CBS affiliate. In 1974, the station changed its call letters from WBLG-TV to WTVQ-TV, after Starr sold off WBLG radio.

In 1978, Shamrock Broadcasting, Inc. purchased WTVQ-TV from White. In 1980, Shamrock installed a new 1.5 million-watt transmitter and moved WTVQ-TV from channel 62 to channel 36. The station underwent a major renovation in 1985, which doubled the existing office space and created all new technical facilities. (Channel 62 is now the home of WBLU-LP.)

On January 30, 1992, Park Broadcasting purchased WTVQ-TV from Shamrock Broadcasting, Inc.

In July 1995, Park Communications, Inc. was sold to Gary B. Knapp and Donald R. Tomlin, Jr. under the name Park Acquisitions, Inc.

Media General purchased Park Acquisitions and its properties (including WTVQ) in January 1997.

On February 26, 2002, WTVQ became Central Kentucky 's first commercial television station to broadcast a digital television signal. WTVQ-DT, digital channel 40, officially hit the airwaves, broadcasting WTVQ's programming in crisp, clean digital television. Soon afterward, WTVQ-DT became Central Kentucky 's first commercial digital television channel to broadcast programming in High Definition TV. Now, WTVQ-DT offers the full line of HDTV programs available on the ABC television network.

On December 1, 2005, WTVQ launched its 24-hour weather channel on WTVQ-DT (36.2) and on Insight Cable in Lexington on digital channel 247.

On October 29, 2007, Media General announced that it was exploring the sale of WTVQ. [cite press release |title=Media General Exploring Sale of Five Television Stations |publisher=Media General |date=2007-10-29|url=http://www.mediageneral.com/press/2007/oct29_07.html |accessdate=2007-10-30] On Tuesday January 22, 2008, the "Lexington Herald-Leader" stated, "WTVQ SALE LIKELY SOON." [http://www.kentucky.com/179/story/293577.html] That headline was confirmed on March 7, 2008, when Media General announced it reached an agreement to sell WTVQ to Morris Multimedia for an undisclosed sales price. [cite press release |title=Media General Announces Sale of WTVQ-TV in Lexington, Ky., to Morris Network, Inc. |publisher=Media General |date=2008-03-07|url=http://www.mediageneral.com/press/2008/mar7_08.html |accessdate=2008-03-07] That price will likely be disclosed with either the FCC or SEC, though a media consulting analyst [http://www.kentucky.com/454/story/340715.html interviewed by the "Herald-Leader"] suggested the price would be in the $30-35 million range. The sale became final on May 13, 2008.

In June of 2008 Morris Network Inc. named Chris Aldridge as General Manager of WTVQ. Aldridge previously served as WTVQ General Manager from 1992-1999.

WTVQ has plans to launch their newscast in High Definition this November. They are also going to have a new set along with new graphics when this happens. WTVQ will be the last major network station in Lexington to switch over to Local HD programming.

Digital Television

The station's digital channel is multiplexed:

=Current News Personalities=

Anchors

*Don Hudson, Weekdays Anchor/Reporter (until October)
*Kristi Runyon, Mornings/Noon Anchor/Reporter
*Tom Kenny, Mornings/Noon Anchor/Reporter
*Carla Wade, Weekends Anchor/Reporter

Reporters

*Tony Hensley, General Assignment Reporter
*Michelle Rauch, General Assignment Reporter
*Cheryl Glassford, General Assignment Reporter
*Greg Stotelmyer', General Assignment Reporter
*Kellie Wilson, General Assignment Reporter
*Megan Skaggs, General Assignment Reporter
*Chris Dietz, General Assignment Reporter

Meteorologists

*Jon James, Chief Meteorologist
*Mary Wasson, Morning/Afternoon Meteorologist
*Justin Logan, Weekend Meteorologist
*Christie Dutton, Fill -In- Meteorologist

ports

*Kent Spencer,Sports Director/Reporter
*Dan Rieffer, Weekend Sports/Reporter

Past Station Logos

References

2. Media General (2008-01-22). "WTVQ Sale Likely Soon". [http://www.kentucky.com/179/story/293577.html] 3. Lexington Herald-Leader (2008-03-08). "Georgia media company buys Lexington's WTVQ". [http://www.kentucky.com/454/story/340715.html]

External links

* [http://www.wtvq.com/ WTVQ website]
*TVQ|WTVQ
*BIA|WTVQ|TV|TV