KDKA-TV

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KDKA-TV is the CBS owned and operated (O&O) television station in Pittsburgh. It broadcasts its analog signal on VHF channel 2, and its digital signal on UHF channel 25 from its transmitter in Pittsburgh.

History

As WDTV

At the time, Pittsburgh was the sixth-largest market in the country (behind New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and Washington). However, WDTV's only competition came from UHF stations, as well as grade B signals from stations in Johnstown and Wheeling. In fact, no other commercial VHF stations signed on in Pittsburgh until 1957 (the only other VHF station in town was educational WQED-TV). At the time, UHF stations were unviewable without a very expensive converter. Even with a converter, the signals from these stations were barely viewable.

As a result, WDTV had a de facto monopoly on Pittsburgh television. Owning the only viewable station in such a large market gave DuMont considerable leverage in getting its programs cleared in large markets where it didn't have an affiliate. As CBS, NBC and ABC had secondary affiliations with WDTV, this was a strong incentive to stations in large markets to clear DuMont's programs or risk losing valuable advertising in the sixth-largest market. WDTV aired all DuMont network shows live, and cherry-picked the best shows from the other networks, airing them on kinescope on an every-other-week basis.

WDTV's sign-on was also significant because it was now possible to feed live programs from the East to the Midwest and vice versa. In fact, its second broadcast was the activation of the coaxial cable linking the two regions. It would be another two years before the West Coast received live programming, but this was the beginning of the modern era of network television.

By 1954, DuMont was in serious financial trouble. Paramount Pictures, which owned a stake in DuMont, vetoed a merger with ABC-who had merged with United Paramount Theaters, Paramount's former theater division, a year before. Since the FCC had ruled that Paramount controlled DuMont and there were still lingering questions about whether UPT had actually broken off from DuMont, Paramount didn't want to risk the FCC's wrath. Desperate for cash, DuMont was forced to sell WDTV to Westinghouse Electric Corporation for $9.75 million in late 1954. While the sale gave DuMont a short-term cash infusion, it eliminated DuMont's leverage in getting clearances in other major markets. Within two years, the DuMont network was no more.

After the sale closed in 1955, Westhinghouse changed WDTV's calls to KDKA-TV, after KDKA-AM 1020, the world's first licensed commercial radio station. It became a primary CBS affiliate, retaining secondary affiliations with NBC until 1957 (when WIIC-TV, now WPXI, signed on) and ABC until 1958 (when WTAE-TV signed on). It became the flagship station of Westinghouse's broadcasting arm, Group W.

(The WDTV calls now reside on a CBS affiliate in Weston, West Virginia, which is unrelated to the current KDKA-TV.)

As KDKA-TV

Starting in 1993, KDKA stopped running CBS This Morning and instead ran syndicated Disney cartoons. As such, Pittsburgh became the largest market with a network affiliate running cartoons during the week. It currently runs CBS' The Early Show instead of cartoons.

In 1994 Westinghouse made a deal with CBS to convert the entire Group W television unit -- which included KDKA, KYW-TV in Philadelphia, WBZ-TV in Boston, WJZ-TV in Baltimore and KPIX-TV in San Francisco -- to CBS affiliates. KDKA and KPIX were already CBS affiliates; while KYW and WBZ were NBC stations and WJZ was an ABC station. The conversion was complete by the fall of 1995. Starting in the fall of 1994, KDKA began to run the entire CBS lineup with no pre-emptions except for local news emergencies, as per Westinghouse's deal with CBS. However, in September 2006, KDKA-TV will begin airing the 10 AM feed of Guiding Light, with Dr. Phil airing at 3 PM. In early 1996, Westinghouse merged with CBS, making KDKA-TV a CBS O&O after four decades as being simply a CBS affiliate. Viacom merged with CBS in 2000, making KDKA a sister station with Pittsburgh UPN affiliate WNPA-TV (now WPCW). Ironically, in 1994 Viacom had bought Paramount, which figured so prominently in DuMont's collapse, and in fact had announced plans to launch UPN prior to being acquired by Viacom.

In 2001, KDKA began producing a 10 p.m. newscast on WPCW. In 2005, KDKA launched a two-hour morning newscast on WPCW, now known as UPN Pittsburgh.

Today, KDKA-TV is owned by CBS Television Stations, while KDKA Radio is owned by CBS Radio. Both companies are subsidiaries of the CBS Corporation.

KDKA-TV used the distinct "stylized 2" "Group W" font for its logo for some years after it became a CBS O&O, dropping it in 2003 in favor of a plainer "2." (See below.) Its radio sister still uses the Group W font.

KDKA is also available on cable in Johnstown, Altoona, and Wheeling.

\"CBS2\"?

Many Pittsburghers are upset that KDKA would even consider changing its on-air name to "CBS2" because of the KDKA call letters' 86-year history in Pittsburgh. Even though KDKA has long been with CBS, it is widely recognized that "KDKA" has more of a marketing advantage than "CBS2."

The switch has met with mixed results in other markets. WCBS-TV has been in last place in New York for most of the decade, and the change to "CBS 2" hasn't brought it any closer to its glory days in the 70s and 80s. WBZ-TV, one of NBC's strongest affiliates, plummeted after the switch to CBS, and hasn't had much better luck since it began calling itself "CBS4".

Then again, KYW-TV was NBC's lowest-rated major-market affiliate for over a decade and continued to struggle after joining CBS, but saw a ratings revival after it became "CBS3". Also, WBBM-TV struggled for much of the mid-1990s, even after becoming "CBS2", but has seen a ratings revival in recent years. KCBS-TV was an also-ran in Los Angeles for 30 years, even after calling itself "CBS2", but has recently leaped to first place in key news timeslots. KPIX-TV was rebranded as "CBS5" in 2005, but its newscasts remained among the highest-rated local newscasts for CBS stations. Only time will tell if KDKA will follow suit, but for now, the station will still be known on-air as "KDKA-TV" or "KDKA-TV 2".

Of note, there is one other CBS O&O broadcasting on channel 2 with a different branding than "CBS2", Utah's KUTV-which currently goes by the on-air name of "2News". WCCO-TV in Minneapolis uses its call letters as its main on-air name of "WCCO 4". And WJZ-TV in Baltimore also uses its calls as the on-air branding "WJZ 13."

Station trivia

• Pop singer Christina Aguilera made her first TV appearance on KDKA-TV.
• KDKA was also the home of early work by comedian and Pittsburgh native Dennis Miller, who in the early '80s hosted a local weekend entertainment show called Punchline that was produced by KDKA.
• KDKA is credited with the first "network" TV feed in world history.
• The station had the world's first father-daughter broadcast team. Beginning in the 1970s, KDKA's noon news broadcast was anchored by veteran Pittsburgh anchorman Bill Burns and his daughter Patti Burns, often referred to as the "Patti and Daddy show."
• The station is one of the few east of the Mississippi River (along with KYW, KQV, and KTGG) whose call letters begin with "K."
• KDKA is one of only four CBS O&O stations (in addition to KUTV in Salt Lake City, WCCO in Minneapolis and WJZ in Baltimore) that doesn't use the "CBS Mandate" for the on-air name (CBS [channel #] [city/market descriptor]).
• The station uses a variation of the "VIPIR" system for its radar.

Station Images

Newscasts

• KDKA-TV Morning News - 5:00-7:00 a.m.- Sonni Abatta and Keith Jones, AMS Meteorologist Rebecca Hower (maternity leave, Jon Burnett filling in), and Jim Lokay with traffic
• KDKA-TV News at Noon - 12:00-12:30 p.m.- Sonni Abatta and Stacy Smith, and AMS Meteorologist Rebecca Hower (maternity leave, Jon Burnett filling in).
• KDKA-TV News at 4 - 4:00-5:00 p.m.- Patrice King Brown and Stacy Smith and AMS Chief Meteorologoist Jeff Verszyla.
• KDKA-TV News at 5 - 5:00-6:00 p.m.- Ken Rice and Kristine Sorensen and AMS Chief Meteorologoist Jeff Verszyla.
• KDKA-TV News at 6 - 6:00-7:00 p.m.- Patrice King Brown and Stacy Smith, AMS Chief Meteorologoist Jeff Verszyla, and Bob Pompeani on sports
• KDKA-TV News at 11 - 11:00-11:35 p.m.- Patrice King Brown and Ken Rice, AMS Chief Meteorologoist Jeff Verszyla, and Bob Pompeani on sports

• KDKA-TV Saturday Morning - 6:00-8:00 a.m.- Paul Martino and Brenda Waters, and Jon Burnett with weather (AMS Meteorologist Dennis Bowman filling in)
• KDKA-TV News at 6 - 6:00-6:30 p.m.- Don Cannon, Jon Burnett with weather (AMS Meteorologist Dennis Bowman filling in) and Bob Pompeani, John Steigerwald, or Mike Zappone on sports
• ''KDKA-TV News - 7:00-7:30 p.m.- Don Cannon, Jon Burnett with weather (AMS Meteorologist Dennis Bowman filling in) and Bob Pompeani, John Steigerwald, or Mike Zappone on sports
• KDKA-TV News at 11 - 11:00-11:35 p.m.-Don Cannon, Jon Burnett with weather (AMS Meteorologist Dennis Bowman filling in) and Bob Pompeani, John Steigerwald, or Mike Zappone on sports

• KDKA-TV News - 6:30-7:00 p.m. - Don Cannon, Jon Burnett with weather (AMS Meteorologist Dennis Bowman filling in) and Bob Pompeani, John Steigerwald, or Mike Zappone on sports
• KDKA-TV News at 11 - 11:00-11:35 p.m.- Don Cannon, Jon Burnett with weather (AMS Meteorologist Dennis Bowman filling in) and Bob Pompeani, John Steigerwald, or Mike Zappone on sports

Current On-Air Personalities

• Patrice King Brown - KDKA-TV News at 4, 6 and 11
• Stacy Smith - KDKA-TV News at Noon, 4 and 6
• Ken Rice - KDKA-TV News at 5, 10 (on UPN Pittsburgh) and 11
• Kristine Sorensen - KDKA-TV News at 5 and Pittsburgh Today Live
• Sonni Abatta - KDKA-TV Morning News (from 5-7 on KDKA-TV, and from 7-9 on UPN Pittsburgh) and Noon.
• Keith Jones - KDKA-TV Morning News
• John Cater - KDKA-TV Morning News on UPN Pittsburgh and Reporter
• Don Cannon - KDKA-TV News at 6, 7 and 11 (Sat), 6:30 and 11 (Sun)
• Brenda Waters - KDKA-TV Saturday Morning, and Reporter
• Paul Martino - KDKA-TV Saturday Morning & KD Investigator

Weather:

• Jeff Verszyla (AMS Chief Meteorologist) Weekdays at 4,5,6,10 (on UPN Pittsburgh), and 11
• Rebecca Hower (AMS Meteorologist) KDKA-TV Morning News (from 5-7 a.m. and from 7-9 on UPN Pittsburgh, also on Pittsburgh Today Live from 10 a.m. - 11 a.m., and at noon.) Currently on materinty leave
• Jon Burnett (Weather Forecaster) Weekend Newscasts He is filling in for Rebecca Hower while she is on materinty leave
• Dennis Bowman Filling-in for Jon Burnett

• Bob Pompeani
• John Steigerwald

• Dr. Paul Nemiroff
• Dr. Maria Simbra

• Bob Allen
• Mary Berecky (Westmoreland County Bureau Chief)
• Dave Crawley (KD Country)
• Jon Delano (Money and Politics Editor)
• Marty Griffin (Investigator)
• Ross Guidotti (Butler/Beaver/Lawrence Bureau Chief)
• Harold Hayes
• Lynne Hayes-Freeland
• David Highfield
• Ralph Iannotti
• Mary Robb Jackson
• Jim Lokay (Traffic and Transportation Reporter)
• Alison Morris
• Andy Sheehan (Investigator)
• John Shumway
• Yvonne Zanos (Consumer Editor)

Former On-Air Personalities

• Jennifer Antkowiak (1993-2006) (anchor)
• Kelli Olexia (2001-2005) (anchor)
• Bruce Pompeani (1996-2005) (morning anchor)
• Susan Barnett (1999-2003) (anchor/reporter)
• Gabrielle DeRose (2001-2003) (weekend anchor/reporter)
• Wayne Van Dine (1978-2003) (reporter)
• Bob Kudzma (1968-2002) (meteorologist)
• Bill Flanagan (1982-2003) (business reporter)
• Larry Richert (1990-2001) (weather)
• Jacque Smith (1995-2000) (weekend anchor/reporter)
• Stu Emry (1989-1999) (reporter)
• Ray Tannehill (1976-1999) (anchor)
• Lynn Sawyer (1977-1999) (consumer reporter)
• Paul Steigerwald (1987-1998) (sports)
• Patti Burns (1974-1997) (reporter/anchor)
• C.S. Keys ( -1995) (weather)
• Al Julius (1973-1978; 1981-1991) (commentator)
• Ron Klink (1977-1991) (weekend anchor/reporter)
• John Sanders ( -1990) (sports)
• Bill Burns (1953-1989) (anchor)
• Alan Cutler (1984-1987) (sports)
• Dick Stockton (1967-1971) (sports)
• Marie Torre (1962-1977) (anchor/reporter)
• Eddie Alexander ( ) (sports)
• Bill Currie ( ) (sports)
• Steve Talbot ( ) (sports)
• Ken Meese ( ) (sports)

Local Programming

Past

• Evening Magazine
• Pittsburgh 2Day
• Punchline
• Wake Up With Larry Richert
• The Sunday Business Page

Present

• Pittsburgh TODAY Live, Hosted by Kristine Sorensen Weekdays 10-11 a.m.
• The Lynne Hayes-Freeland Show Early Sunday Morning
• Hometown High-Q Saturdays at 11& 11:30 a.m.
• The Sunday Business Page Sunday Morning
• KD/PG Sunday Edition Sunday Morning
• Howard Hannah Showcase of Homes Sunday Morning
• KDKA Sports Showdown Sunday following KDKA-TV News at 11
• Steelers Triva Challenge Saturday Night

Contact Info

Main Switchboard: 412-575-2200
News Desk 2: 412-575-2245
Newsroom Fax: 412-575-2871
Consumer Editor Yvonne Zanos: 412-575-2234
Marketing: 412-575-3275
Programming: 412-575-2347
Engineering: 412-575-2439
Public Events/Talent Appearances: 412-575-2365

External links

• [KDKA-TV Homepage]
• [Query the FCC's TV station database for KDKA-TV]

Terrestrial television>Broadcast television in the Johnstown / Altoona market  [(Nielsen DMA #98)]
WPSU 3 (PBS) - WJAC 6 (NBC) - WWCP 8 (FOX/UPN) - WTAJ 10 (CBS) - WPCW 19 (UPN/The CW)1 - WATM 23 (ABC) - W36BE / W39BE (ABC) - WKBS 47 (CSTV)  1 Technically a Pittsburgh market station. See article.
Out-of-market stations available on cable
Pittsburgh: KDKA 2 (CBS) -  WTAE 4 (ABC) -  WPXI 11 (NBC) -  WPMY 22 (The WB/My Network TV) -  WPGH 53 (Fox) Scranton/Wilkes-Barre: WNEP 16 (ABC) -  WSWB 38 (The WB/UPN/The CW) New York City: WPIX 11 (The WB/The CW) Harrisburg: WLYH 15 (UPN/The CW) Note: Not all stations are available in all areas.
Local cable television channels
WIUP 20 (Ind., The WB on digital subchannel, to become MNTV in September 2006)

.54 billion USD (2005) | Employees: Unknown at this time. | Stock Symbol: NYSE: [CBS] | Website: [www.cbscorporation.com]