WUSA (TV)

Encyclopedia : W : WU : WUS : WUSA (TV)

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WUSA, "W*USA 9" is the Washington, D.C. affiliate of the CBS television network. WUSA's studios and transmitter are located in the Tenleytown area of Washington. It broadcasts on analog channel nine and digital channel 34. WUSA is owned by the Gannett Company, making it CBS' largest station in market size not to be owned and operated by the network.

History

The station officially went on the air on January 11, 1949 as WOIC-TV, and began full-time operations on January 16. It is the fourth-oldest station in the nation's capital. Its original owner was the Bamberger Broadcasting Service, a subsidiary of R.H. Macy and Company, which also owned WOR-AM-FM in New York City, and was working to put WOR-TV (now WWOR-TV) on the air at the same time. Nine days later, WOIC broadcast the first televised American presidential inaugural address, given by President Harry S. Truman.

In June 1950, WTOP Incorporated, which was a joint venture of the Washington Post (which owned 55 percent) and CBS (which owned 45 percent) purchased WOIC-TV and changed the call sign to WTOP-TV, after its new sister stations WTOP radio (then at 1500 kHz.) and WTOP-FM (96.3 MHz., now WHUR-FM).

In July 1950, WTOP-TV became the first television station in Washington authorized to broadcast color television in the 441-line CBS Line Sequential color standard, which was incompatible with the black-and-white 525-line NTSC standard. Color broadcasts would continue for nearly 30 months, when regulatory and commercial pressures forced the FCC to rescind its original color standard and begin the process of adopting the 525-line NTSC-3 standard, developed by RCA to be backwards compatible with the existing black-and-white televisions.

In 1954, the WTOP stations moved into a new facility, known as "Broadcast House", at 40th and Brandywine streets NW in Washington. The building was the first in the country designed as a unified radio and television facility. Its name was in honor of Broadcasting House, home of the BBC in London. The building was well-known to WTOP's president. since he had spent much of World War II assigned to the BBC. Previous to the move to Broadcast House, the radio stations operated out of the Earle Building (now the Warner Building, home of the Warner Theatre), and WTOP-TV had operated out of the small WOIC studios at the same location. When Broadcast House was completed and the new television studios were inaugurated, the old studio became the garage for Broadcast House and the old master control room became both the master control and transmitter room for channel nine, since Broadcast House had been built around the station's original, four-sided tower. People can still see the building with the tower in the middle at the same location, although it is now an office building and retail store front operated by Douglas Development Corp.

The WTOP-TV tower was well known in Washington for two things. First, at Christmas time, the tower was strung with Christmas lights and glowed brightly on top of Mount Reno, the tallest point in the District of Columbia. Second, the tower tended to sway much more than three-sided towers. In a strong wind the tower could be seen swaying back-and-forth, and during the winter ice from the tower fell quite often on the streets below.

Also in 1954, CBS sold its share of WTOP Inc. to the Post to comply with the Federal Communications Commission's new seven-station-per-group ownership rule. CBS's partial ownership of WTOP radio and WCCO radio in Minneapolis exceeded the FCC's limit for AM stations. CBS opted to sell its share of WTOP. It had bought the station in 1932, selling controlling interest to the Post in 1949. After the sale closed, the Post merged the WTOP stations with its other broadcast property, WMBR-AM-TV in Jacksonville, Florida and changed the name of the licensee from "WTOP Inc." to "Post Stations, Inc." WMBR-AM was sold off in 1958, and WMBR-TV became WJXT. The Post renamed its broadcasting group "Post-Newsweek Stations" in 1961 after the Post bought Newsweek magazine. Post-Newsweek acquired its third television station, WLBW-TV (now WPLG) in Miami, in 1969, and in 1974 added WTIC-TV (now WFSB) in Hartford, Connecticut to the group.

In 1972 WTOP-TV joined with the Evening Star Broadcasting Company (owned by the Post's rival, the now-defunct Washington Star and licensee of WMAL-TV [channel 7, now WJLA-TV]) to build the Joint Tower, a 1040-foot, three-sided tower across the alley from Broadcast House at 4010 Chesapeake Street, NW. Transmission lines were extended from Broadcast House's transmitter area to the new tower for both WTOP-TV and WHUR-FM (the former WTOP-FM, which had been donated by Post-Newsweek to Howard University in 1971). The old tower continued to serve as the backup antenna for channel nine until the station sold Broadcast House in 1996.

In 1974, WTOP and the other Post-Newsweek stations adopted the slogan The One and Only. The moniker was part of a trend toward group identification of stations, with each station being The One and Only Channel (channel number). Staff members from the One and Only period usually refer to themselves as "the one and onlies" as a source of pride. The slogan was dropped from active use in the late 1990s and has not been used as part of an image campaign since 1996. The slogan no longer appears on the air, but was revived in a sense when channel nine adopted its current slogan, First and Only with Local News in HDTV.

In July 1978 Post-Newsweek exchanged WTOP-TV with the Evening News Association's WWJ-TV (now WDIV) in Detroit. Upon completion of the swap, WTOP-TV changed its call letters to WDVM-TV, with the new call letters representing the initials of the area channel nine served: D for the District of Columbia, V for Virginia, and M for Maryland. The Washington Post and the Evening News Association, which published the Detroit News, decided to swap their stations for fear the FCC would force them to sell the stations at unfavorable terms or revoke their very valuable licenses because the FCC at the time was considering forbidding ownership of newspapers and broadcast stations in the same market.

In 1985, Gannett purchased the Evening News Association. On July 4, 1986; Gannett changed WDVM's call letters to WUSA both in honor of the station being located in the nation's capital and Gannett's ownership of USA Today. The same connection is noted with Gannett's Denver station, KUSA-TV. The WUSA callsign had previously been used by Gannett's station in Minneapolis-St. Paul, which changed its callsign to KARE. While the station's current call sign is commonly printed as W*USA, particularly in Gannett press releases, the asterisk or star between the W and U is not officially recognized as part of the call sign, as FCC records list the station as WUSA. The star device was used to denote its connection to USA Today. KUSA employs a similar practice. After the Women's United Soccer Association (the WUSA) was founded in the late 1990s, the star was replaced on-air with the CBS eye.

WUSA-TV moved to a new Broadcast House at 4100 Wisconsin Avenue, NW in January 1992. WTOP-FM had left the old Broadcast House in 1971, but kept its transmitter there. WTOP-AM departed in 1978; the Post had sold it a year earlier to the Outlet Company. The move to the more modern building was tinged with sadness due to the death from a brain tumor of channel nine's popular sportcaster, Glenn Brenner just days before the move.

WUSA-TV began broadcasting digital television in 1999 on WUSA-DT, channel 34. From the start of transmissions, WUSA-DT carried the HDTV transmissions of the CBS Television Network in the network's chosen standard, 1080i. On May 2, 2005 at 11:00PM EDT, WUSA-DT became the first station in the D.C. Metropolitan Area to broadcast their local newscasts in HDTV using the 1080i standard.

Logos and idents

Channel nine adopted its most famous logo in 1979, shortly after becoming WDVM. It was a stylized "9" that slightly resembled the logo of Australia's Nine Network. The station had used a version of this logo once before as WTOP, from 1972 to 1974.

The station kept the logo after it became WUSA, which used it as the focus of one of the most popular news opening sequences in television history, known as "the Death Star." From 1987 to 1991, the opens for Eyewitness News featured a zoom in from space onto the Gannett globe as it morphs into the Earth's surface, flying by CGI representations of various Washington landmarks. This opening was produced by Pacific Data Images, which would later become Dreamworks Animation. The station retired the stylized "9" in 1996 in favor of the current "circle 9" logo. It is believed that KVUE in Austin, TX also used a similar open with the theme music during the 90's.

Image:Wtop54.jpg|WTOP-TV logo from 1954 to 1960, bearing a slight resemblance to Thames Television's famous logo Image:Wtop60s.jpg|WTOP-TV ident from 1960 to 1967. The "9" logo lasted from 1960 to 1972. Image:Wtop67.jpg|WTOP-TV ident from 1967 to 1972 Image:Wtop72.jpg|WTOP-TV ident from 1972 to 1973. This "9" logo lasted from 1972 to 1974 Image:Wtop73.jpg|WTOP-TV ident from 1973 to 1974 Image:Wtop74.jpg|WTOP-TV ident from early to late 1974. This "9" logo lasted from 1974 until 1979, shortly after it became WDVM Image:Wtop74_a.jpg|WTOP-TV ident from late 1974 to 1977 Image:Wtop77.jpg|WTOP-TV ident from 1977 to 1978 Image:Wtop78_a.jpg|WTOP-TV ident from early to mid 1978 Image:Wtop78.jpg|WTOP-TV logo from 1978 to 1979. A version of this ident was retained for the rest of 1978 after the station became WDVM. Image:Wdvm79.jpg|WDVM-TV ident from early to mid 1979. The station kept the cheese 9 logo until 1995, long after it became WUSA. Image:Wdvm79_a.jpg|WDVM-TV ident from mid 1979 to 1982 Image:Wdvm82.jpg|WDVM-TV ident from 1982 to 1983 Image:Wdvm83.jpg|WDVM-TV ident from 1983 to 1984 Image:Wdvm85.jpg|WDVM-TV ident from 1985 to 1986 Image:Wusa86.jpg|Channel 9's first ident as WUSA, used from 1986 to 1987 Image:Wusa87.jpg|The famous "Death Star" news open, used from 1987 to 1991 Image:Wusa92.jpg|WUSA ident from 1991 to 1996 Image:Wusa95.gif|WUSA ident from 1996 to 1997. This was the first appearance of WUSA's current "circle 9" logo, and the last to use a star within the calls. Image:Wusa90s.jpg|WUSA ident from 1997 to 2000. This is the first WUSA logo to use the CBS Eye Device in place of the star. Image:WUSA50Anniversary.png|WUSA's 50th anniversary ident. Image:Wusa2000.jpg|Another variation of ident used from 1997 to 2000

Newscasts

Up until 2002, newscasts were branded under variations of the Eyewitness News brand. This has been dropped in favor for 9 News or W*USA 9 News. Traces of the name Eyewitness News remained on various graphics until an all-new set of graphics by [Giant Octopus] were introduced in 2005 when WUSA started broadcasting news in high-definition.

Weekdays

• 9NEWS This Morning - 5:00-7:00 AM
• 9NEWS at 9 AM - 9:00-10:00 AM
• 9NEWS at Noon - Noon-12:30 PM
• 9NEWS at 5 PM - 5:00-6:00 PM
• 9NEWS at 6 PM - 6:00-6:30 PM
• 9NEWS Tonight - 7:00-7:30 PM
• 9NEWS at 11 PM - 11:00-11:35 PM

Saturdays

• 9NEWS Saturday Morning - 6:00-8:00 AM
• 9NEWS at 6 PM - 6:00-6:30 PM
• Eye on Washington (public affairs) - 7:00-7:30 PM (rebroadcast Sundays at 11 AM; also syndicated)
• 9NEWS at 7:30 PM - 7:30-8:00 PM
• ''9NEWS at 11 PM - 11:00-11:35 PM

Sundays

• 9NEWS Sunday Morning - 8:00-9:00 AM
• 9NEWS at 6:30 PM - 6:30-7:00 PM
• 9NEWS at 11 PM - 11:00-11:35 PM
• Sports Plus - 11:35 PM-12:05 AM

Personalities

WUSA-TV was the launchpad for several well-known news anchors. Sam Donaldson and Warner Wolf are among WUSA-TV's most successful alumni. The late Max Robinson was an anchor of Eyewitness News from 1969 to 1978 before he became the first black anchorman on network television and one of the original anchors of ABC's World News Tonight. James Brown of CBS Sports was a sports anchor at the station in the 1980s.

Current Personalities

• Phyllis Armstrong, General assignment reporter
• Audrey Barnes, General assignment reporter
• Howard Bernstien, Meteorologist
• Doug Buchanan, General assignment reporter
• Stacey Cohan, General assignment reporter (Soon-to-be jumping to rival WTTG-TV)
• Sherri Elliker, Evening Traffic Reporter (Metro Traffic)
• Beverly Farmer, Morning/Noon Traffic Reporter (Metro Traffic)
• Lesli Foster, Weekend morning anchor/reporter
• Jan Fox, Consumer reporter
• Peggy Fox, General assignment reporter
• Brett Haber, Sports director
• J.C. Hayward, Noon anchor/reporter
• Joyce Jackson, Sports anchor and reporter
• Bruce Johnson, Weekend 6pm and 11pm anchor/reporter
• Bruce Leshan, General assignment reporter
• Kim Martucci, Morning meteorologist
• Todd McDermott, 6pm and 11pm anchor/reporter
• Derek McGinty, 5pm and 7pm anchor/reporter
• Tracey Neale, 5pm, 6pm, and 11pm anchor/reporter
• Gary Neurenberg, General assignment reporter
• Tony Pann, Weekend meteorologist
• Cindy Peña, General assignment reporter
• Alexander Piela, Weekend Traffic (Metro Traffic)
• Gary Reals, General assignment reporter
• Andrea Roane, Morning anchor and reporter
• Jennifer Ryan, Weekend 6pm and 11pm anchor/Health reporter
• Emily Schmidt, General assignment reporter
• Topper Shutt, Chief meteorologist
• Randal Stanley, News Director
• Dave Statter, General assignment reporter
• Mike Walter, Morning anchor and reporter
• Nancy Yamada, General assignment reporter

Past Personalities

• Jess Atkinson - sports anchor (2000-2002)
• Glenn Brenner - sports anchor (1980s-1992) (D)
• Mike "Buck" Buchanan - anchor/reporter (1976-2004)
• Maureen Bunyan - anchor/reporter (1973-1995, now at WJLA-TV/NewsChannel 8)
• Ken Broo - sports director (1997-1999, now at WLWT in Cincinnati)
• James Brown - sports anchor during the 1980s-early 1990s (now at CBS Sports)
• Heather Cabot - general assignment reporter (2001-2002)
• Steve Davis - sports director (2002-2003)
• Gurvir Dhindsa - anchor/reporter (2000-2004, now at WTTG)
• Sam Donaldson - anchor/reporter (1961-1967)
• Chris Gordon - anchor/reporter (?-1996, now at WRC-TV)
• Miriam Hernandez - general assignment reporter (now at KABC-TV in Los Angeles)
• Frank Herzog - sports anchor and reporter (1992-2004, now at WTOP Radio)
• Doug Hill - chief meteorologist (1984-2000, now at WJLA-TV)
• Hillary Howard Statter - meteorologist (2000-2004, now at WTWP radio)
• Virg Jacques - anchor/reporter (2000-2002, now at WTTG)
• Keith Marler - weekend meteorologist (now at KMSP-TV in Minneapolis)
• Ken Mease - sports anchor and reporter (1986-2003)
• Teri Okita - weekend anchor/reporter (?, now at CBS News)
• Gerald Owens - sports anchor and reporter
• Gordon Peterson - anchor/reporter (1971-2004, now at WJLA-TV/NewsChannel 8)
• Levan Reid - weekend sports anchor/reporter (2002-2006)
• Steve Rudin - meteorologist (1997-2000)
• Max Robinson - anchor/reporter (1969-1978) (D)
• Monika Samtani - morning traffic reporter
• Greg Starrdard - general assignment reporter (?, showed up at rival WRC-TV)
• Warner Wolf - sports anchor (1965-1975 and 1992-1995)

(D) - Deceased

Slogans

• 1974–96: The one and only! (also "The one and only channel 9!")
• Mid–Late '90s: Whatever It Takes.
• 2000–02: Where local news comes first.
• 2002–05: No Gimmicks. No Hype. Just The News.
• 2005–present: First and Only Local News in the Nation's Capital in High-definition

Awards

2001 Emmy: NEWS SPECIALS, "Katherine Graham: A Washington Legend" - Ben Brodsky, Producer, Catherine Snyder-Charlip, Producer, Samara Martin Ewing, Producer [link]

Trivia

The station's radar is called "Doppler 9000".

External links

• [WUSA homepage]
• [The One & Only Channel 9's History]
• [TV-ARK gallery of WUSA opens and idents]
• [Query the FCC's TV station database for WUSA]

Broadcast Television in the Washington, D.C. market  [(Nielsen DMA #8)]
WRC 4 (NBC) - WTTG 5 (Fox) - WJLA 7 (ABC) - WUSA 9 (CBS) - WAZT-CA 10 / WAZC-LP 16 / WAZF-CA 28 / WAZW-CA 48 (TBN) - WFDC 14 (UNV) - W15AD 15/W17AL 17/W41AO 41/W48AA 48/W69AC 69 (PBS/WVPB) - WDCA 20 (UPN/MNTV) - WDDN 23 (DAY) - WHAG 25 (NBC) - WETA 26 (PBS) - WWPB 31/WFPT 62 (PBS/MPB) - WHUT 32 (PBS) - WVPY 42 (PBS) - WMDO 47 (TFR) - WWTD 49 (Ind) - WDCW 50 (The WB/The CW) - WNVC 56 (Ind) - WIAV 58 (AV/Ind) - WWPX 60/WPXW 66 (i) - WZDC 64 (TMD) - WJAL 68 (Ind)
Digital only WNVT 30 (Ind)
Local cable television channels News Channel 8 - TV-3 Winchester (ABC)

 

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