WTTG

Infobox_Broadcast
call_letters = WTTG
city =
station_
station_slogan = Always On
station_branding = Fox 5 (general)
Fox 5 News (newscasts)
analog = 5 (VHF)
digital = 36 (UHF)
other_chs =
affiliations = Fox
network =
founded =
airdate = January 1, 1947
location = Washington, D.C.
callsign_meaning = Thomas Toliver Goldsmith
(chief engineer of founding company DuMont)
former_callsigns =
former_channel_numbers =
owner = Fox Television Stations
licensee = Fox Television Stations, Inc.
sister_stations = WDCA
former_affiliations = DuMont (1946-1956)
independent (1956-1986)
effective_radiated_power = 100 kW (analog)
1000 kW (digital)
HAAT = 235 m (analog)
201 m (digital)
class =
facility_id = 22207
coordinates = coord|38|57|22.6|N|77|4|57.5|W|type:landmark_scale:2000
homepage = [http://www.myfoxdc.com/myfox/ www.myfoxdc.com]

WTTG is an owned-and-operated TV station of the Fox Broadcasting Company. It is located in Washington, D.C. and serves the entire Washington metropolitan area (including Northern Virginia, Maryland, and the Martinsburg, West Virginia area) from a studio and transmitter located in the Tenleytown neighborhood of Washington. [cite news |title=Digital Signal Sources |work=The Washington Post |date=2008-05-20 |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/graphic/2008/05/20/GR2008052000207.html?sid=ST2008051902978 ] WTTG's sister station is MyNetworkTV O&O WDCA, forming a duopoly owned by Fox Television Stations Group.

History

The station traces its history to May 19, 1945, when television set and equipment manufacturer Allen B. DuMont founded W3XWT, the second experimental station in the nation's capital (after NBC's W3XNB, forerunner to WRC-TV).

Later in 1945, DuMont Laboratories began a series of experimental coaxial cable hookups between W3XWT and its other television station, WABD in New York City (now WNYW). These hookups were the beginning of the DuMont Television Network, the world's first licensed commercial television network. DuMont began regular network service in 1946. Almost a year later, on January 3, 1947, W3XWT received a commercial license--the first in the nation's capital--as WTTG. The station was named for Thomas T. Goldsmith, Dr. DuMont's best friend and the DuMont network's chief engineer.

Like its New York sister station, WTTG was far more successful than the network as a whole. In 1956, after DuMont ended network operations, WTTG and WABD were spun off as the "DuMont Broadcasting Corporation". It later changed its name to Metropolitan Broadcasting due to the failure associated with DuMont. In 1958, Washington investor John Kluge bought controlling interest in Metropolitan Broadcasting and installed himself as its chairman. He changed the company's name to Metromedia in 1961. Goldsmith sat on Metromedia's board for over a quarter-century.

At first, WTTG ran on a low budget. However, in the late 1960s, it benefited from Metromedia's aggressiveness in acquiring top syndicated programming, giving it a significant leg up on WDCA, which signed on in 1966. By the 1970s, WTTG was one of the leading independent stations in the country, running a broad lineup of cartoons, off-network sitcoms, first-run syndicated shows, old movies, local news and locally produced programs. During this time period, and well into the early 1990s, WTTG was the flagship station for the Georgetown Hoyas men's basketball team. Its main claim to fame was "Panorama", an afternoon talk show hosted by John Willis, and Maury Povich. WTTG offered Japanese cartoons dubbed into English including "Astro Boy" and "Marine Boy".

When cable television began in the 1970s, WTTG became a regional superstation. At one point, it appeared on every cable system in Maryland and Virginia, as well as most of Delaware and in parts of North Carolina, South Carolina and Pennsylvania. Though not distributed as widely as it once was, the popularity of WTTG has kept it available on cable on several Maryland and Virginia cable systems. It still serves as the default Fox affiliate for the Harrisonburg, Virginia market. Additionally, it is still carried on cable in Charlottesville, Virginia despite the city recently gaining a Fox affiliate out of WAHU-CA. It also served as the default Fox affiliate for Salisbury, Maryland, until the debut of new default Fox affiliate, Fox21 Delmarva, a subsidiary of WBOC-TV, on 21 August 2006).

Metromedia owned the station until 1986 when Rupert Murdoch, after buying 20th Century Fox, purchased the Metromedia television stations to form the nucleus of the Fox network. WTTG became one of six (now five) Fox owned-and-operated stations (O&O), all the while retaining consistently high ratings, a rarity for a Fox station then. Initially, its programming was similar to what it had run as a true independent station, since Fox only programmed for a few hours on weekends. Then, in the summer of 1990, the morning cartoon block was ended in favor of Fox 5 Morning News. It was the second Fox O&O to have a morning newscast and the fourth or fifth Fox affiliate with morning news.

In the 1990s, Fox 5 added more syndicated talk shows and reality shows. It continued to air afternoon cartoons from Fox Kids until the fall of 2001, when they moved to WDCA (only to be cut to Saturdays everywhere in 2002). But WTTG later on brought back Fox children's programming under the banner 4Kids TV. On October 29, 2001, WDCA became WTTG's sister station when Fox bought it from Viacom. Fox 5 continued to run top rated off-network sitcoms in the evenings. In 2002, it added an evening 5 to 6 p.m. newscast. Today, it has 40 hours a week of local news.

On May 15, 2006 WTTG launched a new website, which features more news and video with the "MyFox" name and interface. (The "My" in the MyFox name may be a reference to Fox's new network My Network TV, which is now shown locally on WDCA.) It is at [http://www.myfoxdc.com www.myfoxdc.com] .

The new logo and set premiered on June 25, 2006. WTTG launched "NewsEdge" (previously titled "The Edge" until October 2006), its 11-11:30pm newscast, on July 31, 2006. "NewsEdge", which is anchored solo by 10pm co-anchor Brian Bolter, follows its 10-11pm newscast. Also with the launch of the 11pm broadcast, Fox 5 has now expanded its 5pm broadcast to 7 days a week. The 5pm on the weekend is only a half-hour long as opposed to the weekday hour-long broadcast. Plus the new "NewsEdge" has also gone to 7 days as well. The weekend 11pm broadcast is 15-minutes long, followed by "Sports Extra."

On September 4, 2006, WTTG began simulcasting its weekday morning and daily 10 PM newscasts on Baltimore's Fox-owned WUTB, under the banner of "My 24 News". The higher-ups at both stations cite the decision to simulcast as a by-product of cross-regional news interests and increasing overlap between the Baltimore and Washington media markets. [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/10/AR2006081001835.html] On October 2006, while WTTG aired Fox Sports' coverage of the 2006 Major League Baseball postseason, the first half-hour of the 10 PM newscast was seen on Washington's Fox-owned WDCA under the banner of "Fox 5 News at Ten Special Edition". The same has occurred in 2007, with a banner name of "My 20 News at 10".

On July 2, 2007, WTTG discontinued its noon newscast and replaced it with an hour-long newscast at 11am, titled "Fox 5 News Midday". On September 10, 2007, the station added "NewsEdge" at 6pm which is also anchored solo by Brian Bolter. The 6pm edition of "NewsEdge" follows its 5-6pm newscast. The addition of "NewsEdge" at 6pm was due in part to the success of its current 11pm counterpart.

Criticism

In 2004, the inner operations of WTTG during the station's first years under Rupert Murdoch's control were critically scrutinized in Robert Greenwald's documentary "". The documentary, through a panel of former WTTG journalists and staffers, claimed that following Murdoch's acquisition, WTTG's news reporting became biased and sensationalistic, much in the style of the Fox News Channel, which Murdoch also owns and which the film primarily criticizes. Former WTTG employees claimed that: they were told "from the top" to air a tribute to Ronald Reagan, as seen at the 1988 Republican National Convention, uncut; they were told to run a piece from "A Current Affair" that "rehashed the whole matter of [Senator Ted Kennedy's deadly car accident at] Chappaquiddick" which had "zero news value"; and an obsessive attitude over airing stories related to wedge issues such as race relations and AIDS.

Digital television

Post-analog shutdown

After the analog television shutdown scheduled for February 17, 2009 http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1082A2.pdf] , WTTG-DT will remain on channel 36 [http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/cdbsmenu.hts?context=25&appn=101231460&formid=387&fac_num=22207 CDBS Print ] ] using PSIP to display WTTG's virtual channel as 5 on digital television receivers.

Notable personalities

Current personalities

Anchors

*Will Thomas - Weekend Evenings 5, 10, 11
*Melanie Alnwick - Sunday Mornings, also serves as Special Projects reporter
*Brian Bolter - 6, 10 and 11pm Weeknights
*Steve Chenevey - 5-7am weekdays
*Gurvir Dhindsa - 5-7am Weekdays
*Laura Evans - 5pm Weekdays
*Holly Morris - 11am Weekdays, also Morning Feature Reporter
*Allison Seymour - 7-9am and 11am Weekdays
*Maureen Umeh - Weekend Evenings 5, 10, 11
*Shawn Yancy - 5pm and 10pm Weeknights

Weather Team

*Tucker Barnes - Morning Fill-In, also Weather Producer
*Gary McGrady - Weekday 5p (AMS Certified)
*Sue Palka - Chief Meteorologist, 6, 10 and 11pm Weeknights (NWA/AMS)
*Tony Perkins - Weekday Mornings
*Gwen Tolbart - Weekend Evenings and Sunday Mornings

ports

*Anthony Amey - Weekend Sports Anchor (2008-present)
*Dave Benz - Sports Reporter and Substitute Sports Anchor
*Dave Feldman - Sports Director/Lead Sports Anchor
*Dave Ross - Weekday Mornings, also Sports Producer

Reporters

*Bob Barnard
*Roby Chavez
*"'Tom Fitzgerald
*Karen Gray Houston (widow of the late WUSA-TV News Producer/Assignment Editor Chris Houston)
*John Henrehan
*Sherri Ly
*Wisdom Martin
*Patrick McGrath - National Correspondent (father of WRC-TV reporter Megan McGrath)
*Beth Parker
*Sarah Simmons (primarily seen mornings) *
*Paul Wagner
*Roz Plater (freelance)
*"'Claudia Coffey
*Allyson Wilson (freelance)
*"'Matt Ackland (freelance)

Former personalities

*James Adams - Anchor/Reporter (1977-1990, now weekend evening anchor at WRC-TV)
*Brooke Baldwin - Reporter (2006-2008, now at CNN)
*Ric Barrick - Meteorologist(2001-2002, now at WTVR-TV)
*Mike Barry - Meteorologist (2004-2006), currently WTTG fill-in meteorologist
*Dave Bender - Reporter (1990-1993, now at KOVR in Sacramento)
*Jackie Bensen - Reporter (1987-1999, now in same position at WRC-TV)
*Josh Binswanger - Fox Morning News Anchor (1998-2000), left for History Channel, last at WBZ-TV in Boston
*Steve Buckhantz - Sports Anchor (1987-2001, currently play-by-play announcer for the Washington Wizards)
*Connie Chung - Reporter (1970-1971)
*Jack Conaty - reporter (1986-1987, now at WFLD-TV in Chicago)
*Vince DeLisi - Sports Anchor and Reporter (1990-1992)
*Rory Devine - reporter (1982-1983, now at KNSD in San Diego)
*Stacey Donaldson - Meteorologist (1998-2002, now at KCNC-TV in Denver)
*Barton Eckert - Anchor/Reporter (1975-1984, now at WTOP-AM
*Darya Folsom - Morning Anchor/Reporter (1994-1998, now at KRON-TV in San Francisco)
*Joe Fowler - Sports Anchor/Reporter (1986-1987)
*Michael Garguilo - Morning Anchor/Reporter (2000-2006, now at WNBC in New York)
*Bill Gormly - Host of Children's Show "Countdown Carnival" (1963-1968), Staff Announcer
*Brett Haber - Sports Anchor/Reporter (1997-2000, now at WUSA-TV)
*Kerri Lee Halkett - Traffic Reporter/Anchor (1997-2000, now at WTXF in Philadelphia)
*Chick Hernandez - Sports Anchor/Reporter (1993-2000, now in same position at Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic)
*Lou Holder - Weekend Sports Anchor/Reporter (200?-2007)
*Hillary Howard (Statter) - Meteorologist (1990s-2000, now at WTWP Radio in Washington, DC; wife of WUSA-TV reporter (Dave Statter)
*Bill Johnson - Staff Announcer and Children's Show Host (1950s and 60s)
*Gus Johnson - Weekend Sports Anchor/Reporter (1991-1992, now a play-by-play commentator for CBS Sports)
*Morris Jones - Anchor/Reporter (1983-2001, now at Sinclair Broadcasting as Washington Bureau Correspondent)
*Jim Karvellas - Sports Anchor/Reporter (?, deceased)
*Dennis Ketterer - Meteorologist (1983-1985, now at WBOC-TV in Salisbury, Maryland)
*Mike Landess - Anchor/Reporter (1998-2001, now at KMGH in Denver)
*Jeff Lawson - Meteorologist (1984-1989, now at WVEC in Norfolk, Virginia)
*Lark McCarthy - "Fox 5 Morning News" co-anchor (1990-2007, left station on 6/1/2007 to move to Las Vegas)
*Pat Mitchell - Anchor/"Panorama" Host (1977-1979, now President/CEO of the Museum of Television and Radio in New York)
*Tracey Neale - Anchor/Reporter (1994-2003, now at WUSA-TV)
*Maury Povich - Anchor/Reporter/"Panorama" Host (1967-76 and 1983-86, now host of the syndicated talk show "Maury")
*Lee Reynolds - Children's Show Host Captain Tugg (1958-1966), Grandpa Reynolds (1956-1959), and Captain Lee and Mates (1964-1966)
*Mike Dunston - Reporter (now anchor at WOFL-TV, Orlando, FL)
*Mike Ritz - Sports Reporter (1987-1991, now at The Golf Channel)
*Amy Robach - Anchor/Reporter (1998-2003, now at MSNBC)
*Diane Roberts - Sports Reporter ans Substitute Sports Anchor (200?-2007, contract was not renewed)
*Nathan Roberts - Anchor/Reporter (1988-1991, formerly of NewsChannel 8)
*Angela Robinson - Anchor/Reporter/"Panorama" host (1983-1993, now at WPBA-TV in Atlanta)
*Al Roker - Weather Anchor (1976-1978, now seen on the Today Show)
*Steve Rudin - Meteorologist (2001-2004, now at WJLA-TV/NewsChannel 8)
*Tom Sater - Meteorologist (1998-2005, fired from station in 2005)
*Kevin Schultze - Reporter (1993-1996)
*Bob Sellers - Weekday Morning News Anchor (2006-2008, contract was not renewed)
*Michelle Sigona - Traffic Reporter (2004-2006, now at "America's Most Wanted")
*Aleen Sirgany - Anchor/Reporter (1999-2001, now at CBS News)
*Karna Small - Anchor (1976-1978, now Karna Bodman and an author [http://www.karnabodman.com/about.html] )
*Bernie Smilovitz - Sports Anchor (1978-1986, now at WDIV-TV in Detroit)
*Jill Sorenson - General Assignment Reporter (2004-2005, now a sports anchor and reporter at Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic)
*Cynthia Steele - Evening anchor (1990-199?)
*Jackie Stone - Reporter (1983-1991)
*Todd D. Wallace - Morning Anchor (2000-2002, now at WRTV-TV in Indianapolis)
*Tim White - Morning Anchor (1990-1992, now at WKYC-TV in Cleveland)
*Brian Williams - Anchor/Reporter/"Panorama" Host (1985-1986, now at NBC News/MSNBC as Nightly News anchor)
*Brian Wilson - Anchor/Reporter (19??-2000, now at Fox News Channel)
*Jeff Gilbert
*Sara Underwood - Reporter (???-2000), then at WBZ-TV,now at WFXT-TV)

This list is incomplete. You can help by [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=WTTG&action=edit&section=10 expanding it] .

References

* [http://www.myfoxdc.com/myfox/pages/InsideFox/Detail?contentId=13212&version=2&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=5.1.1 History of WTTG Fox 5. "Fox5DC.com"] .

External links

* [http://www.myfoxdc.com/ WTTG Website]
*TVQ|WTTG
*BIA|WTTG|TV|TV