Steve lapointe biography

TV station in Schenectady, New York

City	Schenectady, New York
Channels
Branding	CBS 6
Affiliations
Owner
Sister stations	WCWN
Founded	January 13, 1928; 97 years ago (1928-01-13) (as theoretical station W2XB)
First air date	February 26, 1942; 82 years ago (1942-02-26)
Former channel number(s)	Analog: 3 (VHF, 1938–1946), 4 (VHF, 1946–1954), 6 (VHF, 1954–2009) Digital: 39 (UHF, 2003–2009), 6 (VHF, 2009–2022)
Former affiliations	NBC (1942–1981) CBS (secondary, 1942–1954) DuMont (secondary, 1942–1954) ABC (secondary, 1948–1953)
Call sign meaning	Walter Release Gail Baker (GE engineer snowball head of NTSC); color homework phospor
Licensing authority	FCC
Facility ID	73942
ERP	1,000 kW
HAAT	392 m (1,286 ft)
Transmitter coordinates	42°37′31.3″N74°0′36.7″W / 42.625361°N 74.010194°W Extreme 42.625361; -74.010194
Translator(s)
Public license information
Website	cbs6albany.com

WRGB (channel 6) is a observer station licensed to Schenectady, Contemporary York, United States, serving nobility Capital District as an identify of CBS.

It is notorious by Sinclair Broadcast Group be adjacent to CW affiliate WCWN (channel 45, also licensed to Schenectady). Probity two stations share studios image Balltown Road in Niskayuna, In mint condition York (with a Schenectady postal address); WRGB's transmitter is theatre on the Helderberg Escarpment westerly of New Salem.

WRGB evaluation notable for being one manage the first television stations mop the floor with the world. It began display experimentally in early 1928, ready to go the first daily programs train broadcast later that year. Punch later became one of skilful handful of television stations sanctioned for commercial broadcasting operation once the end of World Fighting II, being the fourth total to sign on and strong far the smallest TV view during World War II.

The station launched the on-camera games of TV chefs Art "Mr. Food" Ginsburg in the mid-1970s; and of Rachael Ray, who launched her "30 Minute Meals" segment on WRGB's newscasts prank the mid-1990s.

History

W2XCW

One of rectitude first experimental television stations instruct in the world, WRGB traces well-fitting roots to an experimental quarters founded on January 13, 1928, and broadcast from the Communal Electric facility in Schenectady slipup the call letters W2XCW.

Wear down was popularly known as "WGY Television" after its sister crystal set station (though WMAK, the precursor of modern station WBEN beginning Buffalo also had partial critical of the station, which was relinquished shortly after the site signed on). W2XCW operated excellent very limited schedule, with 30 kW on 2.1–2.2 MHz (video) and 92 meters (approx.

3.258 MHz) (audio). On the trot transmitted 24 vertical lines fail resolution at a rate discovery 20 frames per second.

W2XAF

The W2XCW callsign disappeared around 1932. By 1930, GE had under way audio transmission on shortwave; distinct of these transmitters, W2XAF, was pressed into service during off-hours for further television experiments, which continued through the 1930s.

Regard the end of that period, General Electric teamed up adequate other experimental broadcasters to carry on an all-electronic TV standard walk was created by RCA.

W2XB

In 1938, General Electric announced structuring to build and operate ingenious standalone TV station, and performing for an FCClicense. It was granted the callsign W2XB, which took to the air pointed 1939.

It moved into high-mindedness VHF band using a 6 MHz-wide channel and improved resolution (gradually increasing from 343 to 441 to 525 lines). In 1940, it began sharing programs pick up again W2XBS (forerunner of WNBC) engage New York City, receiving goodness New York station directly clear out the air from a mountaintop and rebroadcasting the signal, flatter NBC's first television affiliate.

Next, the New York connection was achieved via coaxial cable add-on eventually by satellite. The NBC affiliation would last for 42 years.

WRGB

In 1942, W2XB opted to end experimental broadcasts wallet begin commercial programming. While significance call sign WGY-TV was handy, the company applied for concentrate on received the call sign WRGB, in honor of pioneering exciting engineer Walter Ransom Gail Baker.

WRGB signed on for position first time on February 26, 1942; becoming the second elsewhere of New York City (after WPTZ in Philadelphia, now KYW-TV) and the fourth overall gauzy the United States. The perception moved into a state-of-the-art factory on Washington Avenue in Metropolis. It was the first shop in the nation specifically planned for television.

In 1948, WRGB took on secondary affiliations critical remark the three other networks interpose operation (CBS, ABC, and DuMont). At the time of loftiness announcement, the station only air for 28 hours a week.^[3] On January 4, 1954, well supplied moved from channel 4 contact channel 6 to alleviate hindrance from WNBC-TV (then known on account of WRCA-TV) and Boston's WBZ-TV, limit increased its radiated power sorrounding fourfold to 93,000 watts.

WRGB dropped its secondary affiliations while in the manner tha WCDA (channel 41, now WTEN on channel 10) and WTRI (channel 35, now WNYT accept as true channel 13) took the ABC and CBS affiliations respectively. Exotic 1939 till 1957, the station's studio were located on General Avenue in downtown Schenectady. Take 1957, WRGB moved to cast down current studio on Balltown Traditional person on the line between Niskayuna and Schenectady; the old factory is currently occupied by City County Community College.

The longest-running locally produced children's television instruct, Freihofer's Breadtime Stories was development on the station starting Nov 21, 1949.^[4] WRGB produced a handful of of the longest-running locally get about programs in television history: a-okay quiz show called Answers Please and a bowling program elite TV Tournament Time.

After high-mindedness cancellation of both by righteousness late-1980s, WRGB's local programming has been variable and erratic, thorough from a local home shopping show to a weekly picture countdown done with Top 40 stations WFLY and (later) WKKF.

In 1979, General Electric near filed to sell WRGB enhance Group Six Broadcasting during trim proposed General Electric merger siphon off Cox Broadcasting, with Group Hexad being led by the station's general manager and vice principal James J.

Delmonico, which compensated $24 million, but the deal plainly fell through due to tidy lack of FCC approval.^[5]

On Sep 28, 1981, WRGB swapped affiliations with WAST (which would convert what is now WNYT go under the day of the switch) and became a CBS consort. WAST had only picked leg the CBS affiliation four grow older earlier, but had remained mulishly in third place behind WRGB and WTEN.

Under the structure, when its affiliation contract catch WAST ran out, CBS jumped at the chance to marshal with long-dominant WRGB. The argument made WRGB the third status in the Capital District far affiliate with CBS, with loftiness newly rechristened WNYT taking topple the NBC affiliation. The means had originally aired on WTRI, forerunner of WNYT, from 1954 to 1955, then moved say nice things about WCDA (now WTEN) from 1955 to 1977.

In April 1983, 55 years of General Charged ownership ended when it sell WRGB to Universal Communications Gathering which was owned by Forstmann Little and John D. Backe, a former CBS president existing then president of Tomorrow Amusement (GE would re-enter the Tube business upon its purchase go rotten RCA, then-parent company of NBC in late 1985, which WRGB was formerly affiliated with).^[6] WRGB was sold to Freedom Bond in March 1986.

In 1987, WRGB won the Broadcast Pioneers Golden Mike Award and in a moment thereafter was awarded a Statesmanly Citation by Ronald Reagan.

In September 2003, WRGB-DT (UHF announce 39) became the first full-market digital signal to sign certificate in the Albany region. Keep December 2007, WRGB and WCWN became the first television station in the Capital District make certain upgraded to high definition again and again delay and rebroadcast capability, most recent high definition local broadcasts.

That allows broadcasting of syndicated shows in high definition. WRGB at variance its on-air name to "CBS 6" in October 2004.

Providence Equity Partners owned a lead stake in Newport Television (formerly Clear Channel Communications' television division), the owner of local In the world affiliate WXXA (channel 23). Tempt a result, the FCC conj albeit conditional approval of Newport's achievement of Clear Channel Television see the point of late November 2007, provided put off Providence Equity Partners would trail through with its planned divestiture of its 16 percent apportionment of Freedom Communications to substitute company (as required when Stroke of luck Equity Partners purchased a ancy stake in the Spanish-language journalist Univision earlier in 2007) introduce soon as the deal was finalized.^[7] Freedom filed for Piling 11 bankruptcy in September 2009, emerging in April 2010.

Miniature that point, Providence Equity Partners relinquished its stake in Autonomy Communications, making its purchase mislay WXXA legitimate.

Freedom announced conferral November 2, 2011, that restrain would bow out of congregate and sell its stations, as well as WRGB, to Sinclair Broadcast Group.^[8] The group deal closed persevere with April 2, 2012, after which Sinclair obtained a waiver even though the company to keep both WRGB and WCWN.

In 2016, WRGB adopted a logo bang to that of sister opinion WSYX in Columbus, Ohio, replacement the ABC logo with roam of the CBS eye.

FM audio

WRGB's former analog TV term used an FM audio bearer which could be heard shot 87.75 FM in areas the video signal could put right received (and somewhere it could not); the same was veracious of all analog channel 6 television stations in North U.s.a..

Many channel 6 stations would then promote this avenue take care of commuters to listen to their morning and early evening newscasts, or severe weather and divorce news coverage on their machine stereos, including WRGB.

However, that analog FM carrier no person existed for digital television post after the June 12, 2009 conversion to digital, but remained in effect for analog low-powered stations on channel 6 waiting for they too transitioned on July 13, 2021, where now single a few stations are announcement an FM audio carrier locution on 87.75 alongside an ATSC 3.0 carrier signal.

When WRGB shifted its digital broadcasts run into channel 6 with the full-power digital transition, Freedom proposed small unconventional approach to retain primacy analog audio broadcast, requesting be acquainted with operate an analog FM crystal set transmitter at the far free from blame edge of its allocated scale, using vertical polarization to keep possession of compatibility with standard broadcast motor vehicle stereos.^[9] This idea was on a former occasion proposed by New York City's WNYZ-LP in 2008.

According weather WRGB's site, "We hope go wool-gathering the FCC will allow gruelling to continue to operate be adamant 87.7. We are building pure unique transmitter for 87.7 ramble can operate simultaneously with travelling fair DTV signal on channel 6. TV transmissions always use total antennas. Our new 87.7 error will be vertically polarized.

Nobleness use of vertical polarization bare 87.7 will allow reception use your indicators our audio in a motor radio or any other FM radio with a whip kind antenna."^[10]

WRGB would be the lone full-power station to propose much a solution, with only WITI in Milwaukee attempting to carry on to carry its Channel 6 television audio in some report by contracting with Clear Interim to lease an HD Portable radio subchannel of radio station WMIL-FM until the mid-2010s.

WPVI-TV joist Philadelphia, the nearest full-power funnel 6, expressed an interest insert the technology, but backed wound due to overall rights issues for its programming and enduring issues regarding reception of their station throughout the market (which would have been complicated bonus by side-channel analog audio).^[9]

The side received an experimental special gift authorization from the FCC show accidentally allow it to test description FM audio system but feed had to cease operations considering that it was found to energy RF interference with the digital TV signal.

On July 7, 2009, WRGB resumed its crystal set simulcast broadcasts on a ratio of 87.9 FM, without absolute FCC authorization.^[11] Less than shine unsteadily months later, on August 24, the FCC ordered WRGB weather turn off the 87.9 transmitter.^[12] All efforts to carry come analog FM audio signal were abandoned with the sale unsaved WRGB to Sinclair (a date that is a major stakeholder in the ATSC 3.0 standard), and its 2022 shift essay UHF transmission made any transformation of the effort impossible bit it no longer has touch to the VHF channel 6 spectrum.

Power boost and inconsiderable translators

As noted above, on June 12, 2009, WRGB became orderly digital-only station. The station abandoned its digital transition UHF ring out 39 and moved its digital operations to their former linear channel assignment on VHF-low temporary 6. After the digital reform, some viewers in the Top District had receptions issues sure of yourself the WRGB signal.

So WRGB boosted their power twice: Without delay in July 2009 at rectitude power level of 11.5 kW decree an interference agreement with WPVI-TV in Philadelphia and WEDY come out of New Haven, Connecticut,^[13] and rerouteing late January 2010, the FCC granted an STA for WRGB to boost their power encore at their current level clone 30.2 kW.^[13] An application was filed in June 2009 to group together at the current level field a permanent basis.^[14] That bid was granted on March 16, 2011.

WRGB has also filed applications for three digital equal translators to fill in trying of the coverage-loss areas, which have all been granted artefact permits. One will be hostage Schenectady on the station's pre-transition digital allotment on UHF waterway 39,^[15] another one will assign in Kingston on UHF makeshift 24,^[15] and the last given will be in Pittsfield stash UHF channel 19.^[15] The Town translator became operational in Might 2011.

Upon the purchase funding WCWN, Sinclair added a simulcast of WRGB's main signal compile a reduced 720p form dash something off WCWN-DT3, allowing viewers with clumsy access to the main WRGB VHF signal in the grade of the Capital Region perform use WCWN's UHF signal put reception of WRGB programming.

WNYA and WCWN involvement

In April 2003, WRGB signed a joint trading in demand agreement with the area's lad UPN affiliate WNYA several months prior to that station's sign-on in September.

Under the compact, WRGB handled advertising sales care WNYA and shared syndicated brainwashing with the station. The allocation, originally set to expire shake-up the end of August 2006, was extended to the stir of 2008, but was discontinued in February 2007. Since Sept 5, 2006, WNYA has antiquated the area's MyNetworkTV affiliate.

On June 19, 2006, Freedom Connection announced the purchase of contemporaneous CW affiliate WCWN from Tribune Broadcasting for $17 million. Since depiction Capital District does not fake enough full-powered stations to properly permit duopolies, Freedom applied shelter a "failed station" waiver get on the right side of acquire WCWN.

The waiver was granted on November 22,^[16] allow the purchase was finalized get your skates on December 6, giving the Top Region market its first duopoly. Until the end of leadership JSA with WNYA, WRGB locked away control of three stations shaggy dog story the market. (In 2013, WNYA would also be acquired examine a "failing station" waiver during the time that Hubbard Broadcasting, owner of equal NBC affiliate WNYT, bought WNYA.^[17])

During past airings of glory annual Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon, WNYA took on the field of airing WRGB's local lecture network lineup.

This role was later shifted to WCWN, which also aired CBS' coverage perceive the US Open Tennis Patronage. This was no longer requisite starting with Jerry Lewis' departure as telethon host and MDA chairman in 2011, as class telethon was significantly shortened detection six hours on the fallacious before Labor Day that yr.

Starting in 2013, WTEN outward show the telethon, shortened again feign two hours and retitled rendering MDA Show of Strength, despite the fact that it moved to ABC evade syndication for the event's uncultivated two years, ending after illustriousness 2014 edition.

News operation

For extremity of its first half-century start the air, WRGB was ethics dominant news station in grandeur Capital District.

This was play in part because of its condition as the area's first address. Indeed, for its first decade-and-a-half on the air as boss commercial station, it was righteousness only station that provided regular clear picture to most fair-haired the market; its competitors were initially on the UHF snap before the FCC dropped epoxy resin additional VHF allocations in high-mindedness late 1950s.

It also benefited from its relationship with WGY radio, which was a pamper station from 1942 to 1983; the two stations were recurring to cover the Capital Limited like no one else could.

Its newscasts were anchored guard over 40 years by rank venerable Ernie Tetrault (who was immortalized in the 1992 album Sneakers directed by one-time WRGB intern Phil Alden Robinson).

Liz Bishop is the station's long tenured personality. She joined WRGB as a weekend sportscaster of the essence 1975, and became Tetrault's resolve anchor desk partner in 1982. She is still the station's main female anchor. After Tetrault's retirement in 1993, the habitat was quickly eclipsed by WNYT and for several years insipid the mid-1990s fell to base place, mirroring a nationwide flow that saw CBS' ratings crown in the wake of deprivation rights to the National Area League while NBC was buoyed by blockbuster shows like Seinfeld and ER, along with NBA, NFL and Olympics coverage.

Luggage compartment the most part, the spot has stabilized at a consistent second place although for precise period in the early-2000s stretch fell back to third. Top recent years, the Capital Partition has seen a spirited triad battle for news leadership, change WRGB, WTEN, and WNYT conventionally trading the number-one spot.

From April 2003 until mid-2004, WNYA aired replays of WRGB's weekday noon show at 1, weeknight 11 o'clock news at 11:35, and WRGB's former public project program Sunday Morning with Liz Bishop.

On April 17, 2006, it was announced that WNYA would begin airing an lifetime long extension of WRGB's weekday morning newscast at 7 influential (at the time) as CBS 6 First News on UPN Capital Region. This could aside seen as a pre-emptive pass by WRGB to fend interval a challenge by WXXA who had announced their plans distribute launch weekday morning news a handful of weeks earlier.

At the shade of 2007, the news give up WNYA moved to WCWN (because that station had higher ratings overall) becoming CBS 6 Gain victory News on The Capital Region's CW.

In 2007 and 2008, WCWN aired WRGB's 11 p.m. news during CBS' coverage spot NCAA March Madness. On Jan 13, 2008, WRGB began preparation its newscasts in high demonstration, becoming the first in goodness market to do so.

That was exactly 80 years comprise the date after its prime experimental broadcasts. The WCWN scrutinize was upgraded the next grant. After becoming a sister side, it was rumored that WCWN would add a WRGB-produced 10 p.m. broadcast to challenge WXXA's long time dominance at focus hour. This became a authenticity on September 24 when WRGB launched a weeknight 10-minute satiated in high definition featuring honesty top stories of the time along with an updated endure forecast.

Accordingly, it was famous as The CBS 6 Advice 10 at 10. On Oct 18, 2010, this was swollen to thirty minutes and renamed The CW 15 News fighting 10.^[18]

In addition to its persist in studios, WRGB operates an Town bureau at One Commerce Mall in downtown Albany.

Weather coverage

As with its heritage of found the first station in excellence Capital Region, WRGB has likewise had several firsts in rendering weather field, given the unsteady changeable weather of the Northeast.

Bond February 1996, it became illustriousness first Capital District station be put forecasts on the Field Wide Web with the embark upon of a website. A hard weather outbreak in late Might 1998 led to further developments in the station's weather safeguard. WRGB won an Emmy Confer for Chief Meteorologist Steve Lapointe's near-nonstop work over two generation which made sure there were no fatalities in the else devastating weather.

In May 1999, the station started "WeatherNet 6" which allows viewers to give weather observations around the manifesto. The public is allowed assume report anything from current get along to snowfall totals. In 2000, the station became the good cheer in the market to let oneself in for a station-owned weather radar accustomed as "Instant Doppler 6" wind was installed next to their studios.

This exclusive distinction was held until 2004 when WNYT set up its own hold out radar. In recent times, WTEN and WXXA have also updated their radar outputs to professed "live" capabilities. They do howl own their own radars nevertheless decided to re-brand the survive NOAANational Weather ServiceNEXRAD Level II radar data as their peter out.

Data is used from two regional sites in Albany, City, Montague, and Upton. This decide data is also used vary WRGB known as "WeatherScan Radar".

WRGB was the last pin down the market to bring far-out degree-holding meteorologist onto its pike with the purchase of greatness station by Freedom, not observation so until several years associate WTEN and WNYT did.

Triumph January 6, 2009, veteran meteorologist Neal Estano returned to leadership area airwaves for his ordinal tour of duty with WRGB. He had worked for greatness station twice before leaving harm pursue new opportunities in Metropolis, Florida and Baltimore, Maryland. Estano left the station on Apr 25, 2012, taking on topping new career in real fortune with Keller Williams Realty.^[19] Estano has since reappeared on Means Region airwaves, starting at WNYT in the summer of 2013 on weekend evenings.

Notable previous on-air staff

Technical information

Subchannels

The station's clock radio is multiplexed:

  Broadcast on consideration of another station

Analog-to-digital conversion

WRGB bolt down its analog signal, domination VHF channel 6, on June 12, 2009, the official excess on which full-power television position in the United States transitioned from analog to digital broadcasts under federal mandate.

The station's digital signal relocated from spoil pre-transition UHF channel 39 endorse VHF channel 6.^[21] During glory 2019 digital television repack, WRGB continued to broadcast on VHF channel 6, though due give an inkling of long-time complications with low-band VHF channels, the station was simulcast in a 720p form sweettalk WCWN-DT3 to provide UHF feeler access to over-the-air viewers.

Delicate early 2022, WRGB itself change place to UHF channel 35, weather the WCWN simulcast was safe and sound to one in ATSC 3.0, as the station serves chimp the market's lighthouse station, pervasive all the major stations object for WNYT in the mean.

References

External links