WSHM-LP

Infobox_Broadcast
call_letters = WSHM-LP/LD
(semi-satellite of WFSB
Hartford, Connecticut)
station_
station_slogan = Springfield's New Choice
for Local News
station_branding = CBS 3 Springfield
analog = 67 (UHF)
digital = 41 (UHF) 33 (UHF, WFSB-DT 3.2)
affiliations = CBS
Weather (on DT3)
founded = 1988 (as TBN affiliate)
November of 2003
(as CBS affiliate)
location = Springfield / Holyoke, Massachusetts
former_callsigns = W42AU (1988-1994)
W67DF (1994-2003)
former_channel_numbers = 42 (1988-1994)
effective_radiated_power = 1.6 kW (analog)
4.7 kW (digital)
callsign_meaning = Springfield / Holyoke, Massachusetts
owner = Meredith Corporation
sister_stations = WFSB
HAAT = 265 m (analog)
151 m (digital)
coordinates = coord|42|14|28.0|N|72|38|54.0|W|type:landmark (analog)
coord|42|10|49.0|N|72|48|4.0|W|type:landmark (digital)
facility_id = 67980 (analog)
168233 (digital)
former_affiliations = TBN (1988-2003)
homepage = [http://www.cbs3springfield.com cbs3springfield.com]

WSHM-LP is the low-powered CBS-affiliated television station for the Pioneer Valley of Massachusetts that is licensed to Springfield. It broadcasts an analog signal on UHF channel 67 from a transmitter located on Mount Tom in Holyoke. WSHM-LD (LD standing for low-power digital) broadcasts a digital signal on UHF channel 41 from a transmitter located northeast of Woronoco. Owned by the Meredith Corporation, the station has studios at Monarch Place in downtown Springfield. Syndicated programming on WSHM includes: "Inside Edition", "Entertainment Tonight", "Oprah", and "Dr. Phil". The station is sister to CBS affiliate WFSB in Hartford, Connecticut.

That station serves as the network's affiliate in the state of Connecticut (except Fairfield County). Although it identifies as a station in its own right, WSHM is considered a semi-satellite of WFSB. It clears all of WFSB's syndicated programming with some of it airing at different times. WSHM's master control and some internal operations are housed at WFSB's studios on Capital Boulevard in Rocky Hill, Connecticut. In the Pioneer Valley, WSHM is seen on channel 3 on most cable systems and DirecTV. As a result, it is known on-air as "CBS 3 Springfield".

Digital signal

Since its sign-on, WSHM has not broadcast a digital signal of its own. Instead, there is one offered on WFSB's second digital subchannel. WSHM also holds an FCC-issued construction permit to build a low-powered digital station on channel 41 to broadcast from a new transmitter northeast of Woronoco. This new channel, approved in April 2007, is expected to provide a new, stronger digital signal. The launch is planned for sometime in 2008 with the following subchannels:

According to current television listings, channel 41 is broadcasting but its over-the-air signal has not been received yet. A high definition signal of WSHM became available on Comcast digital cable channel 803 on February 28, 2008. Previously, WFSB-DT has been offered on that channel. WFSB-DT has since moved to Comcast digital cable channel 291. A previous application filed with the FCC that called for WSHM to launch its own low-power digital station on channel 49 was dismissed in June of 2006. Another application, to move the existing analog signal to channel 45, was dismissed in 2004 at WSHM's request. Technically, the station would not legally be required to turn off its analog signal and turn on a digital signal because of its low powered status. This transition will be mandatory for all full-power US television stations on or before February 17, 2009.

History

WSHM-LP began its life as W42AU. It was located on channel 42, broadcasted as a low-power station, and was part of religious broadcaster Trinity Broadcasting's nationwide network. In 1994, it moved to channel 67 and was re-named W67DF. TBN sold the station to Meredith in 2003. At that point, WFSB was looking at setting up a separate Springfield operation for reasons ranging from advertising to complaints from New England Patriots fans in weeks when WFSB chose to air other AFC games instead. In November of 2003, the channel was re-launched as WSHM-LP and it took WFSB's spot on most Massachusetts cable systems. Prior to WSHM's launch, WFSB had a long legacy dating back to 1965 when WHYN-TV (today's WGGB-TV) ended its secondary affiliation with CBS. From that point until November 2003, WFSB served as the default CBS affiliate in the Springfield / Holyoke market. The WHYN call letters now belong to a pair of Springfield area radio stations, WHYN AM 560 and WHYN-FM 93.1, which partner with WSHM for winter weather storm closings.

WFSB bought syndicated programming for the Hartford / New Haven as well as the Springfield / Holyoke markets. It also blocked several attempts by WGGB to switch affiliation from ABC to CBS. In August of 2006, WSHM redesigned its website. The station also changed their logo from one resembling sister station KPHO to a logo resembling (but unrelated to) CBS affiliate KYW-TV. In April 2007, WSHM redesigned its website again. On May 25, WFSB's downtown Hartford studios were flooded by a water main break. The water damaged the station's remote trucks as well as its electrical and telephone systems. The flooding knocked out power and phone service to the building which in turn caused WFSB to go dark. WSHM's master control was also affected and the station went black for about an hour mid-afternoon and intermittently throughout the evening. There were some points during the weekend that its "CBS 3 Springfield" IDs were being seen on WFSB and WFSB's IDs were seen on WSHM. On June 27, the master controls of WFSB and WSHM were moved from WFSB's old studios at 3 Constitution Plaza in downtown Hartford to channel 3's new facilities in Rocky Hill.

=News operation=

In October of 2005, WSHM started a news department and began producing newscasts from its studios using Grass Valley's Ignite control room system. Local news airs on weeknights and Saturdays at 6 and 11 as well as on Sundays at 6:30 and 11. Since entering the local news race, WSHM has struggled to make a dent in the ratings of WWLP and WGGB. The station offers a live stream of its 24-hour local weather channel, known as "CBS 3 Springfield Weather Now", on its website. The channel airs local weather updates. Whenever WSHM's digital signal signs on, the weather channel will also be seen on its third digital subchannel. "CBS 3 Springfield Weather Now" can also be seen on Comcast digital cable channel 293.

The station debuted the market's first 10 P.M. newscast on August 18, 2008. Known as "CBS 3 Springfield Non-Stop News at 10", it airs in a fast pace commercial-free format on "CBS 3 Springfield Weather Now" seven nights a week. The 20 minute newscast is also streamed live on the station's website. During its newscasts, WSHM uses WFSB's weather radar that is known as "Early Warning Pinpoint Doppler". It is renamed as "Live Doppler" for use on WSHM. The radar is located at Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks, Connecticut which offers an even coverage area for the two stations. Boston's CBS affiliate, WBZ-TV, shares its resources with WSHM for news coverage of eastern Massachusetts. Along with CBS News, WSHM is also a CNN affiliate. The station airs "Better Springfield" on weekday mornings at 10 and news updates on the hour under the title "CBS 3 Springfield News Now".

News team

Anchors
*Doug Lezette - News Director seen on weeknights at 6
*Jennifer Thome - weeknights at 6, 10, and 11
*Liz Tufts - weekends
**reporter

Meteorologists
*Brandon Butcher (AMS and NWA Seals of Approval) - Chief seen on weeknights
*Nick Morganelli (AMS Seal of Approval) - weekends
**fill-in at NECN

Sports
*Scott Harris - Director seen on weeknights
*Jonathan Selig - weekends
**host of "Bernie's Valley Sports Replay" and sports reporter
*Amy Lynn Stanley - sports reporter

Reporters
*Lesley Tanner
*Miranda Grossman
*Matthew Campbell
*Matt DeLucia
*Justine Judge

Former personalities

*Tom Bevacqua - fill-in meteorologist
*Harry Cicma - now sports reporter and fill-in sports anchor at WJAR
*Anne Ebeling - reporter
**now reporter at Parents TV
*Lindsay Liepman - now anchor and reporter at WINK-TV
*Tracy McCain - now at WFMY-TV
*Kaitlyn Pratt - now reporter at WSAV-TV
*Amanda Raus - now reporter at WVIT
*John Rupolo - now reporter at WICU-TV
*Nadia Salomon - now freelancing at The Boston Globe
*Sam Sampieri - now producer and fill-in meteorologist at WTIC-TV
*Jeremy Schmidt - now weekend morning meteorologist at WVIT
*Nick Spinetto - now reporter at WINK-TV

External links

* [http://www.cbs3springfield.com/ WSHM-LP/LD "CBS 3 Springfield"]
* [http://www.wfsb.com/ WFSB "Channel 3"]
*TVQ|WSHM-LP
*TVQ|WSHM-LD