WRDW-TV

Infobox_Broadcast
call_letters = WRDW-TV
city =
station_
station_slogan = On Your Side
station_branding = News 12
analog = 12 (VHF)
digital = 31 (UHF)
other_chs =
affiliations = CBS
MyNetworkTV (DT2)
The AccuWeather Channel (DT3)
network =
founded =
airdate = February 14, 1954
location = Augusta, Georgia
callsign_meaning =
former_callsigns =
former_channel_numbers =
owner = Gray Television, Inc.
licensee = Gray Television Licensee, Inc.
sister_stations =
former_affiliations = Secondary:
NBC (1954-1968, 1970-1974)
DT2:
UPN (until 2006)
effective_radiated_power = 316 kW (analog)
750.8 kW (digital)
HAAT = 485 m (analog)
469.2 m (digital)
class =
facility_id = 73937
coordinates = coord|33|24|36.6|N|81|50|36.1|W|type:landmark_scale:2000
homepage = [http://www.wrdw.com/ www.wrdw.com]

WRDW-TV is the CBS television affiliate for the Augusta, Georgia television market. In addition to CBS, WRDW-TV provides digital subchannels for MyNetworkTV on DT2 ("12.2") and AccuWeather on DT3 ("12.3"). The station's studios are located in North Augusta, South Carolina. Its transmitter is in Beech Island, South Carolina, where it broadcasts in analog on VHF channel 12, and in digital on UHF channel 31. WRDW-TV is currently owned by Gray Television.

History

The station signed on the air on February 14, 1954 as the second television station in Augusta. Along with a primary CBS affiliation, the station also carried a secondary affiliation with NBC, even after WATU-TV (now WAGT) signed on as the market's third TV station in late 1968. In fact, due to WRDW and WJBF both retaining their secondary NBC affiliations, WATU was forced to sign off in 1970. WRDW-TV continued to air many NBC programs, along with their CBS programs, until WATU returned to the air in 1974 with a primary NBC affiliation. At that time, WRDW-TV finally became a full-time CBS station.

For many years, the station was co-owned with the "Augusta Chronicle". From the mid-1960s to 1979, the station was owned by Rust Craft, whose station group was acquired by Ziff Davis in 1979. ( [http://www.wjks-tv.info/] ) The station was sold along with then sister stations WEYI-TV in Saginaw, Michigan, WROC-TV in Rochester, New York and WTOV-TV in Steubenville, Ohio to Television Station Partners in 1983. Television Station Partners sold off all of its stations in early January 1996, with WRDW going to Gray Communications Systems (now Gray Television).

WRDW-TV was one of the first CBS affiliates to broadcast network programming in HDTV in early 2000. Prior to UPN's shutdown, WRDW-TV carried the network on its DT2 subchannel.

The station's newscasts have been known by various names over the years, including:
*"Action News"
*"Eyewitness News"
*"Channel 12 News"
*"News 12" (current branding)

News 12 was updated in 2004 with brand new graphics from graphics company Cinemagic design. A brand new state-of-the-art news set soon followed in early 2005, built by set designer Gil Jiminez.

WRDW shares call letters with local AM station WRDW-AM and Philadelphia hip hop station WRDW-FM (both owned by Beasley Broadcasting and unrelated to channel 12.

Logos

The Longest Running Anchor Team in Augusta

WRDW-TV had the longest-running anchor team in the Augusta market with Richard Rogers and Laurie Ott anchoring the 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. weekday news. They were co-anchors together from the mid 1990's until September 2007, when Laurie Ott left. Chief Meteorologist Bob Smith has been forecasting for the CSRA since 1977. The station celebrated his 30th anniversary on May 1 with special features in each newscast.

=Current New Personalities=

Anchor

* [http://www.wrdw.com/station/bios/news/1718662.html Tom Campbell] Midday and First At Five Anchor/Reporter
* [http://www.wrdw.com/station/bios/news/6002176.html Melissa Tune] First At Five Anchor/Reporter
* [http://www.wrdw.com/station/bios/news/1718647.html Richard Rogers] 6:00 p.m and 11:00 p.m Anchor/Reporter
* [http://www.wrdw.com/station/bios/news/5264361.html Meredith Anderson] 6:00 p.m and 11:00 p.m Anchor/Reporter
* [http://www.wrdw.com/station/bios/news/16391736.html Stacey Hilton] Morning Anchor/Reporter
* [http://www.wrdw.com/station/bios/news/3022036.html Lynnsey Gardner] Weekend Anchor/Reporter

Reporters

* [http://www.wrdw.com/station/bios/news/5267336.html Jeff Anderson] 12 On Your Side Reporter
* [http://www.wrdw.com/station/bios/news/13866117.html Samantha Andre] General Assignment Reporter/Photojournalist
* [http://www.wrdw.com/station/bios/news/20564434.html Katie Beasley] General Assignment Reporter/Photojournalist
* [http://www.wrdw.com/station/bios/news/19787794.html Ashley Jeffery] General Assignment Reporter/Photojournalist
* [http://www.wrdw.com/station/bios/news/8832607.html Gene Petriello] Aiken County Beat Reporter
* [http://www.wrdw.com/station/bios/news/9035872.html Shalah Sasse] General Assignment Reporter/Photojournalist
* [http://www.wrdw.com/station/bios/news/8573782.html Chris Thomas] City Government Reporter
*Laurie Ott Contributor

Weather

* [http://www.wrdw.com/station/bios/weather/1718732.html Bob Smith] Chief Meteorologist
* [http://www.wrdw.com/station/bios/weather/1995727.html Tim Strong] Morning and Midday Meteorologist
* [http://www.wrdw.com/station/bios/weather/9692742.html Michael White] Weekend Meteorologist

ports

* [http://www.wrdw.com/station/bios/sports/2107517.html Kevin Faigle] Sports Director
* [http://www.wrdw.com/station/bios/sports/22873324.html Matt Barnes] Weekend Sports Anchor

Past News Personalities

*Ken Allen, Sports Anchor/Reporter (?-2005)
*Stephanie Baker, General Assignment Reporter (2005-2007, now at WNCN-TV)
*Domonique Benn (2000-2007, now at WTKR
*Troy Bridges (1997-2001, Morning Meteorologist/News Anchor, now Chief Meteorologist at KLRT-TV Little Rock)
*Charlie Britt, Anchor
*Diane Cho, General Assignment Reporter (2005-2007, now at WJXT)
*Adam Clark, Weekend Meteorologist (2005-2007, now Chief Met. at KOHD-TV Bend, OR)
*Dave Conrady, Weekend Anchor/Reporter (?-2002)
*Kristin Cosby, General Assignment Reporter (2004-2006, now at WAWS/WTEV-TV)
*Paul Davis, Sports Director (Associate Director of Development at Graceland University in Lamoni, Iowa)
*Jason Dollard, Weekend Meteorologist (2003-2005)
*Ryan Duffy, Consumer Reporter (2002-2006, now at WTLV/WJXX-TV)
*Prentice Elliot, Weekend Sportscaster/Sports Director (2003-2008)
*Jessica Floyd, General Assignment Reporter (2007-2008)
*Julia Harding, Weekend Anchor/Reporter (1997-2003, now at WAGA Fox 5 Atlanta)
*Scott Harbaugh, Weekend Meteorologist (?-2001, now at WPXI-TV)
*Samantha Hayes, Morning Anchor/Reporter (?-2003, now at KSL-TV)
*Chick Hernandez, Sports Director/Anchor (1990-1993, now w/Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic)
*Jay Jefferies, Morning Weather Anchor (?-2005, now at WAGT-TV)
*Nisha Jindal, General Assignment Reporter (2003-2006, now at WHNS-TV)
*Kelly Klien, Sports Anchor/Reporter (now a professional photographer in New York City)
*Johanne Lochard, Anchor/Reporter (2000-2004, now at KSAT-TV)
*Jonathan Martin, General Assignment Reporter (2005-2007, now at WSMV-TV)
*Jill McNeal, Weekend Anchor/Reporter (2003-2005, now at WFMY-TV)
*Don Reeve, Weekend Meteorologist (2001-2003)
*Traci Richardson, Consumer Reporter (?-2002)
*Erich Spivey, General Assignment Reporter (2004-2006, now at WTLV/WJXX-TV)
*Meredith Taylor, Morning Anchor/Reporter (2004-2007, now at WHIO-TV)
*Kate Tillotson, Weekend Anchor/Reporter (2005-2007, now at WWMT)
*Marc Willis, General Assignment Reporter (?-2003, now at WPXI-TV)
*Kisha Foster, Weekend Anchor/Reporter (now at WYFF-TV)
*Lachlan McLean, Weekend Sports Anchor (1996-1999, now at WHAS-AM radio)
*Carolyn Gaeta, "12 On Your Side" Reporter (1995-1999, now Public Relations Director for Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom)

External links

* [http://www.wrdw.com/ WRDW-TV Website]
* [http://www.wrdw.com/mynetwork "My12" Website]
*TVQ|WRDW
*BIA|WRDW|TV|TV