WZDX

Infobox_Broadcast
call_letters = WZDX
city =
station_
station_slogan =
station_branding = Fox 54
My 8 (on DT2)
analog = 54 (UHF)
digital = 41 (UHF)
other_chs =
affiliations = Fox
MNTV (on DT2)
network =
founded =
airdate = April 20, 1985
location = Huntsville, Alabama
former_callsigns =
former_channel_numbers =
owner = Grant Broadcasting System II
licensee = Huntsville Television Acquisition Licensing, LLC
sister_stations =
former_affiliations = Independent (1985-1990)
effective_radiated_power = 2,240 kW (analog)
400 kW (digital)
HAAT = 515 m (analog)
517.9 m (digital)
class =
facility_id = 28119
coordinates = coord|34|44|12.7|N|86|31|58.9|W|type:landmark_scale:2000 (analog)
coord|34|44|12.7|N|86|31|58.9|W|type:landmark_scale:2000 (digital)
homepage = [http://www.myfoxhsv.com/ myfoxhsv.com]

WZDX, channel 54, is the Fox-affiliated television station for Huntsville, Alabama. Its analog transmitter is located east of the Bucks Canyon section of the city. The station's digital transmitter is located in the Mountain Heights section of Huntsville. Owned by Grant Broadcasting System II, WZDX is sister to cable-only MyNetworkTV affiliate "WAMY-TV". The two stations share studios on North Memorial Parkway (a.k.a. U.S. 231, U.S. 431, and US 72). WZDX's syndicated lineup includes: "Still Standing", "Montel", "Maury", "Tyra", "Everybody Loves Raymond", "Seinfeld", and "Malcolm in the Middle".

Digital television

The station's digital signal is multiplexed. To offer non-cable viewers access to MyNetworkTV programming, WAMY is offered on WZDX's second digital subchannel. In 2009, WZDX will leave channel 54 and move to channel 41 when the analog to digital conversion is complete.

History

WZDX began broadcasting on April 20, 1985. Its first program was a broadcast of the 1968 film "Charly". At that time, the station's transmitter was located on Green Mountain in southeast Huntsville while its studios were located in the northwest section of the city. During the first months after going on-air, WZDX used the slogan "We're Taking You to the Top!". In the beginning, the station was northern Alabama's first independent station and the first new station in nearly 20 years. When the new Fox network began broadcasting in 1987, WZDX abstained from affiliating unlike many independents. However, the station did air occasional Fox broadcasts such as the Emmy Awards.

Eventually in 1990, WZDX became a full time affiliate of the network. In 2002, WZDX launched the second digital signal of the market on UHF channel 41. "WAWB-TV" (now "WAMY-TV"), the area's cable-only WB affiliate, began to be offered on WZDX's second digital subchannel. This move was made in order to offer non-cable viewers access to WB programming. In September of 2003, the tower shared by WZDX and ABC affiliate WAAY-TV collapsed killing three men. Until the tower could be replaced, both WZDX and WAAY broadcasted off the tower of CBS affiliate WHNT-TV.

Newscast

On January 16, 2008, WZDX began airing a 9 o'clock newscast that airs Sunday though Friday nights. It is produced from the Independent News Network in Davenport, Iowa. Except for reporters, the news team is based in Davenport.

"Fox 54 Nine O'Clock News"
"(Sunday though Friday 9 to 9:30 P.M.)"
*Anchors:
**John Beard
**Libby Allison
**Sunya Walls - fill-in
**Phil Doherty - Sundays (weekend producer)
*Producer
**Bill Sindewald
*Weather:
**Pat Walker
**Evan Hutchinson
**Susie Martin - fill-in
*Sports:
**Roland Glembine
*Reporters:
**Ken Conley
**Jamiese Price
*Assignment Editor
**Wil Elrick

External links

* [http://www.myfoxhsv.com/ WZDX "Fox 54"]
* [http://www.mywamy.com/ "WAMY-TV" "My 8"]
*TVQ|WZDX