WBNG-TV

Infobox_Broadcast
call_letters = WBNG-TV
city =
station_
station_slogan = Your News Leader
station_branding = WBNG 12; Action News
analog = 12 (VHF)
digital = 7 (VHF)
other_chs =
affiliations = CBS
The CW (future DT2)
network =
founded =
airdate = December 1, 1949
location = Binghamton, New York
callsign_meaning = BiNGhamton
former_callsigns = WNBF-TV (1949-1973)
former_channel_numbers =
owner = Granite Broadcasting Corporation
licensee = WBNG License, Inc.
sister_stations =
former_affiliations = All secondary:
DuMont (1949-1955)
NBC (1949-1957)
ABC (1949-1962)
effective_radiated_power = 166 kW (analog)
20.4 kW (digital)
HAAT = 369 m (analog)
342 m (digital)
class =
facility_id = 23337
coordinates = coord|42|3|31.4|N|75|57|4.9|W|type:landmark_scale:2000
homepage = [http://www.wbng.com/ www.wbng.com]

WBNG-TV is the CBS television affiliate in Binghamton, New York. The station serves the South Central New York-North Central Pennsylvania area. It broadcasts its analog signal on VHF channel 12, and its digital signal on VHF channel 7. The station also operates WBXI, a cable-only affiliate of The CW network serving Binghamton. WBNG's transmitter is located in Binghamton.

In addition to the Binghamton market, WBNG is the default CBS affiliate for most of the Elmira TV market as well as Otsego County in the Utica TV market.

History

The station launched on December 1, 1949 as WNBF-TV, and was affiliated with all four American television networks at the time (CBS, DuMont, NBC and ABC). The station subsequently lost its affiliations with DuMont in 1955 (after the network's collapse), NBC in 1957 (to WICZ-TV, now a Fox affiliate) and ABC in 1962 (to WBJA-TV, later WMGC now WIVT). The station adopted its current callsign, WBNG-TV, in 1973 when the station was sold to Gateway Communications.

In 2000, Gateway Communications was purchased by SJL Broadcasting, which reduced staff from 100 to 58 over five years to fit the aggressive SJL automation model.

In 2002 the station's digital signal on channel 7 signed on. WBNG-DT began broadcasting network programming in high definition in late January 2007. Beginning in September 2007, WBXI will be simulcast on WBNG's new digital subchannel.

In April 2006, it was announced that Granite Broadcasting made a deal to acquire WBNG from Television Station Group License Subsidiary, LLC (the successor to SJL and a subsidiary of Alta Communications) for $45 million. The required money will be funded by a new senior credit facility created after the previously announced sales of Detroit's WMYD and San Francisco's KBWB fell apart. Granite closed on its purchase of WBNG on July 26 2006. [http://www.corporate-ir.net/ireye/ir_site.zhtml?ticker=GBTVK&script=412&layout=-6&item_id=887998]

Coincident with the announced Granite deal, General Manager Joe McNamara took over as GM of KHON in Honolulu, recently acquired by SJL. Bob Krummenacker has taken over of GM of WBNG.

Logos

General Assignment Reporters

*"Julianne Sweeney
*"Caitlin Nuclo
*"Candace Chapman
*"Jessica Light
*"Jon Bruce
*"Erik Burling
*"Greg Catlin
*"James Gaddis
*"Gabe Osterhout
*"Reed Buterbaugh

Meteorologists

*"Doug Peters (5, 5:30, 6, 11 weekdays)
*"Justin Culligan (Weekday mornings and noon)Samantha Augeri (Weekends)

ports Reporters

*"Brendan O'Reilley
*"Justin Horowitz

External links

* [http://www.wbng.com/ WBNG website]
* [http://starbulletin.com/2006/02/02/business/engle.html Details history of WBNG under SJL]
* [http://www.binghamtonpmc.org/bhuston/localism.html Broadcast Localism in Binghamton Market] , report filed under FCC's Broadcast Localism NOI.
* [http://www.wbng.com/inside/bios Reporting Cast]
*TVQ|WBNG
*BIA|WBNG|TV|TV