WTSP

Infobox_Broadcast
call_letters = WTSP
city =
station_
station_slogan = News. Views. Conversations.
station_branding = 10 Connects (general)
10 Connects News (newscasts)
analog = 10 (VHF)
digital = 24 (UHF)
other_chs =
affiliations = CBS (since 1994)
network =
founded = July 1965 [The "Broadcasting and Cable Yearbook" says July 17, while the "Television and Cable Factbook" says July 18.]
location = St. Petersburg / Tampa, Florida
callsign_meaning = Tampa/St. Petersburg
former_callsigns = WLCY-TV (1965-1978)
former_channel_numbers =
owner = Gannett Company
licensee = Pacific and Southern Company, Inc.
sister_stations =
former_affiliations = independent (1965)
ABC (1965-1994)
effective_radiated_power = 316 kW (analog)
625 kW (digital)
HAAT = 458 m (analog)
440 m (digital)
class =
facility_id = 11290
coordinates = coord|28|11|5.1|N|82|45|37.7|W|type:landmark_region:US_scale:2000
homepage = [http://www.10connects.com/ www.10connects.com]

WTSP, channel 10, is a CBS-affiliate television station on the west coast of Florida (Tampa–St. Petersburg DMA 13). It broadcasts its analog signal on VHF channel 10, and its digital signal on UHF channel 24. Its transmitter is located in Holiday, Florida. The station is run by the Gannett Company and its studios are based in St. Petersburg (its city of license). WTSP is one of two full-powered stations with studios located in St. Petersburg instead of Tampa alongside nearby WTOG. It is also one of three full-powered stations based in Pinellas County, counting WCLF.

Because its transmitter location is farther north than the other major stations in the market (in order to protect Miami's WPLG), WTSP's signal cannot be seen well in Sarasota, Hardee and Highlands Counties, and viewers without cable must rely on WINK-TV in Fort Myers for CBS programming. In addition, unlike the other Tampa network affiliates, WTSP's signal reaches as far north as Levy County and Marion County.

History

The station began broadcasting on July 17, 1965, as WLCY-TV after a lengthy court battle that lasted nearly ten years between five prospective owners seeking the license, including the "St. Petersburg Times". [ [http://www.tampabays10.com/company/aboutus/ Station history page] ] It was owned by Rahall Communications along with WLCY radio (AM 1380, now WWMI; and FM 94.9, now WWRM). Until 1981 it was licensed to Largo, near St. Petersburg, but its studios have always been in St. Petersburg.

The station was granted affiliation with ABC, but the station spent the first month and a half as an independent station, as previous ABC affiliate WSUN-TV (channel 38, the frequency is now occupied by WTTA) went to court to keep the affiliation. The city of St. Petersburg, owners of WSUN-TV, had been one of the applicants for the channel 10 license, having jumped in out of fear of losing its ABC affiliation. WLCY ultimately won, and formally switched to ABC in a special ceremony on September 1, 1965. As a condition for being placed on VHF channel 10 instead of a UHF placement, the station was required to produce 20 hours of public service programming a week by the FCC.

Early personalities included Dick Crippen, who originally presented weather and then sports; Marshall Cleaver, Al Stockmeyer, Art Johnson, and Karol Kelly, many of whom also hosted programs for WLCY radio. Cleaver was the original news anchor for much of the 1960s and early 1970s.

The station also aired such original children's programs as "Submarine 10", "Romper Room", "10 Ultimate" and "This Side Up" and original talk shows such as "Russ Byrd's Morning Show", "The John Eastman Show", "The Liz Richards Show" and the popular "Murphy in the Morning".

The 1970s

In 1971, WXLT (now WWSB) signed on from Sarasota as WLCY's signal could not come in well in most of Sarasota County as WLCY's transmitter was (and still is) in Holiday.

In 1976, former WFLA-TV anchor Arch Deal became the news director and main anchor for "Eyewitness News". WLCY also broadcast the first 5:30 newscast in the Bay Area during the late 1970s up until 1980 when the newscast was moved to 6pm. Ratings for the station during the early to mid 1970s were dismal, however, compared to longtime Bay Area stations WTVT and WFLA-TV and, as a result, the station nearly lost its ABC affiliation. Part of the problem was its transmitter location in Holiday, in the southwestern corner of Pasco County (all other stations broadcasted from Riverview, in Hillsborough County). It also operated at a lower power than the Tampa stations.

However, on September 12, 1978, WLCY-TV was purchased by Gulf Broadcasting. New owner Alan Henry (of WINS New York fame) and General Manager Larry Clamage immediately began to turn the station around, changing the call letters to WTSP-TV that year and hiring several new personalities who would change the entire face of the station. WTSP, ironically, was originally the calls for AM 1380 when that station was owned by the St. Petersburg Times in the 1940s and 1950s. This was similar to what Roone Arledge had done for ABC News that same year. Beginning in 1979, Don Harrison (previously from KMSP-TV in Minneapolis-St. Paul), Liz Ayers, Wally Kinnan and Dick Crippen were the new anchors of the Channel 10 evening newscasts. Ratings surged, making the Tampa Bay market more competitive. In 1979, Channel 10 acquired the original, and famous, sunset logo (which was later duplicated by its sister station KTSP in Phoenix, Arizona) along with the "Action News" format. In April 1979, the station built a taller transmission tower, improving the station's broadcasting capabilities.

WTSP is also a station of firsts. In October 1979, the station acquired "Sky 10," Tampa Bay's first television news helicopter. This stunned the local news community and showed that Channel 10 was serious about local news coverage. It was the only local news helicopter to broadcast the infamous Skyway Bridge disaster on live television in May 1980. Another technological advance was Tampa Bay's first satellite news truck called "Star 10" that beamed signals from far away locations to WTSP's Gandy Blvd. headquarters. WTSP also acquired Tampa Bay's first Doppler weather radar in the Southeastern United States in 1980 and was one of the first television stations in the country to use a computer in weather forecasting called "WeatherEye".

The 1980s

In late 1982, news anchor Don Harrison left WTSP to become an anchor at upstart cable channel CNN2, now CNN Headline News. John Wilson replaced Harrison as anchor. On January 9, 1983, Sheryl Browne, from WKYC-TV in Cleveland, Ohio joined Wilson at the anchor desk on "Action News," rounding out the station's main anchor team. Longtime WTSP chief meteorologist Dick Fletcher joined the station in March 1980 and became famous for his forecasting during Hurricane Elena in 1985. Award-winning reporter Mike Deeson and legendary sports anchor Ken Broo also bolstered the station in the early 1980s.

In 1980, the station launched an aggressive marketing campaign. By 1982, WTSP had passed WFLA in the evening news ratings and did so until the later part of the decade. WTSP has won many prestigious awards, including the George Foster Peabody award in 1983.

WTSP was the second television station in the Bay Area to launch an hour long 6 PM newscast in 1986. Rival WTVT had been the first to do so many years earlier and WTSP attempted it in an effort to pass WTVT to the top of the local news ratings. The effort only lasted until 1987, however.

Taft Broadcasting purchased the station along with four other Gulf properties in 1985. Then, in 1988, Taft sold its independent stations and Fox affiliates to TVX, and sold most of its network affiliates, including WTSP, to Great American Broadcasting (which became known as Citicasters by 1995).

In March 1989, one of the first computer espionage scandals in the nation broke, when news director Terry Cole hired Michael Shapiro away from rival WTVT where he was a news manager and computer security officer. Shapiro repeatedly broke into the newsroom computer system of his former employer using a modem at his home - apparently with Cole's knowledge. Both were fired and were sentenced by Florida court to probation for the incident.

In June 1989, "Action News" became "NewsCenter 10" and a 5 p.m. newscast was launched.

The 1990s

In 1994, Scripps Howard arranged for several of its stations (including WFTS, which was about to lose its Fox affiliation to WTVT due to the corporate deal between New World Communications, WTVT's owner at the time, and Fox) to affiliate with ABC. As a result, WTSP was to lose its ABC affiliation, and gain the CBS affiliation instead. CBS's programming moved to WTSP in December 1994, in a 3-way affiliation switch that caused much viewer confusion. The change to CBS occurred on December 12, 1994, and resulted in the station moving from third to second place in the local news ratings although a later resurgent WTVT and competition from newly started WFTS would make second place a toss up for the rest of the 1990s. WFLA would serve as the market leader.

Citicasters (which held on to WTSP and WKRC-TV in Cincinnati, Ohio after it sold its other television stations to New World and Fox Television Stations) merged with Jacor in September 1996. Three months later, in December 1996, Gannett acquired WTSP in a swap deal, selling six of its radio stations — KIIS-AM (now KTLK) and KIIS-FM in Los Angeles, California, KSDO-AM and KSDO-FM (now KLQV) in San Diego, California and WDAE and WUSA-FM (now WMTX) in Tampa, Florida — to Jacor in return.

In January 1998, Reginald Roundtree replaced Pat Minarcin as the lead male anchor of "10 News". Minarcin later sued the station for age discrimination.

Current

On October 14, 2002, the station launched a new news format and image. A new, state of the art digital newsroom was also constructed for WTSP's news staff.

On January 14, 2008, WTSP was the third station in Tampa Bay to launch high definition newscast, behind rivals WFTS and WFLA. Along with the new HD format came a brand-new news set, graphics package, and music package.

In September 2008, Chris Suchan was announced to take the place of morning meteorologist Anna Allen who had been at the station since 2004. Soon after, Tammie Souza was announced as the new chief meteorologist, taking long-time chief meteorologist Dick Fletcher's place after he passed away from a stroke in February.

On October 9th, 2008, WTSP rebranded itself yet again from Tampa Bay's 10 to 10 Connects. Along with the new name came a new music package and graphics package.

Digital Television

Bright House Networks is the main sponsor of WTSP's digital programming.

Analog-to-digital conversion

After the analog television shutdown scheduled for February 17, 2009 http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1082A2.pdf] , WTSP will return to channel 10. [http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/cdbsmenu.hts?context=25&appn=101233450&formid=387&fac_num=11290 CDBS Print ] ]

Newscast Line-up

Weekdays

*" 10 Connects This Morning " - 5:00AM-7:00AMAnchor: Ginger Gadsden
Weather: Chris Suchan
Traffic: (TBD)

*" 10 Connects News at Noon " - 12:00PM-12:30PMAnchor: Ginger Gadsden
Weather: Chris Suchan

*" 10 Connects News at 4:00 " - 4:00PM-5:00PMAnchors: Dave Wirth, Marty Matthews
Weather: Tammie Souza

*" 10 Connects News at 6:00 " - 6:00PM-6:30PMAnchors: Reginald Roundtree, Heather Van Nest
Weather: Tammie Souza
Sports: Justin Allen

*" 10 Connects News at 11:00 " - 11:00PM-11:35PMAnchors: Reginald Roundtree, Heather Van Nest
Weather: Tammie Souza
Sports: Justin Allen

Weekends

*" 10 Connects This Morning Saturday " - 6:00AM-8:00AM (Saturday only)Anchor: (TBD)
Weather: Sherry Ray

*" 10 Connects News at 6:00 " - 6:00PM-6:30PMAnchor: (TBD)
Weather: (TBD)
Sports: Angela Jacobs

*" 10 Connects News at 11:00 " - 11:00PM-11:35PMAnchor: (TBD)
Weather: (TBD)
Sports: Angela Jacobs

Current Personalities

Anchors
*Reginald Roundtree, Weekday 6PM and 11PM anchor
*Heather Van Nest, Weekday 6PM and 11PM anchor
*Dave Wirth, Weekday 4PM anchor
*Marty Matthews, Weekday 4PM anchor
*Ginger Gadsden, Weekday morning and noon anchor

Meteorologists
*Tammie Souza, (AMS Certified) Chief meteorologist http://www.tampabays10.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=89439&catid=8]
*Sherry Ray, (AMS Seal of Approval) Saturday morning meteorologist
*Chris Suchan, (AMS Seal of Approval) Weekday morning/noon meteorologist
*Rob Jones, Freelance meteorologist

Sports
*Justin Allen, Sports anchor
*Angela Jacobs, Sports anchor/reporter
*Chris Tilley, Sports director
*Travis Bell, Sports reporter

Reporters
*Dave Balut, Investigative reporter
*Melanie Brooks, General assignment reporter (also fills in for anchors)
*Kathryn Bursch, General assignment reporter
*Mike Deeson, General assignment reporter
*Tammie Fields, General assignment reporter (also fills in for anchors)
*Isabel Mascareñas, Education reporter
*Preston Rudie, General assignment reporter
*Beau Zimmer, General assignment reporter
*Janie Porter, General assignment reporter (also fills in for anchors)
*David Leonard, General assignment reporter
*Brittany Benner, General assignment reporter
*Grayson Kamm, Morning reporter
*Hetal Gandhi, General assignment reporter

Past Personalities

*John Wilson, 6 and 11pm anchor "(1981–1993)" (now at WTVT)
*Sheryl Browne, 6 and 11pm anchor "(1983–1992)"
*Don Harrison, 6 and 11pm anchor "(1979-1982)"
*Liz Ayers, 6 and 11pm anchor "(1979-1983)"
*Arch Deal, evening anchor/news director "(1976–1978)"
*R.A. Campbell, anchor "(1976)"
*Marshall Cleaver, 6/11pm anchor "(1965-1977)"
*Bob Bates, weekend anchor "(1978–1980)"
*Gary Rebstock, 6/11pm anchor "(1977–1979)"
*Rick Moore, 6/11pm anchor "(1977–1978)"
*John Favole, reporter "(1979–1982)" (now at WPTV-TV)
*Francie Murphy, anchor "(1977–1979)"
*Dennis Roper, anchor "(1979–1984)"
*Mark Feldstein, I-Team "(1980–1985)"
*Kevin Kalwary, I-Team investigative reporter "(1980s-early 1990s)" (now Investigator/Media Liaison for Tampa law firm Cohen, Jayson, & Foster)
*Sue Zelenko, 6/11pm anchor "(1991–2004)"
*Pat Minarcin, 6 and 11pm anchor "(1994–1998)"
*Al Ruechel, morning/noon anchor "(1986–1996)" (now at Bay News 9, Tampa, FL)
*Marlene Schneider, anchor "(1985–1992)"
*Jane Akre, anchor "(1991–1995)"
*Dave Wagner, anchor "(1987–1999)" (now at WCNC-TV in Charlotte, NC)
*Miles O'Brien, reporter "(1984–1986)" (now at CNN)
*Rod Challenger, news director/anchor "(1978–1979)" (now at WFLA-TV)
*Jule McGee, reporter "(1965–1967)"
*Stan Grams, first WLCY-TV weatherman "(1965-1969)"
*Sonny Daye, weather personality "(1969-1976)"
*Dave Drew, evening weatherman (early 1970's)
*Wally "The Weatherman" Kinnan "(1978–1980)"
*Dennis Feltgen, meteorologist "(1989–1999)" (now at NOAA)
*Jim Wegner, meteorologist (1980s)
*Jim Brihan, meteorologist (1980s)
*Mike Ferell, meteorologist "(1987–1993)"
*Dick Crippen, sports director "(1965–1981)" (now at Catch 47)
*Ken Broo, sports director "(1981–1987)" (now at WLWT Ch. 5, Cincinnati, OH)
*Steve Talbot, sports director "(1987–1988)"
*Al Keck, sports director "(1988–2001)" (now at WFTS Ch. 28, Tampa, FL)
*John Nugent, sports director "(2001–2006)" (now at WCIV in Charleston, SC)
*Bill Campbell,"Campbell's Corner"/reporter "(1975–1993)"
*Bill Murphy, "Murphy in the Morning" "(1985–1991)" (later went to WTVT, now retired)
*Russ Byrd, "Russ Byrd's Morning Show" (1965-1971)
*June Hurley, Romper Room hostess
*Myrtle Smith-Carroll, reporter, host "Youth & You"(1978–1983)"
*Julie Brannon, "PM Magazine" "(1986–1989)"
*Andrea McDaniel, reporter "(1982–1985)"
*Madeleine Holland, morning anchor "(1991–1995)"
*John O'Connor, "PM Magazine"/anchor "(1986–1989)" (now primary anchor at WTEV in Jacksonville, FL)
*Laura York, weather "(1996-2001)"
*Mary Beth Byrd, morning anchor "(1996-2001)"
*David Klugh, morning/noon anchor "(1991-1999)"
*Paul Morill, freelance weather "(2004-2005)"
*Gemma Gaudette, morning anchor "(2004-2006)" (now at KBCI)
*Jeff Berardelli, meteorologist "(1999-2003)" (now at WFOR-TV)
*Darryl David, 5pm anchor "(1989-1991)"
*Jineane Ford, 5pm anchor "(1989-1991)"
*Lisa Foronda, weekend anchor "(1992-1997)"
* [http://www.woio.com/Global/story.asp?S=802099 Lynna Lai] , morning reporter/anchor "(mid 1990s)" (currently at WOIO in Cleveland, OH and married to noted attorney [http://www.wmslawohio.com/attorneys_detail.asp?gid=5&id=7 Phillip C. Kosla, Esq.] )
*John Harding, morning anchor "(2000-2004)" (now at KKTV)
*Michelle Caruso-Cabrera, reporter "(1994-1998)" (now at CNBC)
*Debra Becker, reporter "(1990s)"
*David Snepp, reporter "(1987-1989)"
*Mark Douglas, reporter "(1980s-90s)" (now at WFLA-TV)
*Brian Goff, reporter "(1980s-90s)"
*Jerry Johnson, sports anchor/reporter "(1982-2001)"
*Bill McGinty, reporter/anchor "(1994-2007)" (now at KHQ-TV and KFFX-TV Spokane, WA)
*Vince Meloy, sports anchor "(1960s)"
*Herb Hunt, Tampa reporter "(1960s)"
*Phil Hunter, reporter "(1960s)"
*DeAnna Sheffield, reporter "(2002-2007)"
*Cliff Michaelsen, meteorologist "(2003-2005)"
*Linda Gialanella, meteorologist "(1992-2001)" (now at WFTS)
*Craig Sager, sportscaster, "(1970's)" (Now at TBS)
*Dick Fletcher, chief meteorologist "(1980-2008)" (deceased)
*Mario Diaz, former morning anchor & later 11pm reporter "(2004-2008)" (now with the John McCain campaign)
*Anna Allen, morning/noon meteorologist "(2004-2008)"
*Meredyth Censullo, Traffic reporter "(2005-2008)" (now at WFTS)
*Angela Atalla, Saturday morning anchor/reporter "(?-2008)"
*Sara Dorsey, General assignment reporter "(2005-2007)"
*Alexandra Hackett, General assignment reporter "(2004-2008)"
*Valerie Boey, General assignment reporter "(2004-2007)"
*Randy Rauch, weekend meteorologist "(2004-2008)"
*Stephanie Roberts, freelance meteorologist "(2008)" (now at WFTS)
*Jennifer Howe, weekend anchor "(1996-2008)"

News/Station Presentation

Newscast Titles

*"WLCY-TV News" (1965-1968)
*"Newsnight" (1968-1974)
*"Eyewitness News" (1974-1977)
*"Action NewsCenter" (1977-1978)
*"Action 10 News" (1978-1979)
*"Action News" (1979-1989)
*"NewsCenter 10" (1989-1992)
*"10 News" (1992-2002)
*"Tampa Bay's 10 News" (2002-2008)
*"10 Connects News" (2008-present)

tation Slogans

*"WLCY-TV: Where The Action Is!" (1965)
*"Eyewitness News: All the News There Is" (1975-1977)
*"They used to laugh at us. They aren't laughing anymore." (1977)
*"Turn to 10" (1978 as WTSP)
*"Take A Look (at Channel 10)" (1979-1981)
*"Follow the New Leader" (1984)
*"Stay In Touch With 10" (1983-1989)
*"NewsCenter 10: In the Center of it All" (1989-1992)
*"10 News: News You Can Use" (1992-1994)
*"Where News Comes First" (1994-1995)
*"The Next Generation of News" (1994-1996)
*"Keep Your Eye on Tampa Bay's 10" (1994-1996; used to promote CBS's move to WTSP)
*"We've Got You Covered" (1996-1998)
*"People You Can Count On" (1998-2001)
*"Covering Tampa Bay" (2001-2002)
*"Enjoy It. We Do." (2002-2008)
*"You'll Be Seeing Red" promo for the revamped Channel 10 (2002)
*"News. Views. Conversations." (2008-present)
*"Tampa Bay's Information Center" (2008-present; used on newscast introductions)

External links

* [http://www.tampabays10.com/ WTSP Homepage]
*TVQ|WTSP
*BIA|WTSP|TV|TV
* [http://www.mcsittel.com/html/photos2.html mcsittel.com: 1990s DX screengrabs from Tallahassee -- includes a 1992 WTSP ABC schedule screengrab]
* [http://www.flnewscenter.com/tampa/wtsp/wtsp.htm WTSP images/video @ Florida News Center] Contains an image and video archive of the intros, teasers, and other on-air segments that WTSP uses; both past and present.

References