WBIR-TV
Encyclopedia
WBIR-TV, channel 10, is the NBC
affiliate television station in Knoxville, Tennessee
. The station is licensed to the Gannett Pacific Corporation, a subsidiary of the Gannett Company
. Its transmitter is located in the broadcasting antenna farm on Sharp's Ridge
in Knoxville.
television network, taking that affiliation away from WTVK (channel 26, now WVLT-TV
on channel 8). During the late 1950s, the station was also briefly affiliated with the NTA Film Network
. WBIR-TV was owned and named after Jesse W. "Jay" Birdwell, who also owned WBIR radio (1240 AM, now WIFA
; and 103.5 FM, now WIMZ). Although WBIR radio's sign off was "We are the Best In Radio," which spelled out WBIR, the TV station's call letters actually came from the first three letters of Jay Birdwell's last name.
Birdwell was also one of the partners who had put WJHL-TV
, the CBS affiliate in Johnson City, Tennessee
(Tri-Cities
), on the air in 1953. Shortly after signing Channel 10 on the air in Knoxville, Birdwell gave up his interest in WJHL-TV because channel 10's city-grade analog signal covered the area between Morristown
and Greeneville
, which is part of the Tri-Cities market. At the time, the Federal Communications Commission
(FCC) normally did allow common ownership of two stations with overlapping signals, and would not even consider granting a waiver for a city-grade overlap. Birdwell, who now had lesser partners in the ownership of WBIR-TV, opted to keep WBIR-TV because he still owned WBIR-AM-FM.
However, in 1957, Birdwell abruptly sold his majority interest in the WBIR stations to a group of investors: general manager John P. Hart, Gilmore Nunn, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Ashe, and Taft Broadcasting
of Cincinnati. On October 29, 1959, Nunn, the Ashes, and Hart sold their 70 per cent of the station outright to Taft, which owned the station for just over a year. On November 16, 1960, Taft sold WBIR-AM-FM-TV to the News-Piedmont Company of Greenville, South Carolina
; owner of WFBC-AM-FM-TV
in its hometown. In 1967, News-Piedmont merged with Southern Broadcasting to form the Southeastern Broadcasting Corporation. Soon afterward, Southeastern sold all of its radio stations, purchased four more television stations and changed its name to Multimedia, Inc
. WBIR-TV and WFBC-TV were its flagship stations.
In 1988, WBIR became an NBC affiliate, swapping affiliations with WTVK just before it moved to channel 8 as WKXT-TV. Ironically, this marked CBS' return to its original affiliate in Knoxville. At the time, NBC was the top-rated network while CBS was in third place near the midpoint of the Laurence Tisch
period of that network's history. The biggest reason was that most of Multimedia's stations were NBC affiliates. Companies that own several stations affiliated with the same network generally have more clout with that network. NBC was more than willing to make the switch, since WTVK had been one of its weakest affiliates while WBIR was a solid runner-up to WATE-TV
. With the switch, Channel 10 became the last major commercial station in Knoxville to change affiliations. The switch also made channel 10 the third station in Knoxville to carry NBC; the network had previously aired on WATE from 1953 to 1979 before moving to WTVK in 1979. Multimedia merged with Gannett in 1995. In 2008, WBIR-TV debuted new graphics and news music. On June 1st, 2011, WBIR-TV & WTNZ-TV debuted a new High-Definition news set & weather studio and a full makeover of branding. However, WBIR-TV retained their logo by adding the HD symbol to the right of the logo.
Digital channels>
Channel
Name
Video
Aspect
Programming
10.1
WBIR-HD
1080i
16:9
Main WBIR-TV programming / NBC
10.2
WBIR-WX
480i
4:3
10 Weather Now
The national NBC Weather Plus network is defunct as of December 1, 2008, and was revamped as an affiliate of NBC Plus, utilizing the same graphics as Weather Plus (and is now a computer-updated loop of regional satellite/radar images, current temperatures, and daily forecasts) and without the national on-camera meteorologist segments (though the local OCM segments remained). It also airs FCC-mandated "E/I" programming on weekend mornings. In 2011, it was replaced with The Local AccuWeather Channel, branded as "10 Weather Now".
on June 12, 2009, WBIR-TV moved its digital broadcasts back to its former analog channel number, 10.
. It continued to celebrate the people and the land of the entire Appalachia
n region, presenting re-enactments of historic events and feature stories about regional culture. In February 2009, WBIR announced that it would suspend production of the series in September 2009, but would continue to show the hundreds of episodes already produced "for as long as the viewers like them." The last episode was taped at the Museum of Appalachia
in Norris
on August 8, 2009 before an audience estimated at 10,000 people, one of the largest crowds in the museum's history.
During its 25-year history, The Heartland Series received several awards, including four Emmy Award
s United States embassies around the world keep tapes of The Heartland Series broadcasts as an information resource on life in Appalachia.
.
Until late March 2011, WBIR-TV produced a 10 p.m. newscast for CW affiliate WBXX-TV
. On March 28, WBIR-TV began producing a nightly 10 p.m. newscast for Fox
affiliate WTNZ
(channel 43). WBIR will also begin producing a weekday morning news show at 7 a.m. for that station beginning in June. Both stations' newscasts began airing in high definition
on June 1, 2011, making WBIR and WTNZ the second and third stations in Knoxville to make the upgrade.
Anchors
Weather
Sports
Reporters
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
affiliate television station in Knoxville, Tennessee
Knoxville, Tennessee
Founded in 1786, Knoxville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Tennessee, U.S.A., behind Memphis and Nashville, and is the county seat of Knox County. It is the largest city in East Tennessee, and the second-largest city in the Appalachia region...
. The station is licensed to the Gannett Pacific Corporation, a subsidiary of the Gannett Company
Gannett Company
Gannett Company, Inc. is a publicly-traded media holding company headquartered in Tysons Corner, Virginia, United States, near McLean. It is the largest U.S. newspaper publisher as measured by total daily circulation. Its assets include the national newspaper USA Today and the weekly USA Weekend...
. Its transmitter is located in the broadcasting antenna farm on Sharp's Ridge
Sharp's Ridge
Sharp's Ridge is a steep limestone ridge in Knoxville, Tennessee, north of the city's downtown. A area of the ridge is maintained as Sharp's Ridge Memorial Park, a city park dedicated to the honor of the area's war dead. The ridge also is the site of a transmitting antenna farm that serves most...
in Knoxville.
History
WBIR-TV signed on the air on August 12, 1956 as an affiliate of the CBSCBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
television network, taking that affiliation away from WTVK (channel 26, now WVLT-TV
WVLT-TV
WVLT-TV is the CBS television network affiliate station serving Knoxville, Tennessee, the 58th DMA in America according to Nielsen Media Research...
on channel 8). During the late 1950s, the station was also briefly affiliated with the NTA Film Network
NTA Film Network
The NTA Film Network was an early American television network founded by Ely Landau in 1956. The network was not a full-time television network like CBS, NBC, or ABC. Rather, it operated on a part-time basis, broadcasting films and several first-run television programs from major Hollywood studios...
. WBIR-TV was owned and named after Jesse W. "Jay" Birdwell, who also owned WBIR radio (1240 AM, now WIFA
WIFA
WIFA is a radio station broadcasting a Contemporary Christian music format. Licensed to Knoxville, Tennessee, USA, the station serves the Knoxville area. The station is currently owned by Progressive Media, Inc. and features programing from Salem Radio Network....
; and 103.5 FM, now WIMZ). Although WBIR radio's sign off was "We are the Best In Radio," which spelled out WBIR, the TV station's call letters actually came from the first three letters of Jay Birdwell's last name.
Birdwell was also one of the partners who had put WJHL-TV
WJHL-TV
WJHL-TV is the CBS-affiliated television station for the Tri-Cities area of Northeastern Tennessee and Southwestern Virginia that's licensed to Johnson City, Tennessee. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on VHF channel 11 from a transmitter on the southwest slope of Holston High Point...
, the CBS affiliate in Johnson City, Tennessee
Johnson City, Tennessee
Johnson City is a city in Carter, Sullivan, and Washington counties in the U.S. state of Tennessee, with most of the city being in Washington County...
(Tri-Cities
Tri-Cities, Tennessee
In Tennessee and Virginia the name "Tri-Cities" refers to the region comprising the cities of Kingsport, Johnson City and Bristol and the surrounding smaller towns and communities in Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia...
), on the air in 1953. Shortly after signing Channel 10 on the air in Knoxville, Birdwell gave up his interest in WJHL-TV because channel 10's city-grade analog signal covered the area between Morristown
Morristown, Tennessee
Morristown is a city in, and the county seat of, Hamblen County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 29,137 at the 2010 United States Census. It is the principal city of the Morristown, Tennessee Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Grainger, Hamblen and Jefferson counties...
and Greeneville
Greeneville, Tennessee
Greeneville is a town in Greene County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 15,198 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Greene County. The town was named in honor of Revolutionary War hero Nathanael Greene. It is the only town with this spelling in the United States, although there...
, which is part of the Tri-Cities market. At the time, the Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
(FCC) normally did allow common ownership of two stations with overlapping signals, and would not even consider granting a waiver for a city-grade overlap. Birdwell, who now had lesser partners in the ownership of WBIR-TV, opted to keep WBIR-TV because he still owned WBIR-AM-FM.
However, in 1957, Birdwell abruptly sold his majority interest in the WBIR stations to a group of investors: general manager John P. Hart, Gilmore Nunn, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Ashe, and Taft Broadcasting
Taft Broadcasting
The Taft Broadcasting Company, also known as Taft Television and Radio Company, Incorporated, was an American media conglomerate based in Cincinnati, Ohio....
of Cincinnati. On October 29, 1959, Nunn, the Ashes, and Hart sold their 70 per cent of the station outright to Taft, which owned the station for just over a year. On November 16, 1960, Taft sold WBIR-AM-FM-TV to the News-Piedmont Company of Greenville, South Carolina
Greenville, South Carolina
-Law and government:The city of Greenville adopted the Council-Manager form of municipal government in 1976.-History:The area was part of the Cherokee Nation's protected grounds after the Treaty of 1763, which ended the French and Indian War. No White man was allowed to enter, though some families...
; owner of WFBC-AM-FM-TV
WYFF
WYFF is the NBC-affiliate television station based in Greenville, South Carolina. It serves a media market which includes Greenville/Spartanburg and Anderson in South Carolina and Asheville/Hendersonville, North Carolina. The market covers large portions of western North Carolina and upstate South...
in its hometown. In 1967, News-Piedmont merged with Southern Broadcasting to form the Southeastern Broadcasting Corporation. Soon afterward, Southeastern sold all of its radio stations, purchased four more television stations and changed its name to Multimedia, Inc
Multimedia (media company)
Multimedia, Inc. was a media company that owned 10 daily newspapers, three weekly newspapers, two radio stations, five television stations, and a cable television system division...
. WBIR-TV and WFBC-TV were its flagship stations.
In 1988, WBIR became an NBC affiliate, swapping affiliations with WTVK just before it moved to channel 8 as WKXT-TV. Ironically, this marked CBS' return to its original affiliate in Knoxville. At the time, NBC was the top-rated network while CBS was in third place near the midpoint of the Laurence Tisch
Laurence Tisch
Laurence Alan "Larry" Tisch was an American businessman, Wall Street investor and self-made billionaire. He was the CEO of CBS television network from 1986 to 1995...
period of that network's history. The biggest reason was that most of Multimedia's stations were NBC affiliates. Companies that own several stations affiliated with the same network generally have more clout with that network. NBC was more than willing to make the switch, since WTVK had been one of its weakest affiliates while WBIR was a solid runner-up to WATE-TV
WATE-TV
WATE-TV is the ABC-affiliated television station for Eastern Tennessee licensed to Knoxville. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 26 from a transmitter on Sharp's Ridge in North Knoxville. The station can also be seen on Charter channel 6 as well as Comcast and Knology...
. With the switch, Channel 10 became the last major commercial station in Knoxville to change affiliations. The switch also made channel 10 the third station in Knoxville to carry NBC; the network had previously aired on WATE from 1953 to 1979 before moving to WTVK in 1979. Multimedia merged with Gannett in 1995. In 2008, WBIR-TV debuted new graphics and news music. On June 1st, 2011, WBIR-TV & WTNZ-TV debuted a new High-Definition news set & weather studio and a full makeover of branding. However, WBIR-TV retained their logo by adding the HD symbol to the right of the logo.
Digital television
WBIR's digital channel is multiplexed:Display resolution
The display resolution of a digital television or display device is the number of distinct pixels in each dimension that can be displayed. It can be an ambiguous term especially as the displayed resolution is controlled by all different factors in cathode ray tube , flat panel or projection...
Aspect ratio
The aspect ratio of a shape is the ratio of its longer dimension to its shorter dimension. It may be applied to two characteristic dimensions of a three-dimensional shape, such as the ratio of the longest and shortest axis, or for symmetrical objects that are described by just two measurements,...
The Local AccuWeather Channel
The Local AccuWeather Channel is a 24-hour, weather-oriented, commercially sponsored broadcast and cable television network in the United States owned and operated by AccuWeather, Inc., which is headquartered in State College, Pennsylvania....
The national NBC Weather Plus network is defunct as of December 1, 2008, and was revamped as an affiliate of NBC Plus, utilizing the same graphics as Weather Plus (and is now a computer-updated loop of regional satellite/radar images, current temperatures, and daily forecasts) and without the national on-camera meteorologist segments (though the local OCM segments remained). It also airs FCC-mandated "E/I" programming on weekend mornings. In 2011, it was replaced with The Local AccuWeather Channel, branded as "10 Weather Now".
Analog-to-digital conversion
After the analog television shutdown and digital conversionDTV transition in the United States
The DTV transition in the United States was the switchover from analog to exclusively digital broadcasting of free over-the-air television programming...
on June 12, 2009, WBIR-TV moved its digital broadcasts back to its former analog channel number, 10.
The Heartland Series
The Heartland Series, hosted by Bill Landry, was a popular documentary series produced by WBIR from 1984 until 2009. It was conceived in 1984 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Great Smoky Mountains National ParkGreat Smoky Mountains National Park
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a United States National Park and UNESCO World Heritage Site that straddles the ridgeline of the Great Smoky Mountains, part of the Blue Ridge Mountains, which are a division of the larger Appalachian Mountain chain. The border between Tennessee and North...
. It continued to celebrate the people and the land of the entire Appalachia
Appalachia
Appalachia is a term used to describe a cultural region in the eastern United States that stretches from the Southern Tier of New York state to northern Alabama, Mississippi, and Georgia. While the Appalachian Mountains stretch from Belle Isle in Canada to Cheaha Mountain in the U.S...
n region, presenting re-enactments of historic events and feature stories about regional culture. In February 2009, WBIR announced that it would suspend production of the series in September 2009, but would continue to show the hundreds of episodes already produced "for as long as the viewers like them." The last episode was taped at the Museum of Appalachia
Museum of Appalachia
The Museum of Appalachia, located in Norris, Tennessee, north of Knoxville, is a living history museum that interprets the pioneer and early 20th-century period of the Southern Appalachian region of the United States...
in Norris
Norris, Tennessee
Norris is a city in Anderson County, Tennessee, United States. Its population was 1,446 at the 2000 census. It is included in the Knoxville, Tennessee Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
on August 8, 2009 before an audience estimated at 10,000 people, one of the largest crowds in the museum's history.
During its 25-year history, The Heartland Series received several awards, including four Emmy Award
Emmy Award
An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
s United States embassies around the world keep tapes of The Heartland Series broadcasts as an information resource on life in Appalachia.
Our Stories
In 2006, WBIR celebrated its 50th anniversary with a special report on some of the past stories captured on WBIR for the past 50 years. These reports were called "Our Stories" and included retrospectives on events such as U.S. Presidents visiting Knoxville and East Tennessee, major crimes and even the 25th Anniversary of the 1982 World's Fair1982 World's Fair
The 1982 World's Fair, formally known as the Knoxville International Energy Exposition, was held in Knoxville, Tennessee, in the United States. The theme of the exposition was "Energy Turns the World."...
.
News operation
Prior to September 15, 2008, this show was aired at 5 p.m. on weekdays under the title Live at Five. The program was moved to 4 p.m. and was temporarily renamed Live at Five at Four with WBIR asking for viewers' opinions on a new name. The quirky temporary name, however, was embraced by viewers and Live at Five at Four has remained the brand for the 4 p.m. program. In 2010, Live at Five at Four debuted new graphics to better reflect programming shown on the newscast.Until late March 2011, WBIR-TV produced a 10 p.m. newscast for CW affiliate WBXX-TV
WBXX-TV
WBXX-TV is the CW-affiliated television station for Eastern Tennessee licensed to Crossville. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 20 from a transmitter in unincorporated Southwestern Anderson County. The station can also be seen on Comcast and Knology channel 7 as well as...
. On March 28, WBIR-TV began producing a nightly 10 p.m. newscast for Fox
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
affiliate WTNZ
WTNZ
WTNZ is the Fox-affiliated television station for Eastern Tennessee licensed to Knoxville. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 34 from a transmitter on Sharp's Ridge in the city's Arlington section. The station can also be seen on Comcast channel 11 and in high definition...
(channel 43). WBIR will also begin producing a weekday morning news show at 7 a.m. for that station beginning in June. Both stations' newscasts began airing in high definition
High-definition television
High-definition television is video that has resolution substantially higher than that of traditional television systems . HDTV has one or two million pixels per frame, roughly five times that of SD...
on June 1, 2011, making WBIR and WTNZ the second and third stations in Knoxville to make the upgrade.
Newscast titles
- The Esso Reporter (1956–1960)
- The Big News (1960–1970)
- 24 Hours (1970–1974)
- NewsCenter 10 (1974–1977)
- Action 10 NewsAction NewsAction News is a local television newscast format in the United States. It was conceived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, at WFIL-TV by then-news director Mel Kampmann in 1970 as a response to the "Eyewitness News" format used on rival station KYW-TV...
(1977–2004) - 10 News (2004–2011)
- 10 News HD (2011-present) [10 News is still used in news opening and primary branding]
Station slogans
- Straight from the Heart (of East Tennessee) (1983–present)
- Come Home To The Best, Only on Channel 10 (1988–1990; localized version of NBC ad campaign)
Newscast themes
- The Action News Theme by Unknown Composer (1970–1974)
- NBC TV-Radio Newspulse by Fred Weinberg Productions, Inc. (1974–1982)
- WBIR 1982 News Theme by Unknown Composer (1982–1983)
- Theme From Firepower by Gato Barbieri (1983–1985)
- Power News V.1 and V.2 by 615 Music615 Music615 Music is a broadcast production music company based in Nashville, Tennessee. 615 Music composes television news music packages and custom image campaigns for many television networks around the world. 615 Music also operates out of Los Angeles...
(1985–1997) - Newsmark by 615 Music615 Music615 Music is a broadcast production music company based in Nashville, Tennessee. 615 Music composes television news music packages and custom image campaigns for many television networks around the world. 615 Music also operates out of Los Angeles...
(1997–2000) - Heartland by 615 Music615 Music615 Music is a broadcast production music company based in Nashville, Tennessee. 615 Music composes television news music packages and custom image campaigns for many television networks around the world. 615 Music also operates out of Los Angeles...
(2000–2008) - Gannett News Music Package by Rampage Music (2008–present)
Current on-air staff
The station's current on-the-air staff include:Anchors
- Brittany Bailey – weekend mornings; also weeknight reporter
- John Becker – weeknights at 5 p.m., 6 p.m., and 11 p.m.; also host of Inside Tennessee
- Russell Biven – weekday mornings and host of Live at Five at Four
- Sean Dreher – weekends at 6 p.m. and 11 p.m.; also weeknight reporter
- Abby Ham – weekday mornings
- Beth Haynes – weekday afternoons Live at Five at Four (10:00 pm on Fox 43)
- Robin Wilhoit – weeknights at 5 p.m., 6 p.m., and 11 p.m.
- Moira Kaye - weekday mornings and Noon
Weather
- Todd Howell (NWANational Weather AssociationThe National Weather Association is an American professional association with a mission to support and promote excellence in operational meteorology and related activities...
member) – chief meteorologist; weekday afternoons Live at Five at Four, and weeknights at 6 and 11 p.m. - Mike Witcher (AMSAmerican Meteorological SocietyThe American Meteorological Society promotes the development and dissemination of information and education on the atmospheric and related oceanic and hydrologic sciences and the advancement of their professional applications. Founded in 1919, the American Meteorological Society has a membership...
Certified Broadcast MeteorologistCertified Broadcast MeteorologistCertified Broadcast Meteorologist is a rating for meteorologists given by the American Meteorological Society.The Certified Broadcast Meteorologist program was established to raise the professional standard in broadcast meteorology and encourage a broader range of scientific understanding,...
and NWA Seals of Approval) – meteorologist; weekday mornings (4:30-7:00 on WBIR and 7:00-9:00 on WTNZ) and noon. - Kirsten Horne -meteorologist; weekends.
Sports
- Steve Phillips – sports director; weeknights at 6 and 11 p.m.
- Kris Budden – sports anchor; weekends at 6 and 11 p.m., also weekday fill-in
Reporters
- Allison Bybee – general assignment reporter
- Steve Butera – general assignment reporter
- Erin Donovan – general assignment reporter
- Hillary Lake – general assignment reporter
- Jim Matheny – general assignment reporter
- Ed Rupp – weekday morning traffic reporter
- Ken Schwall – Positively Schwall feature reporter
- Stoney Sharp – general assignment reporter
- Emily Stroud – general assignment reporter
- Anthony Welsch – general assignment reporter
- Bill Williams – Monday's Child and Mission of Hope feature reporter
Notable former on-air staff
- Jim AcostaJim AcostaAbilio James Acosta , known professionally as Jim Acosta, is a Washington, D.C.-based correspondent for CNN's American Morning program.- Early life and education :...
– reporter - Lindsey NelsonLindsey NelsonLindsey Nelson was an American sportscaster best known for his broadcasts of college football and New York Mets baseball.-Early life and career:...
– reporter (deceased)