WSFA
Encyclopedia
WSFA is the NBC
-affiliated television station
for Central Alabama
's Black Belt
region licensed to Montgomery
. It broadcasts a high definition
digital signal on VHF channel 12 from a transmitter in Grady
along the Montgomery
and Pike
County line. The station can also be seen on Knology
and Charter
channel 11. There is a high definition feed offered on Charter digital channel 711 and Knology digital channel 903. Owned by Raycom Media
, it is one of two flagships of the company (along with CBS
affiliate WBTV
in Charlotte, North Carolina
) and has studios on East Delano Avenue in Montgomery.
Syndicated
programming on WSFA includes: Entertainment Tonight
, Judge Joe Brown, Judge Judy
, and The Insider
. The station boasts one of the largest coverage areas in Alabama providing at least secondary coverage from the geographical center of the state to the Florida
state line and from the Black Belt region to the Chattahoochee River
bordering Georgia
. WSFA is the default NBC affiliate for the Dothan
market
since that area has no affiliate of its own.
, an African American
-oriented television network; Bounce TV programming on WSFA-DT2 began on September 26, 2011, and replaced an affiliation with the Retro Television Network
(which had supplanted content from NBC Weather Plus
a few years earlier). WSFA-DT2 also includes repeats of newscasts from the main channel, live local weather updates, syndicated programming, and broadcasts from Raycom Sports
.
(later to become Governor of Alabama) opened the state's fourth radio station in Montgomery. This was located in what is now the Gunter Annex
of Maxwell Air Force Base
but was then Montgomery Regional Airport
. Persons publicized the radio station with the call letters and slogan. WSFA (now WLWI
) quickly became a landmark in Montgomery and was most famous in its early days for launching the career of country music
legend Hank Williams, a native of nearby Georgiana
, in the 1940s.
By the mid-1950s, the new medium of television was sweeping the nation and Persons won the construction permit
for Montgomery's second television station on VHF channel 12. Ironically, this allocation was supposed to be occupied by Montgomery's first television station WCOV-TV
. However, due to a delay in getting a transmitter for channel 12, WCOV was forced to move to UHF channel 20. On Christmas Day 1954, WSFA-TV aired its first broadcast. When the television studios were built, WSFA moved into the facility. In February 1955 just two months after going on-the-air, the radio and television stations were purchased by the Gaylord family's Oklahoma
Publishing Company. At that time, WSFA-AM-TV was operated by a staff of 35. In 1956, the radio station was sold, changed its call letters to WHHY, and moved to a downtown location.
The television station now operating apart from its former namesake radio partner, was sold again to the Broadcasting Company of the South from Columbia, South Carolina
in 1959. A subsidiary of Liberty Life Insurance Company, the company renamed itself Cosmos Broadcasting Corporation in 1965. Later in the decade, Liberty reorganized itself as The Liberty Corporation with Cosmos and Liberty Life as its subsidiaries. WSFA was the area's only VHF station until 1985. In 1986, it dropped the -TV suffix. Liberty exited the insurance business in 2002 bringing the station directly under the Liberty banner. The company merged with Raycom in 2006. Since that company is headquartered in Montgomery, this made WSFA its flagship station. However, with Raycom's 2008 purchase of Lincoln Financial Media
's television stations, WSFA now shares flagship status with Charlotte's WBTV.
Tracing back from its humble beginnings as the upstart television arm of a local radio station, WSFA is still broadcasting from its original South Montgomery location. Several expansions of the Delano Avenue facility now provide room for a staff of more than one hundred and two large telecasting studios. It originally aired a digital signal on UHF channel 14. On June 12, 2009 for the final shutdown of analog television, WSFA reverted its digital signal back to its analog channel. WSFA-DT2 had been part of NBC Weather Plus
but reverted to a local weather channel after the shut down of the national service in December 2008. On December 31, 2009, WSFA dropped its third digital subchannel
, which carried RTV programming, in order to start beta testing of applications that would transmit its signal to mobile devices. On February 8, 2010, WSFA resumed RTV programming on its second digital subchannel, combined with weather updates and other shows; RTV was replaced on DT2 by Bounce TV
on September 26, 2011, as part of Raycom's affiliation deal with that network.
WSFA's news department has long been one of the most respected in the South. As the only VHF station in town for 31 years, it has been the dominant news station in Montgomery for as long as records have been kept. The station has always devoted significant resources to its news department, resulting in a higher-quality product than conventional wisdom would suggest for a station in the 118th ranked market.
Not long after the Gaylord family bought the station, they dispatched Frank McGee
(anchorman at company flagship WKY-TV now KFOR-TV
) in Oklahoma City
, to Montgomery as News Director. Under McGee, WSFA gained a national reputation for its coverage (fed periodically to the network) of local events in the Civil Rights Movement
such as the Bus Boycott
of 1955 involving Rosa Parks
and the varied activities of Martin Luther King, Jr.
during his pastorate at Dexter Avenue Baptist Church
. McGee eventually joined NBC News
as a correspondent and hosted Today from 1971 until his death in 1974. When Liberty bought WSFA in 1959, it saw the channel had already developed an image as a news-intensive station and began developing strong news departments at its other stations as well. Today, WSFA airs over thirty hours of local newscasts per week, far more than any station in Montgomery.
On January 15, 2007, it added an entertainment/lifestyle magazine-type program known as Alabama LIVE!. The show reflects on its slogan which is "Coverage. Community. Commitment." because there special features and interviews usually not conducted in traditional newscasts. Several guests appear on the show that airs weekday mornings at 11. WSFA established a news share agreement with Fox affiliate WCOV (owned by the Woods Communications Corporation) on January 7, 2008. This resulted in a 35 minute newscast being added on that channel weeknights at 9. It was known as Fox News at 9 because the broadcast was simulcasted on WSFA sister station and fellow Fox affiliate WDFX-TV
in Dothan
. A weekend half-hour edition began in Summer 2008.
On August 3, WSFA upgraded newscasts to high definition level becoming the first station in Montgomery to do so. The news set and graphics were redesigned in the transition. Initially, the 9 p.m. shows were not included because they originated from an older secondary set at WSFA's studios. However in Spring 2010, those broadcasts began airing in HD with updated graphics separate from programs seen on WSFA. Since WDFX and WCOV both aired Fox News at 9, there was regional coverage provided by reporters based at WDFX's studios (referred to on-air as the Wiregrass
Newsroom). After WCOV's contract with WSFA expired at the end of 2010, that station entered into a new agreement with CBS
affiliate WAKA
to produce a nightly prime time newscast at 9 covering Montgomery. On January 1, 2011, WSFA transitioned its prime time show, renamed The News at 9, to its RTV digital subchannel. The format is mostly unchanged except for originating from WSFA's primary set. It continues to be simulcasted on WDFX.
This station added a Sunday morning show on October 12, 2008 called Today in Alabama: Sunday Special Edition. Alabama LIVE! and WSFA 12 News at Noon are streamed live on its website.
Raycom News Network
WSFA is part of the Raycom News Network, a system designed to rapidly share information among Raycom's widespread group of television stations and websites. A regional network has developed among WSFA, Columbus/Phenix City's WTVM
, Huntsville's WAFF
, and Birmingham's WBRC
in which stations share information, equipment such as satellite trucks or even reporters' stories. Between them, these four stations cover the state of Alabama. The four stations also comprise the Raycom Weather Network and the Raycom Alabama Weather Blog, where meteorologists from all four stations post forecasts and storm reports, as well as live feeds from all of the cameras that the four stations operate. The site also has live feeds of WTVM, WSFA, WBRC, and WAFF. The only Raycom station in Alabama not participating in the arrangement is WDFX-TV
in the Dothan
area, which receives its news programming from WSFA.
Weekly Segments:
Syndicated/Local Programming:
Newscasts
Weekdays:
Saturdays:
Sundays:
News Reporters:
Dopper 12 StormVision Team:
Traffic Tracker:
WSFA 12 Sports Team:
Contributors
News Reporters
Meteorologists/Weather Anchors
Sports Anchors/Reporters
-
Station slogans
-
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...
-affiliated television station
Television station
A television station is a business, organisation or other such as an amateur television operator that transmits content over terrestrial television. A television transmission can be by analog television signals or, more recently, by digital television. Broadcast television systems standards are...
for Central Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
's Black Belt
Black Belt (region of Alabama)
The Black Belt is a region of the U.S. state of Alabama, and part of the larger Black Belt Region of the Southern United States, which stretches from Texas to Maryland. The term originally referred to the region underlain by a thin layer of rich, black topsoil developed atop the chalk of the Selma...
region licensed to Montgomery
Montgomery, Alabama
Montgomery is the capital of the U.S. state of Alabama, and is the county seat of Montgomery County. It is located on the Alabama River southeast of the center of the state, in the Gulf Coastal Plain. As of the 2010 census, Montgomery had a population of 205,764 making it the second-largest city...
. It broadcasts a 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...
digital signal on VHF channel 12 from a transmitter in Grady
Grady, Alabama
Grady is an unincorporated community in Montgomery County Alabama, United States. Grady is located about south of Montgomery. It is at the intersection of Montgomery County Road 28 and Mountgomery County Road 1 . The CSX railroad runs north and south through Grady. Near Grady on the Fannin Mill...
along the Montgomery
Montgomery County, Alabama
Montgomery County is a county in the U.S. state of Alabama. It is the most populous county in the Montgomery Metropolitan Statistical Area; its population in 2010 was 229,363 .- History :...
and Pike
Pike County, Alabama
Pike County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of General Zebulon Pike, of New Jersey, an explorer who led an expedition to southern Colorado and discovered Pikes Peak in 1806. As of 2010 the population was 32,899. Its county seat is Troy.- History :In 1819 the State...
County line. The station can also be seen on Knology
Knology
Knology Inc. is a cable company that formed in 1994 by ITC Holding Company, Inc, a telecommunications holding company in West Point, Georgia that also founded Internet service provider Mindspring. In late 1994, shortly after Knology's inception, two employees made a $600,000 investment to make...
and Charter
Charter Communications
Charter Communications is an American company providing cable television, high-speed Internet, and telephone services to more than 4.7 million customers in 25 states. By revenues, it is the fourth-largest cable operator in the United States, behind Comcast, Time Warner Cable, and Cox Communications...
channel 11. There is a high definition feed offered on Charter digital channel 711 and Knology digital channel 903. Owned by Raycom Media
Raycom Media
- History :Although Raycom Media dates its birth to 1996, the core of the company was formed in 1992 when Atlanta native Bert Ellis formed Ellis Communications. He eventually controlled 13 television stations and two radio stations....
, it is one of two flagships of the company (along with CBS
CBS
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...
affiliate WBTV
WBTV
WBTV, channel 3 , is the CBS affiliate in Charlotte, North Carolina. It is one of two flagship stations of Raycom Media. WBTV's studios are located off Morehead Street just west of Uptown Charlotte, and its transmitter is located in north-central Gaston County, North Carolina...
in Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
) and has studios on East Delano Avenue in Montgomery.
Syndicated
Television syndication
In broadcasting, syndication is the sale of the right to broadcast radio shows and television shows by multiple radio stations and television stations, without going through a broadcast network, though the process of syndication may conjure up structures like those of a network itself, by its very...
programming on WSFA includes: Entertainment Tonight
Entertainment Tonight
Entertainment Tonight is a daily tabloid television entertainment television news show that is syndicated by CBS Television Distribution throughout the United States, Canada and in many countries around the world. Linda Bell Blue is currently the program's executive producer...
, Judge Joe Brown, Judge Judy
Judge Judy
Judge Judy is an American court show featuring former family court judge Judith Sheindlin arbitrating over small claims cases in small claims court...
, and The Insider
The Insider (TV series)
The Insider is an American tabloid television news program covering events and celebrities. It debuted on September 13, 2004 as a spinoff of Entertainment Tonight and started as a popular segment that took viewers "behind closed doors" and gave them "inside" information...
. The station boasts one of the largest coverage areas in Alabama providing at least secondary coverage from the geographical center of the state to the Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
state line and from the Black Belt region to the Chattahoochee River
Chattahoochee River
The Chattahoochee River flows through or along the borders of the U.S. states of Georgia, Alabama, and Florida. It is a tributary of the Apalachicola River, a relatively short river formed by the confluence of the Chattahoochee and Flint Rivers and emptying into Apalachicola Bay in the Gulf of...
bordering Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
. WSFA is the default NBC affiliate for the Dothan
Dothan, Alabama
Dothan is a city located in the southeastern corner of the US state of Alabama, situated approximately west of the Georgia state line and north of Florida. It is the seat of Houston County, with portions extending into nearby Dale County and Henry County...
market
Media market
A media market, broadcast market, media region, designated market area , Television Market Area , or simply market is a region where the population can receive the same television and radio station offerings, and may also include other types of media including newspapers and Internet content...
since that area has no affiliate of its own.
Digital programming
WSFA also features a subchannel, WSFA-DT2, that is seen on over-the-air on channel 12.2 and is also on Knology digital channel 121. WSFA-DT2 airs programming from Bounce TVBounce TV
Bounce TV is a United States television network airing on digital terrestrial television stations. Promoted as "the first 24/7 digital multicast broadcast network created exclusively for African Americans," Bounce TV launched on September 26, 2011 and features programming geared toward blacks in...
, an African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
-oriented television network; Bounce TV programming on WSFA-DT2 began on September 26, 2011, and replaced an affiliation with the Retro Television Network
Retro Television Network
The Retro Television Network is a system of television stations that airs classic television shows as well as more recently produced programs...
(which had supplanted content from NBC Weather Plus
NBC Weather Plus
NBC Weather Plus was a 24-hour, commercially sponsored, weather-oriented broadcast/cable television network jointly owned by NBC Universal and the local affiliates of the NBC network. It debuted on November 15, 2004 and shut down on December 31, 2008...
a few years earlier). WSFA-DT2 also includes repeats of newscasts from the main channel, live local weather updates, syndicated programming, and broadcasts from Raycom Sports
Raycom Sports
Raycom Sports is an American syndicator of sports television programs. It is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, and owned and operated by Raycom Media.-Founding:...
.
| Channel | Name | Programming |
|---|---|---|
| 12.1 | WSFA-DT | main WSFA programming/NBC HD |
| 12.2 | WSFA-DT2 | "WSFA 12.2" (Bounce TV) |
History
The call letters SFA stand for South's Finest Airport. They can be traced back to 1930 when Gordon PersonsGordon Persons
Seth Gordon Persons was an American Democratic politician who was the 43rd Governor of Alabama from 1951 to 1955. He was born and died in Montgomery, Alabama. The Dauphin Island Bridge south of Mobile is formally named for him.Persons was an alumnus of Auburn University.-External links:*...
(later to become Governor of Alabama) opened the state's fourth radio station in Montgomery. This was located in what is now the Gunter Annex
Gunter Air Force Base
Gunter Annex is a United States Air Force installation located in the North-northeast suburbs of Montgomery, Alabama. The base is named after former Montgomery mayor William Adams Gunter. Until 1992 it was known as Gunter Air Force Base or Gunter Air Force Station...
of Maxwell Air Force Base
Maxwell Air Force Base
Maxwell Air Force Base , officially known as Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base, is a United States Air Force installation under the Air Education and Training Command . The installation is located in Montgomery, Alabama, US. It was named in honor of Second Lieutenant William C...
but was then Montgomery Regional Airport
Montgomery Regional Airport
Montgomery Regional Airport , also known as Dannelly Field, is a joint civil-military public airport located six miles southwest of the central business district of Montgomery, a city in Montgomery County and the capital of the U.S. state of Alabama...
. Persons publicized the radio station with the call letters and slogan. WSFA (now WLWI
WLWI (AM)
WLWI is a radio station licensed to serve Montgomery, Alabama, USA. The station is owned by Cumulus Media and the license is held by Cumulus Licensing, LLC.It broadcasts a news/talk radio format to the Montgomery metropolitan area...
) quickly became a landmark in Montgomery and was most famous in its early days for launching the career of country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
legend Hank Williams, a native of nearby Georgiana
Georgiana, Alabama
Georgiana is a town in Butler County, Alabama, United States. As of the 2000 census, the population of the town was 1,737.-Geography:Georgiana is located at 31°38'24.313" North, 86°44'21.991" West .According to the U.S...
, in the 1940s.
By the mid-1950s, the new medium of television was sweeping the nation and Persons won the construction permit
Construction permit
A construction permit or building permit is a permit required in most jurisdictions for new construction, or adding on to pre-existing structures, and in some cases for major renovations. Generally, the new construction must be inspected during construction and after completion to ensure compliance...
for Montgomery's second television station on VHF channel 12. Ironically, this allocation was supposed to be occupied by Montgomery's first television station WCOV-TV
WCOV-TV
WCOV-TV is the Fox-affiliated television station for Central Alabama's Black Belt area licensed to Montgomery. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 20 from a transmitter southeast of Grady along the Montgomery and Crenshaw County line. The station can also be seen on...
. However, due to a delay in getting a transmitter for channel 12, WCOV was forced to move to UHF channel 20. On Christmas Day 1954, WSFA-TV aired its first broadcast. When the television studios were built, WSFA moved into the facility. In February 1955 just two months after going on-the-air, the radio and television stations were purchased by the Gaylord family's Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
Publishing Company. At that time, WSFA-AM-TV was operated by a staff of 35. In 1956, the radio station was sold, changed its call letters to WHHY, and moved to a downtown location.
The television station now operating apart from its former namesake radio partner, was sold again to the Broadcasting Company of the South from Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan...
in 1959. A subsidiary of Liberty Life Insurance Company, the company renamed itself Cosmos Broadcasting Corporation in 1965. Later in the decade, Liberty reorganized itself as The Liberty Corporation with Cosmos and Liberty Life as its subsidiaries. WSFA was the area's only VHF station until 1985. In 1986, it dropped the -TV suffix. Liberty exited the insurance business in 2002 bringing the station directly under the Liberty banner. The company merged with Raycom in 2006. Since that company is headquartered in Montgomery, this made WSFA its flagship station. However, with Raycom's 2008 purchase of Lincoln Financial Media
Lincoln Financial Media
Lincoln Financial Media is a subsidiary of Lincoln National Corporation that owns radio stations in the United States.-History:In April 2006, Lincoln Financial acquired Jefferson-Pilot's television and radio operations, which were renamed Lincoln Financial Media. The group owns 14 radio stations in...
's television stations, WSFA now shares flagship status with Charlotte's WBTV.
Tracing back from its humble beginnings as the upstart television arm of a local radio station, WSFA is still broadcasting from its original South Montgomery location. Several expansions of the Delano Avenue facility now provide room for a staff of more than one hundred and two large telecasting studios. It originally aired a digital signal on UHF channel 14. On June 12, 2009 for the final shutdown of analog television, WSFA reverted its digital signal back to its analog channel. WSFA-DT2 had been part of NBC Weather Plus
NBC Weather Plus
NBC Weather Plus was a 24-hour, commercially sponsored, weather-oriented broadcast/cable television network jointly owned by NBC Universal and the local affiliates of the NBC network. It debuted on November 15, 2004 and shut down on December 31, 2008...
but reverted to a local weather channel after the shut down of the national service in December 2008. On December 31, 2009, WSFA dropped its third digital subchannel
Digital subchannel
In broadcasting, digital subchannels are a means to transmit more than one independent program at the same time from the same digital radio or digital television station on the same radio frequency channel. This is done by using data compression techniques to reduce the size of each individual...
, which carried RTV programming, in order to start beta testing of applications that would transmit its signal to mobile devices. On February 8, 2010, WSFA resumed RTV programming on its second digital subchannel, combined with weather updates and other shows; RTV was replaced on DT2 by Bounce TV
Bounce TV
Bounce TV is a United States television network airing on digital terrestrial television stations. Promoted as "the first 24/7 digital multicast broadcast network created exclusively for African Americans," Bounce TV launched on September 26, 2011 and features programming geared toward blacks in...
on September 26, 2011, as part of Raycom's affiliation deal with that network.
News operation
Not long after the Gaylord family bought the station, they dispatched Frank McGee
Frank McGee (journalism)
Frank McGee was an American television journalist.Born in Monroe in Ouachita Parish, Louisiana, and raised in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, McGee began his broadcast news career at WKY-TV in his hometown. In 1955, the owners of WKY purchased WSFA-TV in Montgomery, Alabama, and sent McGee there as news...
(anchorman at company flagship WKY-TV now KFOR-TV
KFOR-TV
KFOR-TV, virtual channel 4 , is the NBC-affiliated television station in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. KFOR-TV is owned by Local TV, a subsidiary of the private equity group Oak Hill Capital Partners, in a duopoly with MyNetworkTV affiliate KAUT-TV ; its studios are located at 444 East Britton Road in...
) in Oklahoma City
Oklahoma city
Oklahoma City is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Oklahoma.Oklahoma City may also refer to:*Oklahoma City metropolitan area*Downtown Oklahoma City*Uptown Oklahoma City*Oklahoma City bombing*Oklahoma City National Memorial...
, to Montgomery as News Director. Under McGee, WSFA gained a national reputation for its coverage (fed periodically to the network) of local events in the Civil Rights Movement
Civil rights movement
The civil rights movement was a worldwide political movement for equality before the law occurring between approximately 1950 and 1980. In many situations it took the form of campaigns of civil resistance aimed at achieving change by nonviolent forms of resistance. In some situations it was...
such as the Bus Boycott
Montgomery Bus Boycott
The Montgomery Bus Boycott was a political and social protest campaign that started in 1955 in Montgomery, Alabama, USA, intended to oppose the city's policy of racial segregation on its public transit system. Many important figures in the civil rights movement were involved in the boycott,...
of 1955 involving Rosa Parks
Rosa Parks
Rosa Louise McCauley Parks was an African-American civil rights activist, whom the U.S. Congress called "the first lady of civil rights", and "the mother of the freedom movement"....
and the varied activities of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. was an American clergyman, activist, and prominent leader in the African-American Civil Rights Movement. He is best known for being an iconic figure in the advancement of civil rights in the United States and around the world, using nonviolent methods following the...
during his pastorate at Dexter Avenue Baptist Church
Dexter Avenue Baptist Church
Dexter Avenue Baptist Church is a Baptist church in Montgomery, Alabama. The church was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1974. In 1978 the official name was changed to the Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church, in memory of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who helped to organize the...
. McGee eventually joined NBC News
NBC News
NBC News is the news division of American television network NBC. It first started broadcasting in February 21, 1940. NBC Nightly News has aired from Studio 3B, located on floors 3 of the NBC Studios is the headquarters of the GE Building forms the centerpiece of 30th Rockefeller Center it is...
as a correspondent and hosted Today from 1971 until his death in 1974. When Liberty bought WSFA in 1959, it saw the channel had already developed an image as a news-intensive station and began developing strong news departments at its other stations as well. Today, WSFA airs over thirty hours of local newscasts per week, far more than any station in Montgomery.
On January 15, 2007, it added an entertainment/lifestyle magazine-type program known as Alabama LIVE!. The show reflects on its slogan which is "Coverage. Community. Commitment." because there special features and interviews usually not conducted in traditional newscasts. Several guests appear on the show that airs weekday mornings at 11. WSFA established a news share agreement with Fox affiliate WCOV (owned by the Woods Communications Corporation) on January 7, 2008. This resulted in a 35 minute newscast being added on that channel weeknights at 9. It was known as Fox News at 9 because the broadcast was simulcasted on WSFA sister station and fellow Fox affiliate WDFX-TV
WDFX-TV
WDFX-TV is the Fox-affiliated television station for Southeastern Alabama's Wiregrass Region licensed to Ozark. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 33 from a transmitter in Wicksburg. The station can also be seen on Knology channel 5 as well as Comcast and Time Warner...
in Dothan
Dothan, Alabama
Dothan is a city located in the southeastern corner of the US state of Alabama, situated approximately west of the Georgia state line and north of Florida. It is the seat of Houston County, with portions extending into nearby Dale County and Henry County...
. A weekend half-hour edition began in Summer 2008.
On August 3, WSFA upgraded newscasts to high definition level becoming the first station in Montgomery to do so. The news set and graphics were redesigned in the transition. Initially, the 9 p.m. shows were not included because they originated from an older secondary set at WSFA's studios. However in Spring 2010, those broadcasts began airing in HD with updated graphics separate from programs seen on WSFA. Since WDFX and WCOV both aired Fox News at 9, there was regional coverage provided by reporters based at WDFX's studios (referred to on-air as the Wiregrass
Wiregrass Region
The Wiregrass Region or Wiregrass Country is an area of the Southern United States encompassing parts of southern Georgia, southeastern Alabama, and the Florida Panhandle...
Newsroom). After WCOV's contract with WSFA expired at the end of 2010, that station entered into a new agreement with CBS
CBS
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...
affiliate WAKA
WAKA
WAKA is the CBS-affiliated television station for Central Alabama's Black Belt region licensed to Selma. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 42 from a transmitter in Gordonville. The station can also be seen on Knology and Charter channel 8...
to produce a nightly prime time newscast at 9 covering Montgomery. On January 1, 2011, WSFA transitioned its prime time show, renamed The News at 9, to its RTV digital subchannel. The format is mostly unchanged except for originating from WSFA's primary set. It continues to be simulcasted on WDFX.
This station added a Sunday morning show on October 12, 2008 called Today in Alabama: Sunday Special Edition. Alabama LIVE! and WSFA 12 News at Noon are streamed live on its website.
Raycom News Network
WSFA is part of the Raycom News Network, a system designed to rapidly share information among Raycom's widespread group of television stations and websites. A regional network has developed among WSFA, Columbus/Phenix City's WTVM
WTVM
WTVM is the ABC-affiliated television station for Columbus, Georgia. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on VHF channel 11 from a transmitter in Cusseta. The station can also be seen on Charter, Knology, and Mediacom channel 10...
, Huntsville's WAFF
WAFF (TV)
WAFF is the NBC television network affiliate in Huntsville, Alabama. The station broadcasts on UHF channel 49 and serves the northern portion of Alabama and several counties in southern Tennessee.-Decatur years, 1954 - 69:...
, and Birmingham's WBRC
WBRC
WBRC, virtual channel 6, is the Fox-affiliated television station serving the Birmingham, Alabama designated market area. The station is owned by Raycom Media, and its transmitter is located atop Red Mountain in Birmingham...
in which stations share information, equipment such as satellite trucks or even reporters' stories. Between them, these four stations cover the state of Alabama. The four stations also comprise the Raycom Weather Network and the Raycom Alabama Weather Blog, where meteorologists from all four stations post forecasts and storm reports, as well as live feeds from all of the cameras that the four stations operate. The site also has live feeds of WTVM, WSFA, WBRC, and WAFF. The only Raycom station in Alabama not participating in the arrangement is WDFX-TV
WDFX-TV
WDFX-TV is the Fox-affiliated television station for Southeastern Alabama's Wiregrass Region licensed to Ozark. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 33 from a transmitter in Wicksburg. The station can also be seen on Knology channel 5 as well as Comcast and Time Warner...
in the Dothan
Dothan, Alabama
Dothan is a city located in the southeastern corner of the US state of Alabama, situated approximately west of the Georgia state line and north of Florida. It is the seat of Houston County, with portions extending into nearby Dale County and Henry County...
area, which receives its news programming from WSFA.
Newscast titles
- News Room With Frank McGee (1955–1956)
- WSFA-TV News (1956–1986)
- WSFA News 12 (1986-late 1990s)
- WSFA 12 News (late 1990s-present)
Station slogans
- "Alabama's NewsCenter" (early 1980s-1985)
- "Alabama's News Source" (1985–2003)
- "Coverage. Community. Commitment." (2003–present)
- "Where Team Meets Technology" (weather)
- "Breaking News FIRST on WSFA.com" (website)
Weekly Segments:
- WSFA 12 News Editorials – Vice President & GM Collin Gaston
- Class Act – Mondays at 5pm with WSFA 12 News Anchor Judd Davis
- Does it Work? - Tuesdays at 5pm with Meteorologist Jeff Jumper
- Cash for Kindness - Tuesdays at 10pm with WSFA 12 News Anchor Valorie Lawson
- Making a Difference - Wednesdays at 5pm with WSFA 12 News Reporter Bryan Henry
- Food For Thought – Thursdays at 5 & 10pm with WSFA 12 News Anchor Mark Bullock
- County Road 12 – Fridays at 6pm with WSFA 12 News Anchor Judd Davis
- Friday Night Football Fever – Fridays at 10:15 (during high school football season) with the WSFA 12 Sports team
Syndicated/Local Programming:
- Judge JudyJudge JudyJudge Judy is an American court show featuring former family court judge Judith Sheindlin arbitrating over small claims cases in small claims court...
- Weekedays at 1:30pm - Judge Joe Brown - Weekdays at 2pm
- The InsiderThe Insider (TV series)The Insider is an American tabloid television news program covering events and celebrities. It debuted on September 13, 2004 as a spinoff of Entertainment Tonight and started as a popular segment that took viewers "behind closed doors" and gave them "inside" information...
- Weekdays at 2:30pm, Sundays nights at 12:30am - America Now - Weekdays at 3pm (Raycom Media-developed news magazine)
- Entertainment TonightEntertainment TonightEntertainment Tonight is a daily tabloid television entertainment television news show that is syndicated by CBS Television Distribution throughout the United States, Canada and in many countries around the world. Linda Bell Blue is currently the program's executive producer...
- Weeknights at 6:30pm, Saturdays nights at 12:05am - Law Call - Sundays at Midnight (rebroadcast Monday nights at 9:30 on WSFA 12.2)
- Storm Stories - Weeknights at 9 on WSFA 12.2
- Inside Alabama's Legislature - Thursdays at 9:30pm on WSFA 12.2 (seasonally)
- Newsmakers - Thursdays at 9:30pm on WSFA 12.2
- On the Job - Tuesdays at 9:30pm on WSFA 12.2
- Visions - weekly on WSFA 12.2
Newscasts
Weekdays:
- Today in Alabama (5-7am)
- Alabama LIVE! (11am-12pm)
- WSFA 12 News at Noon (12-12:30pm)
- WSFA 12 News First at Four (4-5pm)
- WSFA 12 News at 5pm (5-5:30pm)
- WSFA 12 News at 6pm (6-6:30pm)
- The News at Nine (9-9:30pm)
- WSFA 12 News at 10 (10-10:35pm)
Saturdays:
- WSFA 12 News at 6 (6-7pm)
- The News at Nine (9-9:30pm)
- WSFA 12 News at 10 (10-10:30pm)
Sundays:
- Today in Alabama (9-9:30am)
- WSFA 12 News at 5 (5-5:30pm)
- The News at Nine (9-9:30pm)
- WSFA 12 News at 10 (10-11pm)
News team
News Anchors:-- Tonya Terry - Weekdays, Today in Alabama, Alabama Live, & WSFA 12 News at Noon
- Judd Davis - Weekdays, Today in Alabama, Alabama Live, & WSFA 12 News at Noon
- Sally Pitts - Weekdays, WSFA 12 News First at 4
- Mark Bullock - Weeknights, WSFA 12 News First at 4, 5, & 9
- Bob Howell - Weeknights, WSFA 12 News First at 4 (4:30 edition), 6, & 10
- Valorie Lawson - Weeknights, WSFA 12 News at 5, 6, & 10
- Samuel King - Saturdays, WSFA 12 News at 6, 9, 10
- Tametria Conner - Sundays, Today in Alabama
- Jennifer Oravet - Sundays, WSFA 12 News at 5, 9, & 10
News Reporters:
- Samuel King - investigative reporter
- Max Reiss - Raycom political reporter
- Melissa Johnson - morning general assignment reporter
- Bethany Wales - evening genereal assignment reporter
- Bryan Henry - evening general assignment reporter
- Jennifer Oravet - evening general assignment reporter
- Melissa McKinney - evening genereal assignment reporter
- Tametria Conner - evening genereal assignment reporter
- Hannah Lane - Wiregrass Newsroom reporter
Dopper 12 StormVision Team:
- Rich Thomas - Chief Meteorologist, Weeknights, WSFA 12 News at 4, 5, 6, 9 & 10
- Josh Johnson - Meteorologist, Weekdays, Today in Alabama, Alabama LIVE!, WSFA 12 News at Noon
- Jeff Jumper - Meteorologist, Weeknights, WSFA 12 News at 4:30 & 9
- Eric Snitil - Meteorologist, Weekend evenings
Traffic Tracker:
- Andi Scott - Weekdays, Today in Alabama
WSFA 12 Sports Team:
- Jeff Shearer - Sports Director - Weeknights, WSFA 12 News at 6, 9, & 10
- Derek Steyer - Asst. Sports Director, Weekends, WSFA 12 News at 6, 9, & 10
- Kim Smith - Wiregrass sports reporter
Contributors
- Bill Rancic - America Now co-host
- Leeza Gibbons - America Now co-host
- Shea Grandquest - Central Alabama Business Break, Weekdays on Today in Alabama
- Bobby Jon Drinkard - On the Job
- Kim Kendrix (1990-2010, WSFA 12 News Anchor)- Shine Your Light
- Dr. Martin Glover - Pediatrican, Fridays on Alabama LIVE!
- Dr. Bill Van Hooser - Pet Vet, Mondays on Alabama LIVE!
- Art Ginsburg - Mr. FoodMr. FoodArt Ginsburg, commonly known as Mr. Food, is a television chef and best selling author of cookbooks who emphasizes simple recipes. He is the originator of "quick & easy cooking" who, for the past 30+ years, has paved the way for TV food personalities who have followed. With his enthusiastic style,...
- Weekdays on WSFA 12 News at Noon - Gibson Vance - Sundays on Law Call
- Cedric Varner - Visions
- Collin Gaston - Editorials
- Kim Wanous - Sundays on LawCall
Personality time line
| Name | Span | Current position | Previous positions | Before WSFA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tonya Terry | September 2002–present | Today In Alabama, Alabama LIVE! (as of May 2010) | Today In Alabama, WSFA 12 News at Noon | WAAY in Huntsville, AL |
| Judd Davis | June 2004–present | Today In Alabama, Alabama LIVE! (as of May 2010) | Today In Alabama, WSFA 12 News at Noon | KIVI KIVI KIVI-TV is the ABC-affiliated television station for Idaho's Treasure Valley licensed to Nampa. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 24 from a transmitter at the Bogus Basin ski area summit in unincorporated Boise County. The station can also be seen on Cable One channel 6... in Boise, ID |
| Sally Pitts | 2002–present | WSFA 12 News at Noon, General Assignment Reporter (as of June 2010) | Weekend Anchor/Reporter, Producer | Joined WSFA's production dept. after college |
| Mark Bullock | 1998–present | WSFA 12 News at 5, FOX News At Nine | WSFA 12 News at 5, Weekend Anchor | WRBL WRBL WRBL, virtual channel 3 , is the CBS-affiliated television station in Columbus, Georgia. The station is owned by Media General, with studios in Columbus... in Columbus, GA |
| Valorie Lawson | May 2006–present | WSFA 12 News at 5, 6, 10 (as of May 2010) | WSFA 12 News at 6 & 10 | WBMA in Birmingham, AL |
| Bob Howell | August 1976–1998, June 2004–present | WSFA 12 News at 6 & 10 | WSFA 12 News at 5, 6, & 10 | WNCF WNCF WNCF is the ABC-affiliated television station for Central Alabama's Black Belt licensed to Montgomery. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 32 from a transmitter in Gordonville. The station can also be seen on Knology and Charter channel 4. There is a high definition feed... |
| Jennifer Oravet | 2006–present | Sunday Morning Anchor/General Assignment Reporter (as of June 2010) | Morning Reporter, Evening Reporter, Producer | WVTM in Birmingham, AL |
| Bryan Henry | November 1995–present | General Assignment Reporter (as of 1997) | Assignment Editor | |
| Samuel King | September 2010–present | Investigative Reporter | NY1 NY1 NY1, New York One, is a 24-hour cable-news television channel focusing on the five boroughs of New York City. In addition to news and weather forecasts, the channel also features human-interest segments such as the "New Yorker of the Week" and the "Scholar Athlete of the Week", and specialty... in New York City, New York |
|
| Max Reiss | October 2010-present | Political Reporter for Raycom's Alabama stations (based out of WSFA) | KOMU-TV KOMU-TV KOMU-TV is the NBC-affiliated television station for Mid-Missouri licensed to Columbia. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on VHF channel 8 from a transmitter at studios on US 63 southeast of downtown. The station can also be seen on Mediacom, Suddenlink, and Charter channel 7 as well... in Missouri |
|
| Bethany Wales | 2000–present | Evening General Assignment Reporter (as of June 2011) | Producer (2000-2009), Morning Reporter (2009-2011) | |
| Melissa McKinney | October 2008–present | General Assignment Reporter (as of 2009) | Wiregrass Newsroom Reporter | |
| Melissa Johnson | January 2008–present | Montgomery/Wiregrass Newsroom Reporter (as of June 2009) | Producer | Joined WSFA from college |
| Andi Scott | 1996–present | Traffic Reporter | ||
| Rich Thomas | August 1981–present | Chief Meteorologist (as of 1983) | Weekend Meteorologist | WHHY-FM in Montgomery, AL |
| Josh Johnson | July 2008–present | Morning/Noon Meteorologist | WXIA in Atlanta | |
| Jeff Jumper | November 2010–present | (Wed-Sun) 9pm & weekend meteorologist | KPLC KPLC KPLC, channel 7, is an NBC-affiliated television station licensed to Lake Charles, Louisiana broadcasting on digital channel 7. It is owned by Raycom Media, and has transmitter facilities located in Fenton, Louisiana.... in Lake Charles, Louisiana |
|
| Dan Atkinson | 1974–1982, 2006–present | Sunday Meteorologist (as of November 2010) | Saturday Meteorologist (as of 2008) Weekend Meteorologist (2006–2008), Chief Meteorologist (?-1982) | WSB-TV WSB-TV WSB-TV, virtual channel 2.1 , is the ABC affiliate in Atlanta, Georgia. It is the flagship television station of Cox Enterprises and its Cox Media Group subsidiary... in Atlanta |
| Jeff Shearer | 1991–present | Sports Director (as of 2003) | Sports Anchor/Reporter | |
| Derek Styer | 1998–present | Weekend Sports Anchor | KAIT KAIT KAIT in Jonesboro, Arkansas is the ABC affiliated television station for Northeastern Arkansas and Southeastern Missouri, offering a mix of news and syndicated programming and local broadcasts. Its transmitter is located in Egypt, Arkansas.-History:... in Jonesboro, AK |
|
Former personalities
News Anchors- Kim Hendrix, March 1990 - May 2010 - Original Alabama LIVE! host, co-anchored WSFA 12 News at 5 with Mark Bullock (2005-2010), Barry Davis (?-?), Ken Smith (?-?), and Bob Howell (1990s-early 2000s. [had been a producer, weekend anchor, main anchor (until early 2000s) while at WSFA]. (Now at St. James School in Montgomery)
- Michael Briddell, ?-November 2004 - Co-Anchored WSFA 12 News at 5 with Kim Hendrix; also education reporter (Now Assistant to MontgomeryMontgomery, AlabamaMontgomery is the capital of the U.S. state of Alabama, and is the county seat of Montgomery County. It is located on the Alabama River southeast of the center of the state, in the Gulf Coastal Plain. As of the 2010 census, Montgomery had a population of 205,764 making it the second-largest city...
Mayor Todd StrangeTodd Strange (politician)Todd Strange is an United States Republican politician from Alabama, who is currently serving as the 56th Mayor of Montgomery, Alabama. Strange won a special election & took office on March 10, 2009 after his predecessor, Democrat Bobby Bright, was elected to the United States House of...
) - Barry Davis, ?-early 200s - Co-Anchored with Kim Hendrix at 5pm, Deloris Keith at 6 & 10pm. Now at KENS in San Antonio, TX
- Gina Gregory, Co-Anchored with Bob Howell for much of the 1980s. Now District 7 City Councilwoman in Mobile, AL.
- David Hagood, 2000-2004 - Co-Anchored "Today In Alabama" and WSFA 12 News at Noon with Tonya Terry. Went to a local Colonial BankColonial BankColonial Bank, formerly a subsidiary of Colonial Bancgroup Inc., was headquartered in Montgomery, Alabama. Colonial Bank had 346 branches in the states of Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Nevada and Texas. Colonial's assets had grown from $166 million in 1981 to $26 billion. This growth can be attributed...
branch, then WAKA-TV in Montgomery from 2005-2007, 2008–2009. (Now with the Dallas County Board of Education in Selma, AL) - Alex WystrachAlex FlanaganAlex Flanagan is an American sportscaster who is a graduate of the University of Arizona and Salpointe Catholic High School in Tucson, Arizona...
, ?-? - Weekend Anchor/Reporter (Now NFL reporter) - Jennifer Van Vrancken - ?-2002. Co-Anchored "Today in Alabama" (Now at WVUE-TV in New Orleans)
- Joey Parker, 1997-1999/1999-2003. Anchored "WSFA News 12 at Sunrise" and co-anchored "Today in Alabama" with Jennifer Van Vrancken (?-2003) and Tonya Terry (2002-2003) (Now at WCJB-TVWCJB-TVWCJB-TV is the ABC-affiliated television station for North Central Florida licensed to Gainesville. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 16 from a transmitter in Wacahoota. The station can also be seen on CommuniComm Services channel 3, Cox channel 7, and Bright House...
) - Deloris Keith, early 2000s-December 2005, Co-Anchored WSFA 12 News at 6 & 10 with Barry Davis (?-2004) and Bob Howell (2004-2005). (Currently in Atlanta, GeorgiaAtlanta, GeorgiaAtlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
) - Carrie Johnson, ?-?, Original co-host of "Today In Alabama" (Now executive assistant to Alabama Power CEO)
- Ken Smith - Co-Anchored at 5pm with Kim Hendrix
- Frank McGee - also News director
- Cody Holyoke - (2007-2011) - Weekend anchor, now a reporter at WTMJWTMJ-TVWTMJ-TV, digital channel 28 ; branded as "Today's TMJ4", is the NBC-affiliated television station located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and the flagship station of the Journal Broadcast Group. Its signal covers most of southeastern Wisconsin and parts of northeastern Illinois, including Racine, Kenosha,...
in Milwaukee, WisconsinMilwaukee, WisconsinMilwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
News Reporters
- Ashley Anderson - Left in 2007, Now at WAFF-TV in Huntsville, AL as Bobby Shuttleworth
- Daniel Curtis - January 2008-December 2010
- Beth Jett - Now at KQDS-TVKQDS-TVKQDS-TV is the Fox-affiliated television station for the Twin Ports and Iron Range areas of Northeastern Minnesota that is licensed to Duluth. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 17 from a transmitter west of downtown in Hilltop Park. Owned by Red River Broadcasting, the...
in Duluth, MinnesotaDuluth, MinnesotaDuluth is a port city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and is the county seat of Saint Louis County. The fourth largest city in Minnesota, Duluth had a total population of 86,265 in the 2010 census. Duluth is also the second largest city that is located on Lake Superior after Thunder Bay, Ontario,... - Eileen Jones, 1992-November 2010 - Political Reporter, Now local Council of Substance Abuse Director
- Stacy Nuemann - (Left in 2007)
- Keysha Perry - (Currently a high school teacher in GeorgiaGeorgia (U.S. state)Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
) - Theo Travers - (Left in 2006 for WREG-TV, Currently pursuing career in Hollywood, California)
- Debbie Williams - (Now at WKRG-TVWKRG-TVWKRG-TV, virtual channel 5 , is the CBS-affiliated television station for Mobile, Alabama, Pensacola, Florida, and Pascagoula/Biloxi, Mississippi; and has been the network's affiliate in the area since its inception on August 29, 1955. The station was founded by the architect and movie theater...
in Mobile, AL) - Chris Holmes, 1995-2008, - Original "FOX News At Nine" anchor (January 2008-June 2008)(Now working at a Washington, D.C. Physics Lab)
Meteorologists/Weather Anchors
- Mickey Ferguson - Morning Weather Anchor, (Now at WBRC-TV in Birmingham, AL)
- Jeff Gerber - Meteorologist (Left in 2005)
- Rob Hatchell - Morning/Noon Meteorologist (January 2006–May2008,Now Chief Meteorologist at WMBF-TVWMBF-TVWMBF-TV is the NBC-affiliated television station for the Grand Strand and Pee Dee areas of South Carolina that is licensed to Myrtle Beach. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 32 from a transmitter in Bucksville. It can also be seen on Time Warner Cable channel 10 , 120 ,...
in Myrtle Beach, SC) - Gene Hocutt - Meteorologist/Announcer (semi-retired from private business)
- Julie Martin - Meteorologist
- Allyson Rae, October 2007-September 2010 - Meteorologist
- Jennifer Schram - Meteorologist
- Bill Taylor - Meteorologist; Original "Today in Alabama" co-host (Now at KENS-TVKENS-TVKENS is the CBS affiliate television station in San Antonio, Texas owned and operated by The Belo Corporation. Prior to late April 2010, KENS also managed UPN, later The CW, affiliate station KCWX through a local marketing agreement...
in San Antonio, TexasSan Antonio, TexasSan Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
). - Ryan Vaughan - Morning/Noon Meteorologist (Left in January 2006, Now Chief Meteorologist at KAIT-TV in Jonesboro, AR)
Sports Anchors/Reporters
- Abby Chin - Sports Reporter, April 2008-December 2008, (was laid off) - Now with WIATWIATWIAT, virtual channel 42, is the CBS-affiliated television station in the Birmingham/Tuscaloosa/Anniston/Gadsden, Alabama television market. Licensed to Birmingham, it broadcasts its digital signal on UHF channel 30, although through the use of PSIP, the station's virtual channel number is...
in Birmingham, AL) - John Heckman - Sports Anchor/Reporter (Left in Summer 2007, still in Montgomery)
- Kyle Montgomery - Sports Anchor/Reporter (August 2007 - November 2008, Now with NBA sports in Atlanta)
- Phil Snow - Sports Anchor (1974–2003)
- James SpannJames SpannJames Spann is a television meteorologist based in Birmingham, Alabama. He currently works for ABC 33/40, whose studios are located in Hoover, Alabama but which has transmitters in Tuscaloosa and Anniston. Spann has worked in the field since 1978. -Career:Spann began his broadcast career in...
- Sports Anchor (Now chief meteorologist at WBMA in Birmingham, AL)
-
Newscast titles
- News Room With Frank McGee (1955–1956)
- WSFA-TV News (1956–1986)
- WSFA News 12 (1986-1990s)
- WSFA 12 News (late 1990s-present)
Station slogans
- Channel 12, Proud as a Peacock! (1979–1981; localized version of NBC slogan)
- Alabama's News Center (early 1980s-1985)
- Channel 12, Our Pride is Showing (1981–1982; localized version of NBC slogan)
- We're Channel 12, Just Watch Us Now (1982–1983; localized version of NBC slogan)
- Alabama's News Source (1985–2003)
- Come Home to the Best, Only on Channel 12 (1988–1990; localized version of NBC slogan)
- Channel 12, The Place To Be (1990–1991; localized version of NBC slogan)
- Coverage. Community. Commitment. (2003–present)
- Where Team Meets Technology (weather slogan)
- Breaking news FIRST on WSFA.com (station website)
-