WRTV

WRTV
Indianapolis, Indiana
Branding	RTV6 (general) 6 News (newscasts)
Slogan	On Your Side
Channels	Digital: 25 (UHF) Virtual: 6 (PSIP)
Subchannels	6.1 ABC 6.2 6News
Affiliations	American Broadcasting Company
Owner	McGraw-Hill (McGraw-Hill Broadcasting Company, Inc.)
First air date	May 30, 1949
Call letters’ meaning	We aRe TeleVision
Former callsigns	WFBM-TV (1949-1972)
Former channel number(s)	Analog: Channel 6 (1949-2009)
Former affiliations	Primary: CBS (1949-1956) NBC (1956-1979) Secondary: DuMont (1949-1955)[1] ABC (1954-1956)
Transmitter Power	1000 kW
Height	294 m
Facility ID	40877
Transmitter Coordinates	39°53′56.6″N 86°12′3.7″W / 39.899056°N 86.201028°W / 39.899056; -86.201028
Website	www.theINDYchannel.com

WRTV, channel 6, is the ABC television affiliate in Indianapolis, Indiana. Its transmitter is located on the northwest side of Indianapolis at 8001 Township Line Road.^[1] Their studio is at 1330 N. Meridian in downtown Indianapolis.

History

The station signed on the air on May 30, 1949 under the call sign WFBM-TV with a documentary entitled Crucible of Speed covering the history of the Indianapolis 500, followed by the inaugural live television broadcast of the event. It is Indiana's oldest television station. It was owned by Consolidated Television and Radio Broadcasters along with WFBM-AM 1260 (now WNDE).

It was originally a CBS affiliate with secondary ABC and DuMont affiliations. When WTTV signed on a few months later, WFBM shared ABC programming until 1954, when WISH-TV signed on and took over the ABC affiliation. In 1956, WFBM took the NBC affiliation from WTTV. During the late 1950s, WFBM was also briefly affiliated with the NTA Film Network.^[2]

Consolidated merged with Time-Life in 1957. As part of an FCC-mandated sale, WFBM-TV was sold to McGraw-Hill in 1972 along with sister station KLZ-TV (now KMGH-TV) in Denver, Colorado, KOGO-TV (now KGTV) in San Diego and KERO-TV in Bakersfield, California. At that time, the station assumed its current calls, WRTV. In 1979, WRTV traded affiliations with WTHR and became an ABC affiliate. NBC was the lowest rated network in the late 1970s while ABC rose to the ranks of the highest rated network that same time and was seeking out stronger local stations in many markets, thus motivating this affiliation switch in Indianapolis. WRTV is one of the few stations in the country to have been a primary affiliate of all three original networks.

Digital television

WRTV permanently ceased its analog signal on June 12, 2009, continuing digital broadcasts on its pre-transition channel number, 25. ^[3] Through the use of PSIP, WRTV's virtual channel is displayed as 6.

Until the government-mandated digital transition on June 12, 2009, WRTV had to provide two call signs (legal IDs) in on-air spots, "WRTV / WRTV-DT INDIANAPOLIS". This allowed the station to identify both its analog and digital broadcast signals in the same message. On June 3, 2009, the FCC announced that following the digital transition stations would be allowed to revert to their analog call sign. ^[4] Since the call letters "WRTV" are only in use by a television station, the station elected to use only "WRTV INDIANAPOLIS" as its official call sign for the station currently broadcasting on 25.1.

WRTV today

WRTV has been a leader in adding innovation to Indiana broadcasting. Some of WRTV's innovations over the years, have included the first station in the state to broadcast in color, the first use of videotape, the first to use news mini-cams, the first use of microwave (a [pre-runner to satellite) (Insta-Cam), the first satellite truck (NewStar 6), the first cable news on NewsChannel 64 (now 6 News 24/7), the first use of non-linear digital editing, the first use of digital news cameras, the first entry into web publishing (www.theINDYchannel.com), and the first into cellphone delivery of news (6News OnTheGo) and VODcasting.

On September 10, 2007, the same day the new anchor team of Todd Wallace and Trisha Shepherd debuted, WRTV launched a 7 PM newscast, a first for the Indianapolis market (and the second in Indiana). Station Vice President and General Manager Don Lundy attributes the decision to "longer commutes and longer work days" that prevent viewers from being home by 5 or 6. 6 NEWS First at 5:00, the first five o'clock newscast launched in 1988 remains at 5:00 PM. The syndicated EXTRA airs at 5:30 PM followed by 6 NEWS at 6:00, then followed up by World News with Charles Gibson at 6:30 PM and the new 6 NEWS at 7:00.

Newscasts

WRTV continues to air the entire ABC network schedule, although the station has no weekend morning local newscasts.

On October 12, 2008, WRTV-TV became the third station in Indiana (and Indianapolis) to broadcast their newscasts in high definition. In the 6:00 PM weekend newscast, the station unveiled a number of new aspects to their newscasts. Featuring all new graphics, an updated news set, all new opens and rejoins. As well as updated music from the ABC O&O news music package, and an updated logo for all newscasts. The new graphics are brighter and much more vibrant. Featuring shades of bright yellow and blue.

Weekday newscast air times:

• 6 NEWS Good Morning Indiana (Weekdays 5:00 AM - 7:00 AM)
• 6 NEWS at Noon (Weekdays 12:00 PM - 12:30 PM)
• 6 NEWS First at 5:00 (Weekdays 5:00 PM - 5:30 PM)
• 6 NEWS at 6:00 (Weeknights 6:00 PM - 6:30 PM)
• 6 NEWS at 7:00 (Weeknights 7:00 PM - 7:30 PM)
• 6 NEWS Nightcast (Weeknights 11:00 PM - 11:35 PM)

Weekend newscast air times:

• 6 NEWS Weekend (Weekends at various times, usually 6:00 PM, 6:30 PM or 7:00 PM, due to ESPN on ABC sports programming)
• 6 NEWS Nightcast (Saturdays at various times, usually 11:00 PM or 11:30 PM, due to ESPN on ABC sports programming. Sundays at 11:00 PM)

Programming

WRTV clears nearly all content provided by the network.

Syndicated programming includes:

• Live with Regis & Kelly (Weekdays 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM)
• The Bonnie Hunt Show (Weekdays 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM)
• Judge Judy
  • Primary (Weekdays 4:00 PM - 4:30 PM)
  • Secondary (Weekdays 4:30 PM - 5:00 PM)
• EXTRA (Weekdays 5:30 PM - 6:00 PM; weekends at various times)
• The Insider (Weekdays 7:30 PM - 8:00 PM; second run at various times overnight; weekends at various times)

The station also carries the following specialty and paid programming:

• Life Today with James Robison
• Livin for the City
• Joel Osteen
• NASCAR Angels

ABC in the Terre Haute Market

When WBAK in Terre Haute (now WFXW) left ABC for Fox, WRTV became the default ABC station for the Indiana side of the market. It is viewable in Terre Haute with a rooftop antenna and is carried by all cable systems on the Indiana side of the Terre Haute market. For the Illinois counties in the Terre Haute television market, many systems offer WICD from Champaign, Illinois or WEHT from Evansville, Indiana.

Personalities

WRTV primary anchors seen weeknights

Current on-air talent

Anchors

• Todd Wallace - Weeknights at 5:00, 6:00, 7:00 & 11:00
• Trisha Shepherd - Weeknights at 5:00, 6:00, 7:00 & 11:00
• Grace Trahan - Weekday mornings & noon
• Dan Spehler - Weekday mornings
• Erica Flye - Weekend evenings at 6:00 & 11:00

Weather

• Kevin Gregory - Weeknights at 5:00, 6:00, 7:00 & 11:00 (Chief Meteorologist)
• Crystal Wicker - Weekday Mornings & Noon
• Scott Akin - Weekend fill-in

Sports

• Dave Furst - Weeknights at 6:00 & 11:00 (Sports Director)
• Brad Brown
• Jason Spells

Reporters

• Jennifer Carmack
• Sarah Cornell
• Norman Cox
• Tom Davis
• Rick Hightower
• Renee Jameson
• Joanna Massee
• Stacia Matthews
• Ben Morriston
• Julie Pursley
• Jack Rinehart
• Rafael Sanchez
• Tanya Spencer
• Derrik Thomas

Notable WRTV Alumni

• Linda Allen (reporter, later went to WTHR)
• Chris Bavender (reporter, later went to WTHR)
• Ken Beckley (former news anchor, recently retired as Vice President of Advertising for the H. H. Gregg appliance store chain)
• Barbara Boyd (longtime consumer reporter)
• Phil Bremen (former weekend anchor, currently Telecommunications Professor at Ball State University)
• Jeremy Brilliant (reporter; now reporter with WTHR)
• Cullen Browder (reporter/anchor 1996-1998; now at WRAL-TV in Raleigh, NC)
• Angela Cain (weekend anchor in the late 80s/early 90s; now Community Affairs Director at WTHR)
• Howard Caldwell (anchor for many years, now retired)
• Tom Carnegie (longtime Sports Director and public address announcer at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway; retired in 1985)
• Marilyn Carter (reporter; nee Lis)
• Ray Cortopassi (anchor until 2007; reporter until 2008; went competitor WTHR, now morning anchor at WXIN)
• Bill Crawford (former weatherman, died in 1964)
• Chris Denari (former sports reporter; now Indiana Pacers play-by-play announcer for FSN Indiana)
• Gerry Dick (reporter, now host of Inside Indiana Business)
• Denise Dillon (reporter; later became an overnight anchor at CNN, now at WAGA in Atlanta, GA)
• Reid Duffy (feature reporter, critic, and pundit; now correspondent for "Across Indiana" on WFYI)
• Paul Emmick (weekend meteorologist; now evening meteorologist at WDRB in Louisville, KY)
• Dave Erickson - Weekend Anchor/Reporter (Currently Main Anchor at KXLY-TV, Spokane, WA)
• Frances Farmer (former actress, hosted Frances Farmer Presents afternoon movie show; died in 1970)
• Gilbert Forbes (first news anchor; died in 1961)
• Hal Fryar (aka "Harlow Hickenlooper"; host of the Three Stooges show, now with a Senior Relations firm in Indianapolis)
• Don Baker Director of News, now teaches broadcasting at Columbus East High School
• Bob Gamble (longtime news director/editorial commentator; retired in 1986)
• Jim Gerard (midday talk show host, now retired)
• Emily Gimmel (morning reporter; currently starring in SOAPnet series Southern Belles: Louisville)
• Brian Hammons (sports anchor, now with The Golf Channel)
• Scott Hoke (former sports anchor; currently at WFYI-FM 90.1 and WFYI-TV 20)
• Shane Hollett (meteorologist/reporter; now Associate Director of the National College Access Network)
• Tracey Horth (reporter/anchor, now with the Domestic Violence Network of Greater Indianapolis)
• Durward Kirby (sidekick of Garry Moore and Allen Funt)
• Karen Layton (investigative reporter; current status unknown)
• Clyde Lee (anchor 1976-2001, now married to former co-anchor Diane Willis)
• Barbara Lewis (anchor from the late 1980s to mid 1990's, now health reporter for Inside Indiana Business)
• Kip Lewis (weekend sports anchor)
• Linda Lupear (reporter)
• Elissa Lynn (weather anchor) later Chief Weather anchor at KXTV 1996-2006, now forecaster for the California Dept. of Water Resources.
• Dave McGhee (former reporter/assignment editor; died 7-23-07)
• Bob McLain (chief meterologist, 1972-2001)
• Mindy Mintz (reporter; currently with Maryland Public Television)
• Marilyn Mitzel (reporter; now Adjunct Professor at Florida International University)
• Gerald "Curley" Myers (personality/performer; still performs with Hal Fryar, among others, on occasion)
• Dan O'Rourke (anchor/reporter, 1976-1979; video and film producer/director, Twin Lion Communications Houston)
• Ken Owen (weekend co-anchor, now director of media relations at DePauw University)
• Jim Parsons (reporter, now at WTAE in Pittsburgh, PA)
• Joe Pickett (former booth announcer and personality, now retired)
• Dave Piontek (former NBA star later sports anchor, died in 2004)
• Phil Ponce (reporter, now at WTTW in Chicago, IL)
• Paul Poteet (meteorologist, Good Morning Indiana, 1997-2009)
• Rob Powers (sports reporter; now Sports Director at WTVG in Toledo, OH)
• Jake Query (sports producer,reporter and anchor; later hosted at WIBC radio)
• Vytas Reid (Meteorologist, now at WBFF in Baltimore, MD)
• Craig Roberts (1970s sports anchor, a popular sportscaster in Houston, TX for decades; now host of Sports Off Center at KTBU-TV)
• Karen Rowe (Anchor/Reporter, Good Morning Indiana, 1995-1997)
• Rick Sallinger (reporter, now at KCNC in Denver, CO)
• Lou Sherman (booth announcer/personality; died in 1998)
• Ed Sorenson (Former Sportscaster, Current status unknown)
• Hendrik Sybrandy (reporter, now with KMGH in Denver)
• Caroline Thau (weekend anchor, formerly at WXIN)
• Greg Todd (weekend anchor 1980-1994 now Managing Editor at "San Diego 6 News" XETV in San Diego, CA)
• John Totten (former sports anchor, deceased)
• Brian Trauring (reporter; now News Director at WTVG in Toledo, Ohio)
• Jerry Vance (aka Captain Starr, co-star of local children's show "All Hands On Deck"; died in 1975)
• Judy Waugh (public affairs director)
• Martha Weaver (main anchor 1995-2007; moved home to Minneapolis, MN with her husband and their daughter)
• Eric Weisfeld (morning anchor; now morning anchor at WZVN in Fort Myers, FL)
• Diane Willis (anchor 1987-2001, now married to former co-anchor Clyde Lee)

News/Station Presentation

Newscast Titles

• TeleNews (1951-1960)
• TV-6 News (1961-1965)
• Channel 6 Early/Final Report (1966-1974)
• The News (1974-1985)
• Channel 6 News (1985-1989)
• WRTV 6 News (1989-1998)
• RTV6 News/The News At x:xx (1998-2006)
• 6 News (2006-present)

Station Slogans

• The News Leader (1979-1984)
• Come on Along with Channel 6 (1982-1983; localized version of ABC ad campaign)
• Your Exclusive Newsstar Station (1986-1989)
• Making a Difference for Indiana (1989–1996)
• Indiana's Watching Channel 6 (1990-1991; localized version of ABC "America's Watching ABC" ad campaign)
• Live, Local, Late Breaking (1996-1998)
• Standing Up for You (1998-2001)
• On Your Side (2006-present)

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Trivia

This article may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. Please improve this article if you can. (July 2009)

• One of WRTV's former news staff was Emily Gimmel. Gimmel was the youngest of news reporters at WRTV at the age of 22. She has gone on to star in the SOAPnet series Southern Belles: Louisville
• Dan O'Rourke, after news internship became WRTV's youngest reporter at age 21, and youngest anchor at 22.
• Kevin Gregory (the chief meteorologist) is the son of former WTHR chief meteorologist Bob Gregory.
• Bob McLain, who still appears occasionally, was the station's primary meteorologist from 1972 to 2001; he covered the Super Outbreak of 1974 and the Great Blizzard of 1978.
• In 1993, local video of hockey game and the station logo is used in the movie Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III
• Hal Fryar (aka "Harlow Hickenlooper") was one of nine local Three Stooges show hosts from across the country cast as villains in the Three Stooges full-length feature "The Outlaws Are Coming! The Outlaws Are Coming!"
• Bill Crawford, weatherman during the 1950s and early 1960s, was really a dentist by profession. Meteorology was only his hobby.
• Harlow Hickenlooper's famous rendition of "Happy Birthday", which always resulted in his getting a pie in the face, was patterned after Jerry Colonna who always exaggerated certain songs. It can be heard on Hal Fryar's website www.harlowhickenlooper.com.

External links

• TheIndyChannel.com (Official Website)
• WRTV History at TheIndyChannel.com
• Query the FCC's TV station database for WRTV
• BIAfn's Media Web Database -- Information on WRTV-TV
• HarlowHickenlooper.com (Hal Fryar's website)

References