Jump to content

WTNZ: Difference between revisions

Edit links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
m fix
Rescuing 22 sources and tagging 0 as dead.) #IABot (v2.0.8.2
Line 37: Line 37:


==History==
==History==
Knoxville Family Television, Limited Partnership, was granted a construction permit on November 3, 1982, to build a station on Knoxville's channel 43; the proposal from Knoxville Family beat out another by Marvin E. Palmquist, who owned [[WQRF-TV]] in his hometown of [[Rockford, Illinois]].<ref name="Knox801026">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89244720/new-tv-station-for-knox-would-feature/|date=October 26, 1980|page=84|title=New TV Station for Knox Would feature Golden Oldies|first=Ken|last=Mink|newspaper=The Knoxville News-Sentinel|location=Knoxville, Tennessee|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 29, 2021}}</ref><!-- Sun --> Channel 43 had previously been used for several years by [[WBIR-TV]] as a UHF relay to aid areas in the city of Knoxville that did not receive a satisfactory picture on VHF and was discontinued upon an upgrade to the VHF facility.<ref name="Knox750222">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89732544/he-applauds-wbir-tv-for-adding-uhf/|date=February 22, 1975|page=4|title=He Applauds WBIR-TV For Adding UHF channel 43 to Its Telecasting|newspaper=The Knoxville News-Sentinel|location=Knoxville, Tennessee|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 29, 2021}}</ref><!-- Sat -->
Knoxville Family Television, Limited Partnership, was granted a construction permit on November 3, 1982, to build a station on Knoxville's channel 43; the proposal from Knoxville Family beat out another by Marvin E. Palmquist, who owned [[WQRF-TV]] in his hometown of [[Rockford, Illinois]].<ref name="Knox801026">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89244720/new-tv-station-for-knox-would-feature/|date=October 26, 1980|page=84|title=New TV Station for Knox Would feature Golden Oldies|first=Ken|last=Mink|newspaper=The Knoxville News-Sentinel|location=Knoxville, Tennessee|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 29, 2021|archive-date=November 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211130031229/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89244720/new-tv-station-for-knox-would-feature/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sun --> Channel 43 had previously been used for several years by [[WBIR-TV]] as a UHF relay to aid areas in the city of Knoxville that did not receive a satisfactory picture on VHF and was discontinued upon an upgrade to the VHF facility.<ref name="Knox750222">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89732544/he-applauds-wbir-tv-for-adding-uhf/|date=February 22, 1975|page=4|title=He Applauds WBIR-TV For Adding UHF channel 43 to Its Telecasting|newspaper=The Knoxville News-Sentinel|location=Knoxville, Tennessee|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 29, 2021|archive-date=November 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211130031220/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89732544/he-applauds-wbir-tv-for-adding-uhf/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sat -->


From studios on Central Street,<ref name="Knox831104">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89732588/tv-station-due-shortly/|date=November 4, 1983|page=18|title=TV Station Due Shortly|newspaper=The Knoxville News-Sentinel|location=Knoxville, Tennessee|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 29, 2021}}</ref><!-- Fri --> WKCH-TV made its debut on the evening of December 31, 1983—with introductory remarks that then had to be repeated because the audio was not broadcast the first time.<ref name="Knox840101">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89732667/new-station-goes-on-air/|date=January 1, 1984|page=B10|title=New Station Goes on Air|newspaper=The Knoxville News-Sentinel|location=Knoxville, Tennessee|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 29, 2021}}</ref><!-- Sun --> It was the city's first independent station ([[WBXX-TV|WINT-TV]] was on the air in [[Crossville, Tennessee]], but its plans to move into Knoxville were delayed by more than a decade).
From studios on Central Street,<ref name="Knox831104">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89732588/tv-station-due-shortly/|date=November 4, 1983|page=18|title=TV Station Due Shortly|newspaper=The Knoxville News-Sentinel|location=Knoxville, Tennessee|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 29, 2021|archive-date=November 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211130031232/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89732588/tv-station-due-shortly/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Fri --> WKCH-TV made its debut on the evening of December 31, 1983—with introductory remarks that then had to be repeated because the audio was not broadcast the first time.<ref name="Knox840101">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89732667/new-station-goes-on-air/|date=January 1, 1984|page=B10|title=New Station Goes on Air|newspaper=The Knoxville News-Sentinel|location=Knoxville, Tennessee|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 29, 2021|archive-date=November 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211130031228/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89732667/new-station-goes-on-air/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sun --> It was the city's first independent station ([[WBXX-TV|WINT-TV]] was on the air in [[Crossville, Tennessee]], but its plans to move into Knoxville were delayed by more than a decade).


Like a number of other independent stations, management affairs were primarily controlled by Media Central, which provided consulting and other services to independent stations and owned much of channel 43. Media Central's independent stations, WTNZ included, spurned Fox when it launched in 1986,<ref name="Knox860815">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89732988/some-viewers-will-see-joan-rivers/|date=August 15, 1986|page=B5|first=Reon|last=Carter|title=Some viewers will see Joan Rivers|newspaper=The Knoxville News-Sentinel|location=Knoxville, Tennessee|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 29, 2021}}</ref><!-- Fri --> but it joined the network the next year.<ref name="Knox870625">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89762781/wkch-joins-fourth-network/|date=June 25, 1987|page=B7|first=Reon|last=Carter|title=WKCH joins fourth network|newspaper=The Knoxville News-Sentinel|location=Knoxville, Tennessee|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 29, 2021}}</ref><!-- Thu -->
Like a number of other independent stations, management affairs were primarily controlled by Media Central, which provided consulting and other services to independent stations and owned much of channel 43. Media Central's independent stations, WTNZ included, spurned Fox when it launched in 1986,<ref name="Knox860815">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89732988/some-viewers-will-see-joan-rivers/|date=August 15, 1986|page=B5|first=Reon|last=Carter|title=Some viewers will see Joan Rivers|newspaper=The Knoxville News-Sentinel|location=Knoxville, Tennessee|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 29, 2021|archive-date=November 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211130031304/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89732988/some-viewers-will-see-joan-rivers/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Fri --> but it joined the network the next year.<ref name="Knox870625">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89762781/wkch-joins-fourth-network/|date=June 25, 1987|page=B7|first=Reon|last=Carter|title=WKCH joins fourth network|newspaper=The Knoxville News-Sentinel|location=Knoxville, Tennessee|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 29, 2021|archive-date=November 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211130031301/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89762781/wkch-joins-fourth-network/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Thu -->


Media Central filed for bankruptcy protection in 1987, and channel 43 would remain in that status for more than two years.<ref name="Knox870708">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89733000/wkch-tv-parent-bankrupt/|date=July 8, 1987|page=A10|first=Reon|last=Carter|title=WKCH-TV parent bankrupt|newspaper=The Knoxville News-Sentinel|location=Knoxville, Tennessee|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 29, 2021}}</ref><!-- Wed --> A bankruptcy court judge approved the sale of WKCH-TV to NewSouth Broadcasting, owned by Timothy S. Brumlik, in June 1989. However, as the deal was pending at the [[Federal Communications Commission]] (FCC), the proceedings were jolted when Brumlik was arrested by federal and Florida officials on money laundering charges connected to Colombian drug interests.<ref name="Knox890918">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89733015/prospective-wkch-buyer-charged-in-sting/|date=September 18, 1989|page=A3|title=Prospective WKCH buyer charged in sting|newspaper=The Knoxville News-Sentinel|location=Knoxville, Tennessee|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 29, 2021}}</ref><!-- Mon --> Officials alleged that Brumlik's ownership of [[WLII-DT|TeleOnce]] in [[Puerto Rico]] was a front for two important Latin American media men: [[Remigio Ángel González]], reported to be a business partner with [[Manuel Noriega]] in a Panamanian television station, and Julio Vera Gutiérrez, a Peruvian citizen.<ref name="Knox890919">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89733220/prospective-wkch-buyer-linked-to/|date=September 19, 1989|page=A1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89733230/station-wkch/ A2]|first=Richard|last=Powelson|title=Prospective WKCH buyer linked to alleged partner of Gen. Noriega|newspaper=The Knoxville News-Sentinel|location=Knoxville, Tennessee|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 29, 2021}}</ref><!-- Tue --> In November 1989, a motion was filed by WKCH-TV's trustee to cancel the proposed sale to Brumlik, citing the uncertainty created by the money laundering case.<ref name="Knox891107">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89733569/motion-filed-to-cancel-sale-of-wkch-to/|date=November 7, 1989|page=C7|first=Richard|last=Powelson|title=Motion filed to cancel sale of WKCH to drug suspect|newspaper=The Knoxville News-Sentinel|location=Knoxville, Tennessee|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 29, 2021}}</ref><!-- Tue --> Even despite the continued uncertainty over channel 43's future ownership, the station grew and was recognized as one of the fastest-growing Fox affiliates.<ref name="Knox900213">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89733585/wkch-hopes-to-bring-stability-to-foxs/|date=February 13, 1990|page=B1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89733578/wkch/ B2]|first=Betsy|last=Pickle|title=WKCH hopes to bring stability to Fox's rising star|newspaper=The Knoxville News-Sentinel|location=Knoxville, Tennessee|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 29, 2021}}</ref><!-- Tue -->
Media Central filed for bankruptcy protection in 1987, and channel 43 would remain in that status for more than two years.<ref name="Knox870708">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89733000/wkch-tv-parent-bankrupt/|date=July 8, 1987|page=A10|first=Reon|last=Carter|title=WKCH-TV parent bankrupt|newspaper=The Knoxville News-Sentinel|location=Knoxville, Tennessee|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 29, 2021|archive-date=November 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211130031259/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89733000/wkch-tv-parent-bankrupt/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Wed --> A bankruptcy court judge approved the sale of WKCH-TV to NewSouth Broadcasting, owned by Timothy S. Brumlik, in June 1989. However, as the deal was pending at the [[Federal Communications Commission]] (FCC), the proceedings were jolted when Brumlik was arrested by federal and Florida officials on money laundering charges connected to Colombian drug interests.<ref name="Knox890918">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89733015/prospective-wkch-buyer-charged-in-sting/|date=September 18, 1989|page=A3|title=Prospective WKCH buyer charged in sting|newspaper=The Knoxville News-Sentinel|location=Knoxville, Tennessee|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 29, 2021|archive-date=November 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211130031222/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89733015/prospective-wkch-buyer-charged-in-sting/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Mon --> Officials alleged that Brumlik's ownership of [[WLII-DT|TeleOnce]] in [[Puerto Rico]] was a front for two important Latin American media men: [[Remigio Ángel González]], reported to be a business partner with [[Manuel Noriega]] in a Panamanian television station, and Julio Vera Gutiérrez, a Peruvian citizen.<ref name="Knox890919">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89733220/prospective-wkch-buyer-linked-to/|date=September 19, 1989|page=A1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89733230/station-wkch/ A2]|first=Richard|last=Powelson|title=Prospective WKCH buyer linked to alleged partner of Gen. Noriega|newspaper=The Knoxville News-Sentinel|location=Knoxville, Tennessee|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 29, 2021|archive-date=November 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211130031230/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89733220/prospective-wkch-buyer-linked-to/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Tue --> In November 1989, a motion was filed by WKCH-TV's trustee to cancel the proposed sale to Brumlik, citing the uncertainty created by the money laundering case.<ref name="Knox891107">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89733569/motion-filed-to-cancel-sale-of-wkch-to/|date=November 7, 1989|page=C7|first=Richard|last=Powelson|title=Motion filed to cancel sale of WKCH to drug suspect|newspaper=The Knoxville News-Sentinel|location=Knoxville, Tennessee|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 29, 2021|archive-date=November 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211130031223/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89733569/motion-filed-to-cancel-sale-of-wkch-to/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Tue --> Even despite the continued uncertainty over channel 43's future ownership, the station grew and was recognized as one of the fastest-growing Fox affiliates.<ref name="Knox900213">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89733585/wkch-hopes-to-bring-stability-to-foxs/|date=February 13, 1990|page=B1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89733578/wkch/ B2]|first=Betsy|last=Pickle|title=WKCH hopes to bring stability to Fox's rising star|newspaper=The Knoxville News-Sentinel|location=Knoxville, Tennessee|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 29, 2021|archive-date=November 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211130031239/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89733585/wkch-hopes-to-bring-stability-to-foxs/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Tue -->


FCVS Communications, which owned [[WACH]] in [[Columbia, South Carolina]], bought WKCH-TV in 1990.<ref name="Knox900603">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89733620/s-carolina-partnership-seeks-federal/|date=June 3, 1990|page=B1|title=S. Carolina partnership seeks federal approval to purchase WKCH-TV|newspaper=The Knoxville News-Sentinel|location=Knoxville, Tennessee|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 29, 2021}}</ref><!-- Sun --> Under FCVS, the station increased its community involvement and improved its transmission facilities.<ref name="Knox920423">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89734791/wkch-owners-happy-with-strides/|date=April 23, 1992|page=B4|first=Betsy|last=Pickle|title=WKCH owners happy with strides|newspaper=The Knoxville News-Sentinel|location=Knoxville, Tennessee|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 29, 2021}}</ref><!-- Thu --> In 1993, FCVS received an "offer it could not refuse" from Ellis Communications and sold its broadcast holdings: WKCH-TV, WACH, and [[WZVN-TV|WEVU-TV]] in [[Naples, Florida]].<ref>{{cite news|title=WEVU sold|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/37843013/wevu_sold/|date=July 24, 1993|page=7A|first=Lara|last=Gold|access-date=October 25, 2019|work=News-Press}}</ref>
FCVS Communications, which owned [[WACH]] in [[Columbia, South Carolina]], bought WKCH-TV in 1990.<ref name="Knox900603">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89733620/s-carolina-partnership-seeks-federal/|date=June 3, 1990|page=B1|title=S. Carolina partnership seeks federal approval to purchase WKCH-TV|newspaper=The Knoxville News-Sentinel|location=Knoxville, Tennessee|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 29, 2021|archive-date=November 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211130031321/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89733620/s-carolina-partnership-seeks-federal/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sun --> Under FCVS, the station increased its community involvement and improved its transmission facilities.<ref name="Knox920423">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89734791/wkch-owners-happy-with-strides/|date=April 23, 1992|page=B4|first=Betsy|last=Pickle|title=WKCH owners happy with strides|newspaper=The Knoxville News-Sentinel|location=Knoxville, Tennessee|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 29, 2021|archive-date=November 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211130031320/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89734791/wkch-owners-happy-with-strides/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Thu --> In 1993, FCVS received an "offer it could not refuse" from Ellis Communications and sold its broadcast holdings: WKCH-TV, WACH, and [[WZVN-TV|WEVU-TV]] in [[Naples, Florida]].<ref>{{cite news|title=WEVU sold|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/37843013/wevu_sold/|date=July 24, 1993|page=7A|first=Lara|last=Gold|access-date=October 25, 2019|work=News-Press|archive-date=October 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191026053259/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/37843013/wevu_sold/|url-status=live}}</ref>


Ellis made further improvements, including changing the call sign to WTNZ and relocating the studio to Executive Park Drive in 1994.<ref name="Knox940427">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89734824/wkch-tv-now-wtnz/|date=April 27, 1994|page=D7|title=WKCH-TV now WTNZ|newspaper=The Knoxville News-Sentinel|location=Knoxville, Tennessee|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 29, 2021}}</ref><!-- Wed --><ref name="Knox941230">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89734841/wtnz-upgrades-facilities/|date=December 30, 1994|page=B2|title=WTNZ upgrades facilities|newspaper=The Knoxville News-Sentinel|location=Knoxville, Tennessee|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 29, 2021}}</ref><!-- Fri --> Ellis Communications was then folded into [[Raycom Media]] in late 1996.
Ellis made further improvements, including changing the call sign to WTNZ and relocating the studio to Executive Park Drive in 1994.<ref name="Knox940427">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89734824/wkch-tv-now-wtnz/|date=April 27, 1994|page=D7|title=WKCH-TV now WTNZ|newspaper=The Knoxville News-Sentinel|location=Knoxville, Tennessee|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 29, 2021|archive-date=November 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211130031305/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89734824/wkch-tv-now-wtnz/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Wed --><ref name="Knox941230">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89734841/wtnz-upgrades-facilities/|date=December 30, 1994|page=B2|title=WTNZ upgrades facilities|newspaper=The Knoxville News-Sentinel|location=Knoxville, Tennessee|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 29, 2021|archive-date=November 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211130031231/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89734841/wtnz-upgrades-facilities/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Fri --> Ellis Communications was then folded into [[Raycom Media]] in late 1996.


On June 25, 2018, Raycom Media announced that it agreed to be sold to [[Gray Television]].<ref name="graycom">{{cite web|url=http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/114556/gray-to-buy-raycom-for-36-billion|title=Gray To Buy Raycom For $3.6 Billion|last=Miller|first=Mark K.|work=TVNewsCheck|publisher=NewsCheckMedia|date=June 25, 2018|access-date=June 25, 2018}}</ref> Gray kept its existing duopoly of [[WVLT-TV]] and [[WBXX-TV]] and sold WTNZ to a third party;<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.raycommedia.com/gray-and-raycom-to-combine-in-a-3-6-billion-transaction/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180625161249/https://www.raycommedia.com/gray-and-raycom-to-combine-in-a-3-6-billion-transaction/|archive-date=June 25, 2018|title=Gray and Raycom to Combine in a $3.6 Billion Transaction|date=June 25, 2018|website=Raycom Media}}</ref> on August 20, 2018, Gray sold WTNZ, along with fellow Fox affiliates [[WFXG]] in [[Augusta, Georgia]], [[WPGX]] in [[Panama City, Florida]], and [[WDFX-TV]] in [[Dothan, Alabama]], to [[Lockwood Broadcast Group]] (owner of independent station WKNX-TV).<ref name="sa-saletolockwood">{{cite news |last1=Aycock |first1=Jason |title=Gray sets divestitures in eight more markets for Raycom deal |url=https://seekingalpha.com/news/3384335-gray-sets-divestitures-eight-markets-raycom-deal |access-date=August 20, 2018 |work=[[Seeking Alpha]] |date=August 20, 2018}}</ref> The sale was completed on January 2, 2019.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://gray.tv/uploads/documents/pressreleases/Press%20Release%20re%20Completion%20of%20Raycom%20Acquisition.pdf|title=Gray Completes Acquisition of Raycom Media and Related Transactions|publisher=Gray Television|date=January 2, 2019|access-date=January 2, 2019}}</ref>
On June 25, 2018, Raycom Media announced that it agreed to be sold to [[Gray Television]].<ref name="graycom">{{cite web|url=http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/114556/gray-to-buy-raycom-for-36-billion|title=Gray To Buy Raycom For $3.6 Billion|last=Miller|first=Mark K.|work=TVNewsCheck|publisher=NewsCheckMedia|date=June 25, 2018|access-date=June 25, 2018}}</ref> Gray kept its existing duopoly of [[WVLT-TV]] and [[WBXX-TV]] and sold WTNZ to a third party;<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.raycommedia.com/gray-and-raycom-to-combine-in-a-3-6-billion-transaction/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180625161249/https://www.raycommedia.com/gray-and-raycom-to-combine-in-a-3-6-billion-transaction/|archive-date=June 25, 2018|title=Gray and Raycom to Combine in a $3.6 Billion Transaction|date=June 25, 2018|website=Raycom Media}}</ref> on August 20, 2018, Gray sold WTNZ, along with fellow Fox affiliates [[WFXG]] in [[Augusta, Georgia]], [[WPGX]] in [[Panama City, Florida]], and [[WDFX-TV]] in [[Dothan, Alabama]], to [[Lockwood Broadcast Group]] (owner of independent station WKNX-TV).<ref name="sa-saletolockwood">{{cite news |last1=Aycock |first1=Jason |title=Gray sets divestitures in eight more markets for Raycom deal |url=https://seekingalpha.com/news/3384335-gray-sets-divestitures-eight-markets-raycom-deal |access-date=August 20, 2018 |work=[[Seeking Alpha]] |date=August 20, 2018}}</ref> The sale was completed on January 2, 2019.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://gray.tv/uploads/documents/pressreleases/Press%20Release%20re%20Completion%20of%20Raycom%20Acquisition.pdf|title=Gray Completes Acquisition of Raycom Media and Related Transactions|publisher=Gray Television|date=January 2, 2019|access-date=January 2, 2019|archive-date=January 3, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190103110124/https://gray.tv/uploads/documents/pressreleases/Press%20Release%20re%20Completion%20of%20Raycom%20Acquisition.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>


==Newscasts==
==Newscasts==
Not long after going on the air, channel 43 began producing short news breaks.<ref name="Knox840226">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89734751/mystery-solved-truck-blocked-wkch-tv/|date=February 26, 1984|first=Gerry|last=Segroves|page=TV1|title=Mystery Solved: Truck Blocked WKCH-TV Signal|newspaper=The Knoxville News-Sentinel|location=Knoxville, Tennessee|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 30, 2021}}</ref><!-- Sun -->
Not long after going on the air, channel 43 began producing short news breaks.<ref name="Knox840226">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89734751/mystery-solved-truck-blocked-wkch-tv/|date=February 26, 1984|first=Gerry|last=Segroves|page=TV1|title=Mystery Solved: Truck Blocked WKCH-TV Signal|newspaper=The Knoxville News-Sentinel|location=Knoxville, Tennessee|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 30, 2021|archive-date=November 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211130031234/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89734751/mystery-solved-truck-blocked-wkch-tv/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sun -->


In 1998, WTNZ established a news share agreement with [[WVLT-TV]] to produce its first local newscast, the ''Fox 43 Ten O'Clock News''. Liz Tedone, Patrick McMurtry, Nick Paranjape, and Craig Edwards anchored the news, weather and sports for the half-hour nightly newscast; the talent, separate from the presenters for WVLT's own newscasts, were absorbed by channel 8 itself in 2000. In 2001, Fox 43 ended its agreement with WVLT and entered into a similar contract with ABC-affiliated [[WATE-TV]]; channel 8 thought it was not financially feasible to continue, while WATE thought it was.<ref>{{cite news|page=C3|first=Terry|last=Morrow|work=The Knoxville News-Sentinel|title=WATE set to take over production of WTNZ news|date=August 27, 2001|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89540600/|access-date=November 25, 2021|archive-date=November 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211125214154/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89540600/wate-set-to-take-over-production-of/|url-status=live}}</ref>
In 1998, WTNZ established a news share agreement with [[WVLT-TV]] to produce its first local newscast, the ''Fox 43 Ten O'Clock News''. Liz Tedone, Patrick McMurtry, Nick Paranjape, and Craig Edwards anchored the news, weather and sports for the half-hour nightly newscast; the talent, separate from the presenters for WVLT's own newscasts, were absorbed by channel 8 itself in 2000. In 2001, Fox 43 ended its agreement with WVLT and entered into a similar contract with ABC-affiliated [[WATE-TV]]; channel 8 thought it was not financially feasible to continue, while WATE thought it was.<ref>{{cite news|page=C3|first=Terry|last=Morrow|work=The Knoxville News-Sentinel|title=WATE set to take over production of WTNZ news|date=August 27, 2001|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89540600/|access-date=November 25, 2021|archive-date=November 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211125214154/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89540600/wate-set-to-take-over-production-of/|url-status=live}}</ref>


After 10 years, the WTNZ-WATE collaboration ended, and WTNZ entered into an agreement with [[NBC]] affiliate [[WBIR-TV]] to produce local news. On March 28, 2011, WBIR took over production of the nightly newscast and expanded it to one hour on weeknights. Later that year, a two-hour morning show produced by WBIR-TV was also added.<ref>{{Cite news |date=February 28, 2011 |title=WBIR To Produce HD Newscasts For WTNZ |language=en |work=TVNewsCheck |url=https://tvnewscheck.com/uncategorized/article/wbir-to-produce-hd-newscasts-for-wtnz/ |access-date=November 29, 2021}}</ref> Prior to producing the WTNZ newscasts, WBIR had produced a 10-minute 10 p.m. newscast for [[WBXX-TV]] (channel 20); WATE-TV took over those duties from WBIR and expanded that program to a full 35 minutes.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Malone |first=Michael |date=July 14, 2011 |title=WATE Knoxville to Produce WBXX Newscast |language=en |work=Broadcasting & Cable |url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/wate-knoxville-produce-wbxx-newscast-42976 |access-date=November 29, 2021}}</ref> A half-hour 6:30 p.m. newscast from WBIR-TV was added in 2017.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Zimmerman |first=Lee |date=March 13, 2017 |title=WDVX rolls out plans to celebrate 20th anniversary |language=en-US |work=Knoxville News Sentinel |url=https://www.knoxnews.com/story/entertainment/2017/03/13/wdvx-rolls-out-plans-celebrate-20th-anniversary/99124686/ |access-date=November 29, 2021}}</ref>
After 10 years, the WTNZ-WATE collaboration ended, and WTNZ entered into an agreement with [[NBC]] affiliate [[WBIR-TV]] to produce local news. On March 28, 2011, WBIR took over production of the nightly newscast and expanded it to one hour on weeknights. Later that year, a two-hour morning show produced by WBIR-TV was also added.<ref>{{Cite news |date=February 28, 2011 |title=WBIR To Produce HD Newscasts For WTNZ |language=en |work=TVNewsCheck |url=https://tvnewscheck.com/uncategorized/article/wbir-to-produce-hd-newscasts-for-wtnz/ |access-date=November 29, 2021 |archive-date=November 30, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211130031234/https://tvnewscheck.com/uncategorized/article/wbir-to-produce-hd-newscasts-for-wtnz/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Prior to producing the WTNZ newscasts, WBIR had produced a 10-minute 10 p.m. newscast for [[WBXX-TV]] (channel 20); WATE-TV took over those duties from WBIR and expanded that program to a full 35 minutes.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Malone |first=Michael |date=July 14, 2011 |title=WATE Knoxville to Produce WBXX Newscast |language=en |work=Broadcasting & Cable |url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/wate-knoxville-produce-wbxx-newscast-42976 |access-date=November 29, 2021 |archive-date=April 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210419193424/https://www.nexttv.com/news/wate-knoxville-produce-wbxx-newscast-42976 |url-status=live }}</ref> A half-hour 6:30 p.m. newscast from WBIR-TV was added in 2017.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Zimmerman |first=Lee |date=March 13, 2017 |title=WDVX rolls out plans to celebrate 20th anniversary |language=en-US |work=Knoxville News Sentinel |url=https://www.knoxnews.com/story/entertainment/2017/03/13/wdvx-rolls-out-plans-celebrate-20th-anniversary/99124686/ |access-date=November 29, 2021 |archive-date=February 28, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210228102220/https://www.knoxnews.com/story/entertainment/2017/03/13/wdvx-rolls-out-plans-celebrate-20th-anniversary/99124686/ |url-status=live }}</ref>


==Technical information==
==Technical information==
Line 68: Line 68:
! scope = "col" | [[Aspect ratio (image)|Aspect]]
! scope = "col" | [[Aspect ratio (image)|Aspect]]
! scope = "col" | Short name
! scope = "col" | Short name
! scope = "col" | Programming<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=WTNZ#station|title=RabbitEars TV Query for WTNZ|website=rabbitears.info}}</ref>
! scope = "col" | Programming<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=WTNZ#station|title=RabbitEars TV Query for WTNZ|website=rabbitears.info|access-date=2021-11-30|archive-date=2016-03-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160316114839/http://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=WTNZ#station|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|-
! scope = "row" | 43.1
! scope = "row" | 43.1

Revision as of 03:13, 30 November 2021

WTNZ
Channels
BrandingFox 43 (general)
Fox 43 News (newscasts)
Programming
Affiliations
Ownership
Owner
WKNX-TV
History
First air date
December 31, 1983 (40 years ago) (1983-12-31)
Former call signs
WKCH-TV (1983–1994)
Former channel number(s)
  • Analog:
  • 43 (UHF, 1983–2009)
  • Digital:
  • 34 (UHF, until 2019)
Call sign meaning
TeNneZ (Tennessee)
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID19200
ERP289 kW
HAAT529 m (1,736 ft)
Transmitter coordinates35°59′44.4″N 83°57′23.1″W / 35.995667°N 83.956417°W / 35.995667; -83.956417
Links
Public license information
Websitewtnzfox43.revrocket.us

WTNZ, virtual channel 43 (UHF digital channel 15), is a Fox-affiliated television station licensed to Knoxville, Tennessee, United States. The station is owned by Lockwood Broadcast Group, as part of a duopoly with independent station WKNX-TV (channel 7). The two stations share studios on Executive Park Drive (along I-75/I-40) in Knoxville's Green Valley section; WTNZ's transmitter is located on Sharp's Ridge in North Knoxville.

History

Knoxville Family Television, Limited Partnership, was granted a construction permit on November 3, 1982, to build a station on Knoxville's channel 43; the proposal from Knoxville Family beat out another by Marvin E. Palmquist, who owned WQRF-TV in his hometown of Rockford, Illinois.[2] Channel 43 had previously been used for several years by WBIR-TV as a UHF relay to aid areas in the city of Knoxville that did not receive a satisfactory picture on VHF and was discontinued upon an upgrade to the VHF facility.[3]

From studios on Central Street,[4] WKCH-TV made its debut on the evening of December 31, 1983—with introductory remarks that then had to be repeated because the audio was not broadcast the first time.[5] It was the city's first independent station (WINT-TV was on the air in Crossville, Tennessee, but its plans to move into Knoxville were delayed by more than a decade).

Like a number of other independent stations, management affairs were primarily controlled by Media Central, which provided consulting and other services to independent stations and owned much of channel 43. Media Central's independent stations, WTNZ included, spurned Fox when it launched in 1986,[6] but it joined the network the next year.[7]

Media Central filed for bankruptcy protection in 1987, and channel 43 would remain in that status for more than two years.[8] A bankruptcy court judge approved the sale of WKCH-TV to NewSouth Broadcasting, owned by Timothy S. Brumlik, in June 1989. However, as the deal was pending at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the proceedings were jolted when Brumlik was arrested by federal and Florida officials on money laundering charges connected to Colombian drug interests.[9] Officials alleged that Brumlik's ownership of TeleOnce in Puerto Rico was a front for two important Latin American media men: Remigio Ángel González, reported to be a business partner with Manuel Noriega in a Panamanian television station, and Julio Vera Gutiérrez, a Peruvian citizen.[10] In November 1989, a motion was filed by WKCH-TV's trustee to cancel the proposed sale to Brumlik, citing the uncertainty created by the money laundering case.[11] Even despite the continued uncertainty over channel 43's future ownership, the station grew and was recognized as one of the fastest-growing Fox affiliates.[12]

FCVS Communications, which owned WACH in Columbia, South Carolina, bought WKCH-TV in 1990.[13] Under FCVS, the station increased its community involvement and improved its transmission facilities.[14] In 1993, FCVS received an "offer it could not refuse" from Ellis Communications and sold its broadcast holdings: WKCH-TV, WACH, and WEVU-TV in Naples, Florida.[15]

Ellis made further improvements, including changing the call sign to WTNZ and relocating the studio to Executive Park Drive in 1994.[16][17] Ellis Communications was then folded into Raycom Media in late 1996.

On June 25, 2018, Raycom Media announced that it agreed to be sold to Gray Television.[18] Gray kept its existing duopoly of WVLT-TV and WBXX-TV and sold WTNZ to a third party;[19] on August 20, 2018, Gray sold WTNZ, along with fellow Fox affiliates WFXG in Augusta, Georgia, WPGX in Panama City, Florida, and WDFX-TV in Dothan, Alabama, to Lockwood Broadcast Group (owner of independent station WKNX-TV).[20] The sale was completed on January 2, 2019.[21]

Newscasts

Not long after going on the air, channel 43 began producing short news breaks.[22]

In 1998, WTNZ established a news share agreement with WVLT-TV to produce its first local newscast, the Fox 43 Ten O'Clock News. Liz Tedone, Patrick McMurtry, Nick Paranjape, and Craig Edwards anchored the news, weather and sports for the half-hour nightly newscast; the talent, separate from the presenters for WVLT's own newscasts, were absorbed by channel 8 itself in 2000. In 2001, Fox 43 ended its agreement with WVLT and entered into a similar contract with ABC-affiliated WATE-TV; channel 8 thought it was not financially feasible to continue, while WATE thought it was.[23]

After 10 years, the WTNZ-WATE collaboration ended, and WTNZ entered into an agreement with NBC affiliate WBIR-TV to produce local news. On March 28, 2011, WBIR took over production of the nightly newscast and expanded it to one hour on weeknights. Later that year, a two-hour morning show produced by WBIR-TV was also added.[24] Prior to producing the WTNZ newscasts, WBIR had produced a 10-minute 10 p.m. newscast for WBXX-TV (channel 20); WATE-TV took over those duties from WBIR and expanded that program to a full 35 minutes.[25] A half-hour 6:30 p.m. newscast from WBIR-TV was added in 2017.[26]

Technical information

Subchannels

The station's digital signal is multiplexed:

Channel Video Aspect Short name Programming[27]
43.1 720p 16:9 WTNZ-DT Main WTNZ programming / Fox
43.2 480i 4:3 WTNZ-BN Bounce TV
43.3 WTNZ-GT GritTV

Analog-to-digital conversion

WTNZ shut down its analog signal, over UHF channel 43, on June 12, 2009, the official date in which full-power television stations in the United States transitioned from analog to digital broadcasts under federal mandate. The station's digital signal remained on its pre-transition UHF channel 34, using virtual channel 43.[28]

References

  1. ^ "Facility Technical Data for WTNZ". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ^ Mink, Ken (October 26, 1980). "New TV Station for Knox Would feature Golden Oldies". The Knoxville News-Sentinel. Knoxville, Tennessee. p. 84. Archived from the original on November 30, 2021. Retrieved November 29, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "He Applauds WBIR-TV For Adding UHF channel 43 to Its Telecasting". The Knoxville News-Sentinel. Knoxville, Tennessee. February 22, 1975. p. 4. Archived from the original on November 30, 2021. Retrieved November 29, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "TV Station Due Shortly". The Knoxville News-Sentinel. Knoxville, Tennessee. November 4, 1983. p. 18. Archived from the original on November 30, 2021. Retrieved November 29, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "New Station Goes on Air". The Knoxville News-Sentinel. Knoxville, Tennessee. January 1, 1984. p. B10. Archived from the original on November 30, 2021. Retrieved November 29, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ Carter, Reon (August 15, 1986). "Some viewers will see Joan Rivers". The Knoxville News-Sentinel. Knoxville, Tennessee. p. B5. Archived from the original on November 30, 2021. Retrieved November 29, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ Carter, Reon (June 25, 1987). "WKCH joins fourth network". The Knoxville News-Sentinel. Knoxville, Tennessee. p. B7. Archived from the original on November 30, 2021. Retrieved November 29, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ Carter, Reon (July 8, 1987). "WKCH-TV parent bankrupt". The Knoxville News-Sentinel. Knoxville, Tennessee. p. A10. Archived from the original on November 30, 2021. Retrieved November 29, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Prospective WKCH buyer charged in sting". The Knoxville News-Sentinel. Knoxville, Tennessee. September 18, 1989. p. A3. Archived from the original on November 30, 2021. Retrieved November 29, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ Powelson, Richard (September 19, 1989). "Prospective WKCH buyer linked to alleged partner of Gen. Noriega". The Knoxville News-Sentinel. Knoxville, Tennessee. p. A1, A2. Archived from the original on November 30, 2021. Retrieved November 29, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ Powelson, Richard (November 7, 1989). "Motion filed to cancel sale of WKCH to drug suspect". The Knoxville News-Sentinel. Knoxville, Tennessee. p. C7. Archived from the original on November 30, 2021. Retrieved November 29, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ Pickle, Betsy (February 13, 1990). "WKCH hopes to bring stability to Fox's rising star". The Knoxville News-Sentinel. Knoxville, Tennessee. p. B1, B2. Archived from the original on November 30, 2021. Retrieved November 29, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "S. Carolina partnership seeks federal approval to purchase WKCH-TV". The Knoxville News-Sentinel. Knoxville, Tennessee. June 3, 1990. p. B1. Archived from the original on November 30, 2021. Retrieved November 29, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ Pickle, Betsy (April 23, 1992). "WKCH owners happy with strides". The Knoxville News-Sentinel. Knoxville, Tennessee. p. B4. Archived from the original on November 30, 2021. Retrieved November 29, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ Gold, Lara (July 24, 1993). "WEVU sold". News-Press. p. 7A. Archived from the original on October 26, 2019. Retrieved October 25, 2019.
  16. ^ "WKCH-TV now WTNZ". The Knoxville News-Sentinel. Knoxville, Tennessee. April 27, 1994. p. D7. Archived from the original on November 30, 2021. Retrieved November 29, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ "WTNZ upgrades facilities". The Knoxville News-Sentinel. Knoxville, Tennessee. December 30, 1994. p. B2. Archived from the original on November 30, 2021. Retrieved November 29, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ Miller, Mark K. (June 25, 2018). "Gray To Buy Raycom For $3.6 Billion". TVNewsCheck. NewsCheckMedia. Retrieved June 25, 2018.
  19. ^ "Gray and Raycom to Combine in a $3.6 Billion Transaction". Raycom Media. June 25, 2018. Archived from the original on June 25, 2018.
  20. ^ Aycock, Jason (August 20, 2018). "Gray sets divestitures in eight more markets for Raycom deal". Seeking Alpha. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
  21. ^ "Gray Completes Acquisition of Raycom Media and Related Transactions" (PDF). Gray Television. January 2, 2019. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 3, 2019. Retrieved January 2, 2019.
  22. ^ Segroves, Gerry (February 26, 1984). "Mystery Solved: Truck Blocked WKCH-TV Signal". The Knoxville News-Sentinel. Knoxville, Tennessee. p. TV1. Archived from the original on November 30, 2021. Retrieved November 30, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ^ Morrow, Terry (August 27, 2001). "WATE set to take over production of WTNZ news". The Knoxville News-Sentinel. p. C3. Archived from the original on November 25, 2021. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
  24. ^ "WBIR To Produce HD Newscasts For WTNZ". TVNewsCheck. February 28, 2011. Archived from the original on November 30, 2021. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  25. ^ Malone, Michael (July 14, 2011). "WATE Knoxville to Produce WBXX Newscast". Broadcasting & Cable. Archived from the original on April 19, 2021. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  26. ^ Zimmerman, Lee (March 13, 2017). "WDVX rolls out plans to celebrate 20th anniversary". Knoxville News Sentinel. Archived from the original on February 28, 2021. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  27. ^ "RabbitEars TV Query for WTNZ". rabbitears.info. Archived from the original on 2016-03-16. Retrieved 2021-11-30.
  28. ^ "DTV Tentative Channel Designations for the First and the Second Rounds" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-08-29. Retrieved 2012-03-24.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=WTNZ&oldid=1057864469"