WPGA-TV
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WPGA-TV is the ABC television affiliate station serving Macon, Georgia and the Middle Georgia region. It broadcasts on UHF Channel 58, making it one of the highest channel assignments for ABC affiliates in the country. That distinction was formerly held by WBLG (now WTVQ) in Lexington, Kentucky which, until 1980 broadcast on channel 62. The transmitter for WPGA is located in Macon.
History
WPGA signed on in March of 1995 as the Macon area's first Fox affiliate. The affiliation lasted only that year; on New Year's Day 1996, WGXA & WPGA swapped affiliations, with WGXA taking the Fox affiliation, and WPGA becoming an ABC affiliate.
WPGA-TV is locally owned by Register Communications, owners of longtime area radio stations WPGA-AM (Radio Disney) and WPGA-FM "Mix 100.9" (formerly Magic 101, an R&B station). The radio stations were originally based in Perry, Georgia. All of Register Communications broadcast properties are based in studios on Forsyth Street in Downtown Macon.
Before WPGA-TV signed on in 1995, the Macon area could only receive FOX network programing via a local cable station or via Atlanta's FOX affiliates, first WATL 36, and later WAGA 5. When FOX began airing NFL games in the early 1990's, the Football game broadcasts were seen on ABC affiliate WGXA until WPGA signed on.
Newscasts
WPGA have made some attempts to offer news programs. First, there were short morning and evening "News Briefs" featuring video narrated by former WCWB (later WMGT-TV) and WGXA news anchor Ron Wildman. Then the station offered a full newscast from 2001 to 2002 anchored by former WMAZ-TV anchor Tina Hicks. These newscasts aired weeknights at 6:30 and 11:00 pm, pushing ABC World News Tonight to 7:00pm. However "58News" was unsuccessful. After cancelling the newscasts WPGA offered a daily sports news program called the "58 Sports Show"; That too was shortly lived.
On Monday, July 23, 2007; WPGA began airing a new newscast titled "ABC Macon News" produced by the Independent News Network in Davenport, Iowa, this broadcast currently airs Monday through Friday at 7pm and 11pm. [1]
Personalities
- Libby Allison - Sports Director/Producer
- John Beard - Anchor/Producer
- Phil Doherty - Anchor/Producer
- Jami Gaudet - Reporter
- Alex Mason - Reporter
- Susie Martin - Meteorologist
- Matt Odom - Reporter
- Kerry Phillips - Anchor/Producer
- Mark Prater - Chief Meteorologist
- Claire Simms - Reporter
- Greg Wilson - Anchor
External links
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