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WTVQ-TV is the ABC-affiliated television station for Lexington, Kentucky. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 40 from a transmitter located at the station's studios on Man o' War Boulevard (a.k.a. KY 1425) in the Brighton section of the city. Although WTVQ no longer broadcasts an over-the-air analog signal, it can be seen on Insight cable channel 10 with a high definition signal on digital channel 908. It is owned by Morris Multimedia. Syndicated programming on the station includes: Judge Judy, Judge Joe Brown, Entertainment Tonight, and Extra. WTVQ operates the area's MyNetworkTV affiliate on its second digital subchannel. Known on-air as MyTVQ2, it is also offered on Insight digital cable channel 436. Syndicated programming on this station includes: Cristina's Court, Judge Karen, The Insider, and Reno 911!.

Digital Television

The stations digital channel is multiplexed:

WTVQ-DT

WTVQ-DT broadcasts a multiplexed signal on digital channel 40.

Digital Channels
Virtual Channel Name Video Aspect Programming
36.1 WTVQ-DT 720p 16:9 Main WTVQ-TV/DT & ABC Programming
36.2 WTVQ-DT2 480i 4:3 Main myTVQ2 & myNetworkTV Programming
36.3 WTVQ-DT3 480i 4:3 WTVQ 24/7 Weather

Analog to Digital Conversion

WTVQ-TV/DT was the first station in the Lexington market to shut down their analog signal and broadcast exclusivly in digital. In 2002, WTVQ was the first station in Lexington to broadcast a digital signal.

History

The station launched as WBLG-TV on June 2, 1968 and was located on channel 62. At the time, this was one of the highest full-power television channels assigned in the country. It was founded by Lexington area businessman Roy White, owner of Starr Broadcasting (which also owned WBLG radio in Lexington and WTPA-TV in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania), and was the third commercial television station to begin broadcasting in the Lexington market. Since the first day of operation, WBLG was the ABC affiliate for central Kentucky, replacing WKYT, which continues to this day as the CBS affiliate. In 1974, the station changed its call letters to the current WTVQ-TV after Starr sold off WBLG radio. In 1978, Shamrock Broadcasting purchased the station from White. In 1980, Shamrock installed a new 1.5 million watt transmitter and moved WTVQ from channel 62 to channel 36 (channel 62 is now the home of WBLU-LP). The station underwent a major renovation in 1985 that doubled the existing office space and created all new technical facilities. On January 30, 1992, Park Broadcasting purchased WTVQ from Shamrock Broadcasting.

In July 1995, Park Communications was sold to Gary B. Knapp and Donald R. Tomlin, Jr. under the name Park Acquisitions. Media General purchased Park Acquisitions and its properties (including WTVQ) in January 1997. On February 26, 2002, it became central Kentucky 's first commercial television station to broadcast a digital television signal on UHF channel 40. Soon afterward, it became the area's first commercial digital television channel to broadcast programming in high definition. On October 29, 2007, Media General announced that it was exploring the sale of WTVQ. [1] On January 22, 2008, the Lexington Herald-Leader mentioned the sale of the staion. [2] That headline was confirmed on March 7 when Media General announced it reached an agreement to sell WTVQ to Morris Multimedia for an undisclosed sales price. [3] That price will likely be disclosed with either the FCC or SEC though a media consulting analyst [4] in the $30-35 million dollar range. The sale became final on May 13. In June 2008, Morris Network named Chris Aldridge as General Manager of WTVQ. Aldridge previously served as the station's General Manager from 1992 until 1999. It was announced on October 31 that WTVQ would air the entire MyNetworkTV lineup on its second digital subchannel replacing WBLU-LP. [5] On January 1, 2009, WTVQ-DT2 officially became a full-time MyNetworkTV affiliate under the branding "MyTVQ2". Right now, it simulcasts the 24-hour weather channel during overnights but will be fully programmed by April 2009. The station shutdown their analog signal at 11:59 P.M. on February 17. [6]

News operation

On December 1, 2005, WTVQ launched a 24-hour local weather channel on its second digital subchannel and Insight digital cable channel 436. It moved to a new third digital subchannel on January 1, 2009 when "MyTVQ2" launched. This coincided with a new nightly 10 o'clock newscast called ABC 36 News at 10 that competes with Fox affiliate WDKY-TV whose 10 P.M. news is the highest-rated late local news in the Lexington market. In addition to the new 10 o'clock newscast on WTVQ-DT2, there are repeats of weekday newscasts that aired on the main channel. This includes the Noon news (at 1), the 6 P.M. broadcast (at 6:30), and the 11 o'clock news (at Midnight). [7] WTVQ was the last major network station in Lexington to broadcast their local news in high definition. Unlike most ABC affiliates, the station does not air local news at 5 during the week.

Current Newscasts

  • ABC 36 Good Morning Kentucky (5-7:00AM)
  • ABC 36 News @ Noon
  • ABC 36 News @ 5:30
  • ABC 36 News @ 6:00
  • ABC 36 News @ 10:00 (On myTVQ2)
  • ABC 36 News @ 11:00

Newscast titles

  • WBLG-TV News (1968-1974)
  • Big 62 News (1974-1978)
  • 62 NewsWatch (1978-1980)
  • TVQ Eyewitness News (1980-1988)
  • NewsChannel 36 (1989-2002;2003-2004)
  • WTVQ 36 On Your Side (2002-2003)
  • Action News 36 (2004-2008)
  • WTVQ 36 News (October 2008-April 2009)
  • ABC 36 News (April 2009-present)

Newscast music

  • Hello News - Gari Communications, Inc. (1988-1990)
  • Brave New World - Shelly Palmer Company (1990-1995)
  • In-Sink (V.1, V.2, V.3, V.4) - 615 Music (1995-1997)
  • Counterpoint - Stephen Arnold Music (1997-2002)
  • Metropolis - Stephen Arnold Music (2002-2004)
  • Newsmatrix - Stephen Arnold Music (2004-2006)
  • Media General Station Group Package - JDK Music (2006-2008)
  • Newsforce - 615 Music (2008-present)

News Team

Anchors

  • Chris Dietz - ABC 36 Good Morning Kentucky
  • Kellie Wilson - ABC 36 Good Morning Kentucky
  • Kristi Runyon - ABC 36 News @ Noon & Your Health @ 5:30
  • Tom Kenny - ABC 36 News @ 5:30, 6:00 & 11:00
  • Megan Skaggs - ABC 36 News @ 5:30, 6:00 & 11:00

Weekends

  • Carla Wade - ABC 36 News @ 6:30 & 11:00

36 StormTeam Meteorologists

  • Jon James - Chief Meteorologist - 5:30, 6:00 & 11:00
  • Mary Wasson - Good Morning Kentucky & Good Morning America Cut In's
  • Geoff Cornish- Weekends @ 6:30 & 11:00

Sports

  • Kent Spencer - ABC 36 News @ 5:30, 6:00 & 11:00
  • Dan Rieffer - Weekends @ 6:30 & 11:00

Reporters

  • Campbell Welsh - StreetSmart Traffic Reporter from the LFUCG Traffic Management Center
  • Greg Stotelmyer - Senior Political Reporter
  • Tony Henlsey
  • Michelle Rauch
  • Cheryl Glassford
  • John McGary

Logos

References

  1. ^ "Media General Exploring Sale of Five Television Stations" (Press release). Media General. 2007-10-29. Retrieved 2007-10-30. {{cite press release}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  2. ^ http://www.kentucky.com/179/story/293577.html
  3. ^ "Media General Announces Sale of WTVQ-TV in Lexington, Ky., to Morris Network, Inc" (Press release). Media General. 2008-03-07. Retrieved 2008-03-07. {{cite press release}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  4. ^ http://www.kentucky.com/454/story/340715.html interviewed by the Herald-Leader
  5. ^ Now a second chance to watch 'Smackdown'. Lexington Herald-Leader. Retrieved on October 31, 2008.
  6. ^ http://www.kentucky.com/211/story/689551.html
  7. ^ http://www.bizlex.com/Articles-c-2009-02-19-85162.113117_Aldridge_looks_to_bring_competitiveness_back_to_WTVQ.html

8. Media General (2008-01-22). "WTVQ Sale Likely Soon".[1]
9. Lexington Herald-Leader (2008-03-08). "Georgia media company buys Lexington's WTVQ". [2]

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