WVTM: Difference between revisions
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* [[Herb Winches]] (1980 - ) | * [[Herb Winches]] (1980 - ) | ||
* [[Ken Lass]] (1990 - ) | * [[Ken Lass]] (1990 - ) | ||
* [[Jim Dunaway]] | * [[Jim Dunaway]] ( - 2008) | ||
* [[Don Hawes]] | * [[Don Hawes]] | ||
* [[Scott Palmer]] | * [[Scott Palmer]] |
Revision as of 15:11, 23 June 2008
WVTM (NBC 13) is a television station owned by Tampa, Florida-based Media General and broadcast across Central Alabama on channel 13. The call letters stand for "Vulcan Times Mirror" and its studios are located on Red Mountain adjacent to Vulcan Park. Gene Kirkconnel is the general manager.
History
WVTM is the latest incarnation of Alabama's first television station, WAFM, which went on the air on May 2, 1949 with a mix of programs from ABC and CBS. The station was sold to the Birmingham News, along with WAPI-AM and WAPI-FM, in 1953. In 1954 they swapped networks with WBRC to become an NBC affiliate. The new owners first changed the call letters to WABT, before switching to WAPI-TV in 1958, after the News was purchased by Newhouse. The ownership and name remained the same through the late 1970s, but in 1980 Newhouse's Advance Publications group left the broadcasting business and sold the station to Times-Mirror Broadcasting, from whom it took its current name.
The 1990s brought a series of ownership changes. Argyle Broadcasting purchased it from Times-Mirror in the early part of the decade, then sold it to New World Communications in 1994. In 1996 the National Broadcasting Company purchased the station outright, holding onto it until Media General purchased it on June 26, 2006.
In July 2007 Media General began an overhaul of the news department. Gina Redmond took over Fran Curry's co-anchor spot with Mike Royer for the evening news. Andrea Lindenberg and Rod Carter were hired as the co-anchors of the morning news. Other plans include investments in new cameras, weather equipment and studio sets, as well as a lighted NBC peacock sign on Red Mountain.
Notable personalities
News anchors
- Mike Royer (1989 - present)
- Gina Redmond ( - present)
- Fran Curry ( - 2007)
- Melony Johnson (2002 - )
- Ken Lass (2002 - )
- Melissa Pace (2002 - )
- Malena Cunningham/Wells (1994 - )
- Gene Lively ( - 1994)
- Wendell Harris
- Phil Rozen (1982 - 1995)
- Joe Langston (1980 - )
- Pam Huff (1977 - 1994)
Sports anchors
- Herb Winches (1980 - )
- Ken Lass (1990 - )
- Jim Dunaway ( - 2008)
- Don Hawes
- Scott Palmer
Weather/meteorologists
- Jerry Tracy
- Richard Jacks
- Jay Prater
- Jim Spann (1980 - )
- Rosemary Lucas ( - 1980)
Preceded by: WAPI-TV |
NBC affiliate 1980 - present |
Succeeded by: current |
External links
- WVTM NBC 13 website
- "A Bit on 13..." at Birmingham TV News
- WVTM FCC database entry
References
- Carlton, Bob (July 4, 2007) "Lindenberg to anchor mornings on NBC 13." Birmingham News.