WHSV-TV

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WHSV-TV
Harrisonburg, Virginia
Branding	WHSV TV 3 WHSV News 3 The Valley's FOX (on DT2) TV3 Winchester (on DT3) My Valley TV (on DT4)
Slogan	Making a Difference
Channels	3 (VHF) analog, 49 (UHF) digital
Affiliations	ABC (secondary 'til 1975) FOX (on DT2) MyNetworkTV (on DT4) [1]
Owner	Gray Television
Founded	October 6, 1953
Call letters meaning	Harrisonburg Shenandoah Valley
Former callsigns	WSVA (1953-1971)
Former affiliations	NBC (secondary 1953-1975) & CBS (secondary 1953-1963)
Website	whsv.com

WHSV-TV, channel 3, is an ABC affiliate for the Harrisonburg, Virginia market. WHSV-TV 3, as it is known on-air, is owned by Gray Television and has its transmitter located west of the town of Stanley on Massanutten Mountain. WHSV, which can be considered an affiliate with three networks (ABC, FOX, and MyNetworkTV), broadcasts three additional stations on its digital signal. On WHSV DT2, is a FOX affiliate known as The Valley's FOX. On WHSV DT3, will be Winchester, Virginia's new ABC affiliate known as TV3 Winchester (launching in December 2006). On WHSV DT4, is a MyNetworkTV affiliate known as My Valley TV. Information in this Wiki is current as of November 27, 2006.

Contents 1 Digital Programming 2 History 3 WHSV DT2 "The Valley's FOX" 4 WHSV DT3 "TV3 Winchester" 5 WHSV DT4 "My Valley TV" 6 Newscasts 6.1 Weekdays 6.2 Weekends 6.3 Specials 7 Current Personalities 7.1 WHSV News Team 7.2 WHSV Weather Team 7.3 WHSV Sports Team 7.4 Former WHSV Personalities 8 Syndicated Programming 9 Logos 10 External Links

[edit] Digital Programming

The station's digital channel is multiplexed:

Channel	Programming
49.1 / 3.1	main WHSV signal (ABC)
49.2 / 3.2	The Valley's FOX
49.3 / 3.3	TV3 Winchester (ABC)
49.4/ 3.4	My Valley TV (MyNetworkTV)

[edit] History

Channel 3 signed on October 6, 1953 as WSVA. The station was a dual-satellite of WMAL (now WJLA) and WRC from Washington, D.C. [2] WSVA first aired some CBS and NBC programming, although the station was mainly an ABC affiliate. In the 1970s, however, the station picked up the NBC morning show Today, as ABC did not have one at that point. Later, it was replaced with ABC's Good Morning America. In the early 1990s, the station started its weekday newscast at noon.

Until 1999, WHSV’s main studio was located along U.S. Route 33, west of Harrisonburg. Construction of a new broadcast facility in Downtown Harrisonburg began in 1998. WHSV relocated to its new home in the spring of 1999.

WHSV was owned by Benedek Broadcasting until April 2002, when it was purchased by Gray Communications, Inc. A 5pm weekday newscast was also added in that same year. At that time, a new set was constructed in the station's Augusta County Newsroom. The streetside set featured a window overlooking Downtown Staunton along West Frederick Street. The 5pm weekday newscast became WHSV’s first newscast to originate from the Augusta County Newsroom. In October 2003, WHSV began originating its 5pm newscast from both Harrisonburg and Staunton. WHSV's 6pm weekday newscast also originated from both Staunton and Harrisonburg for a brief period in the spring of 2004. During that time, WHSV’s 6pm weekday newscast featured 3 anchors. The 3 anchor, dual-city format was abandoned after a few months.

WHSV purchased its first microwave live truck in 2004. Prior to that, the station relied on rented equipment for remote broadcasts. Since 2004, WHSV has purchased additional microwave equipment for use by its news department.

Also in 2004, WHSV’s parent company, Gray Communications, launched WCAV in Charlottesville, VA. WHSV management played a major role in the launch of WCAV, providing managerial, sales, and human resources support. Several members of WHSV’s news and production staff transferred to WCAV following its launch in August 2004.

2006 was a year of significant change at WHSV. On February 27, 2006, WHSV’s weekday morning Daybreak newscast began airing at 5am instead of the previous 5:30. This coincided with the debut of new weather technology purchased from WSI Corporation.

WHSV’s Harrisonburg and Augusta County news studios underwent a dramatic overhaul in April 2006 with the addition of new sets and studio camera equipment. WHSV newscasts were broadcasted from a temporary studio in the Harrisonburg newsroom during the two week construction period. New sets debuted at 5am on April 24, 2006. At that time, portions of WHSV’s previous set, which was used from 1999 until 2006, were donated to nearby Turner Ashby High School.

WHSV lost a sizable portion of its on-air staff in the late spring and summer of 2006. The most notable loss came when popular weather anchor Jay Webb left after six years with the station. Webb accepted a job with WDBJ in Roanoke, VA. Webb enjoyed a week long send-off from his on-air colleagues before his final WHSV broadcast on July 21, 2006.

Shortly after Webb’s departure, News Director Van Hackett announced his retirement from the station. Hackett served as WHSV’s news director from December 2003 until August 2006. Hackett was succeeded by former TV 3 reporter Ed Reams, who left a job at WDSU in New Orleans, LA to return to the Shenandoah Valley.

During the late summer and early fall of 2006, WHSV underwent major technical upgrades to make way for the station’s new digital subchannels. A large tower was built behind the station’s Harrisonburg studios to accommodate the additional satellite receivers needed for WHSV’s FOX and MyNetworkTV ventures. WHSV’s main analog transmitter was replaced during the week of August 31, 2006. Broadcasts from the channel were only available to viewers with cable while the transmitter was being replaced.

On October 30, 2006, WHSV dropped longtime 5:30 pm program "The Andy Griffith Show" in favor of a 5:30 pm newscast. This coincided with the debut of a new logo for the station and updated newscast graphics. While the logo itself was new, elements of a previous graphics package were retained. WHSV also began branding itself as "WHSV News 3" during newscasts and as "WHSV" or "WHSV-TV 3" during promos and the like. On November 27, 2006, WHSV dropped Gari Communications' "Making a Difference" in favor of 615 Music's "News One (V.1, V.2, Mini)" as its news open music.

Over the Thanksgiving 2006 weekend, the WHSV.com and the TV3Winchester.com websites received a huge makeover. Most of the Gray Communications stations have adopted this new website layout.

[edit] WHSV DT2 "The Valley's FOX"

WHSV and Gray Television created a FOX affiliate for the Shenandoah Valley called "The Valley's FOX" in late October of this year. This channel begin broadcasting on WHSV's DT2 digital subchannel on October 26, 2006. WHSV says they are undergoing talks with Comcast, and hope to offer it on basic cable. However, The Valley's FOX has replaced Washington's FOX affiliate WTTG on other cable systems. Outside of FOX primetime programming, the channel airs unspecified "local programming".

WHSV and The Valley's FOX can be seen on satellite via DISH Network. WHSV announced that the broadcasts were to begin on October 26, 2006. [3] At that point, the main WHSV channel was operating on satellite, but developments delayed the start of the FOX channel from being broadcasted until later.

[edit] WHSV DT3 "TV3 Winchester"

Main article: TV3 Winchester

Starting in mid to late December of this year, WHSV will launch cable-only "TV3 Winchester", a new ABC affiliate for Winchester, Virginia, which will be broadcasted on WHSV's DT3 digital subchannel and carried on cable. TV 3 Winchester is a joint project with WHSV and Shenandoah University. Along with Winchester, the new station will serve Frederick, Clarke, Warren, and Shenandoah counties in Virginia.

[edit] WHSV DT4 "My Valley TV"

Also in late October, WHSV created a MyNetworkTV affiliate known as "My Valley TV". On MNTV's local station website, it lists WHSV as being an affiliate of the network. My Valley TV is currently broadcasted on WHSV's DT4 digital subchannel. Talks are underway for the channel to be carried on DISH Network and cable. Besides the two MNTV primetime programs Desire and Fashion House, other syndicated programming such as Dr. Phil and Oprah will also air on this channel. However, the station currently airs unspecified "local programs" outside of MNTV primetime.

MyNetworkTV, which is a sister network to FOX, began broadcasting nationally in the U.S. on September 5, 2006. The network was created for two reasons. One, to go up against another new broadcast network called The CW, which is the result of the UPN and WB networks merging. The second reason is to offer stations not named as a CW affiliate another option besides becoming independent. The CW began broadcasting on September 18, 2006. NBC affiliate WVIR-TV in Charlottesville broadcasts The CW on its DT3 digital subchannel as part of The CW Plus.

[edit] Newscasts

According to a recent announcement by WHSV news director Ed Reams, there are plans in the works to begin a new 10 PM weekday newscast on The Valley's FOX. Although it does not have a radar of its own, WHSV uses live NOAA NWS radar data from several regional sites in a forecasting system presented onscreen as "First Alert Doppler".

[edit] Weekdays

• WHSV News 3 Daybreak (5:00am to 7:00am) rebroadcasted on The Valley's FOX from 7 to 9 AM
• WHSV News 3 at Noon (12:00pm to 12:30pm)
• WHSV News 3 at 5:00 (5:00pm to 5:30pm)
• WHSV News 3 at 5:30 (5:30pm to 6:00pm)
• WHSV News 3 at 6 PM (6:00pm to 6:30pm) rebroadcasted on My Valley TV from 7 to 7:30 PM
• WHSV News 3 at 11 at 11 (11:00pm to 11:35pm) rebroadcasted on My Valley TV from 12 to 12:30 AM

[edit] Weekends

• WHSV News 3 at 6 PM (6:00pm to 6:30pm) rebroadcasted on My Valley TV from 7 to 7:30 PM
• WHSV News 3 at 11 at 11 (11:00pm to 11:30pm) rebroadcasted on My Valley TV from 12 to 12:30 AM

• Note: There are no weekend morning newscasts.

[edit] Specials

• The Endzone (11:35pm to 12:05am, Friday Nights during high school football season)

[edit] Current Personalities

[edit] WHSV News Team

• Ed Reams-News Director
• Bob Corso-5:00pm and 11:00pm News Anchor^[4]
• Kelly Creswell-Reporter^[5]
• Jamie Curott-6:00pm and 11:00pm News Anchor^[6]
• Evan Fitzgerald-Daybreak Anchor^[7]
• Meg Gatto-Reporter^[8]
• Melanie Lofton-5:00pm and 5:30pm Anchor^[9]
• Lauren McKay-Reporter^[10]
• Mike McNeill-Weekend Anchor^[11]
• Jenelle Smith-Daybreak and Noon Anchor^[12]
• Shane Symolon-Weekend Reporter^[13]

[edit] WHSV Weather Team

• Leigh Abraham-Weekend Meteorologist^[14]
• Megan Bennett-Daybreak and Noon Meteorologist^[15]
• George Hirschmann-Chief Meteorologist/6:00pm and 11:00pm Meteorologist^[16]
• Melinda Summers-5pm Meteorologist^[17]

[edit] WHSV Sports Team

• Damon Dillman-Weekend Sports Anchor^[18]
• Joe Downs-Sports Director/Weekday Sports Anchor^[19]

Note: Bio Links go directly to the WHSV website and copright WHSV.

[edit] Former WHSV Personalities

• Julie Bidwell - Daybreak Co-Anchor (1997-2000, now at Fox News Channel as Julie Banderas)
• Chris Suchan - Weather (late 1990's, now at WBTV-TV)
• Ron Magnuson - Reporter, Weekend Anchor (late 1990's, now at WSOC-TV)
• Tracey Neale - Reporter (Early 1990's, now at WUSA-TV)
• Kevin Schultze - Reporter (Early 1990's, now at WJLA-TV)
• Beth Parker - Reporter, Anchor (Early 1990's, now at WTTG-TV)
• J.J. Davis - Weekend Sports Anchor, Sports Director (1991-2000, now at KPTM-TV)
• Brian North - Sports Director (1992-1998, now at WCTI-TV)
• Meredyth Censullo - Reporter, Weather Anchor (late 1990's, now at WTSP-TV)
• Thomas Tobin - Reporter (1998-1999, now a producer at WTTG-TV)
• Tom Patton - Weather Anchor (late 1990's, now at WWBT-TV)
• Amy Jo Dickerson - Reporter, Daybreak Co-Anchor, 6 and 11pm Co-Anchor (1998-2001)
• Bob Radford - Weekend Sports Anchor, Sports Director (1998-2002, now at WCYB-TV)
• Dan Bewley - Daybreak Co-Anchor (2000-2003, now at WOOD-TV
• Rachel DePompa - Reporter, Weekend Anchor (1999-2002, now at WDBJ-TV)
• Susan Bahorich - Reporter, Daybreak Co-Anchor (1999-2003, now at WDBJ-TV)
• Melissa Tune - Reporter (1999-2001)
• Melissa DiPane - Augusta County Reporter (1999-2002, now at WATE-TV)
• Danielle Banks - Augusta County Reporter, Weather (2000-2003, now at The Weather Channel)
• Jay Webb - Weekend Weather Anchor, Daybreak Weather Anchor (2000-2006, now at WDBJ-TV)
• Amy Gleason - Reporter, Weekend Anchor, Daybreak Co-Anchor (2000-2004)
• Adam Kramer - Augusta County Reporter (2001-2003)
• Donald Robinson -Augusta County Reporter (2001-2003)
• Melissa Reynolds - Reporter (2001-2002)
• Michelle Smith - 6 and 11pm Co-Anchor (2001-2003, now at WWLP-TV)
• Erin Tate - Reporter (2002-2003, now at WCMH-TV)
• Amy Kehm - Reporter, Weekend Anchor, 5pm Co-Anchor (2002-2006, now at WHTM-TV)
• Tara Brown - 5, 6, and 11pm Co-Anchor (2002-2004, now at KODE-TV)
• Jarrod Aldom - Reporter (2003-2004)
• Josh Chernikoff - Weekend Sports Anchor (2003-2004)
• James Williams - Daybreak Co-Anchor (2003-2005)
• Sonia Randev - Reporter (2003-2004)
• Kirsten Gladding - Reporter, 5pm Co-Anchor (2003-2004)
• Tim Saunders - Reporter, Weekend Anchor (2003-2006)
• Van Hackett - 6pm Co-Anchor, News Director (2003-2006)
• Chay Lee - Reporter (2004-2006)
• Laura Speakman - Reporter (2004-2006)
• Tamara Hinton - Weekend Reporter (2004, now at WVIR-TV)
• Mike Mueller - Augusta County Reporter (2004-2006, now at WTAJ-TV)
• Meryl Conant - Augusta County Reporter (2004-2006, now at WCBD-TV)
• Emmett Irby - Weekend Reporter (2005)
• Brianne Carter - Augusta County Reporter (2005-2006)
• Robin Tanner - Daybreak Reporter (2006)
• Raymond Rivera - Augusta County Reporter (2006)

[edit] Syndicated Programming

• Live with Regis and Kelly, runs at 9:00am
• Dr. Phil, runs at 10:00am
• Who Wants to be a Millionaire, runs at 12:30pm
• Oprah Winfrey, runs at 4:00pm
• Wheel of Fortune, runs at 7:00pm
• Jeopardy!, runs at 7:30pm
• CSI: Miami Weekends, Saturday and Sundays at 11:35pm

[edit] Logos

From 1970

Used from 1996 to 1999

Used from 1999 to Fall 2006

[edit] External Links

• WHSV Website
• WHSV Wireless
• TV 3 Winchester Website
• Query the FCC's TV station database for WHSV

ABC Network Affiliates in the state of Virginia
WHSV 3 (Harrisonburg) - TV3 Winchester 3 (WHSV-DT3) (Winchester) - WRIC 8 (Petersburg) - WSET 13 (Lynchburg) - WVEC 13 (Hampton) - WVAW-LP 16 (Charlottesville)
See also: CBS, CW, Fox, MyNetworkTV, NBC, PBS, and Other stations in Virginia

Fox Network Affiliates in the state of Virginia
WHSV-DT 3.2 (Harrisonburg) - WAHU-CA 27 (Charlottesville) - WFXR 27 / WWCW 21 (Roanoke / Lynchburg) - WRLH 35 (Richmond) - WVBT 43 (Virginia Beach)
See also: ABC, CW, CBS, MyNetworkTV, NBC, PBS, and Other stations in Virginia