Misplaced Pages

Revision as of 05:04, 17 July 2005

WCMH-TV is the NBC owned & operated television station in Columbus, Ohio. The station broadcasts in stereo and broadcasts a Secondary Audio Program (SAP) channel. WCMH-DT (WCMH-TV's digital channel) operates on channel 14.

The channel's call letters, WCMH-TV, simply add a W to the city's airport code, CMH. CMH stands for Columbus Municipal Hangar.

History

Although currently operating on channel 4 as WCMH-TV, at one time, the station operated on channel 3 as WLWC. WLWC was one of 4 stations which made up the Cincinnati-based WLW television network in the early days of television. The other stations were WLWT in Cincinnati, WLWI (now WTHR) in Indianapolis, and WLWD (now WDTN) in Dayton. WLWC began operations on April 3, 1949. At one time, the station carried both DuMont and NBC programming. The station changed its call letters to WCMH in April 1976 when it was purchased by Outlet Broadcasting. In 1984, the station greatly expanded its broadcasting facilities and newsroom.

Channel 4's newscasts are mostly in second place, except for the station's 11:00 news, which frequently beats market leader WBNS-TV. For nearly 20 years, Hugh DeMoss anchored Channel 4's evening newscast, called "The DeMoss Report." By the late 1970s into the early 1980s, however, WCMH languished in third place. In 1983, Channel 4 brought in Doug Adair and Mona Scott as the station's main news anchors. They brought a "happy talk" format to the market that had not been done before. The "NewsWatch 4" team of Doug Adair, Mona Scott, Jym Ganahl, and Jimmy Crum became the most popular anchor team in Columbus television history.

The 1990s brought changes to the normally stable Channel 4. In 1990, Mona Scott decided to leave WCMH, and was replaced by Angela Pace. In 1991, it was discovered that chief meteorologist Jym Ganahl had an addiction to pain medication and had falsified medical information by obtaining illegal perscriptions from Dr. Nelson Kraus. Kraus, who had been WCMH's inhouse medical authority, lost his license to practice as a result of the scandal. In 1992, Angela Pace left for greener pastures at rival WBNS. Colleen Marshall became the coanchor with Doug Adair until Adair's retirement. Adair was replaced by Cabot Rea. Jimmy Crum, Channel 4's celebrated "dean of sports" retired in 1994.

Personalities

The 6PM and 11PM weekday newscasts are anchored by the team of Cabot Rea and Colleen Marshall. Meteorolgist Jym Ganahl provides weather information.

Other current personalities

• Cabot Rea, lead anchor
• Colleen Marshall, lead anchor.
• Kyle Anderson, reporter/anchor.
• Nancy Burton, reporter.
• Beth Dal Ponte, reporter.
• Mindy Drayer, anchor.
• Ben Gelber, meterologist.
• Anietra Hamper, reporter.
• Holly Hollingsworth, anchor.
• John Ivanic, anchor/reporter.
• Mike Jackson, anchor.
• Marshall McPeek, meteorologist/reporter.
• Bob Nunnally, meteorologist.
• Mike Valpredo, anchor.
• Joe Weasel, sports.

Past personalities

• Doug Adair, anchor. (1983-1994)
• Mona Scott, anchor. (1983-1990)
• Leon Bibb, anchor.
• Jimmy Crum, sports.
• Hugh DeMoss, anchor.
• Larry Hoff, roving anchor.
• Gail Hogan, anchor. ? to 2004.
• John Huffman, anchor.
• Doug Lessells, sports.
• Dave Maetzold, sports. ? to August 9, 2004.
• Stu Nicholson, reporter.
• Katrina Owens, anchor.
• Angela Pace, anchor. (1981-1992)
• Jerry Rasor, weather.
• Larry Roberts, anchor (1979-1983), reporter (2002-2004).
• Jim Scott, anchor.

References

• NBC 4 Station History. NBC4i.com.

External links

• Template:TVQ

• NBC network affiliates