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'WPXI' '''Channel 11''' is the NBC television affiliate based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It is owned by Cox Enterprises. Its transmitter is located on the north side of Pittsburgh with the station's signal covering the Pittsburgh DMA. WPXI WeatherPlus is offered on its digital station.

Contents

History

Newscasts

Weekdays

Weekends

Pittsburgh Cable News Channel

Channel 11 News on Fox 53

Ratings

Slogans

Logo

Music

Local Programming

Present

Past

Digital Channels

Personalities

Anchors

Anchors/Reporters

Severe Weather Team 11

Sports

Reporters

Former Personalities

Trivia

External links

References

History

On September 1, 1957, Channel 11 signed on as WIIC-TV, an NBC affiliate.
Bill Cardille (now a former Channel 11 host and weather forecaster) was the first personality viewers saw. Some of the first original programming to air on WIIC included ''Studio Wrestling'' and ''Chiller Theatre'', both hosted by Cardille.
In 1970 , WIIC made Pittsburgh broadcasting history as Eleanor Schano became the first woman to anchor a newscast alone. Schano also hosted a weekly half-hour public affairs program called ''Face to Face''.
During much of the 1970s, WIIC trailed in a distant third place in the ratings behind stations KDKA and WTAE. This coincided with much of the period where NBC also struggled in the ratings.
In 1981, the station was purchased by Cox Enterprises, and the call signs were changed to WPXI-TV ('P'ittsburgh 11, with XI being the Roman numeral sign for 11). The WIIC calls still reside in Pittsburgh, but on a low-powered independent station airing music videos.
WPXI also has been airing the ''Jerry Lewis Telethon'' as the Pittsburgh affiliate of the annual event. The local portion of the telethon is still hosted by Bill Cardille.
In 2000 , Cox Enterprises purchased WTOV in Steubenville, Ohio, and WJAC in the Johnstown-Altoona-State College, Pa., market. These stations often appear in channel lineups for the same viewers that watch WPXI, either by over-the-air signal or via cable provider. Both WJAC and WTOV are also NBC affiliates.
Over the Labor Day weekend of 2007, WPXI plans to introduce its new studio location in the city's Summer Hill neighborhood near the Parkway North. The move will end a 50-year tradition at Television Hill in the city's Fineview neighborhood. The station's tower is to remain in place atop the station's current location.^[1]
As part of its 50th anniversary, WPXI announced it would air classic television programs on a digital subchannel from the Retro Television Network. The additional channel will begin Oct. 15, 2007.^[2]

Newscasts

WPXI occasionally pre-empts programming to report breaking news. Typically, WPXI offers four-and-a-half hours of live newscasts on channel 11. It offers an hour-and-a-half on PCNC and one hour on WPGH.

Weekdays

WPXI was the first channel to offer a 5 P.M. newscast in Pittsburgh during the early 1990s. The newscast was named ''Channel 11 News First At Five''.
Channel 11 was also the first station to offer a two-hour morning newscast in Pittsburgh.

Weekends

WPXI dropped the NBC Saturday morning cartoons in 1989 in favor of a newscast airing from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The success of the weekend morning news prompted NBC network officials to extend the Today show to weekends. WPXI, however, has since scaled back its weekend mornings news.
Pittsburgh native Jodi Applegate co-anchored NBC's Weekend Today, but was never seen locally due to WPXI's weekend morning news.

Pittsburgh Cable News Channel

The station went into cable television in 1994 with the launch of PCNC - the Pittsburgh Cable News Channel. PCNC brought the first 10 P.M. newscast to Pittsburgh. The final installment of PCNC's 10 P.M. news aired on January 26, 2006, as WPXI took over WPGH's news operation.
PCNC offers two newscasts: "Pittsburgh This Morning", a 7:00 to 8:00 A.M. weekday newscast, and a 7 P.M. weeknight newscast.

Channel 11 News on Fox 53

As of January 12, 2006, Sinclair Broadcast Group (owner of Fox affiliate WPGH-TV) and Cox entered into an agreement where WPXI began producing a newscast specifically for WPGH. This agreement, called a "news share", began January 30, 2006. All of WPGH's former news staff, except for sportscaster Alby Oxenreiter, were laid off. The 10 p.m. newscast became ''Channel 11 News on Fox 53 at Ten''. Oxenreiter's "Ox on Fox Sports Extra" fills the final 15 minutes of the newscast.

Ratings

Pittsburgh is a tough market for local news, with the news station ratings usually differing by a tenth of a point.
In May 2007, WPXI produced the most-watched 10 P.M. newscast, Channel 11 News on Fox 53.^[3]

Slogans

WPXI has had a plethora of slogans focusing on their news-driven product, including ''More News, More Often'' and ''Live, Local, Late-Breaking News'', both of which were used during the 1990s.
In the late 1980s and early 90s, WPXI was known as the ''24-Hour News Source'', providing news and weather updates every hour on Channel 11.
Channel 11's current slogan is "Coverage You Can Count On." In 2004, the station expanded the slogan to include various news-oriented services (i.e. "Weather Coverage You Can Count On" and "News Coverage You Can Count On").
In the station's news openings, the words "Live, Local and Late-breaking" were added in 2007.

Logo

WPXI currently uses the number 11 drawn into a circle, which debuted when the station changed its call signs from WIIC in 1981. The 11 symbol is colored gold, while the box around it is dark blue. WPXI previously used the NBC Peacock in its logo, which was copied by sister stations WTOV and WJAC and is still used by those stations, but revamped its look in October 2004. WPXI's current look uses the circle 11 logo with stylized "WPXI" below it.

Music

WPXI is known to commission for its own theme music from companies, although it has previously used the famous Move Closer to Your World theme. It has commissioned both "Total Coverage" (its previous package still used by WJAC and WTOV), and it's current theme of "NBC Flagship."

Local Programming

Channel 11 has had only one major foray into producing local programming. From 1963 to 1984, the station produced and broadcast "Chiller Theater," a late Saturday evening horror film show hosted by Bill Cardille, or as he was referred to, "Chilly Billy." Cardille and a cast of characters would introduce the film being shown, as well as perform skits during breaks in the film. Cardille became well-known for hosting the show, and the shows themselves became part of local yore. The final program aired on January 1, 1984. Cardille remained on-air at Channel 11 through the early- to mid-90s as the morning and noon weather forecaster. Cardille remains in Pittsburgh as midday personality on WJAS radio, and occasional ''Chiller Theater'' reunions have been held over the years.
The show was part of a trend during the 1960s and 1970s for television stations to produce local programming. Local stations often created their own children's shows as well. Horror theater shows, such as ''Shock Theatre'', hosted by Ghoulardi and ''Big Chuck and Little John'' in Cleveland, as well as ''Chiller Theater'', were not only easy to produce, but popular with the local audience.
For its part, WPXI (known then as WIIC) produced "Cartoon Colorama", which aired old-time cartoons produced in color format (hence the name), hosted by Willie the Duck, a hand-puppet with a Donald Duck type of voice, speaking to off-camera announcer Don Riggs (who served as Willie's comedy foil) in between the cartoons. The show had been previously hosted by a character called "Captain Jim".

Present

★ ''Our Region's Business''

★ ''Talkin' Pittsburgh''

★ ''Impact''

★ ''Celebrate the Season Parade''

★ ''Carol Sing''

★ ''Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon''

★ ''A Star Spangled Salute''

★ ''The Jerome Bettis Show''

Past

★ ''Chiller Theater''

★ ''H.S. Sports Saturday with Mark Malone''

★ ''Studio Wrestling''

★ ''Cartoon Colorama with Captain Jim''

Digital Channels

WPXI was the first channel in Pittsburgh to make use of additional programming on its digital channels.
On June 21, 2007, WPXI's Weather Plus began on Channel 11.2 and is also available on Comcast.^[4] Weather Plus offers local and national weather information 24 hours a day. Locally, WPXI's Scott Harbaugh serves as the main meteorologist on Channel 11 Weather Plus.
WPXI will add a digital channel October 2007 when it begins an affiliation with Retro Television Network, a channel that airs classic television programming.

Personalities

Anchors

★ 'Newlin Archinal' - weekdays, 5 to 7 a.m. and noon

★ 'Bob Bruce' - weekdays, 5 to 7 a.m. and noon

★ 'Darieth Chisolm'- weekdays, 11 p.m.

★ 'Peggy Finnegan'- weekdays, 5 to 6:30 p.m.

★ 'David Johnson'- weekdays, 5 to 6:30 p.m. and 11 p.m.

Anchors/Reporters

★ 'Stacia Erdos' - weekends, 6 to 6:30 p.m.

★ 'Gordon Loesch' - weekends, 6 to 6:30 p.m.

★ 'Vince Sims'- Saturdays and Sundays: mornings

Severe Weather Team 11

★ 'Kevin Benson' (AMS Meteorologist)- weekends

★ 'Scott Harbaugh' (AMS Meteorologist)- Weather Plus and filling in weekdays, 5 to 7 a.m. and noon while Krista Villarreal is in maternity leave

★ 'Mike LaPoint' (AMS Certified Broadcast Meteorologist)- weekdays, 5 to 6:30 p.m. and 11 p.m.

★ 'Krista Villarreal' (AMS Meteorologist)- weekdays, 5 to 7 a.m. and noon (currently on materinty leave)

Sports

★ 'John Fedko'

★ 'Alby Oxenreiter'

★ 'Bill Phillips'

★ 'Rich Walsh'

Reporters

★ 'Stu Brown'

★ 'Jodine Costanzo'

★ 'Rick Earle' (Target 11 Investigator)

★ 'Kimberly Easton'

★ 'Andy Gastmeyer'

★ 'Lori Houy'

★ 'Alan Jennings' (Westmoreland County Bureau Chief)

★ 'Amy Marcinkiewicz'

★ 'Katrina Owens'

★ 'Trisha Pittman' (Traffic)

★ 'Dee Thompson'

★ 'Renee Kaminski'

★ 'Karen Welles' (Target 11 Investigator)

Former Personalities

★ 'Asa Aarons' (19xx-19xx) (consumer reporter) - now a consumer reporter for WNBC New York

★ 'Jennifer Antkowiak' (19xx-1993) (reporter) - also worked at KDKA-TV as an anchor, and now hosts ''jennifer'', a talk show on WTAE, also she edits the magizine ''At Home With Jennifer''

★ 'Caroline Avedesian' (19xx-1999) (reporter) -

★ 'Hank Baughman' (19xx-1987) (anchor) - now morning news anchor at WSHH "Wish 99.7" in Pittsburgh, also worked at KQV, WTAE-AM, WHTX

★ 'Rocky Bleier' (1980-19xx) (sports) - former Pittsburgh Steeler

★ 'Mike Boguslowski' (19xx-19xx) (consumer reporter); also worked at KCBS-TV in Los Angeles

★ 'Julie Bologna' (1999-2004) (weather) - native of Aliquippa; now at KTVT in Dallas-Fort Worth

★ 'Dennis Bowman' (1984-2000) (weather) - after 16 years he moved on to Topeka, Kansas, but returned to Pittsburgh in 2005; now serves as a freelance meteorologist at KDKA-TV

★ 'Jim Brinson' (19xx-19xx) (sports) -

★ 'Natasha Brown' (1999-2002) (reporter) - now at KYW-TV and WPSG in Philadelphia

★ 'Beverly Byer' (19xx-19xx) (anchor) - was an anchor at KION-TV in Monterey, Calif.; now at KRXA 540 AM

★ 'Bill Cardille' (1957-1999) (weather) - was the first personality on air at WIIC, now a radio DJ at WJAS

★ 'Darryl Carver' (1997-2000) (reporter) - now a reporter at WAGA in Atlanta

★ 'Reg Chapman' (1999-2002) (reporter) - now a reporter at WNBC New York

★ 'Steve Chenevey' (1999-2002) (reporter) - now co-anchors WTTG morning news from 5 to 7 A.M., the same channel Shawn Yancy, formerly of WTAE-TV, works for]

★ 'Della Crews' (1985-1998) (anchor/reporter) - now at News 12 in the New York/New Jersey area

★ 'Red Donley' (19xx-19xx) (sports) - previously worked at WTOV-TV in Steubenville, Ohio / Wheeling, West Virginia

★ 'Mike Hambrick' (1986-1989) (anchor) - now with the National Association of Manufacturers [1]

★ 'Yolanda Hawkins' (2003-2006) (reporter) - recently posed for the cover of Maniac Magazine's September 2006 issue

★ 'Dagny Hultgreen' (19xx-19xx) (anchor/reporter) - sister of Kara Hultgreen, first female US Navy fighter pilot; appeared in the film 'Speed' as a reporter; spent time as a reporter for E! News and Good Day L.A.

★ 'Katina Forte' (19xx-2002) (traffic reporter) - was host of 'QVC @ The Mall', now at ShopNBC

★ 'Vince Gerasole' (19xx-19xx) (reporter) - now at WBBM-TV, is a native of Pittsburgh

★ 'Derrick Gunn' (1987-1997) (sports) - now at Comcast SportsNet

★ 'Ron Jaye' ( -2000) (anchor/reporter) - retired

★ 'Keith Jones' (1999-2003) (anchor/reporter) now at KDKA-TV

★ 'C.S. Keys' (1995-1999) (weather) now at XETV-TV in San Diego

★ 'Kris Long' (1993-19xx) (anchor) - now at KPSP-LP in Palm Springs, Calif.

★ 'Mark Malone' (1990-1993) (sports) - now with WBBM-TV

★ 'Loran Mann' (1976-1996) (reporter) - now a minister in Pittsburgh

★ 'Kelly Mitchell' (19xx-19xx) (anchor) -

★ 'Sam Nover' (1970-2001) (sports) - retired

★ 'Bruce Pompeani' (1993-1996) (anchor/reporter) - worked at KDKA-TV

★ 'Gina Redmond' (2001-2003) (anchor) - now at WVTM-TV in Birmingham

★ 'Dr. Mike Rosen' (1997-2001) (medical reporter) - now the senior medical correspondent at WCBS-TV and also files reports for CBS Newspath

★ 'Lori Savitch' (1990-19xx) (anchor/reporter) - now an award-winning freelance producer for Nickelodeon, Lifetime and the History Channel and contributor to WQED Pittsburgh's 'OnQ'

★ 'Eleanor Schano' (19xx-19xx) (anchor) - host of WQED's 'LifeQuest'

★ 'Margaret Shortridge' (1992-2000) (reporter/anchor) - now at WFLD

★ 'Roxanne Stein' (19xx-1987) (anchor) - now at WPTV

★ 'Edye Tarbox' (1987-1989) (anchor) - now with Fox News Channel

★ 'Steve Teeling' (2000-2006) (Chief Meteorologist) - now with WXXA in Albany, New York

★ 'Becky Thompson' (xxxx-2006) - relocated to Texas

★ 'Estha Trouw' (19xx-19xx) (anchor/reporter)

★ 'Randy Waters' (1981-1984) (sports) - now at WXIA-TV in Atlanta

Trivia

★ WPXI was the only Pittsburgh TV station that aired uncensored footage of Pennsylvania treasurer Budd Dwyer's suicide in 1987.

External links

★ WPXI Web site

References

1. http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/search/s_519002.html
2. http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07232/810739-237.stm
3. TV Ratings: May 2007
4. http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05168/522836.stm


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