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Owner: Cox

Slogan: "Coverage you can count on"

News: Eyewitness News

Previous News: Newsline 9, Mid Florida News

Etc: Became the dominant TV news operation in Central Florida after knocking off Channels 2 and 6, claiming the top-rated newscast in 1978. ... Has had the No. 1 early evening newscast ever since -- an impressive streak of nearly 30 years. ... Ratings for its early-evening news are often higher than those of its competitors combined. ... First local color TV newscast ... Years later, in early 1980s, started the second 5:30 news in the market. ... Also started the first 5 p.m. news in market, "Live at 5." ... Added the second station-owned Doppler radar in market, originaly called the "Live, Early Warning Doppler 9000 Radar Network'' (say that three times fast). ... Airs 3-1/2 hours of local news on Saturday mornings and 2-1/2 hours on Sunday mornings. ... Former anchors/reporters include Natalie Allen (CNN), Deborah Roberts (wife of Today weatherman Al Roker and formerly of 20/20), Wyatt Andrews (CBS), John Tesh (Entertainment Tonight). . Produces 10 p.m. newscast, Action News at 10, for sister station WRDQ-Channel 27.

Station History: Went on the air in June 1958 as WLOF -- the third station in Central Florida behind WDBO-Channel 6 and WESH-Channel 2 ... Call letters WLOF (We Love Orlando Florida) were shared with a popular radio station in town. Call letter were changed in 1963 to WFTV (Wonderful Florida Television.)' ... Long an also-ran among the Central Florida TV stations, the station's fortunes turned in the late 1970s thanks in part to ABC's strong ratings as well as an new tranmission tower that boosted the station's signal ... Bob Jordan, who came to WFTV as news director/anchor in the late 1970s, led Eyewitness News' march to No. 1. Among his innovations was hiring the first female anchor in the market, Carole Nelson, to anchor the noon and co-anchor 6 p.m. news. Also oversaw the move to electronic news gathering equipment from film. ... Jordan would leave WFTV, return again as anchor and news director in the 1980s, leave again and then return in the late 1990s to boost the station's sagging news ratings back to their high levels. ... Formed Orlando's second duopoly when Cox acquired WRDQ-Channel 27. ... On June 29, 2006, became the first station in the station and 10th in the nation to start broadcasting its local news in high definition.

Digital subchannel programming: WFTV airs its Early Warning Doppler 9 HD weather radar on digital channel 9.2. It previously aired ABC News Now, when it was available during its test phase in 2004-05.

Screen shots of current WFTV set and graphics
(click on thubnail shots for larger images)
Screen shots of earlier WFTV sets and graphics
  1970s  
  1970s  
  1980s  
  1990s  
  1990s  
  1990s  
  2000s  
 
  2000s  
 
Current and historical WFTV video clips
Current Video:
> Eyewitness News in HD at noon opening
> Eyewitness News at 11 p.m. promo

Classic Video:
> 2006 - Eyewitness News at 6 p.m. opening
> 2006 - Eyewitness News at 6 p.m. anchor intro
> 2006 - Eyewitness News "on the money" promo

> 2004 - Eyewitness News at 6 p.m. opening
> 2004 - Hurricane Charley: 105 mph wind gust (Aug. 13)
> 2004 - Hurricane Charley: Storm rocks downtown (Aug. 13)
> 2004 - Hurricane Charley: Power on and off (Aug. 13)
> 2004 - Hurricane Charley: Weather Center crew (Aug. 13)

> 2003 - Eyewitness News at 6 p.m. opening
> 2003 - Eyewitness News at 6 p.m. anchor opening - Opsahl-Salt
> 2003 - Eyewitness News "Coverage You Can Count On" promo
> 2003 - Eyewitness News at 6 p.m. anchor opening - Opsahl-Weech

> 2002 - Eyewitness News at 5:30 p.m. opening
> 2002 - Eyewitness News at 6 p.m. talent opening
> 2002 - Eyewitness News "Best Newscast in America" promo

> 2000 - Eyewitness News at 6 p.m.

> 1997 - Eyewitness News at 11 p.m.
> 1997 - 3 Eyewitness News promos, including "SkyZoom"

> 1991 - Weatherman Danny Treanor on Eyewitness News
> 1991 - Eyewitness News Brief
> 1991 - Eyewitness News at 6 p.m. opening

> 1990 - Eyewitness News Weekend
> 1990 - Eyewitness News at 5 p.m. promo
> 1990 - Eyewitness News afternoon News Brief

> 1989 - Eyewitness News at 11 p.m. opening

> 1983 - Eyewitness News at Noon With Martie Salt
> 1982 - Eyewitness News at 6
> 1982 - Eyewitness News at 5:30

> 1978 - Eyewitness News at Noon With Carole Nelson
> 1978 - Eyewitness News at 11 "Classical Gas" opening

> 1977 - Eyewitness News Weekend close
> 1977 - Eyewitness News Weekend sports story
> 1977 - Eyewitness News coverage of NFL draft Part 1
> 1977 - Eyewitness News coverage of NFL draft Part 2

Newspaper ads and other historical material


 


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