- WMBB
Infobox_Broadcast
call_letters = WMBB
city =
station_
station_slogan = On Your Side
station_branding = WMBB News13
analog = 13 (VHF)
digital = 19 (UHF)
other_chs =
affiliations = ABC
network =
founded =
airdate =October 4 ,1973
location =Panama City, Florida
callsign_meaning = World's
Most
Beautiful
Beaches
former_callsigns = WDTB-TV (1973-1977)
former_channel_numbers =
owner =Hoak Media Corporation
licensee = Hoak Media Of Panama City License, LLC
sister_stations =
former_affiliations =NBC (1973-1982)
effective_radiated_power = 316 kW (analog)
700 kW (digital)
HAAT = 437 m (analog)
405 m (digital)
class =
facility_id = 66398
coordinates = coord|30|21|9.3|N|85|23|27.4|W|type:landmark_scale:2000
homepage = [http://www.panhandleparade.com/ panhandleparade.com]WMBB News13 is a full power television station -- as an ABC network affiliate, it serves the entire
Panama City, Florida metropolitan area. Its transmitter is located in Youngstown.Technical information
This station is licensed to broadcast on
VHF channel 13 at 316kilowatt s and broadcasts in high definition onUHF channel 19 at only 38 kilowatts under aSpecial Temporary Authority , but has filed for a construction permit to increase its power to about 1,000 kilowatts. WMBB is owned and operated byHoak Media Corporation .History
WMBB first began its broadcasting operations on
October 4 ,1973 as WDTB-TV, started by Panhandle Broadcasting Corporation, run by attorney Denver T. Brannen, and financed by local businessman/car dealer Tommy Thomas, and attorneys Julian Bennett and Dick Arnold. When it first took to the air, channel 13 was originally anNBC network affiliate. OnFebruary 28 ,1977 , WDTB was sold to Octagon Broadcasting, anAtlanta -based outfit. Upon the change, Octagon changed the station's callsign to the current WMBB -- which stands for "The World's Most Beautiful Beaches".Originally, the station was positioned to be the NBC affiliate for
Tallahassee as well, since they did not have one until the 1980s whenWTWC signed on. The plan failed. At the time, the transmitter was inFrink, Florida , located in Calhoun County, well over 50 miles (80 km) away from Tallahassee, at approximately coord|30|22|9|N|85|12|29|W|type:landmark. In addition, many viewers in the capital city already receive NBC fromAlbany, Georgia 'sWALB .On
January 4 ,1982 , WMBB made the affiliation switch to ABC, swapping with its crosstown rival,WJHG , channel 7. Then onDecember 5 ,1986 , Buford Television ofTyler, Texas purchased the station and began investing in equipment and news talent, in order to make the station more competitive, not only with WJHG, but also with Dothan, Ala.'s WTVY, theCBS station serving the eastern part of the northwestern Florida "Panhandle" region. It was also around this time that the station moved from its location in downtown Panama City to its current location at 613 Harrison Avenue, which formerly housed aBuick dealership. The new station offered three times the space of the previous location.Unexpectedly, at 2:03 p.m. Central Time on
May 18 ,1989 , an Air ForceF-15 fighter jet clipped a wire at its Frink tower. This caused the tower, antenna and transmitter to be completely destroyed. Not long after this incident the station was sold once again. This time, the station joined Spartan Communications of Spartanburg, S.C. as construction of new transmission equipment got underway. The company completed the acquisition onApril 12 ,1990 . OnAugust 6 of that same year, WMBB began broadcasting from a new 1,500-foot (457 m) state-of-the-art antenna and transmitter tower, now located in Youngstown, Fla. This allowed for better viewing of the station in the western half of the market including the rapidly growing southern Walton County area and Destin.In 1993, WMBB refused to air the ABC show "
NYPD Blue " due to its violence, harsh language and partial nudity; instead, it aired syndicated programming during the timeslot. It was one of several ABC affiliates across the country that refused clearance to the program. Then-general manager Hugh Roche kept the show off the station until 1997, when the parental ratings system was adopted by the networks. By the time WMBB finally allowed the program to air, it was the last station in the country to lift its ban on the show.In March 2000, WMBB became one of 13 stations in a package acquired by
Media General , worth $605 million. Later that year, Media General purchased the "Jackson County Floridan" newspaper. WMBB then established a Jackson County bureau and used the resources of the "Floridan" to cover Jackson County as well. This caught the eye of the Federal Communications Commission because of the common ownership of a newspaper and television station in the same market. With the sale of WMBB-TV to Hoak Media, this is no longer an issue. By the time Media General sold WMBB, Media General was granted a permanent waiver by the FCC to operate both properties in the same market.WMBB made history during
Hurricane Dennis in July 2005 when it became the first station in Panama City to broadcast live storm coverage over the internet, as well as being one of the first stations in the country to use the Titan forecasting tool, a 3D forecasting system which showed the collapse of the storm just before it struck Santa Rosa Island.Media General announced on October 29, 2007, that WMBB is one of five of its stations the company is considering putting up for sale. [http://www.reuters.com/article/televisionNews/idUSWNAS881420071029] On
March 14 ,2008 , it was announced that Media General would sell the station (along with sister stationKALB-TV inAlexandria, Louisiana ) toHoak Media Corporation . [http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6540825.html] The deal was closed onJuly 16th ,2008 . [ [http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6579078.html Hoak Closes Purchase of WMBB, KALB/NALB - 7/16/2008 10:59:00 AM - Broadcasting & Cable ] ] WMBB is Hoak's first television station east of theMississippi River .Digital television
After the analog television shutdown and digital conversion, which is tentatively scheduled to take place on February 17, 2009 http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1082A2.pdf] , WMBB will move its digital broadcasts back to its present analog channel number, 13. [http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/cdbsmenu.hts?context=25&appn=101257651&formid=387&fac_num=66398 CDBS Print ] ]
News Department
Notable Personalities
CURRENT PERSONALITIES
*Megan Albright, General Assignment Reporter
*Jerry Brown, Live at 5:00, 6:00, and 10:00 Anchor/Reporter
*Jessi Chapin, General Assignment Reporter
*Jessica Foster, Weekend Meteorologist/Reporter
*Stephen Gunter, Sports Director/Anchor
*Amy Hoyt, Live at 5:00, 6:00, and 10:00 Anchor/Reporter
*Mark Jenkins, Weekend Anchor/Reporter
*Justin Kiefer, Morning Meteorologist
*Tuquyen Mach, Weekend Anchor/Reporter
*Chris Marchand, General Assignment Reporter
*Bree Sison, Morning Anchor/Reporter
*Greg Sherrod, Morning Anchor/Reporter
*Jerry Tabatt, Chief Weather Forecaster
*Jim Wilson, Host, "Florida Outdoor Adventures"PAST PERSONALITIES
*Christian Ashley, Sports Anchor/Reporter (now Public Affairs- Clear Channel -Atlanta) (2003-2005)
*Amy Ausley, Reporter/Anchor (late 1990s)
*David Bacon, Sports (1990s)
*David Bishop, Reporter (1989-1990, now in government affairs)
*Ed Bradford, Anchor (1989-1991)
*Sandra Brogan, Meteorologist (now atWPMT-TV Harrisburg, PA )
*Kyle Burger, Sports Director/Anchor (2005-2007, now at WAAY-TV Huntsville)
*Shannon Cake, Reporter (now atWPTV-TV West Palm Beach, FL )
*Crystal Cameron, Reporter, Weekend Anchor (2004-2006, now atWVIR-TV Charlottesville, VA )
*Susan Casper, Reporter (now withWFTS Tampa )
*Chris Cato, Live at 5:00, 6:00, and 10:00 Anchor/Reporter (1999-2005, now at WSPA/WYCW, Spartanburg, SC)
*Carmen Coursey Cato, Anchor/Reporter (?, now at WSPA/WYCW, Spartanburg, SC)
*Scot Chestnut, Reporter (1980s)
*Judy Dickey, Morning Meteorologist(2002-2005), Weekend Meteorologist (1997-2000)
*April Douglas, Marianna Bureau Reporter (now at WALA Mobile)
*John Dunlap, Sports (now at WJXT Jacksonville)
*Tracey Early, Reporter (now with News 14 Carolina)
*Craig Falanga, Sports (?-2003)
*Sheena Foster, Reporter 2006-2007 (Now at NY 1)
*Tim Gehret, Anchor-Reporter (1999-2001 Now atWCBD Charleston, SC )
*Nancy Gay, Reporter (now withCentral Florida News 13 )
*Brian Goddin, Weekend Anchor/General Assignment Reporter (?-2005)(now with Bay County Sheriff's Office)
*Cynthia Gould, Anchor (1980s)
*Tracey Grimm, Reporter (1980s)
*Mike Gurspan, Anchor/Reporter (1987-1992, now at WTVYDothan )
*Larche Hardy, News Director (1980-Present)
*Joy Harris, Weather (1980s)
*Lesley Hendrix, Weekend Anchor/General Assignment Reporter (?-2005,)
*Tom Higginbotham, Meteorologist (1990s)
*Paul Joseph, Sports (1980s-1990s)
*Mark Koelbel, Main Anchor (Early 1990s)
*Kerry Kinsey, Main Anchor (2001-2002, now atKTVX Salt Lake City )
*Robert Kittle, General Assignment Reporter (1985-1989, now at WSPASpartanburg )
*Deanna Lambert, Morning Anchor/Reporter (2005-2008)
*Sam Lane, Weekend Weather Forecaster
*Tom Lewis, Anchor (early 1980s, 1989-2001, now atWJHG )
*Jared Long, General Assignment Reporter (?-2004)
*Janice Lucas, Reporter (1980s)
*Kira Mathis, General Assignment Reporter (2003-2005, now atNews 14 Carolina Greensboro )
*Chris Mitchell, Walton County Reporter (1998-2007)
*Steve Moss, Morning Anchor
*Kate Mundy, Morning Anchor/Reporter (?-2004, now atKATC-TV Lafayette, LA )
*Capt. Norm Miller, Chief Weather Forecaster (1987-1998)
*Candace Mills, General Assignment Reporter (2007)
*Tom Najjar, Midday Host (1980s & 90s) (Now hosting morning talk show onWPGX-TV )
*Kathy Oliver, Main Anchor (Early 1990s)
*Leif Pedersen-Diaz, Reporter (Early 1990s)
*Chris Pedersen, Reporter (1980s)
*Bob Petermann, Weather Anchor (1980s) (Deceased)
*Linda Powell, Live at 5:00 Anchor (?-2004, now in Jacksonville with Video Law Services)
*Tanya Rivera, Morning Anchor (1993-2000, now atWFMY-TV Greensboro, NC )
*Ashley Roberts, General Assignment Reporter (2005-2007, now atWSLS Roanoke )
*Angela Sachitano, Morning Anchor/Reporter (2004-2006)
*Carolyn Scofield (now withCentral Florida News 13 )
*Dan Sheldon (now withKUTV Salt Lake City )
*Robby Thomas, General Assignment Reporter (2004-2006)
*Jennifer Turk, General Assignment Reporter (2005-2007 now with WNCN Raleigh-Durham)
*John Willams, Main Anchor (1987-1989)
*Hank Woolard, Reporter (1980s)References
External links
* [http://www.panhandleparade.com/ Official site]
*TVQ|WMBB
*BIA|WMBB|TV|TV
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