10Viewer

WXFL 1988 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=id=Y3KhW1my7BI;m=7;s=48 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=id=0Kh-AtVnLKc;m=29;s=35 This was the resurgence of Channel 8 in the ratings. They would claim a victory over WTVT in 1989. The team of Bob & Gayle proved to be very successful. The news director who paired them was also WTSP's news director in the Don Harrison era (hence the voiceover by Harrison at WXFL).

Whoops! These threads should be color coded or something. Too easy to miss.

Great American owned WTSP. Terry Cole went on to work in TV on the management side as GM at WOWK and, IIRC, WCHS. His (ex) wife was Sandra Cole, an anchor at WOWK. One of the newspaper articles did state that an executive producer was told by Cole that he and Shapiro "hated Channel 13" and would do whatever it took to beat them. Cole, however, denied he ever "sat and plotted" with Shapiro and denied seeing Shapiro access WTVT's computer files. (courtesy Google newspaper archive) At any rate, this is how John Wilson opened WTSP's 6:00 news on 2/7/89: "Our top story tonight-what could be the first case of it's kind in the nation. Channel 10's assistant news director charged with tampering with computers of a competitor."

It was more of a case of trying to get back to #1. They were tying/beating WTVT in 1985-86 and then ratings fell and they hired Terry Cole as ND in late summer 1988. It appears, based on what I've read, that Cole hired Shapiro from WTVT with the express intention of breaking into WTVT's servers. They also broke into Frank Magid's data. It was discovered in early 1989. At one point, a folder full of WTVT's personnel files was found behind a storage shed at WTSP's studios. Speculation is that other WTSP employees knew what was going on, but nobody other than Cole and Shapiro were actually committing the act. The state could have seized WTSP under anti-racketeering laws but the ownership agreed to pay out a hefty settlement and donate to the state attorney's office.

Guess where that guy ended up working (Yes, he returned to TV news)? rialcniS Use your magic decoder ring!

WTSP on hurricane duty in 1988: The station debuted a new set and graphics that summer, but kept the '83 theme. The next year would be a major year of change, with the computer scandal breaking in March, resulting in the arrest (Yes, the arrest) and prosecution of WTSP's news director along with more cosmetic changes.

Those WTOG clips are rare-glad to see it. I've read a handful of articles about WTOG's news department, which I believe was housed in a building across the street from their main facility. The articles pointed out that WTOG was, at least until 1986, trying to do a network affiliate style newscast. However, on October 1, 1986, they launched "Tampa Bay Tonight" which was more feature oriented. Anchor Barbara Callahan jumped ship to WFLA Ch. 8 and would return in 1993.

You are correct. Florida News Network was the brainchild of Ken Middleton, WTSP's ND. Thom Allen also did V/O work for KMOL

KXTV's '96 theme is probably Gari

KXTV from 1995 when they were still with CBS. Their slogan at the time: "It's all about people" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=id=CaC-W2NXQBQ;t=47

KXTV 1997 (?) bumper. Definitely a Gari signature, but does that mean TIYN began in '97? Confirmed this is from 1997, so the NMSA must be off or their '96 theme was from Gari

KXTV 1990 promos with unknown theme:

KXTV 1991 open with an unidentified theme: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=id=ZEcuiKfhdOc;m=2;s=22

I'm impressed they did that. I've been wanting to get in contact with the author of an Amazon e-book about WEVU's early history to see if he could provide info on their early news themes.

WBNS from 1985:

WTSP finally hires a news director... Kelly Frank comes to WTSP from WBNS in Columbus where she was ND since 2015: http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/112778/kelly-frank-named-wtsp-news-director Very interesting considering Tegna's approach to news is so different from WBNS, a station long considered to be the market leader. Meanwhile, WTSP's ratings are usually in last place, except in late news.

Al Schottelkotte was, according to some sources, the highest rated local anchor in America. This is the only video I've been able to locate on YT: And here is the audio opening for his newscast (1950s?):

WTVT "Pulse 13" news close from 1985: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=id=ZoKIlAmXf30;m=3;s=9

Is that the Wow & Flutter theme? There is an ID toward the end that sounds like "Newschannel" but the rest doesn't sound like it.

Cool WJZ close from 10/31/1980 with a cut from "Oxygene Part II" by Jean Michel Jarre:

I may ask him to post the open on its own. He was kind enough to post the WTSP promo I wanted to see. Too bad it sounds like the audio is distorted on that WXFL open.

Sheryl Previll later went by "Sheryl Browne" in Cleveland and Tampa Looks like a young Don Postles worked at WLWD

Has anybody seen this yet? WFAA w/ 'Cool Hand Luke': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=id=4diXvz767vM;m=4;s=42

Don't think this goodie from WPLG has been posted yet-1986 open with the unknown theme: This needs to be in a permanent archive! A perfect Ernie Anderson voiceover: Take a look at this slogan-does the unknown theme having something to do with "We're with You"-an ABC tie-in maybe? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=id=XUY7XXsXEnY;t=10

Brief clip from WTHR/Paul Udell in 1977: