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On January 3, 2005, in a reversal of the 1984 switch, WMRI became an ABC affiliate for the second time to take advantage of the network's stronger programming. In another reversal, NBC was left with WNDI (which had changed its call letters from WPMA in 2003) by default. Ironically, within weeks after the affiliation shift, ABC's ratings overtook those of NBC with WMRI became the sixth strongest ABC affiliate in the United States, ranking up with [[KSTX-FTV]] in San Antonio, Texas, [[WAKT-FTV|WKNX]] in Knoxville, Tennessee, [[WMMR-FTV]] in Madison, Wisconsin, and sister station [[WEAE-FTV|WEAE]] Pittsburgh. By 2014, NBC has since regained the lead over ABC nationally and the NBC affiliation has since moved to WFTW. | On January 3, 2005, in a reversal of the 1984 switch, WMRI became an ABC affiliate for the second time to take advantage of the network's stronger programming. In another reversal, NBC was left with WNDI (which had changed its call letters from WPMA in 2003) by default. Ironically, within weeks after the affiliation shift, ABC's ratings overtook those of NBC with WMRI became the sixth strongest ABC affiliate in the United States, ranking up with [[KSTX-FTV]] in San Antonio, Texas, [[WAKT-FTV|WKNX]] in Knoxville, Tennessee, [[WMMR-FTV]] in Madison, Wisconsin, and sister station [[WEAE-FTV|WEAE]] Pittsburgh. By 2014, NBC has since regained the lead over ABC nationally and the NBC affiliation has since moved to WFTW. | ||
| − | A month after rejoining ABC on February 10, 2005, Birky Communications sold WB affiliate WBIO-FTV (channel 51, later a CW and [[wikipedia:MyNetworkTV|MyNetworkTV]] affiliate, now [[wikipedia: | + | A month after rejoining ABC on February 10, 2005, Birky Communications sold WB affiliate WBIO-FTV (channel 51, later a CW and [[wikipedia:MyNetworkTV|MyNetworkTV]] affiliate, now [[wikipedia:Univision|Univision]] affiliate [[WECW-FTV|WECW]]) as well as its Indianapolis sister station WIWB (now [[WICW-FTV|WICW]]) to ATE Media for $85 million, creating a duopoly with WMRI-FTV when the sale was finalized that spring. |
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===Sale to ABC Fantasy Television Stations=== | ===Sale to ABC Fantasy Television Stations=== | ||
| − | On June 3, 2016, the estate of [[Patrice Rafferty]] signed an agreement to be acquired by ABC Fantasy Television Stations. The deal will result in WMRI becoming an ABC owned-and-operated station and WECW | + | On June 3, 2016, the estate of [[Patrice Rafferty]] signed an agreement to be acquired by ABC Fantasy Television Stations. The deal will result in WMRI becoming an ABC owned-and-operated station and WECW an Univision affiliate.<ref name=tvnc-ateabc>{{cite news|title=ABC-ATE Media: It's A Done Deal|date=June 3, 2016}}</ref> The sale closed on September 2, 2016. With the completion of the deal, WMRI became the second network station in Fort Wayne to become an owned-and-operated station of its associated network after [[WINO-FLD|WINO/WMRN/WORT]] (formerly channels 12/38/58, now channel 7) and also marked WMRI's third ownership change. The sale to ABC ended 62 years of being locally owned by Corithian Broadcasting from 1954 until 1982 and ATE Media from 1982 to 2016. As a result, rival CBS affiliate [[WTOR-FTV|WTOR]] (channel 41) through its ownership of [[NoSirGifts Fantasy Television Stations|NoSirGifts Fantasy Television Division]] became the only locally owned-and-operated station in Fort Wayne. |
Ownership of WMRI became evident as a ABC Fantasy Television Stations unveiled a new logo for WMRI and Atlanta sister station [[WGA-FTV]] on August 6, 2018. | Ownership of WMRI became evident as a ABC Fantasy Television Stations unveiled a new logo for WMRI and Atlanta sister station [[WGA-FTV]] on August 6, 2018. | ||
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==Programming== | ==Programming== | ||
| − | [[wikipedia:Broadcast syndication|Syndicated]] programs broadcast by WMRI include | + | [[wikipedia:Broadcast syndication|Syndicated]] programs broadcast by WMRI include ''[[wikipedia:Entertainment Tonight|Entertainment Tonight]]'' (since its debut in 1981), ''[[wikipedia:Inside Edition|Inside Edition]]'' (since its debut in 1989), ''The Insider'' (since 2007). The former two shows have aired on WMRI since their debuts and is one two ABC-owned stations that have aired them since their debuts{{ndash}}the other is Pittsburgh sister station [[WEAE-FTV|WEAE]]. |
For years, the station produced a syndicated soap operas, ''Fred and Claire Explains It'' (FCEIA) from 1961 until its 2004 cancellation, that aired at 9:00 a.m. The station also produced three syndicated game shows mostly airing on ATE Media stations: the daytime version of ''[[wikipedia:Wheel of Fortune (U.S. game show)|Wheel of Fortune]]'' from 1992 until 2004 (hosted by Ava Zinn and Holly Everman), revivals of ''Scrabble'' (hosted by Season Atkins) from 1993 until 2004 and ''Trivia Trap'' (hosted by Marshall Davidson, and later Laura Bakula) from 1990 until 2004. | For years, the station produced a syndicated soap operas, ''Fred and Claire Explains It'' (FCEIA) from 1961 until its 2004 cancellation, that aired at 9:00 a.m. The station also produced three syndicated game shows mostly airing on ATE Media stations: the daytime version of ''[[wikipedia:Wheel of Fortune (U.S. game show)|Wheel of Fortune]]'' from 1992 until 2004 (hosted by Ava Zinn and Holly Everman), revivals of ''Scrabble'' (hosted by Season Atkins) from 1993 until 2004 and ''Trivia Trap'' (hosted by Marshall Davidson, and later Laura Bakula) from 1990 until 2004. | ||
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From 1994 until 2007, WMRI had carried ''[[wikipedia:Jeopardy!|Jeopardy!]]'' and ''[[wikipedia:Wheel of Fortune (U.S. game show)|Wheel of Fortune]]'', acquiring the local rights to Wheel of Fortune from then CBS affiliate WFTW and Jeopardy! from then ABC affiliate WNDI; both game shows moved to Independent station WXXC in 2007 where both game shows have aired in the 7:00 p.m. slot until moving to WTOR in 2016. | From 1994 until 2007, WMRI had carried ''[[wikipedia:Jeopardy!|Jeopardy!]]'' and ''[[wikipedia:Wheel of Fortune (U.S. game show)|Wheel of Fortune]]'', acquiring the local rights to Wheel of Fortune from then CBS affiliate WFTW and Jeopardy! from then ABC affiliate WNDI; both game shows moved to Independent station WXXC in 2007 where both game shows have aired in the 7:00 p.m. slot until moving to WTOR in 2016. | ||
| − | When WMRI rejoined ABC in 2005, the station aired the network's daytime schedule out of pattern as the station, like most other ATE Media-owned ABC affiliates in the Eastern Time Zone, aired ''General Hospital'' at 10:00 a.m. instead of the network's recommended 3:00 p.m. time slot. | + | When WMRI rejoined ABC in 2005, the station aired the network's daytime schedule out of pattern as the station, like most other ATE Media-owned ABC affiliates in the Eastern Time Zone, aired ''General Hospital'' at 10:00 a.m. instead of the network's recommended 3:00 p.m. time slot until 2012 when the network returned the 3:00 p.m. slot back to its affiliates. |
| − | WMRI clears the ABC network schedule | + | WMRI clears the majority of the ABC network schedule, with exception of ''America This Morning'', the weekend editions of ''Good Morning America'', the weekend editions of the ''ABC World News Tonight'', which instead air on WECW. As time permits, WECW may also take on the responsibility of airing other ABC programs that channel 9 is unable to air due to extended breaking news or severe weather coverage, or special programming; such an example has occurred frequently after the Indianapolis Colts play on ''Monday Night Football'' when WECW aired ''Dancing with the Stars'' while WMRI airs any MNF Indianapolis Colts games. |
| + | With WMRI now an ABC O&O, it remains to be seen that the station will clear the ABC schedule for the first time. | ||
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| − | From 2005 until 2012, some fringe parts of the market were able to watch the race via affiliates outside the Indianapolis market, including WMRI. Starting with the 2013 race, WMRI joined WHOO and eight other stations to air the race in prime time. This did not sit well with race fans as they were angry that they could no longer were able watch the race live after nearly 30 years, especially with fans that were used to watching the race on WMRI. ATE Media President and CEO Patrice Rafferty imposed the restriction as a condition of WHOO's ABC affiliation contract. On May 25, 2016 with the event sold out, IMS and sister station WHOO announced that it would air the Indianapolis 500 live in the Indianapolis market for the first time as an ABC affiliate.<ref>Blackout Lifted: ABC 24 and ABC Indiana to show Indianapolis 500 Live on Race Day</ref><ref>WHOO to air Indy 500 live</ref> | + | From 2005 until 2012, some fringe parts of the market were able to watch the race via affiliates outside the Indianapolis market, including WMRI. Starting with the 2013 race, WMRI joined WHOO and eight other stations to air the race in prime time. This did not sit well with race fans as they were angry that they could no longer were able watch the race live after nearly 30 years, especially with fans that were used to watching the race on WMRI. ATE Media President and CEO Patrice Rafferty imposed the restriction as a condition of WHOO's ABC affiliation contract. On May 25, 2016 with the event sold out, IMS and sister station WHOO announced that it would air the Indianapolis 500 live in the Indianapolis market for the first time as an ABC affiliate.<ref>Blackout Lifted: ABC 24 and ABC Indiana to show Indianapolis 500 Live on Race Day</ref><ref>WHOO to air Indy 500 live</ref> |
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==News operation== | ==News operation== | ||
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The station is famous for pioneering the '''"NewsCenter"''' format for non-NBC affiliate, which was used by many NBC stations throughout the United States. When WFAZ-FTV premiered it on March 4, 1968, the format allowed the news program to feature stories than WPMA-FTV's ''Channel 7 News'' and WFTW's ''FTV6 News''. Within a few months, the station dominated first place in all time slots, one of the few cases as most ABC affiliates at the time were in third place since ABC was not on par with CBS and NBC until the early 1970s. | The station is famous for pioneering the '''"NewsCenter"''' format for non-NBC affiliate, which was used by many NBC stations throughout the United States. When WFAZ-FTV premiered it on March 4, 1968, the format allowed the news program to feature stories than WPMA-FTV's ''Channel 7 News'' and WFTW's ''FTV6 News''. Within a few months, the station dominated first place in all time slots, one of the few cases as most ABC affiliates at the time were in third place since ABC was not on par with CBS and NBC until the early 1970s. | ||
| − | Soon after WMRI signed on, the station hired [[Elaine Carson]], who had just graduated from the [[wikipedia:University of Colorado|University of Colorado]], as its first anchor and [[wikipedia:news director|news director]]. Carson would serve as the face of WMRI before leaving in 1969 for [[KIAA-FTV|KIAA]] in [[wikipedia:Denver, Colorado|Denver, Colorado]] where she became a legendary anchor. At the same time, the station also hired Sam Shingleton and Bernie Pantazi. One of the nation's first ever television news [[wikipedia:meteorologist|meteorologists]], Shingleton reported weather for the station for more than five decades. Pantazi, who went on to run the station's award-winning sports department for more than three decades, is the only remaining original employee still working at the station, and is currently in his | + | Soon after WMRI signed on, the station hired [[Elaine Carson]], who had just graduated from the [[wikipedia:University of Colorado|University of Colorado]], as its first anchor and [[wikipedia:news director|news director]]. Carson would serve as the face of WMRI before leaving in 1969 for [[KIAA-FTV|KIAA]] in [[wikipedia:Denver, Colorado|Denver, Colorado]] where she became a legendary anchor. At the same time, the station also hired Sam Shingleton and Bernie Pantazi. One of the nation's first ever television news [[wikipedia:meteorologist|meteorologists]], Shingleton reported weather for the station for more than five decades. Pantazi, who went on to run the station's award-winning sports department for more than three decades, is the only remaining original employee still working at the station, and is currently in his 64th consecutive year at WMRI. On February 6, 2013, Weaver was presented with the prestigious Golden Circle Award from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, honoring Weaver for his more than 50 years of service to the Northeast Indiana television community. While many of Northeast Indiana's veteran television personalities have received the Silver Circle Award for marking 25 years in the business, the Golden Circle Award has been given only once before in Northeast Indiana, in 2009 when it went to Sam Shingleton, also a lifelong WMRI employee. |
| − | For many years, WMRI's dominance fostered an "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" mentality, the station's newscasts were the highest-rated in the Fort Wayne market from the station's 1954 launch until WTOR overtook it for the #1 position in 2014. The station's [[wikipedia:Nielsen ratings|ratings]] success was largely attributed to the longevity of most of its news staff, some of whom have been at the station for over 20 years. [[Marshall Davidson]] was the station's main weeknight news anchor as well as the de facto face of its newsroom for more than 35 years (the longest tenure of anyone in Fort Wayne fantasy television history); he joined WMRI as a reporter in 1968 and was promoted to lead anchor in 1969, where he remained until his death in July of 2002. Patricia Edwards joined Davidson as co-anchor on the weeknight newscasts in 1983 and remained with the station until she retired on November 26, 2013. Sam Shingleton served as the station's main weather forecaster from the station's 1954 launch until 1981 as he moved to the morning and noon newscast until retiring in | + | For many years, WMRI's dominance fostered an "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" mentality, the station's newscasts were the highest-rated in the Fort Wayne market from the station's 1954 launch until WTOR overtook it for the #1 position in 2014. The station's [[wikipedia:Nielsen ratings|ratings]] success was largely attributed to the longevity of most of its news staff, some of whom have been at the station for over 20 years. [[Marshall Davidson]] was the station's main weeknight news anchor as well as the de facto face of its newsroom for more than 35 years (the longest tenure of anyone in Fort Wayne fantasy television history); he joined WMRI as a reporter in 1968 and was promoted to lead anchor in 1969, where he remained until his death in July of 2002. Patricia Edwards joined Davidson as co-anchor on the weeknight newscasts in 1983 and remained with the station until she retired on November 26, 2013. Sam Shingleton served as the station's main weather forecaster from the station's 1954 launch until 1981 as he moved to the morning and noon newscast until retiring in 2006, while Sabrina Everman served as anchor of the morning and noon newscast and entertainment reporter from 1982 to 2004. Lando Kelso, who left the station in 2014, was one of the longest-tenured news directors in local broadcasting. [[Laura Bakula]] served as weekend evening anchor from 1979 until 2002 when she replaced Marshall Davidson on the station's main weeknight newscasts until her death from ovarian cancer in 2006. Melinda Long served as anchor of the noon newscast from 1984 until 2003 and the 4:00 p.m. newscast from 2003 until 2011. |
| − | On October 6, 2003, WMRI debuted an hour-long 4 p.m. newscast, bumping ''[[wikipedia:The Oprah Winfrey Show|The Oprah Winfrey Show]]'' to 3:00 p.m. where it remained for eight years until the show ended its 25-year syndication run on May 25, 2011; this edition broadcasts from a smaller news desk located next to the main anchor desk that only houses the anchors of that newscast and allows the team to utilize the Big Board more frequently. The station also introduced "Mobile 9," a news vehicle used for reports during the station's early evening newscasts. In the spring of 2012, the station expanded its weeknight 11 p.m. newscasts to one hour, pushing the ABC Late Night by a half hour | + | On October 6, 2003, WMRI debuted an hour-long 4 p.m. newscast, bumping ''[[wikipedia:The Oprah Winfrey Show|The Oprah Winfrey Show]]'' to 3:00 p.m. where it remained for eight years until the show ended its 25-year syndication run on May 25, 2011; this edition broadcasts from a smaller news desk located next to the main anchor desk that only houses the anchors of that newscast and allows the team to utilize the Big Board more frequently. The station also introduced "Mobile 9," a news vehicle used for reports during the station's early evening newscasts. In the spring of 2012, the station expanded its weeknight 11 p.m. newscasts to one hour, pushing the ABC Late Night by a half hour. |
Beginning in the 2010s, WMRI, along with other ATE Media stations, began to implement a new mandate for their newscasts. The station's newscasts rebranded from "ABC 9 News" to "NewsCenter 9" in 2011 (returning the ''NewsCenter'' format after eight years as ''NewsCenter 36''). In 2011, the station hired [[Frank Davidson]], son of Marshall Davidson, to anchor the main weeknight newscasts, making history as the second of the second-generation news personalities at WMRI (after [[Garfield Everman]] and [[Holly Everman]], respectively the son and daughter of morning anchor [[Sabrina Everman]], in 1997). Traci Davidson, the sister of Frank Davidson and daughter of Marshall Davidson, joined Frank in 2014. Frank Davidson left WMRI in May 2015 for WTOR. | Beginning in the 2010s, WMRI, along with other ATE Media stations, began to implement a new mandate for their newscasts. The station's newscasts rebranded from "ABC 9 News" to "NewsCenter 9" in 2011 (returning the ''NewsCenter'' format after eight years as ''NewsCenter 36''). In 2011, the station hired [[Frank Davidson]], son of Marshall Davidson, to anchor the main weeknight newscasts, making history as the second of the second-generation news personalities at WMRI (after [[Garfield Everman]] and [[Holly Everman]], respectively the son and daughter of morning anchor [[Sabrina Everman]], in 1997). Traci Davidson, the sister of Frank Davidson and daughter of Marshall Davidson, joined Frank in 2014. Frank Davidson left WMRI in May 2015 for WTOR. | ||
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In 1990, WMRI-FTV implemented the "24-Hour News Source" concept that was originally developed that year by sister station WCOH-FTV in Cleveland; the format, which began spreading to other television stations nationwide around that timeframe, involves the production of 30-second news updates that air at or near the top of every hour during local commercial break inserts – even during primetime network and overnight programming – in addition to the station's long-form newscasts in regularly scheduled timeslots. The station continues to utilize the format to this day, even as stations elsewhere had discontinued the hourly update format by the early 2000s. As of June 2014, WMRI-FTV, Chicago and Cincinnati sister stations WAWZ and WCIN (which respectively brands their newscasts as ''24-Hour News 39'' and ''24-Hour News 15''), and Cleveland sister station WCOH are the only remaining U.S. fantasy television stations that still utilize the "24-Hour News Source" concept in some form. | In 1990, WMRI-FTV implemented the "24-Hour News Source" concept that was originally developed that year by sister station WCOH-FTV in Cleveland; the format, which began spreading to other television stations nationwide around that timeframe, involves the production of 30-second news updates that air at or near the top of every hour during local commercial break inserts – even during primetime network and overnight programming – in addition to the station's long-form newscasts in regularly scheduled timeslots. The station continues to utilize the format to this day, even as stations elsewhere had discontinued the hourly update format by the early 2000s. As of June 2014, WMRI-FTV, Chicago and Cincinnati sister stations WAWZ and WCIN (which respectively brands their newscasts as ''24-Hour News 39'' and ''24-Hour News 15''), and Cleveland sister station WCOH are the only remaining U.S. fantasy television stations that still utilize the "24-Hour News Source" concept in some form. | ||
| − | Since 1991, the [[wikipedia:television news music|news themes]] that WMRI-FTV had commissioned have incorporated components (including the eight-note musical signature) from the song ''[[wikipedia:Back Home Again in Indiana|Back Home Again in Indiana]]''; these include two custom packages by [[wikipedia:Stephen Arnold Music|Stephen Arnold Music]] – "Newsleader" (used from 1991 to 1997) and the "WISH-TV News Music Package," a customized version of Arnold's "Counterpoint" package (used from 1997 to 2004) – an alteration of the V.3 package from [[wikipedia:615 Music|615 Music]]'s "In-Sink" (used from 2004 to 2013 | + | Since 1991, the [[wikipedia:television news music|news themes]] that WMRI-FTV had commissioned have incorporated components (including the eight-note musical signature) from the song ''[[wikipedia:Back Home Again in Indiana|Back Home Again in Indiana]]''; these include two custom packages by [[wikipedia:Stephen Arnold Music|Stephen Arnold Music]] – "Newsleader" (used from 1991 to 1997) and the "WISH-TV News Music Package," a customized version of Arnold's "Counterpoint" package (used from 1997 to 2004) – an alteration of the V.3 package from [[wikipedia:615 Music|615 Music]]'s "In-Sink" (used from 2004 to 2013).<ref>http://www.615music.com/core/news_music_demos.cfm</ref> A new custom package by [[wikipedia:Gari Communications|Gari Communications]] – "ATE Media Indiana News Package," a customized version of Gari's "Eyewitness News" package also used on ATE Media's nine other stations in the ATE Media Indiana Network (WHOO Indianapolis, WLFY Lafyette, WTXI South Bend, WEAI Evansville, WFAZ Terre Haute, and four non-Indiana stations--WCIN Cincinnati, WOWO Dayton, WAWZ Chicago, and WLOK Louisville) introduced in September 2013 (all of them are ABC affiliates), is the first theme used by the station since returning to ABC combine both compositional ties to "Back Home Again in Indiana" and its network affiliation. |
Since the ATE Media Indiana Network was launched in 1989, WMRI and the nine other Indiana sister stations have shared certain news resources (notably WHOO Indinaapolis, WTXI South Bend, WLFY Lafayette, WOWO Dayton); some reports filed by those personnel are occasionally used during WMRI's news broadcasts. | Since the ATE Media Indiana Network was launched in 1989, WMRI and the nine other Indiana sister stations have shared certain news resources (notably WHOO Indinaapolis, WTXI South Bend, WLFY Lafayette, WOWO Dayton); some reports filed by those personnel are occasionally used during WMRI's news broadcasts. | ||
| − | For over 40 years starting in the early 1970s, Paul Anthony announced the familiar open: "NewsCenter 36, Northeast Indiana's leading news program," as well as rejoins and closings. Even through staff and branding announcing changes for the station in general, Anthony remained the constant voice of ''NewsCenter 36'' (1968-2003), ''NBC 36 News'' (2003), ''NBC 9 Eyewitness News'' (2003-2004), ''ABC 9 Eyewitness News'' (2005-2007), ''ABC 9 News'' (2007-2010), and ''NewsCenter 9'' (2010-), His voice started to show signs of decaying in the mid-2000s, reaching a point to where Anthony's newly recorded opens in late January 2011 were pulled in less than a week. In February 2011, Anthony was replaced with veteran announcer | + | For over 40 years starting in the early 1970s, Paul Anthony announced the familiar open: "NewsCenter 36, Northeast Indiana's leading news program," as well as rejoins and closings. Even through staff and branding announcing changes for the station in general, Anthony remained the constant voice of ''NewsCenter 36'' (1968-2003), ''NBC 36 News'' (2003), ''NBC 9 Eyewitness News'' (2003-2004), ''ABC 9 Eyewitness News'' (2005-2007), ''ABC 9 News'' (2007-2010), and ''NewsCenter 9'' (2010-), His voice started to show signs of decaying in the mid-2000s, reaching a point to where Anthony's newly recorded opens in late January 2011 were pulled in less than a week. In February 2011, Anthony was replaced with veteran announcer Bill Rantner, who had become WMRI's station announcer in 2006. |
On February 28, 2005, shortly after ATE Media announced its purchase of channel 51, WMRI took over production of WECW's 10:00 p.m. newscast from WNDI, which had produced the program from its inception on March 16, 1996; this partnership expanded to include a two hour-long extension of WMRI's weekday morning newscast at 7:00 a.m., which debuted in 2007 as well as an hour-long newscast at 11:00 a.m. and half-hour newscast at 7:00 p.m. WECW's 10 p.m. newscast, ''NewsCenter 9 at 10pm on Star 51'', respectively utilizes most of the same anchors as WMRI's weekday 5:30 p.m. and weekend evening newscasts, with a noticeable difference. Frank Davidson did not appear on the weeknight broadcasts. On September 15, 2014 the 10:00 p.m. newscast was expanded to a full hour-long broadcast, making WECW the fourth station in the Fort Wayne market (along with competitors WFTW's ''The News at 10:00 on Fort Wayne 6'' (that newscast has since moved to WGOM after switching to NBC and now known as ''The News at 10:00''), WINO/WMRN/WORT's ''Fox 38/58 News at 10:00'', and WXXC's ''INNCD 47 Action News at 10:00 PM''--the latter operated by sister station WTOR) to carry an hour-long newscast at 10PM. Only competitor WNDI-FDT2 carries a 1/2 hour long newscast, ''7 News at 10'' and has since been cancelled after WNDI went dark in 2015. Shortly after WECW became a MeTV O&O, WMRI added an hour-long 9:00 p.m. newscast titled ''NewsCenter 9 at 9pm on Star 51''. The newscast competes with the WTOR-produced ''INNCD 47 Action News at 9:00 PM.'' | On February 28, 2005, shortly after ATE Media announced its purchase of channel 51, WMRI took over production of WECW's 10:00 p.m. newscast from WNDI, which had produced the program from its inception on March 16, 1996; this partnership expanded to include a two hour-long extension of WMRI's weekday morning newscast at 7:00 a.m., which debuted in 2007 as well as an hour-long newscast at 11:00 a.m. and half-hour newscast at 7:00 p.m. WECW's 10 p.m. newscast, ''NewsCenter 9 at 10pm on Star 51'', respectively utilizes most of the same anchors as WMRI's weekday 5:30 p.m. and weekend evening newscasts, with a noticeable difference. Frank Davidson did not appear on the weeknight broadcasts. On September 15, 2014 the 10:00 p.m. newscast was expanded to a full hour-long broadcast, making WECW the fourth station in the Fort Wayne market (along with competitors WFTW's ''The News at 10:00 on Fort Wayne 6'' (that newscast has since moved to WGOM after switching to NBC and now known as ''The News at 10:00''), WINO/WMRN/WORT's ''Fox 38/58 News at 10:00'', and WXXC's ''INNCD 47 Action News at 10:00 PM''--the latter operated by sister station WTOR) to carry an hour-long newscast at 10PM. Only competitor WNDI-FDT2 carries a 1/2 hour long newscast, ''7 News at 10'' and has since been cancelled after WNDI went dark in 2015. Shortly after WECW became a MeTV O&O, WMRI added an hour-long 9:00 p.m. newscast titled ''NewsCenter 9 at 9pm on Star 51''. The newscast competes with the WTOR-produced ''INNCD 47 Action News at 9:00 PM.'' | ||
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On January 5, 2015, sister station WHOO debuted a half-hour weekday noon newscast titled ''Indiana News Tonight with Karly Ryder'' (similar to ABC's ''World News Tonight''); the statewide newscast features news stories filed by reporters from all ten ATE Media-owned ABC stations serving Indiana as well as a sports segment produced by WLFY and WHOO, focusing on Indiana University and Purdue University athletics, called ''Hoosier Nation''. The ATE Media Indiana Network stations simulcast the program at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time (3:30 p.m. Central) and utilize their own on-air weather staff to provide local weather inserts during the broadcast that target their specific viewing areas (the coverage areas of WOWO/Dayton, WCIN/Cincinnati, WAWZ/Chicago, and WLOK/Louisville inculde several counties in Indiana (two in WOWO's viewing area, three in WCIN's, five in WLOK's, and six in WAWZ's), though WOWO and WCIN primarily serve parts of western Ohio, WAWZ serves parts of northeast Illinois and WLOK also serves parts of northern Kentucky).<ref>ATE Media Launches Statewide Indiana Newscast.</ref> | On January 5, 2015, sister station WHOO debuted a half-hour weekday noon newscast titled ''Indiana News Tonight with Karly Ryder'' (similar to ABC's ''World News Tonight''); the statewide newscast features news stories filed by reporters from all ten ATE Media-owned ABC stations serving Indiana as well as a sports segment produced by WLFY and WHOO, focusing on Indiana University and Purdue University athletics, called ''Hoosier Nation''. The ATE Media Indiana Network stations simulcast the program at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time (3:30 p.m. Central) and utilize their own on-air weather staff to provide local weather inserts during the broadcast that target their specific viewing areas (the coverage areas of WOWO/Dayton, WCIN/Cincinnati, WAWZ/Chicago, and WLOK/Louisville inculde several counties in Indiana (two in WOWO's viewing area, three in WCIN's, five in WLOK's, and six in WAWZ's), though WOWO and WCIN primarily serve parts of western Ohio, WAWZ serves parts of northeast Illinois and WLOK also serves parts of northern Kentucky).<ref>ATE Media Launches Statewide Indiana Newscast.</ref> | ||
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===Notable current on-air staff=== | ===Notable current on-air staff=== | ||
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'''Anchors'''<ref name="News Team">WMRI News Team</ref> | '''Anchors'''<ref name="News Team">WMRI News Team</ref> | ||
| − | *[[Bryant Allen]], anchor seen weeknights at | + | *[[Bryant Allen]], anchor seen weeknights at 5:30, 6, 7 (WECW), and 10 p.m. (WECW) |
| − | + | *Traci Davidson, main weeknight anchor at 5, 6, 7 (WECW), 9 (WECW), and 11 p.m. | |
| − | * | + | *Ava Dowling, anchor seen weeknights at 4, 5, 5:30, 10 (WECW), and 11 p.m. |
| − | * | + | *[[Pete Ward]], anchor seen weekdays at 11am (WECW), 3, 4, 4:30 p.m. (''Indiana News Tonight''), and 9 p.m. (WECW) |
| − | *[[ | ||
| − | |||
*+[[Karly Ryder]], weekdays at 4:30 p.m. (''Indiana News Tonight'') | *+[[Karly Ryder]], weekdays at 4:30 p.m. (''Indiana News Tonight'') | ||
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| + | <!---------------------- | ||
| + | * + Mallory Hardin – weekdays at noon (''Arkansas Today'') | ||
| + | * Heather Parker - weeknights at 5, 6, and 10 p.m. | ||
| + | * Judy Wagoner - weeknights at 5, 6, and 10 p.m. | ||
| + | * Alanna Quillen - Saturdays at 6, Sundays at 5, and weekends at 10 p.m.; also weekday reporter | ||
| + | ---------------> | ||
'''''SkyTrak Doppler 9 Weather Team'''''<ref name="News Team"/> | '''''SkyTrak Doppler 9 Weather Team'''''<ref name="News Team"/> | ||
| − | *+ | + | *+TBD, NWA meteorologist seen weekend evenings (formerly at WMRI 1981-2007) |
* Craig Shoop - chief meteorologist; weeknights at 5, 6, 7 (WECW), 9 (WECW), 10 (WECW), and 11 p.m. | * Craig Shoop - chief meteorologist; weeknights at 5, 6, 7 (WECW), 9 (WECW), 10 (WECW), and 11 p.m. | ||
| − | *+ | + | *+TBA, NWA meteorologist seen weekend mornings (based at sister station WHOO) |
| − | * | + | *+ Cathryn Swaringen, weekdays at 4:30 p.m. (''Indiana News Tonight'', formerly at WMRI 2011-2015) |
| − | * | + | <!---------------- |
| − | + | * + Greg Dee - meteorologist/host; weekdays at noon (''Arkansas Today'') | |
| + | * Kayleigh Klaustermeier - morning meteorologist | ||
| + | * Wesley Williams - weekend meteorologist | ||
| + | ---------> | ||
'''Sports team'''<ref name="News Team"/> | '''Sports team'''<ref name="News Team"/> | ||
* Ron McManara - sports director; weeknights at 6, 7 (WECW), 9 (WECW), 10 (WECW) and 10 p.m. | * Ron McManara - sports director; weeknights at 6, 7 (WECW), 9 (WECW), 10 (WECW) and 10 p.m. | ||
| − | + | <!------ | |
| + | * Brady Renard - sports anchor; weekend evenings, also sports reporter -----> | ||
'''Reporters'''<ref name="News Team"/> | '''Reporters'''<ref name="News Team"/> | ||
| + | <!---- | ||
| + | * Jacobi Tubbs - general assignment reporter | ||
| + | * Nina Criscuolo - general assignment reporter; also KARD 9 p.m. anchor | ||
| + | * Brea Douglas - El Dorado reporter ----> | ||
===Notable former on-air staff=== | ===Notable former on-air staff=== | ||
| − | *[[Laura Bakula]] - anchor ( | + | *[[Laura Bakula]] - anchor (died in 2006) |
*[[Elaine Carson]] – anchor (1954–1969; later with [[KIAA-FTV|KIAA]] Denver from 1969–1993 and [[KTRJ-FTV|KTRJ]] Denver from 1995-2002; died July 11, 2003) | *[[Elaine Carson]] – anchor (1954–1969; later with [[KIAA-FTV|KIAA]] Denver from 1969–1993 and [[KTRJ-FTV|KTRJ]] Denver from 1995-2002; died July 11, 2003) | ||
| − | *[[Frank Davidson]] - main anchor ( | + | *[[Frank Davidson]] - main anchor (now at rival WTOR/WXXC, son of Marshall Davidson) |
*[[Marshall Davidson]] - longtime main anchorman (1968-2002, deceased) | *[[Marshall Davidson]] - longtime main anchorman (1968-2002, deceased) | ||
| − | *Patricia Edwards - longtime main anchorwoman (1983-2013, | + | *Patricia Edwards - longtime main anchorwoman (1983-2013, now retired) |
| − | *[[Garfield Everman]] - 5pm anchor (1996-1999, went to WXXC and later WLIN Lafayette, | + | *[[Garfield Everman]] - 5pm anchor (1996-1999, went to WXXC and later WLIN Lafayette, deceased) |
| − | *[[Holly Everman]] - host of ''Wheel of Fortune'' and 5pm anchor (went to WXXC in 1999, | + | *[[Holly Everman]] - host of ''Wheel of Fortune'' and 5pm anchor (went to WXXC in 1999, now out of the TV business and currently co-host of ''Vote for the Girls'') |
| − | *[[Robyn Hurd]] - noon and 5pm anchor (1990-1999, went to WXXC in 1999 and co-hosted ''Vote for the Girls'', | + | *[[Robyn Hurd]] - noon and 5pm anchor (1990-1999, went to WXXC in 1999 and co-hosted ''Vote for the Girls'', deceased) |
| − | *[[Alexandra Moffitt]] - morning and noon anchor (1990-1999, | + | *[[Alexandra Moffitt]] - morning and noon anchor (1990-1999, now at WTOR/WXXC) |
*[[Patrice Rafferty]] - longtime owner of WMRI and founder of ATE Media (1982-2016, deceased) | *[[Patrice Rafferty]] - longtime owner of WMRI and founder of ATE Media (1982-2016, deceased) | ||
| − | |||
*Alicia Williams - chief meteorologist 1990-2006 (now at WTOR/WXXC) | *Alicia Williams - chief meteorologist 1990-2006 (now at WTOR/WXXC) | ||
*[[Ava Zinn]] - host of ''Wheel of Fortune'' and 5pm anchor (credited as Franky Zinn, went to WXXC in 1999, now out of the TV business and currently host of ''Vote for the Girls'') | *[[Ava Zinn]] - host of ''Wheel of Fortune'' and 5pm anchor (credited as Franky Zinn, went to WXXC in 1999, now out of the TV business and currently host of ''Vote for the Girls'') | ||
