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WHO-TV is a television station that broadcasts on channel 13 in Des Moines, Iowa. It is affiliated with the NBC television network and serves most of central Iowa. The station transmits from the WOI-Tower in Alleman, Iowa.

History

WHO-TV signed on the air on April 26, 1954 as the eighth television station in Iowa and the second in Des Moines. It was owned by the Palmer family, owners of WHO-AM 1040. The Palmers had competed with KIOA-AM 940 for the channel 13 license and won it after reaching a settlement. It has always been an NBC affiliate.

In 1996, WHO-TV was acquired by The New York Times Company; up to that time it had been the last locally owned commercial station in Des Moines. WHO-AM, which was eventually acquired by Clear Channel Communications, continued to occupy the same building until it moved to another building in 2005.

WHO-DT began broadcasting in high-definition television during the 2002 Winter Olympics. One channel carries NBC HDTV programming while another channel carries an image of the station's "Mega Doppler" radar.

For many years, WHO battled it out with WOI-TV for second in the Central Iowa news race behind longtime leader KCCI. However, it has managed to surge into the top spot on several occasions in recent years.

WHO's main anchor since 1987, John Bachman, was one of three reporters who interviewed Ronald Reagan at the end of his presidential term. The other two were Larry King and Barbara Walters.

While it was co-owned with WHO-AM, it used an owl as its mascot, as WHO-AM still does today.

Personalities and programming

WHO-TV's Channel 13 News broadcasts perennially rank second to KCCI in ratings. They have the first weekend morning newscast in the Des Moines area, as their Today in Iowa morning news airs seven days a week. WHO-TV also provides aerial coverage of stories with its "Chopper 13" helicopter, making it one of only two stations in Iowa (KCRG-TV in Cedar Rapids) is the other) to have its own helicopter.

Current on-air news personalities (as of September 2005) include:

  • John Bachman, news anchor of 5, 6, and 10 PM newscasts
  • Patrick Dix, reporter and Today in Iowa co-anchor
  • Brad Ehrlich, Today in Iowa traffic reporter
  • Andy Fales, sports reporter
  • Mark Ferree, weekend meteorologist
  • Courtney Greene, Today in Iowa Saturday news anchor
  • Sonya Heitshusen, reporter/anchor, noon and 5 PM newscasts
  • Mark Meisenheimer, weekend sports anchor
  • Lynn Melling, reporter/weekend anchor
  • Keith Murphy, sports director, 6 and 10 PM newscasts
  • Kathryn Pritchard, co-anchor, 6 and 10 PM newscasts
  • Jeriann Ritter, Today in Iowa Saturday and Today in Iowa Sunday meteorologist
  • Trisha Shepherd, Today in Iowa co-anchor
  • Steve Templeton, Today in Iowa and midday meteorologist
  • Ed Wilson, chief meteorologist of 5, 6, and 10 PM newscasts
  • Dan Winters, reporter and anchor of Today in Iowa Saturday and Today in Iowa Sunday

Syndicated programs carried on WHO-TV include the game shows Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy!, and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, as well as Ellen DeGeneres', Montel Williams', and Tony Danza's talk shows. Local programs include The Insiders, a Sunday-morning political talk show moderated by John Bachman, and Sound Off, a Sunday-night sports talk show hosted by Keith Murphy and Andy Fales. WHO-TV also airs selected UPN programs during late-night weekend hours. This arrangement is expected to end when the CW Television Network begins in the fall of 2006. Current WB affiliate KPWB-TV is expected to get the CW affiliation for the Des Moines market.

References

  • Stein, Jeff, Making Waves: The People and Places of Iowa Broadcasting (ISBN 0971832315). Cedar Rapids, Iowa: WDG Communications, 2004.
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