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WTSP, "Tampa Bay's 10" is a CBS-affiliate television station on the west coast of Florida (Tampa–St. Petersburg DMA 12). It broadcasts its analog signal on VHF channel 10, and its digital signal on UHF channel 24. Its transmitter is located in Holiday, Florida.

Because its transmitter location is further north than the others (in order to protect Miami's WPLG), WTSP's signal cannot be seen well in Sarasota County, and viewers without cable must rely on WINK-TV in Fort Myers for CBS programming. In addition, unlike the other Tampa network affiliates, WTSP's signal reaches as far north as Levy County and Marion County.

History

The station began broadcasting on July 17, 1965, as WLCY-TV, an ABC affiliate, after a lengthy court battle that lasted nearly ten years between five prospective owners seeking the license. Rahall Communications, which also owned WLCY-AM 1380 (now Disney's WWMI) and WLCY-FM 94.9 (now Cox's WWRM), was awarded the original license for Channel 10.

The station was granted affiliation with the ABC television network, but the station spent the first month and a half as an independent station, as previous ABC affiliate WSUN-TV channel 38 went to court to keep the affiliation. WLCY ultimately won, and they formally switched to ABC in a special ceremony on September 1, 1965.

The station was originally housed in a building in downtown St. Petersburg and relocated to brand new broadcasting facilities on Gandy Boulevard in 1968 with WLCY Radio 138.

Early personalities included Dick Crippen, who originally presented weather and then sports; Marshall Cleaver, Al Stockmeyer, Art Johnson, and Karol Kelly, many of whom also hosted programs for WLCY radio. Marshall Cleaver was the original news anchor for much of the 1960s and early 1970s.

The station also aired such original children's programs as Submarine 10, Romper Room, 10 Ultimate and This Side Up, and original talk shows such as The John Eastman Show, The Liz Richards Show and the popular Murphy in the Morning.

The 1970s

In 1971, WXLT (later WWSB) Channel 40 in Sarasota formed as the area's ABC affiliate as WLCY's signal could not come in well in most of Sarasota County as WLCY's transmitter was (and still is) in Holiday.

In 1976, former WFLA anchor Arch Deal became the news director and main anchor for Eyewitness News. WLCY also broadcast the first 5:30 newscast in the Bay Area from 1976-1978. Ratings for the station during the early to mid 1970s were dismal, however, compared to longtime Bay Area stations WTVT and WFLA-TV and, as a result, the station nearly lost its ABC affiliation. Part of the problem was its transmitter location in Holiday, in the southwestern corner of Pasco County (all other stations broadcasted from Riverview, in Hillsborough County). Also, the station broadcasted at a lower power than the Tampa stations. The location and power was due to the fact that the station was short-spaced with Miami's ABC affiliate, WPLG ch.10 (which was WLBW when WLCY-TV signed on).

However, on September 12, 1978, WLCY-TV was purchased by Gulf Broadcasting. New owner Allen Henry (WINS New York fame) and General Manager Larry Clamadge immediately began to turn the station around, changing the call letters to WTSP-TV that year and hiring a slew of new personalities that would change the entire face of the station. (WTSP, ironically, was originally the calls for AM 1380 when that station was owned by the St. Petersburg Times in the 1940s and 1950s.) This was similar to what Roone Arledge had done for ABC News that same year. Beginning in 1979, Don Harrison (previously from KMSP-TV in Minneapolis-St. Paul), Liz Ayers, Wally Kinnan and Dick Crippen were the new anchors of the Channel 10 evening newscasts. Ratings surged, making the Tampa Bay market more competitive. In 1979, Channel 10 acquired the original, and famous, "Sunset 10" logo (which was later duplicated by its sister station KTSP in Phoenix, Arizona) along with the "Action News" format.

WTSP is also a station of firsts. In October of 1979, the station acquired "Sky 10," Tampa Bay's first television news helicopter. This stunned the local news community and showed that Channel 10 was serious about local news coverage. It was the only local news helicopter to broadcast the infamous Skyway Bridge disaster on live television in May 1980. Another technological advance was Tampa Bay's first satellite news truck called "Star 10" that beamed signals from far away locations to WTSP's Gandy Blvd. headquarters. WTSP also acquired Tampa Bay's first Doppler radar in the Southeastern U.S. in 1980 and was one of the first television stations in the country to use a computer in weather forecasting.

The 1980s

In late 1982, news anchor Don Harrison left the WTSP to become an anchor at upstart cable channel CNN2, now CNN Headline News. John Wilson replaced Harrison as anchor. On January 9, 1983, Sheryl Browne, from WKYC-TV in Cleveland joined John Wilson at the anchor desk on "Action 10 News," rounding out the station's main anchor team.

Longtime WTSP chief meteorologist Dick Fletcher joined the station in March 1980 and became famous for his forecasting during Hurricane Elena in 1985. Award-winning reporter Mike Deeson and legendary sports anchor Ken Broo also bolstered the station in the early 1980s.

In 1988, Vincent Barresi joined WTSP as General Manager and Vice-President. Previously, he held the same position at Philadelphia's WKBS-TV, where he signed that station off for the last time in August 1983. [1]

Taft Broadcasting purchased the station along with 4 other Gulf properties in 1985. Then, in 1988, Taft sold its independent stations and Fox affiliates to TVX, and sold most of its network affiliates, including WTSP, to Great American Broadcasting (which became known as Citicasters by 1995).

In March of 1989, one of the first computer espionage scandals in the nation broke, when news director Terry Cole hired Michael Shapiro away from rival WTVT where he was a news manager and computer security officer. Shapiro repeatedly broke into the newsroom computer system of his former employer using a modem at his home - apparently with Cole's knowledge. Both were fired and were sentenced by Florida court to probation for the incident. In June of 1989, "Action 10 News" became "NewsCenter 10" and a 5 p.m. newscast was launched. Although in third place, ratings did recover to be competitive with WFLA.

The 1990s

General Manager Barresi left the station in 1991, replaced by Steve Mauldin. Mauldin led the station for most of the decade.

In December of 1991, news anchor Sheryl Browne left the station and was replaced by Sue Zelenko, who previously co-anchored the newscast for WJRT in Flint, Michigan. John Wilson, who announced his departure on Thanksgiving of 1992, officially left WTSP in January of 1993. Weekend anchor and reporter Dave Wagner and 11 p.m. anchor Sue Zelenko became the new anchor team alongside Dick Fletcher and Al Keck on "10 News." Pat Minarcin, a veteran of the broadcast industry, then took over for Wagner in August of 1994.

New World Communications bought two of WTSP's sister stations, KTSP (now KSAZ) in Phoenix and WDAF-TV in Kansas City. However, it did not buy WTSP since it already owned WTVT. New World also arranged for its stations to affiliate with the Fox network, causing WTVT to drop its CBS affiliation.

At the same time, Scripps Howard also arranged for several of its stations (including WFTS, which was about to lose its Fox affiliation to WTVT) to affiliate with ABC. As a result, WTSP was to lose its ABC affiliation, and gain the CBS affiliation instead. CBS's programming moved to WTSP in December 1994, in a 3-way affiliation switch that caused much viewer confusion.

Citicasters merged with Jacor in September 1996. Three months later, in December 1996, Jacor traded WTSP to Gannett in return for six of Gannett's radio stations — KIIS-AM (now KTLK) and KIIS-FM in Los Angeles, California, KSDO-AM and KSDO-FM (now KLQV) in San Diego, California and WDAE and WUSA-FM (now WMTX) in Tampa, Florida. (Gannett held on to its five remaining radio stations — WGCI-AM (now WGRB-AM) and WGCI-FM in Chicago, Illinois, KHKS-FM in Dallas, Texas and KKBQ-AM (now KBME-AM) and KKBQ-FM in Houston, Texas — until December 1997, when they were sold to Chancellor Media, which later merged with Capstar Broadcasting to become AMFM, Inc. Ironically, Jacor and Chancellor/AMFM would both be eventually swallowed up by Clear Channel. The San Diego stations, which have since been sold to other interests, now run a primarily Spanish-language format; KKBQ-FM is now owned by Cox Enterprises.)

In January of 1998, Reginald Roundtree replaced Pat Minarcin as the lead male anchor of "10 News". Minarcin later sued the station for age discrimination. On October 14, 2002, the station launched a new news format and image. A new, state of the art digital newsroom was also constructed for WTSP's news staff.

Now

In the February 2006 Nielsen Sweeps, Channel 10 was #1 at 5 p.m. (where it airs Dr. Phil) and #2 at 6 p.m., and recently won the ratings (Feb. 2006) at 11 p.m., beating WFLA. The ratings slipped in the July 2006 though, and WTVT was rated #1 at 5 p.m. Longtime news anchor Sue Zelenko anchored her last newscast on April 23, 2004. Heather Van Nest (who used to anchor news at WJXT and later WTEV in Jacksonville, and anchored the morning newscasts at WTSP) is now co-anchoring with Reginald Roundtree and a new morning news team is being featured.

Life Around the Bay

In 2002, in a strategic move to boost ratings, Dr. Phil which aired at 3 p.m. moved to 5 p.m. and Tampa Bay's 10 News at 5:00 moved to 4 p.m., and the station named the 4:00 newscast Life Around the Bay, which focuses more on offbeat feature stories and community stories than the past 5:00 news. The current anchors are former weekend sports anchor Dave Wirth and former noon news anchorwoman, Marty Matthews. Life Around the Bay also features weather updates, and the headlines of the day in the last 5 minutes of the newscast.

Life Around the Bay is the only 4 p.m. newscast in the Tampa Bay market.

Studio 10

On September 11, 2006, WTSP began broadcasting a program in the 10-11:00 a.m. timeslot entitled "Studio 10". The program, hosted by Michelle Phillips and Tim Wilkins, is meant to compete with rival WFLA's "Daytime" program, which features products and services sponsored by commercial advertisers. The new program features an adjoining kitchen and living room set in a studio separate from WTSP newscasts.

Digital Television

WTSP broadcast the first true HD program in the Tampa Bay area on June 3, 2006 at 8 p.m., a hurricane special anchored by 26-year veteran meteorologist Dick Fletcher. Rumors have circulated that WTSP intends to broadcast the first Tampa Bay area newscast in HD, as other Gannett owned stations have, sometime in 2006. This would require an upgraded news set, although it is believed that WTSP's studios were previously upgraded for HD broadcasting capabilities in 2002.

Just recently, WTSP launched "10 Weather Now", on subchannel 24.2 (10.2 through PSIP), which has local weather 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, which primarily competes with WFLA's Storm Team 8 Weather Plus feature. The slogan for 10 Weather Now is "You are never less than 1 minute away from local weather".

Newscasts

File:WTSPintro.PNG
WTSP's current news open

Weekdays

  • Tampa Bay's 10 News This Morning (5 a.m.-7 a.m.)
  • Tampa Bay's 10 News at Noon (Noon-12:30 p.m.)
  • Life Around the Bay (4 p.m.-5 p.m.)
  • Tampa Bay's 10 News at 6:00 (6 p.m.-6:30 p.m.)
  • Tampa Bay's 10 News at 11:00 (11 p.m.-11:35 p.m.)

Saturdays

  • Tampa Bay's 10 News Saturday Morning (6 a.m.-8 a.m.)
  • Tampa Bay's 10 News at 6:00 (6 p.m.-6:30 p.m.)
  • Tampa Bay's 10 News at 11:00 (11 p.m.-11:35 p.m.)

Sundays

  • Tampa Bay's 10 News at 6:30 (6:30 p.m.-7 p.m.)
  • Tampa Bay's 10 News at 11:00 (11 p.m.-11:35 p.m.)

Past Personalities

  • John Wilson, 6 and 11pm anchor (1981–1993) (at WTVT Ch. 13, Tampa, FL as of June 2006)
  • Sheryl Browne, 6 and 11pm anchor (1983–1992)
  • Don Harrison, 6 and 11pm anchor (1979–1982)
  • Liz Ayers, 6 and 11pm anchor (1979–1982)
  • Arch Deal, anchor (1976–1978)
  • R.A. Campbell, anchor (1976)
  • Bob Bates, anchor (1978–1980)
  • Gary Rebstock, anchor (1978–1979)
  • Francie Murphy, anchor (1978–1979)
  • Dennis Roper, anchor (1979–1984)
  • Mark Feldstein, I-Team (1980–1985)
  • Ken Krawley, I-Team (1985–1992)
  • Sue Zelenko, anchor (1991–2004)
  • Pat Minarcin, anchor (1994–1998)
  • Al Ruechel, anchor (1986–1996) (lead anchor at Bay News 9, Tampa, FL as of June 2006)
  • Marlene Schneider, anchor (1989–1992)
  • Jane Akre, anchor (1992–1995)
  • Dave Wagner, anchor (1987–1999) (at WLWT Ch. 5, Cincinnati, OH as of June 2006)
  • Miles O'Brien, reporter (1984–1986)
  • Rod Challenger, news director/anchor (1978–1979)
  • Jule McGee, reporter (1965–1967)
  • Stan Grams, first WLCY-TV weatherman (1965-1969)
  • Sonny Daye, weather personality (1969-1976)
  • Wally "The Weatherman" Kinnan (1978–1980)
  • Dennis Feltgen, meteorologist (1989–1999)
  • Jim Wegner, meteorologist (1980s–'90s)
  • Jim Brihan, meteorologist (1980s–'90s)
  • Linda Gialenella, meteorologist (1991–1999) (at WFTS Ch. 28, Tampa, FL as of June 2006)
  • Mike Ferell, meteorologist (1987–1993)
  • Dick Crippen, sports director (1965–1981)
  • Ken Broo, sports director (1981–1987) (at WLWT Ch. 5, Cincinnati, OH as of June 2006)
  • Steve Talbot, sports director (1987–1988)
  • Al Keck, sports director (1988–2001) (at WFTS Ch. 28, Tampa, FL as of June 2006)
  • John Nugent, sports director (2001–2006)
  • Bill Campbell,"Campbell's Corner"/reporter (1975–1993)
  • Bill Murphy, "Murphy in the Morning" (1985–1991) (at WTVT Ch. 13, Tampa, FL as of June 2006)
  • Myrtle Smith-Carroll, reporter (1978–1983)
  • Julie Brannon, "PM Magazine" (1986–1989)
  • Andrea McDaniel, reporter (1982–1985)
  • Madeline Holland, morning anchor (1991–1995)
  • John O'Connor, "PM Magazine"/anchor (1986–1989)
  • Laura York, weather (1996-2001)
  • Mary Beth Byrd, morning anchor (1996-2001)
  • David Klugh, morning/noon anchor (1991-1999)
  • Paul Morill, freelance weather (2004-2005)
  • Gemma Gaudette, morning anchor (2004-2006)
  • Jeff Berardelli, meteorologist (1999-2003) (at WCBS Ch. 2, New York City, NY as of July 2006)
  • Darryl David, 5pm anchor (1989-1991)
  • Jineane Ford, 5pm anchor (1989-1991) (at KPNX Ch. 12, Phoenix, AZ as of June 2006)
  • Lynna Lai, morning reporter/anchor (mid 1990s) (at WOIO Ch. 19, Cleveland, OH as of June 2006)
  • John Harding, morning anchor (2000-2004)
  • Jeff Hullinger, weekend sports anchor/reporter (2004-2006)

Key Personalities

  • Anna Allen, Morning and Noon Meteorologist
  • Justin Allen, Sports Director
  • Angela Atalla, General Assignment Reporter
  • Dave Balut, Investigative Reporter
  • Valerie Boey, Political Reporter/State Capital Correspondent
  • Dave Bohman, General Assignment Reporter
  • Kathryn Bursch, General Assignment Reporter
  • Meredyth Censullo, Traffic Reporter
  • Mike Deeson, General Assignment Reporter
  • Mario Diaz, Morning and Noon Anchor/Reporter
  • Sara Dorsey, General Assignment Reporter
  • Dick Fletcher, Chief Meteorologist
  • Ginger Gadsden, Morning and Noon Anchor/Reporter
  • Alexandra Hackett, General Assignment Reporter
  • Jennifer Howe, Weekend 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. Anchor/Reporter
  • Angela Jacobs, Sports Anchor/Reporter
  • Isabel Mascareñas, Education Reporter
  • Marty Matthews, Anchor/Reporter/"Life Around the Bay" Co-Host
  • Bill McGinty, Saturday Morning Anchor/Reporter
  • Randy Rauch, Weekend Meteorologist
  • Sherry Ray, Saturday Morning Meteorologist
  • Reginald Roundtree, 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. Anchor/Reporter
  • Preston Rudie, General Assignment Reporter
  • DeAnna Sheffield, General Assignment Reporter
  • Heather Van Nest, 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. Anchor/Reporter
  • Dave Wirth, Anchor/Reporter/"Life Around the Bay" Co-Host
  • Beau Zimmer, General Assignment Reporter

Syndicated Programming

Slogans

File:Wtsplogo.jpg
WTSP ident, prominently featuring the Tampa skyline
  • "WLCY-TV: Where The Action Is!" (1965)
  • "Take A Look (at Channel 10)" (1979-1981)
  • "Count On the Action News Team" (1980s)
  • "Stay In Touch With 10" (mid-1980s)
  • "NewsCenter 10: In the Center of it All" (1989–1992)
  • "10 News: News You Can Use" (1992–1994)
  • "Where News Comes First" (1994–1995)
  • "The Next Generation of News" (1994–1996)
  • "Keep Your Eye on Tampa Bay's 10" (1994–1996; used to promote CBS's move to WTSP)
  • "We've Got You Covered" (1996–1998)
  • "People You Can Count On" (1998–2001)
  • "Covering Tampa Bay" (2001–2002)
  • "Enjoy It. We Do." (2002—present)
  • "You'll Be Seeing Red" promo for the revamped Channel 10 (2002)

Previous Logos

Old Ads

Trivia

P&P Cable Holdings, an owner of low-powered television stations in Michigan, used WTSP's current logo as the basis of the logos for WUHQ-LP in Grand Rapids and WLLZ-LP in Traverse City.

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