WNEP-TV History News Schedule Newswatch 16 This Evening

In addition to channel 16, WNEP-TV also owns the license to the former channel 34 WILK-TV.

1 History

Getting a signal from ABC's headquarters in New York was a challenge in the early days with no access to satellites. A modified microwave tower was established in Effort , about 45 miles east of Wilkes-Barre. From here, the network signal was bounched to the Penobscot Knob transmitter site. Often, station employees had to adjust the Effort hop to accept a signal from Philadelphia if they were unable to receive the New York feed.

WNEP-TV was formed by a merger of WARM-TV and WILK-TV and went on-air on January 1, 1956. On its first day on the air, WNEP-TV decided to get jump on the other local stations, going on the air at 2 p.m., rather than the 3 p.m. air time the other stations had. The engineers got the signal ready by noon and decided to take a break. However, at lunch, they turned on the station to inspect their handywork, only to find the signal was dead. They rushed back and were able to establish the link by 1:50 p.m.

WNEP-TV initially struggled to survive, but the station took off in the late 1950s, thanks in part to ABC's color programming and the station's new transmitter, located on Penobscot Knob near Mountain TopMountain Top is a census-designated place located in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. As of the 2000 census, the CDP had a total population of 15,269. Geography Mountain Top is located at 41°8'17" North, 75°55'54" West (41. 138082, -75. According to the Unit, that increased WNEP's broadcast range to cover a large portion of Northeastern and Central Pennsylvania.

2 News

The station is best known for its newscasts, which are among the highest-rated in the United StatesThe United States of America also referred to as the United States U. America ¹ or the States is a federal republic in central North America, stretching from the Atlantic in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west. It shares land borders with Canada in. The station runs its newscasts under the name "Newswatch 16."

2.1 Schedule

2.2 Newswatch 16 This Evening

In 2004, WNEP launched a new, 7 p.m. newscast called "Newswatch 16 This Evening," anchored by Scott Schaffer and Julie Sidoni . The newscast features a rundown of the day's top stories, in-depth reporting and a local feature segment called "M.I.L.O.," which is short for "Man Into Local Opportunities." This segment features morning meteorologist Joe Snedeker interviewing local personalities. Milo is Snedeker's middle name.

2.3 Newsgathering tools

The news department employs several different types of vehicles in its news-gathering operations, including a helicopter, called "Skycam 16," the only station-owned helicopter in Pennsylvania. Skycam 16 was recently outfitted with a high-powered zoom lens the station calls "SkyZoom," allowing for high-quality pictures enhanced by an image stablizer.

WNEP also has a news bureau located in central Pennsylvania in the Lycoming Valley Mall. From here, reporters and photographers can edit and produce stories and connect live to the station for airing on newscasts.

2.4 News staff

Many of WNEP's reporters and on-air personalities have been employed there for an average of ten years, and have strong ties to the area, though recent years have seen many new hires to fill vacated and new positions on the reporting staff. Altogether, over 60 people work to bring viewers Newswatch 16.

2.5 Action 16

The station's "Action 16" segments include consumer news and product tests. "Talkback 16" airs viewer comments received both from a toll-free telephone number or the station's interactive forum on its Web site.

2.6 Super 16 Sports Final

On Fridays during football season, WNEP presentst he "Super 16 Sports Final" during the 11 p.m. newscast, featuring a roundup of all the local high school football games.

2.7 Weather

WNEP's weather is broadcast under the name "Stormtracker 16" and features the area's only live doppler scan. The station's meteorologists have access to some of the latest forecasting and weather graphics equipment. WNEP is one of the country's few stations to broadcast its weather from outdoors. This outdoor weather studio is called the "Backyard," and even includes a chroma key wall. A robotic camera is used to show the Backyard on-air.

In 2004, the station renovated the Backyard, adding a fountain and paved patio.

In 2003, Newswatch 16 installed a new set for its newscasts. The main news studio includes a main anchor desk and a secondary set. The station uses three robotic cameras during its newscasts.

In addition to its own newcasts, WNEP also produces the 10 p.m. newscasts for local Fox affiliate, WOLF-TV 56.

3 Personalities

WNEP's on-air personalities a very well-known in the area. Chief meteorologist Tom Clark is one of the region's best-known broadcasters. Morning meteorologist Joe Snedeker is loved by many viewers and probably hated by just as many. Marisa Burke , a native of nearby Danville has been with the station since 1984 and now coanchors the 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. newscasts with Mike Lewis.

3.1 Current personalities

As of November 2004, the following is a list of the on-air staff:

Kurt Aaron
Bianca Barr
Sean Bolen
Sherman Burdette
Marisa Burke
Noreen Clark
Tom Clark
Jim Coles
Megan Dardanell
Randy Freeman
Jill Garrett
Paola Giangiacomo
Andy Hirsch
Nolan Johannes
Norm Jones
Jon Meyer
Mike Lewis
Steve Lloyd
Andy Palumbo
David Pingalore
Bob Reynolds
Jodi Reynosa
Scott Schaffer
Julie Sidoni
Joe Snedeker
Mark Sowers
Mike Stevens
Kim Supon
Rosa Yum
Tom Williams

3.2 Past anchor teams

Past main anchors at WNEP-TV are as follows:

John VonBergen
Tom Bigler
Roy Goshorn
Bob Carroll
John Glawe , Marie Carpentier
John Foster, Marie Carpentier
Ed Martelle , Liz Pursell
Gary Essex , Liz Pursell
Gary Essex , Susan Blake
Gary Essex , Cheryl Toney
Gary Essex , Jacqueline Boulden
Nolan Johannes , Jacqueline Boulden
Nolan Johannes , Karen Harch
Nolan Johannes , Marisa Burke
Frank Andrews , Marisa Burke
Mike Lewis, Marisa Burke

4 Local programming

4.1 History

Many of the programs aired on WNEP have been in-house productions rather than syndicated shows. The most popular of these was a children's program called "The Land of Hatchy Milatchy." Another program, "Uncle Ted's Ghoul School," once employed Bill O'Reilly as a writer; he was also a reporter at the station for a brief period during the mid- 1970s. Also during the 1970s, WNEP produced two game shows, "Bowling for Dollars" and "Dialing for Dollars."

4.2 Current locally-produced programs

Today, WNEP produces two in-house programs: "Pennsylvania Outdoor Life," a show about hunting and fishing in Pennsylvania, and "Home & Backyard," a show about do-it-yourself home improvements, cooking and gardening.

The station also participates in several local charity events, including the Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy telethon and Scranton's annual Santa Parade.

5 Web site

Then meteorologist Mark Sowers launched WNEP's Web site in 1995, making it the first commercial television station with a Web site in the state of Pennsylvania. In 2002, Sowers became the station's full-time Webmaster and oversaw the relaunch of its Web site, powered by television station Web site provider WorldNow .

6 Controversies

WNEP also had its share of controversies. The most severe incident occurred in 1992, after Jim Renick, a sports anchor, was arrested, and later sent to prison for possessing child pornography. A police investigation determined Renick used his press credentials to take pictures of young men at area high school swim meets. Another controversy involved the publicized departure of news director and anchorman Frank Andrews, who suffered from alcoholism. Andrews later recovered, and now works for WYOU-TV , the CBS affiliate in the area, where his is news director and primary anchor.

7 External links

ABC network affiliates

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