| GARTV |
| Georgia Radio and Television |
| This site is dedicated to providing information regarding the media outlets available within the state of Georgia. This site is still under development. Please check back for latest updates and new features. This site will rely mostly on information verifyed by media websites, news articles, observation from watching Georgia local television stations, listening to local radio and internet research. We ask that if you have any information, submissions and/or corrections, please e-mail them to me. |
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| Macon, Georgia Albany-Atlanta-Columbus |
| What I have to say... |
| (c) 2003 GARTV/Edric Floyd. |
| TV STATIONS MACON AREA STATIONS and other stations available to some viewers around Georgia. Click on the station name for more information |
| 3 WBMN (WB) (Cable) 4 WMAZ-DT (CBS) 7 WDCO-DT (PBS/GPB) 13 WMAZ-TV (CBS) 15 WCOX-cable access 16 WGXA-DT (FOX) 24 WGXA-TV (FOX) 29 WDCO (PBS/GPB) 31 WDMA (Daystar) 32 WPGA-DT (ABC) 40 WMGT-DT (NBC) 41 WMGT-TV (NBC) 52 (TBN) 55 WSST (IND) 58 WPGA-TV (ABC) 64 WGMN-TV (UPN) Atlanta area stations 2 WSB (ABC) 5 WAGA (FOX) 8 WGTV (PBS/GPB) 11 WXIA (NBC) 14 WPXA (PAX) 17 WTBS (IND) 30 WPBA (PBS) 34 UNIVISION 36 WATL (WB) 46 WGCL (CBS) 69 WUPA (UPN) Columbus area Stations 3 WRBL (CBS) 9 WTVM (ABC) 16 WGGT (IND) 28 (PBS/GPB) 38 WLTZ (NBC) 54 (FOX) 66 (upn) Albany area stations 10 WALB (NBC) 14 (PBS/GPB) 25 (PBS/GPB) 31 (FOX) 55 WSST (IND) |
| RADIO STATION DIRECTORY Coming soon! |
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| New Blog entries began in October, 2004: The previous news items from GARTV are available by clicking on the archives. |
| Changes in MIddle Georgia Talk Radio: (11/8) The Talk radio landscape continues to grow and change in the Macon market. There is the new talk radio station on 103.9FM which replaced a satalite delivered AC music format. The new station is WRPG-FM. And the call letters are heritage to the Warner Robins area having orginally been the calls for 1350am. The former "Sunny 103.9" will continue to air Atlanta Braves and Georgia Bulldogs sports broadcasts. Clear Channel Macon's WMWR-1670 AM has changed their lineup. The station has added G. Gordon Liddy and Bill O'reilly to their broadcast day. Gone are Dr. Laura, Mike Gallagher and financial talk host Dave Ramsey. WMWR picks up Bill O'reilly from Warner Robins's WNNG-1350am and will continue to air live at 12 noon directly competing with Rush Limbaugh on AM 940 WMAC-AM from Macon. This move places the Bill O'reilly radio show on a stronger signal that can be heard within a 100 mile radius of Macon. 41 Goes LIVE: (11/2) WMGT "41-NBC" continues to grow in the Macon news market. They now have a live truck and can broadcast live on the scene during their newscasts. They provided live coverage from locations around the city on Election day. They us a very common late model FORD E-series van. And they do have the newest live truck in the market. Other stations use much older FORD van models and Macon Market leader WMAZ-13 also uses a old Chevrolet Suburban for live broadcasts. Macon Anchor on Debate Panel: (10/17) Congratulations to WMGT "41-NBC" News Anchor Susan Jackson as she was on the panel of journalists who asked questions of candidates in the 8th US Congressional district DEBATE between incumbant Jim Marshall (D) and challenger Calder Clay (R). The debate was held in Atlanta, sponsored by the Atlanta Press Club and broadcast statewide over GPB (Georgia Public Broadcasting) Radio and television. This is great exposure for the newest television anchor in the Macon Market and for the newest Macon area station to offer local news. Latest news: (10/2004) Last month, the Atlanta area lost one of their television legends with the passing of Guy Sharpe. He served Atlanta as a radio personality and television weatherman on many stations in the area. He retired from WXIA-11 in 1996. Marconi Award Winners: (10/2004) WSB radio personality Scott Slade and syndicated radio show host Tom Joyner both won Marconi Awards in a ceremony held on October 8th. Scott Slade hosts the Morning News on News-Talk 750 WSB and that is the number one rated morning radio program in the market. The Tom Joyner Morning Show is heard in over 100 cities around the United States and in most of Georgia. His program is highly rated among African-American adults especially in cities like Atlanta. Congratulations to both winners. "Seismic Shift" in radio future thanks to Stern: (10/07/04) Radio "shock jock" Howard Stern, whos syndicated morning radio show is heard by nearly 10 million listeners (but none in Georgia) announced that he will give up his popular radio show in 15 months and move to the Sirrius Satalte Radio service in 2006. He signed a deal with Sirrius Satalite Radio worth $500 million dollars and Sirrius is expected to gain millions of new subscrbers and take over the lead from rival XM Satalite Radio, who recently signed another popular "shock jock" radio program (Opie and Anthony) to their service. The Howard Stern announcement sent Sirrius' stock upward and the future of traditional broadcast radio into doubt. This is a sure sign that satalite radio will be a strong alternative to the FCC controlled and mostly corporate monopoly run "free" radio. It is expected that Howard Stern will bring millions of listeners with him to satalite radio as well as add millions more who currently cannot hear his program on local radio. Although your editor is not a Howard Stern fan, I do wish him well in this future endavor and I appreciate the fact that the listener will actually be able to show their true support for their favorate programming with their subscription. |
| Ryan goes home, Foxx gets evicted: Atlanta Radio fans take notice! Ryan Cameron, who is definitely one of the ATL's most popular radio personalites has returned to where his career started. He is now employed by "V-103" and will take over the afternoon drive time slot in July, after his non-compete clause expires. He left "Hot 107.9" in December after a salary dispute. Ironically, he left V-103 in the mid 1990's for the same reason....he wanted a higher salary. That move led him to work for Radio One on one of their stations in Washington, DC while a "non-compete" clause in his V-103 contract kept him off the air in Atlanta. When that expired, he helped Radio One launch "Hot 97.5" WHTA in Atlanta. The hip-hop station quickly grew and Radio One expanded its reach by purchasing the 107.9 signal (which was originally the signal for Macon's WPEZ) and moving WHTA to its current "HOT 107.9". The station rose in the ratings and Ryan Cameror hosted the morning show on 107.9 with a very loyal following. Ryan Cameron's fans were angry about his departure from the radio but will surely follow him to the afternoons, where he replaces the recently fired Portia Foxx, who was a popular afternoon radio personality on V-103. She was fired this week, about two months after her arrest for DUI and drug possesion. Former Macon anchor has on air stroke: Cecily Wilson, a traffic reporter for WKMG-TV (CBS), Channel 6 in Orlando was on the air live when she developed problems speaking. Her speech became slurred and she was unable to continue her report. A later visit to the doctor revealed that she had two minor strokes but no permanant damage was found. She will undergo speech therapy and will return to the air soon. Ms. Wilson, 39 was an anchor in Macon in the mid 1990's at WGXA-TV 24 when it was an ABC affiliate. She left shortly after the station became "FOX-24" as a FOX affiliate. She worked many years at WTVT, FOX 13 in Tampa and moved to the Orlando CBS affiliate last year and is now part of a morning news team headed by former CBS national morning news host Mark McEwen. More former Macon television "where are they now": Cecily Wilson isn't the only person formerly of a Macon area station to work on the air in Orlando. On a recent visit to the area, I discovered that Arch Kennedy, who did weather for 13-WMAZ in Macon right after college in the 1990's and later worked for WSB, Channel 2 in Atlanta is now doing the weather at WFTV, Channel 9 in Orlando Where he works with another WMAZ alum Tom Johnston, who left Macon for Arizona and now works at WFTV in Orlando. And Doug Kammerer, who was part of a short lived morning news show at FOX-24 around 1997/1998, moved to Orlando a few years back to provide weather forcasts on Orlando's FOX-35 now does the weather on the 5pm news at NBC owned and operated WCAU-TV channel 10 in Philadelphia. Non-stop Christmas music on local radio: Starting mid November, WPEZ "Z-93.7" is so far the only Macon area station to broadcast only holiday tunes. The "light rock" format will resume on December 26th. It is expected that "FM99" WDEN-FM will offer their Country Christmas closer to the holiday and nostalgic/standards WNNG-1350am will be all Christmas as well. The non-stop All Christmas holiday music season has proved popular for these stations in recent years. But the amount of stations offering the special holiday programing has decreased over previous years. One station in the Macon area has changed formats and there are no plans for WEBL-FM 102.5 to offer extensive holiday music programing. Macon Competition: (11/17) When WMGT "41-NBC" started "Middle Georgia News" on Labor Day 2004, there were hopes that the increased competition in Macon area television news could lead to some improvements within the local offerings. WMGT's "Middle Georgia News" is really living up to its name. They have dedicated reporters that serve specific areas of Middle Georgia. And the station continues to add new features to its newscasts. They added a new live truck to its fleet and can now report LIVE on location. They are soliciting "weather watchers" from around the area and frequently report conditions from beyond the standard Bibb, Houston, Jones, Monroe and Peach counties. And now, there is a "Warner Robins Studio". The location of the studio is inside the Galleria Mall at Centerville. Now market leader WMAZ-13 (CBS) broadcasts its entire 5pm evening newscast from TWO studios with anchor Frank Malloy at the main studios in Macon and Mary Therese at the Warner Robins studio which is located in a warehouse on Carl Vinson Parkway in Houston County. Previously, WMAZ only used satalite studios in Warner Robins and at Georgia College & State University in Milledgeville whenever reporters worked a "major" story in those areas. In just two months, WMGT has offered the strongest initial startup in of local news in the Macon market and is slowly growing into real competition for WMAZ. . WGXA-24 has reduced its daily news broadcasts to only at 10pm news followed by a local call in talk show featuring topics of local interest and local guests, but they no longer offer an early evening or weekend newscast. WGXA offered a short lived morning news a few years back and WPGA-58 (ABC) briefly attempted news programing and even an all-sports show but failed. |
| Regular Guys Return: (03/02/05) "The Regular Guys", a popular Atlanta radio duo fired last year during the FCC crackdown on "indecent" material will return to Atlanta radio later this month. Soon you will near them over Clear Channel's WGST 640-AM during the 8am to 12 noon time slot replacing the Clear Channel produced Glen Beck program. Eric Von Hoessler and Larry Wachs had a highly rated morning program on WKLS "96 Rock" in Atlanta when a recording of an "R" rated interview with a porn star accidentially made it to broadcast during a commercial. This mishap occurred just after the infamous Janet Jackson "wardrobe malfunction" led the FCC to crackdown on all things that are considered offensive material. At the time, 96 Rock owner Clear Channel removed some of its most popular programs and radio hosts whos material faced scrutiny over decency standards. Clear Channel removed Howard Stern from all of its stations and fired their own popular hosts including the syndicated Bubba The Love Sponge and Atlanta's The Regular Guys. TV Tower Collapses: (02/28/05) A 1700 ft. tall transmitting tower near Cusseta, Georgia collapsed, fortunately without any injuries or damages to other property. The tower was recently constructed and was to be the new transmission tower for Columbus area UPN affiliate WSWS-TV, Channel 66. The station which is based in Opelika Alabama, currently broadcasts from a 120 ft. tower in Alabama. They had hoped to expand their broadcast coverage with this new tower and four radio stations were to broadcast from this tower. Now, the tower will have to be totally rebuilt and is expected to take a year to complete. Foxx Fire Ruled Electrical: (02/28/05) Fire investigators recently ruled that the house fire that destroyed the home of former V-103 radio personality Portia Foxx was caused by an electrical malfunction. Recently, Portial Foxx was fired from Infinity's WVEE "V-103" after a recent DUI arrest, and only weeks later, her home in the Atlanta area burned |
| TV Anniversary: (March, 2005) WPGA-TV channel 58 made its debut TEN years ago this month as the area's first FOX affiliate. For many years prior, the only way for Macon area viewers to watch FOX network programing was via a FOX cable outlet or through the Atlanta FOX affilate that was carried on some cable stations but when FOX began carrying NFL football games in 1993, Macon's local ABC station WGXA-TV channel 24 carried the FOX NFL broadcasts. On January 1, 1996 FOX-58 switched network affilations with WGXA becoming 58-ABC. The station is the only locally owned television station in the area. GARTV wishes Register Communications and WPGA-TV a happy 10th anniversary!! |
| Local News Expansion: (March, 2005) Middle Georgia News, the local news on WMGT-41 (NBC) in Macon is expanding their news programing. The morning news will begin at 6:00 am starting April 4th and will run for an hour. WMGT has grown to become the second largest TV news operation in Macon, surpassing the offerings of WGXA "Fox-24". While WGXA offers only a 30 minute newscast, followed by a 30 minute local talk show every weeknight at 10pm, WMGT now offers 2 hours of news plus local cut-ins during the "Today" show during the week. The leader, WMAZ-13 (CBS) offers 4 hours of news daily, plus WMAZ is still the ONLY local station to offer local news on the weekends. Local ABC station, WPGA-58 does not offer a local newscast, having tried unsuccessfully a few years back. Johnnie Cochran's Atlanta Connection: (March 30, 2005) Famed Attorney Johnnie Cochran Jr dies at his Los Angeles home at the age of 67. He died of an inoperable brain tumor. His Daughter is Tiffanie Cochran, an anchor-reporter at WXIA-11(NBC) in Atlanta. From Macon to Miami: (March, 2005) Tom Johnston who was a metorologist for WMAZ in the late 1990's is now on WSVN-7 (Fox) in Miami-Ft. Lauderdale. His bio on www.wsvn.com says that he has been on the staff at WSVN since September, 2003. And your GARTV editor regrets that he may have some inaccurate timeline information. GARTV reported this year (2005) that Tom Johnston was at WFTV in Orlando and was not aware that he had already moved on to the Miami station. And since your GARTV editor frequently spends a lot of time in his native South Florida, he did not watch WSVN that often and never noticed that Tom Johnston was working there. You can watch Tom Johnston online during the WSVN newscasts via their website (www.wsvn.com) Tom Johnston went from WMAZ-TV 13 (CBS) to Tucson Arizona's KOLD-TV 13 (CBS) and then to Orlando Florida's WFTV 9 (ABC) and now to the top rated WSVN-TV 7 (FOX) in Miami. editors note: WSVN channel 7 in Miami has long been a station with a tabloid style of new reporting. They are a cross between the National Enquirer and Entertainment Tonight. Either you love them for it or you tryly hate them for it, and this South Florida native did not care for the WSVN style of broadcasting. However, WSVN is a very popular station in South Florida partly becasue of their newscasts, which took on a more controversial style after losing their NBC affilation in 1989 and becoming a FOX affiliate. Whenever I travel to visit family in South Florida, I just naturally tune to the stations that I preferred when I lived there. And even those stations now model the WSVN style. It is the sign of the times. And maybe we need that option in Macon? Anything to wake this area up.....just a thought! Anyway, congrats to Tom Johnston for moving up to a large big city market and to a top station in that market! From Macon to Augusta: (March, 2005) For almost a year, viewers of WAGT "NBC-26" in Augusta, Georgia have watched Shannon Myers as an anchor of "WAGT NEWS" evening newscasts. We remember her as Shannon Espinosa when she had her first "on air" job at WMAZ in Macon in the mid to late 1990's. She left Macon for stations in Texas and Florida before coming to Augusta in April 2004. She anchors the 6 and 11pm newscasts and a 10pm newscast that the station produces for local station WBEK-16 in the Augusta Georgia area. |
| TV Anniversary: (April, 2005) WGXA-TV Channel 24 became the Macon area THIRD network affiliated television station in April, 1982 becoming the first exclusive ABC station in Macon. Prior to that, ABC programing was picked up by other local stations in Macon, mainly WMAZ (13-CBS) or could be seen full time on distant stations in Atlanta or Columbus. On January 1, 1996 WGXA switched networks with WPGA-TV 58 and became a FOX affiliate. WGXA has always offered a local newscast previously called "News 24". Now, "FOX-24 News" is seen only at 10pm. Happy Anniversary to the staff and management of WGxA-TV "Fox-24" from GARTV Radio Anniversary: (April, 2005) While some listeners thought it was an April Fools Joke, the joke is really on us. Macon's WMKS "BLAZIN' 92-3" is now a year old and one of the most popular radio stations in the area. This urban hip-hop station is living up to its name, their ratings are "blazin" and every other station in the Macon area got burned in some way. All of the other urban or R&B stations in Macon lost some listeners and even a couple of the pop or rock stations lost a few people to "Blazin 92-3". But despite their popularity 92.3's limited signal may prevent them from ever becoming the number one station in the market. The leading stations are still Urban WIBB (97.9) and Country WDEN (99.1) as they always trade positions as the number 1 and 2 station in the market. And both stations have strong signals and reach far more listeners than 92.3. Still, the success of "Blazin' 92-3" should be noted as a great achievement. Congrats and Happy Anniversary to Cumulus Broadcasting and WMKS "Blazin' 92.3" from GARTV Prior to April Fools Day 2004, 92.3FM in Macon had changed formats several times in a decade. They were country "kissin 92.3" and a couple times as "Rock 92.3" or "Eagle 92.3" with formats changing from "rock" to "classic rock" or "classic hits". None of those formats could compete with leading country WDEN or leading Rock "Q-106". |
| Chris Smith leaves WMAZ: (April, 2005) Chris Smith, Chief metorologist on Macon's13-WMAZ Eyewitness News for 7 1/2 years has left the station. There is no word of any replacent but the station still has plenty of people to staff the weather department. Rob Still from the morning show, Andy Wood from the weekends and WMAZ's backup metorologists Tami Tesch-Jarrells and Ben Jones who often fill in when others are on vacation. Ben Jones was the metorologist for the morning newscasts prior to Rob Still and is also the host of WMAZ's local version of "Survivor". According to Chris Smith's farewell message on 13WMAZ.com he will stay in the Central Georgia area for a while possibly working for volunteer organizations in the area. NO word on any future plans in the media. Radio Changes in Columbus: (April, 2005) Another April Fools Day Joke for radio? Not really. WKZJ-FM 95.7 "K-95.7" has swapped frequencies, call letters and format with WIOL 92.7 in Eufala, Alabama. Now, the Audlt R&B music and Tom Joyner Morning Show move to 92.7 and Classic Rock comes to West Central Georgia as "95-7 The River". |
| Happy Anniversary Kenny B: (April, 2005) In 1997 radio station WMAZ at 940AM recently changed their call letters to WMWR and began a local morning radio talk show hosted by local personality "Kenny B". And today the station is WMAC and their now 10 year old morning show is where Macon talks about local, national and world issues. The succesful program is "Kenny B and Jami G". And they represent both sides of an issue with intelligent conversation that is entertaining and thought provoking. The program can be heard from 6-9am weekdays. GARTV wishes a happy anniversary to Kenny B! The Macon Metorologists keep a Movin': (April 17, 2005) Ok that was a lame little tongue twister but here is the story about the Macon weather guys (and girl). First Chris Smith leaves WMAZ after 7 years and says he is not leaving the area. Then a couple of weeks later Mike Fuori leaves FOX 24 for a new TV job at the NBC station in Savannah and days later Chris Smith appears on WMGT as the new morning metorologist replacing Ashley DeBeltrand who's husband has accepted a new job in another city and they are moving away. GARTV wishes Ashley DeBeltrand all the best of happiness and career success! Ben Jones is now the Chief Metorologist on WMAZ, returning him to a full-time status with the Gannett owned station. Rob Still and Andy Wood remain in their current Weekday morning and weekend positions and Tami Tesch-Jerles remains on staff as a fill in as needed. She and Ben Jones were "Fill-in's" on WMAZ's weather staff for many years. The newcomer is on WGXA "Fox-24" and his name is Ross Crumbley and you can watch him on the "Fox 24 News" at 10:00 pm weeknights as well as an online weathercast anytime on www.fox24.com. And as I already mentioned, Chris Smith is now the morning metorologist on WMGT "41NBC"'s recently expanded newscasts. Editors note: In many areas, on air broadcast personalities usually have a clause in their contracts that would forbid them from working for any competing station within the market for a period of time that usually ranges from 6 months to a year. Chris Smith leaves WMAZ and appears on WMGT in less than a month. One can assume that WMAZ never expected anyone would leave them for another station in the same area. For decades WMAZ has been THE leading Television station and all of the other stations have never been able to catch up especially in local news. Even today, the other stations with TV news do not program against the mighty WMAZ. Each station's evening news has the timeslot to itself. Noon and 5pm is exclusively WMAZ, 5:30-6 is WMGT, 6-6:30 is WMAZ again and WGXA is the areas only 10pm news station. The only direct competing is in the early morning and at 11pm. Macon TV Personality Dies: (April 14, 2005) Doris Martin, a Macon TV pioneer has died of a heart attack at the age of 80. 13-WMAZ announced her passing on evening newscasts with rememberances from local residents including another local TV legend, Del Ward. Mrs. Martin worked at WMAZ-TV 13 (CBS) from 1959 until 1990 as a host of various programs on WMAZ including telethons, public affairs, news and weather reports. She also was active in local activities. GARTV offers condolences to the family and friends of Mrs. Doris Martin. (1924-2005) Anchors Away: (April, 2005) The news on two Macon news anchors is that Lori Johnson of WMAZ-13 is on maternity leave (second child) and WGXA "fox 24" anchor Matt Miller is leaving for a new job in Cincinnati. More details when they are available. Best wishes to both! Mike Fuori leaves WGXA: (April 14, 2005) Fox 24 Chief metorologist is leaving Macon for a metorologist position at Savannah's WSAV-TV 3 (NBC). This comes less than a couple of weeks after WMAZ's Chief metorologist Chris Smith left that station but indicated that he was not leaving the area. (So who will fill the weather vacancy at WGXA?) If you can't compete against them, then join them: (April, 2005) "The Morning News with Jim Fisher", a morning radio talk show on WMWR-1670AM in Macon is no more. The show was an attempt by Clear Channel to compete for the local talk radio audience in the morning. They replaced its only local daily show with the nationally syndicated "Morning in America". Jim Fisher has moved across town to Cumulus Broadcasting and provides local news reporting for his former competitors "News Talk 940" WMAC and for the other Cumulus stations including WDEN, WPEZ and WAYS. More Talking: (April 2005) Central Georgia has gone from one talk radio station to four in less than a year. The latest to move to a talk format is WQSA 99.9 FM based in Perry with a signal that reaches areas south of Macon. This was formerly WCOP with christian oriented programing. The new format is christian friendly with carefully selected conservative and christian oriented talk show hosts. The new daily lineup includes Dr. Laura, Michael Medved, Mike Gallagher. All of which have been on other stations in the area. This change means that the evening news simulcast from WMAZ-TV is no longer available on the radio. The two other talk stations to come to the area in the past year are 1670AM WMWR and WRPG 103.9FM. Here are some interesting facts about all three new talk radio stations. First the call letters, AM 1670 uses call letters that were short lived on AM 940 in Macon, the former WMAZ-AM (now WMAC). The call letters WMWR may stand for the area of Macon/Warner Robins, but the joke in the past was that the letters stood for "We're mean White Republicans" as if that the bulk of the audience for talk radio at that time. 103.9's call letters WRPG were the original call letters for AM 1350 and stand for "Warner Robins-Perry Georgia. And 99.9 recently changed from the call letters WCOP which were also previous call letters for AM 1350. All three new talk stations carry many shows that were previously cherry picked and heard at different times on 940am in the past and now Central Georgia can now hear most of the popular national radio talk shows. All of the programs target a conservative audience. Also many of the programs are repeated among the four stations. Sean Hannity is on two of the stations and "Morning In America" is heard simultaneously on three stations, all competing with the leading local show on 940am "Kenny B and Jami G". Also The Atlanta Braves baseball games can be heard on two of these stations. |
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| Doris Martin (1924-2005) |
| Former WMAZ TV Personality |
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