Thanks to the online archives of the Daytona Beach Morning Journal, we’ve discovered another Orlando TV station logo from long ago. Here’s one for then-Daytona Beach based WESH-2. This logo from 1965 touts the station as “Florida’s Channel 2″ and incorporates the NBC “snake” logo. Based on our research, the station used this logo for about three years, until going to a modified version in 1968. See our graphic illustrating the WESH logos though the years.
WESH Channel 2 logo from 1965.
We’re climbing into the Wayback Machine again today, taking a look at an old newspaper ad from WESH-Channel 2. Back in the late 1960s, NBC was riding high with programs like Laugh-In, Bonanza and Julia. In Orlando, WESH 2 News was then known as Newscope. Here’s an ad from November 1969 showing some of the shows on Florida’s Channel 2.
The final launch of the space shuttle on Friday capped what arguably has been one of the busiest news weeks ever for Orlando TV news. Like the shuttle program, the Casey Anthony story is starting to wind down. But if the launch of Atlantis was any indication, some of the local TV innovations from the Casey saga will stay with us for awhile.
WFTV-9 moved its mobile courthouse studio over to the Kennedy Space Center, where Bob Opsahl anchored the final shuttle launch. WKMG-6 can’t seem to break out of wall-to-wall coverage — pre-empting CBS’ Early Show and other daytime programming to provide non-stop shuttle launch coverage all Friday morning. In another holdover of the Casey Anthony trial, Local 6 displayed online blog comments during the shuttle launch — the same thing it did during the trial.
Here’s a quick look at how Orlando TV news covered the final space shuttle launch:
Channel 6 displays comments from its live blog during the shuttle Atlantis launch.
WFTV's mobile courthouse studio (left) becomes its space center studio for Atlantis.
Axia Diaz and veteran space reporter Dan Billow anchor coverage on WESH.
Fox 35 had anchor Cale Ramaker on site for the launch of Atlantis.
The “other” big event in Central Florida this week is the final launch of the space shuttle — Atlantis is scheduled to blast off on Friday.
The shuttle program has been a huge part of the area’s culture, economy and history over the past 30 years, so Orlando’s TV stations are rolling out specials to mark the end of the shuttle era.
WFTV-9: Eyewitness to History — tonight at 8 p.m.
WESH-2: The Shuttle Program: Launches, Lessons, Legacy — Thursday at 8 p.m.
WKMG-6: Final Flight — Thursday at 8:30 p.m.
All the local stations will be airing the final launch live. Here’s a blast from the past: the first shuttle launch, Columbia, on April 12, 1981:
After three years of constant surprises, the Casey Anthony saga saved its biggest one for last: a stunning not guilty verdict. Orlando TV stations have been covering the trial wall-to-wall — even bumping regular programming again today to talk while the jury deliberations were ongoing.
Hours after the verdict, the Orlando stations continued their coverage. WKMG bumped the CBS Evening News to stay in Casey mode, and continued with coverage at 7, 8 and 9 p.m. WESH broke for NBC Nightly News, but returned with hourlong specials at 7 and 8 p.m., too. WFTV did air ABC World News, but then followed with its own hourlong Casey Anthony special. Only WOFL-Fox 35 — which has seen surprisingly high ratings for its marathon coverage — went back to regular programming after its 5-6:30 p.m. news. Of course, it has 90 minutes of news later tonight to continue coverage.
Below is how Orlando’s main TV news channels broadcast the verdict in the most watched trial in Central Florida history:
CNN, Fox News Channel, HLN and MSNBC joined the Orlando TV stations in airing the closing arguments and jury instructions Monday in the Casey Anthony murder trial. Not included in the screen grabs below, but even CNN International aired a report on the closing of the trial. Now, the wait begins …
