Jacksonville’s WMBR-TV Channel 4 went on the air on Oct. 16, 1949, broadcasting four hours a day from its 478-foot antenna on the city’s southside. But it would be nearly two years before Orlando newspapers took note and began running daily TV listings for the area’s closest station.
Author: Roger Simmons
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David Pingalore doing sports at Los Angeles’ KTLA
David “Ping” Pingalore may be moving on to bigger and better things after WKMG-Channel 6 decided not to renew his contract last month. The longtime Orlando sports anchor posted a Facebook Live video Monday night from the newsroom of Los Angeles’ KTLA-Channel 5. He’ll be doing the sports report there…
Orlando TV
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It’s been 6 years since WUCF saved PBS in Central Florida
This month marks six years since WUCF became Central Florida’s PBS affiliate and saved public TV for the region, keeping alive a non-commercial, educational service started in 1965. But let’s go back — way back — to the beginning of this story. In April 1952, the Federal Communications Commission assigned…
Orlando TV
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Orlando broadcasting pioneer Lee Colee Hamilton dies at 90
Orlando broadcasting pioneer Lee Colee Hamilton passed away earlier this month at age 90. She started at Orlando radio station WLOF as an “office girl” and eventually became Florida’s first female broadcast salesperson. She eventually rose to general sales manager at WLOF Radio and WLOF-TV Channel 9, which she helped launch in 1958.
Orlando TV
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Florida has 106 TV stations now after FCC originally approved 58
Florida has 106 full-power television stations today, and many more channels when you consider their digital offerings. It’s a far cry from what the FCC envisioned for the Sunshine State in the early days of television.
Orlando TV
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Ex-WESH reporter Bob Kealing joining Seminole Sheriff’s Office, plus other news
What’s Bob Kealing’s new job? What’s Univision doing with another Orlando TV station? Will Channel 6 hire another sports anchor? All this, plus more.
Orlando TV
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Orlando’s Channel 6 started 63 years ago today as WDBO-TV
The first regular broadcast by WDBO-TV at 7:55 a.m. on that July 1, 1954, was the culmination of a more than three-year effort to bring local TV to Central Florida.
Anchors
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WKMG’s Jamie Seh joins elite group of TV women
In the process of elevating Jamie Seh from weekend sports anchor to sports director, Channel 6 is making a bit of history.
Anchors
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David Pingalore out as WKMG sports anchor after 10 years
WKMG Channel 6 is dropping longtime sports anchor David Pingalore, reports Hal Boedeker of the Orlando Sentinel.
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Comedian Bill Dana passes, helped launch short-lived United Network on Channel 6
Comedian Bill Dana, whose death at age 92 was announced Monday, was best known for his “Jose Jimenez” character in the 1960s. But he also had a small role in Orlando TV history.