Orlando’s CBS station is known today at WKMG-Local 6. But 40 years ago, it was just WDBO-TV Channel 6. And the station’s newscast was known as “Newsbeat.” Here’s a newspaper advertisement from November 1969 promoting some of the shows on Channel 6 during the day — including a double dose of Truth or Consequences.
Blast From The Past
Blast from the past: ‘Eyewitness’ ad from 1971
It’s hard to believe today after more than 30 years of local dominance, but WFTV-Channel 9 used to be the least-watched station for Orlando TV news. Here’s a newspaper ad from that era — when “Eyewitness News” was just called “Eyewitness.” This advertisement from November 1971 shows that WFTV was trying — it had expanded…
Blast from the Past: INN on WOFL-TV 35
Today’s “Blast from the Past” newspaper advertisement comes from the February 15, 1981, edition of the (Orlando) Sentinel Star. It highlights the weeknight information programming on then-independent WOFL-TV 35. Like many independent stations, WOFL picked up the syndicated Independent Network News, produced out of WPIX-11 in New York City. For many small stations, including TV…
Blast from the Past: Danny Treanor on WFTV
We continue our Blast from the Past series with this newspaper advertisement from 1978. It’s for weatherman Danny Treanor on WFTV. Back then, Danny did the weather on the noon, 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. newscasts. That was quite a long day! Here’s what the text says: “Rain or shine, you’re certain to get the…
Is it the right time for Local 6’s 7 p.m. news?
While RogerSimmons.com was offline with technical difficulties last week, WKMG-Local 6 announced its new 7 p.m. newscast. And I have a couple of observations about that. First, the news: Channel 6 will ditch it’s hourlong news from 6-7 p.m. starting Jan. 3. Instead, it will offer a half hour at 6 p.m., followed by the…
Blast from the Past: Channel 9’s daytime in ’61
We continue our Blast from the Past series with this Orlando Sentinel advertisement for WLOF-Channel 9 from Nov. 1, 1961. WLOF? Yep, you read that right. When it signed on in February 1958, Channel 9 was known as WLOF (which stood for We Love Orlando Florida). It would not become WFTV until 1963. Here’s what…
Blast from the Past: Channel 6’s Sunday night
Continuing our Blast from the Past series of newspaper ads for Orlando TV stations, today we roll back the clock to 1968. Here’s an advertisement that appeared for CBS’ Sunday night lineup on WDBO-Channel 6. “Channel 6 has the look of a winner,” was the Orlando station’s slogan — and it was likely true that…
Blast from the Past: WESH’s Cinema 2 ad
In addition to cataloging Orlando TV history, I also collect old newspapers. Lots and lots of old newspapers. And I have many copies of the Orlando Sentinel (or, as it was known for a time, the Sentinel Star). Over the next couple of days, I’ll post different newspaper advertisements from Orlando TV stations. Today’s ad…