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WSAV-TV earns 3 regional Edward R. Murrow awards in 1 year
The NBC television affiliate for Savannah was recognized by the Radio and Television News Directors Association (RTNDA) in April 2008 as outstanding in three categories: News Operation, Continuing Coverage, and Newscast. RTNDA is the world's largest professional organization devoted exclusively to electronic journalism. RTNDA represents local and network news professionals in broadcasting, cable and other electronic media in more than 30 countries.
News anchor Russ Riesinger said, “I’m really proud to of the work our team is doing. We’ve known for years in the newsroom that we’re really setting the standard for local news in Savannah but I must admit it’s great to be recognized by our peers for it.” Anchor Tina Tyus-Shaw added “This isn’t the first time we’ve received a Murrow Award, but it is the first time that we’ve taken home three in one year.”
“This is only the beginning of what promises to be a big year at WSAV”, said station General Manager Brad Moses. “The Murrow Award shows our community that News 3 is committed to the highest journalistic standards.” News Director Kevin Brennan added “We’re distinguishing ourselves with an On Your Side brand of journalism.”
RTNDA has been honoring outstanding achievement in electronic journalism with the Edward R. Murrow Awards since 1971. Radio and television news managers from markets across the country judged the entries in March.
WSAV will automatically become eligible for the national awards competition, which will be judged in early June. The national Edward R. Murrow Awards will be presented in October at the RTNDA Awards Dinner in New York.
WSAV-TV went on the air in 1956 and is owned by the Media General Broadcast Group. Media General is a multimedia company operating leading newspapers, television stations and online enterprises primarily in the Southeastern United States. The company’s publishing assets include three metropolitan newspapers, The Tampa Tribune, Richmond Times-Dispatch, and Winston-Salem Journal; 22 daily community newspapers in Virginia, North Carolina, Florida, Alabama and South Carolina; and more than 150 weekly newspapers and other publications. The company’s broadcasting assets include 23 network-affiliated television stations that reach more than 32 percent of the television households in the Southeast and nearly 9.5 percent of those in the United States. The company’s interactive media assets include more than 75 online enterprises that are associated with its newspapers and television stations.
WSAV HISTORY
WSAV radio first went on the air in 1939. From the beginning, WSAV was an NBC radio affiliate carrying the programs of Bob Hope and many others in the "Golden Years" of radio broadcasting.
WSAV brought NBC news coverage of the attack on Pearl Harbor to Savannah, and the relatively new WSAV news team followed war efforts at home as Savannah and the surrounding communities, along with the rest of the nation, geared up for World War II.
In 1947, WSAV radio upgraded its broadcast facilities and became a 5000-watt station broadcasting on a regional channel, sending news and information about Savannah to the entire southeast coast of the United States. Television came to Savannah in the fifties and WSAV-TV went on the air in 1956, initially broadcasting from the radio station facility atop a bank building on Broughton Street in downtown Savannah.
The flashing WSAV sign was a landmark on Broughton Street for many years. Television grew very quickly and in 1960, WSAV radio and television moved into a brand new facility on "World Famous Victory Drive". A new broadcasting tower was built at the Victory drive site and WSAV-TV reached out to many of the surrounding counties in Georgia and South Carolina, giving thousands of viewers their first chance to see television.
In the 50's and 60's WSAV radio and television was home to many popular broadcast personalities.
On radio, Burl Womack hosted the 'Breakfast with Burl' show and dominated morning radio for years.
On television, Captain Sandy was the weatherman and he worked with a couple of puppet sidekicks: Wilbur the Weather Bird and Arthur the Thermometer.
In 1976, another new tower was built and the WSAV television signal reached out even further. Just a few months later, the stations were sold and separated with WSAV radio eventually becoming WBMQ. WSAV television remained in the Victory Drive studio location and expanded with the news department moving into a former insurance office next door.
In the mid nineties WSAV television changed hands several times. Media General now owns the station. Since the station was purchased by Media General there has been an extended period of upgrading and refitting. Technically and in physical plant appearance, WSAV television is in the best shape it has ever been.
WSAV-TV Phone: 912-651-0300 |
News Department General Manager: |