WRAL-TV

WRAL-TV, "WRAL5" is a broadcast television station based in Raleigh, North Carolina. Broadcasting on VHF channel 5 (DTV on UHF channel 53), WRAL has been an affiliate of the CBS television network since 1985, and is locally owned by Capitol Broadcasting Company. Its transmitter is located in Garner, North Carolina.

History

The station's first broadcast was on December 15, 1956; an airing of the 1947 movie Miracle on 34th Street. From its inception, the station was an NBC affiliate until 1962, when it began a 23-year affiliation to ABC.

Related Topics:
December 15 - 1956 - 1947 - Miracle on 34th Street - NBC - 1962 - ABC

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During the 1960s, future North Carolina Senator Jesse Helms was a regular editorial commentator on WRAL's news broadcasts.

Related Topics:
1960s - North Carolina - Jesse Helms - Editorial - Commentator - News

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In 1979, the station became the state's first to begin using a helicopter for newsgathering (Sky 5).

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In 1986, Capital Cities Communications merged with the ABC network, making WTVD-TV an ABC owned and operated station. As a result, the CBS affiliation moved to WRAL-TV.

Related Topics:
1986 - Capital Cities Communications - WTVD-TV - Owned and operated station

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A severe ice storm in December 1989 caused the station's 2,000-foot tower to collapse, forcing WRAL off the air. By cooperation with Fayetteville station WKFT-TV Channel 40 (which at the time was under severe financial problems), it was back on the air in 3 hours. WKFT ran the entire WRAL schedule during this time. The station's new, stronger tower was launched on October 25, 1991, at which point WKFT reverted to airing its own programming.

Related Topics:
December - 1989 - Fayetteville - WKFT-TV - October 25 - 1991

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In 1996, WRAL-TV was granted the first experimental high-definition television license in the United States by the Federal Communications Commission. In 2000, WRAL-HD aired the world's first all-HDTV newscast on October 13. In January 2001, WRAL converted all of its local news broadcasts to high-definition.

Related Topics:
1996 - Experiment - High-definition television - License - United States - Federal Communications Commission - 2000 - October 13 - January 2001

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