WNEV-TV inaugural sign-on 1982

These are the first moments of Boston's WNEV-TV as the station signed on the air May 22, 1982. Until this FCC-mandated change in ownership, Channel 7 had been operated by a single licensee, RKO General, since 1948.

WNEV-TV changed its call letters to WHDH in 1990 when Channel 7's owner acquired WHDH-AM radio. It's interesting to note that WHDH was the call for Boston's original Channel 5 (1957-72).

In 1993, Sunbeam Television of Florida bought Channel 7.

All rights are acknowledged.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• WNEV-TV
• sign-on

[Macduck92]

was WNAC affilated with CBS when they were owned by RKO General?

I'm a New England/Boston Lover but I still don't know some aspects

[VintageTelevision]

WNAC/WNEV/WHDH (channel 7) was a CBS affiliate between 1948 and 1961 and between 1972 and 1995.

[SailorCallie]

At what time did this one air? IMO, it had to be prior to the airing of CBS's Saturday Morning Cartoon block that day.

[VintageTelevision]

I think WNEV-TV's inaugural event was broadcast about 6:00 in the morning on May 22, 1982.

[drum3433]

This was during what I consider the "golden age" of television in Boston. Locally owned stations with locally produced shows. The current Channel Seven is a horrid tabloid toned station that feeds on the misery, fears and misfortune of humanity in its news productions.

[Fanik10]

WNAC is currently FOX Providence(Ch. 64). I believe it has been so since 1985, or 86.

[wmbrown6]

@altfactor - The difference between the transition from WNAC to WNEV, and the 1972 switch from WHDH Channel 5 to the new WCVB, is almost like night and day.

[wmbrown6]

And from 1961 to 1972, WNAC had been affiliated with ABC, up until the original WHDH (a CBS affiliate from 1961-72) was kicked off Channel 5.

[wmbrown6]

@VintageTelevision - I did notice, however, that the PE-240 was a film chain camera offered by GE; that and/or its predecessor PE-24 were used by WNAC since the 1960's, and possibly into the WNEV era. (WBZ and WLVI had RCA TK-27's; WCVB, which was forced to build its own facilities since the original WHDH which had been kicked off Channel 5 in 1972 wouldn't hand over the keys to their studios, I believe had a more portable Philips/Norelco film chain. WSBK likewise had GE chains.)

[altfactor]

Leif Jensen had been a longtime booth announcer at Channel 7 under WNAC, and continued at WNEV for awhile longer.

After RKO General lost its appeal to keep Channel 7, they sold the facilities to WNEV, which allowed it to go on the air months sooner than what would have been the case.

Had WNEV been forced to build its own faciities, the change might not have happened until early 1983.

[hkfreak]

So what happened to their news op between 5/22 and the fall?

[TXNews]

3:32, why would someone cross out something that's already crossed out? It's insane I tell ya! :>)