WFAA TV Final Analog Broadcast 061209

These are the final moments of WFAA-TV on its analog Channel 8. Chief meteorologist Pete Delkus narrates this brief retrospective of WFAA, including stills from its early days as KBTV, and footage from its history. It ends with a real treat, a sign-off tape from the mid '70s, then goes to snow forever.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• WFAA
• TV
• Final
• Analog
• Broadcast
• 061209

[dan1701a]

@AndyHogue That's the old Leonard's Department Store subway train, later changed to the Tandy Center subway. Unfortunately it's long since retired and dismantled.

[oaklandfan2k9]

I Think we should bring back that signoff video on April Fool's Day 2011 at 2am and after 5 minutes it will sign-on with the Same footage as the sign-on but with updated footage (including Cowboys Stadium in Arlington) and the sign-on video ends with "April Fools from the Staff and Management at WFAA-TV Channel 8!"

[dan1701a]

@oaklandfan2k9 Heh. That's actually pretty funny.

[Hectorson3]

Random, im just wondering does anyone know what WFAA stands for?????/ :)

[dan1701a]

@Hectorson3 I've seen it referred to as "Working For All Alike" or "World's Finest Air Attraction." Usually, though, call letters don't really stand for anything, but people assign meanings anyway. WBAP-TV in Fort Worth used to be thought of as "We Bring A Program" (but some said it stood for "We Bore All People"!)

[CapSlapAHoe]

So what about channel 5?

[dan1701a]

They didn't do anything special - just went to colorbars then began running the nightlight loop (FCC informational video) until about July 12. Then they just turned off the switch. Too bad, too, because KXAS/WBAP was the first TV station in Texas - there's some definite history there. NBC doesn't really care, though...

[wdmassoc]

I was on the WFAA Productions floor crew from 1971 to 1974. I shot the sign-on/off in 1973 using a 16mm film camera and editing on a state-of-the-art Ampex RA-4000 editor using 2inch videotape.  The track came from Neil Diamond. Very pleased to see they used it in the final analog sign-off. Kind regards, Bill Merriam

[SignOffsGuy]

A wonderful final sign-off, though there was no National Anthem film. But it did have the Seal of Good Practice!

[ObiTrev]

All channels across the US didn't want to switch over, but the government forced them.

[AndyHogue]

What the heck is that train at 2:25?

[steadfastcoward]

@dan1701a You know what? There's a big Clear Channel AM station in texas that repeats their call letters 10 times a minute...

WTF were they called? I just can't remember/

[steadfastcoward]

@oaklandfan2k9 Not recommended AT ALL.

Yes, somebody is about right on the meaning of WFAA while I'm at it, and it dates to 1922.

Now back to running a prank broadcast....not only is it an unlicensed, read ILLEGAL broadcast, the FCC has been getting much nastier with pirates these days as there are now too many ways to interfere with air traffic transmissions and emergency channels now. Many utilize digital modulation and a 6 MHz analog signal will eat that for lunch, esp. a sloppy 1, dont

[steadfastcoward]

@dan1701a Why don''t you try searching for Jeff Miller broadcasting pages and find his lindexed links to dozens of sites that explain the apparenent (andrumored but untrue) meanings to call signs. Many were simply assigned in sequence as he block was made available. Requests for 'vanity' combinations were not even considered until sometime into the 30s as far as the FCC is concerned, meaning a lot ofthese meanings are clever slogans the owner or advertising department made. WFAA BOUGHT KBTV 8.

[ooxcfhxoo]

@dan1701a

Kind of like SAAB.....Something Assholes Always Buy!

[jdawz1985]

1:03 I want that TV

[BigTallOrangeThing]

Ever notice how other stations in Texas always call themselves by the name of their national affiliate? There's FOX 4, NBC 5, CBS 11... but not ABC 8. That's because Channel 8 is beast enough to just go by its call sign rather than depending on ABC for legitimacy.

[polybi5]

Actually, not a bad idea and not for a April Fools Joke. Many TV stations run something like a sign off/sign on at about 5am on Sundays. I think it would be a great presentation..especially with updated footage. Anybody up for a faux sign off?