History of WCAX-TV in Timeline

WCAX-TV is a CBS-affiliated television station in Burlington, Vermont, serving the Burlington-Plattsburgh market. Owned by Gray Media alongside WYCI, it operates from studios in South Burlington, with its transmitter on Mount Mansfield. Notably, WCAX holds the distinction of being the first television station established in Vermont.

May 20, 1922: WCAX Radio Signed On

On May 20, 1922, Channel 3's roots began with WCAX radio, Vermont's oldest radio station, signing on as an experimental station run by University of Vermont students.

October 10, 1924: WCAX Radio Full-Time Operations

On October 10, 1924, WCAX radio, Vermont's oldest radio station, began full-time operations.

1931: UVM Sold WCAX Radio

In 1931, the University of Vermont sold WCAX radio to the Burlington Daily News, which relaunched it as a commercial radio station that November.

1939: Charles P. Hasbrook Bought the Daily News

In 1939, Charles P. Hasbrook bought the Burlington Daily News, which owned WCAX radio at the time.

1939: Charles Hasbrook Purchased WCAX Radio

In 1939, the announcement of Gray Television acquiring WCAX-TV was noted as a handsome return on Charles Hasbrook's purchase of WCAX radio.

1940: WCAX Radio Became CBS Radio Affiliate

In 1940, WCAX radio had been a CBS Radio affiliate, so channel 3 became a CBS television affiliate.

1941: Hasbrook Sold the Daily News

In 1941, Charles P. Hasbrook sold the Daily News, but he kept WCAX radio.

September 26, 1954: WMVT Signed On

On September 26, 1954, Charles P. Hasbrook signed on Vermont's first television station, WMVT, originally licensed to Montpelier.

December 1954: WCAX Broadcasting Corporation Renamed

In December 1954, WCAX Broadcasting Corporation, the parent company of WMVT, was renamed Mount Mansfield Television.

May 1955: WMVT Moved Community of License

In May 1955, WMVT moved its community of license from Montpelier to Burlington.

1958: Hasbrook Turned Over Station Ownership

In 1958, Charles Hasbrook turned over the ownership of WCAX-TV to his stepson, Dr. Stuart T. "Red" Martin Jr.

1963: Red Martin Sold Off WCAX Radio

In 1963, Red Martin sold off WCAX radio, which is now WVMT.

1964: Montpelier News Bureau Established

In 1964, WCAX-TV established a news bureau in Montpelier, Vermont.

September 1965: WCAX-TV Broadcast in Color

In September 1965, WCAX-TV became the third station in its market and the first in Vermont to broadcast in color.

1967: Rutland News Bureau Opened

In 1967, WCAX-TV opened a news bureau in Rutland, Vermont.

1967: Marselis Parsons Joined WCAX-TV

Marselis Parsons was with WCAX-TV since 1967.

1973: Plattsburgh News Bureau Opened

In 1973, WCAX-TV opened a news bureau in Plattsburgh.

1983: Steve Longchamp Worked For WCAX

Videographer Steve Longchamp had worked for WCAX since 1983.

1984: Stuart Hall Mentioned In Album Acknowledgements

In 1984, longtime WCAX meteorologist Stuart Hall was mentioned in the acknowledgements of the Rush album Grace Under Pressure.

1984: Marselis Parsons News Director And Weeknight Anchor

Marselis Parsons was News Director and weeknight anchor from 1984 until 2009.

1994: WCAX-TV Had Secondary Fox Affiliation

From 1994, WCAX-TV held a secondary Fox affiliation carrying that network's sports and children's programming.

1994: WCAX-TV Carried Fox's NFL Coverage

In 1994, WCAX-TV carried Fox's NFL coverage, which consisted of the rights to NFC games that had been held by CBS.

1997: WCAX-TV Launched Weekday Morning Show

In 1997, WCAX-TV launched its weekday morning show that originally ran for one hour.

1997: Secondary Fox Affiliation Ended

In 1997, WCAX-TV's secondary Fox affiliation ended when WFFF-TV (channel 44) signed on.

2000: Previous Graphics Had Been Used In All Newscasts

The previous graphics had been used in all of WCAX-TV newscasts since 2000.

2002: West Lebanon News Bureau Launched

In 2002, WCAX-TV launched a news bureau in West Lebanon, New Hampshire.

2003: WCAX-TV Won Radio-Television News Directors Association Award

In 2003, WCAX-TV won dozens of awards under Parsons' direction including the Radio-Television News Directors Association's "Best Television Newscast in the United States".

October 2005: CBS News' Up to the Minute

In October 2005, WCAX-TV has been carrying CBS News' Up to the Minute following thirteen years of not airing it.

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2005: Stuart T. "Red" Martin Jr. Passed Away

In 2005, Stuart T. "Red" Martin Jr. passed away, and his oldest son, Peter R. Martin, succeeded him in owning WCAX-TV.

August 2006: Launched First Website Designed for Mobile Phone Browsers

In August 2006, WCAX-TV launched the first website designed for mobile phone browsers.

September 2006: WCAX-TV Introduced Late Night Saturday

In September 2006, WCAX-TV introduced its third local program called Late Night Saturday, produced in conjunction with Champlain College.

October 25, 2006: WCAX-TV Upgraded Digital Signal

On October 25, 2006, WCAX-TV upgraded its digital signal to broadcast CBS programming in high definition.

July 16, 2007: WCAX-TV Began Producing Channel 3 News at 10

Starting July 16, 2007, WCAX-TV began to produce a weeknight 10 o'clock broadcast on "WCAXtra" known as Channel 3 News at 10.

2007: WCAX-TV Operated Weather and News Channel

In 2007, WCAX-TV began operating a 24-hour local weather and news channel on a new digital subchannel called "Weather 3.2", and later "WCAXtra".

December 2, 2008: WCAX-TV Laid Off Employees

On December 2, 2008, WCAX-TV laid off three employees and cut two vacant jobs due to declining advertising revenues.

2008: WFFF-TV Started a 10 P.M. Newscast

In 2008, Fox affiliate WFFF-TV started a 10 p.m. newscast.

January 19, 2009: WCAX-TV Laid Off More Employees

On January 19, 2009, WCAX-TV announced that it had laid off several more employees due to declining automotive commercial revenue.

February 17, 2009: WCAX-TV Shut Down Analog Signal

On February 17, 2009, WCAX-TV shut down its analog signal and moved its digital signal to UHF channel 22.

May 12, 2009: Marselis Parsons Announced Retirement

On May 12, 2009, Marselis Parsons announced that he would be retiring as weeknight anchor and News Director of WCAX-TV.

May 2009: Anson Tebbetts Took Over As News Director

At the end of May 2009, Anson Tebbetts took over as News Director at WCAX-TV.

June 12, 2009: Original Transition Date for Full-Power Television

February 17, 2009, was the original date on which full-power television stations in the United States were to transition from analog to digital broadcasts.

June 23, 2009: WCAX-TV Upgraded Local News to High Definition

On June 23, 2009, WCAX-TV upgraded its local news to high definition and switched its studio cameras to high definition.

September 16, 2009: WCAX-TV Announced Hiring Reporter

On September 16, 2009, WCAX-TV announced that it would be hiring a full-time news reporter for the re-opening of its bureau in Rutland.

2010: 5 P.M. Newscast Started

During Summer 2010, WCAX-TV announced that it will be starting a weeknight 5 p.m. newscast beginning September 13.

2010: WCAX-TV Put 10 P.M. Newscast on Hiatus

In 2010, WCAX-TV put the 10 p.m. newscast on hiatus due to the majority of viewers not receiving WCAXtra via cable.

September 7, 2013: WCAX-TV Launched Weekend Morning Newscast

On September 7, 2013, WCAX-TV launched the area's second weekend morning newscast.

April 30, 2015: WCAXtra Replaced with Movies! Network

On April 30, 2015, WCAX-TV's subchannel "WCAXtra" was replaced with the Movies! network.

2015: Marselis Parsons Passed Away

Marselis Parsons continued with WCAX-TV as a part-time features reporter until his death in 2015.

2016: United States Wireless Spectrum Auction

In 2016, the United States wireless spectrum auction was held.

May 4, 2017: Gray Television Announced Intent to Acquire WCAX-TV

On May 4, 2017, Gray Television announced its intent to acquire WCAX-TV for $29 million.

June 1, 2017: Gray Assumed Operational Control of WCAX-TV

On June 1, 2017, Gray Television assumed operational control of WCAX-TV under a local marketing agreement.

2017: WCAX-TV Had Same Owner, Channel Number, and Primary Network Affiliation

Until 2017, WCAX-TV was one of the few stations in the United States that had the same owner, channel number, and primary network affiliation throughout its history.

October 24, 2019: WCAX-TV Relocated to UHF Channel 20

On October 24, 2019, WCAX-TV was relocated to UHF channel 20 as part of the repacking process following the 2016 United States wireless spectrum auction.

November 19, 2019: WCAX-TV, WPTZ, and WNNE Knocked Off the Air

On November 19, 2019, WCAX-TV, NBC affiliate WPTZ, and CW+ affiliate WNNE were knocked off the air by a fire at their shared antenna on Mount Mansfield.