History of WCAX-TV in Timeline

WCAX-TV is a CBS-affiliated television station serving the Burlington, Vermont–Plattsburgh, New York market. Owned by Gray Media, it operates alongside MyNetworkTV affiliate WYCI, with shared studios in South Burlington, Vermont. Its transmitter is located on Mount Mansfield. Notably, WCAX holds the distinction of being the first television station established in the state of Vermont, marking its historical significance in the region's broadcasting landscape.

May 20, 1922: WCAX Radio Signed On

On May 20, 1922, WCAX radio, Vermont's oldest radio station, initially signed on as an experimental station operated by students at the University of Vermont.

October 10, 1924: WCAX Radio Full-Time Operations

On October 10, 1924, WCAX radio started full-time operations.

1931: UVM Sold WCAX Radio

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

1939: Charles Hasbrook Purchased WCAX Radio

In 1939, Charles Hasbrook's purchase of WCAX radio was noted with the Gray Television acquisition.

1939: Charles P. Hasbrook Bought the Daily News

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

1940: WCAX Radio Became a CBS Radio Affiliate

In 1940, WCAX radio became a CBS Radio affiliate, which resulted in channel 3 becoming a CBS television affiliate.

1941: Hasbrook Sold the Daily News

In 1941, Charles P. Hasbrook sold the Daily News, but retained ownership of WCAX radio.

September 26, 1954: WMVT Signed On

On September 26, 1954, Charles 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 the station, was renamed Mount Mansfield Television.

May 1955: WMVT Moved to Burlington

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

1958: Hasbrook Transferred Station Ownership

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

1963: Red Martin Sold WCAX Radio

In 1963, Red Martin sold off WCAX radio, which later became WVMT.

1964: Montpelier News Bureau Established

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

September 1965: WCAX-TV Broadcasted 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 located in Rutland, Vermont.

1967: Marselis Parsons Joined WCAX-TV

Marselis Parsons joined WCAX-TV in 1967.

1973: Plattsburgh News Bureau Opened

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

1983: Steve Longchamp Joined WCAX

In 1983, Steve Longchamp, a videographer, had started working for WCAX, and was laid off in 2008.

1984: Marselis Parsons Became News Director

In 1984, Marselis Parsons became News Director and weeknight anchor for WCAX-TV.

1984: Stuart Hall Mentioned in Rush Album

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

1994: Secondary Fox Affiliation

From 1994, WCAX-TV held a secondary Fox affiliation.

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: Ended Fox Affiliation

In 1997, WCAX-TV ended their secondary Fox affiliation.

1997: Launched Weekday Morning Show

In 1997, WCAX-TV launched its weekday morning show.

2000: Previous Graphics Used Since 2000

The previous graphics that were in place until the upgrade in 2009 had been used in WCAX-TV newscasts since 2000.

2002: West Lebanon News Bureau Launched

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

2003: Awarded Best Television Newscast

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

October 2005: Began Carrying CBS News' Up to the Minute

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

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2005: Peter R. Martin Succeeded Ownership

In 2005, after Red Martin's death, his oldest son, Peter R. Martin, succeeded him in ownership of Channel 3.

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 a local program called Late Night Saturday, produced in conjunction with Champlain College for its Media Arts Department and hosted by Tim Kavanagh.

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: Started 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: Launched 24-Hour Local Weather and News Channel

In 2007, WCAX-TV began operating a 24-hour local weather and news channel on a new digital subchannel, originally 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, citing declining advertising revenues due to the economic crisis; these were the first job cuts in the station's history.

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 Announced Additional Layoffs

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.

May 2009: Anson Tebbetts Took Over as News Director

At the end of May 2009, Anson Tebbetts took over as News Director.

June 12, 2009: Original Transition Date for Broadcasters

June 12, 2009 was the pushed back transition date for broadcasters.

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

On June 23, 2009, WCAX-TV upgraded its local news to high definition, switching its studio cameras to HD and implementing new graphics.

September 16, 2009: Announced Hiring of News 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: Started Weeknight 5 P.M. Newscast

During the summer of 2010, WCAX-TV announced that it would be starting a weeknight 5 p.m. newscast beginning September 13, and reopened its Plattsburgh bureau full-time.

2010: 10 P.M. Newscast Placed on Hiatus

In 2010, WCAX-TV put the 10 p.m. newscast on hiatus. In 2010 WCAX-TV relaunched its newscasts with a new look and became the first broadcaster in the area to air local news in 16:9 widescreen enhanced standard definition.

September 7, 2013: Launched Weekend Morning Newscast

On September 7, 2013, WCAX-TV launched the area's second weekend morning newscast, airing on Saturday and Sunday mornings.

April 30, 2015: Channel Replaced with Movies! Network

On April 30, 2015, the WCAXtra channel was replaced with the Movies! network.

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2015: Marselis Parsons' Death

Marselis Parsons died in 2015.

2016: US Wireless Spectrum Auction

WCAX-TV was relocated as a part of the repacking process following the 2016 United States wireless spectrum auction.

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

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

2017: WCAX-TV Remained Same Owner

Until 2017, WCAX-TV remained 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: Relocated to UHF Channel 20

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

November 19, 2019: Antenna Fire Knocked Stations off Air

On November 19, 2019, WCAX-TV, along with NBC affiliate WPTZ and CW+ affiliate WNNE, were knocked off the air due to a fire at their shared antenna on Mount Mansfield, affecting over-the-air and satellite viewers.