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.

1921: Longtime WCAX meteorologist Stuart Hall was born

Longtime WCAX meteorologist and on-air personality Stuart Hall was born in 1921.

May 20, 1922: WCAX Radio Signed On

On May 20, 1922, Channel 3 traces its roots to WCAX radio, Vermont's oldest radio station, which signed on as an experimental station run by students at the University of Vermont.

October 10, 1924: WCAX Radio Began Full-Time Operations

On October 10, 1924, WCAX radio, then run by students at the University of Vermont, began full-time operations.

1931: UVM sold WCAX to the Burlington Daily News

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

1939: Charles P. Hasbrook bought the Daily News

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

1939: Charles Hasbrook Purchase of WCAX Radio

On May 4, 2017, Atlanta-based Gray Television announced its intent to acquire WCAX-TV for $29 million–a handsome return on Charles Hasbrook's purchase of WCAX radio in 1939.

1940: WCAX radio became a CBS Radio affiliate

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

1941: Charles P. 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, 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, after the location of the channel 3 transmitter and tower.

May 1955: WMVT Moved Its Community of License

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

1958: Hasbrook Turned Over Ownership to Martin Jr.

In 1958, Hasbrook turned over the station's ownership to his stepson, Dr. Stuart T. "Red" Martin Jr.

1963: Red Martin Sold Off WCAX Radio

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

1964: WCAX-TV Established Outpost in Montpelier

In 1964, WCAX-TV established an outpost in Montpelier, located on State Street (US 2) in Vermont's state capital.

September 1965: WCAX-TV began broadcasting in color

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

1967: WCAX-TV Opened Bureau in Rutland

In 1967, WCAX-TV opened a bureau located in Rutland, Vermont (on North Main Street).

1967: Marselis Parsons joined WCAX-TV

Marselis Parsons was with WCAX-TV since 1967 and was News Director and weeknight anchor from 1984 until 2009.

1973: WCAX-TV Opened Bureau in Plattsburgh

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

1983: Steve Longchamp began working for WCAX

Videographer Steve Longchamp, who had worked for WCAX since 1983, was let go on December 2, 2008.

1984: Stuart Hall mentioned in album acknowledgements

Longtime WCAX meteorologist and on-air personality Stuart Hall was mentioned in the acknowledgements of the 1984 Rush album Grace Under Pressure.

1984: Marselis Parsons became News Director and weeknight anchor

Marselis Parsons was with WCAX-TV since 1967 and was News Director and weeknight anchor from 1984 until 2009.

1994: WCAX-TV held a 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 ended its secondary Fox affiliation

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

1997: WCAX-TV launched its 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, the secondary Fox affiliation ended when WFFF-TV (channel 44) signed on.

2000: Previous graphics had been used in all of its newscasts since 2000.

On June 23, 2009, WCAX-TV upgraded its local news to high definition, with the previous graphics having been used in all of its newscasts since 2000.

2002: WCAX-TV Launched Bureau in West Lebanon

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

2003: WCAX-TV won "Best Television Newscast in the United States"

The station had won dozens of awards under his direction including the Radio-Television News Directors Association's "Best Television Newscast in the United States" in 2003.

October 2005: WCAX-TV started carrying CBS News' Up to the Minute

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

2005: Martin Died and Was Succeeded by Son

In 2005, Martin died, and was succeeded by his oldest son, Peter R. Martin.

August 2006: WCAX-TV launched the 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 its third local program called Late Night Saturday

In September 2006, WCAX-TV introduced its third local program called Late Night Saturday. It was produced in conjunction with Champlain College for its Media Arts Department. The program was hosted by Tim Kavanagh and aired weekly on Saturday nights. It offered local musicians and artists a chance to perform in front of a live studio audience and showcase their work. It also featured local celebrities such as Rusty DeWees and national celebrities such as Luis Guzman.

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 Weeknight Broadcast on WCAXtra

On 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 began to operate a 24-hour local weather and news channel

In 2007, WCAX-TV began to operate a 24-hour local weather and news channel on a new digital subchannel. Originally called "Weather 3.2", and later "WCAXtra", it featured news updates and live local weather along with the FCC-required three hours of E/I-compliant children programming per week.

December 2, 2008: WCAX-TV Laid Off Employees and Cut Vacant Jobs

On December 2, 2008, WCAX-TV laid off three of its employees and cut two vacant jobs, including on-air personnel such as Shawna Lidsky and Rachael Morrow, and videographer Steve Longchamp who had worked for WCAX since 1983.

2008: Fox affiliate 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 More 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, over VHF channel 3.

May 12, 2009: Marselis Parsons Announced Retirement

On May 12, 2009, at the end of the weeknight 6 p.m. broadcast, 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, former WCAX-TV news reporter Anson Tebbetts took over as News Director.

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

On June 12, 2009, the original date on which full-power television stations in the United States were to transition from analog to digital broadcasts under federal mandate was pushed back.

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 high definition, implementing new graphics, flags, and intros.

September 16, 2009: WCAX-TV Announced Hiring Reporter for Rutland Bureau

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: WCAX-TV Announced 5 p.m. Newscast and Talk Show

During Summer 2010, WCAX-TV announced that it will be starting a weeknight 5 p.m. newscast beginning September 13. Weeknights at 5:30, a talk show was introduced, called The :30.

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.

2011: Longtime WCAX meteorologist Stuart Hall died

Longtime WCAX meteorologist and on-air personality Stuart Hall died in 2011.

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

On September 7, 2013, WCAX-TV launched the area's second weekend morning newscast, airing on Saturday from 6 to 8 a.m. and Sunday from 8 to 9 a.m.

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

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

2015: Marselis Parsons Died

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

2016: United States wireless spectrum auction

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

May 4, 2017: Gray Television announced its intent to acquire WCAX-TV

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

June 1, 2017: Gray Assumed Operational Control of the Station

On June 1, 2017, Gray assumed operational control of the station under a local marketing agreement (LMA).

2017: WCAX-TV was one of the few stations to have the same owner, channel number, and primary network affiliation throughout its history

Until 2017, WCAX-TV was one of the few stations in the United States (not counting network owned-and-operated stations) that has 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, as a part of the repacking process following the 2016 United States wireless spectrum auction, WCAX-TV was relocated to UHF channel 20.

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

On November 19, 2019, WCAX-TV, NBC affiliate WPTZ (channel 5) and CW+ affiliate WNNE (channel 31) were knocked off the air by a fire at their shared antenna on Mount Mansfield, affecting over-the-air and satellite viewers.