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Business Wire

WREG-TV in Memphis will celebrate 50 years of television on January 1. The station, which was granted a license by the FCC to broadcast in July 1955, signed on with its first regular telecast January 1, 1956. The station was the brainchild of Hoyt Wooten, an electrical engineer, who dreamed of building a radio station. Not only did Mr. Wooten achieve his radio dream, he also expanded his broadcast horizon to include the exciting new medium of television.

On December 28 at 7:00 p.m., a yearlong observance of WREG-TV's first 50 years will kick off with a 30-minute special.

In making the announcement, President and General Manager Ronald A. Walter said, "We are pleased to celebrate fifty wonderful, vibrant years of television and service to Memphis. Our kick-off special will be an exciting way for our community and employees to reminisce and also look forward to WREG's next fifty years."

Longtime anchor and reporter Jerry Tate will host the half-hour special, which traces the history of this CBS affiliate from its December 31, 1955 "sign on" broadcast of the Gator Bowl to the present. The special will feature vintage and rare photos of the station's founder Hoyt Wooten, along with interviews from a number of well known past and present station personalities including Fred Cook, John Powell, Paul Dorman, Pam Crittendon and Olin Morris.

Frances Kelley, Good Morning From Memphis co-host and one of the first black women on Memphis television, will tell the story of her first and only live interview with KKK Grand Wizard David Duke. The special ends with a look at the future of WREG-TV and broadcast television. WREG-TV's award-winning special projects producer Mike Suriani co-produced the special, along with Jerry Tate.

Throughout the year, celebrities ranging from Memphis Mayors Herenton and Wharton, to stars of music and entertainment including John Lithgow, Tommy Ford, Cybill Shepherd and Jane Seymour, will appear in brief television vignettes wishing the station a happy 50th anniversary.

Additionally, the station has created a 50th Anniversary page on WREG.com where viewers can learn more about the station's history and test their knowledge of the station's current programming through a Sudoku challenge.

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This press release can be downloaded from www.nytco.com