Current Conditions ADVERTISEMENT>>
firstcoast411.com  
Links and phone numbers mentioned during First Coast News Links Seen on FCN Send and View Photos Submit Photos
FCN2go - Mobile news for your cell phone or PDA FCN2go Mobile RSS Web Feeds - Get First Coast News for your news reader RSS Web Feeds
Home > Inside First Coast News > 50th Anniversary 1957-2007 5/14/2008 7:46:07 AM
WTLV 50th anniversary"Today's the Day! Flip to Channel 12!"

When that newspaper ad headline appeared fifty years ago, it heralded the start of something really big for the Jacksonville area. The country's first television station built exclusively for color began broadcasting to the First Coast on September 1, 1957!

Folks have been watching Jacksonville’s Channel 12 (then known as WFGA, now WTLV-NBC12) for nearly 50 years. And a lot of memorable moments have been created during that time.

Whether you're a new viewer, or have been watching for years, thank you for watching WTLV-NBC12. We look forward to serving the First Coast for another fifty years and beyond!

The WTLV 50th Anniversary Special is now available for sale on DVD. To order yours, please send a check or money order for $20 to:
WTLV 50th Anniversary Special
1070 E. Adams Street
Jacksonville, FL 32202
Vintage Tim Deegan 
JACKSONVILLE, FL -- Chief meteorologist Tim Deegan has been tracking weather (and surfing) on the First Coast for 25 years. Click inside to watch the tape that got him the job. 
 
Channel 12's Original Sign-on 
JACKSONVILLE, FL -- Channel 12 hit the airwaves in Jacksonville on September 1, 1957. 
 
Egyptian President Anwar Sadat Meets President Ford in Jacksonville 
JACKSONVILLE, FL -- Channel 12 followed Egyptian president Anwar Sadat during his stop in Jacksonville in 1975. Sadat met with President Ford at Epping Forest and Deerwood. 
 
The Skipper Ed Show 
JACKSONVILLE, FL -- Before Mr. Rogers, the First Coast had Skipper Ed. 
 
Jeannie Blaylock's 1985 Resume Tape 
JACKSONVILLE, FL -- Jeannie Blaylock started at WTLV in 1985. Watch a video clip of the resume tape that got her the job. 
 
Deborah Gianoulis: Her First News Report in Jacksonville 
JACKSONVILLE, FL -- Deborah Gianoulis has been a familiar face on the First Coast for years. 
 
Cooney Cautious with Cassius 
JACKSONVILLE, FL -- Interviews aren't always easy. Channel 12 sportscaster Matt Cooney can attest to that. 
 
Tim's Coffee Cup 
JACKSONVILLE, FL -- If you have ever worked in an office, you can relate to seeing your personal desk things "disappear" every now and then. 
 
Jacksonville Parrotnapping in 1975 
JACKSONVILLE, FL -- We covered news off the beaten path thirty years ago. 
 
Jacksonville Sends Destroyers to Vietnam 
JACKSONVILLE, FL -- Channel 12's Bob Henry reports on the deployment of two destroyers to the Vietnam conflict in the early 1970s. 
 
Channel 12 First with Video Cameras 
JACKSONVILLE, FL -- Shock and awe! It's what other stations in Jacksonville felt when Channel 12 became more portable in a way that revolutionized television. 
 
Old Billboards, Ads & Promos 
JACKSONVILLE, FL -- Here are some photos of some old billboards that Channel 12 put up around town. 
 
Hanging on for Dear Life 
JACKSONVILLE, FL -- Channel 12 crews followed a dramatic rescue on the Dames Point Bridge in 1989. 
 
The Visual Smile Machine 
JACKSONVILLE, FL -- Nowadays most newscasts end with something news folks call "the kicker." It's a light-hearted story, something to leave viewers with after thirty minutes of death and destruction. 
 
JFK Jr. & Wedding Bells on Cumberland Island 
JACKSONVILLE, FL -- Channel 12 broke the news to the world that one of the most eligible bachelors, John F. Kennedy Jr., was no longer on the market in 1996. 
 
GMJ: The City's First Morning Newscast 
JACKSONVILLE, FL -- Channel 12 made history in Jacksonville in the 1970s by launching the first Noon newscast, and again in the early 1980s with Good Morning Jacksonville, the city's first local morning newscast. 
 
Heavy Lifting at the Cape 
JACKSONVILLE, FL -- Mankind's thirst to explore the heavens has been intrinsically linked to Channel 12 from day one. 
 
Jacksonville in the Ice Age 
JACKSONVILLE, FL -- The sunshine and the surf draw a lot of people to the First Coast, especially in December when other parts of the country are in a deep freeze. 
 
Sirens in the Night 
JACKSONVILLE, FL -- This Channel 12 documentary exposed the differences between the black and white ambulances and medical services in Jacksonville. 
 
The Water-skiing Mayor 
JACKSONVILLE, FL -- Jacksonville Mayor Hans Tanzler joined a group of beauties for some excitement on the river during Riverday in June of 1977. 
 
The Lost Intern Tapes 
JACKSONVILLE, FL -- Here at First Coast News we see a lot of interns come and go. 
 
From Channel 12 to CNN 
JACKSONVILLE, FL -- When anchor Deborah Gianoulis left the station to get married to former producer David Heald in the 1970s, Channel 12 turned to the radio dial for a replacement. 
 
June 26, 2003 - Veterans Memorial Coliseum Demolished 
JACKSONVILLE, FL -- The Veterans Memorial Coliseum was demolished at 10:45 a.m. on June 26, 2003. The Coliseum was replaced with the Sports and Entertainment Arena.  
 

Return to Inside First Coast News
  TV News Video
50 years of local television news coverage
  • Vintage Tim Deegan
  • Vintage Tim Deegan
  • Vintage Tim Deegan
  • Channel 12's Original Sign-on
  • Channel 12's Original Sign-on
  • Egyptian President Anwar Sadat Meets President Ford in Jacksonville
  • Egyptian President Anwar Sadat Meets President Ford in Jacksonville
  • The Skipper Ed Show
  • The Skipper Ed Show
  • The Skipper Ed Show
  • The Skipper Ed Show
  • The Skipper Ed Show
  • Jeannie Blaylock's 1985 Resume Tape
  • Deborah Gianoulis: Her First News Report in Jacksonville
  • Cooney Cautious with Cassius
  • Cooney Cautious with Cassius
  • Tim's Coffee Cup
  • Jacksonville Parrotnapping in 1975
  • Jacksonville Sends Destroyers to Vietnam
  • Channel 12 First with Video Cameras
  • Channel 12 First with Video Cameras
  • Old Billboards, Ads & Promos
  • Hanging on for Dear Life
  • Hanging on for Dear Life
  • The Visual Smile Machine
  • JFK Jr. & Wedding Bells on Cumberland Island
  • GMJ: The City's First Morning Newscast
  • GMJ: The City's First Morning Newscast
  • GMJ: The City's First Morning Newscast
  • GMJ: The City's First Morning Newscast
  • Heavy Lifting at the Cape
  • Jacksonville in the Ice Age
  • Jacksonville in the Ice Age
  • Jacksonville in the Ice Age
  • Sirens in the Night
  • The Water-skiing Mayor
  • The Water-skiing Mayor
  • The Water-skiing Mayor
  • The Lost Intern Tapes
  • From Channel 12 to CNN
  • June 26, 2003 - Veterans Memorial Coliseum Demolished
  • June 26, 2003 - Veterans Memorial Coliseum Demolished
  • June 26, 2003 - Veterans Memorial Coliseum Demolished
  • June 26, 2003 - Veterans Memorial Coliseum Demolished
  • June 26, 2003 - Veterans Memorial Coliseum Demolished
  • June 26, 2003 - Veterans Memorial Coliseum Demolished

    Share Your Memories
    Talk Back: Share your memories of WTLV throughout its 50 years in the First Coast community.

    50th Anniversary Photo Gallery
  • Do you have a WTLV-related photo from the past 50 years? Share it in the gallery.

    Do you have WTLV-related video from the past decades?
  • Click here to submit digital video
  • E-mail links to video posted on your favorite video-sharing site like Youtube.

  •   ADVERTISEMENT>>




    MESSAGE FROM DEBORAH GIANOULIS >>


    ADVERTISEMENT>>


    EVENTS CALENDAR>>
    Events Listings | Add an event!

    ADVERTISEMENT>>




    Top of page
    | Home | Search | Contact Us | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | About First Coast News | Advertise On-Air & Online | Gannett Network | Career Builder | Site Map

    First Coast News -- WTLV NBC-12 and WJXX ABC-25 -- 1070 East Adams Street, Jacksonville, FL 32202 -- (904)354-1212

    Information on Digital Television
    firstcoastnews.com Happy Thanksgiving from First Coast News Captivate Network Gannett on the Net USA Today Gannett Foundation firstcoastnews.com Steve Smith Angela Spears Patricia Crosby Phil Amato Julia Crowley Visit the Good Morning Jacksonville section View the anchor and reporter biographies firstcoastnews.com Victor Blackwell Lindy Thackston Anchor and reporter bios Good Morning Jacksonville firstcoastnews.com Victor Blackwell Pete Cataldo Anchor and reporter bios firstcoastnews.com Ashley Coleman Steve Smith Anchor and reporter bios Good Morning Jacksonville
    firstcoastnews.com Victor Blackwell Dan HIcken Pete Cataldo Jeff Prosser Anchor and reporter bios Victor Blackwell Pete Cataldo Anchor and reporter bios Shannon Ogden Jeannie Blaylock Ken Amaro Tim Deegan firstcoastnews.com Anchor-Reporter Bios Phil Amato Donna Deegan Tim Deegan firstcoastnews.com Anchor-Reporter Bios Shannon Ogden Jeannie Blaylock Ken Amaro Tim Deegan Dan Hicken firstcoastnews.com Anchor-Reporter Bios Meteorologist Mark Collins Deanna Fene Joy Purdy Anchor and reporter bios firstcoastnews.com Shannon Ogden Donna Deegan Tim Deegan Dan Hicken firstcoastnews.com Anchor-Reporter Bios www.firstcoastnews.com View the Anchors and Reporters Bios Angela Spears Steve Smith Watch ABC Shows - Primetime Video Watch ABC News Video firstcoastnews.com 50 Years of WTLV 1957-2007 firstcoastnews.com Tim Deegan Mark Collins Steve Smith firstcoastnews.comHappy Holidays!
                         
    firstcoastnews.com 50 Years of WTLV 1957-2007