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The 51st Holiday Lighting of the WRAL Tower

  • Andrea Osborne
  • December 3, 2010
  • News
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WRAL-TV logo
Tower Lighting
The WRAL-TV Studios play holiday host to the 51st Annual Tower Lighting on Wednesday, December 1st.
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WRAL-TV turned its 300-foot television tower into a giant Christmas tree at the 51st Annual Tower Lighting on Wednesday, December 1, 2010.   In what WRAL Producer Martha Woodward called “a fantastic night” the evening newscasts included musical performances from The Pitchforks of Duke University and a look back at tower lightings of the past.

Woodward credited WRAL-TV Sales Manager Laura Stillman for hooking WRAL up with the all-male acapella group from Durham.  The Pitchforks entertained viewers with “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,” “The Christmas Song,” and “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.” 

“As we counted down till 6:15, we wanted to share the importance of this 51-year tradition with our viewers,” explained Woodward.  “So, we dug through file tapes to capture the best moments.  I loved going through those old tapes.  It was really extraordinary to see how much effort goes into every Tower Lighting.  This year was no exception. Weeks of planning and days of setup led up to a perfect production!” 

Woodward planned the Tower Lighting content from each newscast (5:00, 5:30 & 6:00pm) and made sure it was timed to the second.  She and the rest of the crew had to hit the 6:15 for the tower lighting exactly.

WRAL-TV Tower
The WRAL-TV tower is once again a beacon of holiday cheer in the Triangle.

“The excitement in the control room really started to build when Sky 5 flew over the station,” Woodward said.  “We could see how many people were outside.  It reminded us of the many more that were watching at home.”

WRAL-TV retiree P.B. Jernigan returned to the station to reprieve his annual role as the engineer of the tower lighting.  He carefully reminded Woodward about flipping the switch in the control room to make the lights come on when WRAL-TV Anchor Debra Morgan & Chief Meteorologist Greg Fishel flipped their switch outside.

“The Tower Lighting open rolled with that unforgettable jingle,” Woodward relieved the final moments.  “And, it was time, two minutes on the clock!  Gerald Owens, Debra Morgan and Greg Fishel carried us through our 51-year history and our Coats for the Children campaign. Whew… 10, 9, 8… I counted them down in their ear pieces… 3, 2… with one hand on the IFB panel and the other on the switch… flip ’em on!  Cue The Pitchforks… we had made it!  After weeks of planning and hours of extremely hard work by everyone, it was truly a fantastic night!”

Great job to the entire WRAL-TV crew for making yet another Tower Lighting come off without a hitch!

Thanks to WRAL.com’s Kathy Hanrahan for these capcom photos.

51st Annual WRAL-TV Tower Lighting

The WRAL-TV Studios became a winter wonderland for the annual Tower Lighting on December 1, 2010.
WRAL-TV’s Gerald Owens gets set to help with the tower lighting newscast on Wednesday, Dec 1st.
WRAL-TV Anchors Gerald Owens (left) & Debra Morgan emcee the telecast from Studio A.
The Pitchforks, a male a cappella group from Duke University, provides musical entertainment during the broadcast.
The Pitchforks keep the holiday carols going.
The halls of WRAL-TV are decked in bright white trees for the holiday event.
WRAL-TV’s Mike Maze braves the elements to give live weather forecasts in the freezing cold.
This festive pooch is hoping for a spot on WRAL’s Pet of the Day.
The CBC grounds crew has worked hard to make the outside of the station look ready for the holidays.
WRAL-TV’s Mike Maze visits with the canine guest.
Some dedicated WRAL fans bundle up against the cold so they can see the tower lighting live and in person.
Some dedicated WRAL fans bundle up against the cold so they can see the tower lighting live and in person.
Some dedicated WRAL fans bundle up against the cold so they can see the tower lighting live and in person.
Some dedicated WRAL fans bundle up against the cold so they can see the tower lighting live and in person.
Another dressed up doggie vying for a spot on the newscast.
Viewers keep track of the newscast via an outside monitor.
The WRAL Tower is about to become a giant Christmas tree for the 51st time.
The fountain is awash in holiday red.
WRAL-TV Anchor Debra Morgan (right) joins Chief Meteorologist Greg Fishel outside as the time for the countdown approaches.
Some dedicated WRAL fans bundle up against the cold so they can see the tower lighting live and in person.
Some dedicated WRAL fans bundle up against the cold so they can see the tower lighting live and in person.
Some dedicated WRAL fans bundle up against the cold so they can see the tower lighting live and in person.
Fishel & Morgan get the countdown going.
The crowd eagerly anticipates the countdown.
3, 2….
And the lights go on! (Much to the joy of the WRAL Engineering department.)
Happy Holidays from the Big 5!
PrevPreviousMIX 101.5 Hosts Toy Drive to Help Kids During the Holidays
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