Division Profile
- 2619 Western Blvd, Raleigh, NC 27606
- PHONE: 919.821.8555
- NEWS FAX: 919.919.8541
- WEBSITE
- SOCIAL MEDIA ADDRESSES:
OVERVIEW
As the first VHF television station in Raleigh, NC, WRAL-TV immediately began setting high standards of broadcasting with news excellence, quality local programming and service to the community.
Located on Western Boulevard, only a few miles from downtown Raleigh, WRAL-TV has been awarded nationally for its public service promotions, local programming and news reporting.
HISTORY
WRAL-TV first went on the air December 15, 1956 with a message from CBC founder A.J. Fletcher saying, “Information to which the public is entitled will be given without bias or favor. Only in this way can our people make an intelligent choice on these issues affecting our welfare.” Immediately following his words setting the tone for the station’s future, viewers settled in to watch “Miracle on 34th Street” in their living rooms. Since then, viewers all over central North Carolina have been watching. Through affiliations with NBC, ABC and now CBS, WRAL-TV is consistently ranked as one of the top local stations in the country.
WRAL-TV was the first TV station in the state and one of the first in the nation to purchase a helicopter for our newsgathering efforts in June of 1979. WRAL-TV then added the area’s first team of professional TV meteorologists in 1982 and joined stations in Charlotte and Greensboro in 1983 to form the Carolina News Network — one of the nation’s first regional TV news networks. In 1984, WRAL became the first TV station in the state and the second in the nation to use a KU-band transportable uplilnk vehicle, or “satellite truck,” allowing WRAL News to be broadcast from anywhere.
In 1989, WRAL-TV’s 2,000-foot tower collapsed after a severe ice storm, taking the station off the air. With the help of Fayetteville’s WKFT, Channel 40, WRAL-TV was back on the air only three hours after the collapse. WRAL began broadcasting from a new, more stable tower on October 25, 1990. The new 2,000-foot tower became the heaviest transmitting tower in the world, weighing in at about 723 tons, and the tallest man-made structure east of the Mississippi River.
WRAL entered the digital age in 1995, launching WRAL OnLine (now WRAL.com), the area’s first local TV web site. The site is one of the nation’s most honored local news web sites.
WRAL became the nation’s first commercial station to broadcast a high-definition signal on July 23, 1996. During that month, WRAL-HD, Channel 32, signed on the air. The newly-christened WRAL-DT began broadcasting at full power on its permanent home on March 24, 2000 and soon became the first station in the nation to begin broadcasting a data channel to personal computer users.
On Jan. 28, 2001, WRAL became the world’s first high-definition TV newsgathering operation with the debut of the station’s all-digital HD newsroom.
RECENT AWARDS
- NC Associated Press Broadcaster’s Association, Outstanding News Operation, 2011
- Radio Television Digital News Association Edward R. Murrow Award, Continuing Coverage, 2011
- Radio Television Digital News Association Edward R. Murrow Award, Newscast, 2011
- Radio Television Digital News Association Edward R. Murrow Award, News Documentary “On the Edge,” 2011
- National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Nashville/MidSouth Emmy Award, News Excellence, 2011
- Radio Television Digital News Association Edward R. Murrow Award, Overall Excellence, 2009
- NC Associated Press Broadcaster’s Association, Outstanding News Operation, 2009
- Radio Television Digital News Association Edward R. Murrow Award, News Documentary “Love Child,” 2008
- Radio Television Digital News Association Edward R. Murrow Award, Videography, 2008
- Radio Television Digital News Association Edward R. Murrow Award, News Writing, 2008
MISSION STATEMENT
At WRAL-TV, we recognize and accept excellence as a fundamental goal of our television station. It is our inherent desire to be the best local television station in the country. We commit to the highest standards of excellence in our local news, entertainment, information and public service programming. Essential to that effort is a foundation of honesty and integrity — qualities which help us earn and build trust with our viewers, co-workers and business partners.
Accuracy and fairness are the cornerstones of our local news effort. As A.J. Fletcher said in 1956, “…to inform the public without bias or favor is this station’s highest duty.” We build upon that foundation by being solution-oriented in our news coverage, offering viewers helpful information and providing context to the stories that affect our viewers’ lives. We provide a balance of all kinds of news about all aspects of life, emphasizing people’s successes as well as their failures.
We recognize that hard work and creativity are our greatest assets. We seek to attract and retain the very best people at every level. We are open to positive change and innovation, with each of us continually working to expand our willingness to take responsibility, and be accountable for our actions.
WRAL-TV is strongly committed to the communities we serve. Public service is an important part of what we do every day, and we encourage our employees to be active participants in the process. We want to be an integral part of our viewers’ lives, and we realize that community involvement is at the core of who we are and what we do.
We operate with a genuine team spirit, treating each other with respect and encouragement. We seek to build upon each other’s ideas, making decisions based upon what’s best for our customers and our company. In this same spirit, WRAL-TV strives to provide financial prosperity to our company, our business partners and our families.
STATEMENT FROM THE VP/GENERAL MANAGER
“You may have read about a number of “firsts” for WRAL-TV. While I am proud of those firsts, I am most proud of our co-workers. Without great co-workers who have the highest standards of excellence and integrity, we could not achieve those firsts. The only reasons those “firsts” are important is because of our commitment to our viewers. We strive to provide the best news, information, community service and entertainment. It is our privilege to serve our 23 county viewing area. The trust that our viewers place on us 24 hours a day is not taken lightly. We are here in times of severe weather, in times of turmoil and in times of jubilation. We are honored to share what we know, when we know it in a fair and comprehensive way.”
– Steven D. Hammel, WRAL-TV VP and General Manager, shammel@wral.com, (919) 821-8510
RECENT NEWS
- WRAL-TV Wins Three Regional Murrow Awards (5/20/2022) - The Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA) has honored WRAL News with three Regional Edward R. Murrow Awards, including one for Overall Excellence. The Regional Murrow Awards recognize the best electronic journalism produced by radio, television and digital news organizations. read more
- WRAL-TV’s Pete Sockett Honored by NAB in Las Vegas (4/27/2022) - The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) presented their 2022 Television Engineering Achievement Award to WRAL-TV Director of Engineering & Operations Pete Sockett at the NAB Show in Las Vegas on Sunday, April 24, 2022. Sockett had a team of Capitol read more
- Current & Former WRAL Staffers Celebrate Tom Suiter’s Induction into NC Sports Hall of Fame (4/26/2022) - A veritable who’s who of WRAL staffers past and present came together to support legendary sports anchor Tom Suiter at his induction into the NC Sports Hall of Fame on Friday, April 22, 2022. The event took place at the read more
- Reflecting on Tom Suiter & Football Friday Before Hall of Fame Induction (4/22/2022) - Legendary WRAL-TV Sports Anchor Tom Suiter will be inducted into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame on Friday, April 22, 2022. To celebrate his long and storied career in broadcasting, 99.9 The Fan Sports Talk Host Joe Ovies features read more
- Jimmy Goodmon Named to Broadcast Television’s Best Leader List for 2022 (4/22/2022) - Radio+Television Business Report has named CBC President & COO Jimmy Goodmon to the publication’s Broadcast Television’s Best Business Leaders of 2022. A feature about Goodmon appeared in the Spring 2022 edition of the publication. “For the fourth consecutive year, nominations read more
- WRAL-TV Picks Up 7 Wins for 36th Annual Midsouth Regional Emmys (3/3/2022) - The Nashville/Midsouth Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences streamed the awards presentation for the 36th Annual Midsouth Regional Emmys via livestream on Saturday, February 26, 2022, and WRAL-TV received 7 of the top honors. The winners were read more
- MidSouth Emmy Nominations Announced, WRAL-TV Earns Multiple Nods, News Excellence (12/1/2021) - The Nashville/Midsouth Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences announced the nominees for the 36th Midsouth Regional Emmy Awards via livestream on Monday, November 29, 2021, and WRAL-TV received 23 nods, including a nomination for News Excellence. The read more
- WRAL-TV Wins Four First, Five Second Place Honors in RTDNAC 2021 Awards (11/2/2021) - The Radio Television Digital News Association of the Carolinas (RTDNAC) announced winners for the organization’s 2021 contest, on October 30, and WRAL-TV won four First Place and five Second Place awards. The WRAL -TV winners are: FIRST PLACE RTDNAC AWARDS read more
- NCAB Honors WRAL-TV for Coverage of 2020 Riots (10/29/2021) - “This type of coverage is what we take pride in here at WRAL…serving our community with the resources, dedication, and passion a story like this deserves.” –WRAL-TV Anchor Debra Morgan The North Carolina Broadcasters Association recognized WRAL-TV with one of the organization’s read more
- WRAL-TV’s Zhong Honored with Second Straight Regional Emmy for Graphic Arts (3/22/2021) - WRAL-TV Visual Design Director Shan Zhong is no stranger to hardware and recently added another statue to his awards case, a Regional Emmy. The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) presented the 35th Midsouth Regional Emmy Awards in read more