CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html lang="en" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xmlns:og="http://ogp.me/ns#" xmlns:fb="http://www.facebook.com/2008/fbml"><head><script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/bundle-playback.js?v=HxkREWBo" charset="utf-8"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/wombat.js?v=txqj7nKC" charset="utf-8"></script> <script>window.RufflePlayer=window.RufflePlayer||{};window.RufflePlayer.config={"autoplay":"on","unmuteOverlay":"hidden"};</script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/ruffle/ruffle.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> __wm.init("https://web.archive.org/web"); __wm.wombat("http://www.abcactionnews.com/dpp/about_us/history/History-of-WFTS","20110813043507","https://web.archive.org/","web","/_static/", "1313210107"); </script> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/_static/css/banner-styles.css?v=S1zqJCYt" /> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/_static/css/iconochive.css?v=3PDvdIFv" />  <script type="text/javascript">(function(a){if(!a.fim)a.fim={};if(!fim.timeline)fim.timeline={};fim.timeline.initial=(new Date).valueOf()})(this);</script><title>History of WFTS</title><meta http-equiv="cache-control" content="no-cache"/><meta http-equiv="pragma" content="no-cache"/><meta http-equiv="expires" content="-1"/><meta name="Description" content="WFTS signed on the air as an independent television station onDecember 14, 1981."><meta name="Keywords" content="WFTS, Tampa, Tampa Bay, About Us, As Seen On, Staff, bio ,biography, profile, contact us, history, tampa bay news, weather, traffic, sports, tampa video, breaking news tampa, st. petersburg, brandon, clearwater, florida"><meta property="og:title" content="History of WFTS"/><meta property="og:type" content="website"/><meta property="og:url" content="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com//dpp/about_us/history/History-of-WFTS"/><meta property="og:image" content="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507im_/http://media2.abcactionnews.com//photo/2010/05/03/ourhistory_20100503135142_320_240.GIF"/><meta property="og:site_name" content="WFTS"/><meta property="fb:app_id" content="124977830920989"/><meta http-equiv="refresh" content="600"><link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="About Us" href="/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/feeds/rssFeed?siteId=10010&obfType=RSS_FEED&categoryId=10012"/><link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="History" href="/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/feeds/rssFeed?siteId=10010&obfType=RSS_FEED&categoryId=20090"/><link rel="shortcut icon" type="image/x-icon" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507im_/http://media2.abcactionnews.com/image/WFTSfavicon.ico"/><link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507cs_/http://www.abcactionnews.com/css/common.css?dppversion=10782"/><link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507cs_/http://media2.abcactionnews.com/css/common10.css?dppversion=10782"/><link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507cs_/http://www.abcactionnews.com/css/delta.css?dppversion=7156"/><script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507js_/http://www.abcactionnews.com/js/common.js?dppversion=10781"></script><script type="text/javascript"> var collarityAppid='abcactionnews'</script><script type="text/javascript"> var timeZone='EST'</script><script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507js_/http://www.abcactionnews.com/js/delta.js?dppversion=7156"></script><script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507js_/http://w.sharethis.com/button/sharethis.js#publisher=50e16957-ac4d-4ae8-a1e2-7e2638330509&type=website&embeds=true"></script>  <script type="text/javascript"> var commentingCountProvider = "ECHO"; var echo = {}; echo.appkey = "prod.scripps"; echo.query = "-state:SystemFlagged,ModeratorDeleted -user.state:ModeratorBanned -source:Twitter"; echo.baseURL = "https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://api.js-kit.com/v1/count"; </script>  <style type="text/css"></style></head><body id="mfl"><script type="text/javascript">fim.mfl.util.identifyBrowser();</script> <div id="wrapper"> <div id="m57952197" class="mod" style="Z-INDEX: 200; POSITION: Relative"> <div id="header" class="masthead" style="background-image: url(https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507im_/http://media2.abcactionnews.com//photo/2010/04/20/wfts_20100420145431_0_0.GIF);"> <ul class="myLinks fontStyle31"> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://contests.abcactionnews.com/engine/Registration.aspx?contestid=17902">Email Alerts</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/subindex/about_us/contests">Contests</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/subindex/marketplace/employment">Jobs</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/subindex/about_us/mobile">Mobile</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/subindex/entertainment/abc_player">ABC</a></li> <li class="last"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://tampabaylaw.tv/">Tampa Bay Law</a></li></ul> <ul class="searchbar line fontStyle31"> <li><script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript"> var ord = ord || Math.random()*1000000000000000000; var tile; if(tile){ tile = tile+1;} else{ tile=1;} if(typeof col1row === "undefined"){col1row=1; col2row=1;col3row=1;} if(typeof ads !="object" || !ads){ads = new Array();} var adid; if (adid == undefined) adid=""; var adidSync=(adid!="")?";comp="+adid:"";var ist="";var istCount;if(!(istCount>0)){istCount=1}if(istCount<3 && ("" + location).indexOf("ist=none")==-1){ist=";dcopt=ist"}; if(typeof fname === "undefined"){fname="History-of-WFTS"}; </script> <script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript"> ads[tile] = '<scr' + 'ipt language="JavaScript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://ad.doubleclick.net/adj/ssp.wfts/about_us/history/detail;pos=;fname=' + fname + ';kw=wfts;kw=tampa;kw=tampa_bay;kw=about_us;kw=as_seen_on;kw=staff;kw=bio;kw=biography;kw=profile;kw=contact_us;kw=history;tile='+tile+ist+';sz=88x31;ord=' + ord + '?rand=' + Math.random()*1000000000000000000 + '" type="text/javascript"></scr' + 'ipt>'; document.write('<div class="moduleAd">'); document.write(ads[tile]);</script><script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript"> document.write("</div>"); istCount++; </script> <script>var adRefreshTimeout=1000;</script></li> <li><form name="top_search" accept-charset="utf-8" class="fontStyle31" method="get" action="/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/search/SERP" id="top_search"> <input type="text" name="top_search_field" id="top_search_field" autocomplete="off"/> <select name="search_type" id="searchtype_dropdown"> <option value="site" selected>Site</option> <option value="web">Web</option> </select> <input type="button" value=" GO>> " alt="Search" onclick="submitSearchForm()"> <input type="hidden" value="" id="sm" name="sm" class="hidden"/> <input type="hidden" value="" id="srm" name="srm" class="hidden"/> <input type="hidden" id="startIndex" name="startIndex" value=""/> <input type="hidden" id="currentPage" name="currentPage" value=" "/> </form> <script type="text/javascript"> window.collarity_appid = "fwl_wfts"; </script></li></ul><span id="header_date" class="timestamp fontStyle31"></span> <div id="branding"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507im_/http://media2.abcactionnews.com//photo/2010/03/18/clickable_20100318123247_0_0.GIF" width="245" height="100" alt="header trans gif_20100318123247_GIF" title="header trans gif_20100318123247_GIF"/></a></div> <hr class="hrline"/></div> </div> <div id="m57952192" class="mod"> <div class="linNav globalNavTop scrippsNav"> <ul> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/">HOME</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/subindex/news">NEWS</a> <ul> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/subindex/news/region_hillsborough">HILLSBOROUGH</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/subindex/news/region_pinellas">PINELLAS</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/subindex/news/region_pasco">PASCO</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/subindex/news/region_polk">POLK</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/subindex/news/state">STATE</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/subindex/news/local_news/investigations">I-TEAM</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/subindex/news/political">POLITICS</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/subindex/news/health">HEALTH</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/subindex/news/science_tech">SCIENCE/TECH</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://abcactionnews.tributes.com/">OBITS</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/subindex/news/local_news">LOCAL</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/subindex/weather">WEATHER</a> <ul> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/dpp/weather/forecast/todays_forecast/latest-accu-weather-forecast">Today's Forecast</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/generic/weather/forecast/7_day_forecast/Accu-Weather-HD-7-Day-Forecast">7-Day</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/generic/weather/forecast/todays_forecast/Accu-Weather-HD-Dayplanner">Dayplanner</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/subindex/weather/maps">Radars & Maps</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/subindex/weather/hurricane">Hurricane Center</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.tornadoalleylive.com/">Tornado Alley</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/subindex/video">VIDEO</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/subindex/traffic">TRAFFIC</a> <ul> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/subindex/traffic">LIVE TRAFFIC MAPS</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/subindex/traffic/incidents">INCIDENTS & DELAYS</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/subindex/traffic/gas_prices">GAS</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/subindex/entertainment">ENTERTAINMENT</a> <ul> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/subindex/entertainment/celebrity">CELEBRITY</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/subindex/entertainment/movies">MOVIES</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/subindex/entertainment/television/station_sched">TV LISTINGS</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/subindex/news/local_news/water_cooler">WATER COOLER</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/subindex/entertainment/events">EVENTS</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/subindex/entertainment/abc_player">ABC FULL EPISODES</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/subindex/lifestyle">LIFESTYLE</a> <ul> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/subindex/lifestyle/family">PARENTING</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/subindex/lifestyle/food">FOOD</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/subindex/lifestyle/travel">TRAVEL</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/subindex/lifestyle/pets">PETS</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/subindex/sports">SPORTS</a> <ul> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/generic/sports/sports_blogs_local/More-Local-Sports">SPORTSTALK</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/generic/sports/baseball/rays/More-Tampa-Bay-Rays-News">RAYS</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/generic/sports/football/buccaneers/More-Tampa-Bay-Buccaneers-News">BUCCANEERS</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/generic/sports/hockey/tampa_bay_lightning/More-Tampa-Bay-Lightning-News">LIGHTNING</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/subindex/money">MONEY</a> <ul> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/subindex/money/consumer/dont_waste_your_money">DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/subindex/money/consumer/dirty_dining">DIRTY DINING</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/subindex/money/consumer/taking_action_for_you">TAKING ACTION</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/subindex/money/angies_list">ANGIE'S LIST</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/subindex/money/personal_finance">FINANCE</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/subindex/money/business_news">BUSINESS</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/subindex/marketplace">MARKETPLACE</a> <ul> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://wfts.oodle.com/">CLASSIFIEDS</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://cars.wfts.oodle.com/used-cars/tampa-fl/">CARS FOR SALE</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://realestate.wfts.oodle.com/">REAL ESTATE</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://thelaw.tv/813/">TampaBayLaw.tv</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/subindex/marketplace/employment">TAMPA BAY JOBS</a></li></ul></li> <li class="selected"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/subindex/about_us">ABOUT</a> <ul> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/subindex/about_us/as_seen_on">SEEN ON</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/subindex/about_us/staff">STAFF</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/generic/about_us/staff/Social-Media-Directory">FACEBOOK/TWITTER</a></li> <li class="selected"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/dpp/about_us/history/History-of-WFTS">HISTORY</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com//subindex/about_us/community_affairs">COMMUNITY</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://scripps.com/careers/jobsearch.html">STATION JOBS</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/subindex/about_us/contests">CONTESTS</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/subindex/about_us/contact_us">CONTACT</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/subindex/about_us/aboutuswildcard3">PARTNERS</a></li></ul></li></ul> <script type="text/javascript">fim.mfl.globalNavMenu.createMenu("scrippsNav");</script></div> </div> <div id="m57952196" class="mod"> <div id="moduleRefresh57952196" class="refresh"><div class="alerts" ttl="2" url="/refreshmodule/0/57952196"> <div class="alerts"><h3 class="fontStyle37">ALERTS</h3><h4> <div class="verticalScrollDown"> <div class="headline"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/dpp/weather/hurricane/tropical-depression-forms-north-of-bermuda" class="fontStyle38" title="Tropical depression forms N of Bermuda" url="http://www.abcactionnews.com/dpp/weather/hurricane/tropical-depression-forms-north-of-bermuda">Tropical depression forms N of Bermuda</a></div> <div class="headline"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/dpp/news/region_tampa/florida-intends-to-seek-death-penalty-in-murder-of-beau-and-calyx-schenecker" class="fontStyle38" title="State to seek death in Schenecker case" url="http://www.abcactionnews.com/dpp/news/region_tampa/florida-intends-to-seek-death-penalty-in-murder-of-beau-and-calyx-schenecker">State to seek death in Schenecker case</a></div> <div class="headline"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/subindex/about_us/mobile" class="fontStyle38" title="Download our interactive weather apps" url="http://www.abcactionnews.com/subindex/about_us/mobile">Download our interactive weather apps</a></div></div></h4></div></div> </div></div> <div id="m57952212" class="mod"> </div> <div id="m57952216" class="mod"> <div id="moduleRefresh57952216" class="refresh"><div id="nwsAlerts" ttl="1" url="/refreshmodule/0/57952216"></div> </div></div> <div id="m57952221" class="mod" style="Z-INDEX: 200; POSITION: Relative"> <div class="module horizontal"> <div class="content"> <div class="ad"> <div style="width:728px;height:90px;"><script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript"> var ord = ord || Math.random()*1000000000000000000; var tile; if(tile){ tile = tile+1;} else{ tile=1;} if(typeof col1row === "undefined"){col1row=1; col2row=1;col3row=1;} if(typeof ads !="object" || !ads){ads = new Array();} var adid; if (adid == undefined) adid=""; var adidSync=(adid!="")?";comp="+adid:"";var ist="";var istCount;if(!(istCount>0)){istCount=1}if(istCount<3 && ("" + location).indexOf("ist=none")==-1){ist=";dcopt=ist"}; if(typeof fname === "undefined"){fname="History-of-WFTS"}; </script> <script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript">var zone; if (typeof pageZone === "undefined"){zone="about_us/history/detail"}else{zone=pageZone}; ads[tile] = '<scr' + 'ipt language="JavaScript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://ad.doubleclick.net/adj/ssp.wfts/' + zone + ';fname=' + fname + ';pos=728x90_top;kw=wfts;kw=tampa;kw=tampa_bay;kw=about_us;kw=as_seen_on;kw=staff;kw=bio;kw=biography;kw=profile;kw=contact_us;kw=history;tile='+tile+ist+';sz=728x90;ord=' + ord + '' + adidSync + '?rand=' + Math.random()*1000000000000000000 + '" type="text/javascript"></scr' + 'ipt>'; document.write(ads[tile]); istCount++;</script> <script>var adRefreshTimeout=1000;</script></div></div> <div class="fontStyle10 ad verticaltext">advertisement</div><object class="vertical-svg" type="image/svg+xml" data="data:image/svg+xml,<svg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'><text x='-90' y='728' font-family='Arial' font-size='10' fill='#999' transform='rotate(-90)'>advertisement</text></svg>"></object></div></div> </div> <div class="breadcrumbs fontStyle28"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/" title="Home">Home</a> : <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/subindex/about_us" title="About Us">About Us</a> : <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/subindex/about_us/history" title="History">History</a> : </div> <div class="super"> <div id="storyTitle"><h1 class="fontStyle51">The History of WFTS</h1></div> <div id="firstColumnModulesStoryPage"> <div class="col1"> <div id="m78724526" class="module media2 variable " style=""> <div class="module-wrapper"> <div class="module-bg"> <div class="corners"> <div class="tl"></div> <div class="tr"></div> <div class="bl"></div> <div class="br"></div> </div> <div class="content"> <div class="photos" style="height: 240px;"> <div class="photo"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507im_/http://media2.abcactionnews.com//photo/2010/05/03/ourhistory_20100503135142_320_240.GIF" alt="" title="" style="display: block; margin: auto; background: #ccc;" islarge="false"/></div><p class="fontStyle14">Copyright 2010 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.</p> </div> <div class="controlsContainer"><a href="#" class="regular" trackas="tab">Regular Photo Size</a></div></div></div></div></div> </div> <div class="col1"> <div class="module skyscraper"> <div class="content"> <div class="ad"> <div style="width:160px;height:600px;"><script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript"> var ord = ord || Math.random()*1000000000000000000; var tile; if(tile){ tile = tile+1;} else{ tile=1;} if(typeof col1row === "undefined"){col1row=1; col2row=1;col3row=1;} if(typeof ads !="object" || !ads){ads = new Array();} var adid; if (adid == undefined) adid=""; var adidSync=(adid!="")?";comp="+adid:"";var ist="";var istCount;if(!(istCount>0)){istCount=1}if(istCount<3 && ("" + location).indexOf("ist=none")==-1){ist=";dcopt=ist"}; if(typeof fname === "undefined"){fname="History-of-WFTS"}; </script> <script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript">var zone; if (typeof pageZone === "undefined"){zone="about_us/history/detail"}else{zone=pageZone}; ads[tile] = '<scr' + 'ipt language="JavaScript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://ad.doubleclick.net/adj/ssp.wfts/' + zone + ';fname=' + fname + ';pos=advertisement;kw=wfts;kw=tampa;kw=tampa_bay;kw=about_us;kw=as_seen_on;kw=staff;kw=bio;kw=biography;kw=profile;kw=contact_us;kw=history;tile='+tile+ist+';sz=160x600;ord=' + ord + '' + adidSync + '?rand=' + Math.random()*1000000000000000000 + '" type="text/javascript"></scr' + 'ipt>'; document.write(ads[tile]); istCount++;</script> <script>var adRefreshTimeout=1000;</script></div></div> <div class="fontStyle10 ad verticaltext">advertisement</div></div></div> </div> </div> <div class="detail"> <div class="tool"> <div><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="changeStoryTextFont('small'); return false;"> <img src="/web/20110813043507im_/http://www.abcactionnews.com/images/font-size-images/disable/1.gif" id="font_sm" alt="alt" title="alt" class="fontbut"/></a><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="changeStoryTextFont('medium'); return false;"> <img src="/web/20110813043507im_/http://www.abcactionnews.com/images/font-size-images/enable/2.gif" id="font_md" alt="alt" title="alt" class="fontbut"/></a><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="changeStoryTextFont('large'); return false;"> <img src="/web/20110813043507im_/http://www.abcactionnews.com/images/font-size-images/disable/3.gif" id="font_lg" alt="alt" title="alt" class="fontbut"/></a><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="changeStoryTextFont('xlarge'); return false;"> <img src="/web/20110813043507im_/http://www.abcactionnews.com/images/font-size-images/disable/4.gif" id="font_xl" alt="alt" title="alt" class="fontbut"/></a></div> <div class="shareThis"><script type="text/javascript">SHARETHIS.addEntry();</script></div> <div id="topStoryPager"></div></div><p class="fontStyle21">Posted: 05/03/2010</p> <ul class="byline fontStyle16"></ul> <div class="fontStyle4 storyFontResize"> <div class="story last"><p>WFTS signed on the air as an independent television station on December 14, 1981. Local businessman Ian Wheeler founded the station and the call letters were in reference to the station's mission as a "family television" station. Wheeler's objective was to provide Tampa Bay viewers with syndicated reruns, religious programming and movie classics.</p> <p>The station was sold to Capital Cities Communications April 16, 1984. Under the new management, premiere movie packages were purchased and investments were made in first-run programs and specials. When E.W. Scripps began operation of <strong>WFTS</strong> January 2, 1986, it had a staff of 55 and a 19-hour broadcast day that featured new and classic programming targeted toward family viewership.</p> <p>In 1988, WFTS became a FOX affiliate. However, on May 22, 1994, as part of the biggest shake-up in the history of network television, WFTS was one of 12 FOX affiliates nationwide involved in a network shuffle. WFTS emerged as an ABC affiliate with an immediate need for a full-fledged news department.</p> <p>At the time, WFTS operated out of a small facility on Columbus Drive in Tampa. The equipment and infrastructure WFTS needed for its new news department was housed 23 miles away at the Home Shopping Network's headquarters. Less than a year after <strong>Tampa Bay 28 News</strong> premiered, the start-up operation was named "Best Newscast" by the Tampa Bay Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. Other awards were earned for general reporting and deadline photography.</p> <p>The station operated out of the two facilities until 1996 when its $6 million, 73,000 square-foot facility on Himes Avenue was completed.</p> <p>On July 28, 2007 at 6:00pm, <strong>WFTS-TV</strong> became the first broadcast station newscast in the Tampa DMA to broadcast in high definition.</p> <p>In 2008, <strong>ABC Action News</strong> earned recognition as the “Best Newscast” at the 58th Annual Society of Professional Journalists Green Eyeshade Awards, a regional journalism competition among 11 Southeastern states: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and West Virginia. </p> <p>Florida Associated Press recognized WFTS-TV, ABC Action News as Florida’s "Best Overall TV News Operation" in 2008 and 2009, and abcactionnews.com was named "Best Television Website" for both years as well.</p> <p>In 2009, ABC Action News also took home a first place trophy in Public Affairs for our <strong>Taking Action for Domestic Violence</strong> campaign. <br/> </p> <div><p id="copyrightStoryModule" class="fontStyle10">Copyright 2010 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.</p></div></div></div> <div class="col1"> </div> <div class="col2"> <div id="m57961895" class="usertools actions variable"> <div class="module-wrapper"> <div class="module-bg"> <div class="content"> <ul style="float: none;clear: both;" class="actions"> <li><a href="javascript:printThis();"> <img src="/web/20110813043507im_/http://www.abcactionnews.com/images/icons/printThis.gif" width="18" height="18" alt="PRINT" title="PRINT"/> PRINT</a></li></ul> <div class="shareThis" style="float: left;clear: both;"><script type="text/javascript">SHARETHIS.addEntry();</script></div></div> </div></div></div> </div> </div> <div class="story-modules"></div> </div> <div class="col3"> <div id="m57952234" class="mod"> <div id="m57952234" class="module wex3"> <div class="module-wrapper"> <div class="module-bg"> <div class="corners"> <div class="tl"></div> <div class="tr"></div> <div class="bl"></div> <div class="br"></div> </div> <div class="content"> <div class="city-state">Tampa, FL </div> <span class="fontStyle26"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/subindex/weather" title="84°" target="_top">84°</a></span> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/subindex/weather" url="http://www.abcactionnews.com/subindex/weather" target="_top"> <img src="/web/20110813043507im_/http://www.abcactionnews.com/images/weather_icons_automated/night/partlycloudy.jpg" width="55" height="45" alt="Partly cloudy" title="Partly cloudy" class="icon"/></a> <div class="conditions fontStyle16"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/subindex/weather" url="http://www.abcactionnews.com/subindex/weather" target="_top">Partly cloudy</a><br/><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/subindex/weather" url="http://www.abcactionnews.com/subindex/weather" target="_top">Full Forecast</a> </div> <ul class="headline"> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/dpp/weather/forecast/todays_forecast/latest-accu-weather-forecast" url="http://www.abcactionnews.com/dpp/weather/forecast/todays_forecast/latest-accu-weather-forecast" target="_top">Latest Forecast: The heat is on!</a></li> </ul></div> </div></div></div> </div> <div id="m1159563" class="mod" style="Z-INDEX: 200; POSITION: Relative"> <div class="module bigad"> <div class="content"> <div class="ad"> <div class="advert300By250 companionAd" style="width:300px;margin: 0pt auto; text-align: center;"><script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript"> var ord = ord || Math.random()*1000000000000000000; var tile; if(tile){ tile = tile+1;} else{ tile=1;} if(typeof col1row === "undefined"){col1row=1; col2row=1;col3row=1;} if(typeof ads !="object" || !ads){ads = new Array();} var adid; if (adid == undefined) adid=""; var adidSync=(adid!="")?";comp="+adid:"";var ist="";var istCount;if(!(istCount>0)){istCount=1}if(istCount<3 && ("" + location).indexOf("ist=none")==-1){ist=";dcopt=ist"}; if(typeof fname === "undefined"){fname="History-of-WFTS"}; </script> <script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript">var zone; if (typeof pageZone === "undefined"){zone="about_us/history/detail"}else{zone=pageZone}; ads[tile] = '<scr' + 'ipt language="JavaScript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://ad.doubleclick.net/adj/ssp.wfts/' + zone + ';fname=' + fname + ';pos=col3_ad' + (col3row++) + ';kw=wfts;kw=tampa;kw=tampa_bay;kw=about_us;kw=as_seen_on;kw=staff;kw=bio;kw=biography;kw=profile;kw=contact_us;kw=history;tile='+tile+ist+';sz=300x250,300x600;ord=' + ord + '' + adidSync + '?rand=' + Math.random()*1000000000000000000 + '" type="text/javascript"></scr' + 'ipt>'; document.write(ads[tile]); istCount++;</script> <script>var adRefreshTimeout=1000;</script></div></div> <div class="fontStyle10 ad adLabel verticaltext">advertisement</div></div></div> </div> <div id="m57952229" class="mod"> <div id="m57952229" class="module generic iframe" style="height:300px"> <div class="module-wrapper"> <div class="module-bg"> <div class="corners"> <div class="tl"></div> <div class="tr"></div> <div class="bl"></div> <div class="br"></div> </div> <ul class="ui-tabs-nav tabs-1"> <li class="ui-tabs-selected"><span class="fontStyle1">Stay Connected</span></li> </ul> <div id="57952229-1" class="ui-tabs-panel"> <div id="HTML134103431" class="ui-tabs-panel" style="display: block;"> <div id="search-results" class="content" style="height:256px"><p><style type="text/css"> .stayConnected a { color:#000; text-decoration : none; } .stayConnected a:visited { color:#000; text-decoration : none; } .stayConnected a:hover { color:#000; text-decoration : underline; } </style></p><div style="width: 290px; height: 210px; font-family: Arail,Helvetica,Sans-Serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;"><div style="clear: both;" class="stayConnected"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/subindex/about_us/contact_us"> <div style="float: left; padding-left: 10px; padding-right: 10px; height: 30px; width: 30px; text-align: center;"><img style="border-width: 0px;" alt="Contact Us" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507im_/http://media2.abcactionnews.com/image/StayConnected/email-icon.jpg"/></div> <div style="float: left; padding-left: 10px; padding-right: 10px;"><span style="font-size: medium; ">Contact Us</span></div> </a> <div style="clear: both;" class="stayConnected"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/subindex/about_us/mobile"> <div style="float: left; padding-left: 10px; padding-right: 10px; height: 30px; width: 30px; text-align: center;"><img style="border-width: 0px;" alt="ABC Action News Mobile" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507im_/http://media2.abcactionnews.com/image/StayConnected/mobile-icon.jpg"/></div> <div style="float: left; padding-left: 10px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 4px;"><span style="font-size: medium; ">ABC Action News Mobile</span></div></a></div><div style="clear: both;" class="stayConnected"><a target="_new" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.facebook.com/tampabaynews"><div style="float: left; padding-left: 10px; padding-right: 10px; height: 30px; width: 30px; text-align: center;"><img style="border-width: 0px;" alt="ABC Action News on Facebook" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507im_/http://media2.abcactionnews.com/image/StayConnected/facebook-icon.jpg"/></div> <div style="float: left; padding-left: 10px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 6px;">Facebook</div> </a></div> <div style="clear: both;" class="stayConnected"><a target="_new" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://twitter.com/abcactionnews"> <div style="float: left; padding-left: 10px; padding-right: 10px; height: 30px; width: 30px; text-align: center;"><img style="border-width: 0px;" alt="ABC Action News on Twitter" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507im_/http://media2.abcactionnews.com/image/StayConnected/twitter-icon.jpg"/></div> <div style="float: left; padding-left: 10px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 4px;">Twitter</div> </a></div> <div style="clear: both;" class="stayConnected"><a target="_new" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://youtube.com/abcactionnews"> <div style="float: left; padding-left: 10px; padding-right: 10px; height: 30px; width: 30px; text-align: center;"><img style="border-width: 0px;" alt="ABC Action News on YouTube" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507im_/http://media2.abcactionnews.com/image/StayConnected/youtube-icon.jpg"/></div> <div style="float: left; padding-left: 10px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 4px;">YouTube</div> </a></div> <div style="clear: both;" class="stayConnected"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/subindex/entertainment/events"> <div style="float: left; padding-left: 10px; padding-right: 10px; height: 30px; width: 30px; text-align: center;"><img style="border-width: 0px;" alt="ABC Action News - Tampa Bay Community Calendar" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507im_/http://media2.abcactionnews.com/image/StayConnected/calendar-icon.jpg"/></div> <div style="float: left; padding-left: 10px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 6px;">Community Calendar</div> </a></div></div> <div style="clear: both;" class="stayConnected"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/subindex/money/consumer/restaurant_inspections"> <div style="float: left; padding-left: 10px; padding-right: 10px; height: 30px; width: 30px; text-align: center;"><img style="border-width: 0px;" alt="ABC Action News - Dirty Dining - Restaurant Inspections" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507im_/http://media2.abcactionnews.com/image/StayConnected/food-icon.jpg"/></div> <div style="float: left; padding-left: 10px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 6px;">Restaurant Inspections</div> </a></div></div> <div style="clear: both;" class="stayConnected"><a target="_new" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://tampabaylaw.tv/"> <div style="float: left; padding-left: 10px; padding-right: 10px; height: 30px; width: 30px; text-align: center;"><img style="border-width: 0px;" alt="tampabaylaw.tv" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507im_/http://media2.abcactionnews.com/image/StayConnected/tampabaylawtv-icon.jpg"/></div> <div style="float: left; padding-left: 10px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 6px;"><span style="font-size: medium; ">TampaBayLaw.tv</span></div> </a></div> </div> <div class="footer"> </div> </div> </div> <div class="footer"> </div> </div></div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ftr"> <div id="m57952208" class="mod"> <div id="m57952208" class="module generic iframe" style="height:215px;width:994px"> <div class="module-wrapper"> <div class="module-bg"> <div class="corners"> <div class="tl"></div> <div class="tr"></div> <div class="bl"></div> <div class="br"></div> </div> <div id="57952208-1" class="ui-tabs-panel"> <div id="HTML134103411" class="ui-tabs-panel" style="display: block;"> <div id="search-results" class="content" style="height:215px"><div> <style type="text/css"> #mfl .wex3 .city-state {margin: -25px 0 2px 8px;} #mfl .wex3 span{margin-left: 8px;} #mfl .wex3 ul.headline li{list-style: none; margin-left: 8px;} #mfl .wex3 ul.headline {background:url("/web/20110813043507im_/http://www.abcactionnews.com/images/layout/navigation/nav_bg.gif") repeat-x center bottom !important; border-bottom: 1px solid #CAB79F; height: 24px; line-height: 24px; bottom: 0px;} #mfl .wex3 .icon, #mfl .wex1 .icon, #mfl .wex-trfx .icon {margin-left: 8px;} .moreLinkFooter {padding-top: 10px !important; padding-bottom: 10px !important;} </style></div> <table width="994px" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" style="margin-bottom: 5px;" class="footer"> <tbody> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="100%" height="50px" style="background-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><table width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td width="65%" style="padding-left: 20px;"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/"><img alt="" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507im_/http://media2.abcactionnews.com/footer/images/wfts-logo.jpg"/></a></td>  <td width="14%"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/subindex/about_us/mobile"><img alt="" style="border: medium none;" onmouseover="this.src='https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://media2.abcactionnews.com/html/footer/images/scrippsmobile-footer-on.jpg'; return true;" onmouseout="this.src='https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://media2.abcactionnews.com/html/footer/images/scrippsmobile-footer-off.jpg'; return true;" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507im_/http://media2.abcactionnews.com/html/footer/images/scrippsmobile-footer-off.jpg"/></a></td> <td width="11%"><a target="_blank" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.facebook.com/tampabaynews"><img alt="" style="border: medium none;" onmouseover="this.src='https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://media2.abcactionnews.com/html/footer/images/scrippsfacebook-footer-on.jpg'; return true;" onmouseout="this.src='https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://media2.abcactionnews.com/html/footer/images/scrippsfacebook-footer-off.jpg'; return true;" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507im_/http://media2.abcactionnews.com/html/footer/images/scrippsfacebook-footer-off.jpg"/></a></td> <td width="10%"><a target="_blank" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://twitter.com/abcactionnews"><img alt="" style="border: medium none;" onmouseover="this.src='https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://media2.abcactionnews.com/html/footer/images/scrippstwitter-footer-on.jpg'; return true;" onmouseout="this.src='https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://media2.abcactionnews.com/html/footer/images/scrippstwitter-footer-off.jpg'; return true;" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507im_/http://media2.abcactionnews.com/html/footer/images/scrippstwitter-footer-off.jpg"/></a></td> </tr> </tbody> </table></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" style="padding-left: 60px;"><table width="95%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><table width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td width="20%" valign="top" style="padding-left: 15px;"><table width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td width="20%" class="footerheading" style="line-height: 40px;"><strong><span style="font-size: larger;">NEWS</span></strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="20%" class="footernav"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/subindex/news/region_hillsborough">Hillsborough</a></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="20%" class="footernav"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/subindex/news/region_pinellas">Pinellas</a></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="20%" class="footernav"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/subindex/news/region_pasco">Pasco</a></td> </tr>  <tr> <td width="20%" class="footernav"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/subindex/news/region_polk">Polk</a></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="20%" class="footernav"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/subindex/traffic">Traffic</a></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="20%" class="footernav"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/subindex/weather">Weather</a></td> </tr> </tbody> </table></td> <td width="20%" valign="top"><table width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td width="20%" class="footerheading" style="line-height: 40px;"><span style="font-size: larger;"><strong>STATION LINKS</strong></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="20%" class="footernav"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/subindex/weather/hurricane">Hurricane Center</a></td> </tr>  <tr> <td width="20%" class="footernav"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/subindex/about_us/as_seen_on">As Seen On</a></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="20%" class="footernav"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/subindex/marketplace/employment">Jobs</a></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="20%" class="footernav"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/subindex/traffic/gas_prices">Gas Prices<br/></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="20%" class="footernav"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/subindex/money/angies_list">Angie's List<br/></a></td> </tr> </tbody> </table></td> <td width="23%" valign="top"><table width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td width="20%" class="footerheading" style="line-height: 40px;"><span style="font-size: larger;"><strong>ENTERTAINMENT</strong></span></td> </tr>  <tr> <td width="20%" class="footernav"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/subindex/entertainment/celebrity">Celebrity</a></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="20%" class="footernav"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/generic/entertainment/games/crosswords/Todays_Crossword">Crosswords</a> & <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/generic/entertainment/games/sudoku/Todays_Sudoku">Sudoku</a></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="20%" class="footernav"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/subindex/lifestyle/horoscope">Horoscopes</a></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="20%" class="footernav"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/subindex/entertainment/movies">Movies</a></td> </tr>  <tr> <td width="20%" class="footernav"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/subindex/entertainment/television/station_sched">TV Listings</a></td> </tr> </tbody> </table></td> <td width="18%" valign="top"><table width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td width="20%" class="footerheading" style="line-height: 40px;"><span style="font-size: larger;"><strong>CONNECT</strong></span></td> </tr>  <tr> <td width="20%" class="footernav"><a target="_blank" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.facebook.com/tampabaynews">Facebook</a></td> </tr>  <tr> <td width="20%" class="footernav"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/subindex/about_us/mobile">Mobile</a></td> </tr>  <tr> <td width="20%" class="footernav"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/generic/news/RSS">RSS</a></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="20%" class="footernav"><p><a target="_blank" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://twitter.com/abcactionnews">Twitter</a></p></td> </tr> <tr><td width="20%" class="footernav"><p><a target="_blank" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://tampabaylaw.tv/">TampaBayLaw.tv</a></p></td> </tr>  </tbody> </table></td> <td width="19%" valign="top"><table width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td width="20%" class="footerheading" style="line-height: 40px;"><span style="font-size: larger;"><strong>ABOUT US</strong><br/></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="20%" class="footernav"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/subindex/about_us/advertise">Advertise With Us</a></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="20%" class="footernav"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/subindex/about_us/contact_us">Contact Us</a></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="20%" class="footernav"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://media2.abcactionnews.com/footer/legal/2010_EEO_Public_File.xls">EEO</a></td> </tr>  <tr> <td width="20%" class="footernav"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/subindex/about_us/aboutuswildcard3">Partners</a></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="20%" class="footernav"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/dpp/about_us/legal/privacy-policy">Privacy Policy</a></td> </tr> <tr>  </tr> <tr> <td width="20%" class="footernav"><a target="_blank" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.scripps.com/careers/jobsearch.html">Station Jobs</a></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="20%" class="footernav"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/subindex/about_us/staff">Team Bios</a></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="20%" class="footernav"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/dpp/about_us/legal/Terms-of-Use">Terms of Use</a></td> </tr> </tbody> </table></td> </tr> </tbody> </table></td> </tr> </tbody> </table></td> </tr> <tr> <td><img alt="" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507im_/http://media2.abcactionnews.com/html/footer/images/horiz-line.jpg"/></td> </tr> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>  <script type="text/javascript"> _qoptions={ qacct:"p-cfh7-Kj7hw4Cs", labels:"home" }; </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507js_/http://edge.quantserve.com/quant.js"></script> <noscript> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507im_/http://pixel.quantserve.com/pixel/p-cfh7-Kj7hw4Cs.gif" style="display: none;" border="0" height="1" width="1" alt="Quantcast"/> </noscript>  <script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(function() { jQuery('#header').parent().css('z-index',201); jQuery('#header object param[name=wmode]').val('transparent'); jQuery('#header embed').attr('wmode','transparent'); }); </script> <script type="text/javascript"> // ******************** BEGIN FACEBOOK RECOMMEND JS ********************* window.onload = checkForStoryPager; function checkForStoryPager(){ //make sure you're on a story-level page before running the code if (document.getElementById("topStoryPager")) { createFBRecommend(); } } function createFBRecommend (){ //get current page URL and encode it for use as a query string currentURL = window.location.href; encodedURL = encodeURIComponent(currentURL); //split fb iframe source and insert encoded URL between them for new iframe source fbIframeSrc1 = "https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?href="; fbIframeSrc2 = "&layout=standard&show_faces=true&width=323&action=recommend&colorscheme=light"; iframeSrc = fbIframeSrc1+encodedURL+fbIframeSrc2; //create FB iframe and place it above story text parentNode = document.getElementById("topStoryPager").parentNode; container = document.createElement('div'); container.setAttribute("id", "fbRecommend"); container.style.height = "auto"; createdIframe = document.createElement("iframe"); createdIframe.setAttribute("id", "createdIframe"); createdIframe.setAttribute("src", iframeSrc); createdIframe.setAttribute("scrolling", "no"); createdIframe.setAttribute("allowtransparency", "true"); createdIframe.setAttribute("frameBorder", "0"); createdIframe.style.border = "medium none"; createdIframe.style.overflow = "hidden"; createdIframe.style.width = "323px"; createdIframe.style.height = "30px"; createdIframe.style.marginTop = "10px"; container.appendChild(createdIframe); parentNode.appendChild(container); } // ******************** END FACEBOOK RECOMMEND JS ********************* </script> <script type="text/javascript"> var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-6124128-2']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/https://ssl' : 'https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })(); </script> </div> <div class="footer"> </div> </div> </div> <div class="footer"> </div> </div></div> </div> </div> <div id="m57952194" class="mod" style="Z-INDEX: 200; POSITION: Relative"> <div class="module horizontal"> <div class="content"> <div class="ad"> <div style="width:728px;height:90px;"><script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript"> var ord = ord || Math.random()*1000000000000000000; var tile; if(tile){ tile = tile+1;} else{ tile=1;} if(typeof col1row === "undefined"){col1row=1; col2row=1;col3row=1;} if(typeof ads !="object" || !ads){ads = new Array();} var adid; if (adid == undefined) adid=""; var adidSync=(adid!="")?";comp="+adid:"";var ist="";var istCount;if(!(istCount>0)){istCount=1}if(istCount<3 && ("" + location).indexOf("ist=none")==-1){ist=";dcopt=ist"}; if(typeof fname === "undefined"){fname="History-of-WFTS"}; </script> <script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript">var zone; if (typeof pageZone === "undefined"){zone="about_us/history/detail"}else{zone=pageZone}; ads[tile] = '<scr' + 'ipt language="JavaScript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://ad.doubleclick.net/adj/ssp.wfts/' + zone + ';fname=' + fname + ';pos=728x90_bottom;kw=wfts;kw=tampa;kw=tampa_bay;kw=about_us;kw=as_seen_on;kw=staff;kw=bio;kw=biography;kw=profile;kw=contact_us;kw=history;tile='+tile+ist+';sz=728x90;ord=' + ord + '' + adidSync + '?rand=' + Math.random()*1000000000000000000 + '" type="text/javascript"></scr' + 'ipt>'; document.write(ads[tile]); istCount++;</script> <script>var adRefreshTimeout=1000;</script></div></div> <div class="fontStyle10 ad verticaltext">advertisement</div><object class="vertical-svg" type="image/svg+xml" data="data:image/svg+xml,<svg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'><text x='-90' y='728' font-family='Arial' font-size='10' fill='#999' transform='rotate(-90)'>advertisement</text></svg>"></object></div></div> </div> <div id="m57952193" class="mod"> <div id="footer"> <div class="footer-scripps"> <div class="content"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.scripps.com/" url="http://media2.abcactionnews.com//photo/2010/03/11/scripps_logo_20100311214023_0_0.PNG" style="height:54;width:54;"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507im_/http://media2.abcactionnews.com//photo/2010/03/11/scripps_logo_20100311214023_0_0.PNG" width="54" height="54" alt="Scripps Corp Logo_20100311214023_PNG" title="Scripps Corp Logo_20100311214023_PNG"/></a><p class="fontStyle21" style="margin-bottom: 0px;">Scripps TV Station Group ©2011 The E.W. Scripps Co.</p><nobr> <div class="legal"> <ul class="fontStyle15"> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/dpp/about_us/legal/privacy-policy">Privacy Policy</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/dpp/about_us/legal/Terms-of-Use">Terms of Use</a></li> <li class="last"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://media2.abcactionnews.com/footer/legal/2010_EEO_Public_File.xls" target="_blank">EEO</a></li></ul></div></nobr></div> <div class="moreStories"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://www.abcactionnews.com/subindex/about_us/aboutuswildcard3" class="fontStyle15">More News and information from our local news partners</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="col2"> </div> <script language="JavaScript"> var lin_s_account, lin_linkInternalFilters, lin_pageName, lin_pageType, lin_prop1 ,lin_prop2, lin_prop3, lin_prop4, lin_hier1, lin_prop22 , lin_prop23, lin_prop24, lin_prop25, lin_campaign, lin_events, lin_products, lin_purchaseID, lin_transactionID, lin_eVar1, lin_hier2; lin_s_account = "ewstvabcactionnews"; lin_linkInternalFilters ="javascript:,"; lin_pageType=""; lin_pageName="about us:history:detail"; lin_prop1="about us"; lin_prop2="about us:history"; lin_prop3="about us:history"; lin_prop4="about us:history"; lin_hier1="about us,history"; lin_prop22="history of wfts"; lin_prop23="history-of-wfts"; lin_prop24="about us"; lin_prop25=""; lin_campaign=""; lin_events=""; lin_products=""; lin_purchaseID=""; lin_transactionID=""; lin_eVar1=""; lin_hier2=""; </script> <script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507js_/https://a248.e.akamai.net/media2.newsnet5.com/omniture/s_code_scripps.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507js_/http://service.collarity.com/cust/fwl_scripps/ucs.js"></script><script type="text/javascript">var _sf_startpt=(new Date()).getTime();var _sf_async_config={uid:15115,domain:"abcactionnews.com"};(function(){function A(){window._sf_endpt=(new Date()).getTime();var C=document.createElement("script");C.setAttribute("language","javascript");C.setAttribute("type","text/javascript");C.setAttribute("src",(("https:"==document.location.protocol)?"https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/https://a248.e.akamai.net/chartbeat.download.akamai.com/102508/":"https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://static.chartbeat.com/")+"js/chartbeat.js");document.body.appendChild(C)}var B=window.onload;window.onload=(typeof window.onload!="function")?A:function(){B();A()}})();</script><script type="text/javascript">Echo.Broadcast.subscribe("Submit.onPostInit",function(B,C,A){itemContent=C.postData.content;itemContent=itemContent.replace(/<object(.*?)<\/object>/g,"[video]");itemContent=itemContent.replace(/<object(.*?)<\/>/g,"[video]");itemContent=itemContent.replace(/<object(.*?)/g,"[video]");itemContent=itemContent.replace(/<img(.*?)<\/img>/g,"(image)");itemContent=itemContent.replace(/<img(.*?)\/>/g,"(image)");itemContent=itemContent.replace(/<img(.*?)/g,"(image)");itemContent=itemContent.replace(/<font(.*?)<\/font>/g,"(font)");itemContent=itemContent.replace(/<font(.*?)\/>/g,"(font)");itemContent=itemContent.replace(/<font(.*?)/g,"(font)");itemContent=itemContent.replace(/<embed(.*?)<\/embed>/g,"(embed)");itemContent=itemContent.replace(/<embed(.*?)\/>/g,"(embed)");itemContent=itemContent.replace(/<embed(.*?)/g,"(embed)");itemContent=itemContent.replace(/<script(.*?)<\/script>/g,"(script)");itemContent=itemContent.replace(/<script(.*?)\/>/g,"(script)");itemContent=itemContent.replace(/<script(.*?)/g,"(script)");C.postData.content=itemContent});Echo.Broadcast.subscribe("Stream.Item.onControlClick",function(B,C,A){if(C.name=="Flag"){commentStatus="CommunityFlagged";commentId=C.item.data.object.id;commentDatePublished=C.item.data.object.published;actorId=C.item.data.actor.id;actorTitle=C.item.data.actor.title;commentContent=C.item.data.object.content;C.item.data.object.status="CommunityFlagged";$.getJSON("https://web.archive.org/web/20110813043507/http://wfts-site-director.appspot.com/echoMail?callback=?",{cStatus:commentStatus,cId:commentId,cPub:commentDatePublished,aId:actorId,aTitle:actorTitle,cComment:commentContent},function(D){})}});</script></body></html>