WRCB Channel 3 Eyewitness News and Clear Channel Radio Chattanooga will begin a partnership starting Monday "to bring more news and weather content to local listeners and viewers, better serving the entire Tennessee Valley area," officials said.
The announcement comes just after Channel 9 and Clear Channel broke off their alliance.
Officials said both Channel 3 and Clear Channel "have enjoyed a long history of providing premiere services to their audiences. WUSY celebrates 25 years of service and WRCB has been broadcasting 52 years. This joint partnership will provide radio news and weather content by WRCB Channel 3 Eyewitness News.
"Familiar WRCB news personalities and Meteorologists Paul Barys, David Karnes and Neal Pascal will be heard on all four Clear Channel radio stations. Live news updates and weather forecasts will be delivered to the Chattanooga market on WUSY-101, Rock-105, The River 103.7 and 98.1 The Legend. Plus, the four radio stations and WRCB will share resources for sports, traffic and Storm Alert Closings."
Tom Tolar, WRCB general manager and vice president, said, “Joining the Clear Channel radio group fits our mission to expand the reach of Channel 3 Eyewitness News to serve even more people in the Tennessee Valley and what better way than joining the forces of two great broadcast companies.”
Clear Channel General Manager Mark Bass said, “What the partnership means to Chattanooga is that our Clear Channel listeners and WRCB viewers can rest assured that whether they are in front of their TVs or driving home in their cars, they now have unprecedented access to the best and most up-to-date news and weather information available.”
WRCB News Director Derrall Stalvey said, “This is a great service for Channel 3’s viewers who listen to US101 and the other Clear Channel radio stations. To have Chattanooga’s favorite news anchors and meteorologists on Chattanooga’s #1 radio station is the perfect match.”
In addition, the two companies will continue to join forces on community outreach projects, like the St. Jude Dream Home, Children’s Miracle Network Radiothon, Share Your Christmas Food Drive, and Christmas for Kids, it was stated.
Mr. Tolar said, “We look forward to reaching out to our community through this unique combination of radio and television. It’s just the right thing to do for our community by two of the most powerful, local media forces.
“All of us at WRCB and Clear Channel are excited to be a part of this local partnership.”
WRCB is owned by Sarkes Tarzian, Inc. In addition to WRCB-TV/DT in Chattanooga, Sarkes Tarzian, Inc. owns and operates KTVN-TV in Reno, Nev.; WAJI-FM and WLDE-FM in Ft. Wayne, Ind.; and WGCL-AM and WTTS-FM in Bloomington/Indianapolis. Sarkes Tarzian, Inc. headquarters are located in Bloomington, Ind.