[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 9797]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                HONORING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF NEWS40

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. RICHARD E. NEAL

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, April 11, 2003

  Mr. NEAL of Massachusetts. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this 
opportunity to honor the 50th anniversary of NEWS40, which is currently 
serving Franklin, Hampden, and Hampshire counties in Massachusetts.
  NEWS40 originally aired on April 14, 1953 on Channel 55 as an 
affiliate of CBS and Dumont Television Networks. However, in 1956 the 
station was reallocated to Channel 40, and in 1959 changed affiliations 
to join the ABC network. The Guy Gannett Publishing Company of Maine 
purchased the radio portion of the network in 1979, which necessitated 
new call letters for the television station. After an in-house contest, 
WHYN-TV became WGGB-TV, named after the publishing company. In April of 
1999, the Sinclair Broadcast Group of Baltimore, MD purchased NEWS40 
and facilitated the use of a digital transmitter while on the air. 
Despite a variety of administrative changes throughout its history, 
NEWS40 remains a dominant leader in local news.
  Located in the heart of Springfield, MA, NEWS40 sets the standard in 
entertainment, news, and community involvement. It is the home of hits 
such as Nightline, 20/20, N.Y.P.D. Blue, and The Practice, as well as 
quality children programming. Moreover, NEWS40 is an essential 
participant in local community events. NEWS40 was among the earliest 
stations to carry the Muscular Dystrophy telethon, and has been 
televising the event for 35 years. Also, the station collects over 
10,000 coats to distribute throughout the winter for the ``Coats for 
Kids'' campaign, and collaborates with the Salvation Army to provide 
Thanksgiving meals for over 600 families. As an active partner with 
Head Start, the station is a vehicle to collect toys, clothing, and 
housewares from viewers for the ``All I Want for Christmas'' campaign. 
The station's annual contribution to the community demonstrates the 
essential role of NEWS40 in the greater Springfield area.
  As the station celebrates its 50th anniversary I would like to 
commend their continuous role in the community. From the days of live 
news broadcasts to the beginning of the digital transmitter, NEWS40 is 
truly coverage you can count on to be an active and essential member of 
the community.

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