WJZ-TV Baltimore | Where The Shows Are - Special Broadcast | 1-2-95 | WJZ 13

Join WJZ's Eyewitness News team as they walk you through the changes happening in Baltimore's television market with the network affiliation switch.

[@billybarnett2846]

I remember this. Channels 2 and 11 kept switching CBS and NBC between each other. From the time I was born to when this happened, 13 had always a ABC affiliate. This messed up the ratings for local stations for awhile cause certain networks were more popular in Baltimore than others.

[@stevensuarez6564]

Now if only you can find Baltimore's first big switch of 1981.

[@saxwork]

Yes, that would be interesting to see. That was only between WBAL and WMAR though when CBS and NBC swapped affiliates, WJZ was always ABC until 1995. If I can get my hands on it, I'll be sure to post it.

[@newtimetravelhyman88]

I Remember This Special WJZ Pre-Emptive Entertainment Tonight

[@matthewcampbell7985]

Wjz never air cbs overnight News since the switch.

[@newtimetravelhyman88]

@@matthewcampbell7985 Darn

[@mdduckman]

This is all kinds of awesome. Thank you! I LOVE your channel - to me it’s criminal you don’t have more subscribers. Your content is such a blast to watch. I’m in nostalgia overload! I grew up in the area and love watching this content. So thank you!!

[@ScoopNemeth]

Come Home to NBC (1986-1990), and after 14 years apart, WBAL did just that in January 1995. Reunited and It Feels So Good!

[@richierich3541]

Shows like Married with Children shown on Channel 45, was still being on Channel 45. Other than being previously independent, WBFF remains the only station in the Baltimore market that never changed its primary network affiliation.

[@billybarnett2846]

Married with Children was a Fox show, not syndicated and 45 is a Fox network.

[@knowbodiesfull5768]

It's been almost 29 years since the last network switch, so we're used to it and we're no longer confused. And Marty Bass is still hanging on at WJZ as of today! Sally Thorner is now retired, and now there are only three soap operas left that can still be seen on regular TV (NBC's _Days of Our Lives_ can now be seen via streaming on Peacock).

[@armorybrunotjr.3204]

This was a special Thirteen aired after CBS bought Westinghouse on January 2, 1995. Westinghouse Broadcasting Company became CBS Mass Media and as a result 13 switched from ABC to The Eye Network in 1995. ABC moved to Two and NBC returned to Eleven (The Peacock Network was WBAL-TV's home before between 1948-1981).

[@joerouse7908]

This switch actually came about as a result of an affiliation agreement between CBS and Westinghouse under which all of the Group W stations that were not already CBS affiliates switched networks to CBS. This agreement was signed in July of 1994. It was not until August of 1995 that CBS agreed to be bought by Westinghouse. When that purchase was finalized in November of 1995 it was at that point that the Group W stations became CBS O&Os.

[@armorybrunotjr.3204]

@@joerouse7908 Thank you for pointing that out.

[@makermario101]

Ah, the wonders of treasuring. It can bring good stuff, like this video.

[@AlextheMLAATRfan]

If I still lived in Baltimore, I would mainly watch WJZ.

[@jwilliams7554]

It would’ve been cool if they had network stars from each of the big three to take part in commercials to promote the big switch. ie Will Smith, Seinfeld, Jaleel white, Tim Allen, Candace Bergen, Roseanne, cast from Friends, Chuck Norris to name a few

[@adrianbush9893]

What About Inside Edition & "Live" Will Still On WBAL 11 & Both Wheel & Jeopardy Was Been On WMAR 2 Because Both WOF & Jeopardy Was Still On 45 (WBFF) In 2012

[@spencerkarterlive7378]

Blame Scripps for dumping Wheel and Jeopardy on their stations last decade.

[@Ghostrider6A]

With this change, WMAR-TV became one of a handful which had been affiliated with the "big 3" (ABC, NBC, CBS).

[@andysrandomness]

WJZ did win the sports battle especially because the Ravens are most cases are on Ch 13 but I honestly think Ch 11 and Ch 13 do a good job with their newscast Ch 2 I feel now the quality is not good

[@1thetvzone]

Channel 2 during NBC era helped them in their ratings- it newscast was either tied WBAL or #2 . Management & Scripps didn’t do WMAR as they went to ABC. Scripps was so happy with ABC, but honestly the switch should of never happened. NBC should of stayed on 2. Where was Scripps outrage with WPTV it still NBC as well KJRH the other (2) NBC outlets.

[@AlextheMLAATRfan]

I’m so lucky I was born with a station owned by CBS

[@judedesilva8366]

WJZ-ABC in 1992 before WJZ-CBS before it became affiliate in Baltimore marked the 28th Anniversary.

[@knowbodiesfull5768]

Dick Van Dyke is still going strong at age 98!

[@drenewstv]

I'm confused when did Oprah come on WJZ? I remember her talk show sister Rolonda came on JZ as they were both KingWorld shows.

[@saxwork]

Well, As you know, Oprah Winfrey worked at WJZ as an Eyewitness News reporter and anchor from 1976-1984, then did the station's wildly popular "People Are Talking" with Richard Sher beginning in 1978. Now, when Oprah moved to Chicago, and then began the legendary "The Oprah Winfrey Show", that program was syndicated and broadcast on WBAL TV 11 for the length of the program's run.

[@drenewstv]

@@saxwork That's what I thought. I remember Oprah on channel 11 and Rolonda Watts on channel 13.

[@dontabaltimore1974]

28 years ago wow

[@SigmaRho2922]

In the fall of 1995, just nine months after channel 11 reunited with NBC, something shocking would happen to the station.

[@ericcub78]

what shocking thing happened?

[@Nickelodeon7969]

MUST SEE TV MADE ITS DEBUT FOR WBAL BAE BAE

[@jwilliams7554]

I wonder why the anchors from 2 and 11 didn’t join with the anchors from 13 and do a combined special.

[@devingiles6597]

Too bad the 3 network affiliate switching effecting Saturday morning programming as well.

[@lucascoxthewheeloffortunef6949]

I might mistake John Buren for the late Peter Jennings.

[@AlextheMLAATRfan]

13 is 11 11 is 2 2 is 13 Am I correct?

[@stevensuarez4843]

Nope.

[@Justin-Hill-1987]

Actually, it goes like this: 2, NBC, now ABC. 11, CBS, now NBC. 13, ABC, now CBS.

[@AlextheMLAATRfan]

@@Justin-Hill-1987 I know.

[@AlextheMLAATRfan]

Well, 11 was NBC back in the 70s.

[@a4ur8]

Is it just me or does Al not look well here? By the way, when was Al's last newscast?

[@matthewcampbell7985]

Of course but he's still on wjz until his death on may 1995 with unknown cancer.

[@a4ur8]

@@matthewcampbell7985 I know that. Al actually passed away from lung cancer.

[@saxwork]

Al left the air sometime in early March 1995, possibly late February. I recall an announcement was made during one of the evening broadcasts that Al was diagnosed with cancer and was undergoing treatment. He never returned. According to Michael Olesker's book "Tonight at 6" which is an interesting look behind the scenes at all the drama that occurred at WJZ, Al never sought out a doctor or any medical evaluation, even after everyone in the news room, including concerned viewers who were calling in, urging him to go to the hospital. Al thought it was just a prolonged battle with the flu. Obviously, we now know it wasn't the flu, but inoperable lung cancer. Very sad, because I wonder how things would have been if Al had continued his career through the late 90's into the 2000s and beyond, and if that would have kept JZ on top. I think Don Scott would still be there as well, as he mentions in his farewell broadcast that the death of both Jerry and Al were a consideration for his early retirement. My guess is that if Al were still alive it would have only been recently that he would have retired or close to it by reaching his 50th anniversary at WJZ in October 2022.

[@a4ur8]

@@saxwork I have absolutely no doubt that if Al were still here, he'd still be doing what he did best. I do know viewers were concerned about him and a friend of his asked him why wouldn't he go to the doctor and said through tears, "Because of Jerry (Turner)". I guess he didn't want to go through the hell that comes with this type of territory.

[@balston113]

Yes, he had definitely lost a good amount of weight. He would only make about 2 more months of on air appearances until that cancer took over. And it took over fast as you already know.

[@matthewcampbell7985]

For reason channel 13 wjz switch abc to CBS because of launch of the WB and upn in January 1995.

[@shawno.8322]

Wrong.

[@ScoopNemeth]

@@shawno.8322 Lots to do with FOX becoming a sports division, beginning with the NFC division of the NFL. Along with that, FOX needed stronger signals from channels 2 to 13 across America. We're talking about the New World/FOX deal, where stations affiliated with their former networks (ABC, CBS and NBC) all became FOX O&Os.