WRAL-TV: "Action News 5" (May 17, 1979)

This is a full recording of the 6 p.m. "Action News 5," as broadcast over WRAL-TV on May 17, 1979. Charlie Gaddy and Bobbie Battista co-anchor, Bob DeBardelaben does weather and Rich Brenner anchors sports.

[@raleighdentcompany]

Man, I grew up watching Charlie Gaddy. He's a legend.

[@rayssonation]

Sad to report that two legends of WRAL are no longer with us....The great Rich Brenner who began his career as the top sports anchor at WRAL and also over at WTVD and became the sports director for High Point's WGHP passed away in 2012. The legendary Bob DeBardelaben (was known as the Bob Barker of the weathercenter) was for years the Triangle's top meterologist (long before Greg Fishel) passed away in October of 2014.

[@rayssonation]

And speaking of sports let's not forget the legendary Tom Suiter who is still with WRAL as the host of Football Friday,

[@albrokenomoney2127]

Awesome upload. So far this is the only way to time travel.

[@rayssonation]

stonedog23: I remember when WRAL had World Championship Wrestling every Saturday night that was taped live from Raleigh's Dorton Arena....that wrestling commercial was indeed a bonafide classic featuring Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat, Rufus "Freight Train" Jones, Rick "The Nature Boy" Flair, and Andre The Giant not to mention Wahoo McDaniel. Speaking of WRAL, just to let you know Charlie Gaddy is still with us but retired from the news business back in the mid-1990's. Bobbie Batista started her career in the mid-1970's at WRAL and by the early-1980's became the top news anchor at CNN and is still with them as a chief news director.

[@raleighdentcompany]

My grandfather would take us to Dorton Arena to watch wrestling in the 80's. Such good times!

[@cr3861]

That looked like Patti Deutsch of Match Game in that K-Mart paint commercial

[@CarriZak]

I was born Tuesday May 22, 1979. 😜 This was neat to watch.

[@mbp7060]

Very nostalgic. I tried to remember where I was and what I was doing when this aired.

[@martinleavitt6094]

Bobbie Batista!!!...1st saw her on CNN..back in the 1980s..lovely,attractive lady....those eyes are the giveaway..😍.....shes gone now,rest easy ...🙏

[@jakespop67]

The dude in the toro commercial was in Blazing Saddles !

[@BeyondTheAlbumCover]

Would I love it if gas got to be 92 cents a gallon again. It is amazing how these vintage WRAL footage has been preserved for over 30 years. This a treat for me to watch since I was born they year RAL and TVD swapped affliates. Great post and keep em comin'!!!. It is cool that you posted this particular clip almost 32 years to the day!!!

[@HamptonRoadsTVFan]

"Mad at the Congress, mad at the oil companies, mad at the President or just plain mad". I could easily see a stunt like this making a comeback today.

[@freedomofspeech2238]

At 17:35 the car salesman invites everybody to pound on a 67 plymouth belvedere 2 door hardtop. If he only knew how rare today that plymouth is, he would invite people to wax it instead LOL

[@stonedog23]

OMG, that wrestling commercial was classic, Ricky Steamboat and Rufus R. Freight Train Jones. Charlie Gaddy was a WRAL lifer, he's no longer with us. I remember when Bobbie Batista went to what was called CNN 2 back in those days, then renamed to CNN Headline News featuring news on a continuous 30 minute loop. And I recall when Rich Brenner left for a national job.

[@nazcarcup]

Charlie Gaddy is still alive

[@MikeMaduxx]

I gotta catch that Ric Flair vs Ricky Steamboat match on the 22nd....

[@72Disco1998]

When news was local.

[@sillygoose635]

That's the stupidest fucking thing ever said. It still is dipshit.

[@eatinhoes338]

@@sillygoose635 you alright man?

[@crystalberry748]

This was before i was born my daddy had just graduated high school 4 years before this but its nice seeing old footage of wral.

[@ajaugenti1976]

Grew up watching Charlie Gaddy since, I was 12 years old when we moved to North Carolina in 1988.

[@c2105026]

@ 4:43 - the real life Veronica Corningstone and Ron Burgundy LOL.....

[@barrybear2011]

RIP Rich Brenner. Died last night.

[@HCHaven7619]

Man I wish I was around during that time.

[@JesseL85719]

Wow. How weak does this signal get?

[@tyreeharrellwright2164]

wral nbc 5 owned by capital broadcasting company

[@sctvhound]

Just saw this close yesterday and now Andy Griffith is dead. Sad.

[@bertodrago3646]

Wow Bobby Battista went onto CNN for 20 years. She died in 2020.

[@chubwright79]

Was wral an abc affaliate at this time.

[@jaymeade9898]

Yes they were. They were originally a NBC affiliate until the mid 60’s switching to ABC until 2016.

[@raleighdentcompany]

@@jaymeade9898 They were with CBS until 2016.

[@latoshaadams3828]

Old news I love it

[@langston3286]

Wral was cbs affiliated from the 90s on up.. Wtvd was and ABC affiliate. Wptf was NBC..

[@mjones4404]

97 cents for gas???? If that was the price today they would be a long line just trying to get in

[@samidellaidella532]

It was still about a buck the summer before 9/11. I bought a Tahoe and wouldn't spend more than $100 for gas for the month. Then........

[@joebradio]

OMG !!! Gas will hit 92 cents a gallon !!!

[@sixsentsoldiers]

Believe every American had an Action News.

[@brianmbaker57]

That squealing of tires at 6:22 was a little passive aggressive.😆

[@sillygoose635]

0:00 Bob Ross - painter, television host, AND story consultant.

[@HCHaven7619]

That's the Andy Griffith Show, not Bob Ross.

[@hrtvfan2870]

Just saw a report that Bobbie Battista has passed away 😥

[@kd4pba]

Bobbie went on to CNN.

[@MrFranciscovenci]

95 cents a galon no more

[@jefferyrobertson7520]

Wral TV Channel 5 ABC Affiliate From The 70s 80s And Early 90s Pop Culture Raleigh North Carolina

[@gilvogt4440]

Who hired the siamese cat to do live reporting.....

[@tyreeharrellwright8998]

wral nbc 5 owned by capital broadcasting company