Inside News 3

WRBL News 3, a CBS affiliate, has a firm tradition of being the first in the West Central Georgia/East Central Alabama region to deliver news, information, community outreach and entertainment.

The history begins May 10, 1928 when Bill Lewis builds the first transmitter for WRBL and the Federal Radio Commission grants a license for operation with 50 watts of radiated power. Although no one will definitely confirm what the call letters WRBL represent, it is believed with the “W” the required licensing designation; the “RBL” stands for Radio Bill Lewis.

With the license, WRBL is poised to go on the air, but one necessary piece of equipment is missing, a microphone. Sales ingenuity prevails as the station sells its’ first commercial to The Tom Huston Peanut Company. This $50 helps purchase the 40 pound mic.

Although money continues to be tight, creative problem solving helps mount these obstacles. For WRBL’s first remote broadcast, wires of the Columbus Fire Department’s alarm system are used to air a religious program from the First Baptist Church.

Eventually, the station is sold to the Junior Chamber of Commerce for $250. WRBL continues to change hands several more times before 1931 when J.W. Woodruff, Sr. acquires an interest in the operation.

In 1939, WRBL brings the first network to Columbus, the Columbia Broadcasting System, CBS. The list of firsts continues to grow when in 1946 the first commercial FM station comes to Georgia, WRBL FM, then in 1953, WRBL hurls into the future of broadcasting with the first full-powered TV station in Columbus. It operates on Channel 4.

Prior to this, Georgia’s only television stations are in Atlanta. Folks gather round clunky black and white television sets to capture the snowy pictures and soon everyone in the valley is familiar with Rozell, George Gingell, Doug Wallace and Ridley Bell; just a few of the broadcast pioneers who help make WRBL synonymous with delivering news, weather and community service.

Probably one of the most momentous moments in the early years of WRBL-TV comes in October 1960. The station changes frequencies from Channel 4 and makes the Guiness Book of World Records by installing its Channel 3 antennae atop the world’s tallest man-made structure, a 1,749 foot tower in Cusseta, Georgia.

Today, Media General owns and operates WRBL News 3 along with 25 other television stations. Our mission is to continue providing the best news, weather, information and entertainment to the region. It’s the station that delivers innovative news programming, cutting edge commercial production and community projects. One example is News 3’s “Project Preserve”, the first all encompassing environmental campaign developed by a television station in the bi-states.

News 3, We're on Your Side.