(Sun Journal, Tuesday, April 25, 1961)

"New Bern’s new television station, WNBE-TV, will soon be a reality, says an announcement made by Nathan Frank, of Henderson, president of the Henderson Broadcasting Corporation and licensee of the new station. Mr. Frank filed the application for the station with the Federal communication Commission in 1954. Since the application was filed there have been delays in getting site approvals for the antenna, says Mr. Frank. Many hearings and conferences were held during the six years the application has been on file. The problems had to be cleared with the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, airlines, pilot associations, the Federal Aviation Agency, and WRVA-TV, Richmond, VA. Originally Channel 13 was assigned to New Bern. On its own motion in 1958, the Federal Communication commission transferred Channel 13 to Norfolk in a move to shift channels, and assigned Channel 12 to New Bern. In making the channel changes it became necessary to find a new site for the erection of the antenna that would not hinder the operations of the vast military installations which dot the extreme eastern part of North Carolina. The height of the antenna was the biggest objection. WNBE-TV will operate on the same channel as WRVA-TV in Richmond. WRVA-TV objected to New Bern’s operation on the grounds of mileage separation. In a conference with attorneys for Mr. Frank and WRVA-TV, along with engineers in Washington on April 11, both WRVA-TV and WNBE-TV agreed upon certain engineering conditions. In making the agreement WRVA-TV withdrew all objections previously attached to Mr. Frank’s application. This removed the last technical problem encountered by Mr. Frank during the six years the application has been on file. In conferences and hearings held by the Air Space Committee in Washington, Atlanta and Fort Worth, along with memebers of the Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Army, Federal aviation agency, Pilots association and airlines concerned, all other problems had been previously cleared. A full grant for the construction should be ready within a few weeks, says Mr. Frank. The new station will be housed in one of the most modern buildings designed especially for television. It will have the latest equipment available, says Mr. Frank, including transmitter for color programs. Mr. Frank is known to may New Bernians, having lived here 22 years. Mrs. Frank is the former Margaret Hurst of New Bern. The Franks have two children, Dr. Claye Frank, executive vice president of the Henderson Broadcasting Corporation which operates WHNC-AM and WHNC-FM in Henderson, and Jo Ann Frank, general manager of the Twin City Broadcasting Corporation which operated WCNF of Roanoke Rapids-Weldon.

(Sun Journal, Wednesday, January 30^th, 1963) "Work Underway On Television Station In City" "New Bern’s new television station, WNBE, is well under construction, says Nathan Frank of Henderson, president of the Piedmont Television Corporation which is to be the owner and operator of the new facility. Foundations of the transmitter building have been laid and flooring and walls are under construction. Tower foundation are in the process of being constructed and should be completed around February 25, at which time construction of the tower will begin. The tower, to support the RCA 12-Bay Super Turnstile antenna, is being manufactured by Stainless, Inc., of North Wales, Pa, under the direct supervision of its engineering department." "Target date for ‘On the Air’ will be announced as soon as possible, Mr. Frank said. Weather factors, he said, must be taken into consideration, particularly the unexpected storms that have harassed this section of North Carolina. The most important construction is being done outdoors with the erection of the tower and antenna that will rise high above the Glenburnie property."

(Sun Journal, Wednesday, July 24^th, 1963) "September First Is Named For New Bern Television" "Fast nearing completion, New Bern’s new television station is expected to begin its service to the Greenville – New Bern – Washington area from its location in the Glenburnie Gardens section of New Bern on September 1. Radio Corporation of America (RCA) engineers are now installing the very latest in equipment produced by their corporation. Included are anchors, the tower base and other necessary installations for the big tower which is expected to reach completion in about three weeks. Trained professional personnel has been selected during the past week in interviews conducted by the Station Manager, Don L. Pierce, assisted by Pat Arnoux, Program Director for the station. The new building, it is said, is of the most modern design to be found anywhere in the South. Interior decorators and designers are now working under the direction of Mrs. Margaret Frank in selecting the most complimentary and attractive color schemes for floor tile, draperies and accessories. The total investment here will be over a million dollars and the annual payroll will be over $400,000, says Mr. Frank. More than 32 new families will be brought to New Bern when the station begins full operation. A completely new world of television entertainment is being promised the people of Eastern North Carolina when the new station is in operation.

WNBE is to be a primary affiliate of the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) television network providing news and information as well as entertainment. The promise is a completely new network program schedule with the full programs going into more than a quarter of a million homes in the area. When the new television station goes on the air it will climax ten years of hearings before the Federal Communications Commission and the Air Space Committee and the overcoming of many obstacles which have prevented the earlier erection of the station. All objections have now been met and WNBE-TV is to become a reality on September 1." A few months later the air was alive with the first television signal in the New Bern area. (Sun Journal, Monday, September 9^th, 1963) "New Bern Television Station In Operation" "New Bern’s new television station, WNBE-TV operation on Channel 12, went on the air Saturday morning (Sept. 7th) at 7:45 o’clock with a medium amount of technical difficulties, said John Stikes, Promotion Director, today.

Shortly thereafter the television station invited the public to an Open House and Grand Opening on Sunday, September 23, 1963 from 2-5pm. (Sun Journal, Saturday, September 21, 1963) "You are invited to join us in our pride for it is your television station and ours." Reportedly there was an enormous turnout. (Associated Press, Sunday, September 22, 1963) "(NEW BERN, N.C.)—AN ESTIMATED 23,000 PERSONS TOOK ADVANTAGE OF YESTERDAY’S OPEN HOUSE TO TOUR THE FACILITIES OF TELEVISION STATION WNBE-TV IN NEW BERN. SPECIAL GUESTS OF THE STATION, WHICH WENT ON AIR SEPTEMBER 7^TH, INCLUDED MAYORS OF NEARBY COMMUNITIES, COMMANDING OFFICERS OF MARINE INSTALLATIONS AT CHERRY POINT AND CAMP LEJEUNE AND ADJUTANT GENERAL CLAUDE BOWERS OF THE NORTH CAROLINA NATIONAL GUARD. THE STATION IS OWNED BY PIEDMONT TELEVISION CORPORATION."

      June 15th, 1970 ----  Forms are received back from the FCC approving to change WNBE's call letters to WCTI that will reflect the stations new ownership under Continental Television Incorporated.

          The next major development for WCTI was the addition of a new tower . (Sun Journal, Wednesday, April 15^th, 1981) "WCTI Gets New Tower" "Area television viewers will now receive improved reception, thanks to a new transmitter just completed by WCTI television in New Bern. WCTI’s new tower went into full-time operation Monday, according to the station’s Vice-President and General Manager Bill Jenkins. The station had been conducting test transmissions from the new tower since April 3^rd. About 400,000 area viewers will receive a sharper signal, due to the new tower, said Jenkins. About 218,000 people will receive WCTI-WCTI for the first time, including residents in Wilmington, Rocky Mount, Wilson, Nashville, and this side of Raleigh, he said. The new 2,000 foot tower, located about four miles north of Trenton, will replace the station’s current 1,000 foot tower, located about five miles south of the new facility. The new tower, weighing 1.79 million pounds, employs an RCA tetracoil antenna with ‘circular polarization and a new more powerful Harris transmitter,’ according to WCTI officials. The multi-million-dollar investment was reportedly the product of over three years of proceedings with the Federal Communications Commission."