Daily Press from Newport News, Virginia • Page 42

1 i ft. ft i 1 1 1 1- IU1 towo It omie eVflSOOOl -A--: rvVl 0'f vrfi' fo -n 1 1 jjj jgtv- I WW A 0 y. ZV.SS. PAUL L. NEWBY llCorrespondent Lee Bowen checks camera positions at television station WBH, Channel 51, located in 17 Plaza Shopping Center, Gloucester.

Peninsula station meets needs of local market By ROBYNE COOKE Staff Writer Their enthusiasm and energy fills the small studio. As employees of WBH, Channel 51, talk about their roles in the new television station, all eyes sparkle. "Being involved in something like this it totally consumes you," says Lee Bowen, the station's general manager. Based in Gloucester, the station was started by Bowen to provide more local programming. In September 1989, the station made its debut and has station also has produced some of its own television commercials.

A local pet store already has used the service. "Everyone has a lot of input. We all have our own ideas of what TV is, but we're unanimous in our thoughts that this is local station," says Bud Woodson, the sports director. Woodson says he hopes to one day develop a program that highlights the growth of different athletes by saving video clips of them from their high school and college days. "That would be priceless." Brownley calls Bowen an "eternal optimist" when it comes to programming.

Eventually, the staff wants to wean the station from its heavy reliance on network offerings. Until then, they are taking their expansion slowly. Program listings are not yet in TV Guide but can be found in the Daily Press's television listings. events such as stockcar races at Langley Raceway. Interviews with pit-crew workers and drivers have proven to be interesting not only to viewers, but also to the interviewers.

"My goal is to take the viewer and mentally transport him to that event. I always have that thought in my mind," says Bud Woodson, the sports director. Not only are high school sports covered, but attention is given to sports that are often overlooked, such as gymnastics, hockey, swimming, wrestling, and track. "We've made a conscious effort to look at all sports," says Woodson. Not willing to ignore col lege sports either, WBH has several sports information shows, including "The College Sports Report," which features mini- interviews with Christopher Newport College athletes.

College sports such as The College of William and Mary football games are also on WBH's agenda. Broadcasting to the Peninsula and Middle Peninsula areas, WBH has developed its own programs. Video bingo, with a $10,000 prize, was a big hit last season, and the station plans to resurrect the show sometime this fall. "It was very successful. Our program format is limitless," says Bowen.

A country music video show hosted by Bowen's two sons, Sonny and Wesley, has already received fan mail from California after being shown nationally. "We're really proud of that to do something locally and get national recognition," says Bowen. Affiliated with The Channel America Television Network, the station has access to classic old movies and reruns of popular hits such as "Gidget" and "Hazel," which have quite a following. "But our majority of viewers are because of the local programming," says Bowen. Ready to try anything, the enjoyed modest success since then.

"We felt the Peninsula was alienated from the "Big Three." We specialize in a market," says Bowen. With only six full-time employees, titles and positions mean very little because everyone does a little bit of everything, says Bowen. From its remote van, the station covers popular local i.