NewsCenter (news music)

The '''NewsCenter''' music package was composed by Michael Randall and was first commissioned by [[KNBC|KNBC-TV]] in [[1979]].

==Background==
''For more information on the NewsCenter name, see [[NewsCenter]]''

The [[NewsCenter]] name for newscasts had actually debuted in 1967 as NotiCentro on [[WAPA-TV]] in [[Puerto Rico]]. Later, [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] affiliate [[WCVB]] brought the name to the United States when it used the name when it debuted in 1972, but it didn't really catch on until [[WNBC]] dubbed their newscasts "NewsCenter 4" [[1974|two years later]]. Eventually, most of the other [[NBC]] O&Os (such as [[KNBC]], [[WRC-TV]], etc.,) began to adopt The Title.

By [[1979]], the electronic ticker these stations were using had become dated; so KNBC commissioned Michael Randall to creating a new, disco-flavored theme. The theme caught on as several other stations would use the theme for the next several years. It was also able to be customized; as WRC in [[Washington]] modified it with different sound effects for their newscasts.

In [[1981]], Randall commissioned [[NewsCenter II]], an updated version of the previous theme for KNBC, and soon most of the stations using this theme made the switch.

(Interestingly, WNBC '''''never''''' used either NewsCenter theme. In 1980, they switched to their [[News 4 New York]]/[[Live at Five (WNBC)]] branding and commissioned a custom theme by [[Jim McAllister (musician)|Jim McAllister]]).

==Stations that used NewsCenter==
{|

|valign="top"|
{| class="toccolours" border="2" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaa solid; border-collapse: collapse"
| '''[[Designated market area|DMA]]#'''
| '''DMA Name'''
| '''Station'''
| '''Affiliation'''
| '''Years Used'''
| '''Other Notes'''
|-
| 2.
| [[Los Angeles, California]]
| [[KNBC]]
| [[NBC]]
| 1979-1981
| First station to commission package
|-
| 3.
| [[Chicago, Illinois]]
| [[WMAQ-TV]]
| NBC
| 1978-1981
|
|-
| 8.
| [[Washington, DC]]
| [[WRC-TV]]
| NBC
| 1980-1983
| From 1981 to 1983, added various sound effects prior to the beginning of the actual music. Kept music after switching to the "Channel 4 News" branding in 1982
|-
| 17.
| [[Cleveland, OH]]
| WJKW-TV (now [[WJW]])
| [[Fox Broadcasting Company|FOX]], formerly [[CBS]]
| 1980-1981
| Largest non-NBC affiliate to use NewsCenter.
|-
| 23.
| [[Portland, OR]]
| [[KGW-TV]]
| NBC
| 1979-1984
|
|-
| 25.
| [[Indianapolis, IN]]
| [[WISH-TV]]
| CBS
| 1980-1984
|
|-
| 30.
| [[Nashville, TN]]
| [[WTVF]]
| CBS
| 1982-1984
|
|-
| 45.
| [[Oklahoma City, OK]]
| KTVY (now [[KFOR-TV]])
| NBC
| 1982-1984
|
|-
| 53.
| [[Wilkes-Barre]]/[[Scranton, PA]]
| [[WBRE-TV]]
| NBC
| 1981-1985
|
|-
| 59.
| [[Mobile, AL]]
| [[WALA-TV]]
| FOX, formerly NBC
| 1979-1983
|
|
|-
| 76.
| [[Springfield, MO]]
| [[KYTV (TV)|KYTV-TV]]
| NBC, [[The CW]]-DT 2, [[NBC Weather Plus]]-DT 3
| 1983-1986
|
|
|-
| 118.
| [[Boise, ID]]
| [[WAOE-TV]]
| NBC
| 1980-1983
|
|
|-
| 144.
| [[Joplin, MO]]
| [[KODE-TV]]
| [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]
| 1980-1982
|
|}

==References==
*[http://southernmedia-nmsa.com SouthernMedia News Music Search Archive]

[[Category:Television news music packages]]