WOAI 4 signed on at 4:45 p.m. on December 11, 1949, to become San Antonio's first television station.
"Telenews with Austin Williams" at 6:15 p.m. was the Alamo City's first TV newscast.
The station changed its call letters to KMOL in 1974 but returned to WOAI in 2002.
Many legendary names have worked at the station, from Henry Guerra in the 1950s to sports legend Verne Lundquist in the 1960s. More modern names include Allen Hemberger, Lori Tucker, Randy Beamer, Deborah Daniels, Tanji Patton, Delaine Mathieu, Elsa Ramon, Don Harris, and David Chancellor.
Don Harris is known as the News 4 San Antonio WOAI sports director, but when duty calls, he will be the station's utility player.
Last Sunday at 5pm, Harris was recruited to anchor the news.
"Pressed into emergency back-up duty [Randy Beamer] once got/had to do the weather," Harris tweeted. "Today after 34 years, I finally got/had to anchor the entire newscast. Don't worry, the real pros will be back after Sunday Night Football tonight. But for the record. It was fun."
Weekend anchor Darian Trotter posted he is in Mexico on vacation.
The switching up of Texas TV duties also happened in Austin.
Pressed into emergency back-up duty @randybeamer once got/had to do the weather. Today after 34 years, I finally got/had to anchor the entire newscast. Don't worry, the real pros will be back after Sunday Night Football tonight. But for the record. It was fun. pic.twitter.com/1Qr2IP1jgd
Simone De Alba announced on Facebook that she is leaving News 4 San Antonio WOAI where she is 5, 6, 6:30 and 10pm evening anchor for WUSA9 Washington, DC.
UPDATE OCTOBER 2023 Mandy Noell joins News 4 San Antonio
"August 30th will be my last day on the air here in San Antonio," De Alba posted. "I’ve accepted a job in Washington D.C. I’ll be joining the team at WUSA as an Anchor in September!"
De Alba joined WOAI in December 2020 from FOX 40 KTXL Sacramento where she was a morning anchor.
Back then she co-anchored with Randy Beamer who retired in 2021 and was replaced by KPRC 2 Houston weekend anchor Jonathan Martinez.
Before KTXL, De Alba anchored for Q2 News KTVQ Billings, Montana and KRTV 3 Great Falls, Montana.
De Alba is a graduate of the University of Colorado at Boulder and Metropolitan State University. She interned for KCNC Denver, KCRA Sacramento and KUSA Denver.
"I'm excited to officially announce that I am the new co-anchor with the best big brother a gal could have, Ernie Zuniga. I took a long path to get here (15 years), but as Robert Frost wrote, the road less traveled has made all the difference. I love this city. I LOVE our Fox viewers. (Seriously, y'all are the absolute best!) And, I really care about you and our city.
Thank you to everyone who has supported me through the years, including Randy Beamer and Delaine Mathieu for encouraging me to transition from producing to in front of the camera. Thank you to Monica Taylor for being such a bright, warm light in those early days. Thank you to my biggest cheerleaders -- Ernie and Breanna Barrs. I can't forget about Meteorologist Brad Sowder! Ernie and I would be incomplete without the many loveable and random quirks of the Brad Sowder.
We like to have fun, but are also committed to keeping our community informed and heard. Catch our trio weekday mornings on KABB FOX 29 News, San Antonio, 5:00am - 9:00am, and for Midday at 11:00am."
"At long last I can officially and publicly say Congratulations to Ashley Sutton, the new full-time morning co-anchor at FOX San Antonio," Zuniga posted. "Ashley is the ultimate utility player and brings so much to our shows every day, much of which you never see on camera. As great as she is on TV, she is an even better person. So happy for you!"
Sutton joined the Sinclair Media Group San Antonio stations of FOX 29 and News 4 San Antonio WOAI in 2009 as a producer. She helped develop News 4 SA's 6:30pm newscast for its 2011 launch. The Lone Star EMMY nominee moved on to be a special projects producer.
As she mentioned in her post, Sutton eventually moved on-air as a social media reporter and live desk anchor.
Chris Suchan, the News 4 San Antonio WOAI chief meteorologist, got married to his wife, Amber, on October 15, 2022 at the Sisterdale Dancehall & Opera House in Kendall County.
Former WOAI anchor Randy Beamer officiated the wedding.
Just because 2021 was a wild year, I'm giving you the top 15 Houston and Texas television stories! No radio stories had enough reader traffic to make the top of the list for 2021.
But seriously, thanks for the 1.7 million pageviews for 2021! Who would ever think, a free blogger account could do that much traffic? Imagine what I could do for your business?
Here are the top 2021 mikemcguff.com blog posts by pageviews. That means the readers decided the stories and order of this list by their clicks.
2. Britta Merwin to leave KPRC 2 In May 2021, KPRC 2 morning meteorologist Britta Merwin announced she was leaving Houston. I knew Merwin was popular...but even I didn't know just how popular she was with Houston TV viewers!
3. Sydney Benter leaving KXAN Austin In May 2021, anchor Sydney Benter announced she was leaving KXAN Austin. Austin TV viewers reacted on my blog.
11. Collin Myers exits abc13 KTRK Back
in September 2020, I blogged that meteorologist Collin Myers had left
the abc13 KTRK weather department. That post still was looked at a lot this year. In the summer of 2021, Myers did a fill-in stint on FOX 26 KRIV. Late in 2021, he announced he was moving
to Dallas.
Jonathan Martinez is leaving the KPRC 2 weekend anchor desk to join News 4 San Antonio WOAI as its 5pm, 6pm, 6:30pm and 10pm anchor with Simone De Alba.
Here is what Martinez said on Facebook about his Houston to San Antonio TV anchor move:
"It’s truly hard to believe how fast time can fly by. Needless to say, I’ve made many great memories and even better friends over the last 6 years here at KPRC 2 News. Whether it was covering Hurricane Harvey, emceeing area events for nonprofits or helping to tell the stories of Houstonians and others across our great community that I was fortunate enough to grow up in, I will cherish each and every one of those stories. I’m excited to share that soon I’ll be moving just a short drive down the road and heading back to a familiar place that I’ve also had the privilege of calling home. I’ve accepted an evening anchor opportunity at News 4 San Antonio, WOAI - the city’s NBC affiliate. Can’t wait for the next adventure ahead and even more great memories to be made."
"Jonathan is a trusted anchor, and a genuinely kind person," said Sinclair San Antonio News Director Mandi Mendoza on the WOAI website. "He is excited to get back to San Antonio and help our mission to truly be here and helpful to our viewers."
"I’m very excited to have Jonathan returning home to where his career started in San Antonio," added Sinclair San Antonio Vice President and General Manager Dean Radla. "He’s shown a tremendous amount of professional growth since his time on the staff of FOX 29 and I’m confident that he will step in beside Simone and the viewers will enjoy and appreciate their efforts."
Martinez joins the News 4 San Antonio news team in November.
"Spectacle," Neon Hum Media's podcast about the history of reality TV, was named as one of the best podcasts for 2021, along with "Anything for Selena" and "Resistance." Houstonian Shara Morris is "Spectacle's" executive producer.
KXXV Waco-Temple-Killeen Anchor/Reporter Elisa Navarro leaves for KFSN Fresno.
'Traveling Texas with Ann Harder' Veteran 25 News anchor returns with new semimonthly segment.
Adriana Alexander joins Fox West Texas KIDY as a multi-media journalist.
Digital News Anchor for KLTV 7 Kayla Lyons interviewed.
Sports Anchor/Reporter Dusty Baker leaves KRBC and KTAB Abilene for KSBY Central Coast, California.
KVIA in El Paso revamps its late news around in-depth reporting.
REMEMBERING
Beloved Houston Chronicle columnist Leon Hale dies at 99.
Russell "Russ" D. Turner, 82, passed away February 10, 2021, in The Woodlands. He moved to Houston, TX in 1961 and went to work for KPRC TV (Channel 2) as an audio engineer. Turner retired in 2009 after 49 years with KPRC.
WFAA mourns loss of former legendary sound engineer Wally Wawro.
Delaine Mathieu has announced on Facebook and YouTube that she is gone from News 4 San Antonio WOAI newscasts after 16 years with the station. The longtime 5pm TV news anchor says Tuesday was her last day on the air.
This comes after the much hyped news that San Antonio TV news veteran, and Mathieu's co-anchor, Randy Beamer retired from WOAI. Mathieu was featured on WOAI's newscast Friday in a goodbye montage to Beamer.
How anchor Delaine Mathieu said goodbye to San Antonio TV viewers
In the video released Saturday, Mathieu offers a tearful goodbye to her colleagues and viewers.
Here is partial transcript of what she said in the video announcement:
"I'm going to keep watching. I'm a huge fan of News 4. I cannot wait to see what happens next and I don't know what I'm going to do next. I'm going to be painting a lot and probably drinking some wine and chillaxing the rest of my days.
This business is is high stress. High adrenaline. So we're mourning and so many levels, but it is, it's fast paced and I'm going to slow down and I'm going to enjoy my girls and I'm going to enjoy my husband. And cut my hair any frickin way I want to, and color it any way I want to, and wear whatever I want to and enjoy life.
But just know that I appreciate all of you for all the years that you've given me. So on that note, I'm going to say goodbye. Not goodbye, I'll see you later. Just not at 5:00 on news 4."
Sinclair Broadcast Group in the headlines
WOAI owner Sinclair Broadcast Group has been in the news this week announcing it was reducing its workforce by approximately 5% which amounts to more than 550 employees due to the pandemic. Mathieu did not mention this or explain the reason for her sudden departure.
"Here come more tears," morning WOAI meteorologist Jeannette Calleposted on Facebook. "Love this lady. Such a great story-teller. Also so caring, loving and passionate. Will also miss you dearly around the station."
"Retirements, next chapters in life...I understand and celebrate these occasions," chief WOAI meteorologist Chris Suchanposted on Facebook. "It’s just tough to say goodbye. I will miss Randy & Delaine more than words can eloquently explain. They’re both more than colleagues, they are family to me. I know we’ll see each other from time to time whether over drinks or backyard grill outs...maybe the next art show “Delaine.” But seriously, I truly hope you both enjoy the extra time with your families and all your new personal ventures ahead."
Job after TV News and anchoring for News 4 San Antonio WOAI
On May 19, 2021, Mathieu posted on Twitter that she was going to become a realtor:
"Chapter 2 begins! I'm extremely proud to have joined [Phyllis Browning Co.] to launch my new career in real estate! It's an exciting time. My 'set' has changed but my mission hasn't - I'm still here to help any way I can!"
The Phyllis Browning Company social media profile bio states that it has more than 200 real estate professionals in four offices, making it "San Antonio's largest independently-owned residential real estate company."
Mathieu's TV news biography
The Corpus Christ native joined WOAI around 2005 or so after working for WSVN Miami as the top rated "Today in Florida" anchor.
Before Florida, Mathieu worked:
- as an anchor/reporter for KAKE Wichita, Kansas
- as a reporter for KEYE Austin
- as anchor/reporter/producer for KRBC Abilene
The University of Texas at Austin grad interned for WOAI and CNN's Washington D.C. Bureau.
The award winning television news journalist has awards on her shelf including five Lone Star Emmy's and three Texas Associated Press (TAPME) awards.
Randy Beamer, the legendary News 4 San Antonio WOAI 5, 6, 6:30 and 10pm anchor, announced he is retiring Friday, March 5, 2021 after more than 30 years in San Antonio.
"After 41 years in TV news (seriously), I'm finally retiring," Beamer posted on Facebook. "Though I'm NOT dead. And I'm NOT leaving San Antonio. I have at least another 41 years worth of all kinds of stuff I'm planning to do. Thanks to ALL of you for all the kind words. I really, really appreciate it."
Beamer is an anchor who still likes to grab a camera and shoot his own stories according to his bio. That line must make news managers at other stations drool in jealousy in today's MMJ fueled world!
Clearly a journalist who hasn't fallen out of love of chasing a story, Beamer has covered stories in Iraq, Guantanamo Bay and Sri Lanka.
“He would grab his own camera, he would shoot his own stuff," former News 4 Trouble Shooter Jeff Coyle told the station in 2019. "He'd come back and dig through the archives to put some historical context to it. And I remember my colleagues and I gathering around the TV in the newsroom because we wanted to see Beamer's stories. They were always so well done."
Beamer has the awards to prove it. Beamer has nine EMMY Awards, an Edward R. Murrow Award and Texas Associated Press Broadcasters honors.
"A lot of our team has looked up to Randy as a leader and proud dad of the newsroom. You know him as Randy. He is and will always be "Beamer” to us. His humor, kindness and workhorse mentality are going to be missed.”
"I remember one time, he left a card on my desk. And I had just a terrible week," former WOAI anchor Jacqueline Ortiztold the station in 2019. "But on the card, it read: ‘Play On.’ And it had a piano, a picture of a piano. And those words at that moment meant so much to me. And they still ring true to this day."
"After 30 years, Randy’s credentials and achievements are numerous as are his fans," Sinclair San Antonio Vice President and General Manager Dean Radlasaid on the WOAI website. "I’ve had the pleasure of working with Randy for a significant portion of his career and I’ll forever be grateful to him for being such a terrific ambassador for News 4 and Sinclair San Antonio. All the best to Randy and his family!"
While WOAI employees won't find Beamer in the newsroom until midnight anymore, they will probably still see him making appearances and helping out the San Antonio community.
"Truth is, Randy Beamer has a MENSA I.Q.," WOAI sports director Don Harris posted on Facebook. "Whenever he walks into a room, he is automatically the smartest guy in it. So he often suggests to the lighting guy how to light, to directors and producers how do direct and produce, and to photographers how to shoot.
"As he reads this copy he is noticing where I left out a comma here or mistakenly added one there. Truth is, we should all listen to the suggestions. It is the reason our news product is so good and why Beamer is so revered. He wants to be first, but he wants to be accurate more than anything else. He wants to get it right."
Simone De Alba has taken over for Irene Cruz on News 4 San Antonio WOAI and will sit along side Alamo City legend Randy Beamer on the Sinclair station's 10pm newscast.
The big anchor change happened in November while I was on blogging break. De Alba's San Antonio debut happened in early December which you can watch above.
De Alba left FOX 40 KTXL Sacramento in November after four years with the Nexstar station (formerly Tribune owned).
"I know there's a few things that I really want to try in San Antonio, which I actually made a list, and one of them is Natural Bridge Caverns," De Alba told co-anchors Beamer and Delaine Mathieu on air for her South Texas television news introduction.
I am going to throw in my two cents since this this post is suddenly about Texas caves. While I love Natural Bridge Caverns, I also highly suggest the Caverns of Sonora located near Sonora, Texas on I-10. These caves sit at the halfway point between San Antonio and Big Bend National Park. Ok, back to San Antonio TV stuff.
No stranger to physical endurance, De Alba grew up in Colorado and loves to hike. Actually, saying she loves to hike is a little pedestrian for her. During her time teaching in Nepal, De Alba was even at the Mount Everest base camp.
Besides mountains, De Alba is a ultra marathon runner. So for her, anchoring mornings at FOX 40 Sacramento was not enough activity. She followed her TV news work with a daily 15 mile run. Then she competes in 50 mile endurance runs.
Whew! And here, I am tired enough writing this post. When I hit publish, I might go take a nap. Hopefully I won't injure myself.
The new SA anchor's motto is “first and foremost, a public servant.” As a journalist, she has stated she does not take her reporting and anchoring responsibilities lightly.
De Alba had been the morning anchor for KTXL since 2015.
Before that, she was a statewide anchor for KTVQ Billings, Montana. She even made appearances on CNN's local edition.
KRTV Great Falls, Montana was the start of De Alba's television journalism career where she served as a morning anchor.
The University of Colorado at Boulder and Metropolitan State University grad interned for KCNC Denver, KCRA Sacramento and KUSA Denver.
“I’m very excited about the addition of Simone to our News 4 San Antonio team,” Sinclair San Antonio General Manager Dean Radla said on the station's website. “Simone is a real pro that will blend well with our established talent and provide another credible voice to enhance the station’s position as trusted and valued source of information for local viewers.”
When not anchoring, De Alba will be working on special projects reports for 5, 6 and 6:30 pm WOAI newscasts.
Irene Cruz leaves News 4 San Antonio WOAI
In 2018, Irene Cruz took the 10pm anchor chair vacated by Eva Ramos in 2017.
"To my co-anchor, [Randy Beamer], who is both my best friend at work and my auxiliary dad," Cruz posted on her goodbye Facebook message. "Thank you for the laughs on a commercial break, the emergency packs of Oreos you gave me on my bad days, and the friendship orchids that always seemed to die but we loved anyway."
Cruz previously worked for KXTV Sacramento as an anchor and reporter.
She got her professional television news start at KYMA, Yuma Arizona as an anchor/producer.
The University of California, Irvine grad interned for KNSD San Diego and WBBM Chicago.
We will have to stay tuned to see what Cruz will do post WOAI. If you find out, give me a holler.
In other News 4 San Antonio...well news...the bio of reporter Emily Olson has been removed from the WOAI website. She now lists her Instagram bio as "former reporter." Olson arrived in San Antonio earlier in 2020.
So long "Spirit of Texas," hello Gannett8
Dallas-based WFAA8, which will be re-christened Gannett8 later in this post, touted its new “Graphics” during Wednesday’s newscasts.
Mother Claims TV News Defamed Her
Houston's CBS TV affiliate defamed a woman in a broadcast that claimed she left her two young children in her hot car while she got her hair cut, the woman claims in court.
KRIV Apologizes for Airing Offensive Tweet
Houston FOX owned station KRIV is apologizing today for airing a tweet someone sent out using offensive language to describe Cowboy’s Quarterback Tony Romo.
Houston Texans Game Day on SportsRadio 610
SportsRadio 610 continues its 13 year long partnership with the Houston Texans as the official home for Texans Radio and will carry each game of the 2014 football season. New this year is the addition of John Harris, Rich Lord and Sean Pendergast.
Look who's turning 5
CultureMap celebrates a media milestone, looks back at a tiny beginning
Minerva Pérez wins Telly Award
Minerva Pérez, creator and executive producer of Latina Voices: Smart Talk, is a winner in the 35th Annual Telly Awards, a national recognition. The syndicated talk show went up against competitors in all 50 states and took a Bronze Telly which was announced in early August. Minerva and her co-host/co-producer, Sofía Adrogué, are proud of the award that was given for their 100th show. Says Minerva, “the 100th show is a compilation of the 5 years of Latina Voices and showed off well, the caliber of guests and production value.” The Telly Award, founded in 1979, is the premier award honoring outstanding local, regional, and cable TV commercials and programs, the finest video and film productions, and online commercials, video and films. Winners represent the best work of the most respected advertising agencies, production companies, television stations, cable operators, and corporate video departments in the world. Latina Voices: Smart Talk is produced at Houston Television, HTV.
TV news stars throw a special bridal bunch that sees a politician turn into an omelette wiz
Those with a nose for news were on their toes over the weekend, but it was omelettes and brownies that reporters were sniffing out rather than collie hoarding or smash-and-grab burglaries. Recently retired KHOU Channel 11 investigative reporter Courtney Zubowski Haas and Dr. Eric Haas provided the scene for a Sunday gathering of media personalities.
“The Trouble With Ray”
Houston video agency, Proud Pony International, is pleased to announce the inclusion of their short documentary, “The Trouble With Ray”, in the Raindance Film Festival in London, England, on the first full night of the festival, Wednesday, September 25, 2014. The film has also been nominated as one of the top five short documentaries submitted to Raindance this season.
Cox Classic Rock Rebrands As The Eagle
Cox Media Group/San Antonio has re-branded San Antonio’s only classic rock KTKX 106.7 FM as 106.7 FM The Eagle. Former brand was X106.7.
S.A. anchor tears up; Beamer steps in
Randy Beamer came to the rescue of Evy Ramos earlier this week when his lovely WOAI news partner became too emotional to finish a story about two young children seriously injured in an automobile accident.
Houston AP sports reporter Duncan dies at 43
Christopher Duncan, a sports reporter for The Associated Press who covered the Houston Texans, Houston Rockets and the Kentucky Derby, has died at the age of 43.
DirecTV Tells CSN Houston Where to Stick Its Teams
DirecTV wants nothing to do with the CSN Houston or the teams that broadcast games on that network. AT&T is doing fine without the network. So are the rest of the cable/satellite providers in the five-state CSN Houston market.
Radio newsman recovering from cancer surgery
Longtime Houston radio newsman JP Pritchard is resting his voice, but not his typing skills, as he recovers at home from surgery last week.
Dan Patrick radio deal financed by S&L swindler
Republican Dan Patrick, the leading GOP contender for lieutenant governor, took over a Houston radio station years ago with funds borrowed from a businessman later convicted of looting tens of millions of dollars from a Louisiana savings and loan.
Garf's column
Michael Garfield, The High Tech Texan, will be contributing stories and videos to USATODAY.com with potential bleed over into the paper. Part of his additional role as part of Gannett Company (WFAA-TV) he posted on Facebook. That's not the only additional thing he's doing, Garfield just picked up a column at Bayou City Magazine. He says on Facebook he should be able to do more topics other than just technology.
KUHT adds Classical 91.7 simulcast
Houston Public Media is taking advantage of the new common ownership among KUHT channel 8, NPR news-talk KUHF 88.7 FM, and classical KUHA 91.7 FM by beginning to simulcast Classical 91.7 on KUHT channel 8.5.
Ware returns to KTSA; opens up about kids’ suicides
Trey Ware returned to his KTSA-AM show Monday morning after taking three weeks to mourn the loss of his son, Justin, who took his own life late last month.
Evy Ramos named news anchor at News 4 San Antonio
Evy Ramos joins the News 4 San Antonio team effective Monday, May 19th. Ramos will co-anchor the station's 6:00, 6:30 and 10:00p.m. weeknight newscasts with Randy Beamer.
Elisa Amigo named KABB news anchor
Elisa Amigo joins the Fox San Antonio news team effective May 19, teaming with Michael Valdes to anchor the station’s highly rated Fox News at Nine. Elisa joins the award winning Fox 29 team from WJW in Cleveland, where she spent seven years as a news anchor and reporter.
KEYE’s Maggio prepares to wrap up 33-year TV career
Judy Maggio, who co-anchors KEYE’s 5 p.m., 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. newscasts, announced earlier this year that she’d retire at the end of May after 33 years on Austin’s airwaves. Since then, people have been asking — and speculating about — what’s next for the beloved broadcaster.
Revolving door in Midland
The recent musical chairs that is the sports staff at KMID Midland (Market #150) continues.
The strange case of the 34-year-old 'sophomore'
KETK Reporter Alexandra Carter appeared on Fox News' On The Record with Greta Van Susteren talking about the story of the Texas woman who allegedly posed as a high school sophomore for seven months.
Roseann Rogers announces that she is the new VP of Strategic Marketing and Development at the Houston Chronicle.
Mariana Pineda Navarro posted on Facebook she is leaving Univision 45 KXLN where she has worked as a reporter for the last nine years to work in public relations.
Account Executive Natasha Paster announced on LinkedIn she has moved from KTRK abc13 to KHOU 11. She was with the Disney ABC Television Group for the last two years.
JOEY HORTA to Morning Anchor at KSEE, Fresno (from KGBT, Harlingen). Horta is represented by Steve Swienckowski at DCA Talent.
