WRAL-TV Channel 5, Raleigh, NC Sign-Off from Summer 1989

The sign-off announcement is rendered by longtime WRAL weatherman Bob Debardelaben, since retired. After that, we have the wonderful "Flag Evolution" National Anthem film, which is chock full of historic images of United States history, spanning from the earliest white European settlers to the planting of the U.S. flag on the moon in 1969. To end the clip, a few seconds of color bars and tone.

WRAL-TV Channel 5, Raleigh, NC Sign-On from Autumn 1988

Like WRAL's sign-offs at the time, the sign-on announcement is rendered by Bob Debardelaben. But, unlike WRAL's sign-off clip, this features a computer-generated animated station logo. The "Flag Evolution" National Anthem film preceded the sign-on announcement, but is not included here (I tuned in a bit too late to get it).

WPTF-TV 28 (now WRDC-TV), Durham/Raleigh NC
Sign-Off from 1988 or 1989

Channel 28 was an NBC network affiliate from its initial sign-on in 1968 to 1995, and from then to 2006 was a UPN affilliate (it is now a MyNetworkTV station). This sign-off features only a static station ID graphic (with late 1980s NBC stylings), a SSB film, and color bars with tone. This clip was contributed by Matt Sittel of Belleview, Nebraska, who was attending North Carolina State University in Raleigh at the time this recording was made.

WTVD 11, Durham/Raleigh NC
Sign-Off from Summer 1989

Preceded by the "Moments With..." sermonette and a "America Responds to AIDS" PSA. The sermonette is delivered by Stanley McClamb, pastor of the Felton Grove Baptist Church in Apex, NC (he is still pastor of the church at the time of this posting). After the sign-off announcement comes a U.S. Air Force "Aim High America" film, but this version features a choral rendition of the Air Force Hymm.

WLFL-TV 22, Raleigh/Durham NC
Sign-Off from Summer 1989

A "bare bones" sign-off, with a static station ID graphic and a brief announcement, and, after several seconds of black, the color bars with ear-splitting double-tone. The sign-off is preceded by the tail-end of the Saturday Night Movie and an CGI animated station ID clip. WLFL was one of the charter affiliates of the Fox Network, but joined the WB network in 1998 (now the CW network, which Channel 22 is still affiliated).

WKFT-TV 40 (now WUVC), Fayetteville, NC
Sign-Off & Sign-On from June 1993

From its inception in 1981 to 2003 WKFT-TV 40 was an independent UHF-TV station (it is now WUVC-TV and O&Oed by Univision). When WRAL-TV 5's transmitter tower was destroyed by a freak ice storm in December 1989, WKFT carried WRAL's programming for ten months until their new tower was up and running. This clip combines sign-off and sign-on recorded the same Monday morning. The sign-off is preceded by a WKFT salute to Spivey's Corner, NC (home of the famous National Hollerin' Contest), and a promo for an upcoming Durham Bulls minor-league baseball telecast.

WRAL-TV 5, Raleigh NC
Sign-Off from June 1993

Very similar to the 1989 WRAL sign-off at the top of this page, but has a different announcer doing it (Bob Debardelaben had retired by this time), uses an animated station ID graphic, and omits mention of the station's operating power and studio-to-transmitter link (STL). As with WRAL's sign-offs of previous years, the "Flag Evolution" SSB film is used.

WLFL-TV 22, Raleigh/Durham NC
Sign-Off from June 1993

As with the 1989 WLFL sign-off posted above, this features only a static station ID graphic followed by color bars with tone, only this time it's not so ear-piercing. What had changed by this time was the station's ownership. The TVX Broadcast Group (mentioned in the 1989 clip) had merged with Paramount Pictures in 1991 and was rechristened the Paramount Stations Group. (WLFL is currently owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group and is affiliated with the CW network).

WTVD 11, Durham/Raleigh NC
Sign-On from June 1993

Featuring a minute or so of color bars and tone before Channel 11 makes its sign-on announcement, which is followed by a quick slick "News Channel 11" station ID. Since 1985, WTVD 11 has been an ABC network owned-and-operated station, a result of Capital Cities Communications' purchase of the network at that time.