2026 SPECIAL SESSION I

INTRODUCED

26200095D

HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 2043

Offered April 23, 2026

Prefiled April 22, 2026

Commending WCYB-TV.

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Patron—O'Quinn

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WHEREAS, WCYB-TV, a broadcast television station serving the Tri-Cities region of Virginia and Tennessee, has played an important role in local life and local culture by offering high-quality, community-focused media; and

WHEREAS, prior to becoming a television station, WCYB first went on the air in 1946 as a radio station, with shows such as Farm and Fun Time, which featured informative programming for rural residents and live musicians; and

WHEREAS, Farm and Fun Time helped bring country, bluegrass, and old-time music to a wider audience throughout the region, and many local musicians began their professional careers behind the microphones at WCYB; and

WHEREAS, WCYB-TV was established by Appalachian Broadcasting on August 13, 1956, as an extension of WCYB radio; the television station has been a primary NBC affiliate throughout its history and remains a leading source of local news, information, education, and entertainment in Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee; and

WHEREAS, in its early years, WCYB-TV provided a mix of national network programming and locally produced content, including children's shows, educational programming, and other broadcasts that reflected the character and interests of its Appalachian audience; and

WHEREAS, over time, WCYB-TV expanded its news operations and technological capabilities, becoming a trusted and widely viewed source of journalism for the region and earning a reputation for strong local coverage; and

WHEREAS, through multiple ownership transitions, WCYB-TV has maintained its commitment to public service and continues today under Sinclair Broadcast Group as a prominent multi-platform broadcaster dedicated to informing and serving the residents of the Tri-Cities and surrounding Appalachian communities; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, That WCYB-TV hereby be commended for its service to the residents of the Tri-Cities of Virginia and Tennessee and surrounding communities on the occasion of its 70th anniversary as a broadcast television station; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to WCYB-TV as an expression of the House of Delegates' admiration for the station's legacy of contributions to broadcast media in Southwest Virginia.