User:Dwtv61

DWTV61

D.W. Thomas was the first V.J. (video jock) to broadcast "live" playing a full-time music video format on broadcast Television in the United States. Thomas was a V.J. for the MusicChannel (as broadcast on Cable on the Satellite Program Network) and on the Phoenix Arizona broadcast MusicChannel Affiliate - K61CA (TV-61) in 1983 and 1984.

In February of 1983 production began for programming for TV-61 with pre-recorded V.J. segments in hour-long "shows" featuring D.W. Thomas, Nikki Hill, and Sheri Pinero. TV-61 began airing the programming when the station debuted in March 15, 1983. Due to the challenge of shooting and editing the hour long shows to fill a full-time music video broadcast format, it became evident to Thomas that the better solution would be to have the V.J. host the show live much as he had done at radio stations he had worked for (KINN, KOOL-FM, etc).

On April 9th of 1983, Thomas made a clandestine experiment to "go live" between taped segments on TV-61. He presented his concept to the station management and in May of 1983 the station converted to an all live format with the V.J.s doing the work of loading the tapes, playing the videos, switching the audio and video controls, and talking to camera. The TV-61 production team and Thomas tested the system at midnight on May 11, 1983 and he then hosted the first full show at noon that day.

Thomas left TV-61 to take over managment of MusicChannel's Flagstaff Arizona broadcast station K0SS TV-9 in February of 1984. MusicChannel and the broadcast stations folded in the summer and fall of 1984.

D.W. Thomas re-created the style and concept used at MusicChannel with the TV show VIDEO ZONE which debuted in August of 1990 on TV-39 in Phoenix. VIDEO ZONE is still on the air with nearly 400 hour-long shows and now broadcasts on KTV as part of the SKY ANGEL NETWORK on both IPTV and Dish Network.