Local News

Work Underway On WJZ's Candelabra Tower; Old Antennas Removed

/ CBS Baltimore

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Eyes were on the skies around Television Hill on Tuesday as the antennas for three local TV stations, including WJZ, were removed from the iconic candelabra tower in north Baltimore.

Just after sunrise, crews began unbolting the old antennas on top of the 1,000-foot tower before a specially-designed Skycrane helicopter lowered them to the ground.

Nearby, several curious Baltimoreans watched the work unfold.

WATCH LIVE | Day 2 Of Work On Candelabra Tower On TV Hill In Baltimore

"I was watching the news, and I knew that they were doing work on the tower... and when I heard it I was like, 'Wow, I've got to get up there and see it,'" Allen Burris said.

The project was required by the FCC as part of a nationwide effort to create more space in the airwaves for companies like cell phone carriers.

Jean Kiddoo, the chair of the FCC's Incentive Auction Task Force, drove to Baltimore to see the project for herself.

"Out of the 978 nationwide, this is one of the most exciting because it's three different stations on a very complicated tower," she said.

Replacing the antennas has been a project three years in the making, WJZ Director of Broadcast Operations Peter Conkling said.

"It's been an exhilarating project up until this point," he said. "It's even more unbelievable to watch it in person... You're seeing a helicopter land in your backyard and a helicopter taking off this equipment down, putting this new equipment up. It is just unbelievable."

Once the old antennas are completely removed, crews will then install new antennas.

In the meantime, viewers may notice some changes to WJZ programming.

After the work is done, those on the outer limits of the WJZ viewing area should get better over-the-air reception.

Check out a photo gallery of the work here:

A Skycrane helicopter removes an old antenna from the candelabra broadcast tower shared by three Baltimore TV stations, including WJZ, on July 21, 2020. Credit: Sean Streicher/WJZ
A Skycrane helicopter removes an old antenna from the candelabra broadcast tower shared by three Baltimore TV stations, including WJZ, on July 21, 2020. Credit: Sean Streicher/WJZ
Workers on the ground with old equipment from the candelabra broadcast tower shared by three Baltimore TV stations, including WJZ, on July 21, 2020. Credit: Chopper 13
A Skycrane helicopter removes an old antenna from the candelabra broadcast tower shared by three Baltimore TV stations, including WJZ, on July 21, 2020. Credit: Chopper 13
A Skycrane helicopter removes an old antenna from the candelabra broadcast tower shared by three Baltimore TV stations, including WJZ, on July 21, 2020. Credit: Chopper 13
Workers remove an old antenna from the candelabra broadcast tower shared by three Baltimore TV stations, including WJZ, on July 21, 2020. Credit: Chopper 13
Workers remove an old antenna from the candelabra broadcast tower shared by three Baltimore TV stations, including WJZ, on July 21, 2020. Credit: Chopper 13
A Skycrane helicopter removes old equipment from the candelabra broadcast tower shared by three Baltimore TV stations, including WJZ, on July 21, 2020. Credit: Chopper 13
A Skycrane helicopter removes old equipment from the candelabra broadcast tower shared by three Baltimore TV stations, including WJZ, on July 21, 2020. Credit: Chopper 13
A Skycrane helicopter removes old equipment from the candelabra broadcast tower shared by three Baltimore TV stations, including WJZ, on July 21, 2020. Credit: Chopper 13
The iconic candelabra tower in north Baltimore as seen on the morning of July 21, 2020, prior to the old equipment's removal. Credit: Erik Lee/WJZ
A view of the candelabra broadcast tower shared by three TV stations, including WJZ, on July 1, 2020.

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