
CBC completed the trifecta of tower lightings for the holidays, as well as a half-hour special on WRAL-TV to broadcast the triple-event, on Wednesday, November 29, 2023. The WRAL-TV tower turned into a Christmas tree for the 65th time that night, and WRAL-TV Director of News Operations, Sports & Special Projects Leesa Moore has been there for 41 of those years. The 2023 lighting was her 25th as Executive Producer for the live broadcast.
Our tower lighting coverage has been through several iterations from covering only in newscasts, to producing a stand-alone special, Moore told CapCom. The constant has been to entertain. The technology has certainly changed throughout, and I think it has served us well to make the event truly sparkle.
WRAL-TV's Lena Tillett snaps a selfie as she prepares to emcee the Lucky Strike Tower Lighting at American Tobacco during CBC's Tower Lighting Special on Wednesday, November 29, 2023. (Photo courtesy of WRAL-TV's Lena Tillett)
The WRAL-TV tower began the tradition with CBC Founder A.J. Fletcher at the helm of the company, and in recent years has expanded.
I love that we're including our sister properties at American Tobacco Campus and Rocky Mount Mills, said Moore. It's an exciting way to showcase the reach of Capitol Broadcasting and reinforce our commitment to the various regions we serve.
WRAL-TV Anchor Lena Tillett went to Durham to host the lighting of the Lucky Strike tower at American Tobacco, while WRAL-TV Anchor Ashley Rowe experienced her first CBC tower lighting as emcee of the portion of the broadcast from Rocky Mount Mills.
Over the years the tower lighting has become a favorite of the CBC Team. Coverage has expanded and the number of towers has grown, but one thing stays the same.
The main constant is our people, said Moore. The staff of WRAL do amazing things throughout the year, but I think lighting the tower holds a special place in everyone's heart. With all the news we cover, this is one event where we really get to have fun!
From WRAL-TV's Kelly Riner in the control room on Wednesday, November 29, 2023: Months of preparation came down to the fastest 27 minutes of tv all year! Once again, I had the honor of producing WRAL's Tower Lighting Special. It certainly was a fun one thanks to my amazing coworkers and a lot of hard work!
WRAL-TV Senior News Producer Kelly Riner is also a mainstay of the Tower Lighting Special.
Months of preparation came down to the fastest 27 minutes of TV all year! she posted. Once again, I had the honor of producing WRAL's Tower Lighting Special. It certainly was a fun one thanks to my amazing coworkers and a lot of hard work!
The annual tradition of lighting the WRAL Tower, and now also the towers at American Tobacco and Rocky Mount Mills, is a key part of signaling the start of the holidays in the Triangle.
I love everything about the tradition of the tower lighting, said Moore. It is truly CBC's gift to the community. I have friends who attended NC State years ago who still remark about how special it was to see the tower all lit up. It's also a tradition that has stood the test of time I mean, 65 years! It's been my absolute honor and privilege to be part of such a memorable annual event and I have so many memories to carry with me.
Riner agrees.
It is always my favorite night of the year, she told CapCom. First Night is a close second! And now that countdown begins.
Watch the WRAL Tower Lighting Special:
WRAL.com: WRAL lights towers in Raleigh, Durham and Rocky Mount
Thanks to WRAL-TV's Leesa Moore, Kelly Riner, Kat Campbell, Mike Maze, Lena Tillett and Ashley Talley for these CapCom photos.
The Lucky Strike Tower at American Tobacco was lit for the holidays during CBC's Tower Lighting Special on WRAL-TV on Wednesday, November 29, 2023. The crowd at American Tobacco enjoys musical entertainment awaiting the Lucky Strike tower lighting during CBC's Tower Lighting Special on Wednesday, November 29, 2023. (Photo courtesy of WRAL-TV's Lena Tillett) The Lucky Strike Tower at American Tobacco is set to light for the holidays during CBC's Tower Lighting Special on Wednesday, November 29, 2023. (Thanks to WRAL-TV's Lena Tillett for this CapCom photo.) WRAL-TV's Kat Campbell shared this photo of her weather forecast, complete with snow from Souther Snowman, before WRAL's Tower Lighting Special on Wednesday, November 29, 2023. WRAL-TV's Mike Maze snaps a selfie with WRAL-TV's Kat Campbell as the meteorology duo get set to participate in WRAL's Tower Lighting Special on Wednesday, November 29, 2023. (Photo courtesy of Mike Maze) WRAL-TV's Charles Braswell (left) & WRAL-TV's Mike Mory move TV monitors outside in prepartion for WRAL's Tower Lighting Special on Wednesday, November 29, 2023. It takes a TV village to pull off a live special in 3 locations! said WRAL-TV's Leesa Moore, executive producer of WRAL's Tower Lighting Special on Wednesday, November 29, 2023. (Photo courtesy of WRAL-TV's Leesa Moore) It takes a TV village to pull off a live special in 3 locations! said WRAL-TV's Leesa Moore, executive producer of WRAL's Tower Lighting Special on Wednesday, November 29, 2023. (Photo courtesy of WRAL-TV's Leesa Moore) It takes a TV village to pull off a live special in 3 locations! said WRAL-TV's Leesa Moore, executive producer of WRAL's Tower Lighting Special on Wednesday, November 29, 2023. (Photo courtesy of WRAL-TV's Leesa Moore) It takes a TV village to pull off a live special in 3 locations! said WRAL-TV's Leesa Moore, executive producer of WRAL's Tower Lighting Special on Wednesday, November 29, 2023. (Photo courtesy of WRAL-TV's Leesa Moore) From WRAL-TV's Kelly Riner on Wednesday, November 29, 202
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
04/08/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...
04/07/2026
April 7 2026, 19:00 (PDT) Detective Conan: Fallen Angel of the Highway Opens in...
01/06/2026
January 6 2026, 05:30 (PST) Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 2026
Throughout the week, Dolby brings to life the latest innovatio...
06/05/2026
Gravity Media Chief RF Communications Engineer Glenn Willems uses Wisycom RF over Fiber and wireless solutions across major cycling events and international mar...
06/05/2026
A Sennheiser Spectera module is now available in Bitfocus Companion and Buttons, enabling direct integration of Spectera with the two software platforms. The mo...
06/05/2026
Ted Turner, the visionary media entrepreneur whose appetite for disruption helpe...
06/05/2026
Peacock is going all-in on the beautiful game - streaming all 104 FIFA World Cup...
06/05/2026
New pricing tiers for vocal/dialogue restoration tool
NoiseWorks Audio's AI-powered vocal and dialogue processing plug-in is now available in three diff...
06/05/2026
Popular mixing & routing software overhauled
Following a recent public beta test, RME have launched the final release version of the powerful mixing and rou...
06/05/2026
New SOS Video Feature
Focusrites ISA C8X is a milestone product that brings together the companys analogue heritage and their expertise in digital audio. Yo...
06/05/2026
Polands Miecznik-class frigates are part of the largest contract in Polish shipbuilding history. (Image Credit: PGZ Stocznia Wojenna)...
06/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
06/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
06/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
06/05/2026
Riedel Communications today announced the expansion of its leadership structure as part of a strategic initiative to strengthen both its operational management ...
06/05/2026
For nearly three decades, Veteran Production Sound Mixer and Five-time Emmy Award Winner Dirk Sciarrotta has helped define the sonic identity of the long-runnin...
06/05/2026
ZEISS CinCraft LensCore: Cinema Lens Looks for Compositing
Brie Clayton May 6, 2026
0 Comments
ZEISS announces the launch of CinCraft LensCore, a nove...
06/05/2026
Wisycom Solves Extreme RF Challenges Across Miles of Live Action for Gravity Med...
06/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
06/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
06/05/2026
Narrative Entertainment has partnered with Encompass to deliver high-quality subtitling of its Great! network content using the Altitude Intelligence AI assiste...
06/05/2026
SipRadius, widely recognized for making content processing and connectivity secure and seamless, is proud to launch a dramatic new approach to AI content creati...
06/05/2026
When the broadband and media industry gathers at ANGA COM in Cologne from May 19 to 21, Big Blue Marble will be at the forefront. The international broadcast an...
06/05/2026
Cinegy GmbH, a leading developer of software-defined television technology, is proud to exhibit at MPTS for the first time. Visitors to the stand will discover ...
06/05/2026
Val Jeanty Receives 2026 Doris Duke Artist Award Jeanty, a composer, percussionist, and turntablist, is the fourth Berklee recipient of the prestigious award ...
06/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
06/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
06/05/2026
When live cycling races and international marathons stretch for miles across cities and countryside, there is no margin for RF failure in live broadcast. As Chi...
06/05/2026
Oberkochen/Germany, May 5, 2026
ZEISS announces the launch of CinCraft LensCore, a novel solution for creating physically based cinematic lens looks for visual...
06/05/2026
06 May 2026
VEON's Kyivstar Authorized to Resell Starlink for Businesses & ...
06/05/2026
UKTV has secured the exclusive rights to the early back catalogue of iconic Australian drama series Neighbours, following a landmark content deal with Fremantle...
06/05/2026
Wednesday 6 May 2026
Sky commissions feature documentary to mark 10th anniversa...
06/05/2026
Wednesday 6 May 2026
Sky and Formula 1 agree long-term partnership across UK, Ireland and Italy
Sky in the UK & Ireland to remain the home of Formula 1 until ...
06/05/2026
Sky Zero Footprint Fund-backed TV campaign launches nationwide, supported by new...
06/05/2026
Wuppertal May 6, 2026
Riedel Expands Leadership Structure, Appoints Marc Engro...
06/05/2026
SAN JOSE, Calif. - May 6, 2026 - Harmonic (NASDAQ: HLIT) today announced its latest broadband innovations for ANGA COM 2026, highlighting its vision for a new e...
06/05/2026
Statement from Rupert Murdoch, Chairman Emeritus, Fox Corporation on Ted Turner&...
06/05/2026
Friday 8 May on RT One and RT Player
Meet the NSPCA team caring for and protecting animals in need in this six-part series
Fly on the wall, six-part series...
06/05/2026
The race to build the world's most powerful AI factories demands networking ...
06/05/2026
How changes to proteins can alter drug interactions for new precision therapies Scripps Research team maps how chemical modifications to proteins affect drug bi...
05/05/2026
Experts from the world of academia, tech, business, politics and media convened for a Thomson Talks at the Cambridge Disinformation Summit in April. It's th...
05/05/2026
Three phones were hardwired for power and transmission to the truck; camera feat...
05/05/2026
The creative studio behind campaigns for the NBA, Fanatics Sportsbook & Casino, ...
05/05/2026
Nielsen has announced results from a co-viewing pilot program covering February&...
05/05/2026
viztrick AiDi, an on-device AI solution developed by Nippon TV, delivered global...
05/05/2026
ARRI has announced Omnibar, a battery-powered, IP65-rated multi-color LED linear...
05/05/2026
Imagine Communications has announced that France T l visions is the first broadc...
05/05/2026
The Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) and Bell Media today announced a multiyear agreement to broadcast and stream WNBA games in Canada beginni...