WBBZ-TV to air 'Yule Log' Christmas Eve, Christmas Day

A Christmas gift to viewers from Russell J. Salvatore

Chris Musial, vice president and general manager of WBBZ-TV, has announced that, for the fourth year in a row, "Your Hometown Television Station" will air a holiday "Yule Log" from 8 p.m. Christmas Eve through 6 p.m. Christmas Day.

The "Yule Log" shows video of a fireplace set to classic holiday music.

The Christmas "Yule Log" is sponsored exclusively by Russell Salvatore, of Russell's Steaks, Chops, and More, and Salvatore's Grand Hotel, as his Christmas gift to the Western New York community. Russell's Steaks, Chops, and More is one of the top steakhouses in New York, and a winner of the OpenTable Diners' Choice Awards for Top 100 Steakhouses in America.

WBBZ-TV Creative Director Joe Maulucci has once again created a unique mix of classic Christmas songs with artists such as Frank Sinatra, Mel Torme and Bing Crosby, along with hometown favorites The Goo Goo Dolls, Lance Diamond and Pat Shea. The playlist is at www.wbbz.tv. Just click the "Yule Log" story.

The "Yule Log" was created in 1966 by Fred M. Thrower, president and CEO of WPIX Inc. It was inspired by an animated Coca-Cola commercial a year earlier that showed Santa Claus at a fireplace. Thrower envisioned this television program as a televised Christmas gift to those residents of New York who lived in apartments and homes without fireplaces.

The "Yule Log" also provided time for employees of the television station to stay home with their families, instead of working for the usual morning news program.

It was both a critical and ratings success. By popular demand, it was rebroadcast for 23 consecutive years.

WBBZ is seen throughout Western New York. It is Western New York's only locally owned and operated television station. For more information, visit www.wbbz.tv.