WATERTOWN, NY; September 3, 2024 – WPBS is excited to announce that the much-beloved high school trivia competition, Whiz Quiz, will be returning for its 44th season with a new host!
WWNY-TV’s Mel Busler – a household name in Northern New York – will be adding to his television duties as he becomes the new host for the series.
While new to Whiz Quiz, Mel Busler is no stranger to local airwaves. Mel Busler started his broadcast career at WATN radio in 1978. In 1982, Mel moved over to 7News television, becoming a full time Sports Anchor of the 6 and 11 newscast in 1984. For over 42 years, Mel has had the pleasure of covering North Country sports at 7News, and considers himself lucky enough to find a career he enjoys in his hometown of Watertown.
Over his long career, Mel has been honored with awards from the New York State Broadcasters Association, Associated Press and the Syracuse Press Club. But what he’s most proud of is his family, including wife Rose and sons Mel and Matt. “That’s what life is really about,” Mel emphasizes.
Asked about his new role on Whiz Quiz, Mel is enthusiastic. “I feel honored to be a part of Whiz Quiz on WPBS… I’ve been a supporting member of WPBS for many years and now to have a chance to be a part of a show with as much history as Whiz Quiz is very exciting. I hope to add a little something to what’s been a very successful show!”
“All of us at WPBS are so pleased to welcome Mel to the program and grateful to WWNY for allowing him to take this on” said Mark Prasuhn, President and General Manager of WPBS. “Mel’s service to the community is unmatched, and he has been celebrating the skills and achievements of our youth for decades, something he’ll now be able to add to in a new setting. I couldn’t think of a better fit to take on this role.”
Taping begins in early October in the WPBS Studio with 32 teams representing local schools from Jefferson, Lewis, St. Lawrence, and surrounding counties. The season culminates with the Championship match, determining the U.S. winner. WPBS is very pleased to welcome back Canadian schools, who will go head-to-head with the new U.S. Champion in the International Match, the final match of this season.
Whiz Quiz is a local TV program produced by WPBS-TV in Watertown, New York. This quiz bowl-style tournament invites over 30 high-schools from across the North Country and Canada to participate and compete for a scholarship prize. The program debuted in 1980, and has been on the air for over 40 years, making it the North Country’s longest running academic quiz show. Competing high school students from both sides of the border showcase their knowledge in areas like Math, History, Art, and Science. This trivia competition is a single-elimination format and the winning team takes home the Glenn Gough Honorary Scholarship.
Teams of four students will compete in four different rounds, following the game’s traditional format. From thinking fast to one-on-one faceoffs, students will have the opportunity to answer questions related to a variety of topics.
Episodes will be broadcast on WPBS-TV weeknights at 7:30 pm, beginning Monday, October 21st. All matches will also be available for online viewing at watch.wpbstv.org.
For more information about Whiz Quiz, please visit www.wpbstv.org/whiz-quiz.
Production funding for Whiz Quiz is provided by Jefferson-Lewis BOCES, St. Lawrence Lewis BOCES, Jefferson Community College, Samaritan Medical Center, and NRCIL.
Scholarships for winning Whiz Quiz teams are provided in part by National Grid, Stewart Shops, Bowers and Company CPAs, The Sunrise and Noon Rotary Clubs of Watertown, The Clayton Rotary Club, The Antwerp Masonic Lodge #226, The Waddington Masonic Lodge #393, The Dexter Masonic Lodge #1072, The Gouverneur Elks Lodge #2035, The Carthage Elks Lodge #1762, The Lowville Elks Lodge #1605, The Watertown Elks Lodge #496, and The Boonville Elks Lodge #2158.
About WPBS
WPBS is a PBS station serving approximately 600,000 households throughout Northern New York and Eastern Ontario via cable, satellite, Internet and over-the-air distribution. WPBS is a non-profit organization whose mission is to educate and inspire diverse communities with exceptional and trusted content across multiple platforms. Its vision is to be the premier provider of relevant public service media that instills wonder and curiosity across generations and cultures. More information about WPBS, including a full channel listing, is available at wpbstv.org, or by following WPBS on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook. Download the free WPBS Mobile App to follow WPBS on the go.
