KATV
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| KATV | |
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| Little Rock, Arkansas | |
| Branding | KATV 7 (general) Channel 7 News (newscasts) |
| Slogan | The Spirit Of Arkansas (general) Working for You (newscasts) |
| Channels | Digital: 22 (UHF) |
| Affiliations | ABC |
| Owner | Allbritton Communications Company (KATV, LLC) |
| First air date | December 1953[1] |
| Call letters’ meaning | Arkansas TeleVision |
| Former channel number(s) | Analog: 7 (1953-2009) |
| Transmitter Power | 1000 kW |
| Height | 515 m |
| Facility ID | 33543 |
| Transmitter Coordinates | 34°47′49.3″N 92°29′20.1″W / 34.797028°N 92.488917°W |
| Website | www.katv.com |
KATV is an ABC affiliated television station serving the Little Rock television market and central Arkansas. The station is owned by Allbritton Communications Company.
The station broadcasts its digital signal via UHF channel 22, using its former analog assignment of 7 as its virtual channel via PSIP. It is also available on Comcast channel 8 (analog) and 231 (digital) in Little Rock. Until it collapsed January 11, 2008, both signals were broadcast from the KATV Tower near Redfield, Arkansas. Its analog license continued to reflect this site while the station was broadcasting in analog from a temporary site, and in HDTV on a subchannel of KWBF] (channel 42, now KARZ-TV). It began broadcasts on February 1, 2009 from a new digital transmitter located on Shinall Mountain, near the Chenal Valley neighborhood of Little Rock.
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[edit] History
KATV debuted on December 19, 1953, originally in Pine Bluff. The station was an ABC affiliate; during the late 1950s, the station was also briefly affiliated with the NTA Film Network.[2]
KATV is Little Rock's oldest continually operating television station, beating KARK-TV (channel 4) by a few months. Less than a year after sign-on, KATV moved from Pine Bluff to Little Rock and took over the studio of KRTV, a failed UHF station that had been Arkansas' first TV station. The new operations were on North Beech Street near Kavanaugh in the Pulaski Heights section of Little Rock; however, the station burned in 1957.
KATV then moved to downtown Little Rock; it moved to its current studio, a former home of Worthen Bank (now Bank of America) at Fourth and Main Streets, in 1970. The KATV Building at 401 Main Street extends along Fourth Street a full block eastward to Scott Street, one block north of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and across Fourth Street from the Rose Law Firm. KATV continues to maintain a nominal studio in Pine Bluff to satisfy the original FCC conditions for moving the license to Little Rock, even though modern FCC rules would allow it to operate only from Little Rock even if the license returned to Pine Bluff. A secondary studio utilized primarily for its daily mid-morning Good Morning Arkansas program is located in Little Rock's River Market District, at President Clinton Avenue and Ottenheimer Plaza.
KATV, along with sister station KTUL (channel 8) in Tulsa, Oklahoma and original sister station KWTV (channel 9) in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, were founded by John Griffin (whose company would later become today's Griffin Communications) and Jimmy Leake. Leake became sole owner of KATV and KTUL in the late 1960s or early 1970s, and owned the stations until 1982, when he sold both stations to their current owner, Allbritton Communications Company.
KATV has used the Circle 7 logo since the 1960s; though it is traditionally associated with owned-and-operated ABC stations, KATV is one of several non-O&Os to have used it. KATV's use of the Circle 7 logo predates even the variant Circle 7 once used by Allbritton's flagship WJLA in Washington D.C. before it switched to the standard version. However, unlike WJLA and most of the O&Os, KATV only uses the ABC logo with the Circle 7 occasionally, usually in screen-corner bugs where the Circle 7 covers the standard ABC bug. KATV also first placed the Circle 7 inside a square in the 1990s; WJLA now uses that as well, though neither station uses it consistently. In fall 2008, KATV discontinued use of the square Circle 7 logo.
[edit] KATV's Broadcast Service Area
Before the recently-collapsed tower was built in 1965, KATV broadcast from a smaller tower near Jefferson (south of Redfield).
KATV's broadcast area comprises mostly central Arkansas. However, many sections of the state were able to receive KATV's signal. Western sections of Bolivar and Coahoma Counties in west central Mississippi have been known to receive KATV's signal. KATV is also carried on cable systems in those areas, including Greenville, Cleveland, Clarksdale, and Drew.
On July 6, 2004, a spectacular intense high MUF Sporadic-E opening allowed Mike Bugaj [3] to receive KATV[4] (channel 7, Little Rock, Arkansas) in Enfield, Connecticut, 1,176 miles (1,892 km) away.[5]
[edit] Tower collapse
The KATV Tower collapsed January 11, 2008 while workers were adjusting guy wires.[6] KATV's analog signal returned to the air a couple of weeks later from an auxiliary tower of competitor KTHV. In addition, Equity Media Holdings, based in Little Rock, initially helped restore KATV's signal to cable and satellite systems.[6] Equity is presently carrying KATV's digital signal through its station KWBF--originally as 42.3 in SDTV, now as 7.1 in HDTV. KATV's analog signal was never interrupted on Comcast's Little Rock system due to a direct studio feed, though the HDTV feed was initially interrupted; Comcast also delivered KATV's signal to other cable and satellite providers.[7]
The tower was also used by the Arkansas Educational Television Network for analog broadcasts into central Arkansas via KETS Channel 2. Its analog signal was unavailable until June 13, 2008, when a temporary analog antenna was installed at the Clear Channel Broadcasting Tower Redfield, where its digital signal already originated.
KATV eventually received approval to replace this tower with a new tower on Shinall Mountain, where Little Rock's other major-network affiliates (and both of its present backup signals) are located.[8]
[edit] Digital Television
The station's digital signal is multiplexed:
Digital channels
| Channel | Programming |
|---|---|
| 7.1 | Main KATV programming / ABC HD |
| 7.2 | Retro Television Network |
In 2005, KATV launched a 24-hour news and weather channel, called KATV News Now, which features rebroadcasts of KATV's newscasts. This channel competes directly with KTHV's THV2 24-hour news and weather channel. Before the collapse of KATV's tower, KATV News Now aired over virtual digital channel 7-2 (physical RF digital channel 22-2). Digital broadcast of KATV News Now have not yet resumed as of February 1, 2009, the date on which broadcasts began from KATV's new tower on Shinall Mountain. KATV News Now continues to be available online at www.katv.com; it remained online even after the tower collapse, and has recently been restored on Comcast Digital Cable in Little Rock.
[edit] Programming
KATV broadcasts all of ABC's schedule, however KATV pre-empts Power Rangers: RPM due to lack of educational content. KATV also airs Nightline a half-hour later than ABC's recommended timeslot (ABC recommends that its affiliates air Nightline at 10:35 in the Central time zone). Current syndicated programming includes Jeopardy!, The Dr. Oz Show, Oprah, Wheel of Fortune, and According to Jim, with weekend rebroadcasts of According to Jim, and telecasts of The Tim McCarver Show.
KATV broadcasts four syndicated programs in High Definition; those shows being Oprah, Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy! and The Dr. Oz Show.
[edit] News Operation
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Please help improve this article by expanding it. Further information might be found on the talk page. (September 2008) |
KATV broadcasts a total of 28 hours of local news per week (with five hours on weekdays, two hours on Saturdays and one hour on Sundays), the most of any station in the Little Rock market. KATV is currently the only Little Rock station carrying a weekend morning newscast, a Saturday edition of Channel 7 News Daybreak. Until the 1990s, rival station KARK was the market leader, but since then, KATV has taken the crown.
From 2001 to 2005, KATV rebroadcast its 6:00 and 10:00PM newscasts weeknights on then-Pax affiliate KYPX (now KKYK-DT). This ended in 2005 due to two factors: the first being Pax's rebranding as i: Independent Television (now ION Television) with KYPX instead becoming the flagship station of Retro Television Network, and Pax's earlier decision to cut ties with its news share agreements with major network affiliates in the markets it had an affiliate, due to financial troubles. KATV was one of a few non-NBC affiliates to rebroadcast its newscasts on a Pax affiliate.
[edit] KATV 7 Notable Personalities
[edit] Current On-Air Talent
(as of November 3, 2009)
Current Anchors
- Heather Crawford - weeknights at 5PM (also investigative reporter)
- Beth Hunt - weekday mornings "Daybreak" and "Mid-Day Arkansas" (also reporter)
- Scott Inman - weeknights at 5, 6 and 10PM (also reporter)
- Christina Muñoz - weeknights at 6 and 10PM (also reporter)
- Jason Pederson - Saturday mornings "Daybreak" (also consumer reporter)
- Pamela Smith - Saturdays at 6 & 10PM and Sundays at 5 & 10PM (also food critic & general assignment reporter)
- Renee Shapiro - Saturday mornings "Daybreak" (also entertainment editor)
Reporters
- Jessica Dean - general assignment and "Choose Your News" feature reporter
- Joan Early - "Family First" feature reporter
- Michael Knight - weekday morning traffic reporter
- Amanda Manatt - general assignment reporter
- "Chopper 7" Scott Munsell - Chopper 7 reporter
- Michelle Rupp - special assignment reporter
- Stephanie Simoni - general assignment reporter
- Roger Susanin - general assignment reporter
KATV Weather Team
- Ned Perme (NWA Seal of Appoval) - Chief Meteorologist; weeknights at 5, 6 and 10PM
- Barry Brandt (AMS Seal of Appoval) - Meteorologist and co-host weekday mornings "Daybreak", "Good Morning Arkansas" and "Mid-Day Arkansas"
- Melinda Mayo - (AMS Seal of Appoval) - Meteorologist and co-host weekday mornings "Daybreak" and "Good Morning Arkansas"
- Todd Yakoubian - (AMS Seal of Appoval) - Meteorologist; Saturdays "Daybreak," 6 & 10PM, Sundays at 5 & 10PM
Sports Team
- Steve Sullivan - Sports Director; weeknights at 5, 6 and 10PM
- Dale Nicholson III - Sports Anchor and Reporter; Saturdays at 6 & 10PM and Sundays at 5 & 10PM
[edit] Former On-Air Talent
- Steve Barnes - anchor/reporter (1970s-1980s)
- Bud Campbell - sports director and "Voice of the Razorbacks" (1964-1974; died October 3, 1974, due to injuries sustained from an automobile accident on Rodney Parham Rd. in Little Rock, Arkansas)
- Paul Eells - sports director and "Voice of the Razorbacks" (1978-2006; died July 31, 2006, likely due to injuries sustained from an automobile accident on Interstate 40 near Russellville, Arkansas; also killed in the accident was Billie J. Burton of Dover, Arkansas)
- Greg Hurst - anchor/reporter (1981-1985; former anchor at WABC-TV in New York City; now primary weekday anchor at KHOU-TV in Houston, Texas)
- Gina Kurre - anchor/reporter (1980s)
- Amy Oliver - anchor/reporter (1970s-1980s)
- Anne Pressly - morning anchor/reporter (2005-2008; died October 25, 2008, due to injuries from an in-home attack. Curtis Lavelle Vance, 28, was convicted of the rape and capital murder of Ms. Pressly on November 11, 2009, and was sentenced to life imprisonment without parole.)
- Susan Roesgen - anchor/reporter (1990s-2000s; currently at CNN)
- Mark Russell - weather anchor (early 1980s)
- Vic Schedler - weather anchor (1970s)
- David Schuster - reporter (1994-1996; formerly also correspondent for Fox News; currently host of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue on MSNBC and correspondent/contributor for various MSNBC and NBC programs)
- Ron Sherman - weather anchor (1970s)
- Nancy Snyderman - medical reporter (1984; formerly also ABC News medical contributor; currently serves as NBC News chief medical editor)
- Kate Sullivan - anchor/reporter (2000-2006; currently morning anchor at WCBS-TV in New York)
- Jeff Wingfield - Sportscaster/former KATV Friday Night Flights Air-7 guest to teams' games
- Gary Weir - sports anchor (1966-1991)
This film, television or video-related list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it with reliably sourced additions.[edit] News/Station Presentation
[edit] Newscast Titles
- Arkansas Newsreel (1953-1962)
- KATV News (1962-1974)
- Newscene 7 (1974-1987)
- Channel 7 News (1987-present)
[edit] Station Slogans
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NOTE: For a few years, KATV used a separate Superman style logo for on-air promotions but retained the Circle 7 logo for the news. The Superseven name remained well into the mid-80s, but the Superman style logo was dropped in favor of the Circle 7 logo.
[edit] References
- ^ The Broadcasting and Cable Yearbook says December 18, while the Television and Cable Factbook says December 19.
- ^ "Require Prime Evening Time for NTA Films", Boxoffice: 13, November 10, 1956, http://issuu.com/boxoffice/docs/boxoffice_111056-1
- ^ Mike's TV and FM DX page
- ^ "High Band E Skip". Mike's TV and FM DX Page. http://fmdx.usclargo.com/hibandes.html. Retrieved April 26, 2005.
- ^ See E-skip#Notable_sporadic_E_DX_receptions
- ^ a b Cause of Tower Collapse Still Unknown, KATV, January 11, 2008 - Redfield
- ^ KATV Tower Collapses; Competitors, Comcast Try to Help, Nate Hinkel, Arkansas Business, January 11, 2008
- ^ KATV Gets FCC Permit for New Tower, KATV, June 17, 2008 - Little Rock
[edit] External links
- KATV Website
- KATV News Now
- Little Rock city timeline, from city manager's office (includes original KRTV)
- Query the FCC's TV station database for KATV
- BIAfn's Media Web Database -- Information on KATV-TV
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