KRCR-TV

KRCR-TV/KAEF-TV

KRCR: Redding/Chico, California KAEF: Arcata/Eureka, California
Branding	KRCR Channel 7 KAEF Channel 23 (general) KRCR NewsChannel 7 (newscasts)
Slogan	Accurate, Reliable Severe Weather First Start Here
Channels	Digital: KRCR-TV: 7 (VHF) KAEF-TV: 22 (UHF)
Subchannels	7.1 ABC 7.2 Me-TV 7.3 Live Well Network
Translators	(see article)
Affiliations	ABC
Owner	Bonten Media Group, LLC (BlueStone License Holdings, Inc.)
First air date	KRCR-TV: August 1, 1956 KAEF-TV: August 1, 1987
Call letters' meaning	KRCR-TV: Redding Chico Red Bluff KAEF-TV: Arcata Eureka Fortuna
Sister station(s)	KCVU & KBVU (Fox) MyTV Northern California The CW Telemundo Univision UniMas
Former callsigns	KRCR-TV: KVIP-TV (1956-1963) KAEF-TV: KREQ (1987-1989)
Former channel number(s)	Analog: KRCR-TV: 7 (VHF, 1956-2009) KAEF-TV: 23 (UHF, 1987-2009) Digital KRCR-TV: 34 (UHF, 2003-2009)
Former affiliations	Primary: NBC (1956-1978) [1]Secondary: Fox (1986-1994)
Transmitter power	KRCR-TV: 25 kW KAEF-TV: 45 kW
Height	KRCR-TV: 1103 m KAEF-TV: 549.9 m
Facility ID	KRCR-TV: 8291 KAEF-TV: 8263
Transmitter coordinates	KRCR-TV: 40°36′9.8″N 122°39′0.2″W KAEF-TV: 40°43′41.9″N 123°58′21.4″W
Website	www.krcrtv.com (KRCR-TV) www.kaeftv.com (KAEF-TV)

KRCR-TV (branded as NewsChannel 7, formerly known as "Channel 7R") is a television station serving Northern California (referred to on air as the "Northstate"), including the towns of Redding and Chico. Its studios are located in Redding, where the station is licensed. Its transmitter is located atop Shasta Bally. It's currently an affiliate of ABC and MeTV.

KRCR also operates a satellite, KAEF-TV, which serves the far North Coast and the cities of Eureka and Arcata.

Digital television

The station's digital channels are multiplexed:

KRCR

Digital channels

Channel	Aspect	Video	Programming
7.1	16:9	720p	main KRCR programming / ABC
7.2	4:3	480i	Me-TV
7.3	4:3	480i	Live Well Network

KAEF

Digital channels

Channel	Aspect	Video	Programming
23.1	16:9	720p	main KAEF programming / ABC
23.2	4:3	480i	Me-TV
23.3	4:3	480i	Live Well Network

KAEF is currently broadcasting in HD and continues as a partial repeater of KRCR. It is now available on Suddenlink Cable in Eureka. KRCR began broadcasting its news in 720p high definition on March 8, 2013.

On August 23, 2011, Disney-ABC Television Group announced that KRCR and KAEF will carry Live Well Network, a lifestyle-oriented digital broadcast network, as part of an affiliation agreement with Bonten Media Group; the network was added to a new thidigital subchannel, but is broadcasting in a SD format.

Analog-to-digital conversion

KRCR-TV ended programming on its analog signal on VHF channel 7, on June 12, 2009, as part of the DTV transition in the United States. The station then moved back to channel 7 for its post-transition operations.

History

The station was founded in 1956 as KVIP-TV by William B. Smullin of California Oregon Broadcasting, Inc. (COBI), owners of KOBI in Medford, Oregon and KOTI Klamath Falls, Oregon as a primary NBC affiliate with a secondary ABC affiliation. The full ABC schedule was available by way of translators of Stockton's KOVR in Chico and Redding. Channel 7 became KRCR in 1963.

It suddenly flipped from a primary NBC affiliation to a full-time ABC affiliation in 1978, which in turn started the seven year process for building KCPM (now KNVN) shortly after. This was an unusual arrangement for a two-station market (especially one of Chico/Redding's size). A local ABC affiliate finally came to Northern California after 15 years of several unsuccessful attempts at ABC affiliates.

KRCR, KAEF, and KFWU (now KQSL) aired Fox full-time on off-network hours until 1994 when now sister station KCVU switched to Fox and KBVU signed on.

It was purchased by Lamco Communications of Texas in 1995, KRCR was operated by California Broadcasting, Inc., run by general manager Bob Wise, until 2004, when the station was sold to current owners Bluestone Television. Then in December 2006, the station was sold (along with 12 other Bluestone stations) to Diamond Castle Holdings, a New York-based private equity firm.

The station also operates a semi-satellite in Eureka, KAEF-TV (channel 23). It operated a local cable-only WB affiliate KIWB, but that station was sold to rival Catamount Broadcasting following the merger between the WB and UPN to form the new CW Network. KRVU-LD was previously a UPN affiliate, but now is a My Network TV affiliate.

KRCR was one of very few ABC affiliates that broadcast on channel 7, but didn't use any kind of Circle 7 logo. However, that changed when it debuted its new set and its new logo on April 11, 2006. Under COBI ownership, KRCR's logo was an interstate highway sign, with the name "7R", matching its sister stations. The "7R" was adopted due to TV Guide's reference to KRCR in text (non-bulleted) listings to differentiate it from KGO-TV San Francisco (both stations were listed in the Northern California edition).

Merger with KCVU & KBVU

In December 2012, KRCR/KAEF took over sales operations of KCVU Fox 20 in Chico, as well as KVIQ and KBVU in Eureka. They still all maintain separate operations.

In August 2012, Bonten Media announced that KCVU & KBVU will be sold to Esteem Broadcasting, effectively merging both the ABC & Fox affiliates operations to create a media powerhouse north of Sacramento and south of the Oregon border.

KAEF-TV

KAEF is a satellite station of KRCR, broadcasting primarily in Humboldt County, California. KAEF channel 23 broadcasts ABC programming and top syndicated programming. The local KAEF facility is located at 540 E St. in Eureka.

KAEF began broadcasting in 1987 under the call sign KREQ. Prior to 1987, ABC programming was available off-hours under secondary affiliation with KIEM and KVIQ. Later, KRCR was broadcast over the local cable provider. However, those residing in the coastal areas were unable to receive KRCR’s analog signal, thus necessitating the satellite station. In 1989, Channel 23 adopted the call letters K-A-E-F, (for Arcata, Eureka, Fortuna) and coastal residents of Humboldt County were able to receive off-air ABC programming.

KAEF shares some much of the same programming as KRCR, although KAEF does not currently offer a local news program nor does it simulcast news from KRCR. Review KAEF programming at [Titan TV]. KAEF airs local commercials and, with access to KRCR’s advanced weather technology, provides local weather updates throughout the day, and a weather brief each night at 11pm. KAEF’s traffic and broadcast functions are provided by KRCR.

What Makes News Channel 7?

In the fall of 1995, Continental Cablevision of Mt. Shasta (now part of Northland Communications) filmed, produced and broadcast a 30-minute documentary special called "What Makes News Channel 7?" as part of its news magazine series In Focus: Siskiyou Magazine. It took a look behind the scenes of what went on at the station and mainly focused on the news team, featuring a behind-the-scenes look at how a newscast is done as well as interviews with key personalities such as Mike Mangas, Rich Eisen, Sandra Geist, Warren Wright, Gary Gunter and Katy Brown. The program aired on Mt. Shasta cable channel 3 in the winter and spring of 1996 and starting showing on YouTube and MySpace in February 2010. It was rebroadcast to the Mt. Shasta cable airwaves again on MCTV 15 in 2010 leading to that program's relaunch.

Past ownership

• California Oregon Broadcasting, Inc. (William B. Smullin, Founder) (1956–1995)
• Sacramento Valley Television, Inc. (operators) (?-1990)
• Lamco Communications (owners) & California Broadcasting, Inc. (operators) (1995–2005)
• Bluestone Television (2005–2006)
• Bonten Media Group, LLC (Bluestone License Holdings, Inc.) (current)

News operation

News/station presentation

Newscast titles

• NewsBeat/NewsFinal (1970s)
• 7-R News (1970s–1980s)
• The News/Northstate News (1980s–1995)
• NewsChannel 7 (1995–2006, 2013-present)
• KRCR News Channel 7 (2006–present)

Station slogans

• Your Local News Leader (1995–2006)
• Your Local News Station (2006–2008)
• Accurate, Reliable (2008–2011; news slogan)
• First With Severe Weather (2008; weather slogan)
• Severe Weather First (2009–present; weather slogan)
• Getting the Facts Right (2011–present; news slogan)

This film, television or video-related list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it with reliably sourced additions.

News team

Anchors

• Kelli Saam - weekday mornings
• Jennifer Scarborough - news director; weeknights at 5 and 5:30 p.m.
• Mike Mangas - weeknights at 5, 5:30 and 6:30 p.m.; also reporter
• Mark Mester - weeknights at 11pm (also anchors KRCR News Channel 7 on FOX 20 on KCVU at 10pm)
• Tracey Leong - weeknights at 11pm (also anchors KRCR News Channel 7 on FOX 20 on KCVU at 10pm)
• Jerry Olenyn - weekend evenings
• Bonnie Valena - sports director

Weather team

• Mike Krueger (AMS and NWA Seals of Approval) - chief meteorologist; weeknights
• Rob Elvington (AMS Seal of Approval) - weekday mornings
• Carlo Falco (AMS Seal of Approval) - weekends

Reporters

• Shay Arthur - general assignment reporter
• Chelsea Kay - general assignment reporter
• Tyler May - general assignment reporter
• Stephanie Montano - general assignment reporter

Notable former staff

• Marcey Brightwell - anchor/reporter (now at KXTV in Sacramento as a political reporter)
• Royal Courtain - Chico bureau sports reporter (former sports director at KHSL-TV, now of Charter Media)
• Rich Eisen - sports anchor/reporter (now of NFL Network, formerly of ESPN)
• Mark Eubank - meteorologist
• Cal Hunter - news director/anchor (now co-owner, general manager and on-air talent at KBLF-AM)
• Bruce Lang - Chico bureau reporter (former news director at KHSL-TV)
• Cristina Mendonsa - general assignment reporter (now at KXTV in Sacramento)
• Craig Padilla - chief creative services editor and production manager (now full-time self-employed professional musician & video editor)
• Jane Yamamoto - anchor/reporter (now at KTTV in Los Angeles)

Cable systems

HD:

Cable Provider	Area	7.1 (ABC)	7.2 (Me-TV)
Comcast	Butte & Glenn Counties	707 (HD) & 7 (SD)	197
Charter	Shasta & Tehama Counties	787 (HD) & 7 (SD)	287
Suddenlink	Humboldt County (KAEF)	107(HD) & 7 (SD)	TBA

Mt. Shasta cable dispute

Since its inception in the mid 1980s, the Mt. Shasta cable system currently owned by Northland Communications had carried KRCR on its cable channel 7. However, in January 2012, Northland dropped KRCR from its cable line-up after the station's current ownership and the cable company failed to come to a mutual agreement to continue the station's coverage on the system and severed ties after a near-30-year working relationship between the two. As a result, Northland replaced KRCR on cable channel 7 with Medford, Oregon, ABC affiliate, KDRV NewsWatch 12.

KRCR or any of its sister stations no longer broadcast north of Shasta County or south of Butte County.

Translators

KRCR is rebroadcast on the following translator stations:

Butte County, California (Chico, Paradise, & Oroville) K05EM-D Channel 5 Paradise Digital K15CX-D Channel 15 Oroville Digital Modoc County, California K11LD Channel 11 Alturas May Go Digital Plumas County, California (Sacramento market) K59AU Channel 59 Chester Unknown Shasta County, California K02FF Channel 2 Lakehead May Go Digital K03FU Channel 3 Mountain Gate Likely to shut down K04EZ Channel 4 Big Bend Analog K05DQ-D Channel 5 Burney Digital Siskiyou County, California (Medford market) K04EQ Channel 4 Fort Jones Likely to Shut Down K05BR Channel 5 Dunsmuir Digital Fate Unknown K13LO Channel 13 Yreka Digital Fate Unknown K27BH Channel 27 Lake Shastina Likely to Shut Down K33DI Channel 33 Weed Likely to Shut Down

Tehama County, California (Also Chester & Lake Almanor) K05JK-D Channel 5 Mineral Digital Trinity County, California (Weaverville, Lewiston, Hayfork, & Trinity Center) K03CT Channel 3 Lewiston Analog K04EM Channel 4 Hayfork Likely to Shut Down K05CF-D Channel 5 Weaverville Digital K05FZ Channel 5 Trinity Center Likely to Shut Down K05EX Channel 5 Burnt Ranch Likely to Shut Down Mendocino County, California (San Francisco market) K04GZ Channel 4 Covelo Unknown Humboldt County, California (Eureka market) K05EQ Channel 5 Green Point Analog K12JJ-D Channel 12 Benbow Analog K34BW Channel 34 Willow Creek Analog

KAEF translators:

K20CN Channel 20 Fortuna K36BT Channel 36 Blue Lake K45DS-D Channel 45 Eureka Digital K50MR-D Channel 50 South Eureka, Loleta Digital

KRCR is operating a digital fill-in translator on their pre-transition channel 34 for residents in Redding and the surrounding areas that have difficulty receiving their VHF signal on channel 7.

External links

• KRCR-TV Homepage
• KAEF-TV Homepage
• KRCR among 13 station to be sold to NY group
• Query the FCC's TV station database for KRCR-TV
• Query the FCC's TV station database for KAEF
• BIAfn's Media Web Database -- Information on KRCR-TV
• Program Information for KRCR at TitanTV.com