KFOY-TV
| City | Hot Springs, Arkansas |
|---|---|
| Channels |
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| Programming | |
| Affiliations | NBC |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
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| History | |
First air date | February 1, 1961 |
Last air date | April 17, 1963 |
Call sign meaning | Fountain of Youth |
| Technical information | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Transmitter coordinates | 34°30′49″N 93°3′13″W / 34.51361°N 93.05361°W |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
KFOY-TV, analog channel 9, was a commercial VHF television station licensed to Hot Springs, Arkansas. The station operated from 1961-1963 and was owned by Donald W. Reynolds, founder of Donrey Media Group.
History
Channel 9 was assigned to Hot Springs by the FCC in 1952.
Construction was approved for KFOY in April 1960 after a meeting between the Hot Springs City Planning Commission and officers of Southwestern Operating Co. (for Donrey Media).[1] Donrey later changed the licensee to the American Television Co. The call letters were for "Fountain of Youth" to tie in with the local hot springs, once believed to have medical benefits.
Studios, transmitter, and the 317-foot tower were located at 105 Whippoorwill Street on West Mountain in Hot Springs National Park.[2] The station signed on at 1:00 pm CST and programming began at 5:00 pm CST on February 1, 1961.[3]
Programming
KFOY-TV had no network affiliation when it began broadcasting, but later affiliated with NBC. Programming consisted of movies, syndicated shows and local productions. A number of prominent entertainers appeared on the station while they were working at local night clubs, and fan dancer Sally Rand had an exercise program during her stay in town.[4]
Staff
Air personalities included newscaster Chad Lassiter; and weathercaster Tom Nichols, succeeded by Barbara Ann Stillings.
Harold E. "Hal" King was named general manager in mid-January 1961. Other staff members included Arie Landrum, program director; Bryan T. E. Bisney, production manager; Albert W. Scheer, Jr., chief engineer; C.J. "Gus" Dickson, commercial manager; Joe Wall, camera operator; Valerie Matthews, set designer; Gloria Lee Milton, receptionist; and Lillian B. Robbins, continuity writer and secretary.
Donrey Media transferred Bill Crews from Fort Smith, Arkansas to manage KFOY in 1962.[5]
Demise
The station suffered from a poor coverage pattern as well as a declining Hot Springs population.[6] It suspended operations on April 17, 1963 citing $100,000 in debt.[7]
Channel 9 was reserved for educational use; and in August 1963, the station and its facilities were sold to the Arkansas Educational Television Commission for $150,000 using a $100,000 gift from the Reynolds Foundation.[8]
References
- ^ "New Hot Springs tv set" Broadcasting magazine, April 18, 1960, page 65
- ^ Arkansas Airwaves by Ray Poindexter (1974) North Little Rock, Ark., page 377
- ^ Hot Springs Sentinel Record, Feb. 1, 1961
- ^ Arkansas Airwaves by Ray Poindexter (1974) North Little Rock, Ark., page 377
- ^ Arkansas Airwaves by Ray Poindexter (1974) North Little Rock, Ark. page 378
- ^ Broadcasting magazine June 3, 1963 page 56
- ^ The Federal Register, Vol 29, issues 215-232
- ^ Northwest Arkansas Times, Fayetteville, Ark. August 22, 1963, page 8