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KSTP-TV (Channel 5, 50 digital) is the ABC affiliate for the Twin Cities. Its transmitter is located in Shoreview, Minnesota. It's the flagship station of Hubbard Broadcasting Corporation, which also owns several other TV stations across the United States and some other properties.

KSTP is licensed in St. Paul (as referenced by its call letters), but its studios lie right on the boundary line between Minnesota's Capitol City and Minneapolis.

First station

Mr. Stanley E. Hubbard, founder of KSTP radio, was one of broadcasting's foremost pioneers. In June 1939, he purchased one of the first television cameras available from RCA and began experimenting with television. But, the television blackout brought on by World War II prevented any transmissions from being made. The first telecast by KSTP reportedly occurred on December 7, 1947, when Jack Horner hosted a 25-minute program. On April 27, 1948 Channel 5's regular broadcasts began from a location astride the Minneapolis-St. Paul line, making KSTP the first commercial television station in Minnesota. However, an experimental mechanical TV station had set up by WDGY station engineers more than a decade earlier. That station's license expired in 1938 as the Federal Communications Commission was not interested in continuing mechanical TV broadcasts.

KSTP has a number of claims for broadcasting "firsts." These include:

  • First in the United States with a regularly scheduled seven-day newscast at 10 p.m. (1950)
  • First in the country to broadcast fully in color (1961)
  • First in the U.S. to include live satellite-fed reports (satellite news gathering) in local news broadcasts (1984)

KSTP-TV was originally an NBC affiliate, as KSTP-AM 1500 had long been an NBC radio affiliate. Both stations switched affiliation to ABC in 1979.

A digital TV signal from KSTP started airing in 1999, and it became part of the first TV "duopoly" in the state with the purchase of KVBM-TV, channel 45 (now KSTC-TV) the year after that (though there is a longstanding public television pair: KTCA/KTCI).

Programming and personalities

The only locally-owned station now in the market, KSTP had been the dominant Twin Cities news channel from its inception until the late 1960s, when WCCO-TV created its popular "The Scene Tonight." Trying to reclaim the ratings crown, KSTP installed the market's first co-anchor team in 1970, with longtime station anchors Bob Ryan and John MacDougall. But, they failed to attract more viewers and were fired from the station in 1971. Channel 5 grabbed the "Eyewitness News" moniker for its newscasts in 1973 (Competitor KMSP had used the title since 1969, but discarded it in favor of 'newsnine'). In 1974, KSTP struck gold with the hiring of Ron Magers and soon returned to #1 status. The news team was strengthened even further with the addition of the well-respected Cyndy Brucato in 1979. The anchor duo led a ratings era which has been unparalleled at the station.

In the late 70s, ABC began looking for stronger affiliates across the country--including Minneapolis-St.Paul. The network had talks with WTCN (Ind.), WCCO-TV (CBS), and KSTP-TV (NBC). The Hubbard's station surprised the industry in August 1978 by announcing its intention to sever ties with NBC, ending a five-decade relationship in radio and TV. Channel 5 would become an ABC affiliate on March 5, 1979--the network's biggest coup at the time. “We want to go into the 1980s in a leadership position with a network which we think has the management, team and depth to be the best. That's ABC. We're just absolutely thrilled,” gushed KSTP's Stanley S. Hubbard.

But, the good times wouldn't last long. Main weathercaster Barry ZeVan, as well as top sports personality Tom Ryther left the station in the late 70s, followed by weekend weatherman, Roy Finden, in 1980. After a fallout with management, Ron Magers abruptly departed KSTP in 1981, joining WMAQ-TV in Chicago. These changes began the negative 'revolving door' public image, which continues to cloud the positive aspects of the station today.

With all of the on-air changes, KSTP once again fell from its top perch. WCCO climbed back to #1, but the market and the national networks were changing. Gannett bought WTCN/KARE in 1983, changing the station with similar tactics as KMSP a decade earlier (but with much more success). The youthful and attractive Paul Magers and Diana Pierce anchored the station noted for its "brightness" and light-hearted features. Also, NBC began a major climb in primetime ratings it hadn't seen in years, while ABC lost steam. This combination of events, along with the 'anchor-go-round' at KSTP, brought a third contender into the Twin Cities news race. Despite its extensive news background, Channel 5 dipped to 3rd in the ratings by 1986. It has remained there since, occasionally dropping to fourth behind 9:00 p.m. newscasts on KMSP. Even a shakeup and quirky advertisements featuring Ed Asner (emulating Lou Grant) didn't help.

Despite all the upheaval, a few staffers have managed to stay at KSTP for several years. Stan Turner wore a number of hats at Channel 5--from ND to news anchor--beginning in 1968 through the late 80s. Starting in October 1976, Jason Davis has produced feature stories for the news. Since 2003, Davis has been host and executive producer of a half hour program called "On the Road," broadcast on Sunday nights at 10:35 (originally a segment produced for newscasts). Meteorologist Dave Dahl was hired at the station in 1977 and has been doing on-air weather reporting since 1979. He became Chief Meteorologist in 1986. Dahl is noted and criticized for being a skeptic of global warming. Joe Schmit was Sports Reporter/Director for 20 years, beginning in 1985, before switching to news anchor from 2005-2006.

Cyndy Brucato made a return to the KSTP-TV anchor desk in 2004, after an 18-year absence from the station. She is currently joined by weekday co-anchors John Mason and Leah McLean. Channel 5 also has the Twin Cities largest team of reporters.

A notable local program produced each week is At Issue, a political discussion show hosted by Tom Hauser, with former state governor Wendell Anderson as a regular guest.

"Sports Wrap" airs twice a week--on Friday nights from September through May, for high school sports and on Sunday nights, featuring Minnesota Vikings football, as well as other pro sports. These segments are usually hosted by Rod Simons and Anne Hutchinson.

From 1982 to 1994 when nationally-syndicated talk shows started ruling the daytime airwaves, KSTP ran a talk program of its own known as Good Company. Married couple Sharon Anderson and Steve Edelman hosted the show. They appeared briefly in the movie Fargo as show hosts. The two continue to be recognized as area celebrities from time to time. Currently, Edelman runs Edelman Productions, a company that produces TV shows for Food Network, HGTV, The History Channel and DIY with his wife Anderson hosting a few of them. Edelman Productions is headquartered in California where both Edelman and Anderson now live, but they have offices both in California and Minnesota where they produce their shows.

In late 2004, the station became part of the controversies surrounding missing explosives following the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Anchor/Reporter Dean Staley and cameraman Joe Caffrey visited the Al Qa'qaa munitions dump on April 18, 2003. By the next year, Staley had moved on to another station, but the tapes still existed and Caffrey was still at KSTP. When reports surfaced that explosive material might have been stolen from the site, the two realized that they had filmed at the facility during an important time.

On May 12, 2006, KSTP announced it was adding a 4 p.m. newscast. It competes against WCCO's airing of The Oprah Winfrey Show (before the launch of the newscast, Channel 5 aired Live with Regis & Kelly in that timeslot, a rarity for a show that normally airs at 9:00 AM, though it has now moved to the normal 9:00 AM timeslot while still airing on the same channel). For the first year, they had no competition in this timeslot. However, in late May 2007, KARE began a online/television lifestyles show at 4 p.m. But, KSTP is the only local station to have a 6:30 p.m. show.

For most of the 1980s KQRS morning show host Tom Barnard was the station announcer.

In August 2007, News Director Chris Berg left the station. a report to the Minneapolis Star and Tribune says that his departure was "mutual" and was also delayed due to KSTP's coverage of the I-35 Bridge Collapse

On September 10,2007, KSTP's 4 Pm newscast will move to 4:30 trading timeslots with Inside Edition.

Newscasts

  • "The 10 PM Report on KSTP" (1960s-1973)
  • Channel 5 Eyewitness News (1973-2004)
  • "Eyewitness News Update" -- 10 p.m. (mid-80s)
  • 5 Eyewitness News (2004-present)

News anchors

Weather

Sports

Reporters

Former personalities

  • Angela Astore (anchor/reporter 1985-1993)
  • Todd Baer
  • John Barr
  • Art Barron (Morning anchor/reporter)
  • JoAnn Bemoras
  • Jo Bender (Weather) -- Now with KARE
  • Mike Binkley (reporter/morning anchor, 1986-2006)
  • Bridgette Bornstein
  • Dennis Bounds (anchor)
  • Paul Brand (Automotive reporter)
  • Bob Bruce (Sports and later Morning anchor/host, 1978-1990)
  • Randall Carlisle (anchor, 1988-1990)
  • Reg Chapman (now with WNBC)
  • Chris Conangla (main anchor/midday anchor, 1993-1999)
  • Angela Davis (Mornings) (now with WCCO)
  • Harris Faulkner (Evenings)
  • Dennis Feltgen (Weather, 1978-1986) Now with NOAA
  • Marcia Fluer (reporter, political correspondent, and weekend anchor, 1972-1984)
  • Micheal Gargiulo (Anchor/Reporter) (now with WNBC)
  • Eric Gislason (Sports)
  • Jim Guy (morning meteorologist, 1993-2005)
  • Val Holley-Dennis (Evening anchor, 1990-1993 -- now in media relations for Sonic Automotive, Inc.)
  • Bill Ingram (Original anchor, 1948-1959)
  • Jeff James (weather)
  • Ed Karow (Sports)
  • Kalley King Yanta (anchor, 1994-1999)
  • Janel Klein
  • Jay Kolls
  • Mike LaPoint (Midday weather)
  • Rob Leer (Sports & later Investigations)
  • Kirsten Lindquist (anchor/reporter, 1987-1990)
  • Wendy Lubovich (anchor)
  • John MacDougall (anchor, 1959-1971)
  • Ron Magers (main anchor, 1974-1981)
  • Richelle McGinnis
  • Randy Meier (main anchor)
  • Julie Nelson (anchor, 1998-2002) (now with KARE)
  • Craig Nigrelli (Reporter/Anchor)
  • Kent Ninomiya (main anchor, 2003-2004)
  • Kris Patrow
  • Lynsey Paulo (Investigations/Anchor) - Now with KCRA in Sacramento
  • Gail Plewacki (Investigative reporter)
  • Cale Ramaker (5 pm Anchor)
  • Lorraine Roe (Investigative reporter -- now psychic)
  • Bob Ryan (anchor, 1948-1971)
  • Joe Schmit (Sports Director & ended TV career as weeknight anchor)
  • Phil Schwarz (Weather)
  • Scott Seroka (reporter, 2004-2007 -- now with KARE)
  • Kathleen Shannon (reporter/anchor)
  • Andy Skoogman (reporter)
  • Frank Somerville
  • Ruth Spencer (anchor/reporter, 1985-1990)
  • Karl Spring (weather)
  • Dean Staley (weekend anchor/reporter)
  • John Stone (anchor/reporter)
  • Mark Suppelsa (anchor, 1988-1993)
  • Stan Turner (News Director, anchor/reporter, 1968-1989) Later with All News Channel, now in radio.

Broadcast center

Entrance to the KSTP studios on University Avenue in Minneapolis and Saint Paul, Minnesota. The sidewalk leading to the building lies precisely on the city line, as does the central leg of the tower.

KSTP-TV's studios and offices are located precisely on the Minneapolis-St. Paul border. The sidewalk in the adjacent photo of the building is on the city line. The principal broadcast studios are on the Minneapolis side of the building with most of the rest of the operation being on the St. Paul side. There is a large transmitting tower behind the station, with one leg in each city and a third leg precisely on the city line. This tower is primarily used to relay the station's signal to the Telefarm paired tower setup in Shoreview (shared with KSTP-FM, WCCO, KARE, and WUCW). The station's official postal address is in St. Paul.

Outlying stations and translators

Combined with satellites KSAX Alexandria and KRWF in Redwood Falls, KSTP has the most extensive network of television broadcast translators in the state, reaching much of central Minnesota and western Wisconsin. Listed here are the translators served directly by KSTP:

See also

TV Queries

References


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