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Not to be confused with CIII-DT.

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KIII, virtual channel 3 (VHF digital channel 8), is an ABC-affiliated television station licensed to Corpus Christi, Texas, United States. The station is owned by Tegna, Inc. KIII's studios are located on South Padre Island Drive (SH 358) in Corpus Christi, and its transmitter is located near Robstown, Texas.

On cable, KIII can be seen on Charter Spectrum and Grande Communications channel 5.

History

The struggle to put channel 3 on the air in Corpus Christi started after KVDO-TV (channel 22, headed by Nestor Cuesta and Gabe Lozano and a handful of other local businessmen) went on air in 1954. They had limited success, and increasing trouble after two VHF stations – KRIS-TV (channel 6) and KZTV (channel 10) – went on the air in 1956.

KVDO petitioned the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to add a channel 3 allocation at Corpus Christi. Other cities also wanted it; however, following a lot of struggle, channel 3 was ultimately allocated to Corpus Christi. KVDO-TV then sold its license assets to McKinnon Broadcasting in exchange for an interest in the new KIII-TV, while the former KVDO facilities were sold to KRIS-TV. McKinnon then put KIII on the air May 3, 1964; it has always been an ABC affiliate.

In 1969, KIII started a satellite in Victoria, Texas, KXIX (channel 19), to bring ABC programming to that area. In 1976, KXIX was sold to local ownership. It now operates as Fox affiliate KVCT.

On April 29, 2010 it was announced that KIII would be acquired by London Broadcasting Company.[1] which the sale was closed on August 31.[2] On September 18, 2011, KIII began broadcasting newscasts in high definition.

On May 14, 2014, Gannett Company announced that it would acquire KIII and five other LBC stations for $215 million. Gannett's CEO Gracia Martore touted that the acquisition would give the company a presence in several fast-growing markets, and opportunities for local advertisers to leverage its digital marketing platform.[3] The company also owns fellow Texas ABC affiliates WFAA and KVUE, which it had acquired in its purchase of Belo Corporation. The sale was completed on July 8.[4] 13 months later, on June 29, 2015, the Gannett Company split in two, with one side specializing in print media and the other side specializing in broadcast and digital media. KIII was retained by the latter company, named Tegna.[5]

Digital television

Digital channels

The station's digital channel is multiplexed:

Channel Video Aspect PSIP Short Name Programming[6]
3.1 720p 16:9 KIII-HD Main KIII programming / ABC
3.2 480i 4:3 KIII-SD MeTV[7]
3.3 KIII-DT3 Ion TV[8]
3.4 KIII-DT4 Cozi TV

Analog-to-digital conversion

KIII shut down its analog signal, over VHF channel 3, on June 12, 2009, the official date in which full-power television stations in the United States transitioned from analog to digital broadcasts under federal mandate. The station's digital signal remained on its pre-transition VHF channel 8.[9] Through the use of PSIP, digital television receivers display the station's virtual channel as its former VHF analog channel 3.

News Operation

KIII currently airs 21½ hours of local news programming each week (3½ hours on weekdays and 2 hours on weekends). The station also produces its own high school football highlight show when in season; the program airs immediately after the 10 PM newscast. The station has been rated #1 consistently, beating its nearest competitor, KRIS by a significant margin.

Programming

KIII carries the entire ABC schedule, with a half-hour delay on Friday late-night programming during the UIL/TAPPS high school football season for an extended newscast with Friday night highlights. Syndicated programming on KIII includes: The Big Bang Theory, Live with Kelly and Ryan, Wheel of Fortune, and Modern Family.

References

  1. ^ http://www.caller.com/news/2010/apr/29/dallas-based-company-to-buy-kiii-tv/
  2. ^ http://www.caller.com/news/2010/aug/31/dallas-company-buys-kiii-tv/?partner=newsletter_headlines
  3. ^ "Gannett Buys 6 London Broadcasting Stations". TVNewsCheck. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
  4. ^ Gannett Completes London Broadcasting Buy, TVNewsCheck, Retrieved 8 July 2014.
  5. ^ "Separation of Gannett into two public companies completed | TEGNA". Tegna. Retrieved 2015-06-29.
  6. ^ RabbitEars TV Query for KIII
  7. ^ Where to Watch Me-TV: KIII
  8. ^ Find out what's on KIII ION tonight
  9. ^ "DTV Tentative Channel Designations for the First and the Second Rounds" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-08-29. Retrieved 2012-03-24. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
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