KGTO-TV

Last updated
KGTO-TV
Channels
Ownership
OwnerNoark Investments, Inc.
History
First air date
February 8, 1969(55 years ago) (1969-02-08)
Last air date
December 23, 1973(50 years ago) (1973-12-23)
  • NBC (1969–1972)
  • CBS (1972–1973)
Technical information
ERP 1,950 kW
HAAT 820 ft (250 m)
Transmitter coordinates 36°01′02″N94°05′04″W / 36.01722°N 94.08444°W / 36.01722; -94.08444 [1]

KGTO-TV was a television station on channel 36 in Fayetteville, Arkansas, United States. The station, which operated from 1969 to 1973, was owned by Noark Broadcasting and maintained studios at 200 West Center Street in Fayetteville.

After the station went silent in 1973 pending sale, the license was sold to George T. Hernreich, owner of Fort Smith's KFPW-TV (now KHBS), and modified for channel 29. The station re-emerged on December 5, 1977, as KTVP (now KHOG-TV), a full-time satellite of KFPW-TV.

History

On May 8, 1968, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued Noark a construction permit for channel 36, which would broadcast with an effective radiated power of 1,450 kW from Robinson Mountain. [2] The construction of the station was delayed due to a short circuit in the station's transmission line. [3] In January 1969, a 19-year-old engineer suffered frostbite and had to be rescued from atop the 350-foot (110 m) tower, then hospitalized. [4] Channel 36 began telecasts as a primary NBC affiliate and secondary CBS affiliate on February 8, though its NBC affiliation agreement stipulated no compensation for carrying network programs. The full NBC schedule was available on cable, via KVOO-TV in Tulsa, Oklahoma (now KJRH-TV), KOAM-TV in Joplin, Missouri (now CBS), or KYTV-TV in Springfield, Missouri. [5]

By July, one of the partners in Noark, Weldon Stamps, pulled out, leaving the station owned by Paul Milam Sr. and Jr., E.J. Ball, and Tom Cowan. [6] Noark also contended with a lease for faulty equipment that it had assumed from Oklahoma City's defunct KLPR-TV. Not long after signing on, KGTO found that the equipment from Visual Electronics Corporation was deficient and ceased making lease payments; in March 1971, a federal judge found that Visual knew the equipment was defective, a judgment reaffirmed the next year in appeals court in KLPR-TV, Inc., vs. Visual Electronics Corporation. [7]

Since NBC refused to provide KGTO with a network feed, the station was forced to switch to and from the signals of other affiliates over-the-air whenever network programming aired. When KGTO invoked network non-duplication of other network affiliates on the Trans-Video cable system in Fayetteville in February 1971, [8] viewers complained that the network feed from KGTO, now replacing other network affiliates on the cable system, was of poor quality. [9] The next month, the NBC affiliate in Little Rock, KARK-TV, sued KGTO for $7,805 in unpaid fees for using KARK as a source of NBC programming, pursuant to an agreement between the stations. [10] Another lawsuit followed in May, when film distributor Screen Gems sued Noark for over $25,000 over a reorganization into an investment company that affected contracts for movies and cartoons. [11]

In 1972, KGTO became a full-time CBS affiliate, simulcasting Little Rock's KTHV for most network programming. [12] It was short-lived, due to the station continuing to demonstrate further financial troubles by cutting back its schedule. On January 22, 1973, KGTO began signing on the air only at 5:30 pm on weekdays. Fayetteville residents could view full-time CBS programming on KOTV in Tulsa or KUHI-TV in Joplin (now NBC affiliate KSNF) via cable. [13] That May, Noark filed to sell the station to George T. Hernreich, owner of Fort Smith's KFPW-TV (channel 40). Hernreich intended to convert KGTO into a full-time satellite of KFPW-TV. [14] Since signing on in 1971, KFPW-TV had been more or less unviewable in Fayetteville and points north; channel 40's transmitter in Fort Smith provided secondary coverage of Fayetteville's southern suburbs but just missed Fayetteville itself. [15]

Final FCC approval of the sale to Hernreich languished at the FCC due to concerns over Hernreich's operation of KAIT-TV in Jonesboro. When it was apparent that the sale would not be approved quickly, Hernreich took KGTO-TV off the air on December 23, 1973, intending to resume operations within 24 hours of receiving approval. [16] In the meantime, equipment was stolen from the KGTO transmitter site on Robinson Mountain. [17] The sale was consummated in 1975, and the FCC cleared Hernreich of character issues in February 1976. [18]

While Hernreich finally owned KGTO (which changed its call letters to KTVP on January 17, 1977), he soon found other issues. An entirely new transmission facility had to be built at Robinson Mountain due to damage and further theft. An application was made on February 21, 1976, for a new facility. However, Hernreich procured equipment designed for channel 29, not 36; stating that a change would "permit restoration of service quickly and save approximately $100,000 in additional capital", Hernreich requested channel 29 to be substituted for 36 at Fayetteville, requiring modifications to three other allotments regionally. [19] On December 5, 1977, [20] KTVP signed on the air on channel 29 as a satellite of KFPW-TV. The two stations are today KHOG-TV and KHBS, respectively. While KHBS is still the main station, its studios are based in Rogers on the Northwest Arkansas side of the market.

Related Research Articles

KSTW, branded on-air as Seattle 11, is an independent television station licensed to Tacoma, Washington, United States, serving the Seattle area. Owned by the CBS News and Stations group, the station maintains studios on East Madison Street in Seattle's Cherry Hill neighborhood, and its transmitter is located on Capitol Hill east of downtown.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WATL</span> TV station in Atlanta

WATL is a television station in Atlanta, Georgia, United States, affiliated with MyNetworkTV. It is owned by Tegna Inc. alongside NBC affiliate WXIA-TV. The two stations share studios at One Monroe Place on the north end of midtown Atlanta. WATL's transmitter shares a broadcast tower with several other local stations near North Druid Hills, just northeast of the city.

Hearst Television, Inc. is a broadcasting company in the United States owned by Hearst Communications, made up of a group of television and radio stations, and Hearst Media Production Group, a distributor of programming in broadcast syndication.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WECT</span> TV station in Wilmington, North Carolina

WECT is a television station in Wilmington, North Carolina, United States, affiliated with NBC. It is owned by Gray Television, which provides certain services to Fox affiliate WSFX-TV under a shared services agreement (SSA) with American Spirit Media. The two stations share studios on Shipyard Boulevard in Wilmington; WECT's transmitter is located near Winnabow, North Carolina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KXNW</span> MyNetworkTV affiliate in Eureka Springs, Arkansas

KXNW is a television station licensed to Eureka Springs, Arkansas, United States, serving Northwest Arkansas and the Arkansas River Valley as an affiliate of MyNetworkTV. The station is owned by Nexstar Media Group alongside Rogers-licensed NBC affiliate KNWA-TV and Fort Smith–licensed Fox affiliate KFTA-TV. The three stations share studios on Dickson Street in downtown Fayetteville, with a satellite studio in Rogers and a news bureau and sales office on Kelley Highway in Fort Smith. KXNW's transmitter is located on Humphrey Mountain near Garfield.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KAIT</span> ABC/NBC/CW affiliate in Jonesboro, Arkansas

KAIT is a television station in Jonesboro, Arkansas, United States, affiliated with ABC, NBC, and The CW Plus. It is owned by Gray Television alongside Telemundo affiliate KJTB-LD and KJBW-LD. The three stations share studios on New Haven Church Road north of Jonesboro; KAIT's transmitter is located in Egypt, Arkansas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KATV</span> ABC affiliate in Little Rock, Arkansas

KATV is a television station in Little Rock, Arkansas, United States, affiliated with ABC and owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group. The station's studios are located on Riverfront Drive in the Riverdale section northwest of downtown Little Rock, and its transmitter is located at the Shinall Mountain antenna farm in the Chenal Valley area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KMYA-DT</span> Television station in Arkansas, United States

KMYA-DT is a television station licensed to Camden, Arkansas, United States, serving the Little Rock area as an affiliate of MeTV. Owned by LR Telecasting, LLC, the station maintains studios on Shackleford Drive in the Beverly Hills section of northwestern Little Rock, and its transmitter is located four miles (6.4 km) northwest of El Dorado, along Arkansas Highway 335.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KTAL-TV</span> NBC affiliate in Texarkana, Texas

KTAL-TV is a television station licensed to Texarkana, Texas, United States, serving the Shreveport, Louisiana, area as an affiliate of NBC. It is owned by Nexstar Media Group alongside MyNetworkTV affiliate KSHV-TV ; Nexstar also provides certain services to Fox affiliate KMSS-TV under a shared services agreement (SSA) with Mission Broadcasting. The three stations share studios on North Market Street and Deer Park Road in northeast Shreveport; KTAL-TV maintains a secondary studio on Summerhill Road in Texarkana, Texas, and transmitter facilities northwest of Vivian, Louisiana.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KFSM-TV</span> TV station in Fort Smith, Arkansas

KFSM-TV is a television station licensed to Fort Smith, Arkansas, United States, serving the Arkansas River Valley and Northwest Arkansas as an affiliate of CBS. Owned by Tegna Inc., the station has studios on South 48th Street in Johnson, and its transmitter is located northwest of Winslow, Arkansas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KNWA-TV</span> TV station in Rogers, Arkansas

KNWA-TV is a television station licensed to Rogers, Arkansas, United States, serving as the NBC affiliate for Northwest Arkansas and the Arkansas River Valley. It is owned by Nexstar Media Group alongside Fort Smith–licensed Fox affiliate KFTA-TV and Eureka Springs–licensed MyNetworkTV affiliate KXNW. The stations share studios on Dickson Street in downtown Fayetteville, with a satellite studio in Rogers. KNWA-TV's transmitter is located southeast of Garfield, Arkansas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KHBS</span> TV station in Fort Smith, Arkansas

KHBS is a television station licensed to Fort Smith, Arkansas, United States, affiliated with ABC and The CW Plus. It is simulcast full-time over satellite station KHOG-TV in Fayetteville. Owned by Hearst Television and jointly branded as "40/29", the two stations maintain studios on Ajax Avenue in Rogers. KHBS' transmitter is located on Cavanal Hill in northwestern Le Flore County, Oklahoma, while KHOG-TV's transmitter is based near Ed Edwards Road in rural northeastern Washington County, Arkansas, just southeast of the Fayetteville city limits.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Griffin Media</span> Media company in Oklahoma

Griffin Media is an American media company based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The company began as a subsidiary of Muskogee-based Griffin Foods, which produces a line of pancake and waffle syrups and other foods.

WICZ-TV is a television station in Binghamton, New York, United States, affiliated with Fox and MyNetworkTV. Owned by Imagicomm Communications, the station has studios on Vestal Parkway East in Vestal, and its transmitter is located on Ingraham Hill Road in the town of Binghamton.

WFPX-TV is a television station licensed to Archer Lodge, North Carolina, United States, broadcasting the digital multicast network Laff to the Research Triangle region. It is owned and operated by the Ion Media subsidiary of the E. W. Scripps Company alongside Rocky Mount–licensed Ion Television outlet WRPX-TV. WFPX-TV and WRPX-TV share a sales office on Gresham Lake Road in Raleigh; through a channel sharing agreement, the two stations transmit using WRPX-TV's spectrum from a tower northeast of Middlesex, North Carolina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KFTA-TV</span> Fox/NBC affiliate in Fort Smith, Arkansas

KFTA-TV is a television station licensed to Fort Smith, Arkansas, United States, serving as the Fox affiliate for the Arkansas River Valley and Northwest Arkansas. It is owned by Nexstar Media Group alongside Rogers-licensed NBC affiliate KNWA-TV and Eureka Springs–licensed MyNetworkTV affiliate KXNW. The stations share studios at the Underwood Building on Dickson Street in downtown Fayetteville, with a satellite studio in Rogers. KFTA-TV's transmitter is located in unincorporated northeastern Crawford County.

The four-state area or quad-state area is where the states of Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma almost touch: Arkansas and Kansas share no boundary. The metropolitan areas of Tulsa, Oklahoma; Joplin, Missouri; and Fayetteville–Springdale–Rogers, Arkansas are in the region. Notable cities and towns in the area are Tulsa and Miami, Oklahoma; Pittsburg, Kansas; Joplin, Springfield, and Monett, Missouri; and Fayetteville, Springdale, Rogers, and Bentonville, Arkansas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KARZ-TV</span> MyNetworkTV affiliate in Little Rock, Arkansas

KARZ-TV is a television station in Little Rock, Arkansas, United States, affiliated with MyNetworkTV. It is owned by Nexstar Media Group alongside NBC affiliate KARK-TV ; Nexstar also provides certain services to Fox affiliate KLRT-TV and Pine Bluff–licensed CW affiliate KASN under a local marketing agreement (LMA) with Mission Broadcasting. The four stations share studios at the Victory Building on West Capitol Avenue and South Victory Street in downtown Little Rock; KARZ-TV's transmitter is located at the Shinall Mountain antenna farm, near the city's Chenal Valley neighborhood.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KLPR-TV</span> Television station in Oklahoma City (1966–1967)

KLPR-TV, UHF analog channel 14, was a television station licensed to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States. The station was owned by Big Chief Broadcasting Company alongside KLPR radio.

References

  1. ↑ "KGTO-TV" (PDF). Television Factbook. 1972. p. 56-b – via World Radio History.
  2. ↑ FCC History Cards for KGTO-TV (KTVP)
  3. ↑ "Short Circuit Delays Opening Of TV Station". Northwest Arkansas Times . December 19, 1968. p. 2. Retrieved April 26, 2019.
  4. ↑ "Hospitalized For Frost Bite: City TV Engineer Rescued From Atop Tower". Northwest Arkansas Times. January 10, 1969. p. 1. Retrieved April 26, 2019.
  5. ↑ "A look at TV affiliates' compensation" (PDF). Broadcasting. June 30, 1969. p. 43. Retrieved April 26, 2019.
  6. ↑ "Business Notes". Northwest Arkansas Times. July 1, 1969. p. 2. Retrieved April 26, 2019.
  7. ↑ KLPR-TV, Inc., vs. Visual Electronics Corporation, 465F.2d1382 (8th Cir.1971).
  8. ↑ "Privileges Are Granted By Cable Service". Northwest Arkansas Times. February 13, 1971. p. 10. Retrieved April 26, 2019.
  9. ↑ Anton H. Erickson (February 18, 1971). "From The People: What's With The FCC?". Northwest Arkansas Times. p. 4. Retrieved April 26, 2019.
  10. ↑ "TV Station Here Faces $7,805 Suit". Northwest Arkansas Times. March 8, 1971. p. 11. Retrieved April 26, 2019.
  11. ↑ "Lawsuit Filed Against Noark". Northwest Arkansas Times. May 11, 1971. p. 2. Retrieved April 26, 2019.
  12. ↑ Young, Pete (April 20, 1972). "City Ordinances And Electronic Complications Plague Television Station". Northwest Arkansas Times. p. 7. Retrieved April 26, 2019.
  13. ↑ Richards, KM. "KGTO-TV/36, Fayetteville, AR". UHF Television. Retrieved April 26, 2019.
  14. ↑ "Television Sale Proposal Before Federal Agency". May 30, 1973. p. 25. Retrieved April 26, 2019.
  15. ↑ "KFPW-TV" (PDF). Television Factbook. 1972. p. 57-b – via World Radio History.
  16. ↑ "KGTO Is Awaiting Approval Of Sale". Northwest Arkansas Times. January 11, 1974. p. 3. Retrieved April 26, 2019.
  17. ↑ "Items Missing". Northwest Arkansas Times. April 25, 1974. p. 11. Retrieved April 26, 2019.
  18. ↑ "Hernreich Resolved By FCC Review Board". Northwest Arkansas Times. February 14, 1976. p. 5. Retrieved April 26, 2019.
  19. ↑ "Television Broadcast Stations in Fayetteville, Arkansas, et al" (PDF). Federal Register . April 14, 1977. p. 19491. Retrieved April 26, 2019.
  20. ↑ "TV Station On Air". Northwest Arkansas Times. December 6, 1977. p. 2. Retrieved April 26, 2019.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.