KTNL-TV

Last updated

KTNL-TV
KTNL-SITKA.png
Channels
BrandingMeTV Alaska
Programming
Affiliations MeTV
Ownership
Owner
KDMD
History
First air date
July 28, 1966(57 years ago) (1966-07-28)
Former call signs
  • KIFW-TV (1966–1983) [2]
  • KTNL (1983–2006)
Former channel number(s)
Analog: 13 (VHF, 1966–2009)
  • CBS (1966–2020)
  • Dark (2020–2021)
Technical information [3]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID 60519
ERP 0.35 kW
HAAT −216 m (−709 ft)
Transmitter coordinates 57°2′59.6″N135°20′10.3″W / 57.049889°N 135.336194°W / 57.049889; -135.336194
Links
Public license information
Website ktnl.tv

KTNL-TV (channel 7) is a television station in Sitka, Alaska, United States, affiliated with MeTV. The station is owned by Bridge Media Networks. KTNL-TV's transmitter is located in downtown Sitka; the station is programmed from studios in Anchorage.

Contents

The station was established as Sitka's only broadcast TV station in 1966 and primarily broadcast programs from CBS for the first 55 years of its history. It also offered limited local programming in various forms.

History

As a CBS affiliate

Sitka Broadcasting Company, owner of Sitka radio station KIFW, received a construction permit from the Federal Communications Commission on June 7, 1966, allowing it to build a television station on channel 13. [4] The station began broadcasting as KIFW-TV on July 28, 1966. [5] It joined CBS that October, though it was a non-interconnected affiliate—one not connected by long lines to receive live network programming. [6] Though it was the first broadcast station in Sitka, local programming was also available on the local cable system from KSA-TV, a local channel that had started in 1959. [7]

In 1983, KIFW-TV was sold to Kathie and Dan Etulain. The call letters were changed to KTNL; though it was separated in ownership from KIFW, it continued to share the same building. The station remained primarily a CBS affiliate, though it also aired Christian programming, owing to a new relationship with Alaska Christian Television Services. [8] KTNL installed a satellite dish in 1985. This allowed it to receive live CBS programming; previously, network programs were aired on a two-week delay via videotapes recorded off KIRO-TV in Seattle and mailed to Sitka, while the Rural Alaska Television Network provided live news and sports. [9] [10] In 1989, the station left the building shared with KIFW radio; the first attempt to relocate was denied by a zoning board in 1988, [11] but the move took place the next year and gave the radio station more room. [12]

A company known as Sitka News Bureau, owned by the Baggen family, acquired the station in 1992. Sitka News Bureau aired a newscast of the same name on the local public access cable channel. The station relocated to Sitka News Bureau's facilities on Harbor Drive, announced its plans to drop all non-CBS network programming, and added the newscasts to its lineup. [13] Etulain retained the previous facilities for video production as North Star and returned to television broadcasting when KSCT-LP began broadcasting in 1995. [14] In spite of announcing the station would be a sole CBS affiliate, KTNL-TV remained a secondary affiliate of ABC, mostly for key programs like Monday Night Football . [15] The newscast was dropped in November 1993 so the station could redistribute its efforts toward producing local advertising instead of newsgathering. [16] In 1996, Wright Home, Inc., acquired KTNL-TV. It sold the station to GreenTV of Evergreen, Colorado, owned by Penny and David Drucker, in 2000; the Druckers owned KDMD in Anchorage and KUBD in Ketchikan. [17]

In 2014, Ketchikan TV—the renamed GreenTV—sold KTNL-TV, KUBD and KXLJ-LD to Denali Media Holdings, a subsidiary of Alaskan telecommunications firm GCI. GCI had earlier bought KTVA, the CBS affiliate in Anchorage, and North Star, owner of KSCT-LP and KATH-LP in Juneau. [18] [19]

Post-CBS affiliation

GCI exited broadcasting in 2020 by selling the rights to CBS in Anchorage and Southeast Alaska, as well as KSCT-LP, KATH-LP, and KUBD, to Gray Television. [20] With the station's programming, assets, and network affiliation having been sold, Denali Media took KTNL-TV off the air on October 31, 2020. [21] In 2021, Denali Media sold KTNL-TV back to Ketchikan TV. [22] [23]

On December 11, 2023, it was announced that Ketchikan TV would sell KTNL, KDMD and three low-power stations to Bridge News LLC, backed by entrepreneur Manoj Bhargava, for $2.4 million. [1] The sale was completed on March 12, 2024. [24]

Subchannel

Subchannel of KTNL-TV [25]
Channel Res. Aspect Short nameProgramming
7.1 480i 4:3 KTNL-SD MeTV

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KYTX</span> CBS/CW affiliate in Nacogdoches, Texas

KYTX is a television station licensed to Nacogdoches, Texas, United States, serving East Texas as an affiliate of CBS and The CW Plus. Owned by Tegna Inc., the station has studios near Loop 323 in the southeastern portion of Tyler, and its transmitter is located near State Highway 110 in rural east-central Cherokee County.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KFXK-TV</span> Fox affiliate in Longview, Texas

KFXK-TV is a television station licensed to Longview, Texas, United States, serving East Texas as an affiliate of the Fox network. It is owned by White Knight Broadcasting, which maintains a shared services agreement (SSA) with Nexstar Media Group owner of Jacksonville-licensed NBC affiliate KETK-TV and Tyler-licensed low-power MyNetworkTV affiliate KTPN-LD, for the provision of certain services. The stations share studios on Richmond Road in Tyler; KFXK-TV's transmitter is located near FM 125 in rural northwestern Rusk County. It is rebroadcast by KFXL-LD in Lufkin, from a transmitter northwest of the city on SH 103 near Loop 287.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">GCI Communication</span> Telecommunications corporation operating in Alaska

GCI Communication Corp. (GCI) is a telecommunications corporation operating in Alaska. Through its own facilities and agreements with other providers, GCI provides cable television service, Internet access, wireline (networking), and cellular telephone service. It is a subsidiary of Colorado-based company Liberty Broadband, a company affiliated with Liberty Media that also owns a 26% interest in Charter Communications, having been originally acquired by Liberty in 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KNIN-TV</span> Fox affiliate in Caldwell, Idaho

KNIN-TV is a television station licensed to Caldwell, Idaho, United States, serving as the Fox affiliate for the Boise area. The station is owned by Marquee Broadcasting. KNIN-TV's transmitter is located at the Bogus Basin ski area summit in unincorporated Boise County, with its technical and news operations based out of the studios of Sinclair Broadcast Group–owned KBOI-TV on North 16th Street in Boise under a facilities and services agreement.

KTVA is a television station in Anchorage, Alaska, United States, affiliated with the digital multicast network Rewind TV. The station is owned by Denali Media Holdings, a subsidiary of local cable provider GCI. KTVA's transmitter is located in Spenard—covering the Anchorage bowl and much of the adjacent Matanuska-Susitna Valley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KTUU-TV</span> NBC affiliate in Anchorage, Alaska

KTUU-TV is a television station in Anchorage, Alaska, United States, affiliated with NBC and CBS. It is owned by Gray Television alongside MyNetworkTV affiliate KAUU. The two stations share studios on East 40th Avenue in midtown Anchorage; KTUU-TV's transmitter is located in Knik, Alaska.

KAUU is a television station in Anchorage, Alaska, United States, affiliated with MyNetworkTV. It is owned by Gray Television alongside dual NBC/CBS affiliate KTUU-TV. The two stations share studios on East 40th Avenue in Anchorage; KAUU's transmitter is located in Knik, Alaska.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KDMD (TV)</span> Ion/Telemundo affiliate in Anchorage

KDMD is a television station in Anchorage, Alaska, United States, affiliated with Ion Television and Telemundo. The station is owned by Bridge News LLC, and maintains studios on East 66th Avenue near the Seward Highway in Anchorage; its transmitter is located in Eagle River.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KKCO</span> NBC/Telemundo affiliate in Grand Junction, Colorado

KKCO is a television station in Grand Junction, Colorado, United States, affiliated with NBC and Telemundo. It is owned by Gray Television alongside low-power dual ABC/CW+ affiliate KJCT-LP. The two stations share studios on Blichmann Avenue in Grand Junction; KKCO's transmitter is located at the Black Ridge Electronics Site at the Colorado National Monument west of the city.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KUBD (TV)</span> CBS affiliate in Ketchikan, Alaska

KUBD is a television station in Ketchikan, Alaska, United States, affiliated with CBS. Owned by Gray Television, it is operated as a full-time satellite of Juneau-licensed KYEX-LD. KUBD's transmitter is located in downtown Ketchikan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KUBD-LP</span> Television station in Alaska, United States

KUBD-LP was a low-power television station in Kodiak, Alaska, United States, affiliated with CBS and Ion Television. The station was owned by Ketchikan Television.

KFQD is a commercial radio station in Anchorage, Alaska branded as "News Talk 750 and 103.7 KFQD". It broadcasts a news/talk format and is owned by Alpha Media LLC. The studios and offices are on Arctic Slope Avenue in Anchorage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KQFX-LD</span> Fox affiliate in Columbia, Missouri

KQFX-LD, branded Fox 22, is a low-power television station licensed to Columbia, Missouri, United States, serving as the Fox affiliate for the Columbia–Jefferson City market. It is owned by the News-Press & Gazette Company (NPG) alongside dual ABC/MyNetworkTV affiliate KMIZ ; the stations together are branded as the "Networks of Mid-Missouri". The two stations share studios on the East Business Loop 70 in Columbia; KQFX-LD's transmitter is located west of Jamestown near the Moniteau–Cooper county line.

KXLF-TV is a television station in Butte, Montana, United States, affiliated with CBS. Owned by the E. W. Scripps Company, it is part of the Montana Television Network (MTN), a statewide network of CBS-affiliated stations. KXLF-TV's studios are located on South Montana Street in downtown Butte, and its transmitter is located on XL Heights east of the city. KXLF-TV and KBZK in Bozeman split the media market, and local news for the Butte area is produced from KBZK's Bozeman studios.

KBZK is a television station in Bozeman, Montana, United States, affiliated with CBS. Owned by the E. W. Scripps Company, it is part of the Montana Television Network (MTN), a statewide network of CBS-affiliated stations. KBZK has its studios on Television Way in Bozeman; its primary transmitter is located atop High Flat, southwest of Four Corners. KBZK shares a media market with the MTN station in Butte, KXLF-TV; the stations share network and syndicated programming but broadcast separate commercials. News programming for the Bozeman and Butte areas originates from KBZK.

KATH-LD, virtual channel 2, is a low-power NBC-affiliated television station licensed to both Juneau and Douglas, Alaska, United States. The station is owned by Gray Television. KATH-LD's transmitter is located in downtown Juneau.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KTKN</span> Radio station in Ketchikan, Alaska

KTKN is an American commercial radio station airing talk and hot adult contemporary music programming in Ketchikan, Alaska.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KXLJ-LD</span> TV station in Juneau, Alaska (2001–2021)

KXLJ-LD, virtual and UHF digital channel 24, was a low-power CBS-affiliated television station that was licensed to Juneau, Alaska, United States. It was a full-time satellite of Sitka-licensed KTNL-TV which was owned by Denali Media Holdings. KXLJ-LD was a sister station to low-power NBC affiliate KATH-LD, licensed to both Juneau and Douglas. KXLJ-LD shared transmitter facilities with KATH-LD in downtown Juneau.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KKTQ-LD</span> ABC affiliate in Cheyenne, Wyoming

KKTQ-LD is a low-power television station in Cheyenne, Wyoming, United States, affiliated with ABC. The station is owned by Vision Alaska LLC, which operates Fox affiliate KLWY under a shared services agreement (SSA) with the Coastal Television Broadcasting Company. KKTQ-LD's transmitter is located on Happy Jack Road west of the city.

KSA-TV, broadcasting on cable systems on channel 4, was a television station in Sitka, Alaska, United States, affiliated with NBC. It was the first local television station in Sitka, operating between 1959 and 1983. It was also an affiliate of the NTA Film Network.

References

  1. 1 2 "Assignments". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission. December 11, 2023. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
  2. Mitchell, Elaine, ed. (1973). Alaska Blue Book (First ed.). Juneau, AK: Alaska Department of Education, Division of State Libraries. p. 136.
  3. "Facility Technical Data for KTNL-TV". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  4. "FCC History Cards for KTNL-TV" (PDF). Federal Communications Commission.
  5. "New TV station". Broadcasting. August 8, 1966. p. 75. ProQuest   1014519297.
  6. "CBS-TV Adds Sitka Affil". Variety. October 5, 1966. p. 26. ProQuest   1032445153.
  7. Veatch, Ernestine C. (November 13, 1959). "KSA-TV begins operations Sunday, open house Sat". Daily Sitka Sentinel. pp. 1, 4 . Retrieved November 26, 2020 via NewspaperArchive.
  8. "KIFW-TV Changes Hands". Daily Sitka Sentinel. May 27, 1983. p. 3A. Retrieved October 24, 2023 via Newspapers.com.
  9. Froetschel, Susan (September 8, 1983). "TV Station Aims Camera At, For Sitka". Daily Sitka Sentinel. pp. 1, 2 . Retrieved October 24, 2023 via Newspapers.com.
  10. "KTNL To Go 'Live'". Daily Sitka Sentinel. March 8, 1985. p. 7A. Retrieved October 24, 2023 via Newspapers.com.
  11. Sykora, Allen (February 2, 1988). "Radio-TV Request Rejected, Dropped". Daily Sitka Sentinel. p. 1. Retrieved October 24, 2023 via Newspapers.com.
  12. Swagel, Will (May 9, 1989). "KIFW-AM to Receive Assist from Satellite". Daily Sitka Sentinel. p. 1. Retrieved October 24, 2023 via Newspapers.com.
  13. "New Hands On Dials at KTNL-TV". Daily Sitka Sentinel. February 28, 1992. p. 8. Retrieved October 24, 2023 via Newspapers.com.
  14. Haugland, Shannon (April 28, 1995). "TV Watchers to Receive Broader Viewing". Daily Sitka Sentinel. p. Sitka Weekend 1. Retrieved October 24, 2023 via Newspapers.com.
  15. Swagel, Will (March 12, 1993). "Cable Co. Removes RATNET from Lineup". Daily Sitka Sentinel. p. 1. Retrieved October 24, 2023 via Newspapers.com.
  16. MacLean, Heather (November 18, 1993). "KTNL Drops Newscasts To Focus On Service". Daily Sitka Sentinel. pp. 1, 8 . Retrieved October 24, 2023 via Newspapers.com.
  17. "Changing Hands". Broadcasting & Cable. June 19, 2000. p. 46. ProQuest   1014781050.
  18. Farrell, Mike (December 23, 2013). "GCI Buys Alaska Stations". Broadcasting & Cable.
  19. "Consummation Notice". Consolidated Database System. Federal Communications Commission . Retrieved July 29, 2014.
  20. "KTUU Expands into Southeast Alaska and KYES Launches "CBS5 Anchorage"". Alaska's News Source. July 31, 2020.
  21. "KTNL Suspension of Operations and Request for Silent STA". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission. October 30, 2020.
  22. "Assignment of Authorization". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission. June 17, 2021. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  23. "Station Trading Roundup: 3 Deals, $62,500". TVNewsCheck. May 19, 2021.
  24. "Notification of Consummation". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission. March 12, 2024. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
  25. RabbitEars TV Query for KTNL