KGMC (TV)

Last updated

KGMC
City Merced, California
Channels
Branding
  • Estrella TV Fresno
  • MeTV Fresno (on DT6)
Programming
Affiliations
Ownership
OwnerCocola Broadcasting Companies LLC
KVHF-LD, KKDJ-CD, KHSC-LD, KJKZ-LD, KBNK-LD, KSDI-LD, KMSG-LD, KVVG-LD
History
First air date
March 22, 1996(27 years ago) (1996-03-22)
Former call signs
KNSO (1996–2020)
Former channel number(s)
  • Analog: 51 (UHF, 1996–2009)
  • Digital: 5 (VHF, 2002–2010)
  • Virtual: 51 (until 2020)
Call sign meaning
Gary Morris Cocola (name of owner)
Technical information [1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID 58608
ERP 45 kW
HAAT 589 m (1,932 ft)
Transmitter coordinates 37°4′26.8″N119°25′56.8″W / 37.074111°N 119.432444°W / 37.074111; -119.432444
Links
Public license information

KGMC (channel 43) is a television station licensed to Merced, California, United States, serving the Fresno area as an affiliate of the Spanish-language network Estrella TV. It is the flagship television property of owner Cocola Broadcasting, and is sister to eight low-power stations. KGMC's studios are located on West Herndon Avenue in the Pinedale area of Fresno, and its transmitter is located on Bald Mountain, south of Meadow Lakes in Fresno County.

Contents

A live simulcast of some of KGMC's non-network programming can be seen on the Cocola Broadcasting homepage.

History

The station first signed on the air on March 22, 1996, as KNSO on channel 51; originally operating as an independent station, it was owned by Sainte Partners II, L.P. During its first two years on the air, KNSO aired religious programming during the morning hours and Asian language programming in the afternoons, as well as programming from the California Music Channel. These programs were largely simulcast via San Francisco independent station KTSF-TV.

In July 1998, KNSO entered into a local marketing agreement (LMA) with Pappas Telecasting Companies, then-owner of Fox affiliate KMPH-TV (channel 26); Pappas then signed an affiliation agreement to make KNSO the market's WB affiliate, taking the affiliation from Clovis-based KGMC (channel 43). On January 1, 2001, KNSO swapped affiliations with KFRE-TV (channel 59), becoming a Telemundo affiliate; shortly beforehand, Pappas entered into an LMA with KFRE, resulting in the WB affiliation being relocated to KFRE. The station became a Telemundo owned-and-operated station, when the network's then-new parent company NBC bought the station in May 2003.

KNSO logo when NBC operated the station, used until 2009 KNSO 51.jpg
KNSO logo when NBC operated the station, used until 2009

In March 2004, KNSO vacated its McKinley Road studios and moved to a new facility in North Fresno at 30 River Park Place. The station also implemented an advanced operational environment, making KNSO one of the most advanced television stations in the country. This experimental operation system allowed for a "limited intervention" master control center, which involves a highly automated system of operation. The station automation systems are almost completely self-reliant and provide for little to no assistance by the station personnel in running the on-air switching, monitoring and logging. This system utilizes the Florical Airboss, centralized sales and traffic systems, and various Grass Valley Group broadcast systems, including the Profile XP and Concerto. This experimental operation system has proved successful, and has now been implemented in other station operation control centers.

ZGS Communications took over the operations of KNSO (as well as San Antonio sister station KVDA) on May 1, 2009, although NBC retained the licenses to both stations. [2] Serestar Communications assumed the operations of the station on May 1, 2014, under a joint sales and time brokerage agreement that was to run through December 31, 2020, NBCUniversal retained the KNSO license. [3]

On December 6, 2018, it was announced that NBCUniversal would terminate its local marketing agreement with Serestar in early 2019, making KNSO a full Telemundo O&O for the first time since 2009. This was in conjunction with NBCUniversal's purchase of Serestar-owned Telemundo affiliates KTMW and KULX-CD in Salt Lake City and KCSO-LD in Sacramento. [4] The transaction was completed and the LMA terminated on March 5, 2019. [5]

On February 27, 2020, Cocola agreed to transfer the license assets of KGMC to NBCUniversal's Telemundo Station Group in exchange for acquiring the KNSO license. [6] The sale was completed on September 1. [7] Upon completion of the transfer in which the callsigns were also swapped, [8] KGMC now operates on VHF channel 11, while KNSO operates on UHF channel 27.

Technical information

Subchannels

The station's signal is multiplexed:

Subchannels of KGMC [9]
Channel Res. Aspect Short nameProgramming
43.1 1080i 16:9 Estrella Estrella TV
43.3 480i 4:3 DAYSTAR Daystar
43.4QVC QVC
43.5ANT-TV Antenna TV
43.616:9Me-TV MeTV
43.8Cozi Cozi TV
43.9Laff Laff
43.10StartTV Start TV

Analog-to-digital conversion

KGMC (as KNSO) shut down its analog signal, over UHF channel 51, on June 12, 2009, the official date on which full-power television stations in the United States transitioned from analog to digital broadcasts under federal mandate. The station moved its digital signal from its pre-transition VHF channel 5 to channel 11, [10] using virtual channel 51.

As part of the SAFER Act, [11] the station kept its analog signal on the air until June 26 to inform viewers of the digital television transition through a loop of public service announcements from the National Association of Broadcasters.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WWSI</span> Telemundo TV station in Mount Laurel, New Jersey

WWSI is a television station licensed to Mount Laurel, New Jersey, United States, serving as the Philadelphia-area outlet for the Spanish-language network Telemundo. It is owned and operated by NBCUniversal's Telemundo Station Group alongside NBC outlet WCAU ; it is also sister to regional sports network NBC Sports Philadelphia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WZDC-CD</span> Telemundo TV station in Washington, D.C.

WZDC-CD is a Class A television station in Washington, D.C., serving as the market's outlet for the Spanish-language network Telemundo. It is owned and operated by NBCUniversal's Telemundo Station Group alongside NBC outlet WRC-TV. WZDC-CD and WRC-TV share studios and transmitter facilities on Nebraska Avenue in the Tenleytown neighborhood of northwest Washington.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KMPH-TV</span> Fox affiliate in Visalia, California

KMPH-TV is a television station licensed to Visalia, California, United States, serving the Fresno area as an affiliate of the Fox network. It is owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group alongside Sanger-licensed CW affiliate KFRE-TV. The two stations share studios on McKinley Avenue in eastern Fresno; KMPH-TV's transmitter is located on Big Baldy Mountain in northwestern Tulare County.

KTDO is a television station licensed to Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States, broadcasting the Spanish-language Telemundo network to the El Paso, Texas, area. Owned and operated by NBCUniversal's Telemundo Station Group, the station has studios on Carnegie Avenue in El Paso, and its transmitter is located atop the Franklin Mountains on the El Paso city limits.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WNEU</span> Telemundo TV station in Merrimack, New Hampshire

WNEU is a television station licensed to Merrimack, New Hampshire, United States, serving as the Boston-area outlet for the Spanish-language network Telemundo. It is owned and operated by NBCUniversal's Telemundo Station Group alongside Nashua, New Hampshire–licensed Class A NBC station WBTS-CD, which shares spectrum with Boston-based PBS member station WGBX-TV to provide full-market coverage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WYCN-LD</span> Telemundo TV station in Providence, Rhode Island

WYCN-LD is a low-power television station in Providence, Rhode Island, United States, broadcasting the Spanish-language network Telemundo. Owned and operated by NBCUniversal's Telemundo Station Group, the station has studios on Kenney Drive in Cranston, Rhode Island, and its transmitter is located on East Main Street in Norton, Massachusetts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KGPE</span> CBS affiliate in Fresno, California

KGPE is a television station in Fresno, California, United States, affiliated with CBS. It is owned by Nexstar Media Group alongside NBC affiliate KSEE. The two stations share studios on McKinley Avenue in eastern Fresno; KGPE's transmitter is located on Bear Mountain.

KAIL is a religious television station in Fresno, California, United States, owned and operated by Tri-State Christian Television (TCT). The station's studios are located on North 11th Street in northern Fresno, and its transmitter is located in Meadow Lakes in rural northeastern Fresno County.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WRIW-CD</span> WYCN-LD translator in Providence, Rhode Island

WRIW-CD is a Class A television station in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. It is a standard-definition translator of Telemundo owned-and-operated station WYCN-LD which is owned by the Telemundo Station Group subsidiary of NBCUniversal. WRIW-CD's parent station maintains studios on Kenney Drive in Cranston.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KMLU</span> MeTV affiliate in Columbia, Louisiana

KMLU is a television station licensed to Columbia, Louisiana, United States, serving the Monroe, Louisiana–El Dorado, Arkansas market as an affiliate of MeTV. Owned by Legacy Broadcasting, the station maintains studios and transmitter facilities north of Columbia off Seay Road near LA 847.

KFRE-TV is a television station licensed to Sanger, California, United States, serving the Fresno area as an affiliate of The CW. It is owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group alongside Visalia-licensed Fox affiliate KMPH-TV. The two stations share studios on McKinley Avenue in eastern Fresno; KFRE-TV's transmitter is located on Bear Mountain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WRDM-CD</span> Telemundo TV station in Hartford, Connecticut

WRDM-CD is a Class A television station licensed to Hartford, Connecticut, United States, serving as the Hartford–New Haven market's outlet for the Spanish-language network Telemundo. It is owned and operated by NBCUniversal's Telemundo Station Group alongside NBC outlet WVIT. The two stations share studios on New Britain Avenue in West Hartford and transmitter facilities on Rattlesnake Mountain in Farmington, Connecticut. Despite WRDM-CD legally holding a low-power Class A license, it transmits using WVIT's full-power spectrum. This ensures complete reception across the Hartford–New Haven market.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pappas Telecasting</span> Defunct American media company

Pappas Telecasting Companies was a diversely organized broadcasting company headquartered in Visalia, California, United States. Founded in 1971, it was one of the largest privately held broadcasting companies in the country, with its stations reaching over 15% of all U.S. households and over 32% of Hispanic households. Apart from owning and/or operating many television stations, the company formerly had two radio stations in its possession, KTRB and KMPH —changed from KPMP in June 2006 to reflect its nearby sister/flagship television station, Fox affiliate KMPH-TV, both in Fresno, California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KNSO</span> Telemundo TV station in Clovis, California

KNSO is a television station licensed to Clovis, California, United States, broadcasting the Spanish-language Telemundo network to the Fresno area. Owned and operated by NBCUniversal's Telemundo Station Group, KNSO maintains a transmitter on Bald Mountain, south of Meadow Lakes in Fresno County.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KCSO-LD</span> Telemundo TV station in Sacramento, California

KCSO-LD is a low-power television station in Sacramento, California, United States, serving as the local outlet for the Spanish-language network Telemundo. Owned and operated by NBCUniversal's Telemundo Station Group, KCSO-LD maintains studios on Media Place in the Woodlake neighborhood of Sacramento, and its transmitter is located in Walnut Grove, California. The station is also sister to regional sports networks NBC Sports Bay Area and NBC Sports California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KFXL-TV</span> Fox affiliate in Lincoln, Nebraska

KFXL-TV is a television station in Lincoln, Nebraska, United States, serving as the Fox affiliate for southern and central Nebraska, including Hastings, Kearney, and Grand Island. The station is owned by the Sinclair Broadcast Group alongside the Nebraska Television Network (NTV), the ABC affiliate for the western portion of the Lincoln–Hastings–Kearney market, and is also broadcast as a subchannel of the NTV stations in Kearney, Hayes Center, and McCook. The two stations share studios on Nebraska Highway 44 in Axtell, about 14 miles (23 km) south of Kearney, with a secondary studio and news bureau at the Conestoga Mall in Grand Island; KFXL-TV's transmitter is located on Yankee Hill Road in southeast Lincoln.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KTMW</span> Telemundo TV station in Salt Lake City

KTMW is a television station in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States, broadcasting the Spanish-language Telemundo network to the state of Utah. Owned and operated by NBCUniversal's Telemundo Station Group, the station maintains studios are located on South Redwood Road in the northwestern section of Salt Lake City, and its transmitter is located on Farnsworth Peak in the Oquirrh Mountains, southwest of Salt Lake City.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WRTD-CD</span> Telemundo TV station in Raleigh, North Carolina

WRTD-CD, virtual channel 54, is a Class A Telemundo owned-and-operated television station licensed to Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. The station is owned by the Telemundo Station Group subsidiary of NBCUniversal. Under a channel sharing agreement, WRTD-CD shares transmitter facilities with Fox affiliate WRAZ near Auburn, North Carolina. The station originates its master control from the facilities of WZDC-CD in Washington, D.C., whose website links to WRTD's public file.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WZTD-LD</span> Telemundo TV station in Richmond, Virginia

WZTD-LD is a low-power television station in Richmond, Virginia, United States, serving as the local outlet for the Spanish-language network Telemundo. The station is owned and operated by NBCUniversal's Telemundo Station Group, and transmits from an antenna located in Bon Air, Virginia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Telemundo Station Group</span> Television station division of Telemundo

Telemundo Station Group is the division of NBCUniversal Owned TV Stations (NBCUniversal), a subsidiary of Comcast that oversees their Telemundo owned-and-operated television stations and the TeleXitos network. The NBC owned-and-operated stations are held in the separate NBC Owned Television Stations division.

References

  1. "Facility Technical Data for KGMC". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. "On air". ZGS Communications. May 2009. Archived from the original on September 17, 2017. Retrieved March 15, 2019.
  3. "Joint Sales and Time Brokerage Agreement" (PDF). KNSO Public Inspection File. Federal Communications Commission. April 2014. Retrieved March 15, 2019.
  4. "Telemundo to buy Serestar stations in Sacramento and Salt Lake City for $21M". MediaMoves.com. December 6, 2018. Retrieved December 7, 2018.
  5. Miller, Mark K. (March 6, 2019). "NBCU Closes On Serestar Stations". TVNewsCheck. NewsCheckMedia LLC. Retrieved March 6, 2019.
  6. "Application for Consent to Assignment of Broadcast Station Construction Permit or License". CDBS Public Access. Federal Communications Commission . Retrieved March 12, 2020.
  7. "Consummation Notice", CDBS Public Access, Federal Communications Commission, September 2, 2020, Retrieved September 2, 2020.
  8. "Call Sign History", CDBS Public Access, Federal Communications Commission, September 2, 2020, Retrieved September 2, 2020.
  9. RabbitEars TV Query for KGMC
  10. "DTV Tentative Channel Designations for the First and Second Rounds" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on August 29, 2013. Retrieved March 24, 2012.
  11. "UPDATED List of Participants in the Analog Nightlight Program" (PDF). Federal Communications Commission. June 12, 2009. Retrieved June 4, 2012.