KTVB

Summary

KTVB (channel 7) is a television station in Boise, Idaho, United States, affiliated with NBC and owned by Tegna Inc. The station's studios are located on West Fairview Avenue (off I-184) in Boise, and its transmitter is located on Dear Point in unincorporated Boise County.

KTVB
Channels
BrandingNewsChannel 7
Programming
Affiliations
Ownership
Owner
KTFT-LD
History
First air date
July 12, 1953 (70 years ago) (1953-07-12)
Former call signs
KIDO-TV (1953–1959)
Former channel number(s)
  • Analog: 7 (VHF, 1953–2009)
  • Digital: 26 (UHF, 2001–2009)
  • All secondary:
  • DuMont (1953–1955)
  • ABC (1953–1974)
  • PBS (per program, 1970–1971)
Call sign meaning
Television Boise
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID34858
ERP42.1 kW
HAAT806 m (2,644 ft)
Transmitter coordinates43°45′16″N 116°5′56″W / 43.75444°N 116.09889°W / 43.75444; -116.09889
Translator(s)
Links
Public license information
  • Public file
  • LMS
Websitewww.ktvb.com
Translator
KTFT-LD
Channels
Programming
Affiliations
History
FoundedApril 18, 1984
First air date
August 6, 1986 (37 years ago) (1986-08-06)
Former call signs
  • K53DM (1986–1989)
  • K38AS (1989–1994)
  • KTFT-LP (1994–2010)
Former channel number(s)
  • Analog: 53 (UHF, 1986–1989), 38 (UHF, 1989–2010)
  • Virtual: 7.7 (2010–2022)
Call sign meaning
Twin Falls Television
Technical information[2]
Facility ID167056
ERP15 kW
HAAT226.6 m (743 ft)
Transmitter coordinates42°43′47.7″N 114°25′9.1″W / 42.729917°N 114.419194°W / 42.729917; -114.419194
Translator(s)K18NF-D Hagerman
Links
Public license information
LMS

The station also operates a low-power repeater in Twin Falls, KTFT-LD (channel 7). The two signals are identical, with the exception of commercials, which are sold and targeted to the Magic Valley area. KTFT maintains a small advertising sales office on Falls Avenue in Twin Falls and transmitter on Flat Top Butte near Jerome, Idaho. Master control and most internal operations are based at KTVB's facilities.

History edit

The station, Idaho's oldest (but not its first), signed on July 12, 1953, as KIDO-TV. Along with radio station KIDO, it was originally owned by Georgia Davidson, who was one of only three female station owners in the NBC network including Dorothy Bullitt of future sister station KING-TV in Seattle. Davidson sold KIDO radio in 1959 but kept KIDO-TV, which she renamed KTVB on February 1.[3]

KTVB has always been a primary NBC affiliate, owing to KIDO radio's longtime relationship with the NBC Radio Network. After KBOI-TV (channel 2, CBS) signed on in November 1953, the two stations briefly shared secondary DuMont affiliations, and shared secondary ABC affiliations until KITC (channel 6) signed on in 1974. Before PBS member KAID-TV (channel 4) signed on in December 1971, KTVB preempted the second hour of the Today Show to carry Sesame Street without commercials on weekday mornings.

In the early 1960s, KTVB built a satellite station in La Grande, Oregon. KTVR-TV (channel 13) went on the air December 6, 1964, as a semi-satellite of KTVB, but had a La Grande studio at 1605 Adams Ave., producing a nightly newscast and other local programming. However, by 1967, the La Grande studio and office had been closed and KTVR was a total satellite of KTVB. KTVR was unique in the Pacific Time Zone because as a repeater of a Mountain Time Zone station, its "prime time" schedule was broadcast from 6 to 9 p.m. PT, two hours early. OEPBS (now Oregon Public Broadcasting) bought KTVR on August 31, 1976, and converted it to a non-commercial PBS member station on February 1, 1977.

Philo Farnsworth, the father of television and a native of Beaver, Utah, was present as the station signed on the air. During KTVB's fiftieth year celebration in 2003, the tag line "the first television station in the state where TV was invented" was used in some promotional announcements.

In 1979, KTVB was sold to the Bullitts' King Broadcasting Company, joining company flagship station KING-TV in Seattle, KREM-TV in Spokane, and KGW-TV in Portland, as part of King Broadcasting. In 1992, the company was sold to the Providence Journal Company, which was later sold to Belo Corp. in 1997.

KTVB has branched out into non-traditional areas, such as its free "Idaho Classifieds" project on the ZIdaho website. KTVB is no longer affiliated with ZIdaho as of January 2013.[4] In August 2011, KTVB became the first station in Boise to broadcast its entire weekday schedule in high definition.

On June 13, 2013, the Gannett Company announced that it would acquire Belo.[5] The sale was completed on December 23.[6]

The station's multicast channels, Idaho's Very Own 24/7 and NWCN, were moved to the basic plan on Cable One system on August 27, 2013.[7] Northwest Cable News was replaced with the Justice Network on subchannel 7.3 on January 20, 2015.[7][8][9] NWCN would shut down almost two years later, on January 6, 2017.

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. KTVB was retained by the latter company, named Tegna.[10]

KTVB-DT2 edit

KTVB-DT2, branded on-air as Idaho's Very Own 24/7, is the second digital subchannel of KTVB, programmed as an independent station. Over the air, it broadcasts on channel 7.2 in Boise and on KTFT-LD 7.2 in Twin Falls.

History edit

 
Former 24/7 logo

At the end of October 2003, KTVB launched 24/7 NewsChannel on KTVB-DT2, one of the first digital secondary subchannels in the nation. The subchannel's programming initially consisted of time-shifted newscasts plus five other programs not on its main channel. Plans for the independent news format subchannel were for original news programs and other local programming.[11]

By fall 2011, the station had rebranded its 24/7 NewsChannel as "Idaho's Very Own 24/7" while revamping the 6:30 p.m. newscast and the morning news at 7 a.m. added additional features.[12]

Though originally billed as a 24-hour news channel, the subchannel has become more of an independent station in order to compete with other subchannels in the area which carry other outside subchannel networks, along with adding traditional syndicated programming, especially with KTRV-TV's September 2016 decision to convert to a full-time Ion Television affiliate (and eventual purchase by Ion itself), which freed up several programs for the local market (another factor is KTVB's newscasts being available live or delayed on its website, making the subchannel's original purpose superfluous).

Programming edit

KTVB-DT2 simulcasts the main station's morning and 5 p.m. newscasts on Mondays through Saturdays, as well as the weekend early evening (Saturdays at 5 p.m. and 6 p.m.) and weekend 10 p.m. newscasts. Airing the weekend early evening newscasts allows viewers to still see a newscast despite NBC Sports preempting newscasts for college football or NBC Sunday Night Football coverage during the fall, and golf and NASCAR coverage in those seasons. Exclusive to the station is a weekday 7 a.m. hour-long newscast, and Friday Night Flights on Friday evenings, which provides coverage of local high school football. In other non-prime slots, repeats of the last KTVB newscast produced before that time period are seen. KTVB-DT2 also broadcasts Boise State University athletic contests—including football and basketball—along with shows like Inside Bronco Football on Wednesday nights and the Idaho Coaches Show on Thursday nights. Both programs are shown at 10:30 p.m. and repeated the following day at 12:30 p.m.

In rare cases where KTVB must preempt NBC network programming for local breaking news or community interest coverage, KTVB-DT2 carries network shows in their regularly scheduled timeslots. KTVB-DT2 also airs second runs of KTVB's syndicated programming.

News operation edit

KTVB produces 6+12 hours of original news programming each weekday distributed between KTVB and KTVB-DT2, and a total of 38 hours of original news and sports programming per week.

Former reporters have gone on to attain national prominence, including Christi Paul of CNN Headline News, Trace Gallagher of Fox News, David Kerley of ABC News[13] and Meg Oliver of CBS News' Up To The Minute.

The KTVB news gathering fleet includes a new state of the art satellite truck purchased in 2006, allowing for live coverage of events across the region. KTVB's resources also include two live units, 10 news gathering vehicles, and a digital production truck.

The station has won a total of seven National Edward R. Murrow awards from the Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA). KTVB is also the recipient of numerous Emmy Awards from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, Northwest Chapter. On September 30, 2013, KTVB added the area's second weekday hour-long 4 p.m. newscast (after KBOI-TV).[14]

Notable former-on air staff edit

Technical information edit

Subchannels edit

The stations' signals are multiplexed:

Subchannels of KTVB[16]
Channel Res. Aspect Short name Programming
7.1 1080i 16:9 KTVB-HD Main KTVB programming / NBC
7.2 720p 24/7 Independent
7.3 480i Crime True Crime Network
7.4 Quest Quest
7.5 NEST The Nest
7.6 ShopLC Shop LC
7.7 HSN [blank]
7.8 RewindTV Rewind TV
Subchannels of KTFT-LD[17]
Channel Res. Aspect Short name Programming
7.1 1080i 16:9 KTFT Main KTFT-LD programming / NBC
7.2 720p 24/7 Independent
7.3 480i Crime True Crime Network
7.4 Quest Quest
7.5 ShopLC Shop LC

Analog-to-digital conversion edit

KTVB shut down its analog signal, over VHF channel 7, 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's digital signal relocated from its pre-transition UHF channel 26 to VHF channel 7 for post-transition operations.[18][19][20]

Translators edit

City of license Callsign Translating Channel ERP HAAT Facility ID Transmitter coordinates Owner
Cambridge K17KF-D KTVB 17 0.51 kW −54 m (−177 ft) 188131 44°31′58.5″N 116°39′25.5″W / 44.532917°N 116.657083°W / 44.532917; -116.657083 (K17KF-D) King Broadcasting Company
Cascade K29NB-D 29 0.49 kW −199 m (−653 ft) 34884 44°31′24.6″N 116°2′57.4″W / 44.523500°N 116.049278°W / 44.523500; -116.049278 (K29NB-D)
Council K23KY-D 23 0.46 kW −127 m (−417 ft) 11446 44°39′47.5″N 116°26′27.5″W / 44.663194°N 116.440972°W / 44.663194; -116.440972 (K23KY-D)
Garden Valley K34MG-D 34 0.0099 kW 7 m (23 ft) 23143 44°1′47.6″N 115°49′38.4″W / 44.029889°N 115.827333°W / 44.029889; -115.827333 (K34MG-D) Garden Valley Translator District
Glenns Ferry K16JE-D 16 0.43 kW 1 m (3 ft) 188132 42°55′36.6″N 115°21′13.2″W / 42.926833°N 115.353667°W / 42.926833; -115.353667 (K16JE-D) King Broadcasting Company
Hagerman K18NF-D KTFT-LD 18 0.252 kW 55 m (180 ft) 188132 42°50′55.6″N 114°54′47.2″W / 42.848778°N 114.913111°W / 42.848778; -114.913111 (K18NF-D) Hagerman Translator District
McCall
New Meadows
K15IO-D KTVB 15 0.47 kW 558 m (1,831 ft) 34869 45°0′6.6″N 116°8′6.4″W / 45.001833°N 116.135111°W / 45.001833; -116.135111 (K15IO-D) King Broadcasting Company
Terrace Lakes K10OA-D 10 0.047 kW 154 m (505 ft) 23148 44°6′59.6″N 116°0′31.4″W / 44.116556°N 116.008722°W / 44.116556; -116.008722 (K10OA-D) Garden Valley Translator District
Golconda, NV K35GD-D 35 0.19 kW 443 m (1,453 ft) 28088 41°9′18.6″N 117°20′19.4″W / 41.155167°N 117.338722°W / 41.155167; -117.338722 (K32GD-D) Humboldt County
McDermitt, NV K14SE-D 14 0.15 kW 88 m (289 ft) 54292 41°37′56.6″N 117°44′30.4″W / 41.632389°N 117.741778°W / 41.632389; -117.741778 (K14SE-D) Quinn River TV Maintenance District
Winnemucca, NV K19EU-D 19 0.11 kW 693 m (2,274 ft) 28093 41°00′38.5″N 117°46′4.2″W / 41.010694°N 117.767833°W / 41.010694; -117.767833 (K19EU-D) Humboldt County
Baker City, OR K18KI-D 18 1 kW 575 m (1,886 ft) 127789 44°35′56.5″N 117°47′1.7″W / 44.599028°N 117.783806°W / 44.599028; -117.783806 (K18KI-D) Blue Mountain Translator District
Baker Valley, OR K30OF-D 30 579 m (1,900 ft) 5944 44°35′56.5″N 117°47′1.7″W / 44.599028°N 117.783806°W / 44.599028; -117.783806 (K30OF-D)
La Grande, OR K21MS-D 21 0.4 kW 768 m (2,520 ft) 5953 45°18′34.4″N 117°44′1.7″W / 45.309556°N 117.733806°W / 45.309556; -117.733806 (K21MS-D)

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Facility Technical Data for KTVB". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ^ "Facility Technical Data for KTFT-LD". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  3. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on May 15, 2012. Retrieved April 20, 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. ^ "Zidaho - Idaho's Local Classifieds". www.zidaho.com.
  5. ^ "Belo, owner of Boise's KTVB-TV, sold to Gannett". Idaho Statesman. June 13, 2013. Retrieved June 13, 2013.
  6. ^ Gannett Completes Its Acquisition of Belo, TVNewsCheck, Retrieved December 23, 2013
  7. ^ a b "Idaho's Very Own 24/7, NWCN make cable channel change". ktvb.com. Tegna. August 27, 2013. Retrieved January 26, 2016.
  8. ^ Littleton, Cynthia (November 12, 2014). "TV Biz Vets Team to Launch Digital Justice Network with Gannett". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved January 27, 2015.
  9. ^ "Justice Network". ktvb.com. Tegna. Retrieved January 26, 2016.
  10. ^ "Separation of Gannett into two public companies completed | TEGNA". Tegna. June 29, 2015. Retrieved June 29, 2015.
  11. ^ "KTVB in Boise repurposes analog news content for 24/7 NewsChannel on DTV". TV Technology. November 21, 2003. Retrieved January 26, 2016.
  12. ^ Day, Don (Fall 2011). "More news, more crews as Boise area TV market continues to evolve". Communicator. No. Fall 2011. Idaho Press Club. Retrieved January 26, 2016.
  13. ^ "TV reporter Kerley off to ABC in D.C." Seattle Post-Intelligencer. February 10, 2004. Retrieved September 26, 2013.
  14. ^ KTVB Set to Launch 4 p.m. Newscast TVSpy, September 30, 2013.
  15. ^ "Eric Johnson". KOMOnews.com. Retrieved October 11, 2015.
  16. ^ "Digital TV Market Listing for KTVB". RabbitEars.Info. Retrieved August 14, 2022.
  17. ^ "Digital TV Market Listing for KTFT". RabbitEars.Info. Retrieved August 14, 2022.
  18. ^ "DTV Tentative Channel Designations for the First and the Second Rounds" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on August 29, 2013. Retrieved March 24, 2012.
  19. ^ Congress postpones DTV transition, Seattle may not Archived February 6, 2009, at the Wayback Machine, KING/AP, February 5, 2009
  20. ^ Eggerton, John (June 29, 2009). "Boise Station Gets Power Boost". Broadcasting & Cable. Retrieved July 1, 2009.

External links edit

  • Official website