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KGTV (Iowa)

January 01, 1970

KGTV (channel 17) was a television station in Des Moines, Iowa, United States. Owned by Rib Mountain Radio of Wausau, Wisconsin, it operated from November 1953 to April 1955 as the first station in Des Moines itself and the second in central Iowa. KGTV maintained its studios and transmitter on 2nd Avenue near Hobson Drive,[a] then to the north of the city limits.

KGTV
Channels
Programming
Affiliations
History
First air date
November 15, 1953; 70 years ago (1953-11-15)
Last air date
April 15, 1955; 69 years ago (1955-04-15) (1 year, 151 days)
Technical information
ERP22.1 kW, authorized for up to 162 kW[1]
HAAT470 ft (143 m)
Transmitter coordinates41°40′05″N 93°37′05″W / 41.66806°N 93.61806°W / 41.66806; -93.61806

As the market's only ultra high frequency (UHF) station, KGTV struggled economically at a time when not all television sets sold were able to tune to the new UHF band. While it provided relief to WOI-TV in Ames, until then the only network affiliate in the area, the arrival of WHO-TV on VHF channel 13 in 1954 and impending construction of KRNT-TV on channel 8 led to the suspension of operations. The station was unsuccessful in a multiple-year fight to have channel 11 reclassified from noncommercial to commercial for its use. In 1959, the Iowa State Patrol acquired its facilities for use as the control center of the state police radio network. KGTV's tower remained standing until 1981.

History edit

 
A Blaw-Knox diamond-shaped tower in Columbus, Ohio, similar to that used by KGTV

On February 5, 1953, Rib Mountain Radio, a Wausau, Wisconsin—based firm, applied to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for a permit to build a station on ultra high frequency (UHF) TV channel 17 in Des Moines. At the time, the area had one station, WOI-TV in Ames; Des Moines had been allocated two commercial very high frequency (VHF) channels, 8 and 13, each of which had competing applicants.[3] With no opposition, Rib Mountain Radio received the permit on March 26, 1953.[4] Construction plans took shape in August 1953, when the firm announced it had purchased land north of the Des Moines city limits and a building used as a house trailer factory to be converted to house KGTV.[5] The tower had previously belonged to WHO radio.[6][b]

Channel 17 began broadcasting a test pattern on November 14, 1953, and programming the next day, after multiple postponements of its sign-on as crews rushed to finish the tower.[9][10][11] KGTV was a basic affiliate of ABC and aired additional shows from the CBS and DuMont television networks.[12] Its lineup of network shows included some popular offerings that WOI-TV passed on because of its policy of not accepting beer sponsors, such as Schlitz Playhouse of Stars, Person to Person, and CBS's Wednesday night boxing coverage. For local programming, channel 17 offered Rib Mountain Jamboree, a country music and dance show aired on Saturday evenings,[13] as well as high school football and basketball telecasts.[14][15]

In November 1954, Rib Mountain asked the FCC to let KGTV move to the reserved noncommercial channel 11 for at least three years, stating that being a UHF operation "severely handicapped" its commercial viability due to "general lack of interest and faith in UHF" among viewers and advertisers.[16] A group planning educational television in Iowa opposed the proposal.[17] When the FCC invited formal comment on the proposed channel change, it met with stiff opposition from backers of educational television, including Des Moines Public Schools.[18] State education officials and Drake University were among other groups that lodged protests with the commission,[19] which denied KGTV's request on a 4–3 vote in June 1956.[20] The Des Moines public school system was granted a permit for channel 11 six months later.[21]

KGTV dropped all of its network programs in March 1955, ceasing to air live shows fed by ABC and CBS in an attempt to save on interconnection costs it believed it could not afford.[22] The station ceased broadcasting on April 15; in spite of what general manager Leo Howard called good public support, with nearly 70 percent of local sets converted to receive UHF, he said KGTV was never able to obtain sufficient network programming. Rib Mountain's secretary cited a decision by WOI-TV, owned by Iowa State College, to remain a commercial broadcaster instead of devoting itself to educational programming when sufficient private commercial stations were established. By the time it left the air, its original staff of 39 employees had dwindled to 11.[23] After quitting telecasting, Rib Mountain was sued by RCA for $87,000 in payments owing on the station's equipment.[24] A judge awarded RCA the money in April 1956.[25]

In June 1959, the Iowa state government made an offer to buy the KGTV facility for $48,000 to be refitted as the control center for Iowa's state police radio system, which at the time operated from the Iowa State Fairgrounds.[26] The Jo-Ben Corporation, owner of the property, accepted the offer; the transaction was completed in September,[27] and police radio operations shifted to the site on December 14, 1959.[28] The existing tower at the site remained at full height for more than 20 years. In 1979, a report by the State Patrol found that the tower was in imminent danger of collapsing during an ice storm event, in spite of emergency repairs completed two years prior.[29] It was decided to dismantle the top 265 feet (81 m) of the tower and retain the lower 200-foot (61 m) section, while police radio shifted to three new towers constructed elsewhere. During the first attempt, in March 1980, a tower climber fell from the mast to his death.[6] The work was restarted and completed in 1981 by a Waterloo firm.[30]

See also edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ Now Northeast 60th Avenue[2]
  2. ^ The tower itself was unusual and had a history preceding television. It was a Blaw-Knox diamond tower, commissioned by WHO in 1934,[7] erected in 1936, and used until a new "tall tower" was built at WHO's site in Mitchellville, Iowa, in 1950.[8]

References edit

  1. ^ "KGTV". Television Factbook. Spring 1955. p. 112.
  2. ^ Lutz, Renda (July 5, 2005). "Cemetery remains an icon". The Des Moines Register. Des Moines, Iowa. p. East/North 7. Retrieved January 17, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Ask License For D.M. TV Station". The Des Moines Register. Des Moines, Iowa. February 6, 1953. p. 5. Retrieved January 17, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "A TV Permit Granted Here: UHF Frequency to Wisconsin Firm". Des Moines Tribune. Des Moines, Iowa. March 26, 1953. p. 1. Retrieved January 17, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "TV Station For D. M. This Fall". The Des Moines Register. Des Moines, Iowa. August 4, 1953. pp. 1, 7. Retrieved January 17, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ a b Alex, Tom (March 18, 1980). "Climber falls to his death: Bondurant man plunges 465 feet". Des Moines Tribune. Des Moines, Iowa. p. 1. Retrieved January 17, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "New Radio Tower Contract Awarded". Des Moines Tribune. Des Moines, Iowa. August 15, 1934. p. 3-A. Retrieved January 18, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "New Tower for WHO". Des Moines Tribune. Des Moines, Iowa. July 25, 1950. p. 24. Retrieved January 18, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "KGTV Delay; To Open Today". The Des Moines Register. Des Moines, Iowa. November 12, 1953. p. 1. Retrieved January 17, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "KGTV Opening Is Delayed Again". The Des Moines Register. Des Moines, Iowa. November 13, 1953. p. 3. Retrieved January 17, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "KGTV to Start Telecasts Today". The Des Moines Register. Des Moines, Iowa. November 15, 1953. p. 19. Retrieved January 17, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "KGTV Goes On Air Here Wednesday". The Des Moines Register. Des Moines, Iowa. November 8, 1953. pp. 1-L, 6-L. Retrieved January 17, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ Cotton, Paul (April 4, 1954). "KGTV, the New Station, and Its Expansion Plan". Des Moines Sunday Register. Des Moines, Iowa. p. TV-1. Retrieved January 17, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "KGTV Asks To Telecast Basketball". Des Moines Tribune. Des Moines, Iowa. November 2, 1954. p. 16. Retrieved January 17, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "Basketball On TV Is Approved". The Des Moines Register. Des Moines, Iowa. November 3, 1954. p. 5. Retrieved January 17, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ "KGTV Seeks to Change Channel". The Des Moines Register. Des Moines, Iowa. United Press. November 4, 1954. p. 25. Retrieved January 17, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ Millen, Cliff (December 9, 1954). "KGTV Bid Is Protested: Educational Channel In Contention". Des Moines Tribune. Des Moines, Iowa. p. 1. Retrieved January 17, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ Hoschar, Allan (June 10, 1955). "Plan to Fight Any Transfer of Channel 11: Seek to Keep It For Educational Use". The Des Moines Register. Des Moines, Iowa. pp. 1, 6. Retrieved January 17, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ Barewald, Robert (June 29, 1955). "Six Protest FCC Notice on Channel 11". The Des Moines Register. Des Moines, Iowa. p. 1. Retrieved January 17, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ Mollenhoff, Clark (July 21, 1956). "Firm Denied Educational TV Channel". The Des Moines Register. Des Moines, Iowa. p. 5. Retrieved January 17, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ "D. M. Gets Permit for School TV". The Des Moines Register. Des Moines, Iowa. December 13, 1956. p. 1. Retrieved January 17, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ^ "KGTV Is Off Live Networks". Des Moines Tribune. Des Moines, Iowa. March 9, 1955. p. 1. Retrieved January 17, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ^ Michener, Fred (April 12, 1955). "KGTV Quits Telecasting Here Friday". The Des Moines Register. Des Moines, Iowa. p. 1. Retrieved January 17, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. ^ "KGTV Sued For $87,000". Des Moines Tribune. Des Moines, Iowa. July 25, 1955. p. 17. Retrieved January 17, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. ^ "KGTV Must Pay $85,000". Des Moines Tribune. Des Moines, Iowa. April 26, 1956. p. 15. Retrieved January 17, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  26. ^ "Offer to Buy KGTV Tower". Des Moines Tribune. Des Moines, Iowa. July 29, 1959. p. 5. Retrieved January 17, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  27. ^ "KGTV Purchase Is Completed". Des Moines Tribune. Des Moines, Iowa. September 22, 1959. p. 2. Retrieved January 17, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  28. ^ Raffensperger, Gene (December 15, 1959). "Iowa Police Radio Using KGTV Site". The Des Moines Register. Des Moines, Iowa. p. 3. Retrieved January 17, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  29. ^ Witosky, Thomas (January 31, 1979). "Collapse of state tower feared". Des Moines Tribune. Des Moines, Iowa. p. 8. Retrieved January 17, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  30. ^ Hovelson, Jack (January 24, 1981). "Ain't no mountain high enough for this woman". The Des Moines Register. Des Moines, Iowa. p. 3A. Retrieved January 17, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.

January 01, 1970
kgtv, iowa, kgtv, channel, television, station, moines, iowa, united, states, owned, mountain, radio, wausau, wisconsin, operated, from, november, 1953, april, 1955, first, station, moines, itself, second, central, iowa, kgtv, maintained, studios, transmitter,. KGTV channel 17 was a television station in Des Moines Iowa United States Owned by Rib Mountain Radio of Wausau Wisconsin it operated from November 1953 to April 1955 as the first station in Des Moines itself and the second in central Iowa KGTV maintained its studios and transmitter on 2nd Avenue near Hobson Drive a then to the north of the city limits KGTVDes Moines IowaUnited StatesChannelsAnalog 17 UHF ProgrammingAffiliationsABC CBS DuMont 1953 1955 Independent station March April 1955 HistoryFirst air dateNovember 15 1953 70 years ago 1953 11 15 Last air dateApril 15 1955 69 years ago 1955 04 15 1 year 151 days Technical informationERP22 1 kW authorized for up to 162 kW 1 HAAT470 ft 143 m Transmitter coordinates41 40 05 N 93 37 05 W 41 66806 N 93 61806 W 41 66806 93 61806 As the market s only ultra high frequency UHF station KGTV struggled economically at a time when not all television sets sold were able to tune to the new UHF band While it provided relief to WOI TV in Ames until then the only network affiliate in the area the arrival of WHO TV on VHF channel 13 in 1954 and impending construction of KRNT TV on channel 8 led to the suspension of operations The station was unsuccessful in a multiple year fight to have channel 11 reclassified from noncommercial to commercial for its use In 1959 the Iowa State Patrol acquired its facilities for use as the control center of the state police radio network KGTV s tower remained standing until 1981 Contents 1 History 2 See also 3 Notes 4 ReferencesHistory edit nbsp A Blaw Knox diamond shaped tower in Columbus Ohio similar to that used by KGTV On February 5 1953 Rib Mountain Radio a Wausau Wisconsin based firm applied to the Federal Communications Commission FCC for a permit to build a station on ultra high frequency UHF TV channel 17 in Des Moines At the time the area had one station WOI TV in Ames Des Moines had been allocated two commercial very high frequency VHF channels 8 and 13 each of which had competing applicants 3 With no opposition Rib Mountain Radio received the permit on March 26 1953 4 Construction plans took shape in August 1953 when the firm announced it had purchased land north of the Des Moines city limits and a building used as a house trailer factory to be converted to house KGTV 5 The tower had previously belonged to WHO radio 6 b Channel 17 began broadcasting a test pattern on November 14 1953 and programming the next day after multiple postponements of its sign on as crews rushed to finish the tower 9 10 11 KGTV was a basic affiliate of ABC and aired additional shows from the CBS and DuMont television networks 12 Its lineup of network shows included some popular offerings that WOI TV passed on because of its policy of not accepting beer sponsors such as Schlitz Playhouse of Stars Person to Person and CBS s Wednesday night boxing coverage For local programming channel 17 offered Rib Mountain Jamboree a country music and dance show aired on Saturday evenings 13 as well as high school football and basketball telecasts 14 15 In November 1954 Rib Mountain asked the FCC to let KGTV move to the reserved noncommercial channel 11 for at least three years stating that being a UHF operation severely handicapped its commercial viability due to general lack of interest and faith in UHF among viewers and advertisers 16 A group planning educational television in Iowa opposed the proposal 17 When the FCC invited formal comment on the proposed channel change it met with stiff opposition from backers of educational television including Des Moines Public Schools 18 State education officials and Drake University were among other groups that lodged protests with the commission 19 which denied KGTV s request on a 4 3 vote in June 1956 20 The Des Moines public school system was granted a permit for channel 11 six months later 21 KGTV dropped all of its network programs in March 1955 ceasing to air live shows fed by ABC and CBS in an attempt to save on interconnection costs it believed it could not afford 22 The station ceased broadcasting on April 15 in spite of what general manager Leo Howard called good public support with nearly 70 percent of local sets converted to receive UHF he said KGTV was never able to obtain sufficient network programming Rib Mountain s secretary cited a decision by WOI TV owned by Iowa State College to remain a commercial broadcaster instead of devoting itself to educational programming when sufficient private commercial stations were established By the time it left the air its original staff of 39 employees had dwindled to 11 23 After quitting telecasting Rib Mountain was sued by RCA for 87 000 in payments owing on the station s equipment 24 A judge awarded RCA the money in April 1956 25 In June 1959 the Iowa state government made an offer to buy the KGTV facility for 48 000 to be refitted as the control center for Iowa s state police radio system which at the time operated from the Iowa State Fairgrounds 26 The Jo Ben Corporation owner of the property accepted the offer the transaction was completed in September 27 and police radio operations shifted to the site on December 14 1959 28 The existing tower at the site remained at full height for more than 20 years In 1979 a report by the State Patrol found that the tower was in imminent danger of collapsing during an ice storm event in spite of emergency repairs completed two years prior 29 It was decided to dismantle the top 265 feet 81 m of the tower and retain the lower 200 foot 61 m section while police radio shifted to three new towers constructed elsewhere During the first attempt in March 1980 a tower climber fell from the mast to his death 6 The work was restarted and completed in 1981 by a Waterloo firm 30 See also editMorgan Murphy MediaNotes edit Now Northeast 60th Avenue 2 The tower itself was unusual and had a history preceding television It was a Blaw Knox diamond tower commissioned by WHO in 1934 7 erected in 1936 and used until a new tall tower was built at WHO s site in Mitchellville Iowa in 1950 8 References edit KGTV Television Factbook Spring 1955 p 112 Lutz Renda July 5 2005 Cemetery remains an icon The Des Moines Register Des Moines Iowa p East North 7 Retrieved January 17 2024 via Newspapers com Ask License For D M TV Station The Des Moines Register Des Moines Iowa February 6 1953 p 5 Retrieved January 17 2024 via Newspapers com A TV Permit Granted Here UHF Frequency to Wisconsin Firm Des Moines Tribune Des Moines Iowa March 26 1953 p 1 Retrieved January 17 2024 via Newspapers com TV Station For D M This Fall The Des Moines Register Des Moines Iowa August 4 1953 pp 1 7 Retrieved January 17 2024 via Newspapers com a b Alex Tom March 18 1980 Climber falls to his death Bondurant man plunges 465 feet Des Moines Tribune Des Moines Iowa p 1 Retrieved January 17 2024 via Newspapers com New Radio Tower Contract Awarded Des Moines Tribune Des Moines Iowa August 15 1934 p 3 A Retrieved January 18 2024 via Newspapers com New Tower for WHO Des Moines Tribune Des Moines Iowa July 25 1950 p 24 Retrieved January 18 2024 via Newspapers com KGTV Delay To Open Today The Des Moines Register Des Moines Iowa November 12 1953 p 1 Retrieved January 17 2024 via Newspapers com KGTV Opening Is Delayed Again The Des Moines Register Des Moines Iowa November 13 1953 p 3 Retrieved January 17 2024 via Newspapers com KGTV to Start Telecasts Today The Des Moines Register Des Moines Iowa November 15 1953 p 19 Retrieved January 17 2024 via Newspapers com KGTV Goes On Air Here Wednesday The Des Moines Register Des Moines Iowa November 8 1953 pp 1 L 6 L Retrieved January 17 2024 via Newspapers com Cotton Paul April 4 1954 KGTV the New Station and Its Expansion Plan Des Moines Sunday Register Des Moines Iowa p TV 1 Retrieved January 17 2024 via Newspapers com KGTV Asks To Telecast Basketball Des Moines Tribune Des Moines Iowa November 2 1954 p 16 Retrieved January 17 2024 via Newspapers com Basketball On TV Is Approved The Des Moines Register Des Moines Iowa November 3 1954 p 5 Retrieved January 17 2024 via Newspapers com KGTV Seeks to Change Channel The Des Moines Register Des Moines Iowa United Press November 4 1954 p 25 Retrieved January 17 2024 via Newspapers com Millen Cliff December 9 1954 KGTV Bid Is Protested Educational Channel In Contention Des Moines Tribune Des Moines Iowa p 1 Retrieved January 17 2024 via Newspapers com Hoschar Allan June 10 1955 Plan to Fight Any Transfer of Channel 11 Seek to Keep It For Educational Use The Des Moines Register Des Moines Iowa pp 1 6 Retrieved January 17 2024 via Newspapers com Barewald Robert June 29 1955 Six Protest FCC Notice on Channel 11 The Des Moines Register Des Moines Iowa p 1 Retrieved January 17 2024 via Newspapers com Mollenhoff Clark July 21 1956 Firm Denied Educational TV Channel The Des Moines Register Des Moines Iowa p 5 Retrieved January 17 2024 via Newspapers com D M Gets Permit for School TV The Des Moines Register Des Moines Iowa December 13 1956 p 1 Retrieved January 17 2024 via Newspapers com KGTV Is Off Live Networks Des Moines Tribune Des Moines Iowa March 9 1955 p 1 Retrieved January 17 2024 via Newspapers com Michener Fred April 12 1955 KGTV Quits Telecasting Here Friday The Des Moines Register Des Moines Iowa p 1 Retrieved January 17 2024 via Newspapers com KGTV Sued For 87 000 Des Moines Tribune Des Moines Iowa July 25 1955 p 17 Retrieved January 17 2024 via Newspapers com KGTV Must Pay 85 000 Des Moines Tribune Des Moines Iowa April 26 1956 p 15 Retrieved January 17 2024 via Newspapers com Offer to Buy KGTV Tower Des Moines Tribune Des Moines Iowa July 29 1959 p 5 Retrieved January 17 2024 via Newspapers com KGTV Purchase Is Completed Des Moines Tribune Des Moines Iowa September 22 1959 p 2 Retrieved January 17 2024 via Newspapers com Raffensperger Gene December 15 1959 Iowa Police Radio Using KGTV Site The Des Moines Register Des Moines Iowa p 3 Retrieved January 17 2024 via Newspapers com Witosky Thomas January 31 1979 Collapse of state tower feared Des Moines Tribune Des Moines Iowa p 8 Retrieved January 17 2024 via Newspapers com Hovelson Jack January 24 1981 Ain t no mountain high enough for this woman The Des Moines Register Des Moines Iowa p 3A Retrieved January 17 2024 via Newspapers com Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title KGTV Iowa amp oldid 1213787870, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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