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Wikipedia

KLKN

January 01, 1970

KLKN (channel 8) is a television station in Lincoln, Nebraska, United States, affiliated with ABC. Owned by Standard Media, the station maintains studios on 10th Street south of downtown Lincoln and broadcasts from a transmitter located near Utica, Nebraska.

KLKN
Channels
BrandingChannel 8 KLKN-TV; Channel 8 News
Programming
Affiliations
Ownership
Owner
History
First air date
December 3, 1964
(59 years ago) (1964-12-03)[a]
Former call signs
  • KHQL-TV (1964–1974)
  • KCNA-TV (1974–1983)
  • KBGT-TV (1983–1987)
  • KCAN-TV (1987–1996)
Former channel number(s)
  • Analog: 8 (VHF, 1964–2009)
  • Digital: 31 (UHF, 2002–2009)
  • ABC (1964–1984 via KHOL-TV/KHGI-TV, 1986–1996 via KCAU-TV)
  • Independent (1984–1986)
Call sign meaning
Lincoln
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID11264
ERP25.9 kW
HAAT437 m (1,434 ft)
Transmitter coordinates40°52′59″N 97°18′20″W / 40.88306°N 97.30556°W / 40.88306; -97.30556
Translator(s)35 (UHF) Lincoln
Links
Public license information
  • Public file
  • LMS
Websitewww.klkntv.com

Channel 8 in central Nebraska was originally allocated to Albion and signed on in December 1964 as KHQL-TV, part of the ABC-affiliated Nebraska Television Network (NTV); the call letters changed to KCNA-TV in 1974. NTV's owners, the Amaturo Group, upgraded the KCNA-TV transmitter facility and split it from the network in 1984 as KBGT-TV "Big 8", the first independent station in the state of Nebraska. This lasted two years before Citadel Communications acquired the station and converted it at the end of 1986 into KCAN, which rebroadcast ABC affiliate KCAU-TV in Sioux City, Iowa.

Beginning in 1991, Citadel campaigned to move KCAN from Albion to Lincoln, where it would give the capital city two commercial television stations for the first time since the 1950s. The move began on April 1, 1996, when KLKN began broadcasting from Lincoln. The station also began producing its own local newscasts covering the Lincoln area. Even though Lincoln, Kearney, and Hastings are defined as one media market, KLKN and NTV generally focus on separate areas, serving Lincoln and the Tri-Cities, respectively. Satellite television providers Dish Network and DirecTV provide both stations across the entire market.[2][3]

History edit

Channel 8 at Albion: The NTV years edit

Main article: Nebraska Television Network

In January 1961, a plan was released proposing the use of five additional very high frequency (VHF) channels for educational use in the state of Nebraska to expand the coverage of KUON-TV in Lincoln to 90 percent of the state population: channel 13 at Alliance, channel 8 at Albion, channel 3 at Bassett, channel 4 at Kearney, and channel 9 at North Platte.[4] KHOL-TV, an ABC affiliate in Kearney, also expressed interest in the allocation at Albion, 90 miles (140 km) northwest of Lincoln, and began to survey the area as part of plans to locate a satellite of its station in Albion.[5] The matter became entangled in several other channel allocation proceedings,[6] but in November 1962, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved most of the educational television plan—except it protected channel 8 as a commercial station and assigned a UHF channel for educational use in Albion.[7]

In the wake of the decision, the Bi-States Company, owner of KHOL-TV, applied for stations in Albion and Superior to repeat the Kearney outlet, which the FCC approved in February 1964.[8] With the call sign KHQL-TV—matching KHOL-TV and its satellite KHPL-TV—the station was constructed and began telecasting on December 3, 1964.[9][10]

In 1974, NTV Enterprises acquired the network;[11] on June 4, concurrent with changes at all of the NTV stations, KHQL-TV became KCNA-TV (for the largest towns in its service area, Columbus, Norfolk, and Albion).[12][13] Joseph Amaturo bought the NTV stations in 1979 in a deal funded by the sale of KQTV in St. Joseph, Missouri.[14]

Big 8 edit

Amaturo Group announced in September 1983 that it would split KCNA-TV from the NTV network to become an independent station, move its transmitter to Genoa in Nance County to increase coverage, and rebrand it as KBGT-TV "Big 8" on November 1.[15] (The name was a nod to the Big Eight Conference, of which the University of Nebraska was a member.[16]) The November 1 date was missed when construction problems caused delays in constructing the Genoa tower before the project shut down for the winter,[17][18] and Big 8 began on June 16, 1984, as the first independent station in Nebraska and with a 24-hour program schedule.[19][20]

Despite offering a typical schedule for an independent of its era, including syndicated programs, movies, sports, and national news coverage,[16] Big 8 failed to catch on. The delayed construction process gave rise to a lawsuit filed by NTV in July 1984 against the contractor, seeking $1.4 million over what were described as substantial financial losses.[21] The station's decision to briefly air unedited films, including nudity and strong language, in May 1986 led to boycotts and the loss of half of its local and national advertisers,[22] and the depressed regional farm economy further weighed on the business.[23] Meanwhile, the Amaturo Group sold all of its other holdings during 1985. Three major-market FM stations were acquired by Keymarket Communications for $60 million, and NTV—but not KBGT-TV—was purchased by Gordon Broadcasting for $10 million.[24] Amaturo later stated that, over the life of Big 8, the venture lost nearly $5 million (equivalent to $11.8 million in 2023 dollars).[23]

 
KBGT-TV logo used as an independent station

KCAN edit

Main article: KCAU-TV

In July 1986, Amaturo filed to sell KBGT-TV to Citadel Communications for $3 million.[25] The sale contract excluded KBGT-TV's syndicated programming and film inventories.[26] The FCC approved the sale in November, earlier than expected, and Citadel announced its plan for the station: to rebroadcast KCAU-TV, its ABC affiliate in Sioux City, Iowa. This restored ABC service to some households in and around Albion that were not covered by KCAU-TV itself, KETV in Omaha, or NTV.[27] It also led to the station being removed from cable systems from Lincoln to Kearney.[28]

In January 1987, the call letters were changed to KCAN.[29] This designation also represented Columbus, Albion and Norfolk, in addition to tying the station more closely to KCAU-TV.[30]

Move to Lincoln edit

Citadel filed in 1991 to move KCAN from Albion to Lincoln, proposing to build a satellite station on channel 18 to serve the Albion area in order to meet an FCC requirement.[31][32] Citadel contended that Lincoln was the most underserved city of its size in the United States and among the most underserved state capitals for television service.[31] This was mostly due to a historical quirk. While Lincoln had been allocated two VHF channels and briefly had two commercial stations, that number became one when KOLN, originally on channel 12, bought the assets and physical plant of KFOR-TV and moved to its channel 10 in 1954; channel 12 was then donated to the University of Nebraska and became KUON-TV.[33] Besides KOLN, Lincoln viewers generally watched the Omaha network affiliates, including ABC affiliate KETV, which was cited as the most direct competition for a relocated KCAN.[34][35][36]

The move was formally protested by KOLN as well as KPTM, the Fox affiliate in Omaha; KOLN's rebuttal cited concerns about signal overlap and loss of service in Albion, while KPTM objected on technical grounds.[37][38] The FCC gave initial approval to the city of license change in 1993,[37] and final approval was awarded in June 1995, after which construction immediately began on a new transmitter site at Utica and work began to secure studio space in downtown Lincoln.[39] Another factor that had delayed approval was that when the FCC assigned UHF channel 18 to Albion in place of channel 8, Fant Broadcasting—owners of NTV at the time—and Citadel both applied for it, with Citadel instead receiving channel 24, which was also added to Albion by the commission. Citadel then protested a proposed sale of NTV to Blackstar Communications in 1995, feeling that Fant Broadcasting had attempted to block its own Lincoln proposal; company president Anthony Fant denied this, noting that his main goal for seeking the Albion channel was to restore the coverage lost a decade prior and "try to put that part of the NTV puzzle back together".[32]

 
A KLKN live news truck parked at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

The search for a studio location continued into November as the company sought an existing site with appropriate satellite visibility to receive programming; new KLKN call letters were given to channel 8, and the Albion replacement facility on channel 24 received the call letters KLKE (as it was located near Elgin).[40] The launch was further delayed when it was discovered that a 10-foot (3.0 m) section, intended to be installed at the 190-foot (58 m) level, was skipped—when the tower had already been built up to 620 feet (190 m).[41][42]

 
KLKN-TV Logo 1996 to 2003

KLKN began broadcasting on March 30, 1996.[43][44] On April 1, cable subscribers in Lincoln began viewing KLKN on the Lincoln Cablevision system, but it was not until May 20 that the transmitter facility was activated.[45] The station expanded news production modestly in the ensuing years. When it began in 1996, it produced 6 and 10 p.m. news programs with a newsroom staff of 16. By 2000, the staff had grown to 21, and KLKN was airing additional early evening, morning, and midday newscasts.[46] While ratings comparisons with KOLN/KGIN were difficult given that the latter station serves a much larger area (which for ABC programs is split between NTV and KLKN), within a year, it had achieved 10 percent of the news audience in Lincoln, comparable to the Omaha stations and increasing the share of Lincoln TV viewers watching local news programs originating in Lincoln.[47]

KLKN's digital signal signed on August 31, 2002, operating on UHF channel 31 until the end of the station's analog broadcasts on June 12, 2009.[48] It was the first digital television station in Nebraska.[49] However, KLKE was shuttered by Citadel on March 2, 2003, with the company citing the high costs of digital television conversion for the Albion facility.[50] After the digital transition, KLKN opted to continue broadcasting on channel 8.[51]

Standard Media ownership edit

After Citadel attempted to sell its television properties in 2000,[52] and after the 2014 sale of three of the five major Citadel properties to Nexstar Broadcasting Group,[53] Citadel sold its last two ABC affiliates—KLKN and WLNE-TV, serving Providence, Rhode Island—to Standard Media for $83 million. Its leader, former Young Broadcasting and Media General executive Deb McDermott, had begun her career in Lincoln at KOLN.[54][55][56] The sale was completed on September 5.[57]

In February 2022, Standard Media's owner, Standard General, announced that KLKN would be sold to Cox Media Group as part of a transaction that would allow Standard General to purchase broadcast group Tegna.[58] The deal never received FCC approval and was terminated on May 22, 2023.[59]

Technical information edit

Subchannels edit

The station's signal is multiplexed:

Subchannels of KLKN[60]
Channel Res. Aspect Short name Programming
8.1 1080i 16:9 KLKN-TV Main KLKN programming / ABC
8.2 480i GRIT Grit
8.3 Mystery Ion Mystery
8.4 Laff Laff
8.5 Defy Defy TV
8.6 Bounce Bounce

Notes edit

  1. ^ Channel 8 signed on as KHQL-TV, a satellite of KHOL-TV, from Albion in 1964. It broadcast independently as KBGT-TV from June 1984 to November 1986, became a satellite of KCAU-TV in November 1986, and moved to Lincoln as KLKN on April 1, 1996.

References edit

  1. ^ "Facility Technical Data for KLKN". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ^ Korbelik, Jeff (June 14, 2004). "KFOR hires on-air personality Greg Jackson away from KLIN". Lincoln Journal Star. p. 5D. from the original on January 10, 2023. Retrieved December 26, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "KLKN-TV missing from DirecTV lineup". Lincoln Journal Star. October 19, 2013. p. A4. from the original on December 26, 2022. Retrieved December 26, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "TV for Education: Nebraskans Want Five TV Channels Reserved". Lincoln Evening Journal and Nebraska State Journal. Lincoln, Nebraska. January 9, 1961. p. 16. from the original on December 25, 2022. Retrieved December 25, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "KHOL-TV may locate studio, broadcasting unit in Albion". Albion News. Albion, Nebraska. February 23, 1961. p. 1. from the original on December 25, 2022. Retrieved December 25, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "FCC is still considering Albion channel 8 allocation". Albion News. Albion, Nebraska. June 15, 1961. p. 1. from the original on December 25, 2022. Retrieved December 25, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "ETV in State Given Boost: 4 New Stations Are Okayed by FCC". Evening World-Herald. Omaha, Nebraska. November 9, 1962. p. 2. from the original on December 25, 2022. Retrieved December 25, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Two satellites for Bi-States". Holdrege Daily Citizen. Holdrege, Nebraska. UPI. February 12, 1964. p. 1. from the original on December 25, 2022. Retrieved December 25, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "UHF Coaxial Cable Arrived Here Wedn. Waiting For Material". The Frontier and Holt County Independent. O'Neill, Nebraska. December 10, 1964. p. 1. from the original on December 25, 2022. Retrieved December 25, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "New TV station" (PDF). Broadcasting. December 14, 1964. p. 45. ProQuest 1014482348. (PDF) from the original on June 6, 2020. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
  11. ^ "Changing hands" (PDF). Broadcasting. February 25, 1974. p. 34. ProQuest 1014680934. (PDF) from the original on December 1, 2020. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
  12. ^ "For the Record" (PDF). Broadcasting. June 24, 1974. p. 70. ProQuest 1014674160. Retrieved January 2, 2012.
  13. ^ "New owners change call letters on NTV stations". The Columbus Telegram. Columbus, Nebraska. June 5, 1974. p. 11. from the original on December 25, 2022. Retrieved December 25, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Changing Hands" (PDF). Broadcasting. June 11, 1979. p. 39. ProQuest 1014693207. (PDF) from the original on October 28, 2020. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
  15. ^ Swinton, Val (September 13, 1983). "Independent station intends to compete with KOLN/KGIN". Lincoln Journal. Lincoln, Nebraska. p. 7. from the original on December 25, 2022. Retrieved December 25, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ a b Klocksin, Molly (June 3, 1984). "'Big 8' TV station ready to air". Grand Island Daily Independent. p. 2-B. from the original on December 26, 2022. Retrieved December 26, 2022.
  17. ^ "Weather delays building TV tower". Lincoln Journal. Lincoln, Nebraska. December 15, 1983. p. 23. from the original on December 25, 2022. Retrieved December 25, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ "Big 8 TV should debut June 1, manager says". The Lincoln Star. Lincoln, Nebraska. May 19, 1984. p. 6. from the original on December 25, 2022. Retrieved December 25, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ "Big 8-TV plans debut in Nebraska on June 1". Lincoln Journal Star. Lincoln, Nebraska. May 24, 1984. p. 14. from the original on December 25, 2022. Retrieved December 25, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ "KBGT-TV debut set for Saturday". The Lincoln Star. June 15, 1984. p. 5. from the original on December 25, 2022. Retrieved December 25, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ "NTV suing construction firm". Lincoln Journal. July 1, 1984. p. 3C. from the original on December 26, 2022. Retrieved December 25, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ^ Miller, Martha (May 8, 1986). "Big-8 surrenders, goes back to edited films". The Lincoln Star. p. 17. Retrieved April 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ^ a b "Memorandum Opinion and Order". Federal Communications Commission. November 13, 1986. from the original on August 9, 2014. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
  24. ^ "Changing Hands 1985" (PDF). Broadcasting. January 27, 1986. p. 98. (PDF) from the original on December 27, 2022. Retrieved December 26, 2022.
  25. ^ "Changing Hands" (PDF). Broadcasting. July 28, 1986. p. 89. ProQuest 1014734101. (PDF) from the original on January 18, 2021. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
  26. ^ "Syndicators meet on payment problems" (PDF). Broadcasting. October 13, 1986. pp. 40–41. ProQuest 1016897925. (PDF) from the original on December 6, 2022. Retrieved December 26, 2022.
  27. ^ "Sioux City signal retransmission planned: Big 8 TV will become ABC 'satellite' station". Lincoln Journal. November 14, 1986. p. 16. from the original on May 28, 2022. Retrieved December 26, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  28. ^ Chatelain, Steve (December 3, 1986). "Duplication puts KBGT off cable: New owners' changes put station in conflict with locals". Kearney Hub. p. 2A. from the original on December 26, 2022. Retrieved December 26, 2022.
  29. ^ "Call Letters" (PDF). Broadcasting. January 19, 1987. p. 282. ProQuest 1016912900. (PDF) from the original on December 1, 2020. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
  30. ^ "KBGT-TV owners change station's call letters". The Columbus Telegram. January 12, 1987. p. 5. from the original on January 10, 2023. Retrieved December 26, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  31. ^ a b Bogues, Maureen (December 11, 1991). "Lincoln could get second TV station if FCC OKs move of Albion's KCAN". The Lincoln Star. Lincoln, Nebraska. p. 1, 4. from the original on December 26, 2022. Retrieved December 26, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  32. ^ a b Ricketts Hansen, Renee (October 8, 1995). "NTV sale meets resistance: FCC to review complaint". The Grand Island Independent. pp. 1-D, 2-D. from the original on December 26, 2022. Retrieved December 26, 2022.
  33. ^ "NU's TV Station Is Now on Air". Lincoln Evening Journal and Nebraska State Journal. November 1, 1954. p. 4. from the original on December 26, 2022. Retrieved December 26, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  34. ^ Johnson, Tom (February 20, 1995). "Lincoln could get new set of eyes on news by year's end". Lincoln Journal. p. 5. from the original on January 10, 2023. Retrieved December 26, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  35. ^ Johnson, Tom (April 10, 1995). "Rumors about broadcast affiliate in Lincoln unfounded". Lincoln Journal. p. 11. from the original on January 10, 2023. Retrieved December 26, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  36. ^ Moser, Daniel R. (March 22, 1996). "The new kid on the block, KLKN ready to air". Lincoln Journal Star. p. 1B, 3B. from the original on December 26, 2022. Retrieved December 26, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  37. ^ a b "Second commercial TV station may be coming to Capital City". The Lincoln Star. Lincoln, Nebraska. Associated Press. October 9, 1993. p. 1. from the original on December 26, 2022. Retrieved December 26, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  38. ^ Bahr, Jeff (October 16, 1993). "KCAN Move Draws Protests". Omaha World-Herald. p. 61. from the original on April 20, 2023. Retrieved April 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  39. ^ Moser, Daniel R. (June 30, 1995). "ABC satellite television station allowed to relocate in Lincoln". The Lincoln Star. Lincoln, Nebraska. p. 1. from the original on December 26, 2022. Retrieved December 26, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  40. ^ Johnson, Tom (November 6, 1995). "It's beginning to look a lot like remodeling in the media business". Lincoln Journal Star. Lincoln, Nebraska. p. 3B. from the original on December 26, 2022. Retrieved December 26, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  41. ^ Peirce, Larry; Cradick, Joanie (February 28, 1996). "KLKN says tower error won't delay sign-on goal". Lincoln Journal Star. Lincoln, Nebraska. p. 6B. from the original on December 26, 2022. Retrieved December 26, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  42. ^ "Tower delay pushes back KLKN start-up". Lincoln Journal Star. Lincoln, Nebraska. March 12, 1996. p. 1C. from the original on December 26, 2022. Retrieved December 26, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  43. ^ Micek, Andrew (April 5, 1996). "KCAN station moved to Lincoln". The Columbus Telegram. p. 3. from the original on December 26, 2022. Retrieved December 26, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  44. ^ Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 1999 (PDF). 1999. p. B-48. (PDF) from the original on August 30, 2020. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
  45. ^ "KLKN now fully broadcasting here". Lincoln Journal Star. Lincoln, Nebraska. May 24, 1996. p. 3D. from the original on December 26, 2022. Retrieved December 26, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  46. ^ Korbelik, Jeff (September 18, 2000). "KLKN-TV ups news presence with midday program". Lincoln Journal Star. p. 5D. from the original on January 10, 2023. Retrieved December 26, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  47. ^ Johnson, Tom (March 31, 1997). "Local Nielsen ratings look encouraging". Lincoln Journal Star. p. 5D. from the original on December 26, 2022. Retrieved December 26, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  48. ^ Korbelik, Jeff (June 11, 2009). "Finally, let's get digital on Friday". Lincoln Journal Star. p. D1. from the original on December 26, 2022. Retrieved December 26, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  49. ^ "KLKN Pioneers Digital TV in Nebraska". KLKNTV.com. from the original on May 24, 2012. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
  50. ^ Swanson, Jeff (February 24, 2003). "Channel 24 Will Cease Broadcasting". KLKN. from the original on April 19, 2023. Retrieved April 19, 2023. Roger Moody, vice-president and general manager, cited the prohibitive costs of continued operation of KLKE-TV and the significant investment necessary, which would have been required, to upgrade it to a digital facility as the reasons for the decision.
  51. ^ (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on August 29, 2013. Retrieved March 24, 2012.
  52. ^ Dreeszen, Dave (January 26, 2000). "Sioux City's KCAU-TV, three other Citadel stations put up for sale". Sioux City Journal. Sioux City, Iowa. p. A1. from the original on December 26, 2022. Retrieved December 26, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  53. ^ Malone, Michael (September 16, 2013). "Nexstar to Acquire Citadel's Iowa Stations for $88 Million". Broadcasting & Cable. from the original on September 21, 2013. Retrieved September 16, 2013.
  54. ^ Lafayette, Lon (May 16, 2019). "Standard Media Buying Two Citadel Stations for $83M". Broadcasting & Cable. from the original on April 20, 2023. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  55. ^ Jessell, Harry A. (May 16, 2019). "McDermott In The Station Game With WLNE, KLKN". TVNewsCheck. NewsCheckMedia. from the original on May 16, 2019. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  56. ^ "KOLN finalist in Iris Awards". Sunday Journal and Star. Lincoln, Nebraska. April 10, 1983. p. 6TV. from the original on April 20, 2023. Retrieved April 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  57. ^ "Consummation Notice". Consolidated Database System. Federal Communications Commission. from the original on January 10, 2023. Retrieved September 6, 2019.
  58. ^ Ellis, Jon (February 22, 2022). "Standard General to Buy KARE, WOI-TV, WQAD; KLKN Goes to Cox". NorthPine.com. from the original on August 28, 2022. Retrieved August 27, 2022.
  59. ^ Shields, Todd; Shah, Jill R. (May 22, 2023). "Standard General's Tegna Takeover Dies After Money Goes". Yahoo Finance. Bloomberg. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
  60. ^ "RabbitEars TV Query for KLKN". RabbitEars. from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved February 6, 2014.

External links edit

  • Official website

January 01, 1970
klkn, channel, television, station, lincoln, nebraska, united, states, affiliated, with, owned, standard, media, station, maintains, studios, 10th, street, south, downtown, lincoln, broadcasts, from, transmitter, located, near, utica, nebraska, lincoln, nebras. KLKN channel 8 is a television station in Lincoln Nebraska United States affiliated with ABC Owned by Standard Media the station maintains studios on 10th Street south of downtown Lincoln and broadcasts from a transmitter located near Utica Nebraska KLKNLincoln NebraskaUnited StatesChannelsDigital 8 VHF Virtual 8BrandingChannel 8 KLKN TV Channel 8 NewsProgrammingAffiliations8 1 ABCfor others see SubchannelsOwnershipOwnerStandard Media KLKN Lincoln License LLC HistoryFirst air dateDecember 3 1964 59 years ago 1964 12 03 a Former call signsKHQL TV 1964 1974 KCNA TV 1974 1983 KBGT TV 1983 1987 KCAN TV 1987 1996 Former channel number s Analog 8 VHF 1964 2009 Digital 31 UHF 2002 2009 Former affiliationsABC 1964 1984 via KHOL TV KHGI TV 1986 1996 via KCAU TV Independent 1984 1986 Call sign meaningLincolnTechnical information 1 Licensing authorityFCCFacility ID11264ERP25 9 kWHAAT437 m 1 434 ft Transmitter coordinates40 52 59 N 97 18 20 W 40 88306 N 97 30556 W 40 88306 97 30556Translator s 35 UHF LincolnLinksPublic license informationPublic fileLMSWebsitewww wbr klkntv wbr com Channel 8 in central Nebraska was originally allocated to Albion and signed on in December 1964 as KHQL TV part of the ABC affiliated Nebraska Television Network NTV the call letters changed to KCNA TV in 1974 NTV s owners the Amaturo Group upgraded the KCNA TV transmitter facility and split it from the network in 1984 as KBGT TV Big 8 the first independent station in the state of Nebraska This lasted two years before Citadel Communications acquired the station and converted it at the end of 1986 into KCAN which rebroadcast ABC affiliate KCAU TV in Sioux City Iowa Beginning in 1991 Citadel campaigned to move KCAN from Albion to Lincoln where it would give the capital city two commercial television stations for the first time since the 1950s The move began on April 1 1996 when KLKN began broadcasting from Lincoln The station also began producing its own local newscasts covering the Lincoln area Even though Lincoln Kearney and Hastings are defined as one media market KLKN and NTV generally focus on separate areas serving Lincoln and the Tri Cities respectively Satellite television providers Dish Network and DirecTV provide both stations across the entire market 2 3 Contents 1 History 1 1 Channel 8 at Albion The NTV years 1 2 Big 8 1 3 KCAN 1 4 Move to Lincoln 1 5 Standard Media ownership 2 Technical information 2 1 Subchannels 3 Notes 4 References 5 External linksHistory editChannel 8 at Albion The NTV years edit Main article Nebraska Television Network In January 1961 a plan was released proposing the use of five additional very high frequency VHF channels for educational use in the state of Nebraska to expand the coverage of KUON TV in Lincoln to 90 percent of the state population channel 13 at Alliance channel 8 at Albion channel 3 at Bassett channel 4 at Kearney and channel 9 at North Platte 4 KHOL TV an ABC affiliate in Kearney also expressed interest in the allocation at Albion 90 miles 140 km northwest of Lincoln and began to survey the area as part of plans to locate a satellite of its station in Albion 5 The matter became entangled in several other channel allocation proceedings 6 but in November 1962 the Federal Communications Commission FCC approved most of the educational television plan except it protected channel 8 as a commercial station and assigned a UHF channel for educational use in Albion 7 In the wake of the decision the Bi States Company owner of KHOL TV applied for stations in Albion and Superior to repeat the Kearney outlet which the FCC approved in February 1964 8 With the call sign KHQL TV matching KHOL TV and its satellite KHPL TV the station was constructed and began telecasting on December 3 1964 9 10 In 1974 NTV Enterprises acquired the network 11 on June 4 concurrent with changes at all of the NTV stations KHQL TV became KCNA TV for the largest towns in its service area Columbus Norfolk and Albion 12 13 Joseph Amaturo bought the NTV stations in 1979 in a deal funded by the sale of KQTV in St Joseph Missouri 14 Big 8 edit Amaturo Group announced in September 1983 that it would split KCNA TV from the NTV network to become an independent station move its transmitter to Genoa in Nance County to increase coverage and rebrand it as KBGT TV Big 8 on November 1 15 The name was a nod to the Big Eight Conference of which the University of Nebraska was a member 16 The November 1 date was missed when construction problems caused delays in constructing the Genoa tower before the project shut down for the winter 17 18 and Big 8 began on June 16 1984 as the first independent station in Nebraska and with a 24 hour program schedule 19 20 Despite offering a typical schedule for an independent of its era including syndicated programs movies sports and national news coverage 16 Big 8 failed to catch on The delayed construction process gave rise to a lawsuit filed by NTV in July 1984 against the contractor seeking 1 4 million over what were described as substantial financial losses 21 The station s decision to briefly air unedited films including nudity and strong language in May 1986 led to boycotts and the loss of half of its local and national advertisers 22 and the depressed regional farm economy further weighed on the business 23 Meanwhile the Amaturo Group sold all of its other holdings during 1985 Three major market FM stations were acquired by Keymarket Communications for 60 million and NTV but not KBGT TV was purchased by Gordon Broadcasting for 10 million 24 Amaturo later stated that over the life of Big 8 the venture lost nearly 5 million equivalent to 11 8 million in 2023 dollars 23 nbsp KBGT TV logo used as an independent station KCAN edit Main article KCAU TV In July 1986 Amaturo filed to sell KBGT TV to Citadel Communications for 3 million 25 The sale contract excluded KBGT TV s syndicated programming and film inventories 26 The FCC approved the sale in November earlier than expected and Citadel announced its plan for the station to rebroadcast KCAU TV its ABC affiliate in Sioux City Iowa This restored ABC service to some households in and around Albion that were not covered by KCAU TV itself KETV in Omaha or NTV 27 It also led to the station being removed from cable systems from Lincoln to Kearney 28 In January 1987 the call letters were changed to KCAN 29 This designation also represented Columbus Albion and Norfolk in addition to tying the station more closely to KCAU TV 30 Move to Lincoln edit Citadel filed in 1991 to move KCAN from Albion to Lincoln proposing to build a satellite station on channel 18 to serve the Albion area in order to meet an FCC requirement 31 32 Citadel contended that Lincoln was the most underserved city of its size in the United States and among the most underserved state capitals for television service 31 This was mostly due to a historical quirk While Lincoln had been allocated two VHF channels and briefly had two commercial stations that number became one when KOLN originally on channel 12 bought the assets and physical plant of KFOR TV and moved to its channel 10 in 1954 channel 12 was then donated to the University of Nebraska and became KUON TV 33 Besides KOLN Lincoln viewers generally watched the Omaha network affiliates including ABC affiliate KETV which was cited as the most direct competition for a relocated KCAN 34 35 36 The move was formally protested by KOLN as well as KPTM the Fox affiliate in Omaha KOLN s rebuttal cited concerns about signal overlap and loss of service in Albion while KPTM objected on technical grounds 37 38 The FCC gave initial approval to the city of license change in 1993 37 and final approval was awarded in June 1995 after which construction immediately began on a new transmitter site at Utica and work began to secure studio space in downtown Lincoln 39 Another factor that had delayed approval was that when the FCC assigned UHF channel 18 to Albion in place of channel 8 Fant Broadcasting owners of NTV at the time and Citadel both applied for it with Citadel instead receiving channel 24 which was also added to Albion by the commission Citadel then protested a proposed sale of NTV to Blackstar Communications in 1995 feeling that Fant Broadcasting had attempted to block its own Lincoln proposal company president Anthony Fant denied this noting that his main goal for seeking the Albion channel was to restore the coverage lost a decade prior and try to put that part of the NTV puzzle back together 32 nbsp A KLKN live news truck parked at the University of Nebraska Lincoln The search for a studio location continued into November as the company sought an existing site with appropriate satellite visibility to receive programming new KLKN call letters were given to channel 8 and the Albion replacement facility on channel 24 received the call letters KLKE as it was located near Elgin 40 The launch was further delayed when it was discovered that a 10 foot 3 0 m section intended to be installed at the 190 foot 58 m level was skipped when the tower had already been built up to 620 feet 190 m 41 42 nbsp KLKN TV Logo 1996 to 2003 KLKN began broadcasting on March 30 1996 43 44 On April 1 cable subscribers in Lincoln began viewing KLKN on the Lincoln Cablevision system but it was not until May 20 that the transmitter facility was activated 45 The station expanded news production modestly in the ensuing years When it began in 1996 it produced 6 and 10 p m news programs with a newsroom staff of 16 By 2000 the staff had grown to 21 and KLKN was airing additional early evening morning and midday newscasts 46 While ratings comparisons with KOLN KGIN were difficult given that the latter station serves a much larger area which for ABC programs is split between NTV and KLKN within a year it had achieved 10 percent of the news audience in Lincoln comparable to the Omaha stations and increasing the share of Lincoln TV viewers watching local news programs originating in Lincoln 47 KLKN s digital signal signed on August 31 2002 operating on UHF channel 31 until the end of the station s analog broadcasts on June 12 2009 48 It was the first digital television station in Nebraska 49 However KLKE was shuttered by Citadel on March 2 2003 with the company citing the high costs of digital television conversion for the Albion facility 50 After the digital transition KLKN opted to continue broadcasting on channel 8 51 Standard Media ownership edit After Citadel attempted to sell its television properties in 2000 52 and after the 2014 sale of three of the five major Citadel properties to Nexstar Broadcasting Group 53 Citadel sold its last two ABC affiliates KLKN and WLNE TV serving Providence Rhode Island to Standard Media for 83 million Its leader former Young Broadcasting and Media General executive Deb McDermott had begun her career in Lincoln at KOLN 54 55 56 The sale was completed on September 5 57 In February 2022 Standard Media s owner Standard General announced that KLKN would be sold to Cox Media Group as part of a transaction that would allow Standard General to purchase broadcast group Tegna 58 The deal never received FCC approval and was terminated on May 22 2023 59 Technical information editSubchannels edit The station s signal is multiplexed Subchannels of KLKN 60 Channel Res Aspect Short name Programming 8 1 1080i 16 9 KLKN TV Main KLKN programming ABC 8 2 480i GRIT Grit 8 3 Mystery Ion Mystery 8 4 Laff Laff 8 5 Defy Defy TV 8 6 Bounce BounceNotes edit Channel 8 signed on as KHQL TV a satellite of KHOL TV from Albion in 1964 It broadcast independently as KBGT TV from June 1984 to November 1986 became a satellite of KCAU TV in November 1986 and moved to Lincoln as KLKN on April 1 1996 References edit Facility Technical Data for KLKN Licensing and Management System Federal Communications Commission Korbelik Jeff June 14 2004 KFOR hires on air personality Greg Jackson away from KLIN Lincoln Journal Star p 5D Archived from the original on January 10 2023 Retrieved December 26 2022 via Newspapers com KLKN TV missing from DirecTV lineup Lincoln Journal Star October 19 2013 p A4 Archived from the original on December 26 2022 Retrieved December 26 2022 via Newspapers com TV for Education Nebraskans Want Five TV Channels Reserved Lincoln Evening Journal and Nebraska State Journal Lincoln Nebraska January 9 1961 p 16 Archived from the original on December 25 2022 Retrieved December 25 2022 via Newspapers com KHOL TV may locate studio broadcasting unit in Albion Albion News Albion Nebraska February 23 1961 p 1 Archived from the original on December 25 2022 Retrieved December 25 2022 via Newspapers com FCC is still considering Albion channel 8 allocation Albion News Albion Nebraska June 15 1961 p 1 Archived from the original on December 25 2022 Retrieved December 25 2022 via Newspapers com ETV in State Given Boost 4 New Stations Are Okayed by FCC Evening World Herald Omaha Nebraska November 9 1962 p 2 Archived from the original on December 25 2022 Retrieved December 25 2022 via Newspapers com Two satellites for Bi States Holdrege Daily Citizen Holdrege Nebraska UPI February 12 1964 p 1 Archived from the original on December 25 2022 Retrieved December 25 2022 via Newspapers com UHF Coaxial Cable Arrived Here Wedn Waiting For Material The Frontier and Holt County Independent O Neill Nebraska December 10 1964 p 1 Archived from the original on December 25 2022 Retrieved December 25 2022 via Newspapers com New TV station PDF Broadcasting December 14 1964 p 45 ProQuest 1014482348 Archived PDF from the original on June 6 2020 Retrieved November 20 2011 Changing hands PDF Broadcasting February 25 1974 p 34 ProQuest 1014680934 Archived PDF from the original on December 1 2020 Retrieved November 20 2011 For the Record PDF Broadcasting June 24 1974 p 70 ProQuest 1014674160 Retrieved January 2 2012 New owners change call letters on NTV stations The Columbus Telegram Columbus Nebraska June 5 1974 p 11 Archived from the original on December 25 2022 Retrieved December 25 2022 via Newspapers com Changing Hands PDF Broadcasting June 11 1979 p 39 ProQuest 1014693207 Archived PDF from the original on October 28 2020 Retrieved November 20 2011 Swinton Val September 13 1983 Independent station intends to compete with KOLN KGIN Lincoln Journal Lincoln Nebraska p 7 Archived from the original on December 25 2022 Retrieved December 25 2022 via Newspapers com a b Klocksin Molly June 3 1984 Big 8 TV station ready to air Grand Island Daily Independent p 2 B Archived from the original on December 26 2022 Retrieved December 26 2022 Weather delays building TV tower Lincoln Journal Lincoln Nebraska December 15 1983 p 23 Archived from the original on December 25 2022 Retrieved December 25 2022 via Newspapers com Big 8 TV should debut June 1 manager says The Lincoln Star Lincoln Nebraska May 19 1984 p 6 Archived from the original on December 25 2022 Retrieved December 25 2022 via Newspapers com Big 8 TV plans debut in Nebraska on June 1 Lincoln Journal Star Lincoln Nebraska May 24 1984 p 14 Archived from the original on December 25 2022 Retrieved December 25 2022 via Newspapers com KBGT TV debut set for Saturday The Lincoln Star June 15 1984 p 5 Archived from the original on December 25 2022 Retrieved December 25 2022 via Newspapers com NTV suing construction firm Lincoln Journal July 1 1984 p 3C Archived from the original on December 26 2022 Retrieved December 25 2022 via Newspapers com Miller Martha May 8 1986 Big 8 surrenders goes back to edited films The Lincoln Star p 17 Retrieved April 20 2023 via Newspapers com a b Memorandum Opinion and Order Federal Communications Commission November 13 1986 Archived from the original on August 9 2014 Retrieved November 20 2011 Changing Hands 1985 PDF Broadcasting January 27 1986 p 98 Archived PDF from the original on December 27 2022 Retrieved December 26 2022 Changing Hands PDF Broadcasting July 28 1986 p 89 ProQuest 1014734101 Archived PDF from the original on January 18 2021 Retrieved November 20 2011 Syndicators meet on payment problems PDF Broadcasting October 13 1986 pp 40 41 ProQuest 1016897925 Archived PDF from the original on December 6 2022 Retrieved December 26 2022 Sioux City signal retransmission planned Big 8 TV will become ABC satellite station Lincoln Journal November 14 1986 p 16 Archived from the original on May 28 2022 Retrieved December 26 2022 via Newspapers com Chatelain Steve December 3 1986 Duplication puts KBGT off cable New owners changes put station in conflict with locals Kearney Hub p 2A Archived from the original on December 26 2022 Retrieved December 26 2022 Call Letters PDF Broadcasting January 19 1987 p 282 ProQuest 1016912900 Archived PDF from the original on December 1 2020 Retrieved November 20 2011 KBGT TV owners change station s call letters The Columbus Telegram January 12 1987 p 5 Archived from the original on January 10 2023 Retrieved December 26 2022 via Newspapers com a b Bogues Maureen December 11 1991 Lincoln could get second TV station if FCC OKs move of Albion s KCAN The Lincoln Star Lincoln Nebraska p 1 4 Archived from the original on December 26 2022 Retrieved December 26 2022 via Newspapers com a b Ricketts Hansen Renee October 8 1995 NTV sale meets resistance FCC to review complaint The Grand Island Independent pp 1 D 2 D Archived from the original on December 26 2022 Retrieved December 26 2022 NU s TV Station Is Now on Air Lincoln Evening Journal and Nebraska State Journal November 1 1954 p 4 Archived from the original on December 26 2022 Retrieved December 26 2022 via Newspapers com Johnson Tom February 20 1995 Lincoln could get new set of eyes on news by year s end Lincoln Journal p 5 Archived from the original on January 10 2023 Retrieved December 26 2022 via Newspapers com Johnson Tom April 10 1995 Rumors about broadcast affiliate in Lincoln unfounded Lincoln Journal p 11 Archived from the original on January 10 2023 Retrieved December 26 2022 via Newspapers com Moser Daniel R March 22 1996 The new kid on the block KLKN ready to air Lincoln Journal Star p 1B 3B Archived from the original on December 26 2022 Retrieved December 26 2022 via Newspapers com a b Second commercial TV station may be coming to Capital City The Lincoln Star Lincoln Nebraska Associated Press October 9 1993 p 1 Archived from the original on December 26 2022 Retrieved December 26 2022 via Newspapers com Bahr Jeff October 16 1993 KCAN Move Draws Protests Omaha World Herald p 61 Archived from the original on April 20 2023 Retrieved April 20 2023 via Newspapers com Moser Daniel R June 30 1995 ABC satellite television station allowed to relocate in Lincoln The Lincoln Star Lincoln Nebraska p 1 Archived from the original on December 26 2022 Retrieved December 26 2022 via Newspapers com Johnson Tom November 6 1995 It s beginning to look a lot like remodeling in the media business Lincoln Journal Star Lincoln Nebraska p 3B Archived from the original on December 26 2022 Retrieved December 26 2022 via Newspapers com Peirce Larry Cradick Joanie February 28 1996 KLKN says tower error won t delay sign on goal Lincoln Journal Star Lincoln Nebraska p 6B Archived from the original on December 26 2022 Retrieved December 26 2022 via Newspapers com Tower delay pushes back KLKN start up Lincoln Journal Star Lincoln Nebraska March 12 1996 p 1C Archived from the original on December 26 2022 Retrieved December 26 2022 via Newspapers com Micek Andrew April 5 1996 KCAN station moved to Lincoln The Columbus Telegram p 3 Archived from the original on December 26 2022 Retrieved December 26 2022 via Newspapers com Broadcasting amp Cable Yearbook 1999 PDF 1999 p B 48 Archived PDF from the original on August 30 2020 Retrieved November 20 2011 KLKN now fully broadcasting here Lincoln Journal Star Lincoln Nebraska May 24 1996 p 3D Archived from the original on December 26 2022 Retrieved December 26 2022 via Newspapers com Korbelik Jeff September 18 2000 KLKN TV ups news presence with midday program Lincoln Journal Star p 5D Archived from the original on January 10 2023 Retrieved December 26 2022 via Newspapers com Johnson Tom March 31 1997 Local Nielsen ratings look encouraging Lincoln Journal Star p 5D Archived from the original on December 26 2022 Retrieved December 26 2022 via Newspapers com Korbelik Jeff June 11 2009 Finally let s get digital on Friday Lincoln Journal Star p D1 Archived from the original on December 26 2022 Retrieved December 26 2022 via Newspapers com KLKN Pioneers Digital TV in Nebraska KLKNTV com Archived from the original on May 24 2012 Retrieved November 20 2011 Swanson Jeff February 24 2003 Channel 24 Will Cease Broadcasting KLKN Archived from the original on April 19 2023 Retrieved April 19 2023 Roger Moody vice president and general manager cited the prohibitive costs of continued operation of KLKE TV and the significant investment necessary which would have been required to upgrade it to a digital facility as the reasons for the decision 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 Dreeszen Dave January 26 2000 Sioux City s KCAU TV three other Citadel stations put up for sale Sioux City Journal Sioux City Iowa p A1 Archived from the original on December 26 2022 Retrieved December 26 2022 via Newspapers com Malone Michael September 16 2013 Nexstar to Acquire Citadel s Iowa Stations for 88 Million Broadcasting amp Cable Archived from the original on September 21 2013 Retrieved September 16 2013 Lafayette Lon May 16 2019 Standard Media Buying Two Citadel Stations for 83M Broadcasting amp Cable Archived from the original on April 20 2023 Retrieved April 20 2023 Jessell Harry A May 16 2019 McDermott In The Station Game With WLNE KLKN TVNewsCheck NewsCheckMedia Archived from the original on May 16 2019 Retrieved May 16 2019 KOLN finalist in Iris Awards Sunday Journal and Star Lincoln Nebraska April 10 1983 p 6TV Archived from the original on April 20 2023 Retrieved April 20 2023 via Newspapers com Consummation Notice Consolidated Database System Federal Communications Commission Archived from the original on January 10 2023 Retrieved September 6 2019 Ellis Jon February 22 2022 Standard General to Buy KARE WOI TV WQAD KLKN Goes to Cox NorthPine com Archived from the original on August 28 2022 Retrieved August 27 2022 Shields Todd Shah Jill R May 22 2023 Standard General s Tegna Takeover Dies After Money Goes Yahoo Finance Bloomberg Retrieved May 22 2023 RabbitEars TV Query for KLKN RabbitEars Archived from the original on February 22 2014 Retrieved February 6 2014 External links editOfficial website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title KLKN amp oldid 1214613668, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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