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Wikipedia

KMIZ

January 01, 1970

KMIZ (channel 17) is a television station licensed to Columbia, Missouri, United States, serving the Columbia–Jefferson City market as an affiliate of ABC and MyNetworkTV. It is owned by the News-Press & Gazette Company alongside Fox affiliate KQFX-LD (channel 22, also licensed to Columbia); the stations together are branded as the "Networks of Mid-Missouri". The two stations share studios on the East Business Loop 70 in Columbia; KMIZ's transmitter is located west of Jamestown near the Moniteau–Cooper county line.

KMIZ
CityColumbia, Missouri
Channels
Branding
  • ABC 17 KMIZ; ABC 17 News
  • MyZouTV (DT3)
Programming
Affiliations
Ownership
Owner
KQFX-LD
History
First air date
December 5, 1971 (52 years ago) (1971-12-05)
Former call signs
KCBJ-TV (1971–1985)
Former channel number(s)
  • Analog: 17 (UHF, 1971–2009)
  • Digital: 22 (UHF, 2003–2009)
  • ABC (1971–1982)
  • NBC (1982–1985)
Call sign meaning
Mizzou
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID63164
ERP120 kW → 231 kW (CP)
HAAT352 m (1,155 ft)
Transmitter coordinates38°46′32.1″N 92°33′24.9″W / 38.775583°N 92.556917°W / 38.775583; -92.556917
Links
Public license information
  • Public file
  • LMS
Websitewww.abc17news.com

Channel 17 in Columbia began broadcasting as KCBJ-TV on December 5, 1971. It provided a full-time outlet for the ABC network, previously split between the market's two other major commercial stations. KCBJ-TV was built by Richard Koenig, a St. Louis–based engineer. It struggled in its early years with its ultra high frequency (UHF) signal, the first in the market; entrenched and established competition; and lack of financial resources to invest in local programming and technical improvements. In 1979, Koenig agreed to sell the station to the Wooster Republican Printing Company, but the deal turned sour, and the prospective buyers sued for breach of contract. Litigation in that case was still pending when an ascendant ABC switched its affiliation to KOMU-TV (channel 8) in 1982, leaving KCBJ-TV to change to NBC.

Koenig sold KCBJ-TV to Stauffer Communications, which took control in January 1985. With NBC rising in the ratings, it poached KOMU-TV from ABC, leading to a switch of network affiliations again that December. To coincide with the new affiliation and Stauffer's investment in a new image and improved news coverage, the station changed its call sign to KMIZ. Under Benedek Broadcasting ownership, KMIZ purchased two low-power stations to start the area's Fox affiliate, a predecessor of KQFX-LD. News-Press & Gazette Company acquired the stations from JW Broadcasting in 2012.

History edit

KCBJ-TV: Early years edit

 
The Tiger Hotel in downtown Columbia housed KCBJ-TV's studios from 1971 to 1978.

In September 1969, Jeffco Television Corporation, associated with station WJJY-TV in Jacksonville, Illinois, applied to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for permission to build a station on ultra high frequency (UHF) channel 17 in Columbia. At the time, Mid-Missouri had no full-time affiliate of ABC; its programs were divided between NBC affiliate KOMU-TV (channel 8) and CBS affiliate KRCG (channel 13).[2] In November, Channel Seventeen, Inc., headed by Richard Koenig, also applied for the channel.[3] The two applications were designated by the commission for comparative hearing,[4] but Jeffco dropped out due to problems at its station in Illinois,[5] allowing Channel Seventeen to receive the construction permit on August 28, 1970.[3]

KCBJ-TV began broadcasting on December 5, 1971, as a full-time ABC affiliate.[6] It broadcast from a tower at Jamestown, Missouri,[5] 17 miles (27 km) southwest of Columbia.[7] The station's early months were pocked with technical issues; it was the only local station with a studio and transmitter at separate sites, and its feed for ABC network programming was the signal of KMTC-TV in Springfield—which, in turn, picked up the signal off-air from Joplin. If a network program was preempted in either of those cities, KCBJ-TV could not show it;[5][8] occasionally, weather warnings and other material from the Springfield area appeared on channel 17 as well.[9] In its first three and a half years of operation, the station never once made a profit, and as a result was unable to afford a microwave link that would have improved the quality of its network feed. In the ratings, KCBJ-TV struggled against KOMU and KRCG, which had been in the market nearly 20 years when channel 17 signed on and were better-funded stations with stronger local news presences. Koenig became aggressive in his efforts to defend channel 17 from competition. He unsuccessfully argued that KOMU-TV, a commercial station owned by the University of Missouri (MU) and the more successful of Columbia's two local stations, should be forced to become non-commercial and a new private commercial station on the UHF band opened to provide NBC programming. He successfully led the FCC to deny a tower upgrade for KTVO, an ABC affiliate in Kirksville, that threatened to take viewers away from his station in such cities as Moberly, Mexico, and Centralia.[5] He fought the introduction of cable television to Columbia, winning network non-duplication protection so that channel 17 was the only source for ABC network programs on the system—even though the CBS and NBC affiliates did not receive the same perk.[10] As the decade went on, channel 17 became more reliable and obtained the microwave link to improve its ABC signal.[9] In 1978, it acquired its present studio facilities from Columbia College, which had used the site to house its extended studies program; this enabled channel 17 to triple its office space and vacate its site in the Tiger Hotel downtown,[11] where it had utilized a portion of the hotel's parking garage.[12]

Koenig agreed in August 1979 to sell KCBJ-TV to the Wooster Republican Printing Company of Wooster, Ohio, controlled by the Dix family. The acquisition of channel 17 would have marked the return of the Dix family to television after their sale years prior of WTRF-TV in Wheeling, West Virginia.[13][9] Two months later, the Dix family sued, claiming Koenig had breached the sale contract; Koenig replied by declaring that there never was a valid contract.[14] In 1981, the Dix family won the initial lawsuit and a court order forcing Koenig to sell the station to them.[15] Koenig appealed the ruling; federal judge Scott Olin Wright, a former lawyer in Columbia, ordered the station to be transferred to a receiver during the process, but Koenig refused, claiming Wright held a grudge against KCBJ-TV from an earlier legal contact when the station started and that a short-form transfer of control was not appropriate for the process.[16]

As the appeals continued in the breach of contract case, ABC sought to move to the higher-rated KOMU-TV. In the late 1970s, ABC became the number-one network and began seeking upgrades in its affiliate base, primarily at the expense of NBC.[17] It contacted KOMU-TV, the number-one station in Mid-Missouri, in 1979; that was the year NBC hired Fred Silverman, and KOMU instead renewed with NBC in hopes that Silverman could turn around the network's low ratings. This did not materialize, and the station instead agreed to switch in 1982.[18] While it was logical that KCBJ-TV, the local station without a network affiliation, and NBC, the network needing a station, would connect, the ongoing ownership dispute complicated matters because the network received affiliation pitches from the Koenigs and the Dix family.[19] The switch was set for July 12, but Wright issued a temporary restraining order to prevent ABC from moving.[20] KOMU's ABC switch was then set for August 8, though no NBC deal was in place for channel 17 until late July.[21][22] The sale to Wooster Republican Printing Company fell through by February 1983.[23]

Stauffer ownership edit

In October 1984, Stauffer Communications agreed to purchase KCBJ-TV from the Koenig family,[24] assuming control in January 1985.[25] The company's first priority was to revamp the station's neglected and little-watched news operation, described by the Columbia Daily Tribune as "laughable at best" and by station manager Rush Evans as a "cursory programming service". It was a distant third behind KOMU and KRCG in the ratings, only attracting three percent of the audience. The newscasts finally had two cameras instead of one, and the news staff was increased from five employees to thirteen.[26] At the same time, the fortunes of NBC turned; the network was in the lead nationally, and KCBJ was the number-one station in prime time.[26] Citing its disappointment with revenues under ABC, KOMU announced it would return to NBC.[27] It was not alone; other recent converts from NBC to ABC were beginning to return to the network, including stations in Temple, Texas, and Savannah, Georgia.[28]

Stauffer affiliated channel 17 with ABC and used the opportunity to change the station's call letters, which it had already been considering. It discovered that KMIZ was assigned to an inactive U.S. Coast Guard vessel and had the call sign released for use.[29] The switch and new name took effect on December 30, 1985; at a party for employees, Evans blew up a large plaster and Styrofoam block bearing the KCBJ-TV call letters after the playing of "Taps".[30] The improved newscast increased ratings from a three percent share to 12 percent in 1986.[31]

 
The studio building of KMIZ in Columbia, Missouri, off East Business Loop 70. The station shares a studio with Fox affiliate KQFX-LD.

In 1995, Stauffer sold its holdings to Morris Communications. Morris kept the company's newspapers and spun off most of the television stations to Benedek Broadcasting of Rockford, Illinois, for $60 million (equivalent to $120 million in 2023[32]).[33] After being sold to Benedek, the station expanded its offerings. In April 1997, it acquired two low-power TV stations, K11TB in Jefferson City and K02NQ in Columbia.[34] In September in Columbia and on cable and in October in Jefferson City, it launched them as the first over-the-air Fox affiliate for the market; in 1996, KMIZ had carried Fox's coverage of the NFL and the World Series.[35][36] The next year, Benedek agreed to sell advertising for the local WB 100+ cable channel.[37] The partnership for the cable channel, "KJWB", transferred to KOMU-TV in January 2002.[38]

Chelsey and JW Broadcasting ownership edit

Financial problems developed at Benedek in the new millennium. The early 2000s recession reduced ad sales and caused the company to miss interest payments on a set of bonds issued in 1996, prompting a filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.[39] Benedek's financial issues hurt investment in KMIZ and led to staff cuts and the station canceling its 5 p.m. newscast in 2001.[40]

While most of Benedek's stations were sold out of bankruptcy to Gray Television, some—including KMIZ—went to Chelsey Broadcasting, an affiliate of the Chelsey Capital hedge fund which was a major investor in Benedek.[41] Chelsey owned KMIZ for a year before selling it to JosephWood (JW) Broadcasting, a partnership formed by David J. Joseph and James Wood.[42] JosephWood sought to turn around the station, which had been among Benedek's worst ratings performers, by investing in staff and capital improvements.[43] Among the upgrades was the 2004 switch of Fox from its existing low-power transmitters to channel 38 from a tower near Ashland, Missouri, which doubled Fox's reach;[44] the addition of a 9 p.m. local newscast on the Fox channel;[45] and the launch of two new services, UPN-affiliated "KZOU" and the Show Me Weather Channel, available on cable and from KMIZ's new digital transmitter.[46] The station improved its ratings in morning and late news but remained very far behind KRCG and KOMU in the early evening newscast race.[47] "KZOU" affiliated with MyNetworkTV when UPN merged with The WB to form The CW in 2006.[48]

In JW Broadcasting's final years, the station expanded its local news department. In 2011, it converted its newscasts to high-definition production, introduced the market's first local newscast at 6:30 p.m., and opened a newsroom in Jefferson City.[49]

News-Press & Gazette Company ownership edit

On July 26, 2012, JW Broadcasting announced the sale of KMIZ and KQFX-LD to the News-Press & Gazette Company (NPG) for $16 million (equivalent to $21 million in 2023[32]). The sale marked NPG's entry into a second Missouri TV market after starting a low-power station, KNPN-LD, in its home city of St. Joseph.[50] At the time, NPG CEO David Bradley served as chairman of the board of curators that runs the University of Missouri; facing concern that the deal might thus put Bradley in control of two local stations in contravention of FCC ownership limits, NPG argued that Bradley had no personal involvement in KOMU-TV's operations.[51] The sale was consummated on November 1.[52]

NPG has expanded the news department several times. In 2013, KMIZ debuted weekday newscasts at 9 a.m. and noon.[53] The station debuted weekend morning newscasts for KMIZ and KQFX in 2016;[54] by 2023, the station produced 30+1⁄2 hours a week of local news programming on its main channel.[55]

Notable former on-air staff edit

Technical information edit

Subchannels edit

The station's signal is multiplexed:

Subchannels of KMIZ[57]
Channel Res. Aspect Short name Programming
17.1 720p 16:9 KMIZ-DT ABC
17.2 480i MeTV MeTV
17.3 KZOU-TV KMIZ-DT3 / MyNetworkTV
17.4 720p KQFX Fox (KQFX-LD)
17.5 480i Bounce Bounce TV
  Simulcast of subchannels of another station

When JW Broadcasting began broadcasting KMIZ's digital signal, the station multiplexed KMIZ as well as "Fox 38", KZOU, and the Show Me Weather channel.[46] In 2012, the weather channel, since rebranded StormTrack 24/7, was replaced by MeTV, with station management citing the increasing availability of weather information on smartphones and other devices.[58]

Analog-to-digital conversion edit

KMIZ shut down its analog signal over UHF channel 17, 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 22 to channel 17 for post-transition operations.[59] Days after, KQFX was converted to digital and switched from channel 38 to channel 22.[60]

References edit

  1. ^ "Facility Technical Data for KMIZ". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ^ Putney, Mike (September 16, 1969). "Ask FCC approval to build TV station". Columbia Daily Tribune. Columbia, Missouri. p. 1. from the original on December 20, 2023. Retrieved December 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ a b "FCC History Cards for KMIZ". Federal Communications Commission.
  4. ^ "UHF applications are still pending". Columbia Daily Tribune. Columbia, Missouri. March 15, 1970. p. 12. from the original on December 20, 2023. Retrieved December 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ a b c d Felts, Cynthia (July 20, 1975). "Sea of red ink marks Koenig's TV venture". Columbia Daily Tribune. Columbia, Missouri. p. 3. from the original on December 20, 2023. Retrieved December 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Columbia gets full network TV". Columbia Daily Tribune. Columbia, Missouri. December 6, 1971. p. 1. from the original on December 20, 2023. Retrieved December 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Weather delays new TV tower". Columbia Daily Tribune. Columbia, Missouri. November 28, 1971. p. 12. from the original on December 20, 2023. Retrieved December 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ Burks, Norma (December 24, 1971). "Starting-out problems 'bug' new TV station". Columbia Daily Tribune. Columbia, Missouri. p. Entertainment 1. from the original on December 20, 2023. Retrieved December 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ a b c Germond, Al (August 19, 1979). "Airwaves". Columbia Daily Tribune. Columbia, Missouri. p. Scene 5. from the original on December 20, 2023. Retrieved December 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ Germond, Al (June 30, 1977). "KCBJ given CATV concessions". Columbia Daily Tribune. Columbia, Missouri. p. 12. from the original on December 20, 2023. Retrieved December 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ McConnell, Randy; Germond, Al (October 24, 1978). "KCBJ-TV to move into former college building". Columbia Daily Tribune. Columbia, Missouri. p. 6. Retrieved December 22, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ Germond, Al (October 15, 1978). "Airwaves". Columbia Daily Tribune. Columbia, Missouri. p. Scene 6. Retrieved December 22, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ Fuson, Ken (August 8, 1979). "KCBJ sold to Ohio media chain pending FCC approval". Columbia Daily Tribune. Columbia, Missouri. p. 1. from the original on December 20, 2023. Retrieved December 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Suit claims KCBJ-TV owners breached contract to sell station". Columbia Daily Tribune. Columbia, Missouri. October 11, 1979. p. 8. from the original on December 20, 2023. Retrieved December 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "Court orders KCBJ sold in breach of contract suit". Columbia Daily Tribune. Columbia, Missouri. June 5, 1981. p. 12. from the original on December 20, 2023. Retrieved December 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ Rose, Forrest (May 5, 1982). "Federal judge puts KCBJ in hands of third party". Columbia Daily Tribune. Columbia, Missouri. p. 10. from the original on December 20, 2023. Retrieved December 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ Rose, Forrest (March 31, 1982). "ABC wooing KOMU away from NBC". Columbia Daily Tribune. Columbia, Missouri. p. 1. from the original on December 20, 2023. Retrieved December 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ "ABC Sniffs Out NBC Affiliate KOMU Missouri". Variety. April 7, 1982. p. 62. ProQuest 1438351193.
  19. ^ Butcher, Lola (June 30, 1982). "As the channels turn: affiliate drama ensnares NBC". Columbia Daily Tribune. Columbia, Missouri. p. 12. from the original on December 20, 2023. Retrieved December 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ Reilly, Mike (July 6, 1982). "Judge halts KOMU's ABC switch". Columbia Daily Tribune. Columbia, Missouri. p. 12. from the original on December 20, 2023. Retrieved December 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ "TV swap delayed". Columbia Daily Tribune. Columbia, Missouri. July 14, 1982. p. 1. from the original on December 20, 2023. Retrieved December 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ^ "KCBJ-TV will become local NBC affiliate". Columbia Daily Tribune. Columbia, Missouri. July 27, 1982. p. 6. from the original on December 20, 2023. Retrieved December 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ^ "Action Line". Columbia Daily Tribune. Columbia, Missouri. February 23, 1983. p. 2. from the original on December 20, 2023. Retrieved December 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. ^ Anderson, Scott (October 16, 1984). "KCBJ-TV sold to Kansas firm". Columbia Daily Tribune. Columbia, Missouri. p. 6. from the original on December 20, 2023. Retrieved December 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. ^ "Business In Brief". Columbia Daily Tribune. Columbia, Missouri. January 18, 1985. p. 5. from the original on December 20, 2023. Retrieved December 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  26. ^ a b Whiskeyman, Dolores (October 10, 1985). "New View: KCBJ expands, readies to run for the money with better broadcast". Columbia Daily Tribune. Columbia, Missouri. p. 22. from the original on December 20, 2023. Retrieved December 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  27. ^ Hirsch, Mark (October 2, 1985). "KOMU to rejoin NBC; 'bottom line' cited". Columbia Daily Tribune. Columbia, Missouri. p. 8. from the original on December 20, 2023. Retrieved December 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  28. ^ "Rejoining NBC-TV Fold". Variety. October 16, 1985. p. 429. ProQuest 1438415729.
  29. ^ Brown, Nate (December 4, 1985). "KOMU and KCBJ prepare for network switch". Columbia Daily Tribune. Columbia, Missouri. p. 12. from the original on December 20, 2023. Retrieved December 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  30. ^ "TV networks' switch has explosive start". Columbia Daily Tribune. Columbia, Missouri. December 30, 1985. p. 10. from the original on December 20, 2023. Retrieved December 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  31. ^ Brown, Nate (September 4, 1986). "Rivals for Ratings". Columbia Daily Tribune. Columbia, Missouri. pp. Scene 10, 11. from the original on December 20, 2023. Retrieved December 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  32. ^ a b 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  33. ^ "KGWC-TV sold to Illinois company". Casper Star-Tribune. December 6, 1995. p. C1. from the original on June 22, 2020. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
  34. ^ "Notice". Columbia Daily Tribune. Columbia, Missouri. April 16, 1997. p. 5B. Retrieved December 22, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  35. ^ Schuckman, Matt (August 29, 1997). "Fox station a boon for sports fans". Columbia Daily Tribune. Columbia, Missouri. p. 1B. Retrieved December 22, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  36. ^ "Boonville takes boom to the bank". Columbia Daily Tribune. Columbia, Missouri. August 28, 1997. p. 6B. Retrieved December 22, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  37. ^ Coleman, Kevin (July 16, 1998). "KMIZ-TV teams with The WB on local cable". Columbia Daily Tribune.
  38. ^ Friedman, Steve (December 20, 2001). "KMIZ not mourning loss of WB - Network sees ratings promise at KOMU". Columbia Daily Tribune.
  39. ^ McClellan, Steve; Trigoboff, Dan (April 1, 2002). "Benedek couldn't hang on". Broadcasting & Cable. from the original on June 21, 2020. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
  40. ^ Friedman, Steve (May 24, 2003). "Wright tickled by new chance to lead - Meteorologist gets chance to manage hometown station". Columbia Daily Tribune.
  41. ^ Friedman, Steve (July 3, 2002). "KMIZ dealt to investors in New York". Columbia Daily Tribune.
  42. ^ "KMIZ-ABC, KQFX-FOX sold to JosephWood Broadcasting". Jefferson City News-Tribune. May 3, 2003.
  43. ^ Friedman, Steve (May 1, 2003). "New owners take over KMIZ". Columbia Daily Tribune.
  44. ^ Weeks, Katie (April 8, 2004). "Fox sneaking into area broadcast households". Columbia Daily Tribune.
  45. ^ Harmon, Arcenia (September 23, 2003). "KQFX picks St. Joseph anchor for local newscast". Columbia Daily Tribune.
  46. ^ a b Norfleet, Don (July 10, 2004). "New Mid-Missouri Fox TV station broadcasts from tower in Ashland". Jefferson City News-Tribune.
  47. ^ Coleman, Kevin (December 29, 2005). "KOMU surges ahead in key timespots, ages". Columbia Daily Tribune.
  48. ^ Coleman, Kevin (June 10, 2006). "Technology pushes stations into new era: Mid-Missouri's TV affiliates are keeping competition at a fever pitch while struggling to pay for industry changes". Columbia Daily Tribune.
  49. ^ "KMIZ Adds 6:30 P.M., Goes HD". TVNewsCheck. October 11, 2011. from the original on February 3, 2022. Retrieved December 22, 2023.
  50. ^ "JW Sells KMIZ-KQFX Columbia (Mo.) to NP&G". Broadcasting & Cable. July 26, 2012.
  51. ^ "NPG Buys ABC Affil In Columbia, Mo". TVNewsCheck. July 25, 2012. from the original on May 9, 2013. Retrieved July 26, 2012.
  52. ^ . Consolidated Database System. Federal Communications Commission. November 1, 2012. Archived from the original on December 20, 2023.
  53. ^ "KMIZ Columbia Adding 9:00 a.m., Noon News". TVNewsCheck. August 21, 2013. from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved August 21, 2013.
  54. ^ "KMIZ Launches Weekend Morning Newscast". TVNewsCheck. January 8, 2016. from the original on October 18, 2021. Retrieved December 22, 2023.
  55. ^ "3rd Quarter Issues and Programming Report" (PDF). Public Inspection File, Federal Communications Commission. October 9, 2023.
  56. ^ Abramovitch, Seth (June 26, 2012). "Savannah Guthrie: 10 Things to Know About Ann Curry's Replacement". The Hollywood Reporter. from the original on December 21, 2023. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
  57. ^ "TV Query for KMIZ". RabbitEars. from the original on May 31, 2014. Retrieved May 30, 2014.
  58. ^ "KMIZ Columbia, Mo., Adds Me-TV". TVNewsCheck. January 3, 2012.
  59. ^ (PDF). Federal Communications Commission. May 23, 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 29, 2013. Retrieved August 29, 2021.
  60. ^ Wright, Randy (May 30, 2009). "Only two weeks left to ready for end of analog". Columbia Daily Tribune.

External links edit

  • Official website  

January 01, 1970
kmiz, channel, television, station, licensed, columbia, missouri, united, states, serving, columbia, jefferson, city, market, affiliate, mynetworktv, owned, news, press, gazette, company, alongside, affiliate, kqfx, channel, also, licensed, columbia, stations,. KMIZ channel 17 is a television station licensed to Columbia Missouri United States serving the Columbia Jefferson City market as an affiliate of ABC and MyNetworkTV It is owned by the News Press amp Gazette Company alongside Fox affiliate KQFX LD channel 22 also licensed to Columbia the stations together are branded as the Networks of Mid Missouri The two stations share studios on the East Business Loop 70 in Columbia KMIZ s transmitter is located west of Jamestown near the Moniteau Cooper county line KMIZColumbia Jefferson City MissouriUnited StatesCityColumbia MissouriChannelsDigital 17 UHF Virtual 17BrandingABC 17 KMIZ ABC 17 NewsMyZouTV DT3 ProgrammingAffiliations17 1 ABC17 3 MyNetworkTV17 4 Foxfor others see SubchannelsOwnershipOwnerNews Press amp Gazette Company NPG of Missouri LLC Sister stationsKQFX LDHistoryFirst air dateDecember 5 1971 52 years ago 1971 12 05 Former call signsKCBJ TV 1971 1985 Former channel number s Analog 17 UHF 1971 2009 Digital 22 UHF 2003 2009 Former affiliationsABC 1971 1982 NBC 1982 1985 Call sign meaningMizzouTechnical information 1 Licensing authorityFCCFacility ID63164ERP120 kW 231 kW CP HAAT352 m 1 155 ft Transmitter coordinates38 46 32 1 N 92 33 24 9 W 38 775583 N 92 556917 W 38 775583 92 556917LinksPublic license informationPublic fileLMSWebsitewww wbr abc17news wbr com Channel 17 in Columbia began broadcasting as KCBJ TV on December 5 1971 It provided a full time outlet for the ABC network previously split between the market s two other major commercial stations KCBJ TV was built by Richard Koenig a St Louis based engineer It struggled in its early years with its ultra high frequency UHF signal the first in the market entrenched and established competition and lack of financial resources to invest in local programming and technical improvements In 1979 Koenig agreed to sell the station to the Wooster Republican Printing Company but the deal turned sour and the prospective buyers sued for breach of contract Litigation in that case was still pending when an ascendant ABC switched its affiliation to KOMU TV channel 8 in 1982 leaving KCBJ TV to change to NBC Koenig sold KCBJ TV to Stauffer Communications which took control in January 1985 With NBC rising in the ratings it poached KOMU TV from ABC leading to a switch of network affiliations again that December To coincide with the new affiliation and Stauffer s investment in a new image and improved news coverage the station changed its call sign to KMIZ Under Benedek Broadcasting ownership KMIZ purchased two low power stations to start the area s Fox affiliate a predecessor of KQFX LD News Press amp Gazette Company acquired the stations from JW Broadcasting in 2012 Contents 1 History 1 1 KCBJ TV Early years 1 2 Stauffer ownership 1 3 Chelsey and JW Broadcasting ownership 1 4 News Press amp Gazette Company ownership 2 Notable former on air staff 3 Technical information 3 1 Subchannels 3 2 Analog to digital conversion 4 References 5 External linksHistory editKCBJ TV Early years edit nbsp The Tiger Hotel in downtown Columbia housed KCBJ TV s studios from 1971 to 1978 In September 1969 Jeffco Television Corporation associated with station WJJY TV in Jacksonville Illinois applied to the Federal Communications Commission FCC for permission to build a station on ultra high frequency UHF channel 17 in Columbia At the time Mid Missouri had no full time affiliate of ABC its programs were divided between NBC affiliate KOMU TV channel 8 and CBS affiliate KRCG channel 13 2 In November Channel Seventeen Inc headed by Richard Koenig also applied for the channel 3 The two applications were designated by the commission for comparative hearing 4 but Jeffco dropped out due to problems at its station in Illinois 5 allowing Channel Seventeen to receive the construction permit on August 28 1970 3 KCBJ TV began broadcasting on December 5 1971 as a full time ABC affiliate 6 It broadcast from a tower at Jamestown Missouri 5 17 miles 27 km southwest of Columbia 7 The station s early months were pocked with technical issues it was the only local station with a studio and transmitter at separate sites and its feed for ABC network programming was the signal of KMTC TV in Springfield which in turn picked up the signal off air from Joplin If a network program was preempted in either of those cities KCBJ TV could not show it 5 8 occasionally weather warnings and other material from the Springfield area appeared on channel 17 as well 9 In its first three and a half years of operation the station never once made a profit and as a result was unable to afford a microwave link that would have improved the quality of its network feed In the ratings KCBJ TV struggled against KOMU and KRCG which had been in the market nearly 20 years when channel 17 signed on and were better funded stations with stronger local news presences Koenig became aggressive in his efforts to defend channel 17 from competition He unsuccessfully argued that KOMU TV a commercial station owned by the University of Missouri MU and the more successful of Columbia s two local stations should be forced to become non commercial and a new private commercial station on the UHF band opened to provide NBC programming He successfully led the FCC to deny a tower upgrade for KTVO an ABC affiliate in Kirksville that threatened to take viewers away from his station in such cities as Moberly Mexico and Centralia 5 He fought the introduction of cable television to Columbia winning network non duplication protection so that channel 17 was the only source for ABC network programs on the system even though the CBS and NBC affiliates did not receive the same perk 10 As the decade went on channel 17 became more reliable and obtained the microwave link to improve its ABC signal 9 In 1978 it acquired its present studio facilities from Columbia College which had used the site to house its extended studies program this enabled channel 17 to triple its office space and vacate its site in the Tiger Hotel downtown 11 where it had utilized a portion of the hotel s parking garage 12 Koenig agreed in August 1979 to sell KCBJ TV to the Wooster Republican Printing Company of Wooster Ohio controlled by the Dix family The acquisition of channel 17 would have marked the return of the Dix family to television after their sale years prior of WTRF TV in Wheeling West Virginia 13 9 Two months later the Dix family sued claiming Koenig had breached the sale contract Koenig replied by declaring that there never was a valid contract 14 In 1981 the Dix family won the initial lawsuit and a court order forcing Koenig to sell the station to them 15 Koenig appealed the ruling federal judge Scott Olin Wright a former lawyer in Columbia ordered the station to be transferred to a receiver during the process but Koenig refused claiming Wright held a grudge against KCBJ TV from an earlier legal contact when the station started and that a short form transfer of control was not appropriate for the process 16 As the appeals continued in the breach of contract case ABC sought to move to the higher rated KOMU TV In the late 1970s ABC became the number one network and began seeking upgrades in its affiliate base primarily at the expense of NBC 17 It contacted KOMU TV the number one station in Mid Missouri in 1979 that was the year NBC hired Fred Silverman and KOMU instead renewed with NBC in hopes that Silverman could turn around the network s low ratings This did not materialize and the station instead agreed to switch in 1982 18 While it was logical that KCBJ TV the local station without a network affiliation and NBC the network needing a station would connect the ongoing ownership dispute complicated matters because the network received affiliation pitches from the Koenigs and the Dix family 19 The switch was set for July 12 but Wright issued a temporary restraining order to prevent ABC from moving 20 KOMU s ABC switch was then set for August 8 though no NBC deal was in place for channel 17 until late July 21 22 The sale to Wooster Republican Printing Company fell through by February 1983 23 Stauffer ownership edit In October 1984 Stauffer Communications agreed to purchase KCBJ TV from the Koenig family 24 assuming control in January 1985 25 The company s first priority was to revamp the station s neglected and little watched news operation described by the Columbia Daily Tribune as laughable at best and by station manager Rush Evans as a cursory programming service It was a distant third behind KOMU and KRCG in the ratings only attracting three percent of the audience The newscasts finally had two cameras instead of one and the news staff was increased from five employees to thirteen 26 At the same time the fortunes of NBC turned the network was in the lead nationally and KCBJ was the number one station in prime time 26 Citing its disappointment with revenues under ABC KOMU announced it would return to NBC 27 It was not alone other recent converts from NBC to ABC were beginning to return to the network including stations in Temple Texas and Savannah Georgia 28 Stauffer affiliated channel 17 with ABC and used the opportunity to change the station s call letters which it had already been considering It discovered that KMIZ was assigned to an inactive U S Coast Guard vessel and had the call sign released for use 29 The switch and new name took effect on December 30 1985 at a party for employees Evans blew up a large plaster and Styrofoam block bearing the KCBJ TV call letters after the playing of Taps 30 The improved newscast increased ratings from a three percent share to 12 percent in 1986 31 nbsp The studio building of KMIZ in Columbia Missouri off East Business Loop 70 The station shares a studio with Fox affiliate KQFX LD In 1995 Stauffer sold its holdings to Morris Communications Morris kept the company s newspapers and spun off most of the television stations to Benedek Broadcasting of Rockford Illinois for 60 million equivalent to 120 million in 2023 32 33 After being sold to Benedek the station expanded its offerings In April 1997 it acquired two low power TV stations K11TB in Jefferson City and K02NQ in Columbia 34 In September in Columbia and on cable and in October in Jefferson City it launched them as the first over the air Fox affiliate for the market in 1996 KMIZ had carried Fox s coverage of the NFL and the World Series 35 36 The next year Benedek agreed to sell advertising for the local WB 100 cable channel 37 The partnership for the cable channel KJWB transferred to KOMU TV in January 2002 38 Chelsey and JW Broadcasting ownership edit Financial problems developed at Benedek in the new millennium The early 2000s recession reduced ad sales and caused the company to miss interest payments on a set of bonds issued in 1996 prompting a filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy 39 Benedek s financial issues hurt investment in KMIZ and led to staff cuts and the station canceling its 5 p m newscast in 2001 40 While most of Benedek s stations were sold out of bankruptcy to Gray Television some including KMIZ went to Chelsey Broadcasting an affiliate of the Chelsey Capital hedge fund which was a major investor in Benedek 41 Chelsey owned KMIZ for a year before selling it to JosephWood JW Broadcasting a partnership formed by David J Joseph and James Wood 42 JosephWood sought to turn around the station which had been among Benedek s worst ratings performers by investing in staff and capital improvements 43 Among the upgrades was the 2004 switch of Fox from its existing low power transmitters to channel 38 from a tower near Ashland Missouri which doubled Fox s reach 44 the addition of a 9 p m local newscast on the Fox channel 45 and the launch of two new services UPN affiliated KZOU and the Show Me Weather Channel available on cable and from KMIZ s new digital transmitter 46 The station improved its ratings in morning and late news but remained very far behind KRCG and KOMU in the early evening newscast race 47 KZOU affiliated with MyNetworkTV when UPN merged with The WB to form The CW in 2006 48 In JW Broadcasting s final years the station expanded its local news department In 2011 it converted its newscasts to high definition production introduced the market s first local newscast at 6 30 p m and opened a newsroom in Jefferson City 49 News Press amp Gazette Company ownership edit On July 26 2012 JW Broadcasting announced the sale of KMIZ and KQFX LD to the News Press amp Gazette Company NPG for 16 million equivalent to 21 million in 2023 32 The sale marked NPG s entry into a second Missouri TV market after starting a low power station KNPN LD in its home city of St Joseph 50 At the time NPG CEO David Bradley served as chairman of the board of curators that runs the University of Missouri facing concern that the deal might thus put Bradley in control of two local stations in contravention of FCC ownership limits NPG argued that Bradley had no personal involvement in KOMU TV s operations 51 The sale was consummated on November 1 52 NPG has expanded the news department several times In 2013 KMIZ debuted weekday newscasts at 9 a m and noon 53 The station debuted weekend morning newscasts for KMIZ and KQFX in 2016 54 by 2023 the station produced 30 1 2 hours a week of local news programming on its main channel 55 Notable former on air staff editSavannah Guthrie weekend anchor 1993 1995 56 Technical information editSubchannels edit The station s signal is multiplexed Subchannels of KMIZ 57 Channel Res Aspect Short name Programming 17 1 720p 16 9 KMIZ DT ABC 17 2 480i MeTV MeTV 17 3 KZOU TV KMIZ DT3 MyNetworkTV 17 4 720p KQFX Fox KQFX LD 17 5 480i Bounce Bounce TV Simulcast of subchannels of another station When JW Broadcasting began broadcasting KMIZ s digital signal the station multiplexed KMIZ as well as Fox 38 KZOU and the Show Me Weather channel 46 In 2012 the weather channel since rebranded StormTrack 24 7 was replaced by MeTV with station management citing the increasing availability of weather information on smartphones and other devices 58 Analog to digital conversion edit KMIZ shut down its analog signal over UHF channel 17 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 22 to channel 17 for post transition operations 59 Days after KQFX was converted to digital and switched from channel 38 to channel 22 60 References edit Facility Technical Data for KMIZ Licensing and Management System Federal Communications Commission Putney Mike September 16 1969 Ask FCC approval to build TV station Columbia Daily Tribune Columbia Missouri p 1 Archived from the original on December 20 2023 Retrieved December 20 2023 via Newspapers com a b FCC History Cards for KMIZ Federal Communications Commission UHF applications are still pending Columbia Daily Tribune Columbia Missouri March 15 1970 p 12 Archived from the original on December 20 2023 Retrieved December 20 2023 via Newspapers com a b c d Felts Cynthia July 20 1975 Sea of red ink marks Koenig s TV venture Columbia Daily Tribune Columbia Missouri p 3 Archived from the original on December 20 2023 Retrieved December 20 2023 via Newspapers com Columbia gets full network TV Columbia Daily Tribune Columbia Missouri December 6 1971 p 1 Archived from the original on December 20 2023 Retrieved December 20 2023 via Newspapers com Weather delays new TV tower Columbia Daily Tribune Columbia Missouri November 28 1971 p 12 Archived from the original on December 20 2023 Retrieved December 20 2023 via Newspapers com Burks Norma December 24 1971 Starting out problems bug new TV station Columbia Daily Tribune Columbia Missouri p Entertainment 1 Archived from the original on December 20 2023 Retrieved December 20 2023 via Newspapers com a b c Germond Al August 19 1979 Airwaves Columbia Daily Tribune Columbia Missouri p Scene 5 Archived from the original on December 20 2023 Retrieved December 20 2023 via Newspapers com Germond Al June 30 1977 KCBJ given CATV concessions Columbia Daily Tribune Columbia Missouri p 12 Archived from the original on December 20 2023 Retrieved December 20 2023 via Newspapers com McConnell Randy Germond Al October 24 1978 KCBJ TV to move into former college building Columbia Daily Tribune Columbia Missouri p 6 Retrieved December 22 2023 via Newspapers com Germond Al October 15 1978 Airwaves Columbia Daily Tribune Columbia Missouri p Scene 6 Retrieved December 22 2023 via Newspapers com Fuson Ken August 8 1979 KCBJ sold to Ohio media chain pending FCC approval Columbia Daily Tribune Columbia Missouri p 1 Archived from the original on December 20 2023 Retrieved December 20 2023 via Newspapers com Suit claims KCBJ TV owners breached contract to sell station Columbia Daily Tribune Columbia Missouri October 11 1979 p 8 Archived from the original on December 20 2023 Retrieved December 20 2023 via Newspapers com Court orders KCBJ sold in breach of contract suit Columbia Daily Tribune Columbia Missouri June 5 1981 p 12 Archived from the original on December 20 2023 Retrieved December 20 2023 via Newspapers com Rose Forrest May 5 1982 Federal judge puts KCBJ in hands of third party Columbia Daily Tribune Columbia Missouri p 10 Archived from the original on December 20 2023 Retrieved December 20 2023 via Newspapers com Rose Forrest March 31 1982 ABC wooing KOMU away from NBC Columbia Daily Tribune Columbia Missouri p 1 Archived from the original on December 20 2023 Retrieved December 20 2023 via Newspapers com ABC Sniffs Out NBC Affiliate KOMU Missouri Variety April 7 1982 p 62 ProQuest 1438351193 Butcher Lola June 30 1982 As the channels turn affiliate drama ensnares NBC Columbia Daily Tribune Columbia Missouri p 12 Archived from the original on December 20 2023 Retrieved December 20 2023 via Newspapers com Reilly Mike July 6 1982 Judge halts KOMU s ABC switch Columbia Daily Tribune Columbia Missouri p 12 Archived from the original on December 20 2023 Retrieved December 20 2023 via Newspapers com TV swap delayed Columbia Daily Tribune Columbia Missouri July 14 1982 p 1 Archived from the original on December 20 2023 Retrieved December 20 2023 via Newspapers com KCBJ TV will become local NBC affiliate Columbia Daily Tribune Columbia Missouri July 27 1982 p 6 Archived from the original on December 20 2023 Retrieved December 20 2023 via Newspapers com Action Line Columbia Daily Tribune Columbia Missouri February 23 1983 p 2 Archived from the original on December 20 2023 Retrieved December 20 2023 via Newspapers com Anderson Scott October 16 1984 KCBJ TV sold to Kansas firm Columbia Daily Tribune Columbia Missouri p 6 Archived from the original on December 20 2023 Retrieved December 20 2023 via Newspapers com Business In Brief Columbia Daily Tribune Columbia Missouri January 18 1985 p 5 Archived from the original on December 20 2023 Retrieved December 20 2023 via Newspapers com a b Whiskeyman Dolores October 10 1985 New View KCBJ expands readies to run for the money with better broadcast Columbia Daily Tribune Columbia Missouri p 22 Archived from the original on December 20 2023 Retrieved December 20 2023 via Newspapers com Hirsch Mark October 2 1985 KOMU to rejoin NBC bottom line cited Columbia Daily Tribune Columbia Missouri p 8 Archived from the original on December 20 2023 Retrieved December 20 2023 via Newspapers com Rejoining NBC TV Fold Variety October 16 1985 p 429 ProQuest 1438415729 Brown Nate December 4 1985 KOMU and KCBJ prepare for network switch Columbia Daily Tribune Columbia Missouri p 12 Archived from the original on December 20 2023 Retrieved December 20 2023 via Newspapers com TV networks switch has explosive start Columbia Daily Tribune Columbia Missouri December 30 1985 p 10 Archived from the original on December 20 2023 Retrieved December 20 2023 via Newspapers com Brown Nate September 4 1986 Rivals for Ratings Columbia Daily Tribune Columbia Missouri pp Scene 10 11 Archived from the original on December 20 2023 Retrieved December 20 2023 via Newspapers com a b 1634 1699 McCusker J J 1997 How Much Is That in Real Money A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States Addenda et Corrigenda PDF American Antiquarian Society 1700 1799 McCusker J J 1992 How Much Is That in Real Money A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States PDF American Antiquarian Society 1800 present Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis Consumer Price Index estimate 1800 Retrieved February 29 2024 KGWC TV sold to Illinois company Casper Star Tribune December 6 1995 p C1 Archived from the original on June 22 2020 Retrieved June 19 2020 Notice Columbia Daily Tribune Columbia Missouri April 16 1997 p 5B Retrieved December 22 2023 via Newspapers com Schuckman Matt August 29 1997 Fox station a boon for sports fans Columbia Daily Tribune Columbia Missouri p 1B Retrieved December 22 2023 via Newspapers com Boonville takes boom to the bank Columbia Daily Tribune Columbia Missouri August 28 1997 p 6B Retrieved December 22 2023 via Newspapers com Coleman Kevin July 16 1998 KMIZ TV teams with The WB on local cable Columbia Daily Tribune Friedman Steve December 20 2001 KMIZ not mourning loss of WB Network sees ratings promise at KOMU Columbia Daily Tribune McClellan Steve Trigoboff Dan April 1 2002 Benedek couldn t hang on Broadcasting amp Cable Archived from the original on June 21 2020 Retrieved June 19 2020 Friedman Steve May 24 2003 Wright tickled by new chance to lead Meteorologist gets chance to manage hometown station Columbia Daily Tribune Friedman Steve July 3 2002 KMIZ dealt to investors in New York Columbia Daily Tribune KMIZ ABC KQFX FOX sold to JosephWood Broadcasting Jefferson City News Tribune May 3 2003 Friedman Steve May 1 2003 New owners take over KMIZ Columbia Daily Tribune Weeks Katie April 8 2004 Fox sneaking into area broadcast households Columbia Daily Tribune Harmon Arcenia September 23 2003 KQFX picks St Joseph anchor for local newscast Columbia Daily Tribune a b Norfleet Don July 10 2004 New Mid Missouri Fox TV station broadcasts from tower in Ashland Jefferson City News Tribune Coleman Kevin December 29 2005 KOMU surges ahead in key timespots ages Columbia Daily Tribune Coleman Kevin June 10 2006 Technology pushes stations into new era Mid Missouri s TV affiliates are keeping competition at a fever pitch while struggling to pay for industry changes Columbia Daily Tribune KMIZ Adds 6 30 P M Goes HD TVNewsCheck October 11 2011 Archived from the original on February 3 2022 Retrieved December 22 2023 JW Sells KMIZ KQFX Columbia Mo to NP amp G Broadcasting amp Cable July 26 2012 NPG Buys ABC Affil In Columbia Mo TVNewsCheck July 25 2012 Archived from the original on May 9 2013 Retrieved July 26 2012 Consummation Notice Consolidated Database System Federal Communications Commission November 1 2012 Archived from the original on December 20 2023 KMIZ Columbia Adding 9 00 a m Noon News TVNewsCheck August 21 2013 Archived from the original on July 14 2014 Retrieved August 21 2013 KMIZ Launches Weekend Morning Newscast TVNewsCheck January 8 2016 Archived from the original on October 18 2021 Retrieved December 22 2023 3rd Quarter Issues and Programming Report PDF Public Inspection File Federal Communications Commission October 9 2023 Abramovitch Seth June 26 2012 Savannah Guthrie 10 Things to Know About Ann Curry s Replacement The Hollywood Reporter Archived from the original on December 21 2023 Retrieved December 21 2023 TV Query for KMIZ RabbitEars Archived from the original on May 31 2014 Retrieved May 30 2014 KMIZ Columbia Mo Adds Me TV TVNewsCheck January 3 2012 DTV Tentative Channel Designations for the First and Second Rounds PDF Federal Communications Commission May 23 2006 Archived from the original PDF on August 29 2013 Retrieved August 29 2021 Wright Randy May 30 2009 Only two weeks left to ready for end of analog Columbia Daily Tribune External links editOfficial website nbsp Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title KMIZ amp oldid 1214841890, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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