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KUSK and its planned national translator network

seattlesarchiebunker

seattlesarchiebunker

I remember reading an old Broadcasting and Cable (thanks to David E's website!) from the early 80's. From what I understand, what is now KAZT in Flagstaff (then KUSK-TV) had applied for about 100 translators in major markets across the US in partnership with (I think) Sears and Roebuck. Obviously, most were rejected in fairly short order except for the Arizona ones. I'm not sure why they applied for these stations if they knew they would be rejected out of hand. But it is a very curious "what if".

Does anybody know what the programming plan was for this proposed "superstation"? An attempt at a 4th network? Free advertising for Sears?

KUSK got their Arizona translators and seemed to focus itself as an independent serving (primarily) Phoenix -- and still does!
 
KUSK/KAZT was and remains licensed to Prescott, Arizona. The original owner/president
Bill Sahuaro, had lofty hopes but ran out of money. General Manager, Rich Howe, has been
with the station since the beginning. I believe he still works at KAZT. He would probably
be the most likely person to know what was in the mind of Bill Sahuaro.....
 
seattlesarchiebunker said:
I remember reading an old Broadcasting and Cable (thanks to David E's website!) from the early 80's. From what I understand, what is now KAZT in Flagstaff (then KUSK-TV) had applied for about 100 translators in major markets across the US in partnership with (I think) Sears and Roebuck. Obviously, most were rejected in fairly short order except for the Arizona ones. I'm not sure why they applied for these stations if they knew they would be rejected out of hand. But it is a very curious "what if".

Does anybody know what the programming plan was for this proposed "superstation"? An attempt at a 4th network? Free advertising for Sears?

KUSK got their Arizona translators and seemed to focus itself as an independent serving (primarily) Phoenix -- and still does!
Click to expand...

The original goal for the "Neighborhood Network" (which was funded by Sears through its then-subsidiary Allstate Insurance) was to bring rural-themed programming (think rodeos and country music, what RFD-TV is today) to rural parts of the country through a network of translators. Eventually, it never got off the ground and KUSK had to run as "America's smallest independent television station" until it got a translator in Phoenix and became a station running programming that cost next to nothing to air. It operated like that for 16 more years before new ownership made it KAZT.


Prescott Joe said:
KUSK/KAZT was and remains licensed to Prescott, Arizona. The original owner/president
Bill Sahuaro, had lofty hopes but ran out of money. General Manager, Rich Howe, has been
with the station since the beginning. I believe he still works at KAZT. He would probably
be the most likely person to know what was in the mind of Bill Sahuaro.....
Click to expand...

Howe is the GM again (he had started as general sales manager after the station signed on, then became its longtime GM until ownership changed, and about 2013 regained the position). Sauro sold the station in '02 but not without losing a lot of money over the 20 years he was part-owner and president of KUSK. He still was able to retire comfortably.
 
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