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KTVK ABC History

> Ch 21 has an interesting history. It was the first
> Spanish-language station when it went on the air in the 60s
> (I remember when they showed bullfights!)
> In the 70s they became a struggling independent until the
> late 70s when Trinity Broadcasting (Jan & Paul Crouch)
> bought the station.

I recall reading that 15 and 45 had aborted attempts (not necessarily related to the later owners) to build stations...complete with construction permits and call letters...in the 1960's.

Early 21 was very colorful...not. A master control op there once told me that the entire 21 plant was black and white, with some sort of colorization device in a tiny box which could selectively tint the entire picture a single shade. That's entertainment!

They were owned by Glad Tidings Church after that initial Spanish run...and operated with religious programming until their RCA transmitter was hauled away as security for the station's (unpaid) equipment loan. TBN arrived after that dark period.
 
Channel 21

>I recall reading that 15 and 45 had aborted attempts (not necessarily related >to the later owners) to build stations...complete with construction permits and >call letters...in the 1960's.

I believe it was 15 and 33 that had earlier CP's that weren't built (according to Clarke Ingram's DuMont Network tribute site).

> Early 21 was very colorful...not. A master control op there
> once told me that the entire 21 plant was black and white,
> with some sort of colorization device in a tiny box which
> could selectively tint the entire picture a single shade.
> That's entertainment!

I recall, from the microfilms of Arizona Republic during their sign-on week in 1967, that they touted that they were airing hockey "in color." I guess they meant it in a different way.

Oddly enough, one of the original owners of KPAZ-TV, Don Thomson, went from Phoenix to San Jose, and successfully ran KGSC-TV (now KICU) Channel 36 during the '70s, and helped create "The Perfect 36" campaign. He passed away a few years back.
 
Phoenix UHF timelines

> Chs. 15 and 45 came on the air at the same time
> (1978-79)...Ch 15 was the local station for ON-TV, which was
> a pay channel that operated overnight...15 ran reruns during
> the day, then at 7pm (after Monty Python) ONTV started and a
> scrambled picture showed (unless you were a subsciber). When
> ONTV went kaput in the 80s', 15 became a basic indy station
> (they were the local channel for Elvira!) until Fox began in
> the late 80s. Ch 45 was an indy until UPN went on the air
> (Ch 45's then-owner - United Television - was part owner of
> UPN)

Channels 15 and 33 signed on the air the same week in early September 1979 (33 was first on the air by a few days). They have their antennas on the same "tripod" tower on South Mountain now owned by Univision. 45 didn't come in the picture until December 1985 (Wikipedia says January 1, 1986, but I remember it being December '85).
 
Re: Channel 21

> >I recall reading that 15 and 45 had aborted attempts (not
> necessarily related >to the later owners) to build
> stations...complete with construction permits and >call
> letters...in the 1960's.
>
> I believe it was 15 and 33 that had earlier CP's that
> weren't built (according to Clarke Ingram's DuMont Network
> tribute site).
>
> > Early 21 was very colorful...not. A master control op
> there
> > once told me that the entire 21 plant was black and white,
>
> > with some sort of colorization device in a tiny box which
> > could selectively tint the entire picture a single shade.
>
> > That's entertainment!
>
> I recall, from the microfilms of Arizona Republic during
> their sign-on week in 1967, that they touted that they were
> airing hockey "in color." I guess they meant it in a
> different way.
>
> Oddly enough, one of the original owners of KPAZ-TV, Don
> Thomson, went from Phoenix to San Jose, and successfully ran
> KGSC-TV (now KICU) Channel 36 during the '70s, and helped
> create "The Perfect 36" campaign. He passed away a few years
> back.

Thanks for the correction, Eric (and a reminder about the interesting Dumont tribute site). From http://members.aol.com/cingram/television/dumonta10.htm we give you...KLUZ Channel 15 and KGPA Channel 33!

1967 was the year the original Phoenix Roadrunners started. I wonder if that was actually a color, sports network feed (which would pass through as color)? It doesn't seem possible 21 had color remote facilities.
 
Re: Channel 21

> Thanks for the correction, Eric (and a reminder about the
> interesting Dumont tribute site). From
> http://members.aol.com/cingram/television/dumonta10.htm we
> give you...KLUZ Channel 15 and KGPA Channel 33!

I wonder where how the Phoenix TV landscape would look if Phoenix were as large 38 years ago as it is now. Channel 21 probably might have made it as either an English independent or Spanish-language station. Back then, Channel 3 was barely holding on its own as an ABC affiliate.

>
> 1967 was the year the original Phoenix Roadrunners started.
> I wonder if that was actually a color, sports network feed
> (which would pass through as color)? It doesn't seem
> possible 21 had color remote facilities.
>
I remember the Channel 21 ad saying "Hockey, from Canada, in color." If they couldn't afford to build the station with true color facilities (surprising because the transmission facility was RCA), I wouldn't think they could have afford to air it live, so it might have been sent to the station on film.
 
Phoenix TV in 1967

> I wonder where how the Phoenix TV landscape would look if
> Phoenix were as large 38 years ago as it is now. Channel 21
> probably might have made it as either an English independent
> or Spanish-language station. Back then, Channel 3 was barely
> holding on its own as an ABC affiliate.

I doubt much would be different. One of the unbuilt CPs (KLUZ/15 or KGPA/33) would have come on the air as a Spanish-language station, but not likely both. Channel 21 probably would have been successful as a 2nd indie and wouldn't have gone religious. TBN would have eventually come in anyway, but on Channel 39 or 45 (51 & 61 hadn't been allocated yet, IIRC).

Phoenix was lucky to have as many stations as we had back then. It was somewhere around Market #60 in 1967, with about 800,000 people in the metro area, and another 200-300,000 folks in the rest of the market. It might have been the smallest market in the country with even one independent station, let alone two, at that time.

Even Chicago, which was Market #2 then, only had 6 commercial stations in those days, and 2 of those were small UHF operations that had come on the air within the previous 3 years. Few cities outside of NY and LA had more than one indie. UHF was still a losing proposition in areas where all 3 network affiliates were VHF. Even more-so if there was a strong VHF indie in town (like Phoenix, Indianapolis or Chicago).<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by Keith Elster on 07/24/05 06:45 PM.</FONT></P>
 
Re: Phoenix TV in 1967

> > I wonder where how the Phoenix TV landscape would look if
> > Phoenix were as large 38 years ago as it is now. Channel
> 21
> > probably might have made it as either an English
> independent
> > or Spanish-language station. Back then, Channel 3 was
> barely
> > holding on its own as an ABC affiliate.
>
> I doubt much would be different. One of the unbuilt CPs
> (KLUZ/15 or KGPA/33) would have come on the air as a
> Spanish-language station, but not likely both. Channel 21
> probably would have been successful as a 2nd indie and
> wouldn't have gone religious. TBN would have eventually
> come in anyway, but on Channel 39 or 45 (51 & 61 hadn't been
> allocated yet, IIRC).
>
> Phoenix was lucky to have as many stations as we had back
> then. It was somewhere around Market #60 in 1967, with
> about 800,000 people in the metro area, and another
> 200-300,000 folks in the rest of the market. It might have
> been the smallest market in the country with even one
> independent station, let alone two, at that time.
>
> Even Chicago, which was Market #2 then, only had 6
> commercial stations in those days, and 2 of those were small
> UHF operations that had come on the air within the previous
> 3 years. Few cities outside of NY and LA had more than one
> indie. UHF was still a losing proposition in areas where
> all 3 network affiliates were VHF. Even more-so if there
> was a strong VHF indie in town (like Phoenix, Indianapolis
> or Chicago).
>
FWIW, Seattle/Tacoma had two strong indies at that time.
 
> I had understood that the calls KTSP really had nothing to
> do with TempeScottsdalePhoenix; that was just a story
> concocted to make the call letter change more palatable.
> When they bought KOOL-TV, Gulf Broadcasting also owned WTSP
> in Tampa-St. Petersburg, which they had bought in 1978. The
> calls were changed to KTSP to match WTSP. IIRC, that was
> according to KSAZ themselves, but I'm not 100% sure of the
> source.
>
More "what's-in-a-name", if memory is correct I think Tom Chauncey owned affiliates in Phx and Tucson--the Tucson affiliate KOLD so they could say "it's KOOL in Phoenix" or "it's KOLD in Tucson". Sick irony given the weather for the past month.

More recollections on Ch 15..."The Blue Bird of Happy News" a good-news segment they ran. The first few months were pretty hokey on 15. They also played "Night Of The Living Dead" at midnight one summer night in the first year or so. That was pretty cool. I thought they went on the air before '79, maybe '78? It was a modest beginning to say the least.
 
> More "what's-in-a-name", if memory is correct I think Tom
> Chauncey owned affiliates in Phx and Tucson--the Tucson
> affiliate KOLD so they could say "it's KOOL in Phoenix" or
> "it's KOLD in Tucson". Sick irony given the weather for the
> past month.

The CBS station in Tucson went on the air in 1953 as KOPO, the calls changed to KOLD in 1958, I believe any co-ownership with KOOL ended at that time. However, the CBS stations in AZ (Phoenix, Tucson, later Yuma) joined into a partnership called the "Arizona Broadcasting Network" - the stations would share programming and news footage (I vaguely remember an ID card of the ABN logo shown during the AM startups)

Who remembers the KOOL-TV station ID cards of the 70s? "Blessed Is the Nation Whose God Is The Lord" with the American flag. Unusual for a CBS affiliate, and would be very un-PC today!
 
> > More "what's-in-a-name", if memory is correct I think Tom
> > Chauncey owned affiliates in Phx and Tucson--the Tucson
> > affiliate KOLD so they could say "it's KOOL in Phoenix" or
> > "it's KOLD in Tucson". Sick irony given the weather for the
> > past month.

Didn't Autry & Chauncey sell KOOL-TV but keep the radio stations?

> Who remembers the KOOL-TV station ID cards of the 70s?
> "Blessed Is the Nation Whose God Is The Lord" with the
> American flag. Unusual for a CBS affiliate, and would be
> very un-PC today!

And the 2nd verse of that passage: "KOOL-TV Channel 10 Phoenix, on tape."
 
Re: Phoenix TV in 1967

> FWIW, Seattle/Tacoma had two strong indies at that time.

No it didn't. While KTNT/11 (later KSTW) did reasonably well in that market, KTVW/13 was a loser in the market, that was resold at low prices a couple times in the 1960s and early 70s before going bankrupt in 1974. The station was so poor that it wasn't even able to go to color until 1972.
 
KOOL TV station ID

I remember very well the station ID: "Blessed Is the Nation Whose God Is The Lord" with the American flag.

For some reason, I called the station one Sunday morning, and the announcer answered the phone. In the course of the conversation he told me that he was an enlisted man at Luke AFB and worked there only on weekends.
 
Re: KOOL TV station ID

> I remember very well the station ID: "Blessed Is the Nation
> Whose God Is The Lord" with the American flag.
>
Me too, thanks for the flashback. Sadly, that would be considered controversial. The ACLU would sue and press the FCC to pull their license or something like that.
 
Re: KOOL-TV History (Was: KTVK ABC History)

> The CBS station in Tucson went on the air in 1953
> as KOPO, the calls changed to KOLD in 1958, I believe
> any co-ownership with KOOL ended at that time.

KOLD-TV was owned by Gene, Tom, Homer, et al, until
1969 when it was sold to the Evening News Association--
newspaper and WWJ(AM) Detroit, among others.


> However, the CBS stations in AZ (Phoenix, Tucson,
> later Yuma) joined into a partnership called the
> "Arizona Broadcasting Network" - the stations would
> share programming and news footage (I vaguely remember
> an ID card of the ABN logo shown during the AM
> startups)

ABN logo--artwork shot to slide.
(Who remembers slides? And why were the opticals in the
film chains always so dirty? Then there's the mirror-
flipping on the air...)

ANNCR: "Farm And Raunch is a pre-recorded production
of the Arizona Broadcasting Network."

AM startup indeed--5:20am, just before Sunrise Surprise.

Mostly one-way, that is, syndicated shows and some morning
news inserts fed from KOOL to KOLD via microwave link,
as was the CBS feed, live or delayed by KOOL. Four RCA
two-inch VTRs (TR-4s and a TR-50) doing the net delays.


> Who remembers the KOOL-TV station ID cards of the 70s?
> "Blessed Is the Nation Whose God Is The Lord" with the
> American flag. Unusual for a CBS affiliate, and would be
> very un-PC today!

Or the not-for-broadcast version:

"Blessed is the station that IDs the Lord, K-O-O-L T-V
channel ten Phoenix...on tape."
 
> Didn't Autry & Chauncey sell KOOL-TV but keep
> the radio stations?

They kept KOOL-FM until it was later sold.

KOOL(AM) 960 was sold circa 1978 to Stauffer
(KRNT Des Moines, hence the Del Hull connection),
became KARZ, was repurchased later by Chauncey
or whomever owned KOOL-FM by then (hence the
KOOL Gold '50s oldies format connection).
 
Re: KOOL TV station ID

> > I remember very well the station ID: "Blessed Is the
> Nation
> > Whose God Is The Lord" with the American flag.
> >
> Me too, thanks for the flashback. Sadly, that would be
> considered controversial. The ACLU would sue and press the
> FCC to pull their license or something like that.

Don't think so, what with various types of religion
running part- or full-time on stations duly licensed
by the FCC.

Local rabble-rouser Eleanor--who is definitely not swellanor--
wouldn't have a prayer (pun intended) with this one.
 
Re: Phoenix TV in 1967

> > FWIW, Seattle/Tacoma had two strong indies at that time.
>
> No it didn't. While KTNT/11 (later KSTW) did reasonably
> well in that market, KTVW/13 was a loser in the market, that
> was resold at low prices a couple times in the 1960s and
> early 70s before going bankrupt in 1974. The station was so
> poor that it wasn't even able to go to color until 1972.
>
I didn't realize that we were talking finances here.

I was a youngster at the time. Didn't know much about TV finances. I can say that both 11 and 13 were very popular for children's shows and cartoons.

A statement was made about most markets not having two indies. The Seattle/Tacoma market did have two indies (regardless of finances).
 
Re: KOOL-TV History (Was: KTVK ABC History)

> KOLD-TV was owned by Gene, Tom, Homer, et al, until
> 1969 when it was sold to the Evening News Association--
> newspaper and WWJ(AM) Detroit, among others.
>
My favorite Homer Lane story. He'd do an editorial each day with the standard "the views expressed are the opinion of....KOOL welcomes the expression of opposing views from responsible parties" tag line following the editorial.

Homer did a lovely memorial for some person who had recently passed away. The person had a lifetime of selfless service to others approaching that of Mother Theresa. So anyway, this touching tribute was followed by the stock tagline about opposing views were welcome. We all just looked around at each other and smiled as if someone would come in and tape an op-ed piece that the person had bad breath or habitually double-parked.
 
Re: KOOL TV station ID

> > > I remember very well the station ID: "Blessed Is the
> > Nation
> > > Whose God Is The Lord" with the American flag.
> > >
> > Me too, thanks for the flashback. Sadly, that would be
> > considered controversial. The ACLU would sue and press
> the
> > FCC to pull their license or something like that.
>
> Don't think so, what with various types of religion
> running part- or full-time on stations duly licensed
> by the FCC.
>
> Local rabble-rouser Eleanor--who is definitely not
> swellanor--
> wouldn't have a prayer (pun intended) with this one.

I've been a paying member of that organization, (that certainly didn't allow me to set their policy) but really, whatever imaging a station wants to do short of obscenity, is perfectly OK. Free speech 'y know.
 
Re: KOOL-TV History (Was: KTVK ABC History)

> > KOLD-TV was owned by Gene, Tom, Homer, et al, until
> > 1969 when it was sold to the Evening News Association--
> > newspaper and WWJ(AM) Detroit, among others.
> >
> My favorite Homer Lane story. He'd do an editorial each day
> with the standard "the views expressed are the opinion
> of....KOOL welcomes the expression of opposing views from
> responsible parties" tag line following the editorial.
>
> Homer did a lovely memorial for some person who had recently
> passed away. The person had a lifetime of selfless service
> to others approaching that of Mother Theresa. So anyway,
> this touching tribute was followed by the stock tagline
> about opposing views were welcome. We all just looked
> around at each other and smiled as if someone would come in
> and tape an op-ed piece that the person had bad breath or
> habitually double-parked.
>
Ahhh the good old days of Phx television, when you knew who owned the stations...Autry & Chauncey ran 10, Karl Eller ran 12, the McFarlands ran 3, and the cheap SOBs at Meredith who ran/run 5 (and the reason why there are very few Wallace & Ladmo shows from the 60s-70s...KPHO reused and erased the tapes!)
 
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