KVTV Laredo goes dark; CBS moves to KYLX-LD

[mvcg66b3r]

Laredo, Texas (DMA 184). Gray entered into an agreement with Eagle Creek Television to purchase certain non-license assets of KVTV, which had served as the market’s CBS affiliate. Earlier today, KVTV ceased operating. At that time, the parties closed the transaction, and Gray began broadcasting the program streams formerly transmitted by KVTV on Gray's digital low-power KYLX. Gray also owns and operates full-power KGNS in Laredo, which serves as the market's NBC affiliate.

http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/86603/gray-in-4-new-deals-closes-3-earlier-ones

This gives Gray control of the Big 3 network signals in Laredo. What happens now with KVTV?

 

[Sammi Brie]

http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/86603/gray-in-4-new-deals-closes-3-earlier-ones

This gives Gray control of the Big 3 network signals in Laredo. What happens now with KVTV?

This is a very convoluted maneuver executed by Brian Brady and Gray. It essentially converts KVTV, already at 3 kW ERP, to a low-power license.

Brady owned station KNEX-LP, which had a CP to go digital on channel 14. Instead, Brady applied for a digital companion on channel 13...at 3 kW ERP...from the KVTV transmitter site. Or, in other words, a station with the exact same technical parameters as KVTV. He then applied for a STA to use the "new" channel 13 facilities, which was granted.

Essentially, without changing any technical parameters, Brady took his existing LPTV, sold the LPTV to Gray, and had Gray "bring it on air" as KYLX on all of KVTV's equipment and assets. Or, in even simpler words, KVTV became an LPTV under another license and another owner! Viewers may not have even needed to rescan their TVs! The full-power license for KVTV will almost certainly be turned in to the FCC.

 

[crainbebo]

KVTV 13 had been a waste of channel for YEARS. KVTV has not had a news department in probably 10 years or more, and it's just a "pass-through" CBS affiliate. For many years, it was owned by the same people who owned KZTV in Corpus Christi, and KVTV had a full news department running noon, evening and late evening broadcasts. Production values were not good, but what do you expect for LAREDO?
Maybe KGNS will produce a newscast for the new KYLX-LD, maybe bringing some new talent to Laredo.

 

[newsmark]

KVTV 13 had been a waste of channel for YEARS. KVTV has not had a news department in probably 10 years or more, and it's just a "pass-through" CBS affiliate. For many years, it was owned by the same people who owned KZTV in Corpus Christi, and KVTV had a full news department running noon, evening and late evening broadcasts. Production values were not good, but what do you expect for LAREDO?
Maybe KGNS will produce a newscast for the new KYLX-LD, maybe bringing some new talent to Laredo.

I wouldn't bet on it. If anything, I'd expect to see the KGNS news team producing a half-hour newscast at some point during the day on KYLX-LD. But it wouldn't surprise me if they only chose to simulcast the local cut-ins during Today and CBS This Morning.

 

[Tim-In-Houston]

KGNS also has the ABC affiliation on its .2 subchannel. They simulcast the morning, 5pm & 10pm newscasts on both. The 6pm newscast is only on the main channel.

The only other US-based station owner is Entravision, which operates an LD Fox & full power Univision duopoly.