I am surprised that RKO General didn't have an interest in operating a TV Station in San Francisco since they operated TV Stations in other major markets where they had radio stations like Los Angeles & New York. At least Metromedia tried with KNEW-TV Channel 32. Just surprised that there was no KFRC-TV?
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Surprised That There Was No KFRC-TV in San Francisco?
- Thread starter Madmansam
- Start date
KHJ-TV in LA was kind of a joke. RKO didn't do as well with TV as they did with radio, and it took Bill Drake to start that ball rolling. Prior to Drake, both KHJ and KFRC were low rated stations.
I remember reading in the mid 80s that James Gabbert offered to buy the KFRC calls from RKO to attach to TV 20. KFRC was "Magic 61" at the time and de-emphasizing the calls, but they either would not sell or couldn't reach a deal.
I remember reading in the mid 80s that James Gabbert offered to buy the KFRC calls from RKO to attach to TV 20. KFRC was "Magic 61" at the time and de-emphasizing the calls, but they either would not sell or couldn't reach a deal.
Yeah, KTZO became KOFY-TV on May 1, 1986 while KFRC-610 changed to "Magic 61" on August 6, 1986. If successful, I wonder if Jim Gabbert would have changed KOFY-1050 calls to KFRC? I have heard that RKO was considering a change of calls for 610 from KFRC to KMMG. It didn't happen of course.recto101 said:
recto101 said:
The WB affiliation happened when it was still KOFY under Gabbert's ownership. That was a good part of the reason he was able to sell it for so much money. When the WB folded in 2006, the new owners figured that returning to the KOFY brand was a wise marketing move. When you have lemons, make lemonade, and all that...
TV 20 actually had two owners before Jim Gabbert acquired it. The original owner was Daniel H. Overmeyer who signed on KEMO-TV 20 on April 1, 1968. The original KEMO was a standard general entertainment Independent TV Station, showing movies, cartoons & syndicated reruns. They signed off the air 3 years later. Later that that year (1971), Overmeyer sold KEMO to Leon Crosby (former owner of KMPX-106.9) who returned KEMO back on the air but the format was more Eclectic. While KEMO was primarily a Spanish Language TV Station, They also aired Stock Market Reports in the mornings, English Language Religious Programming middays and All Night Movies (Old English Language B-Classics) with a different variety of hosts like Old Sourdough & Gary Ferry (both who later moved to KGSC-TV 36 San Jose), Carpet Store Owner, Leon Heskett & Joe Bavaresco. Bob Deckelman hosted a "Worst Of Hollywood" show on Friday Nights @ 10recto101 said:
M, kind of a poor man Creature Features. And on Sunday Nights, KEMO aired a variety of Asian Language Programming, long before KTSF-26 signed on the air. Gabbert acquired KEMO around September of 1980, signed it off and signed on again on October 1, 1980 as KTZO-TV 20.When James Gabbert took over, there were stories about what a dump the TV 20 facilities were, and how outdated and broken down all the equipment was. Remember that Gabbert was a radio guy and electronics whiz - and had long been in the forefront of technological advances in radio broadcasting. I believe his station - KPEN (later KIOI) was the first Bay Area FM to adopt stereo in the late 50s.
So it must have been depressing for Gabbert - who was new to TV - to have to straighten out the mess KEMO had become, and turn the facilities into a real TV station. To hear him tell it, in the early years, there were times when the survival of TV 20 was seriously in question. I also remember Gabbert complaining that he didn't have the buying power to purchase the better off network reruns - like KTVU and KBHK - which explained his early reliance on old off network cop dramas.
Of course, the pay-off was the enormous profit he made selling KOFY, which had become a WB affiliate. You have to Gabbert credit - he took a chance and won big time.
So it must have been depressing for Gabbert - who was new to TV - to have to straighten out the mess KEMO had become, and turn the facilities into a real TV station. To hear him tell it, in the early years, there were times when the survival of TV 20 was seriously in question. I also remember Gabbert complaining that he didn't have the buying power to purchase the better off network reruns - like KTVU and KBHK - which explained his early reliance on old off network cop dramas.
Of course, the pay-off was the enormous profit he made selling KOFY, which had become a WB affiliate. You have to Gabbert credit - he took a chance and won big time.
Under Don Lee ownership, KFRC had either an application or a construction permit (depending on which
source you believe) for channel 2. It appears that with the sale of the Lee assets in 1950, the CP was
either returned or cancelled. It was definitely gone by 1955 when other applicants were queued up for
the channel. Channel 2 eventually signed on in 1958 as KTVU.
C.
source you believe) for channel 2. It appears that with the sale of the Lee assets in 1950, the CP was
either returned or cancelled. It was definitely gone by 1955 when other applicants were queued up for
the channel. Channel 2 eventually signed on in 1958 as KTVU.
C.
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