KTSM-TV

Infobox_Broadcast
call_letters = KTSM-TV
city =
station_
station_slogan = First, Live, Local
station_branding = NewsChannel 9
analog = 9 (VHF)
digital = 16 (UHF)
other_chs =
affiliations = NBC
NBC Weather Plus (DT2)
network =
founded =
airdate = January 4, 1953
location = El Paso, Texas
callsign_meaning = Tri-State Music
former_callsigns =
former_channel_numbers =
owner = Communications Corporation of America
licensee = Comcorp of El Paso License Corporation
sister_stations =
former_affiliations =
effective_radiated_power = 316 kW (analog)
250 kW (digital)
HAAT = 582 m (analog)
577 m (digital)
class =
facility_id = 67760
coordinates = coord|31|48|18.4|N|106|28|59.5|W|type:landmark_scale:2000 (analog)
coord|31|48|18.9|N|106|29|0.8|W|type:landmark_scale:2000 (digital)
homepage = [http://www.ktsm.com/ www.ktsm.com]

KTSM-TV, also known as NewsChannel 9, is an NBC affiliate based in El Paso, Texas. It broadcasts its analog signal on VHF channel 9, and its digital signal on UHF channel 16. KTSM-TV is currently owned by ComCorp of El Paso, Inc. Along with the typical programming schedule, NewsChannel 9 also broadcasts with WeatherPlus technology and can be seen on KTSM's digital station.

History

KTSM-TV signed on air on January 4, 1953 as the second oldest television station in the market, behind KDBC-TV. The station shares its call letters with its former sister AM and FM stations, which are now owned by Clear Channel Communications, separate from KTSM-TV. The "TSM" in the name stands for "Tri State Music", referring to the original owners of KTSM-AM.

KTSM claims to have the tallest VHF transmission tower in Texas. It is located at Ranger Peak, one of the peaks of the Franklin Mountains. It is 2000 feet above downtown El Paso, and 5990 feet above sea level.

Among KTSM's most famous personalities was Ted Bender. Bender hosted numerous programs on KTSM including the El Paso version of Dialing for Dollars, in which he gave four viewers a chance to win money, and halfway through the calls, Bender (who was a city councilman) would interview a key figure in the El Paso community. The program aired for 25 minutes, which followed a 5-minute newscast on KTSM at 10 AM.

Bender also was the lead weatherman for KTSM from its inception until his retirement in 1991, using weather symbols that the National Weather Service utilizes on their weather charts.

Dialing for Dollars and daytime soaps pre-empted NBC's regular daytime staple of game shows, later airing in the afternoon hours. "Sesame Street", which normall airs on PBS, aired on KTSM in the late-1960s and 1970s due to the lack of a PBS affiliate for the El Paso area.

On August 3, 2008 During their 5:30 PM Newscast KTSM-TV became the First Station in El Paso to Produce their News In high definition.

News/Station Presentation

Newscast Titles

*"El Paso Newsreel" (1953-1959)
*"Bill Thomas and the News" (1959-1966)
*"The Sixth Hour Report/The Eleventh Hour Report" (1966-1972)
*"Channel 9 News" (1972-1975, 1988-1993)
*"NewsCenter 9" (1975-1988)
*"9 News" (1993-1995)
*"TSM News" (1995-1999)
*"NewsChannel 9" (1999-present)

tation Slogans

*"El Paso's #1 News Team" (1970s-1994)
*"Channel 9, Proud as a Peacock" (1979-1981, local version of NBC campaign)
*"Channel 9, Our Pride is Showing" (1981-1982, local version of NBC campaign)
*"Channel 9 There, Be There" (1983-1984, local version of NBC campaign)
*"Channel 9, Let's All Be There" (1984-1986, local version of NBC campaign)
*"Come Home to the Best, Only on Channel 9" (1988-1990, local version of NBC campaign)
*"Get Connected, Stay Connected" (?)
*"First, Live, and Local" (2002-present)

Digital Television

The station's digital channel is multiplexed:

Post-analog shutdown

After the analog television shutdown and digital conversion, which is tentatively scheduled to take place on February 17, 2009http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1082A2.pdf] , KTSM-TV will move its digital broadcasts back to its present analog channel number, 9. [http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/cdbsmenu.hts?context=25&appn=101232541&formid=387&fac_num=67760 CDBS Print ] ]

Personalities

During KTSM's operation, the news team has seen it's share of newsmen and reporters. The list below, includes both current and former television personalities of NewsChannel 9 (as indicated):

News Team

*Nick Miller - "Anchor/Reporter: NewsChannel 9 @ 5pm, 6pm & 10pm Nightbeat"
*Ben Swann - "Anchor/Reporter: NewsChannel 9 @ 5pm, 6pm & 10pm Nightbeat"
*Melanie Olivas - "Morning News Anchor: NewsChannel 9 Today"
*Christina Montoya - "Anchor/Reporter: NewsChannel 9 Weekends"
*Oscar Garcia - "Reporter/Producer: Weekdays and Weekends"
*Adrienne Alvarez - "General Assignment Reporting"
*Trevor Connor -"General Assignment Reporting"
*Kai Porter - "General Assignment Reporting"

ports Team

*Fred Albers - "Sports Director/Anchor: NC9 @ 6pm & 10pm Nightbeat"
*Beau Bagley - "Weekend Sports Anchor: NewsChannel 9 Weekends"

Weather Team

*Chuck DeBroder - "Chief Meteorologist: NC9 First @ 5pm, 6pm & 10pm Nightbeat"
*Chester Lampkin - "Meteorologist: Today and Midday Monday-Friday"

Former Personalities

"'
*Mari Alvarez
*Edward Egros
*Jeff Reynolds
*Ann Bonfield
*Scott Ehret
*Steve Jess
*Roy Ortega
*Juana Hill
*Mike Johnson
*Richard Cortez
*Jessie Chavez
*Ian Reitz
*Michelle Gielan (Now with CBS News in New York)
*Felipa Solis
*Adam Shadoff
*Cristina Brown
*Dave Garlick
*Victor Venegas
*Tom Downs
*Brad Montgomery
*Jessica Durrett
*Suzanne Michaels
*Ted Bender
*Tom Nelson
*Joan Zec
*Tim Daly
*Louis Saenz
*Bill Armstrong
*Joyce Ohajah
*Mike Machak
*Barbara High
*Tony Debo
*Jeff Limburgh
*Marty Cox
*Horst Longenecker
*Minerva Baumann
*Micah Johnson (journalist)
*Bianca Ferrare
*Dia Wallace
*Talia Nye
*Joe DiGiovanni
*Barry Finn
*Erica Castillo
*Eric Johnston
*Richard Wayman
*Bill Blair
*Dave Garcia
*Erica Castillo-Ruiz
*Felicia Garcia

External links

*http://www.ktsm.com/
*http://www.ktsm.com/ktsmteam
*http://www.ktsmradio.com/pages/about.html
*TVQ|KTSM
*BIA|KTSM|TV|TV