KCTV

Infobox_Broadcast
call_letters = KCTV
city =
station_
station_slogan = Live. Late-Breaking. Investigative.
station_branding = KCTV 5
analog = 5 (VHF)
digital = 24 (UHF)
other_chs =
affiliations = CBS (1955-present)
network =
founded =
airdate = September 27, 1953
location = Kansas City, Missouri-Kansas
callsign_meaning = Kansas City's TeleVision
former_callsigns = KCMO-TV (1953-1983)
former_channel_numbers =
owner = Meredith Corporation
licensee =
sister_stations = KSMO-TV
former_affiliations = Primary:
ABC (1953-1955)
Secondary:
DuMont (1953-1956)
effective_radiated_power = 100 kW (analog)
1000 kW (digital)
HAAT = 342 m (analog)
319.3 m (digital)
class =
facility_id = 41230
coordinates = coord|39|4|14.4|N|94|34|57.5|W|type:landmark_scale:2000
homepage = [http://www.kctv5.com/ www.kctv5.com/] |

:"For the North Korean TV channel, see Korean Central Television."KCTV is the CBS-affiliated television station for the Kansas City metropolitan area. Licensed to Kansas City, Missouri, the station broadcasts an analog signal on VHF channel 5 and a digital signal on UHF channel 24. KCTV is owned by the Meredith Corporation as part of a duopoly with the area's MyNetworkTV affiliate KSMO-TV. The two stations share studios located on Shawnee Mission Parkway in Fairway, Kansas. KCTV is known on-air as "KCTV 5".

KCTV's transmitter tower is a 317.6-meter-high free-standing steel framework tower for FM and television broadcasting that is located on Union Hill south of Downtown Kansas City, Missouri.

History

Channel 5 debuted on September 27, 1953 as KCMO-TV (for Kansas City, MissOuri). The station was owned by the KCMO Broadcasting Corporation along with KCMO-AM (then at 810 kHz, now at 710 kHz). It was originally an ABC affiliate with DuMont programming. A week after its launch, Meredith Broadcasting bought KCMO-AM-TV. [Chillicothe Constitution, October 3, 1953] In 1955, it took the CBS affiliation from KMBC-TV.

Its call letters were changed to the current KCTV in 1983 when Meredith sold off KCMO-AM-FM. At the same time, the station moved from its studios (now occupied by KCPT) located next to its landmark tower (see below) to its current studios in Fairway, Kansas.

In 2005, Meredith Broadcasting purchased the area's WB affiliate KSMO-TV. That fall, KCTV began producing a daily 9 PM newscast for KSMO to compete with WDAF-TV's nightly 9 PM newscast.

In May 2006, KCTV acquired a new helicopter called "Chopper 5"

During September 2008 it was announced that KCTV would get a new high definition set and become the third station in Kansas City to broadcast in high definition. They are expected to debut the new set by November 2008

Tower

KCTV's 1042-foot transmitter tower, located at its former studios (now home to KCPT) on East 31st Street on Union Hill south of downtown Kansas City is a widely recognized Kansas City landmark. This is due largely in part to the string lights on the four corners of the tower that can be seen for miles around at night. It's so recognized that, for a time, it was the official logo of KCTV. For many years, KCTV flashed the lights on the tower due to inclement weather in Kansas City and the immediate surrounding communities in three sections:

*top third flashing = thunderstorm watch / tornado watch / winter weather advisory
*two thirds flashing = thunderstorm warning / winter weather warning
*all lights flashing = tornado warning / highly threatening weather

After the September 11 attacks, KCTV changed the tower to red-white-blue, with the top third red and the bottom third blue.

The lights on the tower went dark for a period, until all of the light bulbs could be changed. On July 1, 2006, KCTV turned the tower back on in all white lights, as it had originally been until the 1970s. It has stayed that way ever since. It is yet to be determined whether the tower will flash in the same manner it had before September 11, 2001.

The tower is similar to the KQTV 750 foot (228.6 m) high tower in St. Joseph, Missouri. That station also began broadcasting on September 27 1953.

Branding

As featured in news footage from the 1960s, KCMO branded itself as "Television 5". The branding was simplified to "TV 5" when the "Eyewitness News" format was adopted and continued into the 1980s. When Meredith separated KCMO radio from KCMO-TV, the "KCTV" calls were adopted based on the familiarity of the "TV 5" branding. A font similar to that of co-owned WNEM-TV was then adopted and a new slogan brought forth: "TV 5 Loves You".

The advertised "TV 5" branding ended in 1990 when a new logo was adopted and KCTV took on the "Kansas City's News" slogan, simply taking on the "KCTV Kansas City" branding. Its logo, however, continues to subtly advertise its commonly known former branding, "TV 5" by changing the font of "TV" (as done when the "TV 5" branding was dropped from 1990-1999), bolding the "TV" (as done from 1999-2002) or connecting "T" to "V" (as seen in the current logo).

In 1993, KCTV dropped "Kansas City's News" and adopted "In Kansas City, '5' stands for News" as its new slogan. Its newscasts were branded as "News 5". However, KCTV still branded itself as "KCTV Kansas City".

KCTV took on its current "KCTV 5" branding upon a logo redesign in September of 1999.

Programming

Over the years, KCTV would preempt moderate amounts of CBS programming such as some morning daytime shows, Sunday morning cartoons, a couple Saturday morning cartoons, an occasional primetime show and some late night shows prior to David Letterman's arrival to CBS in 1993. Today, KCTV still runs a large amount of local news along with most every CBS show. The only CBS program it currently regularly pre-empts is "The Saturday Early Show" in favor of "KCTV 5 News This Weekend". However, it has been shown in years past as a brief back-up in the event of technical difficulty.

News Operation

KCTV broadcasts a total of 32½ hours of local news per week (with five hours on weekdays, 4½ hours on Saturdays and three hours on Sundays), second only to WDAF-TV in the most hours of local news in the Kansas City market. KCTV also produces 8½ hours of local news a week for sister station KSMO-TV with an hour-long extension of "More in the Morning" weekday mornings from 7-8 AM, and a half-hour primetime newscast at 9 PM, which competes against WDAF-TV's hour-long 9 PM newscast.

KCTV and its News Director, Regent Ducas, have come under fire in recent years for bringing what some call tabloid-style reporting to the market. "Live. Late-breaking. Investigative." became KCTV's new slogan in September of 2002 (also the slogan of sister KPHO), six months after Regent's hiring. A year later, the station's sports department was shut down and sports news was outsourced to Metro Sports, a local cable channel operated by Time Warner cable, with most of the KCTV former sports staff making the move.

As a result of the station's "new direction", several high profile anchors and reporters left the station including Anne Peterson, Russell Kinsaul (who is now working across the state in St. Louis), and Dave Helling.

A May 26, 2007 article in "The Kansas City Star" revealed the turbulence behind KCTV's move to become the #1 newscast producer in the market. A lawsuit, filed by a longtime newscast director, alleges that the station's owners engaged in systematic harassment and dismissal of older workers. The judge denied KCTV's move to dismiss the suit and the station settled with the plaintiff, according to an article in the newspaper. [" [http://www.kansascity.com/105/story/123623.html Kansas City Star] ." 2007-05-26] [" [http://209.85.165.104/search?q=cache:HVlslXXxH98J:www.kansascity.com/105/story/123623.html+%22Lawsuits+reveal+a+time+of+turbulence+at+KCTV%22&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us&client=netscape-pp cached article] ." 2007-05-26]

Controversial programming

KCTV has not shied away from reporting on controversial topics, two of which were featured nationally by CBS. KCTV aired a seven-part series in February 2004 that exposed the dangers children can face in internet chat rooms. A group called "Perverted Justice" posed as minors in chat rooms and waited for adult men to proposition them for sex. The "minors" then invited the men to meet them at a house where KCTV was waiting. "Dateline NBC" later used "Perverted Justice" as the basis for its "To Catch A Predator" series.

After the series aired, local law enforcement made a new effort to police chat rooms and prosecute men who attempt to meet minors for sex through the internet. None of the people "stung" by KCTV could be charged in these cases because the operation was done without police involvement.

In June 2005, KCTV exposed a doctor's negligent handling of private medical records. A scavenger gave the station a computer found at the curb of a Mission Hills, Kansas plastic surgeon's home. The plastic surgeon claimed he erased the patients' information from the computer. However, only the computer's random access memory was removed. The computer's hard drive was intact and contained photos and files on many patients.

KCTV attempted to contact several of the patients whose information was found on the discarded computer. The surgeon sued, citing that interviewing the patients violated medical confidentiality. The judge ruled in favor of the doctor, though KCTV took the case to federal court in Kansas City, Kansas. The doctor withdrew his lawsuit, and the story aired on June 30.

As a result of this story, several of the surgeon's patients filed a class action lawsuit against him for negligent handling of their confidential records.

Other Programming Notes

One of the most common copies of "The Star Wars Holiday Special" comes from this station. It can be found as first generation copies all the way down to third generation.

Ratings

In November 2004, KCTV won the coveted 10 PM news race, unseating KMBC-TV for the first time in a decade. However, in November 2006 KCTV dropped back to second place at 10 PM. The station remains in third place at 5 and 6 PM after KMBC-TV and WDAF-TV. KCTV continues to win the Noon newscast period (against WDAF-TV), but once again finishes third in the morning.

In February 2007, KCTV regained the top spot at 10 PM and most of its other newscasts made viewership gains as well. [http://www.kctv5.com/Global/story.asp?S=6179150&nav=1Pua]

In November 2007, KCTV shared the #1 10 PM ranking [Nielsen Television Ratings] , tied with KMBC.

Awards and honors

KCTV's news team has been honored with the Mid-America Emmy award for overall news excellence, the Edward R. Murrow Award for overall news excellence, and multiple awards for its investigative reporting.

KCTV 5 Notable Personalities

Current On-Air Talent (as of August 26, 2008)

Current Anchors
*Amy Anderson: weekends on KCTV 5 News at 5 (Sat.), 5:30 (Sun.), 6 (Sat.), and 10PM (also reporter)
*Shaun Broyls: weekends on KCTV 5 News at 5 (Sat.), 5:30 (Sun.), 6 (Sat.), and 10PM (also reporter)
*Surae Chinn: weekend mornings on KCTV5 This Weekend (also reporter)
*Karen Fuller: weeknights on KCTV 5 News at 5, 6, 9 (on KSMO), and 10PM
*Carolyn Long: weekdays on KCTV 5 News at Noon and 4PM
*Chris Pisano: weekdays on KCTV 5 More in the Morning and on KCTV 5 News at Noon
*Brad Stephens: weekdays on KCTV 5 News at 4, weeknights on KCTV 5 News at 5, 6, and 10PM (on KCTV) and at 9PM (on KSMO)
*Matt Stewart: weekend mornings on KCTV5 This Weekend (also reporter)
*Dana Wright: weekday mornings on KCTV 5 More in the Morning

Reporters
*Rhiannon Ally: Traffic Reporter, weekday mornings on "More in the Morning"
*Ty Chandler: General Assignment Reporter
*Eric Chaloux: General Assignment Reporter
*Liana Joyce: General Assignment Reporter
*Jeanene Kiesling: General Assignment Reporter
*Sandra Olivas: General Assignment Reporter
*Ash-har Quraishi: Chief Investigative Reporter
*Heather Staggers: General Assignment Reporter
*Tom Wait: General Assignment Reporter
*Betsy Webster: 10PM Reporter
*Ty Wilson: Afternoon Reporter

StormTrack 5 Weather Team
*Katie Horner (AMS Seal of Approval): Chief Meteorologist, weeknights on KCTV 5 News at 5, 6, and 10PM (on KCTV) and at 9 (on KSMO)
*Gary Amble (AMS Seal of Approval): weekday mornings on KCTV 5 More in the Morning and KCTV 5 News at Noon
*Devon Lucie (AMS Certified): weekends on KCTV 5 News at 5 (Sat.), 5:30 (Sun.), 6 (Sat.), and 10PM

Sports (broadcast out of Metro Sports)
*Leif Lisec: weeknights on KCTV 5 News at 5, 6, and 10PM (also sports reporter)
*Erin Bajackson: weekends on KCTV 5 News at 5 (Sat.), 5:30 (Sun.), 6 (Sat.), and 10PM

Former On-Air Talent

*Wendall Anchsutz - 5 and 10 PM anchor at time of retirement (?-?)
*Fred Broski - "KCTV5 News This Weekend" morning meteorologist (?-2008)
*Stan Cramer - "Call For Action" consumer reporter (?-?)
*Brian Curtis - "KCTV5 News This Morning" weekday anchor (?-?; later at KXAS-TV in Dallas-Fort Worth)
*Don Fortune - sports reporter (?-?; retired)
*Karen Foss - 6 and 10 PM anchor (?-?; later at KSDK in St. Louis, now retired)
*Ally Francis - "More in the Morning" traffic anchor (?-?; resigned after being indicted for federal wire fraud [http://www.kctv5.com/Global/story.asp?S=5194021] )
*Dee Griffin - weekend 6 and 10PM anchor (?-?; later at WPTY in Memphis)
*Jack Harry - sports reporter (?-?; now sports director at KSHB-TV)
*Dave Helling - 4PM and weekend 6 and 10PM anchor (?-?; later at Kansas City Star)
*William Jackson - sports director (?-2003; fired when the KCTV sports department was outsourced to MetroSports; now with Comcast Sportsnet Chicago)
*Russell Kinsaul - 6 and 10PM anchor (?-?; later at KMOV in St. Louis)
*Krista Klaus - reporter and anchor (?-?; later at KMBC-TV; now at WFLA-TV in Tampa Bay)
*Randy Miller - "More in the Morning" traffic anchor (?-?; former Kansas City DJ)
*Anne Peterson - 5 and 6PM anchor (?-?; later at KSHB-TV)
*Barbara Porter - weekend 6 and 10PM anchor (?-?)
*Kathy Quinn - "KCTV5 News This Morning" traffic reporter (?-?; now at WDAF-TV)
*Lili Shank - 5PM anchor (?-?)
*Michael Scott - 5, 6, 9 (on KSMO), and 10PM anchor (2003-2006; later at WAAY-TV in Huntsville, AL; terminated from WAAY in May 2007)
*Valissa Smith - "KCTV5 News This Weekend" morning anchor (?-?)
*Bob Thill - "KCTV5 News This Weekend" morning anchor (?-?)
*Ted Textor - weekend 6 & 10PM meteorologist (?-?)
*Bruce Thomas - weekend 6 and 10 PM meteorologist (?-?)
*Mike Thompson - chief meteorologist (?-?; now chief meteorologist at WDAF-TV)
*Tracy Townsend - (?-?; later at WBBM-TV in Chicago, now at WBNS-TV in Columbus, Ohio)
*Tim Vetscher - (?-?; later at KNXV-TV in Phoenix, AZ)

News/Station presentation

Newscast titles

*"The Ford News" (1953-1956)
*"Your Esso Reporter" (1956-1962)
*"National News" (1962-1966)
*"Eyewitness News" (1966-1984)
*"Kansas City's News" (1984-1993)
*"News 5" (1993-1999)
*"KCTV 5 News" (1999-present)

tation slogans

*"We're Part of Your Life" (1974-1979)
*"Hello Kansas City" (1979-1983)
*"Gimme 5" (1984)
*"The Team That Always Takes You One Step Further" (1984-1988)
*"Kansas City's Television" (1983-1993)
*"5 Stands For News" (1993-1997)
*"KCTV The New Channel 5" (1997-1999)
*"News That Makes A Difference" (1999-2002)
*"Live. Late-breaking. Investigative." (2002-present)

Logos

External links

* [http://www.kctv5.com/ Station Website of KCTV 5 (CBS)]
* [http://www.myksmotv.com/ KSMO Website]
*TVQ|KCTV
*BIA|KCTV|TV|TV

References