KMCI

Infobox_Broadcast
call_letters = KMCI
city =
station_
station_slogan = It's where you want to be.
station_branding = 38 The Spot
analog = 38 (UHF)
digital = 36 (UHF)
other_chs =
affiliations = Independent
4Kids TV
NBC (secondary)
network =
founded =
airdate = February 1988
location = Lawrence, Kansas / Kansas City, Missouri
callsign_meaning = Miller
Communications
Incorporated
(KMCI is also the ICAO airport code for the Kansas City International Airport)
former_callsigns =
former_channel_numbers =
owner = The E.W. Scripps Company
licensee = Scripps Howard Broadcasting Company
sister_stations = KSHB-TV
former_affiliations = HSN (1988-1999)
effective_radiated_power = 5000 kW (analog)
500 kW (digital)
HAAT = 325.8 m (analog)
290.8 m (digital)
class =
facility_id = 42636
coordinates = coord|38|58|40|N|94|31|59.5|W|type:landmark_scale:2000
homepage = [http://www.38thespot.com/ www.38thespot.com]

KMCI Channel 38 ("38 The Spot") is an independent station serving the Kansas City television market. It is licensed to Lawrence, Kansas, and is owned by the E. W. Scripps Company alongside KSHB-TV "NBC Action News" as the company's only existing duopoly. It runs a general entertainment format with sitcoms, cartoons, reality shows, court shows, movies, talk shows, and sports.

History

KMCI signed on in February 1988 with programming from the Home Shopping Network. The station was owned by Miller Television. Beginning sometime in 1995, KMCI began broadcasting a minimal amount of syndicated sitcoms, cartoons, and other programming alongside its HSN schedule. In the summer of 1996, Scripps (owner of KSHB Channel 41) began to manage KMCI under a local marketing agreement, and started to program what would be known as "38 Family Greats" from 6am to midnight, while retaining HSN programming overnight. HSN was subsequently dropped from the station in 1999. In 2001, KMCI dropped the name "Family Greats" and simply went under the title of its station number. Then in the fall of 2003, the station officially became known as "38 the Spot".

KSHB began airing a 9:00 PM newscast on KMCI to compete with WDAF in 2000. It ended in 2003 shortly before the changeover to "38 The Spot"; by this point, the newscast was called "38 News Now" and had completely differentiated itself from KSHB, using different graphics, different (and drastically smaller) set, and a different all percussion theme.

KMCI picked up programming from Fox Kids in fall 1999 until it was discontinued nationwide by FOX in 2002. It continued to run children's programming from FOX under the "Fox Box" banner later in 2002, and "4Kids TV" beginning in 2005.

KMCI is a secondary affiliate of NBC, airing programs such as The Today Show when KSHB-TV airs extended news programming.

The station was acquired outright by Scripps in 2001.

The host of 38 the Spot was Meredith Hoenes from 1999-2008. Hoenes left KSHB-TV 41 and went to WDAF TV 4 as Weekday Anchor/Reporter.

Holly Starr took over after Meredith Hoenes left in February of 2008.

External links

* [http://www.38thespot.com/ KMCI Homepage]
*TVQ|KMCI
*BIA|KMCI|TV|TV