KSPR

Infobox_Broadcast
call_letters = KSPR
city =
station_
station_slogan = Covering Our Community
station_branding = KSPR/ABC
analog = 33 (UHF)
digital = 19 (UHF)
other_chs =
affiliations = ABC
network =
founded =
airdate = March 9, 1983
location = Springfield, Missouri
callsign_meaning = SPRingfield
former_callsigns =
former_channel_numbers =
owner = Perkin Media, LLC
"(operated by Schurz Communications, Inc.)"
licensee =
sister_stations = KYTV
former_affiliations = independent (1983-1986)
effective_radiated_power = 5000 kW (analog)
1000 kW (digital)
HAAT = 596 m (analog)
547.5 m (digital)
class =
facility_id = 35630
coordinates = coord|37|13|9.4|N|92|56|57.7|W|type:landmark_scale:2000
homepage = [http://www.kspr.com/ www.kspr.com]
KSPR, is the ABC affiliate for Springfield, Missouri and the Ozarks region. The Perkin Media outlet operates on analog channel 33 and digital channel 19. Its transmitter is located near Marshfield, Missouri. The station is owned by Perkin Media, but is operated by Schurz Communications under a shared services agreement with NBC affiliate KYTV.

History

KSPR originally signed on the air March 9 1983 as Springfield's first independent station. However, in 1986, ABC dropped its affiliation with its original affiliate in the area, KDEB-TV (now KSFX-TV) and gave it to KSPR.

On September 9, 2007, KSPR changed its on air branding to KSPR/ABC. Prior to then, KSPR was branded as Springfield 33, "Where Springfield comes first." The station's prior slogan was "Where your forecast comes first." For a short period of time, they were branded as ABC 33.

Notable former employees of KSPR include: Mark Steines, a correspondent for Entertainment Tonight; and John Brown, a former anchor for The Daily Buzz.

On September 21, 2006, Piedmont Television announced that it would sell KSPR to Perkin Media. Under the agreement, Schurz Communications, owner of NBC affiliate KYTV, took over KSPR's operations under a local marketing agreement. Perkin Media took over ownership of the station on August 28, 2007.

In August 2007, Joe and Christine Daues were hired as the main anchors for KSPR. Kevin Lighty joined the station as its chief meteorologist.

Michelle Sherwood was hired as the weekend anchor from KY3. Josh deBerge is the weekend meteorologist.

Natalie Nunn is the weathercaster for KSPR News this morning. Kyle Bosch moved to mornings from the weeknight anchor desk in September 2007.

Original Programming

The Late Night Horror Show with Count Norlock

Beginning on April 21, 1989, and ending the same year, KSPR produced and aired "The Late Night Horror Show with Count Norlock". This show featured syndicated horror films along with new introductory and interstitial segments featuring a horror host character.

Host segments were locally produced and featured local actor Jim Kellett in the role of Count Norlock, a vampire reminiscent of Count Orlok from the 1922 F. W. Murnau film "Nosferatu".

Featuring films such as "Magic" and "The Brides of Dracula", "The Late Night Horror Show with Count Norlock" only lasted one season.Citation
last =Boggs
first =Jeffrey
author-link =
last2 =
first2 =
author2-link =
title =Monster Memories of Dr. Dead and Count Norlock
newspaper = Scary Monsters Yearbook 2004 (Monster Memories #12)
pages =pgs. 25-27
year =2004
date =Summer 2004
url = http://www.scarymonstersmag.com/]

ammy's Place

From 1989-1990, Springfield area kids went home after school to watch "Sammy's Place" on KSPR, an afternoon show hosted by hobo clown "Sammy B. Good." The afternoon featured cartoons such as "He-Man and the Masters of the Universe," "She-Ra," "Voltron," "Transformers," and "G.I. Joe." Between cartoons, Sammy featured area kids as in-studio guests and entertained with a number of clown acts and skits. Sammy famously excited the in-studio kids with screams of "Everybody go 'yeaaaa'!" which would be echoed in unison.

External links

* [http://www.kspr.com/ KSPR station website]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pImDLR3Ru5Q Clip of "The Late Night Horror Show with Count Norlock" at YouTube.com]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5K6PpPU9eM Clip of "The Sammy B. Good Christmas Special" at YouTube.com]
*TVQ|KSPR
*BIA|KSPR|TV|TV

References