KMEG

Infobox_Broadcast
call_letters = KMEG
city =
station_
station_slogan = Your Hometown News
station_branding = KMEG 14
analog = 14 (UHF)
digital = 39 (UHF)
other_chs =
affiliations = CBS
network =
founded =
airdate = October 1, 1967
location = Sioux City, Iowa
callsign_meaning = MEGawatt of visual ERP [http://www.fybush.com/site-010829.html A selection from a decade of visits to tower and studio sites in the Northeast and beyond ] ]
former_callsigns =
former_channel_numbers =
owner = Waitt Broadcasting, Inc.
"(sale pending to Siouxland Television, LLC)"
(SSA with Pappas Telecasting Companies)
licensee =
sister_stations = KPTH
former_affiliations = Secondary:
Fox (1994?-1999)
effective_radiated_power = 4656 kW (analog)
1000 kW (digital)
HAAT = 592 m (analog)
611 m (digital)
class =
facility_id = 39665
coordinates = coord|42|35|11.8|N|96|13|19.7|W|type:landmark_scale:2000
homepage = [http://www.kmeg.com/ www.kmeg.com]

KMEG is the CBS network affiliate in Sioux City, Iowa, operated by Pappas Telecasting alongside sister station, Fox network affiliate KPTH 44. However, KMEG is technically owned by Waitt Broadcasting, with a pending sale to Siouxland Television, LLC, in order to comply with FCC regulations forbidding common ownership of two of the four highest-ranking stations in a given media market. In this case, KMEG cannot be co-owned directly with KPTH. Pappas operates KMEG under a shared services agreement (SSA). The station operates on UHF channel 14 and in digital on channel 39, also on the UHF dial. KMEG began its broadcast operation on October 1, 1967 [ [http://www.pappastv.com/profile.php?id=8 Pappas Telecasting Companies ] ] and has maintained the KMEG call letters and its CBS affiliation ever since. KMEG had also served as one of the market's Fox affiliates before KPTH took to the air. It also shared "cherry picking" duties with KTIV Channel 4 (NBC Affiliate) in picking the WB/UPN (Now CW) programming to air in off-primetime hours prior to digital channel 4.2 starting broadcasting the CW in the market in 2007.

KMEG was one of only two CBS stations not to air "The Late Show with David Letterman" when it premiered. Fargo affiliate KXJB also declined to alter its syndicated lineup. [cite news
first = Tracey Wong
last = Briggs
title = There's no stopping 'Letterman' in Fargo
work = USA Today
page = 3D
date = 1993-08-30] This led Sioux City to become known as the "The Late Show's" first home office. KMEG began airing the show in 1994. [cite news
first = Tom
last = Hopkins
title = Sioux City picks up Letterman
work = Dayton Daily News
page = 11B
date = 1994-08-29]

KMEG's studios were at 7th & Floyd Boulevard in Sioux City until around the turn of the 21st century, when they moved to new facilities in Dakota Dunes, South Dakota, near North Sioux City. As of 2005, KPTH has moved into the new KMEG studios.

KMEG 14 News Team

* Mark Hall, 6 p.m. news co-anchor
* Steve Long, 10 p.m news co-anchor
* Michelle Stuhr, 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. news co-anchor
* Sarah Te Slaa, morning and noon news anchor
* Erika Thomas, weekend anchor and reporter
* Chad Sandwell, Siouxland's chief meteorologist, 6 and 10 p.m. newscasts
* Alex Roberts, morning meteorologist
* Andrew McCawley, weekend meteorologist
* Travis Morgan, sports director, 6 and 10 p.m. newscasts
* Garrett Gordon, Weekend Sports
* Dena Richardson, reporter
* Samantha Suttle, reporter
* Jeremy Maskel, reporter

Former On Air Personalities

* Mario Giraldo
* Denise Hyntka
* Jim Nichols
* Katie Ferrier
* Kevin Jacobsen
* Daisy O'Donnell
* Andi Hauser
* Adam Uhernik
* Sean Anderson
* Chad Petri
* Lisa Ryan
* George Waldenberger

KMEG 14 Studio

The current KMEG/KPTH studio is located in Dakota Dunes, South Dakota.This convert|20132|sqft|m2|abbr=on. building was constructed by Darland Construction Company. At the time, the building included the KMEG-TV studio and two radio stations (Star 102.3 and Y 101.3).Prior to the construction, Waitt Broadcasting purchased KMEG-TV in 1998 from Maine Radio.Waitt increased the KMEG tower height to convert|2000|ft|m|abbr=on. and upgraded the power to 5 million watts. KMEG coverage area increased from the Sioux City metro area to the full-market area. In May 2005, KMEG entered into a shared services agreement (SSA) with Pappas Telecasting Companies of Visalia, California, the owner of KPTH. The two radio stations moved out and KPTH Fox 44 moved in.

In November 2007, Waitt Broadcasting sold KMEG to Siouxland Television, LLC, pending FCC approval. Pappas is to continue operating the station as part of the deal. However, Pappas' Sioux City duopoly is among the 13 Pappas stations which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. This has put the pending transfer of KMEG's license from Waitt to Siouxland Television in jeopardy.

Translators

KMEG's signal is re-broadcast over three translators: [ [http://www.recnet.com/cdbs/fmq.php?facid=&call=KMEG&ccode=1&latd=&lond=&city=&state=&country=US&zip=&party=&party_type=LICEN REC Broadcast Query] , retrieved 2006-07-25]

*Norfolk, Nebraska: K35FM, channel 35
*Spencer, Iowa: K55FL, channel 55
*Storm Lake, Iowa: K40CO, channel 40

External links

* [http://www.kmeg.com/ KMEG 14]
*TVQ|KMEG
*BIA|KMEG|TV|TV

References