KCVU

Infobox Broadcast
call_letters = KCVU
station_
location = Chico/Redding, California
city = Paradise, California
station_branding = Fox 30
station_slogan = The Northstate's Sports Leader
analog = 30 (UHF)
digital = 20 (UHF)
temporary_digital =
subchannels = 30.1 Fox 30.2 MyNetworkTV
other_chs = K08NH Oroville
K38FQ Anderson
owner = Sainte Partners II, L.P.
licensee =
founded =
airdate = November 14, 1990
callsign_meaning = Chico
View (U)
-or-
Chico/Sacramento Valley UHF
(possible rhyming variation of San Francisco station KTVU)
sister_stations = Eureka Television Group
former_callsigns = KBCP (1990-1992)
former_channel_numbers =
former_affiliations = Primary:
Independent (1990-1994)
Secondary:
UPN (1995-1997)
The WB (1995-1998)
former_locations =
effective_radiated_power = 2510 kW (analog)
100 kW (digital)
HAAT = 440 m (analog)
449 m (digital)
class =
facility_id = 58605
coordinates = coord|39|57|40|N|121|42|43|W|type:landmark_scale:2000 (analog)
coord|39|57|42.8|N|121|42|43.1|W|type:landmark_scale:2000 (digital)
homepage = [http://www.myfoxchico.com/ www.myfoxchico.com]
telephone =

KCVU Fox 30 is a Fox Network affiliate based in Chico, California. The station is owned and operated by Sainte Partners II, L.P. of Modesto, California. It was founded in 1986 and it hit the airwaves as KBCP in 1990. It was a home shopping channel until 1994, when KBCP flipped the call sign to KCVU reflecting its new FOX affiliation. It replaces an affiliation on KRCR-TV seen on non-ABC hours since the network's inception in 1986. KRCR's other two satellites in Eureka and Fort Bragg had FOX as well as ABC. More FOX coverage was provided by KTVU on Chico and Redding cable systems.

KCVU was founded by Chester Smith in 1989. The company's chief executive officer is Robert Castro and the station's general manager is Doug Holroyd. Its transmitter and license is located near Paradise, California. KCVU's sister stations include Chico's KRVU-TV My 21 (also on KCVU's DT2 signal), KUCO-TV Univision 27 KXVU-TV Telemundo 17, and KKTF-TV TeleFutura 35; Medford, Oregon's KFBI-TV My 48 and KMCW-TV Telemundo 14, as well as five stations in Eureka owned by Raul Broadcasting.

Fox 30 is seen on cable channel 2 on both Comcast in Chico and Charter Cable in Redding.

Contract Dispute with Northland Cable

On May 6, 2007, KCVU replaced Medford Fox affiliate KMVU on Northland Cable Television channel 13 in both Mt. Shasta and Yreka when KMVU and Northland could not come to an agreement to remain on the cable system. (Northland also carries sister station KRVU My 21 on cable channel 2.) Northland had been blocked from airing Fox Network programming as a result. However, in a report from the Siskiyou Daily News on February 8, 2008, it appears that the dispute is settling down and Northland is working with KMVU and KCVU to return the channel to the cable system on Channel 13 in Mt. Shasta and Channel 11 in Yreka. KNVN is on channel 13 in Mt. Shasta but will move to channel 4 once all is settled with Fox. KHSL-TV is on channel 11 in Yreka and will move to channel 6 and KNVN will air on channel 4. KMVU finally won the contract dispute and is back on its original channel(s). Also, KDRV will move to channel 6 on the Mt. Shasta system.

Locally-produced programs

Fox 30 broadcasts local two local programs weekly: "Issues and Answers", hosted by Georgie Szendrey (with periodic guest hosts including Tricia Conner and Doug Holroyd), Sundays at 6:00am, "Pray Northstate" with Pastor Jim Wilson, Mondays at 6:30am, and "Randy & Monica: Almost Live!" with Randy and Monica Zachary, Tuesdays at 6:30am.

Local News & Relationship to KRCR

From February 2004 to June 2005, "Fox 30 News at 10:00pm" was produced by KRCR-TV, utilizing that stations' news department. The newscast was cancelled due to then-low ratings, budget constraints and a major contract dispute. It was virtually an unsucessful attempt for a cousin of KRCR to enter into a joint sales agreement.

Cable Coverage

*Charter Communications
**Redding & Red Bluff (Digital OTA)- Analog 2 & Digital 790
**Alturas (Dish Network Feed) - Channel 8

*Comcast Cable
**Chico (Digital OTA)- Analog 2 & Digital 902

*Time Warner Cable
**Burney (Microwave Link)- Channel 8

*CableVision
**Palo Cedro (Analog OTA)- Channel 2
**Weaverville (Analog OTA)- Channel 2
**Hayfork (Analog OTA)- Channel 13

*Almega Cable
**Trinity Center (Analog OTA)- Channel 10
**Fall River Mills (Analog OTA)- Channel 10

Digital Television

The station's digital channel is multiplexed:

Analog-to-digital conversion

After the analog television shutdown and digital conversion, which is tentatively scheduled to take place on February 17, 2009 http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1082A2.pdf] , KCVU will remain on its current pre-transition channel number, 20 [http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/cdbsmenu.hts?context=25&appn=101234653&formid=387&fac_num=25452 CDBS Print ] ] However, through the use of PSIP, digital television receivers will display KCVU's virtual channel as 30.

Early Switch

KCVU, along with KHSL-TV, KNVN and possibly KRCR will cease analog operations on December 22, 2008. KCVU is ceasing analog operations early because the post-transition tower is complete and has been up and running for at least seven months; same case with KHSL.

High Definition

Most Fox programs on KCVU broadcast from 8 PM, are broadcast in HD, including most sporting events on weekends such as Major League Baseball, NASCAR and NFL Football. Most MyNTV programs on KRVU that are apart of its normal programming hours (8-10 PM) which are normally broadcast in HD, are broadcast on KRVU in SD.

Death of Chester Smith

The Sacramento Bee and Chico Enterprise Record have both reported that Chester Smith, founder of Sainte Partners, died on August 8, 2008, at Stanford Medical Center in Palo Alto, California at age 78. He is survived by his wife Ann and his children. Despite Smith's death, Sainte will continue to own and operate KCVU and its sister stations in the Sainte family.

References

* [http://www.sacbee.com/obituaries/story/1146847.html Obituary: Chester Smith, Modesto-area country music singer and radio broadcaster] (The Sacramento Bee: August 11, 2008)
* [http://www.chicoer.com/news/ci_10173912 TV station owner Chester Smith dies] (Chico Enterprise Record: August 11, 2008)

External links

* [http://www.myfoxchico.com/ Fox 30 website]
*TVQ|KCVU
*TVQ|K08NH
*TVQ|K38FQ
*BIA|KCVU|TV|TV
*TitanTV|KCVU