KFDM-TV

Infobox_Broadcast
call_letters = KFDM-TV
city =
station_
station_slogan = You Can Count On Us!
station_branding = KFDM Channel 6
Southeast Texas CW
analog = 6 (VHF)
digital = 21 (UHF)
other_chs =
affiliations = CBS
The CW (DT2)
network =
founded =
airdate = April 24, 1955
location = Beaumont, Texas
callsign_meaning = Kall
For
Dependable
Magdalene
former_callsigns =
former_channel_numbers =
owner = Freedom Communications, Inc.
licensee = Freedom Broadcasting of Texas Licensee, LLC
sister_stations =
former_affiliations = The WB (DT2 until 2006)
effective_radiated_power = 100 kW (analog)
50 kW (digital)
HAAT = 293 m (analog)
254 m (digital)
class =
facility_id = 22589
coordinates = coord|30|8|24.6|N|93|58|44.4|W|type:landmark_scale:2000
homepage = [http://www.kfdm.com/ www.kfdm.com]

KFDM-TV is the CBS affiliate in the Beaumont / Port Arthur, Texas market. Licensed to Beaumont, it operates a digital subchannel carrying CW, which is also available on channel 10 on most cable systems in the area. As for KFDM, it airs on cable channel 3 on systems in the immediate portion of the market.

History

Channel 6 signed on for the first time on April 22 1955 and bills itself as the first television station on "the right side of Texas." It was owned by Beaumont Broadcasting along with KFDM radio (560 AM, now KLVI). Freedom Communications bought the station in 1984.

The station's call letters stand for "Kall For Dependable Magnolene," a car lubricant produced by Magnolia Petroleum Company, who founded KFDM radio in in 1924. It is only a coincidence that the call letters resemble its current owner.

KFDM was awarded in 2005 by the Texas chapter of the Associated Press for their coverage of Hurricane Rita. KFDM was also awarded a regional Emmy award in 2006, also for their coverage of Rita.

Current KFDM Manager, Larry Beaulieu has been with the station since 1974 when he was hired as News Director. He teamed for over 15 years with Cecile Burandt, who was the first female anchor hired in the Beaumont area.

The popular 1970's KFDM weekday news team consisted of Beaulieu, Burandt, weatherman Gary Powers, and sportscaster Jim Bergamo.

CW Launch Difficulties

When The WB and UPN announced their merger to The CW in 2006, this caused some difficulties on cable. The CW in Southeast Texas could be seen only on digital cable. It was one of the few stations that had problems launching the new CW network in 2006. KFDM has said that they have been negotiating with Time Warner Cable. The CW came to the Beaumont-Port Arthur, Texas area in February, 2007.

Newscaster Bill Leger Investgates

Newscaster Bill Leger has created some special programs about safety regulations regarding Restaurants and Nail Salons.

Leger's Restaurant Report Card

Leger's Restaurant Report Card is a grading of a performance by the Health Department of Southeast Texas counties. It is to see if the restaurant passed the inspection, or failed. They will be given a grade ranging from 55 to 100. Restaurants with a grade of 100 will be awarded the Blue Ribbon Award. They must correct the problem inorder to please their customers. There are also investigations that involved Mr. Bill Leger to come in and check out the restaurant.

Nail Salons Exposed

Nail Salons Exposed is an investigation done by Betty Davis and KFDM-TV on hidden camera proved that nail salons have been using unsanitary, and illegal nail tools. Davis was put at risk at most Beaumont nail salons. At the end, the owners of those who violated of using an unsanitary or illegal nail tools had to pay a fine. This footage may be found on YouTube, keyword: Nail Salons Exposed.

Current On-Air Personalities

Anchors

*Larry Beaulieu (6:00 P.M. Anchor & General Manager)
*Bill Leger (6:00 P.M. & 10:00 P.M. Anchor)
*Dan Gresham (First Cup & Six This Morning Anchor)
*Greg Picazo (Six This Morning & News At Noon)
*Nicole Murray (Weekend Anchor & General Assignment Reporter)
*Kelli Phillips (Live at Five and 10:00 P.M. anchor)

Weather

*Greg Bostwick (Chief Meteorologist)- Mr. Bostwick has been with the station almost 30 years and approximately 20 of those years as chief meteorologist. Endured Hurricane Rita's wrath in downtown Beaumont with Bill Leger.
*James Brown (6 This Morning, CW This Morning, & News at Noon Meteorologist)
*Kerry Cooper (Weekend Meteorologist)

ports

*Mike Friedman (Sports Director)
*Alex Cawley (Weekend Sports Anchor)

Reporters

*Ashley Rodrigue
*Ashley Gaston
*Nicole Murray
*Jessica Holloway
*Jennifer Heathcock
*Tom Wright

News Production Automation

*John Cain Technical Director/Supervisor
*David Moore Studio Technician/Weekend Associate Producer
*Bryan Brassard Noon & 5PM Technical Director/Graphics
*Chris Busselle Weekend Technical Director
*Honey Narducci Morning Technical Director
*Kenny Deville Studio Technician

Former On-Air Personalities

*Jackie Simien (Former Morning Show, Live at Five and 10 PM weekday anchor. left in December 2007)
*Amy Barnett (Currently at KPRC in Houston)
*Sandra Bookman (former weekend anchor); now at WABC-TV in New York City
*Cecile Burandt (6 & 10 PM Weekday Anchor 1974-1994)
*Keith Calkins (former sports reporter, currently at KRIV in Houston)
* Dianne Carraway (former sports reporter, first female sports announcer/reporter in market). Mid to late 70's
*Roseanne Colletti (now at WNBC-TV in New York City)
*Kelly Coone (1996-2000 weekend news anchor/weekday reporter)
*Camille Eaton-Briggs
*Bob French (now at KBTX in Bryan)
*Leeza Gibbons- Co-Host of the Southeast Texas edition of "PM Magazine"
*Gene Hall
*Erika Harris
*Karen Hiltpold (reporter 1981-1987) Presently an Account Executive at KFDM
*Delilah Holman (former Live At Five Host)
*Cy Hurst (Sports Anchor 1969-1977)
*Scott Lawrence (Reporter/Weekend Anchor 1980's) Now the Executive Producer of newscasts at KFDM
*Brian Jensen (former Sports Director 1981-1988)
*Greg Kerr (former sports reporter, currently at WFMY in Greensboro, North Carolina)
*Sally MacDonald
*Kathleen Mitchell
*Bill Paradoski
*Gary Powers (Chief Meteorologist 1970'8-Early 80's), then went on to KBMT, known for his KFDM weather commercials
*Don Pumphrey- Reporter/Anchor 1972-73 (First African American reporter/anchor in Beaumont); currentnly employed with Entergy
*Ralph Ramos (first anchor/reporter in the 1950s)
*Sally Rieger (anchor/reporter 1982-1992)
*Angel San Juan (former weekend anchor/reporter, now at Beaumont's KBTV-TV)
*Bob Slovak (now at KTRK-TV in Houston)
*Ken Smith (Assistant News Director/Anchor 1970's); now General Manager at KBMT
*Kara Stevens
*Gary Thornton (Reporter)
*Grace Trahan (Morning show anchor 1987-1994, currently at WRTV in Indianapolis, Indiana)
*Ronda Vize
*John Walls- Host of PM Magazine with Leeza Gibbons
*Doug Warner (former sports anchor, now morning anchor/reporter at KWTV Oklahoma City)
*Liz Wiggins (former 6 and 10 PM weekday anchor)
*Wendy Woolfolk (reporter)
*Albert Zipp (currently at WBOY in Clarksburg, West Virginia)
*Courtney Zubowski (currently at KHOU-TV Houston)
*Wayne Sparrow (still works the MDA telethon every year)
*Nick Zelinski (now at WFAA Dallas)

External links

* [http://www.kfdm.com/ Station Website]
* [http://www.thecwtv.tv/ Southeast Texas CW Website]
*TVQ|KFDM
*BIA|KFDM|TV|TV