KMTV

Infobox_Broadcast
call_letters = KMTV
city =
station_
station_slogan = Breaking News. First Warning Weather.
station_branding = Action 3 News
analog = 3 (VHF)
digital = 45 (UHF)
other_chs =
affiliations = CBS
network =
founded =
airdate = September 1, 1949
location = Omaha, Nebraska
callsign_meaning = May Broadcasting
(the original owner)
TeleVision
former_callsigns =
former_channel_numbers =
owner = Journal Broadcast Group, Inc.
licensee = Journal Broadcast Corporation
sister_stations =
former_affiliations = Primary:
CBS (1949-1956)
NBC (1956-1986)
Secondary:
ABC (1949-1953 and 1954-1957)
DuMont (1949-1955) [http://members.aol.com/jeff99500/1952tv.html]
effective_radiated_power = 100 kW (analog)
1000 kW (digital)
HAAT = 418 m (analog)
425.5 m (digital)
class =
facility_id = 35190
coordinates = coord|41|18|24.6|N|96|1|37.7|W|type:landmark_scale:2000
homepage = [http://www.action3news.com/ www.action3news.com]

KMTV Channel 3 (branded "Action 3 News") is the CBS television station in Omaha, Nebraska. Owned by the Journal Broadcast Group, it broadcasts an NTSC signal on VHF channel 3 and a digital television signal as KMTV-DT on UHF channel 45.

History

KMTV is the second oldest station in Nebraska; it began broadcasting on September 1, 1949 as a CBS affiliate, but it also carried ABC and DuMont programming [http://members.aol.com/jeff99500/1952tv.html] . The station was supposed to have the call letters KMA-TV, reflecting its first owner, May Broadcasting of Shenandoah, Iowa. There was already a KMA-AM in Shenandoah (also owned by May), but the FCC would not allow channel 3 to use those call letters since Shenandoah was not considered part of the Omaha market at the time.

KMTV briefly dropped ABC when KOLN-TV signed on from Lincoln in 1953, but picked it back up when the FCC made Lincoln its own market a year later. In 1956, KMTV switched affiliations with WOW-TV (now WOWT-TV) and became an NBC affiliate. It also stopped carrying the DuMont programming the same year when DuMont ceased operations. In 1957, KMTV dropped its secondary ABC affiliation when KETV signed on as an ABC affiliate.

In 1986, KMTV and WOWT entered into an agreement which allowed them to return to their original affiliations. As a result, KMTV rejoined CBS after 30 years with NBC on June 29, 1986. A few months after the return to CBS, May sold both of its television stations--KMTV and KGUN-TV in Tucson--to Lee Enterprises after over 37 years of ownership. Lee sold all of its stations to Emmis Communications in October 2000.

Tom Brokaw was a reporter at the station from 1962 to 1965. [ [http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/B/htmlB/brokawtom/brokawtom.htm Brokaw, Tom ] ]

Over the years, KMTV underwent many identity changes to keep up with broadcasting trends, as well to keep up in the local ratings race. The station's newscasts were once known as KMTV News; NewsCenter 3; Channel 3 News; KMTV News 3; and most recently KM3 News; today they are known as Action 3 News.

In 2002, KMTV dropped its 6pm local news timeslot and replaced it with syndicated tabloid shows. That same year, sports were dropped from its 10 PM newscasts, to be replaced with a nightly commentary segment hosted by KMTV sports director Travis Justice. In late 2005, after Emmis sold the non-FCC assets of the station to Journal Broadcast Group, KMTV retired "For What It's Worth," returning to the traditional sports segment. KMTV re-launched a 6pm edition of Action 3 News on September 5, 2006, the same day as Katie Couric's debut as anchor of the CBS Evening News. The station has also taken on the glossy imaging and graphics packages seen on most other Journal stations, though with differing fonts and colors. On Dec. 22, 2006, the station announced it would not be renewing the contracts of evening news anchors Deborah Ward and Greg Peterson. New anchors Carol Wang and Carlo Cecchetto debuted Jan. 22, 2007. KMTV has traditionally trailed in third place in local news ratings, behind KETV and WOWT, since the late 1980's.

In late January 2007, Journal exercised its option to acquire the station's remaining assets by announcing the sale of radio station KOMJ-AM 1490 to Cochise Broadcasting LLC. [http://www.journalbroadcastgroup.com/AllAboutUs/tabid/1618/mid/2962/newsid2962/8874/Default.aspx] The sale of KOMJ was necessary because had Journal bought KMTV outright in the interim, it would have owned more broadcasting properties in the Omaha market than is currently allowed by FCC regulations. The transactions closed on March 27, 2007. [http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=145779&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=978673&highlight=] Also in early 2007, KMTV's website was redesigned; like the websites of several other Journal-owned stations, it is now operated by the Local Media Network division of WorldNow.

KMTV's studios are located near 108th and Mockingbird Drive in southwest Omaha. KMTV is the only Omaha station to have moved its studios from the downtown area. From 1949 to 1978 the station was located at 27th & Farnam Streets, just south of KETV channel 7 (at 2665 Douglas), and 7 blocks east of WOWT channel 6 (at 3501 Farnam). The station's auxiliary transmitter still stands at their former location. The main transmitter tower is located on a "tower farm" near North 72nd Street & Crown Point Avenue in north central Omaha.

Newscast Slogans

"Channel 3 News, The Midland's NewsChannel" (1990s)

"KMTV News 3, In Your Corner" (2000-2002)

"KM3 News, Clearly to the Point"(2002-2004)

"KM3 News, Clear, Accurate, to the point" (2004-2006)

"Your Action 3 News Station" (2006-present)

Programming

Many nationally syndicated shows on KMTV include "Live with Regis and Kelly", "Dr. Phil", "The Oprah Winfrey Show", and "Entertainment Tonight".

News staff

5pm, 6pm, & 10pm

Starting August 4th Craig Nigrelli] -Anchor
* [http://www.action3news.com/Global/story.asp?S=6073424&nav=menu550_8_2 Carol Wang] -Anchor
* [http://www.action3news.com/Global/story.asp?S=6073389&nav=menu550_8_2 Ryan McPike] - Chief Meteorologist
* [http://www.action3news.com/Global/story.asp?S=6064340&nav=menu550_8_2 Travis Justice] -sports director

News Reporters

* [http://www.action3news.com/Global/story.asp?S=6067841&nav=menu550_8_2 Michelle Bandur]
* [http://www.action3news.com/Global/story.asp?S=6067822&nav=menu550_8_2 Molli Graham]
* [http://www.action3news.com/Global/story.asp?S=6067928&nav=menu550_8_2 Joe Jordan]
* [http://www.action3news.com/Global/story.asp?S=6754404&nav=menu550_8_2 Chriss Knight] -Previously with KLKN
* [http://www.action3news.com/Global/story.asp?S=6067950&nav=menu550_8_2 Devon Patton]
* [http://www.action3news.com/Global/story.asp?S=6073397&nav=menu550_8_2 Dave Roberts]
* [http://www.action3news.com/Global/story.asp?S=6067918&nav=menu550_8_2 Kathy Sarantos-Niver]
* [http://www.action3news.com/Global/story.asp?S=6067900&nav=menu550_8_2 Kerri Stowell]
* [http://www.action3news.com/Global/story.asp?S=6067881&nav=menu550_8_2 Mary Williams]

Meterologists

* [http://www.action3news.com/Global/story.asp?S=6064600&nav=menu550_8_2 Suzanne Matthews] Fill-in Meteorologist
* [http://www.action3news.com/Global/story.asp?S=6073389&nav=menu550_8_2 Ryan McPike] Chief Meteorologist
* [http://www.action3news.com/Global/story.asp?S=6073400&nav=menu550_8_2_14 C.T. Thongklin] AM and Midday Meteorologist
* [http://www.action3news.com/Global/story.asp?S=6067987&nav=menu550_8_2 Dean Wysocki] Weekend Meteorologist

ports Reporters

* [http://www.action3news.com/Global/story.asp?S=6064340&nav=menu550_8_2 Travis Justice]
* [http://www.action3news.com/Global/story.asp?S=6067866&nav=menu550_8_2 Matt Siegel]

KMTV Alumni

*Greg Peterson News Anchor 2001 -2006 (now News Anchor WPMI Mobile, Al)
*Deborah Ward News Anchor-Reporter 1980-2006
*Loretta Carol News Anchor 1985-2001
*John Mason News Anchor 1986-1994
*Micheal Scott News Anchor 1995-1999 (previousluy with KETV)
*Bob Murray Anchor/Reporter Late 1970s-1985
*Dave Blackwell Sports Director 1964-1973
*Jim Kelter Sports Director 1973-1979
*Jon Kelley Reporter 1990-1991 (now weekend co-host of tabloid news show Extra and host of "The Mole (TV series)" on ABC)
*Dick Fletcher Meteorologist (late 1970s) (moved to WTSP in St. Petersburg in 1980; died February 26, 2008)
*Chuck Roberts News Anchor 1975-1981 (now on CNN Headline News)
*Bev Chapman News Anchor 1979-1983 (Since then with KMBC in Kansas City
*Terry Yeager Sports Director (early to mid 80s)
*Tom Bevacqua Chief Meteorologist (1980s-early 90s)
*Floyd Kalber News Anchor 1950s
*Tom Brokaw News Reporter 1960's
*Dale Hansen Sports Reporter 1970s (Now Sports Director for WFAA-TV Dallas)
*Carol Scott Weathercaster 1970s
*Tom Henry News Anchor 1960s
*John Jones [aka Dr. San Guinary] Producer/director and star of KMTV's late night "Creature Feature" 1971-1983
*Joni Ballion Host, "Conversations with Joni" 1970s
*Cal Kirshen (real name: Keevey Kirshenbaum) News Anchor/Announcer 1960s-70s

External links

* [http://www.action3news.com/ action3news.com]
*TVQ|KMTV
*BIA|KMTV|TV|TV

References