KMAX-TV: Difference between revisions
Wcquidditch (talk | contribs) m →KPWB-TV: Pappas ownership, WB affiliation, and 31 Action News: it has only been "KMAX" under the numerous iterations of Paramount(/Viacom/CBS) ownership, so any Pappas investment would be into "KPWB" |
Sammi Brie (talk | contribs) review edited area. remove low-rated mention but no source says it was canceled after 9/11. |
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| city = Sacramento, California |
| city = Sacramento, California |
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| logo = Kmax-31-logo.png |
| logo = Kmax-31-logo.png |
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| logo_alt = The words "K M A X 31" in a bold sans-serif font. "K M A X" is in black and "31" is in light blue. |
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| logo_upright = 1 |
| logo_upright = 1 |
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| branding = KMAX 31 |
| branding = KMAX 31 |
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| country = United States |
| country = United States |
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| airdate = {{start date and age|1974|10|5|p=y|br=y}} |
| airdate = {{start date and age|1974|10|5|p=y|br=y}} |
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| callsign_meaning = |
| callsign_meaning = <!--No published reference other than ads supports a meaning--> |
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| sister_stations = [[KOVR]] |
| sister_stations = [[KOVR]] |
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| former_callsigns = {{ubl|KRAK-TV (CP, 1968–1969)<ref name=historycards>{{Cite web|title=FCC History Cards for KMAX-TV|url=https://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/getimportletter_exh.cgi?import_letter_id=85400|publisher=Federal Communications Commission}}</ref>|KRAQ (CP, 1969–1971)<ref name=historycards/>|KMUV-TV (1971–1981)|KRBK-TV (1981–1995)|KPWB-TV (1995–1998)}} |
| former_callsigns = {{ubl|KRAK-TV (CP, 1968–1969)<ref name=historycards>{{Cite web|title=FCC History Cards for KMAX-TV|url=https://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/getimportletter_exh.cgi?import_letter_id=85400|publisher=Federal Communications Commission|access-date=December 22, 2021|archive-date=December 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211222015502/https://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/getimportletter_exh.cgi?import_letter_id=85400|url-status=live}}</ref>|KRAQ (CP, 1969–1971)<ref name=historycards/>|KMUV-TV (1971–1981)|KRBK-TV (1981–1995)|KPWB-TV (1995–1998)}} |
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| former_channel_numbers = {{ubl|'''Analog:''' 31 (UHF, 1974–2009)|'''Digital:''' 21 (UHF, |
| former_channel_numbers = {{ubl|'''Analog:''' 31 (UHF, 1974–2009)|'''Digital:''' 21 (UHF, 2003–2020)}} |
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| former_affiliations = {{ubl|Independent (1974–1995)|[[The WB]] (1995–1998)|[[UPN]] (1998–2006)|[[The CW]] (2006–2023)}} |
| former_affiliations = {{ubl|Independent (1974–1995)|[[The WB]] (1995–1998)|[[UPN]] (1998–2006)|[[The CW]] (2006–2023)}} |
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| erp = 1,000 kW |
| erp = 1,000 kW |
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'''KMAX-TV''' (channel 31) is an [[independent television station]] in [[Sacramento, California]], United States. It is owned by the [[CBS News and Stations]] group alongside [[Stockton, California|Stockton]]-licensed [[KOVR]] (channel 13), the market's [[CBS]] [[owned-and-operated station]]. The two stations share studios on KOVR Drive in [[West Sacramento]]; KMAX-TV's [[KXTV/KOVR tower|transmitter]] is located in [[Walnut Grove, California]]. |
'''KMAX-TV''' (channel 31) is an [[independent television station]] in [[Sacramento, California]], United States. It is owned by the [[CBS News and Stations]] group alongside [[Stockton, California|Stockton]]-licensed [[KOVR]] (channel 13), the market's [[CBS]] [[owned-and-operated station]]. The two stations share studios on KOVR Drive in [[West Sacramento]]; KMAX-TV's [[KXTV/KOVR tower|transmitter]] is located in [[Walnut Grove, California]]. |
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Channel 31 began broadcasting on October 5, 1974, as KMUV-TV. It was built by the Grayson Television Company and originally featured a lineup heavy on movies. The station was not a financial success and, after filing for bankruptcy reorganization, became a primarily Spanish-language station. During this time, two groups looked at using channel 31 for over-the-air [[subscription television]], but after [[Tandem Productions]] and [[Jerry Perenchio]] acquired it in 1980, they decided not to enter the competitive market and immediately sold. The new owners, Koplar Communications, relaunched the station in 1981 as KRBK-TV, a general-entertainment independent outlet. During the 1980s, KRBK-TV became more competitive with Sacramento's leading independent, [[KTXL]], and established a local news presence. From 1988 to 2002, it was the broadcast home of [[Sacramento Kings]] basketball. |
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Facing a heavy debt load, Koplar sold KRBK-TV to [[Pappas Telecasting]] in 1993. In 1995, the station affiliated with [[The WB]], changed its call sign to KPWB-TV, and launched a morning show that became ''Good Day Sacramento'' (now ''Good Day''), a station fixture since. KPWB-TV was acquired by the [[Paramount Stations Group]] in 1997 and became an owned-and-operated station for [[UPN]] as KMAX-TV in January 1998; Paramount, which at the time was dismantling newscasts and news departments at many of its stations, discontinued channel 31's evening newscasts but retained and expanded ''Good Day Sacramento''. KMAX-TV and KOVR became a [[duopoly (broadcasting)|duopoly]] in 2005, with channel 31 moving into KOVR's West Sacramento studios; the next year, the station became a charter outlet of [[The CW]], an affiliation it retained until 2023. In addition to ''Good Day'', KMAX-TV airs a prime time newscast at 8 p.m. as well as local sports. |
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==KMUV-TV: Early years== |
==KMUV-TV: Early years== |
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===Construction=== |
===Construction=== |
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In 1966, the [[Federal Communications Commission]] (FCC) received two applications to build a new television station in [[Sacramento]] on [[ultra high frequency]] (UHF) channel 15. The Grayson Television Company, headed by Sidney Grayson of Sacramento, and the Hercules Broadcasting Company, owners of Sacramento radio station [[KHTK|KRAK]], each sought the channel.<ref name="Sacr660720">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-second-sacramento-uhf/155388821/|date=July 20, 1966|page=F6|title=Second Sacramento UHF TV Application Is Made|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 21, 2024}}</ref><!-- Wed --> Grayson attempted to reach an agreement with Hercules to end the proceeding by having the latter withdraw its application; Grayson alleged that Hercules had agreed to withdraw only to later renege, resulting in a lawsuit.<ref name="Sacr680127">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-court-fight-looms-ove/155388837/|date=January 27, 1968|page=B7|title=Court Fight Looms Over Capital UHF Channel|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 21, 2024}}</ref><!-- Sat --> While Hercules won the [[construction permit]] in July 1968,<ref name="Sacr680712">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-fcc-okays-new-uhf-sta/155388847/|date=July 12, 1968|page=D3|title=FCC Okays New UHF Station For Sacramento|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 21, 2024}}</ref><!-- Fri --> Grayson bought the permit in 1970 from Hercules with hopes of opening it in 1972.<ref name="Sacr720123">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-new-television-entran/155388863/|date=January 23, 1972|page=E8|title=New Television Entrant: Channel 15 Studio And Tower Will Be Ready This Summer|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 21, 2024}}</ref><!-- Sun --><ref name="Sacr710515">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-another-tv-station-c/155388892/|date=May 15, 1971|page=A6|title=Another TV Station: Channel 15 Will Open Next Year|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 21, 2024}}</ref><!-- Sat --> During the construction process, the FCC switched the construction permit for KMUV-TV from channel 15 to channel 31 out of concerns that the new station would interfere with public safety radio systems using nearby spectrum in San Francisco.<ref name="Sacr720917">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-fcc-eliminates-channe/155388923/|date=September 17, 1972|page=B2|title=FCC Eliminates Channel 15, Assigns KMUV To Channel 31|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 21, 2024}}</ref><!-- Sun --> |
In 1966, the [[Federal Communications Commission]] (FCC) received two applications to build a new television station in [[Sacramento]] on [[ultra high frequency]] (UHF) channel 15. The Grayson Television Company, headed by Sidney Grayson of Sacramento, and the Hercules Broadcasting Company, owners of Sacramento radio station [[KHTK|KRAK]], each sought the channel.<ref name="Sacr660720">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-second-sacramento-uhf/155388821/|date=July 20, 1966|page=F6|title=Second Sacramento UHF TV Application Is Made|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 21, 2024|archive-date=September 22, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240922234849/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-second-sacramento-uhf/155388821/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Wed --> Grayson attempted to reach an agreement with Hercules to end the proceeding by having the latter withdraw its application; Grayson alleged that Hercules had agreed to withdraw only to later renege, resulting in a lawsuit.<ref name="Sacr680127">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-court-fight-looms-ove/155388837/|date=January 27, 1968|page=B7|title=Court Fight Looms Over Capital UHF Channel|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 21, 2024|archive-date=September 21, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240921071717/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-court-fight-looms-ove/155388837/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sat --> While Hercules won the [[construction permit]] in July 1968,<ref name="Sacr680712">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-fcc-okays-new-uhf-sta/155388847/|date=July 12, 1968|page=D3|title=FCC Okays New UHF Station For Sacramento|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 21, 2024|archive-date=September 21, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240921071733/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-fcc-okays-new-uhf-sta/155388847/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Fri --> Grayson bought the permit in 1970 from Hercules with hopes of opening it in 1972.<ref name="Sacr720123">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-new-television-entran/155388863/|date=January 23, 1972|page=E8|title=New Television Entrant: Channel 15 Studio And Tower Will Be Ready This Summer|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 21, 2024|archive-date=September 21, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240921071705/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-new-television-entran/155388863/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sun --><ref name="Sacr710515">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-another-tv-station-c/155388892/|date=May 15, 1971|page=A6|title=Another TV Station: Channel 15 Will Open Next Year|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 21, 2024}}</ref><!-- Sat --> During the construction process, the FCC switched the construction permit for KMUV-TV from channel 15 to channel 31 out of concerns that the new station would interfere with public safety radio systems using nearby spectrum in San Francisco.<ref name="Sacr720917">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-fcc-eliminates-channe/155388923/|date=September 17, 1972|page=B2|title=FCC Eliminates Channel 15, Assigns KMUV To Channel 31|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 21, 2024}}</ref><!-- Sun --> |
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In March 1973, Grayson received final engineering approval.<ref name="Sacr730320">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-channel-31-gets-final/155388942/|date=March 20, 1973|page=B3|title=Channel 31 Gets Final FCC Permit|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 21, 2024}}</ref><!-- Tue --> It leased land for studios in Sacramento and a tower in [[Walnut Grove, California|Walnut Grove]].<ref name="Sacr730429">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-kmuv-leases-land-for/155388936/|date=April 29, 1973|page=C2|title=KMUV Leases Land For TV Studio, Offices|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 21, 2024}}</ref><!-- Sun --> After several construction delays,<ref name="Sacr740921">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-local-news-on-40-for/155389222/|date=September 21, 1974|page=A13|first=John V.|last=Hurst|title=Local News On 40 For Sleepyheads|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 21, 2024}}</ref><!-- Sat --> KMUV-TV began broadcasting on October 5, 1974.<ref name="Sacr741004">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-capitals-newest-tv-s/155389234/|date=October 4, 1974|page=19|title=Capital's Newest TV Station, Ch. 31, Will Go On Air Officially Tomorrow|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 21, 2024}}</ref><!-- Fri --> When the station went on, it was an [[independent station]] whose programming consisted nearly entirely of movies, with three films to be telecast each day and repeated. The primary interruption was an early evening program in Spanish.<ref name="Sacr740908">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-at-last-networks-int/155389244/|date=September 8, 1974|pages=TV 3, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-dialers-choice/155389255/ 38]|first=Lillian|last=Hickey|title=At Last: Networks Introduce New Fall TV Shows|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 21, 2024}}</ref><!-- Sun --> |
In March 1973, Grayson received final engineering approval.<ref name="Sacr730320">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-channel-31-gets-final/155388942/|date=March 20, 1973|page=B3|title=Channel 31 Gets Final FCC Permit|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 21, 2024|archive-date=September 21, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240921071726/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-channel-31-gets-final/155388942/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Tue --> It leased land for studios in Sacramento and a tower in [[Walnut Grove, California|Walnut Grove]].<ref name="Sacr730429">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-kmuv-leases-land-for/155388936/|date=April 29, 1973|page=C2|title=KMUV Leases Land For TV Studio, Offices|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 21, 2024|archive-date=September 21, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240921071719/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-kmuv-leases-land-for/155388936/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sun --> After several construction delays,<ref name="Sacr740921">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-local-news-on-40-for/155389222/|date=September 21, 1974|page=A13|first=John V.|last=Hurst|title=Local News On 40 For Sleepyheads|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 21, 2024|archive-date=September 21, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240921071714/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-local-news-on-40-for/155389222/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sat --> KMUV-TV began broadcasting on October 5, 1974.<ref name="Sacr741004">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-capitals-newest-tv-s/155389234/|date=October 4, 1974|page=19|title=Capital's Newest TV Station, Ch. 31, Will Go On Air Officially Tomorrow|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 21, 2024|archive-date=September 22, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240922234849/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-capitals-newest-tv-s/155389234/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Fri --> When the station went on, it was an [[independent station]] whose programming consisted nearly entirely of movies, with three films to be telecast each day and repeated. The primary interruption was an early evening program in Spanish.<ref name="Sacr740908">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-at-last-networks-int/155389244/|date=September 8, 1974|pages=TV 3, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-dialers-choice/155389255/ 38]|first=Lillian|last=Hickey|title=At Last: Networks Introduce New Fall TV Shows|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 21, 2024}}</ref><!-- Sun --> |
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KMUV-TV's attempts to get on the air were noteworthy for causing a dispute that almost led the FCC to deny the license renewal of its principal competitor, [[KTXL]] (channel 40). KTXL attempted to show to the FCC that Grayson was unqualified to be a broadcast licensee, in opposition to the channel change from 15 to 31. KTXL owner Camellia City Telecasters submitted a pleading containing what purported to be a [[telex]] message from [[Dun & Bradstreet]] claiming he was an officer of the company after having previously been convicted of income tax evasion though he was merely a general manager. In August 1974, the FCC opened a hearing into charges the teletype was forged.<ref name="Sacr740813">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-fcc-will-probe-forger/155388970/|date=August 13, 1974|page=A1|title=FCC Will Probe Forgery Charge In TV Dispute|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 21, 2024}}</ref><!-- Tue --> In 1975, Grayson Television sued Camellia City for $7.5 million, claiming the filing was an attempt to prevent KMUV-TV from being constructed. The next year, an administrative law judge issued an initial decision finding against KTXL and recommending its license not be renewed.<ref name="Sacr761016">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-shutdown-possible-tv/57044628/|date=October 16, 1976|pages=A1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-channel-40/57044683/ A6]|first=Barbara|last=Hooker|title=Shutdown Possible: TV-40 Is Denied License Renewal|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 21, 2024}}</ref><!-- Sat --> Shortly after, the station won $150,000 in a settlement with Camellia City. The FCC voted in June 1978 to overturn the recommendation and renew the KTXL license.<ref name="BC780626">{{Cite news|pages=64–65|title=Sacramento TV survives renewal challenge: FCC overturns ALJ decision that would have denied KTXL on grounds of misrepresentation|date=June 26, 1978|work=Broadcasting|id={{pq|1016899619}} }}</ref> |
KMUV-TV's attempts to get on the air were noteworthy for causing a dispute that almost led the FCC to deny the license renewal of its principal competitor, [[KTXL]] (channel 40). KTXL attempted to show to the FCC that Grayson was unqualified to be a broadcast licensee, in opposition to the channel change from 15 to 31. KTXL owner Camellia City Telecasters submitted a pleading containing what purported to be a [[telex]] message from [[Dun & Bradstreet]] claiming he was an officer of the company after having previously been convicted of income tax evasion though he was merely a general manager. In August 1974, the FCC opened a hearing into charges the teletype was forged.<ref name="Sacr740813">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-fcc-will-probe-forger/155388970/|date=August 13, 1974|page=A1|title=FCC Will Probe Forgery Charge In TV Dispute|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 21, 2024|archive-date=September 22, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240922234850/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-fcc-will-probe-forger/155388970/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Tue --> In 1975, Grayson Television sued Camellia City for $7.5 million, claiming the filing was an attempt to prevent KMUV-TV from being constructed. The next year, an administrative law judge issued an initial decision finding against KTXL and recommending its license not be renewed.<ref name="Sacr761016">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-shutdown-possible-tv/57044628/|date=October 16, 1976|pages=A1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-channel-40/57044683/ A6]|first=Barbara|last=Hooker|title=Shutdown Possible: TV-40 Is Denied License Renewal|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 21, 2024|archive-date=September 21, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240921071711/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-shutdown-possible-tv/57044628/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sat --> Shortly after, the station won $150,000 in a settlement with Camellia City. The FCC voted in June 1978 to overturn the recommendation and renew the KTXL license.<ref name="BC780626">{{Cite news|pages=64–65|title=Sacramento TV survives renewal challenge: FCC overturns ALJ decision that would have denied KTXL on grounds of misrepresentation|date=June 26, 1978|work=Broadcasting|id={{pq|1016899619}} }}</ref> |
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===Non-English broadcasting=== |
===Non-English broadcasting=== |
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KMUV-TV struggled financially. It filed for [[Chapter 11 bankruptcy]] reorganization in April 1976, facing 11 lawsuits for nonpayment and owing banks and one of its officers. By then, shareholders in Channel 31, Inc.—the former Grayson Television—were negotiating with [[Pappas Telecasting|Pappas Associates]], led by Mike Pappas and his brothers Harry and Pete. The Pappas family—owners of [[KMPH-TV]] in [[Visalia]] and radio stations—announced plans to switch channel 31 to a station focusing primarily on Spanish-language programming as well as shows catering to other ethnic groups,<ref name="Sacr760415">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-channel-31-tells-plan/155389282/|date=April 15, 1976|page=B3|first=Ann|last=Reed|title=Channel 31 Tells Plan For Non-English Format|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 21, 2024}}</ref><!-- Thu --> which took effect on May 3.<ref name="Sacr760504">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-channel-31-changes/155389295/|date=May 4, 1976|page=C4|title=Channel 31 Changes|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 21, 2024}}</ref><!-- Tue --> Though Pappas Associates ran the station, the company never bought it because of possible signal overlap issues to KMPH-TV; instead, Mike Pappas obtained an option to buy it outright.<ref name="Sacr760613">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-more-tv-shows-for-non/155389298/|date=June 13, 1976|page=F10|title=More TV Shows For Non-English Viewers|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 21, 2024}}</ref><!-- Sun --> The station had a limited amount of Spanish-language local programming; it aired the local magazine program {{lang|es|El Pueblo}}, produced by a Catholic organization, as well as a regular program on the California state legislature<ref name="Sacr770206">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-kmuv-31-adds-2-new-lo/155389339/|date=February 6, 1977|page=F9|title=KMUV-31 Adds 2 New Local Shows|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 21, 2024}}</ref><!-- Sun --> and a weekly cooking show.<ref name="Sacr790916">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-culinary-miraclesbet/155389368/|date=September 16, 1979|page=H11|first=Maloa|last=Gribkoff|title=Culinary Miracles—Bettie Knows 'Em|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 21, 2024}}</ref><!-- Sun --> |
KMUV-TV struggled financially. It filed for [[Chapter 11 bankruptcy]] reorganization in April 1976, facing 11 lawsuits for nonpayment and owing banks and one of its officers. By then, shareholders in Channel 31, Inc.—the former Grayson Television—were negotiating with [[Pappas Telecasting|Pappas Associates]], led by Mike Pappas and his brothers Harry and Pete. The Pappas family—owners of [[KMPH-TV]] in [[Visalia]] and radio stations—announced plans to switch channel 31 to a station focusing primarily on Spanish-language programming as well as shows catering to other ethnic groups,<ref name="Sacr760415">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-channel-31-tells-plan/155389282/|date=April 15, 1976|page=B3|first=Ann|last=Reed|title=Channel 31 Tells Plan For Non-English Format|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 21, 2024|archive-date=September 21, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240921071714/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-channel-31-tells-plan/155389282/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Thu --> which took effect on May 3.<ref name="Sacr760504">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-channel-31-changes/155389295/|date=May 4, 1976|page=C4|title=Channel 31 Changes|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 21, 2024}}</ref><!-- Tue --> Though Pappas Associates ran the station, the company never bought it because of possible signal overlap issues to KMPH-TV; instead, Mike Pappas obtained an option to buy it outright.<ref name="Sacr760613">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-more-tv-shows-for-non/155389298/|date=June 13, 1976|page=F10|title=More TV Shows For Non-English Viewers|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 21, 2024|archive-date=September 21, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240921175334/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-more-tv-shows-for-non/155389298/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sun --> The station had a limited amount of Spanish-language local programming; it aired the local magazine program {{lang|es|El Pueblo}}, produced by a Catholic organization, as well as a regular program on the California state legislature<ref name="Sacr770206">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-kmuv-31-adds-2-new-lo/155389339/|date=February 6, 1977|page=F9|title=KMUV-31 Adds 2 New Local Shows|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 21, 2024|archive-date=September 21, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240921071733/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-kmuv-31-adds-2-new-lo/155389339/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sun --> and a weekly cooking show.<ref name="Sacr790916">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-culinary-miraclesbet/155389368/|date=September 16, 1979|page=H11|first=Maloa|last=Gribkoff|title=Culinary Miracles—Bettie Knows 'Em|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 21, 2024|archive-date=September 22, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240922234851/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-culinary-miraclesbet/155389368/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sun --> |
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Beginning in 1978, a series of potential ownership deals could have seen channel 31 become an over-the-air [[subscription television]] (STV) station for Sacramento. That May, Sacramento Television Inc. agreed to acquire KMUV-TV. Eighty percent of the firm was owned by Carl B. Hilliard Jr., a San Diego attorney. The remainder was held by Universal Subscription Television (US-TV), which was mostly owned by the Canadian [[Canwest|CanWest Capital Corporation]]. Universal was in the process of signing up stations for potential conversion to subscription service across the country.<ref>{{Cite news|page=32|title=Canadian investors out to establish pay TV network in United States|work=Broadcasting|date=May 22, 1978|id={{pq|1016906369}} }}</ref> The deal never panned out, though in July 1980, the FCC approved the $7.7 million acquisition of KMUV-TV by [[Tandem Productions]] and [[Jerry Perenchio]], who likewise wished to offer a subscription service over channel 31.<ref>{{Cite news|title=KMUV-TV Sale For STV Gets FCC Nod|id={{pq|1505804434}}|date=July 16, 1980|page=60|work=Variety}}</ref> The two were partners in the [[ON TV (TV network)|ON TV]] STV service offered by [[WMYD|WXON]] in Detroit, while Perenchio at the time owned [[WNJU-TV]] in the New York City market and part of the subscription television service on [[KBSC-TV]] in Los Angeles.<ref>{{Cite news|pages=45, 106|title=Perenchio, Tandem Pay $8,000,000 For Third STV Station|work=Variety|id={{pq|1286035767}}|date=February 6, 1980}}</ref> |
Beginning in 1978, a series of potential ownership deals could have seen channel 31 become an over-the-air [[subscription television]] (STV) station for Sacramento. That May, Sacramento Television Inc. agreed to acquire KMUV-TV. Eighty percent of the firm was owned by Carl B. Hilliard Jr., a San Diego attorney. The remainder was held by Universal Subscription Television (US-TV), which was mostly owned by the Canadian [[Canwest|CanWest Capital Corporation]]. Universal was in the process of signing up stations for potential conversion to subscription service across the country.<ref>{{Cite news|page=32|title=Canadian investors out to establish pay TV network in United States|work=Broadcasting|date=May 22, 1978|id={{pq|1016906369}} }}</ref> The deal never panned out, though in July 1980, the FCC approved the $7.7 million acquisition of KMUV-TV by [[Tandem Productions]] and [[Jerry Perenchio]], who likewise wished to offer a subscription service over channel 31.<ref>{{Cite news|title=KMUV-TV Sale For STV Gets FCC Nod|id={{pq|1505804434}}|date=July 16, 1980|page=60|work=Variety}}</ref> The two were partners in the [[ON TV (TV network)|ON TV]] STV service offered by [[WMYD|WXON]] in Detroit, while Perenchio at the time owned [[WNJU-TV]] in the New York City market and part of the subscription television service on [[KBSC-TV]] in Los Angeles.<ref>{{Cite news|pages=45, 106|title=Perenchio, Tandem Pay $8,000,000 For Third STV Station|work=Variety|id={{pq|1286035767}}|date=February 6, 1980}}</ref> |
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Within months of buying KMUV-TV, Tandem and Perenchio decided not to build it as a subscription station in the face of heavy competition from cable television and MDS microwave distribution systems. As a result, they agreed to sell the station to Koplar Broadcasting, owner of [[KPLR-TV]] in [[St. Louis]]. Koplar declared it would not operate channel 31 with STV.<ref>{{Cite news|page=66|title=Changing Hands|date=November 3, 1980|work=Broadcasting|id={{pq|1014717249}} }}</ref> |
Within months of buying KMUV-TV, Tandem and Perenchio decided not to build it as a subscription station in the face of heavy competition from cable television and MDS microwave distribution systems. As a result, they agreed to sell the station to Koplar Broadcasting, owner of [[KPLR-TV]] in [[St. Louis]]. Koplar declared it would not operate channel 31 with STV.<ref>{{Cite news|page=66|title=Changing Hands|date=November 3, 1980|work=Broadcasting|id={{pq|1014717249}} }}</ref> |
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In KMUV-TV, Koplar found what amounted to a blank slate. The station had negligible viewership. Gail Brekke, who left her post as KPLR-TV's national sales manager to become the general manager in Sacramento, found only four usable chairs and ten working telephones. The station was completely relaunched as KRBK-TV,{{efn|The call sign had a history with Koplar before and after channel 31. The station was named for Ted J. Koplar's older brother, Robert Bernard Koplar, who died in 1976.<ref name="StLo890414">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-set-to-celebrate/155711015/|date=April 14, 1989|pages=F1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-kplr/155711008/ F8]|first=John J.|last=Archibald|title=Set to Celebrate: Channel 11 comes full circle for 30th birthday|newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|location=St. Louis, Missouri|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 21, 2024}}</ref><!-- Fri --> The KRBK designation had originally been proposed for a station Koplar planned to build in [[Des Moines, Iowa]], in 1979.<ref name="DesM790417">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-des-moines-register-firm-moves-to-es/138764532/|date=April 17, 1979|page=2B|first=Barbara|last=Brooker|title=Firm moves to established independent TV station|newspaper=The Des Moines Register|location=Des Moines, Iowa|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 21, 2024}}</ref><!-- Tue --> }} a general-entertainment independent station, on April 6, 1981.<ref name="Sacr810406">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-gather-round-all-yo/155389436/|date=April 6, 1981|page=B10|first=George|last=Williams|title=Gather 'Round, All You Kiddieroonies|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 21, 2024}}</ref><!-- Mon --> The staff grew from 8 to 45 within a year, while satellite receiving equipment was added.<ref name="Sacr810911">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-a-double-success-at-c/155389446/|date=September 11, 1981|page=AA3|first=George|last=Williams|title=A Double Success At Channel 31|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 21, 2024}}</ref><!-- Fri --><ref name="Sacr820213">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-channel-31-patient-i/155710715/|date=February 13, 1982|page=B4|first=Herb|last=Michelson|title=Channel 31, Patient In An Impatient Business|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 21, 2024}}</ref><!-- Sat --> Children's programming was among the first content to rate highly on the revamped KRBK-TV, largely because children tended to seek out new stations more than their parents.<ref name="Sacr820927">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-krbk-small-but-growi/155710751/|date=September 27, 1982|page=B5|first=John V.|last=Hurst|title=KRBK: Small But Growing|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 21, 2024}}</ref><!-- Mon --> In 1984, Koplar moved KRBK-TV's transmitter to the {{convert|1800|ft|m|adj=on}} level of the new [[KCRA-TV]] tower in Walnut Grove, moving some {{convert|800|ft|m}} above its prior site;<ref name="Sacr841009">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-county-oks-antenna-f/155389552/|date=October 9, 1984|page=B5|title=County OKs 'antenna farm' to limit TV stations' tower power|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 21, 2024}}</ref><!-- Tue --> the next year, it began telecasting in stereo.<ref name="Sacr850223">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-new-general-manager-a/155727174/|date=February 23, 1985|page=A15|title=New general manager at KRBK|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 21, 2024}}</ref><!-- Sat --> By 1985, KRBK-TV had gained market share and narrowed the gap to KTXL.{{r|Sacr850223}}<ref name="Sacr850725">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-for-sale-sign-sprouts/155389708/|date=July 25, 1985|page=Scene 4|first=Bob|last=Wisehart|title=For-sale sign sprouts at KTXL|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 21, 2024}}</ref><!-- Thu --> |
In KMUV-TV, Koplar found what amounted to a blank slate. The station had negligible viewership. Gail Brekke, who left her post as KPLR-TV's national sales manager to become the general manager in Sacramento, found only four usable chairs and ten working telephones. The station was completely relaunched as KRBK-TV,{{efn|The call sign had a history with Koplar before and after channel 31. The station was named for Ted J. Koplar's older brother, Robert Bernard Koplar, who died in 1976.<ref name="StLo890414">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-set-to-celebrate/155711015/|date=April 14, 1989|pages=F1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-kplr/155711008/ F8]|first=John J.|last=Archibald|title=Set to Celebrate: Channel 11 comes full circle for 30th birthday|newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|location=St. Louis, Missouri|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 21, 2024|archive-date=September 21, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240921071709/https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-set-to-celebrate/155711015/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Fri --> The KRBK designation had originally been proposed for a station Koplar planned to build in [[Des Moines, Iowa]], in 1979.<ref name="DesM790417">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-des-moines-register-firm-moves-to-es/138764532/|date=April 17, 1979|page=2B|first=Barbara|last=Brooker|title=Firm moves to established independent TV station|newspaper=The Des Moines Register|location=Des Moines, Iowa|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 21, 2024}}</ref><!-- Tue --> }} a general-entertainment independent station, on April 6, 1981.<ref name="Sacr810406">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-gather-round-all-yo/155389436/|date=April 6, 1981|page=B10|first=George|last=Williams|title=Gather 'Round, All You Kiddieroonies|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 21, 2024|archive-date=September 21, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240921071715/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-gather-round-all-yo/155389436/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Mon --> The staff grew from 8 to 45 within a year, while satellite receiving equipment was added.<ref name="Sacr810911">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-a-double-success-at-c/155389446/|date=September 11, 1981|page=AA3|first=George|last=Williams|title=A Double Success At Channel 31|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 21, 2024|archive-date=September 21, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240921071735/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-a-double-success-at-c/155389446/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Fri --><ref name="Sacr820213">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-channel-31-patient-i/155710715/|date=February 13, 1982|page=B4|first=Herb|last=Michelson|title=Channel 31, Patient In An Impatient Business|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 21, 2024}}</ref><!-- Sat --> Children's programming was among the first content to rate highly on the revamped KRBK-TV, largely because children tended to seek out new stations more than their parents.<ref name="Sacr820927">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-krbk-small-but-growi/155710751/|date=September 27, 1982|page=B5|first=John V.|last=Hurst|title=KRBK: Small But Growing|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 21, 2024|archive-date=September 22, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240922234851/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-krbk-small-but-growi/155710751/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Mon --> In 1984, Koplar moved KRBK-TV's transmitter to the {{convert|1800|ft|m|adj=on}} level of the new [[KCRA-TV]] tower in Walnut Grove, moving some {{convert|800|ft|m}} above its prior site;<ref name="Sacr841009">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-county-oks-antenna-f/155389552/|date=October 9, 1984|page=B5|title=County OKs 'antenna farm' to limit TV stations' tower power|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 21, 2024|archive-date=September 22, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240922234851/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-county-oks-antenna-f/155389552/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Tue --> the next year, it began telecasting in stereo.<ref name="Sacr850223">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-new-general-manager-a/155727174/|date=February 23, 1985|page=A15|title=New general manager at KRBK|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 21, 2024|archive-date=September 22, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240922234852/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-new-general-manager-a/155727174/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sat --> By 1985, KRBK-TV had gained market share and narrowed the gap to KTXL.{{r|Sacr850223}}<ref name="Sacr850725">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-for-sale-sign-sprouts/155389708/|date=July 25, 1985|page=Scene 4|first=Bob|last=Wisehart|title=For-sale sign sprouts at KTXL|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 21, 2024|archive-date=September 22, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240922234852/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-for-sale-sign-sprouts/155389708/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Thu --> |
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⚫ | When the [[NBA]]'s Kansas City Kings relocated to Sacramento and became the [[Sacramento Kings]] in 1985, their first television partner was then-[[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] affiliate [[KOVR]] (channel 13), which broadcast 20 games a season of the new club. The rights came up for bid in 1988, and KRBK offered to telecast 30 games;<ref name="Sacr880601">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-kings-renew-with-kfbk/155389767/|date=June 1, 1988|page=F2|first=Dan|last=Vierria|title=Kings renew with KFBK, agree to KRBK TV deal|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 21, 2024|archive-date=September 22, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240922235353/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-kings-renew-with-kfbk/155389767/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Wed --> its bid came in lower than KOVR's. Napear became the new play-by-play announcer for the team after it moved its games to channel 31.<ref name="Sacr880614">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-channel-31-secures-ki/155389773/|date=June 14, 1988|pages=D1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-kings/155389788/ D2]|first=Dan|last=Vierria|title=Channel 31 secures Kings' television rights|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 21, 2024|archive-date=September 22, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240922235353/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-channel-31-secures-ki/155389773/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Tue --> The agreement was renewed in 1990.<ref name="Sacr901103">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-kings-krbk-agree-on/155816718/|date=November 3, 1990|page=D3|first=Dan|last=Vierria|title=Kings, KRBK agree on new contract|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 22, 2024|archive-date=September 22, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240922235359/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-kings-krbk-agree-on/155816718/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sat --> |
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===Starting a news operation=== |
===Starting a news operation=== |
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Two years after relaunching channel 31, Koplar added a local 10 p.m. newscast to the station's schedule, a small effort hosted by Gary Lindsey (previously of [[KSBW]] in [[Salinas, California|Salinas]]). The newscast, despite modest resources, was intended to compete with KTXL's 10 p.m. newscast.<ref name="Sacr831007">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-krbk-takes-a-modest-s/155389493/|date=October 7, 1983|page=C3|first=Herb|last=Michelson|title=KRBK Takes A Modest Step Into The Local News Market|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 21, 2024}}</ref><!-- Fri --> ''Prime News'' moved from 10 to 10:30 p.m. in March 1985,<ref name="Sacr850308">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-hogue-big-slow/155389569/|date=March 8, 1985|page=AA2|first=Dan|last=Vierria|title=Hogue 'big, slow'|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 21, 2024}}</ref><!-- Fri --> but Koplar soon opted to retool the news department altogether and took it off the air that July.<ref name="Sacr850830">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-christine-craft-to-me/155389602/|date=August 30, 1985|page=Weekend Scene 15|first=Bob|last=Wisehart|title=Christine Craft to meet with KRBK over anchor spot|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 21, 2024}}</ref><!-- Fri --> |
Two years after relaunching channel 31, Koplar added a local 10 p.m. newscast to the station's schedule, a small effort hosted by Gary Lindsey (previously of [[KSBW]] in [[Salinas, California|Salinas]]). The newscast, despite modest resources, was intended to compete with KTXL's 10 p.m. newscast.<ref name="Sacr831007">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-krbk-takes-a-modest-s/155389493/|date=October 7, 1983|page=C3|first=Herb|last=Michelson|title=KRBK Takes A Modest Step Into The Local News Market|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 21, 2024}}</ref><!-- Fri --> ''Prime News'' moved from 10 to 10:30 p.m. in March 1985,<ref name="Sacr850308">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-hogue-big-slow/155389569/|date=March 8, 1985|page=AA2|first=Dan|last=Vierria|title=Hogue 'big, slow'|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 21, 2024|archive-date=September 22, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240922235359/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-hogue-big-slow/155389569/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Fri --> but Koplar soon opted to retool the news department altogether and took it off the air that July.<ref name="Sacr850830">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-christine-craft-to-me/155389602/|date=August 30, 1985|page=Weekend Scene 15|first=Bob|last=Wisehart|title=Christine Craft to meet with KRBK over anchor spot|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 21, 2024}}</ref><!-- Fri --> |
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The revamped ''31 News Tonight'' debuted on January 27, 1986. Its lead female anchor was [[Christine Craft]], who had made headlines for an age and sex discrimination lawsuit against her prior employer, [[KMBC-TV]] in [[Kansas City]].<ref name="Mode860128">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-modesto-bee-newswoman-christine-craf/155727955/|date=January 28, 1986|page=B-5|agency=UPI|title=Newswoman Christine Craft drops anchor in Sacramento|newspaper=The Modesto Bee|location=Modesto, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 21, 2024}}</ref><!-- Tue --> The new newscast failed to attract significant viewership: in May 1986, it managed an audience share of just two percent.<ref name="Sacr860709">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-news-battle-claims-ch/155728262/|date=July 9, 1986|page=AA8|first=Bob|last=Wisehart|title=News battle claims Channel 31's Klein|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 21, 2024}}</ref><!-- Wed --> Within a year, anchor Tim Klein was dismissed{{r|Sacr860709}} and replaced with [[Robert Dyk]], a network news veteran.<ref name="Sacr860802">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-a-local-outlet-for-ri/155389685/|date=August 2, 1986|page=A21|first=Bob|last=Wisehart|title=A local outlet for Rivers, new co-anchor for Craft|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 21, 2024}}</ref><!-- Sat --> When original sports director Rich Gould left KRBK-TV for KPLR-TV in 1987, he was replaced by [[Grant Napear]], who moved from [[WAND]] in [[Decatur, Illinois]].<ref name="Sacr870725">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-channel-31s-gould-le/155389735/|date=July 25, 1987|page=21|title=Channel 31's Gould leaves for St. Louis|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 21, 2024}}</ref><!-- Sat --> |
The revamped ''31 News Tonight'' debuted on January 27, 1986. Its lead female anchor was [[Christine Craft]], who had made headlines for an age and sex discrimination lawsuit against her prior employer, [[KMBC-TV]] in [[Kansas City]].<ref name="Mode860128">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-modesto-bee-newswoman-christine-craf/155727955/|date=January 28, 1986|page=B-5|agency=UPI|title=Newswoman Christine Craft drops anchor in Sacramento|newspaper=The Modesto Bee|location=Modesto, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 21, 2024|archive-date=September 22, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240922235400/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-modesto-bee-newswoman-christine-craf/155727955/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Tue --> The new newscast failed to attract significant viewership: in May 1986, it managed an audience share of just two percent.<ref name="Sacr860709">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-news-battle-claims-ch/155728262/|date=July 9, 1986|page=AA8|first=Bob|last=Wisehart|title=News battle claims Channel 31's Klein|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 21, 2024}}</ref><!-- Wed --> Within a year, anchor Tim Klein was dismissed{{r|Sacr860709}} and replaced with [[Robert Dyk]], a network news veteran.<ref name="Sacr860802">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-a-local-outlet-for-ri/155389685/|date=August 2, 1986|page=A21|first=Bob|last=Wisehart|title=A local outlet for Rivers, new co-anchor for Craft|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 21, 2024}}</ref><!-- Sat --> When original sports director Rich Gould left KRBK-TV for KPLR-TV in 1987, he was replaced by [[Grant Napear]], who moved from [[WAND]] in [[Decatur, Illinois]].<ref name="Sacr870725">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-channel-31s-gould-le/155389735/|date=July 25, 1987|page=21|title=Channel 31's Gould leaves for St. Louis|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 21, 2024|archive-date=September 22, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240922235404/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-channel-31s-gould-le/155389735/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sat --> |
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The 10 p.m. newscast moved to 9 p.m. in September 1989, a move designed to reduce competition with KTXL and the threat that KCRA could [[Early prime time|change its 11 p.m. local news to 10 p.m.]]<ref name="Sacr890826">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-channel-31-to-move-ne/155728821/|date=August 26, 1989|page=Scene 9|first=Dan|last=Vierria|title=Channel 31 to move news to 9 p.m.|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 21, 2024}}</ref><!-- Sat --> The move immediately resulted in ratings increases.<ref name="Sacr890922">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-andy-asher-out-as-cha/155729165/|date=September 22, 1989|page=Scene 5|first=Dan|last=Vierria|title=Andy Asher out as Channel 31 switches news anchors|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 21, 2024}}</ref><!-- Fri --> Craft departed the next month to study law.<ref name="Sacr891208">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-tv-news-anchor-christ/155729415/|date=December 8, 1989|pages=B1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-craft/155729476/ B2]|first=Dan|last=Vierria|title=TV news anchor Christine Craft leaves Channel 31|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 21, 2024}}</ref><!-- Fri --> |
The 10 p.m. newscast moved to 9 p.m. in September 1989, a move designed to reduce competition with KTXL and the threat that KCRA could [[Early prime time|change its 11 p.m. local news to 10 p.m.]]<ref name="Sacr890826">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-channel-31-to-move-ne/155728821/|date=August 26, 1989|page=Scene 9|first=Dan|last=Vierria|title=Channel 31 to move news to 9 p.m.|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 21, 2024|archive-date=September 22, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240922235906/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-channel-31-to-move-ne/155728821/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sat --> The move immediately resulted in ratings increases.<ref name="Sacr890922">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-andy-asher-out-as-cha/155729165/|date=September 22, 1989|page=Scene 5|first=Dan|last=Vierria|title=Andy Asher out as Channel 31 switches news anchors|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 21, 2024|archive-date=September 21, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240921175327/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-andy-asher-out-as-cha/155729165/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Fri --> Craft departed the next month to study law.<ref name="Sacr891208">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-tv-news-anchor-christ/155729415/|date=December 8, 1989|pages=B1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-craft/155729476/ B2]|first=Dan|last=Vierria|title=TV news anchor Christine Craft leaves Channel 31|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 21, 2024|archive-date=September 21, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240921175341/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-tv-news-anchor-christ/155729415/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Fri --> |
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Scott Jones arrived from [[West Palm Beach, Florida]], to become KRBK-TV's news director in 1990.<ref name="Sacr900814">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-sullivan-tests-market/155730092/|date=August 14, 1990|page=E5|first=Dan|last=Vierria|title=Sullivan tests market value of his KFBK financial talk show|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 21, 2024}}</ref><!-- Tue --> Jones set out to make the newscast faster-paced with a higher story count and an emphasis on crime and education stories.<ref name="Sacr900908">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-tuning-in-radios-bes/155730115/|date=September 8, 1990|page=Scene 7|first=Dan|last=Vierria|title=Tuning in radio's best shows: From recipes and gossip to debates and the latest in sports|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 21, 2024}}</ref><!-- Sat --> In the November 1990 survey, the newscast increased its audience share from three to five percent.<ref name="Sacr901215">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-listeners-put-ears/155730259/|date=December 15, 1990|page=Scene 5|first=Dan|last=Vierria|title=Listeners put ear(s) to adult contemporary|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 21, 2024}}</ref><!-- Sat --> A second nightly newscast, at 9:30 p.m., debuted in September 1991; the separate news program in lieu of an hour-long news allowed the same reporters to return and update stories in the second half-hour.<ref name="Mode910905">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-modesto-bee-kovr-fires-gray-loses-a/155730356/|date=September 5, 1991|page=F-5|title=KOVR fires Gray; loses anchor Riggs: KCRA time shift has domino effect|newspaper=The Modesto Bee|location=Modesto, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 21, 2024}}</ref><!-- Thu --> Jones departed in 1992 to take a corporate position with Koplar Communications.<ref name="Sacr920516">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-channel-31-news-chief/115475888/|date=May 16, 1992|page=Scene 7|first=Dan|last=Vierria|title=Channel 31 news chief is moving on: Scott Jones emphasized crime reporting|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 21, 2024}}</ref><!-- Sat --> |
Scott Jones arrived from [[West Palm Beach, Florida]], to become KRBK-TV's news director in 1990.<ref name="Sacr900814">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-sullivan-tests-market/155730092/|date=August 14, 1990|page=E5|first=Dan|last=Vierria|title=Sullivan tests market value of his KFBK financial talk show|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 21, 2024|archive-date=September 21, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240921175343/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-sullivan-tests-market/155730092/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Tue --> Jones set out to make the newscast faster-paced with a higher story count and an emphasis on crime and education stories.<ref name="Sacr900908">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-tuning-in-radios-bes/155730115/|date=September 8, 1990|page=Scene 7|first=Dan|last=Vierria|title=Tuning in radio's best shows: From recipes and gossip to debates and the latest in sports|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 21, 2024}}</ref><!-- Sat --> In the November 1990 survey, the newscast increased its audience share from three to five percent.<ref name="Sacr901215">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-listeners-put-ears/155730259/|date=December 15, 1990|page=Scene 5|first=Dan|last=Vierria|title=Listeners put ear(s) to adult contemporary|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 21, 2024}}</ref><!-- Sat --> A second nightly newscast, at 9:30 p.m., debuted in September 1991; the separate news program in lieu of an hour-long news allowed the same reporters to return and update stories in the second half-hour.<ref name="Mode910905">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-modesto-bee-kovr-fires-gray-loses-a/155730356/|date=September 5, 1991|page=F-5|title=KOVR fires Gray; loses anchor Riggs: KCRA time shift has domino effect|newspaper=The Modesto Bee|location=Modesto, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 21, 2024}}</ref><!-- Thu --> Jones departed in 1992 to take a corporate position with Koplar Communications.<ref name="Sacr920516">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-channel-31-news-chief/115475888/|date=May 16, 1992|page=Scene 7|first=Dan|last=Vierria|title=Channel 31 news chief is moving on: Scott Jones emphasized crime reporting|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 21, 2024|archive-date=September 22, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240922235906/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-channel-31-news-chief/115475888/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sat --> |
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===Sacramento Kings on 31=== |
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⚫ | When the [[NBA]]'s Kansas City Kings relocated to Sacramento and became the [[Sacramento Kings]] in 1985, their first television partner was then-[[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] affiliate [[KOVR]] (channel 13), which broadcast 20 games a season of the new club. The rights came up for bid in 1988, and KRBK offered to telecast 30 games;<ref name="Sacr880601">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-kings-renew-with-kfbk/155389767/|date=June 1, 1988|page=F2|first=Dan|last=Vierria|title=Kings renew with KFBK, agree to KRBK TV deal|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 21, 2024}}</ref><!-- Wed --> its bid came in lower than KOVR's. Napear became the new play-by-play announcer for the team after it moved its games to channel 31.<ref name="Sacr880614">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-channel-31-secures-ki/155389773/|date=June 14, 1988|pages=D1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-kings/155389788/ D2]|first=Dan|last=Vierria|title=Channel 31 secures Kings' television rights|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 21, 2024}}</ref><!-- Tue --> |
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==KPWB-TV: Pappas ownership, WB affiliation, and ''31 Action News''== |
==KPWB-TV: Pappas ownership, WB affiliation, and ''31 Action News''== |
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Through 1993, rumors continued of a possible sale of KRBK-TV amid concern for the financial future of Koplar Communications. The company's stations had suffered from the [[early 1990s recession]], increased competition, and a high load of commitments to unsuccessful programming. Expensive programming purchases accelerated a spiral of borrowing that had begun with the KRBK-TV acquisition in 1981 but was masked by the solid performance of KPLR-TV in St. Louis.<ref name="StLo930314">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-koplar-reworks-d/128735782/|date=March 14, 1993|pages=1E, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-koplar/128735748/ 8E]|first=Eric|last=Mink|title=Koplar Reworks Debt Amid Ratings Success|newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|location=St. Louis, Missouri|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 22, 2024}}</ref><!-- Sun --><ref name="StLo930829">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-i-love-this-sta/110101101/|date=August 29, 1993|pages=1E, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-kplr/110101114/ 8E]|first=Robert|last=Manor|title="I Love This Station." Ted Koplar Prepares, Reluctantly, For Possible Sale Of KPLR|newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|location=St. Louis, Missouri|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 22, 2024}}</ref><!-- Sun --> ''[[Broadcasting & Cable|Broadcasting]]'' magazine reported in February that syndicators, who supply television programs, were meeting to review Koplar's indebtedness as well as a rumor that KRBK-TV was up for sale along with a second Sacramento-market independent station, [[KQCA|KSCH-TV]] (channel 58), to be packaged together for possible consolidation.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Debt indigestion at Koplar|work=Broadcasting|page=18|date=February 8, 1993|id={{pq|1016933264}} }}</ref> |
Through 1993, rumors continued of a possible sale of KRBK-TV amid concern for the financial future of Koplar Communications. The company's stations had suffered from the [[early 1990s recession]], increased competition, and a high load of commitments to unsuccessful programming. Expensive programming purchases accelerated a spiral of borrowing that had begun with the KRBK-TV acquisition in 1981 but was masked by the solid performance of KPLR-TV in St. Louis.<ref name="StLo930314">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-koplar-reworks-d/128735782/|date=March 14, 1993|pages=1E, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-koplar/128735748/ 8E]|first=Eric|last=Mink|title=Koplar Reworks Debt Amid Ratings Success|newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|location=St. Louis, Missouri|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 22, 2024|archive-date=September 22, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240922235906/https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-koplar-reworks-d/128735782/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sun --><ref name="StLo930829">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-i-love-this-sta/110101101/|date=August 29, 1993|pages=1E, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-kplr/110101114/ 8E]|first=Robert|last=Manor|title="I Love This Station." Ted Koplar Prepares, Reluctantly, For Possible Sale Of KPLR|newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|location=St. Louis, Missouri|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 22, 2024}}</ref><!-- Sun --> ''[[Broadcasting & Cable|Broadcasting]]'' magazine reported in February that syndicators, who supply television programs, were meeting to review Koplar's indebtedness as well as a rumor that KRBK-TV was up for sale along with a second Sacramento-market independent station, [[KQCA|KSCH-TV]] (channel 58), to be packaged together for possible consolidation.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Debt indigestion at Koplar|work=Broadcasting|page=18|date=February 8, 1993|id={{pq|1016933264}} }}</ref> |
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The [[Tribune Company]] negotiated to acquire the two stations, but talks—prolonged by syndicators' objections to proposed concessions and contract forgiveness<ref>{{cite news|page=12|title=Tribune, Chris-Craft: big may be getting bigger|date=August 30, 1993|work=Broadcasting & Cable|id={{pq|1016941157}}}}</ref>—fell through after ten months. Instead, [[Pappas Telecasting]] purchased KRBK-TV and provided a program-buying alliance for KPLR-TV, which remained with Koplar.<ref name="StLo931117">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-koplar-to-keep-c/75061767/|date=November 17, 1993|page=1C|first=William|last=Flannery|title=Koplar To Keep Channel 11|newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|location=St. Louis, Missouri|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 22, 2024}}</ref><!-- Wed --><ref name="Sacr931117">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-visalia-firm-buys-cha/155389831/|date=November 17, 1993|page=D1|first=Dan|last=Vierria|title=Visalia firm buys Channel 31|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 22, 2024}}</ref><!-- Wed --> The $22 million acquisition<ref>{{cite news|date=January 3, 1994|title=Changing Hands|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1994/BC-1994-01-03.pdf|work=[[Broadcasting & Cable]]|volume=124|issue=1|pages=48|access-date=October 10, 2021|via=worldradiohistory.com|id={{pq|1014747191}}}}</ref> closed in July 1994, at which time Pappas imposed a new dress code on station employees that prohibited women from wearing slacks.<ref name="Sacr940702">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-a-dress-code-that-dem/155771745/|date=July 2, 1994|page=Scene 1|first=Anita|last=Creamer|title=A dress code that demeans women|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 22, 2024}}</ref><!-- Sat --> |
The [[Tribune Company]] negotiated to acquire the two stations, but talks—prolonged by syndicators' objections to proposed concessions and contract forgiveness<ref>{{cite news|page=12|title=Tribune, Chris-Craft: big may be getting bigger|date=August 30, 1993|work=Broadcasting & Cable|id={{pq|1016941157}}}}</ref>—fell through after ten months. Instead, [[Pappas Telecasting]] purchased KRBK-TV and provided a program-buying alliance for KPLR-TV, which remained with Koplar.<ref name="StLo931117">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-koplar-to-keep-c/75061767/|date=November 17, 1993|page=1C|first=William|last=Flannery|title=Koplar To Keep Channel 11|newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|location=St. Louis, Missouri|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 22, 2024|archive-date=July 7, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230707091138/https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-koplar-to-keep-c/75061767/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Wed --><ref name="Sacr931117">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-visalia-firm-buys-cha/155389831/|date=November 17, 1993|page=D1|first=Dan|last=Vierria|title=Visalia firm buys Channel 31|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 22, 2024}}</ref><!-- Wed --> The $22 million acquisition<ref>{{cite news|date=January 3, 1994|title=Changing Hands|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1994/BC-1994-01-03.pdf|work=[[Broadcasting & Cable]]|volume=124|issue=1|pages=48|access-date=October 10, 2021|via=worldradiohistory.com|id={{pq|1014747191}}|archive-date=October 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211010145850/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1994/BC-1994-01-03.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> closed in July 1994, at which time Pappas imposed a new dress code on station employees that prohibited women from wearing slacks.<ref name="Sacr940702">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-a-dress-code-that-dem/155771745/|date=July 2, 1994|page=Scene 1|first=Anita|last=Creamer|title=A dress code that demeans women|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 22, 2024|archive-date=September 22, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240922080857/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-a-dress-code-that-dem/155771745/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sat --> |
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Just before Koplar sold channel 31, it committed the station to [[The WB]], a new television network slated for a 1995 launch.<ref name="Sacr931103">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-time-warner-to-start/155389814/|date=November 3, 1993|page=A11|first=Dan|last=Vierria|title=Time Warner to start TV network; KRBK signs on|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 22, 2024}}</ref><!-- Wed --> When The WB debuted on January 11, 1995, KRBK-TV became KPWB-TV for its new owner (Pappas) and network (WB).<ref name="Sacr950108">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-channel-surfs-up/155389853/|date=January 8, 1995|pages=Encore 16, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-channel/155389850/ 17]|first=Dan|last=Vierria|title=Channel Surf's Up|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 22, 2024}}</ref><!-- Sun --> |
Just before Koplar sold channel 31, it committed the station to [[The WB]], a new television network slated for a 1995 launch.<ref name="Sacr931103">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-time-warner-to-start/155389814/|date=November 3, 1993|page=A11|first=Dan|last=Vierria|title=Time Warner to start TV network; KRBK signs on|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 22, 2024|archive-date=September 22, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240922235907/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-time-warner-to-start/155389814/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Wed --> When The WB debuted on January 11, 1995, KRBK-TV became KPWB-TV for its new owner (Pappas) and network (WB).<ref name="Sacr950108">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-channel-surfs-up/155389853/|date=January 8, 1995|pages=Encore 16, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-channel/155389850/ 17]|first=Dan|last=Vierria|title=Channel Surf's Up|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 22, 2024|archive-date=September 22, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240922235907/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-channel-surfs-up/155389853/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sun --> Additionally, the station renewed its agreement with the Kings and expanded it to 35 telecasts a season;<ref name="Sacr940503">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-gerould-gets-kings-t/155816854/|date=May 3, 1994|page=C2|first=Jim|last=Van Vliet|title=Gerould gets Kings' TV job|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 22, 2024|archive-date=September 22, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240922235921/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-gerould-gets-kings-t/155816854/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Tue --> the team cut back to 25 games a year beginning in the 1996–97 season.<ref name="Sacr961031">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-tv-changes-fewer-gam/155816937/|date=October 31, 1996|page=Tipoff 10|first=John|last=Schumacher|title=TV changes: Fewer games, more Reynolds|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 22, 2024|archive-date=September 22, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240922235924/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-tv-changes-fewer-gam/155816937/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Thu --> |
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In preparation for the switch, ''31 News'' moved in September 1994 from its double-half-hour format at 9 p.m. to 10 p.m., putting it back into competition with KTXL and KSCH, and introduced weekend reports.<ref name="Sacr940806">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-local-news-anchors-an/155389845/|date=August 6, 1994|page=Scene 7|first=Dan|last=Vierria|title=Local news anchors and times play musical chairs|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 22, 2024}}</ref><!-- Sat --> In spite of its more limited resources—the station had 25 employees in news, a third the size of its rivals—and its third-place ratings at 10, KPWB attempted to remain competitive on reporting with the four other local TV news departments with creative coverage decisions.<ref name="Sacr950117">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-a-station-of-few-mean/155389903/|date=January 17, 1995|pages=Scene 1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-channel-31-trying-to/155389906/ 5]|first=Jennifer|last=Bojorquez|title=A station of few means, Channel 31 tries to keep up|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 22, 2024}}</ref><!-- Tue --> |
In preparation for the switch, ''31 News'' moved in September 1994 from its double-half-hour format at 9 p.m. to 10 p.m., putting it back into competition with KTXL and KSCH, and introduced weekend reports.<ref name="Sacr940806">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-local-news-anchors-an/155389845/|date=August 6, 1994|page=Scene 7|first=Dan|last=Vierria|title=Local news anchors and times play musical chairs|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 22, 2024|archive-date=September 22, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240922235909/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-local-news-anchors-an/155389845/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sat --> In spite of its more limited resources—the station had 25 employees in news, a third the size of its rivals—and its third-place ratings at 10, KPWB attempted to remain competitive on reporting with the four other local TV news departments with creative coverage decisions.<ref name="Sacr950117">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-a-station-of-few-mean/155389903/|date=January 17, 1995|pages=Scene 1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-channel-31-trying-to/155389906/ 5]|first=Jennifer|last=Bojorquez|title=A station of few means, Channel 31 tries to keep up|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 22, 2024}}</ref><!-- Tue --> Competition was fiercer at 10 because there were three other newscasts in the time period, from [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] affiliate KTXL; KQCA (the former KSCH-TV), which offered news produced by KCRA-TV; and KOVR, which switched to [[CBS]] in 1995 and simultaneously adopted early prime time scheduling with its late news at 10 p.m.<ref name="Sacr950401">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-the-news-is-everywher/155808812/|date=April 1, 1995|page=G9|first=Dan|last=Vierria|title=The news is everywhere: Channel 40 jumps right in by expanding to an hour at 10 p.m.|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 22, 2024|archive-date=September 23, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240923000912/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-the-news-is-everywher/155808812/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sat --> |
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Pappas invested in the news product, quadrupling the size of the KPWB newsroom and launching a local morning program, ''[[#Good Day|The Morning Show]]'', in August 1995.{{r|Sacr950812}} The evening news coverage was rebranded ''31 Action News'' in January 1996 and reformatted from an hour-long report at 10 to half-hour newscasts at 7 and 10 p.m. designed to cater to busy viewers. The existing anchor team of John Malos and [[Sharon Ito]] was replaced by John Alston, who came from [[WSB-TV]] in Atlanta.<ref name="Sacr960109">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-heres-a-news-concept/155733425/|date=January 9, 1996|page=D5|first=Dan|last=Vierria|title=Here's a news concept: Starting Monday, Channel 31 will air a local 7 p.m. newscast|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 22, 2024}}</ref><!-- Tue --> ''31 Action News'' expanded to add news at 11:30 a.m. in August 1996<ref name="Sacr960806">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-at-local-stations-wh/46150663/|date=August 6, 1996|page=21|title=At local stations, what's new is the news|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 22, 2024}}</ref><!-- Tue --> and 11 p.m. in June 1997, bringing KPWB-TV's local news output to five hours a day—second only to KCRA-TV.<ref name="Sacr970517">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-local-news-expands/155733688/|date=May 17, 1997|pages=Scene 1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-vierria-channel-3-ge/155733735/ 7]|first=Dan|last=Vierria|title=Local news expands — but where are viewers?|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 22, 2024}}</ref><!-- Sat --> |
Pappas invested in the news product, quadrupling the size of the KPWB newsroom and launching a local morning program, ''[[#Good Day|The Morning Show]]'', in August 1995.{{r|Sacr950812}} The evening news coverage was rebranded ''31 Action News'' in January 1996 and reformatted from an hour-long report at 10 to half-hour newscasts at 7 and 10 p.m. designed to cater to busy viewers. The existing anchor team of John Malos and [[Sharon Ito]] was replaced by John Alston, who came from [[WSB-TV]] in Atlanta.<ref name="Sacr960109">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-heres-a-news-concept/155733425/|date=January 9, 1996|page=D5|first=Dan|last=Vierria|title=Here's a news concept: Starting Monday, Channel 31 will air a local 7 p.m. newscast|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 22, 2024}}</ref><!-- Tue --> ''31 Action News'' expanded to add news at 11:30 a.m. in August 1996<ref name="Sacr960806">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-at-local-stations-wh/46150663/|date=August 6, 1996|page=21|title=At local stations, what's new is the news|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 22, 2024|archive-date=September 23, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240923000917/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-at-local-stations-wh/46150663/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Tue --> and 11 p.m. in June 1997, bringing KPWB-TV's local news output to five hours a day—second only to KCRA-TV.<ref name="Sacr970517">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-local-news-expands/155733688/|date=May 17, 1997|pages=Scene 1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-vierria-channel-3-ge/155733735/ 7]|first=Dan|last=Vierria|title=Local news expands — but where are viewers?|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 22, 2024|archive-date=September 23, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240923001011/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-local-news-expands/155733688/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sat --> KPWB-TV also provided management services to two other Pappas stations—WB affiliate [[KREN-TV]] and [[Univision]] outlet [[KRNS-CD|KUVR-LP]]—in [[Reno, Nevada]].<ref>{{Cite news|title=GM: 'Let them know we're here'|page=17|work=Mediaweek|date=October 5, 1998|first=Megan|last=Larson|id={{pq|213638644}} }}</ref> |
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==KMAX-TV: Paramount ownership and switch to UPN== |
==KMAX-TV: Paramount ownership and switch to UPN== |
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[[File:UPN31KMAXOldLogo.JPG|right|thumb|Logo used from 1998 to 2002 after switching to UPN|alt=A large blue sans serif numeral 31 with the original UPN logo — the letter U in a yellow circle, P in a blue triangle, and N in a red square — slightly nestled into the middle of the 3. Beneath on two lines justified are the words KMAX (in bold, black) and Sacramento (in blue).]] |
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On July 16, 1997, the [[Paramount Stations Group]] announced a deal to purchase KPWB-TV from Pappas. Paramount was the half-owner of The WB's primary competitor, [[UPN]], and the purchase was immediately seen as portending an affiliation switch for the station.<ref name="Sacr970717">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-viacom-division-buys/155389869/|date=July 17, 1997|page=C1|first=Gilbert|last=Chan|title=Viacom division buys WB affiliate Channel 31|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 22, 2024}}</ref><!-- Thu --><ref>{{cite news|first=Steve|last=McClellan|title=WB woos and wins Sinclair|id={{ProQuest|1016966796}}|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1997/BC-1997-07-21.pdf|periodical=Broadcasting & Cable|date=July 21, 1997|access-date=June 8, 2013|pages=4, 8|archive-date=January 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210111095533/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1997/BC-1997-07-21.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> Paramount's corporate parent, [[Viacom (1952–2005)|Viacom]], paid for KPWB-TV at a purchase price exceeding $100 million<ref>{{Cite news|page=30|date=August 4, 1997|title=Changing Hands|work=Broadcasting & Cable|id={{pq|1014772982}}}}</ref> with proceeds from the sale of [[WVIT]], the [[NBC]] affiliate it owned in Connecticut, to that network. ''Broadcasting & Cable'' reported that Paramount pursued the station because it had become aware that UPN's existing Sacramento-market affiliate, KQCA |
On July 16, 1997, the [[Paramount Stations Group]] announced a deal to purchase KPWB-TV from Pappas. Paramount was the half-owner of The WB's primary competitor, [[UPN]], and the purchase was immediately seen as portending an affiliation switch for the station.<ref name="Sacr970717">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-viacom-division-buys/155389869/|date=July 17, 1997|page=C1|first=Gilbert|last=Chan|title=Viacom division buys WB affiliate Channel 31|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 22, 2024|archive-date=September 23, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240923000914/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-viacom-division-buys/155389869/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Thu --><ref>{{cite news|first=Steve|last=McClellan|title=WB woos and wins Sinclair|id={{ProQuest|1016966796}}|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1997/BC-1997-07-21.pdf|periodical=Broadcasting & Cable|date=July 21, 1997|access-date=June 8, 2013|pages=4, 8|archive-date=January 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210111095533/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1997/BC-1997-07-21.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> Paramount's corporate parent, [[Viacom (1952–2005)|Viacom]], paid for KPWB-TV at a purchase price exceeding $100 million<ref>{{Cite news|page=30|date=August 4, 1997|title=Changing Hands|work=Broadcasting & Cable|id={{pq|1014772982}}}}</ref> with proceeds from the sale of [[WVIT]], the [[NBC]] affiliate it owned in Connecticut, to that network. ''Broadcasting & Cable'' reported that Paramount pursued the station because it had become aware that UPN's existing Sacramento-market affiliate, KQCA, planned not to renew.<ref>{{cite news|first=Steve|last=McClellan|page=12|title=NBC, Paramount swap stations: In trade, WVIT(TV) goes for cash plus rights to two other players|date=August 4, 1997|work=Broadcasting & Cable|id={{pq|1014765187}} }}</ref> |
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Channel 31 became Sacramento's UPN station on January 5, 1998, with WB programming moving to KQCA. It simultaneously changed its call sign to KMAX-TV, instituted early prime time for UPN programming (7–9 p.m. instead of 8–10 p.m.), and restored the 9 p.m. news hour that had been successful prior to WB affiliation.<ref name="Sacr980103">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-channels-31-58-to-sw/132554870/|date=January 3, 1998|page=Scene 7|first=Dan|last=Vierria|title=Channels 31, 58 to swap on Monday: UPN-WB trade is first locally since '95|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 22, 2024}}</ref><!-- Sat --> Though Paramount initially promised further news investment along with an upgraded syndicated programming inventory and larger sales force,<ref name="Sacr980106">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-new-channel-31-owner/155389874/|date=January 6, 1998|pages=C1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-kmax-news-shows-chan/155389889/ C5]|first=Dan|last=Vierria|title=New Channel 31 owner promises improvements|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 22, 2024}}</ref><!-- Tue --> the early prime time schedule and new news time slots did not last the year in spite of producing the station's highest news ratings in three years.<ref name="Sacr980310">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-springers-sensationa/155389996/|date=March 10, 1998|pages=C1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-vierria-springers-s/155389990/ C5]|first=Dan|last=Vierria|title=Springer's sensationalist schtick is a local TV sensation|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 22, 2024}}</ref><!-- Tue --> On August 14, 1998, KMAX-TV aired its final evening newscast after twelve and a half years and moved UPN programming to a traditional 8–10 p.m. schedule. Elliott Troshinsky, the station's general manager, described the move as supporting UPN, which that season moved to five nights of programming.<ref name="Sacr980811">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-upn-to-start-prime-ti/155390011/|date=August 11, 1998|pages=C1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-vierria-k-talks-has/155390014/ C5]|first=Dan|last=Vierria|title=UPN to start prime time at 8 p.m., scrap its night news|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 22, 2024}}</ref><!-- Tue --> The move dovetailed with a general retreat from news by Paramount stations; Paramount had canceled outsourced local newscasts for its stations in [[Columbus, Ohio]];<ref>{{Cite news|title=Channel 53 to air final '10 O'Clock News' show|first=Tim|last=Feran|work=[[The Columbus Dispatch]]|page=7E|date=October 2, 1997}}</ref> [[Providence, Rhode Island]];<ref>{{Cite news|page=F2|first=John|last=Martin|work=[[Providence Journal]]|title=Swap leaves 10 p.m. newscasters casting about|date=September 4, 1997}}</ref> and [[Norfolk, Virginia]],<ref name="Dail971206">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-press-wavy-promotes-charles-pugh-t/133145186/|date=December 6, 1997|page=D1|first=David|last=Nicholson|title=WAVY promotes Charles Pugh to 5 p.m. show|newspaper=Daily Press|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=October 9, 2023}}</ref><!-- Sat --> in 1997. The next year, it shut down the entire local news operation at [[WTOG-TV]] in [[St. Petersburg, Florida]],<ref name="Tamp980708">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/tampa-bay-times-wtog-drops-news-division/155772445/|date=July 8, 1998|page=3B|first=Eric|last=Deggans|title=WTOG drops news division to save money|newspaper=St. Petersburg Times|location=St. Petersburg, Florida|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 22, 2024}}</ref><!-- Wed --> and proceeded to do so at [[KSTW]] serving [[Seattle]].<ref name="News981202">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-news-tribune-no-news-is-bad-news-at/155772370/|date=December 2, 1998|pages=A1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-tribune-no-news/155772384/ A12]|first=Cynthia|last=Flash|first2=Gestin|last2=Suttle|title=No news is bad news at KSTW: 62 people to lose jobs after Paramount decision to cut news operation|newspaper=The News Tribune|location=Tacoma, Washington|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 22, 2024}}</ref><!-- Wed --> Also in 1998, it scrapped the outsourced newscast aired by [[WSBK-TV]] in Boston.<ref name="Bost980929">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-boston-globe-ch-38-cancels-its-10-p/155772474/|date=September 29, 1998|page=C8|first=Don|last=Aucoin|title=Ch. 38 cancels its 10 p.m. news|newspaper=The Boston Globe|location=Boston, Massachusetts|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 22, 2024}}</ref><!-- Tue --> |
Channel 31 became Sacramento's UPN station on January 5, 1998, with WB programming moving to KQCA. It simultaneously changed its call sign to KMAX-TV (the first choice of KSUN-TV being unavailable<ref name="Sacr971028">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-reader-puts-this-thou/155816419/|date=October 28, 1997|page=C5|first=Dan|last=Vierria|title=Reader puts this thought in play: KCRA's too sporty|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 22, 2024|archive-date=September 23, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240923000915/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-reader-puts-this-thou/155816419/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Tue -->), instituted early prime time for UPN programming (7–9 p.m. instead of 8–10 p.m.), and restored the 9 p.m. news hour that had been successful prior to WB affiliation.<ref name="Sacr980103">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-channels-31-58-to-sw/132554870/|date=January 3, 1998|page=Scene 7|first=Dan|last=Vierria|title=Channels 31, 58 to swap on Monday: UPN-WB trade is first locally since '95|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 22, 2024|archive-date=September 23, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240923000916/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-channels-31-58-to-sw/132554870/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sat --> Though Paramount initially promised further news investment along with an upgraded syndicated programming inventory and larger sales force,<ref name="Sacr980106">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-new-channel-31-owner/155389874/|date=January 6, 1998|pages=C1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-kmax-news-shows-chan/155389889/ C5]|first=Dan|last=Vierria|title=New Channel 31 owner promises improvements|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 22, 2024|archive-date=September 23, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240923000916/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-new-channel-31-owner/155389874/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Tue --> the early prime time schedule and new news time slots did not last the year in spite of producing the station's highest news ratings in three years.<ref name="Sacr980310">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-springers-sensationa/155389996/|date=March 10, 1998|pages=C1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-vierria-springers-s/155389990/ C5]|first=Dan|last=Vierria|title=Springer's sensationalist schtick is a local TV sensation|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 22, 2024|archive-date=September 23, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240923000917/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-springers-sensationa/155389996/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Tue --> On August 14, 1998, KMAX-TV aired its final evening newscast after twelve and a half years and moved UPN programming to a traditional 8–10 p.m. schedule. Elliott Troshinsky, the station's general manager, described the move as supporting UPN, which that season moved to five nights of programming.<ref name="Sacr980811">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-upn-to-start-prime-ti/155390011/|date=August 11, 1998|pages=C1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-vierria-k-talks-has/155390014/ C5]|first=Dan|last=Vierria|title=UPN to start prime time at 8 p.m., scrap its night news|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 22, 2024|archive-date=September 23, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240923001419/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-upn-to-start-prime-ti/155390011/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Tue --> The move dovetailed with a general retreat from news by Paramount stations; Paramount had canceled outsourced local newscasts for its stations in [[Columbus, Ohio]];<ref>{{Cite news|title=Channel 53 to air final '10 O'Clock News' show|first=Tim|last=Feran|work=[[The Columbus Dispatch]]|page=7E|date=October 2, 1997}}</ref> [[Providence, Rhode Island]];<ref>{{Cite news|page=F2|first=John|last=Martin|work=[[Providence Journal]]|title=Swap leaves 10 p.m. newscasters casting about|date=September 4, 1997}}</ref> and [[Norfolk, Virginia]],<ref name="Dail971206">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-press-wavy-promotes-charles-pugh-t/133145186/|date=December 6, 1997|page=D1|first=David|last=Nicholson|title=WAVY promotes Charles Pugh to 5 p.m. show|newspaper=Daily Press|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=October 9, 2023|archive-date=September 23, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240923001526/https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-press-wavy-promotes-charles-pugh-t/133145186/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sat --> in 1997. The next year, it shut down the entire local news operation at [[WTOG-TV]] in [[St. Petersburg, Florida]],<ref name="Tamp980708">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/tampa-bay-times-wtog-drops-news-division/155772445/|date=July 8, 1998|page=3B|first=Eric|last=Deggans|title=WTOG drops news division to save money|newspaper=St. Petersburg Times|location=St. Petersburg, Florida|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 22, 2024|archive-date=September 22, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240922080837/https://www.newspapers.com/article/tampa-bay-times-wtog-drops-news-division/155772445/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Wed --> and proceeded to do so at [[KSTW]] serving [[Seattle]].<ref name="News981202">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-news-tribune-no-news-is-bad-news-at/155772370/|date=December 2, 1998|pages=A1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-tribune-no-news/155772384/ A12]|first=Cynthia|last=Flash|first2=Gestin|last2=Suttle|title=No news is bad news at KSTW: 62 people to lose jobs after Paramount decision to cut news operation|newspaper=The News Tribune|location=Tacoma, Washington|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 22, 2024|archive-date=September 23, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240923001420/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-tribune-no-news-is-bad-news-at/155772370/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Wed --> Also in 1998, it scrapped the outsourced newscast aired by [[WSBK-TV]] in Boston.<ref name="Bost980929">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-boston-globe-ch-38-cancels-its-10-p/155772474/|date=September 29, 1998|page=C8|first=Don|last=Aucoin|title=Ch. 38 cancels its 10 p.m. news|newspaper=The Boston Globe|location=Boston, Massachusetts|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 22, 2024|archive-date=September 23, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240923001937/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-boston-globe-ch-38-cancels-its-10-p/155772474/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Tue --> Viacom merged with [[CBS]] in 2000 and combined the Paramount Stations Group and the 16 CBS owned-and-operated stations under one unit.<ref name="LosA000525">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-severino-to-head-v/155805622/|date=May 25, 2000|page=C10|first=Sallie|last=Hofmeister|title=Severino to Head Viacom's New TV Unit|newspaper=The Los Angeles Times|location=Los Angeles, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 22, 2024|archive-date=September 23, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240923001945/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-severino-to-head-v/155805622/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Thu --> |
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During the [[2002 NBA playoffs]], in which the Sacramento Kings participated, KMAX offered pre- and post-game editions of ''Good Day Sacramento''. This upset the Kings, which believed the station had to share revenue earned from the advertising in team-adjacent programming with the team. By this time, the owners, [[Maloof family|Maloof Sports and Entertainment]], bought airtime from KMAX, producing the 25 Kings telecasts and selling the advertising themselves; in addition, KMAX aired some games of the co-owned [[Sacramento Monarchs]] women's basketball team.<ref>{{cite news|date=February 1, 2002|title=Monarchs announce 32-game '02 season|work=Sacramento Business Journal|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/stories/2002/01/28/daily52.html|quote=Seven games will be broadcast nationally -- three on NBC, three on ESPN2 and one on ESPN. Four of them will be played at Arco Arena. Six more games will be televised locally on KMAX-UPN, Channel 31.|url-access=subscription|access-date=September 22, 2024|archive-date=May 21, 2004|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040521234729/http://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/stories/2002/01/28/daily52.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The NBA team then filed a successful arbitration claim against KMAX to void the contract; the Kings then awarded the rights to Sacramento's ABC affiliate, [[KXTV]] (channel 10), ending channel 31's nearly 15 years of airing Kings basketball.<ref name="Sacr021223">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-kings-upn-31-butting/155390061/|date=December 23, 2002|pages=E1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-du-lac-judge-expecte/155390066/ E5]|first=J. Freedom|last=du Lac|title=Kings, UPN-31 butting heads over TV rights|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 22, 2024|archive-date=September 23, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240923001934/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-kings-upn-31-butting/155390061/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Mon --><ref name="Sacr030428">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-seeking-deal-fit-for/107496975/|date=April 28, 2003|pages=D1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-tv-getting-new-cable/107497004/ D3]|first=Gilbert|last=Chan|title=Seeking deal fit for Kings: Team wants broadcast deals befitting contender|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 22, 2024|archive-date=September 23, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240923001946/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-seeking-deal-fit-for/107496975/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Mon --> |
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[[Viacom (1952–2005)|Viacom]] acquired CBS in 2000, merging Paramount Stations Group with CBS' owned-and-operated stations to form the [[Viacom Television Stations Group]]. |
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Midway through the [[2002–03 Sacramento Kings season]], the team's owners, the [[Maloof family]], terminated the station's contract due to the Kings forming their own sales and marketing departments and taking the ad sales "in house." KMAX remains the local over-the-air affiliate of the [[San Francisco Giants]] [[Major League Baseball]] franchise. It also held local broadcast rights to the [[Oakland Athletics]] before that team moved all its telecasts to [[regional sports network]] [[Comcast SportsNet California]] in [[2009 Oakland Athletics season|2009]]. |
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In December 2004, the Viacom Television Stations Group agreed to acquire KOVR from [[Sinclair Broadcast Group]] for $285 million. The sale fit into both companies' strategies to pursue [[duopoly (broadcasting)|duopolies]] in as many markets as possible.<ref name="Balt041203">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108365202/sinclair-to-sell-calif-station-to/|date=December 3, 2004|page=1D, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108365237/ 8D]|first=Andrea K.|last=Walker|title=Sinclair to sell Calif. station to Viacom|newspaper=The Baltimore Sun|location=Baltimore, Maryland|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=August 27, 2022|archive-date=August 28, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220828043134/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108365202/sinclair-to-sell-calif-station-to/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Fri --><ref name="Sacr041203">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108365105/cbs-parent-viacom-agrees-to-buy/|date=December 3, 2004|page=A1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108365130/kovr-station-operations-will-be-combine/ A23]|first=J. Freedom|last=du Lac|title=CBS parent Viacom agrees to buy capital's KOVR|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=August 27, 2022|archive-date=August 28, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220828043133/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108365105/cbs-parent-viacom-agrees-to-buy/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Fri --> KMAX-TV moved into KOVR's studios in [[West Sacramento]], and 11 newly redundant employees across the combined staff were laid off.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/stories/2005/10/31/daily29.html|title=Viacom lays off 11 at KOVR, KMAX|work=Sacramento Business Journal|date=November 3, 2005|access-date=August 28, 2022|archive-date=August 6, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100806171148/http://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/stories/2005/10/31/daily29.html|url-status=live}}</ref> |
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The WB and UPN effectively merged in 2006 to form [[The CW]]; KMAX, along with ten other UPN owned-and-operated stations, was immediately named one of the network's stations.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Seid |first=Jessica |date=January 24, 2006 |title='Gilmore Girls' meet 'Smackdown'; CW Network to combine WB, UPN in CBS-Warner venture beginning in September |url=https://money.cnn.com/2006/01/24/news/companies/cbs_warner/ |website=[[CNN Money]] |publisher=CNN |access-date=August 3, 2020 |archive-date=March 16, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170316043531/http://money.cnn.com/2006/01/24/news/companies/cbs_warner/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Carter |first=Bill |date=January 24, 2006 |title=UPN and WB to Combine, Forming New TV Network |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/24/business/media/24cnd-network.html|website=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=February 22, 2017 |archive-date=October 17, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017035638/http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/24/business/media/24cnd-network.html?bl |url-status=live }}</ref> Despite being combined with KOVR, an evening newscast was not immediately restored to channel 31's lineup. By 2019, the station was airing a weeknight 6:30 p.m. newscast.{{r|BC191028}} |
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In May 2005, Viacom purchased KOVR from the [[Sinclair Broadcast Group]], creating a duopoly with KMAX; KMAX's operations were also relocated to KOVR's studios in West Sacramento. Six months later, Viacom divested itself of CBS due to the company's [[Viacom (1952–2005)#2005 split and 2019 re-merger|split into two separate entities]] (one of which retained the [[Viacom (2005–2019)|Viacom]] name); KOVR and KMAX, along with the other CBS and UPN stations operated by Viacom, became part of the newly formed [[CBS Corporation]]. |
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⚫ | On October 3, 2022, [[Nexstar Media Group]] acquired majority ownership of The CW.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hayes |first=Dade |date=October 3, 2022 |title=New Day Dawns For Broadcast TV As Nexstar Closes Deal For Control Of The CW |url=https://deadline.com/2022/10/nexstar-closes-deal-for-control-of-the-cw-mark-pedowitz-exits-top-job-1235133428/ |access-date=January 17, 2023 |website=Deadline |language=en-US |archive-date=October 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221014023432/https://deadline.com/2022/10/nexstar-closes-deal-for-control-of-the-cw-mark-pedowitz-exits-top-job-1235133428/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Under the agreement, CBS was given the right to pull its affiliations from KMAX and its seven other CW stations. On May 5, 2023, CBS announced that it would exercise that right, with KMAX-TV ceasing to air the network's programming at the end of August and reverting to an independent station;<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://deadline.com/2023/05/cbs-stations-eight-drop-cw-go-independent-this-fall-1235357388/|work=[[Deadline Hollywood|Deadline]]|date=May 5, 2023|access-date=May 5, 2023|title=Eight CBS Stations To Ditch CW And Go Independent This Fall|archive-date=May 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230505155410/https://deadline.com/2023/05/cbs-stations-eight-drop-cw-go-independent-this-fall-1235357388/|url-status=live}}</ref> the CW affiliation moved to KQCA.<ref name="b&c-kqcacw">{{cite news |last1=Lafayette |first1=Jon |title=Hearst's KQCA To Become The CW Affiliate in Sacramento |url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/hearsts-kqca-tv-to-become-the-cw-affiliate-in-sacramento |access-date=August 1, 2023 |work=[[Broadcasting & Cable]] |date=August 1, 2023 |language=en |archive-date=September 23, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240923003034/https://www.nexttv.com/news/hearsts-kqca-tv-to-become-the-cw-affiliate-in-sacramento |url-status=live }}</ref> |
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On January 24, 2006, CBS Corporation and [[WarnerMedia|Time Warner]]'s [[Warner Bros. Entertainment]] (the division that operated The WB) announced that they would dissolve UPN and The WB, and move some of their programming to a newly created network, [[The CW]].<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/24/business/media/24cnd-network.html?bl UPN and WB to Combine, Forming New TV Network], ''[[The New York Times]]'', January 24, 2006.</ref> KMAX, as a CBS-owned UPN station, was tapped to become the market's affiliate of the new network through an 11-station affiliation deal, and became a charter affiliate of The CW on September 18, 2006. The station changed its on-air branding from "UPN 31" to "CW31" one month before The CW's September 18 launch to reflect this. When affiliated with the CW, the station aired the Saturday morning [[E/I|educational]] ''[[One Magnificent Morning]]'' lineup on a four-hour [[broadcast delay|delay]] as it instead carried a full Saturday edition of ''Good Day'', and now as an independent with programming purchased from syndication, that obligation is filled with programming early in the morning and an hour after ''Good Day''. |
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CBS Corporation merged with Viacom [[2019 merger of CBS and Viacom|for the second time]] on December 4, 2019, creating ViacomCBS (now known as [[Paramount Global]]).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Littleton |first=Cynthia |date=December 4, 2019 |title=CBS and Viacom Complete Merger: 'It's Been a Long and Winding Road to Get Here' |url=https://variety.com/2019/biz/news/cbs-viacom-merger-complete-redstone-bob-bakish-1203424316/ |access-date=May 23, 2023 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref> |
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⚫ | On October 3, 2022, [[Nexstar Media Group]] acquired majority ownership of The CW.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hayes |first=Dade |date=October 3, 2022 |title=New Day Dawns For Broadcast TV As Nexstar Closes Deal For Control Of The CW |url=https://deadline.com/2022/10/nexstar-closes-deal-for-control-of-the-cw-mark-pedowitz-exits-top-job-1235133428/ |access-date=January 17, 2023 |website=Deadline |language=en-US |archive-date=October 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221014023432/https://deadline.com/2022/10/nexstar-closes-deal-for-control-of-the-cw-mark-pedowitz-exits-top-job-1235133428/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Under the agreement, CBS was given the right to pull its affiliations from KMAX and its seven other CW stations. On May 5, 2023, CBS announced that it would exercise that right, with KMAX-TV ceasing to air the network's programming at the end of August and reverting to an independent station;<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://deadline.com/2023/05/cbs-stations-eight-drop-cw-go-independent-this-fall-1235357388/|work=[[Deadline Hollywood|Deadline]]|date=May 5, 2023|access-date=May 5, 2023|title=Eight CBS Stations To Ditch CW And Go Independent This Fall}}</ref> the CW affiliation moved to KQCA.<ref name="b&c-kqcacw">{{cite news |last1=Lafayette |first1=Jon |title=Hearst's KQCA To Become The CW Affiliate in Sacramento |url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/hearsts-kqca-tv-to-become-the-cw-affiliate-in-sacramento |access-date=August 1, 2023 |work=[[Broadcasting & Cable]] |date=August 1, 2023 |language=en}}</ref> |
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⚫ | Since 2019, KMAX has broadcast all [[Sacramento State Hornets football]] home games;<ref>{{Cite web |last=Honbo |first=Mark |date=November 20, 2019 |title=UC Davis-Sac State square off for 66th Causeway Classic |url=https://ucdavisaggies.com/news/2019/11/20/football-uc-davis-sac-state-square-off-for-66th-causeway-classic.aspx |access-date=September 12, 2024 |language=en-US}}</ref> in 2024, the station aired a Hornets road game at [[Fresno State Bulldogs football|Fresno State]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 4, 2024 |title=KMAX 31 |
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{{Gallery |
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|File:UPN31KMAXOldLogo.JPG |
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|KMAX's first "UPN 31" logo, used from 1998 to 2002 |
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|File:CW31Logo.svg |
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|KMAX logo used from July 2006 to August 2023 |
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}} |
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==Local programming== |
==Local programming== |
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===''Good Day''=== |
===''Good Day''=== |
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On August 14, 1995, while owned by Pappas, KPWB-TV debuted ''The Morning Show'', a three-hour blend of news, features, and traffic and weather information designed to provide local competition to the national morning newscasts.<ref name="Sacr950812">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-breakfast-menu-is-set/155389858/|date=August 12, 1995|page=G7|first=Dan|last=Vierria|title=Breakfast menu is set for 'Morning Show': Channel 31 invites mayor, accordionist|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 22, 2024}}</ref><!-- Sat --> After eight months on the air, ''The Morning Show'' was renamed ''Good Day Sacramento'' to emphasize its local content.<ref name="Sacr960420">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-more-radio-stations-c/108458169/|date=April 20, 1996|page=G7|first=Dan|last=Vierria|title=More radio stations considered for sale|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 22, 2024}}</ref><!-- Sat --> |
On August 14, 1995, while owned by Pappas, KPWB-TV debuted ''The Morning Show'', a three-hour blend of news, features, and traffic and weather information designed to provide local competition to the national morning newscasts.<ref name="Sacr950812">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-breakfast-menu-is-set/155389858/|date=August 12, 1995|page=G7|first=Dan|last=Vierria|title=Breakfast menu is set for 'Morning Show': Channel 31 invites mayor, accordionist|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 22, 2024|archive-date=September 23, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240923003036/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-breakfast-menu-is-set/155389858/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sat --> After eight months on the air, ''The Morning Show'' was renamed ''Good Day Sacramento'' to emphasize its local content.<ref name="Sacr960420">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-more-radio-stations-c/108458169/|date=April 20, 1996|page=G7|first=Dan|last=Vierria|title=More radio stations considered for sale|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 22, 2024|archive-date=September 23, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240923003037/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-more-radio-stations-c/108458169/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sat --> The formula of weather and traffic, entertainment, and personality drew viewers;<ref name="Sacr050814">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-dawn-patrol-channel/155735229/|date=August 14, 2005|page=Sunday Ticket 26+27, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-good-day/155735179/ 28]|first=Sam|last=McManus|title=Dawn Patrol: Channel 31's 'Good Day Sacramento' celebrates its 10th anniversary|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 22, 2024|archive-date=September 23, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240923002939/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-dawn-patrol-channel/155735229/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sun --> by early 1998, it had tripled its market share to become the second-highest-rated morning program on Sacramento television, behind NBC's ''[[Today (American TV program)|Today]]''.<ref name="Sacr980425">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-more-home-grown-talen/155389954/|date=April 25, 1998|page=Scene 7|first=Dan|last=Vierria|title=More home-grown talent at Channel 3: Steve Bunnell joins the anchor team|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 22, 2024|archive-date=September 23, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240923002936/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-more-home-grown-talen/155389954/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sat --> |
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Originally three hours in duration from 6 to 9 a.m., ''Good Day Sacramento'' moved its start time up to 5:30 a.m. in August 1998, coinciding with the end of evening newscasts.<ref name="Sacr980829">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-ryan-heading-to-denve/155389976/|date=August 29, 1998|page=129|title=Ryan heading to Denver after a chance meeting results in TV job offer|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 22, 2024|archive-date=September 23, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240923002936/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-ryan-heading-to-denve/155389976/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sat --> The show added a 9 a.m. hour in 2000,<ref name="Sacr000907">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-doran-spins-80-statio/155808545/|date=September 7, 2000|pages=C1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-air-time-good-day-s/155808505/ C3]|first=Dixie|last=Reid|title=Doran spins 80-station 'Dream' web|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 22, 2024|archive-date=September 23, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240923002931/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-doran-spins-80-statio/155808545/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Thu --> and in 2002, it expanded to 5 a.m., bringing its total duration to five hours.<ref name="Sacr021219">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-good-day-to-rise-an/155735040/|date=December 19, 2002|pages=E1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-du-lac-new-face-at-u/155735070/ E9]|first=J. Freedom|last=du Lac|title='Good Day' to rise and shine earlier|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 22, 2024|archive-date=September 23, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240923004002/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-good-day-to-rise-an/155735040/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Thu --> |
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==News operation== |
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In the early 2000s, the station twice attempted an evening spinoff of ''Good Day Sacramento''. The first version, ''Good Evening Sacramento''—hosted by [[Mark S. Allen]], a reporter for the day program who joined shortly after launch,{{r|Sacr050814}} and Gary Gelfand—aired for several months in 2001.<ref name="Sacr010531">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-channel-31-hopes-to-m/155772696/|date=May 31, 2001|pages=E1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-reid-kuvs-photograph/155772704/ E7]|first=Dixie|last=Reid|title=Channel 31 hopes to make it a 'Good Evening,' too|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 22, 2024|archive-date=September 23, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240923004042/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-channel-31-hopes-to-m/155772696/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Thu --><ref name="Sacr030508">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-upn-31-to-add-evening/155390075/|date=May 8, 2003|pages=E1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-du-lac-kcras-am-s/155390078/ E7]|first=J. Freedom|last=du Lac|title=UPN-31 to add evening show|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 22, 2024|archive-date=September 23, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240923004005/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-upn-31-to-add-evening/155390075/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Thu --> A second incarnation under the same title, hosted originally by Beth Ruyak and later by ''Good Day'' host Marianne McClary with Allen, ran from August 2003 to September 2004.<ref name="Sacr040715">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-evening-put-out-of/155390105/|date=July 15, 2004|pages=E1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-du-lac-a-star-spangl/155390110/ E5]|first=J. Freedom|last=du Lac|title='Evening' put out of its misery|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 22, 2024|archive-date=September 23, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240923004012/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-evening-put-out-of/155390105/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Thu --> Heretofore broadcast on weekdays only, ''Good Day Sacramento'' debuted weekend editions after ''Good Evening'' was canceled.<ref name="Sacr040930">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-new-host-bumps-dr-la/155772664/|date=September 30, 2004|pages=E1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-savvy-ron-jones-is-b/155772658/ E7]|first=J. Freedom|last=du Lac|title=New host bumps Dr. Laura|newspaper=The Sacramento Bee|location=Sacramento, California|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 22, 2024|archive-date=September 23, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240923004033/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-new-host-bumps-dr-la/155772664/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Thu --> |
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⚫ | |||
KMAX-TV presently broadcasts {{frac|45|1|2}} hours of locally produced newscasts each week (with {{frac|7|1|2}} hours each weekday and four hours each on Saturdays and Sundays). Combined with sister station KOVR, it has the highest local newscast output among Sacramento's broadcast television stations, producing {{frac|84|1|2}} hours of local newscasts. The station's morning newscast ''Good Day'' (which debuted in 1995 as ''The Morning Show'', then later as ''Good Day Sacramento''), consistently ranks as the Sacramento area's second highest-rated morning news program—among both local or network shows—behind ''[[Today (American TV program)|Today]]'' on [[NBC]] affiliate [[KCRA-TV]] (channel 3). The station has also maintained a nightly newscast since the 1980s, titled ''Prime News'', then later ''31 News''. In its days as an independent, the newscast aired in the 9 p.m. hour, until the station affiliated with The WB in 1995, at which its newscast moved to 10 p.m. to accommodate The WB's prime time schedule from 8 to 10 pm, thereby putting it in direct competition with newscasts on KTXL, a KCRA-produced newscast on KQCA (at the time, under a [[local marketing agreement]]), and, later, KOVR (under different ownership at the time) when the station switched its affiliation from [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] to CBS in March 1995. In 1996, the station adopted the ''[[Action News]]'' format (the second station in the market to do so since KOVR in the 1970s), branding as ''31 Action News'', and also adding an 11:30 a.m. midday newscast. When channel 31 became a UPN owned-and-operated station in early 1998, it slightly changed its branding to ''UPN 31 Action News'' and moved its newscast back to 9 pm, while the station adopted an early prime schedule for UPN programming from 7 to 9 p.m. (a practice similar to now-sister station KOVR that continues to this day, but from 7 to 10 pm); however, the scheduling was short-lived, and the nightly newscast was cancelled later that year due to low ratings, ending evening newscasts altogether for the first time. The midday edition of ''UPN 31 Action News'' continued to air until 2000, when it was also cancelled, leaving ''Good Day'' as the only news program at the time. |
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In 2009, the weekday edition of ''Good Day Sacramento'' began starting at 4:30 a.m.;<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/market-eye-colossal-challenges-41799|date=July 10, 2009|first=Michael|last=Malone|work=Broadcasting & Cable|title=Market Eye: Colossal Challenges|access-date=September 22, 2024|archive-date=March 22, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230322183344/https://www.nexttv.com/news/market-eye-colossal-challenges-41799|url-status=live}}</ref> they were extended to end at 11 a.m. in 2020, when the program was partitioned into a 4:30–7 a.m. block simulcast by KOVR and KMAX and a 7–11 a.m. block only aired on channel 31.<ref>{{Cite news|first=Chelsea|last=Anderson|title=The CW31 Adds 10 a.m. Hour to Morning Show|url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/the-cw31-adds-10-am-hour-to-morning-show|date=September 11, 2020|work=Broadcasting & Cable|access-date=September 22, 2024|archive-date=May 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210509234857/https://www.nexttv.com/news/the-cw31-adds-10-am-hour-to-morning-show|url-status=live}}</ref> The program was retitled ''Good Day'' in 2019 to reflect cities other than Sacramento that it covers.<ref name="BC191028">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/sac-race-in-california-capital|date=October 28, 2019|title=Sac Race in California Capital|work=Broadcasting & Cable|first=Michael|last=Malone|access-date=September 22, 2024|archive-date=June 12, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220612233833/https://www.nexttv.com/news/sac-race-in-california-capital|url-status=live}}</ref> |
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After Viacom's acquisition of KOVR, KMAX's news department was merged with KOVR, with reporters appearing on both stations and the ''Good Day Sacramento'' set being relocated into the KOVR studio facility. While it did hinder both stations at the time, KOVR and KMAX each produced a weekday morning news block from 5 to 7 am, though KMAX's morning newscast starts at 4:30 and ends at 11 a.m. (in 2020, during the [[COVID-19 pandemic in California|COVID-19 pandemic]], KOVR dropped its own 5 to 7 a.m. newscast in favor of simulcasting ''Good Day''). The station expanded its news programming in 2003 with a non-traditional late evening newscast called ''Good Evening Sacramento'', this program was cancelled the following year. |
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[[File:160927-N-HQ322-032 160927-N-HQ322-032.jpg|right|thumb|A segment shot in the ''Good Day Sacramento'' studio in 2016|alt=Refer to caption]] |
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===''Primetime Sacramento''=== |
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On January 11, 2008, KOVR/KMAX management announced on a viewer blog<ref>[http://radiomatthew.com/blog/exclusive-cw31-to-launch-evening-newscast/ viewer blog] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080121073425/http://radiomatthew.com/blog/exclusive-cw31-to-launch-evening-newscast/ |date=January 21, 2008 }}</ref> that KOVR would begin producing a prime time newscast on KMAX-TV. However, owing to cutbacks ordered by CBS corporate management, plans for this broadcast were shelved in late summer 2008. On June 1, 2009, KMAX-TV began broadcasting ''Good Day Sacramento'' in [[high-definition television|high definition]]; footage shot in-studio is broadcast in high definition, while all news video from on-remote locations was initially broadcast in [[standard definition]]. Both KMAX-TV and KOVR currently use high-definition cameras for field reports, and most (if not all) vehicles transmit back high-definition video. |
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To fill some of the hours vacated by CW programming when KMAX-TV became an independent station in 2023, the station debuted ''Primetime Sacramento'', an 8 p.m. news hour hosted by Tony Lopez. The time slot was chosen by KOVR–KMAX general manager Deborah Collura as a likely first for the market.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/local-news-close-up-sacramento-stockton-modesto-calif|date=August 12, 2024|work=Broadcasting & Cable|title=Local News Close-Up: California’s Capital Is a Vast and Varied Market|first=Michael|last=Malone|access-date=September 22, 2024|archive-date=September 18, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240918154006/https://www.nexttv.com/news/local-news-close-up-sacramento-stockton-modesto-calif|url-status=live}}</ref> |
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===Sports=== |
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On June 4, 2012, KMAX-TV debuted a half-hour weeknight newscast produced by KOVR at 11 pm, becoming the station's first traditional evening newscast in over a decade since the 1998 cancellation of its earlier prime time newscast; unlike most CW affiliates, the program broadcasts in the traditional late evening news timeslot of 11 pm, due to KOVR's hour-long newscast at 10 pm. On March 14, 2016, KMAX-TV added a half-hour weeknight KOVR-produced newscast at 6:30 p.m. to compete with KCRA's long-established 6:30 p.m. newscast. These newscasts, along with ''Good Day'', are translated into Spanish via the station's [[Second audio program|SAP]] audio feed. On July 30, 2018, the 11 p.m. newscast was relocated to KOVR, leaving its 6:30 p.m. newscast as the only evening newscast. On September 27, 2021, the 6:30 p.m. newscast was relocated to KOVR an hour earlier at 5:30 p.m. (as part of an hour-long 5 p.m. newscast), competing with KTXL and ending that station's status as the only local newscast in the 5:30 p.m. timeslot. The change marked the end of evening newscasts altogether on KMAX for the second time in the station's history and ''Good Day'' would become the station's only news program once again for almost two years. |
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⚫ | Since 2019, KMAX has broadcast all [[Sacramento State Hornets football]] home games;<ref>{{Cite web |last=Honbo |first=Mark |date=November 20, 2019 |title=UC Davis-Sac State square off for 66th Causeway Classic |url=https://ucdavisaggies.com/news/2019/11/20/football-uc-davis-sac-state-square-off-for-66th-causeway-classic.aspx |access-date=September 12, 2024 |language=en-US |website=UC Davis Aggies |archive-date=September 23, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240923004014/https://ucdavisaggies.com/news/2019/11/20/football-uc-davis-sac-state-square-off-for-66th-causeway-classic.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref> in 2024, the station aired a Hornets road game at [[Fresno State Bulldogs football|Fresno State]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 4, 2024 |title=KMAX 31 to Air Six Football Games This Fall |website=Sacramento State Hornets |url=https://hornetsports.com/news/2024/9/4/football-kmax-31-to-air-six-football-games-this-fall.aspx |access-date=September 12, 2024 |language=en-US |archive-date=September 12, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240912194436/https://hornetsports.com/news/2024/9/4/football-kmax-31-to-air-six-football-games-this-fall.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref> |
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After sister station KOVR purchased the "CBS 13 Mobile Weather Lab" and "Mobile13" mobile news vehicles in 2014, the station acquired a "Rover" mobile news vehicle in 2015. The "Good Day Rover" and "Mobile13" use a roof mounted robotic camera, various interior cameras, microphones, and a "LIVEU" mobile video broadcast system to transmit live video via mobile broadband connections. ''Good Day'' uses the Rover in the early hours of the morning to cover traffic and spot news. |
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In 2022, along with KOVR, ''Good Day'' from 4:30 to 7 a.m. weekday mornings was rebranded as ''CBS 13 Mornings'' (in reference to the national ''[[CBS Mornings]]'' program), with ''Good Day'' continuing to maintain its morning news program from 7 to 11 a.m. seven days a week. |
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On September 1, 2023, coinciding its return as an independent station, KMAX brought back evening news to its programming by debuting an hour-long 8 pm. KOVR-produced newscast, ''Primetime Sacramento'', on weeknights. It is the first regularly scheduled 8 p.m. newscast to air in the Sacramento television market. Other stations in the market had newscasts air occasionally at 8 pm, but it was only after broadcasting certain programming, such as sports-related programming. Currently, KMAX does not air evening newscasts on the weekends. |
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===Notable former on-air staff=== |
===Notable former on-air staff=== |
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* [[Chris Burrous]] — anchor/reporter for ''Good Day Sacramento'', c. 2005<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bentley |first=Rick |date=November 10, 2005 |title=Former Tulare radio host is found dead |page=E3 |work=The Fresno Bee |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-fresno-bee/134408309/ |url-status=live |access-date=October 31, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231031202554/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-fresno-bee/134408309/ |archive-date=October 31, 2023 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>–2010<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://tvnewscheck.com/uncategorized/article/wpix-adds-chris-burrous-as-morning-anchor/|work=TVNewsCheck|title=WPIX Adds Chris Burrous As Morning Anchor|date=May 18, 2010}}</ref> |
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* [[Mark S. Allen]] (1996–2015 as weekday morning entertainment reporter; also host of ''Mark at the Movies''; now at [[KXTV]]) |
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* [[Kinsey Schofield]] – anchor/reporter for ''Good Day Sacramento'', 2017<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.adweek.com/tvspy/kinsey-schofield-leaves-knxv-for-kmax/191827/|work=TVSpy|first=Chris|last=Ariens|date=June 30, 2017|title=Kinsey Schofield Leaves KNXV For KMAX|access-date=August 28, 2022|archive-date=August 28, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180828045443/https://www.adweek.com/tvspy/kinsey-schofield-leaves-knxv-for-kmax/191827|url-status=live}}</ref> |
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* [[Christine Craft]] (1985–1990 as anchor; known for her lawsuit against previous employer [[Metromedia]]; now a fill-in talk host on [[KGO-AM]] in San Francisco) |
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* [[Sharon Ito]] (1993–1996 as anchor; later at KXTV) |
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* [[Grant Napear]] (1987–1995 as sports anchor; formerly at [[KHTK]] and also the former play-by-play announcer for the [[Sacramento Kings]]) |
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* [[Kinsey Schofield]] (2017 as anchor and reporter) |
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==Technical information== |
==Technical information== |
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The station's signal is [[Multiplex (TV)|multiplexed]]: |
The station's signal is [[Multiplex (TV)|multiplexed]]: |
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{| class="wikitable" |
{| class="wikitable" |
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|+Subchannels of KMAX-TV<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=KMAX|title= |
|+Subchannels of KMAX-TV<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=KMAX|title=TV Query for KMAX|website=[[RabbitEars]]}}</ref> |
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! scope = "col" | [[Digital subchannel#United States|Channel]] |
! scope = "col" | [[Digital subchannel#United States|Channel]] |
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{{legend|#E6FFF7|Simulcast of subchannels of another station}} |
{{legend|#E6FFF7|Simulcast of subchannels of another station}} |
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In April 2022, KMAX-TV picked up the widescreen standard-definition simulcast of [[Telemundo]] outlet [[KCSO-LD]] (channel 33) from [[Ion Television]] outlet [[KSPX-TV]] (channel 29, which dropped the simulcast in October 2021) on a new digital subchannel displayed as channel 33.2 to reach the entire Sacramento television market due to KCSO-LD's [[low-power broadcasting#Television|low-power status]]. |
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===Analog-to-digital conversion=== |
===Analog-to-digital conversion=== |
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KMAX-TV |
KMAX-TV began broadcasting a digital signal on channel 21 on June 19, 2003.<ref>{{Cite book|publisher=Warren Communications News|date=2006|title=Television and Cable Factbook|chapter=KMAX-DT|page=A-289|volume=74}}</ref> The analog signal on channel 31 shut down on June 12, 2009, as part of the [[Digital television transition in the United States|transition to digital television]].<ref name="Analog to Digital">{{Cite web |date=May 23, 2006 |title=DTV Tentative Channel Designations for the First and Second Rounds |url=http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1082A2.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130829004251/http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1082A2.pdf |archive-date=August 29, 2013 |access-date=August 29, 2021 |publisher=Federal Communications Commission}}</ref> The digital signal was relocated from channel 21 to channel 24 on May 1, 2020, as a result of the [[2016 United States wireless spectrum auction]].<ref name="Repack Table">{{Cite web|url=http://data.fcc.gov/download/incentive-auctions/Transition_Files/Phase_Assignment_Closing_PN.csv|title=FCC TV Spectrum Phase Assignment Table|format=CSV|website=[[Federal Communications Commission]]|date=April 13, 2017|access-date=April 17, 2017|archive-date=April 17, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170417160749/http://data.fcc.gov/download/incentive-auctions/Transition_Files/Phase_Assignment_Closing_PN.csv|url-status=live}}</ref> |
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==See also== |
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* [[Channel 24 digital TV stations in the United States]] |
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* [[Channel 31 virtual TV stations in the United States]] |
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==Notes== |
==Notes== |
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[[Category:Television stations in Sacramento, California|MAX-TV]] |
[[Category:Television stations in Sacramento, California|MAX-TV]] |
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[[Category:West Sacramento, California]] |
[[Category:West Sacramento, California]] |
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[[Category:1974 establishments in California]] |
Latest revision as of 07:22, 5 November 2024
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City | Sacramento, California |
Channels | |
Branding | KMAX 31 |
Programming | |
Affiliations |
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Ownership | |
Owner |
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KOVR | |
History | |
First air date | October 5, 1974 |
Former call signs | |
Former channel number(s) |
|
Technical information[2] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
Facility ID | 51499 |
ERP | 1,000 kW |
HAAT | 591.1 m (1,939 ft) |
Transmitter coordinates | 38°14′24″N 121°30′7″W / 38.24000°N 121.50194°W |
Links | |
Public license information | |
Website | www |
KMAX-TV (channel 31) is an independent television station in Sacramento, California, United States. It is owned by the CBS News and Stations group alongside Stockton-licensed KOVR (channel 13), the market's CBS owned-and-operated station. The two stations share studios on KOVR Drive in West Sacramento; KMAX-TV's transmitter is located in Walnut Grove, California.
Channel 31 began broadcasting on October 5, 1974, as KMUV-TV. It was built by the Grayson Television Company and originally featured a lineup heavy on movies. The station was not a financial success and, after filing for bankruptcy reorganization, became a primarily Spanish-language station. During this time, two groups looked at using channel 31 for over-the-air subscription television, but after Tandem Productions and Jerry Perenchio acquired it in 1980, they decided not to enter the competitive market and immediately sold. The new owners, Koplar Communications, relaunched the station in 1981 as KRBK-TV, a general-entertainment independent outlet. During the 1980s, KRBK-TV became more competitive with Sacramento's leading independent, KTXL, and established a local news presence. From 1988 to 2002, it was the broadcast home of Sacramento Kings basketball.
Facing a heavy debt load, Koplar sold KRBK-TV to Pappas Telecasting in 1993. In 1995, the station affiliated with The WB, changed its call sign to KPWB-TV, and launched a morning show that became Good Day Sacramento (now Good Day), a station fixture since. KPWB-TV was acquired by the Paramount Stations Group in 1997 and became an owned-and-operated station for UPN as KMAX-TV in January 1998; Paramount, which at the time was dismantling newscasts and news departments at many of its stations, discontinued channel 31's evening newscasts but retained and expanded Good Day Sacramento. KMAX-TV and KOVR became a duopoly in 2005, with channel 31 moving into KOVR's West Sacramento studios; the next year, the station became a charter outlet of The CW, an affiliation it retained until 2023. In addition to Good Day, KMAX-TV airs a prime time newscast at 8 p.m. as well as local sports.
KMUV-TV: Early years
[edit]Construction
[edit]In 1966, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) received two applications to build a new television station in Sacramento on ultra high frequency (UHF) channel 15. The Grayson Television Company, headed by Sidney Grayson of Sacramento, and the Hercules Broadcasting Company, owners of Sacramento radio station KRAK, each sought the channel.[3] Grayson attempted to reach an agreement with Hercules to end the proceeding by having the latter withdraw its application; Grayson alleged that Hercules had agreed to withdraw only to later renege, resulting in a lawsuit.[4] While Hercules won the construction permit in July 1968,[5] Grayson bought the permit in 1970 from Hercules with hopes of opening it in 1972.[6][7] During the construction process, the FCC switched the construction permit for KMUV-TV from channel 15 to channel 31 out of concerns that the new station would interfere with public safety radio systems using nearby spectrum in San Francisco.[8]
In March 1973, Grayson received final engineering approval.[9] It leased land for studios in Sacramento and a tower in Walnut Grove.[10] After several construction delays,[11] KMUV-TV began broadcasting on October 5, 1974.[12] When the station went on, it was an independent station whose programming consisted nearly entirely of movies, with three films to be telecast each day and repeated. The primary interruption was an early evening program in Spanish.[13]
KMUV-TV's attempts to get on the air were noteworthy for causing a dispute that almost led the FCC to deny the license renewal of its principal competitor, KTXL (channel 40). KTXL attempted to show to the FCC that Grayson was unqualified to be a broadcast licensee, in opposition to the channel change from 15 to 31. KTXL owner Camellia City Telecasters submitted a pleading containing what purported to be a telex message from Dun & Bradstreet claiming he was an officer of the company after having previously been convicted of income tax evasion though he was merely a general manager. In August 1974, the FCC opened a hearing into charges the teletype was forged.[14] In 1975, Grayson Television sued Camellia City for $7.5 million, claiming the filing was an attempt to prevent KMUV-TV from being constructed. The next year, an administrative law judge issued an initial decision finding against KTXL and recommending its license not be renewed.[15] Shortly after, the station won $150,000 in a settlement with Camellia City. The FCC voted in June 1978 to overturn the recommendation and renew the KTXL license.[16]
Non-English broadcasting
[edit]KMUV-TV struggled financially. It filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization in April 1976, facing 11 lawsuits for nonpayment and owing banks and one of its officers. By then, shareholders in Channel 31, Inc.—the former Grayson Television—were negotiating with Pappas Associates, led by Mike Pappas and his brothers Harry and Pete. The Pappas family—owners of KMPH-TV in Visalia and radio stations—announced plans to switch channel 31 to a station focusing primarily on Spanish-language programming as well as shows catering to other ethnic groups,[17] which took effect on May 3.[18] Though Pappas Associates ran the station, the company never bought it because of possible signal overlap issues to KMPH-TV; instead, Mike Pappas obtained an option to buy it outright.[19] The station had a limited amount of Spanish-language local programming; it aired the local magazine program El Pueblo, produced by a Catholic organization, as well as a regular program on the California state legislature[20] and a weekly cooking show.[21]
Beginning in 1978, a series of potential ownership deals could have seen channel 31 become an over-the-air subscription television (STV) station for Sacramento. That May, Sacramento Television Inc. agreed to acquire KMUV-TV. Eighty percent of the firm was owned by Carl B. Hilliard Jr., a San Diego attorney. The remainder was held by Universal Subscription Television (US-TV), which was mostly owned by the Canadian CanWest Capital Corporation. Universal was in the process of signing up stations for potential conversion to subscription service across the country.[22] The deal never panned out, though in July 1980, the FCC approved the $7.7 million acquisition of KMUV-TV by Tandem Productions and Jerry Perenchio, who likewise wished to offer a subscription service over channel 31.[23] The two were partners in the ON TV STV service offered by WXON in Detroit, while Perenchio at the time owned WNJU-TV in the New York City market and part of the subscription television service on KBSC-TV in Los Angeles.[24]
KRBK-TV: The Koplar years
[edit]Within months of buying KMUV-TV, Tandem and Perenchio decided not to build it as a subscription station in the face of heavy competition from cable television and MDS microwave distribution systems. As a result, they agreed to sell the station to Koplar Broadcasting, owner of KPLR-TV in St. Louis. Koplar declared it would not operate channel 31 with STV.[25]
In KMUV-TV, Koplar found what amounted to a blank slate. The station had negligible viewership. Gail Brekke, who left her post as KPLR-TV's national sales manager to become the general manager in Sacramento, found only four usable chairs and ten working telephones. The station was completely relaunched as KRBK-TV,[a] a general-entertainment independent station, on April 6, 1981.[28] The staff grew from 8 to 45 within a year, while satellite receiving equipment was added.[29][30] Children's programming was among the first content to rate highly on the revamped KRBK-TV, largely because children tended to seek out new stations more than their parents.[31] In 1984, Koplar moved KRBK-TV's transmitter to the 1,800-foot (550 m) level of the new KCRA-TV tower in Walnut Grove, moving some 800 feet (240 m) above its prior site;[32] the next year, it began telecasting in stereo.[33] By 1985, KRBK-TV had gained market share and narrowed the gap to KTXL.[33][34]
When the NBA's Kansas City Kings relocated to Sacramento and became the Sacramento Kings in 1985, their first television partner was then-ABC affiliate KOVR (channel 13), which broadcast 20 games a season of the new club. The rights came up for bid in 1988, and KRBK offered to telecast 30 games;[35] its bid came in lower than KOVR's. Napear became the new play-by-play announcer for the team after it moved its games to channel 31.[36] The agreement was renewed in 1990.[37]
Starting a news operation
[edit]Two years after relaunching channel 31, Koplar added a local 10 p.m. newscast to the station's schedule, a small effort hosted by Gary Lindsey (previously of KSBW in Salinas). The newscast, despite modest resources, was intended to compete with KTXL's 10 p.m. newscast.[38] Prime News moved from 10 to 10:30 p.m. in March 1985,[39] but Koplar soon opted to retool the news department altogether and took it off the air that July.[40]
The revamped 31 News Tonight debuted on January 27, 1986. Its lead female anchor was Christine Craft, who had made headlines for an age and sex discrimination lawsuit against her prior employer, KMBC-TV in Kansas City.[41] The new newscast failed to attract significant viewership: in May 1986, it managed an audience share of just two percent.[42] Within a year, anchor Tim Klein was dismissed[42] and replaced with Robert Dyk, a network news veteran.[43] When original sports director Rich Gould left KRBK-TV for KPLR-TV in 1987, he was replaced by Grant Napear, who moved from WAND in Decatur, Illinois.[44]
The 10 p.m. newscast moved to 9 p.m. in September 1989, a move designed to reduce competition with KTXL and the threat that KCRA could change its 11 p.m. local news to 10 p.m.[45] The move immediately resulted in ratings increases.[46] Craft departed the next month to study law.[47]
Scott Jones arrived from West Palm Beach, Florida, to become KRBK-TV's news director in 1990.[48] Jones set out to make the newscast faster-paced with a higher story count and an emphasis on crime and education stories.[49] In the November 1990 survey, the newscast increased its audience share from three to five percent.[50] A second nightly newscast, at 9:30 p.m., debuted in September 1991; the separate news program in lieu of an hour-long news allowed the same reporters to return and update stories in the second half-hour.[51] Jones departed in 1992 to take a corporate position with Koplar Communications.[52]
KPWB-TV: Pappas ownership, WB affiliation, and 31 Action News
[edit]Through 1993, rumors continued of a possible sale of KRBK-TV amid concern for the financial future of Koplar Communications. The company's stations had suffered from the early 1990s recession, increased competition, and a high load of commitments to unsuccessful programming. Expensive programming purchases accelerated a spiral of borrowing that had begun with the KRBK-TV acquisition in 1981 but was masked by the solid performance of KPLR-TV in St. Louis.[53][54] Broadcasting magazine reported in February that syndicators, who supply television programs, were meeting to review Koplar's indebtedness as well as a rumor that KRBK-TV was up for sale along with a second Sacramento-market independent station, KSCH-TV (channel 58), to be packaged together for possible consolidation.[55]
The Tribune Company negotiated to acquire the two stations, but talks—prolonged by syndicators' objections to proposed concessions and contract forgiveness[56]—fell through after ten months. Instead, Pappas Telecasting purchased KRBK-TV and provided a program-buying alliance for KPLR-TV, which remained with Koplar.[57][58] The $22 million acquisition[59] closed in July 1994, at which time Pappas imposed a new dress code on station employees that prohibited women from wearing slacks.[60]
Just before Koplar sold channel 31, it committed the station to The WB, a new television network slated for a 1995 launch.[61] When The WB debuted on January 11, 1995, KRBK-TV became KPWB-TV for its new owner (Pappas) and network (WB).[62] Additionally, the station renewed its agreement with the Kings and expanded it to 35 telecasts a season;[63] the team cut back to 25 games a year beginning in the 1996–97 season.[64]
In preparation for the switch, 31 News moved in September 1994 from its double-half-hour format at 9 p.m. to 10 p.m., putting it back into competition with KTXL and KSCH, and introduced weekend reports.[65] In spite of its more limited resources—the station had 25 employees in news, a third the size of its rivals—and its third-place ratings at 10, KPWB attempted to remain competitive on reporting with the four other local TV news departments with creative coverage decisions.[66] Competition was fiercer at 10 because there were three other newscasts in the time period, from Fox affiliate KTXL; KQCA (the former KSCH-TV), which offered news produced by KCRA-TV; and KOVR, which switched to CBS in 1995 and simultaneously adopted early prime time scheduling with its late news at 10 p.m.[67]
Pappas invested in the news product, quadrupling the size of the KPWB newsroom and launching a local morning program, The Morning Show, in August 1995.[68] The evening news coverage was rebranded 31 Action News in January 1996 and reformatted from an hour-long report at 10 to half-hour newscasts at 7 and 10 p.m. designed to cater to busy viewers. The existing anchor team of John Malos and Sharon Ito was replaced by John Alston, who came from WSB-TV in Atlanta.[69] 31 Action News expanded to add news at 11:30 a.m. in August 1996[70] and 11 p.m. in June 1997, bringing KPWB-TV's local news output to five hours a day—second only to KCRA-TV.[71] KPWB-TV also provided management services to two other Pappas stations—WB affiliate KREN-TV and Univision outlet KUVR-LP—in Reno, Nevada.[72]
KMAX-TV: Paramount ownership and switch to UPN
[edit]On July 16, 1997, the Paramount Stations Group announced a deal to purchase KPWB-TV from Pappas. Paramount was the half-owner of The WB's primary competitor, UPN, and the purchase was immediately seen as portending an affiliation switch for the station.[73][74] Paramount's corporate parent, Viacom, paid for KPWB-TV at a purchase price exceeding $100 million[75] with proceeds from the sale of WVIT, the NBC affiliate it owned in Connecticut, to that network. Broadcasting & Cable reported that Paramount pursued the station because it had become aware that UPN's existing Sacramento-market affiliate, KQCA, planned not to renew.[76]
Channel 31 became Sacramento's UPN station on January 5, 1998, with WB programming moving to KQCA. It simultaneously changed its call sign to KMAX-TV (the first choice of KSUN-TV being unavailable[77]), instituted early prime time for UPN programming (7–9 p.m. instead of 8–10 p.m.), and restored the 9 p.m. news hour that had been successful prior to WB affiliation.[78] Though Paramount initially promised further news investment along with an upgraded syndicated programming inventory and larger sales force,[79] the early prime time schedule and new news time slots did not last the year in spite of producing the station's highest news ratings in three years.[80] On August 14, 1998, KMAX-TV aired its final evening newscast after twelve and a half years and moved UPN programming to a traditional 8–10 p.m. schedule. Elliott Troshinsky, the station's general manager, described the move as supporting UPN, which that season moved to five nights of programming.[81] The move dovetailed with a general retreat from news by Paramount stations; Paramount had canceled outsourced local newscasts for its stations in Columbus, Ohio;[82] Providence, Rhode Island;[83] and Norfolk, Virginia,[84] in 1997. The next year, it shut down the entire local news operation at WTOG-TV in St. Petersburg, Florida,[85] and proceeded to do so at KSTW serving Seattle.[86] Also in 1998, it scrapped the outsourced newscast aired by WSBK-TV in Boston.[87] Viacom merged with CBS in 2000 and combined the Paramount Stations Group and the 16 CBS owned-and-operated stations under one unit.[88]
During the 2002 NBA playoffs, in which the Sacramento Kings participated, KMAX offered pre- and post-game editions of Good Day Sacramento. This upset the Kings, which believed the station had to share revenue earned from the advertising in team-adjacent programming with the team. By this time, the owners, Maloof Sports and Entertainment, bought airtime from KMAX, producing the 25 Kings telecasts and selling the advertising themselves; in addition, KMAX aired some games of the co-owned Sacramento Monarchs women's basketball team.[89] The NBA team then filed a successful arbitration claim against KMAX to void the contract; the Kings then awarded the rights to Sacramento's ABC affiliate, KXTV (channel 10), ending channel 31's nearly 15 years of airing Kings basketball.[90][91]
Duopoly with KOVR
[edit]In December 2004, the Viacom Television Stations Group agreed to acquire KOVR from Sinclair Broadcast Group for $285 million. The sale fit into both companies' strategies to pursue duopolies in as many markets as possible.[92][93] KMAX-TV moved into KOVR's studios in West Sacramento, and 11 newly redundant employees across the combined staff were laid off.[94]
The WB and UPN effectively merged in 2006 to form The CW; KMAX, along with ten other UPN owned-and-operated stations, was immediately named one of the network's stations.[95][96] Despite being combined with KOVR, an evening newscast was not immediately restored to channel 31's lineup. By 2019, the station was airing a weeknight 6:30 p.m. newscast.[97]
On October 3, 2022, Nexstar Media Group acquired majority ownership of The CW.[98] Under the agreement, CBS was given the right to pull its affiliations from KMAX and its seven other CW stations. On May 5, 2023, CBS announced that it would exercise that right, with KMAX-TV ceasing to air the network's programming at the end of August and reverting to an independent station;[99] the CW affiliation moved to KQCA.[100]
Local programming
[edit]Good Day
[edit]On August 14, 1995, while owned by Pappas, KPWB-TV debuted The Morning Show, a three-hour blend of news, features, and traffic and weather information designed to provide local competition to the national morning newscasts.[68] After eight months on the air, The Morning Show was renamed Good Day Sacramento to emphasize its local content.[101] The formula of weather and traffic, entertainment, and personality drew viewers;[102] by early 1998, it had tripled its market share to become the second-highest-rated morning program on Sacramento television, behind NBC's Today.[103]
Originally three hours in duration from 6 to 9 a.m., Good Day Sacramento moved its start time up to 5:30 a.m. in August 1998, coinciding with the end of evening newscasts.[104] The show added a 9 a.m. hour in 2000,[105] and in 2002, it expanded to 5 a.m., bringing its total duration to five hours.[106]
In the early 2000s, the station twice attempted an evening spinoff of Good Day Sacramento. The first version, Good Evening Sacramento—hosted by Mark S. Allen, a reporter for the day program who joined shortly after launch,[102] and Gary Gelfand—aired for several months in 2001.[107][108] A second incarnation under the same title, hosted originally by Beth Ruyak and later by Good Day host Marianne McClary with Allen, ran from August 2003 to September 2004.[109] Heretofore broadcast on weekdays only, Good Day Sacramento debuted weekend editions after Good Evening was canceled.[110]
In 2009, the weekday edition of Good Day Sacramento began starting at 4:30 a.m.;[111] they were extended to end at 11 a.m. in 2020, when the program was partitioned into a 4:30–7 a.m. block simulcast by KOVR and KMAX and a 7–11 a.m. block only aired on channel 31.[112] The program was retitled Good Day in 2019 to reflect cities other than Sacramento that it covers.[97]
Primetime Sacramento
[edit]To fill some of the hours vacated by CW programming when KMAX-TV became an independent station in 2023, the station debuted Primetime Sacramento, an 8 p.m. news hour hosted by Tony Lopez. The time slot was chosen by KOVR–KMAX general manager Deborah Collura as a likely first for the market.[113]
Sports
[edit]Since 2019, KMAX has broadcast all Sacramento State Hornets football home games;[114] in 2024, the station aired a Hornets road game at Fresno State.[115]
Notable former on-air staff
[edit]- Chris Burrous — anchor/reporter for Good Day Sacramento, c. 2005[116]–2010[117]
- Kinsey Schofield – anchor/reporter for Good Day Sacramento, 2017[118]
Technical information
[edit]Subchannels
[edit]The station's signal is multiplexed:
Channel | Res. | Aspect | Short name | Programming |
---|---|---|---|---|
31.1 | 1080i | 16:9 | KMAX-DT | Independent |
31.2 | 480i | NOSEY | Nosey | |
31.3 | QVC1 | QVC | ||
31.4 | QVC2 | QVC2 | ||
31.5 | Movies | Movies! | ||
31.6 | MeToons | MeTV Toons | ||
33.2 | TLMD33 | Telemundo (KCSO-LD) |
Analog-to-digital conversion
[edit]KMAX-TV began broadcasting a digital signal on channel 21 on June 19, 2003.[120] The analog signal on channel 31 shut down on June 12, 2009, as part of the transition to digital television.[121] The digital signal was relocated from channel 21 to channel 24 on May 1, 2020, as a result of the 2016 United States wireless spectrum auction.[122]
Notes
[edit]- ^ The call sign had a history with Koplar before and after channel 31. The station was named for Ted J. Koplar's older brother, Robert Bernard Koplar, who died in 1976.[26] The KRBK designation had originally been proposed for a station Koplar planned to build in Des Moines, Iowa, in 1979.[27]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "FCC History Cards for KMAX-TV". Federal Communications Commission. Archived from the original on December 22, 2021. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
- ^ "Facility Technical Data for KMAX-TV". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
- ^ "Second Sacramento UHF TV Application Is Made". The Sacramento Bee. Sacramento, California. July 20, 1966. p. F6. Archived from the original on September 22, 2024. Retrieved September 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Court Fight Looms Over Capital UHF Channel". The Sacramento Bee. Sacramento, California. January 27, 1968. p. B7. Archived from the original on September 21, 2024. Retrieved September 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "FCC Okays New UHF Station For Sacramento". The Sacramento Bee. Sacramento, California. July 12, 1968. p. D3. Archived from the original on September 21, 2024. Retrieved September 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "New Television Entrant: Channel 15 Studio And Tower Will Be Ready This Summer". The Sacramento Bee. Sacramento, California. January 23, 1972. p. E8. Archived from the original on September 21, 2024. Retrieved September 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Another TV Station: Channel 15 Will Open Next Year". The Sacramento Bee. Sacramento, California. May 15, 1971. p. A6. Retrieved September 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "FCC Eliminates Channel 15, Assigns KMUV To Channel 31". The Sacramento Bee. Sacramento, California. September 17, 1972. p. B2. Retrieved September 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Channel 31 Gets Final FCC Permit". The Sacramento Bee. Sacramento, California. March 20, 1973. p. B3. Archived from the original on September 21, 2024. Retrieved September 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "KMUV Leases Land For TV Studio, Offices". The Sacramento Bee. Sacramento, California. April 29, 1973. p. C2. Archived from the original on September 21, 2024. Retrieved September 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Hurst, John V. (September 21, 1974). "Local News On 40 For Sleepyheads". The Sacramento Bee. Sacramento, California. p. A13. Archived from the original on September 21, 2024. Retrieved September 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Capital's Newest TV Station, Ch. 31, Will Go On Air Officially Tomorrow". The Sacramento Bee. Sacramento, California. October 4, 1974. p. 19. Archived from the original on September 22, 2024. Retrieved September 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Hickey, Lillian (September 8, 1974). "At Last: Networks Introduce New Fall TV Shows". The Sacramento Bee. Sacramento, California. pp. TV 3, 38. Retrieved September 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "FCC Will Probe Forgery Charge In TV Dispute". The Sacramento Bee. Sacramento, California. August 13, 1974. p. A1. Archived from the original on September 22, 2024. Retrieved September 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Hooker, Barbara (October 16, 1976). "Shutdown Possible: TV-40 Is Denied License Renewal". The Sacramento Bee. Sacramento, California. pp. A1, A6. Archived from the original on September 21, 2024. Retrieved September 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Sacramento TV survives renewal challenge: FCC overturns ALJ decision that would have denied KTXL on grounds of misrepresentation". Broadcasting. June 26, 1978. pp. 64–65. ProQuest 1016899619.
- ^ Reed, Ann (April 15, 1976). "Channel 31 Tells Plan For Non-English Format". The Sacramento Bee. Sacramento, California. p. B3. Archived from the original on September 21, 2024. Retrieved September 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Channel 31 Changes". The Sacramento Bee. Sacramento, California. May 4, 1976. p. C4. Retrieved September 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "More TV Shows For Non-English Viewers". The Sacramento Bee. Sacramento, California. June 13, 1976. p. F10. Archived from the original on September 21, 2024. Retrieved September 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "KMUV-31 Adds 2 New Local Shows". The Sacramento Bee. Sacramento, California. February 6, 1977. p. F9. Archived from the original on September 21, 2024. Retrieved September 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Gribkoff, Maloa (September 16, 1979). "Culinary Miracles—Bettie Knows 'Em". The Sacramento Bee. Sacramento, California. p. H11. Archived from the original on September 22, 2024. Retrieved September 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Canadian investors out to establish pay TV network in United States". Broadcasting. May 22, 1978. p. 32. ProQuest 1016906369.
- ^ "KMUV-TV Sale For STV Gets FCC Nod". Variety. July 16, 1980. p. 60. ProQuest 1505804434.
- ^ "Perenchio, Tandem Pay $8,000,000 For Third STV Station". Variety. February 6, 1980. pp. 45, 106. ProQuest 1286035767.
- ^ "Changing Hands". Broadcasting. November 3, 1980. p. 66. ProQuest 1014717249.
- ^ Archibald, John J. (April 14, 1989). "Set to Celebrate: Channel 11 comes full circle for 30th birthday". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. St. Louis, Missouri. pp. F1, F8. Archived from the original on September 21, 2024. Retrieved September 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Brooker, Barbara (April 17, 1979). "Firm moves to established independent TV station". The Des Moines Register. Des Moines, Iowa. p. 2B. Retrieved September 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Williams, George (April 6, 1981). "Gather 'Round, All You Kiddieroonies". The Sacramento Bee. Sacramento, California. p. B10. Archived from the original on September 21, 2024. Retrieved September 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Williams, George (September 11, 1981). "A Double Success At Channel 31". The Sacramento Bee. Sacramento, California. p. AA3. Archived from the original on September 21, 2024. Retrieved September 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Michelson, Herb (February 13, 1982). "Channel 31, Patient In An Impatient Business". The Sacramento Bee. Sacramento, California. p. B4. Retrieved September 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
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