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KGW

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KGW
CityPortland, Oregon
Channels
BrandingKGW 8;KGW News
Programming
Affiliations
Ownership
Owner
History
First air date
December 15, 1956(67 years ago)(1956-12-15)
Former call signs
KGW-TV (1956–1994)
Former channel number(s)
  • Analog:8 (VHF, 1956–2009)
  • Digital:46 (UHF, 2000–2009), 8 (VHF,2009–2021)
  • ABC(1956–1959)
Call signmeaning
"Keep Growing Wiser"[2]
Technical information[3]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID34874
ERP1,000 kW
HAAT539 m (1,768 ft)
Transmitter coordinates45°31′20.5″N122°44′49.5″W/ 45.522361°N 122.747083°W/45.522361; -122.747083
Translator(s)see§ Translators
Links
Public license information
Websitewww.kgw.com

KGW(channel 8) is atelevision stationinPortland, Oregon,United States, affiliated withNBCand owned byTegna Inc.The station's studios are located on Jefferson Street in southwestern Portland, and its transmitter is located in the city'sSylvan-Highlandssection. KGW also served as the Portland bureau for co-owned regional news channelNorthwest Cable Newsbefore it shut down on January 6, 2017.

History

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Ownership byThe Oregonian

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KGW-TV was originally co-owned with KGW radio (620 AM, nowKPOJ). (KPOJ was originally on 1330 AM, and was owned by the now defunct Portland Oregon Journal.)The Oregoniannewspaper put KGW radio on the air by purchasing an existing transmitter from the Shipowners Radio Service. TheU.S. Department of Commercelicensed the radio station, and it began broadcasting on March 25, 1922[4](after a test transmission two days earlier).[5]Among the station's early personalities was "The Man of 1000 Voices,"Mel Blanc,who debuted on the radio programThe Hoot Owls.The station's studios and transmitter were located inThe Oregonian Building[6][7](of 1892) until 1943, when a fire destroyed them[8]and the station moved to other quarters.[7]In 1946, KGW added asister station,KGW-FM on 95.3MHz(now 100.3KKRZ). The following year,The Oregonianapplied for and received aFederal Communications Commission(FCC)construction permitfor a television station, but later returned it in order to focus on its core newspaper business.

The Oregoniansold KGW-AM-FM to North Pacific Television, a consortium ofSeattlebusinesswomanDorothy Bullittand five Portland businessmen, on November 1, 1953. Bullitt'sKing Broadcasting Company,who also ownedKING-AM-FM-TVin Seattle, was the largest shareholder in the venture, with a 40 percent stake. Bullitt eventually bought out her partners (and in doing so, became the sole owner of the station). King Broadcasting wanted to add a television station to KGW-AM-FM. KGW-TVsigned onthe air on December 15, 1956, on channel 8. Because KING-TV was anABC television networkaffiliate at that time, KGW-TV began as an ABC affiliate. KGW radio also switched its affiliation from NBC to ABC at that time. On April 26, 1959, it swapped affiliations withKPTV(channel 12), becoming anNBCaffiliate. (KGW's sister station, KING-TV in Seattle, also switched from ABC to NBC withKOMO-TVat the same time.)

The KGW-TV tower was a prominent victim of the Northwest's historic, and violentColumbus Day Stormon October 12, 1962.[citation needed]The station returned to the air on October 16 using a temporary tower, as well as an antenna on loan from KTNT-TV (nowKSTW) ofTacoma, Washington.A new antenna and tower were placed into service on January 28, 1963.

KGW's main studios

New studios

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In January 1964, KGW began building a new broadcast center at 1501 SW Jefferson Street,[9]which has served as its headquarters and main studios location ever since. The station moved into the new facility in 1965, from an old building located two blocks to the east that the state paid $865,000 for to make way forInterstate 405.[10][11]The radio facilities moved into the new studios in the spring[12]and the television facilities in July 1965.[13]Located at the west edge of downtown Portland, the two-story building had approximately 54,000 sq ft (5,000 m2) of space.[13]

In 1992, King Broadcasting (which also included KING-TV in Seattle,KREM-TVinSpokane, Washington,KTVBinBoise, Idaho,andKHNLinHonolulu, Hawaii) merged withThe Providence Journal Company.Five years later, in 1997, KGW became part of theBelo Corporationwhen it bought The Providence Journal Company.

KGW's logo used from September 1999 to January 21, 2008.
KGW's logo used from January 22, 2008, to July 21, 2014.

High definition and DirecTV

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On October 12, 2011, KGW announced that unless a new contract agreement for station carriage could be reached, it would drop its signal fromDirecTV's channel lineup.[14]This contract dispute that involved DirecTV and Belo would also remove sister station KING-TV from DirecTV in the Seattle market.[15]On November 1, DirecTV reached an agreement with Belo[14]to resume carrying KGW and KING on DirecTV.[15]

Changes in ownership

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On June 13, 2013, theGannett Companyannounced that it would acquire Belo. However, since Gannett owns theStatesman Journalnewspaper inSalem—within KGW's viewing area—KGW was instead sold to Sander Media,LLC(owned by former Belo executive Jack Sander). However, Gannett operated KGW throughjoint salesandshared servicesagreements in order to comply with the FCC'scross-ownership restrictions.[16][17]The sale was completed on December 23.[18]

On June 29, 2015, Gannett's publishing and digital media operations were spun off, with the latter renamedTegna.[19]Shortly afterward, Sander Media filed with the FCC to transfer KGW's license to Tegna'sKing Broadcasting Company;[20]the acquisition was completed on December 3, 2015.[21]

Programming

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In addition to the NBC network schedule, KGW airs some local programs such as a daily 30-minutetalk showcalledHello Rose Cityand local newsmagazineThe Good Stuff(formerlyLive at 7andTonight With Cassidy). Since2024,KGW also airs a small number of non-nationalSeattle Krakengames; the remaining games air on the station's second subchannel.[22]

Former local programming

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Original local programming in the 1970s included the nation's first broadcast nightly televisionnews magazineshow,Evening,created by then-news directorEd Godfreyand show producerMichael Sullivan.[23]Originally hosted by Dick Klinger and Robin Chapman,Eveningwas broadcast Monday through Friday at 7 p.m.; the show premiered September 1, 1975, a year before Westinghouse Broadcasting's KPIX premiered itsEvening Magazineand six years before the similarEntertainment Tonightnews program. Another innovative show on KGW was the Sunday night public affairs programOpen Line,also hosted by Klinger; viewers could phone in and ask a question of that week's guest. Portland's mayor traditionally appeared on the program the first Sunday of the month.

Local programs on KGW during the 1980s included the award-winningquiz showOn the Spot(broadcast daily from 1984 to 1988) and theOregon Lotterygame showThe Money Game(airing Saturday nights after the 6 p.m. newscast from 1988 to 1990). From 1996 to2017,KGW aired selectPortland Trail Blazersgame telecasts; these are now exclusive toRoot Sports Northwest(KGW also broadcast all Blazers games as part ofNBC's broadcast contract with the NBA from 1990 to 2002, including the team's appearance in the1992 NBA Finals).[24]

News operation

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Exterior of KGW's 2009-opened studio atPioneer Courthouse Square.

KGW presently broadcasts40+1⁄2hours of locally produced newscasts each week (with6+1⁄2hours each weekday and four hours each on Saturdays and Sundays).

KGW-TV's original evening news team remained intact for more than seven years—a rarity in the broadcast industry. Anchors Richard Ross and Ivan Smith, commentatorTom McCall,sportscaster Doug LaMear and meteorologist Jack Capell were the faces of KGW'sNews Beatfrom sign-on in December 1956 until early 1964, when McCall left the air to run forOregon Secretary of State.McCall won election that fall, and was electedGovernor of Oregontwo years later. Ross anchored KGW's nightly newscastNorthwest Tonightuntil 1975 when he departed for rivalKATU.LaMear and Capell remained with Channel 8 until they retired in 1991 and 2000, respectively.[citation needed]

On January 21, 2008, KGW became the first television station in the Portland market to begin broadcasting its local newscasts in high definition.[25]Along with a newly renovated studio, the station shortened its brand from "KGW Northwest NewsChannel 8" to "KGW NewsChannel 8", updated its logo/graphics, and debuted Version 3 of615 Music's "The Tower" music package. In November 2008, KGW retrofitted its news helicopter with an HD camera.[26]

In 2008–2009, the station developed a high-definition news studio indowntown PortlandatPioneer Courthouse Square,in a space previously occupied byPowell's Books.Regular broadcasts from the location that KGW named the "Studio on the Square" began on March 17, 2009.[27]KGW's noon and 4 p.m. newscasts originate from the downtown location.[28]

Notable current on-air staff

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Notable former on-air staff

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Technical information

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Subchannels

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The station's signal ismultiplexed:

Subchannels of KGW[31]
Channel Res. Aspect Short name Programming
8.1 1080i 16:9 KGW NBC
8.2 480i Crime True Crime Network/Sports programming[22]
8.3 Quest Quest
8.4 CRIME True Crime Network
8.5 Nosey Nosey
8.6 OPEN Blank
49.2 480i 16:9 Mystery Ion Mystery(KPDX)
49.4 CourtTV Court TV(KPDX)
Broadcast on behalf of another station

KGW aired a Portland Trail Blazers game inhigh-definitionfor the first time, on October 24, 2007. The following year, KGW began broadcasting all its newscasts in high definition.

KGW provided a 24-hour weather forecast service ondigital subchannel8.2 through the digital television transition, until the September 14, 2009, launch ofEstrella TV.[citation needed]On August 2, 2010, KGW restored the 24-hour news and weather channel on 8.2 and moved Estrella TV programming to digital subchannel 8.3. As of December 2012, KGW replacedLive Well Networkon KGW 8.2.

Justice Networkreplaced Live Well Network on January 20, 2015.

On January 16, 2018, KGW activated subchannel 8.4 in anticipation of carryingQuest,which broadcast a preview on a repeated loop until its debut on January 29.

Analog-to-digital conversion

[edit]

On July 18, 2008, at 6:14 p.m., KGW conducted a test for viewers to determine whether their television sets were ready for the digital transition by turning off its analog signal for 10 seconds, which the station conducted other times through the spring of 2009. In early 2009, KGW, along with other stations that had already added digital television technology, began broadcasting on its digital channel and those without cable or satellite service could purchase "DTA" (Digital to Analog) converter boxes. The U.S. government distributed credit-card "coupons" to get as much as a $50 discount on the boxes, with a limit of two coupons per household. The boxes would accept the digital signal and convert it back to analog so that older televisions could pick up the signal. It is estimated that 20% of television watching households in the Portland area use the over-the-air signal for TV services, making the coupon program very popular in Portland.[citation needed]

KGW shut down its analog signal, overVHFchannel 8, at 3:04 a.m. on June 12, 2009, the official date on which full-power television stations in the United Statestransitioned from analog to digital broadcastsunder federal mandate. The station's digital signal relocated from its pre-transitionUHFchannel 46 to VHF channel 8.[32][33]At 3:43 a.m., KGW completed its digital conversion when it shut down its temporary digital transmitter (on UHF channel 46) and switched digital operations to channel 8.

Translators

[edit]

References

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Specific references:

  1. ^"Channel Substitution/Community of License Change".Licensing and Management System.Federal Communications Commission.June 22, 2020.RetrievedOctober 15,2020.
  2. ^Nelson, Bob (June 2, 2009)."Call Letter Origins".Vol. 238. The Broadcast Archive. Archived fromthe originalon February 18, 2016.RetrievedJune 21,2009.
  3. ^"Facility Technical Data for KGW".Licensing and Management System.Federal Communications Commission.
  4. ^"KGW To Celebrate Tenth Anniversary". (March 20, 1932).The Sunday Oregonian,p. 1.
  5. ^"The Oregonian Test of Radio Makes Hit".(March 24, 1922).The Morning Oregonian,p. 5.
  6. ^"Radio Is Installed By The Oregonian".(March 19, 1922).The Sunday Oregonian,p. 1.
  7. ^ab"KGW [history of]".PdxHistory.com.RetrievedMay 25,2014.
  8. ^"Blaze Hits Oregonian Top Floors". (September 24, 1943).The Oregonian,p. 1.
  9. ^"KGW Begins Building New 'Broadcast House'". (January 12, 1964).The Oregonian,Section 3, p. 9.
  10. ^"County Writes Largest Check".The Oregonian.November 7, 1964. p. 4.
  11. ^"KGW Radio, Television Using Modern Broadcasting Center".The Oregon Journal.June 7, 1965. p. 10.
  12. ^Murphy, Francis (May 10, 1965). "Behind The Mike" (regular media column).The Oregonian,Section 2, p. 7.
  13. ^ab"KGW Unveils New Studios". (July 11, 1965).The Sunday Oregonian,"TV Key" section, p. 14.
  14. ^ab"A Message from our President and General Manager DJ Wilson".kgw.com. Archived fromthe originalon November 14, 2011.RetrievedNovember 17,2011.
  15. ^ab"A Message from our President and General Manager Ray Heacox".King5.com. Archived fromthe originalon November 15, 2011.RetrievedNovember 17,2011.
  16. ^"Gannett, owner of the Statesman Journal, purchases KGW parent Belo for $1.5 billion".The Oregonian.Associated Press.June 13, 2013.RetrievedJune 13,2013.
  17. ^Brown, Lisa (June 13, 2013)."Gannett to buy TV station owner Belo for $1.5 billion".St. Louis Post-Dispatch.RetrievedJune 13,2013.
  18. ^Gannett Completes Its Acquisition of Belo,TVNewsCheck, Retrieved December 23, 2013
  19. ^"Separation of Gannett into two public companies completed | TEGNA".Tagna. June 29, 2015.RetrievedJune 29,2015.
  20. ^"Application For Consent To Transfer Control Of Entity Holding Broadcast Station Construction Permit Or License".Federal Communications Commission.RetrievedJuly 1,2015.
  21. ^"Tegna Closes On Sander TV Stations Purchase".TVNewsCheck.December 3, 2015.RetrievedDecember 3,2015.
  22. ^abCowley, Jared (September 9, 2024)."Seattle Kraken release TV schedule for 2024 season: games to air on KGW 8, KGW 8.2".KGW.com.Tegna Inc.RetrievedSeptember 15,2024.
  23. ^Crew, Richard (January 1, 2007)."PM Magazine: A Missing Link in the Evolution of Reality Television".Film & History: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Film and Television Studies.37(2): 23–31.doi:10.1353/flm.2007.0047.S2CID194072571.RetrievedAugust 10,2021.
  24. ^Cowley, Jared (April 25, 2017)."KGW bids fond farewell to TV relationship with Blazers".KGW.com.Tegna Inc.RetrievedOctober 12,2018.
  25. ^"KGW newscasts now in high definition | Local News | kgw.com | News for Oregon and SW Washington".kgw.com.January 22, 2008. Archived fromthe originalon January 24, 2008.RetrievedJune 17,2019.
  26. ^"Resolution Revolution: Local news to go HD on KGW".kgw.com. Archived fromthe originalon December 17, 2007.
  27. ^"Studio on the Square: Tuesday's live show thread".KGW. March 17, 2009. Archived fromthe originalon March 20, 2009.RetrievedApril 24,2012.
  28. ^Dooris, Pat (January 29, 2008)."KGW to build studio at Pioneer Courthouse Sq".kgw.com. Archived fromthe originalon January 31, 2008.
  29. ^"Eric Johnson".KOMOnews.com.November 20, 2015.RetrievedApril 15,2020.
  30. ^"Linnman to join Channel 2".The Oregonian.December 20, 1983. p. C6.
  31. ^RabbitEars TV Query for KGW
  32. ^"DTV Tentative Channel Designations for the First and Second Rounds"(PDF).Archived fromthe original(PDF)on August 29, 2013.RetrievedMarch 24,2012.
  33. ^"CDBS Print".FCC.RetrievedNovember 17,2011.

General references:

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