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KKCO
Channels
BrandingKKCO 11 News
Programming
Affiliations
Ownership
Owner
KJCT-LP,KKTV
History
FoundedDecember 16, 1994
First air date
July 29, 1996(27 years ago)(1996-07-29)
Former channel number(s)
Analog:11 (VHF, 1996–2009)
The CW(DT2, 2006−2008)
Call signmeaning
Colorado
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID24766
ERP5.3kW
HAAT452 m (1,483 ft)
Transmitter coordinates39°3′59.9″N108°44′47.4″W/ 39.066639°N 108.746500°W/39.066639; -108.746500
Translator(s)
Links
Public license information
Websitewww.kkco11news.com

KKCO(channel 11) is atelevision stationinGrand Junction, Colorado,United States, affiliated withNBCandTelemundo.It is owned byGray Televisionalongsidelow-powerdualABC/CW+affiliateKJCT-LP(channel 8). The two stations share studios on Blichmann Avenue in Grand Junction; KKCO's transmitter is located at the Black Ridge Electronics Site at theColorado National Monumentwest of the city.

The station signed on for the first time on July 29, 1996, providing Grand Junction its first in-market NBC affiliate. Its local newscasts rose to number one in the market shortly after debuting. Originally owned by Eagle III Broadcasting, it was purchased by Gray in 2005.

History

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In 1994, multiple groups applied for aconstruction permitto build channel 11 in Grand Junction. However, the process of awarding such permits through thecomparative hearingprocess long used by theFederal Communications Commission(FCC) had been forcibly derogated by a court ruling finding its criteria "arbitrary and capricious". In 1995, the commission opened a 90-day settlement window to encourage settlements or mergers among applicants for channels with multiple applicants. Among the settlements received was a merger of Uhlmann/Latshaw Broadcasting LLC and Grand Junction Television Partners.[2]The lead partner in the merged corporation, Bill Varecha, had previously run a radio station inVail,where he noticed the lack of a local NBC affiliate; he had previously built and soldWCEE-TVinMount Vernon, Illinois,in the 1980s,[3][4]as well asWAYKinMelbourne, Florida.[5]

KKCO began broadcasting on July 29, 1996; in addition to broadcasting NBC, the station also served as a secondary affiliate ofUPN.[3]Its launch had the effect of removingDenverNBC affiliateKUSAfrom cable systems on theWestern Slope.[6]This led to letters to the editor in publications includingThe Denver PostandBroadcasting & Cablefrom viewers who were upset at the removal of the Denver station's newscasts andDenver Broncospreseason games.[7][8]At the crux of the station's inability to air the Broncos was the team's unwillingness to share preseason television revenue with theNational Football League,which stipulated that any sale to a station outside a 75-mile (121 km) radius from the main city was shared revenue.[9]The Grand Junction cable system was able to broadcast the Broncos preseason games beginning in 1998 by arrangement with KUSA,[10]and KKCO itself gained the rights in 2003.[11]

Though the station initially rebroadcast some of KUSA's news programs while it developed its own,[9]the station's own local newscasts soon debuted; within 18 months, KKCO had risen to number one in the market in ratings and revenue.[12]

In 2004,Gray Televisionbought the station and its translator inMontrosefrom Eagle III Broadcasting LLC for $13.5 million.[13]Gray closed on the purchase in February 2005.[14]At the time of the purchase, Varecha was working for Gray as its general manager inCharlottesville, Virginia,where it was starting upWCAVandWVAW-LP.[12]

Gray acquired the programming assets ofKJCTin 2014; unable to program the full-power station due to new scrutiny ofjoint sales agreements,its programming moved toa low-power station.The KJCT and KKCO newsrooms were combined.

Technical information

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Subchannels

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The station's signal ismultiplexed:

Subchannels of KKCO[15]
Channel Res. Aspect Short name Programming
11.1 1080i 16:9 KKCO-DT NBC
11.2 480i 4:3 MeTV MeTV
11.3 720p 16:9 TELE-HD Telemundo
11.4 480i The365 The365
11.5 ?? MeTV Toons(soon)

Translators

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References

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  1. ^"Facility Technical Data for KKCO".Licensing and Management System.Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ^McConnell, Chris (January 22, 1996). "FCC moving to grant new TVs".Broadcasting & Cable.p. 14.ProQuest1040354364.
  3. ^abPerry, Erin (July 6, 1996)."New NBC affiliate aims to be on air this month".The Daily Sentinel.p. 11B.RetrievedJuly 3,2023– via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^DeWitte, Dave (October 20, 1985)."Varecha sells WCEE-TV".Southern Illinoisan.p. 12.RetrievedJuly 3,2023– via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^Solomon, Scott (July 15, 1990)."Troubled waters: Palm Bay's WAYK Television fights for recognition".Florida Today.pp. E1,E2.RetrievedJuly 3,2023– via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^"Effective September 3, 1996, Notice: TCI Customers in the Grand Valley".The Daily Sentinel.August 15, 1996. p. 2B.RetrievedJuly 3,2023– via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^Linko, John J. (October 19, 1998). "Open Mike: Don't diss distant signals".Broadcasting & Cable.p. 87.ProQuest1014768122.
  8. ^Kastella, Kenneth G. (August 25, 1997). "Broncos shut out".The Denver Post.
  9. ^abZimmer, Kurt (September 3, 1999). "Broncos fans blacked out".Montrose Daily Press.
  10. ^"Broncos to play on TV after all".The Daily Sentinel.August 14, 1998. pp. 1A,12A.RetrievedJuly 3,2023– via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^Saunders, Dusty (June 23, 2003). "Sardella interview offers a revealing look at Logan".Rocky Mountain News.p. 3C.
  12. ^abHite, Patrick (May 26, 2004)."Charlottesville to get yet another TV station".The Observer.pp. A-1,A-2.RetrievedJuly 3,2023– via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^"Changing Hands".Broadcasting & Cable.November 1, 2004. p. 24.ProQuest225293512.
  14. ^"KKCO-TV names new manager".The Daily Sentinel.February 19, 2005. p. 9A.RetrievedJuly 3,2023– via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^"TV Query for KKCO".RabbitEars.
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