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KTNL-TV

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KTNL-TV
Channels
BrandingMeTV Alaska
Programming
AffiliationsMeTV
Ownership
Owner
KDMD
History
First air date
July 28, 1966(58 years ago)(1966-07-28)
Former call signs
  • KIFW-TV (1966–1983)[2]
  • KTNL (1983–2006)
Former channel number(s)
Analog:13 (VHF, 1966–2009)
Technical information[3]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID60519
ERP0.35kW
HAAT−216 m (−709 ft)
Transmitter coordinates57°2′59.6″N135°20′10.3″W/ 57.049889°N 135.336194°W/57.049889; -135.336194
Links
Public license information
Websitektnl.tv

KTNL-TV(channel 7) is atelevision stationinSitka, Alaska,United States, affiliated withMeTV.The station is owned byBridge Media Networks.KTNL-TV's transmitter is located in downtown Sitka; the station is programmed from studios inAnchorage.

The station was established as Sitka's only broadcast TV station in 1966 and primarily broadcast programs fromCBSfor the first 55 years of its history. It also offered limited local programming in various forms.

History

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As a CBS affiliate

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Sitka Broadcasting Company, owner of Sitka radio stationKIFW,received a construction permit from theFederal Communications Commissionon June 7, 1966, allowing it to build a television station on channel 13.[4]The station began broadcasting as KIFW-TV on July 28, 1966.[5]It joined CBS that October, though it was a non-interconnected affiliate—one not connected bylong linesto receive live network programming.[6]Though it was the first broadcast station in Sitka, local programming was also available on the local cable system fromKSA-TV,a local channel that had started in 1959.[7]

In 1983, KIFW-TV was sold to Kathie and Dan Etulain. The call letters were changed to KTNL; though it was separated in ownership from KIFW, it continued to share the same building. The station remained primarily a CBS affiliate, though it also aired Christian programming, owing to a new relationship with Alaska Christian Television Services.[8]KTNL installed a satellite dish in 1985. This allowed it to receive live CBS programming; previously, network programs were aired on a two-week delay via videotapes recorded offKIRO-TVinSeattleand mailed to Sitka, while theRural Alaska Television Networkprovided live news and sports.[9][10]In 1989, the station left the building shared with KIFW radio; the first attempt to relocate was denied by a zoning board in 1988,[11]but the move took place the next year and gave the radio station more room.[12]

A company known as Sitka News Bureau, owned by the Baggen family, acquired the station in 1992. Sitka News Bureau aired a newscast of the same name on the localpublic accesscable channel. The station relocated to Sitka News Bureau's facilities on Harbor Drive, announced its plans to drop all non-CBS network programming, and added the newscasts to its lineup.[13]Etulain retained the previous facilities for video production as North Star and returned to television broadcasting whenKSCT-LPbegan broadcasting in 1995.[14]In spite of announcing the station would be a sole CBS affiliate, KTNL-TV remained a secondary affiliate ofABC,mostly for key programs likeMonday Night Football.[15]The newscast was dropped in November 1993 so the station could redistribute its efforts toward producing local advertising instead of newsgathering.[16]In 1996, Wright Home, Inc., acquired KTNL-TV. It sold the station to GreenTV ofEvergreen, Colorado,owned by Penny and David Drucker, in 2000; the Druckers ownedKDMDinAnchorageandKUBDinKetchikan.[17]

In 2014, Ketchikan TV—the renamed GreenTV—sold KTNL-TV, KUBD andKXLJ-LDto Denali Media Holdings, a subsidiary of Alaskan telecommunications firmGCI.GCI had earlier boughtKTVA,the CBS affiliate in Anchorage, and North Star, owner of KSCT-LP andKATH-LPinJuneau.[18][19]

Post-CBS affiliation

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GCI exited broadcasting in 2020 by selling the rights to CBS in Anchorage and Southeast Alaska, as well as KSCT-LP, KATH-LP, and KUBD, toGray Television.[20]With the station's programming, assets, and network affiliation having been sold, Denali Media took KTNL-TV off the air on October 31, 2020.[21]In 2021, Denali Media sold KTNL-TV back to Ketchikan TV.[22][23]

On December 11, 2023, it was announced that Ketchikan TV would sell KTNL, KDMD and three low-power stations to Bridge News LLC, backed by entrepreneurManoj Bhargava,for $2.4 million.[1]The sale was completed on March 12, 2024.[24]

Subchannel

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Subchannel of KTNL-TV[25]
Channel Res. Aspect Short name Programming
7.1 480i 4:3 KTNL-SD MeTV

References

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  1. ^ab"Assignments".Licensing and Management System.Federal Communications Commission.December 11, 2023.RetrievedDecember 11,2023.
  2. ^Mitchell, Elaine, ed. (1973).Alaska Blue Book(First ed.).Juneau, AK:Alaska Department of Education,Division of State Libraries.p. 136.
  3. ^"Facility Technical Data for KTNL-TV".Licensing and Management System.Federal Communications Commission.
  4. ^"FCC History Cards for KTNL-TV"(PDF).Federal Communications Commission.
  5. ^"New TV station".Broadcasting.August 8, 1966. p. 75.ProQuest1014519297.
  6. ^"CBS-TV Adds Sitka Affil".Variety.October 5, 1966. p. 26.ProQuest1032445153.
  7. ^Veatch, Ernestine C. (November 13, 1959)."KSA-TV begins operations Sunday, open house Sat".Daily Sitka Sentinel.pp. 1,4.RetrievedNovember 26,2020– via NewspaperArchive.
  8. ^"KIFW-TV Changes Hands".Daily Sitka Sentinel.May 27, 1983. p. 3A.RetrievedOctober 24,2023– via Newspapers.
  9. ^Froetschel, Susan (September 8, 1983)."TV Station Aims Camera At, For Sitka".Daily Sitka Sentinel.pp. 1,2.RetrievedOctober 24,2023– via Newspapers.
  10. ^"KTNL To Go 'Live'".Daily Sitka Sentinel.March 8, 1985. p. 7A.RetrievedOctober 24,2023– via Newspapers.
  11. ^Sykora, Allen (February 2, 1988)."Radio-TV Request Rejected, Dropped".Daily Sitka Sentinel.p. 1.RetrievedOctober 24,2023– via Newspapers.
  12. ^Swagel, Will (May 9, 1989)."KIFW-AM to Receive Assist from Satellite".Daily Sitka Sentinel.p. 1.RetrievedOctober 24,2023– via Newspapers.
  13. ^"New Hands On Dials at KTNL-TV".Daily Sitka Sentinel.February 28, 1992. p. 8.RetrievedOctober 24,2023– via Newspapers.
  14. ^Haugland, Shannon (April 28, 1995)."TV Watchers to Receive Broader Viewing".Daily Sitka Sentinel.p. Sitka Weekend 1.RetrievedOctober 24,2023– via Newspapers.
  15. ^Swagel, Will (March 12, 1993)."Cable Co. Removes RATNET from Lineup".Daily Sitka Sentinel.p. 1.RetrievedOctober 24,2023– via Newspapers.
  16. ^MacLean, Heather (November 18, 1993)."KTNL Drops Newscasts To Focus On Service".Daily Sitka Sentinel.pp. 1,8.RetrievedOctober 24,2023– via Newspapers.
  17. ^"Changing Hands".Broadcasting & Cable.June 19, 2000. p. 46.ProQuest1014781050.
  18. ^Farrell, Mike (December 23, 2013)."GCI Buys Alaska Stations".Broadcasting & Cable.
  19. ^"Consummation Notice".Consolidated Database System.Federal Communications Commission.RetrievedJuly 29,2014.
  20. ^"KTUU Expands into Southeast Alaska and KYES Launches" CBS5 Anchorage "".Alaska's News Source.July 31, 2020.
  21. ^"KTNL Suspension of Operations and Request for Silent STA".Licensing and Management System.Federal Communications Commission.October 30, 2020.
  22. ^"Assignment of Authorization".Licensing and Management System.Federal Communications Commission.June 17, 2021.RetrievedOctober 23,2023.
  23. ^"Station Trading Roundup: 3 Deals, $62,500".TVNewsCheck.May 19, 2021.
  24. ^"Notification of Consummation".Licensing and Management System.Federal Communications Commission.March 12, 2024.RetrievedApril 11,2024.
  25. ^RabbitEars TV Query for KTNL
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