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KBTX-TV

KBTX-TV 3 is the CBS television network affiliate located in Bryan/College Station, Texas, and has the only television news organization based in the Brazos Valley. It airs on digital UHF Channel 50 and is owned by Gray Television. It is a sister station to KWTX-TV in Waco. Its transmitter is located in Carlos, Texas.

In its own market, KBTX broadcasts on cable systems -- including on Suddenlink channel 5 -- and on DirecTV and Dish Network.

KBTX also offers The CW programming on its digital feed. Prior to the September 2006 merger of The WB and UPN, KBTX offered UPN programming on digital. The CW Texas is a joint effort between KBTX and KWTX.

KBTX-TV falls under the "KBTX Media" banner, which also includes CW Texas, KBTX.com and MobileKBTX.com.

Contents

History

KBTX was the first television station in the Brazos Valley. It has broadcasted from the same building on East 29th Street in Bryan since it went on the air on May 22, 1957, though that building has been added on to multiple times. Originally airing both CBS and ABC programming, KBTX became an exclusive CBS affiliate in 1984.

On October 14, 1983, KBTX flipped the switch on a new transmitter in the Grimes County community of Carlos. The 1,700-foot tower nearly doubled the number of homes the station reached.

Perhaps the most noteworthy coverage from KBTX was on November 18, 1999. Early that morning, the Aggie Bonfire stack collapsed, killing 12 and injuring 27. The station provided non-stop coverage of the event, and served as a major source of information locally and nationally in the hours that followed.

KBTX began celebrating its 50th anniversary in May 2007. Many former on-air staff returned for the celebration, including some who guest-anchored newscasts.[1]

In accordance with the original February 2009 date mandated by the federal government, KBTX permanently shut down its analog signal effective January 20, 2009 as it made the transition to digital television.[2]

On February 28, 2009, KBTX began broadcasting at full power digital from the enhanced Carlos tower, again expanding its signal dramatically.[3] The station had been broadcasting on low power digital between its analog signal shutdown and the full power activation, in addition to being carried on cable systems and DirecTV.

KBTX and KWTX experimented with a jointly-run noon show in early 2009. News stories for both viewing areas were read from KWTX's Waco studios for the first half of the show, with KBTX running live weather and additional local content from its studios for the remainder of the show airing in the Brazos Valley. KWTX aired its own live weather and content in its part of the market during that time. However, in late March 2009, the two stations returned to running their own, separate shows, with KBTX citing "an overwhelming request from viewers for the show to be based out of the Twin Cities again." [4]

In 2009, KBTX reached agreements with the nation's two major satellite providers. For years, Dish Network had refused to offer KBTX to the Bryan/College Station area, instead just carrying KWTX. However, in 2009, Dish relented[5], and on April 23 of that year, KBTX was made available in the Waco/Temple/Bryan market area.[6] In May 2009, after years of carrying KBTX to the market, DirecTV announced it would be dropping KBTX from its service. DirecTV and KBTX were said to be bombarded with calls from frustrated customers, this as negotiations were said to be underway to keep KBTX on DirecTV. In June 2009, an agreement was reached to keep the station available to customers of the satellite provider.[7]

Operations

Though identifying as a station in its own right, KBTX is technically considered a semi-satellite of KWTX. It has most of its internal operations run alongside KWTX, and clears all of KWTX's syndicated programming (although it has some shows not seen on KWTX).

It is the only station airing a full schedule of live, local news for the Bryan/College Station side of the Waco/Temple/Bryan market, airing five newscasts each weekday from its studios in Bryan, along with weekend newscasts.

Coverage area

KBTX serves Brazos, Burleson, Grimes, Leon, Madison, Milam, Montgomery, Robertson, Walker and Washington counties, some of which are also in the Houston market, but receive KBTX. Texas A&M University, Sam Houston State University and Blinn College are in its coverage area.

With its full power digital signal transmitting at the maximum power allowed by law as of early 2009, the KBTX signal also reaches Houston county in the Tyler/Longview market; Trinity, San Jacinto, Austin, Harris and Waller counties in the Houston market; and Lee County in the Austin market. The News 3 Weather team monitors those counties and provides forecasts and updates, including during severe weather events.

KBTX is part of a rare American television market, the Waco/Temple/Bryan Designated Market Area.[8] Only a handful of DMAs in the country have multiple stations under the same network affiliation serving viewers (KBTX serving the Bryan/College Station area, KWTX serving the Waco/Temple/Killeen area), even though in this case, both stations are associated with each other.

On-air staff

Current on-air staff

Anchors

Reporters

Hosts

Weather team

Sports team

As of June 2010[9]

More information

From information at the station's website[10]

Former on-air staff

Awards

KBTX earned 19 honors from Texas Associated Press Broadcasters in its 2009-2010 awards, as announced in March 2010.[11]. Nine of those 19 were first place awards:

Only two other stations in the state earned more honors in the 2009-2010 awards than KBTX. News 3 also finished third in the entire state in first place wins.

In the previous year's TAPB awards, KBTX won 13 honors (four First Places, three Second Places, six Honorable Mentions), as announced in February 2009[12]. Again, News 3 was among the most honored stations in the state.

KBTX competes in Division 3, which includes the next biggest Texas markets after the four major metro areas (Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio and Austin).[13]

KBTX also won an AP award for "Best Spot News Reporting" for its coverage of the Aggie Bonfire collapse in 1999.[14]

"Aggie Game Day," News 3 Sports' pregame show before Texas A&M home football games, is a multi-time recipient of honors from the national Telly Awards for outstanding local programming.[15]

Also awarded a Telly was News 3's special, All the Best: 10 Years of the George Bush Presidential Library, which aired the day before the grand reopening of the 41st president's library and museum on the Texas A&M campus. The main exhibit of the museum was closed for months during an $8.5 million renovation that coincided with the facility's anniversary.

News/station presentation

Newscast titles

Station slogans

See also

References

  1. ^ KBTX Media History KBTX.com, KBTX Media History
  2. ^ KBTX Digital Transition Underway, Mike Wright, KBTX TV, Jan 20, 2009
  3. ^ KBTX Now Broadcasting at Full Power Digital, KBTX.com, Feb 28, 2009
  4. ^ [1] KBTX.com, "News 3 at Noon Returns to KBTX Studios in Bryan Monday" (March 20, 2009)
  5. ^ KBTX on Dish Network KBTX.com
  6. ^ http://www.satelliteguys.us/dish-network-uplink-center/172698-4-23-2009-6-46pm-uplink-activity-report-2-changes.html
  7. ^ KBTX Responds to DirecTV Notice KBTX.com
  8. ^ Nielsen Media, [2]
  9. ^ KBTX News Team, KBTX.com, News Team Bios
  10. ^ KBTX News Team, KBTX.com, News Team Bios
  11. ^ [3] KBTX Earns 19 Honors for Journalistic Excellence
  12. ^ TAPB Awards Texas Associated Press Broadcasters 2008-2009 Awards
  13. ^ Texas AP Broadcasters Awards Rules TAPB 2008-2009 Rules
  14. ^ KBTX Media History KBTX.com, KBTX Media History
  15. ^ Aggie Game Day KBTX.com, Aggie Game Day Home Page

External links

v • d • Television stations in the Brazos Valley
Waco/Temple/Killeen

KCEN (6.1 NBC) • KWTX (10.1 CBS, 10.2 The CW) • KXXV (25.1 ABC, 25.2 TMD, 25.3 Weather Now) • KPLE 31 (TBN) • KWBU1 (34.1/.2Create, 34.3 V-me) • KWKO 38 (Ind.) • KWKT (44.1 Fox/MNTV) • KNCT (46.1 PBS) • KAKW (62.1 UNI) 1KWBU-TV to close by July 31, 2010.
Bryan/College Station

KBTX (3.1 CBS, 3.2 The CW) • KAMU (15.1 PBS) • KSCM 18 (A1) • KMAY 23 (NBC) • KYLE (28.1 Fox/MNTV) • KRHD 40 (ABC)
Defunct

K47ED 47 (TBN)
Other stations

Reception may vary by geographical location Houston: KUHT (8.1 PBS) Dallas: WFAA (8.1 ABC) • KERA (13.1 PBS)
Texas Broadcast television areas by city:

Abilene/Sweetwater • Amarillo (Texas Panhandle) • Austin • Beaumont/Port Arthur • Corpus Christi • Dallas-Fort Worth • Del Rio, TX • El Paso • Houston • Laredo • Lubbock • Midland-Odessa (Permian Basin) • Rio Grande Valley • San Angelo • San Antonio • Sherman/Ada, OK • Texarkana/Shreveport, LA • Tyler/Longview (East Texas) • Victoria • Waco/Bryan (Brazos Valley) • Wichita Falls/Lawton, OK
v • d • Television stations in Houston
English

KPRC (2.1 NBC, 2.2 This TV, 2.3 LATV) • KUHT (8.1 PBS, 8.2 Create, 8.3 V-me, 8.4 TFTB) • KHOU (11.1 CBS, 11.2 Ind) • KTRK (13.1 ABC, 13.2 LW HD, 13.3 AccuWX) • KTXH (20.1 MNTV) • KRIV (26.1 Fox) • KIAH (39.1 CW, 39.2 US) • KPXB (49.1 ION, 49.2 Qubo, 49.3 ION Life) • KTBU (55.1 A1, 55.2 VAN-TV (Vietnamese), 55.3 Nacion TV, 55.5 ITV (Chinese))
Spanish

KUVM-LD (10.1 AZA, 10.2 test card, 10.4 Infomercials) • KHLM-LD (43.1 Multi, 43.2 MBC (PM)/TCT (AM), 43.3 VNV (Vietnamese), 43.4 BendTV, 43.5 TCT) • KXLN (45.1 UNI, 45.2 Telefutura in SD) • KTMD (47.1 TEL, 47.2 Inmi, 47.3 Infomercials) • KAZH (57.1 VV, 57.2 La Mera TV, 57.3 BYN (Vietnamese), 57.4 silent) • KZJL (61.1 Estrella, 61.2 Inmi) • KFTH (67.1 TFU, 67.2 Univision in SD)
Religious

KETH (14.1 TBN, 14.2 Church, 14.3 JCTV, 14.4 TBN Enlace, 14.5 Smile) • KVQT-LD (21.1 GGAV, 21.2 FCN, 21.3 Infomercials, 21.4 Infomercials) • KLTJ (22.1 Daystar)
Independent

KJIB-LP (5 Ind) • KVDO-LP (25 Ind) • KNWS (51.1 Ind, 51.2 AZA)
Local cable channels

Comcast Sports Southwest • Fox Sports Houston • Houston MediaSource • HISD TV • HCC TV • HTV
Outlying areas

Bryan/College Station: KBTX 3 (CBS)
Not yet on the air

KCVH-LP (30 Ind)
Defunct

KVVV 16 (Ind)
Texas Broadcast television areas by city:

Abilene/Sweetwater • Amarillo (Texas Panhandle) • Austin • Beaumont/Port Arthur • Corpus Christi • Dallas-Fort Worth • Del Rio, TX • El Paso • Houston • Laredo • Lubbock • Midland-Odessa (Permian Basin) • Rio Grande Valley • San Angelo • San Antonio • Sherman/Ada, OK • Texarkana/Shreveport, LA • Tyler/Longview (East Texas) • Victoria • Waco/Bryan (Brazos Valley) • Wichita Falls/Lawton, OK
v • d • CBS Network Affiliates in the state of Texas

KDBC 4 (El Paso) - KGBT 4 (Harlingen) - KENS 5 (San Antonio) - KAUZ 6 (Wichita Falls) - KFDM 6 (Beaumont) - KOSA 7 (Odessa) - KLST 8 (San Angelo) - KFDA 10 (Amarillo) - KWTX 10 / KBTX 3 (Waco / Bryan) - KZTV 10 (Corpus Christi) - KHOU 11 (Houston) - KTVT 11 (Fort Worth / Dallas) - KXII 12 (Sherman) - KLBK 13 (Lubbock) - KVTV 13 (Laredo) - KYTX 19 (Nacogdoches / Tyler) - KTAB 32 (Abilene) - KEYE 42 (Austin)
See also: ABC, CBS, CW, Fox, ION, MyNetworkTV, NBC, PBS and Other stations in Texas
v CW Network Affiliates in the state of Texas

KCWX 2 (Fredericksburg/San Antonio) - KFDM-DT 6.2 (Beaumont) - KAUZ-DT 6.2 (Wichita Falls) - KVIA-DT 7.2 (El Paso) KVII-DT 7.2 (Amarillo) - KTEN-DT 10.2 (Ada, OK/Sherman) - KWTX-DT 10.2 / KBTX-DT 3.2 (Waco/Bryan) - KTXS-DT 12.2 (Abilene) KRIS-DT 13.2 (Corpus Christi) - "KWSA" 14 (San Angelo, cable-only) - KTXW-DT 15.2 (Laredo) - KLCW 22 (Lubbock) - KWWT 30 (Odessa) KDAF 33 (Dallas) - KIAH 39 (Houston) - KCEB 54 (Longview) - KNVA 54/KBVO-CA 51 (Austin) - KSFE-LP 67 (McAllen)
See also: ABC, CBS, CW, Fox, ION, MyNetworkTV, NBC, PBS and Other stations in Texas
v • d • Gray Television, Inc.
ABC Network Affiliates KAKE • KOLO • WBKO • WHSV • WTOK • WVAW • TV3 Winchester (WHSV-DT3)
CBS Network Affiliates KBTX • KKTV • KOLN/KGIN • KWTX • KXII • WCAV • WCTV • WIBW • WIFR • WKYT • WRDW • WSAW • WSWG • WTVY • WVLT • WYMT
The CW Network Affiliates1 KBTX • KWTX • WBKO • WJHG • WKYT • WTOK • WYMT
Fox Network Affiliates KXII1 • WAHU • WBKO1 • WHSV1 • WSYM2 • WTAP1
Independent Television Station WOWT-DT21
MyNetworkTV Affiliates1 KKTV • KOLN/KGIN • KXII • WAHU • WCTV • WHSV • WIBW-DT2 • WJHG • WRDW • WSAW • WSAZ • WSWG • WTOK • WTVY • WTAP • WVLT • WITN
NBC Network Affiliates KKCO • WEAU • WILX • WITN • WJHG • WMTV • WNDU • WOWT • WSAZ • WTAP
1These stations broadcast these networks on their digital subchannels. 2Gray and Journal Broadcast Group entered into a "news share" agreement.
Annual Revenue: $332.1 USD (2006) • Employees: N/A • Stock Symbol: NYSE: GTN • Website: www.graycommunications.com

Categories: CBS network affiliates | CW network affiliates | CW network subchannel-only affiliates | Television stations in Texas | Channel 50 digital TV stations in the United States | Television channels and stations established in 1957

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