KDBC-TV

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KDBC-TV
El Paso, Texas
Branding	KDBC 4
Slogan	We're Your Station!
Channels	4 (VHF) analog, 18 (UHF) digital
Affiliations	CBS My Network TV on DT2
Owner	Pappas Telecasting
Founded	December 14, 1952
Call letters meaning	K Doubleday Broadcasting Company
Former callsigns	KROD (1952-73)
Website	www.kdbc.com

KDBC-TV is the CBS affiliate in El Paso, Texas. The station is owned by Pappas Telecasting. It broadcasts its analog signal on VHF channel 4, and its digital signal on UHF channel 18. Its new digital subchannel carries My Network TV.

The station is located at 2201 E. Wyoming Avenue in El Paso (ZIP code 79903). Its transmitter is also located in El Paso.

Contents 1 History 2 Logos 3 Personalities 3.1 Anchors 3.2 Reporters 3.3 KDBC 4 Sports 3.4 KDBC 4 Weather 3.5 Former Staff Members 4 Newscasts 4.1 Monday-Friday 4.2 Saturday & Sunday 5 Slogan History 6 Miscellaneous 7 External links

[edit] History

The station went on air on December 14, 1952 as KROD-TV, the first television station in El Paso. The station was owned by Dorrance Roderick, along with KROD radio and the El Paso Times. Early programs on the station include children's show "Red Brown and Anna Lee", "Bozo's Big Top", and wrestling show "Mitchell's Mat Time". The station changed its call letters to KDBC-TV in 1973 to reflect the change in station ownership, Doubleday Broadcasting Company.

The station's then owner (Imes Broadcasting) faced financial problems in the late 1990s, and was put up for sale. In 1999 Pappas Telecasting Companies acquired the station, with the intent to have the station join the new Azteca America network, a Spanish-language network co-owned by TV Azteca and Pappas. Plans for the affiliation were canceled following outcry from viewers and the station's employees, and the station renewed its affiliation with CBS. In May 2004 KDBC launched a new set design, logo and graphics; resulting from a change of ownership. Azteca America might be eventually carried on one of the digital channels.

On September 5, 2006 KDBC's new subchannel commenced operations, which includes programming from My Network TV. [1]

The first transmitter site was south of Comanche Peak in El paso. A road was blazed to the site, and a 288' foot tower was constructed. A building was assembled from native rock chipped from the site. The station went on with a temporary transmitter (small RCA) and eventually added a 10kw RCA TT-10AL transmitter and developed an effective radiated power of 61 kilowatts at 1,150 feet. The site is now used as a backup, and many FM stations transmit from this building.

In 1984 the station went further up the hill to Comanche Peak. A 440' foot tower was built and a new transmitter was installed (one of the last of the RCA TT-25GLs). The station increased to 100kw and a height of 1,540 feet. BTSC stereo alsocommenc3ed with this new site.

[edit] Logos

KDBC's current logo

[edit] Personalities

Among the station's most famous broadcasters was weatherman Howell Eurich, who also worked as El Paso's version of Bozo The Clown during the 1960s and 1970s. Eurich committed suicide in 1982 following a divorce from his wife and fellow KDBC weather anchor, Gail Gordon.

[edit] Anchors

• Nichole Ayoub - KDBC 4 News at 5, 6, & 10
• Jesse Blanco - KDBC 4 News at 5, 6, & 10
• Cristina Rodda - KDBC 4 News Weekends 5:30, & 10
• Sheila Parker - KDBC 4 News at Noon
• Robert Garcia - KDBC 4 News Sunrise

[edit] Reporters

• MaryAnn Martinez - General Assignment Reporting
• Alexis Vance - General Assignment Reporting
• Crystal Gutierrez-"General Assignment Reporting"
• Skylar Zwick -"General Assignment Reporting/AM Traffic"

[edit] KDBC 4 Sports

• John Engleman - Weekdays at 6, & 10
• Jessica Moran - Weekends at 5:30 & 10

[edit] KDBC 4 Weather

• Robert Bettes - Chief Meteorologist Weekdays KDBC 4 News at 5, 6, & 10
• Mercedes Garza - Forecaster Weekdays KDBC 4 News Sunrise & at Noon
• Gene Savard - Senior Forecaster Weekends KDBC 4 News at 5:30 & 10

[edit] Former Staff Members

• Chris Saldaña
• Katherine Decker
• Jim Gamble
• Natalie Zea
• Dustin Chase
• Raymond Mesa
• Richard Saenz
• Sally Coronado
• Jennifer Dolt
• Mary Valenzuela
• Suzanne Michaels
• Shelton Dodson
• Jamie Apody
• Damien Alameda
• Vanessa Chacon
• Krys Boyd [2]
• Rebecca Medina
• Estela Casas
• Bill Mitchell (now at WDEF-TV)
• Gary Munday
• Rick Glancy
• Dave Garcia
• Tom Downs
• Liz Kern
• Melissa Duran
• Christine Maddela (now at WKRN-TV)

[edit] Newscasts

[edit] Monday-Friday

• KDBC 4 News Sunrise - 5 a.m. to 7 a.m.
• KDBC 4 News at Noon - 12 p.m. to 12:30 p.m.
• KDBC 4 News at Five - 5 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
• KDBC 4 News at Six - 6 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
• KDBC 4 News Tonight - 10 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

[edit] Saturday & Sunday

• KDBC 4 News at 5:30 - 5:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.
• KDBC 4 News Tonight - 10 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

[edit] Slogan History

• "This is The Big 4"
• "4 Means News"
• "Your Eye on El Paso"
• "People You Can Count On"
• "We're YOUR Station"

[edit] Miscellaneous

• On December 7, 2005, KDBC 4 anchor Nichole Ayoub got a surprising engagement when boyfriend of several years, Travis Hughes, proposed live on the air during the six o' clock newscast. After saying "yes" the anchorwoman hugged her new fiance. The event caught the attention of ABC's Good Morning America, Inside Edition and various local TV stations around the country.

• KDBC is home to sydnicated duo Jeopardy! & Wheel Of Fortune in their lineup.

• Weatherman Hal Eurich was also known for his Wink, Texas jokes, jokes about how small the town was. He eventually came out with a book of such jokes that was sold locally.

• Hal Eurich and Gail Gordon introduced "Puffy" the weather dog, who became a feature of the weather forecast.

[edit] External links

• KDBC Homepage
• Query the FCC's TV station database for KDBC-TV