| KDRV: Medford, Oregon KDKF: Klamath Falls, Oregon |
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|---|---|
| Branding | NewsWatch 12 |
| Slogan | Watching Out For You |
| Channels | Digital: KDRV: 12 (VHF) KDKF: 29 (UHF) |
| Translators | (see article) |
| Affiliations | ABC |
| Owner | Chambers Communications Corporation (Soda Mountain Broadcasting, Inc.) |
| First air date | KDRV: February 26, 1984 KDKF: October 1989[1] |
| Call letters' meaning | KDRV: Rogue Valley KDKF: Klamath Falls |
| Sister station(s) | KEZI (Eugene) KOHD (Bend) |
| Former channel number(s) |
Analog: 31 (UHF, 1989-2009) Digital: KDRV: 38 (UHF) |
| Transmitter power | KDRV: 16.9 kW KDKF: 5 kW |
| Height | KDRV: 823 m KDKF: 651 m |
| Facility ID | KDRV: 60736 KDKF: 60740 |
| Transmitter coordinates | KDRV: KDKF: |
| Website | www.kdrv.com |
KDRV, channel 12, is an ABC television affiliate based in Medford, Oregon. The station is located near Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport in north Medford. The station is owned by Chambers Communications Corporation of Eugene, Oregon.
KDRV's programming can also be seen in Klamath Falls on KDKF digital channel 29. KDKF has its own newsroom in Klamath Falls.
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Prior to 1984, KOBI served as the primary ABC affiliate for southern Oregon, but Medford was only partially covered. Viewers could also receive KATU in Portland on cable. This was partly because the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) had reserved channel 8, the last VHF frequency in the area, for noncommercial use (currently occupied by PBS member KSYS).
The Medford-Klamath Falls market is one of the geographically largest in the country, covering a large swath of southern Oregon and northern California. This area is very mountainous, and it is very difficult to get decent UHF reception in rugged terrain. However, in 1978, the FCC took the unusual step of dropping in a channel 12 allocation for Medford without anyone requesting such action. While a Christian broadcaster initially made a bid for the station, it was a foregone conclusion that the license would go to Sunshine Television, a local investment group.
KDRV signed on for the first time on February 26, 1984. The station's studio had not been finished yet, and live local programming was not possible from its temporary studio. The new studio was finished later in 1984, and the station was able to begin news and other local programming a year later. Sunshine sold the station to Love Broadcasting in 1987. Chambers Communications bought the station in 1994. KDKF debuted on October 17, 1989.
Until 2007, KDRV was one of the few television stations still using the U-Matic videotape format for editing and on-air playback.
On December 10, 2010, KDRV announced on its newscast that their owners Chambers Communications (who also own KEZI in Eugene, KOHD in Bend and KDKF in Klamath Falls) and Dish Network could not come to a long-term agreement to keep the station on the air in the Medford market and were in danger of losing local ABC programming as a result. Viewers were encouraged to read a special Q&A page regarding this matter. Despite their best efforts, their previous agreement expired on December 15th and the stations were removed from the Dish Network local line-ups. Chambers and Dish finally came to an agreement to resume service and as of December 30, 2010 the stations returned on Dish Network. [2]
Launched in the spring of 1985, KDRV has a fully staffed news department known as NewsWatch 12. It has consistently been the #1 news operation in the Medford market for just over two decades. Like fellow stations KOBI and KTVL, they air newscasts at 5 p.m., 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. with weekend newscasts at 6 p.m. and 11 p.m., but airs its morning news starting at 5 a.m. (as does KTVL). Anchor Ron Brown and chief meteorologist Scott Lewis are the longest-tenured newscasters in the station's history. Anchor Brian Morton is the second-longest tenured. Brown hosts the weekly "Oregon Trails" segment, which takes a look back in Southern Oregon's history, while Morton reports on "Wednesday's Child", an adoption segment. The newscast has received numerous awards, including several National Association of Broadcasters, Associated Press and Emmy Awards.
KDRV is the only station in the Medford market to continue airing local sportscasts while the other stations dropped their sportscasts in 2009.
On January 5, 2011, NewsWatch 12 was the first station in the market to begin broadcasting its newscasts in 16:9 widescreen to conincide with its new look, which is similar to sister station KEZI in Eugene. The station is also the first in the market to broadcast commercials in high-def.
On February 28, 2011, KDRV launched a new 24-hour news channel called NewsWatch 12+ Nonstop News, which includes recorded local 30-minute newscasts that repeat every half-hour as well as regular live NewsWatch 12 broadcasts. NewsWatch 12+ also aired six back-to-back episodes of Jack Hanna's Animal Adventures on Saturday afternoons only (to comply with the FCC's children's programming laws) since its inception, but now airs E/I programs such as Danger Rangers, Exploration with Richard Wiese and others (as of September 3, 2011).
On September 2, 2011, NewsWatch 12+ began airing local high school football games live at 7:00pm in what is known as the "Friday Night Blitz Game of the Week" (named after its Friday night football highlight show during NewsWatch 12 at 11:00).
It is shown on the digital channel 12.2 tier over-the-air (with coverter box and antenna) in standard definition format as well as on Charter Cable channel 291.
Current Anchors
StormWatch 12 Weather Team
Sports Team
Reporters
Since 2009, NewsWatch 12 aired a one-hour televised special called Dancing With The Rogue Valley Stars, which raises money for local charities and is sponsored by USA Dance Southern Oregon and Southern Oregon Sparrow Clubs in association with KDRV. Patterned after ABC's highly rated and successful Dancing With The Stars, the competition featured popular local personalities and officials dancing various styles of dance. [3] [4] In 2010, KDRV's own Ashley Hall participated in the event dancing the salsa. [5] [6] In 2011, KDRV's Kaylin Krashesky and Kristin Ketchell participated with Kaylin dancing the west coast swing and Kristin dancing the samba. (Krashesky placed 3rd in people's and judges' voting.)
The station's digital channel is multiplexed:
Digital channels
| Channel | Name | Programming |
|---|---|---|
| 12.1 & 31.1 | KDRV-HD/KDKF-HD | KDRV / KDKF -HD |
| 12.2 & 31.2 | KDRV-SD/KDKF-SD | KDRV / KDKF -SD |
All full-powered Medford stations transitioned to digital-only service on February 17, 2009.[7]
KDRV & KDKF shut down their analog signals on February 17, 2009, KDRV returned to channel 12 [8], while KDKF's digital service remained on its current pre-transition channel number, 29 [9] using PSIP to display KDKF's virtual channel as 31.
KDRV is rebroadcast on the following translator stations:
KDKF is rebroadcast on the following translator station:
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