| Springfield, Missouri | |
|---|---|
| Branding | KSPR ABC 33 (general) KSPR News (newscasts) Ozarks CW (on DT2) |
| Slogan | Covering Our Community |
| Channels | Digital: 19 (UHF) |
| Subchannels | 33.1 ABC 33.2 The CW |
| Owner | Perkin Media, LLC (operated through SSA by Schurz Communications) |
| First air date | March 9, 1983 |
| Call letters' meaning | SPRingfield |
| Sister station(s) | KYTV, K15CZ |
| Former channel number(s) | 33 (UHF analog, 1983-2009) |
| Former affiliations | Independent (1983-1986) |
| Transmitter power | 1,000 kW |
| Height | 575 m |
| Facility ID | 35630 |
| Website | kspr.com |
KSPR, virtual channel 33, is the ABC-affiliated television station for the Ozark Plateau area of Southwestern Missouri that is licensed to Springfield. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 19 from a transmitter in Fordland. Owned by Perkin Media, it is operated by Schurz Communications of South Bend, Indiana through a shared services agreement (SSA) as sister station to NBC affiliate KYTV and low-powered CW affiliate K15CZ. All three share studios on West Sunshine Street in Springfield.
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The station's digital signal is multiplexed:
| Subchannel | Programming |
|---|---|
| 33.1 | main KSPR programming / ABC HD |
| 33.2 | K15CZ ("Ozarks CW") |
On June 12, 2009, KSPR abandoned its analog channel 33 and moved to channel 19 when the analog to digital conversion was completed.
KSPR originally signed on-the-air March 9, 1983 as Springfield's first independent station. However in 1986, ABC dropped its affiliation with KDEB-TV (now KOZL-TV) and gave it to KSPR. On September 21, 2006, Piedmont Television announced that it would sell KSPR to Perkin Media, LLC. Under the agreement, Schurz Communications took over KSPR's operations under a shared services agreement. It remained at its studios on East Saint Louis Street in Springfield. Perkin Media took over ownership of the station on August 28, 2007.
On September 9, the on-air branding was changed to "KSPR ABC". Prior to then, it was branded as "Springfield 33, Where Springfield Comes First" with weather coverage labeled "Where Your Forecast Comes First". For a short period of time, it was branded as "ABC 33". Notable former employees of the station include: Mark Steines (correspondent for Entertainment Tonight), John Brown (former anchor for The Daily Buzz), and Terry Kniess (later became known for perfect showcase bid on The Price is Right).
Syndicated programming on KSPR includes: The Big Bang Theory, Jeopardy!, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, The Dr. Oz Show, and Live with Regis and Kelly.
Beginning on April 21, 1989 and ending the same year, KSPR produced and aired The Late Night Horror Show with Count Norlock. This show featured syndicated horror films along with new introductory and interstitial segments featuring a horror host character. Host segments were locally produced and featured local actor Jim Kellett in the role of "Count Norlock", a vampire reminiscent of Count Orlok from the 1922 F. W. Murnau film Nosferatu. Featuring films such as Magic and The Brides of Dracula, The Late Night Horror Show with Count Norlock only lasted one season.[1]
From 1985 until 1990, Springfield area kids went home after school to watch Sammy's Place on KSPR, an afternoon show hosted by hobo clown "Sammy B. Good". The afternoon program featured cartoons such as He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, She-Ra, Voltron, Transformers, and G.I. Joe. Between cartoons, Sammy featured area kids as in-studio guests and entertained with a number of clown acts and skits. He famously excited the in-studio kids with screams of "Everybody go 'yeaaaa'!" which would be echoed in unison.
On November 1, 2009, KSPR moved into KYTV's newly renovated facilities and began airing its local broadcasts in high definition from a secondary set. The two stations maintain separate news departments. KSPR also added a gray and black "33" to its logo. Unlike most ABC affiliates in the Central Time Zone, it does not air local news weeknights at 5, but does air a late afternoon newscast at 4 p.m.
Anchors
KSPR Weather
Sports team
Reporters
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