KIII

KIII


Corpus Christi, Texas
United States
Branding KIII-TV 3 (general)
3 News (newscasts)
(pronounced "K-Triple I")
Slogan More Local News
The South Texas News Leader
Channels Digital: 8 (VHF)
Virtual: 3 (PSIP)
Subchannels 3.1 ABC
3.2 Me-TV
3.3 MundoMax
3.4 Cozi TV
Affiliations ABC
Owner Tegna Media
(LSB Broadcasting, Inc.)
First air date May 4, 1964 (1964-05-04)
Call letters' meaning III = Roman numeral 3
Sister station(s) WFAA, KHOU, KVUE, KENS, KCEN-TV, KAGS-LD, KYTX, KBMT, KIDY, KXVA
Former channel number(s) Analog:
3 (VHF, 1964-2009)
Transmitter power 160 kW
Height 269 m
Facility ID 10188
Transmitter coordinates 27°39′32.3″N 97°36′3.7″W / 27.658972°N 97.601028°W / 27.658972; -97.601028
Licensing authority FCC
Public license information: Profile
CDBS
Website www.kiiitv.com

KIII is a ABC-affiliated television station in Corpus Christi, Texas, United States. The station is owned by Tegna, Inc. KIII maintains studios located on South Padre Island Drive (SH 358) in Corpus Christi and its transmitter is located near Robstown, Texas.

History

The struggle to put channel 3 on the air in Corpus Christi started after KVDO-TV (channel 22, headed by Nestor Cuesta and Gabe Lozano and a handful of other local businessmen) went on air in 1954. They had limited success, and increasing trouble after two VHF stations – KRIS-TV (channel 6) and KZTV (channel 10) – went on the air in 1956.

KVDO petitioned the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to add a channel 3 allocation at Corpus Christi. Other cities also wanted it; however, following a lot of struggle, channel 3 was ultimately allocated to Corpus Christi. KVDO-TV then sold its license assets to McKinnon Broadcasting in exchange for an interest in the new KIII-TV, while the former KVDO facilities were sold to KRIS-TV. McKinnon then put KIII on the air May 3, 1964; it has always been an ABC affiliate.

In 1969, KIII started a satellite in Victoria, Texas, KXIX (channel 19), to bring ABC programming to that area. In 1976, KXIX was sold to local ownership. It now operates as Fox affiliate KVCT.

On April 29, 2010 it was announced that KIII would be acquired by London Broadcasting Company.[1] which the sale was closed on August 31.[2] On September 18, 2011, KIII began broadcasting newscasts in high definition.

On May 14, 2014, Gannett Company announced that it would acquire KIII and five other LBC stations for $215 million. Gannett's CEO Gracia Martore touted that the acquisition would give the company a presence in several fast-growing markets, and opportunities for local advertisers to leverage its digital marketing platform.[3] The company also owns fellow Texas ABC affiliates WFAA and KVUE, which it had acquired in its purchase of Belo Corporation. The sale was completed on July 8.[4] 13 months later, on June 29, 2015, the Gannett Company split in two, with one side specializing in print media and the other side specializing in broadcast and digital media. KIII was retained by the latter company, named TEGNA.[5]

Digital television

Digital channels

The station's digital channel is multiplexed:

Channel Video Aspect PSIP Short Name Programming[6]
3.1 720p 16:9 KIII-HD Main KIII programming / ABC
3.2 480i 4:3 KIII-SD Me-TV[7]
3.3 KIII-DT3 MundoMax[8]
3.4 KIII-DT4 Cozi TV

Analog-to-digital conversion

KIII shut down its analog signal, over VHF channel 3, on June 12, 2009, the official date in which full-power television stations in the United States transitioned from analog to digital broadcasts under federal mandate. The station's digital signal remained on its pre-transition VHF channel 8.[9] Through the use of PSIP, digital television receivers display the station's virtual channel as its former VHF analog channel 3.

Programming

KIII carries the entire ABC schedule; although it airs Jimmy Kimmel Live! and Nightline on a half-hour delay during high school football season. Syndicated programming on KIII includes: The Big Bang Theory, Two and a Half Men, The Meredith Vieira Show, Judge Judy, Live! with Kelly and Michael, Rachael Ray, Wheel Of Fortune, The Middle and Modern Family (in which both series also airing first run) with weekend telecasts of The Simpsons.

References

  1. ↑ http://www.caller.com/news/2010/apr/29/dallas-based-company-to-buy-kiii-tv/
  2. ↑ http://www.caller.com/news/2010/aug/31/dallas-company-buys-kiii-tv/?partner=newsletter_headlines
  3. ↑ "Gannett Buys 6 London Broadcasting Stations". TVNewsCheck. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
  4. ↑ Gannett Completes London Broadcasting Buy, TVNewsCheck, Retrieved 8 July, 2014.
  5. ↑ "Separation of Gannett into two public companies completed | TEGNA". Tegna. Retrieved 2015-06-29.
  6. ↑ RabbitEars TV Query for KIII
  7. ↑ Where to Watch Me-TV: KIII
  8. ↑ Smith, Mike D. (August 10, 2012). "MundoFOX network arrives in South Texas on Monday". Corpus Christi Caller-Times. Retrieved August 10, 2012.
  9. ↑ "DTV Tentative Channel Designations for the First and the Second Rounds" (PDF). Retrieved 2012-03-24.

External links

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