KNEP

KNEP

Scottsbluff, Nebraska
United States
City Sidney, Nebraska
Branding NBC Nebraska Scottsbluff (general)
KOTA Territory (DT1)
Channels Digital: 7 (VHF)
Virtual: 4 (PSIP)
Subchannels 4.1 Simulcast of KOTA-TV / ABC
4.2 NBC
Translators KSTF 10.2 Scottsbluff
Affiliations NBC (as semi-satellite of KNOP-TV; 2016–present)
Owner Gray Television
(Gray Television Licensee, LLC)
First air date March 5, 1958
Call letters' meaning NEbraska Panhandle
Sister station(s) KSTF
Former callsigns KDUH-TV (1958–2016)
Former channel number(s) Analog:
4 (VHF, 1958–2009)
Transmitter power 32 kW
Height 475 metres (1,558 feet)
Facility ID 17683
Transmitter coordinates 41°50′27.7″N 103°4′28.8″W / 41.841028°N 103.074667°W / 41.841028; -103.074667
Licensing authority FCC
Public license information: Profile
CDBS
Website www.nbcneb.com/scottsbluff/

KNEP, virtual channel 4 (VHF digital channel 7), is an NBC-affiliated television station licensed in Sidney, Nebraska, serving the Nebraska Panhandle. The station is owned by Gray Television, as part of a duopoly with CBS affiliate KSTF. The station maintains studio facilities located on the 1st Avenue in Scottsbluff and its transmitter is located in Angora, Nebraska.

Although identified as a separate station in its own right, KNEP is actually considered a semi-satellite of KNOP-TV in North Platte. The station also simulcast programming from KOTA-TV in Rapid City, South Dakota on its main channel.

History

KDUH-TV signed on March 5, 1958 in Hay Springs, Nebraska. The station was owned by Helen Duhamel.[1]

In 1981, the station was moved from Hay Springs to Scottsbluff.[2]

In 1988, KDUH consolidated its operations in Rapid City based KOTA-TV.[1]

On September 24, 2002 the station's mast in Hemingford, which was built in the 1960s, collapsed during an installation of a digital transmitter. Two workers were killed and other three were injured.[3][4] A new tower was located in Angora was built in 2003 as a replacement the collapsed transmitter. The full signal was restored on September 19, 2003.[5] During the construction of the tower, KDUH reached viewers on cable systems in the area and Duhamel-owned translators K02NT in Scottsbluff, and K02NY in Chadron.[5][6]

Bill Duhamel announced on October 31, 2013 that KOTA-TV and its satellites (including KDUH-TV) would be sold to Schurz Communications' subsidiary Rushmore Media Company, pending FCC approval.[7][8] The FCC granted the sale on March 31, 2014; and it was completed on April 28, 2014.[9][10][11][12]

On September 14, 2015, Schurz announced that it would exit broadcasting and sell its television and radio stations, including KDUH-TV, to Gray Television for $442.5 million.[13][14] In its original filing with the FCC, Gray said that KDUH would be converted to a satellite of KNOP-TV, a Gray-owned NBC affiliate in North Platte.[15][16] In a subsequent filing with the FCC, Gray requested change the KDUH-TV call letters to KNEP following its conversion to a KNOP-TV satellite; and also change KDUH/KNEP's city of license to Sidney, Nebraska (which will move it from the Cheyenne-Scottsbluff market to the Denver market, eliminating an ownership conflict with KSTF in Scottsbluff).[17][18] The sale approved by the FCC on February 12, 2016,[19] and was completed on February 16.[20] The FCC approved the change of station's city of license on May 16, making KDUH/KNEP a Denver DMA station.[21]

On May 5, 2016, the station officially became the NBC affiliate for the Nebraska Panhandle. Despite became officially a semi-satellite of KNOP-TV, the station is still airing KOTA programming on its DT1 channel.[22]

Digital television

Digital channels

The station's digital channel is multiplexed:

Channel Video Aspect PSIP Short Name Programming[23]
4.1 720p 16:9 KNEP-HD Simulcast of KOTA-TV / ABC
4.2 1080i Main KNEP programming / NBC

Analog-to-digital conversion

KNEP shut down its analog signal, over VHF channel 4, on February 17, 2009,[24] the original date in which full-power television stations in the United States were to transition from analog to digital broadcasts under federal mandate. The station's digital signal remained on its pre-transition VHF channel 7.[25] Through the use of PSIP, digital television receivers display the station's virtual channel as its former VHF analog channel 4.

Newscasts

KNEP presently broadcasts 8½ hours of locally produced newscasts each week (with 1½ hours on weekdays and a half-hour each on Saturdays and Sundays).

KNEP (as KOTA's satellite KDUH-TV) once produced its own full-length newscasts as well. However, due to cutbacks in later years, KDUH's newscasts have been reduced to inserts in KOTA's weeknight newscasts with a few personalities locally based in Scottsbluff.

On May 5, 2016, KNEP's full-length localized newscasts in Scottsbluff were reinstated, upon the launch of NBC Nebraska Scottsbluff.[26][27]

The station is still simulcasting KOTA's newscasts on its DT1 subchannel.

References

  1. 1 2 KOTA celebrates 58 years on the air - Scottsbluff Star Herald
  2. ↑ Hall of Fame 1992 - Helen Duhamel - Nebraska Broadcasters Association
  3. ↑ Two Killed In Tower Collapse - WOWT
  4. ↑ Broadcaster Files Lawsuit Over Tower Collapse - Yankton Press & Dakotan
  5. 1 2 September 2003 - Upper Midwest Broadcasting
  6. ↑ KDUH-TV, North of Scottsbluff, Nebraska - Fybush.com
  7. ↑ KOTA-TV and its satellites sold to Schurz Communications, Inc. - KOTA Territory News
  8. ↑ Malone, Michael (October 31, 2013). "Schurz to Acquire KOTA Rapid City". Broadcasting & Cable. Retrieved October 31, 2013.
  9. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20140407074658/http://www.kotatv.com/story/25133718/fcc-approves-sale-of-kota-tv
  10. ↑ Notice, Federal Communications Commission, 31 March 2014, Retrieved 3 April 2014.
  11. ↑ FCC approves sale of KOTA Territory TV, KOTA-TV, 1 April 2014, Retrieved 3 April 2014.
  12. ↑ Consummation Notice, CDBS Public Access, Federal Communications Commission, 28 April 2014, Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  13. ↑ "Schurz Communications to sell WSBT and other TV, radio stations". South Bend Tribune. September 14, 2015. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
  14. ↑ Kuperberg, Jonathan (September 14, 2015). "Gray Acquiring TV, Radio Stations from Schurz for $442.5 Million". Broadcasting & Cable. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
  15. ↑ "Comprehensive Exhibit" (PDF). CDBS Public Access. Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved September 18, 2015.
  16. ↑ Gray Television unveils some changes for Scottsbluff station. KOTA-TV, 17 February 2016, Retrieved 23 February 2016.
  17. ↑ "Comprehensive Exhibit" (PDF). CDBS Public Access. Federal Communications Commission. October 2015. Retrieved October 24, 2015.
  18. ↑ KOTA Territory News to bring more statewide coverage., Scottsbluff Star-Herald, 19 February 2016. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  19. ↑ FCC Approves Gray-Schurz TV Station Deal. Broadcasting & Cable, 12 February 2016, Retrieved 13 February 2016
  20. ↑ Gray Closes Schurz Acquisition, Related Transactions, And Incremental Term Loan Facility Press Release, Gray Television, Retrieved 16 February 2016.
  21. ↑ Report and Order, Federal Communications Commission, 16 May 2016. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
  22. ↑ May 2016 - Upper Midwest Broadcasting
  23. ↑ RabbitEars TV Query for KNEP
  24. ↑ Analog Termination Information Update - Federal Communications Commission
  25. ↑ "DTV Tentative Channel Designations fro the First and the Second Rounds" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-08-29. Retrieved 2012-03-24.
  26. ↑ KOTA announces switch to KNEP in May, Scottsbluff Star-Herald, 29 March 2016, Retrieved 10 May 2016.
  27. ↑ NBC Nebraska Scottsbluff newscasts begin Thursday, May 5 - NBC Nebraska Scottsbluff
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