KFRE-TV

KFRE-TV is a broadcast television station licensed to Sanger, California, whose signal serves the Fresno television market. The station operates as an affiliate of The CW and is owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group alongside KMPH-TV, a Fox affiliate licensed to Visalia. KFRE-TV and KMPH-TV share studio facilities on McKinley Avenue in eastern Fresno, while KFRE-TV transmits from Bear Mountain near Meadow Lakes. The station began broadcasting on July 17, 1985, under the call sign KMSG-TV. Its original licensee, Sanger Telecasters Inc., had initially planned a music-video format featuring local video jockeys. After its owners studied comparable youth-oriented music-video stations and concluded that the format would have difficulty attracting national advertising, the plan was changed to a predominantly religious schedule. The initial service also included local programming for the Sanger area, selected Spanish- and Japanese-language programs, and children's content. KMSG-TV gradually moved toward Spanish-language broadcasting. It joined Telemundo in March 1988, initially carrying several hours of weekday news and telenovelas. Telemundo programming expanded during the following years, while much of the station's existing English-language programming was reduced. The transition reflected both market demand and difficulties facing religious television programming during a period of prominent televangelist scandals. In the mid-1990s, KMSG briefly developed local Spanish-language news, including the programs Mañanas Alegres and Noticiero 59. The effort was discontinued in April 1999 after the broadcasts failed to challenge established Univision affiliate KFTV and the station faced changes in Telemundo's programming arrangements. A major identity change came after KNSO-TV became the Fresno market's new Telemundo affiliate. Pappas Telecasting, which had previously programmed The WB on KNSO through a local marketing arrangement, began operating channel 59 on a full-time basis on January 1, 2001. The station adopted the KFRE-TV call sign and became the local WB affiliate. Pappas later exercised an option to purchase the station from Sanger Telecasters for $25 million; the transaction was announced in 2003 and completed in 2004. When The WB and UPN combined to create The CW in 2006, KFRE-TV became The CW's Fresno affiliate. Pappas also used KMPH's news resources to launch an 11 p.m. newscast on KFRE in January 2006, but the program was canceled in February 2007 after attracting a small audience. The station subsequently concentrated on network programming and syndicated or otherwise acquired content rather than maintaining a separate full-scale local news operation. KFRE-TV became involved in Pappas Telecasting's financial problems when the company and thirteen stations sought Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in May 2008. After a court-supervised sale process, New World TV Group agreed to purchase most of the affected stations, including KFRE-TV; the stations later operated under the Titan TV Broadcast Group banner. In 2013, Sinclair Broadcast Group agreed to acquire KFRE-TV, KMPH-TV, and most of the remaining stations from Titan. The Federal Communications Commission approved the transaction in September 2013, and the sale closed on October 3 of that year. The station has broadcast exclusively in digital form since June 12, 2009. Its current service remains centered on The CW affiliation and coverage of the Fresno market, with its programming distributed through the area's digital television infrastructure.

KFRE-TV traces its history to a construction permit issued to Sanger Telecasters Inc. in March 1984 for a station on channel 59 allocated to Sanger, California. The local ownership group included Gary Cocola and his wife, Diane. The proposed station was originally intended to be a youth-oriented music-video service with local video jockeys. Technical delays, including the late delivery of a stereo-capable transmitter, prevented the planned 1984 launch. After the owners examined similar music-video outlets and reconsidered the format's advertising prospects, they changed the proposed schedule to one focused mainly on religious programming. The station began broadcasting as KMSG-TV on July 17, 1985. In addition to religious shows, its early schedule included Sanger-oriented local programs, children's programming, and selected Spanish- and Japanese-language content. KMSG moved toward Spanish-language service in March 1988, when it affiliated with Telemundo. The network initially supplied a limited block of weekday news and telenovelas, but the amount of Telemundo programming expanded through 1989 and 1990. Much of the station's English-language local content was eventually removed as the Telemundo schedule grew. Gary Cocola sold his interest in KMSG-TV in 1991 as part of a divorce settlement. The station later attempted to establish a local Spanish-language news operation. In 1996 it introduced a weeknight news program and the morning news-and-talk show Mañanas Alegres. The evening program became Noticiero 59 in November 1997. It did not become a significant competitor to KFTV, the established Univision station in the market, and was canceled in April 1999. The cancellation resulted in the dismissal of the ten employees who produced the program and occurred amid changes that gave Telemundo a larger share of the station's schedule, leaving more time for infomercials. In August 2000, KNSO-TV reached an agreement to become the Fresno area's new Telemundo affiliate. Pappas Telecasting had been involved with KNSO through a local marketing arrangement and had used channel 51 to present The WB programming. When that arrangement ended, Pappas moved the WB service to channel 59. On January 1, 2001, KMSG-TV changed its call sign to KFRE-TV and began operating as a full-time WB outlet under Pappas. Fourteen KMSG employees lost their jobs in connection with the transition. Pappas received an option to purchase the station and exercised it in a transaction announced in December 2003 and completed in March 2004. The station became a charter affiliate of The CW in 2006, following the merger of The WB and UPN. Pappas launched an 11 p.m. KFRE newscast in January 2006, drawing on the KMPH-TV news department and targeting younger adult viewers. Ratings indicated that the program attracted only about 1,000 viewers per night, and it was canceled in February 2007 so that resources could be concentrated on KMPH's morning show, Great Day. Pappas's financial difficulties led to a major ownership transition. On May 10, 2008, Pappas Telecasting Companies and thirteen stations, including KFRE-TV, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. A bankruptcy-court process resulted in an agreement for New World TV Group to purchase most of the stations in January 2009. The properties later operated under the Titan TV Broadcast Group name. Sinclair Broadcast Group announced an agreement to purchase KFRE-TV, KMPH-TV, and most of Titan's other stations on June 3, 2013. The FCC approved the transaction on September 19, and the sale closed on October 3, 2013. KFRE-TV completed the transition to digital-only broadcasting on June 12, 2009. The station's current role is as a CW affiliate serving the Fresno market, with studios shared with KMPH-TV in eastern Fresno and transmission facilities located on Bear Mountain near Meadow Lakes.

• 2013

  Sinclair acquisition closes

  [1]KFRE-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Sinclair Broadcast Group completed its acquisition of KFRE-TV on October 3.

• 2009

  Digital-only broadcasting

  [1]KFRE-TVen.wikipedia.org

  KFRE-TV ended analog broadcasting and operated exclusively as a digital television station beginning June 12.

• 2006

  Becomes a CW affiliate

  [1]KFRE-TVen.wikipedia.org

  KFRE-TV joined The CW when the network was formed through the combination of The WB and UPN.

• 2004

  Pappas completes purchase

  [1]KFRE-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Pappas Telecasting completed its purchase of KFRE-TV from Sanger Telecasters after exercising its acquisition option.

• 2001

  Call sign and network identity change

  [1]KFRE-TVen.wikipedia.org

  The station became KFRE-TV and began operating as a full-time affiliate of The WB.

• 1999

  Local Spanish-language news ends

  [1]KFRE-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Noticiero 59 was canceled after failing to establish a strong competitive position in the Fresno market.

• 1997

  Noticiero 59 adopts its final name

  [1]KFRE-TVen.wikipedia.org

  The station's evening Spanish-language newscast was renamed Noticiero 59.

• 1988

  Telemundo affiliation begins

  [1]KFRE-TVen.wikipedia.org

  KMSG-TV began carrying Telemundo programming, starting its transition toward Spanish-language network service.

• 1985

  KMSG-TV begins broadcasting

  [1]KFRE-TVen.wikipedia.org

  The station launched on July 17 as KMSG-TV with a schedule centered on religious programming and local content.

• 1984

  Construction permit granted

  [1]KFRE-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Sanger Telecasters received a construction permit for a channel 59 station licensed to Sanger, California.

A local broadcast outlet providing The CW network schedule and related television content to viewers in the Fresno and wider San Joaquin Valley market.

• Network television affiliate · 2006

  The CW Fresno

  KFRE-TV's principal service is its local presentation of The CW network schedule to the Fresno market. The offering consists of network entertainment programming and related broadcast content distributed through the station's digital television facilities.

• Over-the-air television station · 1985

  KFRE-TV Channel 59

  The station's terrestrial broadcast service is identified by its KFRE-TV call sign and channel 59 heritage. It is licensed to Sanger, serves the Fresno area, shares studios with KMPH-TV, and transmits from Bear Mountain.

• Local news programming · 1996

  KFRE local news

  KFRE-TV has previously offered local news programming, including Spanish-language programs in the 1990s and an 11 p.m. English-language newscast launched in 2006. These initiatives were discontinued and are not identified as current station offerings.

• 2013

  Sale to Sinclair Broadcast GroupM&A

  Background

  KFRE-TV was part of the Titan TV Broadcast Group station portfolio assembled during the resolution of Pappas Telecasting's bankruptcy.

  Action taken

  Sinclair agreed to acquire KFRE-TV and KMPH-TV, received FCC approval, and closed the transaction on October 3, 2013.

  Aftermath

  KFRE-TV became part of Sinclair's station group and continued as a CW affiliate serving Fresno.

  Source

• 2006

  Launch of an 11 p.m. newscastProduct launch

  Background

  Pappas sought to add local programming for younger adult viewers while using the existing resources of KMPH-TV's newsroom.

  Action taken

  KFRE-TV launched a late-evening newscast at 11 p.m.

  Aftermath

  The newscast was canceled in February 2007 after attracting approximately 1,000 viewers per night, and resources were redirected to KMPH-TV's morning show.

  Source

• 2001

  Conversion to a WB affiliateStrategy

  Background

  KNSO-TV became the Fresno market's Telemundo station, while Pappas Telecasting needed a new outlet for its WB programming.

  Action taken

  Pappas began operating channel 59, changed the call sign from KMSG-TV to KFRE-TV, and moved The WB schedule to the station.

  Aftermath

  KFRE-TV became a full-time general entertainment network affiliate and later transitioned to The CW.

  Source

• 1988

  Adoption of Telemundo programmingStrategy

  Background

  The station sought a more commercially viable schedule as religious programming weakened and Spanish-language television demand grew.

  Action taken

  KMSG-TV affiliated with Telemundo and progressively expanded the network's weekday and weekend schedule.

  Aftermath

  The station reduced much of its English-language local programming and operated primarily as a Spanish-language outlet until 2001.

  Source

• 1985

  Abandonment of the planned music-video formatStrategy

  Background

  Sanger Telecasters initially intended to operate a youth-oriented music-video station, but concerns about audience economics and national advertising led the owners to reconsider the plan.

  Action taken

  The station launched with a predominantly religious schedule instead of the proposed music-video format.

  Aftermath

  KMSG-TV later evolved toward Spanish-language network programming and eventually became a general entertainment affiliate.

  Source

1. 1KFRE-TVen.wikipedia.org
2. 2KFRE-TV official station pagekmph.com