KOB

KOB4, whose broadcast call sign is KOB, is a television station based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and affiliated with the NBC television network. It broadcasts on virtual channel 4 and is owned by Hubbard Broadcasting, a privately held American media company. The station's principal studios are located on Broadcast Plaza west of downtown Albuquerque, while its main transmitter is on Sandia Crest east of the city. Through satellite stations, translators, and digital distribution, KOB4 reaches viewers across a substantial portion of New Mexico, including the Four Corners and southeastern parts of the state. The station traces its origins to KOB radio, an Albuquerque broadcaster that pursued television authorization before the end of the Second World War. After receiving authorization in 1946, the television operation began broadcasting on November 29, 1948, becoming the first television station in New Mexico. Its initial audience was very small, with programming delivered primarily on film because Albuquerque was not yet connected to live network facilities. KOB initially carried programming from NBC and the DuMont Television Network and later added CBS and ABC programming. It therefore operated in a period when a single station could carry content from several national networks rather than maintain the single-network affiliation model common today. The station changed ownership twice during its first decade. In 1952, KOB radio and television were sold to Time Inc. and former Federal Communications Commission chairman Wayne Coy. Time's ownership was short-lived because the company later acquired additional television properties and exceeded the FCC's ownership limit then in effect. KOB was sold in 1957 to KSTP, Inc., the company associated with the Hubbard family and KSTP in St. Paul. KSTP, Inc. adopted the Hubbard Broadcasting name in 1962, and Hubbard has remained KOB's owner since that period. A major early technical development was the construction of the Sandia Crest transmission facility. KOB worked with the newly launched KGGM-TV to develop the site, improving coverage for communities that had previously received little or no television service. The station also moved into a purpose-built studio facility in 1954 and received a more powerful transmitter in 1957. Its connection to live network programming was completed in September 1954, ending Albuquerque's isolation from real-time national television broadcasts. KOB's central editorial and commercial identity has long been its New Mexico-focused local news operation. It competed closely with KOAT-TV during the 1960s and early 1970s, but KOAT moved ahead in the ratings during the middle of the 1970s. KOB subsequently expanded its morning and evening newscasts, invested in weather and breaking-news resources, and developed regional coverage through KOBF in Farmington and KOBR in Roswell. The station has generally remained a major market news provider, although its position has varied between second and third place depending on the program and ratings period. The KOB brand also includes public-affairs and sports programming, including Eye on New Mexico and Football Night in New Mexico. KOB has produced local news for other stations at different times, including a Fox-affiliated 9 p.m. newscast for KASA-TV beginning in 2000 and a later news operation for KASA after that station became associated with Telemundo. In technical terms, KOB began digital broadcasting in 2002 and ended analog transmission on June 12, 2009, retaining virtual channel 4 on its digital facility. Today, KOB4 remains an active local television brand combining NBC network programming, locally produced news, weather, sports, public affairs, digital content, and regional retransmission.

KOB's television history began with the ambitions of Albuquerque radio station KOB, which sought to enter television before commercial television had fully developed in the United States. The radio operation applied for an experimental television permit in December 1943 and pursued a commercial authorization in 1944. The FCC granted a permit in May 1946, with the proposed service ultimately assigned to channel 4. KOB expected to become an NBC outlet when the network reached Albuquerque and planned to use a site associated with a former FCC monitoring facility. KOB-TV announced an intended 1948 launch and received an RCA transmitter described at the time as only the second commercial television transmitter produced by the company. Regular operations began on November 29, 1948, with an estimated audience of approximately 100 television receivers. Because Albuquerque lacked live network connections, early national programs were transported on film. KOB carried NBC and DuMont content and added CBS and ABC programming during 1949. Local programming included university and high-school football, track and field, and other community events. In 1952, KOB's radio and television properties were sold to Time Inc. and Wayne Coy. The end of the FCC's freeze on new television allocations led to the launch of competing Albuquerque stations in 1953. KOB collaborated with KGGM-TV on the development of a Sandia Crest transmitter site, an important infrastructure project that improved service to remote areas. KOB also established a new two-story studio complex in 1954. Live network service finally reached Albuquerque in September of that year. Time Inc. later acquired additional stations and exceeded the federal ownership limit then applicable to television operators. It sold KOB in 1957 to KSTP, Inc., which was renamed Hubbard Broadcasting in 1962. Hubbard upgraded KOB's transmission facilities, including the installation of a more powerful transmitter in 1957, and expanded the studio in 1960. KOB's former transmitter was donated to educational station KNME-TV. KOB radio and television remained associated until Hubbard sold the radio properties in 1986; the radio stations subsequently adopted the KKOB call sign. KOB built a wider New Mexico service footprint in the 1980s. It acquired Farmington's KIVA-TV in 1983 and renamed it KOBF. It also acquired the Roswell NBC affiliate, formerly KSWS-TV, in a transaction completed in 1985, renaming it KOBR. KOBF and KOBR carried KOB programming while inserting local reports for their respective regions. KOB later operated KOBG-TV in Silver City, but that operation was ultimately replaced by a translator after the digital transition. The station's news operation experienced an extended rivalry with KOAT-TV. KOB led many ratings surveys during the 1960s and early 1970s, but KOAT moved ahead between 1974 and 1976. Management attempted to recover through personnel changes, consultant-led format adjustments, and the recruitment of KOAT anchor Dick Knipfing. His move to KOB produced legal conflict with KOAT over his existing contract, but the hiring did not restore KOB to first place. KOB expanded its morning and evening schedules during the 1980s and 1990s, and news director Brad Remington later emphasized breaking news, investigations, and weather technology. KOB launched additional services outside its core NBC schedule. It produced Fox 2 News at Nine for KASA beginning in 2000, ending that arrangement in 2006 after KASA changed ownership. KOB later resumed producing news for KASA in 2021 under its Telemundo identity. The station's digital signal began in 2002, and analog broadcasting ended in 2009. KOB continues to operate as a major New Mexico television news and broadcasting brand, producing local news, public affairs, and seasonal sports programming while distributing its signal through regional satellites and translators.

• 2009

  Analog shutdown

  [1]KOB (TV)en.wikipedia.org

  KOB completed the transition to digital-only broadcasting.

• 2002

  Digital transmission begins

  [1]KOB (TV)en.wikipedia.org

  KOB launched its digital signal on UHF channel 26.

• 1989

  Regional news inserts expand

  [1]KOB (TV)en.wikipedia.org

  KOBF introduced expanded Four Corners news inserts within KOB's Albuquerque newscasts.

• 1985

  KOBR identity introduced

  [1]KOB (TV)en.wikipedia.org

  The Roswell NBC affiliate became KOBR after its acquisition by KOB.

• 1957

  Acquisition by KSTP, Inc.

  [1]KOB (TV)en.wikipedia.org

  KSTP, Inc. acquired KOB; the owner later became Hubbard Broadcasting.

• 1953

  Sandia Crest transmission partnership

  [1]KOB (TV)en.wikipedia.org

  KOB joined KGGM-TV in developing a Sandia Crest transmission facility.

• 1948

  First New Mexico television broadcast

  [1]KOB (TV)en.wikipedia.org

  KOB-TV began operations on November 29 as New Mexico's first television station.

• 1946

  Channel 4 authorization

  [1]KOB (TV)en.wikipedia.org

  The FCC granted KOB a television permit, later associated with channel 4.

• 1943

  Experimental television application

  [1]KOB (TV)en.wikipedia.org

  KOB radio applied for authorization to build an experimental television station in Albuquerque.

A New Mexico-focused NBC affiliate positioned around local news, weather, regional reporting, public affairs, and broad over-the-air coverage.

• Local television news

  KOB 4 News

  KOB's principal local-news service covers Albuquerque, central New Mexico, and regional communities through scheduled newscasts, breaking-news reports, investigations, weather coverage, and sports reporting. Its output has expanded over time from traditional evening broadcasts into morning, midday, and additional evening programs. Regional inserts formerly supplied more localized reporting through KOBF and KOBR.

• Public affairs

  Eye on New Mexico

  A weekly public-affairs program focused on New Mexico issues, institutions, and public life. It extends KOB's role beyond headline news by providing a forum for discussion and contextual reporting.

• Sports television

  Football Night in New Mexico

  A weekly sports program broadcast during the National Football League season, centered on football coverage for a New Mexico audience.

• Regional satellite station · 1983

  KOBF

  KOBF is the KOB-associated station serving Farmington and the Four Corners region. It carries KOB and NBC programming while historically providing locally focused news inserts for northwestern New Mexico.

• Regional satellite station · 1985

  KOBR

  KOBR is the KOB-associated station serving Roswell and southeastern New Mexico. It rebroadcasts KOB programming and has functioned as a regional extension of the station's NBC and local-news service.

• 2002

  Launch of digital televisionGeneration change

  Background

  United States broadcasters were transitioning from analog transmission to digital television.

  Action taken

  KOB began transmitting a digital signal on UHF channel 26 while retaining virtual channel 4.

  Aftermath

  The station later discontinued analog broadcasting in 2009 and continued as a digital television service.

  Source

• 1983

  Regional New Mexico expansionStrategy

  Background

  KOB sought to increase its audience and strengthen its news position beyond the Albuquerque market.

  Action taken

  The station acquired KIVA-TV in Farmington and pursued the acquisition of the Roswell NBC affiliate that became KOBR.

  Aftermath

  KOB developed satellite-station identities and regional news inserts for the Four Corners and southeastern New Mexico.

  Source

• 1957

  Sale to KSTP, Inc.M&A

  Background

  Time Inc. acquired additional television stations and became subject to the FCC's ownership limit, creating pressure to sell KOB.

  Action taken

  KOB was sold to KSTP, Inc., the company later renamed Hubbard Broadcasting.

  Aftermath

  Hubbard retained ownership and invested in KOB's transmitter and studio facilities.

  Purchase price. $1.5 million (1957)

  Source

1. 1KOB (TV)en.wikipedia.org
2. 2KOB official websitekob.com