KTOV-LP

KTOV-LP was a low-power television station in Corpus Christi, Texas, United States. The station operated from 2002 until 2018 and was associated with channel 21 during the later part of its history, although its earlier identity was connected with channel 7 and the former K07UD facility. Its final programming affiliation was MyNetworkTV, and the station used the consumer-facing branding “My KTOV.” The station developed from a group of low-power television operations established in the Corpus Christi market during the late 1990s and early 2000s. Before becoming a MyNetworkTV outlet, KTOV-LP carried UPN programming. It assumed that affiliation from KTMV-LP, a station that had initially carried Tejano music videos and subsequently remained available on cable after KTOV-LP took over the UPN relationship. The station therefore functioned as a local outlet for network entertainment programming rather than as a large-market independently produced news operation. Ownership and facility arrangements changed several times. Don Gillis and Fred Hoffmann established KCBO-LP, branded “Coastal Box Office,” in 2001 as a separate low-power operation focused on sports and movies. In 2004, call signs and programming were exchanged between the channel 7 and channel 21 facilities, contributing to the station’s later identity and placement in the Corpus Christi television lineup. In 2012, GH Broadcasting announced a proposed sale of KTOV-LP to London Broadcasting Company, owner of KIII. The transaction was not completed, and GH Broadcasting entered bankruptcy proceedings while continuing as debtor-in-possession. A later transaction was finalized in 2014, transferring KTOV-LP to Corpus 18, LLC, a partnership formed by noteholders connected with GH Broadcasting and High Maintenance Broadcasting, the owner of KUQI and a related business. Sinclair Broadcast Group agreed in October 2015 to acquire KTOV-LP, KUQI, and KXPX-LP from Corpus 18 for $9.25 million. Sinclair was the station’s final owner. The Federal Communications Commission canceled KTOV-LP’s license on April 3, 2018, ending the station’s operation as a licensed low-power station. Its programming was subsequently carried exclusively on the third digital subchannel of co-owned Fox affiliate KSCC, where the “My KTOV” branding continued to be used. KTOV-LP is therefore best understood as a discontinued local television station whose programming identity survived through a digital multicast replacement.

KTOV-LP was a low-power television station serving Corpus Christi, Texas. Its later operation was associated with channel 21, while its earlier development involved the K07UD channel 7 facility. The station’s operating history extended from 2002 to 2018, and it ultimately became known for carrying MyNetworkTV programming under the “My KTOV” identity. The station’s programming history began before its final MyNetworkTV affiliation. KTOV-LP became a UPN affiliate in the late 1990s era, taking the affiliation from KTMV-LP. KTMV-LP had begun carrying Tejano music videos in 1997, but after KTOV-LP acquired the UPN relationship, KTMV-LP remained available on cable rather than continuing as the primary over-the-air UPN outlet. This placed KTOV-LP within the group of small local stations that provided national network entertainment programming to the Corpus Christi market. In 2001, Don Gillis and Fred Hoffmann launched KCBO-LP, known as “Coastal Box Office.” That operation concentrated on sports and movies and formed part of the broader cluster of low-power television facilities in the market. In 2004, the call signs and programming associated with the channel 7 and channel 21 facilities were switched. The changes helped establish the configuration under which KTOV-LP subsequently operated. Ownership became increasingly unsettled in the following decade. GH Broadcasting announced in March 2012 that it intended to sell KTOV-LP to London Broadcasting Company, whose holdings included KIII, the Corpus Christi market’s channel 3 station. The transaction failed to close in early 2013. GH Broadcasting then declared bankruptcy and remained in possession of its operations as debtor-in-possession. A subsequent ownership solution emerged through the company’s creditors and related broadcasting interests. In late 2014, the sale of KTOV-LP to Corpus 18, LLC was completed. Corpus 18 was formed by noteholders holding debt connected with GH Broadcasting and High Maintenance Broadcasting, the owner of KUQI and a related business. The transaction placed the station under an ownership structure linked to its existing financial stakeholders. On October 2, 2015, Corpus 18 agreed to sell KTOV-LP, KUQI, and KXPX-LP to Sinclair Broadcast Group for $9.25 million. Sinclair became the station’s final owner. By that stage, KTOV-LP’s principal programming identity was MyNetworkTV, and the station was promoted as “My KTOV.” The station’s licensed operation ended when the Federal Communications Commission canceled its license on April 3, 2018. KTOV-LP was not simply replaced by another unrelated brand: its programming continued on KSCC-DT3, the third digital subchannel of co-owned Fox affiliate KSCC. The “My KTOV” branding remained in use on that digital subchannel. Thus, the KTOV-LP call sign represents a defunct low-power broadcast license, while the associated programming brand continued through a digital multicast service.

• 2018

  License is canceled and programming moves to KSCC-DT3

  [1]KTOV-LPen.wikipedia.org

  The FCC canceled KTOV-LP’s license on April 3. Its programming thereafter appeared exclusively on KSCC-DT3 under the My KTOV branding.

• 2015

  Sinclair agrees to purchase KTOV-LP

  [1]KTOV-LPen.wikipedia.org

  Sinclair Broadcast Group agreed to acquire KTOV-LP together with KUQI and KXPX-LP for $9.25 million.

• 2014

  Corpus 18 acquires the station

  [1]KTOV-LPen.wikipedia.org

  The sale of KTOV-LP to Corpus 18, LLC was finalized through an ownership group formed by noteholders connected with GH Broadcasting and High Maintenance Broadcasting.

• 2013

  Proposed London Broadcasting transaction fails

  [1]KTOV-LPen.wikipedia.org

  The planned sale was abandoned, after which GH Broadcasting declared bankruptcy and continued as debtor-in-possession.

• 2012

  Proposed sale to London Broadcasting Company announced

  [1]KTOV-LPen.wikipedia.org

  GH Broadcasting announced plans to sell KTOV-LP to London Broadcasting Company, owner of KIII.

• 2004

  Call signs and programming are exchanged between facilities

  [1]KTOV-LPen.wikipedia.org

  The call signs and programming associated with the channel 7 and channel 21 facilities were switched.

• 2002

  KTOV-LP begins its documented operating period

  [1]KTOV-LPen.wikipedia.org

  KTOV-LP operated as a low-power television station serving Corpus Christi during the period beginning in 2002.

• 2001

  KCBO-LP is established

  [1]KTOV-LPen.wikipedia.org

  Don Gillis and Fred Hoffmann started KCBO-LP, branded Coastal Box Office, with a schedule focused on sports and movies.

• 1999

  KTOV-LP becomes a UPN affiliate

  [1]KTOV-LPen.wikipedia.org

  KTOV-LP assumed the UPN affiliation from KTMV-LP, becoming a local outlet for UPN network programming.

• 1997

  KTMV-LP begins Tejano music-video programming

  [1]KTOV-LPen.wikipedia.org

  KTMV-LP began carrying Tejano music videos, establishing an earlier programming identity within the Corpus Christi low-power television market.

A Corpus Christi low-power television outlet focused primarily on carrying national entertainment-network programming, first through UPN and later through MyNetworkTV, with its branding subsequently retained on a digital subchannel.

• Digital multicast television service

  My KTOV

  My KTOV was KTOV-LP’s final branding and programming identity during its MyNetworkTV affiliation. After the FCC canceled the KTOV-LP license in 2018, the associated programming continued on KSCC-DT3, the third digital subchannel of co-owned Fox affiliate KSCC. The brand therefore outlasted the original low-power station license.

• Network-affiliated television programming · 1999

  UPN affiliate service

  Before its MyNetworkTV period, KTOV-LP carried UPN programming for the Corpus Christi market. The station assumed the affiliation from KTMV-LP and served as a local over-the-air outlet for the network’s entertainment schedule.

• Network-affiliated television programming

  MyNetworkTV affiliate service

  KTOV-LP’s final broadcast offering was MyNetworkTV programming. The affiliation supplied nationally distributed entertainment content and was presented to viewers through the My KTOV branding. Following the station’s license cancellation, the programming moved to KSCC-DT3.

• 2018

  License cancellation and digital replacementOther

  Background

  KTOV-LP’s operation as a licensed low-power station ended following action by the Federal Communications Commission.

  Action taken

  The FCC canceled the station’s license on April 3, 2018, and the programming was carried exclusively on KSCC-DT3.

  Aftermath

  The KTOV-LP station became defunct, while the My KTOV programming identity continued on a digital subchannel.

  Source

• 2015

  Sinclair acquisition agreementM&A

  Background

  Corpus 18 controlled KTOV-LP together with other Corpus Christi-area broadcast assets.

  Action taken

  On October 2, 2015, Sinclair agreed to buy KTOV-LP, KUQI, and KXPX-LP.

  Aftermath

  Sinclair became KTOV-LP’s final owner before the station’s license was canceled in 2018.

  Transaction value. $9.25 million (Agreement announced October 2, 2015)

  Source

• 2014

  Sale to Corpus 18, LLCM&A

  Background

  Following the unsuccessful London Broadcasting transaction and GH Broadcasting’s bankruptcy, the station was transferred through a creditor-linked ownership structure.

  Action taken

  Corpus 18, LLC finalized its acquisition of KTOV-LP in late 2014.

  Aftermath

  The station remained under Corpus 18 until its later sale to Sinclair Broadcast Group.

  Source

• 2012

  Proposed sale to London Broadcasting CompanyM&A

  Background

  GH Broadcasting sought to sell KTOV-LP to London Broadcasting Company, owner of KIII in Corpus Christi, amid changes in ownership and financial pressure.

  Action taken

  The parties announced the proposed transaction in March 2012.

  Aftermath

  The transaction failed to close in early 2013, and GH Broadcasting subsequently entered bankruptcy proceedings as debtor-in-possession.

  Source

• 2018

  FCC cancels KTOV-LP license[1]KTOV-LPen.wikipedia.org

  Regulation

  The Federal Communications Commission canceled KTOV-LP’s license on April 3, 2018. The station’s programming moved to KSCC-DT3, where the My KTOV branding continued.

• 2015

  Sinclair agrees to acquire KTOV-LP and related Corpus Christi stations[1]KTOV-LPen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  Sinclair Broadcast Group agreed to purchase KTOV-LP, KUQI, and KXPX-LP from Corpus 18 for $9.25 million.

• 2014

  Corpus 18 finalizes acquisition of KTOV-LP[1]KTOV-LPen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  Ownership of KTOV-LP transferred to Corpus 18, LLC, a partnership formed by noteholders associated with GH Broadcasting and High Maintenance Broadcasting.

• 2013

  GH Broadcasting enters bankruptcy proceedings after proposed sale fails[1]KTOV-LPen.wikipedia.org

  Bankruptcy

  After the planned sale to London Broadcasting Company failed, GH Broadcasting declared bankruptcy and continued operating as debtor-in-possession.

• 2012

  GH Broadcasting announces proposed sale of KTOV-LP to London Broadcasting Company[1]KTOV-LPen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  GH Broadcasting announced an agreement to sell KTOV-LP to London Broadcasting Company, owner of Corpus Christi station KIII. The proposed transaction was not completed and fell through in early 2013.

1. 1KTOV-LPen.wikipedia.org