KTVZ

KTVZ is a television station serving Central Oregon from Bend, Oregon, United States. The station broadcasts NBC programming on its primary channel and carries The CW on a digital subchannel. It is owned by the privately held News-Press & Gazette Company, which also owns low-power Class A station KFXO-CD, a Fox and Telemundo affiliate serving the same regional market. KTVZ and KFXO-CD share studio facilities on Northwest O. B. Riley Road in Bend, while KTVZ's transmitter is located on Awbrey Butte near U.S. Route 97. KTVZ began broadcasting at noon on November 6, 1977. Its launch made it the first broadcast television station based in Central Oregon, giving the region a locally based outlet rather than relying primarily on signals from distant markets. The station was established by Ponderosa Broadcasting, a company formed by Ray Johnson, associated with KMED-AM-TV in Medford, and C. Howard Lane of KOIN-TV in Portland. KTVZ launched as an NBC affiliate and also carried CBS programs on a secondary basis during its early years. The secondary CBS arrangement ended in 1988. The station's market identity developed alongside efforts to establish Central Oregon as a distinct television market. In 1980, initiatives began to separate Deschutes County from the Portland television market, and Nielsen recognized a newly created Bend designated market area by the fall of 1981. This development strengthened KTVZ's role as the principal full-power local television outlet for the region. Ownership changed several times. Sierra Cascade Communications sold KTVZ to Stainless Broadcasting Company in 1986. Stainless later became known as Northwest Broadcasting, a Spokane-based broadcasting group, in 1997. Northwest Broadcasting sold KTVZ to the News-Press & Gazette Company in 2002. Under NPG ownership, the station expanded its local-market portfolio and added The CW as a second digital-channel affiliation in 2006. NPG subsequently acquired KFXO, then associated with Meredith, in a transaction completed on May 24, 2007. A petition by BendBroadband seeking to block the transaction was unsuccessful. KTVZ also serves as a regional news-production center. Beginning June 22, 2007, the station produced KFXO's 10 p.m. local newscast, replacing a separate KFXO-produced program. Later that year, KTVZ moved its newscasts to a 16:9 widescreen presentation. Its schedule has included a two-hour weekday morning program and an hour-long evening newscast for KFXO, in addition to KTVZ's own local news output. The station's signal reaches additional communities through a network of digital translators, including transmitters serving Prineville, La Pine, Sunriver, Bend, and nearby areas. KTVZ completed the federally mandated U.S. transition from analog to digital television on June 12, 2009. Its analog transmission on UHF channel 21 ended, while its post-transition digital signal moved from pre-transition UHF channel 18 to channel 21. The station remains an active local broadcast brand, combining network programming, regional news, weather, sports and community coverage for Central Oregon.

KTVZ began broadcasting in Bend, Oregon, at noon on November 6, 1977. It was established by Ponderosa Broadcasting, a company formed by Ray Johnson, associated with KMED-AM-TV in Medford, and C. Howard Lane of Portland station KOIN-TV. The launch gave Central Oregon its first locally based broadcast television station. KTVZ joined NBC at launch and also carried CBS programming as a secondary service. The station continued airing selected CBS programs until 1988. During the early 1980s, KTVZ's development was closely connected with the emergence of Central Oregon as a separate television market. Efforts to remove Deschutes County from the Portland television market began in 1980. Nielsen recognized a Bend designated market area in the fall of 1981, reinforcing KTVZ's role as the area's principal full-power local station. KTVZ's ownership changed in 1986, when Sierra Cascade Communications sold it to Stainless Broadcasting Company. Stainless later adopted the name Northwest Broadcasting and was based in Spokane, Washington. In 2002, Northwest Broadcasting sold KTVZ to the News-Press & Gazette Company, a privately held broadcast owner. NPG later expanded its Central Oregon operations by adding The CW to KTVZ's second digital channel in 2006. NPG also acquired KFXO, a low-power Class A station that carried Fox and later Telemundo programming. The purchase from Meredith was completed on May 24, 2007, despite a petition from BendBroadband asking the Federal Communications Commission to block the transaction. KTVZ and KFXO subsequently operated from shared studios on Northwest O. B. Riley Road in Bend. KTVZ assumed production of KFXO's 10 p.m. local newscast on June 22, 2007, and also produced a two-hour weekday morning program and a nightly hour-long newscast for KFXO. In September 2007, KTVZ moved its news presentation to 16:9 widescreen. The station's transmission history reflects broader changes in U.S. television technology. KTVZ ended its analog service on UHF channel 21 on June 12, 2009, the national deadline for full-power stations to complete the analog-to-digital transition. Its digital signal moved from pre-transition UHF channel 18 to channel 21. The station's coverage is extended through digital translators serving communities such as Prineville, La Pine, Sunriver and Bend. Translators in several other Oregon communities were discontinued as the distribution system evolved. KTVZ remains an active NBC-affiliated local station with a CW digital service, regional news operations and a Central Oregon broadcast footprint. Its local identity is supported by studio production, network affiliations, translator facilities and its relationship with NPG-owned KFXO-CD.

1. 2009Analog signal discontinued

   KTVZ shuts down its analog UHF channel 21 signal and continues with its post-transition digital operation.

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2. 2007KFXO acquisition and shared news operation

   NPG completes its acquisition of KFXO, and KTVZ begins producing KFXO's prime-time newscast.

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3. 2006The CW added to digital service

   KTVZ adds The CW as a second digital-channel affiliation.

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4. 2002Acquired by News-Press & Gazette Company

   Northwest Broadcasting sells KTVZ to News-Press & Gazette Company.

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5. 1997Stainless adopts Northwest Broadcasting identity

   Stainless Broadcasting later becomes known as Northwest Broadcasting, based in Spokane, Washington.

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6. 1986Station sold to Stainless Broadcasting

   Sierra Cascade Communications sells KTVZ to Stainless Broadcasting Company.

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7. 1981Bend television market recognized

   Nielsen creates the Bend designated market area.

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8. 1980Market-separation efforts begin

   Efforts begin to establish Deschutes County as distinct from the Portland television market.

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9. 1977KTVZ goes on the air

   KTVZ begins broadcasting at noon on November 6 as the first broadcast television station in Central Oregon.

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A locally based full-power broadcast station and regional news provider for Central Oregon, combining NBC network service with CW digital programming and extensive local news production.

• KTVZ NBC serviceTelevision network affiliation1977

  KTVZ's primary broadcast service carries NBC programming for viewers in Central Oregon. The NBC affiliation has been part of the station's identity since its launch in 1977, making the station a local distribution point for national network news, entertainment and sports programming.

• KTVZ The CW digital serviceDigital multicast television2006

  KTVZ carries The CW on a second digital channel. The service expanded the station's network offering and gave Central Oregon viewers an additional source of scripted entertainment and other CW programming.

• KTVZ local newsLocal television news

  KTVZ produces local news and weather coverage focused on Bend and the wider Central Oregon region. Its schedule has included a two-hour weekday morning program and a nightly hour-long newscast produced for sister station KFXO-CD.

• KTVZ translator networkBroadcast signal distribution

  Digital translator stations extend KTVZ's over-the-air service beyond its primary Bend transmission site. Listed translators serve communities including Prineville, La Pine, Sunriver and Bend, helping distribute the station across Central Oregon's geographically dispersed viewing area.

• 2009Transition from analog to digital broadcastingGeneration change

  U.S. full-power television stations were required to complete the national analog-to-digital transition.

  What changed. KTVZ ended its analog UHF channel 21 transmission on June 12 and operated digitally, with its digital signal relocating from channel 18 to channel 21.

  Aftermath. KTVZ continued as a digital broadcast station with service extended through translators.

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• 2007Acquisition of KFXOM&A

  Meredith agreed to sell KFXO to News-Press & Gazette Company. BendBroadband petitioned the FCC to block the transaction.

  What changed. NPG completed the acquisition on May 24, 2007, bringing KFXO into the same ownership group as KTVZ.

  Aftermath. KTVZ and KFXO shared facilities and developed coordinated programming and news production.

  • BendBroadband — BendBroadband filed an FCC petition seeking to prevent the sale, but the transaction proceeded.
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• 2007Centralization of KFXO prime-time news productionStrategy

  KFXO had previously aired a separately produced 10 p.m. local newscast.

  What changed. KTVZ replaced the KFXO-produced program with a 10 p.m. newscast produced by KTVZ.

  Aftermath. The two stations operated a more integrated local-news production model.

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• 2006Addition of The CW digital channelProduct launch

  News-Press & Gazette expanded its Central Oregon broadcast operations after acquiring KTVZ in 2002.

  What changed. KTVZ added The CW as a second digital-channel affiliation.

  Aftermath. The station offered an additional network service alongside its long-standing NBC affiliation.

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• 1988End of secondary CBS carriageStrategy

  KTVZ had carried CBS programming in addition to its primary NBC affiliation since its early years.

  What changed. The station stopped carrying CBS programming on a secondary basis.

  Aftermath. KTVZ continued as an NBC-focused station until later expanding its digital network offering with The CW.

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• 2009KTVZ completes analog television shutdown

  KTVZ ended its analog transmission on UHF channel 21 on June 12, the federally established date for the full-power U.S. digital television transition.

  RegulationProduct generation
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• 2007News-Press & Gazette completes acquisition of KFXO

  NPG completed its purchase of KFXO from Meredith on May 24, 2007. BendBroadband had petitioned the FCC against the transaction, but the sale proceeded.

  M&ARegulation
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• 2007KTVZ takes over production of KFXO's prime-time newscast

  On June 22, KTVZ replaced KFXO's independently produced 10 p.m. news with a newscast produced by KTVZ.

  Other
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• 2007KTVZ newscasts adopt widescreen presentation

  The station began presenting its newscasts in a 16:9 widescreen format.

  Product generation
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• 2006The CW added as a KTVZ digital affiliation

  KTVZ expanded its network offering by carrying The CW on a second digital channel.

  Product launch
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• 2002Northwest Broadcasting sells KTVZ to News-Press & Gazette Company

  KTVZ changed ownership when Northwest Broadcasting sold the station to the News-Press & Gazette Company.

  M&A
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• 1981Bend designated market area is created

  Nielsen formed a Bend designated market area after efforts to distinguish Deschutes County from the Portland television market.

  Other
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• 1977KTVZ begins broadcasting as Central Oregon's first television station

  KTVZ went on the air at noon on November 6, establishing the first broadcast television station based in Central Oregon.

  Other
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1. KTVZ
2. KTVZ official website