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KTRV-TV

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Coordinates: 43°45′18″N 116°5′55″W / 43.75500°N 116.09861°W / 43.75500; -116.09861
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KTRV-TV
CityNampa, Idaho
Channels
Programming
Affiliations
Ownership
Owner
  • Inyo Broadcast Holdings
  • (Inyo Broadcast Licenses LLC)
History
First air date
October 18, 1981 (43 years ago) (1981-10-18)
Former call signs
KTRV (1981–2006)
Former channel number(s)
Analog: 12 (VHF, 1981–2009)
Call sign meaning
Treasure Valley
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID28230
ERP17 kW
HAAT829 m (2,720 ft)
Transmitter coordinates43°45′18″N 116°5′55″W / 43.75500°N 116.09861°W / 43.75500; -116.09861
Links
Public license information
Websiteiontelevision.com

KTRV-TV (channel 12) is a television station licensed to Nampa, Idaho, United States, serving the Boise area as an affiliate of Ion Television. Owned by Inyo Broadcast Holdings, the station maintains offices on South Best Business Road in Kuna, and its transmitter is located at the Bogus Basin ski area summit in unincorporated Boise County.

KTRV began broadcasting in October 1981 as the first independent station in modern Idaho television. It was sold to Block Communications in 1985 and affiliated with Fox the next year. The station launched local newscasts in 1999. However, in 2011, Fox moved its affiliation from KTRV to KNIN-TV because Block was unwilling to pay affiliation fees that the network sought amid an aggressive posture; KTRV-TV was one of two stations to lose its affiliation at that time. The local newscasts were scrapped, and the station became an independent once more. Block changed tack in 2016 and affiliated with Ion, a "more immersive" network that had a 24-hour program lineup. Ion Media then acquired the station in 2017. As with other Ion stations that the E. W. Scripps Company could not acquire due to local or national ownership limits, Inyo Broadcast Holdings acquired KTRV-TV in 2021.

History

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Construction

[edit]

The first party to express interest in a channel 12 station in Nampa was William P. Ledbetter, an Arizona transplant who proposed a Christian-oriented outlet; his attempt to purchase a radio station in his former home city of Phoenix, Arizona, was withdrawn when the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) was apprised that people who he had claimed to have promised him money to buy the station had not actually done so.[2]

Movement to build channel 12 began in earnest when the Peyton Broadcasting Corporation applied for a construction permit in March 1980, believing that the Boise market had grown to the point where it could sustain an independent despite its comparative size. The company was led by Cary Jones of Chicago—and named for one of his uncles[3]—and included his stepfather, longtime independent station executive John Serrao; his mother and brother; and two investors from out of state.[4] The permit was granted by the FCC on November 6, 1980.[5] The station opened offices in Nampa in July 1981 and broke ground on its transmitter at Deer Point that same month.[6]

KTRV began broadcasting on October 18, 1981. It was a typical independent station—the first modern independent in Idaho television[a]—in its mix of syndicated reruns and movies; programming highlights included a nightly 8 p.m. movie, morning religious shows and cartoons, and off-network series in the afternoon. It was atypical in serving a market the size of Boise, often considered too small to support an independent station; KTRV became one of the nation's smallest-market independents.[7] The station produced and aired a Sunday night public affairs program, Canyon Forum, hosted by a reporter from the Idaho Press Tribune newspaper.[8]

KTRV was immediately successful. Per Arbitron, it attracted a 19 share—19 percent of prime time viewership—in November 1981, its first full month on the air.[9] This led all independents nationwide and surpassed two other independents in the West, KVVU-TV in Las Vegas and KPHO-TV in Phoenix, each with 13 percent.[9] This success inspired at least one other small-market outlet to make a go of independence: the founding owner of KUSK in Prescott, Arizona, cited KTRV as an encouraging sign for the future of his station.[10]

Jones sold KTRV to Idaho Independent Television, a subsidiary of The Toledo Blade Company (Block Communications), in 1985 for $4.9 million.[11] It was the Blade Company's first television station outside the Midwest, with its existing broadcast holdings in Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky.[12] It became a charter affiliate of Fox when the network launched on October 9, 1986.[13]

With the growth of the Fox network, KTRV launched a half-hour 9 p.m. local newscast, Fox 12 News, on May 31, 1999, hiring a news staff of 29. The format took inspiration from Block-owned WDRB in Louisville, Kentucky, and from KSTU in Salt Lake City, both Fox affiliates that had started local newscasts earlier in the decade.[14][15] An earlier newscast at 4:30 p.m. was also offered but cut back at the start of 2002.[16] By 2007, the weeknight editions of Fox 12 News at 9 had grown to an hour in length;[17] that April, a two-hour morning show, Fox 12 This Morning, premiered. Station management cited the rapid growth of the Boise area as a reason for starting the morning newscast,[18] as well as demand for a local program in the 7 a.m. hour when the network affiliates aired national morning shows. However, in the broader market, TV news audiences were not growing as quickly as the Treasure Valley's population.[17]

Loss of Fox affiliation; switch to Ion

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In May 2011, Fox unexpectedly announced that it would move its affiliation in the Boise market effective September 1 to KNIN-TV (channel 9), then an affiliate of The CW owned by the Journal Broadcast Group. The affiliation switch was one of two announced the same day; both were part of disputes with the network involving affiliation fees.[19][20][21] The CW bypassed KTRV-TV, switching to a subchannel of local CBS affiliate KBOI-TV.[22]

In response, KTRV-TV management initially doubled down on local programming. Recalling the name of the station licensee from 1985, general manager Ricky Joseph told Broadcasting & Cable, "We really have the opportunity to be what's on our license: Idaho Independent Television."[23] Prime time was initially filled with a double run of 30 Rock at 7 p.m. and Law & Order: Criminal Intent at 8 p.m.[23] The news department was to be expanded with six new employees,[24] part of a shake-up that promised a competitive and crowded news landscape in a market long dominated in ratings and revenue by KTVB but which was facing economic headwinds due to a fall-off in new construction.[23]

In early December, the station abandoned its news expansion plans and shut down the entire newsroom. Bill Lamb, vice president of Block Communications, informed the media in a written statement, "A network affiliate requires a different business model than does an independent station."[25] Program changes followed in January 2012, with MyNetworkTV programs moving from the second subchannel to the main channel, freeing up 24-hour carriage of MeTV, a diginet specializing in classic TV shows.[26] On September 1, 2016, KTRV joined Ion Television, a 24-hour network presenting daylong blocks of procedural dramas, as an affiliate. The station had announced on August 31 that it would become an Ion affiliate by October 1; in the announcement, Block Communications chairman Allan Block said that "the timing was right to move to a more immersive network".[27]

Ion Media Networks, owner of the network, then announced in June 2017 that it would purchase KTRV-TV from Block Communications and two other stations—WRBU in St. Louis and WZRB in Columbia, South Carolina—from a divestiture trust.[28][29][30] The sale was completed on October 24, 2017.[31] The E. W. Scripps Company purchased Ion Media in 2020; because it owned KIVI-TV and operated KNIN-TV, it could not acquire KTRV-TV. Twenty-three stations in such positions were sold to Inyo Broadcast Holdings in a transaction that closed at the start of 2021.[32]

Technical information

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Subchannels

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The station's signal is multiplexed:

Subchannels of KTRV-TV[33]
Channel Res. Aspect Short name Programming
12.1 720p 16:9 ION Ion
12.2 CourtTV Court TV
12.3 480i Grit Grit
12.4 Mystery Ion Mystery
12.5 IONPlus Ion Plus
12.6 Get TV Get
12.7 QVC QVC
12.8 HSN HSN

Analog-to-digital conversion

[edit]

KTRV-TV shut down its analog signal, over VHF channel 12, on June 12, 2009, the official date on which full-power television stations in the United States transitioned from analog to digital broadcasts under federal mandate. The station's digital signal remained on its pre-transition VHF channel 13, using virtual channel 12.[34]

Translators

[edit]

KTRV-TV is repeated on two low-power translators in the Garden Valley area.[35]

Notes

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  1. ^ The other two were the short-lived channel 6 stations: KFXD-TV, on the air for two months in the summer of 1953, and KCIX-TV, which broadcast from 1958 to 1960.

References

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  1. ^ "Facility Technical Data for KTRV-TV". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ^ Burrows, Ken (October 11, 1972). "Arizonan Plans To Seek Permit For Nampa TV". The Idaho Statesman. Boise, Idaho. p. 1D. Archived from the original on February 12, 2023. Retrieved February 12, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ Burrows, Ken (July 19, 1981). "Enter Channel 12". The Idaho Statesman. Boise, Idaho. p. TV Weekly 2, 17. Archived from the original on February 12, 2023. Retrieved February 12, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ Burrows, Ken (March 27, 1980). "Chicagoan files FCC application: Nampa may get new TV station". The Idaho Statesman. Boise, Idaho. p. 3B. Archived from the original on February 12, 2023. Retrieved February 12, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "FCC History Cards for KTRV-TV". Federal Communications Commission.
  6. ^ Barr, Miriam (July 9, 1981). "Oct. 18 broadcasting start planned: New TV station opens Nampa office". The Idaho Statesman. Boise, Idaho. p. 3B. Archived from the original on February 12, 2023. Retrieved February 12, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ Burrows, Ken (October 18, 1981). "Nampa's Channel 12 cranks up". The Idaho Statesman. Boise, Idaho. p. TV Weekly 8, 9. Archived from the original on February 12, 2023. Retrieved February 12, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ Burrows, Ken (November 1, 1981). "KTRV: A station with a new look". The Idaho Statesman. Boise, Idaho. p. TV Weekly 7. Archived from the original on February 12, 2023. Retrieved February 12, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ a b "TV stations in top 50 markets show small decline in share points for Arbitron November '81 sweeps". Television/Radio Age. February 8, 1982. pp. 58–60, 109.
  10. ^ Mills, Steve (July 30, 1982). "PAAT lets KUSK take heat". The Courier. Prescott, Arizona. p. 4A.
  11. ^ "Agreement made in sale of Nampa's Channel 12". The Idaho Statesman. February 28, 1985. p. 6B. Archived from the original on February 19, 2023. Retrieved February 12, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "TV station plans sale". South Idaho Press. Associated Press. March 1, 1985. p. 3. Archived from the original on February 12, 2023. Retrieved February 12, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Fox network begins to take shape" (PDF). Broadcasting. August 4, 1986. pp. 44–5. ProQuest 963254490. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 27, 2014. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
  14. ^ Oland, Dana (May 25, 1999). "Fox goes live with news". The Idaho Statesman. p. 1E, 2E. Archived from the original on February 18, 2023. Retrieved February 18, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ Larson, Megan (May 24, 1999). "KTRV's new newscast focuses on the stories". Mediaweek. pp. 22–24. ProQuest 213643699.
  16. ^ "Fox affiliate KTRV cuts newscast". The Idaho Statesman. January 5, 2002. p. Local 1. Archived from the original on February 18, 2023. Retrieved February 18, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ a b Carlson, Brad (January 29, 2007). "Boise-area TV stations vie for shrinking audience". Idaho Business Review. p. 1. ProQuest 219118060.
  18. ^ "KTRV launches local morning news program". The Idaho Statesman. April 17, 2007. p. Business 2. Archived from the original on February 18, 2023. Retrieved February 18, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ Deeds, Michael (May 11, 2011). "UPDATED: Channel 9 to become new Fox affiliate in Treasure Valley - but in SD or HD?". The Idaho Statesman. Archived from the original on July 21, 2012. Retrieved March 14, 2012.
  20. ^ Colman, Price (May 11, 2011). "Fox Playing Hardball With Balky Affils". TVNewsCheck. Archived from the original on February 12, 2023. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
  21. ^ Malone, Michael. "Fox Inks New Affiliation Agreements, Scraps Others". Broadcasting & Cable. Archived from the original on May 15, 2011. Retrieved September 24, 2018.
  22. ^ "CW lands with Fisher in Boise". Television Business Report. June 13, 2011. Archived from the original on June 15, 2011. Retrieved June 14, 2011.
  23. ^ a b c Malone, Michael (August 7, 2011). "Market Eye: It's Noisy in Boise". Broadcasting & Cable. Archived from the original on February 18, 2023. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
  24. ^ Malone, Michael (December 5, 2011). "Recently Independent, KTRV Boise Scraps News". Broadcasting & Cable. Archived from the original on February 18, 2023. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
  25. ^ "12 KTRV suspends news operations, lays off employees". KTVB. December 5, 2011. Archived from the original on January 7, 2012.
  26. ^ Deeds, Michael (January 23, 2012). "TV, radio notes: KTRV, KBOI, KINF change programming". Idaho Statesman. Archived from the original on July 20, 2012. Retrieved January 23, 2012.
  27. ^ "KTRV to switch to ION". Idaho Press-Tribune. September 2, 2016. Archived from the original on March 5, 2017. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
  28. ^ Jessell, Harry A. (June 20, 2017). "Ion Buys 3 Stations In Mo., S.C. And Idaho". TVNewsCheck. NewsCheck Media. Archived from the original on September 24, 2017. Retrieved June 20, 2017.
  29. ^ Marszalek, Diana (June 20, 2017). "ION Media to Buy Stations in St. Louis, Columbia and Boise". Broadcasting & Cable. NewBay Media. Archived from the original on June 20, 2017. Retrieved June 20, 2017.
  30. ^ Ariens, Chris (June 20, 2017). "ION Buys Three More Stations Bringing Total to 63". TVSpy. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on June 24, 2017. Retrieved June 20, 2017.
  31. ^ "Consummation Notice". Consolidated Database System, Federal Communications Commission. Archived from the original on October 27, 2017. Retrieved October 26, 2017.
  32. ^ "INYO Broadcast Holdings Completes Acquisition of 23 TV Stations". Inyo Broadcast Holdings. January 7, 2021. Archived from the original on February 18, 2023. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
  33. ^ "RabbitEars TV Query for KTRV". RabbitEars. Archived from the original on February 28, 2021. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
  34. ^ "DTV Tentative Channel Designations for the First and Second Rounds" (PDF). Federal Communications Commission. May 23, 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 29, 2013. Retrieved August 29, 2021.
  35. ^ "List of TV Translator Input Channels". Federal Communications Commission. July 23, 2021. Archived from the original on December 9, 2021. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
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