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NBC Montana

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NBC Montana is a regional network of three television stations in western Montana, United States, affiliated with NBC and owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group. It is headquartered in Missoula, and serves as the NBC affiliate for the Missoula and Butte markets.

NBC Montana
Channels
Programming
Affiliations
Ownership
Owner
History
First air date
July 1, 1954 (70 years ago) (1954-07-01), with the launch of KGVO-TV (now KECI-TV) in Missoula
  • CBS (primary 1954–1965, secondary 1965–1966 and 1976–1984)
  • DuMont (secondary, 1954–1956)
  • ABC (secondary, 1954–1976 and 1984–1989)
Links
Websitewww.nbcmontana.com
For technical information, see § Stations.
Map all coordinates using OpenStreetMap

Download coordinates as:

The network comprises flagship KECI-TV (channel 13) in Missoula; full-power satellites KTVM-TV (channel 6) in Butte and KCFW-TV (channel 9) in Kalispell; and low-power satellite KDBZ-CD (channel 6) in Bozeman. Most station operations, including news production, are based in Missoula, with bureaus in Bozeman and Kalispell.

The stations air the same programming, but KTVM and KCFW air separate commercials and legal identifications. KDBZ is a straight simulcast of KTVM. NBC Montana's reach is further extended by 25 translators in western Montana and Idaho.

The main station, KECI, began broadcasting in 1954 as KGVO-TV. Regional coverage became a reality in the 1960s with the installation of transmitters in Butte and Kalispell. The stations have been sole NBC affiliates since 1989. Sinclair purchased the group in 2017 as part of its acquisition of Bonten Media Group.

History

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On March 11, 1953, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) granted Mosby's, Incorporated, owner of KGVO (1290 AM) in Missoula, a construction permit for a new television station on channel 13 in Missoula.[1] Construction began in November 1953 on the road to the mountaintop facility, the first of its kind in the state and at the highest elevation of any television transmitter of the period in the northwestern United States; while two stations had gone on the air in Butte and a third in Billings, neither built their transmitters atop mountains.[2]

KGVO-TV began telecasting on July 1, 1954.[1] Originally, the station was a primary CBS affiliate, owing to its radio sister's long affiliation with CBS radio, but also carried programming from ABC and DuMont;[3] it would lose DuMont when the network shut down in 1956. While the studios were originally at the transmitter site, owner Arthur Mosby purchased an American Legion hall in downtown Missoula that had been gutted by fire and renovated it to serve as new studios.[4] On December 1, 1956, the station's studios moved from its transmitter location to its radio sister's studios on West Main Street in downtown Missoula and concurrently changed its call letters to KMSO-TV, representing Missoula's airport code.[5] By 1957, KMSO had added a secondary affiliation with NBC.[6] Mosby sold KGVO radio to Dale Moore in 1959[7] but held on to KMSO-TV until 1964, when Moore bought channel 13 as well;[8] upon taking over, he changed its call letters back to KGVO-TV.[1] Under Moore's ownership, KGVO-TV switched its primary affiliation to NBC in 1965, though it still carried some CBS and ABC programming.[9] The transmitter was destroyed by fire in November 1966;[10] the FCC permitted the installation of two interim translators to get the station back on air until the TV Mountain facility could be reconstructed.[1]

 
KCFW-TV's Kalispell studios and offices

Additionally, the station pursued a policy of regional expansion. In 1965, it built a 100-watt translator on channel 9 in Kalispell. The Flathead had been without a local station since the folding of KGEZ-TV/KULR in 1959.[9] That December, the FCC simultaneously approved a channel 6 translator for KGVO-TV in Butte and a translator for Butte's local station, CBS affiliate KXLF-TV, in Missoula.[11] On June 10, 1968, the Kalispell translator was upgraded to a full-power semi-satellite under the call letters KCFW-TV,[12][13] while the Butte translator was replaced with full-power semi-satellite KTVM in May 1970. In 1976, primary coverage of ABC programs shifted from KGVO-TV to KXLF and its Missoula satellite, KPAX-TV.[14]

Dale Moore's Western Broadcasting Company reached a deal to sell KGVO-TV, KCFW, and KTVM to Eagle Communications, Inc.—a company formed by former The Ed Sullivan Show producer Robert Precht and Advance Communications, owner of KFBB-TV in Great Falls—in 1977.[15] Despite a protest from a citizens' group, Montanans for Quality Television, the deal received FCC approval in September 1978,[16] and on November 1, KGVO-TV became KECI-TV. The new owners pledged to improve news coverage, in part under a pact with the citizens' group.[17] The Eagle stations also aired Sesame Street for three years from 1978 to 1981, dropping the program due to a lack of underwriters.[18]

Eagle demonstrated an increased commitment to the Butte area, which had never been served by any specific local programming even after the launch of KTVM. After expressing interest in establishing a Butte office in 1978,[19] the station did so in 1982 and began producing local news reports for inclusion in KECI's newscasts.[20] Precht Communications, a sister company to Sullivan Productions, acquired full control of Eagle Communications by 1981.[21] NBC signed primary affiliation agreements with the Eagle stations in 1983; though they were dual NBC–CBS affiliates on paper, the best CBS shows aired on KXLF–KPAX, and CBS had turned down Eagle's bid for primary affiliation with that network to protect its relationship with the other stations in the Montana Television Network (MTN).[22]

In 1984, KXLF–KPAX and the other MTN stations became full-time CBS outlets. As a result, most ABC programs moved to the Eagle network.[23] Between 1984 and 1989, KECI aired an 11 p.m. late local newscast—highly unusual for the Mountain Time Zone (most network affiliates in the Mountain Time Zone aired their late newscasts at 10 p.m.). While this allowed KECI to clear more ABC programs, it created further scheduling headaches and put its late news at a disadvantage.[24] Viewers cited confusion over the availability of programs, and returning the late news to 10 p.m. allowed Eagle to restore The Tonight Show and Saturday Night Live to its lineup en route to becoming a sole NBC affiliate.[25] A full-time ABC outlet for Missoula, KTMF (channel 23), was established in 1990.[26]

The 1980s also saw Eagle seek to increase its presence in Bozeman. It first attempted to buy the construction permit for KCTZ, a channel 7 station that had sought an ABC affiliation only to have its hopes dashed by Eagle's June 1984 acquisition of the ABC rights in the Missoula–Butte market.[27][28] The opposition of two local residents and radio station owners caused the deal to languish for 16 months at the FCC until the green light was given in January 1986,[29] and the deal fell apart when the commission agreed with a petitioner who claimed the purchase was duplicative. However, when KCTZ came on, it caused interference issues to KTVM's signal in the Bozeman area.[30] In 1989, Eagle purchased the construction permit for low-power K42BZ, which took to the air as a translator for KTVM in January 1990.[31] In 2002, after the introduction of the Class A television service, the FCC approved K42BZ to be designated as a Class A station.[32]

In 1997, Precht sold the Eagle system to Lamco Communications,[33] which in turn sold its stations to Bluestone Television in 2004.[34] Bonten Media Group acquired the BlueStone stations in 2007.[35]

The 2000s also saw digital conversion for the network, as KCFW and KTVM began broadcasting in digital on February 1 and 28, 2002;[36][37] all three full-power stations shut down their analog signals on June 12, 2009, the official digital transition date. After the transition, all three stations abandoned their ultra high frequency (UHF) pre-transition digital channels (for KECI-TV, KCFW-TV, and KTVM-TV, respectively, 40, 38, and 33) to return to their very high frequency (VHF) channels of 13, 9, and 6.[38][39] While digital broadcasts had also begun in Bozeman by the June 12 deadline, the low-power K42BZ was not required to discontinue analog service and planned to remain on the air through the end of 2009.[40]

On April 21, 2017, Sinclair Broadcast Group announced its intent to purchase the Bonten stations for $240 million.[41] The sale was completed September 1.[42]

News operations

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Historically, the stations aired a mix of local and regional news programming. From the outset in 1968, KCFW produced its own early evening newscast; it was not until 1982 that one was established at KTVM in Butte.[20] KTVM had a Bozeman news bureau from 1983 to 1985.[43] By 1993, the three Eagle network stations aired regional newscasts from Missoula at 5 and 10 p.m. and local news programs for their specific areas at 6 p.m. That year, the company underwent a major restructuring of its news operations, untangling the stations from each other to produce local 6 and 10 p.m. programs, and it announced the addition of a fourth local news service for Bozeman, upgrading K42BZ into a low-power station with its own local news.[44] The weekend newscasts for Bozeman were that city's first; the only other news operation in the city, at KCTZ, aired five days a week.[45]

The Bozeman newscast debuted October 4, 1993. Just 25 days later, citing costs and the fact that the Butte local operation had never made money, Eagle opted to shutter the Butte operation and originate news for both areas from Bozeman, firing the 15 news and production staffers it had in the Mining City.[46][47] At the same time, KECI anchor Jill Valley defected to crosstown competitor KPAX, causing the station to plunge in the ratings—especially in Missoula itself.[48]

Notable former on-air staff

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Stations

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Main stations

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NBC Montana stations
Station City of license Channel FID ERP HAAT Transmitter
coordinates 		First air date Former call signs Public license
information
KECI-TV Missoula 13[a] 18084 41.3 kW 610 m (2,001 ft) 47°1′4″N 114°0′50″W / 47.01778°N 114.01389°W / 47.01778; -114.01389 (KECI-TV) July 1, 1954 (1954-07-01)
  • KGVO-TV (1954–1956, 1964–1978)
  • KMSO-TV (1956–1964)
KCFW-TV Kalispell 9[b] 18079 2.5 kW 850 m (2,789 ft) 48°0′48″N 114°21′58″W / 48.01333°N 114.36611°W / 48.01333; -114.36611 (KCFW-TV) June 10, 1968 (1968-06-10) — Public file
LMS
KTVM-TV Butte 6[c] 18066 19.2 kW 591.3 m (1,940 ft) 46°0′27″N 112°26′33″W / 46.00750°N 112.44250°W / 46.00750; -112.44250 (KTVM-TV) May 12, 1970 (1970-05-12) KTVM (1970–2009)
KDBZ-CD Bozeman 6 18083 15 kW 235 m (771 ft) 45°40′24″N 110°52′5″W / 45.67333°N 110.86806°W / 45.67333; -110.86806 (KDBZ-CD) January 1990 (1990-01)
  • K42BZ (1990–2011)
  • K42BZ-D (2011–2014)

Translators

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Subchannels

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The stations' signals are multiplexed:

NBC Montana subchannels[53]
Channel Res. Aspect Short name Programming
KECI-TV KCFW-TV
  • KTVM-TV
  • KDBZ-CD
 		KECI-TV KCFW-TV
  • KTVM-TV
  • KDBZ-CD
13.1 9.1 6.1 1080i 16:9 KECI-DT KCFW-DT KTVM-DT NBC
13.2 9.2 6.2 480i COMET Comet
13.3 9.3 6.3 CHARGE! Charge!
13.4 9.4 6.4 TBD TBD

Notes

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  1. ^ KECI-TV holds a construction permit to move to UHF channel 20 with an ERP of 925 kW from this site.
  2. ^ KCFW-TV holds a construction permit to move to UHF channel 17 with an ERP of 17 kW from this site.
  3. ^ KTVM-TV holds a construction permit to move to UHF channel 20 with an ERP of 1,000 kW from this site.

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "FCC History Cards for KECI-TV". Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ^ "Work Is Started On Road to Television Site". The Daily Missoulian. November 3, 1953. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ 1955–56 Telecasting Yearbook-Marketbook (PDF). 1955. p. 170. Retrieved October 4, 2015.
  4. ^ "Legion Post Sells Building". The Daily Missoulian. July 17, 1956. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "KGVO-TV Changed to KMSO-TV; Station Moves Into New Studios" (PDF). Broadcasting-Telecasting. December 3, 1956. p. 94. ProQuest 1285754965. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 27, 2015. Retrieved October 4, 2015.
  6. ^ 1957–58 Telecasting Yearbook-Marketbook (PDF). 1957. p. 164. Retrieved October 4, 2015.
  7. ^ "Changing hands" (PDF). Broadcasting. September 28, 1959. p. 98. ProQuest 963318812. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 27, 2015. Retrieved October 4, 2015.
  8. ^ "Sale of KMSO-TV approved by commission" (PDF). Broadcasting. September 14, 1964. p. 10. ProQuest 1014489493. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 27, 2015. Retrieved October 4, 2015.
  9. ^ a b "First high power VHF TV translator is state station". The Montana Standard-Post. October 9, 1965. p. 11. Archived from the original on December 14, 2021. Retrieved November 1, 2021.
  10. ^ "KGVO-TV Returns To Direct Broadcast". The Daily Missoulian. November 26, 1966. p. 7.
  11. ^ "New television translator at Butte okayed". Montana Standard-Post. December 3, 1965. p. 8. Archived from the original on October 30, 2021. Retrieved October 30, 2021.
  12. ^ Eggert, Richard (June 4, 1968). "KCFW Preparing to Roll". The Missoulian. p. 10. Archived from the original on December 14, 2021. Retrieved November 1, 2021.
  13. ^ "Television Station Goes On Air". The Daily Inter Lake. June 11, 1968. p. 2.
  14. ^ "KPAX, KXLF Are ABC Affiliates". The Missoulian. June 19, 1976. p. 2-A. Archived from the original on November 1, 2021. Retrieved November 1, 2021.
  15. ^ "Western Broadcasting Sells Three TV Stations". The Missoulian. October 20, 1977. p. 16. Archived from the original on December 14, 2021. Retrieved November 1, 2021.
  16. ^ "Missoula TV fetches bundle". The Missoulian. September 17, 1978. p. 24.
  17. ^ Shirley, Steve (November 2, 1978). "New TV station owner vows to improve programs". The Missoulian. p. 14. Archived from the original on December 14, 2021. Retrieved November 1, 2021.
  18. ^ "Local station cancels 'Sesame Street' show". The Missoulian. December 3, 1981. p. 9.
  19. ^ "KTVM pledges more coverage". The Montana Standard. November 11, 1978. p. Time Out 3. Archived from the original on December 14, 2021. Retrieved November 1, 2021.
  20. ^ a b "Eagle TV lands in Butte". The Montana Standard. August 14, 1982. p. Time Out 4.
  21. ^ Broadcasting/Cablecasting Yearbook 1982 (PDF). 1982. p. A-38. Retrieved October 4, 2015.
  22. ^ "NBC Signs Up Four Affiliates". Variety. July 27, 1983. p. 42. ProQuest 1438368523.
  23. ^ Broadcasting/Cablecasting Yearbook 1985 (PDF). 1985. p. C-36. Retrieved October 4, 2015.
  24. ^ McInally, Mike (August 4, 1989). "KECI plans to shuffle time for late news". The Missoulian. p. E-21. Archived from the original on December 14, 2021. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
  25. ^ Ragsdale, Anne (September 25, 1989). "Eagle changes TV lineup". The Missoulian. p. A-5. Archived from the original on December 14, 2021. Retrieved November 1, 2021.
  26. ^ Stergionis, Marc (December 23, 1990). "KTGF's sister station goes on air in Missoula". Great Falls Tribune. p. 2B. Retrieved September 30, 2019.
  27. ^ Nell, William (June 15, 1984). "ABC deal could delay TV station in Bozeman". The Billings Gazette. p. 3A, 14A. Archived from the original on November 2, 2021. Retrieved November 2, 2021.
  28. ^ "Network buys station permit in Bozeman". Great Falls Tribune. Associated Press. September 13, 1984. p. 7-C. Archived from the original on November 2, 2021. Retrieved November 2, 2021.
  29. ^ "FCC OKs extension to build Bozeman TV station". The Missoulian. Associated Press. p. 15. Archived from the original on November 2, 2021. Retrieved November 2, 2021.
  30. ^ Brock, William (March 2, 1988). "TV Wars: Bad reception sparks signal flap". Bozeman Daily Chronicle. p. 3. Retrieved June 1, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  31. ^ "KTVM-TV 6 Announces the Addition of Bozeman Translator K42BZ". Bozeman Daily Chronicle. January 19, 1990. p. A-11. Retrieved June 1, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  32. ^ "BLTTA-20001127AAT License to Convert Analog LPTV Authorization to Analog Class A Application". Consolidated Database System. Federal Communications Commission. November 27, 2000.
  33. ^ Ludwick, Jim (December 30, 1997). "Area TV stations to be sold". The Missoulian. p. B2. Archived from the original on November 2, 2021. Retrieved November 2, 2021.
  34. ^ Holien, Mick (January 15, 2004). "Missoula's KECI among 12 stations sold in Lamco acquisition". The Missoulian. Archived from the original on October 26, 2018. Retrieved October 4, 2015.
  35. ^ "Bonten Closes on $230M BlueStone Buy". TVNewsCheck. June 5, 2007. Archived from the original on September 26, 2018. Retrieved October 4, 2015.
  36. ^ "KTVM-DT". Television & Cable Factbook (PDF). 2006. p. A-1344 – via World Radio History.
  37. ^ "KTVM-DT". Television & Cable Factbook (PDF). 2006. p. A-1363 – via World Radio History.
  38. ^ "DTV Tentative Channel Designations for the First and the Second Rounds" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on August 29, 2013. Retrieved March 24, 2012.
  39. ^ "In the Matter of DTV Buildout: Requests for Waiver of July 1, 2005 and July 1, 2006 "Use or Lose" Deadline; Requests for Waiver of the August 4, 2005 "Checklist" Deadline" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2011. Retrieved May 26, 2008.
  40. ^ Hausen, Jodi (June 30, 2009). "Analog TV signals still on air, for now". Bozeman Daily Chronicle.
  41. ^ "Sinclair Buying Bonten Stations For $240M". TVNewsCheck. April 21, 2017. Archived from the original on August 9, 2018. Retrieved April 21, 2017.
  42. ^ "Consummation Notice". Federal Communications Commission. Archived from the original on September 6, 2017. Retrieved September 6, 2017.
  43. ^ Brown, Kim (March 29, 1985). "Butte TV station closes Bozeman news bureau". Bozeman Daily Chronicle. p. 3. Retrieved June 1, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  44. ^ "KTVM will add 10 p.m. newscast". The Montana Standard. March 13, 1993. p. Time Out 9. Archived from the original on November 2, 2021. Retrieved November 2, 2021.
  45. ^ "Second local station signs on in Bozeman". The Missoulian. Associated Press. August 22, 1993. p. F-2. Archived from the original on November 2, 2021. Retrieved November 2, 2021.
  46. ^ Vestal, Shawn (November 3, 1993). "Butte station closes in favor of Bozeman". Bozeman Daily Chronicle. p. 9. Retrieved June 1, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  47. ^ Kirkpatrick, Dave (October 30, 1993). "KTVM-TV office closes; staff fired". The Montana Standard. pp. 1, 10. Archived from the original on November 2, 2021. Retrieved November 2, 2021.
  48. ^ McInally, Mike (January 5, 1994). "KPAX ratings surge past KECI". The Missoulian. p. D-2. Archived from the original on December 14, 2021. Retrieved November 2, 2021.
  49. ^ "News never rests on the weekend. Why should we?". The Montana Standard (Advertisement). Butte, Montana. October 23, 1993. p. Time Out 22. Retrieved December 21, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  50. ^ Guthrie, Marisa (December 5, 2016). "Savannah Guthrie Talks TV News in Trump Era". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
  51. ^ Haisten, Bill (April 26, 2011). "Tulsa native Dari Nowkhah rises from KOTV to ESPN". Tulsa World. Archived from the original on November 2, 2021. Retrieved November 2, 2021.
  52. ^ "Oliver Named to Anchor Position on CBS's 'Up to the Minute'". TVWeek. March 20, 2006. Archived from the original on November 2, 2021. Retrieved November 2, 2021.
  53. ^ "RabbitEars TV Query for KECI". RabbitEars.info. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved June 24, 2014.
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