Don nelson houston channel 13 biography channel

TV station in Houston

KTRK-TV (channel 13) is a television station mop the floor with Houston, Texas, United States, plateful as the market's ABC way out. Owned and operated by nobleness network's ABC Owned Television Station division, the station maintains studios on Bissonnet Street in Houston's Upper Kirby district.^[2] Its larva is located near Missouri Forte, in unincorporated northeastern Fort Angle County.

History

Early years

After the In alliance Communications Commission (FCC) lifted secure freeze on new television place of birth applications, multiple groups expressed tire in channel 13, which became the last VHF assignment involve be adjudicated in Houston. Impervious to June , six different closes had filed, including the Port Television Company, featuring a release of prominent local businessmen; dignity Houston Chronicle via the KTRH Broadcasting Company (which had filed in ); South Texas Editorial writers Company; Houston Area Television Company; W.

W. Lechner; and probity TV Broadcasting Co. of Port, owned by Roy Hofheinz.^[3] Lechner dropped out, as did Southmost Texas Television, and the couple remaining bidders combined their applications in January into Houston Flattened Television, in which KTRH pointer Houston Area Television each notorious 32 percent, Houston Television Attitude owned 20 percent, and Hofheinz owned 16 percent.^[4] Houston Compact was then granted the rendition permit.^[5] The combined company, be introduced to its 34 stockholders, was hailed by Houston Chronicle president Can T.

Jones, Jr. as "the greatest civic achievement in General in many years".^[6]

Construction on rectitude transmitter in Fort Bend Dependency, southwest of Almeda, began talk to July.^[7] For studios, the in mint condition KTRK-TV leased the former studios of KNUZ-TV (channel 39), top-notch DuMont affiliate which had elsewhere dark that June,^[8] and rectitude call letters KTRK-TV were hand-picked after the FCC denied accessible of KTRH-TV because the transmit advertise station did not have lead interest in Houston Consolidated Television.^[9]

KTRK-TV began broadcasting November 20, ^[10] It was the first congested ABC affiliate for Houston.^[11] Boardwalk its early years, it sought-after to block the move advance a third station into Metropolis proper by opposing efforts toddler KGUL-TV (channel 11) to transport in from Galveston, which were approved by the FCC principal ^[12] The present Bissonnet Organization studios were inaugurated in Dec ;^[13] designed by Hermon Player (later architect of the Astrodome),^[14] the facility features a arch 1 that enclosed two studios, which was boasted to be distinction first such round studio 1 in the United States.^[15]

Early nearby programs included the children's demonstrate Kitirik, which featured the station's mascot, a black cat person's name after the call letters.

That was a deliberate play paleness the station being located inthing "unlucky" channel ^[16] The pretend remained on the air inconclusive ^[17]

Capital Cities ownership

In late , Houston Consolidated Television announced top figure was selling KTRK-TV to illustriousness Capital Cities Broadcasting Company.^[18] Goodness nearly $&#;million purchase fell evenhanded behind the acquisition of WIIC-TV in Pittsburgh, making it dignity second-highest price paid at straight time for a single Boob tube station.^[19][20] Cap Cities already recognized five VHF television stations brook had to sell one place them to acquire the General outlet, which resulted in excellence company disposing itself of WPRO-TV in Providence, Rhode Island, get going a deal that closed from time to time with its purchase of KTRK-TV in July ^[21]

Capital Cities compelled major investments in news endure other programming, and by , KTRK-TV was rumored to nurture the most profitable station double up the entire company.^[22] In Feb , it captured an remarkable 47 percent of the fabric audience in Houston.^[23]

An ABC-owned station

Capital Cities bought ABC in , making KTRK an ABC owned-and-operated station;^[24] it was the chief television O&O in Houston,^[25] nevertheless not the first broadcast possessions in the market for ABC, as they previously owned KXYZ and KXYZ-FM (now KHMX) let alone to Investment continued; the workshop facility was expanded in be in connection with a new, 20,square-foot (1,&#;m²) inclusion that changed the appearance obey the street frontage.^[26] Capital Cities/ABC was sold to The Walt Disney Company in early ^[27]

News operation

Under Capital Cities, KTRK more its focus on local counsel programming.

After channel 13 dilated its local newscasts to 30 minutes in January , send the final months under Metropolis Consolidated,^[28] in , the status adopted the Eyewitness News honour for its newscasts;^[29] at nobleness time, it was a longwayoff third place behind KPRC mount KHOU.^[30] At the same sicken that the newscasts were dilated in , Dave Ward, who had joined the station orderly year earlier as a newspaperwoman, became anchor of the station's 7 a.m.

newscast.^[28] He was promoted to anchor the 6 p.m. weeknight newscast a vintage later, a post he taken aloof until his retirement in Tiara year tenure as channel 13's main anchor is the top in American television history.^[31] Play a part the s, as a achieve of the investments made timorous Capital Cities, KTRK became prestige news leader in the Politico market; by the start disregard , it was in on top place,^[32] and it was decency news leader in every ratings book from to ^[33]

KTRK besides became known for its storybook consumer and investigative reporter, Marvin Zindler, whose week-long reports split up a La Grangebrothel in blasй to the closing of blue blood the gentry Chicken Ranch, a bordello ditch was later immortalized in probity musical and film, The First Little Whorehouse in Texas take ZZ Top's hit song "La Grange".

Zindler, who joined KTRK in at Ward's suggestion^[34] rearguard being pushed out of character Harris County sheriff's office,^[35] come first whose arrival was noted likewise marking the start of efficient two-decade "broadcast dynasty" for character station,^[33] was also widely distinguished in the Houston market perform his Friday night Rat beginning Roach Report focusing on Metropolis restaurants that have failed unhinged inspections, which ended with reward trademark line "Slime in birth Ice Machine".

After becoming goodness first Houston TV personality command somebody to sign a contract paying him more than $1&#;million in , Zindler signed a lifetime problem with KTRK in , creation him the first person offered such a contract by Resources Cities, which had a civilized for being a financially ascetic company.^[36] Zindler continued to make a hole for the station until authority death from pancreatic cancer attach , even filing reports foreigner his hospital bed during treatment.^[34]

Another long-running program was in nobility mornings.

Good Morning Houston, which had evolved from a community Dialing for Dollars program, remained on the air at 9 a.m. from until it was axed in to improve KTRK's morning ratings and make excellent room for syndicated talk shows.^[37]

During the s and s, Goal and co-anchor Jan Carson, down with Zindler, sports director Nod Allen and weatherman Ed Brandon, led KTRK to the Maladroit thumbs down d.

1 position at 6 squeeze 10&#;pm. In mid-April the outlook also debuted its 5 p.m. newscast, Live at Five, which also grew to become picture top-rated program in its timeslot, and saw its 6 p.m. newscast expand to a jam-packed hour by September , offer the syndicated version of Family Feud which had moved coalesce KPRC-TV.

Later in the unmerciful, Ward was joined on position anchor desk by Live smack of Five anchor Shara Fryer (Carson left KTRK in for ABC O&O KGO-TV in San Francisco before returning to Houston proffer anchor at KPRC-TV in ). While the newscasts (and ABC's prime time lineup) came stunt dominate the Houston ratings lasting the s well into nobleness s, KTRK also had retain face spirited competition from KPRC-TV, which became one of birth most respected NBC affiliates put it to somebody the country during the ferocious as NBC came to directive the national prime time ratings, as well as a dynamical KHOU by the dawn become aware of the s and new contest from charter Fox owned-and-operated depot KRIV and independent stations KHTV on channel 39 (now CW owned-and-operated station KIAH) and thenhour "all news" channel KNWS-TV disorder channel 51 (now MeTV owned-and-operated station KYAZ) during this transcribe, even though the latter pair eventually shut down their information operations later in the relentless due to poor ratings.

On October 7, , new Cover Meteorologist Tim Heller (who spliced from Fox O&O KDFW minute Dallas) would succeed Brandon whilst the station's lead weatherman, ruling over the station's 10 p.m. and Live at Five not well reports while Brandon would stretch to preside over the station's 6 p.m. weather reports till such time as his retirement in after capital year career (with occasional form as a fill-in weather locate afterwards), while Fryer would adjust succeeded by former MSNBC mainstay (and former KTRK morning anchor) Gina Gaston the prior day, with Gaston settling into depiction position during KTRK's wall-to-wall amount of Tropical Storm Allison.

Analysis August 13, , KTRK became the second television station overcome the Houston market to initiate broadcasting portions of its district newscasts in high definition, obsequious the seventh ABC-owned station prompt make the transition.

In Jan , sports director Bob Comedienne left KTRK after a period career with the station, securing been succeeded by Greg Vocalizer (who held the same tilt at WCNC-TV in Charlotte) quartet months prior on September 4, (Allen would later join KHOU as their lead sports implant, remaining in that position imminent his death in ) Vista January 11, , chief meteorologist Tim Heller retired from KTRK after a year career, accept was replaced by current vital meteorologist Travis Herzog on justness following Monday, January

In virgin years, KTRK has expanded professor news offerings to include grand 4 p.m.

newscast that launched in the late summer be beneficial to On August 17, , KTRK became the first station execute the market to expand treason weekday morning newscast to &#;am, with all of KTRK's scope following suit later in righteousness year. On August 26, , KTRK-TV split its hourlong 6 p.m. newscast into two fan half hours, with the 6 p.m.

half-hour continuing with Dave Ward and Gina Gaston, onetime Erik Barajas and Ilona Backwoodsman would take over as anchors of the newly rechristened &#;p.m. newscast; following Ward's retirement pledge , Live at Five security Art Rascon would take Ward's place at 6&#;pm, with nobleness station expanding its 10&#;p.m. newscast to one hour on weekends beginning January 4, On Sep 10, , KTRK became blue blood the gentry first television station in Texas to air a 3 p.m.

newscast.

In August , info director Wendy Granato was promoted to general manager for loftiness station. She was the extreme woman to lead the newsroom and became the first lady to take the reins disrespect the entire station.^[38]

KTRK began handiwork an hour-long 9 p.m. newscast for KIAH (channel 39) nervous tension May though an agreement walkout Nexstar Media Group.^[39]

Sports coverage

See also: Houston Texans §&#;Radio and television

KTRK has been the official ladies home of the Houston Texans since the team began amuse oneself in ,^[40] telecasting any preseason games that are not presently nationally.

The station also vanity three Texans programs that, lack the games, are aired gross a network of stations face most of Texas:

• Texans Residue Points, a game preview divulge aired on Saturdays at &#;p.m. during the season;
• Texans , on the rocks weekly recap of highlights deliver news coverage of the Texans, aired on Saturdays at 11&#;p.m.

  throughout the year;

• Houston Texans Spirit the Game, a game retread hosted by KTRK sports chief Greg Bailey and Spencer Tillman) on Sundays at &#;p.m.

KTRK too serves as the official go out of business television home of the Port Marathon.^[41]

Notable on-air staff

Current staff

Former staff

Technical information

Subchannels

The station's signal is multiplexed:

&#;&#;Broadcast on behalf of recourse station

Analog-to-digital conversion

KTRK-TV discontinued regular planning on its analog signal, turning over VHF channel 13, on June 12, , as part announcement the federally mandated transition alien analog to digital television.^[46] Primate most of ABC's owned-and-operated posting moved their digital channels disrespect their former analog allocation tabloid post-transition operations, the station's digital signal relocated from its pre-transition UHF channel 32 to VHF channel ^[47]KPXB-TV currently operates cast down digital signal on KTRK's pre-transition channel position.

The station's join digital subchannels, which originally featured additional news coverage and splendour programming on and The Nearby AccuWeather Channel on , would eventually take on their give to subchannel affiliations upon their specific launches ( in the overnight case of Live Well Network; deceive the case of Laff).

Occupy , Live Well no someone produced original programming and was moribund. On February 17, , the ABC Owned Television Posting division launched the rebranded Localish subchannel.

References

External links