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{{short description|NBC affiliate in Temple, Texas}} {{short description|NBC affiliate in Temple, Texas}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2024}}
{{Infobox television station {{Infobox television station
| callsign = KCEN-TV | callsign = KCEN-TV
| city = Temple, Texas | city = Temple, Texas
| logo = KCEN6.png | logo = KCEN-TV 2018 logo.png
| logo_size = 200px
| branding = Channel 6 ''(general)''<br>''6 News'' ''(newscasts)'' | branding = {{ubl|Channel 6 (general)|''6 News'' (newscasts)}}
| digital = 9 (])
| digital = 9 (])
| virtual = 6 | virtual = 6
| subchannels = | subchannels =
| affiliations = {{ubl|'''6.1:''' ] (1953–present; secondary from 1984–1985)|''for others, see {{section link||Subchannels}}''}} | affiliations = {{ubl|'''6.1:''' ]|''for others, see {{section link||Subchannels}}''}}
| airdate = {{Start date and age|1953|11|01|p=y}} | airdate = {{Start date and age|1953|11|01|p=y}}
| location = ]/]/] | location = ]–]–]
| country = United States | country = United States
| callsign_meaning = Central Texas | callsign_meaning = Central Texas
| former_callsigns = | former_callsigns =
| former_channel_numbers = {{ubl|'''Analog:'''|6 (VHF, 1953–2009)|'''Digital:'''|9 (PSIP, 2009–2010)}} | former_channel_numbers = {{ubl|'''Analog:''' 6 (VHF, 1953–2009)|'''Virtual:''' 9 (2009–2010)}}
| owner = ]<br>''(sale to ] pending<ref name="tegnasold">{{cite web|url=https://tvnewscheck.com/business/article/tegna-selling-to-standard-general-for-5-4-billion/|title=Tegna Selling To Standard General For $5.4 Billion|first=Mark K.|last=Miller|work=TVNewsCheck|date=February 22, 2022|accessdate=February 22, 2022}}</ref>)''
| owner = ]
| licensee = LSB Broadcasting, Inc. | licensee = LSB Broadcasting, Inc.
| sister_stations = ] | sister_stations = ]
| former_affiliations = {{ubl|'''Analog/DT1:'''|] (1953–1985; secondary until 1984)|] (secondary, 1953–1955)|] (secondary, 1953–1955)|'''DT2:'''|] (2005–2008)|] (2008−2012)|'''DT3:'''|] (until 2011)|] (2011–2019)|'''DT4:'''|] (2012−2016)|] (2016−2018)}}
| former_affiliations = {{ubl|NBC (1953–1984)|] (secondary, 1953–1955)|] (secondary, 1953–1955)|] (secondary 1953–1984, primary 1984–1985)}}
| erp = 25 ]
| erp = 25 ]
| haat = {{convert|527|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} | haat = {{convert|527|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
| facility_id = 10245 | facility_id = 10245
| coordinates = {{nowrap|{{coord|31|16|25|N|97|13|15|W|type:landmark_scale:2000}}}} | coordinates = {{coord|31|16|25|N|97|13|15|W|type:landmark_scale:2000}}
| licensing_authority = ] | licensing_authority = ]
| website = {{url|https://www.kcentv.com/}} | website = {{url|https://www.kcentv.com/}}
}} }}


'''KCEN-TV''' (channel 6) is a ] licensed to ], United States, serving ] as an affiliate of ]. Owned by ], the station maintains studios on North 3rd Street in downtown Temple, with a ] and sales office in ]; its transmitter is located along ] south of ]. '''KCEN-TV''' (channel 6) is a ] licensed to ], United States, serving ] as an affiliate of ]. Owned by ], the station maintains studios on North 3rd Street in downtown Temple, with a ] and sales office in ]; its transmitter is located along ] south of ].


''']''' (channel 23) in ] operates as a ] ] of KCEN-TV, serving the ]. As such, it ]s all network and ] programming as provided through KCEN-TV but airs separate local newscasts, commercial inserts and ], and has its own website. KCEN-TV serves the western half of the ]–Temple–Bryan market while KAGS-LD serves the eastern portion. The two stations are counted as a single unit for ] purposes. Although KAGS-LD maintains its own studios on South Texas Avenue in Bryan, ] and some internal operations are based at KCEN-TV's facilities. ''']''' (channel 23) in ] operates as a ] ] of KCEN-TV, serving the ]. As such, it ]s all network and ] programming as provided through KCEN-TV but airs separate local newscasts, commercial inserts and ], and has its own website. KCEN-TV serves the western half of the ]–Temple–Bryan market while KAGS-LD serves the eastern portion. The two stations are counted as a single unit for ] purposes. Although KAGS-LD maintains its own studios on South Texas Avenue in Bryan, ] and some internal operations are based at KCEN-TV's facilities.


==History== ==History==
KCEN-TV signed on the air for the first time on November 1, 1953,<ref>"Eight stations, 5 VHF, 3 UHF, begin commercial operation." '']'', November 2, 1953, pg. 64. {{dead link|date=April 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> originally owned by Frank W. Mayborn, publisher of the '']'' and owner of ] (1400 AM) in Temple. Early on, Mayborn realized that Temple/Killeen and Waco were going to be a single television market (although, then as now, they are separate radio markets). To signify that his new station would serve all of Central Texas, Mayborn decided on the call letters '''KCEN-TV''' (for "Central Texas"), rather than KTEM-TV (for Temple), after his radio station property. He also built his studio near Eddy, roughly halfway between Temple and Waco. The station signed on the air for the first time on November 1, 1953,<ref>"" '']'', November 2, 1953, pg. 64. </ref> originally owned by Frank W. Mayborn, publisher of the '']'' and owner of ] (1400 AM) in Temple. Early on, Mayborn realized that Temple–Killeen and Waco were going to be a single television market (although, then now, they are separate radio markets). To signify that his new station would serve all of Central Texas, Mayborn decided on the call letters KCEN-TV (for "Central Texas"), rather than KTEM-TV (for Temple), after his radio station property. He also built his studio near Eddy, roughly halfway between Temple and Waco.


It was the first television station to serve the Waco–Temple–Killeen market, and the second television station in Central Texas, signing on one year after ]'s ]. KCEN signed on with one of the tallest transmitter towers in the ], operating at a height of {{convert|830|ft|m}}. The station originally carried programming from all four major networks at the time but was a primary NBC affiliate. It lost the ] affiliation to ] on ], 1956. The ] ceased operations later that year, leaving KCEN with a primary NBC affiliation and a secondary affiliation with ]. It was the first television station to serve the Waco–Temple–Killeen market, and the second television station in Central Texas, signing on one year after ]'s ]. KCEN signed on with one of the tallest transmitter towers in the ], operating at a height of {{convert|830|ft|m}}. The station originally carried programming from all four major networks at the time but was a primary NBC affiliate. KCEN lost the ] affiliation to ] on ], 1956. The ] ceased operations later that year, leaving KCEN with a primary NBC affiliation and a secondary affiliation with ].

For many decades since the Waco–Temple–Killeen market's introduction to cable in 1965, it was sandwiched with stations from other markets, with Dallas–Fort Worth (channels ], ], ], and ]) to the north, Houston (channels ], ], and ]) to the southeast, and Austin (channels ], ], and ]) to the south and southwest (as well as some cable providers in the southeast).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1982/1982-bc-yb.pdf|title = Complete information on cable in Texas (Page 1184-1204 - BC&YB 1982)}}</ref>


] ]
⚫ In 1981, KCEN's transmitter facilities were moved to a new {{convert|1924|ft|m|adj=on}} tower just to the east of the original tower, expanding its coverage area to almost {{convert|29000|sqmi|km2}}—one of the largest television station broadcast radiuses in the nation. The station now provides at least secondary over-the-air coverage to 33 counties–from the southern fringes of the ] to the northern fringes of the Austin market.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1985/10/12/TV-WorldNEWLNReturn-of-affiliates-to-NBC/8072497937600/|title = TV World;NEWLN:Return of affiliates to NBC}}</ref>
]
⚫ In 1981, KCEN's transmitter facilities were moved to a new {{convert|1924|ft|m|adj=on}} tower just to the east of the original tower, expanding its coverage area to almost {{convert|29000|sqmi|km2}}—one of the largest television station broadcast radiuses in the nation. The station now provides at least secondary over-the-air coverage to 33 counties–from the southern fringes of the ] to the northern fringes of the Austin market.


The station switched its primary affiliation to ABC in March 1984, while continuing to carry some NBC programs during off-hours.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Telecastings |journal=Broadcasting |volume=106 |issue=11 |pages=74 |date=March 12, 1984 }}</ref> When ] signed on the air on March 22, 1985, that station became the new primary NBC affiliate. However, over time, Channel 6 became one of several ABC affiliates nationwide that were disappointed with the network's weak programming offerings, particularly on Thursday nights, which were bogging down KCEN's otherwise successful lineup. Meanwhile, six months later in September, the NBC affiliation returned to KCEN, while KXXV picked up the ABC affiliation, but unlike most NBC stations in the 1980s, KCEN does not have an entire network lineup, particularly on Saturday mornings when an hour of syndicated cartoon programming replaced NBC's original lineup for its first couple of years as a "then-revived" NBC station before becoming full-time by the end of the decade.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1985/10/12/TV-WorldNEWLNReturn-of-affiliates-to-NBC/8072497937600/|title = TV World;NEWLN:Return of affiliates to NBC}}</ref> However, full-time NBC stations can be viewed all across Central Texas cable systems, with ]/]'s ] in the Waco market, and ]'s ] in the Bryan–College Station market.<ref></ref> KCEN was the first television station in Central Texas to provide ] in its programming in 1989. The station switched its primary affiliation to ABC in March 1984, while continuing to carry some NBC programs during off-hours.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Telecastings |journal=Broadcasting |volume=106 |issue=11 |pages=74 |date=March 12, 1984 }}</ref> When ] signed on the air on March 22, 1985, that station became the new primary NBC affiliate. However, over time, channel 6 became one of several ABC affiliates nationwide that were disappointed with the network's weak programming offerings, particularly on Thursday nights, which were bogging down KCEN's otherwise successful lineup.{{cn|date=June 2023}} Meanwhile, six months later in September, the NBC affiliation returned to KCEN, while KXXV picked up the ABC affiliation.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1985/10/12/TV-WorldNEWLNReturn-of-affiliates-to-NBC/8072497937600/|title = TV World;NEWLN:Return of affiliates to NBC}}</ref> KCEN was the first television station in Central Texas to provide ] in its programming in September 1989.


KCEN, the ''Temple Daily Telegram'' and the '']'' remained under the Mayborn family's ownership after Frank's death in 1987, with his third wife, Sue, taking over running the station. In January 2009, ], Inc. entered into an agreement to sell KCEN to ]-based London Broadcasting Company, with a purchase price of $26 million<ref></ref>—a handsome return on Frank Mayborn's original investment in KTEM radio in 1936. KCEN, the ''Temple Daily Telegram'' and the '']'' remained under the Mayborn family's ownership after Frank's death in 1987, with his third wife, Sue, taking over running the station. In January 2009, ], Inc. entered into an agreement to sell KCEN to ]-based London Broadcasting Company, with a purchase price of $26 million<ref></ref>—a handsome return on Frank Mayborn's original investment in KTEM radio in 1936.


KCEN had operated a ] translator in the ] on UHF channel 62 for many years. On January 20, 2003, this translator was upgraded to ] status on UHF channel 23 under new calls, KMAY-LP. Like its low-powered predecessor, it was a straight simulcast of KCEN, only mentioned in legal IDs. KMAY switched to digital on June 12, 2009. On July 3, 2011, London Broadcasting announced that KMAY would be converted to a semi-satellite of KCEN for the Bryan–College Station market under the new callsign ''']''', with local news programming and commercial advertisements from KCEN replaced with newscasts and commercials targeted to the Brazos Valley area. KAGS was relaunched as a locally focused station in October of that year.<ref></ref> On September 26, 2011, ] programming on ] 6.3 was replaced with programming from classic television network ]. KCEN had operated a ] translator in the ] on UHF channel 62 for many years. On January 20, 2003, this translator was upgraded to ] status on UHF channel 23 under new calls, KMAY-LP. Like its low-power predecessor, it was a straight simulcast of KCEN, only mentioned in legal IDs. KMAY switched to digital on June 12, 2009. On July 3, 2011, London Broadcasting announced that KMAY would be converted to a semi-satellite of KCEN for the Bryan–College Station market under the new callsign ], with local news programming and commercial advertisements from KCEN replaced with newscasts and commercials targeted to the Brazos Valley area. KAGS was relaunched as a locally focused station in October of that year.<ref></ref> On September 26, 2011, ] programming on ] 6.3 was replaced with programming from classic television network ].


On May 14, 2014, the ] announced that it would acquire KCEN-TV and five other LBC stations for $215 million. Gannett's CEO ] touted that the acquisition would give the company a presence in several fast-growing markets, and opportunities for local advertisers to leverage its digital marketing platform.<ref name=tvnc-londongannett>{{cite web|title=Gannett Buys 6 London Broadcasting Stations|url=http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/76329/gannett-buys-6-london-broadcasting-stations|work=TVNewsCheck|date=14 May 2014|access-date=14 May 2014}}</ref> The sale was completed on July 8, 2014.<ref name=tvnc-lbcgannettcomplete>{{cite news|title=Gannett Completes London Broadcasting Buy|url=http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/77580/gannett-completes-london-broadcasting-buy|access-date=July 8, 2014|work=TVNewsCheck|date=July 8, 2014}}</ref> 13 months later, on June 29, 2015, the Gannett Company split in two, with one side specializing in print media and the other side specializing in broadcast and digital media. KCEN was retained by the latter company, named ]. However, KCEN retained its London Broadcasting-era website until September 2016. On May 14, 2014, the ] announced that it would acquire KCEN-TV and five other LBC stations for $215 million. Gannett's CEO ] touted that the acquisition would give the company a presence in several fast-growing markets, and opportunities for local advertisers to leverage its digital marketing platform.<ref name=tvnc-londongannett>{{cite web|title=Gannett Buys 6 London Broadcasting Stations|url=http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/76329/gannett-buys-6-london-broadcasting-stations|work=TVNewsCheck|date=May 14, 2014|access-date=May 14, 2014}}</ref> The sale was completed on July 8, 2014.<ref name=tvnc-lbcgannettcomplete>{{cite news|title=Gannett Completes London Broadcasting Buy|url=http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/77580/gannett-completes-london-broadcasting-buy|access-date=July 8, 2014|work=TVNewsCheck|date=July 8, 2014}}</ref> 13 months later, on June 29, 2015, the Gannett Company split in two, with one side specializing in print media and the other side specializing in broadcast and digital media. KCEN was retained by the latter company, named ]. However, KCEN retained its London Broadcasting-era website until September 2016.


In January 2016, KCEN announced it would vacate its longtime studios in Eddy and move to the former complex of First Baptist Church in downtown Temple. Station management explained that the fast growth of ] contributed to their decision; general manager Gayle Kiger said that it was important for "the fastest-growing and largest county" in the channel 6 coverage area to have a station based there. She also said that KCEN would have likely had to move anyway, as there was not enough room to expand its Eddy facility.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://kdhnews.com/business/kcen-tv-moving-station-to-temple/article_33f1763c-c3e1-11e5-a273-d312588df70d.html|title=KCEN-TV moving station to Temple|first=Crystal|last=Dominguez|work=]|date=January 26, 2016|access-date=September 17, 2018}}</ref> The move was completed in early 2017.{{citation needed|date=September 2018}} In January 2016, KCEN announced it would vacate its longtime studios in Eddy and move to the former complex of First Baptist Church in downtown Temple. Station management explained that the fast-growth of ] contributed to their decision; general manager Gayle Kiger said that it was important for "the fastest-growing and largest county" in the channel 6 coverage area to have a station based there. She also said that KCEN would have likely had to move anyway, as there was not enough room to expand its Eddy facility.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://kdhnews.com/business/kcen-tv-moving-station-to-temple/article_33f1763c-c3e1-11e5-a273-d312588df70d.html|title=KCEN-TV moving station to Temple|first=Crystal|last=Dominguez|work=]|date=January 26, 2016|access-date=September 17, 2018}}</ref> The move was completed in early 2017.{{citation needed|date=September 2018}}


==News operation== ==News operation==
KCEN-TV presently broadcasts a total of 21½ hours of local newscasts each week (with 3½ hours each weekday and one hour each on Saturdays and Sundays). On February 1, 2010, KCEN became the first television station in the Waco–Temple–Killeen market to begin broadcasting its local newscasts in ]. KCEN-TV presently broadcasts a total of {{frac|21|1|2}} hours of local newscasts each week (with {{frac|3|1|2}} hours each weekday and one hour each on Saturdays and Sundays). On February 1, 2010, KCEN became the first television station in the Waco–Temple–Killeen market to begin broadcasting its local newscasts in ].


On March 23, 2015, KCEN-TV debuted the Gannett group's graphical theme.<ref>{{cite web|title=A New Look Comes to KCEN-HD! |url=http://www.kcentv.com/story/28588828/a-new-look-comes-to-kcen-hd |publisher=KCEN-TV |access-date=24 March 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150325082402/http://www.kcentv.com/story/28588828/a-new-look-comes-to-kcen-hd |archive-date=March 25, 2015 }}</ref> On March 23, 2015, KCEN-TV debuted the Gannett group's graphical theme.<ref>{{cite web|title=A New Look Comes to KCEN-HD! |url=http://www.kcentv.com/story/28588828/a-new-look-comes-to-kcen-hd |publisher=KCEN-TV |access-date=March 24, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150325082402/http://www.kcentv.com/story/28588828/a-new-look-comes-to-kcen-hd |archive-date=March 25, 2015 }}</ref>


==Technical information== ==Technical information==

===Subchannels=== ===Subchannels===
The station's digital signal is ]: The station's signal is ]:
{| class="wikitable" {| class="wikitable"
⚫ |+Subchanels of KCEN-TV<ref></ref>
⚫ |-
! ] ! ]
! ] ! ]
! ] ! ]
! Short name ! Short name
! Programming
⚫ ! Programming<ref></ref>
|- |-
! scope = "row" | 6.1
| 6.1 || rowspan=2| ] || rowspan=2| ] || KCEN-HD || Main KCEN-TV programming / ] | rowspan=2| ] || rowspan=2| ] || KCEN-HD || ]
|- |-
| 6.2 || MYTX || ] ! scope = "row" | 6.2
| MYTX || ] / ] games
|- |-
! scope = "row" | 6.3
| 6.3 || rowspan=5| ] || rowspan=5| ] || H & I || ] | rowspan=7| ] || rowspan=3| ] || H & I || ]
|- |-
| 6.4 || Justice || ] ! scope = "row" | 6.4
| Justice || ]
|- |-
! scope = "row" | 6.5
| 6.5 || ION || ]
⚫ | ION || ]
|- |-
! scope = "row" | 6.6
⚫ | 6.6 || Twist || ]
| rowspan=4|16:9 || Twist || ]
|- |-
| 6.7 || Defy TV || ] ! scope = "row" | 6.7
| Defy TV || ]
|- |-
! scope = "row" | 6.8
| || ]
⚫ |-
! scope = "row" | 6.9
| || ]
|} |}


===Analog-to-digital conversion=== ===Analog-to-digital conversion===
KCEN-TV shut down its analog signal, over ] channel 6, on February 17, 2009, the original target date in which full-power television stations in the United States were to ] under federal mandate (which was later pushed back to June 12, 2009). The station's digital signal remained on its pre-transition VHF channel 9.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1082A2.pdf |title=DTV Tentative Channel Designations for the First and the Second Rounds |access-date=2012-03-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130829004251/http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1082A2.pdf |archive-date=2013-08-29 |url-status=dead }}</ref> KCEN-TV shut down its analog signal, over ] channel 6, on February 17, 2009, the original target date on which full-power television stations in the United States were to ] under federal mandate (which was later pushed back to June 12, 2009). The station's digital signal remained on its pre-transition VHF channel 9.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1082A2.pdf |title=DTV Tentative Channel Designations for the First and the Second Rounds |access-date=March 24, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130829004251/http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1082A2.pdf |archive-date=August 29, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>


Though most television stations typically map their ] ]s to that station's analog channel allocation pre-transition, digital television receivers displayed KCEN-TV's virtual channel following the transition as 9.1, instead of 6.1 with the station's on-air branding changing to "KCEN 9" in accordance.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.kcentv.com/?p=3462|title = Central Texas Local News}}</ref> Through the use of PSIP, digital television receivers display the station's virtual channel as its former VHF analog channel 6 (its on-air branding was changed to simply "KCEN-HD" as well) on February 1, 2010. Though most television stations typically map their ]s to that station's analog channel allocation pre-transition, digital television receivers displayed KCEN-TV's virtual channel following the transition as 9, instead of 6 with the station's on-air branding changing to "KCEN 9" in accordance.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.kcentv.com/?p=3462|title = Central Texas Local News}}</ref> The station's virtual channel changed to its former VHF analog channel 6 (its on-air branding was changed to simply "KCEN-HD" as well) on February 1, 2010.


==References== ==References==
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Latest revision as of 19:36, 20 October 2024

NBC affiliate in Temple, Texas

KCEN-TV
CityTemple, Texas
Channels
Branding
  • Channel 6 (general)
  • 6 News (newscasts)
Programming
Affiliations
Ownership
Owner
Sister stationsKAGS-LD
History
First air dateNovember 1, 1953 (71 years ago) (1953-11-01)
Former channel number(s)
  • Analog: 6 (VHF, 1953–2009)
  • Virtual: 9 (2009–2010)
Former affiliations
  • NBC (1953–1984)
  • CBS (secondary, 1953–1955)
  • DuMont (secondary, 1953–1955)
  • ABC (secondary 1953–1984, primary 1984–1985)
Call sign meaningCentral Texas
Technical information
Licensing authorityFCC
Facility ID10245
ERP25 kW
HAAT527 m (1,729 ft)
Transmitter coordinates31°16′25″N 97°13′15″W / 31.27361°N 97.22083°W / 31.27361; -97.22083
Links
Public license information
Websitewww.kcentv.com

KCEN-TV (channel 6) is a television station licensed to Temple, Texas, United States, serving Central Texas as an affiliate of NBC. Owned by Tegna Inc., the station maintains studios on North 3rd Street in downtown Temple, with a news bureau and sales office in Killeen; its transmitter is located along I-35 south of Eddy.

KAGS-LD (channel 23) in Bryan operates as a low-power semi-satellite of KCEN-TV, serving the Brazos Valley. As such, it simulcasts all network and syndicated programming as provided through KCEN-TV but airs separate local newscasts, commercial inserts and legal identifications, and has its own website. KCEN-TV serves the western half of the Waco–Temple–Bryan market while KAGS-LD serves the eastern portion. The two stations are counted as a single unit for ratings purposes. Although KAGS-LD maintains its own studios on South Texas Avenue in Bryan, master control and some internal operations are based at KCEN-TV's facilities.

History

The station signed on the air for the first time on November 1, 1953, originally owned by Frank W. Mayborn, publisher of the Temple Daily Telegram and owner of KTEM radio (1400 AM) in Temple. Early on, Mayborn realized that Temple–Killeen and Waco were going to be a single television market (although, then now, they are separate radio markets). To signify that his new station would serve all of Central Texas, Mayborn decided on the call letters KCEN-TV (for "Central Texas"), rather than KTEM-TV (for Temple), after his radio station property. He also built his studio near Eddy, roughly halfway between Temple and Waco.

It was the first television station to serve the Waco–Temple–Killeen market, and the second television station in Central Texas, signing on one year after Austin's KTBC. KCEN signed on with one of the tallest transmitter towers in the southwestern United States, operating at a height of 830 feet (250 m). The station originally carried programming from all four major networks at the time but was a primary NBC affiliate. KCEN lost the CBS affiliation to KWTX-TV on January 1, 1956. The DuMont Television Network ceased operations later that year, leaving KCEN with a primary NBC affiliation and a secondary affiliation with ABC.

For many decades since the Waco–Temple–Killeen market's introduction to cable in 1965, it was sandwiched with stations from other markets, with Dallas–Fort Worth (channels 4, 5, 8, and 11) to the north, Houston (channels 2, 11, and 13) to the southeast, and Austin (channels 7, 24, and 42, later 36) to the south and southwest (as well as some cable providers in the southeast).

Refer to caption
KCEN-TV's studios on Third Street in Temple

In 1981, KCEN's transmitter facilities were moved to a new 1,924-foot (586 m) tower just to the east of the original tower, expanding its coverage area to almost 29,000 square miles (75,000 km)—one of the largest television station broadcast radiuses in the nation. The station now provides at least secondary over-the-air coverage to 33 counties–from the southern fringes of the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex to the northern fringes of the Austin market.

The station switched its primary affiliation to ABC in March 1984, while continuing to carry some NBC programs during off-hours. When KXXV signed on the air on March 22, 1985, that station became the new primary NBC affiliate. However, over time, channel 6 became one of several ABC affiliates nationwide that were disappointed with the network's weak programming offerings, particularly on Thursday nights, which were bogging down KCEN's otherwise successful lineup. Meanwhile, six months later in September, the NBC affiliation returned to KCEN, while KXXV picked up the ABC affiliation. KCEN was the first television station in Central Texas to provide closed captions in its programming in September 1989.

KCEN, the Temple Daily Telegram and the Killeen Daily Herald remained under the Mayborn family's ownership after Frank's death in 1987, with his third wife, Sue, taking over running the station. In January 2009, Frank Mayborn Enterprises, Inc. entered into an agreement to sell KCEN to Dallas-based London Broadcasting Company, with a purchase price of $26 million—a handsome return on Frank Mayborn's original investment in KTEM radio in 1936.

KCEN had operated a low-power translator in the Brazos Valley on UHF channel 62 for many years. On January 20, 2003, this translator was upgraded to Class A status on UHF channel 23 under new calls, KMAY-LP. Like its low-power predecessor, it was a straight simulcast of KCEN, only mentioned in legal IDs. KMAY switched to digital on June 12, 2009. On July 3, 2011, London Broadcasting announced that KMAY would be converted to a semi-satellite of KCEN for the Bryan–College Station market under the new callsign KAGS-LD, with local news programming and commercial advertisements from KCEN replaced with newscasts and commercials targeted to the Brazos Valley area. KAGS was relaunched as a locally focused station in October of that year. On September 26, 2011, Azteca América programming on digital subchannel 6.3 was replaced with programming from classic television network MeTV.

On May 14, 2014, the Gannett Company announced that it would acquire KCEN-TV and five other LBC stations for $215 million. Gannett's CEO Gracia Martore touted that the acquisition would give the company a presence in several fast-growing markets, and opportunities for local advertisers to leverage its digital marketing platform. The sale was completed on July 8, 2014. 13 months later, on June 29, 2015, the Gannett Company split in two, with one side specializing in print media and the other side specializing in broadcast and digital media. KCEN was retained by the latter company, named Tegna. However, KCEN retained its London Broadcasting-era website until September 2016.

In January 2016, KCEN announced it would vacate its longtime studios in Eddy and move to the former complex of First Baptist Church in downtown Temple. Station management explained that the fast-growth of Bell County contributed to their decision; general manager Gayle Kiger said that it was important for "the fastest-growing and largest county" in the channel 6 coverage area to have a station based there. She also said that KCEN would have likely had to move anyway, as there was not enough room to expand its Eddy facility. The move was completed in early 2017.

News operation

KCEN-TV presently broadcasts a total of 21+1⁄2 hours of local newscasts each week (with 3+1⁄2 hours each weekday and one hour each on Saturdays and Sundays). On February 1, 2010, KCEN became the first television station in the Waco–Temple–Killeen market to begin broadcasting its local newscasts in high definition.

On March 23, 2015, KCEN-TV debuted the Gannett group's graphical theme.

Technical information

Subchannels

The station's signal is multiplexed:

Subchanels of KCEN-TV
Channel Res. Aspect Short name Programming
6.1 720p 16:9 KCEN-HD NBC
6.2 MYTX Cozi TV / Dallas Mavericks games
6.3 480i 4:3 H & I Quest
6.4 Justice True Crime Network
6.5 ION Get
6.6 16:9 Twist The Nest
6.7 Defy TV Defy TV
6.8 Comet
6.9 Shop LC

Analog-to-digital conversion

KCEN-TV shut down its analog signal, over VHF channel 6, on February 17, 2009, the original target date on which full-power television stations in the United States were to transition from analog to digital broadcasts under federal mandate (which was later pushed back to June 12, 2009). The station's digital signal remained on its pre-transition VHF channel 9.

Though most television stations typically map their virtual channels to that station's analog channel allocation pre-transition, digital television receivers displayed KCEN-TV's virtual channel following the transition as 9, instead of 6 with the station's on-air branding changing to "KCEN 9" in accordance. The station's virtual channel changed to its former VHF analog channel 6 (its on-air branding was changed to simply "KCEN-HD" as well) on February 1, 2010.

References

  1. "Facility Technical Data for KCEN-TV". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. "Eight stations, 5 VHF, 3 UHF, begin commercial operation" Broadcasting - Telecasting, November 2, 1953, pg. 64.
  3. "Complete information on cable in Texas (Page 1184-1204 - BC&YB 1982)" (PDF).
  4. "TV World;NEWLN:Return of affiliates to NBC".
  5. "Telecastings". Broadcasting. 106 (11): 74. March 12, 1984.
  6. "TV World;NEWLN:Return of affiliates to NBC".
  7. London Buys Waco NBC Affil for $26M, Harry A. Jessell, TVNEWSDAY, Jan 16 2009
  8. Letters for July 3, Bryan/College Station Eagle, July 3 2011
  9. "Gannett Buys 6 London Broadcasting Stations". TVNewsCheck. May 14, 2014. Retrieved May 14, 2014.
  10. "Gannett Completes London Broadcasting Buy". TVNewsCheck. July 8, 2014. Retrieved July 8, 2014.
  11. Dominguez, Crystal (January 26, 2016). "KCEN-TV moving station to Temple". Killeen Daily Herald. Retrieved September 17, 2018.
  12. "A New Look Comes to KCEN-HD!". KCEN-TV. Archived from the original on March 25, 2015. Retrieved March 24, 2015.
  13. RabbitEars TV Query for KCEN
  14. "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.
  15. "Central Texas Local News".

External links

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