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KMSP-TV, channel 9, is an owned-and-operated television station of the News Corporation-owned Fox Broadcasting Company, located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The station serves the Minneapolis-St. Paul (also known as the Twin Cities) area, and portions of western Wisconsin. KMSP-TV and sister station WFTC (channel 29, the Twin Cities' MyNetworkTV affiliate) are currently co-located in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, and also share a transmission tower in Shoreview, Minnesota.
The station is noted for having a number of Emmy-winning photojournalists and reporters. The newscasts have been nationally honored with the prestigious Edward R. Murrow Award for Best Newscast and Spot News Coverage, in addition to Investigative Reporting, and Videography.
The KMSP-WFTC duopoly is a union shop, with all technicians and photographers being required to join the IBEW Local 292.
History
The station began broadcasting as KEYD on March 12, 1955 and was affiliated with the DuMont Television Network. One of its first news reporters was Harry Reasoner, who later in life would become one of the first presenters on 60 Minutes. DuMont shut down in 1956, leaving the station as an independent outlet.
After one season, the station was sold to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and for a very brief period of time it used the call sign KMGM-TV. It later changed its call sign again to KMSP-TV when the station was sold to its longtime owner United Television (then a subsidiary of 20th Century Fox) in 1958.
In 1961, KMSP took over the ABC network affiliation from WTCN-TV (channel 11, now KARE), an affiliation it would keep until 1979. Throughout its years with ABC, KMSP was notorious for having a sub-standard news department with large staff turnover. Ratings were dismal with KMSP obtaining only one-third of the viewing audience of each of their two competitors, CBS affiliate WCCO-TV (channel 4) and NBC station KSTP-TV (channel 5).
Ratings improved by 1977 when ABC went from being the last-place network to being the first. To cash in, KMSP rebranded itself "ABC9" (approximately 20 years before U.S. stations would be using the network name in their branding en masse), and retooled their newscast. Unfortunately, KMSP's news department was still not up to the same level as the competition. In the wake of ABC's rise to first place in viewership, the network sought to upgrade its affiliate list, which was made up of some stations that either had poor signals or poorly-performing local programming. ABC was unhappy with KMSP, and they warned the station that it would find a new local affiliate unless improvements were made, and fast.
Independent
On August 29, 1978, ABC announced that KSTP-TV would be its new affiliate in the Twin Cities. The signing of channel 5 made nationwide news, as it had been an NBC affiliate for 30 years, and its radio station for 50. KSTP looked forward to affiliating with the top network, as third-place NBC had been in a long slump. In retaliation for losing ABC, KMSP immediately removed all ABC branding and regularly pre-empted network programming. KMSP then attempted to affiliate with NBC. However, NBC, miffed at losing one of its strongest affiliates, and not wanting to pick up ABC's rejects, turned down KMSP's offer almost immediately and signed an affiliation agreement with independent WTCN-TV.
As a result of being rejected by both ABC and NBC, KMSP prepared to become an independent station. They would also be freed up from investing as heavily in their meager news department. Most of the on-air and off-air staffers resigned, not wanting to work for a down-scaled independent operation, and frustrated with the station's lack of competitiveness over the years.
The affiliate switch occurred on March 5, 1979, and KMSP debuted its new independent schedule featuring cartoons and more syndicated shows, many of them coming from WTCN-TV. It rebranded itself as "Receptive Channel 9", and became quite aggressive in programming, obtaining broadcast rights to several state high school sports championships (MSHSL), the NHL's Minnesota North Stars and the Minnesota Twins baseball team. The stripped-down newscast was moved to 9:30, then by 1981 to 9:00 and expanded to a full hour.
As many people were predicting failure for the new channel 9, KMSP's transition into an independent station turned out to be a blessing in disguise. It was far more successful than it ever had been as an ABC affiliate. It became a regional superstation, available on nearly every cable system in Minnesota as well as large portions of North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, and Wisconsin. Over time, IT became one of the most successful and profitable independent stations in the country.
During the early 1980s, KMSP went through another ownership change when United Television was merged with Chris-Craft Industries.
First Fox affiliation
The station remained independent through 1986. Intrigued by the idea of being a network affiliate while not having to be tied down to a network-dominated schedule, KMSP became one of the original affiliates of the newly-launched Fox network. However, it did not remain a Fox affiliate for long. By 1988, KMSP was one of several Fox affiliates nationwide disappointed with the network's weak programming offerings at the time, particularly on Saturday nights, which were bogging down KMSP's otherwise successful independent lineup. They started pre-empting and time-shifting network shows, much to Fox's irritation. After an ultimatum by the network to run the full schedule in the desired time slots was rejected by KMSP, Fox named KITN Channel 29 as its new Twin Cities affiliate, and KMSP returned to full independent status.
UPN affiliation
By the early 1990s, Fox had exploded in popularity. It had strong shows that were starting to rival the offerings of the 'Big Three' networks, and had just picked up rights to the NFL. In response to this, KMSP's then-owner, Chris-Craft/United Television, partnered with Paramount Pictures (which soon became part of media conglomerate Viacom) to create the United Paramount Network (UPN). Channel 9 became a UPN affiliate on January 16, 1995, the day the network commenced operations.
KMSP became one of UPN's most successful affiliates. In addition, it was still enjoying success with local sports programming featuring the Twins(now on WFTC), as well as the MSHSL championships (now on KSTC).
Back to Fox
KMSP remained as a UPN affiliate even after the station, along with several other stations owned by Chris-Craft, was sold to the Fox Television Stations Group in 2001. An affiliation swap was expected after KMSP's affiliation contract with UPN ran out, as Fox likely would prefer the affiliation on their own station, one with a strong, established VHF signal and news operation. The move was made easier when Fox obtained local affiliate WFTC from Clear Channel shortly after in July 2001.
On September 8 2002, KMSP and WFTC swapped network affiliations. This move (accompanied by a "Make the Switch" ad campaign on both stations) made KMSP a Fox station once again. At that time, KMSP took all Fox programming, including the Fox Box (now rebranded as 4Kids TV). Notably, of all the former Chris-Craft stations Fox retained, KMSP was the only one not to retain its UPN affiliation.
Fox proceeded to invest heavily in KMSP, creating the station's strongest news operation ever (they even briefly produced a newscast for sister station WFTC). In addition, Fox soon become a full-fledged competitor with NBC, ABC and CBS with shows like "24", "House" and "American Idol" and an aggressive cable news operation. Ironically, the late night edition of "Fox9 News" today often draws better ratings than the newscasts on KSTP-TV, which obtained the ABC affiliation from it decades earlier.
On September 9 2006, 4Kids TV programming moved to sister station WFTC.
Video News Release
On June 16, 2006, KMSP played a "video news release" about convertibles produced by GM in its entirety. The narrator, Medialink publicist Andrew Schmertz, was introduced as reporter André Schmertz. KMSP did not disclose the corporate source of this segment to their viewers.
Programming
The station has had a long-running 9 p.m. newscast (now known as Fox9 News at 9), which airs an hour before most other news broadcasts in the area. The two primary news anchors are Jeff Passolt and Robyne Robinson, who have been paired longer than any other anchor team in the Twin Cities, according to the station.
Notable Personalities
Current On-Air Talent
FOX9 ANCHORS
- Jeff Passolt, 5:00 and 9:00 Anchor, Sunday-Thursdays/10:00PM Anchor
- Robyne Robinson, 5:00 & 9:00PM Anchor, seen Sunday-Thursdays
- Marni Hughes, 10:00pm Anchor
- Tom Butler, Weekday Morning Anchor
- Alix Kendall, Weekday Morning Anchor
- Tim Blotz, 5PM and 9PM Anchor,Friday and Saturdays
- Karen Scullin, 5PM and 9PM Anchor,Friday and Saturdays/Weekend Morning Anchor
- Tom Halden, Weekend Morning Anchor/Wed-Fri Morning Reporter
FOX9 REPORTERS
- Jody Ambroz, General Assignment Reporter
- Jeff Baillon, Investigative Reporter
- Paul Blume, General Assignment Reporter
- Ellen Galles, General Assignment Reporter
- Jeff Goldberg, General Assignment Reporter
- Maury Glover, General Assignment Reporter
- Juli Jay, Traffic Reporter
- Bill Keller, General Assignment Reporter
- Tom Lyden, Investigative Reporter
- Jason Matheson, Entertainment Reporter
- Beth McDonough, General Assignment Reporter
- Richelle McGinnis, General Assignment Reporter
- Jacqueline McLean, Investigative Reporter
- Rob Olson, General Assignment Reporter
- Jamie Reese, General Assignment Reporter
- M.A. Rosko, General Assignment Reporter, seen Weekday Mornings
- Dawn Stevens, General Assignment Reporter
- Trish Van Pilsum, Investigative Reporter
- Scott Wasserman, General Assignment Reporter
FOX9 WEATHER TEAM
- Ian Leonard (AMS Seal of Approval), Chief Meteorologist,Sunday-Thursdays
- Keith Marler (AMS Seal of Approval), Weekday Morning Meteorologist
- Christine Clayburg, Friday and Saturday Evening Meteorologist, on a temporary basis
- Erik Maitland, Weekend Morning Meteorologist
- Ron Trenda, Fill-in Meteorologist
SPORTS ANCHORS/REPORTERS
- Jim Rich Sports Director/Weeknight Sports Anchor
- Dawn Mitchell, Weekend Sports Anchor
Former Anchors & Personalities
- Lori Aoki, Anchor
- Tony Burden, Anchor at 9:30 & 10
- Pete Busch, Traffic
- Joe Digiovanni, Chief Meteorlogist
- Rod Grams, Anchor
- Jeff Grayson, Sports Director (Now with FOX Sports Net)
- Angela Hampton, 10:00pm News Anchor
- Heather Harden, Anchor
- Don Harrison, anchor (1975-1979; later with Headline News, died 1998)
- Leslie Jones, Morning Reporter
- Ernie Martz, Weatherman (1970s-1980s)
- Mike Nicco, Weekend Meteorolgist (December 2003-December 2006)
- Janie Peterson, Chief Meteorolgist (2000-2006)
- Harry Reasoner, Anchor (1950s; later with CBS and ABC, died 1991)
- Gary Rebstock, Anchor
- Carl Rochelle, Anchor (1970-1973; later with CNN and NBC)
- Beth Ruyak, Anchor
- Sam Scaman, Chief Meteorologist
- Dave Sheehan, Sports (1980s)
- Tim Sherno, Morning News Anchor (1997-2005; Now at rival KSTP-TV)
- Mike Tsolinas, Morning Weather
- Sue Turner, Weekend Anchor
- Robin Wolfram, Morning News Anchor
- Lara Yamada, Weekend Morning Anchor (August-October 2006)'
Broadcasting facilities
The KMSP TV Tower is located in Shoreview, Minnesota. KMSP owns the tower, which stands 1466 feet (446.8 m) tall, but shares it with WFTC and the Twin Cities Public Television stations, KTCA and KTCI. Several FM stations are also on the tower: KQRS, KXXR ("93X"), KTCZ ("Cities 97"), KTIS, KSJN, KJZI, KDWB, KEEY ("K102"), WLTE and KZJK.
KMSP has an extensive network of broadcast translators to carry its analog signal throughout much of the state.
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Reference
- [http://northpine.com/broadcast/mn/tvtranslators.html Minnesota TV Translators and Satellite Channels - Northpine.com
- Center for Media and Democracy
External links
- MyFox Twin Cities (official KMSP-TV website)
- Template:TVQ
- Fox 9 at Twin Cities Tv Source
- Picture of the Fox 9 News Set
- Your Newsnine Station: The saga of KMSP-TV Minneapolis - St. Paul in the 1970s
- Ken Wagner - KMSP-TV's legendary Grandpa Ken
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