KXAS-TV, Channel 5, is the NBC station for the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. The station was Texas' first TV station and made its debut on September 28, 1948. Its transmitter located in Cedar Hill. Its analog broadcasts are on channel 5 while its digital broadcasts are on channel 41. The station is owned by a joint venture of NBC Universal (76%) and LIN Television (24%) - its only other sister station under this co-ownership is KNSD in San Diego. However, because NBC has majority control of the station, KXAS is run as an NBC owned and operated station.
NBC 5 Weather Plus is offered on KXAS's digital station.
History
The station was launched on September 28, 1948, as WBAP-TV, the first television station in the state of Texas. It was owned by Amon G. Carter, publisher of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, along with WBAP radio. A year later, the two stations were joined by WBAP-FM (96.3 FM, now KSCS).
Even though it was obvious that Dallas and Fort Worth would be a single television market, Carter didn't care whether people in Dallas could see channel 5; he had long been a booster for the Fort Worth area. The station reportedly moved its transmitter to Cedar Hill with the other Metroplex stations in 1957 only after NBC threatened to yank its affiliation. (Before this, Dallas-based WFAA (then KBTV) had a primary NBC affiliation covering that city and the eastern half of the Metroplex; it had a secondary ABC affilation before it took primary status.)
The station was owned by the Carter family until 1974, when the FCC barred common ownership of newspapers and TV stations in all but a few cases. The FCC grandfathered the Metroplex's other newspaper/radio/television combination--Belo's Dallas Morning News and WFAA-AM-FM-TV--but would not do the same for the Star-Telegram and WBAP-AM-FM-TV. Accordingly, the Carters decided to break up their media empire. WBAP-TV was then sold to LIN TV, who changed the calls to the current KXAS-TV. (The Star-Telegram and WBAP-AM were sold to Capital Cities Communications at that time; the newspaper is now owned by the McClatchy Company, while the radio station is now owned by Citadel Broadcasting as part of ABC Radio.)
LIN wholly owned the station until 1997, when it sold 76% of KXAS to NBC, in exchange for 24% of KNSD in San Diego (which NBC had recently purchased from New World Communications, who had also owned channel 5's rival KDFW until it and the other Fox affiliates owned by New World were sold to Fox) and cash. As part of the deal, NBC took control of KXAS' operations.
KXAS is locally known for its weather coverage. It claims to be the first station to have hired only full-time meteorologists. One of its first, Harold Taft, broadcast for over 40 years.
Digital Television
The station's digital channel is multiplexed:
On or before February 17, 2009 KXAS-TV will leave channel 5 and continue broadcasting on channel 41 to complete its analog to digital conversion [1] using PSIP, to display KXAS-TV's virtual channel as "5".
KXAS-TV started broadcasting their newscasts in HD on September 7, 2007 at 10 AM.
Notable Personalities
Current On-Air Talent
NBC 5 Anchors
- Kevin Cokely: NBC 5 News at 6 (Saturday), NBC 5 News at 5 (Sunday), NBC 5 News at 10 (weekend) Anchor/Reporter
- Brian Curtis: NBC 5 First at Four Anchor/Reporter
- Deborah Ferguson: NBC 5 Today Anchor/Reporter
- Scott Friedman: NBC 5 Today Weekend Anchor/Reporter
- Brendan Higgins: NBC 5 Today Anchor/Reporter
- Meredith Land: NBC 5 News at 5 Anchor/Reporter
- Jane McGarry: NBC 5 News at 6, NBC 5 News at 10 Anchor
- Kristi Nelson: NBC 5 First at Four Anchor/Reporter
- Mike Snyder: NBC 5 News at 5, 6, 10 Anchor
NBC 5 Reporters
- Ashanti Blaize: General Assignment Reporter, Fill-in Anchor
- Tammy Dombeck: Gridlock Buster Traffic Reporter
- Scott Gordon: General Assignment Reporter
- Brett Johnson: General Assignment Reporter
- Ken Kalthoff: General Assignment Reporter, Fill-in Anchor
- Randy McIlwain: General Assignment Reporter
- Melissa Newton: Freelance General Assignment Reporter
- Grant Stinchfield: Investigative, General Assignment Reporter
- Lindsay Wilcox: General Assignment Reporter
- David Finfrock: NBC 5 News at 5, 6, 10 Chief Meteorologist
- Steve MacLaughlin (AMS Seal of Approval): NBC 5 First at Four, NBC 5 News at 6 (Saturday), NBC 5 News at 5 (Sunday), NBC 5 News at 10 (weekend) Meteorologist
- James Aydelott (AMS Seal of Approval): NBC 5 Today Saturday/Sunday Meteorologist
- Jennifer Lopez (AMS Seal of Approval): NBC 5 Today Meteorologist [2]
- Michael Hammer: NBC 5 Fill-In Meteorologist
NBC 5 Sports
- Newy Scruggs: NBC 5 News at 6, NBC 5 News at 10 Sports Director, Host: Sports Extra
- Matt Barrie: NBC 5 fill-in sports anchor and reporter
- Grant Stinchfield: NBC 5 fill-in sports anchor
NBC 5 Alumni
- Ward Andrews: Anchor (1969-1977)
- Mike Androvett:Dallas Bureau Reporter/Law Expert (1992-1994)
- Erin Allan Steed: Reporter (2003-2005,now a PR vice president [1])
- Russ Bloxom: Anchor/Reporter (1967-1979)
- Stephanie Boswell Reporter (1992-1996, now a media consultant [2])
- Jack Brown: Reporter/Anchor (1958-1980)
- Gretchen Carlson: Anchor/Reporter (1998-2000, now at Fox News)
- Angela Cain: Anchor (1993-2000, now at WTHR-TV in Indianapolis)
- Clif Caldwell: Reporter (1992-1997), since was at WFAA-TV and now at KTVT-TV
- Randall Carlisle: Anchor (1990-1991, now at KTVX-TV in Salt Lake City)
- Alyce Caron: Anchor (1984-1990, now at HSN)
- Derek Castillo: Weekend Sports Anchor/Reporter (2001-2008)
- Scott Chesner: Meteorologist (1981-2004, now at KETK-TV in Tyler, TX)
- Jeff Eliasoph: Anchor/Reporter (1989-2002, now at WOIO-TV in Cleveland-Akron, OH)
- Charles Ely:Anchor/Reporter (1979-1984, now at KTUL-TV in Tulsa)
- Skip Ely: Meteorologist (retired from NWS Fort Worth Office)
- Larry Estepa: Anchor/Reporter (1986-1994, now at WJAR-TV in Providence)
- John Garcia: Reporter (1991-1993, now at WLS-TV in Chicago)
- Ron Godbey: Meteorologist, former USAF and retired
- Jay Gray: Investigative Reporter (1993-2005, now at NBC News)
- Marty Griffin: Dallas Bureau Reporter (1988-1996)
- Pam Harris: Weekend Anchor/Reporter (1996-2005), since at WFAA-TV & TCN and now at KTVT-TV
- Reggie Harris: Anchor (1985-1987, deceased)
- Dennis Holly: Anchor (1978-1985)
- Calvin Hughes: Weekend Anchor/Reporter (1995-1999, now at WPLG-TV in Miami)
- Jane Jayroe: Anchor (1980-1984, Miss America 1967)
- Brian Jensen: Sports anchor (1997-2000, currently radio voice for Texas Tech University football)
- Bill Jones: Sports anchor/Reporter (1992-1997), now working at KTVT-TV)
- Shelley Kofler: Dallas Bureau Reporter (1985-1993, now working at KERA-TV)
- Shelli Lockhart: Anchor (1995-2001, now at WDAF-TV in Kansas City)
- Ramona Logan: Anchor/Reporter (1985-2006, now runs a consulting firm [3])
- Boyd Matson: Sports Anchor (1970s)
- Ken McCool: part-time Meteorologist
- Kathleen McDonald:Reporter (1992-1993)
- Howard McNeil:Meteorologist (1970s)
- Rebecca Miller: Meteorologist (1991-2008)
- Willie Monroe: Reporter (1972-1976, now at KGO-TV in San Francisco)
- Chip Moody: Anchor (1971-1980, deceased)
- Pam Moore: Anchor (1980-1983, now at KRON-TV in San Francisco)
- Joyce Morgan: Anchor
- Scott Murray: Sports anchor (1981-2003)
- Larry Mullins: Reporter, PA Host, Dallas Bureau Chief (1987-2005, now a Hollywood producer)
- Brian Mylar: Anchor/Reporter (1990-1996, now at KSAT-TV in San Antonio)
- Scott Pelley: Reporter (1978-1981, now at CBS News)
- Rikki Ragland: Internet/Technology News Anchor/Reporter, Online with Rikki Ragland (2000-2005, owner the preppy debutante co. [4])
- John Rhadigan: Weekend Sports Anchor/Reporter (1990-2001, now at FSN Southwest)
- George Riba: Sports Reporter (1974-1975, now at WFAA-TV)
- Charlie Rose: Talk Show Host (1979-1981), returned to CBS News 60 Minutes
- Bob Schieffer: Anchor/Reporter (1967-1969, now at CBS News)
- Mark Schumacher: Reporter (1986-1988)
- Michael Scott: Morning Anchor (2000-2004, now at WAAY-TV in Huntsville, AL)
- Barry Simms: Reporter (1991-1995, now at WBAL-TV in Baltimore)
- Bob Simon: Dallas Bureau Reporter (1991-1992)
- Mike Simon: Meteorologist
- Sabrina Smith: Consumer Reporter (1993-2006)
- Ron Spain: Sports Anchor
- Harold Taft: Meteorologist (1948-1991, deceased)
- Brenda Teele: Morning Anchor (2000-2006, now at WFAA-TV)
- Ron Thulin: Sports Anchor/Reporter (1982-1988, now at TBS)
- Cynthia Tinsley: Anchor (1991-1993)
- Denise Valdez: Weekend Anchor/Reporter (2001-2002, now at KLAS-TV in Las Vegas)
- Jack Van Roy: Meteorologist
- Krista Villarreal: Meteorologist (2000-2004, now at WPXI-TV in Pittsburgh)
- Al Wallace: Sports Anchor/Reporter (1982-1985, now at WDAF-TV in Kansas City)
- Todd D. Wallace: NBC 5 Today Saturday/Sunday Anchor (2004-2007) (now at WRTV-TV Indianapolis)
- Sherry Williams: Reporter (1995-1997, most recently at KIAH in Houston}
- Sherry Woodward: Dallas Bureau Reporter (1988-1991)
- Brad Wright: Anchor (1980-2000)
- Bobbie Wygant: Talk Show Host/Anchor (since 1948)
News/Station Presentation
Newscast Titles
- The Texas News (1950s-1970s)
- Area Five Texas News (1970s)
- Action News (1970s-1980s)
- Channel 5 News (1980s)
- Texas News 5 (1990-1998)
- NBC 5 Texas News (1998-2000)
- NBC 5 News (2000-present)
Station Slogans
- Five Keeps Bringing It Home To You (1970s)
- Channel Five News, The Team to Watch for News (1980s)
- Building a Better Texas (1990-1992)
- The Texas News Channel (1992-2003)
- Not Just What Happens, What Matters (2003-2007)
- Where You Matter (2007-2008)
- Anytime. Everywhere. (2008-Present)
Logos
KXAS has used its "Star 5" logo since 1974--the longest-used numeric logo in the market and one of the longest-used numeric logos in the country.
Trivia
- On November 24, 1963, a WBAP-TV remote unit set up at Dallas Police Headquarters fed the live images of accused Presidential assassin Lee Harvey Oswald being gunned down by Jack Ruby to the NBC network. It was the first time a murder had been witnessed live on network television in the United States. It was also notable that, during NBC's network coverage of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, news reports from WBAP-TV's studios were transmitted in color, with NBC broadcasting the coverage in New York from a black and white studio. (WBAP-TV was one of the earliest local stations to convert its local programming to color.)
- In the late 1960s, Fort Worth native Bob Schieffer began his broadcast career at WBAP-TV as a reporter and anchor of the 10 p.m. news. Schieffer then went on to Washington, D.C. as a reporter for the now-defunct Metromedia news service and WTTG-TV, then embarked on a long career with CBS News.
- On March 28, 2000, while an F3 tornado was ripping through downtown Fort Worth, the 6 pm newscast caught the tornado on air live as NBC 5 Weather Team Chief Meteorologist David Finfrock was explaining to the NBC 5 viewers at home as well as Jane McGarry and Mike Snyder about the tornado warning for Tarrant County.
Video samples
External links
References
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Broadcast television in Dallas/Fort Worth |
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| Stations |
KDTN 2 (DayStar) · KDFW 4 (Fox, Radar on 4.2) · KXAS 5 (NBC, WX+ on 5.2, USp on 5.3) · WFAA 8 (ABC, Radar/News on 8.2, DFW TwrCam on 8.3) · KTVT 11 (CBS) · KERA 13 (PBS) · KTXA 21 (Ind) · KNAV 22 (Genesis) · KUVN 23 (UNI) · K25FW 25 (HSN) · KODF 26/KLEG 44 (AZA) · KDFI 27 (MNTV) · KHPK 28 (Genesis) · KMPX 29 (Ind/Spanish) · K31GL 31 (Ind) · KDAF 33 (CW, LATV on DT2) · KJJM 34 (Ind) · KVFW 38/KZFW 53 (Ind/Religious) · KXTX 39 (TEL) · KUVN 47 (Ind) · KTAQ 47 (Promise) · KSTR 49 (TFT) · KATA 50 (MTV Tr3s) · KFWD 52 (Ind) · KLDT 54 (OnTV4U digital) · KSEX 57 (Infomercials) · KDTX 58 (TBN, 58.2 Church, 58.3 JCTV, 58.4 Enlace, 58.5 Smile) · KPXD 68 (ION, 68.2 qubo, 68.3 Life, 68.4 Worship)
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| Local cable channels |
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| Defunct stations |
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| Texas Broadcast television areas by city:
Abilene/Sweetwater • Amarillo (Texas Panhandle) • Austin • Beaumont/Port Arthur • Corpus Christi • Dallas-Fort Worth • Del Rio, TX • El Paso • Houston • Laredo • Lubbock • Odessa/Midland (Permian Basin) • Rio Grande Valley • San Angelo • San Antonio • Sherman/Ada, OK • Texarkana/Shreveport, LA • Tyler/Longview (East Texas) • Victoria • Waco/Bryan (Brazos Valley) • Wichita Falls/Lawton, OK
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