KGWN-DT2
 | |
| Fort Collins/Loveland/ Greeley, Colorado | |
|---|---|
| Branding | Northern Colorado 5 |
| Slogan |
Committed to Northern Colorado |
| Channels |
Digital: KGWN-DT 30.2 (UHF) Virtual: 5.2 (PSIP) |
| Affiliations | CBS |
| Owner |
Gray Television (Yellowstone LicenseCo, LLC) |
| Founded | unknown |
| Last air date | December 19, 2013 |
| Call letters' meaning | see KGWN |
| Former affiliations | The CW (via The CW Plus) |
| Transmitter power | 459 kW (digital) |
| Height | 162 m (digital) |
| Facility ID | 63166 (digital) |
| Transmitter coordinates | 41°6′1″N 105°0′23″W / 41.10028°N 105.00639°W (digital) |
KGWN-DT2 was the CBS-affiliated television station for Northern Colorado. It was a second digital subchannel of CBS outlet KGWN-TV that is owned by Frontier Radio Management. Over-the-air, it broadcast a 720p high definition digital signal on UHF channel 30.2 (or virtual channel 5.2 via PSIP) from KGWN's transmitter in unincorporated Laramie County, Wyoming (west of Cheyenne) between I-80/U.S. 30 and WY 225.
As a result, the broadcast radius of this signal did not cover Loveland and Greeley completely and areas just to the south were not able to pick up KGWN-DT2 at all. In order to increase its viewership base, the station was also seen in standard definition on Baja Broadband channel 5 and Comcast channel 14. The station maintained studios on East Mountain Avenue in downtown Fort Collins.
Although identified as a separate outlet in its own right, KGWN-DT2 was actually considered a semi-satellite of parent station KGWN in Cheyenne. It cleared all network programming as provided through its parent and syndicated shows although some programs are seen at a different time. This station also aired separate on-air identifications and local commercials. Although KGWN-DT2 maintained its own studios, master control and some internal operations were based out of KGWN's facility on East Lincolnway/East 14th Street/I-80 Business/U.S. 30 in Cheyenne.
KGWN has long claimed Northern Colorado as part of its primary coverage area even though the region is part of the Denver market, mainly because KGWN's transmitter is very close to the Colorado line. The main KGWN signal has been carried on cable systems in Fort Collins, Loveland, and Greeley for nearly five decades alongside Denver's CBS affiliate (originally KMGH-TV and now network owned-and-operated KCNC-TV). Additionally, many cable systems in Wyoming carry both KGWN and KCNC.
In May 2013, SagamoreHill Broadcasting reached a deal to sell KGWN to Yellowstone Holdings, a subsidiary of Frontier Radio Management.[1][2] On November 4, 2013, Gray Television announced a deal to acquire Yellowstone Holdings for $23 million. KGWN-TV and KGWN-DT2 will be operated under a local marketing agreement by Gray until the closure of the deal.[3] On December 19, 2013, KGWN announced that it would close "Northern Colorado 5," citing the inability to make the service "a viable long-term operation."[4]As of December 2013, KGWN is being rebroadcast on channel 5.2. On December 1, 2014, 5.2 will carry NBC programming from Gray owned KCWY in Casper. The programming includes KCWY Newscasts with insertion of local Cheyenne market advertising.
Newscasts
In 2005, KGWN established a Northern Colorado Bureau in Fort Collins. This provided another source of local news coverage in the area in addition to stations based in Denver. On September 15, 2008, this operation was expanded after KGWN-DT2 launched a weeknight 35 minute newscast in partnership with the Independent News Network (INN). Known as Northern Colorado 5 News at 10, the broadcast was recorded in advance from INN's production facility on Tremont Avenue in Davenport, Iowa. The news anchor, meteorologist, and sports anchor were provided by the centralized news operation and other personnel from INN filled-in as necessary.
At some point in time, production of Northern Colorado 5 News at 10 moved to a secondary set at KGWN's studios in Cheyenne and was no longer outsourced to the Independent News Network. Although the program was still taped in advance, it now featured anchor personnel from KGWN while three reporters based locally in Fort Collins contributed Northern Colorado-specific content to the broadcast.
In addition, there were weekday morning local weather cut-ins during CBS This Morning that were taped at KGWN's facility but with a focus on Northern Colorado. Weekday mornings from 6 to 6:30, the station simulcast local radio station KXBG (97.9 FM). Following at 6:30, there was a local weather forecast segment which repeated several times during the half-hour. KGWN-DT2 did not simulcast any newscasts from its parent station.
References
- ↑ Malone, Michael (May 31, 2013). "Yellowstone Buys Laredo, Cheyenne Stations For $20.5 Million". Broadcasting & Cable. Retrieved May 31, 2013.
- ↑ "APPLICATION FOR CONSENT TO ASSIGNMENT OF BROADCAST STATION CONSTRUCTION PERMIT OR LICENSE". CDBS Public Access. Federal Communications Commission. May 30, 2013. Retrieved June 17, 2013.
- ↑ "Gray Buying Yellowstone Stations". TVNewsCheck. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
- ↑ Hughes, Trevor (December 19, 2013). "Fort Collins TV station NoCo5 goes off the air". The Coloradoan. Retrieved December 24, 2013.