Corpus Christi Caller-Times from Corpus Christi, Texas • 12

Corpus! Cjjrfett Caller times! callercom Friday January 25 2002 a said Bixler' been kind of on pins and needles for a year and hallelujah it's finally Viewers will start noticing on-air changes in the middle of this year But no matter what equipment will be added or set reconstructed the most penetrating difference between now and a year from now will be the ownership As consult ant Cooke put it: and pops are an endangered And the sale of KZTV and KVTV greatly reduces the already dwindling population are few and far between said Eagle Creek Withers a rarity to find a station that was put on the air in the mid '50s and has remained in the same control for 45 or 50 Added Bixler: going to change things going from a family ownership into a broadcast group that has considerable experience in TV and radio in other parts of the country I think see some new Contact pop culturemedia critic Ricardo Baca at 886-3688 or bacarQcallercom ALL FALL MERCHANDISE 30 -50 7 5off Your Favorite Designers on Sale! Garfield Marks Bentley Arbuckle Sharon Young FL Malik among others1 HURRY IN FOR BEST SELECTIONS 993-6608 TOWN COUNTRY SHOPPING CFNTFK 'V i typings A long local history- 1946: Vann and Mary Kennedy move to Corpus Christi to establish KSIX-AMThey form the Corpus Christi Broadcasting Co with nuclear physicist and businessman James Burney Corpus Christi attorney Cecil Burney WOAI radio broadcaster Kendall McClure KSIX commercial manager Charles Manning and businessman Thurmond Krueger 1947: KSIX Radio goes on the air Nov 1952: KSIX Television Inc files application with the FCC for Channel 10 broadcast license July 1956: After a four-year legal battle with two other groups the FCC grants KSIX Television Inc a license to broadcast on Channel 10 Sept 30 1956: Channel 10 goes on the air as CBS affiliate KSIX-TV the third TV station (after KVDO and KRIS) 1958: KSIX-TV call letters are changed to KZTV 1970: KSIX-FM goes on the air 1973: Kennedy-operated KVTV goes on the air in Laredo 1985: KSIX-FM is sold 1986: KZTV begins operations from offices and studio at a new building at 301 Artesian St November sweeps of this year counting on big changes in tiie appearance and usefulness to bring in viewers and for now leaving the staff the way it is Withers said premature to talk about possible staff turnover because of the FCC hang time but at a recent meeting with KZTV employees he assured them that everyone would have their chance to be evaluated said 6 and 10 pm anchor Erik Barajas hear the horror stories about people wiping out newsrooms or closing down me news department for a period of time and those worries were there (before the said Barajas who has been with KZTV for more than two years everyone left the meeting in great spirits Tb say that they were elated would be an At 28 Barajas is young for a 10 pm anchor the youngest in Corpus Christi Some consultants might look down on his inexperience and age and while ajar as recognizes that danger hoping for the best just the nature of the Barajas said Longtime anchor At 73 noon anchor and news director Walter Furley is at the other end of the age and experience spectrum He started at KSIX in 1949 and helped start KZTV in '56 and the sale brought a wash of nostalgia upon his mind When asked about the his thoughts Furley recalled the advent of videotape and the days when the only photo- graphs of breaking news were black and white Polaroids taken at the scene and brought back to the studio Looper friend and coworker of many years is retiring but Furley yet made that decision know what going to Furley said has been told to me that going to have to go but I think going to be a personal KZTV station manager Jim Bixler 66 plans on riding the wave into digital conversion with the station and he looks forward to the upcoming changes we had a weakness (news) would be the place where we need the most said Bixler who has worked for KZTV off and on for' 30 years primetime and daytime (ratings are) OK but everybody puts the emphasis on But the stability that came with the announcement of the KZTV FROM A I felt that (Eagle Creek Broadcasting investor) Mr (Jim) Withers and the other members of his team have the broadcasting background and resources necessary to maintain the stations' longstanding commitment of service to Corpus Christi and Laredo" Many see it as the end of an era The Kennedys have long run their stations by their own unique rules and ignored industry trends and broadcasting innovations Their straightforward approach to newsgathering and distribution comes across in uncomplicated newscasts Longtime employee Gene Looper anchored the 6 and 10 pm news for the affiliate for more than 20 years and has worked for the Kennedys for more than 50 years He told the Caller-Times that retire coupons and sleep as soon as the sale is approved by the Federal Communications Commission 'Old-fashioned' news "Our news is kind of old-fashioned compared to everybody else I said Looper the 80-yearold program director hope the new people in town will do justice to the call letters and the reputation Mr Kennedy has made sure be making big changes not too soon The FCC usually takes anywhere from two to four months to validate a sale and in the meantime Eagle Creek touch any of the properties But Withers and the other two investors of Eagle Creek Broadcasting who are currently staying in the background as silent investors have big plans for the affiliate that traditionally excels with CBS's primetime line-up but tanks in its local primetime newscasts Withers who is also a partner in Pacific Broadcasting owner of local stations KKPN-FM1023 (The Planet) KPUS-FM1045 (The Octopus) and KCCG-FM1073 Oldies) said the group is committed to spending around $1 million in the first year most of which will go toward the quality of the newscasts Catching up station has not spent significant money on capital equipment in the past two to three years and we have to play catch said Withers who has TV and radio experience in multiple markets Much of the money will go toward upgrading the newsgathering and weather forecasting equipment One such indulgence will be a vehicle with live broadcasting capability In simpler terms media consultant Holland Cooke puts it this way "If you take a Polaroid off the screen today and take a Polaroid off the screen a year from now look like two different TV A year from now newscasts will look strikingly similar to those of NBC affiliate KRIS and ABC station Kill argues Cooke an experienced national TVradio consultant with McVay Media "A year from now this station will have a health segment Why? Because the consultants say so? Why have consultants? Because of venture capital Bankers like experiments" Ground to cover Withers should be so lucky to be compared to his competitors a year from today a big feat considering outdated newscast Withers plans to reinstate a 5 pm newscast something both Kill and KRIS offer and he hopes to see major improvements in the news ratings by CUtar-TimaMi KZTV moved to a new building at 301 Artesian St in 1986 1993: Vann Kennedy heads up the "cable wars" along with former KRIS-TV station owner Frank Smith Jr and Kill owner Mike McKinnon They withdraw from the TCI Cablevision lineup over fees for rebroadcasting network and other programming It takes some six weeks before contract negotiations end the media blackout Feb 2001: The Kennedys announce plans to sell three stations: KZTV KVTV in Laredo and KSIX-AM radio Dec 11 2001: Mary Kennedy dies at age 90 about a week before her 61st wedding anniversary with her husband Vann 96 who survives her Jan 23 2002: The Kennedys have a buyer for their independently owned media operations Comptied by CaNr-Tkrm Service sale has made working at KZTV easier for everyone Bixler said I as i I ffl I 4 1-1 1 j- -veI '-f i'-" f- ov a known us as Koch Petroleum Group one of the area's largest and most stable employers Now with the beginning of a new year comes a new name Flint Hills Resources and a renewed commitment to grow a strong environmentally responsible business' To create new opportunities for our employees and customers And to help improve the quality of life for everyone in our community Flint Hills Resources Proud to be part of the Coastal Bend wwwfhrcom Flint Hills RESOURCES i-' it M-'r -'Vi: it1 Say goodbye to the symptoms v-' i Say hello jW to the flu Corpus Christi' ls your medicine cabinet ready to greet the cold and flu season? According tb Surveillance Data Inc Corpus Christi is at high risk for respiratory illness right now so stock up And visit wwwvickscom for your weekly cold and flu 1 i tfiRJMQim.