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KATC (TV)
Encyclopedia
KATC, channel 3, is an ABC
-affiliated television station licensed to Lafayette, Louisiana
. It began operations on September 19, 1962.
A 1000 kW transmitter for its digital broadcast is located near Branch, Louisiana
and became operational November 6, 2007. KATC continued to use its transmitter for its analogue signal located south of Crowley, Louisiana
until the mandated digital date of June 12, 2009.
KATC is also an affiliate of The CW, the signal of which is carried on digital subchannel 3.2. Before June 14, 2010, KLWB had the affiliation.
, the television subsidiary of the Evening Post Publishing Company. At first, KATC Signed on September 19, 1962 and was locally owned by Acadian Television Company, but through the 70s and 80s was a sister station to New Orleans' WWL-TV
under the ownership of Loyola University New Orleans
. In 1984, Loyola divested their broadcast properties, with WWL going to a group of station employees and KATC going to investment firm Merrill Lynch
and eventually being sold to Cordillera. In 1993, the station joined other ABC affiliates, including WBRZ in Baton Rouge, in not airing the pilot to NYPD Blue
. In 1998 The Evening Post Publishing Company purchased the station along with WLEX-TV
in Lexington, Kentucky
as the present owner. In 2003, the station started broadcasting in stereo. On June 12, 2009
KATC Channel 3 turned off the analog transmitter and turned on the digital transmitter on Channel 28 and the virtual channel is 3.
KATC is also the ABC affiliate of record for Lake Charles
and Southwest Louisiana
, since that area does not have an ABC affiliate of its own.
Reporters
Storm Team 3
Sports Anchors/Reporters
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
-affiliated television station licensed to Lafayette, Louisiana
Lafayette, Louisiana
Lafayette is a city in and the parish seat of Lafayette Parish, Louisiana, United States, on the Vermilion River. The population was 120,623 at the 2010 census...
. It began operations on September 19, 1962.
A 1000 kW transmitter for its digital broadcast is located near Branch, Louisiana
Branch, Louisiana
Branch, Louisiana is an unincorporated community in Acadia Parish located on LA-35 near the LA-35 intersection, approximately 5 miles south of the town of Church Point and 8 miles north of the City of Rayne....
and became operational November 6, 2007. KATC continued to use its transmitter for its analogue signal located south of Crowley, Louisiana
Crowley, Louisiana
Crowley is a city in and the parish seat of Acadia Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 14,225 at the 2000 census. The city is noted for its annual International Rice Festival. Crowley has the nickname of "Rice Capital of America", because at one time it was a major center for...
until the mandated digital date of June 12, 2009.
KATC is also an affiliate of The CW, the signal of which is carried on digital subchannel 3.2. Before June 14, 2010, KLWB had the affiliation.
Station History
KATC Channel 3 is owned by Cordillera CommunicationsEvening Post Publishing Company
The Evening Post Publishing Company is a privately held media company, based inCharleston, South Carolina, United States.In addition to The Post and Courier of Charleston, the South's oldest daily newspaper, the company owns six other newspapers in South Carolina, including the Aiken Standard...
, the television subsidiary of the Evening Post Publishing Company. At first, KATC Signed on September 19, 1962 and was locally owned by Acadian Television Company, but through the 70s and 80s was a sister station to New Orleans' WWL-TV
WWL-TV
WWL-TV, virtual channel 4, is the CBS-affiliated television station serving New Orleans, Louisiana, southeast Louisiana and parts of southern and coastal Mississippi, and is the primary CBS station for South and Coastal Mississippi. It broadcasts on UHF digital channel 36...
under the ownership of Loyola University New Orleans
Loyola University New Orleans
Loyola University New Orleans is a private, co-educational and Jesuit university located in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. Originally established as Loyola College in 1904, the institution was chartered as a university in 1912. It bears the name of the Jesuit patron, Saint Ignatius of Loyola...
. In 1984, Loyola divested their broadcast properties, with WWL going to a group of station employees and KATC going to investment firm Merrill Lynch
Merrill Lynch
Merrill Lynch is the wealth management division of Bank of America. With over 15,000 financial advisors and $2.2 trillion in client assets it is the world's largest brokerage. Formerly known as Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc., prior to 2009 the firm was publicly owned and traded on the New York...
and eventually being sold to Cordillera. In 1993, the station joined other ABC affiliates, including WBRZ in Baton Rouge, in not airing the pilot to NYPD Blue
NYPD Blue
NYPD Blue is an American television police drama set in New York City, exploring the internal and external struggles of the fictional 15th precinct of Manhattan...
. In 1998 The Evening Post Publishing Company purchased the station along with WLEX-TV
WLEX-TV
WLEX-TV, channel 18, is the NBC-affiliated television station for Lexington, Kentucky and the East-Central Kentucky region. Its transmitter is located in Southern Lexington near Hamburg Pavilion on WTVQ-DT's tower. WLEX-TV's studio is on Russell Cave Road in northern Fayette County.-Digital...
in Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region...
as the present owner. In 2003, the station started broadcasting in stereo. On June 12, 2009
2009 in television
The following is a list of events affecting American television in 2009. Events listed include television show debuts, finales, cancellations, and new channel launches.-January:-February:-March:-April:-May:-June:-July:-August:...
KATC Channel 3 turned off the analog transmitter and turned on the digital transmitter on Channel 28 and the virtual channel is 3.
KATC is also the ABC affiliate of record for Lake Charles
Lake Charles
Lake Charles may refer to:in Canada*Lake Charles, Nova Scotia, a lake in the Halifax Regional Municipalityin the United States*Lake Charles, Louisiana, a city in the United States*Lake Charles , the lake after which it is named...
and Southwest Louisiana
Southwest Louisiana
Southwest Louisiana is a five-parish area intersecting the Acadiana and Central Louisiana regions in the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is composed of the following parishes : Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, Jefferson Davis...
, since that area does not have an ABC affiliate of its own.
Newscasts
The station produces local news and talk programming, with such shows as Good Morning Acadiana, Friday Night Football and "hard-news" newscasts that air weekdays at 5, 6, and 10 p.m., Saturdays at 6 and 10 p.m., and on Sundays at 5:30 and 10 p.m.Current On-Air Staff
Anchors- Hoyt Harris: Co-Anchor, Acadiana's News Channel at 5,6 & 10pm
- Marcelle Fontenot: Co-Anchor, Acadiana's NewsChannel 5,6 & 10pm
- Tom Voinche: Good Morning Acadiana Co-Host
- Tracy Wirtz: Good Morning Acadiana Co-Host
- Jim Hummel: Anchor Weekend
Reporters
- Mike Magnoli:
- Maddie Garrett
- Melissa Hawkes
- Herbie Smith
- Shawn Kline
- Carolyn Cerda
- Jenise Fernandez
Storm Team 3
- Rob Perillo: Chief Meteorologist, Acadiana's NewsChannel at 5:00, 6:00 & 10:00
- Dave Baker: Meteorologist, Good Morning Acadiana
- Natalie Noah: Meteorologist, Weekends
Sports Anchors/Reporters
- Hugh Keeton: Sports Director
- Travis Webb: Weekend Sports Anchor
Newscast titles
- TV-3 News (1960s)
- Total News (1970s)
- TV-3 Action News (1970s-1980s)
- Action 3 News (1980s, 1991-1995)
- NewsWatch 3 (late 1980s)
- NewsChannel 3 (mid 1990s)
- KATC, Acadiana's NewsChannel (1995–present)