KBTR-CA
Encyclopedia
KBTR-CA channel 41, known on-air as WBTR 41, is a television station
in Baton Rouge, Louisiana
. The station is owned by Louisiana Television Broadcasting, the owners of WBRZ-TV
. The station is seen on cable Cox Communications
and AT&T U-verse.
While the station is licensed as KBTR-CA, it brands itself on the air as "WBTR 41" to help fit in with other stations in the market. To keep other stations from using the WBTR calls (other than in legal IDs), KBTR has registered "WBTR" as a Registered trademark.
and Great Oaks Broadcasting, and they chose the call letters because of a partnership with WKG-TV-Video-Electronic College, which taught television and radio broadcasting and production. It did not have a local newscast but, instead, ran Independent Network News
. Following several format tests, the station officially began broadcasting 24 hours a day on August 5, 1987.
On October 20, 1988, it went to UHF channel 19. From the start, the station experienced trouble getting added to the Baton Rouge cable lineup such that it retransmitted its signal on various translator stations; namely, K07UJ, K13VE, W19AW, W39AT, and K65EF. On May 15, 1989, Cablevision added the station to its lineup. The station changed its call letters to WBTR on February 1, 1991 in order to emphasize its local programming and started using the Steely Dan
song "Hey Nineteen
" for its station ids. It was an independent station for Baton Rouge, LA until January 1995 when they became the Baton Rouge, LA affiliation for UPN.
Even after WBTR affiliated with UPN, the channel was in danger of being dropped from the cable lineup. In 1996, TCI threatened to drop the station from the cable lineup, so Jenkins ran PSAs
encouraging viewers to lobby to keep the station on the air. This, coupled with support from then-Governor Mike Foster kept the station on the air. In September 1999, WZUP became Baton Rouge's primary UPN affiliate; however, WBTR continued to air some programming from the network, primarily during the daytime. When White Knight Broadcasting (owner of WZUP) sought to extend its signal over the air in 2002, it purchased the channel 19 allocation from Jenkins to broadcast WZUP (rechristened KZUP) OTA; Jenkins moved WBTR to channel 41 during that time as well, a channel he licensed but had not used. During April 2003, Cox Communications
removed the station from the cable lineup in favor of KPBN-LP
, yet Jenkins was able to lobby again to keep the station on cable.
Most of the former translator stations now broadcast other programming. K65EF is now WBRL, Baton Rouge's CW
affiliate; W19AW is KZUP, Baton Rouge's RTV
affiliate; K07UJ is now KPBN-LP, a sportsman channel affiliated with America One
and several other sportsman networks; W39AT is now WSTY, a My Family TV
affiliate for Hammond
; K13VE is currently silent.
In 2005, Woody Jenkins and Great Oaks Broadcasting sold the station to Veritas Broadcasting Company, who also purchased WSTY in Hammond. In late Summer 2007, Veritas Broadcasting, sold the station to the Manship family, owners of WBRZ and The Advocate newspaper in order to concentrate on running WSTY. Future plans for the station to be announced later. Previously, Jenkins operated KBTR until 2004, when it was purchased by Veritas.
WBTR continues to broadcast syndicated reruns and local programming catered to the Baton Rouge market. Since 1991, Baton Rouge Today, a news program covering local and state issues, has aired on the station. This program won 1st place as the Best Community News Program in the U.S. from the Community Broadcasters Association. WBTR also airs sporting events from St. Amant High School
in Ascension Parish
and the Southland Conference
, as well as Newsbeat and Sports Showtime from LSU's
Tiger TV, and rebroadcasts of WBRZ's Eyewitness News.
One of its former news directors is Anthony Richard "Tony" Perkins
, a former Republican
member of the Louisiana House of Representatives
, who now heads the Family Research Council
.
made landfall on the Louisiana coastline during Labor Day
weekend 2008, the station was used to simulcast New Orleans
' WDSU-TV (Channel 6) for evacuees heading to Baton Rouge.
Television station
A television station is a business, organisation or other such as an amateur television operator that transmits content over terrestrial television. A television transmission can be by analog television signals or, more recently, by digital television. Broadcast television systems standards are...
in Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Baton Rouge is the capital of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is located in East Baton Rouge Parish and is the second-largest city in the state.Baton Rouge is a major industrial, petrochemical, medical, and research center of the American South...
. The station is owned by Louisiana Television Broadcasting, the owners of WBRZ-TV
WBRZ-TV
WBRZ, virtual channel 2 , is an ABC affiliate television station serving Baton Rouge, Louisiana, south-central and southeastern Louisiana and southwestern Mississippi. It is owned by the Manship family, who also publishes the Baton Rouge daily newspaper, The Advocate. Its transmitter is located in...
. The station is seen on cable Cox Communications
Cox Communications
Cox Communications is a privately owned subsidiary of Cox Enterprises providing digital cable television, telecommunications and wireless services in the United States...
and AT&T U-verse.
While the station is licensed as KBTR-CA, it brands itself on the air as "WBTR 41" to help fit in with other stations in the market. To keep other stations from using the WBTR calls (other than in legal IDs), KBTR has registered "WBTR" as a Registered trademark.
History
The channel began as an independent television station on May 1, 1987 as WKG on UHF channel 49. It was owned by Woody JenkinsWoody Jenkins
Louis Elwood "Woody" Jenkins is a newspaper editor in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, who served as a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from 1972–2000 and waged three unsuccessful races for the United States Senate....
and Great Oaks Broadcasting, and they chose the call letters because of a partnership with WKG-TV-Video-Electronic College, which taught television and radio broadcasting and production. It did not have a local newscast but, instead, ran Independent Network News
Independent Network News (US)
The Independent Network News was a nationally-syndicated nightly news program, seen from June 1980 until June 1990. The newscast was designed to serve the same purpose as the nightly network news programs, and was produced by Tribune Company-owned station WPIX in New York...
. Following several format tests, the station officially began broadcasting 24 hours a day on August 5, 1987.
On October 20, 1988, it went to UHF channel 19. From the start, the station experienced trouble getting added to the Baton Rouge cable lineup such that it retransmitted its signal on various translator stations; namely, K07UJ, K13VE, W19AW, W39AT, and K65EF. On May 15, 1989, Cablevision added the station to its lineup. The station changed its call letters to WBTR on February 1, 1991 in order to emphasize its local programming and started using the Steely Dan
Steely Dan
Steely Dan is an American rock band; its core members are Donald Fagen and Walter Becker. The band's popularity peaked in the late 1970s, with the release of seven albums blending elements of jazz, rock, funk, R&B, and pop...
song "Hey Nineteen
Hey Nineteen
"Hey Nineteen" is a song by American jazz rock band Steely Dan, written by members Walter Becker and Donald Fagen, and released on their 1980 album Gaucho.-Story:...
" for its station ids. It was an independent station for Baton Rouge, LA until January 1995 when they became the Baton Rouge, LA affiliation for UPN.
Even after WBTR affiliated with UPN, the channel was in danger of being dropped from the cable lineup. In 1996, TCI threatened to drop the station from the cable lineup, so Jenkins ran PSAs
Public service announcement
A public service announcement or public service ad is a type of advertisement featured on television, radio, print or other media...
encouraging viewers to lobby to keep the station on the air. This, coupled with support from then-Governor Mike Foster kept the station on the air. In September 1999, WZUP became Baton Rouge's primary UPN affiliate; however, WBTR continued to air some programming from the network, primarily during the daytime. When White Knight Broadcasting (owner of WZUP) sought to extend its signal over the air in 2002, it purchased the channel 19 allocation from Jenkins to broadcast WZUP (rechristened KZUP) OTA; Jenkins moved WBTR to channel 41 during that time as well, a channel he licensed but had not used. During April 2003, Cox Communications
Cox Communications
Cox Communications is a privately owned subsidiary of Cox Enterprises providing digital cable television, telecommunications and wireless services in the United States...
removed the station from the cable lineup in favor of KPBN-LP
KPBN-LP
KPBN-LP is an America One, Untamed Sports, and Pursuit Channel affiliate station in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The station airs on broadcast channel 11 and over Cox Communications and Charter Communications cable channel 113. It is also available online....
, yet Jenkins was able to lobby again to keep the station on cable.
Most of the former translator stations now broadcast other programming. K65EF is now WBRL, Baton Rouge's CW
CW
-Arts:* Carl Wheezer, a character in Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius* Creative writing* Cryptic Writings, an album by Megadeth-Companies:* Cable & Wireless, a British telecommunications company* Colonial Williamsburg...
affiliate; W19AW is KZUP, Baton Rouge's RTV
RTV
-Radio-television:* RTV Slovenija, a public broadcaster in Slovenia*Rediffusion Television, a television station in Hong Kong *RTV , a satellite television channel...
affiliate; K07UJ is now KPBN-LP, a sportsman channel affiliated with America One
America One
America One is an over-the-air television network in the United States. The network serves over 170 LPTV, Class A, Full Power, Cable and Satellite affiliate stations...
and several other sportsman networks; W39AT is now WSTY, a My Family TV
My Family TV
My Family TV is a United States general entertainment television network jointly owned by ValCom and Luken Communications, and based in Chattanooga, Tennessee.-History:...
affiliate for Hammond
Hammond, Louisiana
Hammond is the largest city in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 20,049 at the 2009 census. It is home to Southeastern Louisiana University...
; K13VE is currently silent.
In 2005, Woody Jenkins and Great Oaks Broadcasting sold the station to Veritas Broadcasting Company, who also purchased WSTY in Hammond. In late Summer 2007, Veritas Broadcasting, sold the station to the Manship family, owners of WBRZ and The Advocate newspaper in order to concentrate on running WSTY. Future plans for the station to be announced later. Previously, Jenkins operated KBTR until 2004, when it was purchased by Veritas.
WBTR continues to broadcast syndicated reruns and local programming catered to the Baton Rouge market. Since 1991, Baton Rouge Today, a news program covering local and state issues, has aired on the station. This program won 1st place as the Best Community News Program in the U.S. from the Community Broadcasters Association. WBTR also airs sporting events from St. Amant High School
St. Amant High School
St. Amant High School is a high school located in Ascension Parish, Louisiana, United States. It is within the Ascension Parish School Board.As of the 2008-2009 school year, the school had an enrollment of 1,641 students and 98.0 classroom teachers , for a student-teacher ratio of 16.7.The school...
in Ascension Parish
Ascension Parish, Louisiana
Ascension Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is the fastest growing parish in the state. Its population is 107,215 which is 39.9% greater than the 2000 census...
and the Southland Conference
Southland Conference
The Southland Conference is a college athletic conference which operates in the south central United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division I for all sports; for football, it participates in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision...
, as well as Newsbeat and Sports Showtime from LSU's
Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, most often referred to as Louisiana State University, or LSU, is a public coeducational university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The University was founded in 1853 in what is now known as Pineville, Louisiana, under the name...
Tiger TV, and rebroadcasts of WBRZ's Eyewitness News.
One of its former news directors is Anthony Richard "Tony" Perkins
Tony Perkins (politician)
Anthony Richard "Tony" Perkins is president of the Family Research Council, a conservative Christian think tank and public policy foundation based in Washington, D.C...
, a former Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
member of the Louisiana House of Representatives
Louisiana State Legislature
The Louisiana State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is bicameral body, comprising the lower house, the Louisiana House of Representatives with 105 representatives, and the upper house, the Louisiana Senate with 39 senators...
, who now heads the Family Research Council
Family Research Council
The Family Research Council is a conservative or right-wing Christian group and lobbying organization formed in the United States in 1981 by James Dobson. It was fully incorporated in 1983...
.
Hurricane Gustav
As Hurricane GustavHurricane Gustav
The name Gustav has been used for five tropical cyclones in the Atlantic Ocean:* 1984's Tropical Storm Gustav - Spent most of its existence as a tropical depression hovering over Bermuda, no major damage was reported....
made landfall on the Louisiana coastline during Labor Day
Labor Day
Labor Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the first Monday in September that celebrates the economic and social contributions of workers.-History:...
weekend 2008, the station was used to simulcast New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
' WDSU-TV (Channel 6) for evacuees heading to Baton Rouge.