KCVU-TV
Encyclopedia
KCVU Fox 20 is a Fox
Network affiliated television station based in Chico, California
. The station is owned and operated by Sainte Partners II, L.P.
of Modesto, California
. Fox 20 is seen on cable channel 2 on Comcast
in Chico
, Charter Cable in Redding
, and Suddenlink in Eureka
by way of KBVU, a semi-satellite in Eureka
.
on Chico and Redding cable systems.
KCVU was founded by Chester Smith in 1989. The company's chief executive officer is Robert Castro and the station's general manager is Doug Holroyd. Its transmitter and license is located near Paradise, California
. KCVU's sister stations include MyTV Northern California
(KRVU 21 Redding, KZVU 22 Chico, KEMY 33 Eureka), KUCO-TV
Univision
27, KXVU-TV
Telemundo
17, and KKTF-TV TeleFutura
35; Medford, Oregon
's KFBI-TV
My 48 and KMCW-TV
Telemundo
14. Sainte also operates KVIQ
, the CBS affiliate in Eureka, KUVU the CW affiliate in Eureka, KEUV, the Univision affiliate in Eureka, and THIS TV in Eureka, Chico-Redding and Medford-Klamath Falls.
KCVU terminated analog channel 30 on December 22, 2008. The station was re-branded to Fox 20 (for its physical digital channel; this differs from most digital signals, which identify using their analog channel). It still may be seen in analog via translator on channel 8 in Oroville and channel 38 in Redding until both translators go digital in the near future.
KBVU and KVIQ went digital on November 28, 2008, and were rebranded from Fox 29 and CBS 6 to Fox 28 and CBS 17, respectively.
On August 21, 2009, KCVU and KBVU replaced the digital simulcast of MyNetworkTV
with This TV on their DT2 subcarriers.
It was recently stated on air that the Sainte Television Group is one of the most respected companies and the only 100% debt-free broadcasting company in Northern California.
on Northland Cable Television channel 13 in both Mt. Shasta
and Yreka
when KMVU and Northland could not come to an agreement to remain on the cable system. (Northland also carried sister station MyTV Northern California
on cable channel 2, but will be replaced with KFBI-LP
of Medford) Northland had been blocked from airing Fox Network programming as a result. However, in a report from the Siskiyou Daily News on February 8, 2008, it appears that the dispute is settling down and Northland is working with KMVU
and KCVU to return either channel to both cable systems. KNVN
replaced KMVU
on channel 13 in Mt. Shasta and channel 11 in Yreka. KHSL-TV
started to air on channel 6 in Yreka and KDRV
is also on channel 6 in Mt. Shasta. KMVU
finally won the contract dispute and KCVU will no longer air on both cable systems because all Fox affiliates are under syndex
. KMVU and all the other local stations are fed to Yreka via OTA translator and has a fiber-optic link to Mt. Shasta except for KNVN which uses a Dish Network feed.
, utilizing that station's news department. The newscast was cancelled due to unwillingness to continue the agreement under the new management of KRCR. Both companies were doing financially well at the time of the cancelled agreement, like they had been for many years.
Digital channels>
Channel
Programming
xx.1
Main KCVU/KBVU programming / FOX
xx.2
This TV
Dish Network launched Chico/Redding HD locals on May 6, 2009. DirecTV will do the same later in 2011.
Like many other HD channels on Charter Cable in Redding, KCVU-DT can be picked up on basic cable by connecting the cable directly into an HDTV with a built-in QAM tuner, channel 104.4, This TV can be picked up on 104.7. It can also be picked up the same way on Comcast Cable in Chico, corresponding directly to the over the air number.
The Eureka television market (DMA #195)was the only TV market in California not available on DISH Network
until June 3, 2010, at which time it became available.The Eureka local channels are not yet available on DirecTV
, but will be by the end of 2011.
, NASCAR
and NFL Football
. However, KCVU does not air its syndicated programming in HD.
at age 78. He was survived by his wife Ann and his children. Despite Smith's death, Sainte continued to own and operate KCVU and its sister stations in the Sainte family.
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
Network affiliated television station based in Chico, California
Chico, California
Chico is the most populous city in Butte County, California, United States. The population was 86,187 at the 2010 census, up from 59,954 at the time of the 2000 census...
. The station is owned and operated by Sainte Partners II, L.P.
Sainte Partners II, L.P.
Sainte Partners II, L.P. is a broadcast company based in Modesto, California. The company's founder was country-western performer Chester Smith and the current chief executive officer is Robert Castro. They own several television stations throughout California and southern Oregon...
of Modesto, California
Modesto, California
Modesto is a city in, and is the county seat of, Stanislaus County, California. With a population of approximately 201,165 at the 2010 census, Modesto ranks as the 18th largest city in the state of California....
. Fox 20 is seen on cable channel 2 on Comcast
Comcast
Comcast Corporation is the largest cable operator, home Internet service provider, and fourth largest home telephone service provider in the United States, providing cable television, broadband Internet, and telephone service to both residential and commercial customers in 39 states and the...
in Chico
Chico, California
Chico is the most populous city in Butte County, California, United States. The population was 86,187 at the 2010 census, up from 59,954 at the time of the 2000 census...
, Charter Cable in Redding
Redding, California
Redding is a city in far-Northern California. It is the county seat of Shasta County, California, USA. With a population of 89,861, according to the 2010 Census...
, and Suddenlink in Eureka
Eureka, California
Eureka is the principal city and the county seat of Humboldt County, California, United States. Its population was 27,191 at the 2010 census, up from 26,128 at the 2000 census....
by way of KBVU, a semi-satellite in Eureka
Eureka, California
Eureka is the principal city and the county seat of Humboldt County, California, United States. Its population was 27,191 at the 2010 census, up from 26,128 at the 2000 census....
.
History
It was founded in 1986 and it hit the airwaves as KBCP in 1990. It was a home shopping channel until 1994, when KBCP flipped the call sign to KCVU reflecting its new Fox affiliation. It replaces an affiliation on KRCR-TV seen on non-ABC hours since the network's inception in 1986. KRCR's other two satellites in Eureka and Fort Bragg had Fox as well as ABC. More Fox coverage was provided by KTVUKTVU
KTVU, virtual channel 2 , is the Fox-affiliated television station serving the San Francisco Bay Area. Licensed to Oakland, California, the station has been owned by Atlanta-based Cox Enterprises since 1964, making it the largest Fox affiliate by market size that is not owned and operated by the...
on Chico and Redding cable systems.
KCVU was founded by Chester Smith in 1989. The company's chief executive officer is Robert Castro and the station's general manager is Doug Holroyd. Its transmitter and license is located near Paradise, California
Paradise, California
Paradise is an incorporated town in Butte County, in the northwest foothills of California's Central Valley, in the Sierra. The town is considered part of the Chico Metropolitan Area. The population was 26,218 at the 2010 census, down from 26,408 at the 2000 census...
. KCVU's sister stations include MyTV Northern California
MyTV Northern California
MyTV Northern California is the regional My Network TV affiliate based in Chico, California, also serving Redding and Eureka. The station consists of KRVU-LD 21, KZVU-LD 22 and KEMY-LP 33 is owned and operated by Sainte Partners II, L.P. of Modesto, California, founded by the late Chester Smith...
(KRVU 21 Redding, KZVU 22 Chico, KEMY 33 Eureka), KUCO-TV
KUCO-LP
KUCO-LP channel 27 is a local Univision Spanish-language affiliate based in Chico, California in the United States. It was the first Spanish-language station to hit the air north of Sacramento. It is owned by Sainte Partners II, L.P. of Modesto, California...
Univision
Univision
Univision is a Spanish-language television network in the United States. It has the largest audience of Spanish language television viewers according to Nielsen ratings. Randy Falco, COO, has been in charge of the company since the departure of Univision Communications president and CEO Joe Uva...
27, KXVU-TV
KXVU-LP
KXVU-LP is a low-power television station in Chico, California, broadcasting locally on channel 17 as an affiliate of the Spanish-language Telemundo network...
Telemundo
Telemundo
Telemundo is an American television network that broadcasts in Spanish. The network is the second-largest Spanish-language content producer in the world, and the second-largest Spanish-language network in the United States, behind Univision....
17, and KKTF-TV TeleFutura
TeleFutura
TeleFutura is a U.S. Spanish-language broadcast television network owned by Univision with headquarters in Miami, Florida.-Overview:TeleFutura Is America’s #2 Spanish-Language Network in prime time...
35; Medford, Oregon
Medford, Oregon
Medford is a city in Jackson County, Oregon, United States. As of the 2010 US Census, the city had a total population of 74,907 and a metropolitan area population of 207,010, making the Medford MSA the 4th largest metro area in Oregon...
's KFBI-TV
KFBI-LP
KFBI-LD My 48 is a low-powered television station based in Medford, Oregon and is an affiliate of My Network TV. The station is owned and operated by Sainte Partners II, L.P. of Modesto, California. The company's chief executive officer is Robert Castro and the station's general manager is Peter...
My 48 and KMCW-TV
KMCW-LP
KMCW-LP is a low-power television station in Medford, Oregon, broadcasting locally on channel 14 as an affiliate of the Spanish-language Telemundo network. It is owned by Sainte Partners II, L.P. of Modesto, California and operated by Sainte Television Group of Medford. The chief executive...
Telemundo
Telemundo
Telemundo is an American television network that broadcasts in Spanish. The network is the second-largest Spanish-language content producer in the world, and the second-largest Spanish-language network in the United States, behind Univision....
14. Sainte also operates KVIQ
KVIQ
KVIQ is a digital-only broadcast television station which broadcasts as a CBS affiliate on UHF channel 17 from a transmitter in Eureka, California.-History:KVIQ signed on the air on VHF channel 6 as Eureka's second television station on April 1, 1958...
, the CBS affiliate in Eureka, KUVU the CW affiliate in Eureka, KEUV, the Univision affiliate in Eureka, and THIS TV in Eureka, Chico-Redding and Medford-Klamath Falls.
KCVU terminated analog channel 30 on December 22, 2008. The station was re-branded to Fox 20 (for its physical digital channel; this differs from most digital signals, which identify using their analog channel). It still may be seen in analog via translator on channel 8 in Oroville and channel 38 in Redding until both translators go digital in the near future.
KBVU and KVIQ went digital on November 28, 2008, and were rebranded from Fox 29 and CBS 6 to Fox 28 and CBS 17, respectively.
On August 21, 2009, KCVU and KBVU replaced the digital simulcast of MyNetworkTV
MyNetworkTV
MyNetworkTV is a television broadcast syndication service in the United States, owned by the Fox Entertainment Group, a division of News Corporation...
with This TV on their DT2 subcarriers.
It was recently stated on air that the Sainte Television Group is one of the most respected companies and the only 100% debt-free broadcasting company in Northern California.
Programming
Fox 20 has a sister station, KBVU FOX 28 in Eureka. KBVU is a stand along full power digital station. Program deals are occasionally done in concert with KEMY and KVIQ. KEMY MY 33 in Eureka and KRVU MY 21 in Chico are the same station designed to cover both the Chico-Redding and Eureka DMAs.Contract dispute with Northland Cable
On May 6, 2007, KCVU replaced Medford Fox affiliate KMVUKMVU
KMVU-DT is a local Fox television affiliate based in Medford, Oregon. The station serves the Rogue Valley and Klamath Basin of southern Oregon and the Shasta Cascade region in northern California, and is owned by Stainless Broadcasting Company...
on Northland Cable Television channel 13 in both Mt. Shasta
Mount Shasta, California
Mount Shasta is a city in Siskiyou County, California, located at around 3,600 ft on the flanks of Mount Shasta, a prominent northern California landmark. The city is less than southwest of the summit of its namesake volcano...
and Yreka
Yreka, California
Yreka is the county seat of Siskiyou County, California, United States. The population was 7,765 at the 2010 census, up from 7,290 at the 2000 census.- History:...
when KMVU and Northland could not come to an agreement to remain on the cable system. (Northland also carried sister station MyTV Northern California
MyTV Northern California
MyTV Northern California is the regional My Network TV affiliate based in Chico, California, also serving Redding and Eureka. The station consists of KRVU-LD 21, KZVU-LD 22 and KEMY-LP 33 is owned and operated by Sainte Partners II, L.P. of Modesto, California, founded by the late Chester Smith...
on cable channel 2, but will be replaced with KFBI-LP
KFBI-LP
KFBI-LD My 48 is a low-powered television station based in Medford, Oregon and is an affiliate of My Network TV. The station is owned and operated by Sainte Partners II, L.P. of Modesto, California. The company's chief executive officer is Robert Castro and the station's general manager is Peter...
of Medford) Northland had been blocked from airing Fox Network programming as a result. However, in a report from the Siskiyou Daily News on February 8, 2008, it appears that the dispute is settling down and Northland is working with KMVU
KMVU
KMVU-DT is a local Fox television affiliate based in Medford, Oregon. The station serves the Rogue Valley and Klamath Basin of southern Oregon and the Shasta Cascade region in northern California, and is owned by Stainless Broadcasting Company...
and KCVU to return either channel to both cable systems. KNVN
KNVN
KNVN-TV is the NBC television station for the Chico/Redding, California market. The station is owned by Evans Broadcasting, and operated by Catamount Broadcasting, the owners of CBS affiliate KHSL-TV...
replaced KMVU
KMVU
KMVU-DT is a local Fox television affiliate based in Medford, Oregon. The station serves the Rogue Valley and Klamath Basin of southern Oregon and the Shasta Cascade region in northern California, and is owned by Stainless Broadcasting Company...
on channel 13 in Mt. Shasta and channel 11 in Yreka. KHSL-TV
KHSL-TV
KHSL-TV Channel 12 is a CBS affiliate television station based in Chico, California. Its transmitter is located in Cohasset, California. The station is owned and operated by Catamount Broadcasting of Norwalk, Connecticut, which also operates KNVN channel 24, a NBC affiliate owned by Evans...
started to air on channel 6 in Yreka and KDRV
KDRV
KDRV, channel 12, is an ABC television affiliate based in Medford, Oregon. The station is located near Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport in north Medford. The station is owned by Chambers Communications Corporation of Eugene, Oregon....
is also on channel 6 in Mt. Shasta. KMVU
KMVU
KMVU-DT is a local Fox television affiliate based in Medford, Oregon. The station serves the Rogue Valley and Klamath Basin of southern Oregon and the Shasta Cascade region in northern California, and is owned by Stainless Broadcasting Company...
finally won the contract dispute and KCVU will no longer air on both cable systems because all Fox affiliates are under syndex
Syndication exclusivity
Syndication exclusivity is a federal law in the United States designed to protect a local television station's rights to syndicated television programs by granting exclusive rights to the station for that program in the local market, usually defined by a station's Nielsen DMA...
. KMVU and all the other local stations are fed to Yreka via OTA translator and has a fiber-optic link to Mt. Shasta except for KNVN which uses a Dish Network feed.
Regionally distributed, Locally-produced programs
Fox 20 provides facilities and services to tape local programs from its studios in Chico. There are currently no local programs scheduled. (Two of the station's longtime regional programs, Issues & Answers and Pray Northstate, were cancelled in 2010 by management.)Regional Programs formerly produced by or at Fox 30/Fox 20
- Spotlight - hosted by Lisa Shaw, then Katey Bailey (2002–2003)
- Pilot was called Community Spotlight hosted by Shaw in September 2002
- Issues & Answers - hosted by Georgie Hall, Ron Pate, Peter Hansen and George Szendrey (1998-2010)
- Pray Northstate - Hosted by Pastor Jim Wilson (2005-2010, started on KGEC-TVKGEC-LPKGEC-LP Channel 26 is an independent station based in Redding, California. It was founded by Fresno, California, businessman George E. Cooper in 1997 and became an America One network affiliate in January 1998 before changing its affiliation in July 2000. Cooper's initials are the station's...
, forced off the air by the FCC) - Randy & Monica: Almost Live! - hosted by Randy and Monica Zachary (2007–2008)
- [Real] Music - nine episodes with musical performances by local or visiting musicians (2004-2005)
Local news & relationship to KRCR
From February 2004 to June 2005, Fox 30 News at 10:00 pm was produced by KRCR-TVKRCR-TV
KRCR-TV is an ABC affiliated television station in California, USA, that serves the northern Sacramento Valley, including the towns of Redding and Chico. Its studios are located in Redding, where the station is licensed...
, utilizing that station's news department. The newscast was cancelled due to unwillingness to continue the agreement under the new management of KRCR. Both companies were doing financially well at the time of the cancelled agreement, like they had been for many years.
Digital television
The station's digital channel is multiplexed:This TV
This TV is a United States general entertainment television network, with a large emphasis in its programming on movies....
Analog-to-digital conversion
On December 22, 2008, KCVU terminated its analog facilities due to lack of funding and used its existing digital facilities, as did its other debt-ridden rivals KHSL and KNVN. The virtual channel was changed from 30 to 20 and the station was rebranded as "Fox 20 Digital." KBVU was also rebranded as "Fox 28" and is also seen on an analog translator.Cable systems
| Cable Provider | Area | 20.1 / 28.1 (Fox) | 20.2 / 28.2 (This TV) | MyTV | Univision 27 | Telemundo 17 | Telefutura 35 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Comcast | Butte & Glenn Counties | 2 & 702 (HD) | 198 | 13 | 5 | 20 | 19 |
| Charter | Shasta & Tehama Counties | 2 & 780 (HD) | 285 | 13 | 5 | 28 | Coming Soon |
| Suddenlink (via KBVU) | Humboldt County | 2 & 102 (HD) | 128 | 5 | 78 | National Feed | Coming Soon |
| New Day Broadband | Palo Cedro/Weaverville | 2 | 13 | ||||
| Windjammer (via Satellite) | Burney | 8 | 13 | ||||
Dish Network launched Chico/Redding HD locals on May 6, 2009. DirecTV will do the same later in 2011.
Like many other HD channels on Charter Cable in Redding, KCVU-DT can be picked up on basic cable by connecting the cable directly into an HDTV with a built-in QAM tuner, channel 104.4, This TV can be picked up on 104.7. It can also be picked up the same way on Comcast Cable in Chico, corresponding directly to the over the air number.
The Eureka television market (DMA #195)was the only TV market in California not available on DISH Network
Dish Network
Dish Network Corporation is the second largest pay TV provider in the United States, providing direct broadcast satellite service—including satellite television, audio programming, and interactive television services—to 14.337 million commercial and residential customers in the United States. Dish...
until June 3, 2010, at which time it became available.The Eureka local channels are not yet available on DirecTV
DirecTV
DirecTV is an American direct broadcast satellite service provider and broadcaster based in El Segundo, California. Its satellite service, launched on June 17, 1994, transmits digital satellite television and audio to households in the United States, Latin America, and the Anglophone Caribbean. ...
, but will be by the end of 2011.
High definition
Fox programs broadcast from 8-10 pm are broadcast in high definition, as are sporting events on such as Major League BaseballMajor League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
, NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
and NFL Football
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. However, KCVU does not air its syndicated programming in HD.
Death of Chester Smith
The Sacramento Bee and Chico Enterprise Record reported that Chester Smith, founder of Sainte Partners, died on August 8, 2008, at Stanford Medical Center in Palo Alto, CaliforniaPalo Alto, California
Palo Alto is a California charter city located in the northwest corner of Santa Clara County, in the San Francisco Bay Area of California, United States. The city shares its borders with East Palo Alto, Mountain View, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Stanford, Portola Valley, and Menlo Park. It is...
at age 78. He was survived by his wife Ann and his children. Despite Smith's death, Sainte continued to own and operate KCVU and its sister stations in the Sainte family.
Former General Managers
- Melvin J. Querio, founding GM (1993–1996, died)
- Nick Clark (1996–1998)
- John Stahl (1998–2003, now GM at KHSL-TVKHSL-TVKHSL-TV Channel 12 is a CBS affiliate television station based in Chico, California. Its transmitter is located in Cohasset, California. The station is owned and operated by Catamount Broadcasting of Norwalk, Connecticut, which also operates KNVN channel 24, a NBC affiliate owned by Evans...
) - Doug Holroyd (2003–present)