KERO-TV
Encyclopedia
KERO-TV is a television station serving Bakersfield, California
. It is an ABC
affiliate owned by McGraw-Hill
, and transmits its digital signal on VHF
channel 10. Syndicated programming on KERO includes: Wheel of Fortune
, Jeopardy!
, and Ellen
.
affiliate. During the late 1950s, the station was also briefly affiliated with the NTA Film Network
. KERO was first owned by a local interest, who sold it to Marietta Broadcasting in 1957. Marietta was absorbed by Transcontinent Broadcasting of Buffalo, New York
in 1959.
One of KERO's best remembered shows was Cousin Herb's Trading Post, a local variety series in the 1950s. The show's host, Herb Henson
(d.1963), was a country musician, and often featured budding country artists like Buck Owens
and Tommy Collins, who would come to popularize the "Bakersfield Sound". Another local favorite was The Uncle Woody Show in the 60s and 70s. Radio and TV personality Casey Kasem
also used the KERO studios to tape a weekly musical TV variety show entitled SheBang in the mid to late 1960s, while a disc jockey at KRLA
in Los Angeles
.
As a result of the Federal Communications Commission
(FCC) making both the Bakersfield and Fresno
television markets all-UHF, KERO moved to channel 23 on July 1, 1963 and simulcasted on channels 10 and 23 for two months, channel 10 being shut off at the end of August of the same year.
Transcontinent's merger with Taft Television and Radio Co., Inc.
in 1964 left the newly-merged company two television stations over the FCC's ownership limit of the time. As a result, Taft divested both of Transcontinent's California stations to separate owners, with KERO going to Time-Life
Broadcasting. McGraw-Hill
acquired KERO in 1972 along with three other Time-Life stations (which were KLZ-TV
in Denver, KOGO-TV
in San Diego and WFBM-TV
in Indianapolis. Of the four, KERO-TV is the only one that retains its pre-1972 callsign). The TV station, along with KERO radio (1230AM) originally broadcast from the lobby of the El Tejon Hotel, which was located at the corner of Truxtun Avenue and Chester Avenue. KERO later moved to its current studios at 321 21st St.
KERO remained as an NBC affiliate until March 1984, when it switched to CBS
. In March 1996, as part of a corporate affiliation deal between McGraw-Hill and ABC, KERO picked up the ABC affiliation from cross-town rival KBAK-TV
, and in the process became the second television station in the Bakersfield market (after KGET
), and one of a handful of television stations in the United States, to have been an affiliate of all three big networks (NBC, CBS, and ABC).
In August 2006 KERO-TV officially became a duopoly with KZKC-LP
, an Azteca America
affiliate. At this time, KERO-TV does not plan on airing any local Spanish language news on this channel.
In May 2007, KERO along with its sister stations began to use the same news music of the ABC O&O's Eyewitness News New Generation package and branded themselves as "ABC 23", however KERO is not owned or operated by ABC. It is in plans to broadcast their news in high definition
for the Bakersfield market by the end of 2011. KERO is the Bakersfield home for Oakland Raiders
and San Francisco 49ers
pre-season games.
On October 3, 2011, McGraw-Hill announced it was selling its entire television station group to The E.W. Scripps Company for $212 million.
Other longtime KERO news personalilties include Don Rodewald (who hosted the afternoon movie), George Day, and Sunny Scofield. MSNBC "Live & Direct" host Rita Cosby
, was a KERO reporter in the 1980s.
Lloyd Lindsay Young
joined the station in 2005, as chief weathercaster. His trademark intro is "Hellooooo (insert city name)". He is also known for his outrageous weather pointers which are sent in by viewers. Submissions are usually outrageous & have ranged from a mannequin
leg, to a dildo
. On September 17, 2008, the Bakersfield Californian reported that Young has departed KERO-TV after more than three years there. No reason was given for his departure, which followed the broadcasts of September 16, 2008. Rusty Shoop
, who is known throughout Bakersfield, and was a former KERO weather anchor, replaced Young. Shoop earlier suffered a brain aneurysm and this was his first TV appearance since the illness. Shoop started on October 27, 2008. After being at KERO-TV for a year, Rusty Shoop
retired from broadcasting on December 9, 2009 for medical reasons from his brain aneurysm he suffered back in January 2007. On January 18, 2010, Jack Church, who was chief metorologist from 1999-2001 replaced Rusty Shoop and was the chief meteorologist from January 18, 2010 until May 5, 2011.
Weather team
Sports team
Reporters
Bakersfield, California
Bakersfield is a city near the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley in Kern County, California. It is roughly equidistant between Fresno and Los Angeles, to the north and south respectively....
. It is an ABC
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...
affiliate owned by McGraw-Hill
McGraw-Hill
The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., is a publicly traded corporation headquartered in Rockefeller Center in New York City. Its primary areas of business are financial, education, publishing, broadcasting, and business services...
, and transmits its digital signal on VHF
Very high frequency
Very high frequency is the radio frequency range from 30 MHz to 300 MHz. Frequencies immediately below VHF are denoted High frequency , and the next higher frequencies are known as Ultra high frequency...
channel 10. Syndicated programming on KERO includes: Wheel of Fortune
Wheel of Fortune (U.S. game show)
Wheel of Fortune is an American television game show created by Merv Griffin, which premiered in 1975. Contestants compete to solve word puzzles, similar to those used in Hangman, to win cash and prizes determined by spinning a large wheel. The title refers to the show's giant carnival wheel that...
, Jeopardy!
Jeopardy!
Griffin's first conception of the game used a board comprising ten categories with ten clues each, but after finding that this board could not be shown on camera easily, he reduced it to two rounds of thirty clues each, with five clues in each of six categories...
, and Ellen
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
The Ellen DeGeneres Show, often shortened to Ellen, is an American television talk show hosted by comedian/actress Ellen DeGeneres. Debuting on September 8, 2003, it is produced by Telepictures and airs in syndication, including stations owned by NBC Universal. For its first five seasons, the show...
.
History
KERO went on the air on September 26, 1953, on VHF channel 10 (now home to KERO's digital signal) as an NBCNBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
affiliate. During the late 1950s, the station was also briefly affiliated with the NTA Film Network
NTA Film Network
The NTA Film Network was an early American television network founded by Ely Landau in 1956. The network was not a full-time television network like CBS, NBC, or ABC. Rather, it operated on a part-time basis, broadcasting films and several first-run television programs from major Hollywood studios...
. KERO was first owned by a local interest, who sold it to Marietta Broadcasting in 1957. Marietta was absorbed by Transcontinent Broadcasting of Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
in 1959.
One of KERO's best remembered shows was Cousin Herb's Trading Post, a local variety series in the 1950s. The show's host, Herb Henson
Herb Henson
Herb Henson, known as Cousin Herb, was a country music performer and television host on KERO-TV, channel 10 in Bakersfield, California. He is the first cousin once removed of musician Jeff Tweedy.-External links:...
(d.1963), was a country musician, and often featured budding country artists like Buck Owens
Buck Owens
Alvis Edgar Owens, Jr. , better known as Buck Owens, was an American singer and guitarist who had 21 No. 1 hits on the Billboard country music charts with his band, the Buckaroos...
and Tommy Collins, who would come to popularize the "Bakersfield Sound". Another local favorite was The Uncle Woody Show in the 60s and 70s. Radio and TV personality Casey Kasem
Casey Kasem
Kemal Amin "Casey" Kasem is an American radio personality and voice actor who is best known for being the host of the nationally syndicated Top 40 countdown show American Top 40, and for voicing Shaggy in the popular Saturday morning cartoon franchise Scooby-Doo.Kasem, along with Don Bustany and...
also used the KERO studios to tape a weekly musical TV variety show entitled SheBang in the mid to late 1960s, while a disc jockey at KRLA
KRLA
KRLA is a radio station broadcasting a News/Talk format. Licensed to Glendale, California, USA, it serves the Southern California area. The station is currently owned by Salem Communications.- KIEV :...
in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
.
As a result of the Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
(FCC) making both the Bakersfield and Fresno
Fresno
Fresno is the fifth largest city in California.Fresno may also refer to:-Places:Colombia* Fresno, TolimaSpain* Fresno, a ghost village in Nidáliga, Valle de Sedano, Burgos* Aldea del Fresno, Madrid* Fresno de la Vega, Ribera del Esla, León...
television markets all-UHF, KERO moved to channel 23 on July 1, 1963 and simulcasted on channels 10 and 23 for two months, channel 10 being shut off at the end of August of the same year.
Transcontinent's merger with Taft Television and Radio Co., Inc.
Taft Broadcasting
The Taft Broadcasting Company, also known as Taft Television and Radio Company, Incorporated, was an American media conglomerate based in Cincinnati, Ohio....
in 1964 left the newly-merged company two television stations over the FCC's ownership limit of the time. As a result, Taft divested both of Transcontinent's California stations to separate owners, with KERO going to Time-Life
Time-Life
Time–Life is a creator and direct marketer of books, music, video/DVD, and multimedia products. Its products are sold throughout North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia through television, print, retail, the Internet, telemarketing, and direct sales....
Broadcasting. McGraw-Hill
McGraw-Hill
The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., is a publicly traded corporation headquartered in Rockefeller Center in New York City. Its primary areas of business are financial, education, publishing, broadcasting, and business services...
acquired KERO in 1972 along with three other Time-Life stations (which were KLZ-TV
KMGH-TV
KMGH-TV, channel 7, is the ABC-affiliated television station in Denver, Colorado. The station itself is usually branded as "Denver's 7", but its newscasts are branded as "7 News". It broadcasts its digital signal on VHF channel 7 from a transmitter located in Golden, Colorado...
in Denver, KOGO-TV
KGTV
KGTV, digital channel 10, is the ABC television affiliate in San Diego, California. The station can be seen on Cox Communications, Time Warner Cable, and AT&T U-verse on cable channel 10 in standard definition. Cox Communications and Time Warner Cable carry its high definition signal on cable...
in San Diego and WFBM-TV
WRTV
WRTV, channel 6, is the ABC television affiliate in Indianapolis, Indiana; it is owned by McGraw-Hill. Its transmitter is located on the northwest side of Indianapolis at 8001 Township Line Road. Its studios are found at 1330 N...
in Indianapolis. Of the four, KERO-TV is the only one that retains its pre-1972 callsign). The TV station, along with KERO radio (1230AM) originally broadcast from the lobby of the El Tejon Hotel, which was located at the corner of Truxtun Avenue and Chester Avenue. KERO later moved to its current studios at 321 21st St.
KERO remained as an NBC affiliate until March 1984, when it switched to CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
. In March 1996, as part of a corporate affiliation deal between McGraw-Hill and ABC, KERO picked up the ABC affiliation from cross-town rival KBAK-TV
KBAK-TV
KBAK-TV, virtual channel 29, is a CBS-affiliate television station serving Bakersfield, California, broadcasting digital-only on UHF channel 33. KBAK also operates the local Fox affiliate, KBFX-CA, from a shared facility in Bakersfield.-History:...
, and in the process became the second television station in the Bakersfield market (after KGET
KGet
KGet is a free download manager for KDE. By default it is the download manager used for Konqueror, but can also be used with Mozilla Firefox. KGet is part of the KDE Network package, and was featured by Tux Magazine and Free Software Magazine.-History:...
), and one of a handful of television stations in the United States, to have been an affiliate of all three big networks (NBC, CBS, and ABC).
In August 2006 KERO-TV officially became a duopoly with KZKC-LP
KZKC-LP
KZKC-LP channel 42 is a low powered affiliate of Azteca America in Bakersfield, California. It is owned by McGraw-Hill, in conjunction with its local sister station, KERO-TV...
, an Azteca America
Azteca América
Azteca América is a broadcast television network marketed toward Spanish-speaking families residing in the United States. As a rapidly-growing Spanish language network, Azteca América now reaches 89% of the Hispanic households in the U.S., operating in sixty-two markets nationwide. Wholly owned by...
affiliate. At this time, KERO-TV does not plan on airing any local Spanish language news on this channel.
In May 2007, KERO along with its sister stations began to use the same news music of the ABC O&O's Eyewitness News New Generation package and branded themselves as "ABC 23", however KERO is not owned or operated by ABC. It is in plans to broadcast their news in high definition
High-definition television
High-definition television is video that has resolution substantially higher than that of traditional television systems . HDTV has one or two million pixels per frame, roughly five times that of SD...
for the Bakersfield market by the end of 2011. KERO is the Bakersfield home for Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
and San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
pre-season games.
On October 3, 2011, McGraw-Hill announced it was selling its entire television station group to The E.W. Scripps Company for $212 million.
News operations
KERO news anchors Jackie Parks and Todd Karli, a husband and wife team, currently anchor KERO 23 News at 6. Former news anchor Burleigh Smith (d.1990) is considered by many to be the father of television news in Bakersfield. Smith produced and anchored at KERO from 1954-1960, and again from 1973-1990.Other longtime KERO news personalilties include Don Rodewald (who hosted the afternoon movie), George Day, and Sunny Scofield. MSNBC "Live & Direct" host Rita Cosby
Rita Cosby
Rita Cosby is a television news anchor and correspondent, radio host, and best selling author. She is currently a Special Correspondent for the CBS syndicated program Inside Edition, specializing in interviewing newsmakers and political figures...
, was a KERO reporter in the 1980s.
Lloyd Lindsay Young
Lloyd Lindsay Young
Lloyd Lindsay Young is a television weatherman who built a cult following of sorts with his over-the-top delivery and antics. He is the father of former KGET-TV weatherman George Lindsay Young, with whom he worked for several years in New York....
joined the station in 2005, as chief weathercaster. His trademark intro is "Hellooooo (insert city name)". He is also known for his outrageous weather pointers which are sent in by viewers. Submissions are usually outrageous & have ranged from a mannequin
Mannequin
A mannequin is an often articulated doll used by artists, tailors, dressmakers, and others especially to display or fit clothing...
leg, to a dildo
Dildo
A dildo is a sex toy, often explicitly phallic in appearance, intended for bodily penetration during masturbation or sex with partners.- Description and uses :...
. On September 17, 2008, the Bakersfield Californian reported that Young has departed KERO-TV after more than three years there. No reason was given for his departure, which followed the broadcasts of September 16, 2008. Rusty Shoop
Rusty Shoop
Rusty Shoop, born in Dallas, Texas, was the Chief Weathercaster for American TV station KERO-TV.He is married with four adult children and seven grandchildren.As of February 25, 2008, he is also a novelist with the publishing of Blood Harvest.-Career:...
, who is known throughout Bakersfield, and was a former KERO weather anchor, replaced Young. Shoop earlier suffered a brain aneurysm and this was his first TV appearance since the illness. Shoop started on October 27, 2008. After being at KERO-TV for a year, Rusty Shoop
Rusty Shoop
Rusty Shoop, born in Dallas, Texas, was the Chief Weathercaster for American TV station KERO-TV.He is married with four adult children and seven grandchildren.As of February 25, 2008, he is also a novelist with the publishing of Blood Harvest.-Career:...
retired from broadcasting on December 9, 2009 for medical reasons from his brain aneurysm he suffered back in January 2007. On January 18, 2010, Jack Church, who was chief metorologist from 1999-2001 replaced Rusty Shoop and was the chief meteorologist from January 18, 2010 until May 5, 2011.
Newscast titles
- This Day 19-- (1960s–1975)
- The News (1975–1982)
- 23 News (1982–present)
Station slogans
- We're the One the Sun Shines On (1970s)
- We're the One (1970s)
- The News People, In Touch with People (late 1970s–early 1980s)
- The Golden Empire Turns Us On! (early 1980s)
- The Place to Be! (1983)
- 23 There, Be There (1983–1984; localized version of NBC ad campaign)
- Get the Touch of 23 (1985; localized version of CBS ad campaign)
- Stand Up We're Proud of Bakersfield! (late 1980s; used during period station used Frank Gari's "Turn To News")
- Get Ready for 23! (1989-1991; localized version of CBS ad campaign)
- We're There When You Need Us (late 1980s–early 1990s)
- Bakersfield's NewsChannel (early 1990s)
- Because We Live Here Too (mid-1990s)
- 23 abc (1996)
- Rediscover Your World, Rediscover 23 News (1997)
- Your 23, Standing Up For You (1999–2005)
- Turn to 23, the Right Choice (2005–2008)
- We Cover Kern County (2008–present)
News team
Anchors- Crystal Figueroa - weekday mornings Good Morning Kern County and 11 a.m.
- Mike Hart - weekday mornings Good Morning Kern County
- Erin Briscoe - weeknights at 5 and 11 p.m.
- Todd Karli - weeknights at 5:30 p.m.; also news director
- Jackie Parks - weeknights at 5 and 5:30 p.m.
- Elaina Rusk - weekends at 6 and 11 p.m.; also weeknight reporter
Weather team
- Collin Jackson - chief metorologist; weekday mornings "Good Morning Kern County, 11am ; weeknights at 5, 5:30 and 11 p.m.
- Elaina Rusk - weather anchor; weekends at 6 and 11 p.m.
Sports team
- Preston Mitchell - sports director; weeknights at 5, 5:30 and 11 p.m.
Reporters
- Erin Briscoe - Southwest Bakersfield reporter
- Camila Bastidias - North County reporter
- Mark Christian - North of the River reporter
- Christine Dinh - East Bakersfield reporter
- Kimberly Foley - Mountain/weekend reporter
- Cris Ornelas - South County reporter
Notable former staff
- Andrew AmadorAndrew Amador-Career:Andrew is a prominent commercial spokesman and voice actor; many of his projects air nationally.During his active television and radio career, Andrew has worked as a news anchor, entertainment correspondent and reporter for television stations in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Detroit; he...
- morning anchor/reporter (2005-2007) - Barry ZoellerBarry ZoellerBarry Zoeller is a former news anchor and news director of KERO-TV. He was there from 1992-2000. He also worked at WHO-TV in Des Moines, Iowa as a news anchor and at KODE-TV in Joplin, Missouri. He is currently Vice President, Director of Corporate Communications at Tejon Ranch. He's been there...
- 10 and 11 p.m. anchor/news director (until 2000) - Frank GiffordFrank GiffordFrancis Newton "Frank" Gifford is a Hall of Fame former American football player and American sportscaster.-Early life:Gifford was born in Santa Monica, California, the son of Lola Mae and Weldon Gifford, an oil driller....
- Lloyd Lindsay YoungLloyd Lindsay YoungLloyd Lindsay Young is a television weatherman who built a cult following of sorts with his over-the-top delivery and antics. He is the father of former KGET-TV weatherman George Lindsay Young, with whom he worked for several years in New York....
- chief weathercaster (2005-2008) - Lynn Noel - public affairs director
- Pablo PereiraPablo PereiraPablo Daniel Pereira Coitiño, better known as Pablo Pereira , is a Uruguayan footballer currently playing for Esporte Clube Vitória of the Série B on loan from the league rivals Sport.-External links:*...
- meteorologist (now with KTTVKTTVKTTV, channel 11, is an owned-and-operated television station of the News Corporation-owned Fox Broadcasting Company, located in Los Angeles, California. Serving the vast Los Angeles metropolitan area, KTTV is a sister station to KCOP , Los Angeles' MyNetworkTV station...
in Los Angeles) - Randy PriceRandy PriceRandy Price is a television newscaster with WCVB-TV in Boston, Massachusetts, after being the lead anchor at WHDH-TV from 1998 to 2009. He is considered the U.S.'s first openly gay newscaster....
(currently at WCVB-TVWCVB-TVWCVB-TV, channel 5, is a television station located in Boston, Massachusetts, owned by Hearst Television and affiliated with the ABC Television Network. WCVB-TV's studios and transmitter are co-located in Needham, Massachusetts. WCVB is also one of six Boston television stations seen in Canada by...
In Boston) - Rita CosbyRita CosbyRita Cosby is a television news anchor and correspondent, radio host, and best selling author. She is currently a Special Correspondent for the CBS syndicated program Inside Edition, specializing in interviewing newsmakers and political figures...
- Rusty ShoopRusty ShoopRusty Shoop, born in Dallas, Texas, was the Chief Weathercaster for American TV station KERO-TV.He is married with four adult children and seven grandchildren.As of February 25, 2008, he is also a novelist with the publishing of Blood Harvest.-Career:...
- chief weathercaster (1984 and 2008-2009)