KFAZ (defunct)
Encyclopedia
KFAZ-TV, channel 43, was a television
station in Monroe, Louisiana. The station was owned by J. O. "Red" Willett, owner of a natural gas
pipeline stringing company. and Howard E. Griffith (later owner of AM radio station KUZN, West Monroe, Louisiana
). KFAZ-TV was the first TV station in the Monroe area, the third TV station in Louisiana (behind WDSU
and WAFB
), and the first on-the-air between Dallas, TX and Jackson, MS.
allocated channels 8 and 43 to Monroe, Louisiana. "Red" Willett and Howard Griffith incorporated Delta Television to file for one of the two available allocations. Since, at the time, it was easier for applicants to be approved for a construction permit for a UHF station than a VHF station, Delta Television accepted the assignment of Channel 43 on December 10, 1952, and commenced construction of a two-studio facility at 2107 Forsythe Avenue in Monroe. The transmitter and tower were located at the studio building, as was common for television stations in the USA in the 1950s. The Channel 8 allocation was pursued by James A. Noe, former Louisiana governor, and would become KNOE-TV
.
, and a Workshop Associates WA-25-43 14 dB
gain antenna. The station's two studios shared two DuMont
TA-142 Image Orthicon monochrome
camera chains. One of the studio camera chains could also be used to broadcast film projected by either of two General Precision Labs 16mm motion picture projectors, with an FTL Poly-Efex dual flying spot monochrome slide scanner and effects mixer for televising still images (such as advertisement slides or station identification cards), and for producing limited special video effects. The noted equipment compliment allowed for two-camera studio operations, and switching to film without having to use a monoscope
test pattern or still slide while moving a studio camera into position for film operations.
radio show genre. One of the hosts was Shreveport
guitarist Merle Kilgore
, called "The Tall Texan" on-the-air.
and UHF TV antenna
, an outlay of almost one third the price of an economy-model TV set of the day when including installation costs. Some TV receivers could be ordered with a UHF tuner, but very few were so equipped in North Louisiana in the 1950s. KFAZ estimated 16,500 sets were able to view their programming as of May 1954, indicating a lack of UHF-capable sets and the short range of their signal.
KFAZ's difficulties became acute with KNOE-TV going on-the-air on Channel 8 about 5 weeks after KFAZ. KNOE's 229 kW radiated from an antenna 750 feet above ground could be received without need of a converter box or UHF antenna, with decent image quality, at 35 miles from their transmitter. KNOE estimated 109,870 TV sets were able to receive their signal. KFAZ was, in addition, not the prime ABC affiliate for Monroe, and received no further network affiliations, all four then-existing networks affiliating with KNOE-TV as "prime" after its sign-on. KFAZ was forced to take those ABC shows not "cleared" by KNOE, making acquisition of marketable shows difficult
The station ownership reported losses of over $100,000 ($789,000 in 2009 dollars) in 8 months on the air, and went dark May 1, 1954. Delta Television applied for a Channel 13 allocation, but were not successful. Monroe would later receive a Channel 13 allocation, but it would be reserved for non-commercial/educational use. The Ark-La-Miss would not see a successful UHF station until KLAA
Channel 14 signed-on October 6, 1974, 10 years after the Federal government mandated inclusion of UHF reception capability in all TV receivers sold in the USA.
Channel 13. The transmitter and antenna were replaced with equipment suitable for use on Channel 13. After KLSE went dark in 1964, no other television station used the former KFAZ facilities.
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
station in Monroe, Louisiana. The station was owned by J. O. "Red" Willett, owner of a natural gas
Natural gas
Natural gas is a naturally occurring gas mixture consisting primarily of methane, typically with 0–20% higher hydrocarbons . It is found associated with other hydrocarbon fuel, in coal beds, as methane clathrates, and is an important fuel source and a major feedstock for fertilizers.Most natural...
pipeline stringing company. and Howard E. Griffith (later owner of AM radio station KUZN, West Monroe, Louisiana
West Monroe, Louisiana
West Monroe is a city in Ouachita Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 13,250 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Monroe Metropolitan Statistical Area....
). KFAZ-TV was the first TV station in the Monroe area, the third TV station in Louisiana (behind WDSU
WDSU
WDSU, virtual channel 6, is the NBC-affiliated television station for the New Orleans, Louisiana television market. It is owned by Hearst Television, which in turn is wholly owned by the Hearst Corporation. It broadcasts on UHF digital channel 43...
and WAFB
WAFB
WAFB is the CBS-affiliated television station for Baton Rouge, Louisiana. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on VHF channel 9 from a transmitter southwest of Arlington. Owned by Raycom Media, WAFB is sister to Class A MyNetworkTV affiliate WBXH-CA. The two share studios on Government...
), and the first on-the-air between Dallas, TX and Jackson, MS.
History
After lifting the 1948 TV allocation "freeze" with its Sixth Report and Order (1952), the Federal Communications CommissionFederal 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...
allocated channels 8 and 43 to Monroe, Louisiana. "Red" Willett and Howard Griffith incorporated Delta Television to file for one of the two available allocations. Since, at the time, it was easier for applicants to be approved for a construction permit for a UHF station than a VHF station, Delta Television accepted the assignment of Channel 43 on December 10, 1952, and commenced construction of a two-studio facility at 2107 Forsythe Avenue in Monroe. The transmitter and tower were located at the studio building, as was common for television stations in the USA in the 1950s. The Channel 8 allocation was pursued by James A. Noe, former Louisiana governor, and would become KNOE-TV
KNOE-TV
KNOE-TV, Channel 8, is the CBS affiliate television station for Monroe, Louisiana. The station is owned by Hoak Media Corporation, which also controls ABC affiliate KAQY, Channel 11 through a local marketing agreement.-History:KNOE-TV went on the air in 1953...
.
Equipment
KFAZ went on-the-air August 11, 1953 with a Federal Telecommunication Labs (FTL) FTL-20B 1 kW (visual) transmitterTelevision transmitter
A television transmitter is a device which broadcasts an electromagnetic signal to the television receivers. Television transmitters may be analog or digital.- Types of transmitters :There are many types of transmitters depending on* The system standard...
, and a Workshop Associates WA-25-43 14 dB
Decibel
The decibel is a logarithmic unit that indicates the ratio of a physical quantity relative to a specified or implied reference level. A ratio in decibels is ten times the logarithm to base 10 of the ratio of two power quantities...
gain antenna. The station's two studios shared two DuMont
DuMont Laboratories
DuMont Laboratories was an American television equipment manufacturer. The company was founded in 1931, by inventor Allen B. DuMont. Among the company's developments were long-lasting cathode ray tubes that would be used for television. Another product out of the lab was a DuMont invention, the...
TA-142 Image Orthicon monochrome
Monochrome
Monochrome describes paintings, drawings, design, or photographs in one color or shades of one color. A monochromatic object or image has colors in shades of limited colors or hues. Images using only shades of grey are called grayscale or black-and-white...
camera chains. One of the studio camera chains could also be used to broadcast film projected by either of two General Precision Labs 16mm motion picture projectors, with an FTL Poly-Efex dual flying spot monochrome slide scanner and effects mixer for televising still images (such as advertisement slides or station identification cards), and for producing limited special video effects. The noted equipment compliment allowed for two-camera studio operations, and switching to film without having to use a monoscope
Monoscope
A monoscope was a special form of cathode ray tube that was used to generate, rather than display, a video signal. Each tube was only capable of generating a single video signal, hence the name...
test pattern or still slide while moving a studio camera into position for film operations.
Programming
KFAZ produced the "Ouachita Valley Jamboree", a television adaptation of the then-popular Louisiana HayrideLouisiana Hayride
Louisiana Hayride was a radio and later television country music show broadcast from the Shreveport Municipal Memorial Auditorium in Shreveport, Louisiana, that during its heyday from 1948 to 1960 helped to launch the careers of some of the greatest names in American music...
radio show genre. One of the hosts was Shreveport
Shreveport, Louisiana
Shreveport is the third largest city in Louisiana. It is the principal city of the fourth largest metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana and is the 109th-largest city in the United States....
guitarist Merle Kilgore
Merle Kilgore
Wyatt Merle Kilgore was an American singer, songwriter, and manager.-Early life:Although born in Chickasha, Oklahoma, Merle Kilgore was raised in Shreveport, Louisiana. He was the son of Wyatt and Gladys B. Kilgore...
, called "The Tall Texan" on-the-air.
Demise
The studio equipment complement was adequate to produce live programming, or to air films of the quality expected at the time. The station's radiated power and antenna height, however, were not enough to produce a decent image in locations more than 10 miles from the transmitter with the TV sets of the mid-1950s. To receive KFAZ, the owner of a typical mid-1950s TV set would have to buy a converter boxSet-top box
A set-top box or set-top unit is an information appliance device that generally contains a tuner and connects to a television set and an external source of signal, turning the signal into content which is then displayed on the television screen or other display device.-History:Before the...
and UHF TV antenna
Television antenna
A television antenna, or TV aerial, is an antenna specifically designed for the reception of over the air broadcast television signals, which are transmitted at frequencies from about 41 to 250 MHz in the VHF band, and 470 to 960 MHz in the UHF band in different countries...
, an outlay of almost one third the price of an economy-model TV set of the day when including installation costs. Some TV receivers could be ordered with a UHF tuner, but very few were so equipped in North Louisiana in the 1950s. KFAZ estimated 16,500 sets were able to view their programming as of May 1954, indicating a lack of UHF-capable sets and the short range of their signal.
KFAZ's difficulties became acute with KNOE-TV going on-the-air on Channel 8 about 5 weeks after KFAZ. KNOE's 229 kW radiated from an antenna 750 feet above ground could be received without need of a converter box or UHF antenna, with decent image quality, at 35 miles from their transmitter. KNOE estimated 109,870 TV sets were able to receive their signal. KFAZ was, in addition, not the prime ABC affiliate for Monroe, and received no further network affiliations, all four then-existing networks affiliating with KNOE-TV as "prime" after its sign-on. KFAZ was forced to take those ABC shows not "cleared" by KNOE, making acquisition of marketable shows difficult
The station ownership reported losses of over $100,000 ($789,000 in 2009 dollars) in 8 months on the air, and went dark May 1, 1954. Delta Television applied for a Channel 13 allocation, but were not successful. Monroe would later receive a Channel 13 allocation, but it would be reserved for non-commercial/educational use. The Ark-La-Miss would not see a successful UHF station until KLAA
KARD
KARD-TV, Channel 14, is the Fox affiliate for the El Dorado, Arkansas/Monroe, Louisiana market area. KARD's transmitter is located in Columbia, Louisiana. The station is licensed to West Monroe, Louisiana...
Channel 14 signed-on October 6, 1974, 10 years after the Federal government mandated inclusion of UHF reception capability in all TV receivers sold in the USA.
Facility use post-demise
The KFAZ facility was later used by the Louisiana Department of Education for KLSEKLSE
KLSE may refer to:* Bursa Malaysia, formerly known as the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange* The ICAO airport code of La Crosse Municipal Airport in La Crosse, Wisconsin, United States...
Channel 13. The transmitter and antenna were replaced with equipment suitable for use on Channel 13. After KLSE went dark in 1964, no other television station used the former KFAZ facilities.