KKOG-TV
Encyclopedia
KKOG-TV, channel 16, was the first full power broadcast station in Ventura County, California
. The station, located in Ventura, had a brief history, lasting only nine months. Starting up on December 14, 1968, KKOG, an independent station, offered live, local programming instead of the normal syndicated programming most independents offered. KKOG's primary owner was Julian F. Myers, a noted Hollywood talent agent and publicist. Mr. Myers hosted several of the station's TV programs.
Descriptions came from the source material. In addition to the Ventura County Star Free Press, KKOG's programing schedule was also listed in TV Guide
and the TV Times supplement to the Los Angeles Times
. The extensive listings of the station's programming was unable to save the station.
1) The station, like most UHF stations
at the time, had a low ERP (effective radiated power
). While many UHF stations now broadcast with 2 to 5 million watts, KKOG had only around 349,500 watts of power, limiting its coverage area.
2) The transmitter for KKOG was on Red Mountain
, between Ventura
and Ojai
. This meant TV antennas pointed toward Mount Wilson
near Los Angeles
could either not receive KKOG, or received it poorly, since Red Mountain was behind the antenna's aimed direction.
3) Cable television
was primarily used to provide over the air signals at the time, basically to communities blocked off from TV signals. While KKOG was carried on all the cable TV systems in Ventura County and in Santa Barbara
, most people who could receive signals from the Los Angeles stations' Mount Wilson transmitters were not cable subscribers.
4) While the TV networks were already broadcasting full color primetime programming and many Los Angeles independents
, including other UHF stations, had some color programs, KKOG was still showing its entire schedule in black and white.
5) The owners did not anticipate the operating costs of the station until advertising
revenue
could build in the market. Therefore, when funds dried up, the cash-strapped station was forced to close down. The primary investor in the station pulled out only six weeks into the station's operation, forcing it to operate with an entirely volunteer staff for most of its history.
Ultimately, the channel 16 frequency was transferred from television usage in Ventura to mobile radio usage in Los Angeles. Ventura County would eventually get a new local TV station in 1985, when KTIE-TV, channel 63 in Oxnard (now KBEH
) signed on. In 1990, KSTV (now KJLA
) signed on the air on channel 57 in Ventura.
Ventura County, California
Ventura County is a county in the southern part of the U.S. state of California. It is located on California's Pacific coast. It is often referred to as the Gold Coast, and has a reputation of being one of the safest populated places and one of the most affluent places in the country...
. The station, located in Ventura, had a brief history, lasting only nine months. Starting up on December 14, 1968, KKOG, an independent station, offered live, local programming instead of the normal syndicated programming most independents offered. KKOG's primary owner was Julian F. Myers, a noted Hollywood talent agent and publicist. Mr. Myers hosted several of the station's TV programs.
Newscast titles
- KKOGed In News (December 14, 1968–February 2, 1969)
- Instant News, Sports and Weather (February 2, 1969–February 23, 1969)
- 16 News (February 23, 1969–September 13, 1969)
Programming
KKOG's all-live, all-local program schedule meant that many shows came and went fairly quickly during its history. Using published schedules in the Ventura County Star-Free Press and the station's promotional literature, programs which aired at some point in the station's history included:- Because - Opinionated quiz show
- Country Music - Local country-western bands such as "Leroy Motley and His Melody Mixers", "Curtis Tate and the Broncos", "Chief Big and the Scalp Hunters"
- Hollywood and You - Hollywood professionals, one from in front of the camera and the other from behind it, are quizzed by a panel of local residents
- KKOG-In Party - Dancing to pop music
- New Horizons - A look at high school and collegiate campus life
- Prince Gary's Kingdom of KKOG - Local actor Gary Dyer entertains before a live audience of local children, reads stories, plays games, etc.
- Prizes and Surprises - Local variety acts, contests and giveaways
- Sand and Sea - Weekly surfing and ocean sports program hosted by Ventura Port District general manager William Kerrigan
- Sí Sixteen - The culture of the Spanish-speaking population, hosted by Ventura College educator Dr. Frank Maggipinto
- Stock Market Observations - Market news and analysis by local stock broker John McGowan
- You Americans - Foreign correspondents assigned to the American beat tell how they view America
Descriptions came from the source material. In addition to the Ventura County Star Free Press, KKOG's programing schedule was also listed in TV Guide
TV Guide
TV Guide is a weekly American magazine with listings of TV shows.In addition to TV listings, the publication features television-related news, celebrity interviews, gossip and film reviews and crossword puzzles...
and the TV Times supplement to the Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
. The extensive listings of the station's programming was unable to save the station.
The failure of KKOG
Channel 16 broadcast its final programming on September 13, 1969. The station failed for the following reasons:1) The station, like most UHF stations
Ultra high frequency
Ultra-High Frequency designates the ITU Radio frequency range of electromagnetic waves between 300 MHz and 3 GHz , also known as the decimetre band or decimetre wave as the wavelengths range from one to ten decimetres...
at the time, had a low ERP (effective radiated power
Effective radiated power
In radio telecommunications, effective radiated power or equivalent radiated power is a standardized theoretical measurement of radio frequency energy using the SI unit watts, and is determined by subtracting system losses and adding system gains...
). While many UHF stations now broadcast with 2 to 5 million watts, KKOG had only around 349,500 watts of power, limiting its coverage area.
2) The transmitter for KKOG was on Red Mountain
Red Mountain
-Canada:* Red Mountain , a mountain near Rossland, British Columbia** Red Mountain Resort, a ski resort on Red Mountain in Rossland, also known as Red Resort* Mount Price, a volcano in British Columbia, Canada formerly known as Red Mountain...
, between Ventura
Ventura, California
Ventura is the county seat of Ventura County, California, United States, incorporated in 1866. The population was 106,433 at the 2010 census, up from 100,916 at the 2000 census. Ventura is accessible via U.S...
and Ojai
Ojai, California
Ojai is a city in Ventura County, California, USA. It is situated in the Ojai Valley , surrounded by hills and mountains. The population was 7,461 at the 2010 census, down from 7,862 at the 2000 census.-History:Chumash Indians were the early inhabitants of the valley...
. This meant TV antennas pointed toward Mount Wilson
Mount Wilson
Mount Wilson can refer to several things:* Mount Wilson ** Mount Wilson Observatory* Mount Wilson, New South Wales, a mountain with a small hamlet in Australia* One of a list of peaks named Mount Wilson...
near 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...
could either not receive KKOG, or received it poorly, since Red Mountain was behind the antenna's aimed direction.
3) Cable television
Cable television
Cable television is a system of providing television programs to consumers via radio frequency signals transmitted to televisions through coaxial cables or digital light pulses through fixed optical fibers located on the subscriber's property, much like the over-the-air method used in traditional...
was primarily used to provide over the air signals at the time, basically to communities blocked off from TV signals. While KKOG was carried on all the cable TV systems in Ventura County and in Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, California
Santa Barbara is the county seat of Santa Barbara County, California, United States. Situated on an east-west trending section of coastline, the longest such section on the West Coast of the United States, the city lies between the steeply-rising Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean...
, most people who could receive signals from the Los Angeles stations' Mount Wilson transmitters were not cable subscribers.
4) While the TV networks were already broadcasting full color primetime programming and many Los Angeles independents
Independent station
An independent station is in the category of television terminology used to describe a television station broadcasting in the United States or Canada that is not affiliated with any television network....
, including other UHF stations, had some color programs, KKOG was still showing its entire schedule in black and white.
5) The owners did not anticipate the operating costs of the station until advertising
Advertising
Advertising is a form of communication used to persuade an audience to take some action with respect to products, ideas, or services. Most commonly, the desired result is to drive consumer behavior with respect to a commercial offering, although political and ideological advertising is also common...
revenue
Revenue
In business, revenue is income that a company receives from its normal business activities, usually from the sale of goods and services to customers. In many countries, such as the United Kingdom, revenue is referred to as turnover....
could build in the market. Therefore, when funds dried up, the cash-strapped station was forced to close down. The primary investor in the station pulled out only six weeks into the station's operation, forcing it to operate with an entirely volunteer staff for most of its history.
Ultimately, the channel 16 frequency was transferred from television usage in Ventura to mobile radio usage in Los Angeles. Ventura County would eventually get a new local TV station in 1985, when KTIE-TV, channel 63 in Oxnard (now KBEH
KBEH
KBEH digital channel 24.1 is an Tr3́s affiliate serving the Los Angeles television market. It is licensed to Oxnard, California, and is owned by HERO Broadcasting...
) signed on. In 1990, KSTV (now KJLA
KJLA
KJLA channel 49 is a digital-only multiplexed full power television station, licensed to Ventura, California, with studios based in West Los Angeles, California. It is a multilingual television station with programming in Spanish, English, Korean, Vietnamese, and Mandarin, and is the home of LATV...
) signed on the air on channel 57 in Ventura.
External links
- Broadcasting 101: KKOG
- Radio-Info: Article on KKOG's programming (From a Google cache; Click here for Radio-Info today)