| KSTC-TV | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Minneapolis / St. Paul, Minnesota | |
| Branding | Channel 45 Channel 45 Local News |
| Slogan | Television With Variety |
| Channels | Digital: 45 (UHF) Virtual: 45 (PSIP) |
| Subchannels | 45.1 Independent |
| Owner | Hubbard Broadcasting
Corporation (KSTC-TV, LLC) |
| First air date | June 19, 1994 |
| Call letters’ meaning | KSTP
Twin Cities (co-owned with KSTP) |
| Sister station(s) | KSTP-TV KSTP-AM KSTP-FM WFMP |
| Former callsigns | KVBM (1994-2000) |
| Former channel number(s) | Analog: 45 (UHF, 1994-2009) Digital: 44 (UHF) |
| Former affiliations | HSN (1994-2000) |
| Transmitter Power | 1,000 kW |
| Height | 428 m |
| Facility ID | 35843 |
| Transmitter Coordinates | 45°3′45″N 93°8′21″W / 45.0625°N 93.13917°W |
| Website | kstc45.com |
KSTC-TV is an Independent television station for the Twin Cities that is licensed to Minneapolis. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 45 from a transmitter at the Telefarm installation in Shoreview. Owned by the Hubbard Broadcasting Corporation, the station is sister to ABC affiliate KSTP-TV. The two share studios on University Avenue on the Minneapolis and St. Paul city line. Syndicated programming on KSTC includes: Scrubs, Hogan's Heros, Friends, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, and The King of Queens. It broadcasts a 720p HD signal and is the only television station in the area with its own mascot, the "45 Guy", who is often seen at community events.
Contents |
In addition to its main signal, KSTC operates analog translators to reach outlying areas.
| Call letters | Channel | Licensed to | Transmitter location | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| K16CO | 16 | Alexandria | east of Garfield along MN 22 | |
| K19FO | 19 | Monkton | south of town center along U.S. 71 | |
| K20GD | 20 | Willmar | north of town center on First Street North | has an application for a low-powered digital translator signal |
| K23FY | 23 | Frost | along MN 254 | has a construction permit for a low-powered digital translator signal |
| K25II | 25 | Redwood Falls | east of Morton near MN 19 | |
| K42AV | 42 | St. James | along MN 6 at the Watonwan and Brown County line | |
| K45FR | 45 | Olivia | east of town center near U.S. 212 |
Channel 45 began operations using the call letters KVBM. Although FCC records indicate that a license for this station was granted in 1987, it did not take to the airwaves using these letters until June 1994. The station aired Minnesota Department of Transportation traffic information as well as the Home Shopping Network until it was purchased by Hubbard Broadcasting on April 24, 2000. Hubbard relaunched the station as KSTC on September 11. In order to get attention for the switch from KVBM to KSTC, the station ran an advertising campaign that confused many people in the area. Posters and broadcast ads featuring people of all ages used the phrase "I'm 45" but initially made no mention of the newly created station. In 2003, KSTC began broadcasting two digital stations. KSTC-DT, on ATSC channel 45.1 in standard definition, simulcasted the station's regular content. On 45.2 was HDnet in high definition. After its contract with the network ended, channel 45.2 was taken off-the-air. It signed-on again December 1, 2006 as a high definition sports channel airing select Minnesota Wild games. Until late-2008, KSTC branded itself as "FORTY5" a hint of its ties to KSTP.
As an independent station, the station runs a variety of syndicated programming mostly consisting of shows no longer being produced. Movies considered one- and two-star are aired frequently, while some locally produced material is aired each week. In the few years it has been operating under the KSTC call letters, several other low-budget programs made specifically for this station have come and gone. These included a weekly horror movie broadcast under the name Horror Incorporated (hosted by Count Dracula played by Jake Esau, the actual owner of the countdracula.com domain name). The last incarnation of Horror Incorporated was hosted by Uncle Ghoulie (Thom Lange), Carbuncle (Tim McCall), 13 (Sasha Yvonne Walloch), Gordon the Gorilla, and Wolfie. As of 2004, at least one KSTC-specific program was still airing -- Nate on Drums, a comedy and variety show hosted by Nate Perbix is reportedly broadcasted to a network of stations across Minnesota.
Today, most local programs come from KSTP, including 30-minute newscasts airing at 9:00 PM weeknights, On the Road with longtime KSTP reporter Jason Davis, and Sports Wrap.
In 2004, KSTC announced a six-year over-the-air partnership with the Minnesota Timberwolves, allowing the station to broadcast as number of the team's regular-season and postseason basketball games. Also that year, the station entered into an eleven-year partnership with the Minnesota State High School League to broadcast state athletic tournaments as well as educational and student programs. KSTC will pay the league $9.7 million in rights fees and provide an additional $10.6 million worth of promotion for those tournaments and other League programs. In 2009, KSTC and the MSHSL extended their broadcast partnership until 2021. Starting in 2010, some tournaments will be broadcast online. Additionally, in December 2004, they established a multi-year partnership to air Minnesota Wild hockey games. Other sports have also aired on this station in the past including Minnesota Twins and Saint Paul Saints baseball, boxing, and even Robot Wars-style combat between mechanical competitors. As of summer 2006, KSTC has been including actual viewers in their programming promotions. Most include a viewer describing their favorite scene or character from one of the shows on the station.
Since the late-1980s, sister station KSTP has remained near the bottom of the ratings occasionally dropping to fourth behind Fox affiliate KMSP-TV. On July 19, 2009, KSTC added three newscasts produced by KSTP. As is the case on that station, the KSTC broadcasts air in high definition. They compete with news on KMSP (particularly the morning news and the first half of KMSP's 9 p.m. newscast). The station experimented with this in the early 2000s, with just the newscast on KSTP switching to KSTC for an additional two hours in the morning.
Channel 45 Local News Mornings
(Weekday Mornings 7 to 9)
Channel 45 Local News at 9 (9 to 9:30
P.M.)
Weeknights
KSTC features additional news personnel from KSTP. See that article for a complete listing.
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