KFRE-TV
Encyclopedia
KFRE-TV is the CW
affiliate for the Fresno, California
market. It broadcasts on digital UHF
channel 36. The station is a sister station of KMPH-TV
. KFRE-TV is owned by Titan Broadcast Group. The station is licensed to Sanger
, with studios in Fresno and a transmitter in Auberry
.
in 1987, and a year later the English programs disappeared from channel 59's schedule.
On January 1, 2001, as a result of Telemundo moving its affiliation to KNSO
, that station dropped its LMA
with KMPH
, and KMSG became KMPH's new LMA partner. The station also picked up the WB network and changed its call letters to KFRE-TV, branding itself on-air as "WB 59". The KFRE calls had originally been on what is now KFSN-TV
from 1956 to 1971. The WB had aired on three stations in the Central Valley before settling down on channel 59.
A year later Pappas purchased KFRE. A few seasons later, KFRE began carrying 4Kids TV
on Sunday mornings after KMPH dropped it. 4Kids TV was ousted at the end of 2008 and KFRE-TV now airs Weekend Marketplace
as the current Sunday morning block.
On January 10, 2006, KFRE-TV launched a new 11:00 p.m. newscast produced by sister station KMPH. Anchor Allison Ruddell was on every weeknight and Derrol Nail was on the weekends. The newscast was canceled on February 5, 2007 due to low ratings compared to the "big three" affiliates. Allison Ruddell was transferred over to KMPH's midday newscast, but left the station in July 2007 while Derrol Nail left the station in January 2008. In the fall of 2006, as a result of UPN
and WB
merging to for the CW
network, KFRE became the CW affiliate in the market.
KFRE-TV was the home to Fresno State Bulldogs
sports until 2008, when they moved to KAIL
. It was also the Fresno over-the-air home for the San Francisco Giants
until 2007-08 when the Giants also moved to KAIL. As of 2008, it is now the home to the Oakland Athletics
.
On May 10, 2008, 13 of Pappas' stations, including KFRE, filed for Chapter 11
bankruptcy
protection. As a result of the bankruptcy, Pappas Telecasting had until February 15, 2009 to sell these stations. On January 16, 2009, it was announced that most of these stations, including KFRE, would be sold to New World TV Group, after the sale received United States bankruptcy court
approval.
The CW Television Network
The CW Television Network is a television network in the United States launched at the beginning of the 2006–2007 television season. It is a joint venture between CBS Corporation, the former owners of United Paramount Network , and Time Warner's Warner Bros., former majority owner of The WB...
affiliate for the Fresno, California
Fresno, California
Fresno is a city in central California, United States, the county seat of Fresno County. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 510,365, making it the fifth largest city in California, the largest inland city in California, and the 34th largest in the nation...
market. It broadcasts on digital UHF
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...
channel 36. The station is a sister station of KMPH-TV
KMPH-TV
KMPH-TV is a television station in Fresno, California broadcasting digitally on television channel 28, and is licensed to nearby Visalia. It is the Fresno-area affiliate of the Fox Broadcasting Company. It is owned by Titan Broadcast Group and is sister station to KFRE-TV, the Central Valley's CW...
. KFRE-TV is owned by Titan Broadcast Group. The station is licensed to Sanger
Sanger, California
Sanger is a city in Fresno County, California, United States. The population was 24,270 at the 2010 census, up from 18,731 at the 2000 census. Sanger is located east-southeast of Fresno, at an elevation of 371 feet .- Geography :...
, with studios in Fresno and a transmitter in Auberry
Auberry, California
Auberry is a census-designated place in Fresno County, California, United States. The population was 2,369 at the 2010 census, up from 2,053 at the 2000 census...
.
History
KFRE-TV began in 1985 as independent station KMSG-TV. The station ran Spanish programming in the afternoons and evenings as well as English-language religious programs about 6 hours a day in the mornings. It ran mostly English-language home shopping shows overnight. The Spanish programming came from Net Span, the nation's second Spanish-language network. Net Span changed its name to TelemundoTelemundo
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....
in 1987, and a year later the English programs disappeared from channel 59's schedule.
On January 1, 2001, as a result of Telemundo moving its affiliation to KNSO
KNSO
KNSO is a television station in the Fresno, California area, and a station of the Telemundo network. The station is owned by NBCUniversal and operated by ZGS Communications. The station operates on digital VHF channel 11.1 -History:KNSO signed on the air in 1996 under the ownership of Sainte...
, that station dropped its LMA
LMA
LMA may refer to:* Laryngeal mask airway, a mask used in anaesthesia and emergency medicine.* Leaf Mass per Area* League Managers Association, an organization representing managers of English football clubs....
with KMPH
KMPH-TV
KMPH-TV is a television station in Fresno, California broadcasting digitally on television channel 28, and is licensed to nearby Visalia. It is the Fresno-area affiliate of the Fox Broadcasting Company. It is owned by Titan Broadcast Group and is sister station to KFRE-TV, the Central Valley's CW...
, and KMSG became KMPH's new LMA partner. The station also picked up the WB network and changed its call letters to KFRE-TV, branding itself on-air as "WB 59". The KFRE calls had originally been on what is now KFSN-TV
KFSN-TV
KFSN-TV, UHF channel 30, is an owned-and-operated television station of the Walt Disney Company-owned American Broadcasting Company, located in Fresno, California. The station's transmitter is located in Meadow Lakes, California. Its signal covers the Central San Joaquin Valley and the mountain...
from 1956 to 1971. The WB had aired on three stations in the Central Valley before settling down on channel 59.
A year later Pappas purchased KFRE. A few seasons later, KFRE began carrying 4Kids TV
4Kids TV
4Kids TV was a Saturday morning television programming block on the Fox Broadcasting Company. The block was part of the Fox Network schedule...
on Sunday mornings after KMPH dropped it. 4Kids TV was ousted at the end of 2008 and KFRE-TV now airs Weekend Marketplace
Weekend Marketplace
Weekend Marketplace is a two hour Saturday morning block of paid programming airing on Fox that began airing on January 3, 2009, replacing the 4Kids TV Saturday morning cartoon block that aired using time leased by 4Kids from Fox from 2002 until the last Saturday of 2008...
as the current Sunday morning block.
On January 10, 2006, KFRE-TV launched a new 11:00 p.m. newscast produced by sister station KMPH. Anchor Allison Ruddell was on every weeknight and Derrol Nail was on the weekends. The newscast was canceled on February 5, 2007 due to low ratings compared to the "big three" affiliates. Allison Ruddell was transferred over to KMPH's midday newscast, but left the station in July 2007 while Derrol Nail left the station in January 2008. In the fall of 2006, as a result of UPN
UPN
United Paramount Network was a television network that was broadcast in over 200 markets in the United States from 1995 to 2006. UPN was originally owned by Viacom/Paramount and Chris-Craft Industries, the former of which, through the Paramount Television Group, produced most of the network's...
and WB
The WB Television Network
The WB Television Network is a former television network in the United States that was launched on January 11, 1995 as a joint venture between Warner Bros. and Tribune Broadcasting. On January 24, 2006, CBS Corporation and Warner Bros...
merging to for the CW
The CW Television Network
The CW Television Network is a television network in the United States launched at the beginning of the 2006–2007 television season. It is a joint venture between CBS Corporation, the former owners of United Paramount Network , and Time Warner's Warner Bros., former majority owner of The WB...
network, KFRE became the CW affiliate in the market.
KFRE-TV was the home to Fresno State Bulldogs
Fresno State Bulldogs
The Fresno State Bulldogs represent California State University, Fresno in 19 NCAA Division I sports. The teams have been members of the Western Athletic Conference since 1992. Before that, it had been a member of the Big West Conference since 1969...
sports until 2008, when they moved to KAIL
KAIL
KAIL is a VHF television station affiliated with MyNetworkTV, based in Fresno, California, operating on digital channel 7. Its transmitter is on top of Auberry Mountain. They are locally owned by Trans-America Broadcasting Corporation...
. It was also the Fresno over-the-air home for the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
until 2007-08 when the Giants also moved to KAIL. As of 2008, it is now the home to the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
.
On May 10, 2008, 13 of Pappas' stations, including KFRE, filed for Chapter 11
Chapter 11, Title 11, United States Code
Chapter 11 is a chapter of the United States Bankruptcy Code, which permits reorganization under the bankruptcy laws of the United States. Chapter 11 bankruptcy is available to every business, whether organized as a corporation or sole proprietorship, and to individuals, although it is most...
bankruptcy
Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy is a legal status of an insolvent person or an organisation, that is, one that cannot repay the debts owed to creditors. In most jurisdictions bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor....
protection. As a result of the bankruptcy, Pappas Telecasting had until February 15, 2009 to sell these stations. On January 16, 2009, it was announced that most of these stations, including KFRE, would be sold to New World TV Group, after the sale received United States bankruptcy court
United States bankruptcy court
United States bankruptcy courts are courts created under Article I of the United States Constitution. They function as units of the district courts and have subject-matter jurisdiction over bankruptcy cases. The federal district courts have original and exclusive jurisdiction over all cases arising...
approval.