KIFI-TV
Encyclopedia
KIFI-TV is the local American Broadcasting Company
affiliated television station for Idaho Falls
and Pocatello
, Idaho
. It broadcasts a digital
signal on channel 8. The station is owned by News-Press & Gazette Company
of St. Joseph, Missouri.
In 1962, KIFI aired the first live remote basketball telecast in Idaho from Reed Gym at Idaho State University in Pocatello. In 1965, KIFI was the first station in Idaho to install a color film chain for color film (16mm and 35mm color slides). In 1968, KIFI broadcast the first live telecast from the Eastern Idaho State Fair in Blackfoot with weatherman Lloyd Lindsey Young. In early 1996, KIFI-TV changed from an NBC affiliate to an ABC affiliate, swapping with the longtime ABC affiliate KPVI
after KPVI was sold to Sunbelt Broadcasting.
Originally owned by The Post Register
, the area's leading newspaper, it was sold to News-Press & Gazette in 2005. KIFI-TV was branded as Idaho 8 for a number of years, before being branded Local News 8 in early 1999. 2008 – KIFI Launches WiNG or Wireless Internet Newsgathering – becoming the First station in the United States to execute live shots using WiMAX technology.
On March 1, 2009, KIFI became the first station in the Idaho Falls/Pocatello TV market to air Local News in High Definition. It is currently broadcasting in a 720p format. As of September 7, 2009, KIFI added the CW as a DT3 subchannel.
In December 2010 it was announced that KIFI had entered into a shared services arrangement with Fisher Communications
-owned KIDK
and would operate the CBS affiliate out of the KIFI facility.
First Alert 8 Weather Team
Sports team
Reporters
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...
affiliated television station for Idaho Falls
Idaho Falls, Idaho
Idaho Falls is a city in and the county seat of Bonneville County, Idaho, United States, and the largest city in Eastern Idaho. As of the 2010 census, the population of Idaho Falls was 56,813, with a metro population of 130,374....
and Pocatello
Pocatello, Idaho
Pocatello is the county seat and largest city of Bannock County, with a small portion on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation in neighboring Power County, in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Idaho. It is the principal city of the Pocatello metropolitan area, which encompasses all of Bannock...
, Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
. It broadcasts a digital
ATSC
ATSC standards are a set of standards developed by the Advanced Television Systems Committee for digital television transmission over terrestrial, cable, and satellite networks....
signal on channel 8. The station is owned by News-Press & Gazette Company
News-Press & Gazette Company
The News Press & Gazette Company is a media company based in St. Joseph, Missouri, wholly owned and operated by the Bradley family. It is presided by Brian Bradley and David R. Bradley, with Hank Bradley , Eric Bradley and Kit Bradley serving on its Board of Directors. All are descendants of...
of St. Joseph, Missouri.
Digital television
KIFI has ended analogue broadcasts and transmits as digitally only, effective June 12, 2009.History
Founded in 1961, KIFI-TV was the third television station to broadcast in Eastern Idaho. It went on the air in January 1961. KIFI began broadcasting the NBC television network, with 316,000 watts, at the time the most powerful television station in Idaho.In 1962, KIFI aired the first live remote basketball telecast in Idaho from Reed Gym at Idaho State University in Pocatello. In 1965, KIFI was the first station in Idaho to install a color film chain for color film (16mm and 35mm color slides). In 1968, KIFI broadcast the first live telecast from the Eastern Idaho State Fair in Blackfoot with weatherman Lloyd Lindsey Young. In early 1996, KIFI-TV changed from an NBC affiliate to an ABC affiliate, swapping with the longtime ABC affiliate KPVI
KPVI
KPVI-DT is the local NBC affiliated television station for Idaho Falls and Pocatello, Idaho. Licensed to Pocatello, it broadcasts a digital signal on channel 23. The station is owned by Intermountain West Communications Company....
after KPVI was sold to Sunbelt Broadcasting.
Originally owned by The Post Register
The Post Register
The Post Register is a U.S. daily newspaper serving the Idaho Falls, Idaho, area, as well as Jackson, Wyoming, and West Yellowstone, Montana. It is owned by the Jerry Brady family and their employees.- History :...
, the area's leading newspaper, it was sold to News-Press & Gazette in 2005. KIFI-TV was branded as Idaho 8 for a number of years, before being branded Local News 8 in early 1999. 2008 – KIFI Launches WiNG or Wireless Internet Newsgathering – becoming the First station in the United States to execute live shots using WiMAX technology.
On March 1, 2009, KIFI became the first station in the Idaho Falls/Pocatello TV market to air Local News in High Definition. It is currently broadcasting in a 720p format. As of September 7, 2009, KIFI added the CW as a DT3 subchannel.
In December 2010 it was announced that KIFI had entered into a shared services arrangement with Fisher Communications
Fisher Communications
Fisher Communications is a media company in the United States. Based in Seattle, Washington, the company owns a number of radio and television stations in the Western United States.- Radio Stations :- Television Stations :...
-owned KIDK
KIDK
KIDK, virtual channel 3, is the CBS-affiliated television station for Idaho Falls and Pocatello, Idaho, USA. It broadcasts a digital signal on channel 36. The station is owned by Fisher Communications. Its transmitter is located atop East Butte, near Atomic City.-History:The station was founded on...
and would operate the CBS affiliate out of the KIFI facility.
Newscast titles
- TV-8 News (1960s–1970s)
- Newservice 8 (1970s)
- Newsbeat 8 (1980s)
- Idaho 8 News (1980s–1999)
- Local News 8 (1999–present)
Station slogans
- Coverage You Can Count On (1995–1999)
- Local People, Local News (1999–present)
News team
Anchors- Justin Betti - weekday mornings and noon
- Jessica Crandall - weekends at 5 and 10 p.m.; also weeknight reporter
- Jay Hildebrandt - weeknights at 5, 6 and 10 p.m.
- Karole Honas - weeknights at 5, 6 and 10 p.m.
First Alert 8 Weather Team
- Michael Coats - chief meteorologist; weeknights at 5, 6 and 10 p.m.
- Ido Walker - meteorologist; weekday mornings
- Brett Crandall - weather anchor; weekends at 5 and 10 p.m., also reporter
Sports team
- Jeff Landers - sports director; weeknights at 6 and 10 p.m.
- Michelle Ludtka - sports anchor; weekends at 5 and 10 p.m., also sports reporter
Reporters
- Brittany Borghi - Pocatello reporter
- Marissa Bodnar - Bingham County reporter
- Troy Campbell - Idaho Falls reporter
- Brett Crandall - Upper Valley reporter
Former on-air staff
- Genevieve Judge - Pocatello bureau chief/anchor/reporter 2007 - 2011; currently nightside reporter at WINK-TV in Fort Myers, FL) .
- Danielle Grant - weekend meteorologist (2007-2010; currently weekend meteorologist/reporter/weekend co-anchor at KREM 2 in Spokane, WA).
- Doug Long - weekend anchor/reporter 1994-1998 moved to WGXA in Georgia 1998-2005. Left the business in 2006 moved back to home state of Utah.
- Maggie O'Mara - weekend anchor/reporter currently at KTVB in Boise morning anchor.
- Mark Browning - Sports Director and anchor currently in Boise working for the state of Idaho.
- Laural Porter - Primary Anchor moved to KGW in Portland Oregon