KTAG-TV
Encyclopedia
KTAG-TV was the first television station in the Lake Charles
area. It was owned by Charles W. Lamar of Baton Rouge
and broadcasted on UHF channel 25. Originally, the station was affiliated with CBS
, ABC
, and Dumont
, but by 1957, it was solely a CBS affiliate, as Dumont folded and when KPLC signed on in 1954, it took the ABC affiliation on a secondary basis.
With the sign on of KPLC, KTAG was at a major disadvantage being a UHF station in a small market competing with a VHF. In 1955, the Charles W. Lamar estate petitioned the FCC
for VHF
channel 3 to move the station to that spot, but it was not granted, as Acadian Television Corporation of Lafayette
also lobbied (and was eventually granted) for the channel. By the early 1960s, KTAG operated only five hours a day with a staff of only three people, and on August 3, 1961, it signed-off. In 1962, KATC-TV signed on as the ABC affiliate for Lafayette (and, by extension, Lake Charles) on KTAG's desired channel 3. Today, Lafayette's KLFY serves as the CBS affiliate for the area, and it was not until the 1980s that another UHF station signed on to serve the Lake Charles area (KLTL-TV, a satellite of LPB
signed on in 1981, and KVHP
, which is now a Fox affiliate, signed on in 1983).
Lake Charles, Louisiana
Lake Charles is the fifth-largest incorporated city in the U.S. state of Louisiana, located on Lake Charles, Prien Lake, and the Calcasieu River. Located in Calcasieu Parish, a major cultural, industrial, and educational center in the southwest region of the state, and one of the most important in...
area. It was owned by Charles W. Lamar of Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Baton Rouge is the capital of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is located in East Baton Rouge Parish and is the second-largest city in the state.Baton Rouge is a major industrial, petrochemical, medical, and research center of the American South...
and broadcasted on UHF channel 25. Originally, the station was affiliated with CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
, ABC
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...
, and Dumont
DuMont Television Network
The DuMont Television Network, also known as the DuMont Network, DuMont, Du Mont, or Dumont was one of the world's pioneer commercial television networks, rivalling NBC for the distinction of being first overall. It began operation in the United States in 1946. It was owned by DuMont...
, but by 1957, it was solely a CBS affiliate, as Dumont folded and when KPLC signed on in 1954, it took the ABC affiliation on a secondary basis.
With the sign on of KPLC, KTAG was at a major disadvantage being a UHF station in a small market competing with a VHF. In 1955, the Charles W. Lamar estate petitioned the FCC
Federal 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...
for VHF
Very high frequency
Very high frequency is the radio frequency range from 30 MHz to 300 MHz. Frequencies immediately below VHF are denoted High frequency , and the next higher frequencies are known as Ultra high frequency...
channel 3 to move the station to that spot, but it was not granted, as Acadian Television Corporation of Lafayette
Lafayette, Louisiana
Lafayette is a city in and the parish seat of Lafayette Parish, Louisiana, United States, on the Vermilion River. The population was 120,623 at the 2010 census...
also lobbied (and was eventually granted) for the channel. By the early 1960s, KTAG operated only five hours a day with a staff of only three people, and on August 3, 1961, it signed-off. In 1962, KATC-TV signed on as the ABC affiliate for Lafayette (and, by extension, Lake Charles) on KTAG's desired channel 3. Today, Lafayette's KLFY serves as the CBS affiliate for the area, and it was not until the 1980s that another UHF station signed on to serve the Lake Charles area (KLTL-TV, a satellite of LPB
Louisiana Public Broadcasting
Louisiana Public Broadcasting is a state-run, viewer-supported state network of Public Broadcasting Service non-commercial educational Public television member stations serving the state of Louisiana outside Greater New Orleans. The stations are operated by the Louisiana Educational Television...
signed on in 1981, and KVHP
KVHP
KVHP is a television station in Lake Charles, Louisiana, broadcasting locally on digital channel 30 as an affiliate of the Fox network. KVHP is owned by National Communications, LLC, and its transmitter is located halfway between Lake Charles and Beaumont, Texas in Vinton, Louisiana, allowing it to...
, which is now a Fox affiliate, signed on in 1983).