KPSP-CD

KPSP-CD
Coachella Valley, California
United States
City Cathedral City, California
Branding CBS Local 2 (general)
CBS Local 2 News
Slogan The News Team That Stands for You
Channels Digital: 38 (UHF)
(to move to 18 (UHF))
Virtual: 38 (PSIP)
Translators KESQ-DT 42.2 (UHF) Palm Springs
Affiliations CBS
Owner News-Press & Gazette Company
(Gulf-California Broadcast Company)
Founded September 2, 2002 (2002-09-02)
Call letters' meaning Palm Springs Production
Sister station(s) KESQ-TV, KDFX-CD, KCWQ-LD, KUNA-LP/LD, KUNA-FM, KESQ
Former callsigns K58FJ (1996–1997)
KVCC-LP (1997–1998)
KDPX-LP (1998–1999)
KPSP-LP (1999–2011)
KPSP-LD
Former channel number(s) 58, 38 (UHF analog)
Transmitter power 9 kW
15 kW (CP)
Height 199.9 m (656 ft)
196.9 m (646 ft) (CP)
Facility ID 10535
Transmitter coordinates 33°51′56″N 116°26′1″W / 33.86556°N 116.43361°W / 33.86556; -116.43361
33°51′58.1″N 116°26′5″W / 33.866139°N 116.43472°W / 33.866139; -116.43472 (CP)
Licensing authority FCC
Public license information: Profile
CDBS
Website kesq.com

KPSP-CD is a low-powered, Class A CBS-affiliated television station licensed to Cathedral City, California, United States, serving Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on virtual and UHF channel 38 from a transmitter on Edom Hill northeast of Cathedral City and I-10.

Owned by the News-Press & Gazette Company, it is a sister station to Palm Springs-licensed ABC affiliate KESQ-TV (channel 42), Class A Fox affiliate KDFX-CD (channel 33.2, licensed to both Indio and Palm Springs), Palm Springs-licensed low-powered CW affiliate KCWQ-LD (channel 2), and Indio-licensed low-powered Telemundo affiliate KUNA-LP (channel 15). The five stations share studios on Dunham Way in Thousand Palms.

Along with other major Coachella Valley television stations, KPSP identifies itself on-air using its cable designation (CBS Local 2) rather than its over-the-air channel position. The unusual practice stems in part from the area's exceptionally high cable penetration rate of 80.5% which is one of the highest in the United States.

In addition to its own digital signal, KPSP is simulcast in standard definition on KESQ's second digital subchannel (virtual and UHF channel 42.2) from the same Edom Hill transmitter facility.

History

Logo until 2008.

The station launched September 2, 2002 and aired an analog signal on UHF channel 38. Prior to its sign-on as the Coachella Valley's first ever CBS affiliate, programming from the network came into the market via cable or antenna (in some areas) through Los Angeles' KCBS-TV. When KPSP went on-the-air, area cable companies displaced KCBS at that outlet's request. KPSP adopted the "CBS 2" moniker following the practice of major local competitors in using its cable designation for branding purposes.

On April 1, 2008, it switched from branding itself "CBS 2" to "KPSP Local 2" although the "CBS 2" logo was retained for several months afterwards. On January 31, 2012, KPSP was sold by Desert Television to the News-Press & Gazette Company becoming a sister station to KESQ. It moved from its own studios on Dunham Way in Thousand Palms to KESQ's facility in Palm Desert. KPSP's transmitter on 38.1, went silent at midnight on March 1, 2012; the station's license was not initially included in the deal. CBS programming is now broadcast on 42.2 on the KESQ-DT digital tier and the lineup has not changed.[1] In January 2013, News Press & Gazette acquired the KPSP-CD license, as well as KYAV-LD, from Desert Television.[2] The Class A channel 38 digital transmitter was turned back on on February 7, allowing CBS programming to be shown over the air in 1080i high definition for the first time in nearly a year. NPG's acquisition of the Desert Television assets was completed on April 26.

Programming

Syndicated programming on KPSP includes Jeopardy!, Wheel of Fortune, The Dr. Oz Show and Dr. Phil among others. The latter two are spin-offs of The Oprah Winfrey Show. All are distributed by CBS Television Distribution.

News operation

At one point while operating as a separate entity, KPSP aired its early weeknight newscast from 5:00 to 6:30 advertising the slot as a single 90-minute newscast. The CBS Evening News would therefore be seen in the regular time period at 6:30. The station would eventually move the CBS Evening News to 5:30 p.m.

After KPSP was acquired by KESQ, this station had its operations merged into that outlet's facility. Local news offerings on both outlets were adjusted as a result. Currently, KESQ offers the most broadcasts while KPSP still airs separate news programs on weekday mornings as well as weeknights at 5:30 and 6:30. These productions originate from a secondary set at the Melanie Place studios. Along with shared video coverage, reporters from KESQ can be seen on KPSP and vice versa.

FOX affiliate KDFX-CD airs a nightly half-hour prime time broadcast at 10:00 produced by KPSP featuring the CBS outlet's branding and anchors. The program competed with low-powered MyNetworkTV affiliate KPSG-LP (now KPSE-LD), which had local news seen for thirty minutes at the same time produced by rival NBC affiliate KMIR-TV. KPSP is a media partner of The Desert Sun. All news anchors also serve as reporters.

Notable former staff

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://www.kesq.com/cbs/30578368/detail.html
  2. ↑ Seyler, Dave (January 22, 2013). "News-Press adds pieces to Palm Springs media group". Television Business Report. Retrieved January 23, 2013.
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