KBOI-TV

KBOI-TV, virtual channel 2 (VHF digital channel 9), is a CBS-affiliated television station licensed to Boise, Idaho, United States. Owned by the Sinclair Broadcast Group, it is sister to low-powered CW+ affiliate KYUU-LD, channel 35 (which KBOI-TV simulcasts on its second digital subchannel). The two stations share studios on North 16th Street in downtown Boise; KBOI-TV's transmitter is located at the Bogus Basin ski area summit in unincorporated Boise County. On cable, the station is available on Cable One channel 2 and in high definition on digital channel 1002.

For the FM radio station in Boise which formerly used the KBOI-FM callsign, see KQFC. For the AM radio station in Boise, Idaho, see KBOI (AM).
KBOI-TV
Boise, Idaho
United States
BrandingCBS 2 (general)
CBS 2 News (newscasts)
SloganWatching Out for You
ChannelsDigital: 9 (VHF)
Virtual: 2 (PSIP)
Affiliations2.1: CBS
2.2: CW+
2.3: Charge!
OwnerSinclair Broadcast Group
LicenseeSinclair Boise Licensee, LLC
First air dateNovember 26, 1953 (1953-11-26)
Call sign meaningBOIse, or the IATA code for the airport
Sister station(s)KYUU-LD
Former call signsKBCI-TV (1975–2010)
Former channel number(s)Analog:
2 (VHF, 1953–2009)
Digital:
28 (UHF, 2002–2012)
Former affiliationsBoth secondary:
ABC (1953–1974)
DuMont (1953–1955)
Transmitter power25 kW
Height862 m (2,828 ft)
ClassDT
Facility ID49760
Transmitter coordinates43°45′20.8″N 116°5′57″W
Licensing authorityFCC
Public license informationProfile
CDBS
Websiteidahonews.com

History

KBOI-TV signed on November 26, 1953 as the Treasure Valley's second television station, after NBC affiliate KIDO-TV, channel 7 (now KTVB). It aired an analog signal on VHF channel 2, and was owned by Boise Valley Broadcasters along with KBOI radio (670 AM and 97.9 FM, now KQFC). It has always been a primary CBS outlet, but initially shared secondary ABC and DuMont affiliations with KIDO. KBOI lost the latter network after it shut down in 1955 and ABC with the launch of Nampa's KITC, channel 6 (now KIVI-TV) in 1974. The following year, after KBOI radio was sold off to a separate entity, the television station modified its call letters slightly to KBCI-TV on February 1, 1975.[1][2] At that time, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations required separately-owned TV and radio stations in the same market to have distinct base call signs, hence the change.

Soon after the sale of the radio stations closed, Boise Valley Broadcasters decided to sell KBCI as well. A 1975 deal to sell the station to Donrey Media Group collapsed when the FCC deferred action on the deal due to regulatory issues surrounding the license renewal of Donrey's KORK-TV (later KVBC-TV, now KSNV-DT) in Las Vegas, Nevada. Instead, Boise Valley sold it to Eugene Television, owner of KVAL-TV in Eugene, Oregon, in 1976.[3] The company, later known as Northwest Television, was acquired by Retlaw Enterprises, the company controlled by the family of Walt Disney, in 1996;[4] three years later, Retlaw sold its television station group to Fisher Communications.[5] The acquisition prompted massive layoffs and staff reassignments at KBCI. In 2007, KBCI and other northwest Fisher stations outsourced their master control operations to Seattle's KOMO Plaza (formerly Fisher Plaza), in turn laying off nearly all of the master control operators in Boise.[6] In July 2007, KBCI debuted state-of-the-art Ignite newscast automation, effectively reducing the number of studio crew members from 9 down to 3.[7]

Taking advantage of both a new partnership with KBOI radio (now owned by Cumulus Media) and a 1980s change in FCC regulations that allowed separately-owned stations to share base call signs, Fisher Communications returned the station to its original call letters, KBOI-TV, on February 2, 2010.[8] On April 11, 2013, Fisher announced that it would sell its properties, including KBOI-TV, to the Sinclair Broadcast Group.[9] The deal was completed on August 8, 2013.[10]

Digital television

Digital channels

The station's digital signal is multiplexed:

Channel Video Aspect PSIP Short Name Programming[11]
2.11080i16:9KBOI-DTMain KBOI-TV programming / CBS
2.2720pKYUUSimulcast of KYUU-LD / Treasure Valley CW
2.3480iCharge!Charge!

On September 12, 2011, KBOI picked up The CW programming on its second digital subchannel and on KYUU-LP via The CW Plus. KBOI-DT2 and KYUU continue to air local newscasts. On August 30, 2012, KBOI upgraded KYUU to high definition level. It was still viewed in standard definition on 2.2 until the subchannel was upgraded to 720p high definition in spring 2020.[12][13][14][15][16]

Analog-to-digital conversion

KBOI-TV shut down its analog signal, over VHF channel 2, on June 12, 2009, the official date in which full-power television stations in the United States transitioned from analog to digital broadcasts under federal mandate. The station's digital signal remained on its pre-transition UHF channel 28.[17] Through the use of PSIP, digital television receivers display the station's virtual channel as its former VHF analog channel 2. On October 2, 2009, it filed a minor change application to move its digital signal to the more desirable VHF channel 9. The FCC granted a construction permit on April 16, 2010.[18] The allotment was previously used as KNIN-TV's analog channel location. On August 30, 2012, KBOI moved its digital signal to VHF channel 9.[19]

Translators

KBOI-TV is rebroadcast on three low-powered translators in the Garden Valley, Idaho area.[20]

Programming

Syndicated programming on KBOI includes Jeopardy!, Wheel of Fortune, and Dr. Phil.

News operation

KBOI operates a news department with a focus on high impact community advocacy journalism. There is an investigative unit known as the "Truth Squad" normally consisting of two reporters assigned to the beat. In 2004, the station (then KBCI-TV) received the prestigious DuPont and Edward R. Murrow awards for the 2002/2003 investigation into former Boise Mayor Brent Coles. The investigation into Cole's mismanagement of public funds led to his resignation and subsequent prosecution by the Idaho Attorney General's Office.[21][22] In May 2009, the Idaho Press Club recognized KBCI with awards for "Best Investigative Reporting" and "Best Light Feature". Later in the year, it won "Best Newscast" from the Idaho State Broadcaster's Association.

KBOI broadcasts a total of 22 hours of local news each week. KBOI recently added a midday newscast that airs at 11:00 a.m. KBOI 2 News, First at 4:00 is the market's first-ever newscast at 4:00 p.m. On weeknights, KBOI airs the CBS Evening News live at 5:00 p.m. and there is a 30-minute local newscast at 5:30 p.m. The station produces two 30-minute newscasts for sister station KYUU, one at 7:00 a.m. and one at 9:00 p.m. The prime time newscast airs against a broadcast airing on KNIN.

Notable former on-air staff
  • Eric Johnson – sports director (1986–1987). Currently anchor for sister station KOMO-TV in Seattle.[23]
  • Kayna Whitworth – weekday morning anchor/ fill-in-reporter (2008–2010). Currently reporter for ABC News.

References
  1. "Call Letters" (PDF). Broadcasting. February 10, 1975. p. 94. Retrieved June 15, 2011.
  2. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-05-15. Retrieved 2016-04-20.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. "Changing Hands" (PDF). Broadcasting. July 12, 1976. p. 26. Retrieved June 15, 2011.
  4. "Disney chain to buy KVAL". Eugene Register-Guard. October 31, 1995. pp. 1A and 5A. Retrieved June 15, 2011.
  5. "Seattle chain buys KVAL-TV". Eugene Register-Guard. November 20, 1998. p. 10B. Retrieved June 15, 2010.
  6. "Harmonic Inc - Video Infrastructure Solutions". Archived from the original on 2011-10-01. Retrieved 2011-08-29.
  7. KBCI improves news production efficiency, workflow | Newsrooms content from Broadcast Engineering
  8. Deeds: Widescreen TV, radio ratings, Ticketmaster merger at Idaho Statesman
  9. Malone, Michael (April 11, 2013). "Sinclair to Acquire Fisher Stations for $373 Million". Broadcasting & Cable. Retrieved April 12, 2013.
  10. "Sinclair Broadcast Group Closes On Fisher Communications Acquisition". All Access. August 8, 2013. Retrieved August 8, 2013.
  11. RabbitEars TV Query for KBOI
  12. KBOI-TV, CW to begin broadcasting on new antennas | Local & Regional | Boise, Meridian, Nampa, Caldwell, Idaho News, Weather, Sports and Breaking News - KBOI 2
  13. "CW lands with Fisher in Boise". Television Business Report. June 13, 2011. Archived from the original on June 15, 2011. Retrieved June 14, 2011.
  14. KBOI Boise Grabs CW For Digital Channel - 2011-06-14 13:42:08 | Broadcasting & Cable
  15. Fisher's KBOI Picks Up Boise CW Affiliation | TVNewsCheck.com
  16. Fisher Communications adds CW affiliate to Boise market | Local & Regional | Boise, Meridian, Nampa, Caldwell, Idaho News, Weather, Sports and Breaking News - KBOI 2
  17. "DTV Tentative Channel Designations for the First and the Second Rounds" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-08-29. Retrieved 2012-03-24.
  18. Application View ... Redirecting
  19. KBOI-TV, CW to begin broadcasting on new antennas | News | Boise, Meridian, Nampa, Caldwell, Idaho News, Weather, Sports and Breaking News - KBOI 2
  20. RabbitEars.Info
  21. 2004 DuPont Award Recipients
  22. 2004 Edward R. Murrow Award Recipients
  23. "Eric Johnson". KOMOnews.com. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
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