KGHZ

KGHZ was a former full-power television station serving Springfield and the surrounding Branson-area market in Missouri. The station began broadcasting on March 9, 1983, under the call sign KSPR and became the first independent television station in the Springfield market. It originally operated from studios on South Glenstone Avenue in eastern Springfield and was established by Springfield TV Association Ltd. The station changed ownership several times during its history. Channel 33 was sold in 1984 to the broadcasting unit of Telepictures, a television-production company later associated with the Lorimar-Telepictures name. After the acquisition, the station pursued a network affiliation. In 1986, ABC moved its Springfield affiliation from KDEB-TV, now known as KOZL-TV, to KSPR. The station adopted ABC programming and relocated its operations to a facility on Saint Louis Street. KSPR remained a significant local television outlet through a succession of owners, including Goltrin Communications, Davis Goldfarb Communications, Cottonwood Communications, and GOCOM Communications. GOCOM later combined with Grapevine Communications, creating GOCOM Holdings, which was subsequently renamed Piedmont Television Holdings. The station used several branding identities during this period, including “ABC 33” and “Springfield 33.” In 2007, Piedmont Television agreed to sell KSPR to Perkin Media, LLC. Schurz Communications, which owned Springfield NBC affiliate KYTV, assumed operational responsibility under a shared-services arrangement. The Federal Communications Commission approved the transaction in August 2007. KSPR adopted the “KSPR ABC” identity shortly afterward and moved its operations into an expanded section of KYTV’s West Sunshine Street facility in November 2009. The arrangement placed the two stations under common operational control while they retained distinct station identities and programming roles. KSPR transitioned to digital-only broadcasting on February 17, 2009. Its programming included ABC’s network schedule, local news and other station services. The station also produced locally oriented entertainment programs, including the children’s show “Sammy’s Place” and the short-lived horror-film showcase “The Late Night Horror Show with Count Norlock.” The station’s final phase was driven by the 2016 federal broadcast incentive auction. Schurz announced in 2015 that it would leave broadcasting and sell its television and radio properties to Gray Television. As part of the transaction and related restructuring, KSPR’s license was placed into the incentive-auction process. On February 1, 2017, the full-power channel 33 station changed its call sign to KGHZ, while the KSPR call sign moved to the former K15CZ-D low-power facility. KGHZ subsequently exchanged its virtual channel and ABC affiliation arrangement with KSPR-LD, while its primary virtual channel position became 15.1. The station continued limited use of the KGHZ identity and carried Antenna TV on its main subchannel during its final months. KGHZ ceased broadcasting on May 31, 2017. Its full-power license was returned to the FCC and canceled on the same day. The former full-power transmitter and tower infrastructure later supported KYCW-LD at reduced power, while the KSPR brand continued through the low-power station now known as KSPR-LD. KGHZ therefore represents the final call-sign phase of a Springfield television operation historically known first as KSPR.

KGHZ was the final call sign of a Springfield, Missouri, full-power television station that operated most of its existence as KSPR. The station signed on March 9, 1983, on channel 33, established by Springfield TV Association Ltd. It was initially an independent station and became the first independent television broadcaster in the Springfield market. Its original studios were located on South Glenstone Avenue in eastern Springfield. In 1984, the channel 33 license was sold to the broadcasting division of Telepictures. The transaction received FCC approval on December 12 of that year. Telepictures pursued a network affiliation, and in 1986 ABC selected KSPR after deciding to end its affiliation with KDEB-TV, the station now known as KOZL-TV. KSPR became the market's ABC affiliate on April 3, 1986, and moved its operations to a facility on Saint Louis Street. The station passed through several ownership groups. Lorimar-Telepictures sold KSPR to Goltrin Communications in 1987, with FCC approval following in February 1988. Goltrin then sold the station to Davis Goldfarb Communications, with that transaction completed in December 1988. Cottonwood Communications acquired KSPR in 1995, and GOCOM Communications acquired it in 1997. During the GOCOM period, the station used “ABC 33” and later “Springfield 33” branding. GOCOM's combination with Grapevine Communications produced GOCOM Holdings, later renamed Piedmont Television Holdings. Piedmont announced the sale of KSPR to Perkin Media, LLC, in September 2006. The transaction was completed in August 2007. Although Perkin Media became the licensee, Schurz Communications, owner of KYTV, took over KSPR's operations through a shared-services arrangement. KSPR adopted the “KSPR ABC” brand in September 2007. Its operations moved in November 2009 from the Saint Louis Street facility into an expanded wing of KYTV's West Sunshine Street building. KSPR completed its transition to digital-only broadcasting on February 17, 2009. As an ABC affiliate, it carried the network schedule in pattern and supplemented that schedule with local news, syndicated programming, and locally produced entertainment. “Sammy's Place,” which ran from 1985 to 1990, was an afternoon children's program hosted by Wayne Milnes as the character Sammy B. Good. In 1989, the station introduced “The Late Night Horror Show with Count Norlock,” a locally produced wraparound presentation for syndicated horror films. The program lasted one season and was hosted by local actor Jim Kellett in character. A major structural change followed Schurz Communications' 2015 decision to leave broadcasting. Schurz agreed to sell its television and radio holdings to Gray Television for $442.5 million; the transaction included the KYTV operation and arrangements connected with KSPR. Schurz also exercised an option related to acquiring KSPR, while the station's full-power license was designated for the FCC's broadcast incentive auction. The FCC approved the broader transaction in February 2016, and the sale closed shortly afterward. In January 2017, KYTV began simulcasting KSPR programming on one of its digital subchannels. On February 1, the full-power channel 33 station changed its call sign from KSPR to KGHZ. The KSPR call sign was transferred to the former K15CZ-D low-power facility, which became KSPR-LD. The stations also rearranged their virtual channel and affiliation configuration: KGHZ no longer served as the principal ABC-branded outlet in the same way, while KSPR-LD assumed the KSPR identity and associated ABC service. KGHZ carried Antenna TV on its main subchannel during its final period. KGHZ went off the air on May 31, 2017. Its license was returned to the FCC and canceled that day. The former full-power transmitter and tower later supported KYCW-LD under reduced-power operating conditions. The KSPR identity survived through KSPR-LD, but KGHZ itself ceased to exist as an operating full-power station.

• 2017

  KSPR becomes KGHZ

  [1]KGHZen.wikipedia.org

  The full-power channel 33 station adopts the KGHZ call sign during a transition involving its virtual channel and ABC affiliation.

• 2017

  License surrendered and canceled

  [1]KGHZen.wikipedia.org

  KGHZ leaves the air on May 31 and returns its full-power license to the FCC following the incentive-auction process.

• 2016

  Gray Television transaction closes

  [1]KGHZen.wikipedia.org

  The FCC approves the sale of Schurz's broadcast properties to Gray Television, and the transaction is completed in February.

• 2009

  Operations move into KYTV's facility

  [1]KGHZen.wikipedia.org

  KSPR relocates from Saint Louis Street to an expanded wing of KYTV's West Sunshine Street facility.

• 2009

  Digital-only broadcasting begins

  [1]KGHZen.wikipedia.org

  KSPR completes its transition to digital-only transmission on February 17.

• 2007

  Schurz begins operating KSPR

  [1]KGHZen.wikipedia.org

  Following Perkin Media's purchase, Schurz Communications assumes day-to-day operations through a shared-services agreement with KYTV.

• 1997

  GOCOM Communications acquires KSPR

  [1]KGHZen.wikipedia.org

  The station changes ownership and later operates within the GOCOM/Grapevine and Piedmont corporate lineage.

• 1986

  KSPR becomes the ABC affiliate

  [1]KGHZen.wikipedia.org

  ABC moves its Springfield affiliation from KDEB-TV to KSPR, establishing the station's principal network role.

• 1984

  Telepictures acquires channel 33

  [1]KGHZen.wikipedia.org

  The station is sold to Telepictures' broadcasting operation, with FCC approval issued on December 12.

• 1983

  KSPR signs on

  [1]KGHZen.wikipedia.org

  The channel 33 station begins broadcasting in Springfield as the market's first independent television station.

A local broadcast television outlet serving the Springfield–Branson market, historically positioned as the market's ABC affiliate and later as the final call-sign identity of the former KSPR full-power station.

• Network television · 1986

  ABC network programming

  For most of the station's operating history under the KSPR call sign, the principal service was carriage of ABC's network schedule for viewers in the Springfield–Branson market. The station aired the network lineup in pattern and supplemented it with local news and station-produced material. During the 2017 transition, ABC programming continued through the related KSPR-LD service rather than remaining a lasting feature of the defunct KGHZ operation.

• Broadcast news

  Local news programming

  KSPR provided local television news and public-service programming for Springfield and nearby communities. Its news operation was connected operationally with KYTV after Schurz Communications began managing the station under a shared-services arrangement. Local news remained part of the station's traditional value to viewers alongside ABC programming.

• Children's television · 1985

  Sammy's Place

  Sammy's Place was a locally produced afternoon children's program that ran from 1985 through 1990. Actor Wayne Milnes hosted the show as the hobo clown character Sammy B. Good. The format combined syndicated cartoons with studio appearances by area children, comedy routines, and clown skits.

• Film presentation · 1989

  The Late Night Horror Show with Count Norlock

  This locally produced late-night program presented syndicated horror films with introductory and interstitial segments hosted by actor Jim Kellett as Count Norlock. The character drew on the imagery of Count Orlok from the silent film Nosferatu. The program debuted in 1989 and ended after one season.

• Digital multicast television · 2017

  Antenna TV

  During its final months under the KGHZ call sign, the station carried Antenna TV on its main subchannel. This multicast arrangement continued until the station ceased operation and its full-power license was canceled in May 2017.

• 2017

  Call-sign and affiliation restructuringOther

  Background

  The full-power channel 33 license was being relinquished through the FCC broadcast incentive-auction process, while a low-power successor facility was positioned to preserve the KSPR identity and ABC service.

  Action taken

  On February 1, the full-power station changed its call sign to KGHZ, exchanged its virtual-channel and affiliation arrangement with KSPR-LD, and used a different primary virtual-channel mapping.

  Aftermath

  KGHZ carried Antenna TV briefly before leaving the air and surrendering its license on May 31, 2017.

  Source

• 2015

  Schurz agrees to exit broadcastingM&A

  Background

  Schurz Communications announced that it would sell its television and radio holdings, including KYTV and arrangements connected with KSPR, as part of its departure from broadcasting.

  Action taken

  Schurz agreed to sell the broadcast group to Gray Television in a transaction valued at $442.5 million and pursued related steps concerning the KSPR license.

  Aftermath

  The transaction closed in February 2016, while KSPR's full-power license entered the federal incentive-auction process.

  Announced transaction value. $442.5 million (2015 announcement)

  Source

• 2007

  Shared-services operating arrangement with KYTVStrategy

  Background

  Perkin Media acquired KSPR from Piedmont Television while Schurz Communications owned nearby NBC affiliate KYTV.

  Action taken

  Schurz took over KSPR's operations under a shared-services agreement, combining selected operational resources while maintaining the KSPR station identity.

  Aftermath

  KSPR was later branded as KSPR ABC and moved its operations into KYTV's facility in 2009.

  Source

• 1986

  Pursuit and adoption of the ABC affiliationStrategy

  Background

  After acquiring the station, Telepictures sought a major network affiliation for channel 33. ABC decided to terminate its relationship with KDEB-TV and move its Springfield service to KSPR.

  Action taken

  KSPR became the ABC affiliate on April 3, 1986, and shifted its operations to the Saint Louis Street facility.

  Aftermath

  The affiliation defined KSPR's primary market position for most of its remaining history and made it a central network station in the Springfield–Branson market.

  Source

1. 1KGHZen.wikipedia.org