KODE-TV

KODE-TV is a broadcast television station licensed to Joplin, Missouri, and serving viewers in the southwestern Missouri and southeastern Kansas region. The station operates as the market's ABC affiliate and is identified with channel 12. Although Mission Broadcasting owns the station, its day-to-day operations are conducted by Nexstar Media Group under a shared-services arrangement with NBC affiliate KSNF-TV. The two stations operate from shared facilities on South Cleveland Avenue in Joplin, and KODE's transmitter is also located there. The station began broadcasting on September 26, 1954, under the call sign KSWM-TV. It was established by local broadcaster Austin Harrison, who also owned Joplin radio station KSWM. At launch, KSWM-TV was primarily affiliated with CBS and carried ABC programming on a shared basis with KOAM-TV, which was then an NBC affiliate. Harrison sold the stations to Friendly Broadcasting in 1956. The call letters changed to KODE-AM-TV in 1957, and ownership subsequently passed to United Printers & Publishers in 1961 and Gilmore Broadcasting in 1962. KODE's affiliation structure changed substantially as the local television market developed. On January 1, 1968, the station became a full-time ABC affiliate. Three days later, KUHI-TV, the station now known as KSNF, began operating and assumed the CBS affiliation. This arrangement established the basic network identities that continue to define the Joplin market. A notable episode in KODE's local history occurred in March 1970, when an inaccurate forecast of light snow preceded a much larger storm that produced more than 20 inches of snow at the official Joplin measuring location and considerably higher totals in parts of the Ozarks. The incident became part of the station's local folklore and contributed to the area's colloquial use of the phrase “Lee George flurries,” referring to unexpectedly heavy snow. Mission Broadcasting acquired KODE-TV in 2002. Around the same period, KODE entered into a shared-services relationship with Nexstar, which owns KSNF. The combined operation was eventually consolidated in expanded and rebuilt facilities. A major storm in May 2009 damaged both stations' infrastructure: KODE returned to the air on May 9, while KSNF remained off the air until June 17. Both operations moved into the rebuilt KSNF facility in April 2010. KODE expanded its digital and multicast offering over time. It began presenting local newscasts in high definition on December 19, 2012. In 2016, an affiliation agreement involving Katz Broadcasting added networks including Escape, Laff, Grit, and Bounce to the KODE and KSNF service offering; Ion Television was added to KODE's subchannel lineup later. The station currently produces local news for the Four States region, with approximately 17 hours of local newscasts each week. Its role combines ABC network programming, local journalism, weather coverage, syndicated or other scheduled programming, and digital or multicast services for the Joplin-area audience.

KODE-TV began service on September 26, 1954, as KSWM-TV, a Joplin station founded by local broadcaster Austin Harrison. Harrison also owned KSWM radio, and the television station's original call sign referred to Southwestern Missouri. The station initially operated from studios and a transmitter on West 13th Street in Joplin. Its first network arrangement made it primarily a CBS affiliate, while ABC programming was shared with KOAM-TV, then an NBC affiliate. Harrison sold the stations to Friendly Broadcasting in 1956. In 1957, the television station adopted the KODE call letters, becoming KODE-AM-TV alongside its radio counterpart. Friendly later sold KODE and another station, WRGP in Chattanooga, to United Printers & Publishers in 1961. Gilmore Broadcasting acquired the KODE stations in 1962. The local network structure changed in 1968. KODE became a full-time ABC affiliate on January 1, while KUHI-TV launched three days later and assumed CBS programming. KUHI-TV eventually became KSNF-TV, creating the network pairing that later defined the Joplin market: KODE as ABC and KSNF as NBC. The station's history includes a widely remembered weather incident from March 15, 1970. Forecaster Lee George predicted light flurries, but the area experienced a major snowstorm, with more than 20 inches recorded at Joplin Regional Airport and totals approaching 30 inches in parts of the Ozarks. The forecast drew intense public criticism and reportedly led to threats serious enough that local police escorted George to the station. The event became a recurring piece of regional broadcasting lore, with subsequent unexpectedly heavy snow sometimes described locally as “Lee George flurries.” Mission Broadcasting purchased KODE-TV in 2002. Nexstar Broadcasting, which owned KSNF, took responsibility for operating KODE through a shared-services arrangement. The stations' operations were combined, with KSNF's facilities expanded to accommodate the joint operation. A powerful storm on May 8, 2009, interrupted this arrangement and damaged both stations. KODE lost power but returned to the air early on May 9. KSNF suffered more extensive damage, including the loss of its tower, and did not resume broadcasting until June 17. The two stations moved into a rebuilt KSNF facility in April 2010. KODE modernized its local production by introducing high-definition newscasts on December 19, 2012. Its multicast strategy also expanded. In 2016, Nexstar announced an affiliation agreement with Katz Broadcasting, now associated with Scripps Networks, covering Escape, Laff, Grit, and Bounce for KODE and KSNF. Ion Television was added to KODE's digital subchannel lineup at a later point. Today KODE-TV remains licensed to Joplin and serves the Joplin, Missouri–Pittsburg, Kansas market. It operates from shared South Cleveland Avenue facilities with KSNF, under Mission Broadcasting ownership and Nexstar operational management. The station broadcasts ABC programming, local news, weather, community coverage, and digital multicast services. Its local news schedule totals approximately 17 hours per week, including weekday and weekend broadcasts.

• 2016

  Multicast network expansion

  [1]KODE-TVen.wikipedia.org

  KODE and KSNF add Escape, Laff, Grit, and Bounce through a Katz Broadcasting affiliation agreement.

• 2012

  Local news transitions to HD

  [1]KODE-TVen.wikipedia.org

  KODE begins presenting local newscasts in high definition on December 19.

• 2010

  Shared operations move to rebuilt facility

  [1]KODE-TVen.wikipedia.org

  KODE and KSNF relocate to the rebuilt KSNF building in April.

• 2009

  Storm damages station infrastructure

  [1]KODE-TVen.wikipedia.org

  A major storm disrupts KODE and destroys KSNF's tower; KODE returns to service quickly while KSNF undergoes a longer recovery.

• 2002

  Mission Broadcasting acquisition and Nexstar operating agreement

  [1]KODE-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Mission Broadcasting acquires KODE, and Nexstar begins operating it alongside KSNF under a shared-services structure.

• 1970

  Major snowstorm becomes part of station lore

  [1]KODE-TVen.wikipedia.org

  A widely criticized forecast precedes a major snowstorm, creating the local expression “Lee George flurries.”

• 1968

  Full-time ABC affiliation begins

  [1]KODE-TVen.wikipedia.org

  KODE becomes the market's sole ABC affiliate on January 1.

• 1962

  Gilmore Broadcasting acquisition

  [1]KODE-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Gilmore Broadcasting of Kalamazoo, Michigan, acquires the KODE stations.

• 1961

  United Printers & Publishers acquisition

  [1]KODE-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Friendly Broadcasting sells KODE and WRGP to United Printers & Publishers.

• 1957

  Call sign changes to KODE

  [1]KODE-TVen.wikipedia.org

  The station adopts the KODE-AM-TV call letters.

• 1956

  First ownership transfer

  [1]KODE-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Founder Austin Harrison sells the station and associated radio operation to Friendly Broadcasting.

• 1954

  Station launches as KSWM-TV

  [1]KODE-TVen.wikipedia.org

  KSWM-TV begins broadcasting from Joplin on September 26 as a primarily CBS-affiliated station with shared ABC programming.

A local ABC broadcast outlet focused on news, weather, community information, network entertainment, and advertising for the Joplin–Pittsburg Four States region.

• Broadcast television network affiliation · 1968

  KODE-TV ABC service

  KODE's principal service is its ABC-affiliated broadcast signal on channel 12. It carries national ABC programming while also providing locally produced news, weather, public-affairs material, and commercial inventory for the Joplin–Pittsburg market.

• Local television news

  KODE local news

  The station produces regional news and weather coverage for communities in southwestern Missouri and southeastern Kansas. Its reported schedule is approximately 17 hours per week, consisting of weekday and weekend newscasts. Production has been presented in high definition since 2012.

• Digital television subchannels · 2016

  Digital multicast services

  KODE's digital broadcast capacity has carried additional network services beyond ABC. The station's documented multicast expansion included Escape, Laff, Grit, and Bounce through a 2016 agreement, with Ion Television added in a later period.

• 2016

  Add multicast entertainment networksProduct launch

  Background

  Digital television enabled local stations to carry additional national network services alongside their primary affiliations.

  Action taken

  KODE and KSNF entered an affiliation arrangement with Katz Broadcasting for Escape, Laff, Grit, and Bounce.

  Aftermath

  KODE broadened its free over-the-air programming lineup through digital subchannels.

  Source

• 2012

  Upgrade local newscasts to high definitionGeneration change

  Background

  The station modernized its local production technology and presentation.

  Action taken

  KODE began broadcasting local newscasts in high definition on December 19.

  Aftermath

  Local news continued as a core component of the station's service with improved image presentation.

  Source

• 2002

  Mission Broadcasting acquisitionM&A

  Background

  Mission Broadcasting acquired KODE-TV while Nexstar owned the market's NBC affiliate, KSNF.

  Action taken

  Mission purchased the station and entered into a shared-services arrangement under which Nexstar operated KODE alongside KSNF.

  Aftermath

  The stations combined substantial operational functions and later moved into shared facilities.

  Source

• 1968

  Adopt full-time ABC affiliationStrategy

  Background

  KODE had previously carried CBS as its primary affiliation while sharing ABC programming. The launch of KUHI-TV changed the local network distribution.

  Action taken

  KODE became the market's full-time ABC affiliate on January 1, 1968.

  Aftermath

  The station's ABC identity continued as its principal market position.

  Source

1. 1KODE-TVen.wikipedia.org
2. 2KODE-TV official websitefourstateshomepage.com