KORO

KORO is a full-power television station based in Corpus Christi, Texas, United States. Broadcasting on virtual channel 28, the station is affiliated with Univision, the Spanish-language television network, and serves viewers in the Corpus Christi and surrounding South Texas market. Its broadcast identity is therefore tied to local Spanish-language television, network programming, regional news, and the broader Univision affiliate system rather than to a consumer-goods brand. The station originated in a period when Spanish-language television had only a limited presence in Texas. In 1972, two groups submitted competing applications to the Federal Communications Commission for the use of channel 28 in Corpus Christi. Both proposed Spanish-language operations. One applicant was U-Anchor Broadcasting, a subsidiary of an Amarillo-based company. The other was Telecorpus, a group made up largely of local investors and including prominent Spanish International Network executives such as Emilio Nicolas Sr. and Danny Villanueva. The FCC held hearings on the mutually exclusive applications in 1974 and awarded Telecorpus the construction permit in November of that year. KORO did not begin broadcasting immediately. Technical, financing, and legal complications delayed construction. Among the issues was a dispute involving the local cable system's proposal to import signals from Mexican television stations. After the FCC rejected that proposal, Telecorpus moved forward with studio arrangements and equipment purchases. The company reportedly encountered difficulty obtaining financing, with three banks declining to provide loans before a fourth institution agreed to lend. A lightning strike affecting a microwave dish delayed the planned launch by several days, but KORO ultimately began broadcasting on April 19, 1977. The station initially operated from the 600 Building in downtown Corpus Christi. Its studios moved to North Mesquite Street in 1982, where KORO later shared facilities with KCRP-CD, a low-power Class A UniMás affiliate. KORO's local programming developed gradually. For many years its principal live local newscast aired at 5 p.m.; in 1997, the station added a 10 p.m. newscast, expanding its local news presence. In 1998, Telecorpus sold KORO to Entravision Communications. The transaction reflected wider consolidation in American television broadcasting and the increasing cost of operating and upgrading local stations. Entravision operates KORO alongside other broadcast properties and has maintained the station's role as a Spanish-language outlet in the Corpus Christi market. KORO also participated in the United States transition from analog to digital television. It ended analog broadcasting on UHF channel 28 on June 12, 2009, the federally designated completion date for the full-power digital transition. Its digital transmission continued on pre-transition UHF channel 27 while retaining virtual channel 28. The station's transmitter is located between Petronila and Robstown, while its studios are in downtown Corpus Christi. Available reference material does not identify a separate consumer-facing product portfolio, standalone corporate website, current station executives, financial results, or a distinct advertising campaign history.

KORO's history began with the expansion of Spanish-language television in Texas during the 1970s. In 1972, U-Anchor Broadcasting and Telecorpus independently sought authorization to build a Spanish-language station on channel 28 in Corpus Christi. The applications were mutually exclusive, requiring FCC consideration. U-Anchor was connected to an Amarillo-based company, while Telecorpus was primarily composed of local investors and included Spanish International Network executives Emilio Nicolas Sr. and Danny Villanueva. The FCC conducted hearings in 1974 and granted Telecorpus the construction permit in November. The permit did not produce an immediate launch. KORO faced delays involving construction, financing, equipment, studio arrangements, and a legal dispute over whether Corpus Christi's cable operator could carry Mexican television signals. The FCC rejected the cable proposal, allowing Telecorpus to continue organizing its own local station. Financing was also difficult: three banks reportedly declined to fund the project before a fourth agreed to provide a loan. Technical problems added to the delay. A lightning strike damaged a microwave dish and caused the station to miss its intended opening date by three days. KORO finally began broadcasting on April 19, 1977. Its first facilities were in the 600 Building in downtown Corpus Christi. The station later moved its studios to North Mesquite Street in 1982. KORO's local news operation initially centered on a 5 p.m. live newscast. In 1997, it expanded its schedule with a 10 p.m. newscast, strengthening its local service for Spanish-speaking viewers. The station changed ownership in 1998, when Telecorpus sold it to Entravision Communications. The sale occurred during a broader period of consolidation in local television and as broadcasters faced the substantial technical and financial requirements of the coming digital transition. Under Entravision, KORO continued as a Spanish-language station and Univision affiliate. It operates from downtown Corpus Christi and shares studio facilities with KCRP-CD, a low-power Class A UniMás affiliate owned by Entravision. KORO's transmitter is positioned between Petronila and Robstown. On June 12, 2009, KORO discontinued its analog transmission as part of the federally mandated conversion of full-power American television stations to digital broadcasting. The digital signal remained on UHF channel 27, while viewers continued to identify the station through virtual channel 28. The available reference material provides no detailed account of later ownership changes, executive appointments, ratings, financial performance, formal marketing campaigns, or controversies.

• 2009

  Analog transmission ends

  [1]KORO (TV)en.wikipedia.org

  KORO shut down its analog signal on June 12 and continued digitally on UHF channel 27 using virtual channel 28.

• 1998

  Ownership transfers to Entravision

  [1]KORO (TV)en.wikipedia.org

  Telecorpus sold KORO to Entravision Communications.

• 1997

  Local news schedule expands

  [1]KORO (TV)en.wikipedia.org

  KORO began producing a 10 p.m. newscast in addition to its existing 5 p.m. local news program.

• 1982

  Studios move to North Mesquite Street

  [1]KORO (TV)en.wikipedia.org

  The station relocated from the 600 Building to its later downtown Corpus Christi studio facility.

• 1977

  KORO launches

  [1]KORO (TV)en.wikipedia.org

  KORO began broadcasting on April 19 after delays caused by financing, legal, construction, and technical issues.

• 1974

  Telecorpus receives the construction permit

  [1]KORO (TV)en.wikipedia.org

  Following FCC consideration of the competing applications, Telecorpus was selected to build the station.

• 1972

  Competing applications filed for channel 28

  [1]KORO (TV)en.wikipedia.org

  U-Anchor Broadcasting and Telecorpus each applied to establish a Spanish-language television station on channel 28 in Corpus Christi.

A local Spanish-language television outlet serving Corpus Christi and South Texas through a Univision affiliation, with a role in local news and regional broadcast distribution.

• Television station · 1977

  KORO channel 28

  KORO's core offering is its full-power broadcast service for Corpus Christi and nearby South Texas communities. The station carries Univision's Spanish-language network schedule and provides a local broadcast presence under the KORO call sign and virtual channel 28 identity.

• Television news · 1997

  KORO local news

  KORO's local news service developed from a principal 5 p.m. live newscast and expanded in 1997 with a 10 p.m. edition. It represents the station's local programming role alongside Univision network content.

• 2009

  Conversion from analog to digital broadcastingGeneration change

  Background

  Full-power television stations in the United States were required to complete the federally mandated analog-to-digital transition.

  Action taken

  KORO ended its analog UHF channel 28 signal on June 12 and continued digitally on UHF channel 27 while retaining virtual channel 28.

  Aftermath

  The station continued broadcasting as a digital television service under the familiar channel 28 virtual identity.

  Source

• 1998

  Sale from Telecorpus to EntravisionM&A

  Background

  Telecorpus owned KORO during a period of consolidation in local broadcasting and rising costs associated with digital television conversion.

  Action taken

  Telecorpus sold KORO to Entravision Communications.

  Aftermath

  KORO became part of Entravision's broadcast portfolio and continued serving as a Spanish-language station in Corpus Christi.

  Source

1. 1KORO (TV)en.wikipedia.org