View source for KPTH

{{short description|Fox/CBS affiliate in Sioux City, Iowa}}
{{Use American English|date=May 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox television station
| callsign               = KPTH
| city                   =
| logo                   = KPTH logo 2024.svg
| logo_upright           = 1.1
| logo_alt               = The CBS and Fox network logos, a thin dividing line between them, above the word "Siouxland" in a sans serif
| branding               = {{ubl|Fox Siouxland|My KPTH (DT2)|CBS Siouxland (DT3)}}
| analog                 =
| digital                = 30 ([[UHF]])
| virtual                = 44
| subchannels            =
| translators            =
| affiliations           = {{ubl|'''44.1:''' [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]]|'''44.2:''' [[TBD (TV network)|TBD]]/[[MyNetworkTV]]|'''44.3:''' [[CBS]]}}
| network                =
| country                = United States
| airdate                = {{start date and age|1999|5|9|p=y}}
| last_airdate           =
| location               = [[Sioux City, Iowa]]
| callsign_meaning       = [[Pappas Telecasting]] of the Heartland, from founding owner{{r|Siou990502}}
| former_callsigns       =
| former_channel_numbers = {{ubl|'''Analog:''' 44 (UHF, 1999–2009)|'''Digital:''' 49 (UHF, 2009–2018)}}
| owner                  = [[Sinclair Broadcast Group]]
| licensee               = KPTH Licensee, [[LLC]]
| sister_stations        = [[KMEG]]
| erp                    = 871 [[kW]]
| haat                   = {{convert|613|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
| facility_id            = 77451
| coordinates            = {{coord|42|35|12|N|96|13|19|W|type:landmark_scale:2000}}
| licensing_authority    = [[FCC]]
| website                = {{url|https://siouxlandnews.com/}}
}}
'''KPTH''' (channel 44) is a [[television station]] in [[Sioux City, Iowa]], United States, affiliated with [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] and [[CBS]]. It is owned by the [[Sinclair Broadcast Group]], which provides certain services to [[Dabl]] affiliate [[KMEG]] (channel 14) under a [[shared services]] agreement (SSA) with Waitt Broadcasting. The two stations share studios along [[Interstate 29 in South Dakota|I-29]] ([[United States Postal Service|postal]] address says Gold Circle) in [[Dakota Dunes, South Dakota]]; KPTH's transmitter is located in [[Unincorporated area#United States|unincorporated]] [[Plymouth County, Iowa]], east of [[James, Iowa|James]] and [[U.S. Route 75 in Iowa|US 75]] along the [[Woodbury County]] line.
KPTH has been the Fox affiliate for Sioux City since its construction by [[Pappas Telecasting]] in 1999. Its operations were merged with KMEG, then the CBS affiliate, in 2005. After Pappas filed for bankruptcy protection, the station was sold to Titan TV Broadcast Management in 2009 and again to Sinclair in 2013. KPTH absorbed the CBS programming previously on KMEG in 2021. KPTH aired local news from 2006 to 2023.
==History==
[[Pappas Telecasting]] received a construction permit to build a new station in Sioux City on February 25, 1997, immediately announcing that it planned to put KPTH on the air as a Fox affiliate in early 1998.<ref name="Siou970304">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123921438/fox-tv-channel-planned-in-siouxland/|date=March 4, 1997|page=A7|title=Fox-TV channel planned in Siouxland|newspaper=Sioux City Journal|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 2, 2023|archive-date=May 2, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230502165315/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123921438/fox-tv-channel-planned-in-siouxland/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Tue --> Work on the tower site in [[Plymouth County, Iowa|Plymouth County]] began that October.<ref name="Siou971015">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121864719/fox-broadcast-station-still-a-year-away/|date=October 15, 1997|page=A3|title=Fox broadcast station still a year away|newspaper=Sioux City Journal|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 2, 2023|archive-date=May 2, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230502165326/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121864719/fox-broadcast-station-still-a-year-away/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Wed -->
KPTH began broadcasting May 9, 1999. It operated from offices in [[South Sioux City, Nebraska]], and broadcast from an interim antenna at the {{convert|1500|ft|m|adj=on}} level of its planned {{convert|2000|ft|m|adj=on}} tower for the first five months.<ref name="Siou991002">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123921721/kpth-tv-installs-new-tower-antenna/|date=October 2, 1999|page=A10|title=KPTH-TV installs new tower, antenna|newspaper=Sioux City Journal|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 2, 2023|archive-date=May 2, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230502165326/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123921721/kpth-tv-installs-new-tower-antenna/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sat --> The high-power facility was necessary because two thirds of television households in the Sioux City market lived outside the metropolitan area.<ref name="Siou990502">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123908158/outfoxing-the-competition-siouxland-gai/|date=May 2, 1999|pages=F1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123908167/pappas-also-operates-fox-station-in-omah/ F4]|first=Michele|last=Linck|title=OutFoxing the competition: Siouxland gains fourth local TV station as new Fox affiliate hits airwave|newspaper=Sioux City Journal|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 2, 2023|archive-date=May 2, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230502165358/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123908158/outfoxing-the-competition-siouxland/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sun --> It also provided tower space for KMEG and for the digital facilities of [[KTIV]] and [[Iowa Public Television]].<ref name="Siou981212">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/sioux-city-journal-1980-foot-tower-for/123921808/|date=December 12, 1998|pages=A1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/sioux-city-journal-tower-will-be-used-by/123921782/ A3]|first=Michele|last=Linck|title=1,980-foot tower for new FOX affiliate going up near Hinton|newspaper=Sioux City Journal|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 2, 2023|archive-date=May 2, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230502165342/https://www.newspapers.com/article/sioux-city-journal-1980-foot-tower-for/123921808/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sat -->
In May 2005, Waitt Broadcasting (owner of KMEG) entered into a shared services agreement with Pappas Telecasting. Pappas assumed operations of KMEG and moved KPTH into the former's studios in [[Dakota Dunes, South Dakota]].<ref name="Siou050503">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/sioux-city-journal-pappas-will-begin-ope/123922199/|date=May 3, 2005|page=A4|title=Pappas will begin operating KMEG|newspaper=Sioux City Journal|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 2, 2023|archive-date=May 2, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230502165327/https://www.newspapers.com/article/sioux-city-journal-pappas-will-begin-ope/123922199/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Tue --> In November 2007, Waitt announced it would sell KMEG to Siouxland Television, [[LLC]], with Pappas continuing to operate it as part of the deal. However, Pappas' Sioux City duopoly was among the company's thirteen stations which filed for [[Chapter 11 bankruptcy]] protection in May 2008.<ref name="Siou081221">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/sioux-city-journal-stations-look-to-emer/123923119/|date=December 21, 2008|pages=D1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/sioux-city-journal-auction-can-city-sup/123923139/ D7]|first=Dave|last=Dreeszen|title=Stations look to emerge from bankruptcy: KMEG, KPTH, eight other Pappas affiliates auctioned for|newspaper=Sioux City Journal|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 2, 2023|archive-date=May 2, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230502165317/https://www.newspapers.com/article/sioux-city-journal-stations-look-to-emer/123923119/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sun --> As a result, the sale of KMEG to Siouxland Television fell through. On January 16, 2009, it was announced that several of the Pappas stations involved in the bankruptcy (including KPTH) would be sold to New World TV Group (also known as Titan Broadcast Management or Titan TV Broadcast Group) after the transaction received [[United States bankruptcy court]] approval; New World/Titan also took over their operations while the sale was completed.<ref name="tvnd-pappastonw">{{cite news|url=http://www.tvnewsday.com/articles/2009/01/16/daily.11/|title=New World Gets Pappas TVs for $260M|date=January 16, 2009|work=TVnewsday|access-date=January 18, 2009|archive-date=July 30, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180730080517/http://www.tvnewsday.com/articles/2009/01/16/daily.11/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Titan announced the sale of most of its stations, including KPTH, to the [[Sinclair Broadcast Group]] on June 3, 2013.<ref name=tvnc-saletosinclair>{{cite news|title=Sinclair Buys 6 Titan Television Stations|url=http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/67978/sinclair-buys-6-titan-television-stations|access-date=June 4, 2013|newspaper=TVNewsCheck|date=June 3, 2013|archive-date=September 21, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921054920/http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/67978/sinclair-buys-6-titan-television-stations|url-status=live}}</ref> Sinclair announced the closing of the sale on October 3.<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://sbgi.net/site_mgr/temp/Titan%20close.pdf |title=Sinclair Broadcast Group Closes on Acquisition of the Titan Stations |publisher=Sinclair Broadcast Group |access-date=October 3, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004215829/http://sbgi.net/site_mgr/temp/Titan%20close.pdf |archive-date=October 4, 2013 }}</ref>
In January 2021, Sinclair renewed its CBS affiliation agreement, with KPTH—instead of KMEG—listed as the Sioux City affiliate.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/viacomcbs-sinclair-sign-new-affiliation-agreements|date=January 13, 2021|first=Jon|last=Lafayette|work=Broadcasting & Cable|title=ViacomCBS, Sinclair Sign New Affiliation Agreements|access-date=May 2, 2023|archive-date=October 1, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001203040/https://www.nexttv.com/news/viacomcbs-sinclair-sign-new-affiliation-agreements|url-status=live}}</ref> On February 4, the CBS 14 subchannel of KMEG, including its programming and local news, moved to KPTH 44.3; KMEG's 14.1 subchannel began broadcasting [[Dabl]].<ref name="cbskpth">{{cite web|url=https://siouxlandnews.com/news/local/siouxlands-cbs-channel-moving-to-a-new-home-february-4th|title=Siouxland's CBS channel moving to a new home February 4th|website=siouxlandnews.com|date=January 20, 2021|access-date=January 22, 2021|archive-date=January 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210130175745/https://siouxlandnews.com/news/local/siouxlands-cbs-channel-moving-to-a-new-home-february-4th|url-status=live}}</ref>
==News operation==
{{see|KMEG#News operation}}
KPTH had promised newscasts at launch, but a 2000 attempt by Pappas to sell the station led to the postponement of any plans to launch local news.<ref name="Siou000326">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/sioux-city-journal-kpth-fox-44-reaches-m/123921980/|date=March 26, 2000|page=H12|first=Michele|last=Linck|title=KPTH Fox 44 reaches milestones|newspaper=Sioux City Journal|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 2, 2023|archive-date=May 2, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230502165317/https://www.newspapers.com/article/sioux-city-journal-kpth-fox-44-reaches-m/123921980/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sun --> The 2005 merger of KMEG and KPTH's operations led to the announcement that KMEG would extend its news operation to channel 44.{{r|Siou050503}} Weekend newscasts were eliminated on both stations as a cost-cutting move when Titan assumed control of the Pappas stations in March 2009; the KPTH newscast had only just been expanded to weekends in January.<ref name="Siou090319">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/sioux-city-journal-kmeg-and-kpth-cut-sta/123922403/|date=March 19, 2009|page=A7|title=KMEG and KPTH cut staffs, end weekend newscasts|newspaper=Sioux City Journal|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 2, 2023|archive-date=May 2, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230502165343/https://www.newspapers.com/article/sioux-city-journal-kmeg-and-kpth-cut-sta/123922403/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Thu -->{{r|Siou081221}}
In April 2023, it was reported that Sinclair would cut its local newscasts in five markets, including Sioux City, effective in May; the lost newscasts would be replaced with Sinclair's syndicated ''[[The National Desk]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|date=April 28, 2023|title=Local TV News to End on CBS-14 & KPTH|url=https://kscj.com/2023/04/28/local-tv-news-to-end-on-cbs-14-kpth/|access-date=April 30, 2023|work=[[KSCJ|Talk Radio 1360 (KSCJ)]]|language=en-US|archive-date=May 2, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230502165318/https://kscj.com/2023/04/28/local-tv-news-to-end-on-cbs-14-kpth/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://tvnewscheck.com/business/article/sinclair-shutters-five-news-markets-we-just-turned-off-the-lights-for-many/|title=Sinclair Shutters Five News Markets: 'We Just Turned Off The Lights For Many'|date=May 1, 2023|work=TVNewsCheck|first=Michael|last=Stahl|access-date=May 1, 2023|archive-date=May 2, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230502074516/https://tvnewscheck.com/business/article/sinclair-shutters-five-news-markets-we-just-turned-off-the-lights-for-many/|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Subchannels==
The station's digital signal is [[Multiplex (TV)|multiplexed]]:
{| class="wikitable"
|+Subchannels of KPTH<ref name=rei>{{cite web|title=Digital TV Market Listing for KPTH|url=http://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=KPTH#station|website=[[RabbitEars]]|access-date=November 11, 2014|archive-date=November 11, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141111215533/http://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=KPTH#station|url-status=live}}</ref>
! scope = "col" | [[Digital subchannel#United States|Channel]]
! scope = "col" | [[Display resolution|Res.]]
! scope = "col" | [[Aspect ratio (image)|Aspect]]
! scope = "col" | Short name
! scope = "col" | Programming
|-
! scope = "row" | 44.1
| [[720p]] || [[16:9]] || FOX || [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]]
|-
! scope = "row" | 44.2
| [[480i]] || [[4:3]] || MyNet || [[TBD (TV network)|TBD]] & [[MyNetworkTV]]
|-
! scope = "row" | 44.3
| [[1080i]] || 16:9 || CBS 14 || [[CBS]]
|}
=== Analog-to-digital conversion ===
KPTH shut down its analog signal, over [[UHF]] channel 44, at noon on February 17, 2009, to conclude the [[Digital television transition in the United States|federally mandated transition from analog to digital television]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.siouxcityjournal.com/articles/2009/02/17/news/local/559211bae0111b0d8625755f007f2829.txt|title=Today is the day for digital TV switch|first=Dave|last=Dreeszen|work=[[Sioux City Journal]]|date=February 17, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=About KMEG 14|website=KMEG|url=http://www.kmeg14.com/story/6936989/about-kmeg-14|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111101053035/http://www.kmeg14.com/story/6936989/about-kmeg-14|archive-date=November 1, 2011|access-date=December 1, 2011}}</ref>
The station's digital signal remained on its pre-transition UHF channel 49, using [[virtual channel]] 44.<ref name="Analog to Digital">{{Cite web |date=May 23, 2006 |title=DTV Tentative Channel Designations for the First and Second Rounds |url=http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1082A2.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130829004251/http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1082A2.pdf |archive-date=August 29, 2013 |access-date=August 29, 2021 |publisher=Federal Communications Commission}}</ref> The station switched to broadcasting on channel 30 on November 30, 2018, as a result of the [[2016 United States wireless spectrum auction]].<ref name="Repack Table">{{Cite web|url=http://data.fcc.gov/download/incentive-auctions/Transition_Files/Phase_Assignment_Closing_PN.csv|title=FCC TV Spectrum Phase Assignment Table|format=CSV|website=[[Federal Communications Commission]]|date=April 13, 2017|access-date=April 17, 2017|archive-date=April 17, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170417160749/http://data.fcc.gov/download/incentive-auctions/Transition_Files/Phase_Assignment_Closing_PN.csv|url-status=live}}</ref>
===Translators===
KPTH's signal is repeated over [[broadcast relay station#Broadcast translators|translator]] KBVK-LD (channel 20) in [[Spencer, Iowa]].{{r|rei}} It was formerly relayed on KPTP-LD (channel 31) in [[Norfolk, Nebraska]]; this translator's license was canceled on August 5, 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/getimportletter_exh.cgi?import_letter_id=20537|title=KPTP-LD Cancellation Letter|first=Hossein|last=Hashemzadeh|publisher=[[Federal Communications Commission]]|date=August 5, 2010|accessdate=August 14, 2024}}</ref>
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
*[https://siouxlandnews.com/ KPTH/KMEG]
{{SUX TV}}
{{TV Stations Iowa}}
{{Nebraska TV}}
{{South Dakota TV}}
{{SBGI}}
[[Category:1999 establishments in Iowa]]
[[Category:CBS affiliates]]
[[Category:Fox Broadcasting Company affiliates]]
[[Category:MyNetworkTV affiliates]]
[[Category:TBD (TV network) affiliates]]
[[Category:Sinclair Broadcast Group]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations established in 1999]]
[[Category:Television stations in Sioux City, Iowa|PTH]]