KPNX

KPNX is a full-service television station serving the Phoenix, Arizona television market as the NBC affiliate. Its studios and offices are located in Phoenix and its transmitter is on South Mountain in Phoenix but it is licensed to the suburb of Mesa. It is owned by the Gannett Company which also owns The Arizona Republic newspaper.

The station broadcasts on VHF channel 12. As a full-service station it is carried on all local cable television systems and appears on the local stations lineup on all of the satellite television systems. It is rebroadcast on full power satellite station KNAZ-TV in Flagstaff and on a network of low-power translators throughout northern and central Arizona.

History
KPNX is the only major English-language commercial television station in Phoenix to never change its primary affiliation. It was founded in 1953 as KTYL-TV, owned by the Harkins Theatre Group and was a sister station to KTYL radio (AM 1490, now KIHP, and FM 104.7, now KZZP). The original studios were located in Mesa, its city of license. Its appearance brought the metro Phoenix area a full-time NBC affiliate; the other three networks shared time on KPHO-TV, as did NBC prior to 1953. Channel 12 carried some DuMont programming prior to that network's demise in 1956.

John J. Louis, owner of KTAR radio (AM 620), bought channel 12 in 1955 and changed its calls to KVAR. The station then became KTAR-TV four years later. It moved into its current facility in Phoenix in 1959, after the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) allowed stations to locate its studios outside the city of license. Over the years the Louis family bought several other broadcasting outlets, including WQXI-TV in Atlanta, Georgia (now WXIA-TV) and WPTA-TV in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Eventually, the Louis family's broadcasting interests became known as Pacific & Southern Broadcasting, headquartered in Phoenix with KTAR-AM-TV as the flagship stations.

Advertising mogul Karl Eller bought Pacific & Southern in 1968 and combined it with his existing business to form Combined Communications. Eller was also one of the original founding owners of the city's first major professional sports team, the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association. Channel 12 carried Suns games for years from the team's 1968 inception until the 1980s when Suns telecasts moved to KNXV-TV channel 15. KTAR-TV NBC 12 logo used in 1970.KTAR-TV ident from 1973. Based on the lettering used by NBC News at the time, the "12" logo survived until 1986, long after the station became KPNX.KTAR-TV was the Phoenix pioneer of what some call "happy-talk" news when it debuted "Action News" in late 1973, with long-time anchor Ray Thompson paired up with Bob Hughes, weatherman Dewey Hopper (lately with Air America Radio affiliate KPHX, and a long-time weather forecaster in Sacramento) and sportscaster Ted Brown.

Combined Communications merged with Gannett in 1979, in what was at that time the biggest media merger in U.S. history. Combined's ownership of KTAR-AM-TV had been grandfathered earlier in the decade when the FCC forbade common ownership of television and radio stations in the same market. However, with the Gannett merger, KTAR-AM-TV lost its grandfathered protection. Gannett opted to keep channel 12 and sell off the radio station. KTAR-TV then renamed itself KPNX, since the radio station had held the call letters first.

The station had ranked third in the ratings for many years behind ABC affiliate KTVK and CBS affiliate KTSP (now KSAZ-TV). That changed in 1994, when every major English-language commercial station in Phoenix changed affiliations except KPNX. Coupled with a resurgent NBC, KPNX surged past KTVK to the top of the ratings, where it has stayed ever since, only wavering as NBC has experienced its own network troubles.

In 2000, Gannett merged with Central Newspapers, owner of The Arizona Republic. Gannett would have been forced to sell off either KPNX or the Republic had it not been issued a "permanent" waiver of the FCC's rules forbidding common ownership of newspapers and television stations in the same market.

In 1997, the FCC allocated UHF channel 36 as the station's digital companion channel, and construction began the following year. KPNX launched its digital channel in June 2000. On December 29, 2005, the station began carrying NBC Weather Plus on subchannel 12.2, making it the first station in Phoenix to offer a 24-hour local weather channel. KPNX achieved another first in Arizona on November 2, 2006, when it began broadcasting local news programming in high definition.

On February 24, 2009, it was announced that KTVK, KPHO-TV and KPNX will share a helicopter starting March 1, 2009.[1] [2] [3]

In March 2009, KPNX switched its weather subchannel system to The Local AccuWeather Channel. KNXV already implements this service, but its GoAZ.tv product focuses on traffic. KPNX offers a more traditional Local AccuWeather product with the Weather Plus brand name.

On January 12, 2011; KPNX moves from the studios on Central Avenue that were in for over 50 years, to their new location inside The Arizona Republic Building on 200 East Van Buren Street in Downtown Phoenix. Also, will be home to azcentral.com, too. The Republic and 12 News will share the newsroom on the 9th floor of 200 EVB (nickname)http://www.azcentral.com/12news/downtown/

Digital television
The station's digital channel is multiplexed:

Digital channels KPNX ceased analog broadcasts at 10:12PM on June 12, 2009, the day mandated by the Federal government for TV stations to cease analog transmissions across the country. The switch occurred during the station's 10PM newscast. After the analog switchoff,[4] KPNX returned its digital broadcasts to channel 12 at 10:38PM.[5]

Newscasts and local programming
Weather Plus local insert with former meteorologist Bill Kelly.KPNX's news operations (12 News) is among one of the highest rated news operations in Arizona during primetime news hours.[6] Its evening newscasts have dominated ratings for several years.

While rivals KSAZ and KTVK produce dramatically more local news per week, KPNX airs the largest amount of news (local and national) in the market, running about 30 hours a week of local news, along with 25 hours a week of national news from NBC (Today, NBC Nightly News, etc.). It also runs syndicated first-run talk and reality shows (Live with Regis & Kelly being one of them, which has aired on Channel 12 since its debut [as Live with Regis & Kathie Lee] in the 1980s) along with the entire NBC schedule.

In November 2009, KPNX was beaten by KPHO at 10pm a rare loss for a channel 12 that ended more than 50 straight sweeps victories dating back to the 1995 affiliation switch. Although KPNX has traditionally been known as a very news-intensive station, it is currently going through a period of transition. Nearly all of its long-tenured reporters have left; most recently, long-time consumer reporter Rick DeBruhl retired in November 2009.

KPNX produces two daily local lifestyle shows. Arizona Midday, a general lifestyle show with paid segments hosted by Jan D'Atri and Destry Jetton, runs weekdays at 1pm. A new lifestyle program, 12 News Valley Dish, hosted by former morning anchor Tram Mai, airs weekdays at 4:30pm, replacing a more traditional newscast (now airs at 3:30 p.m., after Who Wants to be a Millionaire at 3 p.m. and The Ellen DeGeneres Show at 4 p.m.). 12 News Valley Dish is primarily focused on food around the Valley with cooking segments, interviews with restaurant chefs, and other light fare.

KPNX airs "12 News Weather Plus," a 24-hour weather service showing forecasts and weather conditions, on its 12.2 subchannel. It also airs as a separate channel on the local cable systems. In addition to national forecasts from Accu-Weather, Weather Plus also has local inserts, shown at right, allowing KPNX weather staff to show conditions and forecasts for the Phoenix market, including northern Arizona. In addition, weather conditions and forecasts from around the region are displayed on the left and at the bottom of the screen (known as an "L-bar").

Newscast titles

 * Your Esso Reporter (1953–1956)
 * News Nite (1956–1962)
 * News 90/The World Today (1962–1967)
 * TV-12 News (1967–1972)
 * Phoenix News (1972–1977)
 * Action News (1977–1985)
 * Channel 12 News (1985–1992)
 * 12 News (1992–present)

Station slogans
This film, television or video-related list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it with reliably sourced additions.==On-air staff==
 * Arizona's Full Color Station (1960s)
 * Channel 12, Proud as a Peacock! (1979–1981; localized version of NBC ad campaign)
 * It's All Right Here (early 1980s)
 * Hello Phoenix / Hello Arizona (1980s; used during period station used Frank Gari's "Hello News")
 * We're Going Where You're Going (mid-1980s)
 * Come Home to Channel 12 (1986–1987; localized version of NBC ad camapaign)
 * Come on Home to Channel 12 (1987–1988; localized version of NBC ad campaign)
 * Come Home To The Best, Only on Channel 12 (1988–1990; localized version of NBC ad campaign)
 * KPNX, The Place To Be!(1990–1992; localized version of NBC ad campaign)
 * It`s A Whole New Channel 12 (1992–1993; localized version of NBC ad campaign)
 * Arizona's Most Watched Station (1992–2004)
 * The Stars Are Back on Channel 12 (1993–1994; localized version of NBC ad campaign)
 * 12 Stands for Local News (2004–2008)
 * Arizona's #1 Source for Local News (2004–2008)
 * The Leader in HD, Local Television Redefined (2006–present)
 * It's All on 12 News (2008–present)
 * The 1-2 (pronounced like "one to") Watch for NBC (Used in radio promos for primetime shows, used infrequently for TV promos)

Current on-air staff
 Anchors   12 News Weather Plus   Sports team   Reporters   Local program hosts   Sky 12 pilots/reporters  (as part of a Local News Service the helicopter is shared with KTVK and KPHO-TV and operated by Helicopters Inc.)
 * Lin Sue Cooney - weeknights at 5, 6 and 10 p.m.
 * Kim Covington - weekend evenings; also weekday morning education reporter
 * Mark Curtis - weeknights at 5, 6 and 10 p.m.
 * Joe Dana - weekend mornings "12 News Weekend Today"
 * Fay Fredricks - weekday mornings, "12 News Today" (4:30-7am)
 * Scott Light - weekday mornings "12 News Today" (4:30-7am)
 * Tram Mai - weekdays at 3:30 p.m. ("12 News Valley Dish"); social media reporter weeknights at 5pm
 * Brahm Resnik - weekdaays at 12noon; also chief political reporter
 * James Quiñones - Chief Meteorologist; weeknights at 5, 6 and 10 p.m.
 * Sarah Walters (AMS and NWA Seals of Approval) - Meteorologist; weekday mornings "12 News Today"
 * Caribe Devine - Weather Anchor; weekend mornings and evenings
 * Rob Carlmark - Meteorologist; noon
 * Kevin Hunt - Sports Director; Sunday-Thursdays at 5 and 10 and Monday-Thursdays at 6 p.m.
 * Bruce Cooper - Sports Anchor; Fridays at 5 and Friday-Saturdays at 6 and 10 p.m., also host of "Sports Tonight"
 * Joe Pequeno - sports reporter
 * Melissa Blasius - general assignment reporter
 * Dave Cherry - "Call 12 For Action" investigative reporter
 * David Dean - weekday morning traffic reporter
 * Wendy Halloran- Watchdog/investigative reporter
 * Andy Harvey - general assignment reporter
 * Kevin Kennedy - general assignment reporter
 * Christine Lee - Northern Arizona bureau videojournalist
 * Nicole McGregor - general assignment reporter
 * Hannah Mullins - general assignment reporter
 * William Pitts - general assignment reporter
 * Syleste Rodriguez - general assignment reporter at 10pm, fill-in anchor
 * Veronica Sanchez - general assignment reporter
 * Rachel Stockman - general assignment reporter
 * Ed Tribble - general assignment reporter
 * Jan D'Atri - host of "Arizona Midday"
 * Destry Jetton - host of "Arizona Midday"
 * Scott Clifton
 * Jimmy Castanza
 * Tammy Rose

Notable former on-air staff

 * Kent Dana, Anchor (1979-2004); more recently weeknight anchor at KPHO-TV, now retired
 * Jineane Ford, Anchor (1991-2007); most recently anchored Arizona Midday'(Still fills in as Arizona Midday Anchor)'[7] 
 * Sean McLaughlin, Chief Meteorologist (1992-2004); moved at first to MSNBC/NBC Weather Plus, now at KPHO
 * Ron Hoon, now morning show host at KSAZ-TV
 * Marianne McClary, Morning anchor (1990-1995); now at KMAX/KOVR Good Day Sacramento in Sacramento, California)
 * Vince Leonard, Anchor (1980-1989); retired
 * Dave Marquis, Reporter (1980s-1993); now at KXTV in Sacramento
 * Blair Meeks, General Assignment Reporter (until 2003)
 * Trayce Hutchins, Reporter (1990s); now co-anchors morning show at WGCL-TV in Atlanta
 * Deiah Riley, Anchor/Reporter (until 1999); now at WFTS-TV in Tampa, Florida)
 * Jill Miles, Weekday Morning Anchor (1990s)
 * Linda Alvarez, Anchor (1977-1985); no longer in broadcasting[8] Last at KCBS-TV (no longer at the duopoly KCBS/KCAL)
 * Andy Cerota, Reporter (Late 1990s-early 2000s); now general assignment reporter at KTRK in Houston
 * Rick Crabbs, Helicopter Pilot; now helicopter pilot at KSAZ-TV
 * Pat Finn Host of "Finn & Friends" 1989-1990 Now host of California Lottery's The Big Spin
 * Aubrey Aquino, Traffic Reporter; now entertainment reporter for DECO Drive in Miami, Florida
 * Kathleen Mascarenas, Anchor/Reporter (1990s to 2004); former editor of Latino Future magazine; current owner of Mas Video Productions and Passport Media, LLC; Now co-host & co-creator of LaFusion on KAZT-TV AZ-TV 7 Cable 13
 * Nicolle "Nikki" Hernandez-Cunningham, Anchor/Reporter (1990s to 2004); Now co-host & co-creator of LaFusion on KAZT-TV AZ-TV 7 Cable 13
 * Minerva Perez, Anchor/Reporter (1980s); no longer in broadcasting.
 * Carolyn Mungo, Reporter (1990s now managing editor at KRIV in Houston)
 * Kim Holcomb, Reporter (until 2006, currently at KING-TV in Seattle)
 * Dan Plante, Anchor (1990s)
 * Al Owen, Reporter and Entertainment Editor (1980-1984) Moved from KPNX to Entertainment Tonight[9]
 * Jerry Foster, Sky12 Pilot/Reporter
 * Fred Roggin, Sports; now at KNBC-TV
 * Mitch Truswell, Anchor/Reporter (1997-2003); noon anchor and investigative reporter for KVBC in Las Vegas, now working as reporter at KNXV.
 * Kathy Kirschner, Reporter/Anchor
 * Mary Kim Titla, Reporter (1993-2005); publisher of Native Youth Magazine online; unsuccessfully sought Congressional seat in 2008[10]
 * Julie Watters, Anchor/Reporter (1991-2002); Executive Producer, Glendale 11, a cable television government access channel[11]
 * Dawn Witt, Reporter (2000-?); Homemaker and author
 * Bill Denney, Sports (1980s-1990s); deceased
 * Bob Salter, Anchor/Reporter
 * Bill Austin, Weather (1980s); Former morning show host at 99.9KEZ-FM. Died June 2, 2010.
 * Patti Kirkpatrick, Anchor (1980s), now at local independent station KTVK.
 * Steve Pascente, Sports; deceased
 * Bill Kelly, Weather; now Chief Meteorologist/Saturday morning anchor at KHQ-TV in Spokane, WA.
 * Melissa Gonzalo - Reporter/Anchor
 * Jerrid Sebesta - Meteorologist; now weathercaster for KARE
 * Rick DeBruhl - Consumer Reporter, now Chief Communications Officer for the State Bar of Arizona[12]
 * Jeff Kelly - Weekend Weather; Left for KPHO-TV now Chief Meteorologist KPAX-TV, Missoula, Montana.
 * Catherine Anaya - Anchor; Now at KPHO-TV

Station identification
FCC-compliant station identification used by KPNX beginning in 2008.Over the years, KPNX has used a legal station identification that did not comply with FCC regulations, which require that in the legal identification broadcast aurally or visually, a station must state its call sign, followed by its city of license. Dating back to its days as KTAR-TV, channel 12 long identified as "Phoenix/Mesa," though legally it should have been "Mesa/Phoenix." Beginning in 2008, KPNX begun using a new, FCC-compliant station ID on its analog and primary digital channels (shown at right, top). On its Weather Plus programming on 12.2, KPNX still identifies using non-compliant ID, and does not air separate ID at the top of the hour (shown at right, bottom).

[edit] References in movies
A reporter for KPNX appears in the 1978 made-for-TV movie A Fire In The Sky. Elizabeth Ashley portrayed fictional Channel 12 reporter Sharon Allan. The movie aired as a three-hour event on NBC.

[edit] Translators
Notes:
 * K24FA Blythe, California1
 * K09KG Bullhead City2
 * K42CQ Chloride2
 * K35EI Dolan Springs2
 * K61FB Globe/Miami (construction permit to move to channel 48 - expires October 23, 2009)3
 * K50CY Kingman2
 * K46GI Lake Havasu City2
 * K23DK Meadview2
 * K30BQ Needles, California4
 * KPSN-LP 22 Payson5
 * K26GF Peach Springs2
 * K06AE Prescott6
 * K57DC Verde Valley/Camp Verde7
 * KNAZ Flagstaff
 * 1: Not owned by KPNX. Formerly K71AB ch 71.
 * 2: Mohave County-owned. K42CQ was once K74AN channel 74; K50CY was K70AC channel 70; K46GI has been on channel 54 (K54AN) and 7 (K07JH); and K26GF was K80AP channel 80 until 1989, when it became K54DD.
 * 3: Formerly K70BY ch 70. Gannett-owned (through Multimedia Holdings Corporation, owners of KPNX and KUSA-TV). Construction permit for channel 48 expires 23 October 2009.
 * 4: Not owned by KPNX. Formerly K72AE channel 72.
 * 5: Gannett-owned through Multimedia. Took current callsign in 2005.
 * 6: Gannett-owned through Multimedia.
 * 7: Not owned by KPNX. Formerly channel 67/K67BR.