KGPE

KGPE is the CBS affiliated television station for the Fresno, California market. KGPE's digital signal is on UHF channel 34 from Auberry, California. It is currently owned by High Plains Broadcasting and operated by Newport Television, LLC.

Digital TV
The station's digital signal is UHF 34, multiplexed. After the analog television shutdown and digital conversion to take place on June 12, 2009, KGPE remained on its pre-transition channel number, 34. However, through the use of PSIP, digital television receivers will display KGPE's virtual channel as 47.

History
The station first signed on air in 1953 as KJEO, Fresno's second television station. It was originally a CBS affiliate with a secondary ABCaffiliation. When KFRE-TV (channel 12, now KFSN-TV on channel 30) signed on in 1956, it took the CBS affiliation due to KFRE-AM's long affiliation with CBS Radio. On September 8, 1985, KFSN's owner, Capital Cities Communications merged with ABC. KFSN-TV became an ABC owned and operated station, sending the CBS affiliation back to KJEO.

KJEO had lagged behind its competitors in the ratings for much of its history. The station tried to address that issue in the summer of 1995 by adopting a more interactive format for its newscasts. Pre-recorded segments of viewer reactions to particular news stories were shown throughout the broadcasts, and viewers were also invited to e-mail or call in (via voicemail) their comments to be featured on air, as part of a feature called "Your Turn". In addition, the "Your Turn" branding was extended to a weekly, half hour program with topical features and news of the week in this interactive format. The newscasts were renamed from 47 Eyewitness News to 47 On Your Side to match the new format. This new approach did not help with the station's ratings, and it was abandoned in 1996, although the "On Your Side" branding remained. It has been one of CBS's weakest affiliates since the 1985 switch. In stark contrast, KFRE/KFSN dominated the ratings while it was affiliated with CBS before its owner purchased ABC.

Fisher Broadcasting merged with KJEO's previous owner, Retlaw Broadcasting (a company owned by relatives of Walt Disney), in 1998, then proceeded to sell the station to The Ackerley Group in 2000. Under Ackerley, the station changed its call letters to KGPE on September 14, 2000, and revamped its news operation as News 47.

Clear Channel Communications merged with Ackerley in 2001. The purchase was approved in 2002, and Clear Channel became KGPE's new owner. Under Clear Channel, KGPE re-branded as CBS 47 On Your Side in October 2004.

In 1997, the station became the first in the Fresno area to operate a news helicopter. Known as "Eagle 47", the chopper was named after its exclusive sponsor, Table Mountain Casino, which uses an "Eagle" for its logo. "Eagle" refers to one of the restaurants inside the Casino called Eagles Landing Spot. After the Ackerley Group took over the station in 2000, Eagle 47 was grounded for good.

On April 20, 2007, Clear Channel entered into an agreement to sell its entire television stations group to Newport Television, a broadcast holding company controlled by the private equity firm Providence Equity Partners. That sale was finalized on March 14, 2008[2]

In mid-May 2008, Newport Television agreed to sell the license assets of KGPE and five other stations to High Plains Broadcasting, Inc. because of an ownership conflict (Providence Equity Partners also holds a 19 percent ownership stake in the Spanish-language network Univision, the owner of KFTV and Telefutura station KTFF-TV).[3] The sale closed on September 15, 2008[4] ; Newport continues to operate KGPE under a shared services agreement.[3] This gave KGPE its sixth owner in 10 years.

As of November 8, 2010, KGPE is currently one of two stations without high definition newscasts (KSEE is the other). In addition, KGPE is the only station that still presents its local newscasts in pillarboxed 4:3 standard definition (since KSEE has recently upgraded to 16:9 enhanced widescreen newscasts).

Current on-air staff
Anchors/reporters


 * Zara Arboleda - Anchor; weekday mornings "CBS 47 This Morning"
 * Kathryn Herr - Lead reporter
 * Ken Malloy - Anchor; weeknights at 5, 6 and 11 p.m.
 * Evy Ramos - Anchor; weeknights at 5, 6 and 11 p.m.
 * Mike Scott - Anchor; weekday mornings "CBS 47 This Morning" and noon (also movie critic)
 * Tony Botti - general assignment reporter
 * Alicia Coates - Weekend anchor 6 and 11 p.m. and reporter
 * Brittney Hopper- general assignment reporter
 * Steve McCarron - general assignment reporter (also producer)
 * Alexandra Limon - general assignment reporter
 * Rachel Azevedo - general assignment reporter

Pinpoint 47 Weather Team


 * Scott Mace (AMS Seal of Approval) - Chief Meteorologist; weeknights at 5, 6 and 11 p.m.
 * Justin Sacher (AMS Seal of Approval) - Meteorologist; weekends at 6, 6:30 and 11 p.m.
 * Jenny Toste - Weather Anchor; weekday mornings "CBS 47 This Morning" and noon

Sports


 * George Takata - Sports Director; weeknights at 6 and 11 p.m.
 * Andrew Marden - Sports Anchor; weekends at 6, 6:30 and 11 p.m.

Former staff

 * Greg Albrecht - news director (now Vice President of Global Promotions at the Walt Disney Company)
 * Amy Allen - reporter (1999–2008; now at KCPQ in Seattle)
 * John Allison - reporter (1985–1988)
 * Steve Anderson - weather anchor (1979–1982)
 * Warren Armstrong - weeknight anchor (now at KFSN-TV in Fresno)
 * Allison Ash - investigative reporter (2000–2006; now at KGTV San Diego)
 * Michele Babbitt - reporter (now Michele Kane, working as freelance network news field producer based in Las Vegas)
 * Dan Ball - morning anchor/reporter (2004–2005; now at KSNV in Las Vegas)
 * Gary Bentley - anchor/reporter deceased
 * Lorna Bernard - reporter (now at KRIV in Houston)
 * John Berry - sportscaster
 * Matt Biondi - 6:30/11 PM weekend sportscaster
 * Denise Boucher - anchor/reporter
 * Sean Boyd - chief weather anchor (1998–2002)
 * Chris Burrous - morning anchor/reporter (2001–2003; now at WPIX in New York City)
 * Reischea Candidate - weekend sports anchor (now at ESPN)
 * Dick Carr (Karshner) - personality now retired
 * Paul Chajerdian - reporter/producer
 * J.C. Cooper - anchor/reporter
 * Marc Cotta - sportscaster
 * Kenny Crumpton - reporter (now at WJW-TV in Cleveland)
 * Donna Davis - weekend evening, then 5PM anchor/reporter (now at WMC-TV in Memphis)
 * Katherine Davis - reporter, now at WJAR NBC in Providence, Rhode Island
 * Dan Devone - sportscaster (was at KCPQ in Seattle )
 * Colin Dougherty - public affairs reporter
 * Dick Drilling - sports anchor
 * Deidra Dukes - anchor/reporter (1990–1994; now WAGA in Atlanta)
 * Pablo Espinoa - reporter
 * Doug Fernandez - weekend evening, then 5 and 6 p.m. weekday anchor/reporter (now at KOAT in Albuquerque-Santa Fe)
 * Karen Freitas - anchor/reporter
 * Susie Frankeberger - noon/5/6 p.m. anchor (2000–2008)
 * Jaime Garcia - noon anchor/reporter
 * Mat Garcia - 6:30 and 11 p.m. weekend anchor/reporter (1996–1999)
 * Wayne Garica - anchor/reporter (now at KPTV in Portland, Oregon)
 * Tamara Gonzales - reporter (2006–2007)
 * Susan Hirasuna - anchor/reporter (now weekend anchor at KTTV/KCOP in Los Angeles, CA)
 * Julie Hogan - 6 and 11 PM anchor/reporter (1993–1995; now Julie Haener and at KTVU in Oakland/San Francisco)
 * Ann (Anny) Hong - morning, then weekend anchor/reporter (2004–2006; now at KOVR/KMAX-TV in Sacramento, now at WUSA CBS in Washington D.C.
 * Dan Howard - reporter mid 1980's (now deceased)
 * Colin Jackson - morning/noon meteorologist (2004–2007; now at KSEE)
 * Melanie Kim - morning, then weekend evening anchor (1997–2001; now at KOVR/KMAX-TV in Sacramento)
 * John Reed King - anchor/reporter deceased
 * Kristine Lazar - reporter 2003-2006; now freelance reporter at KCBS-TV/KCAL-TV in Los Angeles)
 * Holly Lindahl - morning and noon, then weekend anchor-reporter (1997–1998)
 * Paul Leofller - weekend sportscaster (2000–2008; now sports director at KMJ Radio and the radio voice of the Fresno State Bulldogs)
 * Elita Loresca - this morning/noon weathercaster (2002–2004; now at KNBC in Los Angeles)
 * Lorraine Love - "Good Morning Central Valley" lifestyle personality
 * Chuck Mauler - reporter
 * Molly McMillen - anchor (1996–2001)
 * Rik McNeil - "Good Morning Central Valley" lifestyle personality
 * Nichelle Medina - morning and noon anchor/reporter (1997–2000; now at KFMB-TV in San Diego)
 * Kevin Musso - morning and noon meteorologist, then chief meteorologist (1997–2008; now at KFSN-TV)
 * Christina Musson - reporter (now at KMJ radio)
 * Kent Ninomiya - reporter
 * Lucy Noland - weeknight anchor (1995–1997; now at KHOU-TV in Houston)
 * Meg Oliver - 5/6/11 PM anchor-reporter 2001-2004; later anchor of CBS News Up To The Minute)
 * Bob Ormseth - anchor/reporter (now spokesman for Fort Mill, SC school district)
 * Matt Otstott - morning co-anchor/weather fill-in (2006–2009),now at KSEE-TV in Fresno as weekend anchor/reporter
 * Laurie Penco - weeknight anchor/reporter (2000–2001 and 2005–2006; Penco worked at all four Fresno TV stations: KSEE, KMPH-TV, KFSN and KGPE)
 * Michelle Pulfrey - morning reporter
 * Candice Fox - reporter
 * Kathleen Rhodes - reporter
 * Bill Rice - reporter
 * Larry Rice - weathercaster/videographer (now at KOB-TV in Albuquerque)
 * Jim Richard - reporter
 * Scott Roberts - "Scambuster" reporter
 * Peter Rogot - anchor/reporter (later at KCNC in Denver; died in 1991)
 * Erik Rosales - 5 and 11 PM anchor/"Scambuster" reporter (was at KIII in Corpus Christi, now back in Fresno at KMPH-TV as assignment editor)
 * Sontaya Rose - reporter (2000–2003; now at KFSN-TV)
 * Lucy Ruiz - community affairs reporter (was let go along with two other employees due to budget cuts)
 * Kris Sanchez - morning anchor/reporter (2001–2004; now at KNTV in San Francisco)
 * Mike Sanford - reporter (now Vice-President of Content Creation at KVIE in Sacramento)
 * Roopam Sidhu - morning anchor/reporter/Pathfinder traffic reader (2006–2009)
 * Julie Smith - anchor/reporter
 * Bill Stamps - weekend evening anchor/reporter
 * Marty Uribes - reporter
 * C.J. Ward - consumer reporter (now at KEYT in Santa Barbara)
 * Michelle West - anchor/reporter (1985-1991; now Fresno County Deputy District Attorney)
 * Jennifer Whitney - 6 and 11 PM anchor (1985–1990; now at KVIE in Sacramento)
 * Ed Wilson - anchor/reporter
 * John Wallace - morning and noon, then weeknight anchor (1987–2001, 2005–2008; contract was not renewed with KGPE; now public affairs officer for the City of Fresno)
 * Kevin Walsh - noon, then weeknights anchor (1997–2003; now at CN8 East Coast)
 * Julie Watts - traffic reporter/weekend weather anchor (2003–2005; now at KPIX in San Francisco)
 * Ralph Wood - sports anchor (now sports director at KMPH-TV in Fresno)
 * Monna Wynn - morning traffic/weather anchor (1996–1997)
 * Chris Zelman - weather anchor (now at WALB in Albany, Georgia)
 * Christy Dennis - anchor/reporter
 * Madeline Quinn - anchor/reporter

Newscast titles

 * Gary Bentley with the News (?-1970)
 * Eyewitness News (1970-?)
 * 47 Eyewitness News (19??–1992)
 * 47 On Your Side News (1992–2000)
 * 47 News (2000-2001)
 * News 47 (2001–2004)
 * CBS 47 On Your Side (2004–2013)
 * CBS 47 Eyewitness News (2013-present)

Station slogans

 * Let's Get Together on 47 (1970-1971; localized version of ABC slogan)
 * This is The Place to Be on 47 (1971-1973; localized version of ABC slogan)
 * Hello Fresno, Hello 47 (1974-1975; localized version of ABC slogan)
 * Welcome to the Bright New World on 47 (1975-1976; localized version of ABC slogan)
 * Let Us Be The One on 47 (1976-1977; localized version of ABC slogan)
 * We`re Still The One, on 47 (1977-1978, 1979-1980; localized version of ABC slogan)
 * 47`s The One You Can Turn To (1978-1979; localized version of ABC slogan)
 * You and Me and 47 (1980-1981; localized version of ABC slogan)
 * Now is the Time, 47's The Place (1981-1982; localized version of ABC slogan)
 * Come on Along with 47 (1982-1983; localized version of ABC slogan)
 * That Special Feeling on 47 (1983-1984; localized version of ABC slogan)
 * We`re With You on 47 (1984-1985; last localized version of ABC slogan)
 * We`ve Got The Touch on 47 (1985-1986; first localized version of CBS slogan)
 * Share the Spirit on 47 (1986–1987; localized version of CBS slogan)
 * 47 Spirit, oh yes (1987-1988; localized version of CBS slogan)
 * You Can Feel It on 47 (1988-1989; localized version of CBS slogan)
 * Get Ready for 47 (1989-1991; localized version of CBS slogan)
 * The Look of Fresno is 47 (1991-1992; localized version of CBS slogan)
 * This is CBS, on 47 (1992-1994; localized version of CBS slogan)
 * 47 is All Right Here (1993-1994; localized version of CBS slogan)
 * On Your Side (1995–present)
 * It's All Here (2004–2009; localized version of CBS slogan)
 * Only CBS-47 (2009–present; localized version of CBS slogan)