KSPR

KSPR-TV is the ABC-affiliated television station for the Ozark Plateau area of Southwestern Missouri that is licensed to Springfield. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 19 from a transmitter in Fordland. Owned by Perkin Media, it is operated by Schurz Communications of South Bend, Indiana through a shared services agreement (SSA) as sister station to NBC affiliate KYTV and low-powered CW affiliate K15CZ. All three share studios on West Sunshine Street in Springfield. Syndicated programming on KSPR includes: Inside Edition, Jeopardy!, The Dr. Oz Show, and Live with Regis and Kelly.

Digital programming
The station's digital signal is multiplexed. In 2009, KSPR left channel 33 and moved to channel 19 when the analog to digital conversion was completed.

History
KSPR originally signed on-the-air March 9, 1983 as Springfield's first independent station. However in 1986, ABC dropped its affiliation with KDEB-TV (now KSFX-TV) and gave it to KSPR. On September 21, 2006, Piedmont Television announced that it would sell KSPR to Perkin Media, LLC. Under the agreement, Schurz Communications took over KSPR's operations under a shared services agreement. It remained at its studios on East Saint Louis Street in Springfield. Perkin Media took over ownership of the station on August 28, 2007.

On September 9, the on-air branding was changed to "KSPR ABC". Prior to then, it was branded as "Springfield 33, Where Springfield Comes First" with weather coverage labeled "Where Your Forecast Comes First". For a short period of time, it was branded as "ABC 33". Notable former employees of the station include: Mark Steines (correspondent for Entertainment Tonight), John Brown (former anchor for The Daily Buzz), and Terry Kniess (later became known for perfect showcase bid on The Price is Right).

Original programming
Beginning on April 21, 1989 and ending the same year, KSPR produced and aired The Late Night Horror Show with Count Norlock. This show featured syndicated horror films along with new introductory and interstitial segments featuring a horror host character. Host segments were locally produced and featured local actor Jim Kellett in the role of "Count Norlock", a vampire reminiscent of Count Orlok from the 1922 F. W. Murnau film Nosferatu. Featuring films such as Magic and The Brides of Dracula, The Late Night Horror Show with Count Norlock only lasted one season.[1]

From 1985 until 1990, Springfield area kids went home after school to watch Sammy's Place on KSPR, an afternoon show hosted by hobo clown "Sammy B. Good". The afternoon program featured cartoons such as He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, She-Ra, Voltron, Transformers, and G.I. Joe. Between cartoons, Sammy featured area kids as in-studio guests and entertained with a number of clown acts and skits. He famously excited the in-studio kids with screams of "Everybody go 'yeaaaa'!" which would be echoed in unison.

News operation
On November 1, 2009, KSPR moved into KYTV's newly renovated facilities and began airing its local broadcasts in high definition from a secondary set. The two stations maintain separate news departments. KSPR also added a gray and black "33" to its logo. Unlike most ABC affiliates in the Central Time Zone, it does not air local news weeknights at 5, but at 4.

Newscast titles

 * Channel 33 News (1983– 1986)
 * 33 Eyewitness News (1986– 1989)
 * NewsTeam 33 (1989– 1991 and 1993– 1996)
 * 33 Newstime (1991– 1993)
 * News 33 (1996– 1997)
 * ABC 33 News (1997– 1998)
 * Springfield 33 News (1998– 2007)
 * KSPR News (2007– present)

Station slogans

 * "Just Watch Us Now!" (1996-1998)
 * "Where Your Forecast Comes First." (1998– 2002, weather)
 * "Where Springfield Comes First." (2002– 2007, general)
 * "Covering Our Community" (2007–2014 )
 * "Keeping You Connected" (2014--present )

News team
Anchors KSPR Weather  KSPR/Ozone Sports team Reporters
 * Jerry Jacob - weeknights at 4, 6 and 10 p.m.
 * Leigh Moody - weeknights at 4, 6 and 10 p.m.
 * Adam Hooper - weekday mornings
 * Melody Pettit - weekday mornings
 * Frances Watson - weekend evenings; also weeknight reporter
 * Kevin Lighty (AMS and NWA Seals of Approval) - chief meteorologist; Monday-Friday at 4, 6 and 10 p.m.
 * Lindsey Slater - meteorologist; weekday mornings
 * Bob Trihy - weekend evenings
 * Mike Scott - sports director; now in off-air role.
 * Hugh Keeton - sports anchor; weeknights 6 and 10pm.
 * Bobby Oler - sports anchor; weekends
 * Lauren Pozen - general assignment reporter
 * Sheena Elzie - general assignment reporter
 * Matt Buhrman - general assignment reporter
 * Rachel Dubrovin - general assignment reporter
 * Jonathan Harper - general assignment reporter
 * Jonathan Wahl - general assignment reporter

Former on-air staff
Title sequence from The Late Night Horror Show.*Dave Akerly Sports Anchor
 * Doug Aronson
 * Jes Beard
 * Brooke Borden
 * John Brown
 * Margaret Burnquist
 * Kristi Capel
 * Will Carter
 * CJ Cassidy
 * Eric Chaloux
 * Donna Cline (Deceased)
 * Kristin Clouston
 * Zach Daniel
 * Christine Daues
 * Joe Daues
 * Josh DeBerge
 * Tim Drum
 * Dave Dunn (now at WDAF Kansas City)
 * Danielle Elliott
 * Jerri Fisher (Deceased)
 * Ray Foreman
 * Lori Fullbright
 * Susan Harding
 * Mark Harmon Sports Anchor
 * Erin Hartness
 * Ron Hearst (Now on KYTV)
 * Ralph Hipp (Now at WIBW Topeka)
 * Daniel Holdge
 * Jasmine Huda (now at KTVI St Louis)
 * Jerry Jacob (Now in the Army)
 * Kathy Jones
 * Karen Kelly
 * Terry Kniess - meteorologist (famous for perfect bid on The Price is Right Showcase Showdown)
 * Mark Kulda
 * Sonia Kullmann (now at KOLR)
 * Scott Lane
 * Ann Ladenberger
 * Mary Maloney (CNN)
 * Kirk Mason
 * Ed Messett
 * Scott Noll (now at WREG-TV)
 * Theresa Petry
 * Ray Preston (now at KMOV-TV)
 * Lori Schell
 * Whitney Scott
 * Joanna Small (KIRO)
 * Bob Snell (now at KAIT-TV)
 * Mark Steines (at Entertainment Tonight)
 * Natalie Swallow
 * Steve Tommey
 * Tracy Turner (News Director TV 3 Winchester, Winchester VA)
 * Shane Doyle