KMIR-TV

KMIR-TV is the NBC-affiliated television station for Southern California's Coachella Valley. Licensed to Palm Springs, it broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 46 from a transmitter on Edom Hill in Cathedral City north of I-10/Redlands Freeway. The station can also be seen on Time Warner Cable channel 6 (hence the KMIR 6 branding) and in high definition on digital channel 606. Owned by Journal Communications, KMIR is sister to low-poweredMyNetworkTV/TheCoolTV affiliate KPSE-LP and the two share studios on Park View Drive inPalm Desert. Syndicated programming on this station includes: The Insider, Entertainment Tonight, Two and a Half Men, and Judge Judy.

Digital programming
On KMIR-DT2 is Mexicanal. This is currently not offered on Time Warner Cable digital systems.

History
The station signed-on October 26, 1968 as the second outlet in Palm Springs after ABC affiliate KPLM-TV (now KESQ-TV). Airing an analog signal on UHF channel 36, it has been an NBC affiliate from the start. Actor John Conte owned the station along with the El MIRador hotel in Palm Springs which is where the call letters come from. Desert Regional Medical Center now occupies the site of the old hotel. Today, one can still see the El Mirador broadcasting tower standing in front of the hospital. This is where the station originally transmitted from. The current tower is actually a new one made to look like the original which fell victim to a fire in 1989. Journal Communications acquired KMIR in 1999.

On September 26, 2007, the company announced its purchase of KPSE from Mirage Media for $4.7 million which closed on January 28, 2008. [1] Also in 2008, the station celebrated its 40th anniversary. Along with the other major Coachella Valley stations, KMIR identifies itself on-air using its cable designation rather than its over-the-air digital channel position. This unusual practice (also common in the Fort Myers/Naples, Florida market) stems in part from Palm Springs's exceptionally high cable penetration rate of 80.5% which is one of the highest in the United States. [2]

News operation
News broadcasts on KMIR air in 16:9 enhanced definition widescreen. The station does produce a nightly prime time newscast on KPSE known as KMIR 6 News at 10 on My 13. KMIR does not operate a weather department of its own so sister station ABC affiliate KTNV-TV in Las Vegas, Nevada provides all weather forecasts.

Newscast titles


 * TV-6 News (1995-1998)
 * KMIR 6 News (1998-present)

Station slogans

 * "Come Home to KMIR-TV 6/36 Palm Springs" (1986-1987, localized version of NBC ad campaign)
 * "Your Choice for Local News" (1993-1998)
 * "Local. Live. Late-Breaking." (1998-2006)
 * "Right Here. Right Now." (2006-present)

News team
Anchors


 * Brandon Behle - weekday morning news
 * Christina Pascucci - weekday morning news
 * Elizabeth Beaubien - weeknight news
 * Gino LaMont - weeknight news and "Ask the Mayor" segment producer (also weeknight sports at 6, 10, and 11)
 * Anthony Alvarez - weekend evening news and producer (also video journalist and weekend evening sports)

KMIR 6 Lifestyle Weather Team


 * Bryan Scofield NWA Seal of Approval - weeknights
 * Mike Tsolinas AMS Seal of Approval - weekday mornings
 * Christian Boris AMS Seal of Approval - weekend morning cut-ins
 * Ashlee DeMartino - weekend evenings

Video journalists


 * Manny dela Rosa - Promotions, Marketing, and Creative Services Director (also "Manny the Movie Guy" film critic and heard on KPSI-FM100.5)
 * Adrianna Weingold
 * Gabriel Morales
 * Angela Monroe

Former on-air talent
*Sam Argier - former chief meteorologist, (Now at KIRO-TV Seattle)
 * Karen Devine - former anchor (Now on rival station KESQ)
 * Tom Durian - former morning anchor (Now at KHQ-TV/KAYU-TV Spokane, WA)
 * Fiona Gorostiza - former morning/midday anchor, (Now at KDFW-TV Dallas/Fort Worth)