KPLC
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KPLC, channel 7, is an NBC-affiliated television station licensed to Lake Charles, Louisiana broadcasting on digital channel 7. It is owned by Raycom Media, and has transmitter facilities located in Fenton, Louisiana.
The station also serves as the default NBC affiliate for the Lafayette, Louisiana market, since that market does not have an NBC affiliate of its own. It operates a "virtual station" for Acadiana cable systems and sells advertising in the area.
Digital television
| Channel | Video | Aspect | Name | Programming |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7.1 | 1080i | 16:9 | KPLC-DT | Main KPLC programming / NBC |
| 7.2 | 480i | 4:3 | SLWA | The SLWA Channel / This TV |
| 7.3 | THIS TV | Bounce TV |
History
KPLC-TV began broadcasting in the summer of 1954. Owner T.B. Lanford of Shreveport had previously signed on KPLC-AM radio and was eager to expand into television.
The station was later purchased by a St. Louis group headed by investor Elliot Stien. He visited KPLC frequently along with his friend, St. Louis Cardinals baseball legend Stan Musial.
In 1970, G. Russell Chambers purchased KPLC-TV from the St. Louis group and dramatically increased the station's coverage by adding a 1,500-foot (460 m) tower, providing a quality signal for the NBC affiliate as far north as Leesville, as far east as Lafayette and to the Gulf of Mexico. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations required that the radio stations be sold. Perry Sanders purchased the AM/FM combo and changed its call letters to KLCL.
In 1986, Cosmos Broadcasting, a subsidiary of Liberty Life Insurance Company, took over. KPLC was one of the first television stations in the U.S. to launch its own website in the 1990s.
In 2004, KPLC began broadcasting in digital as well as analog with the launch of KPLC (DT). Later in the year the station launched its first local 24-hour weather channel, "KPLC WeatherPlus." Simultaneously, the station launched a service specifically for cellphones and PDA's, "7 On Your Cell."
In March 2004 while workers were installing a new transmission tower in high winds, the old transmission tower fell, causing a service disruption lasting about two weeks to over-the-air viewers in Southwest Louisiana. Service to cable customers was not interrupted due to the station's signal being delivered by fiber lines. A lower-power temporary tower was erected on top the station's broadcast studios a couple of days after the tower fell, allowing viewers within a few miles of the station to again receive the signal over-the-air.
In January 2006, Liberty and KPLC were purchased by Raycom Media, which also owns two other Louisiana television stations, KSLA-TV in Shreveport and WAFB in Baton Rouge.
In August 2012, KPLC started broadcasting in HD with a new HD studio.
Programming
KPLC currently airs all of NBC network programming in high definition and none of its syndicated programming such as The Ellen DeGeneres Show, America Now and Entertainment Tonight in HD.
News operation
During Hurricane Rita, which struck in September 2005, the station delivered around-the-clock news from a temporary, makeshift studio in a safer location than its normal studios in downtown Lake Charles.
News/station presentation
Newscast titles
- The Southwest Louisiana Report (1954–1961)
- The Marlboro News (1961–1966)
- 24 Hours (1966–1970)
- Total News (1970–1974)
- NewsCenter 7 (1974–1983)
- 7 News (1983–present)[1]
Station slogans
- "7 at Your Service" (1980–present)
- "Louisiana's Most Honored News Team" (1989–1994)
- "Coverage. Community. Commitment." (1999–2004)
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News team[2]
Anchors
- Cynthia Arceneaux - weeknights at 5, 6 and Nightcast (10 p.m.)
- John Bridges - weekday mornings 7 News Sunrise
- Agnes DeRouen - weekdays at noon; also managing editor
- Charlie Haldeman - news director and fill-in anchor
- Lee Peck - Saturdays at 6 p.m. and weekends at 10 p.m.; also Crackdown on Crime reporter
- Britney Glaser - weekday mornings 7 News Sunrise; also Healthcast medical reporter
7 Storm Team
- Wade Hampton - chief meteorologist; weeknights at 5, 6 and Nightcast (10 p.m.)
- Ben Terry - meteorologist; weekday mornings and noon
- Zack Fradella - meteorologist; Saturdays at 6 and weekends at 10 p.m.
Sports team
- Seth Lewis - sports director; weeknights at 6 and Nightcast (10 p.m.)
- Rebecca Cade - sports anchor; Saturdays at 6 and weekends at 10 p.m.
Reporters
- Theresa Schmidt - video journalist
- Gerron Jordan - video journalist
- Haley Rush - video journalist
- Erica Bivens - video journalist
- Monica Grimaldo - video journalist
Photographers
- Jason Rivera - photographer and live truck operator
Former on-air staff
- Rob Marciano - chief meteorologist (1994–1997; now meteorologist at CNN and Entertainment Tonight co-host [effective January 2013])
- Bonnie Schneider - meteorologist (now meteorologist at CNN)
- Gary Tyler - News (Ref: http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/8367828/)
- Neil Woolley - Weather (Ref: http://www.kplctv.com/story/2200607/neil-woolley)
- Sam Tarleton - Sports (Ref:
http://www.kplctv.com/story/2366511/kplc-turns-50-on-september-29) and (http://www.mocavo.com/The-Radio-Annual-and-Television-Yearbook-1956/808218/1224)
