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Not to be confused with WNEP-TV.

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KNEP, virtual channel 4 (VHF digital channel 7), is an NBC-affiliated television station serving Scottsbluff, Nebraska, United States and the Nebraska Panhandle. Licensed to the nearby town of Sidney, the station is owned by Gray Television, as part of a duopoly with CBS affiliate KGWN-TV (channel 5) in Cheyenne, Wyoming and its Scottsbluff-based semi-satellite, KSTF (channel 10). KNEP's studios are located on the 1st Avenue in Scottsbluff, and its transmitter is located in Angora, Nebraska.

Although identified as a separate station in its own right, KNEP is actually considered a semi-satellite of KNOP-TV in North Platte. The station also simulcasts programming from KOTA-TV in Rapid City, South Dakota on its main channel.

History

The station signed on for the first time on March 5, 1958 as KDUH-TV, broadcasting from Hay Springs, Nebraska. The station was owned by Helen Duhamel.[1] In 1981, operations were moved from Hay Springs to Scottsbluff.[2] In 1988, KDUH consolidated its operations at Rapid City-based KOTA-TV.[1]

On September 24, 2002, the station's mast in Hemingford, which was built in the 1960s, collapsed during an installation of a digital transmitter. Two workers were killed and other three were injured.[3][4] A new tower was located in Angora was built in 2003 as a replacement the collapsed transmitter. The full signal was restored on September 19, 2003.[5] During the construction of the tower, KDUH reached viewers on cable systems in the area and Duhamel-owned translators K02NT in Scottsbluff, and K02NY in Chadron.[5][6]

Bill Duhamel announced on October 31, 2013 that KOTA-TV and its satellites (including KDUH-TV) would be sold to Schurz Communications' subsidiary Rushmore Media Company, pending FCC approval.[7][8] The FCC granted the sale on March 31, 2014; and it was completed on April 28, 2014.[9][10][11][12]

On September 14, 2015, Schurz announced that it would exit broadcasting and sell its television and radio stations, including KDUH-TV, to Gray Television for $442.5 million.[13][14] In its original filing with the FCC, Gray said that KDUH would be converted to a satellite of KNOP-TV, a Gray-owned NBC affiliate in North Platte.[15][16] In a subsequent filing with the FCC, Gray requested change the KDUH-TV call letters to KNEP following its conversion to a KNOP-TV satellite. It also sought to change KDUH/KNEP's city of license to Sidney. By changing its city of license, KNEP was now officially reckoned as part of the Denver market rather than the Cheyenne–Scottsbluff market, eliminating an ownership conflict with KSTF in Scottsbluff.[17][18] The FCC does not allow one company to own two of the four highest-rated stations in the market. Additionally, the Cheyenne–Scottsbluff market had only five full-power stations (KGWN and KSTF are counted as one station for ratings and regulatory purposes), not enough to legally permit a duopoly in any case.

The sale was approved by the FCC on February 12, 2016,[19] and was completed on February 16.[20] The FCC approved the change of station's city of license on May 16, making KDUH/KNEP a Denver DMA station.[21] For all intents and purposes, however, it remained a Scottsbluff station.

On May 5, 2016, the station officially became the NBC affiliate for the Nebraska Panhandle. Despite officially becoming a semi-satellite of KNOP-TV, the station is still airing KOTA programming on channel 4.1; initially, "NBC Nebraska Scottsbluff" was aired on channel 4.2.[22] As of October 2017, NBC programming is seen on channel 2.1, with KOTA programming remaining on 4.1.[23]

Digital television

Digital channels

The station's digital channel is multiplexed:

Channel Video Aspect PSIP Short Name Programming[23]
2.1 1080i 16:9 KNEP-HD Main KNEP programming / NBC
4.1 720p Simulcast of KOTA-TV / ABC

Analog-to-digital conversion

KNEP shut down its analog signal, over VHF channel 4, on February 17, 2009,[24] the original date in which full-power television stations in the United States were to transition from analog to digital broadcasts under federal mandate. The station's digital signal remained on its pre-transition VHF channel 7.[25] Through the use of PSIP, digital television receivers display the station's virtual channel as its former VHF analog channel 4.

Newscasts

KNEP presently broadcasts 8½ hours of locally produced newscasts each week (with 1½ hours on weekdays and a half-hour each on Saturdays and Sundays).

As KDUH, the station produced full-length newscasts focused on the Nebraska Panhandle for year. However, due to cutbacks in later years, KDUH's newscasts were reduced to inserts in KOTA's weeknight newscasts with a few personalities locally based in Scottsbluff.

On May 5, 2016, KNEP's full-length localized newscasts in Scottsbluff were reinstated, upon the launch of NBC Nebraska Scottsbluff.[26][27]

The station is still simulcasting KOTA's newscasts on its 4.1 subchannel.

References

  1. ^ a b KOTA celebrates 58 years on the air - Scottsbluff Star Herald
  2. ^ Hall of Fame 1992 - Helen Duhamel - Nebraska Broadcasters Association
  3. ^ Two Killed In Tower Collapse - WOWT
  4. ^ Broadcaster Files Lawsuit Over Tower Collapse - Yankton Press & Dakotan
  5. ^ a b September 2003 - Upper Midwest Broadcasting
  6. ^ KDUH-TV, North of Scottsbluff, Nebraska - Fybush.com
  7. ^ KOTA-TV and its satellites sold to Schurz Communications, Inc. - KOTA Territory News
  8. ^ Malone, Michael (October 31, 2013). "Schurz to Acquire KOTA Rapid City". Broadcasting & Cable. Retrieved October 31, 2013.
  9. ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20140407074658/http://www.kotatv.com/story/25133718/fcc-approves-sale-of-kota-tv
  10. ^ Notice, Federal Communications Commission, 31 March 2014, Retrieved 3 April 2014.
  11. ^ FCC approves sale of KOTA Territory TV, KOTA-TV, 1 April 2014, Retrieved 3 April 2014.
  12. ^ Consummation Notice, CDBS Public Access, Federal Communications Commission, 28 April 2014, Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  13. ^ "Schurz Communications to sell WSBT and other TV, radio stations". South Bend Tribune. September 14, 2015. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
  14. ^ Kuperberg, Jonathan (September 14, 2015). "Gray Acquiring TV, Radio Stations from Schurz for $442.5 Million". Broadcasting & Cable. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
  15. ^ "Comprehensive Exhibit" (PDF). CDBS Public Access. Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved September 18, 2015.
  16. ^ Gray Television unveils some changes for Scottsbluff station. KOTA-TV, 17 February 2016, Retrieved 23 February 2016.
  17. ^ "Comprehensive Exhibit" (PDF). CDBS Public Access. Federal Communications Commission. October 2015. Retrieved October 24, 2015.
  18. ^ KOTA Territory News to bring more statewide coverage., Scottsbluff Star-Herald, 19 February 2016. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  19. ^ FCC Approves Gray-Schurz TV Station Deal. Broadcasting & Cable, 12 February 2016, Retrieved 13 February 2016
  20. ^ Gray Closes Schurz Acquisition, Related Transactions, And Incremental Term Loan Facility Press Release, Gray Television, Retrieved 16 February 2016.
  21. ^ Report and Order, Federal Communications Commission, 16 May 2016. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
  22. ^ May 2016 - Upper Midwest Broadcasting
  23. ^ a b RabbitEars TV Query for KNEP
  24. ^ Analog Termination Information Update - Federal Communications Commission
  25. ^ "DTV Tentative Channel Designations for the First and the Second Rounds" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-08-29. Retrieved 2012-03-24. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  26. ^ KOTA announces switch to KNEP in May, Scottsbluff Star-Herald, 29 March 2016, Retrieved 10 May 2016.
  27. ^ NBC Nebraska Scottsbluff newscasts begin Thursday, May 5 - NBC Nebraska Scottsbluff
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