KVFD-TV
Encyclopedia
KQTV, later renamed KVFD-TV, was a television station
in Fort Dodge, Iowa
, which operated from November 23, 1953 to May 4, 1977.
Edward J. Breen, a Fort Dodge attorney and former Democratic
state legislator, owned KVFD radio and bought KQTV Channel 21 in 1953. It was an NBC affiliate, and local programming included the Barndance program, Uncle Dick's Fun House with longtime KQTV/KVFD-TV announcer, weather and newscaster Dick Johnson. and "Eve's Kitchen" with Eve Rubenstein. Breen himself appeared on-air, with a couple of news/public affairs programs, Conference Table and Calling Ed Breen. He also served as a news anchor for the station.
Throughout the station's history, it competed against Des Moines
NBC affiliate WHO-TV
. The station changed its callsign to KVFD-TV in 1966. It moved to channel 50 in early 1977 after selling its Bradgate, Iowa
transmitter and tower to Iowa Public Television
(IPTV). Viewership, and thus advertising revenues, for KVFD-TV had not increased as much as expected after building the 1200 foot Bradgate tower in 1970. This prompted the channel swap between KVFD-TV and IPTV's unbuilt KTIN, which was originally assigned to channel 46. KTIN took over the Bradgate tower and began operations on channel 21. KVFD-TV opted to return to its original 600-foot Fort Dodge tower and move to channel 50, as a used transmitter and antenna that was tuned to channel 50 was available.
After only a few months of operation on channel 50, the KVFD-TV studios and transmitter were struck by a tornado on the evening of May 4, 1977. Breen made plans to rebuild KVFD-TV, but he died in 1978 before any new construction began. Apparently, his heirs (or the executors of his estate) chose not to pursue his rebuilding plans, since the station's callsign was deleted by the FCC in 1981.
The KQTV callsign has been used by a TV station in St. Joseph, Missouri
since 1969.
Fort Dodge does not have any other commercial TV stations, and receives commercial TV from Des Moines.
Television station
A television station is a business, organisation or other such as an amateur television operator that transmits content over terrestrial television. A television transmission can be by analog television signals or, more recently, by digital television. Broadcast television systems standards are...
in Fort Dodge, Iowa
Fort Dodge, Iowa
Fort Dodge is a city and county seat of Webster County, Iowa, United States, along the Des Moines River. The population was 25,206 in the 2010 census, an increase from 25,136 in the 2000 census. Fort Dodge is a major commercial center for North Central and Northwest Iowa. It is located on U.S...
, which operated from November 23, 1953 to May 4, 1977.
Edward J. Breen, a Fort Dodge attorney and former Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
state legislator, owned KVFD radio and bought KQTV Channel 21 in 1953. It was an NBC affiliate, and local programming included the Barndance program, Uncle Dick's Fun House with longtime KQTV/KVFD-TV announcer, weather and newscaster Dick Johnson. and "Eve's Kitchen" with Eve Rubenstein. Breen himself appeared on-air, with a couple of news/public affairs programs, Conference Table and Calling Ed Breen. He also served as a news anchor for the station.
Throughout the station's history, it competed against Des Moines
Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines is the capital and the most populous city in the US state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County. A small portion of the city extends into Warren County. It was incorporated on September 22, 1851, as Fort Des Moines which was shortened to "Des Moines" in 1857...
NBC affiliate WHO-TV
WHO-TV
WHO-DT is a television station that broadcasts on Channel 13 in Des Moines, Iowa. It is affiliated with the NBC television network and serves most of central Iowa. The station transmits from the WOI Tower in Alleman, Iowa, which is actually owned by WHO-DT's owners. WHO-DT brands itself as WHO-HD...
. The station changed its callsign to KVFD-TV in 1966. It moved to channel 50 in early 1977 after selling its Bradgate, Iowa
Bradgate, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 86 in Bradgate, with a population density of .-2000 census:As of the census of 2000, there were 101 people, 48 households, and 30 families residing in the town. The population density was 291.1 people per square mile . There were 54 housing...
transmitter and tower to Iowa Public Television
Iowa Public Television
Iowa Public Television is a state network of Public Broadcasting Service member non-commercial educational Public television stations in the state of Iowa. A member of the PBS, it is owned by the Iowa Public Broadcasting Board, an agency of the state education department which holds the licenses...
(IPTV). Viewership, and thus advertising revenues, for KVFD-TV had not increased as much as expected after building the 1200 foot Bradgate tower in 1970. This prompted the channel swap between KVFD-TV and IPTV's unbuilt KTIN, which was originally assigned to channel 46. KTIN took over the Bradgate tower and began operations on channel 21. KVFD-TV opted to return to its original 600-foot Fort Dodge tower and move to channel 50, as a used transmitter and antenna that was tuned to channel 50 was available.
After only a few months of operation on channel 50, the KVFD-TV studios and transmitter were struck by a tornado on the evening of May 4, 1977. Breen made plans to rebuild KVFD-TV, but he died in 1978 before any new construction began. Apparently, his heirs (or the executors of his estate) chose not to pursue his rebuilding plans, since the station's callsign was deleted by the FCC in 1981.
The KQTV callsign has been used by a TV station in St. Joseph, Missouri
KQTV
KQTV, digital channel 7 , is the ABC-affiliated television station in St. Joseph, Missouri. Owned by the Nexstar Broadcasting Group, it is the only local commercial broadcast television station serving the St. Joseph area; though TBN affiliate KTAJ , which primarily serves the northern portion of...
since 1969.
Fort Dodge does not have any other commercial TV stations, and receives commercial TV from Des Moines.
Newscast Titles
- Your Esso Reporter (1953-195?)
- Eyewitness News (1966–1972)
- Channel 21 News (1972–1975)
- News 21 (1975-March 19, 1977)
- News 50 (March 20, 1977-May 4, 1977)