KRWG-TV

Last updated
KRWG-TV
KRWG-TV 22 logo.png
Channels
BrandingKRWG Public Media
Programming
Affiliations
Ownership
OwnerRegents of New Mexico State University
KRWG (FM)
History
First air date
June 29, 1973(50 years ago) (1973-06-29)
Former channel number(s)
Analog: 22 (UHF, 1973–2009)
Call sign meaning
Ralph Willis Goddard, former dean of the NMSU engineering school, as with KRWG radio [1]
Technical information [2]
Licensing authority
 FCC
Facility ID 55516
ERP 200 kW
HAAT 205 m (673 ft)
Transmitter coordinates 32°17′33.3″N106°41′53″W / 32.292583°N 106.69806°W / 32.292583; -106.69806
Translator(s) See below
Links
Public license information
Website www.krwg.org

KRWG-TV (channel 22) is a PBS member television station in Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States. The station is owned by the Regents of New Mexico State University. KRWG-TV's studios are located at Milton Hall on the NMSU campus in Las Cruces, and its transmitter is located atop Tortugas Mountain in central Doña Ana County (east of the Las Cruces city limits). KRWG-TV's signal is relayed on low-power translator stations across southern New Mexico.

Contents

KRWG-TV began broadcasting in 1973 as an adjunct to KRWG radio and as a public broadcaster serving southern New Mexico. It also complements the NMSU journalism program; students produce a newscast that airs three times a week during the school year, and its other local programming also focuses on regional issues.

History

As early as 1964, the same year that KRWG (90.7 FM) began broadcasting, [1] New Mexico State University (NMSU) considered establishing a public television station using the channel 12 allotment at Hatch. [3] Channel 12 had been put there two years prior when the University of New Mexico was considering establishing a statewide educational network. [4] However, NMSU soon found Hatch to be an unviable allocation for serving Las Cruces; the transmitter would have to be north of Las Cruces, to protect KELP-TV in El Paso, Texas; this was the opposite direction. Channel 22 in the ultra high frequency (UHF) band was then assigned to Las Cruces. [5] NMSU applied for a station on November 2, 1970, and received a construction permit on April 4, 1972. [6] The United States Office of Education provided a $467,513 grant to support the construction of the new station. [7] The federal grant primarily went to the facility. By that time, NMSU was programming an hour and a half a day on the local cable system in Las Cruces, an exapnsion of the university closed-circuit TV system which had been in place since 1965. [8] In addition, equipment was donated by KOB-TV in Albuquerque and the ABC network. [9]

While construction on the transmitter facility was completed by December 1972, a shortage of engineers and delays in equipment installation kept the station from debuting for several months. [10] KRWG-TV began broadcasting on June 29, 1973; the first weekend on air featured a local talent marathon to dedicate the new station. [11] It was the first UHF station on the air between Tucson, Arizona, and Lubbock, Texas, [5] and it was the closest public television station to El Paso until KCOS began in 1978; the cable system in El Paso continued to carry KRWG-TV but dropped KNME-TV from Albuquerque when KCOS debuted. [12]

Funding

In 2022, KRWG-TV generated $3.3 million in revenue. The station received $1.07 million in revenue from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting as well as $976,000 in grants from the state and more than $824,000 in equipment restricted grants. Memberships represented $235,847 in income. [13]

Local programming

Harvey Jacobs, head of the NMSU Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, envisioned KRWG-TV as a source of New Mexico-centric news and information for Las Cruces. [8] To that end, the station began with a bilingual, student-produced local newscast, originally titled Panavista. [14] For 20 years, the station aired Qué Pasa with Dolores, a bilingual weekly and previously biweekly talk show hosted by Dolores Lenko. [15] [16]

Most of KRWG-TV's local programming continues to concern southern New Mexico issues. During the fall and spring semesters, students produce News22, which airs three times a week and covers regional issues. [17] [18] When the newscast was threatened by budget cuts in 1997, students and professors expressed a willingness to donate time and money to keep the program on the air. [19]

Once a week, the station airs Noticias22, a Spanish-language newscast. [17] Throughout the year, the weekly magazine Newsmakers airs in-depth features. [18]

Alumni of the NMSU journalism program that worked on News22 while students at the university include Gadi Schwartz, correspondent for NBC News. [17]

Technical information

Subchannels

The station's signal is multiplexed:

Subchannels of KRWG-TV [20]
Channel Res. Aspect Short nameProgramming
22.1 1080i 16:9 KRWG-HDMain KRWG-TV programming / PBS
22.2 480i 4:3 KRWG-SD World
22.3KRWG-KD PBS Kids

The PBS Kids subchannel was added in March 2017. [21]

Translators

Not long after starting, KRWG-TV began extending its reach in southern New Mexico with the addition of translators. In 1976, it filled one of the larger remaining gaps in New Mexico when it opened a translator to serve Alamogordo. [22] Silver City was added in 1978. [23]

The Antelope Wells and Jacks Peak translators were authorized by the FCC in 2023 on a waiver in order to use money budgeted by the New Mexico state government. The transmitters provide public television service to Antelope Wells as well as datacasting capacity used by local educational and law enforcement agencies. The Jacks Peak transmitter was necessary to provide a signal to the Antelope Wells transmitter. [24]

Analog-to-digital conversion

KRWG-TV shut down its analog signal, over UHF channel 22, on June 10, 2009 (two days before most full-power television stations in the United States transitioned from analog to digital broadcasts under federal mandate on June 12). [25] The station's digital signal remained on its pre-transition UHF channel 23, using virtual channel 22. [26]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Las Cruces, New Mexico</span> City in New Mexico, United States

Las Cruces is the second-most populous city in the U.S. state of New Mexico and the seat of Doña Ana County. As of the 2020 census the population was 111,385. Las Cruces is the most populous city in both Doña Ana County and southern New Mexico. The Las Cruces metropolitan area had an estimated population of 213,849 in 2017. It is the principal city of a metropolitan statistical area which encompasses all of Doña Ana County and is part of the larger El Paso–Las Cruces combined statistical area with a population of 1,088,420 making it the 56th largest combined statistical area in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Mexico State University</span> Public university in Las Cruces, New Mexico, US

New Mexico State University is a public land-grant research university in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Founded in 1888, it is the state's oldest public institution of higher education and one of two flagship universities in New Mexico. NMSU has campuses in Alamogordo, Doña Ana County, and Grants, as well as research centers and programs in all 33 counties in the state.

KTTZ-TV is a PBS member television station in Lubbock, Texas, United States. It is owned by Texas Tech University alongside radio stations KTTZ-FM (89.1) and KTXT-FM (88.1). Operating under the umbrella branding of Texas Tech Public Media, the three outlets share studios at 17th Street and Indiana Avenue on the Texas Tech campus, adjacent to the transmitter tower shared by KTTZ-TV and KTTZ-FM.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KOB (TV)</span> NBC affiliate in Albuquerque, New Mexico

KOB is a television station in Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States, affiliated with NBC. It is owned by Hubbard Broadcasting, whose sister cable channel Reelz is also based in Albuquerque. KOB's studios are located on Broadcast Plaza just west of downtown, and its transmitter is located on Sandia Crest, east of Albuquerque.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KASA-TV</span> Telemundo TV station in Santa Fe, New Mexico

KASA-TV, branded Telemundo Nuevo México, is a television station licensed to Santa Fe, New Mexico, United States, serving the Albuquerque area and most of the state as an owned-and-operated station of the Spanish-language network Telemundo. KASA-TV's studios are located on Monroe Street NE in Albuquerque; its transmitter is located on Sandia Crest, with translators in much of the state and southwestern Colorado extending its signal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KOAT-TV</span> ABC affiliate in Albuquerque, New Mexico

KOAT-TV is a television station in Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States, affiliated with ABC. Owned by Hearst Television, the station maintains studios on Carlisle Boulevard in Northeast Albuquerque, and its transmitter is located on Sandia Crest, northeast of Albuquerque. 27 repeaters carry its broadcast signal to much of New Mexico as well as southwestern Colorado and northeastern Arizona.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KDBC-TV</span> CBS/MyNetworkTV affiliate in El Paso, Texas

KDBC-TV is a television station in El Paso, Texas, United States, affiliated with CBS and MyNetworkTV. It is owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group alongside Fox affiliate KFOX-TV. The two stations share studios on South Alto Mesa Drive in northwest El Paso; KDBC-TV's transmitter is located atop the Franklin Mountains on the El Paso city limits.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KVIA-TV</span> ABC/CW affiliate in El Paso, Texas

KVIA-TV is a television station in El Paso, Texas, United States, affiliated with ABC and The CW. Owned by the News-Press & Gazette Company, the station maintains studios on Rio Bravo Street in northwest El Paso and a transmitter atop the Franklin Mountains within the El Paso city limits.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KTSM-TV</span> NBC affiliate in El Paso, Texas

KTSM-TV is a television station in El Paso, Texas, United States, affiliated with NBC and owned by Nexstar Media Group. The station's studios are located on Oregon Street in northwest El Paso, and its transmitter is located atop the Franklin Mountains on the El Paso city limits.

KCOS, branded on-air as PBS El Paso, is a PBS member television station in El Paso, Texas, United States, owned by Texas Tech University. The station's offices are located on Viscount Boulevard in east El Paso, and its transmitter is located atop the Franklin Mountains on the El Paso city limits. Its nominal main studio is located at Texas Tech-owned KTTZ-TV in Lubbock.

KFOX-TV is a television station in El Paso, Texas, United States, affiliated with the Fox network. It is owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group alongside dual CBS/MyNetworkTV affiliate KDBC-TV. The two stations share studios on South Alto Mesa Drive in northwest El Paso; KFOX-TV's transmitter is located atop the Franklin Mountains on the El Paso city limits.

KTDO is a television station licensed to Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States, broadcasting the Spanish-language Telemundo network to the El Paso, Texas, area. Owned and operated by NBCUniversal's Telemundo Station Group, the station has studios on Carnegie Avenue in El Paso, and its transmitter is located atop the Franklin Mountains on the El Paso city limits.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KRWG (FM)</span> Radio station in Las Cruces, New Mexico

KRWG is a NPR-affiliated FM radio station in Las Cruces, New Mexico. In addition to NPR programming, KRWG also broadcasts segments of classical, jazz and Latin jazz.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Western Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year</span>

The Western Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year is an award given to the Western Athletic Conference's (WAC) most outstanding player. The award was first given following the 1980–81 season. Keith Van Horn of Utah and Nick Fazekas of Nevada are the only players to have won the award three times. Three other players—Michael Cage, Josh Grant and Melvin Ely—have won the award twice. Danny Ainge, the first ever WAC Player of the Year, was also the John R. Wooden Award winner in 1980–81.

KOCT was a television station in Carlsbad, New Mexico, United States, which operated from 1956 to 2012.

The Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine at New Mexico State University is a private, for-profit medical school on the New Mexico State University campus in Las Cruces, New Mexico. It is accredited by the American Osteopathic Association's Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation and graduated its first class in May 2020.

The 1966 New Mexico State Aggies football team was an American football team that represented New Mexico State University as an independent during the 1966 NCAA University Division football season. In their ninth year under head coach Warren B. Woodson, the Aggies compiled a 7–3 record and outscored opponents by a total of 321 to 159. The team played its four home games at Memorial Stadium in Las Cruces, New Mexico.

International Connoisseurs of Green and Red Chile (ICGRC) was an American organization created to promote the enjoyment of chili peppers. ICGRC was founded in Mesilla, New Mexico in 1973 and grew to have chapters throughout the United States and in 17 other countries. ICGRC provided information about how to grow chili peppers and how to use them in recipes. The organization was taken over by the Las Cruces Convention and Visitors Bureau in 1989.

The 1983 New Mexico State Aggies football team was an American football team that represented New Mexico State University in the Missouri Valley Conference during the 1983 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their first year under head coach Fred Zechman, the Aggies compiled a 5–6 record. The team played its home games at Aggie Memorial Stadium in Las Cruces, New Mexico.

The El Paso Mackmen were a minor league baseball team based in El Paso, Texas. In 1915, the Mackmen played as members of the short–lived Class D level Rio Grande Association, with El Paso finishing in second place, as the league permanently folded during the season. The Mackmen hosted minor league home games at Rio Grande Park.

References

  1. 1 2 "New Mexico State Opens Station KRWG Today". Albuquerque Journal. October 3, 1964. p. 20. Retrieved June 11, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  2. ↑ "Facility Technical Data for KRWG-TV". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  3. ↑ "Bid Requested For TV Station". The Santa Fe New Mexican. May 8, 1964. p. 8. Retrieved June 11, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ "Hatch TV Planned". The Santa Fe New Mexican. Associated Press. July 29, 1962. p. 11. Retrieved June 11, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  5. 1 2 "NMSU TV Station Celebrates First Anniversary". El Paso Times. June 28, 1974. p. 19. Retrieved June 11, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  6. ↑ "FCC History Cards for KRWG-TV". Federal Communications Commission.
  7. ↑ "USOE help to 21". Broadcasting. May 29, 1972. p. 47. ProQuest   1016880992.
  8. 1 2 "Federal Funds Granted: NMSU's TV Station to Go on Air Jan. 1". Albuquerque Journal. April 23, 1972. p. G-1. Retrieved June 11, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  9. ↑ "Public television to reach Deming". The Deming Headlight. June 7, 1973. p. 6. Retrieved June 11, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  10. ↑ Alvarez, Gilbert (June 24, 1973). "It Was A Long Nine Years: KRWG-TV On Air Friday". Las Cruces Sun-News. pp. 7, 9 . Retrieved June 11, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  11. ↑ "Marathon Celebrates NMSU TV Start". Las Cruces Sun-News. June 8, 1973. p. 3. Retrieved June 11, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  12. ↑ "Cable television viewers have to wait for KCOS". El Paso Herald-Post. August 22, 1978. p. A-6. Retrieved June 10, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  13. ↑ "KRWG-TV Annual Financial Report 2022" (PDF). KRWG-TV. 2022.
  14. ↑ Steinberg, Sandy (February 24, 1974). "With 'Student Power' In Full Force: KRWG-TV—An Impossible Dream Come True". Las Cruces Sun-News. p. 12-E. Retrieved June 11, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  15. ↑ Gundersen, Edna (February 15, 1985). "¿Que Pasa? Sometimes Dolores wonders, especially if guests freeze up". El Paso Times. p. 1-D. Retrieved June 11, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  16. ↑ Logan, Paul (July 26, 2001). "Host of Cruces TV Talk Show Dies". Albuquerque Journal . p. D3.
  17. 1 2 3 Legarreta, Matthew (June 18, 2019). "NMSU's 'News22' provides critical hands-on experience for career success". New Mexico State University College of Arts and Sciences. Archived from the original on January 29, 2023. Retrieved June 11, 2023.
  18. 1 2 "Local Content and Service Report" (PDF). KRWG Public Media. 2022.
  19. ↑ "NMSU students vow to save TV show". The Albuquerque Tribune. May 6, 1997. p. A3. Retrieved June 11, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  20. ↑ "TV Query for KRWG". RabbitEars . Archived from the original on 2014-02-22. Retrieved 2014-02-06.
  21. ↑ "KRWG-TV to launch multiplatform PBS children's services". Las Cruces Sun-News. March 28, 2017. Archived from the original on February 6, 2023. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
  22. ↑ "Public TV broadcasts beginning". Alamogordo Daily News. October 31, 1976. p. 13. Retrieved June 11, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  23. ↑ "TV Translator To Be Built". El Paso Times. April 3, 1978. p. 8B. Retrieved June 11, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  24. ↑ Kreisman, Barbara A. (January 31, 2023). "Re: KRWG, Las Cruces, New Mexico - Translator applications for Jacks Peak and Antelope Wells". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  25. ↑ "Analog Service Termination Notification". Consolidated Database System. Federal Communications Commission. March 17, 2009. Archived from the original on June 12, 2023. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
  26. ↑ "DTV Tentative Channel Designations for the First and Second Rounds" (PDF). Federal Communications Commission. May 23, 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 29, 2013. Retrieved August 29, 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.