Bend, Oregon United States |
|
---|---|
Branding | KBNZ (general) KOIN 6 News (newscasts) |
Slogan | CBS for Central Oregon |
Channels |
Digital: 7 (VHF) Virtual: 7 (PSIP) |
Affiliations | CBS |
Owner |
Zolo Media (Telephone and Data Systems) (TDS Broadcasting LLC) |
First air date | October 25, 2008 |
Call letters' meaning | K BeNd Z |
Sister station(s) | KOHD |
Former callsigns | K11SE (1985–2006) K07YM (2006–2008) |
Transmitter power | 3 kW |
Height | 234 metres (768 feet) |
Class | LD |
Facility ID | 35834 |
Transmitter coordinates | 44°4′41″N 121°19′57″W / 44.07806°N 121.33250°W |
Licensing authority | FCC |
Public license information: |
Profile CDBS |
Website | kbnztv.com |
KBNZ-LD is the CBS-affiliated television station for Central Oregon that is licensed to Bend. It broadcasts a low-powered digital signal on VHF channel 7 from a transmitter in the city on Awbrey Butte west of U.S. 97. The station can also be seen on BendBroadband channel 6 and in high definition on channel 606. Owned by Zolo Media, an affiliate of BendBroadband, KBNZ-LD is sister to ABC affiliate KOHD and has studios on Sherman Road.
Since KBNZ is a low-powered station, it relies on translators to expand its reach.
KBNZ originated in the mid-1980s as a low-powered translator of KOIN in Portland. In October 2008, KOIN owner New Vision Television announced plans to convert KBNZ into a local CBS affiliate with a separate feed. Four of KOIN's translators in Central Oregon were switched from airing KOIN's signal to that of KBNZ. It also received its own section on KOIN's Website. Master control and some internal operations remained based at KOIN's studios at the KOIN Center in Downtown Portland. One reason that the station split from KOIN is a result of the Bend market growing in population. With the change, this leaves Meredith Corporation-owned MyNetworkTV affiliate KUBN-LP as the only area station serving as a full-time satellite of a Portland station. News personnel based at KBNZ began to contribute 2-4 local stories each day to air on KOIN broadcasts. It had been planned that as this station grew, a fully produced local newscast originating from Central Oregon would be introduced.
Although identifying as a separate station in its own right, KBNZ was still reckoned as a KOIN semi-satellite. It cleared all of KOIN's newscasts and most of its syndicated programming, but aired separate identifications and commercials.