By Rick Griffin
San Diego’s second-oldest TV station is going off the air.
Bay City Television, the Mexican-based owner of XETV-TV CW6, will cease operations at12:01 a.m. on May 31. Channel 6 was launched in 1953 after KFMB-TV/Channel 8 signed on the air on May 16, 1949.
The latest news about Channel 6 follows its recent loss of the CW network affiliation. Midwest Television’s KFMB, a CBS network affiliate since 1949, will add the CW affiliation starting May 31. Previously, the date for adding the CW affiliate was to be Sept. 1. Channel 6 has been the CW Network affiliate since 2008.
Channel 6’s station’s final newscast is scheduled for its 10 p.m. show on Friday, March 31, resulting in newsroom and production employees losing their jobs. Then, starting May 31, it’s believed that Channel 6 viewers will see CW primetime shows as well as a re-transmission of Spanish-language Channel 9, part of the Galavision cable network. Chuck Dunning, XETV VP and GM, declined comment for this story.
“The date has changed for KFMB to take over the CW affiliation,” said Alberto Mier y Terán, president and GM, KFMB Stations. “The original date wasSept. 1 and now it is May 31.”
He said KFMB will operate the CW affiliation as a duopoly. Popular CW shows include Arrow, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, The Flash, Jane the Virgin and Supergirl.
XETV has been a major player in San Diego TV history. Over the years, Channel 6 has been a network affiliate for ABC, Fox and CW. XETV has been airing news since 1999. As an ABC affiliate, XETV brought many “firsts” to San Diego, including the premiere of Monday Night Football. XETV also brought the San Diego Padres to broadcast television, airing three games with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1974. XETV also aired the 1988 World Series with the Padres and Yankees.
In 1986, XETV also was one of the first stations in the U.S. to affiliate with the new Fox network. The 22-year relationship between Fox and XETV began in October 1986 with the Joan Rivers Show running in the late evening. Fox launched their Prime time programming in April 1987 and slowly built a seven-night schedule. The NFL came in 1994, followed by Major League Baseball in 1996.
XETV also has been successful as an independent station without a network affiliation. Long-time San Diegans will remember the slogans “Where Your Favorites Are” or “Super Station Six.”
Fox 5 Airing Specials for Super Bowl LI
KSWB-TV/Fox 5 San Diego has special programming underway for this Sunday’s Super Bowl LI from Houston Tex., reports Scott Heath, station president and GM. The Fox Network has this year’s telecast.
Fox 5 Morning News reporter Heather Lake and videographer Zack Bartleet started a road trip last week to Houston. Lake’s reports are airing in all newscasts as part of a partnership with the San Diego Toyota Dealers titled “Road to Houston.” Lake is reporting on some of the coolest landmarks, quirky diners and bars and must-see sites in the Southwest. The Toyota Tacoma they are driving is rigged with cameras inside the vehicle so viewers feel like they’re riding along.
On the morning of the game, a special edition of the Fox 5 Morning News will air from 6 to 8 a.m. After the game, Fox 5 newscasts are scheduled for 9 p.m., 10 p.m. and 11 p.m.
Heath said advertising inventory for Fox 5’s local allotment of spots is nearly sold out. During the game, Fox Network is selling 30-second Super Bowl costing an average of more than $5 million each.
“We promise it will be a very entertaining day regardless of who wins,” said Heath. “Hey, it is Super Bowl Sunday, and we want San Diegans to enjoy right along with us at Fox 5.”
Morning Show Changes at 94.9-FM
Morning show radio DJs Chris Cantore and Steven Woods have left KBZT-FM 94.9-FM, an alternative-rock FM station that is the new radio home for San Diego Padres’ broadcasts in 2017. The Cantore & Woods show debuted on KBZT in October 2015. The station has not announced new hosts for its morning show.
Cantore has worked in San Diego radio since 1994, including at Star 100.7, 91X and KPRI 102.1-FM.
KBTZ-FM 94.9-FM is operated by Philadephia-based Entercom Communications Corp., which operates more than 125 stations in 27 U.S. markets, including 19 all-sports stations. Entercom is the fourth largest U.S. radio broadcasting company. In addition to FM 94.9, Entercom operates two other stations in San Diego, including KSON 97.3-FM and 92.1-FM and KXSN-FM Sunny 98.1-FM.
Michael Halloran Has Left 91X (Again)
Michael Halloran, longtime local radio personality, has left XTRA-FM 91X again. Halloran previously worked twice for 91X from 1986 to 1988, and from 1988 to 1996 before rejoining the station in 2012 as afternoon DJ (2 to 6 p.m.). He was named program director in 2014.
91X is owned by Local Media San Diego, a San Diego-based broadcasting company backed by private equity firm, Thoma Bravo. LMSD also operates Z90.3 (XHTZ-FM) and Magic 92.5 (XHRM-FM).
Rick Griffin is a San Diego-based public relations and marketing consultant. His MarketInk column appears weekly on Mondays in Times of San Diego.
