KUQI
 | |
| Corpus Christi, Texas United States | |
|---|---|
| Branding | KUQI Fox 38 |
| Channels |
Digital: 38 (UHF) Virtual: 38 (PSIP) |
| Subchannels |
38.1 Fox 38.2 RTV |
| Affiliations | Fox (February 2008-present) |
| Owner |
Sinclair Broadcast Group (KUQI Licensee, LLC) |
| First air date | January 15, 2008 |
| Sister station(s) | KTOV-LP, KXPX-LP |
| Former channel number(s) |
Analog: 38 (UHF, 2008–2009) |
| Former affiliations | Independent (January–February 2008) |
| Transmitter power | 50 kW |
| Height | 247 m |
| Facility ID | 82910 |
| Transmitter coordinates | 27°45′31.8″N 97°36′26.3″W / 27.758833°N 97.607306°W |
| Licensing authority | FCC |
| Public license information: |
Profile CDBS |
KUQI is the Fox-affiliated television station for the Corpus Christi, Texas market; it is owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group. The station broadcasts its digital signal on UHF channel 38.
Because KUQI is a high-power television station, its signal covers the Corpus Christi metropolitan area, as well as outlying towns as far as Raymondville and George West. The coverage area is far greater than that of the market's first Fox affiliate, low-powered K47DF (channel 47).
History
The station began operations on January 15, 2008 as an independent station; it assumed the Fox affiliation for the market on February 4, 2008, the day after Super Bowl XLII, replacing K47DF as the area's affiliate.[1] KUQI began broadcasting Fox programming in HD by 2011. The original owner was High Maintenance Broadcasting, a company run by Deidre Gillis, Lori Hoffmann and Vanisha Mallory.
On March 15, 2012, National Communications announced it would purchase KUQI from High Maintenance Broadcasting with an intent to enter into a shared services agreement with London Broadcasting-owned ABC affiliate KIII (channel 3).[2] On August 28, the FCC approved the sale of KUQI,[3] with plans for the station to change its call sign from KUQI to KFCC upon consummation.[4] However, the sale to National Communications was cancelled on January 11, 2013; the National / London consortium cited numerous attempts to close the deal with High Maintenance without success.[5]
High Maintenance then declared bankruptcy in early 2013, remaining as debtor-in-possession. In late 2014, the sale of the station to Corpus 18, LLC, a partnership formed by the noteholders of debt of High Maintenance and related company GH Broadcasting, was finalized. On October 2, 2015, Corpus 18 agreed to sell KUQI, KXPX-LP (channel 14), and KTOV-LP (channel 21) to Sinclair Broadcast Group for $9.25 million.[6] The sale was completed on January 8, 2016.[7]
Digital television
Digital channels
The station's digital channel is multiplexed:
| Channel | Video | Aspect | PSIP Short Name | Programming[8] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 38.1 | 720p | 16:9 | KUQI-DT | Main KUQI programming / Fox |
| 38.2 | 480i | 4:3 | RTV | Retro Television Network |
| 38.3 | 480i | 4:3 | KTOV | |
Analog-to-digital conversion
KUQI shut down its analog signal, over UHF channel 38, on June 12, 2009, and "flash-cut" its digital signal into operation on UHF channel 38.[9][10] Because it was granted an original construction permit after the FCC finalized the DTV allotment plan on April 21, 1997, the station did not receive a companion channel for a digital television station.
News programming
KUQI does not currently have a news department, but it did simulcast the 9 p.m. newscast from Fox owned-and-operated station KRIV in Houston, advertised by KUQI under the title KUQI Tonight powered by Fox 26. The simulcast ended on June 28, 2012, due to the then-planned sale of the station.
References
- ↑ Caller-Times: "Fox leaving KDF starting early next month"
- ↑ National Communications to Acquire KUQI in Corpus Christi, TVSpy, March 15, 2012.
- ↑ http://licensing.fcc.gov/prod/cdbs/pubacc/Auth_Files/1497552.pdf
- ↑ http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-317852A1.pdf
- ↑ Deal for Corpus Christi Fox affiliate falls through, Corpus Christi Caller Times, January 11, 2013.
- ↑ "APPLICATION FOR CONSENT TO ASSIGNMENT OF BROADCAST STATION CONSTRUCTION PERMIT OR LICENSE". CDBS Public Access. Federal Communications Commission. October 13, 2015. Retrieved October 14, 2015.
- ↑ Consummation Notice CDBS Public Access, Federal Communications Commission, Retrieved 11 January, 2016.
- ↑ RabbitEars TV Query for KUQI
- ↑ "DTV Tentative Channel Designations for the First and the Second Rounds" (PDF). Retrieved 2012-03-24.
- ↑
External links
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