KHOU-TV is the local CBS affiliate in Houston, Texas, owned by Belo Corporation. It broadcasts on Channel 11, and its transmitter is located in Missouri City, Texas at an antenna farm, along with all other Houston broadcast stations.
History
KHOU signed on as KGUL-TV (as in gulf or as in "seagull" ), licensed to Galveston, on March 23, 1953. It was the second television station to launch in the Houston area after KPRC-TV. One of the original investors in the station was actor James Stewart, along with a small group of other Galveston investors.
In June 1959, it changed its calls to KHOU and moved the city of license to Houston. The FCC license listed both the Houston and Galveston service areas for a time. On April 24, 1960, the station moved to its present location just outside downtown Houston on Allen Parkway. To this date, KHOU is the only TV station in Houston to have its primary studios close to the downtown area.
In 1956, the original owners sold Channel 11 to the Whitney Corporation (later Corinthian Broadcasting) of Indianapolis, which became a subsidiary of Dun & Bradstreet in 1971. In 1984, D&B sold the Corinthian stations to Belo.
In 1998, it was the first station to sign on with a high-definition signal.
The KHOU studios were flooded during Tropical Storm Allison in 2001, resulting in damage to much of the station, including its newsroom. The flooding was so bad, the station had to shut down and air a feed from the station's doppler radar for roughly one hour and 30 minutes.
During Hurricane Ike, which hit the Texas Gulf Coast the weekend of September 12–14, 2008, KHOU's coverage was distributed nationwide via DirecTV and XM Satellite Radio, as well as a live feed on the station's Web site.
KHOU tower
KHOU tower is a 602 m (1,975 ft) high guyed mast in nearby Missouri City at 29°33′41″N 95°30′05″W / 29.56139°N 95.50139°W / 29.56139; -95.50139. KHOU tower was built in 1992 and is used for TV broadcasting.
Digital television
The station's digital signal is multiplexed:
| Subchannel |
Programming |
| 11.1 / 31.1 |
main KHOU/CBS programming |
| 11.2 / 31.2 |
local programming |
| Unknown |
.2 Network (coming Fall 2009) |
Analog-to-digital conversion
After the analog television shutdown occurred on June 12, 2009 [1], KHOU moved back to channel 11. [2]
Programming
KHOU has been one of the top-rated CBS affiliates in Texas for over 20 years, aided by a strong programming lineup featuring popular syndicated shows like The Oprah Winfrey Show, Jeopardy!, Wheel of Fortune and The Insider.
Preemptions
KHOU has hosted Houston's annual Thanksgiving Day parade, the H-E-B Holiday Parade (formerly the Bank United / Washington Mutual Thanksgiving Day Parade) for well over a decade. As a result, KHOU pre-empts the CBS Thanksgiving Day Parade.
It airs The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson a half an hour later than the network schedule at 12:05 a.m. Episodes of Jeopardy! air in the Late Late Show's normal network timeslot instead at 11:37 p.m.
Newscasts
KHOU has been widely regarded as a stepping stone for television news talent, as many of its reporters have gone on to assignments with national networks. The station's best known alumni are former CBS Evening News anchor Dan Rather and newswomen Linda Ellerbee and Jessica Savitch.
Beginning in the late 1980s, KHOU hired several high-profile personalities to its news team. The most notable was Neil Frank, the former director of the National Hurricane Center, who was tapped by the station to be the chief meteorologist starting in July 1987. In another key move, the station also hired former KTRK anchor Sylvan Rodriguez away from his job at the West Coast bureau of ABC News to anchor the station's early evening newscasts. KHOU also began to use the Spirit of Texas slogan and TM Productions' "Spirit" music package (also used at sister station WFAA-TV in Dallas), and incorporated a redesigned logo.
The 1990s
In January 1989, KHOU revamped the look of its newscasts, with an image campaign that included full-page ads in the Houston Chronicle and Houston Post, as well as an on-air promotional campaign that focused more on ordinary citizens throughout Greater Houston than on its news team. With the lead news team of anchors Steve Smith and Marlene McClinton, chief meteorologist Dr. Neil Frank and sports director Giff Nielsen, along with a new set, graphics and theme music, KHOU began to mount a serious challenge to the other Houston newscasts, leading to a competitive ratings race during the 1990s.
If any year proved to be a breakout year for KHOU, it was 1999. During the May sweeps of that year, KHOU reached number one in several timeslots, unseating KTRK at midday, 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. The station's ratings boost also included an exclusive interview with Serbian and Yugoslavian President Slobodan Milosevic during the Kosovo War just a month before Milosevic's indictment. This news came despite the retirement of longtime anchor Steve Smith, anchor Sylvan Rodriguez's eventually fatal bout with pancreatic cancer and the abrupt resignation of fellow anchor Marlene McClinton during one of the station's newscasts.
11 News Defenders
KHOU also has gained a reputation for its investigative news team, the 11 News Defenders, which has uncovered numerous stories, the most notable being its 2000 investigation into defective tire designs by Firestone. That investigation led to the mandatory recall of Wilderness AT, Firestone ATX and ATX II tires, as well as numerous lawsuits. The defective tires resulted in a number of deaths, including that of Stephen Gauvain, a reporter for rival ABC affiliate KTRK.
Another investigative report in the early 2000s by former reporter Anna Werner led to the shutdown of the Houston Police Department's crime lab. The 11 News Defenders unit has also exposed allegations of dropout rate fraud in the Houston Independent School District, which resulted in the dismissal of several HISD officials. The unit was briefly rebranded to the name "11 News Investigates" on July 24, 2006, when KHOU unveiled a new look on its newscasts. However, the name was switched back to "Defenders" in 2008 to distinguish the unit after several local stations in the market also began using the "Investigates" label.
11 News HD
On February 4, 2007, following CBS' coverage of Super Bowl XLI, KHOU aired its first newscasts in high definition (HD), branding themselves as 11 News HD, and heavily promotiong the technology.
On September 7, 2009, KHOU-TV launched Houston's third morning newscast to begin at 4:30 a.m., called 11 News First Look. The newscast is anchored by former KIAH (channel 39) anchor Sherry Williams, with meteorologist David Paul. Despite being the last station in the Houston market to launch its early-morning newscast, KHOU was the first station in the market to send a news release announcing its intentions to do so. In a race to capture the lucrative insomniac/very early commuter market, all three major network affiliates in Houston launched 4:30 a.m. newscasts within three weeks of each other in the late summer of 2009.
Notable personalities
Current on-air talent
Current Anchors
- Vicente Arenas – weekday mornings "11News This Morning" (5-7AM)
- Len Cannon – weeknights at 6PM
- Shern-Min Chow – Saturdays at 6, Sundays at 5:30 and weekends at 10PM
- Greg Hurst – weeknights at 5, 6 and 10PM
- Lucy Noland – weeknights at 5 and 10PM
- Christine Haas – weekday mornings "11News This Morning" (5-7AM)
- Allison Triarsi – Saturday mornings (also weekday reporter)
- Ron Trevino – weekdays at noon (also reporter)
- Sherry Williams – weekday mornings "11News First Look" (4:30-5AM) (also reporter)
Reporters
- Jeremy Desel – general assignment reporter
- Dave Fehling – general assignment reporter (also fill-in anchor weekends)
- Rosa Flores – general assignment reporter
- Leigh Frillici – general assignment reporter
- Jake Hamilton – "Great Day Houston" entertainment reporter
- Angela Kocherga – Mexico City bureau reporter
- Lee McGuire – general assignment reporter
- Jeff McShan – general assignment reporter
- Rucks Russell – general assignment reporter
- Kevin Peters – morning reporter
- Kevin Reece – general assignment reporter
- Alex Sanz – general assignment reporter
- Prof. Gerald Treece – legal analyst
- Brad Woodard – general assignment reporter
- Courtney Zubowski – general assignment reporter
11 News Investigates
- Mark Greenblatt – investigative reporter
- Jeremy Rogalski – investigative reporter
11 Weather
- Gene Norman (AMS Certified Broadcast Meteorologist Seal of Approval) – Chief Meteorologist; weeknights at 5, 6 and 10PM
- Mario Gomez (AMS Seal of Approval) – Meteorologist; Saturday mornings and 6PM, Sundays at 5:30 and weekends at 10PM
- Matt Lavine (AMS Seal of Approval) – Meteorologist; fill-in
- David Paul (AMS Certified Broadcast Meteorologist Seal of Approval) – Meteorologist; weekday mornings and noon
Sports Team
- Butch Alsandor – Sports Director; weeknights at 5, 6 and 10PM
- Matt Musil – Sports Anchor; Saturdays at 6, Sundays at 5:30 and weekends at 10PM
Former on-air talent
- Keith Calkins – sports anchor/reporter (1989–1992; now at KRIV)
- Dr. Neil Frank – chief meteorologist (1987–2008; now retired, but continues to appear on the station during hurricane season and other major weather events)
- Bill Balleza – anchor noon and 5 PM (1973–1980; currently evening anchor at KPRC-TV)
- Susan Banks – anchor noon and 6 PM (1988–1990; later at WKBW-TV in Buffalo, New York)
- Karla Barguiarena – reporter (2000s)
- Chris Barnes – Air 11 traffic reporter (2007–2008)
- Michael Barnes – reporter (late 1990s; now public relations at Reliant Energy)
- "Utah" Carl Beach – host and performer of local music show (1953–1967)
- Al Bell – noon and 6 PM anchor (1960s)
- Lisa Foronda – noon and 6 PM anchor, later 5 and 10 PM anchor (1997–2006)
- Bob Brown – anchor (1973–1975, now at ABC News)
- Doug Brown – talk show host/weather anchor (mid 1970s; later at KTRK-TV)
- Phillip Bruce – reporter (later news director at KCET in Los Angeles)
- Bebe Burns – anchor morning and noon (mid-late 1970s; later at KTVI-TV in St. Louis and KPRC-TV)
- Reggie Aqui – reporter (2005–2006; currently anchor for cnn.com Live)
- Amanda Arnold – 6 and 10 PM anchor (1980–1984)
- Nancy Carney – reporter/producer (1970s)
- Clare Casademont – noon and 6 PM anchor, later morning co-anchor (1989–1999)
- Ginger Casey – anchor (1986–1987)
- Penny Crone – reporter (1982–1988)
- Dann Cuellar – reporter (1980–1983; now at WPVI in Philadelphia)
- Joanne King Herring Davis – noon show host (1960s) (See Charlie Wilson's War)
- Darby Douglas – traffic anchor (1997–2009)
- Mitch Duncan – anchor
- Mike Dunston – weekend anchor/reporter (2000), morning anchor (2000–2002)
- Steve Edwards – anchor/talk show host (1972–1975; now at KTTV in Los Angeles)
- Wendell Edwards – reporter (2000s; currently weekend anchor/reporter at KOCO-TV in Oklahoma City)
- Linda Ellerbee – reporter (mid 1970s; later NBC News now with Nick News)
- Terry Elliott – reporter
- Eileen Faxas – consumer reporter
- Tonia Bendickson – morning anchor (1997–2000; now anchor at WBTV, Charlotte, NC)
- Carolyn Campbell – reporter (1970s–2008)
- Ron Franklin – sports anchor (1971–1980; currently at ESPN, college football and men's basketball play-by-play)
- Dan Garcia – reporter
- Nick Gearhart – anchor and reporter (1960s)
- John Getter – NASA reporter (1981–1997)
- Sandra Gin-Tynan – anchor/reporter weekend (1994–2002; now with the ReMain Company)
- Annette Gonzales – reporter (1993–1998)
- David Grant – chief meteorologist (1980s)
- Jerome Gray – anchor (1991–2006; currently anchor at KPRC-TV)
- Roger Gray – host of AM Houston (1980s)
- Charles Hadlock – weekend anchor/reporter (1985–1999; later at KTBS-TV in Shreveport, Louisiana, now with NBC News)
- Paul Harasim – "Paul's People" feature reporter (1980–1995)
- Nancy Holland – NASA reporter (1980s–2007)
- Bill Jeffreys – City Hall reporter (1983–1997)
- Felicia Jeter – anchor (1984–1988)
- Dick John – anchor (late 1960s-early 1970s)
- Nesita Kwan – weekend anchor (1992–1994; now at WMAQ-TV in Chicago)
- Sid Lasher – weather (1960s; deceased)
- Dan Lauck – reporter (1994–2007; left station due to Parkinson's Disease) [1]
- Susan Lennon reporter (1991–1993; now at KSWB-TV in San Diego)
- Steve Mark – sports anchor/reporter (1984–1988; currently Public Relations Director with the Houston Dynamo soccer team)
- Jim Marsh – reporter (1984–1989)
- Deborah Martine – reporter
- Angie Martinez – morning anchor
- Marlene McClinton – 5 and 10 PM anchor (1988–1999; now Public Information Officer for the Houston Airport System)
- Judd McIlvain – consumer and investigative reporter (1968–1986; later a talk radio host in Los Angeles)
- Dan Meador – weekend meteorologist (−2009)
- Doug Miller – political reporter (now executive story editor)
- Dana Millikan – reporter (mid 1970s)
- Chip Moody – 6 and 10 PM anchor (1984–1987; died December 26, 2001)
- Michael Morgan – 6 and 10 PM anchor (mid 1970s)
- Carolyn Mungo – reporter (2000s)
- Dennis Murphy – reporter/assignment editor (1975–1978; now at NBC News)
- Jim Nantz – sports anchor/reporter (1981–1983; now at CBS Sports)
- Alma Newsome – reporter (mid-late 1970s; later press secretary for Democratic U.S. Congressman Mickey Leland)
- Bob Nicholas – anchor/reporter (1971–1979; later anchored at KPRC-TV)
- Giff Nielsen – sports director (1984–2009)
- Knox Nunnally – sports anchor/reporter
- Pam Oliver – weekend sports anchor/sports reporter (early 1990s)
- Dan Patrick – sports anchor (1980s; later conservative talk show host KSEV-AM; now a Republican State Senator from Houston)
- Dan Rather – anchor/reporter (early 1960s; former anchor of CBS Evening News)
- Fred Rhodes – reporter (late 1970s; later at KTVI-TV in St. Louis and Houston City Magazine, now an attorney in Houston)
- Sandy Rivera – AM Houston anchor/reporter
- Sylvan Rodriguez – Noon and 6 PM anchor (1987–1999; died April 6, 2000 of pancreatic cancer)
- Bert Rozell – 6 and 10 PM anchor (mid 1970s; later anchor at WJXT-TV in, Jacksonville, Florida)
- Rick Sanchez – reporter (1986–1988; now with CNN)
- Sam Saucedo – reporter (1986–1999)
- Jessica Savitch – anchor/reporter (1971–1972; later KYW-TV and NBC News, deceased)
- Janet Shamlian – anchor/reporter (1987–1995; now at NBC News)
- Tom Siler – weather anchor
- George Smith – weekend anchor/reporter (now with ESPN)
- Steve Smith – 5 and 10 PM anchor (1976–1999, retired)
- Mike Snyder – anchor/reporter (1975–1980; now at KXAS-TV in Dallas/Fort Worth)
- Alexis South – weather (1970s)
- Susan Starnes – health reporter
- Marty Stebbins – reporter/weather anchor (1977–1987)
- Ron Stone – 6 and 10 PM anchor (1961–1972; later at KPRC-TV, deceased)
- Johnny Temple – sports anchor (mid 1960s; deceased)
- Kathie Turner – reporter/weathercaster (1995–1998)
- Norm Uhl – reporter (1985–1998)
- Johnathan Walton – "Walton's World" feature/morning reporter
- Craig Weber – weather anchor (1984–1987)
- Anna Werner – investigative reporter (1999–2004; currently at KPIX-TV in San Francisco)
- Jason Whitely – reporter (now at WFAA-TV in Dallas)
- Janice Williamson – reporter
News/station presentation
Newscast titles
- The News with Ron Stone (1950s?-1960s?)
- Newswatch 11 (1960s?-1974; Savitch era)
- News 11 (1974–1979)
- NewsCenter 11 (1979–1984)
- 11 News (1984–1987 and 1991–present)
- Channel 11 News (1987–1989)
- KHOU 11 News (1989–1991)
- 11 News HD (2007–present)
Station slogans
- Houston's Way of Looking at the World (1980–1983)
- You and Channel 11, We've Got the Touch (1983–1985; local version of CBS ad campaign)
- The Spirit of Texas (1986–present; used as primary slogan since 1999)
- The Look Of Houston is Channel 11! (1991-1992; local version of CBS ad campaign)
- It's Time To Choose. 11 News. (1999–2002; news slogan)
- We Go There (2002–2005; news slogan)
- Make Sense of Your World (2006–present; news slogan)
Station branding
KHOU-TV's Branding is Channel 11 and its secondary branding is 11 CBS.
Today, KHOU-TV used 2 logos. One is the logo shown above, and the older logos are used during newscasts.
Trivia
- All three of KHOU's weekday evening anchors, Greg Hurst (5, 6 & 10 p.m.), Lucy Noland (5 & 10 p.m.) and Len Cannon (6 p.m.), all previously worked in New York City. Cannon and Noland were once colleagues at WNYW-TV, while Hurst was previously the weekend evening anchor for WABC-TV.
- One of KHOU's reporters, Doug Miller, was the first contestant of the current version of Jeopardy! to come from the Greater Houston area, winning $16,000 during a four-day stint in 1985. Ironically, during Doug's stint as champion, Jeopardy! (along with the syndicated version of Wheel of Fortune) then aired on KPRC.
- One of KHOU's themes (which debuted in 1976) was composed by NFL Films composer Sam Spence.
- Computalk syndicated radio show host Tom King was the on-air computer expert for KHOU's morning show from 1995–1997.
External links
References
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Television stations in Houston |
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KPRC (2.1 NBC, 2.2 This TV, 2.3 LATV) • KUHT (8.1 PBS, 8.2 Create, 8.3 V-me) • KHOU (11.1 CBS, 11.2 Ind, .2Net coming fall 2009) •
KTRK (13.1 ABC, 13.2 LW HD, 13.3 AccuWX) • KTXH (20.1 MNTV) • KRIV (26.1 Fox) • KIAH (39.1 CW, 39.2 Universal Sports) •
KPXB / KBPX-LP 33 (49.1 ION, 49.2 Qubo, 49.3 ION Life, 49.4 Worship) • KTBU (55.1 A1, 55.2 VAN-TV, 55.3 Nacion TV, 55.5 ITV)
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| Outlying areas |
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| Defunct |
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| Texas Broadcast television areas by city:
Abilene/Sweetwater • Amarillo (Texas Panhandle) • Austin • Beaumont/Port Arthur • Corpus Christi • Dallas-Fort Worth • Del Rio, TX • El Paso • Houston • Laredo • Lubbock • Midland-Odessa (Permian Basin) • Rio Grande Valley • San Angelo • San Antonio • Sherman/Ada, OK • Texarkana/Shreveport, LA • Tyler/Longview (East Texas) • Victoria • Waco/Bryan (Brazos Valley) • Wichita Falls/Lawton, OK
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Belo Corporation |
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| Corporate staff |
Robert W. Decherd (Chairman of the Board) · Dennis A. Williamson (CFO) · Peter Diaz (EVP) · Kathy Clements (SVP) · Dunia A. Shive (CEO) · William Mosley (VP) · Paul Fry (VP) · Guy H. Kerr (EVP) · W. Craig Harper (VP/CIO) · Kim Besse (VP) · Richard Keilty (SVP)
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1Belo manages this station owned by Corridor Television, LLP.
2Belo manages this station owned by HIC Broadcasting.
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| Annual Revenue: 1.52 billion (USD) · Employees: 6,600 · Stock Symbol: NYSE: BLC · Website: belo.com |
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