KTVO-TVBack to Index2Back to Station Histories |
KTVO, channel 3, Kirksville/Ottumwa. This
was the hometown TV station, again, just 12 miles away from my hometown in
Ottumwa, though the transmitter is 30 miles south of Ottumwa just over the line
in Missouri. They've been a little more aware of their history than most
stations...and it's a very interesting one. Go to ktvotv3.com and click on KTVO
station history...they have 6 old idents on their site. On the station history: What they won't tell you is that their studio in Ottumwa was supposed to be an auxillary studio. They considered their main studio to be at the transmitter site. But, there was very little studio activity at the transmitter, most local programs, network switching etc. happened in Ottumwa. Finally the FCC , after 18 years, decided this arrangement had to stop, in 1973...they had to relocate to Kirksville and end the sham. This was also the year a major employer, John Morrell Meats, which was established in Ottumwa, closed all of its Ottumwa operations. I think the powers that were at Ch 3 felt Kirksville, though smaller, was a better home for them, plus it was the city of license. I think they welcomed, perhaps even initiated through covert means, the FCC action, but that is pure speculation on my part. They also had plans to build a 2000 foot tower so they could become the ABC affiliate for Quincy Hannibal. Read more about that on their website. |