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Hubbard Broadcasting
American television and radio broadcaster

Hubbard Broadcasting, Inc. is an American television and radio broadcasting corporation based in St. Paul, Minnesota. It was founded by Stanley E. Hubbard.

The corporation has broadcast outlets scattered across Minnesota, Wisconsin, Missouri, Illinois, Ohio, New York, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Washington, Florida, and Washington, D.C. KSTP radio, KSTP-FM, KTMY, KSTP-TV, and KSTC-TV, which serve the Twin Cities region of Minnesota and western Wisconsin, are regarded as the company's legacy flagship stations.

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History

KSTP has its origins in the Twin Cities radio station WAMD ("Where All Minneapolis Dances"), which started broadcasting live dance music from a local ballroom on February 13, 1925 with Stanley E. Hubbard as owner and station director. It was the first radio station to be completely supported by income generated by advertisements.

In 1928, WAMD merged with KFOY (Kind Friends of Yours) radio (first broadcast: March 12, 1924) in St. Paul to become KSTP, which was advertised as being operated by the National Battery Broadcasting Co. Hubbard became the merged station's general manager, and bought controlling interest in 1941. In 1938 Hubbard bought the first television camera available from RCA. Following the television blackout brought on by World War II, KSTP began television broadcasts in 1948.

KSTP is still Hubbard's flagship, although there are now three different stations that carry that name. KSTP (AM) broadcasts a sports radio format, and KSTP-FM broadcasts adult contemporary music; KSTP-TV is affiliated with ABC.

After the Federal Communications Commission relaxed rules about television station ownership, Hubbard bought a second television station in the Twin Cities. Originally affiliated with the Home Shopping Network when it started operations in 1994, KVBM was bought by Hubbard and became general-entertainment independent station KSTC-TV in 2000. It has been used as an alternate outlet for ABC network programming when KSTP-TV is broadcasting coverage of Minnesota Vikings football games or other special shows, including severe-weather coverage.

Aside from terrestrial broadcast stations, other current ventures include the film network ReelzChannel (launched in 2006), the arts network Ovation, and the Hubbard Radio Network, which is used to distribute KSTP's local talk shows to subscribing radio stations in Minnesota and Wisconsin. The cable channels are run through subsidiary company Hubbard Media Group.

In 1981, Hubbard Broadcasting started U.S. Satellite Broadcasting (USSB), and later was instrumental in the development and launching of the first digital satellite system for television in 1994. The new satellite could deliver 175 channels to a (at the time) tiny, 18 inch dish. USSB's development partner, Hughes Electronics (a General Motors subsidiary), launched its own subscription satellite service called DirecTV. The two services did not compete against each other (they carried different channels), and were often marketed together to subscribers by retailers and in advertisements, until DirecTV's 1998 acquisition of USSB.

Hubbard was also instrumental in the development of mobile satellite news vehicles. In 1983, Hubbard-owned CONUS Communications and Florida-based subsidiary Hubcom built the first Satellite News Gathering (SNG) mobile vehicle, which allowed for much easier live news coverage for network and local television news operations. This ultimately resulted in CONUS—later a joint-venture with Viacom—becoming a nationwide, satellite-based newsgathering cooperative (with Hubbard charging stations to relay their footage). As an outgrowth of this, Hubbard Broadcasting also operated a 24-hour news station, the All News Channel, which relied on CONUS-sourced news footage and primarily acted as a "sustaining feed" for television stations to fill air time with; ANC was also responsible for producing news programming for third-parties. The news channel lasted from 1989 until it folded in September 2002, which the channels trademark was spun off to became a website which relaunched.

Hubbard Broadcasting also owned the now-closed Bound to be Read bookstores in St. Paul, Albuquerque, and Key Largo.

As of October 2007, it is engaged in a fevered battle with NABET union repping employees of WNYT in Albany, New York.

In June 2009, the "Society of Professional Journalists" honored Hubbard Broadcasting and KSTP-TV with its national Historical Site in Journalism award.1

On January 19, 2011, Hubbard announced the purchase of 17 radio stations in Cincinnati, Chicago, Washington, D.C., and St. Louis from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints subsidiary Bonneville International for $505 million.2 The sale closed on April 29, 2011.3

On February 25, 2013, Hubbard announced that it would purchase MyNetworkTV station WNYA to form a duopoly with WNYT, pending FCC approval. No financial details were announced.4

On July 16, 2013, Hubbard announced that it had agreed to purchase 10 stations from Ohio-based Sandusky Radio for $85.5 million.

Hubbard announced on November 13, 2014 that it would purchase the sixteen stations owned by Omni Broadcasting. The Omni stations are all located in central and northern Minnesota.5

On September 26, 2018, Hubbard announced that it agreed to purchase six stations owned by Alpha Media in West Palm Beach Florida, for $88 million. The stations include Urban AC 102.3 WMBX, Country 103.1 WIRK, Adult Contemporary 107.9 WEAT, Hot Adult Contemporary 97.9 WRMF, News/Talk 850 WFTL and Sports/Talk 640 WMEN.

Hubbard Broadcasting took over production of Country Top 40 in January 2020 after the death of the program's founder Bob Kingsley. Fitz, a mononymous host with several syndicated country radio programs to his credit, took over as the program's host.6

Hubbard-owned stations

Stations are arranged in alphabetical order by state and city of license.

All of the assets are owned by the Stanley S. Hubbard Revocable Trust, and administered by Hubbard Broadcasting, Inc.7

(**) indicates a station that was built and signed-on by Hubbard.

Television stations

City of license / MarketStation
  • Owned
  • since
Affiliation
AustinRochester, MNMason City, IAKAAL6 (36)2001ABC
Duluth, MNSuperior, WIWDIO-DT10 (10)1987ABC
Hibbing, MNWIRT-DT13 (13)1987ABC8
St. PaulMinneapolis, MNKSTP-TV**5 (35)1948ABC
KSTC-TV5.2 (30)2000Independent
Alexandria, MNKSAX**42 (42)1987ABC9
Redwood Falls, MNKRWF**43 (27)1987ABC10
AlbuquerqueSanta Fe, NMKOB4 (26)1957NBC
Farmington, NMKOBF12 (12)1983NBC11
Las Cruces, NMEl Paso, TXK22NM-D4 (22)12NBC
Roswell, NMKOBR8 (8)1985NBC13
AlbanySchenectadyTroy, NYPittsfield, MAWNYT13 (12)199614NBC
WNYA51 (7)2013MyNetworkTV
Rochester, NYWHEC-TV10 (10)199615NBC

Radio stations

AM StationFM Station
City of license / MarketStationOwned sinceCurrent format
Phoenix, AZKDUS 1060201316Sports radio
KAZG 1440201317Oldies
KDKB 93.3201318Alternative rock
KUPD 97.9201319Active rock
KSLX-FM 100.7201320Classic rock
Washington, D.C.WBQH 1050201121Regional Mexican
WFED 1500201122U.S. federal government news
WSHE 820201123Freeform
WTOP-FM 103.5201124All-news
WTLP 103.9201125All-news26
WWWT-FM 107.7201127All-news28
West Palm Beach, FLWMEN 640201829Sports radio
WFTL 850201830Talk radio
WRMF 97.9201831Adult Top 40
WMBX 102.3201832Urban adult contemporary
WIRK 103.1201833Country
WEAT 107.9201834Classic hits
Chicago, ILWDRV 97.1201135Classic rock
WWDV 96.9201136Classic rock37
WTBC-FM 100.3201138Adult contemporary (1990s-2000s hits)
WTMX 101.9201139Hot adult contemporary
Alexandria, MNKULO 94.3201540Classic hits
KIKV-FM 100.7201541Country
Bemidji, MNKBUN 1450201542Sports radio
KKZY 95.5201543Adult contemporary
KLLZ-FM 99.1201544Classic rock
KBHP 101.1201545Country
KBUN-FM 104.5201546Sports radio
BrainerdBaxter, MNKVBR 1340201547Business news/talk
KLIZ 1380201548Sports radio
KBLB 93.3201549Country
KUAL-FM 103.5201550Oldies/classic hits
WJJY-FM 106.7201551Adult contemporary
KLIZ-FM 107.5201552Classic rock
St. PaulMinneapolis, MNKSTP 1500**1928Sports radio
KSTP-FM 94.5**1966Hot adult contemporary
KTMY 107.12000Female-oriented talk
WadenaStaples, MNKWAD 920201553Classic country
KNSP 1430201554Sports radio
KKWS 105.9201555Country
St. Louis, MOKPNT 105.7201856Alternative rock
KSHE 94.7201857Mainstream rock
WARH 106.5201158Adult hits
WIL-FM 92.3201159Country
WXOS 101.1201160Sports radio
Cincinnati, OHWKRQ 101.9201161Adult Top 40
WREW 94.9201162Rhythmic AC
WUBE-FM 105.1201163Country
WYGY 97.3201164Country Top 40
Seattle, WAKIXI 880201365Adult standards
KKNW 1150201366Brokered programming
KQMV 92.5201367Contemporary hit radio
KPNW-FM 98.9201368Country
KRWM 106.9201369Adult contemporary

Cable channels (through Hubbard Media Group division)

  • Ovation (purchased August 2006)
  • Reelz (launched September 2006)

Former Hubbard-owned stations

Former television stations

City of license / MarketStation
  • Channel
  • TV (RF)
  • Years
  • owned
Current status
St. PetersburgTampa, FLWTOG**44 (44)1968–1996Independent station owned by CBS News and Stations
Silver City, NMKOBG-TV**6 (12)2000–2011Defunct, went dark in 20117071

Hubbard also owned a partial stake in KWK-TV (later KMOX-TV, now KMOV), channel 4, in St. Louis during the mid-1950s.

Radio stations

AM StationFM Station
City of license / MarketStationYears ownedCurrent status
Albuquerque, NMKOB 7701957–1986KKOB (AM), owned by Cumulus Media
KOB-FM 93.31957–1986KOBQ, owned by Cumulus Media
Winter Haven, FLWGTO 5401964–1986WFLF, owned by iHeartMedia
New Richmond, WIWIXK 15902000–2012owned by Hmong Radio Broadcast, LLC

Cable channels

Notes

Further reading

44°58′5″N 93°12′25″W / 44.96806°N 93.20694°W / 44.96806; -93.20694

References

  1. "SPJ named Minnesota's Hubbard Broadcasting a National Historic Site in Journalism". SPJ. 2009. Retrieved April 21, 2022. https://www.spj.org/news.asp?REF=918

  2. "$505M sale: Bonneville sells Chicago, D.C., St. Louis and Cincinnati to Hubbard". Radio-Info.com. January 19, 2011. Archived from the original on January 22, 2011. Retrieved July 2, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20110122010447/http://www.radio-info.com/news/505m-sale-bonneville-sells-chicago-dc-st-louis-and-cincinnati-to-hubbard

  3. "Hubbard deal to purchase Bonneville stations closes". Radio Ink Magazine. Archived from the original on March 12, 2012. Retrieved July 2, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20120312055419/http://radioink.com/Article.asp?id=2174844&spid=24698

  4. "WNYT Albany to Purchase MyNet WNYA". Broadcasting & Cable. Retrieved February 25, 2013. http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/492006-WNYT_Albany_to_Purchase_MyNet_WNYA.php

  5. "Hubbard Picks up 16 Stations From Omni". November 13, 2014. Archived from the original on November 13, 2014.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) Accessed July 2, 2017 (archived link) https://web.archive.org/web/20141113191858/http://radioink.com/Article.asp?id=2861899&spid=24698

  6. "fitz-named-new-host-for-bob-kingsleys-country-top-40". MusicRow.com. December 19, 2019. Retrieved December 20, 2019. https://musicrow.com/2019/12/fitz-named-new-host-for-bob-kingsleys-country-top-40/

  7. Ownership Report for Hubbard Broadcasting - at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) https://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/prefill_and_display.pl?Application_id=1161134&Service=TV&Form_id=323&Facility_id=0

  8. Satellite of WDIO-DT.

  9. Satellite of KSTP-TV.

  10. Semi-satellite of KSTP-TV.

  11. Satellite of KOB.

  12. Operated by News-Press & Gazette station KVIA-TV via a local marketing agreement. /wiki/News-Press_%26_Gazette_Company

  13. Satellite of KOB.

  14. Acquired by Hubbard from Viacom in 1996. /wiki/Viacom_(original)

  15. Acquired by Hubbard from Viacom in 1996. /wiki/Viacom_(original)

  16. Acquired by Hubbard from Sandusky Radio.

  17. Acquired by Hubbard from Sandusky Radio.

  18. Acquired by Hubbard from Sandusky Radio.

  19. Acquired by Hubbard from Sandusky Radio.

  20. Acquired by Hubbard from Sandusky Radio.

  21. Acquired by Hubbard from Bonneville International. /wiki/Bonneville_International

  22. Acquired by Hubbard from Bonneville International. /wiki/Bonneville_International

  23. Acquired by Hubbard from Bonneville International. /wiki/Bonneville_International

  24. Acquired by Hubbard from Bonneville International. /wiki/Bonneville_International

  25. Acquired by Hubbard from Bonneville International. /wiki/Bonneville_International

  26. WTOP simulcast.

  27. Acquired by Hubbard from Bonneville International. /wiki/Bonneville_International

  28. WTOP simulcast.

  29. Acquired by Hubbard from Alpha Media. /wiki/Alpha_Media

  30. Acquired by Hubbard from Alpha Media. /wiki/Alpha_Media

  31. Acquired by Hubbard from Alpha Media. /wiki/Alpha_Media

  32. Acquired by Hubbard from Alpha Media. /wiki/Alpha_Media

  33. Acquired by Hubbard from Alpha Media. /wiki/Alpha_Media

  34. Acquired by Hubbard from Alpha Media. /wiki/Alpha_Media

  35. Acquired by Hubbard from Bonneville International. /wiki/Bonneville_International

  36. Acquired by Hubbard from Bonneville International. /wiki/Bonneville_International

  37. WDRV simulcast.

  38. Acquired by Hubbard from Bonneville International. /wiki/Bonneville_International

  39. Acquired by Hubbard from Bonneville International. /wiki/Bonneville_International

  40. Acquired by Hubbard from Omni Broadcasting. /wiki/Omni_Broadcasting

  41. Acquired by Hubbard from Omni Broadcasting. /wiki/Omni_Broadcasting

  42. Acquired by Hubbard from Omni Broadcasting. /wiki/Omni_Broadcasting

  43. Acquired by Hubbard from Omni Broadcasting. /wiki/Omni_Broadcasting

  44. Acquired by Hubbard from Omni Broadcasting. /wiki/Omni_Broadcasting

  45. Acquired by Hubbard from Omni Broadcasting. /wiki/Omni_Broadcasting

  46. Acquired by Hubbard from Omni Broadcasting. /wiki/Omni_Broadcasting

  47. Acquired by Hubbard from Omni Broadcasting. /wiki/Omni_Broadcasting

  48. Acquired by Hubbard from Omni Broadcasting. /wiki/Omni_Broadcasting

  49. Acquired by Hubbard from Omni Broadcasting. /wiki/Omni_Broadcasting

  50. Acquired by Hubbard from Omni Broadcasting. /wiki/Omni_Broadcasting

  51. Acquired by Hubbard from Omni Broadcasting. /wiki/Omni_Broadcasting

  52. Acquired by Hubbard from Omni Broadcasting. /wiki/Omni_Broadcasting

  53. Acquired by Hubbard from Omni Broadcasting. /wiki/Omni_Broadcasting

  54. Acquired by Hubbard from Omni Broadcasting. /wiki/Omni_Broadcasting

  55. Acquired by Hubbard from Omni Broadcasting. /wiki/Omni_Broadcasting

  56. Acquired by Hubbard from Emmis Communications. /wiki/Emmis_Communications

  57. Acquired by Hubbard from Emmis Communications. /wiki/Emmis_Communications

  58. Acquired by Hubbard from Bonneville International. /wiki/Bonneville_International

  59. Acquired by Hubbard from Bonneville International. /wiki/Bonneville_International

  60. Acquired by Hubbard from Bonneville International. /wiki/Bonneville_International

  61. Acquired by Hubbard from Bonneville International. /wiki/Bonneville_International

  62. Acquired by Hubbard from Bonneville International. /wiki/Bonneville_International

  63. Acquired by Hubbard from Bonneville International. /wiki/Bonneville_International

  64. Acquired by Hubbard from Bonneville International. /wiki/Bonneville_International

  65. Acquired by Hubbard from Sandusky Radio.

  66. Acquired by Hubbard from Sandusky Radio.

  67. Acquired by Hubbard from Sandusky Radio.

  68. Acquired by Hubbard from Sandusky Radio.

  69. Acquired by Hubbard from Sandusky Radio.

  70. Satellite of KOB.

  71. Replaced by KOB translator K12QW-D.